Wrestling: Heavyweight Nick Feldman Looks To Rebound From Past Shortcomings And Claim His First Big Ten Championship

Ohio State redshirt junior wrestler Nick Feldman has found himself in a familiar position for the third consecutive season.

After finishing another regular season in the top 10 nationally at heavyweight, while losing fewer than five dual matches for the third consecutive year, Feldman has struggled to make the leap in postseason competition.

The Quarryville, Pa. native placed second at the 2024 Big Ten Championships and fifth at the 2024 NCAA Championships, before placing fifth in the conference tournament in 2025.

Feldman is channeling his past postseason losses into motivation as he aims for his first individual conference and national titles. He believes he can turn those close defeats into learning experiences and emerge stronger by fixing a few minor flaws, including improving his slow starts.

“It’s the little fixes. I think, you know, the biggest thing is to set myself up early,” Feldman said. “When I get more attacks off early, get more shots off early, then I don’t need to rely on a third period. If I set myself up early, it’ll make my life a whole lot easier.”

By emphasizing early offense and taking control from the start, Feldman hopes to avoid situations where a single late takedown decides the outcome, which has defined a few of his tight matches this season.

All four losses this season — a 5-1 decision versus NC State’s No. 2 Isaac Tremble, a 4-2 decision to Iowa State’s No. 1 Yonger Bastida, a 4-1 sudden victory to Michigan’s No. 4 Taye Ghadiali and a 4-1 sudden victory against Penn State’s No. 5 Cole Mirasola — have come by decision or sudden victory from top-five wrestlers.

“I lose the ones that come down on one takedown at the end…sometimes,” Feldman said. “But I think if I get my takedowns in the first and second period, I’ll be in a good spot.”

For Feldman, refining these early periods could make the difference between narrow defeats and victories when it matters most in the postseason.

Ohio State head coach Tom Ryan compared Feldman’s mindset to a Navy SEAL, stating that despite a few hiccups with a grueling schedule, his preparation and faith in himself give him the capability to go the distance as he and the Buckeyes head into Big Ten and NCAA competition.

“He’s got to continue to believe in himself,” Ryan said. “Nick went through a part of the year where he went on his winning streak. He’s had one of the toughest schedules in the country and (Ohio State’s) schedule has been tough.

“He’s wrestled all the top heavyweights in the country, so it was a lot on him, week after week, to compete at that level. He was off a little bit against (Mirasola). When you’re off a little bit, a number 6, 7, 8, 9 guy can get you. Nick has a Navy SEAL mindset, and he’s not someone that I worry much about. When it comes to really being ready, when it counts, he’ll be ready.”

After falling in a sudden victory match on Feb. 13 to then-12th-ranked Mirasola, whom he had defeated 10-3 a season ago on Feb. 14, 2025, Feldman knew he had to regroup quickly.

Feldman did just that, following up with a dominant performance against Maryland’s Joey Schneck two days later in the dual season finale, winning 19‑3 by technical fall.

That win not only helped Feldman regain momentum but also highlighted the unpredictable highs and lows that come with wrestling, especially in tournaments like the Big Ten and NCAA Championships.

“That’s what wrestling is. In the NCAA tournament, Lord willing, I don’t lose, but if you lose one day, you have to wrestle again two hours later,” Feldman said. “So wrestling is all short-term memory. The past doesn’t matter because you can’t change it. So now you have to look at what’s next.”

Feldman is taking that goldfish-like mentality into this postseason, using the lessons from his narrow defeats as fuel rather than setbacks.

The third-year Buckeye starter said there’s no better fuel than a loss as he hopes to take from his defeats and work towards a more focused and detailed approach.

“It’s easy to be focused after you lose. I hate losing,” Feldman said. “So my training will be hard, my wrestling will be hard and I’m ready to bring the heat here soon.”

With another strong season behind him, Feldman is ready to turn past frustrations into breakthroughs and seize his first Big Ten and NCAA titles, all while staying composed and focused under the pressure of the big stage.

“I’m fired up,” Feldman said. “It’s something that’s eluded me for sure, and it’s something I’m going to get (this year). So it’s just another day in the office.”

Feldman and Ohio State will return to action at the Big Ten Championships from March 7-8 at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa, where he will look to embark on a championship run.

_{Image courtesy of Ohio State Athletics}