© Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Ohio State Buckeyes wrestler Sammy Sasso once looked like a surefire national champion. Sasso, an elite recruit out of famed Nazareth High School in Pennsylvania, finished as a national runner-up in his sophomore season, going 16-1 in the process. He returned the following year as the favorite, but finished fifth before taking second again as a senior.
Due to COVID, Sasso had the opportunity to return for one final season in 2023-24. Sadly, Sasso had that opportunity stolen from him when he was shot during an attempted carjacking in downtown Columbus.
The bullet entered his midsection, shattered his L5 vertebra and lodged in his spine. It clipped a nerve that runs to his legs. He had his colon reconstructed and another surgery to remove the bullet. Doctors placed four screws to fasten two rods in his back. Sasso had to relearn how to walk. He lost muscle due to atrophying, and looked as if he’d never wrestle again.
But that was not the case. Miraculously, Sasso returned to the mat this year for the Buckeyes, albeit up a couple of weight classes. Sadly, the injuries took too much of a toll on his body. He went 11-7 in limited action and with the postseason one week away, Sasso called an end to his wrestling career on Friday.
“It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward…” pic.twitter.com/3o6oehKtcT
— sasso chamberlain (@sammysasso) February 28, 2025
“I don’t know why certain things happen, but I know that God has a plan for me,” Sasso said in a Twitter post announcing his retirement. “…Life doesn’t always [work out] the way you want it [to], but you have to just keep battling.”
Sadly, Sasso never reached the top of the mountain in college wrestling like many expected. But his influence on the sport and Ohio State in particular is undeniable. Redshirt freshman Brandon Cannon will replace Sasso in the lineup at the Big Ten Championships.