Latrobe Junior Vinny Kilkeary Gives Verbal to Ohio State

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Tom Ryan and the Ohio State Buckeyes wrestling program have landed a standout Class of 2023 recruit out of Pennsylvania’s District 7 (WPIAL). Well, Tom Ryan and Co. did that once again. 

The Class of 2023’s Vinny Kilkeary, a 2020 PIAA state champ and 2021 Super 32 champ, gave a verbal pledge to the Buckeyes via Instagram

“I am excited to announce that I have committed to the Ohio State University! I feel blessed, honored, and grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to further my academic and athletic career here. Thank you to my family, my coaches, teammates, and everybody that has supported me through the years and helped me to reach my goals. I have been truly humbled by this entire experience and I am excited for what’s to come. Go Buckeyes!🌰”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CV5ZBXardK7/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=7b6f2132-f767-4307-a3a5-a54518c0a992

Kilkeary joins his Young Guns Wrestling Club teammate, Waynesburg’s Rocco Welsh, as the second WPIAL wrestler to commit to the Bucks from the Class of 2023 in the last three weeks. The lightweight also joins former tOSU All-Americans Luke Pletcher and Ethan Smith on the list of former Latrobe Wildcat preps to head to Columbus and wrestle for Tom Ryan at the next level. 

Just a junior, Kilkeary has already shown why he is considered one of the best lightweight prospects in the country. According to PA-Wrestling.com, he has a 56-10 record in two seasons at Latrobe. Kilkeary finished first in the state as a freshman (2020) and third in the state as a sophomore (2021). This summer, he placed third at 16U Nationals in Fargo. Lastly, he recently won the nation’s toughest high school tournament in Super 32 in September.

At the next level, Kilkeary projects as a 125-pounder. At Ohio State, Vinny likely wrestles in front of Class of 2022 studs Nic Bouzakis (133) and Jesse Mendez (141), both current TOM pound-for-pounders. This trio should create a brutal one-two-three punch at 125, 133, and 141 for opposing lineups to contend with in the years to come. 

The Buckeyes weren’t an NCAA title-contender in 2021, and it won’t be this year in 2021-2022, but by 2023 and 2024, that won’t be the case. 



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