While some Ohio State students were driving or flying to their Spring break destination on Saturday, March 23, Ohio State wrestler Tommy Rowlands was winning a national championship.

Rowlands, a sophomore and heavyweight wrestler for OSU, defeated Steve Mocco, a freshman from Iowa, in double overtime at the 2002 NCAA Championship in Albany, N.Y.

“This is something I have been striving for all year,” Rowlands said. “It shows you that if you work hard, good things can happen.”

The No. 1 seed Rowlands was 1-2 against the No. 2 seed Mocco entering the championship match. The Hawkeye heavyweight beat Rowlands Dec. 30 at the Midlands Tournament in double overtime and Jan. 25 at the teams’ dual meet in overtime. Rowlands was victorious at the Big Ten championships, winning in double overtime to capture the conference title.

“A similar situation happened last year,” Rowlands said. “I beat John Lockhart of Illinois twice during the regular season and lost twice to him during the post season.”

Rowlands said the next two years of competition are not going to be easy because Mocco is only a freshman.

“I am going to have a target on my back next year, but I am up for the challenge and intend to win again,” he said.

A challenge for OSU’s coaching staff was getting Rowlands ready for the intensity of the NCAA championship.

Assistant coach Mitch Clark, who was a national champion in 1998 for the Buckeyes, said Rowlands got some help from Buckeye football guard Alex Stepanovich.

Stepanovich, at 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, was a two-time state wrestling champion for Berea High School in Berea, Ohio.

“Working with Alex was huge for Tommy,” Clark said. “Tommy would practice holding on to Alex while Alex would try to escape. That prepared Tommy for his match against Mocco.”

Rowlands said he does not have much of an offseason. He and the Buckeyes will train everyday and lift four times a week to prepare for next year.

“You can’t let your guard down. You have to work all year because everyone else is working too,” Rowlands said.

Rowlands will work in his grades this quarter, as he plans to apply to the Fisher College of Business, he said.

In June, Rowlands will compete in the Senior World Team Trials for the right to represent the United States in the 2002 World Championships.

Rowlands and Buckeye teammates Robert Sessley (141) and Nick Preston (197) were honored at halftime of Saturday’s Columbus Crew game.

Sessley, a three-time All-American, and Preston, a two-time All-American, finished fourth and third, respectively, at the 2002 NCAA championships.