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After nine matches and one period, the Ohio State wrestling team’s chances of victory against Penn State hung in the balance. Twenty-five seconds into round two of match 10, an entire program jumped for joy in triumphant victory.
With OSU (No. 7, 14-3, 2-1 Big Ten) trailing 19-16 heading into the final match of the event at 141 pounds, redshirt junior and 10th-ranked J. Jaggers enlivened the 2,231 spectators in attendance with a second period pin of 5th-ranked Jake Strayer. The match, which resulted in a 22-19 OSU win, had added significance due to the 55 Buckeye wrestling All-Americans and team captains at the meet, who were part of the second-annual Wrestling Alumni Night.
“There are a lot of very passionate people who are a part of this wrestling family,” OSU coach Tom Ryan said. “It was great to see them here tonight to witness an outstanding match.”
Squaring off for the second time in less than two weeks, the Buckeyes trailed the Nittany Lions (No. 8, 8-4, 0-2 Big Ten) the entire match before Jaggers’ pin. Although OSU cruised to a 24-11 victory against PSU at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals on Jan. 13, this match ended with the entire squad jubilantly celebrating on the center of the mat with the hero proudly in the arms of his teammates.
“Winning the dual meet for the team on alumni night was quite special for me,” Jaggers said. “The crowd had a lot to do with it because you can’t see how close a guy is to being pinned in that instance. I just went off the crowd and when I heard them go crazy, I knew I had to just hold on as long as I could to solidify the pin.”
“J. Jaggers is an outstanding wrestler that has the potential to win a National Championship,” Ryan said. “He really needed this tonight, and it’s great to see him get a win like that.”
In this battle of Big Ten heavyweights, each squad scored five victories. PSU earned decisions in the first two matches as 2007 All-American and 5th seeded sophomore Lance Palmer dropped a tight 5-2 decision to 6th seeded Bubba Jenkins in the opening match of the meet at 141 pounds. Jenkins earned revenge from Palmer’s 10-7 victory at the duals as PSU earned the first of two rematch victories. True freshman Nikko Triggas at 125 pounds also lost his match 7-5, after defeating opponent Mark McKnight two weeks ago.
“We won a few scrambles last time, they won a few scrambles this time,” Ryan said. “At the national duals I thought we were more prepared then they were, but tonight it was pretty close.”
OSU cracked the score book at 165 pounds when true freshman and 13th-ranked Colt Sponseller kept his undefeated record intact by overwhelming former Walsh Jesuit standout Dave Rella, 9-2. The Millersburg native fell just two seconds shy of earning a four-point major decision by riding time but still took home win No. 12 and three critical match points.
“Colt Sponseller is always impressive because of the strong energy he brings and (the) way he works on the matt,” said senior captain and 2007 All-American J.D. Bergman. “That guy is the real deal and beat a great kid tonight.”
Following Sponseller, PSU earned two dominant wins at the 174 and 197 weight classes, by a pin and a major decision respectively. Sandwiched between the triumphs was OSU redshirt-sophomore Mike Pucillo’s 12-2 major decision against Jack Decker, who did not wrestle in the Cliff Keen duals. Trailing 16-7 heading into the heavyweight division of 285 pounds, the Buckeyes looked to Bergman for yet another crucial victory. For the 117th time in the two-time All-American’s storied career, the Oak Harbor native earned a first period pin to lower the deficit to three.
“You have to focus the same way every time and not get sloppy trying to go for the big move,” Bergman said. “There was definitely some added motivation for me after they upset some of our guys.”
Fourteenth-seed and redshirt-sophomore Reece Humphrey secured the Buckeyes’ fourth win in a 6-2 triumph against Tim Haas. Adding to the thrill of victory for Humphrey was the presence of his father, former OSU coach, wrestler and National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Jim Humphrey. The presence of so many talented OSU alumni and yet another large crowd speaks volumes to the passion wrestling fans have in the Buckeye state.
“This is the greatest wrestling state in America so why shouldn’t we have the greatest wrestling team in America,” Ryan said. “Each one of these people make a difference and to win in the fashion that we did, on such a special night, is just outstanding.”
After consecutive dual meets in Columbus, the team heads to the Hoosier State for dual meets against Indiana and Purdue. The Indiana match will take place Friday at 7 p.m. with the Purdue contest commencing at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Brian Rosen can be reached at [email protected].
