Wrestling
Wrestling Buckeyes advance Four at NCAA Tournament
By Kevin Schlosser
If the Buckeyes were not pleased with their overall performance on Thursday, they were much happier on Friday. With seven wins in eight matches, four Buckeyes are still alive and the team moved up to fifteenth place. Lance Palmer qualified for the championship semifinals and is still in the hunt for an NCAA title. The trio of J. Jaggers, Mike Pucillo, and J.D. Bergman has advanced to the consolation quarterfinals and are all a win away from joining Palmer as Buckeye All Americans.

“It was definitely a good morning. We have three guys in the round to place and one in still in the hunt for a championship. With four All Americans, it would be a great way to finish the year.”

133 T.J. Enright

Championship R.1: Robert Preston (Harvard) WBD 5-3 vs. T.J. Enright (OSU)

Consolation R.1: T.J. Enright (OSU) WBD 6-4 OT SV vs. Kyle Anson (N. Iowa)

Consolation R.1: Andrae Hernandez (IU) 2OT WBD 2-1 vs. T.J. Enright (OSU)

Despite dropping his first round match, T.J. Enright felt confident about his abilities and his chances. After winning his first consolation match, Enright was eager to avenge an earlier 3-1 OT loss to Hernandez in the dual meet. Both grapplers wrestled conservatively as they exchanged escapes in regulation before stepping it up in overtime. During the first sudden victory period, Enright had a deep shot he could not finish. In the second overtime, Enright then kept Hernandez down for 30 seconds and Hernandez responded by fighting off a reversal by Enright in the closing seconds of the third. In the second sudden victory overtime session, neither wrestler was able to score a takedown. As the intense match continued, Hernandez was able to keep Enright down; but Enright was able to duplicate as he gave up the escape and the match.

While it was a disappointing ending to the season, Enright had a very competitive NCAA Tournament. “In both defeats, he had the match in his hands, so it was tough to swallow.” T.J. battled through a variety of injuries this year and now has an off season to recuperate and prepare for his senior season. As a two time NCAA qualifier, Enright’s goal remains nothing short of an NCAA Championship and Rowlands expects this weekend to “serve as a motivator all year long.”

141 J. Jaggers

Championship R.1: J. Jaggers WBD 11-5 vs. Max Meltzer (Harvard)

Championship R.2: #3 Nathan Morgan (Oklahoma State) WBD 3-2 vs. J. Jaggers(OSU)

Consolation R.2: J. Jaggers(OSU) WBD 8-6 vs. Matthew Schumm (CS-Bakersfield)

Jaggers wanted to get on a roll today and his first match was a great start. Like Enright, Jaggers was also facing an opponent who had beaten him in overtime earlier this at the Las Vegas Invitational. Schumm came out confident and aggressive to score the first takedown before Jaggers earned the escape and responded with a takedown of his own. Jaggers kept the pressure on picking up two more takedowns to close the first period with a 6-4 advantage. In the second period, Schumm controlled the action and almost put Jaggers on his back several times before giving up a late period escape. Jaggers was on top in the third and worked for the fall for most of the period before giving up a reversal instead of risking a defensive fall. Jaggers scored a late escape to push his lead to 8-6 as he won the match and enjoyed the satisfaction of redemption.

Consolation R.3: J. Jaggers(OSU) WBD 3-1 vs. Dominic Moyer (Oklahoma)

Jaggers was pushed in this match, but had an answer or an escape for everything Moyer had to throw at him. A first period takedown was all that Jaggers needed as he was able to maintain his lead as he won a 3-1 decision to advance. In Rowlands opinion, “Jaggers is wrestling well, and he is getting better each match. If he can finish, he can be an All American”

Up Next: Consolation R.4: J. Jaggers(OSU) vs. Darrion Caldwell (NCST)

149 Lance Palmer

Championship R.1: Lance Palmer (OSU) WBMD 10-2 vs. John Cox (Navy)

Championship R.2: Palmer (OSU) WBD 9-3 vs. Scott Ervin (Appalachian State)

Championship R.3: Lance Palmer (OSU) WBD 2-1 vs. Matt Coughlin (Indiana)

Lance Palmer continued taking care of business in his championship quarterfinal match. In the dual this season against Indiana, Palmer defeated Coughlin 5-3. Both wrestlers knew this would not be easy match and wrestled a conservative first period to a scoreless tie. In the second period, Palmer got the early escape and proceeded to chase Coughlin the rest of time without scoring. Palmer threw legs in the third to work a series of tilts and halves before getting too high and kicking him out to preserve his lead.

Up Next Championship Semi: Lance Palmer (OSU) vs. Josh Churella (Michigan)

In victory, Palmer assured himself of All American status. Palmer is scheduled to Josh Churella (Michigan) in the championship semifinal. In their dual match in February, Palmer won a 5-3 overtime decision and Churella returned the favor with a 5-3 decision at the Big Ten Tournament.

184 Mike Pucillo

Championship R.1: Mike Pucillo (OSU) WBF 6:24 vs. Zack Giessen (Stanford)

Championship R.2: Josh Arnone (Cornell) WBD 3-2 vs. Mike Pucillo

Consolation R.2: Mike Pucillo (OSU) WBMD 17-5 vs. Josh Edmondson (UT-Chattanooga)

The loss to Arnone made for a restless night for Mike Pucillo on Thursday night. On Friday morning, Edmondson was given 8 months of sleepless nights as Pucillo took it to him early and often in running away with the 17-5 major decision.

Consolation R.3: Mike Pucillo (OSU) WBD 7-3 vs. Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin)

Pucillo again came out on fire and was the early aggressor. On his second duck under attempt; Pucillo was out of position and Brandvold was able to scramble, turn the corner and get the takedown. With a late escape in the first, Pucillo was down 2-1 entering the second. On top, Pucillo was looking to ride out the period until getting too high with the legs. Brandvold nearly picked up the reversal as they rolled out of bounds, but the referees awarded an escape due to loss of control. In the third, Brandvold got a quick escape to pull within a point but was unable to score again. Pucillo picked up a late takedown against a frustrated opponent and with riding time awarded, he advanced with a 7-3 victory.

Up Next Consolation R.4: Mike Pucillo (OSU) vs. Christian Sinnott (CMU)

197 J.D. Bergman

Championship R.1: Jared Villers (WVU) WBD 8-5 vs. J.D. Bergman (OSU)

Consolation R.1: Bergman (OSU) WBF 1:45 vs. Dustin Porter (Gardner-Webb)

Consolation R.2: J.D. Bergman (OSU) 5-3 decision vs. Brandon Halsey (Cal-Poly)

In a match up of Greco specialist, this match was Bergman’s from start. The Buckeye captain scored a quick take down and accumulated 2:35 of riding time. Bergman was very active in the second and third periods, dictating the tempo of the match and earning the 5-3 decision.

Consolation R.3: J.D. Bergman (OSU) WDF 1:45 vs. Matthew Monteiro (UC-Bakersfield)

Bergman steamrolled his way through Monteiro like Charlie Weiss attacks an all you can eat buffet. With an early take down, Bergman used a power half and teed up to put himself in the position for a pin. After a disappointing loss in his first match, Bergman is a man on a mission according to Rowlands. “It was tough to bounce back from the early loss, but he feeling good now and is hungry and ready to go.”

Up Next Consolation R.4: J.D. Bergman (OSU) vs. Craig Brestor (Nebraska)

Team Points: End of Third Session

1. 66 Minnesota (4 in Championships; 3 in Consolations))

2. 62.5 Iowa State (4/3)

3. 48.5 Oklahoma State (4/1)

4. 44.5 Missouri (1/3)

5. 41 Hofstra (3/2)

6. 39.5 Penn State (2/2)

7. 37 Iowa (4/3)

8. 34.5 Northwestern (2/2)

9. 31.5 Wisconsin (1/3)

10. 29 Michigan (3/3)

13 26.5 Illinois (1/2)

15 24 Ohio State (1/3)

17 22.5 Indiana (0/5)

29 13 Michigan State (1/0)

37 8 Purdue (0/0)

47 3.5 Kent Sate (0/0)

49 3 Cleveland State (0/0)

65 0 Ohio University (0/0)

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