Wrestling
Ohio State Wrestling: 149 Pound Preview
By Kevin Schlosser

Many are touting 149 pounds as the most competitive weight class in college wrestling. Ohio State heads into the season confident that they will have someone to contend with three wrestlers having the potential to earn All American status. As one of the two true freshmen to earn All American status last season, Lance Palmer returns as the likely starter at 149 pounds. Jason Johnstone and J. Jaggers are anticipated starters at other weights, but they are secondary options or competition at 149 pounds if injuries, strategy, or competition facilitate a shuffling of the projected Buckeye line up.

Lance Palmer’s credentials speak for themselves; four time Ohio State Champion, Walsh Ironman champion, Beast of the East champion, NHSCA Senior National champion. While the coveted NCAA title eluded him as a freshman, he did earn All American honors and is a member of an elite group of wrestlers expected to contend this season. Palmer turned the corner midway through his first season and did not look back. Welcoming high expectations, he set the bar last season for which his future accomplishments will be measured.

With a number of lessons learned, Palmer will be looking to pick up where he left off last season and put together a consistent and sustained drive towards a Big Ten and NCAA championship. Wrestling against a field littered with past champions and NCAA All Americans, Palmer will be constantly challenged and a seasoned veteran by the time he arrives in St. Louis. Jaggers and Johnstone will be counted on to back up Palmer and each would be expected to be in placement contention if the Buckeyes want to improve in the team standings at the Big Ten or NCAA Tournaments.

The Favorite: 149 pounds

Lance Palmer (sophomore; Lakewood, OH)

Lance Palmer returns for his sophomore season as the man to beat at 149 pounds. The former four time state champion led the Buckeyes in wins last season posting a 34-15 record en route to his All American finish. At times, Palmer struggled with the transition to college wrestling before coming into his own as the season progressed.

In terms of quality wins and losses, Palmer went 15-13 against NCAA qualifiers last season. Of Palmer’s fifteen losses, all were quality losses except an injury default to Steve Brown and a 6-5 decision loss to teammate Jason Johnstone at the Michigan State Open. Of the returning All Americans, Palmer went 0-2 against Dustin Schlatter, Jordan Leen, and; losing 2-1 at the Southern Scuffle and 1-0 in the consolation finals at the NCAA Tournament; and 1-3 against Josh Churella winning the dual match 6-4 in overtime and losing in the championship semi finals of the EMU Open, Big Ten, and NCAA Tournament 3-0, 4-2, and 5-2.

Palmer was not an ordinary freshman and his success was the culmination of years of training and competition against the best that was out there. Palmer dominated non NCAA qualifiers last season and while he started the year off slow going 3-9 against ranked opponents, he got stronger as the season went on and finished the year on a 12-4 run against NCAA qualifiers.

The Contenders: 149 pounds

Two options if something happens and Palmer is not in the starting lineup, wrestlers go down or wrestlers go up. The first option is for Jason Johnstone to drop down and moving freshman Sean Nemec into the lineup at 157. Going the opposite way, J. Jaggers could wrestle up enabling TJ Enright and Reece Humphrey to start at 133 and 141 pounds. Johnstone and Jaggers may be a push at 149 pounds, so the Buckeyes will have to ask if they are better off with the experience of both Humphrey and Enright versus a true freshman and only Enright.

Jason Johnstone (junior; Massillon, OH)

Jason Johnstone is a two year returning letterman that bumped up to 157 pounds last season. While bumping up meant he did not he no longer had to cut weight, it created an adjustment period in training and philosophy. Johnstone had an up and down year winning over eighty percent of his bouts against non-qualifiers, but struggling at times in losing fifteen matches to NCAA qualifiers. Despite a poor record against top competition, Johnstone lost ten matches by three points or less. While he has been training for over a year to wrestle 157 pounds, many would argue that his more natural weight would be 149 pounds. As it stands; circumstances must occur to warrant a drop by Johnstone.

J. Jaggers (junior; Bedford, OH)

J. Jaggers wrestled 149 pounds as a freshman and became an All American when he dropped to 141 pounds last season. Jaggers had his best regular season success wrestling at 149 pounds as he battled injuries, rehabilitation, conditioning issues before wrestling his best at the end of the year at 141 pounds. As a freshman, Jaggers took sixth at the Big Ten Tournament after medically defaulting in his last two matches. The injury ended his season as qualified for the NCAA Tournament but did not wrestle. After his performance as a redshirt freshman and without having to cut weight, Jaggers may flourish in a return to 149 pounds. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Jaggers only moves up if other issues arise.

2007-2008 Big Ten Outlook: 149 pounds

Minnesota junior Dustin Schlatter is the two time defending Big Ten champion at 149 pounds, a two time All American, and the 2006 National Champ. A Massillon Perry graduate and St. Paris Graham alumni, he was a four time Ohio state champ before winning the 2006 NCAA title and finishing 2007 in third. Schlatter is on another level, but returning All Americans Michigan senior Josh Churella and Ohio State sophomore Lance Palmer are close behind.

Purdue junior Jake Patacsil finished seventh at the 2007 Big Ten Tournament and won two matches at the NCAA Tournament. While Troy Tirapelle finished eighth last season and did not qualify for the national tournament, the Illinois junior was the 2006 Big Ten Tournament runner up. Tirapelle is rumored to be heading down to 141 pounds setting up redshirt freshman Sean Reynolds to enter the lineup.

Penn State sophomore Bubba Jenkins is anticipating dropping down to wrestle at 149 pounds while junior Dan Valimont is expecting to move up to 157 pounds. Jenkins took sixth at the 2007 Big Ten Tournament at 157 pounds; winning two matches at the NCAA Tournament before winning the 2007 Junior World freestyle gold medal in Beijing, China this summer. Valimont took fourth at the 2007 Big Ten Tournament at 149 pounds and won four matches at the NCAA tournament and finished a match short of All American status. Both wrestlers will be expected to contend in whatever weight classes they enter.

Iowa will start redshirt sophomore Brent Metcalf in his first year eligible for the Hawkeye’s after transferring from Virginia Tech. An undefeated four time Michigan state champion, he was considered one of the top recruits in the country his senior year. Metcalf split with Minnesota’s Dustin Schlatter winning at Median and losing in the finals of the NHSCA Senior Nationals. After a successful redshirt season, it would not be a surprise to see Metcalf earn All American status.

Indiana is anticipating sophomore All American Matt Coughlin to move up to 165 pounds this season opening the spot for Kurt Kinser to step in. Wisconsin also replaces an All American when Trevor Bowers takes over for graduate Tyler Turner. Northwestern junior Marty Gould will be pushed all season by redshirt freshman Keith Sulzer. Both could be pushed out of the way if two time All American Ryan Lang moves up. Michigan State senior Jeff Wimberly will have to beat returning letterman Eddie Skowneski and Tim Hammer to represent the Spartans at the 2008 Big Ten Tournament.

Lance Palmer is one of the top returning All Americans and a potential finalist. Palmer will be expected to finish in the upper half of the place winners and qualify for the NCAA Tournament. As a team, the Buckeyes will be counting on Palmer to be one of their primary scorers at both tournaments.

2007 Big Ten Tournament Place Winners (2008 Class Rank)

First: Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota; junior) NCAA: 2007 third, 2006 first

Second: Josh Churella (Michigan; senior) NCAA:2006 second; 2005 eighth

Third: Lance Palmer (Ohio State; sophomore) NCAA:2007 third

Fourth: Dan Valimont (Penn State; junior)

Fifth: Tyler Turner (Wisconsin) Graduated; NCAA: 2007 sixth

Sixth: Matt Coughlin (Indiana; sophomore) NCAA: 2007 seventh

Seventh: Jake Patacsil (Purdue; junior)

Eighth: Troy Tirapelle (Illinois; junior)

DNP: Alex Grunder (Iowa; junior), sophomore; Jeff Wimberly (Michigan State, senior) junior; and Marty Gould (Northwestern; junior)

2007-2008 NCAA Outlook: 149 pounds

Edinboro junior Gregor Gillespie is the defending national champion and preseason favorite if he returns at 149 pounds but is more likely moving up to 157 pounds this season. Last year, Gillespie defeated defending national champion Dustin Schlatter in the championship semifinals and Josh Churella in the championship finals. While the brackets will separate the returning All Americans; Michigan senior Josh Churella, Harvard sophomore J.P. O’Conner, Cornell junior Jordan Leen and Lance Palmer will be in contention to repeat if not improve their finish. O’Conner and Palmer were the only two true freshmen to earn All American status at the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

Jordan Lean and Gregor Gillespie are reportedly moving up to 157 pounds while Northwestern senior Ryan Lang remains a possibility to move up from 141 pounds. Lang is a four time Ohio state champ from Lakewood St. Edward and a three time All American.

Three wrestlers that qualified for the round of twelve return this season hoping to win the match that assures them of placing. Iowa State sophomore Cyler Sanderson and Penn State sophomore Dan Vallimont are expected to move up to 157 pounds while Appalachian State senior Scott Ervin is slated to start the season at 149 pounds. Look for national qualifiers Penn State sophomore Bubba Jenkins and Iowa State sophomore Mitch Meuller to contend if here.

Other wrestlers looking to compete for first time All American status include returning qualifiers CS-Fullerton; senior Morgan Atkinson, West Virginia; junior David Jauregui Purdue junior Jake Patacsil, Iowa sophomore Brent Metcalf, Missouri senior Josh Wagner, Oklahoma junior William Rowe and Illinois senior Troy Tirapelle. Jauregui, Patacsil, and Wagner each won two matches at the 2007 NCAA Tournament while Lang, Metcalf, and Tirapelle (could be at 141) have the credentials to merit mention.

With an All American finish as true freshman, Lance Palmer set the bar for his own expectations. Anything less than an All American finish will be disappointing and anything short of a national championship leaves room for improvement. When

2007 NCAA Tournament Place Winners (2008 Class Rank)

First: Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro; junior) NCAA: 2007 first; 2006 seventh

Second: Josh Churella (Michigan; senior) NCAA:2006 second; 2005 eighth

Third: Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota; junior) NCAA: 2007 third; 2006 first

Fourth: Lance Palmer (Ohio State; sophomore)

Fifth: J.P. O’Conner (Harvard; sophomore)

Sixth: Tyler Turner (Wisconsin) Graduated

Seventh: Matt Coughlin (Indiana; sophomore)

Eighth: Jordan Leen (Cornell; junior)

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