Wrestling
Ohio State Wrestling: 285 Pound Preview
By Kevin Schlosser

J.D. Bergman will be the Ohio State heavyweight this season. A three time national qualifier and two time All American at 197 pounds, he hopes to make a title run his senior year. Bergman will no longer have to cut weight to make weight, but he will be one of the smaller heavyweights. Bergman has the talent and experience to overcome a disadvantage in size and strength, but he may need an adjustment period to develop consistency against top competition. As one of top light heavyweights in college history, assistant coach Tommy Rowlands is sure to assist.

With the Bergman move to heavyweight, returning starter Corey Morrison becomes a probable redshirt candidate. Ohio State has tried to redshirt Morrison the last two years, but season ending injuries to J.D. Bergman and Kirk Nail forced him into action. With Nail accepting a medical hardship waiver, Ohio State made recruiting heavyweight a priority and signed three Ohio high school seniors. The Buckeyes will probably redshirt Jesse Campbell, Eric DiAgosta, and Zach Stolarsky to create two years separation behind Morrison. If all four wrestlers are held out of varsity competition, look for redshirt sophomores Steve Dumas or Zach Weinrich to spot start if needed.

Ohio native Dustin Fox will be the early favorite to win Big Ten and NCAA titles, but the field is wide open behind the Northwestern senior. An interesting fact; since 2000, every NCAA heavyweight champion began wrestling in the Big Ten; 2006 and 2007 Cole Konrad (Minnesota); 2005 Steve Mocco (Oklahoma State); 2004 Tommy Rowlands (Ohio State); 2003 Steve Mocco (Iowa); 2002 Tommy Rowlands (Ohio State); 2001 John Lockhart (Illinois), and 2000 Brock Lesnar (Minnesota).

The 2007 Front Runner: 285 pounds

J.D. Bergman (senior; Oak Harbor, OH)

Ohio State senior J.D. Bergman has seen Ohio State at their best and at their worst. After making the jump to heavyweight, he will be hoping to finish at his best. Bergman is a three time national qualifier and a two time All American finishing third as a freshman and fourth last season. Bergman enters the year with a career record of 96-33.

With a strong showing, he will be approaching several milestones this season. Bergman needs only four wins to become the sixteenth wrestler to earn 100 wins at Ohio State. If he is able to get 24 wins he will move past Mitch Clark into tenth place all time and if he can get 35 wins he will surpass Jude Skove to crack the top five. After finishing third as a freshman and fourth as a junior, Bergman would become the fourth three time All American in Ohio State history. With twelve pins last season and thirty-one career pins; Bergman needs two more to take over fifth place and twenty pins to take the record.

The Contenders: 285 pounds

Steve Dumas (South Euclid, OH; sophomore)

Steve Dumas is a redshirt sophomore from Charles Brush High School. While at Ohio State, he has wrestled a limited schedule of open tournaments. Dumas will be the one of first wrestlers on the depth chart should the Buckeyes need another heavyweight.

Zach Weinrich (junior; Hampton, NJ)

Zach Weinrich transferred to Ohio State after one season at Roger Williams University. As a true freshman, he posted a 34-10 overall record and qualified for the NCAA Division III Wrestling Tournament. Weinrich won the 184 pound title at Patriot League Tournament and New England Championships at before falling one match short of earning All American honors at the NCAA Tournament.

Last season Weinrich wrestled at 197 pounds and competed at the EMU and MSU Opens. He won his first match at both events before dropping two close decisions at each tournament. Finishing 2-4 on the season, Weinrich accepted a redshirt last year and is a sophomore in eligibility. While he has experienced a good deal of success in college wrestling, Weinrich will be challenged to make the transition to division one wrestling. If he is not the Ohio State starter at 197 pounds, look for him to provide depth there and at heavyweight.

Corey Morrison (junior; Shaker Heights, OH)

Corey Morrison is a two year varsity letterman at Ohio State. Morrison was a redshirt candidate each of the last two years, but was forced to step into the lineup to finish the year for injured wrestlers. As a true freshman he wrestled 197 pounds for an injured J.D. Bergman and finished 7-18. Morrison made the move to heavyweight last season and became the starter by default when All American Kirk Nail was forced to retire. While he struggled at times, he placed eighth at the Big Ten Tournament with a 16-19 record.

Morison became more consistent and showed steady improvement as the year progressed. He is listed as the third option because the Bergman move likely results in his redshirt. Had Bergman remained at 197 pounds, Morrison would be the favorite to start this season. Ohio State is hoping he will continue to mature this year and come back bigger, stronger, and hungrier. Morrison will return next season as the projected starter and will be counted on to turn the corner after another year with Bergman and Rowlands.

Jesse Campbell (freshman; Sullivan, OH)

In a banner year for Ohio heavyweights, Jesse Campbell was the most accomplished of the three Ohio State commitments. Campbell, a two time state finalist for Black River High School, won his first state championship over Penn State recruit Cameron Wade on a controversial stalling call in overtime. Wade, the two time defending state champ, was ejected from the tournament for his post match unsportsmanlike conduct. With the victory, Campbell won his third of five career matches against his rival.

While he was unranked during the preseason, Campbell finished the year ranked between twelve and twenty five in most senior class rankings and was named a Wrestling USA honorable mention high school All American. Of the freshman, Campbell is likely the most prepared for college wrestling if forced into action early. As planned, he redshirts this year, sees spot duty next year, and competes to replace Morrison as a redshirt sophomore in three years.

Eric DiAgosta (freshman; East Liverpool, OH)

Eric DiAgosta was a three year starter and a two year state qualifier for East Liverpool High School. He was undefeated during the regular season his senior year and posted a third place finish at the state tournament. DiAgosta only two losses were to the two state finalists. He was beat in the district semifinals by nationally ranked John Hiles and dropped an overtime decision to eventual champ Nathan Sharp in the state semifinals. DiAgosta finished his career with a 113-21 record and was also named a Wrestling USA honorable mention high school All American.

Zach Stolarsky (freshman; Solon, OH)

Zach Stolarsky is an accomplished wrestler and versatile athlete from Solon, Ohio. Stolarsky was a two time state qualifier and all state in football. Moving up from 215 to heavyweight as a senior, he was placed seventh at the state tournament.

Ohio State in 2006-2007: 285 pounds

Corey Morrison wrestled every varsity match for Ohio State in 2006-2007. As a true sophomore, he posted a 16-19 overall record; placing fourth at the MSU Open and eighth at the Big Ten Tournament. In dual meet action, he went 4-9 overall and 3-5 against the Big Ten. Morrison wrestled sixteen matches against ten different NCAA qualifiers; finishing 3-13 in quality matches and 13-6 against the field.

The highlight of the season was his 9-7 decision over NCAA qualifier Josh Buuck. When the Hoosiers lost their last two matches, Morrison’s victory proved to be the difference in Buckeyes 19-14 dual meet win.

2007-2008 Big Ten Outlook: 285 pounds

The Big Ten has dominated the college heavyweight field since 2000. In addition to seven national champions, the conference has produced an additional twenty-three All Americans. The top three placers at the Big Ten Tournament repeated their finish at the NCAA Tournament. Northwestern senior Dustin Fox is the highest returning All American and preseason conference favorite. Fox, a two time national qualifier, was a two time state champ from Galion, Ohio.

Bergman can expect stiff competition from the three returning national qualifiers Matt Fields (Iowa), Kyle Massey (W), and John Wyse (Illinois). The returning field also includes Alan O’Donnell (MSU) and Chris Kasten (Purdue). Kasten was 16-6 before suffering a season ending injury and did not compete at the Big Ten Tournament.

Morrison was the lone place winner that did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

Minnesota expects either Joe Nord or Ben Berhow to start. Both freshmen are former Minnesota high school state champions coming off of successful redshirt seasons. Indiana redshirt sophomore Maurice Gunn is projected to replace national qualifier Josh Buuck for the Hoosiers.

Penn State will have a battle to replace All American Aaron Anspach with two transfers, a returning All American, and a top ranked recruit to compete for their opening. Three time All American Phil Davis may move up from 197 pounds. If Davis is not the starter look for true freshman Cameron Wade to battle redshirt sophomore transfers John Laborati from Virginia Tech and Stefan Tighe from Nebraska. Wade is a two time Ohio state champion and three time finalist for Bedford St. Peter Channel High School.

Michigan heavyweight Casey White was expected to drop to 197 pounds but will not be wrestling this season. Irregardless of what happens with White, it appears the plan was for redshirt freshman Matt Guhn to start this season. An Ohio native, Guhn was a state champ and two time finalist for Clyde High School.

J.D. Bergman is a three time placer at the Big Ten Tournament and a finalist at 197 pounds in 2007. Even with the move up in weight, Bergman enters the season with high expectations and will be counted on to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State misses Northwestern and Illinois this year so a match up with Wyse or Fox will not affect his seed. If Bergman can put it all together, it would not be an upset to him in the finals.

2007 Big Ten Tournament Place Winners: (2008 class rank)

First: Cole Konrad (Minnesota) GraduatedNCAA 2007 first, 2006 first, 2005 second

Second: Aaron Anspach (Penn State) GraduatedNCAA: 2007 second

Third: Dustin Fox (Northwestern; senior) NCAA: 2007 fourth

Fourth: Matt Fields (Iowa; senior)

Fifth: Kyle Massey (Wisconsin; junior)

Sixth: Josh Buuck (Indiana) Graduated

Seventh: John Wise (Illinois; junior)

Eighth: Corey Morrison (Ohio State; junior)

DNP: Alan O’Donnell (Michigan State; sophomore); David Pisarcik (Purdue; junior); and Casey White (Michigan, sophomore)

2007-2008 NCAA Outlook: 285 pounds

Dustin Fox leads six returning All Americans in a weight class that lost both finalists to graduation. A pair of OSU wrestlers finished fourth last season as Ohio State senior J.D. Bergman earned honors at 197 pounds while Oklahoma State senior Ty Watterson was at heavyweight. Other returning All Americans include Central Michigan senior Bubba Gritter, Central Michigan junior Wade Sauer, and Bloomsburg senior Michael Spaid. Include Penn State senior Phil Davis in this debate if the three time All American makes the move to heavyweight.

With return trips to the NCAA Tournament, the field will be strengthened by the return of all four wrestlers that qualified for the round of twelve. Edinboro senior Joe Fendone, West Virginia senior Dustin Rogers and Iowa State junior David Zabriskie each lost the match that guaranteed their All American status. Ohio native and UT-Chattanooga senior Matt Koz is expected to drop to 197 pounds this season. Also back in action are two senior wrestlers that were seeded and upset last year; Navy’s Ed Prendergast and Iowa’s Matt Fields. Prendergast, a St. Louis native, will be the hometown favorite.

Bergman may take some losses making the transition, but he will not be overlooked come tournament time. There is not a wrestler in the field that would take Tommy Rowlands right now and Bergman will be practicing with him every day. While he may struggle in some match ups, look for him to develop consistency and build momentum as the season closes. Bergman will face a veteran field at the NCAA Tournament and while a title run is not out of the question, it will not be an easy task.

2007 NCAA Tournament Place Winners: (2008 class rank)

First: Cole Konrad (Minnesota) GraduatedNCAA 2007 first, 2006 first, 2005 second

Second: Aaron Anspach (Penn State) GraduatedNCAA: 2007 second

Third: Dustin Fox (Northwestern; junior)

Fourth: Ty Watterson (Oregon State; senior)

Fifth: Bubba Gritter (Central Michigan; senior)

Sixth: Wade Sauer (CS-Fullerton; junior) Fresno State

Seventh: Payam Zarrinpour (Sacred Heart) Graduated

Eighth: Mike Spaid (Bloomsburg; senior)

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