Wrestling
Cleveland Indians Honor Jaggers & Pucillo
Wrestlers throw first pitches to open the Battle of Ohio
By Kevin Schlosser(Cleveland, Ohio) Ohio State national champions J. Jaggers and Mike Pucillo grew up Cleveland Indians baseball fans. On Friday night they were invited by the Tribe to throw out the opening pitches at Progressive Field as Cleveland opened a series with the Cincinnati Reds. The hometown boys did northeast Ohio proud on the mat for the Buckeyes and the Indians returned the favor on the field with a win in front of 34,844 fans.
Mike Pucillo (left) and J Jaggers prepare to throw out the first pitch.
Photo by Kevin Schlosser“I grew up a fan of Cleveland everything; the Cleveland Browns, the Indians, and the Cavs; Cleveland everything,” admitted Jaggers. “I am definitely a big Cleveland Indians fan.
It was much the same story with Puccillo.
“I am a real big Cleveland sports fan period, but I have always been a big Indians fan,” stressed Pucillo. “I can remember going to game back in 1995 and 1997 when I was a little kid.”
It is not everyday that a wrestler gets to throw out a first pitch a fact not lost on Jaggers.
“It was an incredible experience; a lot of times wrestling doesn’t really get the limelight that many other sports do so it’s great to see wrestling get recognized,” said Jaggers. “(OSU Head Wrestling Coach) Tom Ryan and the work of Chris Vondruska had a lot to do with making today happen. They are making sure that we get the notoriety for what we do because it is such a great accomplishment that we are very proud of achieving.”
“Any time our student athletes at Ohio State are recognized by the community it is a good thing,” stated Ryan. “When those Buckeyes are national champion wrestlers it is even better if you ask me. We are very proud of J. Jaggers and Mike Pucillo on and off the mat.”
As multi-sport athletes both Jaggers and Pucillo excelled in football but each played baseball growing up and at times had aspirations of playing for the Tribe.
“When I was younger I wanted to play baseball at Southern California and come back home to play for the Indians,” admitted Pucillo.“Going to a lot of games over the years you always wonder what it would be like to be out there and I got to do it in my own way today.”
“I grew up playing baseball until I started wrestling freestyle going into my freshman year. Every kid has those kinds of dreams,” offered Jaggers. “I had to sideline baseball and started focusing on wrestling which as of right now is a good choice.”
Though both have played baseball and have competed at the highest level in college wrestling, delivering a pitch in a big league park was a challenge.
“It was a little crazy standing out there,” said Jaggers with a smile. “I was just hoping I didn’t throw the ball in the dirt.”
“All I want to say is that my pitch was better than J.’s,” countered Pucillo with an even bigger smile. “Mine was a strike and I don’t think his was close so I am pretty excited about that.”
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