From the Cleveland Plain Dealer
COLLEGE WRESTLING: CLIFF KEEN NATIONAL DUALS
Cowboys prove to be too tough for Illini
Pat Galbincea
Plain Dealer Reporter
Two things were needed Sunday for the University of Illinois to upset defending NCAA champion Oklahoma State in the Division I finals of the 2005 Cliff Keen National Duals at Cleveland State.
The Fighting Illini needed more Ohio wrestlers like Kyle Ott (125 pounds) and Mark Jayne (133), or a heavyweight like the Cowboys’ Steve Mocco.
Of course, they had neither, and the Cowboys — sparked by pins from national champs Chris Pendleton (174) and Mocco — beat Illinois, 22-15.
Ott, a three-time state champ at Hubert Heights Wayne and St. Paris Graham, and Jayne, a three-time state champ at St. Edward, got the Illini off to a good start with a pair of decisions.
Lightning-quick Ott took Coleman Scott down three times in a 6-4 decision. Jayne overcame a 5-2 deficit with inside trip and spin-behind takedowns to earn a 7-6 victory over freshman Nathan Morgan.
“I didn’t know what to expect from my opponent, so I concentrated on what I do best, “Ott said. “Man, it’s a lot tougher wrestling in college. Guys are a lot stronger, more intense, and hold their position [on the mat] a lot better.
“How did Mark and I get better in college? We have great coaches and drill against national champion-caliber guys in practice. We get to work out every day with [ex-Penn State NCAA champ] Jeremy Hunter. That’ll make you better in a hurry.”
Jayne, the top-ranked 133-pounder in the nation, suffered a sprained toe on his left foot after he relaxed briefly in the second period and was taken down by Morgan. Jayne’s winning takedown came with 57 seconds left, and he rode Morgan out with the famed St. Edward spiral and a deep waist.
“Morgan had a reputation of being a great high school wrestler, “Jayne said. “He also wrestles the typical Oklahoma style. I just got off to a slow start, but it’s my style to wear an opponent out. I win a lot of matches in the last few seconds.”
Both universities won five bouts, but pins by Pendleton and Mocco made the difference for the Cowboys along with injured Johny Hendricks’ 5-3 victory over Donnie Reynolds at 165 pounds.
Pendleton caught fifth-ranked Pete Friedl in an inside-out trip for a fall in 1:04 that deflated the Illini.
“I thought Johny was the real hero, “Pendleton said. “Coach [John Smith] told me after the 157-pound match to warm up fast . . . he might forfeit. Johny gutted it out against a very good opponent.
“I always go out looking to win, and only occasionally gamble for a pin. I realized we’d need a pin, if only to take pressure off Mocco. Usually Steve takes the pressure off us.”
Minnesota finished third in Division I over Lehigh, 24-13, as another St. Edward state champ freshman Matt Koz (197) won a key bout by disqualification over two-time NCAA runner-up Jon Trenge.
Trenge tried an upper-body throw but Koz rolled out unscathed, and moments later Trenge threw an open-handed punch, hitting Koz in the nose.
“I rolled out of the throw, and since the referee didn’t blow a whistle, I went after [Trenge], “Koz said. “Next thing I know, he threw a punch at me. I’ve wrestled a long time and something like that has never happened to me before. I would have preferred wrestling him a full seven minutes.”
In the women’s division, Cumberland College — coached by former Cleveland Heights High assistant Kip Flanik — continued to dominate, even without graduated Olympian and Cleveland native Toccara Montgomery.
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