Schlatters going great as Gophers
Ex-Westerville residents among NCAA’s best
Scott Priestle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
C.P. and Dustin Schlatter were arguably the two best wrestlers to come out of Ohio since Tommy Rowlands, and perhaps going back even further. They will return to the state this weekend as two of the best in the country.
C.P. Schlatter, a redshirt sophomore at Minnesota, is ranked as high as fourth at 157 pounds. Dustin, a true freshman, is ranked first at 149.
In the past two weeks, Dustin has beaten four wrestlers who at the time were ranked in the top five nationally, including defending NCAA champion Zack Esposito of Oklahoma State and previously unbeaten Ty Eustice of Iowa. There should be no doubt he deserves his lofting ranking.
“I’m not surprised that he’s up there, “C.P. Schlatter said. “Maybe I’m surprised that he did it so quickly, so early in the season. But that’s all.”
The Schlatters, who grew up in Westerville, were among the most-sought recruits in the country when they finished high school. C.P. won two state titles for DeSales and two for St. Paris Graham, and Dustin won two for Graham and two for Massillon Perry.
That they chose to attend Minnesota goes a long way toward explaining why the Gophers carry a No. 1 national ranking into their dual meet at Ohio State today while the Buckeyes cling to the hope of a better tomorrow.
“A lot of people think Oklahoma State is still the team to beat in a tournament, but people know we’re right there, “Dustin Schlatter said.
It was the prospect of competing for the national title that persuaded him to wrestle this season, rather than taking a redshirt season, as he initially hoped. The 149-pound weight class is top-heavy with seniors, and by sitting out this season Dustin Schlatter could have bypassed them, but it would have left the Gophers with a gaping hole in their lineup.
“The coaches thought they needed me to step in, “he said, “and I was ready for the challenge.”
He proved it from the opening tournament, but particularly in the past two weeks. He avenged his only loss of the season ” to Mark DiSalvo of Central Michigan ” and improved to 28-1.
“It shows I’m on the level of the best guys. I’m capable of winning an NCAA title, “Dustin Schlatter said. “Now I have to keep it up.”
While he was rising to the top of the rankings, his brother was overcoming the disappointment of last season. C.P. Schlatter beat Kevin Ward of Oklahoma State to avenge two losses from this season, then beat Joe Johnston of Iowa to avenge two losses from last season.
“This is a big turning point for me right now, “he said.
After redshirting during the 2003-04 season, C.P. Schlatter suffered a knee injury at the Junior Pan Am games and missed the start of last season, then struggled with the cut to 149 pounds. He eventually moved up to 157, where he finished fourth in the Big Ten and won three matches at the NCAA tournament. The following Monday he began two-a-day workouts with an eye toward All-American honors and perhaps a national title this season.
“It’s just confidence, “he said. “I have so much more confidence now than I did last year. I’m getting better every week.”
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