OHIO STATE WRESTLING
Freshmen learn more lessons in tri-meet
Nail impresses in finale; Johnstone, Mueller also adjusting to higher
level
Scott Priestle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Say this for Ohio State heavyweight Kirk Nail: He is not easily intimidated, and he gives as good as he gets.
But he is still a freshman, and like many of his young teammates he is getting daily lessons on Big Ten wrestling. Yesterday, the lesson came in the form of a split-second lapse during an 11-minute match.
In the 30 th and final match of a tri-meet in St. John Arena, Nail took fourth-ranked Pat DeGain of Indiana into a fourth overtime before surrendering a takedown and back points. DeGain won the match 8-4, and Indiana won the dual 24-9.
“I just relaxed for a second, “Nail said. “You can’t do that in college wrestling.”
Earlier in the day, he helped the Buckeyes crush Virginia 36-6 with his eighth straight win ” a feat all the more impressive considering he began the season in a back brace because of an off-season injury.
“It had to be a big, quick transition, “he said. “Just because I’m a freshman doesn’t mean I don’t hold myself accountable.”
That attitude, along with his considerable skills, is why Ohio State coaches were willing to insert Nail into the lineup as a true freshman, along with classmates Jason Johnstone and Keegan Mueller. The trio combined to go 4-5 over the weekend, a mixed bag that sums up their team’s performance.
The Buckeyes looked listless Friday in a loss to Purdue, but Nail, Johnstone and Mueller all won. Ohio State then won eight of 10 matches against Virginia, with the only losses by Johnstone at 141 pounds and Mueller at 157. All three freshmen lost against Indiana, although Johnstone took nationally ranked Mike Simpson to overtime and Nail took DeGain to four overtimes.
All-American J.D. Bergman won both of his matches at 197 for the Buckeyes (7-7, 0-2 Big Ten), as did T.J. Enright at 133 and Steve Wolery at 149.
“We’re still really inconsistent, “Bergman said. “We wrestled really tough against Virginia, but we keep losing too many tough matches.”
Watkins Memorial grad Aaron Martin got Virginia (3-8) its first win with a 7-6 decision over Johnstone. But the Buckeyes recorded two first-period pins and three major decisions, including a 13-3 win by Bergman over Columbus Academy grad Scott Smith.
The tide turned in the finale when Brandon Becker of Indiana beat Mueller by major decision, 9-1. The Hoosiers (14-1, 2-0) won the next three weight classes to seal the dual.
The fans who remained until the end were rewarded. Nail and DeGain traded escapes ” and a few scrapes ” in regulation. Late in the second period, Nail flipped DeGain to the mat but out of bounds. There was aggressive contact throughout the match.
“Nail doesn’t take any crap from anybody, “Bergman said. “He’s a grown man.”
The first overtime is a one-minute period with the wrestlers on their feet, and neither was able to score. The second overtime consists of two 30-second periods, with each wrestler beginning a period on top; Nail and DeGain traded escapes, forcing a third overtime. Again the wrestlers began on their feet, and again neither scored.
Nail opened the fourth OT in the bottom position and quickly escaped. Moments later, he and DeGain tied up, and Nail thought he was in position to flip DeGain as he had in the second period. Instead, DeGain threw him to the mat for a takedown and three near-fall points.
“I thought I had time to sit my hips back, “Nail said. “He committed, I didn’t.”
Indiana coach Duane Goldman was impressed with Nail’s effort.
“He’s just a tough kid. He’s big and strong, “Goldman said. “And heavyweight is different than the lighter weights. Big and strong goes a long way, even for a freshman.”
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