Great Expectations: OWS Discusses this Year’s Buckeye Squad with Tom Ryan

(above): Tom Ryan has lived up to his billing and more as Head Wrestling Coach of Ohio State University.

It would be an understatement to say that Tom Ryan came to Columbus two years ago with high expectations from the fans of this state- many of who viewed him as a virtual savior of the struggling program.  After all, following a wrestling career which saw him finish as an NCAA Runner-up (nearly defeating 4x NCAA Champion Pat Smith) at the University of Iowa, Ryan built a Hofstra program that was among the worst in the nation to consistent top ten status nationally- and (along with Central Michigan) he built the team into being perhaps the best in the nation that did not come with the advantages of being from one wrestling’s major conferences. 

The OSU Athletic Department and wrestling fans recognized that the same coaching, leadership, and management ability which enabled Ryan to engineer the amazing turnaround at Hofstra could create an absolute juggernaut if given the resources of a major university in one of the nation’s best wrestling states.  Ryan has not disappointed, as the Buckeyes have gone from back-to-back 11th place finishes in the Big Ten to NCAA Runner-up in just two short years.  While Ryan is quick to credit wrestlers and his unmatched group of Assistants- Lou Rosselli, Joe Heskett, and Tommy Rowlands- there is no mistaking who has orchestrated the revitalizing of the Buckeye program.  Ohio Wrestling Site caught up with Coach Ryan shortly before the Ohio Duals this weekend……

Ohio Wrestling Site: Coach, first I’d like to talk about the upcoming All-Star Match at Ohio State on November 24th.  What can you tell us about this match? 
Tom Ryan: Well, I think it is a preview of the national championships, you have seven #1 vs. #2, and most of the other matches are #1 or #2 versus #3.  It’s just a great opportunity for Ohio fans to see the best in collegiate wrestling. We’re happy to host and looking forward to hosting it.

OWS: Coach Ryan, can you give us a list of who will be wrestling?
Ryan: Sure.  It will be Reece Humphrey, Colt Sponseller, and J.Jaggers.
(OWS Note: NCAA Champion Jaggers will be wrestling as the #1 ranked wrestler against #2 Nick Gallick, while Humphrey and Sponseller will be given exhibition matches that the host school of the All-Star match always is permitted.  Humphrey will be wrestling #3 ranked Jimmy Kennedy of Illinois while Sponseller will be wrestling #3 Moza Fay of Northern Iowa).

(above): Colt Sponseller delivers a stunning 22-7 technical fall over NAIA National Champion Victor Crenshaw. Photo Credit: Bob Tuneberg, Villager News.

OWS: No Mike Pucillo?
Ryan: Mike Pucillo is not quite healthy. It’s nothing serious, it’s a little nagging injury, nothing that will keep him out for the year, but it’s just one of those nagging ones that can bother you all year if you don’t take care of it.

OWS: When do you think Pucillo will return, for the Las Vegas invitational on December 5th and 6th perhaps?
Ryan:  Yes, probably for Vegas.

OWS: That makes sense.  Speaking of the All-Star match, how important do you think it is to have a strong turnout, in terms of future events such as the National Duals and NCAA’s being held in Ohio?

Ryan: I think it’s absolutely crucial that we have a great turnout.  You know, I think the wrestling world views Ohio as one of the premier states in the country, and I think it affirms that view if we have a good turnout.  We want the event back next year, and as you mentioned a great turnout will help with that.  I also think it’s a great opportunity for young wrestlers and fans to see the very best in Ohio Wrestling.

OWS:  Coach Ryan, J.Jaggers had to default out of the North Carolina State Open last weekend, can we expect to see Jaggers in the lineup in the near future? What can you tell us about his situation? (OWS Note: Jaggers did subsequently wrestle at the Ohio Duals).
Ryan: Yes, he suffered a concussion in the quarterfinals and then bumped his head again in the semifinals, he was winning the match and the doctor said he couldn’t continue. It was out of our control.  We expect that he will be o.k. in the near future.  He will be wrestling at the Ohio Duals

OWS: How about Corey Morrison, who also defaulted out of the North Carolina State Open?

Ryan: Corey is day by day right now, he tweaked his knee at NC State so we’re not sure right now.  You know, we always want to represent the Buckeyes with our very best team, but you know, we are fortunate enough to have some depth.  

OWS: Who will wrestle at heavyweight while Morrison is out? John Hiles?
Ryan: Actually it will be Jason Cook (OWS Note: usually a 197)

OWS: John Hiles will redshirt I take it?
Ryan: Right now he is.  Corey has shown right now he’s our best guy, until John proves otherwise Corey’s our guy.

OWS: Coach Ryan, I’d like to ask you about a concept that you developed that you have termed “the Ohio State Way.”  What is the Ohio State Way?
Ryan: The Ohio State Way is a focus on building excellence in three areas of each of our wrestler’s lives: Athletic excellence, academic excellence, and community service.  It’s a focus on building what you might call “life champions.” It’s taking a young man who is 18 to 22 years old and building him in every important aspect of life, not just wrestling.

OWS: Does the philosophy behind “the Ohio State Way” factor into your recruiting approach? 
Ryan: Well, I think that parents…obviously nobody loves their child they way their parent does.  Sending them off to college is always a concern.  I think it’s comforting to a parent to put them in the hands of someone that will have their best interest at heart and develop then in every aspect of their life.  That’s not to say that winning is not a priority here- but having a 3.0 is also a priority here.  Impact in the community is a priority.  I think it’s more than talking about it, I think the results speak for themselves.  I think the turnaround has been fast….that when you rise to second in the nation, it only re-affirms to the people in the program what you are doing, that is a powerful thing.  It was one year, but when we are twenty years down the road, and we have twenty (NCAA) trophies, and have done thousands of hours of community service, it will have been about doing the right things, and choosing the right people. 

(above): NCAA Champion J.Jaggers won a 6-0 victory over former teammate Adam Koballa of Notre Dame and 14-2 over Lawrence Cavello of Cleveland State. Photo Credit: Bob Tuneberg, Villager News.

OWS: Changing direction- and this is probably a question you might not have anticipated- this past summer the Olympics were held and the performance of the United States might be described as “dismal” at best.   What do you think is causing us to struggle on the world stage and what will it take to become a premier wrestling nation again?
Ryan: Umm….why are we struggling……  I think there’s probably a long, in-depth question that could have many answers.   (Pauses) I think our system of qualifying needs to be looked at.  I think we left some people home who could have helped. I think we need to focus not only on our #1 and #2 guy but on all of our guys.  Who is to say that #10 guy with the right opportunities could not be the top guy?  Part of it is a funding issue….more funding and financial incentives is certainly part of the solution.  I obviously don’t have all the answers but hard work and getting the right people to get involved and to stay involved would be crucial.

OWS: Some feel that the fact that so many collegiate wrestlers abandon freestyle in college has an impact, what is your take on viewpoint, given that you have been a collegiate wrestling coach for over a decade?
Ryan: There’s no question that it does.  Russian athletes are world class at 20 years old.  Our guys are focused solely on college wrestling at that age.  It has to impact us- it’s nearly a completely different style.  Clearly if we were solely a freestyle nation, we would obviously do much better, but I happen to be a huge fan of our style of wrestling.  But, skill-wise, there should be a national system across the board for teaching freestyle.  Skills like how you go from a single leg directly into an ankle lace.  It would help if everyone opening a freestyle wrestling club somehow learned the same system or had to go through some kind of similar training.

OWS: Like a certification?

Ryan: Yeah, exactly.  In wrestling, anyone can coach.  But if we had a certification, and a system of teaching, it would help.  The implementation of that system is the hard part- the Russians have it, and they win.

OWS: That is certainly true, unfortunately!  Now I understand there is a US Olympic Training facility at Ohio State- how can that help future wrestlers with Olympic aspirations?

Ryan: Well, we are now a regional training center.  It allows us to have guys like Shawn Bunch and JD Bergman training here at Ohio State.  It’s really critical for us here to raise the necessary funds to have the freestyle club train to bring in elite athletes.

OWS: So the guys training to make the Olympic Team train with your wrestlers also- like you have Shawn Bunch working out with J.Jaggers? 
Ryan: Yeah, in turn they can work with our college athletes while they are training here for the Olympics.

OWS: Coach Ryan, I’d like to talk about  few of your wrestlers that the fans will be curious about.  Two years ago Cody Gardner was the #1 215 lb. high school wrestler in the nation, after dropping off the wrestling team last year at Virginia Tech, he is competing for the Buckeyes and is now down to 197- how has he transitioned to college and to the new weight?
Ryan: Extremely well.  I think Cody will be a great story.  Hodge winner in high school, he struggled around the wrong people.  He’s been given another chance at Ohio State, and seized on that opportunity.  Cody had a 3.5 this summer and quickly becoming a cornerstone of the program.  The rust is off, he’s undefeated, and a great talent.

OWS: That’s great. Coach Ryan, many of us were quite surprised that Dave Rella lost 11-2 to Mike Letts in North Carolina.  What are your thoughts on that match?
Ryan: Well, it was not a good match for him. I would say that early in the match he got caught for a five, and when he got off his back he got caught in a turk, and was down 7-0.  Obviously he needs to respond better than he did in that match, but I think he’s improving every day and will be on that (NCAA) podium.  It’s very important that he shakes that loss off and puts it behind him. I think this is a team that is learning to compete, to win a championship we will need ten guys who are fighting their hearts out.

OWS: How about (NCAA Qualifier) Jason Johnstone- he seems to be doing well, is he finally a full-sized 157?  
Ryan: I don’t think so, no, but I think he’s got a lot more confidence than last year.  I think that his performance at Big Ten’s last year was a stepping stone going into this year. So he’s a little bigger for the weight and a lot more confident.  He’s certainly been wrestling very well and has secured the spot for now.

OWS: Last year, Colt Sponseller electrified Buckeye fans as the true freshman got off to a 16-0 start, but then faded down the stretch.  In the off-season, you and I talked about how Sponseller’s primary needs were to get stronger and shore up his defense so he didn’t begin every match down 2-0.  Do you think he’s done those things?
Ryan: Yeah I do, I think he’s been fired up since the Big Ten’s.  So far this year he hasn’t given up a takedown and he’s gotten a lot stronger.  He will be tested by Moza Fay (at the all-star match on November 24th), who is a great scrambler and very good on top. (OWS Note: Sponseller won 22-7 over NAIA National Champ and former 2x NCAA Qualifier Victor Crenshaw shortly after this interview).

OWS: How about Reece Humphrey- he had the big summer of course finishing 2nd at the University World Championships, do you believe that will that translate into folkstyle success this year?
Ryan: I absolutely do.  Humphrey is competing at a different level than he has in the past, and his expectations are different.  He’s in great shape, he’s building his leads, he’s doing all the things that people who win championships do.  We’re very happy. 

OWS: Finally Coach, I’d like to talk about the Ohio State recruiting class thus far. Right now you have signed Collin Palmer, Nick Heflin, and Jacob Vaughan from Ohio, and Ian Paddock from New York.  What are your thoughts on the recruiting class to date?
Ryan: We’ve solidified our needs, we don’t have a huge class at this point, but the weight classes we needed we filled. Right at this point, the early season is done, and it’s assessing what our needs are as the season moves along.

OWS: Coach Ryan, thanks for taking the time and good luck with your season!
Ryan: Thanks!

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- OhioWrestlingSite.com