Snyder wins national title despite rib injury
ST. LOUIS — That Kyle Snyder repeated as NCAA wrestling national champion would have surprised no one at the start of this competition.
The top- seeded and undefeated Snyder has already won at every level — collegiate, worlds, Olympics. But a rib injury he suffered Thursday and aggravated Friday cast doubt on whether he could or even should compete.
But Snyder was undaunted, and he did what Kyle Snyder does — win.
Outweighed by Wisconsin’s Connor Medbery by 39 pounds, Snyder managed to get takedowns in the first and second periods and withstood a late takedown for a 6- 3 victory in the heavyweight division at the Scottrade Center.
Ohio State’s other finalist, 174- pounder Bo Jordan, lost 5- 2 to Penn State’s Mark Hall.
Snyder got an early takedown by lifting Medbery — a friend and sometime practice partner — and slamming him down.
“Yeah, that was a cool takedown,” Snyder said. “I don’t think I ever lifted Connor up like that in practice or any matches. So that’s good. It means I’m getting stronger.”
Snyder took painkilling shots Friday and did so again before the championship match.
“When he lifted that monster in the first period,” coach Tom Ryan said, “I knew he was probably feeling no pain because that’s going to cause the ribcage to kind of collapse a little bit. He’s a gladiator. He loves to wrestle, no matter the circumstances.”
Snyder said was in only “a little bit” of pain.
“With the shots and the adrenaline, I was feeling pretty good,” Snyder said.
Snyder has had bigger victories — it’s hard to outdo with the worlds and Olympics — but under the circumstances, it was plenty special.
“I’m just happy I could wrestle well, represent Ohio State well,” he said.
Jordan’s match with Hall was a rematch of their Big Ten championship match, which was won by Jordan with an overtime takedown.
A couple of the officials’ decisions weighed heavily Saturday night. Jordan trailed 1- 0 when he went for a takedown that Ryan — and vocal Buckeyes fans — thought he got. But the refs didn’t credit Jordan for it, and Hall got a reversal off the move for a 3-0 lead.
Ryan challenged the call, and after a lengthy deliberation, the original call was confirmed.
“We thought it should have been two for Bo,” Ryan said.
He was torn about making the challenge because the strategy against Hall was to have Jordan wear him down. The break gave Hall a chance to catch his breath.
Ryan also wanted a stalling call on Hall late when Jordan trailed 3-2, but none was forthcoming.
“He could have called stalling for the bad call he made earlier, yeah,” Ryan said.
With Jordan desperate for a takedown, Hall got one instead in the final seconds to clinch it.
“That was heartbreaking to see,” Ryan said. “He wrestled the way he needed to beat him. It just didn’t happen tonight.”
As disappointed as he was, Jordan was pleased with his performance.
“I thought my effort was good,” Jordan said. “I wrestled hard. At the end, I just didn’t get it.”
That was representative of Ohio State’s tournament.
“It was a good weekend,” Ryan said. “I thought we’d leave with a few more champs, to be honest. But it was a great year for the team, and it’ll be great to have them all back.”