The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Penn St. captures national title
Ohio State’s hopes of capturing a Division I NCAA championship fell short March 17 at Quicken Loans Arena to rival Penn State, 141.5-133.5.
The Buckeyes entered the finals with a 130.5-124.5 lead, but needed a slip-up by the Nittany Lions, who had five competing in the finals, to have any chance. Ohio State had a pair in the finals in Myles Martin (184) and Kyle Snyder (285), while Penn State had Zain Retherford (149), Jason Nolf (157), Vincenzo Joseph (165), Mark Hall (174), and Bo Nickal (184).
Penn State won its first three finals bouts with Retherford, Nolf and Joseph. But after Arizona State’s Zahid Valencia (174) beat Hall in a 8-2 decision, Penn State had a 136.5130.5 lead, which set up the championship decisive match between Martin and Nickal.
Nickal barreled Martin to his back in the first period for a pinfall and title clincher for the Nittany Lions. Penn State’s Jason Nolf celebrates after beating N.C. State’s Hayden Hidlay at 157 pounds during the championship round of the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament on
“I can’t even describe it,” Nickal said, a two-time NCAA champion. “I was super excited. It was a crazy moment. You go to Penn State to win titles as an individual and as a team — and that’s what we do. That’s what we train for ... we have the best coaches in the country, best facilities and best fans.”
Penn State had a business-like attitude throughout the week, and Nickal finally exhaled a sigh of relief after the win.
“I think, you know, we’re business-like to a point, maybe more so in front of the cameras and stuff like that,” he said. “But we have a lot of personalities on the team, a lot of guys. We’re all having fun, joking around, enjoying the moment, really.
“I think the people on the outside see just a little bit of it. So they see the business and getting out there on the mat and doing our job type of thing, but they don’t really see the ins and outs. So as far as like us being businesslike, that’s how we treat our matches. And we’re going to go out there and be efficient and score points and make the most of the opportunities. But at the same time, we’re having fun. I enjoy just hanging out with my team in tournaments and just kicking back, relaxing. That’s almost better than the actual wrestling, just being able to be in a relationship with my teammates. And I just really feel like it’s a huge blessing from God to be around the guys I am, and I’m lucky to be on the
team I am.”
Buckeyes fans had a chance to see No. 1 Snyder for the final time against No. 2 Michigan’s Adam Coon, who split matchups during the year. Snyder won a 3-2 decision in his final collegiate match to win his third NCAA title. It was tied 1-1 late in the third before Snyder hit Coon with a head shuck and held on.
The Buckeyes had a record eight All-Americans in Nathan Tomasello (thirrd at 125), Luke Pletcher (fourth at 133), Joey McKenna (third at 141), Micah Jordan (sixth at 157), Bo Jordan (fifth at 174), Kollin Moore (fourth at 197) along with Martin (second) and Snyder.
Jordan (174), Tomasello and Snyder are the first trio in NCAA history to become four-time All-Americans in the same season.