Ohio State’s Logan Stieber stands atop the NCAA podium for the third straight time in 2014. Tony Rotundo photo. Continued from page 6
ing fun with it. I can’t ask for a better team and better coaches.” Stieber was asked about the pressure associated with his run at history.
“This year should be the easiest year,” he said. “I can think about the fourth title now because it’s the next one. Last year, I had to stay focused on three before I could think about four. I have always concentrated on winning the next title in front of me and that’s what I’m doing. Nothing’s really changing.” Stieber said he arrived in Columbus with lofty goals. “When I came here, my goal was to win four national titles,” he said. “I knew it was going to be tough, but I’ve had great coaching and I’ve had great game plans for my matches. I knew where I made mistakes against guys I’ve lost to, and I’ve worked hard on fixing those problems.” Stieber won his second title the same year Dake won his fourth title in 2013 in Des Moines, Iowa. “I saw what Dake did when he won his fourth title,” Stieber said. “He kept his cool, and he won some close matches. He
went out there and stayed focused. He stuck to his plan.” Stieber knows how difficult it is to win just one NCAA title. He edged Oklahoma State’s Jordan Oliver, who won two NCAA titles, in the 133-pound national finals as a freshman in 2012. Stieber then held off Iowa’s Tony Ramos in a close 2013
NCAA finals battle at 133. Ramos came back to win an NCAA title in 2014 and make the U.S. World Team in freestyle wrestling. Stieber moved up to 141 pounds last season and he was more dominant in winning his third NCAA title. He rolled past Virginia Tech’s Devin Carter 10-1 in the 2014 finals at 141. The move up from 133 to 141 made a significant difference
for Stieber during his junior season. Stieber is a strong, physical wrestler who excels on his feet and also is lethal with a punishing approach from the top posi- tion.
“Moving up to 141 has made a huge difference for me,” he said. “I feel a lot better and a lot stronger. I had to move up last
Continued on page 8 USA Wrestler 7
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