THE LAST WORD
Stieber, Ryan, Buckeyes win with dignity, class
S
T. LOUIS – Sure, the Ohio State Buckeyes wanted to win the Big Ten tournament title outright. The Buckeyes were seeking their first league title since 1951 and were wrestling at home in front of a boister-
ous home crowd in early March at St. John Arena. The Buckeyes were locked in a tight team race with perennial
power Iowa, but the teams ended up sharing the championship. But the Buckeyes still soaked in the moment, as they should
have. They passed out Big Ten championship hats and shirts. They smiled, hugged, celebrated and enjoyed the moment.
They didn’t act like the world had come to an end. They had fun with it. Two weeks later, at the NCAA Championships, Ohio State
was still having fun. But they weren’t in a sharing mood. The Buckeyes turned in a magical performance, led by four-
time NCAA champion Logan Stieber (141 pounds), to capture their first national title in their program’s 94-year history. They also did it with freshmen stars Nathan Tomasello (1st at
125), Kyle Snyder (2nd at 197) and Bo Jordan (3rd at 165) play- ing a huge role, along with junior Kenny Courts (5th at 184). And they did it without any points from two-time All-American
Hunter Stieber, who courageously tried to compete even though he had two injured elbows that will both require surgery. Ohio State coach Tom Ryan called Hunter Stieber the team’s
MVP at Big Tens after he somehow won his first two matches before placing sixth. Hunter Stieber, Logan’s younger brother, certainly provided
plenty of inspiration to his talented Buckeye teammates. Logan Stieber, what can you say, he’s been a joy to watch. Stieber has been winning matches on the Senior level in freestyle since he was in high school and he’s won a Junior World silver medal in freestyle for the United States. Stieber has been a force on the Senior level with his strong
blend of strength, speed, skill and superior conditioning. It’s been fun to follow his remarkable career. Stieber said a few hours after becoming just the fourth wrestler to win four NCAA titles that he planned to take a week off before starting training for May’s U.S. Open. Stieber has a legitimate chance to make the U.S. World Team
Craig Sesker
and U.S. Olympic Team in the next two years at 65 kg/143 lbs. That weight class is very strong and very deep in the U.S., but I wouldn’t count him out. Stieber was second at the 2012 Olympic Trials even though he still had three college seasons left. Above all, Stieber carries himself very well on and off the mat.
He’s a genuinely very good kid who is a class act all the way. I’ve never seen him throw a headgear or throw a tantrum. He’s been the model student-athlete, and I know he was com-
pleted vested in Ohio State’s quest to win its first team title. Tomasello, Snyder and Jordan are an amazing young trio,
and the Buckeyes look like a national title contender again next year with Hunter Stieber expected back healthy. Ohio State has a great leader in Ryan. He’s a very polished, articulate, personable, good-looking and well-dressed coach who looks and sounds like he could be a top executive for a big company. He handles himself with class and dignity. And his teams
excel in the classroom. Ryan’s a guy who gets it. He’s a master with the media, and
he’s a guy who is typically accessible and you can always count on to return calls and be available for interviews. Fortunately for Ohio State, he’s a really good wrestling coach
as well. He’s built a powerful program that is here to stay. And he’s the CEO of the best team in the land.
42 USA Wrestler
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