Thursday, March 01, 2001
Ohio state wrestling preview
Broken legs don't end Rowland's dream
By Chris Yeager
Enquirer contributor
Jared Rowland (right) practices with teammate Tim Ruberg.
(Dick Swaim photo)
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For Harrison's Jared Rowland, reaching the state wrestling tournament is a dream come true that started out like a nightmare.
Rowland is one of 33 local Division I wrestlers who will compete in the state meet beginning at 3 p.m. today at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center.
Rowland is lucky to be wrestling at all. Toward the end of his sophomore year, he broke both legs in a motorcycle accident. He sat out his junior season, and after months of physical therapy, he tore the meniscus and some cartilage in his knee at a preseason scrimmage.
Then, over Christmas, he damaged his hand in a car wreck. Rowland couldn't start his senior season until after New Year's.
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AT A GLANCE
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Where: Jerome L. Schottenstein Center, Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road, Columbus.
When: Today-Saturday.
Tickets: $35 for five sessions, plus service charges. A limited number of single-session general-admission tickets will be available one hour prior to each session. Call 1-800-462-8257.
Today's schedule: Arena doors and ticket offices open at 2p.m., first session begins at 3p.m. Championship preliminaries: Division III, 3p.m.; Division II, 4:20p.m.; Division I, 6p.m. Consolation rounds: Division III, 7:45p.m.; Division II, 8:30p.m.; Division I, 9:10p.m.
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“Jared's been wrestling since he was very young,” Harrison coach Chad Dennis said. “I'm sure there were times this season when he felt like quitting.”
A sectional runner-up at 140 pounds, Rowland placed fourth in last week's district tournament at Fairfield, losing to Moeller's Joe Zinkan in the semifinals.
“It makes me feel good to come back and be a state qualifier,” Rowland said. “I've lost a whole lot of match experience from getting hurt.”
Though acknowledging his legs still hurt, Rowland said he feels fairly healthy entering state competition.
He's part of a large Cincinnati-area contingent. Moeller leads the way in Division I with 10 qualifiers, the number coach Jeff Gaier said the Crusaders needed to vie for a team championship — something no Cincinnati team has accomplished in any division.
Nick Lukens leads Moeller. He was Cincinnati's only state champion last year, at 189 pounds. Brian and Joe Zinkan are the Crusaders' other top contenders.
Other local hopes In Division I rest with Winton Woods' Ian Ruth and Lakota East's Matt McIntire.
In Division II, Taylor's Mike Wilhelm remains ignored by the Brinkman Report, even though he continues to defeat higher-regarded opponents at 152 pounds. Wilhelm, the district champion, heads up 23 area Division II qualifiers.
Aaron Keough (189) of Clermont Northeastern has wrestled impressively all season, with his only loss coming to a Division I opponent, Dayton Carroll's Jeff Clemens. Purcell Marian's Jason Lackmeyer is in the hunt for a state championship at 103 pounds, as is teammate Jake Meinking.
Meinking's fortunes may be tied to the performance of Franklin wrestler Matt Franklin, who has beaten Meinking already this season.
Cincinnati is well represented in Division III, too, with 21 area athletes qualifying. Reading's D.J. Engel hopes to join his brother, Dick, as a state champion at 140 pounds.
Chris Seta (103) and Mike Kelly (152) are also strong performers. Reading is taking six wrestlers to Columbus.
So is Madeira. Kris Kuykendall is one of the favorites at 125 pounds, and the Mustangs boast two district champs: Drew Cloran (160) and Bryan Cummings (189).
Division I wrestling pairings
Division II wrestling pairings
Division III wrestling pairings
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