Even Though He Planned to Redshirt During the 2005-06 Season, Buckeyes 197-Pounder Now Faces Uphill Battle Back From Injury Suffered This Summer

By Tim Goodenow – TWM Staff Writer
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J.D. Bergman was poised to make another run at All-America status during the 2005 NCAA wrestling championships. His goal, like many others, fell short with an early exit following a 1-2 mark after day one.

It had undoubtedly been a long and tiring season for the Ohio State sophomore and Oak Harbor, Ohio native. He competed in 45 matches against the toughest wresters in the country and posted a 36-9 record.

Athletes’ bodies – no matter how powerful, fast and strong – do have its limitations. But for Bergman, he was mentally drained.

“The sport of wrestling is just as much mentally demanding as it is physically,” explained the 2004 NCAA All-American. “I was disappointed in how I finished the season because I hold high standards for my wresting. I put a lot of pressure on myself and my friends and family could see that. A few weeks after the season was over, I realized how much I could improve as a wrestler and even a person.”

Improvement meant Bergman would sit out the 2005-06 season as a redshirt to regain that mental edge and enjoy the sport. And then a setback that is every wrestlers nightmare became reality when Bergman suffered a torn ACL over the summer.

“I was working out at camp this summer when one of those fluke things happened. Somebody tried to roll me and the momentum hyper-extended my straight leg and tore the ligament,” said Bergman. “We had already decided to sit out the season but hadn’t anticipated this injury.

“It was a scary moment waiting to hear the results of the MRI. I’ve had the normal wear and tear of participating in sports, especially being a wrestler. But these were all injuries that never kept me out long-term. So, this injury is a bit different.”

The redshirt season became a medical redshirt year – perhaps a blessing in disguise. Today, Bergman is a familiar face with Ohio State trainers and works the knee out several times a day.

Full Story at the Wrestling Mall.