Buckeyes pin their hopes on Bergman
Sophomore shows most promise on a young team
Scott Priestle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
J.D. Bergman has had to adjust his wrestling style this season after becoming an All-American as a freshman.
Ohio State coach Russ Hellickson is confident he has numerous All-Americans ” even two- and three-time All-Americans ” on his roster. But only one of his wrestlers has accomplished the feat.
And even though J.D. Bergman is less than two years removed from competing in high-school tournaments, he and Hellickson welcome the spotlight upon him.
Bergman finished third at 197 pounds at the NCAA championships last season as a true freshman, and he is the main attraction this season on a young team whose best days should lie ahead ” perhaps a year or two ahead.
“When he walks out onto the wrestling mat, he knows he’s wrestling for more than just himself, “Hellickson said. “He represents a lot of things right now. There becomes a burden of expectation. That can weigh heavily on individuals. I’ve seen people fold because of it.”
He is confident Bergman will stand tall.
“I think he expects to be at a high level of performance all the time, “Hellickson said. “He knows he needs to set the pace, regardless of his competition. Any loss is unexpected.”
It is a burden Bergman did not have to bear last season, when the Buckeyes were led by four senior All-Americans ” two-time NCAA champion Tommy Rowlands, John Clark, Jeff Ratliff and Blake Kaplan. It is a burden Bergman’s young teammates do not have to bear this season, because he is willing to take the lead.
“It’s a little different. I do have to think about it and remind myself sometimes, “he said. “I’m so concerned with myself and how I’m thinking and I’m training, because last year that’s all I had to think about. This year I have to do a little bit extra and make sure the other guys are hanging in there.”
He also has had to do a little bit extra on the mat to remain among the elite in his weight class.
Bergman relied heavily on throws and counters last season, and he benefited from being unknown at the college level.
In his first tournament this season, the Oklahoma Gold Classic, it became apparent his opponents were wary of his upper-body attacks; they avoided tying up with him, then did just enough to avoid being called for stalling. Bergman was surprised by the strategy, and he lost twice to wrestlers he beat last season.
Since then, he is 25-2 and has beaten top-20 wrestlers Tyrone Byrd of Illinois, Wynn Michalak of Central Michigan and Jerry Rinaldi of Cornell (twice). Bergman is ranked fourth in all of the major polls.
“I’ve had to change the way I wrestle a little bit, “he said.
Specifically, he is working to expand his repertoire of leg attacks.
It is another reason Hellickson is confident Bergman is the right wrestler to lead the Buckeyes, who frequently start seven wrestlers in their first or second season out of high school. All seven dominated at that level but have met some resistance at the college level.
“Everybody gets into that rut where they think they can win with what they won with before. You must change and adapt and adjust, “Hellickson said. “The great wrestlers do that. I don’t think I’ve even had to have a conversation with J.D. about it; he knows.”
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