By Jeff Chaney
The Grand Rapids Press
ST LOUIS — Travis Piccard walked away from the NCAA Division I wrestling championships at Savvis Center proud, but not satisfied.
Wresting in arguably the toughest weight class at the three-day tournament at 157 pounds, Piccard, a junior for The Citadel, won his first two matches to put him in the quarterfinals.
But there he met up with four-time All American Jake Percival of Ohio University, and lost 8-0.
That dropped Piccard to the consolation bracket, where he lost again, a 10-6 decision to Clarion University’s Chris Horning.
Piccard, a three-time state champion for Allendale High School, who came into the tournament unseeded, beat the No. 4 seed, and lost to the No. 5 seed and No. 11 seed.
“I wanted to place so badly, and I was one match away, “Piccard said. “Eventually, I’ll be happy with how I did, but right now I am not because I was so close.
“Obviously, I did a lot better than I expected because of the weight class. It was the toughest weight class down here.”
And by going 2-2 in the weight class, Piccard knows he belongs with the best wrestlers in the nation.
“I learned I can hang with the best, “Piccard said. “It was a mental thing coming into the tournament. Knowing that I’m here with the best, and that I can wrestle with them will help me for next year.”
Citadel coach Rob Hjerling was pleased with how his talented wrestler did over the weekend.
“It was a real tough weight class, “Hjerling said. “Up to, and through this tournament, Travis had a great year. He wrestled hard every match here. We all knew how bad he wanted it, and he came here mentally and physically prepared.”
Piccard ends his junior season with a 35-5 record.
“It was a good year, and I still have one year left, “Piccard said. “This whole weekend will help motivate me for next year.”
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