Wrestling
Buckeyes Score National Coup with Commitment of Stieber
By Kevin Schlosser
Logan Stieber
Photo by Kevin SchlosserThe Buckeye wrestling team has accomplished a lot in the short time that head coach Tom Ryan has called Columbus home. With back-to-back top ten finishes at the NCAA Tournament, the top recruiting class in 2007, and a title contending team returning; the vision he brought to program is becoming a reality. Even though wrestling season ended in March with a second place finish at the NCAA Tournament, Ohio State is still writing headlines.
Nikko Triggas, Reece Humphrey, and Tommy Rowlands each won freestyle national championships in March. Humphrey followed by winning his weight class last weekend at the University Team Trials and will represent the United States in Greece this summer. On the biggest stage, Tommy Rowlands has qualified for the finals of the Olympic Trials in June and has the chance to wrestle for the United States at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
The future already looked bright for OSU; but it got a lot brighter when Monroeville HS sophomore Logan Stieber shocked the wrestling world with his early verbal commitment to Ohio State last week. One of the top high school wrestlers in the country, Stieber would have had his choice of colleges.
Logan Stieber gets ready for competition
Photo by Kevin Schlosser“You could say I was born to be a Buckeye,” responded Logan Stieber when speaking about his early commitment. “I want to help Ohio State become a national championship team.”
“Everything fit; the right coaches, the right wrestlers, the right attitude,” offered Stieber. “They are all passionate about the sport; wrestling is a lifestyle for them. To have the opportunity to be a part of that is something special.”
As the top ranked wrestler at any weight in the current sophomore class, Stieber’s verbal is the wrestling equivalent of getting Terrell Pryor or Beanie Wells to commit two years early. There are no guarantees in recruiting or wrestling; but other wrestlers are going to have to get a lot better before Stieber gets any worse.
“I have always been a fan of the Buckeyes in every sport. I love watching OSU football,” said Stieber. “There have been some great teams in the last few years.”
“If I can commit early and encourage some others to commit too that would be great,” stated Stieber. “Hopefully all of the talented wrestlers in Ohio want to come to Ohio State.”
Like Thad Matta, Tom Ryan is bringing in some of the best talent in the country. As a lightweight wrestler Logan Stieber casts a shadow on the wrestling mat as far as Greg Oden, Kosta Koufos, and B.J. Mullens do on a basketball court. Looking at the group of recruits that came in with each center, wrestling fans are hoping Stieber helps attract a similar class.
It doesn't take long for Stieber to gain control of the match.
Photo by Kevin Schlosser“I think Logan always wanted to be a Buckeye. The way he looked at things they weren’t going to change whether he let them know now or he let them no later. He represents everything you want to see in a student athlete,” said Monroeville coach Scott Bauer. “We knew what we were getting when he was a freshman and so does Ohio State. He is a tremendous wrestler and a great student, that doesn’t happen by accident. He is a leader in the classroom and on the mat. That’s what makes them a good fit.”
Logan Stieber: The Wrestler
How good is Logan Stieber? He finished his sophomore year as the top ranked 119 pound wrestler in any grade according to InterMat; RevWrestling has ranked him as the top junior to be at any weight class. Stieber has won on every level; he was a three-time jr. high state champ, a two-time Cadet national champion, a two-time Ohio state HS champion and recently won his weight class at the FILA Junior Freestyle National Championships (under 20) at seventeen.
Putting the FILA Junior title in perspective; Junior freestyle is not college wrestling, but neither Ohio State freshmen Nikko Triggas or Bo Touris placed in the same weight class. To take the title Stieber beat the wrestler that knocked Triggas into the consolations and posted victories over two college wrestlers. To reach the finals he beat Iowa State national qualifier Tyler Clark and he topped Minnesota freshman Zach Sanders for the championship. Sanders was a five-time Minnesota state champ, a 2007 NHSCA national champion, and went 24-1 as a redshirt freshman; he is expected to start for the Gophers at 125 pounds this season.
Once he has the advantage Steiber is on his opponent like white on rice.
Photo by Kevin Schlosser“He is a winner and doesn’t expect to lose. A lot of kids go out and hope to win; Logan just goes out and not only expects to win but is going to make it happen,” commented his club coach Eric Burnett.“He trains so hard that I think he prepares himself for any level. Wherever he goes he is going to wrestle at his level no matter what. He is not going to wrestle any less intense in any situation.”
Stieber has been about as close to perfect as possible. His only high school loss came in the finals of his first Ironman Tournament to St. Paris Graham junior David Taylor; the top ranked wrestler in the class of 2009. While they have met up in practice rooms many times since, there has not been an official rematch though it remains a possibility this season.
Throughout his successes, Stieber has remained humbled and grounded. He plays football in his off season and remains committed to securing an academic scholarship to OSU. With two more state titles, Stieber is on course to win seven straight Ohio state titles. (As six time state champs, David Taylor and Collin Palmer will try to become the first two as seniors in 2009.) How Stieber’s high school career ends or what he accomplishes college has yet to be determined, but no one can deny his unlimited potential as it stands today.
Logan Stieber: The Ohio State Recruit
The unique aspect about the recruitment of Logan Stieber is that is was all self initiated. College coaches are not allowed to contact or recruit high school sophomores like seniors. A lifelong Buckeye fan Stieber created the path that took him to Ohio State on his own. It was not an overnight decision. On campus for a number of football games, camps, clinics, and wrestling matches; he had a feel for his way around long before things got serious.
After winning his second state title Stieber instructed his Monroeville coaches to contact the Buckeyes and let them know he was interested. In time he requested they arrange an unofficial visit. While on campus he set up his own tour and looked at each of the colleges. Stieber did not come to Columbus to commit; but he left feeling a decision was closer after evaluating the school and the program.
Returning home Stieber took time to discuss the decision with his family, coaches, and those close to him to weigh his options. When he felt 100% committed to his decision, Stieber instructed his coach to call the OSU staff and let them know of his intentions.
As one of the top high school wrestlers in the country, Stieber knows that he is still going to be heavily recruited. When asked how he would respond from interest from other schools and coaches; he expects a lot of short conversations.
“I’ll tell them I am committed to Ohio State. I will have some of my coaches’ talk to them and make sure they understand,” said Stieber. “I am not going to look around, I made my decision already. I want to be at Ohio State and that is that. Hopefully other people will say if he really wants to go there we should go there too.”
On the Record: Logan Stieber
1. Can you discuss the recruiting process?
“Last year I went down to two football games. (He was also at the Iowa and Michigan duals.) After state this year, I had my coach from Monroeville start talking to coach Ryan via email. He asked about an unofficial visit and I went down a few weeks ago. My mind was pretty much made up before I went; I really loved Ohio State. Going there and talking to the coaches and the atmosphere around campus made me feel like Ohio State was the place for me.”
2. What factors led to your early decision?
“People around the program and the kids they are recruiting. I knew Tony Jameson, Mike Pucillo and J.D. Bergman. I have known some of the coaches like Tommy Rowlands and Joe Heskett for awhile. They have everything I need. I have always wanted to be a Buckeye my whole life.”
3. What schools did you consider or were you born to be Buckeye?
“I really didn’t have to look around anywhere else; I have always wanted to go to Ohio State. That’s enough I didn’t have to look anywhere else.”
4. With two years before you arrive at OSU what do you do to prepare or improve before then?
“I am going to focus on getting better; helping myself and my team mates. I took my ACT a couple of weeks ago and I got a 24. I want to continue to do better on that so I can get an academic and an athletic scholarship.”
5. What do you want to or plan on majoring at OSU?
“Something in the medical field; I want to be a chiropractor or get into physical therapy.”
6. What do you think are your biggest strengths on the wrestling mat and how will they help you make the transition to college wrestling?
“I always continue to wrestle. I like to change levels and mix it up. I chain wrestle pretty well and don’t stop until I have won. My intensity level is pretty high and that pulls everything together.”
7. What weight(s) do you project at in college?
“I think I am going to be a 133 to start out and maybe moving up to 141.”
8. What was it like to watch the NCAA Tournament and see OSU do so well?
“I was there for the first time this year. I went with my brother and dad; it was really exciting. It was great to see (Ohio State) do well; I know they work hard.”
“It was great to see the fans rally around the wrestlers and how they responded. Like when Reece Humphrey wrestled Gomez, he was the number one seed. It was a great match he never stopped wrestling and everyone got into it. I loved watching the way they all wrestled; I could see myself out there.”
9. What are your remaining goals in HS and what are your goals in college?
“My goals in high school are to continue to improve every day and help my teammates become better wrestlers. I want to win two more championships as an individual and two championships as a team.”
“I would like to wrestle right away but if it is best for me or best for the team I will redshirt. My goals at OSU are to help the team win national titles and I want to win some myself.”
10. What does it mean to you to be a Buckeye?
“It is a dream come true.”
11. Some Buckeye fans have called you the Terrell Pryor of wrestling. As an OSU football fan what does that comparison mean to you?
“He is a pretty gifted athlete. He is amazing at football and basketball. It is great to be mentioned with him; hopefully we both share some great success at Ohio State.”
Related Article: Stieber Continues Growing Trend in OSU Wrestling
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