Jameson bound for Buckeyes

The Fitch senior has made coach Brett Powell’s dream come true.

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

AUSTINTOWN — For as long as he’s been the Fitch High wrestling coach, Brett Powell has dreamed of coaching a wrestler good enough to earn a scholarship to the largest school in the state.

Wednesday, that dream came true when Fitch senior Tony Jameson, a three-time state champion, made a commitment to accept a scholarship from Ohio State University.

“This has been one of my dreams at Fitch — to have one of our athletes become a Buckeye,” Powell said. “And they are getting a real good kid in the process.

Powell credits Buckeyes wrestling coach Tom Ryan, an Iowa graduate in his second year at Ohio State, for upgrading the Columbus program

“Ohio State has done a great job of recruiting kids; they have several blue-chip recruits” Powell said. “And Tony has aspirations to win a national title.”

Last time was 1997

Powell said the last time Falcons wrestlers were recruited by major programs was in 1997 when Steve Sletvold and Greg Faunda were the key wrestlers.

Powell said Sletvold was a national champion who went on to wrestle for Purdue. Faunda attended Division III Mount Union after receiving Div. I offers.

Among the collleges recruiting Jameson were Penn State, Michigan, Oklahoma State and Missouri.

As a junior, Jameson won his third state title in the 135-pound weight class. Powell anticipates that Jameson will wrestle at 140 or 145 this winter and that the Buckeyes are figuring him at 141 or 149 as a freshman.

“There’s no one else like Tony — he’ll sell out their gym with his style wrestling,” said Powell, explaining that Jameson “is a high scoring, pin gambling style of wrestler.

“He tries for the pin and big points throughout the match. He’s unorthodox in that he can wrestle with a conventional or funky style. And he can switch during a match.”

Near-perfect record

Last year, Jameson wrestled to a 44-1 record.

As a freshman, he won the 103-pound state title. A year later, he captured the 119-pound crown. He’s one of just 45 wrestlers in state history to win three titles.

After winning his third title in March, Jameson said that his first two titles were special, but this one might be the one he holds most dear.

“This is for me, my family and friends and my coaches,” Jameson said. “Knowing that I came in here after losing at districts and having the toughest draw of the three years, it means a lot to win it.

“I’ve really changed my wrestling style a lot in the last week or so,” Jameson said. “It’s too bad it’s taken me so long because it’s a lot more fun for me to be offensive. This year has been a great experience for me.”