JD Bergman traveled to Dublin, Ohio today to read to the 1st graders at Chapman Elementary School. He also spoke to the kids about dreams, in particular, his Olympic Dream! Stay tuned for more RTC news.
Ohio RTC Olympic Hopeful J Jaggers spent the day at Chapman Elementary School in Dublin, OH assisting grades K-5 with stretching activities for the school walk-a-thon. The Ohio RTC maintains a strong obligation to the local community. J spoke to the kids about the Olympic Games in 2012 and everything it takes to be the best in something. Chapman Elementary was very excited to have the RTC join them on such a fun filled day! Stay tuned for more!
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:59 — buckeyewrestling
The US freestyle team finished seventh at the 2009 World Championships in Herning, Denmark. For a team that featured seven wrestlers making their first trip to the Worlds things could have better and things could have been worse. With two individual medalists there was success, but with four winless wrestlers there is still room to progress.
Jake Herbert was the highest place winner for Team USA earning silver at 84 kilograms. Despite losing the first period in three of his first four matches Herbert was able to win all four to advance to the finals. His luck ran out when he dropped a close 1-0, 1-0 decision to Zaurbek Sokhiev (Uzbekistan) to place second.
Tervel Dlagnev, the newest Ohio RTC resident athlete, was the second US place winner earning bronze at 120 kilograms. With four shutout wins in the tournament his only loss was a 1-0, 1-0 decision to Valadi Masoumi (Iran) in the championship semifinals. 
Dlagnev rebounded with a 2-0, 2-0 decision against Alex Modebadze (Georgia) to win his third place match. Putting things in perspective four of his five opponents were former Olympians.
Jake Varner was the only other American to earn a victory in Denmark. In what was considered one of the deepest weights of the tournament Varner won his first two matches at 96 kilograms before dropping a 1-0, 1-0 decision to Saeid Abrahimi in the championship quarterfinals. Abrahimi lost in the semifinals and Varner was eliminated without wrestling again. 
The rest of Team USA did not fare as well as each lost their opening match and had to wait see how far their opponents advanced before they learned if they would get another match. Unfortunately for the Americans none of their opponents made it past the semifinals and all four were eliminated after a single loss.
On Monday Danny Felix lost a 3-0, 1-1 decision to Namig Sevdimov (Azerbaijan) at 55 kilograms while Trent Paulson lost a 1-1, 3-0, 2-1 decision to Leonid Spiridonov (Kazakhstan). Shawn Bunch was pinned in the first period on Tuesday at 60 kilograms and Dustin Schlatter lost a 1-0, 1-2, 1-1 on Wednesday at 74 kilograms.
Scoring 63 points the Russians ran away with the team title on the strength of six individual medalists. Clinching the title on Tuesday all seven wrestlers placed and they ended the tournament with four gold medals, a silver, and a bronze. Azerbaidjan was second with 48 points and Iran took third with 40 points. Completing the top five Turkey was fourth with 27 points and Ukraine fininshed fifth with 23 points. Belarus finished sixth with 21 points and the United States was seventh with 19 points.
Ohio RTC resident Athlete Shawn Bunch.
The Ohio RTC Golf Outing is less than a week away. There are some fantastic auction items that you can bid on. Just a small sampling of the gifts are:
- 2 Iowa vs. OSU football tickets
- 3 golfers to play the famous Inverness course
- 3 golfers playing a round with Craig Krenzel, the captain of the 2002 National Championship team
- 4 club level seats to see Shaqs debut with the Cavs Oct 27 as they play the Celtics.
There is limited room available for the remaining golfers, so get your applications in quick. This will be a great event and we look forward to seeing your there.
(Columbus, OH) The Ohio Regional Training Center is hosting their first annual USA Wrestling Developmental Training Camp this week on the Ohio State campus. Ohio RTC head coach Lou Rosselli is running the weeklong camp with the assistance of Tim Flynn, Tom Shifflett, Tommy Rowlands, Tom Ryan, Bobby Douglas, Jamill Kelly, and Zeke Jones. More than forty developmental wrestlers have been training throughout the six day camp.
USA Wrestling freestyle head coach Zeke Jones was at Steelwood Olympic Training Center on Wednesday and Thursday to observe the workouts and assist where he could. While the national team members were his focus, as with all the coaches in attendance Jones was available to everyone in the room. In year one of his first four-year Olympic Cycle as the head coach; he is leading by example since taking over after the 2008 Olympic Games.
I was able to sit down with Zeke before he left for the airport to head back to Colorado Springs.
On the job for ten months we discussed the details of his initial four-year plan: where he thinks they are at; what has changed; and how he plans to get the job done at 2012 London Games. We looked at Regional Training Centers and the different training camps as well as his efforts to reach out to current college coaches and former Olympians. We talked about working towards common goals; bringing the best coaches and wrestlers together; the Living the Dream Fund and increasing financial incentives; and where the National Team is at heading into September with the World Championships five weeks away.
This article provided by www.buckeyewrestling.com
August 8, 2009
Dear Ohio RTC Member,
It is that time of year again! We will hold our annual golf outing at the Oakhurst Country Club on Sunday, September 27th at Noon in Columbus. Included in this mailer you will find our brochure, which lists numerous ways to support the event.
Last year’s outing raised just over $30,000. This annual event is one that we count on to fund our 4 Olympic Hopefuls, as well as our coaches and administrative staff. If you haven’t been to the outing we hope to see you this year. Please consider assisting with raffle prizes, auction items or one of our various sponsorship levels.
With the positive direction of the Ohio RTC and the fast growing nationwide respect we are earning there are many great things ahead. Shaun Bunch became the 3rd individual training at the Ohio RTC (Tommy Rowlands & Joe Heskett) to earn a spot on the 2009 US World Team with his spectacular win over former University of Iowa standout and World Silver medalist Mike Zadick. JD Bergman earned a spot on the US National team with a gutsy 3rd place finish coming off a 2008 tear of his ACL. The future is certainly bright in Columbus, OH. No other freestyle club in the nation can boast such credentials over the past 3 years.
The most recent good news is that the 2009-10 Ohio RTC Olympic will be welcoming 3 new members to the team. Two-time NCAA Champion and Olympic Hopeful J Jaggers along with 2009 US Open Champion and World Team member Tervel Dlagnev will share their thoughts on their decision to train in Columbus at the post Golf Outing dinner.
In addition, The Ohio State Wrestling Team and staff will also be in attendance.
Please continue to follow us on www.ohiortc.com. We look forward to keeping you informed of the many great opportunities the Ohio RTC is providing to those who hunger for Olympic Glory. There is no question that the resurgence of Ohio State Wrestling and the growth of the Ohio RTC are directly correlated. One person at a time can make a difference.
See you on the 27th!
In The Olympic Spirit,
Tommy Rowlands
Director, The Ohio Regional Training Center