For Ohio State senior Te’Shan Campbell and Oklahoma freshman Jake Woodley a trip home turned out better than ever after both claimed wins in Round 1 of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Thursday at PPG Paints Arena.
Campbell snapped a scoreless tie with a takedown in the third period on his way to a 6-0 victory against Drexel’s Ebed Jarrell in the 165-pound match. Once Campbell, a Penn Hills graduate and former Pitt wrestler, got the takedown, he locked in a cradle and almost recorded a pin. Instead he received a four-point nearfall.
Woodley, a North Allegheny grad who spent time with his family in McCandless on Wednesday, defeated Appalachian State’s Randall Diabe, 4-2, in tiebreaker 2. Woodley ended up winning because he had four seconds of riding time.
Both wins were upsets.
“That was huge because that kid beat me 5-3 earlier this season,” Woodley said. “I knew it was going to be a tough match.
“I loved coming home. I was so happy the tournament is in Pittsburgh. I tried to think of this as just another tournament. Getting the win is huge. I was nervous and I’ve never wrestled in a place like this. There were thousands of people.”
Woodley (23-8) has a tall order in Round 2 when he faces No. 2 Kollin Moore (21-2) of Ohio State.
Campbell (22-7) also has difficult second-round match. He’ll face former four-time PIAA champion Chance Marsteller of Lock Haven. Marsteller wrestled at Solanco (District 3), south of Lancaster, in high school.
After getting ridden out the entire second period, Jarrell decided to take neutral. Campbell secured his takedown with 1:01 left and then turned Jarrell to his back.
“I knew I had to get a takedown,” Campbell said. “I looked to my corner and told them I’d be OK. I wasn’t surprised he took neutral; I guess it was a respect thing. I was able to get the takedown and turn him right away.”
Campbell said wrestling at home is special. He knows this is his final shot at winning a national title, so he’s focused on winning the title in front of the home crowd.
