Grappler struggles with fate

The day of Jan. 3 was not just another time of competition for Penn State wrestler John Lange. He and his Nittany Lion teammates were entering a stretch that included four dual meets, the grueling national duals and their only bye of the season.

While the match against Fresno State marked only the third dual of the season and the seventh competition overall for the Lions, it meant much more for Lange. It was the match that made him unable to redshirt the season.

At that time, however, Lange was not thinking about redshirting. He was the only member of the 1994 recruiting class not to sit out a season, and this year was not to be different. But things change, and for Lange, they changed quickly.

During the bout at Fresno State, Lange tore cartilage in his left knee. That match proved to be the story of his college career -- injuries at the worst times.

Had this injury occurred one event earlier, Lange would have been able to take the rest of the season off to rehabilitate, allowing him two seasons to showcase the talents Penn State, Wisconsin and Indiana saw during his years at Longwood High School in Ridge, N.Y. Lange won three New York state championships, becoming the first person to accomplish that feat in Suffolk County.

"John was very determined and goal-orientated," said Mike Picozzi, his high school coach. "He was never injured in high school, but now it's something he has to deal with."

And Lange has been dealing with the injuries by always bouncing back. His sophomore season was a productive one, as he posted a 23-13 record (12-7 in dual meets), six falls and 49 dual-meet points. However, his season turned when he injured his ankle at the NCAA tournament.

But that would not keep him down. Lange came back and won a title at the Espoir National Freestyle championships at 163 pounds last summer. He opened this season with a title at the East Stroudsburg Open and made it to the finals of the Mat Town Tournament by pinning three wrestlers.

But the injuries struck again, and he had to forfeit the championship match.

Again he was down. Again he got up. This time it was at the Penn State Open, as he registered a second-place finish.

He seemed to be back on track. Then the knee injury hit while he was in California.

"It's definitely frustrating," Lange said. "It's hard not to be."

While it forced him to sit home when the Lions traveled to Michigan to battle the Wolverines and the Spartans, and again when they went to national duals in Lincoln, Neb., he continued to strengthen the knee while his teammates were away. His replacement, Shad Benton, was doing well, and Lange knew he had to work to get back in the lineup. His coaches and teammates knew Lange would find a way.

"John kept plugging away," Lion coach John Fritz said. "He put everything into it."

Finally, something went Lange's way. It was another injury, but not to him. The regular 158-pounder, Brian Romesburg, hurt his knee. While no one wants to see a teammate fall to an injury, this opened a door for Lange. He could wrestle at 158, where he would have to return to the Lion lineup. His knee was not strong enough for the conditioning necessary to keep his weight down.

Eventually, though, Lange got down to 158, and on Jan. 31 in his first match after the injury, he lost to Pitt's Jacob Schaus. But Lange came back, again. The next day against Indiana, he pinned Hoosier Joe Farr 5:43 into the match. Lange was 18-5 with nine falls and one major decision.

With three weekends of competition to prepare for the Big Ten championships and the NCAAs, fate again was cruel to Lange. He injured the right knee in a match with Wisconsin, and this one may keep him out the rest of the season. He had an MRI earlier this week, but those results are still unavailable.

"Basically, the rest of the season depends on the MRI," Lange said. "If it is torn cartilage, I'd be done."

Through his actions, Lange has been a leader at the high school and college levels, causing his teammate respect him.

"While he was getting therapy," Fritz said, "I told the guys if you ever feel down and that everything's against you, look at John Lange. He's a great role model for the team."

Right now, his status is uncertain. What is certain is this injury will not keep him down for long. He will return.

It may be this year. Maybe next year.

Regardless, he will be back.