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[ Thursday, March 4, 1999 ]
Thatcher's hopes for 184-pound title rest on health
Editor's note: This is the eighth in a 10-part series previewing the 10 weight classes for the Big Ten Wrestling Championships beginning this Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich. This story previews the 184-pound class.
By RYAN HOCKENSMITH
Collegian Staff Writer
Ross Thatcher's ankle might be supporting more than just his 184-pound body weight at this weekend's Big Ten Championships. The Penn State wrestler, out since Jan. 23 with an ankle injury, returns to the mat Saturday as a critical factor in the Nittany Lions' team title aspirations. Thatcher said his ankle is fine. "I feel great," the junior said. "The ankle feels good and I'm ready to go." Thatcher will enter the tournament as the No. 7 seed, despite carrying a 17-6 record into the championships. But Thatcher, who had cracked the nation's top 10 earlier this season, wrestled and lost in his only Big Ten dual meet. A low seed doesn't mean much to Thatcher. "It doesn't matter to me," he said. "I have to wrestle 'em all anyway." No. 1 seed Brandon Eggum of Minnesota, currently ranked No. 2 in the country, headlines a field consisting of four wrestlers ranked in the nation's top 20. Indiana's No. 10 Viktor Sveda snagged the No. 2 seed, followed by No. 3 seed Nate Patrick of Illinois and No. 4 seed Andy Hrovat of Michigan. Minnesota coach J. Robinson expressed little doubt regarding the favorite at 184 pounds.
PHOTO: Collin Gillette
Penn State’s Ross Thatcher (bottom) wrestles against Nebraska’s Brad Vering earlier this season. The health of Thatcher’s ankle may make or break his shot at the 184-pound title.
"Eggum is the clear favorite," Robinson said of his own wrestler. "If he didn't win the weight class, a lot of people would be shocked."
Indiana's Sveda disagreed with Robinson's assuredness.
"(Eggum)'s solid," Sveda said. "He's real hard to score on. But if I open up my offense, I think I can beat him. He's real strong, but there are some questions about his conditioning."
Penn State coach Troy Sunderland said based on the strength of the weight class, Thatcher has a legitimate shot at a high finish.
But even he admitted Thatcher's ankle is supporting much of that weight.
"If Ross is healthy, he can win it," Sunderland said. "But Ross' health is the key --beating Eggum on a sore ankle is tough."
Sunderland added that as long as Thatcher places in the top seven, he is assured of qualifying for the NCAA Championships March 18-20 at The Bryce Jordan Center.
Being relegated to the No. 7 seed didn't change Thatcher's perspective on the weight class and his chances.
"There's one or two tough guys," Thatcher said. "It's not one of the strongest weight classes in the Big Ten. I'll do fine."
Note: The top seven place winners from each weight class advance to the NCAA Championships. Two wild cards will also advance.
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