Dec. 5, 2014
By Matt Allibone, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It was only seconds into the heavyweight match of Penn State's dual meet against Clarion on Nov. 22, and Nittany Lion senior Jon Gingrich was already behind after giving up a quick takedown to Evan Daley.
A few years ago, a rough start like that might have been it for him. Instead, the senior kept his cool, battling back with three third period takedowns to finish off a 9-4 win.
On the surface, it may have seemed like just another win in a 44-0 blowout Penn State victory. For Gingrich, however, it was an example of how far he has come and how good he can still be.
"I think he's come a long way, just mentally with his confidence," head coach Cael Sanderson said. "In Clarion, he gave up a takedown early and didn't lose his cool or get frustrated, he just kind of battled back and did what he does."
So far, Gingrich is 3-0 and ranked seventh in the country after wrestling in all three dual meets for Penn State this season. As good as he's been, it was difficult to imagine him being in this position a year ago.
That's not to say the heavyweight never showed the ability to be a productive starter, just that he faced stiff competition. After battling with Jimmy Lawson for the starting spot throughout the 2012-'13 season, Gingrich watched his teammate get in the nod in the 2013 NCAA Tournament and keep a hold on the position through the first half of last season.
With Lawson performing at a high level and racking up a 16-4 record in 2013-`14, it seemed like Gingrich would be stuck on the sidelines for the long term. However, a knee injury to Lawson thrust him into the lineup and the Wingate, Pennsylvania, native responded by qualifying for the national tournament and winning his opening round match once there.
Now a senior, Gingrich seems poised to remain focused on the task at hand in the starting lineup. Although the past two seasons have been frustrating at times, the heavyweight always felt he'd get another shot at starting.
"I never came to be on a team to be a backup, I always wanted to be a starter," Gingrich said. "You have to believe in yourself so I did [think I'd get another chance]."
It's not like the skill and talent haven't been there. One of the more in-shape heavyweights around at a chiseled 265 pounds, Gingrich entered the season with a 58-20 career record including two dual wins over top ten ranked opponents during his sophomore campaign.
When asked if he changed anything about his approach in the offseason, Gingrich said almost exactly what Sanderson did about him. The improvements were more mental than physical.
"I know I need to ride guys and also just having the right attitude, I needed some more mental toughness," Gingrich said. "In my tough matches, like Clarion the other week when I was losing, being able to come back and win those matches instead of taking a loss, stuff like that where I'm mentally tough."
While most wrestlers would probably be pretty pleased to be ranked No. 7 a year after beginning the season on the bench, the senior has been involved in too much competition over the course of his career to get complacent.
Lawson, who captured an open tournament title at Lock Haven last weekend, seems to be rounding into form after seeing his season end prematurely last year.
As good as Gingrich has been, he knows that Lawson's own accomplishments mean that the battle for the starting spot certainly isn't over.
"I think the competition is always there," Gingrich said. "We found out the past three years it's never over. Somebody needs to hit their stride and it has to happen at the right time. So it's never over but for me, I can't focus on that, I need to focus on myself and getting better.
"I think [Jimmy and I] are friends. Obviously there's a little bit of a rivalry but overall we get along great."
However the weight plays out, Gingrich is at a class where the Nittany Lions will need significant production throughout the season. With five of last year's All-Americans out of the lineup due to graduation [David Taylor, Ed Ruth and James English] and redshirts [Nico Megaludis, Zain Retherford], Penn State needs every single one of its veterans to step up.
Gingrich certainly has the talent to do that. According to his head coach, whoever ends up getting the nod as the permanent starter at the end of the Lions lineup should be a contender deep into March.
"Out of Lawson and Gingrich, they're both potential All-Americans and guys that can score points for us," Sanderson said. "Jon has been to the national tournament now, been to the conference meet...Lawson's been to the conference meet, so you know they both have the experience and they're both big, strong kids and fifth year seniors. So that's a weight class I think either one of them can score points for us in the national tournament and win in big dual meets and that's what we need so we'll see who that's going to be."
While becoming an All-American is certainly not an easy challenge, it is a task that Gingrich believes he's up to. After taking a backseat to some of his more heralded teammates the past few seasons, he is ready to emerge as one of the leaders of the Nittany Lions.
"With David and Ed gone, we need somebody to step up," Gingrich said. "Whether it's Lawson or I, we're both seniors now and we definitely need to take that role as somebody that is getting bonus points and just being there for the other guys when they need us."