Ohio senior becomes the first 4-time All-American in Mid-American Conference history The 10th and final loss in Jake Percival's college career came on March 18 at this year's NCAA Wrestling Tournament Semifinals.
After winning his first three matches with scores of 15-0, 4-0 and 8-0 respectively, the 157-pound Percival lost a 9-8 decision to Iowa's Joe Johnston, ending his final run for a national championship.
From the outset of the match, when Johnston managed two first period takedowns, the difference in the two wrestler's styles was apparent, Ohio coach Joel Greenlee said.
Jake wrestles out in the open
Greenlee said. He makes leg attacks and does things that gives you more space. Johnson likes to use under hooks and tries to slow you down a bit and get his shot off that way.
Although he was demoted to the consolation bracket, Percival returned the next day to beat Arizona State's Brian Smith 4-2 in overtime and then to pin Iowa State's Trent Paulson with 37 seconds remaining in the third-place match.
I think getting third after losing in the semis is one of the hardest things to do in wrestling to be honest Greenlee said. You've got your heart set on winning the thing and losing the semis you're kind of down in the dumps but I thought (Percival) did a great job
and it was a hell of a way to end his career.
Percival ended his career with a 142-10 record and an 18-6 record in the NCAA tournament, where he placed fourth as a freshman, fifth as a sophomore, second as a junior and third as a senior.
With his 8-0 major decision victory over The Citadel's Travis Piccard, Percival snagged another Mid-American Conference milestone becoming the first wrestler in the conference to reach All-American status four times.
The only other Bobcat wrestler to compete in this year's NCAA Tournament was 197-pound Joel Weimer, who went 1-2 in the tournament, ending his career with an 86-50 record.
-Katie Carrera
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Ohio University's 157-pound wrestler Jake Percival secures a win over Eastern Michigan's Chad Roush in The Convo Jan. 20. At this year's NCAA Tournament Percival earned his fourth consecutive All-American honor, becoming the first Mid-American Conference
