Despite his success and baffling statistics, Ohio's Jake Percival always knew that a time would come when his wrestling career would end, and he would have to see what else life has in store.
Wrestling can only take you so far
Percival said. I'm happy to where it's taken me but I just have to move on and do new things. I'm happy I did well with wrestling.
The most decorated wrestler in the history of the Ohio program, 157-pound Percival earned one more award as he was named Male Athlete of the Year by The Post's sports staff.
This year, as he wrapped up a 142-10 collegiate record, Percival became the only wrestler in Mid-American Conference history to become a four-time All American and also only the third MAC wrestler to win four consecutive conference titles.
To Ohio coach Joel Greenlee, Percival's talent was a product of his own determination.
(Jake's) very focused very driven and knows exactly what he wants
Greenlee said. You can give him direction and he'd take that and do it on his own which is the way a lot of really good guys are.
Percival dominated the MAC his entire tenure within it, going undefeated in both the regular season and tournament, 17-0 and 11-0 respectively. Those numbers also propelled him to his fifth-, fourth-, third-and second-place finishes in the NCAA tournament where he amassed an 18-6 record, with only the national crown eluding him.
In the back of my mind
I wish I would have won it
Percival said. But I just kind of think
it wouldn't really change what I'm doing now
and it wouldn't change me much personally.
Wrestling was never about the perfect record or big award for Percival, but rather a challenge to himself, a mind-set he maintains even now.
Coming in as a redshirt I didn't know exactly where I'd fall on the national scale
he said. But once I placed as a freshman -if you do well you just set the bar high -I didn't want to go to the NCAAs the next year and not place so I guess it was an eye opening thing for me.
However, Percival did not only push himself to be a better competitor, but also those around him, including his teammate in high school and at Ohio, 184-pounder Brian Cesear.
It's always been great to have Jake on the team
because he's the model wrestler
he said. You just watch him when he's at practice
