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Logan Brown shakes hands with Purdue Coach, Scott Hinkle.
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FEBRUARY 8, 2009 - COLUMBUS
The last time Logan Brown wrestled in Columbus he recorded his biggest victory of his high school career - a state championship in the Schottenstein Center that capped a perfect 52-0 senior season.
Three years later and just across the bridge at St. John's Arena, Logan was back in Columbus for the first time since high school as a member of the Purdue Boilermakers for a dual against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
And Brown had approximately 80 supporters make the trip from Covington to watch him perform - a bus load of Covington wrestlers and several car loads of fans who have followed Logan since he began wrestling as a sixth grader.
"It was awesome to have that many people come just to watch me wrestle," said Brown. "I want to thank everyone who made the trip over here to watch me."
And Brown didn't disappoint on the mat as he defeated Jason Cook 5-4 in a match that wasn't as close as the final score.
The Purdue sophomore, who has battled flu symptoms for the passed few days, scored on a double-leg takedown in the opening seconds of the match.
He immediately began working the tilt for two back points and led 4-1 after the first period - all the while racking up riding time.
"I caught the flu bug a little bit, so I wanted to start out fast in the match," Brown explained. "I got the early takedown and started working the tilt. That's a move I haven't tried much, but I wanted to work on it a little bit because you never know when you'll be able to use a move like that later on."
Cook chose the down position in the second period and Brown went back to work on trying to turn his man with the tilt.
But he wasn't able to lock it up tight enough and Cook managed to escape to cut the margin to 4-2.
Later in the frame Brown attempted another double, but wasn't able to finish as Cook scrambled to recorded the takedown to tie the match at 4-4.
Neither wrestler could score in the final frame, but Brown had already secured an extra point by accumulating over 2:00 in riding time.
"I probably should have been more aggressive in the third period, but I had already locked up riding time," Brown said. "I figured I better not take a poor shot and only take what he would give me. He didn't really try to shoot. He was only focused on stopping my shot."
As Brown's hand was raised in victory the Covington crowd erupted.
"I wasn't feeling the best, but I wanted to come out and perform for the people back home," said Brown. "The entire team appreciated the support. The (Covington) kids know some of the guys from the camp last summer and it helps having fans cheer for you on the road. The guys really appreciated it."
Actually, Brown had just as many - if not more - autographs seekers after the dual than the entire Ohio State team had.
"It's great to see the kids and to know that they look up to me," Logan said. "That just makes me push myself that much harder to get better. I'm trying to set an example for all those kids back home that if you work hard you can accomplish anything."
With everyone wanting a little piece of his time afterward, Brown did his best to grant their wishes. But understandably, security eventually requested everyone leave.
So in typical Logan fashion, he had one more message for all the kids back home.
"Tell them to keep working hard," he said. "I'll be checking out the site to see how everyone is doing."
And you can bet everyone back in Covington will be following Logan Brown.
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