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Logan Brown shakes hands with Purdue Coach, Scott Hinkle.
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UPDATE: 9:00 PM - 03/19/10
Logan Brown saw his season at Purdue University come to an end in the second day of the NCAA Championships with a 11-2 loss to Brent Jones of Virginia.
Brown ends his junior season with a 33-13 record, 87 career wins and a three-time NCAA Qualifier. He also had 101 takedowns on the season for 15th on the Boilermaker's single-season record list.
But he wanted to accomplish so much more in his third trip to the NCAA Championships.
"I'm disappointed, for sure," Logan said. "Maybe I put too much pressure on myself, but I wanted to be an All American this year so bad."
Needing three consecutive wins to gain All American status, the former Covington standout couldn't finish shots he normally finishes.
"It's not an excuse, but maybe I wrestled too many matches this year and my body is worn down," Brown said. "I could feel it in my arms a little yesterday, but I felt confident that it (the tightness) would loosen up once I started to wrestle."
Brown wrestled 43 matches heading into the tournament, only sitting out one contest all season. He had the most matches of any of the NCAA Qualifiers at 197 pounds.
"I really felt it today," he continued. "I got deep on five or six shots (against Jones), but I just couldn't finish. I didn't have the strength I normally have."
The Purdue wrestler went on the offensive from the outset with an attempted single-leg, but Jones managed to scramble out of bounds to prevent the two points.
Brown shot again, this time a double-leg attempt, but Jones scrambled for the takedown and a 2-0 margin on the scoreboard after one period.
The second period began with Brown on top and he surrendered the escape point to take the match back to his feet for a chance at cutting into the slim lead with a takedown. Once again, Jones scrambled to record the takedown and turned the tables with a four-point move as he scored two near fall points to push the margin to 7-1.
From there Brown tried desperately to get back into the match, but each time he was fended off by Jones. The result was another Jones takedown and a penalty point on Logan in the third period.
"Even though I gave up the takedown and the two near fall points (in the first period), I still felt really good because I was getting so deep on my shots," Brown explained. "I didn't think he could stop me and 90% of the time when I get that deep I'm able to finish. But today I just didn't have any strength to turn the corner."
Despite not meeting his expectations, Brown is still confident he can make a strong run at a fourth trip to the NCAA Championships next year and become an All American. And for good reason as he has beaten ten of the wrestlers in this year's field.
"I know I can do it (become an All American)," Brown said. "I need to continue to work on refining my technique and maybe take a few matches off next year when I feel my body start wearing down. I'm so competitive that I think I can handle it, but I can see that maybe a little time off here and there will help me come back here (the NCAAs) fresher."
And hopefully Brown can reach his goals.
UPDATE: 11:00 pm - 03/18/10
Logan Brown, a 2006 graduate of Covington and former Ohio wrestling champion, is alive in the consolation rounds after the first day of wrestling at the 2010 NCAA DI Wrestling Championships at the Qwest Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.
The junior from Purdue University and three-time NCAA qualifier recorded a 6-2 decision over Richard Starks (26-3) of Army in his opening bout, but fell to #2 ranked Craig Brester of Nebraska, 7-0 in the afternoon session.
Brown will open the second day of the tournament on Friday against Brent Jones of Virginia.
Against Starks, Brown scored a takedown in the final 20 seconds of the first period to take a 2-0 lead and then accumulated 1:33 of riding time in the second period. The Army grappler managed to escape at the end of the frame, making the score 2-1 heading into the third.
Brown chose the down position in the final frame and immediately escaped to increase his margin to 3-1. Seconds later the former Buccaneer scored on another double-leg takedown to push his advantage to 5-1. He also increased his riding time to 1:46 before cutting Starks and surrendering the escape to make the score 5-2.
With riding time secured, Logan controlled the remainder of the match on his feet for the 6-2 win.
Against Brester, Brown started fast and nearly scored on a takedown as he had Brester sprawling off balance across the mat in the opening seconds. He couldn't capitalize on the opportunity as Brester regained his composure and scored on a takedown of his own.
Brester, a returning finalist from a year ago at 197 pounds, went to work accumulating riding time. Along the way he was able to lock up a tilt on Brown for three back points. And additional penalty point was awarded to Brester as the score was 6-0 heading into the final frame.
Needing a big move to get back into the match, Brown chose neutral to start the third.
The big move never came, however as Brester fought off every shot attempt to hand the Purdue wrestler the loss.
Session 3 begins Friday at 10:30 am EST.
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