Division I college wrestling programs across the country have had their eyes on Colin Wooldridge.
The La Salle Lancer senior has already placed at the Ohio High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament twice, placing fifth in Division I at 190 pounds as a sophomore before finishing as the state runner-up at 175 pounds a year ago.
In the fall, Wooldridge got some more collegiate coaches to look his way.
For the Lancers on the gridiron, Wooldridge was a first-team all-district athlete and second-team All-Ohio linebacker for the Lancers. In 13 games, Wooldridge had 112 total tackles (52 solo), 15 tackles for loss, six sacks and a forced fumble. He also got the ball on offense, running 62 times for 368 yards and nine touchdowns.
Suddenly, Wooldridge’s wrestling offers were coming with football offers and his final college choice eliminated making a choice between one sport or the other. In January, Wooldridge committed to Ohio University for both football and wrestling. Other programs like Kent State also offered him the chance to compete in both sports.
At Ohio, Wooldridge will join fellow incoming freshman Colin Broxterman of Elder. Wooldridge and Broxterman work out at the same facility, according to Wooldridge, and could be roommates in their freshmen seasons.
Moeller head wrestling coach Germane Lindsey was another resource for both making their collegiate decisions. Lindsey wrestled at Ohio University and was an All-American for the Bobcats in 2010. He wrestled under Bobcats coach Joel Greenlee, who has been the head coach since 1998.
“I’m more than happy to keep sending Cincinnati guys (to Ohio),” Lindsey said. “I talked those guys up to them and I’m thankful that he’s looked at them. The more the better. We want more Southwest Ohio guys going to DI schools.”
Wooldridge seeks return to OHSAA state wrestling finals
With his college choice made, Wooldridge could put all effort into his final wrestling postseason and the ultimate goal: getting to and winning the state championship match.
Wooldridge opened last year’s state tournament with a pin and followed with a 9-0 major decision to reach the championship semifinals. He edged out a 5-4 win to reach the finals against St. Edward’s Tyrel Miller. Miller, who now wrestles at Iowa, won 7-1 in the finals.
“Being so close to winning it and getting that experience competing in the state finals, I just want to get back more than anything,” Wooldridge said. “I want to win it. I have that feeling right now and I have to go get it.”
In December, Wooldridge won his third Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic title and continued adding first-place finishes at tournaments like the Top Gun and Grizzly GIT.
The postseason run for the entire La Salle squad will be different with the Lancers competing in Division II for the first time. La Salle had been slated to compete in Division II before, but opted up to Division I.
With the drop in division, Wooldridge will see many new faces and teams in the postseason, something the Lancers prepared for in the regular season.
“I scheduled very smart,” La Salle head coach Rico Hill said. “Instead of going to Escape the Rock in Philly and things like that, we would go to where we knew a bunch of DII schools were. We started getting a feel of these higher-level Division II teams and then we got ourselves in a state dual so we got to see Watterson, who won it last year.”
The Lancers know that a drop in division doesn’t mean a drop in competition on the road to a state title and Wooldridge is prepared no matter who stands across from.
“As long as I stick to my stuff and stick to what I’m good at, I think I’ll be just fine,” Wooldridge said. “As long as I wrestle my match, I’ll be ready to go.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A 2-sport Ohio commit, La Salle’s Wooldridge ready for state wrestling
Reporting by Alex Harrison, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
