Earning third place in the senior national tournament, first place in the state high school tournament at the 152-pound weight class, and finishing 10th in the nation at the same weight according to www.intermatwrestle.com, Ohio wrestler Vinny DiGiovanni has shown he has potential.
Next season DiGiovanni will get a chance to prove it.
Following a redshirt freshman season - Ohio coach Joel Greenlee redshirts each of his freshmen - DiGiovanni has a chance to replace graduated senior Luke Moore at 165.
"When I went and watched those guys wrestle (in meets), it just made me real hungry for next year," DiGiovanni said.
Moore won 94 matches for Ohio, including two trips to the NCAA Tournament and a Mid-American Conference Championship, so DiGiovanni will have some big boots to fill.
Moore, among other Ohio wrestlers, often competed with DiGiovanni in the practice room.
"(DiGiovanni) came in real strong on top," Moore said. "He's gotten a lot better on his feet...if there's a weakness he has, it's getting out."
Moore will serve as a graduate assistant coach next season.
Greenlee said he is hesitant to label DiGiovanni as the next Jake Percival, who finished fourth in the nation as a freshman.
"I think (DiGiovanni's) a guy who can qualify for the national tournament," Greenlee said. "Anything is possible, but is he a top four guy in the country? No. Can he be by next year? Yes."
Competing with Percival, a two-time All-American, Moore and Ed Willis (174) has helped DiGiovanni improve his skill.
"You've got three different styles of guys," Greenlee said. "Eddie's just an all out brawler, Luke Moore is probably more tactical than all them, and Jake's just a real hard-nosed, stay-on-top-of-you guy."
DiGiovanni is just one member of his class who could contribute for Ohio. Teammates Brandon Shriner (149) and Nick Terbay (184) are favored to win spots in next season's lineup.
DiGiovanni said the quality of freshman could be attributed to Greenlee's recruiting ability.
"(Coaching) is one of the main reasons why I came here," DiGiovanni said. "I didn't meet (graduate assistant coach) Brian Scislo until we got down here. I go in and I can work out with him all the time.
"(The coaches) work you hard, but when we're done, we can have fun."
Wrestler coached at early age
• Vinny DiGiovanni graduated from Solon High School
• Four-time letter winner in wrestling at Solon under father and head coach Tony DiGiovanni.
• Earned second in state during his sophomore season in high school
• Won the state tournament as a senior.
• Solon finished third in the state tournament during his senior year.
• "Those are the kind of guys you want," Ohio coach Joel Greenlee said. "The guys who are gym rats."
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Eric Pfahler
