Editor's Note: This is the second in a five-part series regarding individuals who are being inducted into the Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame Friday.
Former Ohio wrestler Dwight Gardner loves the underdog. In 1998, he was one.
In that year's NCAA Tournament, Gardner upset No. 2 Temoer Terry, a three-time All-American, before facing Oklahoma State wrestler Hardell Moore, the No. 1 seed, in the final round of the 158-pound weight class.
In the field of wrestling
(Gardner) was a big underdog teammate Shawn Enright said. But to us we knew.
After placing seventh the year before, Gardner entered the 1998 National Championship seeded just seventh despite a 27-1 record entering his final NCAA Tournament. The low seeding came in part because he was from the Mid-American Conference.
Everybody knew about (Terry) and (Moore)
Enright said. They thought it was in the bag.
The year before in the loser's bracket, Gardner was in a chokehold.
I blacked out
Gardner said. When I came through
I fought back
sent it into overtime and won. A lot of fear left me at that point.
So relaxed, Gardner took a nap and awoke 15 minutes before the match. It was a habit, not a one-time snooze.
It used to drive me nuts
Ohio coach Joel Greenlee said. But it would work for him.
The move that made the match
He could do a lot of things that in all my years of wrestling
I haven't seen other guys do
Greenlee said. A guy would get his leg to try to take him down
and our whole team would start laughing because all it did was mentally break you. You could not take that guy down.
Gardner knew after the opponent's first move that the title was his.
(Moore) goes and immediately tries to go for a pin
