Imagine celebrating the biggest victory of your coaching career and the euphoric result is a blown-out knee. 

That’s what happened to former Ohio State wrestling coach Russ Hellickson following his team’s improbable come-from-behind 19-17 victory over Oklahoma during the semifinals of the 2002 National Duals. 

The National Duals was a mid-season tournament that went through several variations before disbanding after the 2017 season. The 2002 version included 16 Divison I teams during a two-day event held at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on January 19-20.

The winner would be crowned the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals champion (aka — the best dual team in the country). 

Seventh-seeded Ohio State wasn’t expected to make much noise. The team was under .500 in duals the previous four seasons and finished 10th, 10th, and 8th at the Big Ten Championships from 1998 through 2000. 

“A lot of people think about Ohio State wrestling and Tom Ryan and the way they are now,” former Ohio State All-American and current Sacred Heart coach John Clark said. “We were just starting to build during that era.” 

This Buckeye team came to scrap in its backyard. Ohio State dispatched Lock Haven, 37-3, in the first round but faced second-seeded Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals. 

Ohio State vs Oklahoma State and Oklahoma

The Cowboys were fresh off a 21-15 win over Iowa the week prior so Oklahoma State was the favorite to reach the finals against reigning NCAA champions Minnesota. The Buckeyes secured upset wins from Jesse Leng (125) and Josh Janson (157) on their way to a 19-13 win. 

It was the first time in program history that Ohio State defeated Oklahoma State in a dual. 

Looming in the semifinals was third-seeded Oklahoma — a team that defeated Iowa State 21-15 in the quarterfinals. The Sooners took a 10-0 lead after three matches, but surprise wins by Keaton Anderson over Jared Frayer at 149 and Clark over Robbie Waller at 165 kept the Buckeyes in the mix. 

Ohio State was behind 17-13 when Oklahoma’s Leonce Crump and Ohio State’s Tommy Rowlands squared off at heavyweight. Rowlands, a sophomore, was a returning national finalist but fell to Crump, a fourth-place finisher at the 2001 NCAA Championships, in the Brockport Open two months prior. 

The Buckeyes could win with a technical fall, but that wasn’t realistic since the two were even on paper.

“We were down by four and the only way for us to win was for me to pin,” Rowlands said. “Everything I did in that match was centered around pinning him. It went to overtime because I gave up a sloppy takedown while trying an inside trip.”

Did That Just Happen?

The back-and-forth match was tied when Rowlands fired off a shot halfway through the overtime period. Crump conceded the takedown and went straight to his back. Rowlands continued wrestling and pounced on his vanquished foe who lay listlessly on the mat.

Official Chuck Yagla called the fall, which led to complete pandemonium from the entire arena and disbelief from Crump, head coach Jack Spates, and the Oklahoma bench. 

“Crump just stopped and Rowlands moved straight up into a pinning combination and I called the fall,” Yagla said. “Hellickson jumped in jubilation and Spates argued the call. I thought it was a great move and continuous action by Rowlands, while Spates thought I should have blown the whistle and just called a takedown.” 

The gift of hindsight provided Spates with a fresh perspective on the match.

“Chuck is a great guy and he made the right call,” Spates said. “Leonce was in no danger. He simply laid on his back in disappointment after he was taken down. Where I believe Chuck erred was hitting Leonce for stalling to send the match into overtime.” 

Epic Victory Celebration

The victory celebration was one for the ages. Coaches and fans rushed the mat as Spates said something into Yagla’s left ear as he walked to the scorer’s table. Spates attempted to shake Hellickson’s hand but the Buckeye coach ran to the center of the mat to mob Rowlands. 

Hellickson took an awkward jump onto the pile and his head bounced off the mat after a nasty tumble. The result was a torn ACL for Hellickson and the most magical moment in program history. 

Ohio State was the first program to defeat Oklahoma State and Oklahoma on the same day. 

“I don’t think I’ll ever, ever get a sense of being that high again,” Hellickson said immediately following the dual. “In all my years of coaching and wrestling, nothing ever made me feel like that — nothing.” 

Minnesota thwarted Ohio State’s bid at a National Duals title with a 26-8 win in the finals, but the Buckeyes proved they were ready to contend with college wrestling’s elite. 

“It was a great moment for Ohio State wrestling,” Rowlands said. “We beat Oklahoma State and Oklahoma on the same day while earning a berth in the National Duals finals — all on OSU’s campus. The team’s and arena’s reaction was so authentic. Our entire bench rushed the mat. It was a great memory that I will not soon forget.”

Watch the final overtime exchange and the victory celebration below. Hellickson jumps on the pile and tears his ACL at the 47-second mark. 

Ohio State Wrestling 2002 National Duals Results

ROUND OF 16
Ohio State 37, Lock Haven 3

125: Trap McCormick (Lock Haven) dec. over Jesse Leng (Ohio State), 7-2

133: Jeff Ratliff (Ohio State) maj. dec. over Victor Jackson (Lock Haven), 13-2

141: Robert Sessley (Ohio State) dec. over Mike Maney (Lock Haven), 5-3 OT

149: Keaton Anderson (Ohio State) dec. over Jamaar Billman (Lock Haven), 5-2

157: Josh Janson (Ohio State) dec. over Jason Gilligan (Lock Haven), 7-5

165: John Clark (Ohio State) maj. dec. over Charlie Brenneman (Lock Haven), 14-5

174: Ryan Hieber (Ohio State) pinned Ed Pawlak (Lock Haven), 2:14

184: Anton Talamantes (Ohio State) maj dec. over Matt Greenberg (Lock Haven), 18-7

197: Nick Preston (Ohio State) maj. dec. over Jarod Dressler (Lock Haven), 12-4

285: Tommy Rowlands won by forfeit

QUARTERFINALS
Ohio State 19, Oklahoma State 13

125: Jesse Leng (Ohio State) dec. over Skyler Holman (Okla St.), 6-5

133: Johnny Thompson (Okla St.) maj. dec. over Jeff Ratliff (Ohio State), 12-3

141: Robert Sessley (Ohio State) maj. dec. over Ronnie Delk (Okla St.), 10-2

149: Keaton Anderson (Ohio State) dec. over Jerrod Sanders (Okla St.), 4-0

157: Josh Janson (Ohio State) dec. over Shane Roller (Okla. St.), 12-7

165: Tyrone Lewis (Okla St.) dec. over John Clark (Ohio State), 12-7

174: Chad Reid (Okla St.) dec. over Ryan Heiber (Ohio State), 6-1

184: Pat Popolizio (Okla St.) dec. over Antom Talamantes (Ohio State), 4-0

197: Nick Preston (Ohio State) dec. over William Gruenwald (Okla St.), 7-4

285: Tommy Rowlands (Ohio State) dec. over James Huml (Okla St.), 5-1

SEMIFINALS
Ohio State 19, Oklahoma 17

125: Mike Ridings (Oklahoma) major dec. over Jesse Leng (Ohio State), 14-5

133: Witt Durden (Oklahoma) dec. over Jeff Ratliff (Ohio State), 11-5

141: Nate Parker (Oklahoma) dec. over Robert Sessley (Ohio State), 5-3 OT

149: Keaton Anderson (Ohio State) dec. over Jared Frayer (Oklahoma), 6-4

157: Josh Janson (Ohio State) major dec. over Doug Cieleski (Oklahoma), 12-4

165: John Clark (Ohio State) dec. over Robbie Waller (Oklahoma), 3-2

174: Michael Barger (Oklahoma) dec. over Ryan Hieber (Ohio State), 4-0

184: Josh Lambrecht (Oklahoma) maj. dec over Anton Talamantes (Ohio State), 11-2

197: Nick Preston (Ohio State) dec. over Tom Grossman (Oklahoma), 6-4

285: Tommy Rowlands (Ohio State) pinned Leonce Crump (Oklahoma), 7:29 OT

FINALS
Minnesota 26, Ohio State 8

125: Leroy Vega (Minnesota) maj dec. over Jesse Leng (Ohio State), 12-4

133: Ryan Lewis (Minnesota) maj dec. Jeff Ratliff (Ohio State), 13-2

141: Robert Sessley (Ohio State) dec. Chad Erikson (Minnesota), 7-3

149: Jared Lawence (Minnesota) dec. over Keaton Anderson (Ohio State), 7-2

157: Luke Becker (Minnesota) tech. fall over Josh Janson (Ohio State), 19-4

165: John Clark (Ohio State) dec. over Nate Baker (Minnesota), 7-4

174: Jacob Volkmann (Minnesota) maj dec. over Ryan Hieber (Ohio State), 9-0

184: Damion Hahn (Minnesota) dec. over Anton Talamantes (Ohio State), 3-2

197: Owen Elzen (Minnesota) dec. over Nick Preston (Ohio State), 9-7

285: Tommy Rowlands (Ohio State) dec. over Garrett Lowney (Minnesota), 3-2