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edgewood wrestling

Puska picking apart the competition

Technically sound son of a wrestling coach is undefeated with four tournament titles.

By Jay Morrison

Staff Writer

Friday, January 23, 2009

TRENTON - Edgewood High School freshman Jordan Puska will be the first to tell you he's not exactly the strongest wrestler around.

But his win-loss record will tell you that doesn't matter in the least.

The 112-pound Puska has surrendered only two takedowns this season while amassing a 17-0 record with four tournament championships.

"I don't think strength has as much to do with (success)," Puska said. "It's all about speed, technique and how you hit your moves."

Puska has been honing his technique since he started wrestling at 3. And it doesn't hurt any that his father, Eric, is a former wrestling coach.

"His dad drills with him a lot, and it's obviously paid off," EHS coach James Conniff said. "(Jordan) is really fundamentally smooth on his feet. He never lets himself get in a bad position.

"He's just really smart," Conniff continued. "He'll watch a guy and just pick him apart, and before you know it he's up 8-0 or 10-2 and the match is over."

Puska finished fourth in the state junior high tournament as an eighth grader, but it's been nothing but first-place finishes for him this season with tournament titles at Edgewood, Beavercreek, Franklin and Sycamore.

"My goal coming into the season was to be a state placer and to break some school records," Puska said.

If he is able to place at state, he would be the first Edgewood freshman to ever do so. But he may own one of those coveted school records before he even gets to Columbus.

His four tournament wins are two shy of the school record shared by Gordy Gordon and Kurt Stoffregen. The Cougars will wrestle at the Eaton Invitational on Jan. 30-31, before heading into the postseason with the Fort Ancient Valley Conference championships, followed by the sectional, district and state tournaments.

Of course, junior teammate Nick McSorley could have something to say about that single-season tournament title record as well. McSorley is 15-1 with three titles to his credit.

And at 119 pounds, McSorley also is Puska's drill partner in practice.

"They have some real battles," Conniff said. "It's fun to watch because their styles are so different.

"Nick's a brawler. He'll come right after you and pound, pound, pound," Conniff continued. "Jordan will finesse you and pick you to pieces. He'll wait for you to make a mistake and then capitalize and start racking up points."

Puska's closest match this season was an 8-2 victory against Kings senior Patrick Williamson in the championship match of the Sycamore Invitational last weekend.

"Yeah, I am surprised (to still be undefeated," Puska said. "What really helps me move along and get better is my family. They're really supportive and they push me to the next level."

*Middletown Journal*