World Team member Kyle Snyder to take Olympic redshirt at Ohio State next year
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by Michael Basford, Ohio State
Kyle Snyder, shown scoring a takedown at the 2015 Beat the Streets Gala dual in Times Square, will take an Olympic redshirt at Ohio State in 2015-16. Justin Hoch photo.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Kyle Snyder, a Big Ten and NCAA runner-up as a true freshman last season for the Ohio State wrestling team, will take an Olympic redshirt in 2015-16 as he trains for the Summer Olympics in Rio. Snyder will have three years of eligibility remaining when he returns in 2016-17.
“Kyle is the first collegiate athlete in NCAA history to win the U.S. Open and make the World Team as a freshman,” said head coach Tom Ryan. “The best chance for him to win an Olympic gold medal is to spend this season building his strength and freestyle skill. Traveling overseas will be critical for Kyle as well.”
“After discussing this with Coach Ryan and his staff, we are all in agreement this is the best thing for me,” said Snyder. “I’ve always dreamed of competing in the Olympics and to now have the opportunity to chase that goal is exciting. I came to Ohio State because I knew I could get a great education, compete for titles and prepare myself for Olympic-level wrestling. While I will miss wrestling in front of our fans at St. John Arena this season, I look forward to being back and better than ever in 2016-17.”
As he makes his run at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Snyder will remain in Columbus and train at the renowned Ohio Regional Training Center along with the likes of former Buckeyes Logan Stieber, JD Bergman and Reece Humphrey.
“I have amazing training partners at Ohio RTC and they prepare me every single day to wrestle in big matches,” said Snyder. “I couldn’t ask for a better environment both on and off the mat.”
Snyder has enjoyed a breakthrough summer, as he’s earned a victory over 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner in the finals of the U.S. Open championships and topped the 2014 World bronze medalist in Times Square. At the U.S. World Team Trials June 13-14, he defeated Varner twice to win the 97kg/213 lbs. title and punched his ticket to the World Championships in Las Vegas, Nev. Sept. 7-12.
During his freshman season with the Scarlet and Gray last winter, Snyder went 30-4 with a team-high 15 major decisions and two technical falls. He was the Big Ten and NCAA runner up at 197 pounds, finishing 15-1 in the regular season against Big Ten competition that included a 12-match winning streak from Jan. 11-March 8. His victory over defending champion J'Den Cox in the 197 lbs. NCAA semifinals was instrumental in helping Ohio State earn its first team national title in school history. Snyder scored 18 points at the NCAA Championships, third most on the team behind Stieber (26) and Bo Jordan (19.5).
A native of Woodbine, Md., Snyder came to Ohio State as the nation’s top-ranked recruit. He went 178-0 at Our Lady of Good Counsel before spending his senior season at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. In August of 2013, he became the youngest American in over 20 years to win a FILA Junior World championship.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Kyle Snyder, a Big Ten and NCAA runner-up as a true freshman last season for the Ohio State wrestling team, will take an Olympic redshirt in 2015-16 as he trains for the Summer Olympics in Rio. Snyder will have three years of eligibility remaining when he returns in 2016-17.
“Kyle is the first collegiate athlete in NCAA history to win the U.S. Open and make the World Team as a freshman,” said head coach Tom Ryan. “The best chance for him to win an Olympic gold medal is to spend this season building his strength and freestyle skill. Traveling overseas will be critical for Kyle as well.”
“After discussing this with Coach Ryan and his staff, we are all in agreement this is the best thing for me,” said Snyder. “I’ve always dreamed of competing in the Olympics and to now have the opportunity to chase that goal is exciting. I came to Ohio State because I knew I could get a great education, compete for titles and prepare myself for Olympic-level wrestling. While I will miss wrestling in front of our fans at St. John Arena this season, I look forward to being back and better than ever in 2016-17.”
As he makes his run at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Snyder will remain in Columbus and train at the renowned Ohio Regional Training Center along with the likes of former Buckeyes Logan Stieber, JD Bergman and Reece Humphrey.
“I have amazing training partners at Ohio RTC and they prepare me every single day to wrestle in big matches,” said Snyder. “I couldn’t ask for a better environment both on and off the mat.”
Snyder has enjoyed a breakthrough summer, as he’s earned a victory over 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner in the finals of the U.S. Open championships and topped the 2014 World bronze medalist in Times Square. At the U.S. World Team Trials June 13-14, he defeated Varner twice to win the 97kg/213 lbs. title and punched his ticket to the World Championships in Las Vegas, Nev. Sept. 7-12.
During his freshman season with the Scarlet and Gray last winter, Snyder went 30-4 with a team-high 15 major decisions and two technical falls. He was the Big Ten and NCAA runner up at 197 pounds, finishing 15-1 in the regular season against Big Ten competition that included a 12-match winning streak from Jan. 11-March 8. His victory over defending champion J'Den Cox in the 197 lbs. NCAA semifinals was instrumental in helping Ohio State earn its first team national title in school history. Snyder scored 18 points at the NCAA Championships, third most on the team behind Stieber (26) and Bo Jordan (19.5).
A native of Woodbine, Md., Snyder came to Ohio State as the nation’s top-ranked recruit. He went 178-0 at Our Lady of Good Counsel before spending his senior season at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. In August of 2013, he became the youngest American in over 20 years to win a FILA Junior World championship.
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