Rick's Rant: Ohio State tribute to lost comrade reminder of what makes wrestling special

Logan Stieber (Ohio State) wins his fourth Big Ten Title while wearing the KK tribute to Kosta Karageorge.

We are in the midst of the biggest two weeks of the college wrestling season, fresh off the conference tournaments and gearing up for the big dance in St. Louis next week.


With all the commotion of NCAA brackets and seeds being released I thought it would be a nice time for a change of pace.


Last weekend I was in Columbia, Mo. covering the MAC Championships so I was unable to really pay attention to the happenings of other conference tournaments until this week.


While watching the recording of the Big Ten finals on BTN I noticed the Ohio State wrestlers all donning a KK on the shoulder strap of their singlets.


The KK patch is a tribute to our lost wrestling comrade, Ohio State wrestler and football player Kosta Karageorge, who passed away late last year.


Kosta began his college career at Oklahoma and I actually had the honor to call him my teammate for one year as a Sooner. During that time I got to know him very well. This large, imposing man appeared to outsiders as a brute, but I know him as a soft-spoken, caring individual.


It was absolutely devastating to hear the news of his passing, especially with his disappearance and death developing into a major news story on ESPN and other major television networks. No matter where I looked I was reminded of the loss many of us had suffered.


I can remember all my old OU teammates texting in our group message about the situation, the worry, the heartbreak; it was something none of us ever expected to go through. I am sure the same scenario occurred at Ohio State.


For me, seeing the KK on the Ohio State singlet was not only a reminder of a great person, but also a reminder of the quality individuals in our sport. Wrestling takes care of its own. It always has.


This is why wrestling is so special to me. Yes, I take pride in having competed in the toughest sport know to man, a slogan we all know so well. The sport is extremely challenging. It sets itself apart from other sports on that fact alone. More importantly though, wrestling is a family. I can’t think of anything else where you can spend a couple hours a day attempting to impose your will on another person and then being the best of friends with that same person the second you step out of the wrestling room. Special doesn’t even begin to describe it.


I would like to commend Ohio State for honoring Kosta in such a way and keeping his memory alive.


Just two months ago the Ohio State football team entered the College Football Playoff as underdogs and shocked the world, all the while wearing Kosta’s initials on their jerseys. The Ohio State wrestling team is about to enter a similar scenario, a national title contender, with heavy hearts, inspired by the life of a teammate.


Whether or not Ohio State wins the NCAA Championships is irrelevant to me. What is important is the manner in which we all carry ourselves. I deeply respect the people involved in the Ohio State program for the loss they have suffered and the character they have shown to fight through it.


To Ohio State, thank you for your memoriam and tribute to my friend and member of our wrestling family, Kosta Karageorge.

To submit your questions or feedback to Rick’s Rant tweet them to @Richard_Immel or email rimmel@usawrestling.org.