Tommy Rowlands

Tommy Rowlands (born June 3, 1981 in Columbus, Ohio) was a two-time NCAA champion in wrestling and is currently an Ohio State University assistant wrestling coach.

Rowlands grew up less than 15 miles from the Ohio State campus. His wrestling career began when his father introduced him to Louisiana State University All American Wrestler Jim Edwards at a church function. Jim agreed to help Tommy learn the sport and the very next day Edwards would answer his door after work to find Tommy there ready to learn.

Rowlands entered high school at Bishop Ready high school in Columbus and there he would become teammates with long time friend and shameless self promoter Ross Thatcher. Thatcher and Tommy both won two state titles and went on to become collegiate All Americans.

Following graduation Rowland's chose to attend The Ohio State University where he became a two time national champion and the first four time All American for the Buckeyes. In the OSU singlet Tommy became a leader for the team and under coach Russ Helickson he was able to help lead the team to the National Duals finals and to a third place finish at the NCAA tournament.

After graduating Rowlands remain part of the program as a volunteer assistant coach. In 2006 he was hired as a full-time assistant.

A two time U.S Senior National Champion in Freestyle, Rowlands defeated Cole Konrad for his first title in 2007 and Steve Mocco in 2008 for his second; however, just a few months after the 2008 U.S. Nationals, Rowlands failed to qualify for the Olympics despite receiving a bye to the finals of the Olympic Trials, losing the best-of-three match series to Mocco.

Rowlands is 27 years old.

References

The Columbus Dispatch (Wed. 4/23/2008) Sports page article by Jim Massie
* [http://ohiostatebuckeyes.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/rowlands_tommy00.html Ohio State Athletics Biography]