Oak Harbor’s Bergman to wrestle for U.S. team

6/23/2013
BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oak Harbor native and former Ohio State All-American wrestler J.D. Bergman is bound for the World Championships.

Bergman clinched the spot with a finals sweep over two-time NCAA champion Chris Pendleton at the U.S. World Team Trials.

In a best-of-three series at 96 kilograms (211.5 pounds), Bergman beat the 31-year-old former Oklahoma State star 9-2 in the first match and pinned him in 18 seconds in the second. He will vie for his world title in Budapest in September.

A 2003 graduate of Oak Harbor High, Bergman was a two-time high school state champion and a three-time All-American at OSU. He trains in Columbus and wrestles for the New York Athletic Club.