Overmyer has one more step to climb at state

CLYDE — Lance Overmyer has been the top-ranked wrestler in the state at 157 pounds in Division II all season, but even tough guys get sick. Overmyer woke up last Saturday morning with a 104-degree fever. The district tournament — and his ticket to the state tourney — was hours away. "That morning I was like, 'There is no way,' " said Lance's mother, Tracy Overmyer. "He said, 'I'm going.' " The Clyde senior hydrated, took some ibuprofen and went to Norwalk. Everything was just fine until he got caught in a cradle late in his semifinal match. A 6-5 loss knocked Overmyer into the consolation bracket. He finished third, which means his path to a state title might be a little tougher in Columbus. Overmyer, who downplayed his illness, is feeling better this week. He is fueled by getting close to the top of the podium the last two years — third as a sophomore, second as a junior — as well as the reaction of some fans last week at Norwalk. "I'm glad I had that feeling and the sickness before state, especially just to see everything afterwards — who would come up to me and to see everyone who celebrated. That just annoyed me a little bit and I'm not gonna forget about that," Overmyer said. Overmyer has compiled a 54-3 record this season, including two close losses to a multiple state champion from Michigan and the projected Division I state champion in Ohio. He was 56-2 last year and went 47-7 as a sophomore and 34-3 as a freshman. Overmyer likely would've made it to state as a ninth-grader, but he lost to the eventual state champion at 120 pounds in the blood round. The loss at district didn't seem to rattle Overmyer, a cerebral wrestler who is on track to be his class valedictorian. He's also an Eagle Scout. "He used to not be able to internalize a loss," Clyde coach Cliff Andres said. "Not that there wasn't enough fuel from our runner-up finish last year, but you can bet the gas tank is full (this week). I don't anticipate any letdowns or looking past anyone. I told him it doesn't matter what you do at district if you go 4-0 (at state)." Overmyer's quest to reach the top of the podium begins Friday afternoon at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. "I gotta believe in myself," he said. "Confidence is a really big thing when you get down to state. It's not always 'best man wins.' It's wrestling; whatever happens, happens. You have to be ready for it." Overmyer will head to Columbus as the state's all-time takedown leader. He unofficially has 520 in his career. Many of his matches have featured scores you might see at a football game because Overmyer scores two points on a takedown, lets his opponent go, scores another takedown, rinse and repeat. "It's not meant to be disrespectful or anything, and I know some people take it like that," Overmyer said. "It's not like I'm trying to rough anybody up. It's more about working through moves and getting the takedowns. I get a lot more work doing that than pinning someone in the first period. Especially cardio-wise." Andres was the same way in high school and won a state championship at 160 pounds in 1993. "We can wrestle a mediocre kid and he's still winded when he comes off the mat because he did three, four minutes of straight wrestling," Andres said. "Some people love it, some people hate it. He can wrestle on the mat. He can beat you on you feet and on the mat. "That's how I was. I had 10 takedowns in the state finals — let him up nine times. I think I had the takedown record at one point." Overmyer always has been a student of the sport and a student, period. He is finishing his high school career taking online classes through Terra State Community College and will graduate with two associates degrees. "He'd sit at the table and read and read and read. He's like a sponge," said Tracy. His 4.0 grade-point average has led to some joking in the Overmyer household. Lance was born six weeks premature and had to be flown from Fremont to Toledo via Life Flight. "When I left the hospital they told me he might be a little behind and might catch up," Tracy said. "The joke is, 'I'd wish you'd catch up.'" Overmyer pretty much has lapped the field. That includes his grandpa, Paul "Smokey" Overmyer, who finished fourth at the state wrestling tournament in 1959 for Fremont Ross. "My sophomore year I wanted to get better than fourth," Overmyer said. "I got third and that was a big thing for me. I could say I was at least on the same level as my grandpa. "No one expected anything out of us (his sophomore year). That was probably the most fun year. Now the goals have changed." Overmyer wrestled at 120 as a freshman, then moved up to 138, 144 and now 157. "I hit the weight room and I like how I grew into it," he said. "I'm glad I didn't stay at 120 because I feel that my wrestling has developed as I've gotten bigger. I wrestle totally different, even compared to last year." Overmyer lives in Lindsey, a small town west of Fremont. He open enrolled at Clyde prior to his freshman year, opting to leave the program at Woodmore. He's found a comfortable, competitive wrestling room at Clyde, which is sending four athletes to the state tourney. "Last year (assistant coach Daniel) Gilbert could beat (Overmyer). He can't touch him right now," Andres said. "He's been scoring regularly on Sammy Viengmany, who wrestled in college and is 31 years old and has him by a little weight. He's progressing and is where we want him to be. "He truly lives the life. He watches what he eats year round, he lifts year round and wrestles year round. He's a competitor; he does not like to lose." Overmyer wants to wrestle in college, perhaps at the Division I level. But he is focused on academics and wants to study finance or accounting. "I feel like some schools try to sell their wrestling team more than academics," Overmyer said. "Yeah, I'd like to wrestle in college, but that's not why I'm going to college. I don't see myself being a world-level wrestler or anything, so I'd let to set myself up after college." Overmyer and Andres believes the Fliers' star is set up physically and mentally to become a state champion Sunday night. When asked about the key to victory, Overmyer didn't hesitate. "I'd say mindset," he said. "It's the belief that I can do it. It's not being OK with just letting a match get away from me. If I get taken down I don't want to be OK with trying to coast and keeping it close. If I'm on the mat I might as well wrestle through things." Andres is confident Overmyer can go 4-0 at state. "I told him he has to be OK with the outcome as long as you do everything on your end," Andres said. "If you have regret because 'I coulda did this, shoulda did this,' that'll eat you up for the rest of your life. "I don't see us losing, but it's wrestling. It's unforgiving; you don't know. There's a thousand things that can happen, but he's ready."