Buckeye Profiles: Kirk Nail Turns the Page

OSU All-American Enters the College Coaching Ranks

(Columbus, Ohio) - It has been three years since Kirk Nail stepped on the wrestling mat for the Ohio State. The last time he wrestled an actual match was as a sophomore at the 2006 NCAA Tournament. After placing eighth to earn All-American honors in his second year as a starter; Nail was halfway to his goal of being a national champion by stepping on the podium.

Unfortunately an accumulation of injuries forced him to stop wrestling in the fall and he never had another match. Three years removed from his premature retirement Nail is preparing to turn the page on his time at OSU and enter the college coaching ranks as a graduate assistant at Cumberland University

“Kirk was a fierce competitor on the mat and a class act off,” stated Tommy Rowlands who coached Nail at Ohio State. “I am certain he will impact many people while at Cumberland.”

On the wrestling mat Kirk Nail cracked the varsity lineup as a true freshman at heavyweight. Showing continued improvement throughout the year he went 17-17 overall and placed eighth at the 2005 Big Ten Tournament to earn a wildcard birth to the NCAA Tournament. As a sophomore he ended the season 18-11; punching his own ticket to nationals by placing sixth at the Big Ten Tournament. After medically defaulting his last three matches at the Big Tens; Nail upset three higher seeded opponents at nationals to place eighth at the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

“Being from central Ohio it meant the world to me that I was being asked to follow in the footsteps of arguably the greatest college heavyweight, Tommy Rowlands. With such a long standing tradition of great upper weights it was everything and anything a high school kid dreams of,” stated Nail when asked what it meant to be a Buckeye.

“Walking away from the sport was very difficult. So many people had invested so much into me and I felt I was somewhat letting them down; I couldn’t have been more wrong,” said Nail when asked how difficult it was step back.

Nail was eventually granted a medical waiver but with two years of eligibility remaining at Ohio State; it was not an easy decision to hang up his headgear early. Maintaining his friendships with the guys on the team he spent his last two years on campus as a “regular student.” Nail earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Sociology and walked with the Class of 2008 in the spring.

“As much as it meant to be an All-American I am just as proud of earning my degree in four years,” asserted Nail

“I’m still great friends with all of the guys. I respect what Tom, Lou, Joe, and Tommy have done with the program and hope for nothing but success for the team in the future,” said Nail when speaking of the Buckeyes.

A frequent supporter of the Buckeyes from the stands the last three years Nail has slowly worked his way back onto the wrestling mat. Taking a year off to let his body recover he has worked as an assistant coach at Hilliard Davidson High School the past two seasons. Nail was a four year starter for the Wildcats and a two-time state placer prior to attending Ohio State.

Now a year removed from his college graduation he is ready to get back on the college mat and in the classroom. Cumberland University is a NAIA school located in Lebanon, Tennessee. Kirk will be pursuing his Masters in Science in Public Service Management while working as a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs.

“It is a privilege to be given the opportunity by Coach Swint to continue my education beyond my undergraduate degree; that is certainly my first priority,” responded Nail.

While school will take precedence, he is also looking forward to coaching in college.

“To have the ability to take what I learned from all the great mentors in my life like Dominic and Vince DiSabato, Russ Hellickson, and Tommy Rowlands and pass that along to the wrestlers at CU is an honor,” concluded Nail.

Nail won’t be the only person with Ohio or OSU connections in the Cumberland Wrestling Room. Head coach Jarad Swint was a 1994 NAIA All-American at Findlay after a prep career at Fremont St. Joseph HS. Second-year Graduate Assistant Steve Sommer, a Dayton Carroll alumnus, was a teammate of Nail’s at Ohio State. A junior college All-American, Sommer was the Buckeyes starter at 157 pounds in 2005-2006. Placing eighth at the Big Tens he was an alternate for the 2006 NCAA Tournament.