Edinboro’s King gets 6th wrestling season

BY JOHN DUDLEY – (Original here)
john.dudley@timesnews.com

Jarrod King was buying steaks and chicken to make shish kabobs Thursday afternoon when his cell phone rang with the news that the NCAA had granted him a sixth year of wrestling eligibility.

That quickly, the quiet supper King had planned turned into a celebration.

“I didn’t think I would be as excited as I am,” said King, who won a national title at 165 pounds for Edinboro at the NCAA tournament in March. “This is great.”

A former PIAA champion who spent three injury-filled seasons at Oklahoma, King transferred before his junior season but failed to place. Seeded 12th this season, he emerged from an upset-ravaged bracket at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center to help lead the Scots to a sixth-place national finish.

Now he gets a chance to defend his title and become Edinboro’s first repeat champion.

King will anchor an already strong lineup that received a boost last month with the news that 174-pound former national qualifier Phil Moricone also would receive a sixth year.

The Scots also have added heavyweight Chris Birchler, a transfer from East Stroudsburg who finished in the top 12 at last year’s national tournament.

Former NCAA qualifier Eric Morrill returns at 125 pounds after redshirting last year.

“I guess I always think we’re going to be better than other people think we are,” Edinboro coach Tim Flynn said. “I thought we would be OK even before we found out Jarrod would be back, but whenever you get a national champion back that’s a real good thing. It’s fantastic news.”

King said he had been training in hopes of receiving good news from the NCAA, which considers applications for so-called “medical hardship” seasons on a case-by-case basis.

“Now I’ll make that little gear change,” said King, who will turn 24 before the season and said he expects to be the butt of jokes about his age from teammates. “They’re calling me old man already, but I’ll gladly take that abuse. This season should be a lot of fun. We’re going to be just as tough as last year.”