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The Round Table

Part of The Round Table's multimedia experience

The Round Table

Ziegler commits to Princeton

By Julia Karcewski
Round Table advertising manager

Its 4:40 on a Thursday evening and Bob Ziegler is on his way to Middletown High School with his son Judd so that they can get a pool workout in from 5 to 6, an hour-a-day cardio that will become a ritual for the next few months. This will be no simple workout; Judd has a rod in his femur. He broke his leg in the fall during football and the rod was put in just two weeks prior during an intensive surgery. Judd’s pool time will help with both his recovery and strengthening.

“Before I was able to walk (after the surgery), my dad was taking me to the gym to lift for an hour, and Coach Lynott was letting us into the pool to swim for an hour,” said Judd. “We continued this almost every day until the doctor cleared me.”

After a hard hit at practice toward the beginning of the 2010 football season, Judd’s junior year, his leg began to bother him.  A determined athlete, Judd pushed through the pain as he continued to play at nose guard, hoping for a successful season and possibly a shot at states.

His season was cut short.

During the second game of the season, Judd fell on his leg and snapped his femur. He would be out for the rest of the football season and need surgery to put a rod in his leg.

He didn’t let his injury stop him from being part of the team. Fans could see Judd on the sidelines at every single Friday night game.

Judd was determined to compete the entire wrestling season. He pushed himself to limits even his athletically driven body had never been to.  Coaches, friends, and family continued to support Judd; they seemed just as driven as him.

After hearing about Judd’s injury, wrestling coach Jim Schartner was “disappointed for Judd and his family.”

“He had worked so hard to prepare for his wrestling and football season,” said Schartner.

Schartner immediately asked how bad the injury to his leg was and what needed to be done to help Judd with rehab.

Not only did Judd swim and lift, his wrestling coach, Schartner let him go into the wrestling room during his recovery. This allowed Judd stay familiar with the mats as he practiced wrestling to the extent he could.

Judd’s coaches and family were not the only people who assisted Judd in his recovery from his broken leg. His dad, Bob, said support came from 2011 graduate and captain of the MHS varsity football team Chris Pironne, MHS boys varsity basketball coach Tim Leber, and University of Virginia wrestling coach Steve Garland.

Pironne, who had suffered a serious setback in high school himself when he injured his leg and had later complications, reminded Judd not to feel sorry for himself.  Leber prayed with Judd and sent him scripture readings. Garland, who had been in touch with Judd during the recruiting process, simply said, “Do you think you’re the only kid in America who got a bad break? What are you going to do about it?”

With overwhelming support coming from all angles, Judd trained at full speed, hoping to get on the mat as soon as possible.

“I was confident Judd would give everything he had to return to wrestling,” said Schartner. “Judd has tremendous work ethic and drive to accomplish his goals.”

Schartner said that work ethic makes him stand out among his peers. This can be attributed to his parents and their reliance on faith. Bob credits his wife, who “has taught the family to fully rely on God.”

Three days after the start of wrestling season, Judd was cleared by the doctor and wasted no time getting back to practice.  On the mat in the first week of practice, Judd went on to have a “tremendous” 2011-2012 wrestling season, Shartner said.

“He wrestled with the knowledge that he had to adjust to his style,” said Schartner. “He steadily improved each week.”

After winning regionals in a close match prior to states, Judd was prepared as ever to wrestle in the Maryland 2A wrestling state championship.

Then, as if the broken leg wasn’t enough, another obstacle was thrown in Judd’s path.

Following regionals, Judd got a rare infection which prevented him from being able to wrestle in states. Ironically, the wrestler Judd had beaten in overtime during regionals went on to win states. 

The Ziegler family’s faith rose to the occasion again. “When Judd could not wrestle in the state championship; my wife thought, maybe the other boy needed the title,” said Bob.

“The experience as a whole really taught me to work hard in school and in wrestling,” said Judd. “I don’t want to settle for second.” 

Judd ended his season with a record of 33-3.

Once Judd hit high school, he knew he wanted to wrestle in college. His dad began to film his matches, whether wins or losses, to put together a highlight tape. He sent the highlights to colleges, hoping they would be interested in Judd and recruit him.

 “Coaches don’t want to see your kid winning all the time,” said Bob. “Coaches want to see your kid competing against the best; they want to see your kid losing and they want to see how he reacts.”

Judd trained with top-notch coaches from March to November. He competed in national level tournaments and did extremely well in them.

After many phone calls with college coaches and visits to colleges, Judd narrowed his choice to Maryland, Kent State, and Princeton.

Judd didn’t plan on committing until March, but Princeton stood out among the other schools and since there was a spot on the team that needed to be filled, he committed in December.

Bob says Princeton is a “perfect fit”. It has academic challenges and the coaches are great.

“They are trying to run a [Division 1] program but, more importantly, are trying to develop young men into mature and responsible adults,” Bob said. “As far as the campus, it might be the prettiest place I’ve ever seen.”

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Ziegler commits to Princeton