DETROIT, Michigan — Covered by his orange jersey, a discolored scar spanning several inches remains on Dustin Plott’s left shoulder blade.
It’s a symbol of the past for Plott, the 174-pound OSU. A year ago, he fought his first season with a torn left labrum.
In the summer, surgery fixed that problem. But he felt the need to improve more than his physical health. Even with a torn labrum, he wasn’t satisfied with an early exit from the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
So, he addressed an issue that contributed to his sixth-place finish at the NCAA Wrestling Championship at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
Unlike his scar, the enhancement is physically invisible. mental toughness
“It’s a side of the sport that I’ve neglected for a long time and it got me this season,” Plott said. “It’s definitely an area that a lot of guys neglect and don’t realize what they’re missing. I’m glad I finally started concentrating on that.”
As a young college wrestler, competing in front of a packed stadium of 17,000 people can cause a troublesome adrenaline rush. He braced himself for the situation.
“I reached out and got a sports psychologist,” Plott said. “I talk to him weekly. I’ve been talking to him from an outsider’s perspective. Outside of wrestling. It really helps me, and he has been very beneficial.”
As a top level wrestler on the winningest program in collegiate wrestling, the sport is a lifestyle. Cowboys coach John Smith constantly reinforces a warning about the harshness of the sport. But for Plott, that was not enough.
“Yeah, I know, but I’ve never really sat down and thought about what it means,” he said. “I’ve really been concentrating on what my coaches tell me before my games. For me, it’s really relaxing and fun.”
And the extra guidance resulted in All-American honors for Plott.
“You just add these games and every time he doesn’t just get better, he gets tougher,” Smith said.
On Saturday, however, Plott lost both matches. His two opponents, North Carolina State’s Hayden Hidlay and Michigan’s Logan Massa, combined for seven All-American honors.
After session five, OSU is tied for 14th with 38.5 points. Daton Fix will battle Penn State’s Roman Bravo Young in the 133-pound final on Saturday night.
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