Redshirt-freshman Bo Jordan is awarded a victory during a dual meet against Minnesota on Feb. 6 at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 22-13.
Credit: OSU athletics
Growing up in a family with a wrestling background could prove to be difficult, especially when your father and uncle were successful.
Bo and Micah Jordan grew up in Ohio and have known they would be wrestlers for the majority of their lives. It was in their blood, as their father Jeff is the head coach of their alma mater St. Paris Graham High School, which has won 14 straight team state titles, and was an All-American at Wisconsin.
Their uncle, congressman Jim Jordan, like his brother, was a four-time state champion in high school and also became a two-time NCAA Champion for the Badgers.
Like the pair of Jordan brothers before them, Bo and Micah also each won four state titles, but chose a different path for college.
“I think my whole family wanted me to go to Wisconsin, especially my dad at the start, but he told me to do what felt right and Ohio State was the place I grew to love,” Bo said.
The Jordans — Bo is a redshirt-freshman while Micah is a freshman — have now arrived at OSU, and have another set of brothers to look up to, the well-known Stiebers.
Redshirt-senior Logan Stieber, who has totaled seven championships in as many years dating back to high school, believes the Jordans can continue their success at a high level.
“They’re very similar, both really tough, both have four high school state titles and I think they can bring the same amount of hype and results as Hunter and I have,” Stieber said. “They’re great people and they work really hard.”
Hunter Stieber, a redshirt-junior for the Buckeyes, was a four-time Ohio state champion as well.
OSU coach Tom Ryan said the two sets of brothers resemble each other.
“They’re (the Jordans) similar to the Stieber brothers in a lot of ways. Both are really close and obviously the success has been there,” Ryan said.
When comparing the brothers, Ryan said the elders — Logan and Bo — are as alike as the younger brothers.
“I would say in both cases the older brother is the more physical wrestler and the younger brother is a little prettier,” Ryan said. “The younger brothers use a little more speed and the older brothers use a little more braun.”
These aren’t traits that have developed overnight either, as even at a very young age, the Jordans were wrestling.
“We’ve been wrestling for as long as I can remember,” Bo said. “One of the earliest childhood memories I have is me wearing a diaper, knee pads and my dad’s shoes on the wrong feet trying to do penetration steps in the house.”
Along with being successful wrestlers, Ryan said the Jordans had a great upbringing.
“They are guys that will always get along with people and are very humble,” Ryan said. “Humility will always be a constant, despite the success they’ve had.”
Their cousin, Isaac Jordan, is currently wrestling for Wisconsin and is ranked No. 2 at 165 pounds. The cousins are the top two 165 pounders in the Big Ten, and could match up in the Big Ten Championship Finals.
“I just have to go out there and wrestle my best like every match,” Bo said. “I’m not going out there wrestling Isaac Jordan or any other name, I’m wrestling against myself and being the best I can be.”
Micah Jordan is redshirting this year and has posted a 29-1 record in various open tournaments throughout the season. The 149 pounder is the same weight as Hunter and, in the case of Stieber not being able to return from injury, Micah has stayed ready with the postseason looming.
“It’s been a good year, redshirting is allowing me to get ready for next year,” Micah said. “I definitely want to be wrestling with the varsity guys and my brother, but for now my main goal is just to get better for next year.”
Having his brother help him out with the transition to college and redshirting has helped, Micah said.
“It’s great having my brother here. We are drill partners and he pushes me and helps me out a lot,” he said. “He’s a big role model for me and is a big reason for me coming to Ohio State.”
Bo is currently ranked No. 5 in the country at 165 pounds and is a perfect 15-0 on the year, as well as 38-0 in his career. Watching the Stieber brothers has motivated him to be even better, Bo said.
“It’s really cool to have seen the Stieber brothers winning state titles together and that’s what I want me and my brother to do,” he said. “There is no replacing the Stiebers. These guys are animals, but that’s the goal, trying to be as successful as they are.”
The Buckeyes are 13-3 and finished second in the Big Ten at 8-1 and are currently ranked third nationally.
As Logan finishes up his final push for greatness at OSU, he will leave behind a legacy that might never be matched.
Hunter and Bo will look to get their first taste at greatness this March at the NCAA championships and Micah will be ready and waiting for his turn next season.
“The Stiebers are tough. It’s awesome to see what they’ve accomplished and Bo and I are trying to follow in their footsteps,” Micah said.
And following in the Jordans’ footsteps could even be yet another Jordan.
The youngest of the three, Rocky, a freshman in high school, hasn’t officially committed to OSU, but wants nothing more than to follow in his brothers footsteps and become a Buckeye, Bo said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that Bo Jordan is a redshirt-sophomore. Bo Jordan is in fact a redshirt-freshman.
