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COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa – Even though he’s been out for the last three weeks with a lateral ligament sprain, Coe College wrestler and Columbus Community graduate Seth Pugh is on the road back.

 Originally signed to wrestle at the University of Northern Iowa, Pugh posted a 17-8 record as a redshirt freshman before running into some academic troubles.

“I wasn’t doing too well in school,” Pugh admitted. “(I) needed a change in environment.”

Pugh left for Coe, and now the 165-pounder has turned things around.

“He’s doing very well right now,” said Coe assistant coach Dustin Bliven, also a Columbus graduate. “He’s the best I’ve seen him look, both athletically and academically. He’s got his head on straight. He’s about 180 degrees from where he was last spring. It’s good to have him back on track.

“He’s a little banged up right now, but we’ll be wrestling here shortly.”

Columbus wrestling coach Bill Plein has continued to follow Pugh. He knows that the junior is working his way back.

“We’ve talked and he’s come down and worked out a little bit,” Plein said. “He’s pretty focused right now. He’s back on track. It’s more his doing than anybody … I certainly haven’t had anything to do with it. I think he’s really gotten things going for himself. I’ve followed him, talked with him and had a chance to see him sometimes.

“It’s important to try and keep track of them sometimes, but it’s hard to do after so many years.”

With the time he has left, Pugh has his sights set on big things.

“I hope to have a couple of national titles,” Pugh said. “I’m looking to get started this year; looking forward to wrestling. I have to wrestle-off for it since Nick LeClere is at 165. He’s ranked No. 4 or No. 2; I don’t know. I’ll be ready to go, so I’m not too worried about it.”

Head coach John Oostendorp has not seen Pugh wrestle-off against LeClere yet.

“Hopefully, we’ll have Seth back this weekend,” Oostendorp said. “He’s been out for 2 or 3 weeks and hasn’t been able to wrestle. Nick LeClere’s done well (at 165). We haven’t been able to see Seth and Nick wrestle yet. Nick’s had a good showing, there’s no doubt about that.”

Bliven added, “I haven’t seen them wrestle yet. It will be an interesting style of match because Seth is more of a quick scrambler and LeClere is more of a brawler. I’m anxious to see it. It will be coming up in the next few weeks.

“He (Pugh) should be in a tournament before Christmas.”

If asked for advice from Pugh, Plein said he’ll provide it.

“The advice I could give him is the same as I’d give him in high school: Set your goal and understand that goals don’t come easy,” Plein said.

“You have to work real hard to get your goals. That’s what I gave him in high school and his coaches are giving him right now. He’s certainly caught on with that idea and is working real hard.”

Pugh relishes his relationship with Plein.

“I like coming down to Columbus and wrestling, too,” Pugh said. “No matter what level that I’m wrestling at, he always knows all the different techniques and different things it takes to be good at whatever level it is.”

And after everything Pugh has been through to get to Coe, he says he doesn’t regret anything.

“No, you can’t really have any regrets,” Pugh said. “You just can’t look back and dwell on that, you just got to keep rolling. I’m sure it will all work out for me, whatever happens.”