B.J. Beat the Best
Clagon Defeats #1 Wrestler in Nation
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ--To be the best, you have to beat the best.
That is more than just a sports cliché. It is also more than just the philosophy that Gary Taylor has implemented in his 37 years as head wrestling coach at Rider University, where he has compiled 417 dual meet victories against the highest level of completion he could schedule, teams like Penn State, Illinois, Wisconsin, Lehigh and Edinboro this year alone.
It is what Rider freshman B.J. Clagon of Toms River, NJ recently took to heart in his quest to become a conference champion, an All-American and a National Champion.
In the Eastern Wrestling League Championship Tournament, Clagon defeated the number one ranked wrestler in the nation, All-American Dave Habat of Edinboro, in the conference championship bout.
It marked the first time a Rider wrestler has ever defeated the top ranked wrestler in the nation.
Rider has had wrestlers ranked as high as second in the nation and has had wrestlers finish as high as third at the NCAA Championships, but has never had a wrestler defeat the top ranked wrestler in the land, until now.
“This is a big deal,” said Taylor, who has produced 13 All-Americans in his time at Rider and has had 49 NCAA qualifiers in the last 11 years, including five this year.
One of those qualifiers is Clagon, who is one of just three wrestlers to have ever won four NHSCA National Championships. A two-time NJSIAA State Champion at Toms River South High School, Clagon was ranked third in the nation as a senior after compiling a 165-6 scholastic record.
“B.J. Clagon is one of the most talented wrestlers I have ever seen coming out of high school,” Taylor said, “as evidenced by his four high school national championships. Now he is becoming one of the most talented in college. He is making the necessary adjustments to become one of the best in college, as evidenced by just defeating the number one ranked wrestler in the nation, who was a high placing All-American last year.”
Clagon red-shirted the 2013-14 season at Rider. During his red-shirt season he placed third at the National College Open. “B.J. is probably the most decorated recruit we've ever brought in here,” Taylor said.
This year Clagon placed third at the Keystone Classic and went 3-2 in EWL action. He was 14-6 in dual meets for the 13-8 Broncs, and entered the EWL Championships with an overall record of 21-9.
In the EWLs he was the second seed and after winning a major decision in the first round, defeated the third seed from Lock Haven 11-7 to reach the finals. In the championship bout he defeated Habat, who owned a career collegiate record of 130-25, including 32-1 this year. Habat's only other loss this year, by the score of 2-1, was to the defending National Champion. Last year Habat placed fourth in the nation to earn All-America honors.
Now, that is what Clagon will set his sights on, earning All-America honors. “I want to accomplish everything,” said Clagon. “I want to win Nationals four times. I think every wrestler has that dream, to achieve big things.”
Clagon has just begun to achieve big things.
“Every year our goal is to qualify wrestlers for Nationals and come home with an All-American or two,” Taylor said.
With five wrestlers heading to St. Louis for the NCAA Division I Championships, led by Clagon, the Broncs will look to come home with their 14th All-American.
In St. Louis the Broncs will face the best in the land. That is how you become the best.
-ru-
