- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,263,898
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
Rider wrestler Tyler Klinsky and coach John Hangey tell the same joke when asked why the senior 125-pounder spent a redshirt year last season becoming bigger.
“I wasn’t getting any taller,” said the 5-foot-3 Klinsky.
Many wrestlers take their redshirt year at the beginning of their careers, but Klinsky started as a freshman in 2021-2022. The Middletown North state champion was able to take an unofficial redshirt year in 2021 because the COVID season didn’t count for eligibility.
Klinsky planned to take his redshirt year following his sophomore season as Rider brought in transfer Will Betancourt - also one of the Broncs’ five NCAA qualifiers this season - to fill the 125 slot, but Betancourt had trouble making the weight and Klinsky came out of redshirt and ended up qualifying for his first NCAA tournament.
He finally took the redshirt year last season, put on weight and did his year of student teaching.
This season, he’s been a different wrestler. Klinsky didn’t lose a conference dual meet all season and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Mid-American Conference tournament in clinching his second NCAA bid.
He enters this year’s NCAA tournament which begins Thursday in Cleveland as the No. 11 seed at 125 pounds. The top eight become All-Americans.
“(The added weight) came in handy for later in the matches, being able to push the pace and not worry about getting tired,” said Klinsky. “I worked on little things like mindset, staying focused. Just being focused on the next match coming up.
“It’s been a good year, I’ve had fun with my teammates and coaches. We’ve been getting better, staying consistent and putting forth the best effort. One of my goals at the MAC tournament was to put on a good show. I don’t think it’s hit me yet that it’s the end, but I’m looking forward to wrestling for my coaches one more time.”
Hangey said he’s seen a difference in the redshirt senior.
“Maturity,” said Hangey of the biggest change. “He’s bigger for his weight class and slowing down in his brain on the task at hand and not focusing on just winning and losing. It’s a whole different perspective.
“He’s a lot thicker, he put on significant weight. We didn’t even have him wrestle any matches last year because we didn’t want to slow the process. He put on five pounds of muscle, and it’s visible on the mat.”
Klinsky said he is just as confident heading to NCAAs as he was two years ago when he was a long shot, but the dream to be an All-American has intensified.
“You start to experience winning, and that desire burns even more,” said Klinsky. “I haven’t really looked at the bracket, but I know I have a path to get there.”
The sixth-year senior was part of a strong senior class of Broncs who came up together. But in the offseason, national qualifiers David Szuba (Arizona State), Colton Washleski (Virginia) and Isaac Dean (Iowa State) all entered the transfer portal to spend their last year elsewhere.
All three reached the NCAA tournament again with their new schools, but so did Klinsky and he is glad he stayed.
“I wouldn’t change anything now, I wouldn’t change it then,” said Klinsky. “If I had one more year, I wouldn’t go anyplace else.”
Hangey admitted its satisfying to see Klinsky stay and jump levels in his final year.
“We use him as an example that you can get it done here in this transfer portal world,” said Hangey. “You can do what you want to do, but the grass isn’t always greener. So he’s kind of been the spokesperson for us that you don’t have to transfer. He trusted us and gave us everything he’s had.”
Last week, Klinsky talked to Middletown North junior 106-pounder Thomas Blewett prior to the state tournament. Blewett went on to become the program’s first state champion since Klinsky.
“I’ve known him since he must have been five or six and I was about 12, it was his first year wrestling,” said Klinsky. “I don’t remember exactly what I told him but it was something like you’re supposed to win it, go win it. The only thing left is go take what’s yours.”
This weekend in Cleveland, Klinsky is planning to take what’s his.
MORE RUTGERS COVERAGE
- Rutgers women’s hoops will ‘turn around’ quickly under Gary Redus: 4 takeaways from his introduction
- Should 14-19 Rutgers have accepted a Crown bid? Plus: Gary Redus aces his first test | Rutgers Rant
- Gary Redus contract details: Salary, assistant pool, more for Rutgers women’s hoops’ new coach
- Rutgers wrestling ready for NCAA Championships: In historic year, is March all that matters?
- Rutgers football quarter-century team: Presenting the best Scarlet Knights for the last 25 years
Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Continue reading...
