History-rich Madison Square Garden awakened by potential heavyweight collision at NCAA Championships

Two-time NCAA champion at 285 lbs. Nick Gwiazdowski of North Carolina State at the NCAA wrestling athlete press conference on Wednesday. Photo: John Sachs.

NEW YORK CITY – Madison Square Garden has played host to countless heavyweights since opening its doors in February of 1968.


Sports and entertainment industry titans across the world celebrate the chance to play The Garden, and college wrestling has the potential to showcase itself with a heavyweight battle to rival that of Ali-Frazier I.


North Carolina State’s Nick Gwiazdowski will make his fourth NCAA Championships appearance this weekend. He has dominated the 285-pound field for the past three seasons to the tune of two NCAA championships, three ACC championships and the potential to cement himself as one of the all-time great college heavyweights.


“This is like the culmination of everything, but at the same time I don’t feel stressed about it,” Gwiazdowski said. “You do it two times before, what’s the third? You win 84 matches what’s five more, right? It’s not that bad.”


As he steps foot into The Garden on Thursday, Gwiazdowski possesses a NCAA leading 84-match win streak and holds the No. 1 seed at 285 pounds. Without question, he is one of the most dominant performers in Division I wrestling with 23 of his 29 victories this season coming by way of bonus points.


There is no one that can match the growing legend of Gwiazdowski, especially during his Senior season, right? This was the overwhelming consensus to begin the season.


Then comes a surprise announcement, as the clock literally struck midnight on 2015, that would shake up not only the heavyweight bracket, but the college wrestling landscape entirely.


Kyle Snyder would forego his Olympic redshirt and return to college competition. Oh, by the way, he will return at heavyweight.


“When he chose to come out, he didn't hesitate,” said Ohio State Head Coach Tom Ryan. “With him, we looked at the year. Initially, I thought there was no way he could do it. This is about Kyle Snyder as much as Ohio State. The guy has earned the right to put himself in the best position to be an Olympian.”


One year ago Snyder was a NCAA runner-up at 197 pounds. He was distraught, confused, jealous and every other concoction of emotions fathomable. Someone not accustomed to falling short had done just that.


“It was hard. Especially it was kind of a mix of emotions because we won the team title last year. Some of my best friends won NCAA titles. But just as an individual, you want the same thing. So it was kind of hard for me to be around them, even though I am super happy that we got it done as a team and I'm super happy for the individuals who got it done now. It was hard to be with them in that moment because I was hurting pretty bad,” said Snyder.

The youngest World champion in USA Wrestling history, Kyle Snyder of Ohio State at the NCAA wrestling athlete press conference on Wednesday. Photo: John Sachs.

In a year’s time Snyder has morphed into a global wrestling phenomenon. He became the youngest World champion in U.S. men’s freestyle wrestling history at age 19 in September by defeated reigning World champion and Russian superstar Abdusalam Gadisov in spectacular fashion to claim World gold. This, of course, after topping 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner three-times in the summer months just to make the U.S. World Team.


Since announcing his return to competition on New Year’s Day, Snyder has only competed in six college matches. The majority of his time has been spent overseas wrestling many of the best wrestlers in the world.


“I wrestled in two overseas tournaments, the Yarygin and the Medved, so I didn’t win either of them. I took bronze in both, but I wrestled some really tough guys. I learned a lot. The most important thing for me is to just keep improving, keep valuing the wrestling, keep growing as a wrestler in different positions and I think that I’m doing that,” said Snyder.


The No. 2 seed at 285 pounds, Snyder has wrecked all six of his opponents this season while donning the Ohio State Scarlet and Gray. His only close match was a controlled 7-4 decision over NCAA runner-up Adam Coon of Michigan in the Big Ten Championships finals.


A two-time NCAA champion going for number three versus the youngest World champion the U.S. has ever seen. Compelling, yes?


The stakes are high for both men, but for Gwiazdowski there is the added bonus of competing in his home state of New York.


“It’s an exciting year for [Gwiazdowski],” said North Carolina State Head Coach Pat Popolizio. “Knowing that nationals was going to be in New York is a big deal for him and myself, so that was step one as far as the excitement goes. For him it’s just another competition. He doesn’t overlook things, overthink things and it has just kind of slowed down the process.”


In the landscape of “one match at a time” coach speak and singular focus mentality, even Gwiazdowski admits what is going to transpire this weekend in Madison Square Garden is not just another tournament.


“I would put this one on top of them all, but again there’s things I have to do, and I have to focus on. Having the experience of doing it two times before I know what I personally need throughout the tournament,” Gwiazdowski explained.


Snyder concurs.


“I've never wrestled at Madison Square Garden, so it's going to be exciting to go out there and compete. Anytime you can wrestle in front of thousands of fans it's very exciting and something I'm looking forward to,” said Snyder.


When the heavyweight final rolls around Saturday evening it could be one of the most anticipated NCAA wrestling championship bouts of all-time.


Both men are shaping and fueling their legacy in unprecedented ways. Last year it was Snyder who helped lead Ohio State to the programs first NCAA team title in history, doing so as a true freshman. This year Gwiazdowski has catapulted NC State near the top of the team race discussion.


Perhaps even more impressive, both men are serious contenders to make the U.S. Olympic Team this year, Snyder at 97 kg and Gwiazdowski at 125 kg. In fact, the two have trained together multiple times to prepare for international competition.


This intense competition causes both men to thrive.


“It will make it more special. You want to be the best guy? You’ve got to beat someone. So, if he beats me I’d be a two-time champ, if I beat him I beat a World champ and go out with a third title, so it’d just make it better,” said Gwiazdowski.


They crave it. The history, the legacy, the glory, it’s all there for the taking.


“I train hard everyday and I’m ready to compete at any moment,” Snyder added. “I think wrestling the type of opponents that I've been able to compete against this year, some of the best guys in the world at my weight class, some guys that have wrestled heavyweight before and done well is going to help me compete well at this tournament.”


Gwiazdowski and Snyder set forth on a collision course starting Thursday morning. Both men must win four-straight matches to make the finals on Saturday to set up the heavyweight battle fans are clamoring for, a battle that would define wrestling history.


And what better place than in Madison Square Garden if it happens.