Clymer's career comes to an end at Hofstra

ST. LOUIS Ben Clymer's collegiate wrestling career came to an end Friday after losing in the consolation round of the NCAA Wrestling Championships.

Clymer, a 184-pound Hofstra senior and graduate of Northwestern Lehigh, was locked in a scoreless tie with Missouri's Mike Larson and also had the edge in riding time when he gave up a defensive pin at the 4:26 mark.

The former TIMES NEWS Wrestler of the Year won his opening match in the tournament on Thursday before being sent to the consolation rounds after a loss to Penn State's Quentin Wright.

Friday's defeat ended Clymer's season with a record of 30-8. He finishes his career with a 97-39 record, two Colonial Athletic Association championships and three appearances in the NCAA championships.

"I'm going to finish school, I'm student teaching next fall in Long Island, and I am graduating in December," said Clymer about his immediate future.

"I have teammates that I'm going to train with this spring and summer. They helped me and they are great friends, and now I'm going to help them out."

Despite the disappointment of being eliminated for the tournament, the one-time PIAA state champion doesn't plan on being eliminated from the sport.

"I plan on teaching and coaching wrestling," he said. "Very few people get to experience something like this, so I've got to take my own advice and just be grateful. And I am very grateful for what I have experienced. I'm a better person because of it.

"I had coaches and teammates that were second to none, and they constantly made me better. I truly am very grateful."

Speaking of coaches, Clymer was quick to give first-year Pride mentor Rob Anspach credit for his guidance this season.

"He has done a lot for me and he is going to do a lot for this program," said Clymer about Anspach, a Hofstra grad who has been an assistant in the program for five years.

"He has already changed the attitude and has done nothing but positive things this year taking over as coach."