2007-2008 News

TOVUUJAV AVENGES PREVIOUS LOSSES: WINS NATIONAL PREP CHAMPIONSHIP
Senior among five SBP wrestlers to earn All-America status

February 24, 2008

St. Benedict’s coaches Mike DiPiano Jr. and Solomon Fleckman knew Bagna Tovuujav had the necessary tools to become a national champion.

They just had to make a believer out of their 171-pound phenom.

Apparently the coaches knew what they were talking about.

Tovuujav, who had lost the Corey Peltier in all three of their previous meetings, exacted revenge on the ultimate stage when he posted a 6-4 overtime verdict against the Blair wrestler in the final of the National Prep Championships Saturday at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

“We knew Bagna was just as good a wrestler as him,” said DiPiano soon after Tovuujav had bested the top-seed for the national title. “We just needed to work on him mentally. He believed in himself and wrestled best when it counted most.”

Tovuujav, a senior, who finished the season with a 49-4 record for a career stanza of 137-22, was among five wrestlers who earned All-America status by virtue of a top eight finish in each of their respective weight classes. Patrick Hunter placed second at 119 pounds, while Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (152), Kevin Dufresne (160) and Chris Johnson (189) all finished seventh.

Tovuujav, however, was the story. The three-time All-American, who placed third in the National Prep Tournament a year ago, had been pinned by Peltier last year in the state Prep Championships and again this year in the prestigious Beast of the East Tournament.

The native of Mongolia had his confidence restored somewhat against the senior from Blair when he dropped a 6-4 decision to his nemesis last week in the state Prep final. It was a match where Tovuujav wrestled much more aggressively than in the past against Peltier.

“Right there showed Bagna what we’ve been talking about,” DiPiano. “That set the stage for nationals.”

Tovuujav took that aggressiveness into his latest match against Peltier, but still found himself behind in the third period, 3-1. He managed to pull off the victory by scoring a late reversal and then using a counter in overtime for the a takedown to secure the thrilling, 6-4, decision.

“He has worked so hard to achieve his goal of being a national champion, he deserves it,” said DiPiano. “Being a three-time All-American and national champ is not an easy feat. He easily goes down as one of the best wrestlers of my tenure as head coach.”

Hunter came to St. Benedict’s this year after placing second in the NJSIAA Tournament for South Plainfield last March. His dreams of winning a national title were all but realized until he ran into a buzz saw in the final against the No. 8 seed, Ian McLaughlin of the Kiski School (Pa). He defeated the Nos. 1 and 4 seeds in the previous two rounds before knocking off Hunter, the second seed, in the final.

“He has worked so hard trying to become an NJSIAA champ and a National Prep champ. To come up short again must be real difficult for him,” said DiPiano of Hunter, who concluded his stellar career with a staggering 155-13 record. “I know one thing though - these experiences will help mold him into the man he is trying to become. Patrick is a special kid and St. Benedict’s and I have all benefited from getting to know him.”

DiPiano, who became head coach in 2001, is as proud of Johnson’s seventh place effort as he is of the two national champions he’s coached - Tovuujav and Bobby Laraway (2006). Johnson became the 19th wrestler to earn All-America status under DiPiano.

“This is a kid who had no idea what high school wrestling was before he came to St. Benedict’s,” DiPiano said. “He took his lumps when he was a freshman and sophomore, but he stuck with it. He believed in his coaches and teammates and look what happened. This is a huge success story.”

St. Benedict’s, which won the team title in 2000, placed sixth in this year’s team standings, while Blair cruised to its sixth straight championship. “To finish sixth at the preps was a great feeling,” said DiPiano, “and to think that 10 of the 14 guys in the line-up never wrestled before coming to SBP makes it even that more special.”

— By Ron Jandoli