GLEN RIDGE, NJ (updated Monday March 20, 1:57 p.m.) – Former Glen Ridge High School wrestling great Joe Dubuque has been instrumental to the Princeton University wrestling program as an assistant coach.
Princeton finished 25th out of 66 schools at the NCAA Division 1 National Championships held Thursday through Saturday, March 16-18, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
It marked the Princeton’s first top-25 finish at the Nationals since 1985.
The Tigers sent a program-record seven wrestlers to the Nationals. Princeton was led by freshman Matthew Kolodzik, who won in the seventh-place match in the 141-pound weight class to earn All-American status.
Prior to the Nationals, the Tigers enjoyed a historic performance at the 2017 EIWA Championships where they finished third overall in the event with 113 team points. The Tigers were only 4.5 points behind Lehigh for second place. The depth of the program was on display as eight different wrestlers placed, the second-most in program history.
In a tweet to The Glen Ridge Paper on Monday, March 20, Dubuque said: “This season we put our guys in a lot of stressful situations with the strength of our schedule which included seven top 25 teams and it paid dividends at the end of the season as our guys put together a great postseason. I am very grateful to be able to work with this program that is filled with amazing student-athletes and a fantastic staff that continues to help me get better as a coach.”
During his illustrious GRHS career, Dubuque won two NJSIAA state championships in his junior and senior seasons in 2000 and 2001 at the 112- and 119-pound weight classes respectively, and finished his GRHS career with a 134-7 record, including setting the state record for career takedowns and takedowns in a season.
Dubuque also won two NCAA national championships for Indiana University in 2005 and 2006, both at the 125-pound division. He went 114-18 at Indiana, including a 69-6 dual mark and a 19-6 Big Ten record in four years at Indiana.
Dubuque joined the Princeton coaching staff four years ago.
Assistant coach Joe Dubuque guides Princeton University wrestling team to impressive showing at NCAA National Championships added by Joe Ragozzino on
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