Determination, dedication pay off for Snider

MOUNT VERNON - Go hard or go home.

Cornell's Tigue Snider doesn't know any other way to be, and is why he has experienced success in wrestling.

“If you're going to do something you might as well do it right,” Snider said of the simple and effective lesson preached by his dad, John, and his wrestling coaches. “If you're going to be there you might as well go as hard as you can.”

Snider has parlayed that effort and dedication into a top-10 ranking and the chance to be one of seven senior starters for the sixth-ranked Rams, who host No. 3 Coe Friday night at Small Multi-Sport Center in the final Iowa Conference dual between the longtime rivals. Competition begins at 7 p.m.

The Rams (11-3, 6-1 IIAC) have won 10 of their last 11 duals, while Coe hasn't lost to Cornell since the 1998-99 season. Cornell is returning to the Midwest Conference next season.

“It's always a big dual based on the rivalry,” Snider said. “We definitely want to go out on top, especially since it's the last one in the IIAC. That puts it in perspective, too.”

Snider has been the epitome of determination throughout his career, especially at Cornell.

He toiled behind three-time NCAA Division III All-American and 2009 national runner-up Nick Nothern, who is sixth on the school's all-time wins list, his first two seasons. Snider was focused on improvement, watching how Nothern approached training and preparation to be one of the top D-III wrestlers in the country.

“It was definitely a learning experience,” Snider said. “It allows you to focus on wrestling and competing. Not being the guy, I could just focus on getting better and learning from him.”

All the effort has paid dividends as Snider, a national qualifier last year as an IIAC runner-up, owns a 23-10 mark and ranked ninth at 133 pounds by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

“It illustrates to any young kid that hard work, perseverance, being committed and dedicated to something and constantly trying to improve yourself pays off,” Cornell Coach Mike Duroe said. “He spent a lot of time (to wrestling).”

Duroe and his staff was a factor in Snider choosing Cornell. The former Wilton prep also like the one-class block schedule.

Snider learned late in the process that he had another strong connection to the Rams. His high school coach, Nick Dohrmann, was a two-time All-American for the Rams in 1998 and 1999. Dohrmann urged Snider to go wherever he would have the most success.

Snider admits he modeled some parts himself after Dohrmann, and followed his footsteps to Mount Vernon.

“He's one of the nicest guys off the mat, but when he's wrestling he can be a pretty tough, mean guy,” Snider said. “I kind of liked the way he wrestled.

“He's had a big influence on me.”

Dohrmann said Snider was destined to be whatever he had in his mind.

“He had wrestling in him and he wasn't done,” Dohrmann said about Snider after he failed to return to the state tournament as a senior. “Cornell was a good fit for him. That's why he's there and he's doing the best he can.”

Snider has been one of the best for Cornell lately, winning 13 of his last 15 matches. Duroe has seen Snider thrive on the confidence gained with each triumph.

“He's one of those guys that really responds well to winning and it's given him a lot more confidence than he's had in the past,” Duroe said. “He's a man on a mission. He believes he can be the national champion.”

Snider expects to occupy a step on the national tournament podium in March. Right now, the Coaches' Poll has him projected a spot away from All-America status, and that doesn't set well with him.

“If anything I use it to light a fire under me. I feel like I should be up top a little higher,” Snider said about the rankings. “I hope it would be a national champion. Whether that pans out or not, I expect to come home with some sort of hardware.”

A former 133-pound Cornell medalist and mentor will be rooting for him.

“The kid is all heart. Always has been,” Dohrmann said. “It's an example good things happen to good people.”