When Missouri wrestling head assistant coach Alex Clemsen decided to leave the University of Virginia in 2014 after five years and five top-30 finishes at the NCAA National Championship, he did it for family.
Clemsen hails from Moberly, Missouri, just up Highway 63. His wife, with whom he went to high school, is originally from Columbia.
“It was a really good fit, personally and professionally.” Clemsen said.
As it turns out, Clemsen came home just in time to be part of the longest winning streak in Missouri wrestling history. The Tigers have won 15 straight duals to start the season, for a total of 19 straight duals dating back to last year.
Clemsen credits the team’s fast pace and aggressive approach, known as Tiger Style among Missouri wrestlers and coaches, as part of the reason behind its sustained success.
“We really just want to preach Tiger Style,” Clemsen said. “Going out there and imposing your will, giving yourself a lot more opportunities to win than your opponent.”
Among the team’s top performers is sophomore and reigning national champion J’den Cox. He has accumulated 41 straight wins over the past year, which currently stands as the longest winning streak in the NCAA.
“All I’ve been doing with my 41-game win streak is trying to do my part for the team,” Cox said. “That’s all I’m doing every time I step onto the mat. Just preparing every week to help my team prevail and stay on top.”
Even as the top-ranked wrestler in the nation at 197 pounds, Cox’s focus remains on the entire team.
When he takes the mat in the final matches of a dual, Cox said, he wrestles for all the guys that went before him.
“I’m wrestling for my teammates, the people I’ve gone through thick and thin with,” Cox said. “I’m willing to fight for them because you know what they’ve been through and they know what you’ve been through. You’ve been through these trials and these struggles and these fights together, you’ve been through being tired and the seven-mile runs together. It builds that relationship and that trust.”
The wrestling squad returns seven starters from last season, creating a sense of unity within the team. Cox said this camaraderie has been a catalyst for their winning streak.
“We really believe in each other,” Cox said. “I think that comes with being a close team. It’s a lot easier to go on that mat knowing that you have nine guys behind you, cheering you on, wanting you to do well.”
Yet, Clemsen points out, one of the pitfalls of having a tight-knit team is wrestlers becoming too invested in each other’s performances.
“The closer they are, the more susceptible they are to getting caught up in their teammates’ matches,” Clemsen said. “We talk a lot about, hey, if you take care of you, that takes care of your brother; and I think the guys have done a good job of doing that.”
Clemsen also credits the team’s success to the the team ability to block out distractions and focus on the task at hand.
“They really don’t even talk about the streak; it’s more just one dual at a time,” Clemsen said. “The guys have done a really good job of saying, ‘Hey, this is the weekend that counts right now.’ I think if you get into that routine, then in March it’s nothing different, just, ‘Hey, this weekend counts.’”
Cox has embraced this attitude, providing an example for the team. Although he says his long-term goal is winning another national championship, he’s taking things one step at a time.
“The last thing on my mind is nationals,” Cox said. “The reason that is the last thing on my mind is that it’s the last thing on the schedule. I have other people to wrestle before I get there. As far as nationals go, we’ll open that door when we get to it. I’m staying focused on here and now.”
While the team remains focused on the present, Clemsen allows himself to look ahead. He considers the team’s future bright.
“The exciting thing is that I think our team is by no means ready for March,” he said. “We’re performing at a very high level, yet I don’t think we’ve seen close to our best wrestling yet. That’s encouraging as a coach, because sometimes you get nervous; you think, ‘Oh gosh, my horses are running really fast right now. They might be peaked out.’ I don’t feel that way, and I know the way our team works. When March comes around, we’re going to be scary good.”