Rider alum donates $500,000 for new wrestling center

By Benjamin Shinault

Rider wrestling has been one of the most dominant teams at Rider in recent years, producing two All-Americans and an Olympian in the past two seasons while also taking on big, nationally-ranked wrestling programs such as Rutgers, Penn State and the University of Michigan. 

Rider has been training for all these matches in the Gary Taylor Wrestling Center,  located in the Canastra Health and Sports Center. Built in 1988, the space has been the home for countless Rider wrestling legends. 

This year the storied room will receive an update, including a larger practice area, a strength and cardio section, an enhanced locker room and upgraded offices for the coaching staff. 

‘They deserve the best facility’

A fresh practice facility does a lot more off the mat than some may believe, according to Head Coach John Hangey. A big motivator to getting the renovations done was to enhance Rider’s chances in both the transfer portal and recruitment.

“We just needed something as good as we can afford and provide to help us get better, because we have proven that if we can get the kids, we can develop them into real quality wrestlers and All-Americans on the national level,” Hangey said. “A facility of this nature really helps us get better kids down the line.”

Rider finished another strong season last year, going 8-7 with senior Quinn Kinner ’24 and junior David Szuba both winning the Mid-Atlantic Conference, and sophomore Steyn De Lange becoming the first-ever Bronc to qualify for the Olympics. Therefore, having a state-of-the-art facility only strengthens Rider’s chances for success moving forward.

“We are one of the best teams in the MAC, and it’s important that we have one of the best wrestling rooms,” Hangey said.

Hangey explained he wanted to make the renovations happen for a long time. With his son, JP Hangey, wrestling for the Broncs this season, the update to the center could not have come at a better time.

“My son is a freshman on the wrestling team this year, so it’s cool and really interesting that he gets to see the first year that it is built,” Hangey said.

The honorable gift

On Oct. 6, 2022, Rider announced in a press release that Rider wrestling has received a $500,000 leadership gift from Tim Morrison, who graduated from Rider in 1983 and was an All-American for the program. Morrison was coached by Gary Taylor, the center’s namesake, as well as his two sons, Tim Taylor and Robert Taylor.

Gary Taylor, who coached at Rider for 39 years starting in 1978, has led his teams to 442 dual victories, which ranked third all time in Division I at the time of his retirement. He also mentored 17 All-American wrestlers and won 14 conference championships.

Morrison said in the press release, “During the time we spent with Gary, we got to see his devotion to Rider wrestling and, most importantly, his devotion to the individuals that he coached. It is our honor to make our gift in tribute to Gary and all he has done for my family and for Rider.”

Hangey, who has been coaching at Rider full time since 2000, was eager to get things going when he heard the news that the renovations were beginning.

“When I got the call, they asked me at the end of July, beginning of August, and they said, ‘We are going to start Monday, so can you have your stuff out [of the office] by Friday?’ and I said, ‘I can have it out by Thursday,’” Hangey said. 

Hangey hopes that the new wrestling center will be complete by homecoming weekend so he and the rest of the wrestling program can properly honor Morrison for his gift. 

Rider’s homecoming weekend is from Oct. 25-27, and the 2024 wrestling season will begin on Nov. 3 with matches at Princeton.

“We are hoping by homecoming, we can do an unveiling and try to bring Tim Morrison and his family to recognize them and honor them,” said Hangey.