St. John Vianney’s Anthony Knox will be trying to become the fifth high school wrestler in New Jersey history to win four state titles this March.
If he accomplishes the feat, he will add his name to the debate of who New Jersey’s greatest wrestler is — joining a list of other wildly successful contenders.
One of those wrestlers, three-time champion Damion Hahn, returned to his home state recently as the head coach at nationally-ranked South Dakota State, where he turned in three wins at Rider against the host Broncs, Pittsburgh and Maryland.
Members of Hahn’s family and his former high school and middle school coaches attended the quad to visit with the Jersey native and cheer on the Jackrabbits.
A three-time state champion and four-time finalist for Lakewood and four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion at Minnesota, Hahn admitted he doesn’t get home much, so he appreciated this short trip back to New Jersey. While he’s been gone for over a quarter-century, he acknowledged he still hears his name mentioned in the conversation as the best to ever do it.
“It’s funny, you hear it from time to time. …. I’m happy with what I did,” said Hahn. “I don’t want to say I paved the way. New Jersey wrestling is amazing in general. What I did and going on to college kind of established or confirmed how tough New Jersey is, how passionate the people are. I can say I’m proud to be part of that.”
One of those fans at Rider was Hahn’s niece, Jayla, who finished her career as a two-time state girls wrestling champion and three-time finalist. She always wanted to make her own path, but admitted it was special to add her titles to the family name.
“Growing up wrestling for me it was to follow a legacy and as a I grew to love the sport, I wanted to make my own path, but he encouraged me along my journey,” said Jayla Hahn. “A lot of people said he was the best ever to come out of New Jersey. I remember speaking to him right before my state final sophomore year, and that made a big impact on me and I won my match.”
South Dakota State head coach Damion Hahn yells out during a quad meet at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ on Friday, December 20, 2024.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance
South Dakota State is the No. 14 ranked team in the country in the latest rankings. The success Hahn had as a wrestler has continued in his coaching career.
After a 12-year stint as an assistant and later associate head coach at Cornell, Hahn took over at South Dakota State seven years ago. He has built a small-school national power in a remote part of the country.
“The biggest thing is recruiting the right type of kids,” said Hahn between matches at the quad. “We have a system that works. We’re big on developing kids, we have to find the right ones that fit our philosophy. Sometimes you see programs and ask why aren’t they better or what are doing that makes them so good?
“The ones who have success have the right formula. They recruit the right types of kids that fit their program and philosophies. That’s what we do. We have a system that works, we have a philosophy and our kids buy into it. We have one of the finest wrestling facilities in America. We’re in a great town. a community of 25,000 and a couple thousand show up to our duals and support us. It’s a great place to live and you have a university that’s the flagship of the state. …. Getting kids on campus is the big thing, once they are here it’s an easy sell.”
South Dakota State’s nationally-ranked senior Cade DeVos said the culture Hahn has built helped the Jackrabbits become one of the best teams in the country. DeVos admitted the wrestlers knew of their coach’s reputation as a wrestler.
“He’s humble, but he’s told some stories,” said DeVos. “Coach Hahn is a legend in Jersey, so it’s cool to wrestle for him and see a little bit of his hometown and the place he used to run things, I guess you can say.
“He’s been huge for my development and my success and the team success. His passion is what I like most wrestling for Hahn and his belief in how good you can be.”
Hahn finished his high school career in 1999. As a senior, he signed autographs for fans in Atlantic City and bonus-pointed his way through the state tournament.
He took down Paulsboro’s Troy Bennett, a two-time finalist, 12 times in the 189-pound final on the way to a 25-10 technical fall.
Hahn barely missed out on being the state’s first-four time state champion, losing out on a 2-1 decision to Absegami’s Shawn Scannell in the 171-pound final his freshman year.
“Looking back that was my claim to fame,” said Scannell, who is now the Braves’ head coach, a few years ago. “You kind of embrace it. It wasn’t a pretty match, but on the scorecard I won, so that was pretty cool.
“Looking back I beat a pretty tough guy. In the moment I didn’t realize it or know it. He was a guy in my way of my ultimate dream.”
Hahn said the loss devastated him at the time, but that he appreciates the lessons learned that helped propel him forward now.
“I was close,” recalled Hahn. “Would it have been fun to win four? Absolutely. But I learned a lot from it. I had big expectations for myself. Whatever anybody else thought, I had goals I wanted to accomplish. When it didn’t happen, my world fell apart.
“But life isn’t perfect. When you face adversity, you get knocked down, you have to get back up. You need to learn lessons, be better and handle it in a proper manner. My parents did an incredible job raising me. I learned more losing than I would have winning.”
Ironically, in Hahn’s freshman season at Minnesota, he was upset in the first round of the NCAA Wrestling Championships. His opponent in the first wrestle-back round was a Rider senior and All-American named Shawn Scannell.
Hahn won 12-5 on the way to his first All-American standing.
“Karma is a b***, it was a really good match at nationals like it was at states,” recalled Rider coach John Hangey. “I’ve considered Damion the best (New Jersey wrestler ever), one because I favor big guys and also because my guy beat him.”
Hahn’s name still resonates in New Jersey. When asked about his 190-pounder Harvey Ludington’s legacy in New Jersey as a possible three-time champ and four-time finalist, Brick Memorial coach Mike Kiley compared Ludington to Hahn.
“He’s up there with the best in history just like Damion Hahn,” said Kiley. “I grew up watching Damion Hahn. I remember when Minnesota came and wrestled in Lakewood’s gym. I was there watching as a young kid.”
Hahn finished his high school career well before Knox was born, but the latest Shore Conference star was well aware of the legacy.
“Damion Hahn was a beast,” said Knox. “My coach always told me Damion Hahn put up more takedowns than you can. He’s a beast, and he’s running a great program out there.”
Is Hahn the best ever? Especially as Knox makes his case this year, the debate will rage.
There’s no doubt the Lakewood graduate and the coach of one of the country’s best teams is in the discussion – and he might hear his accomplishments brought up again.
“I did what I did, people have done better,” said Hahn. “I’m very proud of this state and what this state continues to do at all levels … youth, high school and college. New Jersey year in and year out is one of the best high school wrestling states in America, so it’s nice to hear your name get thrown around now and then.
“I don’t want to say I take it for granted, but I’m a part of something bigger. If I can continue to help this great state I will do so. It’s where I’m from.”
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Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com.
