Two time State Champion, nationally ranked and known as a “Once-in-a-lifetime Kid” according to CHASA NOW, it comes as no surprise that colleges are lining up to have Josiah Rider on their mats.

Riders dedication, discipline, and humble composure have turned him into a fierce competitor and an athlete to watch. Rider has won Warrior Classic 3 years in row and plans to bring home his 4th championship in December. Riders technique on the mat is unrivaled.

Rider has carried out the family legacy of winning a state championship after his father Trever and older brother Isaac Rider. Wrestling is in his blood and winning is expected.

“It’s a blue collar sport, people who do it are hard working and have a really good work ethic,” Rider said.

After committing and then de-committing to Nebraska and turning down offers from Cornell, Virginia Tech and many more highly ranked schools, Rider has announced that he will be furthering his wrestling career on an athletic scholarship at North Carolina State University.

He says this decision will come as shock due to turning down such prestigious schools but it’s the best option for him.

“I really fit in there and the program is on the rise,” Rider said.

NC State in now in the ranking for top 10 division one wrestling, Rider wants to contribute to their progress and stand behind a great team. His passion has been rekindled due to the opportunities to study agriculture and be a member of the NC State team.

“They are one of the only teams that enforce a dry rule, so they drug test everyone. I think that if you’re around kids with the same mindset, who are there to wrestle and not for the college experience, it makes you want to get in and work and make friends with people that are like minded,” Rider said.

Rider likes that NC state holds their athletes to a higher standard. Not only do they enforce dry rule, but also expect a 3.0 gpa to be eligible for competition.

“I want to be part of a program where I’m not just another number,” Rider said.

Rider enjoys the coaching and sees the himself benefiting from the new set of talented wrestling partners, but he has more planned more for himself than wrestling.

Besides wrestling, Rider plans on earning a master’s degree in Agricultural Business and a minor in Economics to accomplish his long term goal of running a show pig farm.

Rider wants to see how far wrestling will take him throughout college and if the opportunity presents itself , hopefully make it onto Olympic mats. He will be attending as a redshirt freshman to help him transition to academic life and prepare for the rigors of college wrestling.

There’s unfinished business to attend to as Rider and the GJHS wrestling team look toward the 2017-18 wrestling season. As a team, the tigers took home the runner up trophy at the state tournament and there still a lot of wrestling to be done before Rider runs with the wolves.