Tanner Hodgins Claims Shore Conference Title in Awaited Showdown

photo & coverage by: Marco Morales

Some matchups feel inevitable long before they happen. Tanner Hodgins and Alex Reyes have been on a collision course for years, two elite competitors navigating parallel paths at 190 pounds. When they finally met under the lights of the Shore Conference finals, the moment lived up to everything surrounding it and Hodgins made sure the result left no doubt.

After surrendering an early takedown, Tanner Hodgins responded the way championship wrestlers do: calmly, decisively, and with constant pressure. He settled in quickly, regained control, and never let the bout drift. By the final whistle, Hodgins had earned a convincing major decision over Alex Reyes, a Rutgers commit and nationally ranked opponent who had been eyeing this matchup just as long.

Rather than letting the early moment dictate the match, Hodgins flipped the script with his pace. Each exchange built on the last, and once he found his rhythm, the scoring came in waves. The pressure never let up, and Reyes was forced to defend for much of the contest as Hodgins consistently positioned himself to score next.

“I think just trying not to focus on any of the outside factors and being able to see it as just another wrestling match really helps,” Hodgins said. “I think I did a good job not letting that first takedown get to me and just always focusing on scoring the next point.”

That mindset defined his entire tournament run. Hodgins was sharp from start to finish, showing control in every position and separating himself from the field with authority. His Shore Conference title was the product of composure as much as skill, a balance that has become a hallmark of his wrestling as he continues to compete on bigger stages.

While the night centered on the 190-pound final, the bigger picture mattered too. Howell walked away with the team title after an impressive showing that included six finalists, another indicator of a program trending in the right direction as the postseason approaches. Still, it was Hodgins’ performance that set the tone and capped off the weekend.

Behind the scenes, he credits preparation and the grind of the practice room for moments like this.

“My coaches push me every day,” Hodgins said. “I don’t think there’s a better coaching staff in New Jersey. They push me to my breaking point in practice, and that allows me to be more than prepared when the big matches come.”

With the Shore Conference title secured and another major test behind him, Hodgins’ focus has already shifted forward.

“I’m really looking forward to Atlantic City,” he said.

For a wrestler who has already tested himself on national and international stages, this win wasn’t about hype or expectations. It was about execution, resilience, and trusting the process when the moment arrived. And when these two long-aligned paths finally crossed, Tanner Hodgins made it clear he was ready.