Tagg Brothers Leave Ohio For OTC

Tagg Brothers Leave Ohio For OTC

Gabe and Julian Tagg have left Brecksville to train at the OTC.

Aug 15, 2018 by Ryan Holmes
Tagg Brothers Leave Ohio For OTC

Henry Cejudo. Kyle Snyder.

These names are synonymous with accomplishing wrestling greatness. Not only do they each own an Olympic gold medal, but they both were part of the Elite Accelerator Program.

The results are proof that the system works. And now it’s starting to expand to a new level as more and more wrestlers are opting to leave their respective high schools to live and sharpen their skills at the Olympic Training Center. This year’s additions are coming out of Ohio as Gabe and Julian Tagg have made the move and entered the program. 

Fellow Ohio stud Jordan Decatur is scheduled to join them in the second semester.

But the Tagg team, who are separated by a year, have already settled into their new place at the OTC.

While they have entered into the program together, they have very different situations. Gabe is in his final year of high school and has already made a verbal commitment to wrestle at North Carolina. Julian is just a junior about to enter into the recruiting process, which means that he may return to his high school for his senior year after spending this season at the OTC.

Watch Gabe win a wild match over Jordan Crace in the Fargo semis:

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“I haven’t decided if I’ll be here for one year or two right now,” Julian said. “It all depends on how things go this year, but it’s not really something I’ve put much thought into right now. And with recruiting I’m keeping my options open. I obviously think about what schools I like, but that’s really all it is right now.”

But living and training at the OTC is just one part of the program. They are still students. And for them, school started a few days ago. In every way imaginable, their schedules have changed, which for both of them has been the toughest transition. (See a mockup of their weekly schedule below.)

"It was tough when we got here because I wasn’t used to having to do a lot of these things on my own,” Gabe said. “I’ve been late because I’ve slept through an alarm and coach [Kevin Jackson] pulls you aside and talks to you about the changes you need to make because one thing they tell us all the time is that they don’t want us to just be great wrestlers they want us to be great men and part of that is doing the right things. It’s gotten easier, though."

“Like my brother said it was tough at first. Shout out to our mom because she really did a lot for us when we were home,” Julian said (Gabe agreed in the background). “But it’s gotten easier for me too. It’s a tough process, but I’ve seen how much I’ve changed with being here and that’s not just my wrestling.”

Watch Julian battle Dylan Ragusin in the Fargo quarters:

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Obviously they aren’t the only wrestlers to leave high school in recent years. Kamal Bey left OPRF in his senior year to train in Colorado and now he’s a Junior Greco World Champion. And we’ve all be witness to the greatness of Helen Maroulis. As we know, she took a similar route as well.

The proof is there when it comes to this elite training program. Giving our young athletes the access to our most elite levels of training is showing to pay dividends in the long run as they become champions.

“Being able to train here is great. I do miss my friends and family back in Ohio, but there’s nothing like working with the best wrestlers and coaches in the world,” Gabe said. 

Here is a mock up of what a typical week looks like for them: