When Ian Snyder broke his collarbone early in his freshman season with the Princeton High wrestling team in 2008, the setback could have soured him on the sport.

Instead, the injury helped spark Snyder’s commitment to become one of the best wrestlers in the area.

“That is when I decided to really dedicate myself to getting better,” said Snyder, who was a 90-pounder as a freshman competing at 103 pounds.

“I started working out that spring. I was going to RAW 241 Academy in south Jersey; coach [Rashone] Johnson was driving me an hour both ways. I started entering some high profile tournaments.”

Snyder’s hard work paid off as he emerged as a high profile performer for the Little Tigers the next year.

“I was very confident coming into my sophomore season,” said Snyder. “I had gained 20 pounds of muscle and I just had to lose a few pounds to make weight at 103. I took second in the districts and had 29 wins. I was still doing other tournaments before my junior year; I went to the Cornell camp. I went 25-5 as a junior and took third in the districts. I was disappointed with that.”

As Snyder gets his senior campaign underway, he is determined to not have any disappointments cloud the memories of his final season.

“I did a lot of work after my junior year, I was wrestling three or four times a week and lifting weights,” said Snyder, who is competing at 120 pounds this season.

“I am looking to make a statement in my senior year. I want to win a state championship. I have put in the work; I want to get to that podium.”

Snyder has put in years of work when it comes to wrestling, having taken up the sport when he was seven years old.

“I first started in 2002 when I was in second grade,” recalled Snyder, who also played soccer and lacrosse before deciding to specialize in wrestling as a PHS freshman.

“My dad wrestled in high school and I started with the PAWS program. It came naturally in the beginning; I enjoyed it.”

As Snyder reflects on his freshman season at PHS, he acknowledges that it wasn’t particularly enjoyable.

“It was a huge adjustment; I realized I just can’t do what everyone else is doing,” said Snyder. “I had done mostly PAWS to that point and I needed to work harder.”

Snyder set a tone in terms of work ethic for a program on the rise as it comes off a 9-7 season in 2010-11.

“The kids started working harder in the offseason, practicing at the high school,” said Snyder. “Coach Johnson was bringing in guys to wrestle with.”

Johnson has been a big help to Snyder as well. “He has been really supportive; he has motivated me,” said Snyder of Johnson. “He really, really wants us to be good.”

That influence helped Snyder land a spot on the wrestling team at Duke University as he recently committed to join the Blue Devils this coming fall.

“There was a point where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to wrestle in college,” said Snyder.

“I have been spending my whole life wrestling and I couldn’t see myself not doing it. Duke was always my first choice; my mom went to Duke undergraduate and my dad went to the business school there. The wrestling coaches told me in August that they would support my application and I took an official visit in September. I met all the guys; they are all really into the team.”

In the meantime, Snyder is into doing his best for PHS. “I like the way I am wrestling; I have more refined skills,” said Snyder, who improved to 4-0 this season after pinning Hamilton’s Matthew Dempsey last Friday as the Little Tigers fell 39-36 to the Hornets.

“My technique is sharper; I have gotten good on my feet. I truly believe I can win; if you don’t feel that way, you are not going to win.”