Ledyard’s T.J. Hepburn, right, was inducted in the NWCA Division II Hall of Fame earlier this month in Florida. (Photo courtesy Connecticut USA Wrestling)
Ledyard’s T.J. Hepburn was recently one of eight standout NCAA Division II wrestlers to be inducted into the Jim Koch Division II Hall of Fame at the 2025 National Wrestling Coaches Association’s annual convention in Florida.
Hepburn, who was hired as Ledyard’s new head wrestling coach in April, had a storied scholastic and collegiate wrestling career. He had a record of 200-4 for the Colonials from 2004-07, winning four ECC championships, two New England championships, three State Open titles and four CIAC divisional championships (two in Class M and two in Class L).
After finishing second in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championships with Colby Community College in Kansas, Hepburn became a three-time All-American at Nebraska-Kearney.
Hepburn won a national championship for Nebraska-Kearney at 157 pounds as a senior in 2012, finished second at 149 pounds as a junior in 2011 and was third at 149 in 2010.
He was a two-time NCAA Division II regional champion who finished with a career record of 118-60 at Nebraska Kearney. He was a two-time RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) wrestler of the year.
Just prior to his death in 2017, the National Wrestling Coaches Association renamed their Hall of Fame in honor of Jim Koch.
