For those who participate in amateur wrestling, it's not merely a sport -- it's a lifestyle. NIU Head Wrestling Coach Ryan Ludwig says even though he got involved at a late age, he found he didn't want to leave that world behind in adulthood...and he seeks out wrestlers for his team, who have a similar attitude.
A native of Chelsea, Michigan, he didn't get involved in wrestling until high school (when normally, athletes start out by middle school); but Ludwig wound up winning a state title in his senior year. At that age, he soon learned the work and sacrifice necessary to succeed on the mat -- constant conditioning, practice, working on technique, and controlling weight; for the dedicated, this goes on year-round and requires them to put social and family interests on the back burner.
Even after going on to college at the University of Findlay in Ohio, he kept being drawn back to the sport; and eventually, he chose to drop out of law school and pursue coaching full-time. He coached at Findlay and Minnesota-Mankato before moving on to the Huskies program; at all levels, he has sought out athletes who are willing to hold themselves to a high standard, and are so committed to the sport that he often has to pull them back rather than push them forward.
Ludwig says wrestling demonstrates to youths the reality of life; it shows them the need for preparation, determination and ownership of themselves and their behavior. All this work goes into preparing for a seven-minute match, which puts constant physical and mental demand on the athlete; he likens it to swimming while someone is trying to pull you under the water. He says the losses can be difficult, because there's no one to blame but yourself...but the moment of victory, when your hand is raised, makes it worth all the effort.