Wadsworth heavyweight Aaron Ries commits to Campbell over Indiana, George Mason, Buffalo
If ever there was a second home for Aaron Ries, it would be Buies Creek, N.C.
That’s where Campbell University sits and it’s where Ries intends to spend the next five seasons of his wrestling career.
The national champion from Wadsworth also could have chosen George Mason, Indiana or Buffalo but an official visit with the Fighting Camels cinched it for the 285-pound senior.
“They’re one of the up-and-coming wrestling programs,” Ries said. “They beat two Big Ten schools [Purdue and Maryland] last year. I think it would be really good opportunity to be a part of the program. They’re looking at me having a good chance to be the guy. It’s a unique opportunity to be a part of.”
There's familiarity for Wadsworth's Aaron Ries at Campbell
Campbell already has three-time NCAA qualifier Taye Ghadiali in the fold, so the plan is to redshirt Ries as a freshman and then bring him in to be a four-year starter.
He’ll train under the Southern Conference champion and then hit the ground running in 2024.
Ries rolled through the 16U freestyle tournament last summer to win a national title in Fargo, N.D.
In high school, he’s a three-time state qualifier, two-time state placer and is a returning state runner-up.
He’s not going there alone as former teammate and state champion Chris Earnest of Wadsworth enters his freshman year this fall.
If that’s not enough, assistant coach Josh Heil is from Brunswick, where he was a four-time state placer.
Heil was Campbell’s first four-time NCAA qualifier and his brother Logan, who won a state title at Brunswick, is a redshirt senior on the team.
“It’s awesome knowing that,” Ries said. “Coach Heil is awesome. He’s one of the guys I talked to a lot, especially when I was down there. Chris is one of my best friends, so getting to go to school with him for four more years is going to be great, too.”
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Wadsworth's Aaron Ries heads to Campbell ready to roll
Ries, who carries a 3.0 GPA, is undecided on his major.
That said, he’s not unsure about training under Ghadiali so that he can continue the strong Medina Country tradition that has developed with the Camels.
Although a torn ACL will keep out of football this fall, Ries said he plans on being back for wrestling and taking that final step toward being a state champion.
“I’m a competitor,” he said. “I told them about my ACL and they were sold. The football schools dropped me like a bad habit. I haven’t talked to any football school since. Campbell was like, ‘OK. You just wrestled an entire season without an ACL. We need you. We need that type of guy in our room.' I’m going to bring that beast down there.
“I’m going to go down there and train with a guy who was an NCAA qualifier. He’s tough. I watched him wrestle and train with him. Hopefully, he turns me into the best wrestler I can be.”
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Aaron Ries joins former teammate, commits to Campbell for wrestling
