Wrestling champ Zack Ryder leaving Minisink Valley for elite club program near Penn State
Zack Ryder has aspirations of becoming a collegiate, national and Olympic wrestling champion. So he’s taking an unprecedented step to get a head start on his future.
Ryder, who recently turned 17, is going to forego his senior season at Minisink Valley High School, instead joining an elite wrestling club at the doorstep of his college choice, Penn State.
Ryder met Tokyo Olympics gold medalist and two-time world champion David Taylor shortly after this year’s Section 9 tournament. He said he felt very connected with Taylor, a four-time All-American, and started training at the M2 Training Center in Pennsylvania. Ryder will soon take residence with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and he’ll complete his senior year of high school online.
“It was best for me and my family to make the decision,” Ryder said Wednesday.
His mom, Laura, said the family has been examining a move like this for about a year. She has noticed how Zack lights up when he’s working out with same-minded, talented wrestlers, and she likes Taylor’s positive, motivating presence.
“He comes alive,” she said of her son. “He’s singing, he’s smiling.’’
Last weekend, Ryder won the U.S. Open under-17 championship at 80 kilograms (176 pounds), three weeks after tearing his meniscus. He will be one of 10 Americans to compete at the Under-17 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, from July 31-Aug. 6.
“I think I had a pretty good performance,” he said. “I felt good just coming off the injury. I definitely feel I have a lot to improve but I feel like I did pretty good out there.” Ryder credited his recent work with Taylor for putting him in position to win again.
Ryder was also a U.S. Open winner in 2022 and won bronze at the world championships in Rome.
“Last year, I got third,’’ Ryder said of his tourney in Italy. “Obviously I’ll always have room to improve, but if I get the right training and just the right mindset and I put in the hard work, I believe that I will get that gold medal this year.’’
Ryder has been wrestling for Minisink Valley since his seventh-grade year – he has won four state championships and one unofficial state title during the COVID shutdown. Ryder won this year’s 189-pound title, posting three pins and beating Elijah Diakomihalis of Hilton, 3-0, in the finals. Starting the season late due to a preseason injury, Ryder went unbeaten.
“I loved Minisink Valley wrestling … it’s only done good for me,” Ryder said. “It was sad to make the decision but it was best for my future.”
Minisink coach Kevin Gallagher said he’s sad to see Ryder leave the program but acknowledges it’s a good move for his burgeoning career.
“I’m 100 percent with him on this,” Gallagher said. “He’s not going to get enough out of (our Minisink) schedule. He needs to keep the trajectory of where he wants to get … he needs to go somewhere.”
Minisink regularly turns out sectional and state champions but the Warriors are sure to miss Ryder’s presence.
“We’re going to miss him as a person first and then obviously as a wrestler,” Gallagher said. “Just having him on the team as a leader, a captain, and obviously his points … you just can’t make those things up.
“That kid, his work ethic is second to none,” Gallagher continued. “He’s the strongest kid I’ve ever had. It’s unbelievable how strong he is but that didn’t just happen … he worked at it, too.”
“They taught me a lot, on and off the mat,’’ Ryder said. “So I'd like to give Minisink Valley wrestling a big thank you.’’
Like many elite athletes, Ryder has written out his goals.
“I want to be an NCAA champ multiple times,’’ he said. “I want to be a world champion, an Olympic champion and just most importantly just have fun out there.’’
Penn State was the top collegiate team in the nation this season, posting a 16-0 mark, winning the Big Ten Conference tournament and winning the NCAA championship with 137.5 points. For 2023-24, the Nittany Lions will return two NCAA champs, eight All-Americans and 10 national qualifiers.
Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Zack Ryder leaving Minisink Valley early for Penn State club
