3/25/2021
L-R: Leya Deickman, Morgan Flinkstrom, Katrina Anderson, Destiny Benjamin, Katerina Pendergrass, & Gabriella Mendoza on February 21, 2021 in Franklin Springs, GA, when they qualified for the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Championships.
Ferrum College entered four members of the women’s wrestling team and ten members of the men’s wrestling team into national competition this spring.
“Wrestling is such an important part of each of their lives. To see our women and men persevere through the ups and downs of weekly Covid testing, as well as having matches and events canceled, or added, at the last minute, is a testament to their positivity, focus and perspective of being a wrestler in a pandemic,” said Ferrum’s Director of Athletics John Sutyak.
Freshman Katerina Pendergrass, sophomore Destiny Benjamin, senior Morganne Flinkstrom, and psychology program graduate student Leya Deickman headed to the 2021 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships hosted by Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio on March 6. While there, Pendergrass earned All-America with her eighth-place finish in the 109 pound weight class.
“During a difficult year and season like this, I am proud of our team to be able to battle through adversity,” said Head Women’s Wrestling Coach Breonnah Neal. “Through the challenges, we were able to walk away with an All-American. Kat didn’t have an easy season and she had to battle in every match, but she kept with it. I’m proud she did and is an All-American as a freshman. I’m thankful for our opportunity to compete.”
All four women’s wrestlers placed in the top four of their respective weight classes at the Southeast Regional, held Sunday, February 21, at Emmanuel College, which qualified them for Nationals.
Ferrum College men’s wrestler sophomore Isaac Hudson (165 lbs).
Following suit, ten members of the men’s wrestling team, one in each weight class, headed to the 2021 National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Championships held on March 12 in Coralville, Iowa. They were: freshmen Tyler Ramirez, Cris Reynoso, and Rayshawn Dixon; sophomores JD McMillin, Isaac Hudson, and Elijah Martin; juniors Levi Englman, Christian Hite, and Braden Homsey; and psychology program graduate student Mario Vasquez.
“We are grateful the Division III National Wrestling Coaches Association provided the student-athletes with an exciting season-ending opportunity,” said Head Men’s Wrestling Coach Ryan Riggs. “It was such a valuable experience for the team. Up and down the lineup, I’m really proud of everyone’s effort, attitude, and heart. We will continue to grow and develop from the experience and we are excited about the future.”
“I am extremely proud of our wrestling student-athletes, and respective coaching staffs, as they navigated through an extremely difficult season this winter,” said Sutyak.
Read more about the women’s trip to NCWWC here and the men’s trip to NWCA Championships here.
In 2019, Ferrum hosted the NCAA Men’s Wrestling Tournament at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, VA. 2019 photo.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has announced site selections for national championship events for the 2023 through 2026 cycle, and Ferrum College has been selected to host the 2023 Division III Men’s Wrestling Championships. Ferrum will host the event Friday and Saturday, March 10-11, 2023 at the Berglund Center in nearby Roanoke, Virginia.
“All of us at Ferrum College are ecstatic to be chosen to serve as the host of the 2023 NCAA Division III Men’s Wrestling Championship” stated Ferrum College Director of Athletics John Sutyak. “The staff at Ferrum did a remarkable job back in 2019 and it is a testament to the hard work that happened here that the NCAA has rewarded us with another opportunity to welcome the world of Division III men’s wrestling back to the Roanoke Valley. This is an exciting time for Ferrum wrestling and a huge thank you goes out to Assistant Athletic Director Gary Holden, and our Head Men’s Wrestling Coach Ryan Riggs, for putting together a successful bid.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunity for Ferrum College to host the Division III Men’s Wrestling National Championships again in 2023,” said Riggs. “I’m looking forward to working with the Berglund Center event staff and VBR Sports again, making it a quality experience for the competitors, coaches, and fans. We have a lot of wrestlers from the Roanoke Valley and Commonwealth of Virginia who could be wrestling for national titles. It’s exciting! I want to thank President Johns, John Sutyak, and Gary Holden for all of the work they do.”
Read more in this article on Ferrum’s Athletics webpage.
Ryan Riggs, who has been with the Panther wrestling program the past four seasons and recently completed his second year as associate head coach, will become the next head men’s wrestling coach at Ferrum College.
“We are extremely pleased that Ryan Riggs has agreed to be the next head men’s wrestling coach at Ferrum College,” said Director of Athletics John Sutyak. “Ryan has been instrumental in helping to build Ferrum into a national program and regional power within the NCAA. Having an accomplished coach already on staff allows us to continue the upward trajectory of Ferrum men’s wrestling on the national level. In having the opportunity to work with him and observe him as a coach the last few months, I have full confidence in Ryan and how we will work together to keep Ferrum men’s wrestling strong.”
“I want to thank our Director of Athletics John Sutyak, Associate Athletic Director Gary Holden, and President Dr. David Johns for believing in me as the next head wrestling coach at Ferrum College,” said Riggs. “I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to lead this program and amazing student athletes. I am ready to build on the success of this last season and have very high expectations for the future of Ferrum wrestling.”
Riggs was promoted to associate head coach at Ferrum in July 2018. In doing so, he took on more day-to-day operations of the program, including recruiting, fundraising, practice development and coordinating Ferrum men’s wrestling social media presence. He was instrumental in helping Ferrum host the 2019 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia. Riggs also helped the Panthers host the NCAA Southeast Regional tournaments in 2017 and 2018. He has served as tournament director for the Star City Classic, Southeast Duals, and Panther Open, all tournaments hosted by Ferrum.
A native of Perry Township, Ohio, Riggs prepped at Massillon Perry High School, where he was a double All-American at the Asics Greco-Roman and Freestyle Fargo National Championships. He qualified three times for the Ohio State Tournament, was a two-time Ironman Tournament place winner, and a Beast of the East Tournament finalist. Riggs was ranked nationally by USA Wrestling and Amateur Wrestling News before continuing his career at Cleveland State University as a scholarship wrestler. He placed 5th at the Eastern Wrestling League Tournament in 2007 and was ranked as high as #3 in the league.
Riggs becomes only the second head men’s wrestling coach in the seven-year history of the program. He succeeds Nate Yetzer, who stepped down last week to accept the head wrestling coach position at Roanoke College.
Read more on the Ferrum College Athletics website.
