Kyle Ruschell named USA Wrestling’s Athlete of the Week

Wrestling up at weight at 74 kg/163 lbs., Ruschell represented the United States at the Pan American Championships in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, last weekend.

After making the Freestyle National Team in 2014, Ruschell competed for the first time in more than two years and went 3-0 at the tournament without surrendering a single point to win gold.

In his first match, he drew 2016 Pan Am runner-up Jose Ambrocio Greifo of Peru, who he defeated in a quick 10-0 technical fall.

He moved on to the semis, where he faced Pedro Soto Cordero of Puerto Rico, a four-time Pan American Championship medalist and two-time Pan American Games medalist. Ruschell served up another 10-0 tech to secure a spot in the finals.

Waiting for him in the gold-medal match was former Boston University wrestler and EIWA champion Nestor Taffur of Colombia. Ruschell racked up nine points in the first period, before tacking on another two halfway through the second period for an 11-0 tech fall.

His Pan Am gold is one of his biggest tournament wins on the Senior level.

Ruschell serves as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin.

Each week USA Wrestling will select an Athlete of the Week based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling from youth programs through the senior level.

To nominate a wrestler for this honor please send the athlete’s name, wrestling program and weekly and career accomplishments to Richard Immel at rimmel@usawrestling.org.