Big-time high school wrestling is back at Ryle — so let’s get ready to rumble!
“I know I’m ready to rumble,” said Ryle junior Luke Cornwell, better known to his teammates as “Corndog.”
The annual Raider Rumble, a three-day showcase in Union, is must-watch northern Kentucky wrestling. Twenty-four high school teams from Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana will pack the Ryle gym for varsity action Saturday. Start time is 10 a.m. following a 7:30 weigh-in. The girls and junior varsity meets kick things off Friday at 6 p.m. The Youth Raider Rumble is Sunday.
More than 300 varsity wrestlers warm up for last year’s Raider Rumble. Photo provided | Ryle wrestling Facebook page
Saturday brings about 300 varsity wrestlers, each hoping to compete in as many as six matches. There are six giant wrestling mats, with 10 referees sharing duties. Top participating teams include defending champion Cincinnati Elder and Moeller, a sixth-place state finisher in Ohio. There’s East Central from Indiana, defending KHSAA state champion Union County and fourth-place Kentucky finisher Boyle County.
“Union County is 10th in the country,” Ryle coach Tim Ruschell said. “The Raney twins (Jayden and Jordyn) are heading to Oklahoma State. They’re top 10 national recruits. It’ll be a wake-up call for a lot of guys.”
There are four other entries that placed in the Kentucky state tournament top 10. They are sixth-place Harrison County, eighth-place Madison Central, ninth-place Walton-Verona and tenth-place Oldham County. There’s a Louisville contingent. Other local participants include Boone County, Conner, Covington Catholic and Highlands. It’s loaded.
“Used to be just eight teams. Now, it’s a big production with sponsorships,” said Ruschell. “It takes an army to put this thing together. I’m fortunate to have great people. Plus, $1 from every $10 adult ticket sold goes to Boone County High School, which needs it. Student tickets are $5.”
The man behind the meet
Newport Central Catholic legend Tim Ruschell has attained similar status at Ryle as a wrestling coach. Photo provided | Ryle wrestling Facebook page
Ruschell, taking a Monday afternoon break from some paperwork, is talking in short bursts with flourishes of wisdom. He dressed as Santa Claus on Tuesday at Ballyshannon Middle School, asking kids what they wanted for Christmas. Had anyone asked him, he might have said: “An early present on Saturday, ho, ho, ho!”
Ruschell is the engine that makes the Raiders go. The Raider Rumble is a yearly staple because the coach likes to build into the early schedule something acting as a barometer. Winning early has usually meant winning often.
Last season, the Raiders finished runner-up at the Rumble by five points after leading eventual winner Elder by one heading into the final match. The Raiders went on to have another solid season. They won the region for the fifth year in a row and placed fifth at the KHSAA state tournament. The Raiders have won 11 region titles and finished state runner-up three times under Ruschell.
The coach has been around so long he’s nearly lost count of the years, though he believes the Rumble is in its 28th. “You know I’m not always good with remembering numbers,” said Ruschell.
Typical self-effacing humor from the amiable coach while downplaying his own strengths. Ruschell taught math at Gray Middle School. He’s in his 22nd year as head wrestling coach at Ryle, 30th overall following eight years as a Raiders assistant.
He wrestled and played two-way football at Newport Central Catholic where he graduated in 1976. He was a regional wrestling champion. Ruschell later wrestled at Northern Kentucky University. He was a first-team all-state linebacker and second-team all-state offensive end in football at NewCath. He played eight years of semipro football for the Stroh’s Lions. The coach was a force of nature and remains so, though slightly mellowed.
“He’s always going to try and pull you up when you’re down,” Cornwell said.
The coach said that’s only part of it.
“I’m just trying to coach the kids as best I can,” Ruschell said.
By all accounts, the multiple coach of the year award winner is doing a stellar job.
“Our coach is very knowledgeable and to the point,” junior Keigan Reisenbeck said. “We train hard and he makes us better. Obviously, the goal on Saturday is to win.”
Wrestlers behind the success
The 138-pound Cornwell will eventually make his way to 132, where he won the region and placed seventh at last season’s state meet. Reisenbeck, also a junior, is back at 175 pounds. That’s the same weight at which he won the region and placed sixth statewide as a sophomore.
There are also the Brinkman twins, sophomores Aiden and Bryant, a double dose of danger for foes. They both are defending region champions. Top veteran Callen Schmidt, another region champ, is one of just three seniors on the varsity.
“The twins are tough, and their sister Peyton is pretty good too. She was fourth at state last season,” Ruschell said. “Bryant was third at state for the boys at 106 but he injured a knee last week. Ideally, we want him at 113. Aiden Brinkman is at 120. He was seventh at state. Schmidt is a guy who’s still improving.”
Bryant Brinkman is a returning Rumble champ and so is Cornwell. Aiden Brinkman, Reisenbeck and Schmidt are motivated to win Rumble crowns. Aiden was fifth at last year’s event. Reisenbeck is a returning fourth-place finisher and Schmidt is coming back after placing third at last year’s Rumble.
“We’ll see where everybody’s at against some really good competition,” Ruschell said. “We’re young. Sometimes you learn a little bit by eating some humble pie.”
Humble pie at the Raider Rumble? Ryle grapplers want to be on the serving end of that.
“As long as we’re good at the end of the year, that’s what I want,” Ruschell said. “This gets us going in the right direction.”