Mark Kirk
2020 Perry High School graduate Ryan Smith turned in an outstanding performance to earn All-American honors at the NJCAA National Wrestling Tournament held April 21-22 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Smith, a freshman wrestling at 133 lbs. for Cowley College, KS , earned a 6th place finish to claim the All-American status.
Clackamas, Oregon won the team title, with Western Wyoming finishing 2nd and Iowa Central – 3rd. In addition to Smith’s 6th place finish, Cowley had two other All-Americans (Malik Johnson 6th at 149 and Jake Patterson 8th at 157) to give the Tigers a 13th place team finish.
Smith opened the tournament with a bye before dropping a match to the number one seed and eventual champion Zeth Brower from Clackamas. Ryan then reeled off four straight wins, including a 13-9 win over 5th seed Destin Summers of Western Wyoming to earn his All-American honors.
Smith was a three-time state champion for Perry and carved out a 137-13 career record with 76 falls.
Smith’s All-American finish gives Perry a total of 44 collegiate wrestling All-Americans, but the first for the Maroons since Jacob Hagar placed 7th for OU in 2006.
Ryan Smith – 6th Place (4-3, 1 fall)
Zeth Brower (Clackamas) maj. dec. Smith, 16-4 (Brower 1st seed and took 1st)
Smith pinned Brant Porter (North Idaho), Fall 4:15
Smith dec. Cody Francis (NW Kansas Tech), 11-9
Smith dec. David Kerr (Southwestern Oregon), 12-11
Smith dec. Destin Summers (Western Wyoming), 13-9 (5th seed)
Caleb Meekins (Indian Hills) pinned Smith, Fall 2:02
James Davis (Cloud) won by medical forfeit over Smith
