THE LAST WORD
Ruth emerging as World medal threat
wrestler in the country. Taylor also received his share of attention when he battled four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake of Cornell in college. And he’s been in the spotlight while battling Olympic and World champion Jordan Burroughs now in freestyle. Taylor is a dynamic, wide-open wrestler with an outgoing, magnetic personality to match. He’s a total class act all the way. Ruth and Taylor provided one of the best, if not the best, 1-2 combinations in NCAA history. They led the Nittany Lions to four straight NCAA and Big Ten titles. But it’s time to give Ruth the credit he so richly deserves. Ruth finished his collegiate career with a sparkling 136-3
M
record. He captured a school-record three NCAA titles afer plac- ing third as a freshman despite being injured at the NCAAs. And now Ruth is a member of the U.S. World Team in freestyle wrestling. Ruth turned in a phenomenal performance to capture a U.S.
World Team Trials title in freestyle at 86 kg/189 lbs. on June 1 in Madison, Wis. Third at the U.S. Open in April, Ruth has made significant
gains since then. He dominated World fifth-place finisher Taymuraz Friev of
Spain 10-0 in May’s Beat the Streets Dual in New York City. Ruth put his immense talents on full display in earning that
victory. He’s lethal with his leg attacks and is adept at snatching an opponent’s legs with his long arms. At the World Team Trials, Ruth won a tough Challenge
Tournament before running into a strong finals opponent in 2013
ADISON, Wis. - Ed Ruth spent much of his college career in the shadow of David Taylor. Taylor grabbed much of the spotlight by winning a pair of Hodge Trophy awards as the best college
World Team member Keith Gavin. Gavin won the first bout before building a lead in the second bout. But Ruth showed the rapid progression he’s made by step- ping over a gut wrench attempt to earn a dramatic fall to force a third match. Ruth fell behind 4-0 in the third and final bout, but he bounced
Craig Sesker
back to rally for an impressive 11-7 win over Gavin. Ruth showed the type of grit, moxie and fight that has quickly
made him a very elite wrestle already on the Senior level. Ruth, who represented the U.S. at the 2013 World University Games, is relatively unknown on the international level and that could benefit him at his first Senior World Championships. Ruth wrestles with a style that many foreign wrestlers simply
don’t see. Ruth is a well-conditioned athlete who wrestles hard. Training
in a room with Olympic gold medalists Cael Sanderson and Jake Varner will be another big key as continues to progress in international wrestling. Ruth said after the Trials that he wrestled smarter, and that
was evident with him giving up considerably less points than he did at the Open. Ruth is another wrestler who is very popular with fans. He’s
very outgoing and personable, and has a very relaxed and laid- back attitude. He’s very articulate in dealing with the media. Ruth showed great composure in battling his way past Gavin,
an experienced veteran, in the finals of the Trials. Don’t be surprised if Ruth contends for a medal at September’s World Championships. He’s a very gifted wrestler with a determined mindset to match. And he’s still learning. Can’t wait to see how he progresses and develops.
42 USA Wrestler
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