"His dad, being one of his coaches, is in his corner and always has been growing up," Cunningham said. "We looked at it as he should be able to repeat. However there …
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Kellis senior Ty Ryan capped his high school wrestling career as the first with his second - and the first with hs first.
In a two-month span the 170-pounder was the first wrestler in school history to win his weight class up the road at the Peoria Invitational.
Then on Feb. 14 he became the Glendale school's first two-time state champion, defeating Vail Cienega junior Gabe Levy 2-1 in the Division II finals in Prescott Valley.
"I don't feel any different. But it's cool to think that at the end of high school I was a two-timer. I remember going into high school I was just wanting to win state once," Ryan said.
He said it was the first time going against Levy, who was waiting to counter Ryan almost the entire match. Ryan said he got a takedown in the second round to go up 2-1.
Kellis coach Maurice Cunningham and Ryan's father, Tim - an assistant coach, trained Ryan for a secon title run this year. And they reminded him how difficult repeating as a champion is.
"His dad, being one of his coaches, is in his corner and always has been growing up," Cunningham said. "We looked at it as he should be able to repeat. However there are challenges. You have to keep doing what got you here."
Ryan defeated Jose Beltran of Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge 8-7 to win the 2019 title.
In between the high school season he talked with fellow members of the Grindhouse club wrestling team that had repeated. He said he realized he cannot take anyone lightly.
"All the peple I know through my club that have repeated or that are going for repeats talk about the target on your back," Ryan said. "Your opponents have nothing to lose."
While his tlent was evident early, Cunningham said Ryan subtly raised his game in his final two years to make school history.
"He's made huge strides. Little tweaks, whether it's a level change or penetrating deep on a shot, are the differences," Cunningham said.
The improvement showed in December when he repeated as Moon Valley tournament champion.
Then he became the first Cougar to win the tradition-rich invitational up the street at Peoria High. On Jan. 11 he defeated Tucson Sunnyside sophomore Fernando Villaescusa in the finals at Peoria.
"The kid in the finals I already went against before and the kid in the semis was a Division I finalist so I went in with the mindset of, 'I'm not going to lose this match,'" Ryan said. "I was pretty excited to win that one. And the kid I ended up going against was my competition for state, until he ended up dropping weight. It felt really nice winning that after finishing third the year before."
That title win filled him with confidence for state. Villaescua moved down to 160 and claimed the state title in that class.
Senior Noah Martinez, the new 170 pounder for the Blue Devils, may have been Ryan's toughest competition at state before falling 4-3 in the quarterfinals. But by this point, he said, the biggest competition was his capability.
"It's more or less going out there and not making any stupid mistakes, just wrestling to the best of my ability," Ryan said.
Yet his favorite moment at state was not the second title. It was his brother's first finals match.
Freshman Colby Ryan won a section title and finished second in the Division II 113-pound bracket to cap his first season.
"I'd say I was happier for him winning tournaments and getting to the finals at state than for myself. I love my broter and want him to succeed," Ryan said.
The family dynasty is in good hands. Colby finished with a 49-9 record and claimed a tourney title.
"To win Centennial was the big deal for him. He's had a chip on his shoulder ever since just to go all the way to state," Cunningham said.
Ty Ryan said he wants to wrestle in college, though he has not made an official commitment. He hopes to decide this month.
"I've gone on trips to Cal Baptist, the Air Force Academy and Wheaton," Ryan said.
Ryan said he would like to study business or aerospace engineering if he goes to Air Force. He also wants to minor in political science.
Richard Smith Associate Editor | Surprise & West Valley Preps @rsmithYWV
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.
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