On Thursday, November 29, Red Hawk Ryan Ringler made his college selection. In front of numerous family, friends, staff, and coaches in the Cedar Springs High School gymnasium, the suspense ended as Ringler announced he would be attending Central Michigan University next fall on a wrestling scholarship. He officially signed his Division 1 National Letter of Intent at the ceremony.  

Ringler is the defending state champion at 171 pounds, and a two-time all-state football player. He is excited about his future at CMU. “Central is a great fit for me. It’s a top level Division 1 program and I know many of the current wrestlers, and have a great relationship with the coach,” he said. 

Ryan is the son of Jane and Paul Ringler, of Cedar Springs.

Cedar Springs junior Ryan Ringler did something last weekend that hasn’t been done in 20 years: he brought home a state championship wrestling title for the Red Hawks. The last time that happened was in 1998, when Dean Myers did it.

This was also the first time six individual Red Hawk wrestlers made it to state since 1992. Read about how they did here.

Austin Wamser placed 8th in the state in his weight class.

Two Cedar Springs Red Hawk wrestlers, Junior Austin Wamser (160) and Senior Nic Baird (119) headed to the 2011 Individual State Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills, March 3-5.

Baird had a tough chart at weight class 119. His opponents, Anthony Gonzales from Holly, and Tyler Daniels, Stevensville Lakeshore, were both returning state champions. He lost two tough matches, so didn’t place, although he did well against his opponents. Baird earned his 100th win during the regular season and is a returning state qualifier, earning a trip to the MHSAA wrestling finals in both 2010 and 2011. Job well done, Nic.
Wamser’s run for the podium started out with a bout against Alex Fluegel from Fowlerville, 11-4 placing him in the consolation rounds. Day two earned Wamser a spot in the second round consolations by earning a pin with five seconds left in the first period against Cas Guzdziol from Holly, and an intense match with opponent Peter McAlpine, Madison Heights that went into OT and earned Wamser a triumphant win by a 7-3 decision. The final day of wrestling found Wamser up against Mike Cross, of Hastings and he incurred a loss with a final score 2-13. The consolation finals put Wamser on the podium with a 4-13 major decision in favor of Nico Mitchell-Garcia, GR Creston, placing Wamser 8th overall in the 160 lb class of the MHSAA Division 2 finals.
Coach Dave Andrus said, “I am very proud of Austin.  He has great work ethic and is a quiet leader.  He accomplished a lot this year.  In his junior year he earned 100 wins and conference champion during the 2010-2011 season. He also earned all-state honors, which hasn’t been done (at Cedar Springs) since 2005.  His senior season has great promise and I see a possible state champion.”

“I am very proud of Austin & Nic with their accomplishments this season.”

Good job coach Dave Andrus for first year as varsity wrestling coach to have 2 state qualifiers and one state placer.  See you next wrestling season!