Photo by: Richard Immel
Ruschell wins gold at Pan American Championships
May 10, 2017 | Wrestling
Assistant coach named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin wrestling assistant coach Kyle Ruschell received the call-up on Sunday at 10 p.m. to represent the United States and compete. He was on a plane three days later to compete for the first time in two years at the 2017 Pan American Championships.
Three days after that he became a gold medalist at the Pan Am Championships after going 3-0 at the tournament without giving up a single point to his opponents.
"It was great. It was something that was very unexpected," Ruschell said. "There was no pressure and it felt great to compete again. Overall it was a great experience.
"It's cool for not being in the wrestling scene in a while, so it's kind of like shocking the system with competing again and being on the scene."
Ruschell wrestled up a weight class at 74 kg/163 pounds. In his first match at the Pan Ams, Ruschell defeated the 2016 Pan Am runner-up Jose Ambrocio Greifo of Peru with a speedy 10-0 technical fall.
In the semifinals, Ruschell took on Pedro Soto Cordero of Puerto Rico, a four-time Pan Am medalist and trumped him with a 10-0 technical fall.
Ruschell saved his best for last en route to one of his biggest tournament victories on the senior level. The Crittenden, Kentucky, native defeated Colombia's Nestor Taffur with an 11-0 tech fall. He tallied nine points in the first period alone.
On Wednesday, Ruschell was named the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week for his standout performance.
Â
Â
Three days after that he became a gold medalist at the Pan Am Championships after going 3-0 at the tournament without giving up a single point to his opponents.
"It was great. It was something that was very unexpected," Ruschell said. "There was no pressure and it felt great to compete again. Overall it was a great experience.
"It's cool for not being in the wrestling scene in a while, so it's kind of like shocking the system with competing again and being on the scene."
Ruschell wrestled up a weight class at 74 kg/163 pounds. In his first match at the Pan Ams, Ruschell defeated the 2016 Pan Am runner-up Jose Ambrocio Greifo of Peru with a speedy 10-0 technical fall.
In the semifinals, Ruschell took on Pedro Soto Cordero of Puerto Rico, a four-time Pan Am medalist and trumped him with a 10-0 technical fall.
Ruschell saved his best for last en route to one of his biggest tournament victories on the senior level. The Crittenden, Kentucky, native defeated Colombia's Nestor Taffur with an 11-0 tech fall. He tallied nine points in the first period alone.
On Wednesday, Ruschell was named the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week for his standout performance.
Â
Â
Chris Bono Weekly Media Conference || Wisconsin Wrestling || Dec. 08, 2025
Monday, December 08
Chris Bono Weekly Media Conference || Wisconsin Wrestling || Dec. 01, 2025
Monday, December 01
Chris Bono Weekly Media Conference || Wisconsin Wrestling || Nov. 10, 2025
Monday, November 10
Chris Bono Weekly Press Conference || Wisconsin Wrestling || November 18, 2024
Monday, November 18
