Ruff Earns All-American status as Wrestling finishes shortened season

In what was the most challenging of times to have a season, the Triton College wrestling team successfully completed their year with a 18^th place team finish at the NJCAA Wrestling championships April 21 and 22 in Council Bluffs, IA.

The Trojans did claim one All-American as Curtis Ruff II became the 85^th wrestler and 254^th Triton College student-athlete to earn the prestigious honor with his sixth place showing at 285.

Ruff, a freshman from Orlando, FL was the No. 9 seed entering the tournament and got a first-round bye. He pinned Alex Christy of Jamestown Community College in the round of the 16 and then topped Dillyn Miller of Iowa Western Community College by a 7-4 decision to advance to the national semifinals.

However, in his semifinal match against Jorden Pryor of Iowa Central Community College, Ruff got pinned at the 3:19 mark.

"Curtis made the most out of his first college tournament and placed sixth in the nation," said Triton head coach Tim Duggan.  "I am very happy for Curtis and know the best is yet to come for him."

The Trojans got off to a great start as six wrestlers including Ruff advanced to the round of 16. Anthony Schickel (125), Jaylan Claudio (133), Cole Watkins (157), Jack Lingle (141) and Phillip Sims (149) all won their opening bouts to move on in the championship bracket. Lingle would lead the squad with three pins.

But Sims would be the only other Trojan to join Ruff beyond the round of 16. The freshman from Metea Valley knocked off RJ Driscoll of Lackawanna by a 9-4 decision to reach the quarterfinals. Unfortunately Sims got injured in his quarterfinal match and battled despite the injury to finish the tournament.

Triton will be strong next season as the majority of the team will return for the 2021-22 season along with a solid recruiting class. Sophomores departing are Claudio (Schaumburg) and Sean Kelly (Maine South) who both intend to continue wrestling at the four-year level.

"I am proud of our team competing hard this year through all the obstacles we faced," Duggan said. "It was difficult to stay motivated with so much uncertainty, but we are grateful for the opportunity. We will take the lessons we learned this year and use them to become a stronger team next season."

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