Pioneering Women's Wrestling at Colby Community College: An Interview with Coach Michael Ruiz

by Derek White

In an exciting development for women's sports, Colby Community College has appointed Michael Ruiz as its first women's head wrestling coach. Recently, NWKS Radio's Derek White had the opportunity to sit down with Coach Ruiz to discuss his journey, vision, and the future of the women's wrestling program.

Coach Ruiz has been pushing hard to establish a solid foundation for the new women's wrestling program. With the sport growing rapidly in Northwest Kansas, Ruiz is eager to contribute to its development.  "We're just excited to have Kennedy Blades out here in May," Ruiz shared. "It's a great experience for the Northwest Kansas women's wrestling scene. I just want to help develop something and be a part of the rapid growth happening in this region."

Ruiz's inaugural season is already shaping up to be promising, with 15 athletes officially signed. Among them are some of the most talented wrestlers from Kansas and beyond.

Notable recruits include:

• Aspen Sharp: A local wrestling star out of Colby who is graduating two years early.  She’s a two-time high school state qualifier, and experienced kids’ wrestler with several state medals. She will be redshirting her first year to develop further.

• Destiny Gonzalez: A four-time high school state qualifier, three-time state finalist, and  two-time state champion out of Goodland and will be wrestling at the upcoming Shrine Duels.

• Isabelle Garrity: A state finalist this year in 321A from Norton, and two-time state medalist in Maryland.

• Kaylen McAtee: An undefeated state champion at 155 pounds from Girard, Kansas.

• Catherine Dutton: A Missouri state champion in Greco and runner up in freestyle in 2023, and a two-time state high school finalist with one title.  She was the number one heavyweight recruit in the nation for 2023.

• Amy Hernandez: An NAIA transfer and top 10 nationally ranked wrestler.

"Bringing in older girls like Catherine and Amy is crucial," Ruiz explained. "They'll help guide our younger wrestlers, and establish a strong team culture."

Ruiz's path to becoming a head coach is deeply personal and rooted in his own experiences. He began wrestling in eighth grade, using the sport as a refuge after his mother was incarcerated.  "Wrestling became my safe haven," Ruiz reflected. "It kept me out of trouble."

Despite not qualifying for the California state tournament in high school, Ruiz's persistence led him to thrive at the collegiate level. At junior college, he became an All-American, and later, he was ranked number one in the country while wrestling in the NAIA.  Ruiz also achieved significant milestones, including winning the elite division of the University of Wyoming's Cowboy Open, where he defeated several Division I opponents.

These experiences shaped his coaching philosophy: "I learned more from losing than winning. Now, I coach to prepare my athletes not just for wrestling, but for life beyond the sport."

Coach Ruiz sets high academic and athletic standards for his athletes. "My expectation is a 3.5 GPA," he said. "A 3.3 is acceptable, but if you're below a 3.0, you won't travel with the team."

He emphasizes a balanced approach, encouraging his athletes to excel on the mat while enjoying a fulfilling college experience. "I want them to have the full student-athlete experience. It's about building life skills alongside wrestling skills."

Ruiz is focused on building a nationally competitive program within two years. He recognizes the importance of community support, acknowledging local businesses like Hoover Lumber, Woofter Construction, and McCarty Family Farms for their contributions.

"The community here has been fantastic," Ruiz said. "From the president of the college on down, everyone is invested in seeing this program succeed."

Although he currently lacks an assistant coach, Ruiz is actively seeking a young female coach to provide additional mentorship to his athletes. Coach Michael Ruiz is not just building a wrestling team; he's fostering a culture of excellence, resilience, and holistic development at Colby Community College. With a combination of talented recruits, high standards, and community backing, the future of women's wrestling at Colby looks incredibly bright.

As Ruiz aptly puts it, "This is your journey. I'm just happy to be a part of it."