“Wrestling will make you cry and smile at the same time. It can make you happy, mad, and everything in between,” junior Hunter Ritter said. As someone who has been wrestling since he was in third grade, Ritter has come to learn a few things about the sport.  “I believe wrestling is the greatest sport, but I also believe it is the hardest sport.”

Ritter started wrestling in third grade, mainly because his brother wrestled and his dad used to. It wasn’t until middle school that Ritter actually took it seriously.

Although he may not have taken it seriously until middle school, Ritter believes he has come a long way since then. He won one MIAA championship this year, along with the Maryland Independent School championship, placed 3rd at National Preps, was a finalist at the Cadet Fila Nationals, and became the 2013 Cadet National Champion. He credits a lot of his success to JC‘s wrestling program.

“John Carroll has helped me tremendously, [there is a] great set of coaching staff that would do whatever for me to help me improve. All the faculty, staff, and students show so much support towards the wrestling team,” Ritter said.

According to Ritter, “dedication is the most important aspect of the sport.” “He’s one of the most dedicated guys I’ve ever had the chance to wrestle with,” junior teammate Chris Almony said. With wrestling, you have no teammates to blame if you lose. There‘s no halftime to change your strategy, regroup, or even catch your breath. It’s a sport that requires hard work and hours upon hours of dedication.

“In the future I plan to wrestle for a Division 1 college,” Ritter said. He hopes to win at least one if not more NCAA national titles, but his main goal is to be an Olympic Gold Medalist.

“The Olympics are my biggest goal, but after that I hope to always stay a part of the sport and even become a coach one day.”

Hanna LeBuhn is a Lifestyles Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.