Friday, January 26, 2001
Winton Woods wrestler is on a roll
By Chris Yeager
Enquirer Contributor
Winton Woods senior Ian Ruth has earned All-City honors as a defensive back in football and also runs track. He also plays the violin. And he's an honors student. Thus, it's not surprising thinking clearly and quickly on the mat is one of Ruth's chief wrestling talents.
“I try to size up my opponents,” Ruth said. “If I'm familiar with him, I know before hand what moves I can work. If I don't know him, I use some time early in the match for strategy.”
With that emphasis on strategy, Ruth has produced a 15-1 record this season, winning tournaments at Xenia and Sycamore. The lone loss was to Fairfield's Mike Wahoff in the finals of the Coaches' Classic tournament in December.
To reach the Classic final, Ruth beat Moeller's Joe Zinkan, a highly-regarded contender for a state title. And Ruth was beating Wahoff 5-3 late in the third period before making a costly mistake.
“Ian has been beating the top wrestlers in the city since his freshman year,” said Winton Woods coach Randy Smith.
A sectional and district champion last season, Ruth's goal is a state title.
“I thought he'd win state last year,” Smith said. “But he got sick just before the tournament. And when he lost a match up there, I think he lost his focus a little.”
Smith and his assistant, Carlos Goines, are doing all they can to prepare Ruth for his state championship run.
“We give him all he can handle during practice,” Goines said. “We wrestle him ourselves to give him some good practice competition.”
And though both coaches outweigh him by more than 20 pounds, Ruth more than holds his own.
“I can't beat him,” Smith said, smiling.
That's a product of Smith and Goines' coaching "arsenal' for Ruth, as well as of Ruth's own dedication to approaching the sport from all angles. Smith provides Ruth with computer CDs of Olympic wrestling and Ruth is quick to put what he sees into practice.
But he also learns from his opponents, carrying valuable lessons and techniques from one match to the next. Not long after the Coaches' Classic, Ruth began applying what he'd learned from the competition.
“I took a shot and Ian blocked it. He kept blocking me, too. I couldn't get under his defense,” Goines said. “Ian said he picked it up from his match with Zinkan.”
A “unique and awesome student,” as Goines puts it, Ruth has equally honed his physical gifts, as well. He lists speed as one of his assets. And because of his conditioning, helped by participation in football and track, Ruth feels he's usually stronger than his opponent.
“I almost rather Ian wrestled at 140,” Smith said. “But I think he'll be stronger for the state meet for not having pushed too hard on cutting weight.”
Like most successful wrestlers, Ruth is at his best on the offensive.
“I want to make the other guy wrestle my match,” he said. “I've got a lot of speed and like to attack.”
Goines points out another important Ruth asset.
“His first year at state, Ian banged heads with the other wrestler. His eye swelled up to a huge size,” Goines said. “He ended up flipping the guy and pinning him. Ian's got heart.”
As a thinking man's wrestler, one with plenty of physical talent there's little point in being content with a fine winning percentage or mid-season tournament medals.
“I know I should have done better at last year's state meet,” Ruth said. “I set the highest goals for myself.”
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Winton Woods wrestler is on a roll