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During his high school days, Scotty Edwards said wrestling was a hobby for him.
Now wrestling for Muskingum University, the 2024 Conneaut graduate said the sport is more like a full-time job.
In his first year, though, things went pretty well for the 2024 state placer.
Grappling for the Fighting Muskies, Edwards posted a record of 28-18 and took eighth in the 285-pound weight class at the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament in Danville, Virginia earlier this month.
He also picked up Scholar All-American honors, becoming only the second freshman in Muskingum history to achieve the academic achievement and place in the NCAA Regional.
Edwards led the team in wins at 28; winning percentage, .6087; falls, 11; takedowns, 56 and team points, 114, in the 2024-25 season.
A lot went well, but that does not mean any of it was easy.
Edwards said one of the first things he learned was that in college is nobody looks at past performances.
“Down here, nobody cares that you were a state placer in high school,” he said. “People think D-III is just a step up from high school, but there are nationally ranked guys, just like there is at D-I. Some guys transferred from D-I schools where they were nationally ranked.”
In his senior year with the Spartans, Edwards went 41-11, and advanced to the state tournament, where he placed fourth at 285 in D-III.
Wrestling for a college program, though, is different — much different.
“In high school, by my senior year, I was stronger than just about everyone I wrestled,” Edwards said. “In college, though, you’re wrestling guys that have been doing this since they were five years old. They’re strong, they’re experienced and there’s a lot of different coaching out there. It was a big jump from high school to college.”
To make the jump requires being able to take on the workload a college athletic program demands.
Edwards said a typical day starts at 5 a.m. with a workout and film session. After classes, practice starts at 3 p.m., then it’s dinner and study tables before repeating the process the following day.
“I’m going probably 17-18 hours a day, then there’s tournaments every weekend,” Edwards said. “It’s like a full-time job. It’s about learning how to balance everything, maybe having to give up some video game time or hanging out with your friends. It’s just all about balancing.”
Muskingum assistant coach Latrell Davis said Edwards did a great job of adapting to the lifestyle college wrestling demands.
“At that level, you have to have a passion for the sport.” Davis said. “The biggest thing is being coachable, trusting your preparation, trusting what your coaches are telling you, not being hard-headed or stuck in your ways, being able to adapt.
“Scotty adapted very well. It took him a whole season to do that, but that’s part of the process. Every tournament is like the [high school] state tournament. It’s a grind, but the guys that are winning matches are the ones that want it.”
Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships.
Edwards said there are opportunities out there for some assistance, but mostly it’s guys participating just because they love to compete.
It may be a full-time job, but it’s one he still loves doing.
“You always want to improve at your job and get as high as you can,” Edwards said. “I try to do every little thing I can. Between classes, if I have like an hour, I may go to the wrestling room, watch some wrestling, and watch some of my old matches, try to fix mistakes that I’ve made, and see what I can do from there.”
Edwards is studying for a degree in education and plans to teach at a middle school or high school. He’d also love to coach wrestling one day.
“Absolutely I would,” he said.
Edwards also kept an eye on his former mat mates at Conneaut this season.
The Spartans, for the first time in three years, did not have a state qualifier this season.
But Edwards’ former drill partner, Ben Griswold went 36-10 and made some noise at the Division II Kenston District Tournament.
“He’s going be really good,” Edwards said. “He’s just young now, that’s all.”
As a collegiate, Edwards is young, too. Having his first year out of the way is a nice feeling, but it also leaves him hungry for more.
“Now you know what the expectations are,” he said. “From there, it’s just capitalizing and building on what I did this year. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do this this year and God willing, I had no injuries.
“My family supported me all the way. I’m thankful for the school, the wrestling team, my friends, my family. I have three more years to do this and see if I can get on the podium [for the NCAA Championships Tournament].”
The folks at Mushingum are excited as well.
“He’s one of those kids that are foundational pieces, they’re building blocks,” Davis said. “I think he’s really going to make a statement, really make an impact on our university and our team. He’s a natural leader and he’s becoming aware of what natural gifts he has.”
Continue reading...
Now wrestling for Muskingum University, the 2024 Conneaut graduate said the sport is more like a full-time job.
In his first year, though, things went pretty well for the 2024 state placer.
Grappling for the Fighting Muskies, Edwards posted a record of 28-18 and took eighth in the 285-pound weight class at the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament in Danville, Virginia earlier this month.
He also picked up Scholar All-American honors, becoming only the second freshman in Muskingum history to achieve the academic achievement and place in the NCAA Regional.
Edwards led the team in wins at 28; winning percentage, .6087; falls, 11; takedowns, 56 and team points, 114, in the 2024-25 season.
A lot went well, but that does not mean any of it was easy.
Edwards said one of the first things he learned was that in college is nobody looks at past performances.
“Down here, nobody cares that you were a state placer in high school,” he said. “People think D-III is just a step up from high school, but there are nationally ranked guys, just like there is at D-I. Some guys transferred from D-I schools where they were nationally ranked.”
In his senior year with the Spartans, Edwards went 41-11, and advanced to the state tournament, where he placed fourth at 285 in D-III.
Wrestling for a college program, though, is different — much different.
“In high school, by my senior year, I was stronger than just about everyone I wrestled,” Edwards said. “In college, though, you’re wrestling guys that have been doing this since they were five years old. They’re strong, they’re experienced and there’s a lot of different coaching out there. It was a big jump from high school to college.”
To make the jump requires being able to take on the workload a college athletic program demands.
Edwards said a typical day starts at 5 a.m. with a workout and film session. After classes, practice starts at 3 p.m., then it’s dinner and study tables before repeating the process the following day.
“I’m going probably 17-18 hours a day, then there’s tournaments every weekend,” Edwards said. “It’s like a full-time job. It’s about learning how to balance everything, maybe having to give up some video game time or hanging out with your friends. It’s just all about balancing.”
Muskingum assistant coach Latrell Davis said Edwards did a great job of adapting to the lifestyle college wrestling demands.
“At that level, you have to have a passion for the sport.” Davis said. “The biggest thing is being coachable, trusting your preparation, trusting what your coaches are telling you, not being hard-headed or stuck in your ways, being able to adapt.
“Scotty adapted very well. It took him a whole season to do that, but that’s part of the process. Every tournament is like the [high school] state tournament. It’s a grind, but the guys that are winning matches are the ones that want it.”
Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships.
Edwards said there are opportunities out there for some assistance, but mostly it’s guys participating just because they love to compete.
It may be a full-time job, but it’s one he still loves doing.
“You always want to improve at your job and get as high as you can,” Edwards said. “I try to do every little thing I can. Between classes, if I have like an hour, I may go to the wrestling room, watch some wrestling, and watch some of my old matches, try to fix mistakes that I’ve made, and see what I can do from there.”
Edwards is studying for a degree in education and plans to teach at a middle school or high school. He’d also love to coach wrestling one day.
“Absolutely I would,” he said.
Edwards also kept an eye on his former mat mates at Conneaut this season.
The Spartans, for the first time in three years, did not have a state qualifier this season.
But Edwards’ former drill partner, Ben Griswold went 36-10 and made some noise at the Division II Kenston District Tournament.
“He’s going be really good,” Edwards said. “He’s just young now, that’s all.”
As a collegiate, Edwards is young, too. Having his first year out of the way is a nice feeling, but it also leaves him hungry for more.
“Now you know what the expectations are,” he said. “From there, it’s just capitalizing and building on what I did this year. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do this this year and God willing, I had no injuries.
“My family supported me all the way. I’m thankful for the school, the wrestling team, my friends, my family. I have three more years to do this and see if I can get on the podium [for the NCAA Championships Tournament].”
The folks at Mushingum are excited as well.
“He’s one of those kids that are foundational pieces, they’re building blocks,” Davis said. “I think he’s really going to make a statement, really make an impact on our university and our team. He’s a natural leader and he’s becoming aware of what natural gifts he has.”
Continue reading...
