Ed Schmitt has seemingly been preparing to be a head wrestling coach most his life. He certainly checks a lot of boxes.

Schmitt was hired in April to lead the latest chapter of Ralston wrestling, succeeding Jason Fink.

On the mat, the Newman Grove native is a four-time Nebraska state placer, two-time finalist and the 1997 Class D champion at 171 pounds. At the time, he was just the second individual champ in school history.

In college, Schmitt was a two-time All-American in NJCAA and NAIA, wrestling at Huron College in South Dakota, Neosho County Community College in Kansas and the now-defunct Dana College in Blair.

The last 18 years have been spent doing on-the-job training.

As an assistant coach in Kansas, Schmitt was on staff for two team state titles.

Now after three years as an assistant with the Rams, Schmitt slides over a chair into the head coach position.

Early in his tenure, Schmitt is working to get maximum participation this summer, as well as continue to build strength through the youth program.

“I’m really focusing on participation and numbers, both in the weight room and our two summer leagues,” Schmitt said. “I’m (with the younger kids) pretty much whenever there is not a conflict with high school wrestling. I’m here two nights a week and work real close with our youth head coach. We opened a third night, because we are both believers in how important practice is. I reach out to them as much as I do the high school kids with camps and things.”

Fresh off a ninth-place team finish in Class B, Schmitt and the Rams hope to build off that with help from some key returners. Gone are two state qualifiers and medalists from last season – Noah Talmadge and David Hernandez – but the Rams return four seniors and a junior.

“That’s a group of guys I’m looking forward to seeing take on an even bigger leadership role.”

If lone returning medalist Michael Mass or another Ram can win an individual title it would be the first for the school since 2003 when Antoine Tureaud won in Class A at 152 pounds.

2021 State Meet Gualifiers

(wrestler, grade, weight class)

Bradyn Anaya, 11, 120 (returning)

Michael Mass, 11, 138 (returning)

Caden Corcoran, 11, 145 (returning)

Noah Talmadge, 12, 152 (graduated)

Brandon Cavender, 10, 170 (returning)

David Hernandez, 12, 285 (graduated)