University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Freshman Focus: Ethan Riddle
10/24/2023 1:27:00 PM | Wrestling
There are seven newcomers to the Minnesota wrestling team for the 2023-24 season. In order to get to know them better, GopherSports.com is doing Q&As with each. Up first, Ethan Riddle, a freshman from Germantown, Wis. Riddle was a two-time state champion, three-time state placewinner and four-time state qualifier at Germantown High School.
GopherSports.com: How did you get into wrestling?
Ethan Riddle: "My dad wrestled throughout his youth and a little into college, so he put me and my oldest brother, Issac, into wrestling when we were very young (before I was in school)."
GS: When did you realize you might be able to compete in college?
ER: "There wasn't really a definitive moment. I just always thought about getting better and performing my best, which eventually led me to being good enough to compete at this level. It was more of a gradual realization than a defining moment."
GS: What was your recruiting process like?
ER: "It was pretty seamless and small. I didn't have a dream school, and academically most schools had my major, so I was most interested in the schools that were also interested in me."
GS: What made you decide on Minnesota?
ER: "My biggest factor for my decision was people. I wanted a program with a team culture that I agreed with and could fit in with. I also wanted coaches who genuinely cared about me and my development as an athlete, student and person. I found that Minnesota had all of these aspects."
GS: What differences have you noticed between high school and college wrestling?
ER: "Intensity. Everything in college wrestling is constant intensity through all positions. Hand fighting is heavy and constant movement, people explode through their attacks and off bottom, and people transition straight into tough riding on top. I've had to stay more locked in and improve my cardio just to keep up."
GS: How would you describe your wrestling style?
ER: "My wrestling style is pretty analytical. I like to try to read my opponents and make adjustments mid-match to best wrestle my opponent. So it's pretty slow developing but opens up later in matches."
GS: Are there any particular teammates who have taken you under their wing and helped in your transition to college?
ER: "Not particularly. I stayed at Tim Stapleton's and Ben Lunn's house over the summer and the time I was here then really made the adjustment easy when I moved in for real."
GS: Do you have any pre-match rituals?
ER: "I like to listen to music, I always turn off the music and put my singlet up at the start of the match before mine, and I slap my legs in a particular way right before the whistle. Two hands on my quads, right hand on hamstring, left hand on hamstring."
GS: Are there certain wrestlers you look up to or try to emulate?
ER: "Nope, though I will take specific moves, tactics, or setups from many wrestlers and try to emulate them in my wrestling."
GS: What is something you are looking forward to in your time as a Gopher?
ER: "Wrestling in my first home dual."
Off the Mat
Favorite spot on campus: Bierman Athletic Center
Favorite Food: Noodles
Favorite Musician: Bruno Mars or 50 Cent
Prefer Instagram or TikTok?: Instagram
Hidden talent: Can solve a Rubik's cube
Sport you're best at other than wrestling: Ultimate Frisbee
Favorite moment of your wrestling career: Going/Wrestling at Team State senior year
GopherSports.com: How did you get into wrestling?
Ethan Riddle: "My dad wrestled throughout his youth and a little into college, so he put me and my oldest brother, Issac, into wrestling when we were very young (before I was in school)."
GS: When did you realize you might be able to compete in college?
ER: "There wasn't really a definitive moment. I just always thought about getting better and performing my best, which eventually led me to being good enough to compete at this level. It was more of a gradual realization than a defining moment."
GS: What was your recruiting process like?
ER: "It was pretty seamless and small. I didn't have a dream school, and academically most schools had my major, so I was most interested in the schools that were also interested in me."
GS: What made you decide on Minnesota?
ER: "My biggest factor for my decision was people. I wanted a program with a team culture that I agreed with and could fit in with. I also wanted coaches who genuinely cared about me and my development as an athlete, student and person. I found that Minnesota had all of these aspects."
GS: What differences have you noticed between high school and college wrestling?
ER: "Intensity. Everything in college wrestling is constant intensity through all positions. Hand fighting is heavy and constant movement, people explode through their attacks and off bottom, and people transition straight into tough riding on top. I've had to stay more locked in and improve my cardio just to keep up."
GS: How would you describe your wrestling style?
ER: "My wrestling style is pretty analytical. I like to try to read my opponents and make adjustments mid-match to best wrestle my opponent. So it's pretty slow developing but opens up later in matches."
GS: Are there any particular teammates who have taken you under their wing and helped in your transition to college?
ER: "Not particularly. I stayed at Tim Stapleton's and Ben Lunn's house over the summer and the time I was here then really made the adjustment easy when I moved in for real."
GS: Do you have any pre-match rituals?
ER: "I like to listen to music, I always turn off the music and put my singlet up at the start of the match before mine, and I slap my legs in a particular way right before the whistle. Two hands on my quads, right hand on hamstring, left hand on hamstring."
GS: Are there certain wrestlers you look up to or try to emulate?
ER: "Nope, though I will take specific moves, tactics, or setups from many wrestlers and try to emulate them in my wrestling."
GS: What is something you are looking forward to in your time as a Gopher?
ER: "Wrestling in my first home dual."
Off the Mat
Favorite spot on campus: Bierman Athletic Center
Favorite Food: Noodles
Favorite Musician: Bruno Mars or 50 Cent
Prefer Instagram or TikTok?: Instagram
Hidden talent: Can solve a Rubik's cube
Sport you're best at other than wrestling: Ultimate Frisbee
Favorite moment of your wrestling career: Going/Wrestling at Team State senior year
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