Athlete of the Month
Ryker Rollans

Pictures and Content courtesy of the Rollans Family

Hi, my name is Ryker Rollans, and a lot has happened since the last time I was honored as Athlete of the Month. The last time I received this award was after becoming a 12U Reno Worlds finalist. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to compete at the largest high school wrestling tournament in the world—Fargo Nationals. The journey from Reno Worlds to Fargo has been full of ups and downs, but it has also been a journey of growth. I’ve changed the way I train, and even more importantly, I’ve developed a completely new mindset.
Over the past three years, I’ve had some really low moments that made wrestling hard to love at times. There were days when I questioned whether I wanted to keep going, but I knew I couldn’t give up on the goals I had already set for myself. So, I kept showing up, kept training, and kept pushing through the highs and the lows. I learned that every low point eventually leads to another opportunity if you are willing to keep working.
This past year has been my biggest breakthrough, and a huge reason for that was the homeschool training program Coach Chase Pami started. My entire friend group decided to be homeschooled so we could fully commit to training. We carpooled to morning practices, worked hard every day, and pushed each other to improve.
What made the biggest difference, though, wasn’t just the wrestling practices; it was the mindset training we did beforehand. We learned how to stay composed during tough moments, control our emotions, and focus on what we could control. That was a game-changer for me because I’ve always been an emotional wrestler, especially when things weren’t going my way. Learning how to stay calm under pressure has completely changed how I compete.
This new mindset helped me have one of the best seasons of my life. At PNL Nationals, the atmosphere was intense and the crowds surrounded the mat. When calls didn’t go my way, I found that quiet place in my mind and just wrestled. At the U.S. Open, I stopped worrying about how sore and exhausted I was and competed freely. At Fargo, I found myself behind early in several matches, but instead of panicking, I stayed calm, trusted my training, chipped away one point at a time, and found ways to win.
Seeing all of this mindset training pay off was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. It showed me that all the work behind the scenes was making a difference. Some of my accomplishments this season include: • 2nd and 3rd place finishes at PNL Nationals in Wisconsin • U.S. Open All-American • Double Champion at Western Regionals • Double All-American at Fargo Nationals
None of this would have been possible without the people around me. My teammates push me every single day, both on and off the mat, to be better and never settle. My coaches have stood beside me through my lowest lows and highest highs. They’ve always believed in what I could become, even when I didn’t believe it myself, and I know they truly want the best for me.
Most importantly, my parents have sacrificed so much to help me chase my dreams. Just a month before Fargo, I wasn’t even sure I would be able to go. But they believed in me, found a way to make it happen, and gave me the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage in high school wrestling.
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me—whether you’ve donated, coached me, trained with me, encouraged me, or simply believed in me. Your support means more than you know, and I’m thankful for every person who has been part of this journey.
This season has taught me that success isn’t just about winning matches. It’s about learning to overcome adversity, trusting the process, and continuing to believe in yourself even when things get hard. I’m excited to keep building on everything I’ve learned, and I know this is only the beginning.
Here is the link to Ryker’s First Athlete of the Month for NVSportsLocal Ryker Rollans Bio Part 1