Ryan Hunsberger Joins VMI Wrestling staff

LEXINGTON, Va. – Ryan Hunsberger has joined the VMI wrestling staff for the 2020-21 season as an assistant coach, head coach Jim Gibson announced recently.

Hunsberger was the founder and head coach of the Viking Wrestling Club in Woodbridge, Va. The club helps build upon mental awareness, student-athlete development, and character building on and off the mat. Hunsberger ran practices, clinics, camps, National Team events, recruiting, revenue tracking and fundraisers. He coached, mentored, and recruited seven high-school All-Americans, 15 state champions, seven state finalists and over 30 college wrestlers. He independently trained 11 Division I wrestlers and two Division I NCAA Qualifiers.

"While I was looking to add to our staff, and talking amongst the wrestling community, Ryan's name kept being brought up," said head coach Jim Gibson. "He came to me with great recommendation from several people of high respect in our sport. His ties with in the Virginia wrestling community and USA Wrestling will be of great value to our program.  Ryan is motivated and excited to help VMI Wrestling. I'm looking forward to watching him continue to grow as a coach."

Hunsberger has been the head assistant coach at Woodbridge High School for the past four seasons and was named the Virginia Assistant Coach of the Year in 2020. He has helped coach two state champions, five state finalists and 16 state placers. The team had three top nine team finishes in the state, and the school's best finish in history (3rd place). Hunsberger also served as the Virginia National Team Coach.
 
A 2015 graduate of George Mason University with a degree in health promotion, Hunsberger compiled 40 wins on the mat, including three over national qualifiers and ranked wins over a 30^th and 28^th opponent. He took third place at the Appalachian State Open and fourth place at the Lock Haven Invitational. Hunsberger finished in the round of 12 at the 2011 FILA Junior Nationals Freestyle Championship and the 2013 ASICS University Nationals Freestyle Championship. He was a round away from qualifying for Freestyle Junior and U23 World Team Trials and currently wrestles at the Senior Freestyle level. He is pursuing his Masters' degree in sport science and rehab online at Logan University and has USA Bronze Coach Certification.