Ryan Deakin CO, NCAA Champ: Mindset = Moment
Ryan Deakin
Mindset to Meet the Moment
By Bill X. Barron
“I have learned the art of staying the course, finding ways of adapting, improving, and overcoming,” asserts Northwestern University senior Ryan Deakin. Sometimes you have to go back to the drawing board in order to improve. You have to continue going after what you want in life, no matter what.”
As one who has learned to welcome adversity for what it teaches us about ourselves, Ryan has “the mindset to meet the moment.” In many ways, all of the years of training, discipline, and focus sharpened his ability to remain grounded amidst the turbulence of this pandemic-shaped time.
Growing up, Ryan would participate in up to five national RMN Events, the country’s tournament leader whose business is located in his hometown of Broomfield. States Ryan: “I loved competing against wrestlers from all over the country. During the high school winter break, RMN’s Who’s Bad? Championship kept me sharp and focused.”
While wrestling for Legacy High School in Broomfield, Colorado, Deakin was a 4-time state placer, finishing 3rd as a freshman, then earning his first state title as a sophomore. Finishing 2nd his junior year, provided “more motivation and perspective when I fell short on the big stage.”
“Still, I have never feared losing when I give it all.” Ryan returned with a banner senior 45-0 undefeated season for his 2nd state crown, while maintaining the perfect 4.0 GPA he had earned throughout high school.
An opportunity to compete in the Big 12 Conference as well as its commitment to high academics led Ryan to Northwestern. In his senior season, Ryan earned the #1 seed for the 2021 NCAA’s after capturing his 2nd Big 12 title, but then injuries and Covid shortened his season, contributing to a 3rd-place All-American finish.
In adversity’s second coming, the Hodge finalist was “so grateful for another opportunity” when the NCAA granted a waiver allowing for an additional year of competition. As a graduate student, “I felt a sense of freedom, full of heart, and super grateful to continue the sport I love.”
“In perspective, the path was all lined up for another title run, even though it did not seem that way at first. It’s a challenge to see the good in defeat. But I have learned that failure can be the best thing to move you forward, especially when you place your trust in teammates, coaches, and family,” Ryan continues.
Still, returning for a fifth season was “tough when you are putting off the rest of your life for the love of a sport. Yet when I came to the realization that I was doing what I loved, it set me free. I accepted the path for what it is. I knew I was going to do this year on my own terms.”
Rededicating himself to the journey meant “extra conditioning and extra lifting sessions. There’s a true sense of confidence when you know that you have put in the necessary work.”
With the advantage of having overcome adversity before, Ryan finally sat upon the NCAA podium as the 2022 157-pound champion after soundly defeating Princeton’s Quincy Monday 9-2 in the finals.
Through his success, Ryan has helped redefine the athletic culture of this elite academic institute in Evanston, Illinois. “Wrestling is like family. It’s an emotional investment, a process of bonding, that only deepens as together you celebrate victory and are there for one another when you fall short of your goals.”
Now that he has fulfilled his collegiate aspirations, Deakin is seeking the right Regional Training Center environment to help him reach the next pinnacle, which is to earn a position on the World and Olympic teams. “I want to train to be the best in the world.
Ideally, he seeks a challenging coaching and training environment, the backing to pursue travel and camp opportunities, and a professional development community where he can “prepare for life after wrestling.” At the same time, remaining in the moment, “I try to not grow up too fast, especially when I get to do what I love every day.”
“Ultimately, I have learned that my mindset determines how I respond to the moment,” Ryan reflects. “There are such slight differences that determine whether you get over the edge. The key is to remain calm and level-headed. Make the right decisions at the right time.
“With the prerequisite hard work, strengthening, conditioning, nutrition, and recovery time, you are prepared to capitalize on the small windows of opportunity, which are even fewer at higher levels of competition, that allow you to capitalize when your opponent makes a mistake.
“This calls upon the wrestler to be both analytical as well as prepared mentally and physically to meet the moment. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. You never know what position you will find yourself in. Therefore, the successful wrestler has to be creative in seizing upon opportunities as they present themselves.”