Wrestling
One of Lancaster's many passions is the sport of wrestling. Check in here for content pertaining to coaching and competing in the sport of wrestling.
COACH
Coach Lancaster has been a part of the West Ottawa wrestling family since 1996. As a middle schooler, he would practice with his older brother Rory under Coach McCourt and Coach Nadolsky. He developed at a very early age under the Panther system, winning several youth state titles, and even became an All-American. He also had an impressive prep career, becoming a 2002 MHSAA State Qualifier and a 3x MHSAA Regional Qualifier. He holds records for career wins, team points, escapes, reversals, 2-point near falls, and 3-point near falls. He also was a 3x USAW National Qualifier and a member of the 2002 USAW Junior Greco-Roman National Championship team.
In college, Lancaster was a 2003 Academic All-American for Muskegon Community College and 2003 USAW "Red-shirt Freshman" All-American. He later went on the wrestle NCAA Division 1 at Eastern Michigan University with fellow West Ottawa alum John McClure. After one season, he transferred to Grand Valley State University, where he finished his collegiate career as a Laker. As a member of the 2008 NCWA National Championship team, Lancaster was an All-American, placing 7th at the NCWA National Championships at 235lbs.
Since then, he has dedicated himself to the coaching world, joining the West Ottawa wrestling coaching staff in 2006. coaching at all levels, he has helped the Panthers in securing 2 MHSAA district team titles and coached several All-State wrestlers and All-Americans. He is also currently the director of wrestling for Myrmidon Training Systems, a grass-root Olympic-style wrestling club located in Holland, Michigan. Coach Lancaster earned his Masters in American History from American Military University in 2014 and teaches at Muskegon Community College as an adjunct professor.
This is Coach Lancaster's seventh year as head coach of his alma mater. His wife, Betsy, both have four children: Lilli, Gaven, Aiden, and Nora.
ATHLETE
BLOGS
The Way of the Ant: Myrmidon and Pragmatism
Chill Out: Wrestling and Meditation
Kushti- Ancient Wrestling Style And Training
Mr. Rager: Using Your Anger In Wrestling
The Art of Shadow Wrestling
ARTICLES
January 23, 2020 West Ottawa wrestling expanding girls program
February 6, 2020 West Ottawa wrestling confident heading into conference finals
December 20, 2020 Pandemic shrinks, softens schedule for local wrestlers
APPEARANCES
July 11, 2020 Ward Wrestling Live
February 5, 2021 Coach T Podcast
May 10, 2021 Timeout with the Tuori's
COACH
Coach Lancaster has been a part of the West Ottawa wrestling family since 1996. As a middle schooler, he would practice with his older brother Rory under Coach McCourt and Coach Nadolsky. He developed at a very early age under the Panther system, winning several youth state titles, and even became an All-American. He also had an impressive prep career, becoming a 2002 MHSAA State Qualifier and a 3x MHSAA Regional Qualifier. He holds records for career wins, team points, escapes, reversals, 2-point near falls, and 3-point near falls. He also was a 3x USAW National Qualifier and a member of the 2002 USAW Junior Greco-Roman National Championship team.
In college, Lancaster was a 2003 Academic All-American for Muskegon Community College and 2003 USAW "Red-shirt Freshman" All-American. He later went on the wrestle NCAA Division 1 at Eastern Michigan University with fellow West Ottawa alum John McClure. After one season, he transferred to Grand Valley State University, where he finished his collegiate career as a Laker. As a member of the 2008 NCWA National Championship team, Lancaster was an All-American, placing 7th at the NCWA National Championships at 235lbs.
Since then, he has dedicated himself to the coaching world, joining the West Ottawa wrestling coaching staff in 2006. coaching at all levels, he has helped the Panthers in securing 2 MHSAA district team titles and coached several All-State wrestlers and All-Americans. He is also currently the director of wrestling for Myrmidon Training Systems, a grass-root Olympic-style wrestling club located in Holland, Michigan. Coach Lancaster earned his Masters in American History from American Military University in 2014 and teaches at Muskegon Community College as an adjunct professor.
This is Coach Lancaster's seventh year as head coach of his alma mater. His wife, Betsy, both have four children: Lilli, Gaven, Aiden, and Nora.
ATHLETE
BLOGS
The Way of the Ant: Myrmidon and Pragmatism
Chill Out: Wrestling and Meditation
Kushti- Ancient Wrestling Style And Training
Mr. Rager: Using Your Anger In Wrestling
The Art of Shadow Wrestling
ARTICLES
January 23, 2020 West Ottawa wrestling expanding girls program
February 6, 2020 West Ottawa wrestling confident heading into conference finals
December 20, 2020 Pandemic shrinks, softens schedule for local wrestlers
APPEARANCES
July 11, 2020 Ward Wrestling Live
February 5, 2021 Coach T Podcast
May 10, 2021 Timeout with the Tuori's
“They suffer in silence.
Day in and day out, the men and women of my squad do things others would deem superhuman.
Fight to maintain grades
Fight to maintain weight
Fight off skin infection
Fight to keep varsity positions
Fight to win matches against skilled opponents.
Fight the stigmas of their peers.
Fight against the silence of a community that widely ignores them.
Fight with personal demons.
They do this all in a deafening vacuum of ambivalence. Unseen by friends and family. Locked away in early mornings and late nights, they push themselves to the peak of human perfection. There is a certain beauty in their quiet struggles. No banners. No parades. No accolades. Just the simple promise to themselves that they will be better. That they have to be better.
So the next time you see one of my wrestlers, remember this: that the people of this world that can get things done are the workers. The ones with their sleeves rolled up and their boots caked with dirt. These wrestlers thrive with sweat on their brow.
There is a good chance they have done more than you ever could. And will achieve more than you ever did.
And it all starts with the quiet stillness in their silent suffering.”
- Ryan Lancaster
Day in and day out, the men and women of my squad do things others would deem superhuman.
Fight to maintain grades
Fight to maintain weight
Fight off skin infection
Fight to keep varsity positions
Fight to win matches against skilled opponents.
Fight the stigmas of their peers.
Fight against the silence of a community that widely ignores them.
Fight with personal demons.
They do this all in a deafening vacuum of ambivalence. Unseen by friends and family. Locked away in early mornings and late nights, they push themselves to the peak of human perfection. There is a certain beauty in their quiet struggles. No banners. No parades. No accolades. Just the simple promise to themselves that they will be better. That they have to be better.
So the next time you see one of my wrestlers, remember this: that the people of this world that can get things done are the workers. The ones with their sleeves rolled up and their boots caked with dirt. These wrestlers thrive with sweat on their brow.
There is a good chance they have done more than you ever could. And will achieve more than you ever did.
And it all starts with the quiet stillness in their silent suffering.”
- Ryan Lancaster