Family connection drives Sloan's commitment to Rio Grande

The coaches called. The visits were made. The offers were on the table.

But when Ironton senior wrestler Nate Sloan looked at all the offers, only one program had something the others couldn’t offer.

His brother.

With his brother Ben already a member of the University of Rio Grande wrestling team, Nate accepted the RedStorm offer.

Sloan admitted that his decision was affected by his brother.

“I’d really be lying if I said I didn’t. I really wanted to wrestle with him again. I missed it these last two years,” said Sloan.

“I really wanted to wrestle with Ben again. I really like the coach. I really like the whole team up there and I’ve gotten real close with them. I’ve been practicing with them. I really like the campus up there. I like the size of the school. Everything felt right when I was picking my college.”

After sifting through all his offers, Sloan said three schools along with Rio Grande stood out. He said Ashland University in Ohio and Mercyhurst and Gannon universities in Erie, Pennsylvania were his Final Four.

“It came down to three or four other schools. Ashland University comes to mind. Their coaches are home runs. Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. Their coach was awesome. I went to a camp there and it was pretty good. I’d say Gannon University was also in there,” said Sloan.

“I think it was Rio all the time. I think I knew exactly where I wanted to go,” said Sloan.

Another factor for Sloan was Rio’s overall recruiting that has signed wrestlers from Mechanicsburg, Pt. Pleasant (W.Va.) and other good wrestling programs.

“They’ve got talent coming in and they just build on that. They’ll take a good wrestler and make him a great wrestler,” said Sloan.

“I want to fit in but I know it’s going to be hard. I’ll have to work for every bit of it, but I’m excited for the challenge. I’m ready for it.”

Sloan has more than 100 wins in his career and he has been part of the revival of the wrestling program at Ironton that was once dominant in the Tri-State and in Ohio. He credits his coach Chip Linville and a former outstanding Ironton wrestler for reviving the program.

“They were dominant in the 80s. My coach’s team were feared around the area,” said Sloan. “When coach and other people thought of bringing it back they weren’t sure of how it was going to go.They’ve put together a nice program. For it being in its 10th year, it’s had some stud wrestlers,”

Sloan has been wrestling in the 132-pound class at Ironton but he said he will either be at 133 or 141 in college.

“If I put on some muscle and some healthy weight I’ll be 141, but I’m maintaining this weight pretty good so 133 is a very good possibility,” said Sloan.

Besides wrestling, Sloan has also played football and baseball and this past season he played soccer which he said was very beneficial for his conditioning.

“The cardio in soccer is great. You never stop. I enjoyed every second of it,” said Sloan. “My legs felt so strong after soccer season that I felt I could run forever. I feel like I could wrestle for a day straight and not get tired.”

Sloan is looking forward to the rest of the regular season and the postseason. Last year, Sloan qualified for the state meet and his goal is to return.

“I’m excited about not having to worry about where I’m going to go and texting coaches. Now I’m just going to wrestle and represent Ironton and Rio Grande,” said Sloan.

“I want to place at state for sure. I want at least 135 wins. That’s my new goal. I want to place at WSAZ. I want to go back to state. I wasn’t happy how that went last year. I had labrum rotator cuff surgery four days after the state tournament and missed baseball season.”

Sloan plans to major in nursing.