Ryan Kocer

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Ryan Kocer is a family nurse and former wrestler from Wagner Community School in Wagner, South Dakota. His left leg was amputated below the knee following an accident in 2007. In 2008, Kocer won the Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award.

Wrestling form of combat sport involving grappling type techniques

Wrestling is a combat sport involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. The sport can either be theatrical for entertainment, or genuinely competitive. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position. There are a wide range of styles with varying rules with both traditional historic and modern styles. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into other martial arts as well as military hand-to-hand combat systems.

Wagner, South Dakota City in South Dakota, United States

Wagner is a city in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,566 at the 2010 census.

The Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award is an annual award honoring the achievements of a male individual from the world of disabled sports. Established with the aid of disability advocate and former United States Paralympic soccer player Eli Wolff, the accolade's trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan, is presented to the disabled sportsman adjudged to be the best at the annual ESPY Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. The Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award was first bestowed as part of the ESPY Awards in 2005 after the non-gender specific Best Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award was presented the previous three years. Balloting for the award is undertaken by fans over the Internet from between three and five choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee, which is composed of a panel of experts. It is conferred in July to reflect performance and achievement over the preceding twelve months.

Contents

Early life

Ryan Kocer is the oldest of three boys (Alex and David) and one sister (Kayli), parents are Jody and Don Kocer. Ryan started wrestling at the age of 4 in an AAU youth wrestling program. [1]  Kocer was also a three year starter for the Wagner Community School football team. [2] Kocer started and ended his high school wrestling career at Wagner Community School. Kocer won his first South Dakota High School Activities Association wrestling state title of three in eighth grade at 130 weight class. [3] Kocer’s freshman year ended with a second place finish after sustaining a knee injury. [1] Sophomore and Junior year, he picked up his second and third title at 152 and 171 respectively. [4]

Amateur Athletic Union US nonprofit athletic organization

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is an amateur sports organization based in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. It has more than 700,000 members nationwide, including more than 100,000 volunteers.

South Dakota High School Activities Association organization

South Dakota High School Activities Association governs high school sports and other activities in the state of South Dakota. The SDHSAA was founded in 1905 and has been a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations since 1923.

Accident

On the night of August 25, 2007, Kocer was pushing a two-ton diesel truck in neutral out of the yard of his home, to keep his parents from waking up. While pushing, Kocer lost control and was trapped between the truck and a grain bin. [5] His left kneecap was damaged to the point that blood flow became non-existent in his lower leg. Kocer was taken to the clinic in town before he was airlifted to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for treatment. Kocer underwent 10 hours of surgery to remove his left foot. [5] Doctors became concerned about possible infections and the condition of his knee, that they finally amputated the left leg above the knee. [5]

Sioux Falls, South Dakota City in South Dakota, United States

Sioux Falls is the most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the 143rd-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha County and also extends into Lincoln County to the south, proximate with the Minnesota state line. It is the 47th-fastest-growing city in the United States and the fastest-growing metro area in South Dakota, with a population increase of 22% between 2000 and 2010.

Kocer also sustained injury to the right tibia and doctors placed a rod in his right leg. It took Kocer eight weeks to stand on his right leg with the aid of crutches. [3]

Athletic career

Kocer's first match after the injury was at the Clash in Minnesota. Kocer finished the day with a 3–1 record. Kocer earned his 200th victory during his senior season. [3] Ryan Kocer’s senior record was 16–7, finishing fourth at the state tournament helping Wagner win a team state title. [4]

Kocer won the Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award in 2008. [6] [7]

Mentor

Kocer attended college at South Dakota State University, where he studied and earned his degree in nursing. He has obtained his Family Nurse Practitioners license and is employed with Avera Health. Kocer has been a mentor to other amputees. [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 "One Leg, Lots of Heart in This Prep Wrestler - MaxPreps". MaxPreps.com. 2008-02-15. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  2. "Wagner athlete moves on after accident claims leg" . Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  3. 1 2 3 "Whitney: Former wrestler's resolve shines through after loss of a leg". Argus Leader. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  4. 1 2 "SDHSAA Yearbook | About Us | SDHSAA". www.sdhsaa.com. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  5. 1 2 3 "Wagner wrestler hopes to return to mat despite amputation of left leg". townnews-aberdeennews. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  6. "ESPY Award winners". ESPN.com. 2008-07-17. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  7. "Wagner's Ryan Kocer Wins ESPY". Yankton Press & Dakotan. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  8. "South Dakota student collects prosthetics, orthotics for don..." Retrieved 2018-10-08.