West’s Ruckdaschel passionate about gymnastics

IOWA CITY - Excelling in a sport involving the performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility and coordination does not happen to everyone.

However, Iowa City West senior Ryan Ruckdaschel is an exception to this norm. Out of the 10 USA gymnastics levels, he is in Level 10, the highest level, and plans to continue gymnastics into college for the University of Iowa.

Ruckdaschel's gymnastics career started when he was six years old, when his first-grade class took a field trip to a local gymnastics facility. While there, a coach complimented him on his ability to perform the requested skills.

'I didn't think much of it, but somehow along those lines my parents ended up putting me in gymnastics,” Ruckdaschel said. 'I wasn't actually too keen on trying it, even though I was always flipping around the house, but I ended up doing it and I started off in a beginner boys class. In a couple of months, I was trying out for the team.”

Although Ruckdaschel began gymnastics in first grade, it was in seventh grade when he realized his passion for the sport. He had just started Level 9, and had made it to nationals.

'I was just going with the flow through the levels, but when I got to Level 9, I had a whole new interest in it, just given the level of skills I was developing and how well I was doing,” he said. 'I knew I could continue my gymnastics into bigger endeavors.”

He completed his goal of continuing gymnastics past high school when he was recruited by Iowa. Now he will attempt to secure a walk-on position with the Hawkeyes this fall.

'I knew I was capable of doing it, and I wanted to do something that not many get to do,” Ruckdaschel said. 'So just being able to say that I had competed for a collegiate team is something I am looking forward to.”

Ruckdaschel's journey has not always been easy. In 2010, his coach at the Iowa Gym-Nest abruptly left to accept the position as assistant coach at Iowa, leaving Ruckdaschel and the rest of his team without a coach. It was two months before his team heard of a new gymnastics program starting up called Eyas. The program was coached by Doni Thompson and practiced at the Iowa Field House.

'Our whole team picked up and moved to the Field House, where we had a completely new gym and completely new coaches,” he said. 'That was really hard to deal with, because you're just trying to get back into things, and you're already a little rusty. It was difficult for a lot of people, and especially myself, given that I had only known one coach my whole career, so it was all really scary.”

Although Ruckdaschel was able to adapt to the new changes, the mental aspect of the sport still challenges him.

'I'd pay anybody in the school to try one practice with us and see what they think after,” he said. 'It takes so much out of you. It's not only just flipping around for fun, there's a seriousness to it, and the mental level. People don't consider enough just how scary it can be, and how many things you have to overcome mentally.”

Despite all of the obstacles, Ruckdaschel's passion for gymnastics continues.

'I like being able to do a sport that not many consider,” he said. 'It's so unique from everything else that people are interested in, and there is so much in it that you can't really reach an end to the sport; there is always something new to be done.”

Ruckdaschel practices year-round, three hours every day Monday to Friday. Although it is sometimes difficult for him to balance school, gymnastics and friends, Ruckdaschel has learned to manage his time. He maintains outstanding grades while training 15 hours a week, plus traveling on weekends. He was recently nominated as a First Team Academic All-American through USAG because his GPA is above a 3.85, said Thompson.

Ruckdaschel not only has excelled individually, but he has inspired his teammates as well.

'Ryan adds leadership, integrity, heart and passion to our team,” Thompson said. 'He is one of the hardest workers I have ever had the joy to coach. He doesn't complain and is (at practice) almost everyday throughout the year. Ryan loves gymnastics and is very excited for the next phase in his career.”

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