Ryan Parmely embraces double duty for Upper Iowa

FAYETTE — Upper Iowa's Ryan Parmely switched his football cleats with wrestling shoes earlier this week.

As quickly as he did that, the Peacocks' sophomore two-sport athlete swapped them back and traded his headgear for a helmet.

Parmely continues his hectic week, playing in Upper Iowa's football game at NCAA Division II fourth-ranked Sioux Falls on Saturday. The contest comes on the heels of his performance in the Peacocks' opening wrestling dual of the season Thursday.

'It's been pretty busy,' Parmely said. 'It's all been worth it.'

Parmely has mastered juggling the demands of football, wrestling and academics.

Sunday was an off day for the former Maquoketa Valley standout. Monday Parmely worked out with the wrestlers, rejoining the football program Tuesday and Wednesday. He did sneak in a wrestling workout after football practice.

Friday included classes and a bus ride to Sioux Falls (9-0, 5-0) for this weekend's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game.

'You have to have love and passion for the game,' said Parmely, who was an all-state running back and two-time state wrestling champion at Maquoketa Valley. 'It makes it easier to go to games, practice and meets with such great teammates and coaches.'

Parmely competed in both sports last year, but didn't begin wrestling until December, which was after football finished. He jumped at the chance to participate in the outdoor meet tagged 'Showdown at Sundown.' Parmely pinned Truman State's Jules Joseph in 4:00 at 197 pounds.

'It was a once in a lifetime opportunity,' Parmely said. 'It lived up to the expectations. It's an opportunity I'll never forget.'

Both worlds meshed for Parmely. Many of the football players attended the meet, showing the respect they have for him.

'He's a good example,' Upper Iowa head football coach Tom Shea said. 'He's just a good person. The whole team was there supporting him.'

Parmely leads the Peacocks (3-6, 2-3) with 120 rushes and is second with 539 yards on the ground with five touchdowns. He has rushed for more than 90 yards in three games, including 100 yards and a TD in a 35-7 home victory against Minot State.

Parmely also has 67 receiving yards on 13 catches.

'He does a great job,' Shea said. 'He's a very physical runner.'

Shea said preps in the Midwest are often multisport athletes. They can have a hard time giving up an activity at the next level, even though competing at a high level is difficult. Parmely has had success in both.

Shea has had other multisport athletes, including some baseball players on his roster.

'We can work with that,' Shea said. 'I'm an old-school guy, I want them to have the best experience.'

Parmely was 16-12 on the mat as a freshman, earning All-American honors with a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He had six bonus-point victories, including four pins.

Parmely will turn his full attention back to football for the final week. He will take a short break and then focus on wrestling for the winter. Then, football begins again with spring practice.

'It's kind of back-to-back-to-back,' Parmely said. 'Really, summer is the only time I have off.'

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