Asher Ratliff has competed in national wrestling tournaments in Michigan and Atlanta and has been an All-American and had three top-four finishes in state tournaments, but until recently, had not won an Indy Nationals title.
Last month, Ratliff broke through with his first Indy Nationals crown when he won the 12-and-under 86-pound weight class at University of Indianapolis.
"It’s a tough tournament," said Ratliff, a fifth-grader at Southside Elementary. "I’ve placed fourth twice and gotten third, so to win felt really good. I’ve been trying to get to the top of the podium for awhile."
The 11-year-old Ratliff, who has been wrestling since age 4 and competes for Columbus North Wrestling Club, has been going to the Indy Nationals for about six years. This year’s tournament featured nearly 1,000 wrestlers from several states.
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"It’s definitely a huge accomplishment," said Justin Ratliff, Asher’s father and coach. "There’s a lot of competitors from other states, and our state tournament is in a few weeks, so a lot of the kids that want to compete at a high level at state come for this tournament to kind of see where everybody is at."
Asher Ratliff blitzed through four matches in his Indy Nationals run. He beat Nathaniel Day of Indiana Combat Grappling by a 16-0 technical fall, then pinned Wyatt Hoppes of Greentown Wrestling Club in 1 minute, 25 seconds, Juliana DeCampo Beastmode Wrestling Club in 2:02 and Rider Trumble of Red Lion in 3:30.
"I had to just be patient and kind of proceed with my matches," Ratliff said. "I was behind in a few of my matches, and I just kept on going at it the whole match and gave it all I had until the end and hoped that I came out with the win."
Since then, Asher has turned his attention to the folkstyle state tournament, which will be Saturday and Sunday at Warren Central High School. He has won state freestyle and Greco-Roman titles and has finished second in folkstyle twice. The freestyle and Greco-Roman state tournament are the first weekend in May at Avon High School.
Asher also wrestles for the Indiana Smackdown team that will compete in the AAU Nationals this summer. He credits his father, along with North High School coach Matt Joyce and Tim Wright with Wright Way Wrestling in Indianapolis.
Justin Ratliff is in his second year as youth director for Columbus North Wrestling Club. He previously ran the youth program at Seymour before moving to Columbus with his wife and five children.
CNWC finished third as a team this winter in the junior varsity division of the Indiana Wrestling League and finished 13th in the state tourney.
"We’re wanting just to continue to improve and build the program, build these kids up and continue to put kids up on the podium," Justin Ratliff said. "Our philosophy is that wrestling all three styles keeps you on the mat more, so it’s giving you more experience. Also, there’s different aspects of the Olympic styles that make your folkstyle better."
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Name: Asher Ratliff
Age: 11
Grade: Fifth
School: Southside Elementary
Highlights: Won 12-and-under 86-pound weight class at last month’s Indy Nationals, also has won state freestyle and Greco-Roman titles and the Kentuckiana championship.
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