on the mat with dutch

Dutch Ballan reflects on his accomplishments and achievements on Central’s wrestling team

by Daniel Schmidt & Isaiah Johnston staff writer

Central is renowned for its outstanding wrestling program, and one of its star wrestlers is Dutch Ballan. He has been a member of the team for the past four years. When Ballan started at Central, he immediately joined because the team was known for its rigorous training, and Dutch was excited to be a part of it. He worked hard and trained every day, pushing himself to be the best wrestler he could be. “I actually got into wrestling because my older brother Damien was wrestling. And I asked my dad if I could do it, and I was five or six years old [at the time]. He let me do it, and I fell in love with the sport and just continued it,’’ Ballan explains. His success on the wrestling team has not gone unnoticed. Ballan has won multiple scholarships to many colleges and plans to attend next fall. “Some of the colleges I plan on looking at are Cleary, Woldorf and Gannon,” he reveals.

But Ballan’s success is not just limited to the wrestling mat. He is also an excellent student, maintaining a high GPA while balancing his training schedule. The success of the wrestling program is not just limited to the athletes; the coaches and the community are also a vital part of the team’s (and Ballan’s) success.The community is passionate about wrestling, and they often show their support by attending matches, volunteering their time, and donating to the program.

Being a wrestler does not come easily. “There’s a lot of challenges I had to overcome. Probably the most for me was my mindset,” Ballan admits. “It’s a lot of pressure when you’re up. You just gotta have a strong mindset and not be afraid to lose and just give it your all.’’ This only gives us a glimpse of the many hardships that a wrestler like Ballan has had to face. He also explains what it means to work together and the benefits from it. “Just being in that room together and us all working hard together, wrestling every day and pushing each other, I think that builds a brotherhood in the room, and it definitely does build a family in there,” says Ballan. “I’m just super thankful that I did choose wrestling. It came really easy to me. And it was just definitely my passion.”

Ballan wouldn’t be who is without his wrestling experiences. “It’s made me a better person on the inside and out. I think I’ve got a lot of grit from it,” he reflects. Working hard to accomplish something is usually worth it in the end, no matter how long it takes to complete it. Overall, the Central wrestling team is a shining example of excellence, discipline, and hard work. The coaches, athletes, and community are all dedicated to achieving greatness both on and off the mat. //