Adding to the ‘legacy’

Legacy’s Ryan Deakin, state champion this year in the 138-pound class, was honored with the Dave Shultz High School Excellence Award, presented by the Colorado Wrestling Hall of Fame. Deakin received his award May 7 before a full house at the Marriott Hotel in Colorado Springs. Sixteen youth and adults were honored by the state chapter for their efforts in wrestling over the season and throughout their careers. Deakin was also the 23 all-time recipient of the state’s High School Wrestler of the Year Award. “This is really a big honor to be selected for this award,” Deakin said. “This is such a big event and I’m so honored to have my coach and family here. I just couldn’t have done this without all their efforts to help and stand behind me.” Deakin is a four-time state place winner, a three-time finalist and a two-time state champion. He finished his high school career with 177 wins, including 123 pins. He holds all of the wrestling records at Legacy and was the recipient of the Outstanding Wrestler Award all four years of his high school career. Wrestling aside, Deakin has been a standout in the classroom as well, maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average. He also was honored as the Student-Athlete of the Year at Legacy. He will continue his wrestling career at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. “I just want to continue to do the best I can in all aspects of my life,” Deakin said. Deakin also was a standout in several out-of-state competitions: He placed third at the Super 32 Tournament in North Carolina, second at the preseason National Tournament in Iowa, fifth at the High School Nationals in Virginia and fifth in the Ironman Tournament in Ohio. And, Deakin is a three-time Fargo All-American in Freestyle and Greco Roman and a three-time Preseason National All-American and High School Nationals All-American.