Ryan Ellis Ferris Year: Senior Sport: Wrestling Weight: 119 Pounds

An upset loss last Wednesday gave way to a weekend tournament triumph for Ferris wrestler Ryan Ellis.

Ellis, unbeaten at the time in the Greater Spokane League, was shocked in overtime by University’s Curtis Bash.

Three days later at the Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula, Ellis won the 119-pound title by beating two of the three Montana state champions in the field.

“Coach told me it was a tough weight class,” said Ellis. “I knew I beat one state champ but didn’t know I beat two of them.”

Ellis, whose overall record is now 20-7, said the loss to Bash motivated him to show what he could do.

But it was a victory the prior week that was the turnaround.

“What helped him to believe in himself was when he beat John Reese,” said his coach, Tim Owen.

Ellis defeated the Central Valley state placer and Tri-State champion in their league meeting.

“He had beaten me bad (16-6) in districts last year,” said Ellis. “I thought I would wrestle him in the finals at Tri-State and it didn’t work out. I was pretty pumped up.”

Now Ellis believes he can be a top-three state finisher after helping the tournament-tough Saxons to second place at the Rocky Mountain Classic.

“He’s having a fantastic year,” said his coach.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo