Class of 2025

Ryan Cumbee,

Providence Catholic/Northwestern University/Joliet Catholic Academy

Wrestler/Coach

Ryan Cumbee competed at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox from 1995-1999 for coach Keith Healy, a 2006 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee. He went 168-22 during his career and placed three times at the IHSA Individual Tournament Finals, taking first place in Class AA at 135 pounds in 1999, fourth place at 125 pounds in 1998 and third place at 112 pounds in 1997.

He was also a member of three-straight Celtics teams that won IHSA Class AA Dual Team Championships in 1997, 1998 and 1999 after finishing in third place in 1996. During those four seasons, Providence Catholic went 108-10-1 in dual meets. That was the start of an historic streak in which the program captured six-straight IHSA Class AA championships. Ryan was a two-time team MVP and a two-time team captain. As a senior, he was selected as the Chicago Tribune’s Athletes of the Month in February, 1999. He also won multiple Illinois Freestyle titles.

Ryan then went on to compete at Northwestern University in Evanston for coach Tim Cysewski, a 1991 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee. He went 29-15 as a Wildcat and served as a team captain and led his team in pins, wins and takedowns. He graduated from Northwestern in 2003 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Communication.

After college, Ryan returned to Providence Catholic to serve as an assistant coach for Keith Healy from 2002-2011, and during that time the Celtics placed second in Class AA in the IHSA Dual Team Finals in 2003, 2004 and 2008. During those seasons, the Celtics went 202-24-1.

Ryan began his head coaching career at Marmion Academy in Aurora where his Cadets went 25-4 in 2012-13 and lost 38-17 to Carl Sandburg in the Class 3A title meet at the Dual Team Finals. In 2013-14, Marmion went 15-4 and placed third in Class 3A. In 2014-15, The Cadets were 16-3 and lost in the 3A quarterfinals. He had a 56-11 record in three seasons at Marmion.

In 2017-18, Ryan took over as head coach at Joliet Catholic Academy and by his third year, he led the Hilltoppers to their first regional title and from 2021-22 through this season, the program has made four-straight appearances in the IHSA Dual Team Finals. His 2021-22 team posted a 17-1 record and beat Deerfield 39-33 to win the IHSA Class 2A title. He was selected as the IWCOA Class 2A Coach of the Year in 2022.

In 2022-23, Ryan’s Hilltoppers went 15-8 and were edged by Washington 28-27 in the Class 2A title meet. His 2023-24 team had a 14-4 record and lost in the Class 3A quarterfinals. And his 2024-25 team went 10-11 and took third place in Class 3A. He has a 96-52 record in seven seasons at JCA and a 152-63 overall record in 10 seasons.

During his career, Ryan has coached 70 state qualifiers, 45 place winners and 17 champions. He also coached Team Illinois at the Illinois-Indiana All-Star Duals that JCA hosted in 2025 and is the owner and head coach of the youth wrestling program, Callan Wrestling Academy.