Written by Tim Gallagher, BVU Assistant Director of Communications

STORM LAKE, Iowa (February 5, 2021) - Garret Bruce admits the learning curve ran steep one year ago, his freshman season on the mat for Buena Vista University’s wrestling team. The 2019 East Sac County High School graduate went 4-10 overall, registering a single victory in American Rivers Conference action.

Bruce, BVU’s 165-pounder, doubled that league total in the first action of the year on Jan. 23 in an American Rivers Conference double-dual at Nebraska-Wesleyan, pinning Derek Wortman of the host Prairie Wolves in 4:27, part of a day in which the team jumped out to a 2-0 start on the season.

His league victory total doubled again last weekend as he notched a pair of victories when the Beavers hosted Loras College and Luther College at Siebens Fieldhouse. Bruce trailed 5-2 entering the third period against Loras’ Matt Connolly, then earned a takedown and a four-point near fall late in the period to hang on for a thrilling 8-6 triumph. 

Later, against Luther’s Kamden Goering, Bruce bolted to a 6-0 lead after hip-tossing Goering to his back. He added an escape and a takedown in the second period on his way to a 9-0 major decision.

“Garret is doing the little things on a consistent basis; things like staying after practice to get a little more work in, and he’s seeing the results,” says BVU Wrestling Coach Mark Rial. “He’s doing the extra things necessary to make improvements and is doing a wonderful job in class, too.”

Bruce began wrestling on the club level for Sean White, BVU Assistant Wrestling Coach, as a high school student-athlete. White and Rial have combined to help Bruce hone his technique the mat as well as his focus when not in the wrestling room.

“I’m eating and drinking right and taking care of myself during the week,” Bruce says. “When it comes time for competition, I’m more confident. It helps that we work hard in practice. I’m pushed every day by Floyd Miller (a sophomore at 174 pounds). Floyd gets after it in the wrestling room, which is good for me.”

As Rial notes, Bruce stays after things in the classroom as well. The business finance and management major thoroughly enjoyed Business Ethics taught by Gary Sterling, BVU Instructor of Management, in the Fall Semester. He’s already started focusing on his junior year, one that promises an internship experience.

“I like the fact it’s easy to access resources at BVU,” Bruce says. “I know my professors and they know me. I also know nearly every one of my classmates, so it’s very easy to reach out to people anytime you need some help in a class.”

Bruce meets the scheduling demands in-season by entering a “To Do” list on his phone every morning. He checks it throughout the day, crossing off assignments, practice duties and more as each one is complete.

What did he have written for Saturday?

“Just wrestling,” he says with a smile hinting at a two-win performance he was thankful his parents, Sammie and Donnie Bruce, were able to witness in person, a fact some didn’t think would be probable—or possible—in the weeks leading up to a season delayed by the persistence of COVID-19.

“Coach Rial told us at practice on Friday that we need to be grateful for the opportunity to wrestle and represent BVU on the mat this year,” Bruce says. “I took that mentality into our matches on Saturday. I’m grateful to be here and to be able to do my best.”

Bruce and the Beavers, now 2-2 on the season and ARC competition, return to action on Saturday as they face Wartburg and Central in an American Rivers Conference double-dual at Levick Arena in Waverly. Action begins at 1 p.m. and can be seen at bvu.edu/athletics.