by Dan Ninham, Contributing Writer
Ryker Loki Schingeck is a member of the Forest County Potawatomi. He was a member of Team Wisconsin that won the North American Indigenous Games ’23 team championship and gold medal in wrestling. Schingeck is going into the eighth grade at Wabeno Middle School in Wisconsin.
Schingeck is still looking to be inspired by others as an athlete. “I just like to play and be active in sports,” he said. “Wrestling will always be my main sport but I also like being part of the football team and basketball team.”
Some of Schingeck’s top athletic accomplishments is being a three-time folk-style state qualifier. “I took third place at Greco-Roman State. I’m a silver medalist at NAIG’23. My academic accomplishments are being a high honors student with a 3.9 GPA.”
“My indigenous core values make me always give the best that I can at 100%,” said Schingeck. “I always want to be the best sportsman and honored participant. Even at practice it helps me push through to make me better.”
All NAIG’23 athletes represented their respective tribes and teams. “It meant a lot to me being able to represent the Forest County Potawatomi and Team Wisconsin,” said Schingeck. “To be able to show what tribe I am and where I am from on an international level. I also represent the Wabeno-Laona Rebels wrestling team. I’m very proud to be part of such great teams and a tribe that supports its athletes.”
“Coaches Nicholas Metoxen and Rashawn Bell helped me on what to expect at the NAIG and supported me through all of the wrestling matches,” said Schingeck. “They always gave me great advice on what to watch out for and what to correct. I hope I have them in my corner again in the next Indigenous Games.”
“I coached Ryker for NAIG’23 where he was one of five wrestlers who brought home a silver medal for Team Wisconsin,” said Coach Nicolas Metoxen. “Ryker was the youngest member of Team Wisconsin, being an 8th grader in U19 competition. His experience and maturity really set him apart from the competition. He didn’t let his age affect his confidence, and wrestled great, setting a pace a wrestler of any age should strive for.”
Rashawn Bell was the assistant wrestling coach of Team Wisconsin for NAIG’23. He talked about one of his athletes on the team and said, “Ryker was a very quiet kid and the lightest weight of our team. It took me by surprise to find out he was only 13 years old and still keeping up with all of his other teammates. Did what was expected of him and beyond during his time with team Wisconsin.”
“Competition-wise he made quick work of the other kids making his way to a chance at a gold medal. The grit and determination wrestling kids older than him in a totally different style of wrestling was astonishing. Although he fell just short of the gold medal he was definitely a champion on that mat and determined to return to finish what he started next games,” added Coach Bell.
Photo: Angie Smith
Congratulations young man! A great athlete and a scholar as well!