Senior Scott Edwards has not been traveling with Lady Luck during his first three years at Ithaca College. As a matter of fact, his journey is quite the opposite.

It is safe to say that Edwards’ career, which prior to this season was all in the 157-pound class, has been like driving on a heavily commuted freeway with potholes every 50 feet. It has been a rough ride, to say the least.

 

His freshman season was completely wiped out because of a torn labrum of the shoulder. His sophomore season was jagged as he went 9–19 overall. And last year, after going 4–2 in the Ithaca Invitational, the first event of the season, he suffered three herniated disks in his neck, once again ending his season.

However, Edwards, who now wrestles in the 165-pound class, has driven past those obstacles and is on the quest toward a National Championship and All-American status.

“He’s just starting to figure out the technique and the strategies that we’re trying to teach him here, and he’s really applying them,” Head Coach Marty Nichols said. “It’s really helped him out a lot, and his confidence gets better every match.”

Edwards started off the season behind junior John Dale on the 165-pound depth chart. However, Dale hurt his back earlier in the season and since the Dec. 13 dual meet at SUNY-Oswego, the senior tri-captain has secured the top spot.

“Scottie’s been a real nice surprise,” Nichols said. “He’s really improved a lot, and we haven’t missed a beat with him in there. We’re very happy with what he’s doing and expect him to do great things at the conference tournament and the nationals here in the next two events.”

Throughout all of his trials and tribulations, Edwards has proven he is a tough breed of athlete. He has persisted through injuries that could have ended his career and has risen to be a team captain in his senior season.

Edwards’ father, Wayne, said his son’s determination has impressed him and is inspiring to watch as a parent.

“If he was younger and he was still in high school, I would have never signed the authorization form for him to keep going,” he said. “After so many injuries, you say enough is enough, but it was something he really wanted to do, and he fought through it.”

Battling to the top the way Edwards has requires hard work and motivation. Aside from a strong off-season training program, he said his family, including high school sweetheart turned fiancé, is his most important driving force.

“They’ve been behind me 100 percent with nothing but support,” Edwards said. “They’ve always been there at my highs. They’ve always been there to pick me up on my lows, and it’s not just my parents. ... I’m very close with my whole family, and that’s the most important thing in my life.”

Wayne Edwards said he has provided constant support for his son, especially when he was upset about not being able to wrestle.

“We tried to be with him all the way through it, from his surgeries through his rehab,” he said. “Just when he needed somebody to talk to when he was down. He went through some real tough times with his rehab. … So there were times where he just wanted to call and talk, and sometimes it was just a matter of being there for him.”

This attitude and mentality has been inspirational to Edwards’ teammates. It is part of the reason why they voted him the lone team captain as a junior last season, even though the team had a senior transfer student.

Though he has sat out for a large portion of his career, his style of wrestling can be compared to the approach of a crafty veteran.

While Edwards does occasionally break out the offensive moves, he considers himself a “defensive wrestler.” This means he is methodical and waits for his opponent to make a mistake. This makes it particularly challenging to score against him.

That strategy has paid off this season as he is 15–9 overall and 9–3 in dual meets, with two technical falls and one major decision.

Tri-captain Jon Gregory calls Edwards the glue that keeps the team together and said he is the team’s father figure.

“If anybody has a problem, they always go to Scott first,” he said. “His leadership skills are displayed every day.”

Gregory had been able to relate to Edwards this season as the 125-pound All-American junior is going through a similar ordeal to what Edwards went through last year.

Gregory has three herniated disks, just like Edwards had in his junior year. Gregory said his teammate has been there for him while he tries to battle back from the injury.

“He’s been particularly helpful with me, helping me get through my injury because he knows what it’s like,” Gregory said.

Without Edwards next season, Gregory said there will be a major hole for the team to fill. Though he has one year of eligibility left because he red-shirted freshman year, financial reasons and graduation in May mean this will be Edwards’ last year wrestling in Ithaca’s blue and gold.

“There’s definitely going to be a void,” Gregory said. “You can’t really replace a Scott Edwards. He’s so experienced. He’s been around the block.”