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Once 'close to the edge,' Rutgers wrestler now aiming for national title

Related Topics: Richie Lewis, Wrestling

Richie Lewis called nearly every week, begging his father to let him leave this lonely, desolate place and come home. He was 1,175 miles away in the middle of nowhere at Iowa Central Community College to wrestle and get his life in order. But so far it had been a disaster.

Lewis was struggling to make weight even after bumping up a division. He constantly exploded at practice, punching doors and kicking trashcans as he stormed out of the wrestling room. He regularly disregarded directions from his coaches, rarely listening to what anyone had to say.

"I wanted to kill him when he was a freshman," Iowa Central coach Luke Moffitt said.