With nowhere to go after redshirting at Cal State Fullerton and the school being forced to cancel its program, former University High wrestling standout Ryan Zumwalt returned to the one place that felt right.

Zumwalt, a freshman, was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the recent Region 18 tournament in Yakima, winning the 157-pound title and helping North Idaho College to a second-place finish. Most importantly, Zumwalt and nine of his teammates will travel to Rochester, Minn., later this week to compete in the NJCAA tournament, running Friday and Saturday.

Coming out of high school, Zumwalt looked into a variety of different programs at different levels, but eventually settled on the Titans and coach Dan Hicks.

"I was looking at a lot of different places, but it seemed like a good fit," Zumwalt said. "Coach Dan Hicks was a really good guy. That and free tuition and books, it just seemed like the right thing to do."

Cal State Fullerton's program was self-funded in the 2010-11 season and as a result, had to raise its own money to keep the program going.

"The coach did everything he could, but they had to cut the program," Zumwalt said.

The wrestling team had raised enough money, but the women's gymnastics team didn't, and as a result both programs were cut for Title IX purposes.

"We finished out the season that April," Zumwalt said. "By the time I had found out, all the other Division 1 schools had given out their (scholarship) money."

Through competing for University High in Spokane at the annual Tri-State tournament at North Idaho College, Zumwalt knew NIC coach Pat Whitcomb. Zumwalt also attended team camps at NIC along with his U-High teammates. Zumwalt called Whitcomb.

"I probably saw him more than most recruits," Whitcomb said. "Just knowing him early on made a big difference. He's a 4.0 student and was a good fit to come back. It was an unfortunate situation at Fullerton, but we were able to get him and have him be an immediate impact. He's smart, works hard and handles himself well on the mat. You can definitely make a living with a kid like him."

"I knew Pat through Tri-State," Zumwalt said. "I knew NIC was at the top of junior colleges so I called him and it just seemed like the right time to come here."

After arriving at NIC, Zumwalt was reunited with high school teammate Jake Mason, who wrestled as a true freshman at NIC last year.

"He was my training partner for four years in high school," Zumwalt said. "We've always made each other better. I knew he'd get me ready for this season."

Mason is redshirting this season.

"I really wasn't expecting him to redshirt this season," Zumwalt said. "He would have been helpful in some of these duals. We'll see what happens next year."

Zumwalt enters the NJCAA tournament ranked second in the nation at 157.

"The finals matches (at nationals) are just as important as the first and second round," Zumwalt said. "I need to work on cleaning up my shots and focusing on the next match. I really appreciate the opportunity to win a title for coach Whitcomb. Hopefully we can have enough success at nationals to bring a team title home for him."

Zumwalt doesn't listen to music before matches; instead, he chooses to pray.

"I used to listen to music, but when I'd take off my earphones, it made it hard to wrestle," said Zumwalt, who said listening to music caused him to get too pumped up and caused him to lose focus on the match. "Now I just say a prayer and do my best and hope that would be enough."

"He's got all the ingredients to be a good role model for this team," Whitcomb said. "We're really lucky to have him."

"It's been really cool," Zumwalt said. "Everyone gets along really well, almost like a family. Pat is one of my favorite coaches, because he knows when to have fun and when to get serious. He's really pushed me to become a better athlete."

Zumwalt has a goal to become a pharmacist after graduation and possibly study at either Cal Poly or Stanford. He said he plans to return to a four-year school next year.

"I've always been talking to those schools," said Zumwalt, who also has interest from Cumberland University in Tennessee and Dickinson State in North Dakota.

Zumwalt, who achieved a 4.0 grade point average for the fall semester, also made the dean's list.

If he were to chose between a national title or becoming a pharmacist - Zumwalt said that they'd feel the same.

"I treat my schoolwork like wrestling," Zumwalt said. "It would be awesome to do both and keep my grades up at the same time."