Ryland Wagner graduated from Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Florida in 1997. He finished his high school career as a state runner-up at 152 lbs. and as the school’s all-time winningest wrestler. After enrolling at the University of Florida in 1998, he rearranged his class schedule to begin his coaching career with his high school alma mater. 

 For 30 years, Wagner has been involved with the GHS wrestling program as a wrestler, an assistant coach, head coach, fundraiser, and booster club president. He has worked tirelessly to give back to the program that gave him so much.  

 Wagner was named the Gainesville Sun Coach of the Year four times, awarded “Volunteer of the Year” by the School Board of Alachua County in 2001 for working with the youth wrestling community at the Gainesville Takedown Club, and was given the “Spirit of Gainesville” Award in 2011 for his coaching and community leadership. 

 During his time coaching the GHS wrestling program, he helped coach seven state champions, three state finalists, and 35 state place winners. His teams won seven district titles, three runner-up finishes, four regional titles and three runner-up finishes.   

 As a head coach, Wagner compiled a dual meet record of 203-67-1 and led his team to four top-5 and two top-10 finishes at the state tournament, and, most notably, a state runner-up finish in 2006 where GHS scored 126 points and had seven state place winners, a school record.   

 Wagner has coached nationally ranked wrestlers, NHSCA All-Americans, Fargo All-Americans, a Super 32 placer, a Dave Schultz winner for the state of Florida, several D1 college wrestlers, and Miriam Jenkins, the first female wrestler to win a match at the Boys’ FHSAA State Tournament in 1999.   

 Improving wrestling in North Central Florida has always been Coach Wagner’s goal. In 2011, he started his “Cradle to the Grave” camps to teach fellow coaches the move that served his teams so well over the years and has traveled all over the state and beyond to give his clinics. 

 Family is as important as wrestling to Ryland. He and his spouse, Jami, live in Gainesville, Florida with their daughter, Rowan.