Ed Rusher didn’t set out to be a head wrestling coach in the small, southeastern Colorado town of Ordway. But he definitely knew a thing or two about the sport, and when the time came for this son, Jeff, to enter the youth ranks, there was a void that needed filling.

“At that point, Crowley County’s wrestling program wasn’t very good, and I told the school as much,” Rusher said. “They basically said, ‘Put your money where your mouth is,’ and told me to take over. So, I did.”

Fortunately, Rusher had a lifetime of experience as a wrestler, an official, and a student of the late Rocky Ford wrestling coaching legend, Allen Cutsforth. As a product of a small farming community in the Arkansas Valley, he and his brother, Bill, both earned scholarships to the big-time program at the University of Colorado. The Rushers started wrestling in junior high, simply because everyone else was wrestling – and frankly, because they were bad at basketball.

“There’s always going to be someone to push you, and my brother pushed me hard. We really went after each other, and we always had each other’s back,” Rusher said. “Two kids from Ordway, both in the starting line-up (at CU), I always thought that was pretty cool.” It’s possible that none of that would have happened if it weren’t for the tutelage of Cutsforth and longtime coach Charlie White, who were helping to build a powerhouse in the neighboring community of Rocky Ford.

“I spent a lot of time at Rocky Ford, and I owe Allen (Cutsforth) a lot,” Rusher said. “He welcomed us with open arms, and he still coached us even into the high school season.”

Then, Rusher laughs as he reminisces.

“Obviously not when I wrestled a Rocky Ford kid, because he loved that Red and Gold. But he taught me to love the sport, I would say. That’s the biggest thing he gave me. Part of it was his calmness; win or lose, he was always steady, I guess that’s the word.”

Since first taking the head job at Crowley County in 1988, Rusher has had multiple stents and worn multiple hats while also running the family ranching business for more than 40 years. He helped to start the Crowley County Wrestling Club to raise money to build the program and ultimately has helped guide more than 20 state champions and over 80 state placers – including Torben Walters.

But of course, behind every successful coach is the coach’s wife. And if it were up to Coach Rusher, it would be his partner, Judy, who would be getting all the accolades.

“I farm and ranch, and in the summertime, there were times that she would load up the van and take kids to freestyle tournaments and sit in the corner,” Rusher said. “We’ve had different kids live with us for a time. If it was best for the kids, she was all for it. The amount of burritos she rolled, the uniforms she wore, jut the support she gave to me…I couldn’t have made it without her.”

(Presenter-Phil Grasmick)