Carter Rudish, a youth wrestler from Slippery Rock, is recognized as the winner of a bout while competing for Bad Karma Wrestling Club. Submitted Photo

It began as a chance at redemption for Carter Rudish. It ended with him being recognized as a national champion.

He had been crowned a state champion in three previous years while competing for Slippery Rock Youth Wrestling.

“Those titles came in folkstyle wrestling, but this past March, Carter did not medal in either the Keystone or Pennsylvania Junior tournaments and was crushed,” said Jesse Rudish, Carter’s father. “He’s a kid who always seems to rise to the occasion and hates to lose. He asked if he could join a club and wrestle into the summer.”

Carter joined Bad Karma Wrestling in Grove City and had to learn the nuances of two styles new to him, freestyle and Greco-Roman.

“There are certain things, certain moves that are allowed in folkstyle that aren’t permitted in the other two,” Jesse said. “Basically, the ways you can score points differs between the three styles. It was something Carter had to adjust to.”

He adjusted well enough to win a national title in freestyle and place 4th in Greco-Roman recently at U.S.A. Wrestling’s national event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He competed in the 135-pound bracket.

“I surprised myself by winning in freestyle,” Carter said. “I knew I’d be going up against really good wrestlers. I believe I could’ve done better in Greco-Roman.

“After I started training, it took me about three weeks to get comfortable with the differences.”

In freestyle wrestling, a 10-point lead at any time in the match equals a win by technical fall. Carter achieved such a dominant victory in all three of his freestyle bouts in Iowa with a combined score of 51-16. His 16-5 win in the final came against the same opponent, Mack Harrison of Indiana, who had defeated him by 11 points at the Central Regional tournament.

“At regionals, he kept using the same move on me, but I was ready for it at nationals,” Carter said. “I would say I’m an aggressive wrestler. When I see an opportunity, I go for it.”

Prior to the regional event, Carter placed first in freestyle tournaments in Clarion and Connellsville. He also plays baseball and football, but said that his favorite sport is wrestling.

“I like being on the mat, knowing I’m going up against somebody 1-on-1,” he said.

Mark Steen is owner of Bad Karma Wrestling and he also coached Carter. He sees a bright future for him.

“Carter’s a tough kid who works hard,” said Steen. “I had high expectations for him this year and he’s only going to get better as he gets older.”