MILWAUKEE, WI — Nathan Schuman’s freshman season as a member of the Honesdale varsity wrestling team was nothing short of electrifying.
Small in stature but possessing of a huge heart and elite skill set, Schuman piled up 45 wins en route to gold medals at both the district and regional tournaments.
The Hornets’ talented 107-pounder also made his first trip to the PIAA State Championships where he gained valuable experience and laid the groundwork for future success.
In the wake of these achievements, Schuman’s performance attracted the attention of coaches across the Commonwealth. And by mid-spring, he’d been selected to represent Pennsylvania at national events in Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling.
Over the course of the past two weeks, Schuman helped his team to a fourth place finish at the 16U National Duals. He then posted a 7-0 record during the freestyle portion of the Junior National Duals, leading PA to its first-ever championship.
“Nathan Schuman is our 100-pounder and he’s a stud,” said PA skipper Michael Kemerer. “He’s just been tearing things up this last week. Nathan is fun to coach and you’re going to be hearing a lot about him in the future.”
For his part, Schuman believes it was an epic adventure he won’t forget anytime soon.
“Wrestling for Pennsylvania was a great experience,” he said. “I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to wrestle with the team and to travel the country competing at tournaments.”
National duals dominance
Nathan Schuman first became involved in organized wrestling at the age of four and it’s been his sole athletic focus ever since.
On the heels of a dazzling junior high showing, he embarked on a much-anticipated varsity career this past winter. Schuman didn’t disappoint, posting a 45-6 record with 25 pins and 10 tech falls.
After the season ended, he transitioned seamlessly into club and travel team action. His latest mat adventure began two weeks ago when he trekked to Utah with PA Red for the 16U National Freestyle and Greco Roman Team Duals.
There, Schuman powered his way to a 6-1 record as the Keystone State grapplers notched a fourth place finish in the final team standings.
“The best memory from Utah is probably hanging out with the same coaches that I was with from the Utah trip last year,” Schuman said.
From Ogden, Schuman and his teammates traveled directly to Milwaukee to compete in the Air Force Special Warfare Junior Nationals where he posted an eye-popping 11-0 record.
Schuman put on a show for the PA fans, posting a 7-0 mark in freestyle bouts and leading his team to its first ever national title. For his efforts, Schuman was named to the All-Tournament Team.
“The best memory from Wisconsin is definitely winning the freestyle title with a bunch of the guys that got second in freestyle last year in Utah,” he said.
Over the course of Schuman’s two week adventure, he authored an overall record of 17-1.
“I’m pretty happy with how I wrestled,” Schuman said. “I think I did a really good job of always attacking and constantly scoring points. I need to work on my footwork and setting up and not forcing things.”
The sky’s the limit
Ryan Chulada has been Honesdale’s varsity coach for the past two decades.
His father, PA Wrestling Hall of Famer Rich Chulada, held that title for more than 30 years. Between the two, they share a half-century of experience and institutional knowledge.
So, when Ryan compares Schuman to the greatest wrestlers in program history, he knows whereof he speaks — and at the moment he’s speaking about former PIAA state champion Josh Arnone.
“Nathan will undoubtedly go down as one of the best kids we’ve ever had here,” the younger Chulada said. “He’s good enough to be a three-time state medalist just like Josh. Nathan has the same potential and is laser-focused on those goals.”
If Schuman maintains the pace he set as a frosh, he’ll make a serious run at 200 career wins and shatter Honesdale’s all-time mark.
“Nathan is technically sound in all positions,” Chulada said. “The x-factor for him, though, is his confidence and mindset. He truly checks all the boxes for what makes an elite competitor.”
Schuman’s busy summer schedule continues next month when he travels to North Dakota for the 2025 Freestyle National Tournament. The event is slated for July 19-20 at the Fargo Dome.
“After that, my focus will be on getting ready for the high school season and beyond,” Schuman said.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale wrestling Nathan Schuman PA Red Greco-Roman freestyle tournament
