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Upper Iowa Peacocks

Upper Iowa University Athletics Hall of Fame

Ryan Birt

  • Class
    2000
  • Induction
    2010
  • Sport(s)
Ryan Birt is being inducted into the Upper Iowa University Athletics Hall of Fame as an Athlete. He was a three-year letter winner in both wrestling and football during his career with the Peacocks. Birt’s wrestling career was full of major accomplishments. He placed second in the nation in 1997 at 177 pounds and qualified for the national championships in 1998. He posted a 39-0 record, earned the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Championship, was named the IIAC’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, and claimed NCAA Division III All-American status as a National Champion. Birt, a two time NCAA All-American in 1997 and 1999, had a remarkable career at UIU.

He was a three-year starter as a middle linebacker for the UIU football team, starting 30 consecutive games at the position. A two-year team captain, he capped off his Upper Iowa football career being named to the All-IIAC First Team in 1999 as a linebacker. Birt played football under Coach Paul Rudolph and wrestled under the late Coach Mike McCready.

Birt started his teaching/coaching career in Forest City, Iowa in 2000. In 2002, he moved to Gibson City, Illinois as the Head Wrestling Coach and compiled more than 150 dual meet wins in nine years with three regional championship teams. The 2010 team placed second at the Illinois State Tournament. In his seven-year career at Gibson City, the team had 20 state qualifiers, 11 place winners, and 2 state champions.

Ryan and his wife Megan, a 2000 Upper Iowa graduate, live in Epworth, Iowa. They are the parents of Stephan, Tristan, Bradan, and Madison.

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