Knox College Athletics

Jaran Rutledge, Class of 2008, was a four-year letter winner in both wrestling and football. He was the Knox wrestling program’s all-time leader, with 116 career wins and a multiple tournament champion throughout his career. Frank McAndrew, who was the assistant coach during Jaran’s tenure at Knox, said, “Without question, Jaran is the most accomplished wrestler in the 67-year history of Knox College wrestling.”

As a sophomore in 2006, Jaran took third place as a heavyweight in the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional tournament, and was the alternate qualifier for the NCAA Division III championships.

In 2007, he was the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional heavyweight champion and went on to take third place in the NCAA Division III championships. Jaran was the first Knox wrestler to compete in the NCAA Division III championships in 27 years, and the first Knox wrestler to be named an All-American as a junior.
He was a five-time Knox College Prairie Fire Performer of the Week, finished with a 36-5 record, and won individual titles at the Central College Invitational and the Northern Wrestling Association Tournament to go along with his regional championship.

Jaran was the top-ranked heavyweight wrestler in the 2007-08 NWCA Division III preseason poll. As a senior in 2008, he was the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional runner-up in the heavyweight division, qualifying for the national tournament for a second straight year. Jaran placed eighth in the NCAA Division III heavyweight championships, and earned All-American status for the second consecutive year.

His football career is almost equally impressive. Andy Gibbons, head football coach during Jaran Rutledge’s career, said, “Jaran was no doubt one of the best, if not the best, wrestlers in Knox’s history, but he also had an excellent football career.  His senior year was one the best years I can remember anyone having at defensive tackle. In fact, an opposing coach told me that season that Jaran was the most difficult defensive tackle to block in the entire conference.” As a defensive lineman, Jaran was named to the All-Midwest Conference second team his senior season in 2007.

Jaran won the Harley Knosher Male Athlete of the Year award in 2007 and 2008, the Cleaveland Bridgman Award in 2007 and 2008, and the Hilding Prize in 2008.