'I just find a lot of joy in it': Wisconsin's Bryce Ruland poised to take discus world by storm

 

WATERFORD, Wis. (CBS 58) — Dating back to 776 B.C., the first Olympic games included the event of discus throwing, where athletes attempt to throw a weight the farthest distance.

Now, the track and field sport is gaining popularity in Wisconsin, and one young man from Racine County is making an international impression.

"I really love competing. I just find a lot of joy in it," said 18-year-old Bryce Ruland. "I don't know, I just thought it was fun throwing stuff kind of far,"

The Waterford High School graduate holds the Wisconsin discus throw record, throwing the 1.6-kilogram disc 212 feet and one inch.

"When I first started, I didn't think it'd take me this far," Ruland said.

Bryce started throwing in middle school, continuing a family sport played by his sister and his dad.

"The first year out, I think he was throwing that 1k discus about 110 feet, 115 feet, something like that," said his dad, Mike Ruland. "Most of the kids back then were throwing 55, 60 feet."

Bryce's dad started coaching him in throwing and powerlifting.

"I really got into teaching myself the sport better, kind of getting techniques down a little bit more," Mike Ruland said.

"I feel like it definitely helped a lot, because he grew as a coach as I grew as an athlete, and we just worked really well together," Bryce explained.

At his first meet in freshman year of high school, Bryce tied the school record.

"He comes out and he throws 150 his first time out," Mike said. "Just to see the look of the juniors and seniors that are struggling to throw 120, 130 - a lot of people were like 'oh my gosh, what's going on here.'"

This August, Bryce went to Peru to throw in the U-20 World Championship.

"I was going in there seventeen, two years younger than most the people there. I was just like, are we happy making finals? Are we going to try to go for that medal?" Bryce said. "It was just kind of, let's just try to have fun and see what happens."

He had an incredible showing and went home with the gold.

"Definitely coming away with a win was just, it was amazing," Bryce said.

"It really kind of gets me when we talk about his world championship," Mike said. "For me and our family, sports have always been about a life lesson. It's really not about the sport."

Bryce was recruited by University of Iowa, where he's throwing for the next four years.

"Iowa really felt like home. Like, the group of throwers there are all great people, great coach, and it's nice and close to home too," Bryce explained.

"It's hard to be on the sidelines, but it's also really neat to see how much Bryce has grown in the few months he's been there," said his dad. "He's way stronger now than he was when he left."

His next big target: the Olympics.

"2028 is definitely a goal to be there, but I just want to work and see where it could take me," Bryce said.

He has time to put in the work. Olympic discus throwers often peak in their late twenties.

"He's at the strength level now to do it. It's really about the technique," Mike said. "I think the potential is there, I really do. I mean that's four years from now."

For now, Bryce is practicing at least five days a week, with year-round meets.

"In that ring at competition, you got to think about only one thing, cause if you think about more than that, you're just kind of destined for failure trying to do all that at once," Bryce said. "You've just got to let it go, and let it happen, trust the work that you put in."

In and out of the ring, he is quiet, reserved, and focused.

"He's a gentle giant, you know. You don't see a lot of aggressive behavior in him because it's more of an inner fire," Mike said.

Bryce's passion shows discus isn't just about strength, it's about discipline.

"Things paying off, it definitely feels a lot better knowing it was the work that I put into it," he said.