Sixth-year senior Rader wants to finish career strong

When Brandon Rader arrived on the West Virginia University campus back in 2005, expectations were high ... and for good reason. He was a four-time high school state champ in West Virginia, and a Senior Nationals champ. However, after a strong first two seasons where he earned NCAA All-American honors two years in a row, Rader has battled injuries that took him out of action for three seasons. It is only now in his sixth and final season that the 149-pounder seems to be back in his old form, winning five of six matches in the New Year, most in dominating style.

The pride of Parkersburg

Right from the start, Brandon Rader seemed destined for wrestling success. He was born and raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia, which was named one of the nation's wrestling hotbeds in a 2010 article in WIN (Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine.) According to Rader, the two high schools in the Ohio River city together can claim over 50 West Virginia state team titles.

Brandon Rader

"I got started in wrestling at age 4, in a local rec league," said Rader. "My uncle wrestled in high school, and so did my brother (Steve), who is nine years older than me. I guess that makes it kind of a family thing."

"My brother was the driving force in my being in wrestling. He really took me under his wing, training with me."

"I was lucky that Parkersburg had a strong youth program, the Parkersburg Cougars," Rader continued. "We traveled to Pennsylvania, Ohio, throughout the east, so we were exposed to great competition, and the idea of traveling, even at a young age."

When asked if he enjoyed wrestling even in the early years, Rader responded, "Yes, I picked it up right away, and had some success right from the start."

"The gym was my second home."

"I really enjoyed it. I was fortunate not to have had pressure from my folks."

Brandon becomes a Big Red

Brandon Rader continued his mat career at Parkersburg High School, a school with a rich wrestling history going back to 1922. In 1948, the Big Reds won their first West Virginia state team title, and have claimed twenty additional team titles. Over the years, Parkersburg High can claim 146 individual state champs, 28 high school All-Americans, and ten outstanding wrestlers at the West Virginia state tournament.

Brandon Rader (Photo/WVU Sports Information)

Rader is among the most accomplished PHS mat alums in the 90 years of wrestling at the school. Wrestling for then-head coach Wilbur "Scheny" Schenerlein and his own brother Steve (one of the assistant coaches), Brandon Rader compiled a 161-9 record, winning four West Virginia state titles -- the first grappler from Parkersburg High to achieve that honor. (As Rader explained in the interview, the school only had grades 10-12 until just before he enrolled. Interestingly, in his first state final in ninth grade, he defeated the son of West Virginia head coach Craig Turnbull!)

Rader considered his senior year to be the highlight of his high school career, and it's easy to see why. Not only did he claim his fourth state crown, but, at the 2005 state tournament, he earned Outstanding Wrestler honors, and was named winner of the Robert Dutton Award, presented each year to the best high school wrestler in the state by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

"I have to give my coaches lots of credit," said Rader. "They wanted me to have the best."

"My teammates were great, providing a great team atmosphere," Rader added. "When your teammates win, it helps get you in the right mindset to win."

As a high school senior, Rader accomplished additional great things beyond the borders of the Mountaineer State at national events. The Parkersburg native placed third at the Ironman, and claimed titles at the POWERade Championships and the Beast of the East tournament. Rader capped off that incredible senior year by winning the 135-pound championship at the 2005 National High School Athletic Association's Senior Nationals in Cleveland.

Becoming a Mountaineer

When asked about the process of choosing a college, Brandon Rader was very honest: "I didn't take too many recruiting trips. I wanted to be close to home. I love West Virginia."

Mountaineer head coach Craig Turnbull was thrilled to land Rader. "Senior year in high school, he dominated. He had an incredible intensity and good skill level."

"He was able to start right away and stand on the podium at the NCAAs."

Brandon Rader (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)

Rader got off to a great start at the Morgantown school. In his first year as a West Virginia University wrestler, Rader posted a 30-6 record, with five of those wins by pin. He won the 2006 EWL (Eastern Wrestling League) 141-pound crown. Then, at the 2006 NCAA championships in Oklahoma City, Rader earned All-American honors by placing sixth, becoming the school's first true freshman AA ... and only the fourth native West Virginian to ever become an All-American. (As coach Turnbull pointed out with some pride, at the 2006 NCAAs, Rader pinned UC Davis' Derek Moore, who won the 141-pound title at the national championships the following year.)

Sophomore year was just about as successful for Rader. He put together a 24-4 record for the season, won his second EWL title, and again placed sixth at the NCAAs, becoming only the sixth Mountaineer matman to earn All-American honors more than once. (And, as Turnbull said during the interview for this profile, in the consolation bracket of the 2007 NCAAs, Rader defeated Ohio State's J. Jaggers who went on to win two national titles, in 2008 and 2009.)

Sidelined by injury upon injury

Then, as a junior, Brandon Rader's collegiate career suffered a complete reversal. "He was winning his match vs. Chad Mendes at Cal Poly, and got injured," according to Turnbull. "Doctor said it was an unusual tear of his ACL." That knee injury against the eventual 2008 NCAA 141-pound finalist and future MMA star knocked Rader out of competition for the rest of the 2007-2008 season ... as well as in 2008-2009.

After a nearly two-year layoff, Rader was ready to get back into competition. He wrestled just three matches in the 2009-2010 season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

Brandon Rader's fortunes started to improve last summer. In June 2010, Rader was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA's Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, allowing him to compete this season.

Brandon's back on the mat

Having been granted that additional season of eligibility, Brandon Rader is back in action for his final year as a Mountaineer.

Craig Turnbull

"Since 2008, I've had three surgeries -- a knee reconstruction, and two shoulder surgeries," said Rader. "It's just now that I'm getting back into a competitive rhythm."

It hasn't been easy by any means. "I've gotten pinned more times this season than in my whole career," said Rader.

Coach Turnbull concurred: "It has been more challenging than he anticipated. Strong hurdles to clear."

As of this writing, Rader is 10-7 this season, with a string of four straight losses in December. However, since the beginning of 2011, the sixth-year senior has won five bouts, lost one. All but one of those wins have resulted in bonus points for his team, with two victories by pin, two by major decision, and one by decision. (The one loss: getting pinned by Michigan State's Dan Osterman on Jan. 14.)

"Later in this season, things are getting back into a groove," said Rader.

"For a while, he wasn't competing with confidence he's had in the past," according to Turnbull. "He had to work on faith to get back to where he was."

Brandon Rader (WVU Sports Information)

"Where he is now is a statement about his character and commitment," Turnbull continued. "Think about how many people could come back from three years away from competition and practice. He's chosen to work through these challenges. He took the honorable path."

"It has taken a lot, mentally and physically, to come back ... A lot of adjusting, a building process, but it will help me with life," Rader said. "Overcoming obstacles will help me in the long run."

Rader admits the injuries have changed how he wrestles. "Pre-injury, I was very aggressive," said the sixth-year wrestler. "Since then, I'm not the biggest 149, so I now have to be more patient, more technical. A more complete wrestler."

Despite the setbacks, Brandon Rader has not lost sight of long-standing goal: to become the first native West Virginian to win an NCAA Division I wrestling title.

"He's now wrestling better than he has," said coach Turnbull. "I hope he has a finish that reflects his talent."

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