Ken Ruml, 63, a Howard native and former high school teacher and wrestling coach, earned the chance of a lifetime this past summer, as he traveled to London with the USA wrestling team.
Ruml’s life revolves around wrestling. After giving 35 years to the Howard School District, he decided that wouldn’t be the end of wrestling for him. He began helping with USA Wrestling in whatever capacity he was needed.
His dream of attending an Olympics with the team came true this past Aug. 3-12 as he spent 10 days in London helping out the team as they competed on the biggest and most prestigious world stage.
The USA team ranked well among the world placing third in freestyle behind Russia and Georgia. Individually the US brought home two gold medals in freestyle, a bronze in freestyle and another in women’s freestyle.
Ruml got to take part in and enjoy the behind the scenes work and preparation, the excitement of the matches and the every day stressful world of the Olympics, with little sleep, high anxiety and lots of security, but he says it was  an amazing and rewarding experience fulfilling his dream in London.
Ruml says he will continue to help out with USA wrestling until they no longer need him. He next will attend the pre-season nationals Nov. 4-6 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.