Ronnie Christolin never imagined Greens Farms Academy would feel like home.
After shining so brightly on the GFA wrestling mat, however, Christolin is now taking his talents to a school that feels similiar to GFA.
As such, Christolin has committed to wrestling for Wesleyan University starting in the fall.
Christolin was one of 12 Dragon student-athletes feted on Wednesday, March 6, during the school’s annual Spring College Commitment ceremony held inside the Coyle Gym. Those 12 coupled with eight Dragons who committed during the National Letter of Intent signing period in the fall brings the school’s total to 20 different GFA athletes playing in college come fall.
“I knew it was going to be a school that was going to challenge me, not only athletically but most importantly academically,” Christolin said. “I knew it was going to be a school that will put me out of my comfort zone, like I felt at GFA when I first came here. It’s a similar almost. I can get one on one intention where I thrive in. I think it’s a place where I can be successful in the future.”
Christolin opted for GFA over a bigger school, and he did the same in college, choosing Wesleyan’s campus over a city school.
“I was deciding between two polar opposites,” he said. “City vs. campus and I went with campus.”
While Christolin might have felt out of his comfort zone upon first arriving at GFA and wrestling for the Dragons, his staying the course paid off both in the classroom and on the wrestling mat, according to wrestling coach Jack Conroy.
“Ronnie’s persistence to me is something that I can’t help but recognize,” Conroy said. “He trusts the process and sticks to the plan and doesn’t let things knock him from it. Wesleyan got a good one and I am confident we will be hearing the name Ronnie Christolin for the next four years.”
GFA changed Christolin’s life. Now he’s hoping Wesleyan can do the same at the next level.