Posted Dec 23, 2010
Dec. 16–Ryan Yates is a typical high school athlete on the outside.
He likes to practice and play hard, and he enjoys spending time with friends.
On the inside, the Dickinson High senior wrestler has gone through quite a battle.
Yates was diagnosed with celiac disease that caused him to miss the 2009 high school football season.
“I was tired and couldn’t do much, really,” Yates said. “I had to lay low.”
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack the small intestine. Eating certain foods with gluten, a protein found in most bread and cereals, can aggravate the condition. Typical symptoms of celiac disease are abdominal pain, diarrhea and fatigue.
He had to get used to a new diet and the get back into shape for the wrestling season.
It wasn’t an easy road back.
“I was out of shape,” Yates said. “It took hard work. It was tougher than for those who played football.”
But Yates fought through the season and placed fifth at the Class A state wrestling tournament in February in Fargo.
“It felt like all of that hard work paid off,” Yates said.
Yates found out he had celiac disease after having an allergic reaction to some food he ate during a family reunion last year.
After visits to a specialist, Yates diagnoses was confirmed.
Gone are the days of chowing down on hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. Yates doesn’t have to completely abstain from those foods, though.
“I have to watch what I eat,” Yates said. “If I eat more than I’m supposed to, I’ll get sick.”
It complicates eating habits on road trips where the typical meal for the wrestling team is a sandwich.
“But I can eat more meat without any bread. ”
For him, it’s about self control.
“I can’t go hog wild,” Yates said.
With the Dickinson Classic tournament coming up this Friday and Saturday at Dickinson High School, Yates hopes to continue a strong season.
“It will be my last tournament in Dickinson and I want to win it,” Yates said.
He’s 8-2 so far this season and is ranked third in the Class A coaches’ poll in his weight class.
“Last year, he had a good year going into state and had a good finish,” Dickinson head coach Cody Wolf said. “This year, I think he’ll carry it into some of the big tournaments.”
The ultimate goal is to hoist a state championship trophy Feb. 19 at the Fargodome. Yates admits it won’t come easy.
“I want a state title, but I have to keep working hard at it,” Yates said.
Editor’s note: The only treatment for celiac disease is a completely gluten-free diet. Breads that are gluten free may be eaten.
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Copyright © 2010, The Dickinson Press, N.D.