Rutland sophomore with autism says wrestling is bigger than ‘winning or losing’ for him

At the end of each wrestling match, Rutland sophomore Gunner Cummings gets to his feet to hug his opponent regardless of the outcome.

He joined the wrestling team to help shed weight but it has become a tool to help him with his emotions.

“I was born with autism,” Cummings said. “(Wrestling) relieves some stress and relieves some anger.”

Cummings can be found at practice sparring with the team during the week.

Occasionally, he walks to the side to regather himself. It is one of the challenges that he faces as a competitor.

Rutland head wrestling coach Wally Pritchard met Cummings last year.

But the two have had a better chance to bond since Pritchard became the wrestling coach.

“He is a tremendous individual, love him to death,” Pritchard said. “He is actually pretty funny. He does some of the funniest stuff at wrestling practice and in the class. He will have me rolling in laughter some days.”

Cummings has emerged as a leader on the team.

Pritchard said that after matches he goes to check on his teammates to make sure they are OK.

“He is like a big brother figure even though he is only a sophomore,” Pritchard said. “He is leading by example basically just by being himself.”

Cummings competes at heavyweight, one of the toughest classes in wrestling in Georgia. Each practice and match is a chance for him to get better as a competitor. But it is his actions after the match that tends to catch his opponents off guard more than single-leg takedown.

“Whether he wins or losses, he is going to shake his opponent’s hand and give his opponent a hug,” Pritchard said. “I think it shocks them at first but then they realize he is just a really good sport.”

This is something that Cummings takes pride in.

He wants to make sure he showcases good sportsmanship after each match to let his opponents know that he has had fun wrestling against them. And hopes that they have as much fun as he does,

“I have great gamesmanship, I don’t know what it’s called but it’s something like that,” Cummings said. “I don’t really care about me winning or losing. This is about me having fun and I want other people to experience that as well.”

For Pritchard, he is relishing in the opportunity to coach Cummings into becoming a better wrestler.

At practice, you can find Pritchard yelling words of encouragement as he pushes the team to be at its best.

This includes Cummings, who he said sometimes struggles with new holds but continues to have a never-quit attitude that has been infectious for the whole team.

The fact that Cummings has autism is a non-factor in terms of being a part of this group of wrestlers. This is something that Cummings has welcomed.

“I don’t see him as a kid with autism. I see him as one of the wrestlers. He doesn’t want to be treated any differently,” Pritchard said. “They treat him like he is one of us because he is one of us.”

Cummings’ journey as a wrestler who happens to have autism is one that is bigger than wins and losses.

It’s a chance to showcase good sportsmanship, a love for others and is a teaching moment for the other wrestlers and even his coach.

“It teaches me that there is something special that everybody can offer,” Pritchard said. “It is monumental for me to see that.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 12:08 PM.