KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State senior wrestler Ryan Patterson was named the MIAA SAAC Student-Athlete Mentor of the Year for 2025-26. This is the first edition of this award from the conference office. This award is given to a student-athlete in the MIAA who has had a profound impact on the lives of student-athletes on their campus during the year or throughout their career.
 
Patterson has been an outstanding teammate on the men's wrestling team, demonstrating strong leadership skills during his two years as a team captain. Beyond competition, he fostered unity and connection among teammates by organizing and leading Bible studies, creating meaningful opportunities for team bonding.
 
A management major at Fort Hays State, Patterson is a strong advocate for all student-athletes at FHSU. He attends athletic events whenever his schedule allows and actively encourages others to participate in showing support. His positive presence and involvement make him a recognizable and respected leader within the FHSU Athletics community.
 
Patterson's commitment to supporting others extended beyond the team, consistently volunteering his time to assist members of the FHSU and Hays community when help was needed. He leads by example, regularly mentoring and encouraging others through both his actions and character.

Patterson competed for the men's wrestling team for four years, accumulating 52 wins overall in that time. He enjoyed his best season on the mat in 2025-26, producing a 20-10 overall record, while placing in two tournaments.