A Mountie Family Affair: The Redford Siblings
With COVID-19 putting live sporting events on hold, the Cascade Collegiate Conference wanted to take the time to highlight families within our #ThisIsTheCCC community. Many of our member institutions have administration, coaches and student-athletes family members competing together, making the CCC truly a family affair.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University’s Redford siblings have a lot in common. They’re both wrestlers, they’re both sophomores and they’re both champions.
Ryan Redford wrestles in the 184-pound weight class for the Mountie men, while his sister Erin is a 143-pound grappler on the women’s team. They both won State Championships at White River High School in Buckley, Wash. They’re not twins – Erin is older by one year and 17 days – but they are super close.
“I love having someone to constantly talk to about school, life, wrestling or whatever is stressing me out whenever I need,” said Erin Redford, an integrated studies major who wants to get into the house flipping business with her family. “He always knows exactly what’s going on in my world.”
It helps they are both collegiate athletes in the same sport at the same school, but it was not always going to be that way. Erin started her collegiate career at Oklahoma City University before transferring to EOU prior to the 2019-20 season.
“I always knew I was going to be a collegiate athlete,” said Erin. “I didn’t plan on going to the same school as my brother, but after coming home from Oklahoma City University, I knew that going to a school closer to home and with my family was the right option for me.”
It was the right option for both Redfords. This year, both Ryan and Erin qualified for the NAIA national championships, after Ryan took third at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship, presented by U.S. Bank. He finished at nationals with a 2-2 record after the first day.
Erin was named the sixth seed for the NAIA Women's Wrestling National Invitational, but unfortunately due to COVID-19 was unable to compete. She did pick up All-American honors earlier in the season, however, taking fifth at the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association Championship.
While both Ryan and Erin’s seasons might not have ended how they wanted, the two still have more chances in their future to win another title. Plus, they have a workout partner to push each other while they can’t be with their respective teams.
“It has been an absolute blessing growing up with a brother so close to my age,” said Erin. “It gave me a reliable training partner and support system and made competing at the next level that much more exciting.”