“I remember laying on my back and all I could do was blink. Nobody knew what to do.” 

That’s how Ian Malesiewski remembers the fateful moment that changed everything. 

As a freshman in 2015, Malsiewski finished third in Greco and second in freestyle at the prestigious 16U Nationals. Interest from top wrestling programs surged following a memorable performance in Fargo, North Dakota. 

High school teammate Carter Staorocci, a three-time NCAA champion for Penn State, saw greatness as he trained alongside Malesiewski. 

“He had the potential to be an NCAA champ,” Starocci said. “Ian never backed down but he was a kid who had a huge heart.” 

The 16-year-old Malesiewski entered the 2016 Cadet World Team Trials in Akron, Ohio, as a sophomore and was a takedown away from a technical superiority in his opening match — then his life altered forever. 

“I remember everything,” Malesieski said. “I remember tying up with him. I remember going for a throw and both of our body weights came right down onto my forehead. That was 400 pounds of body weight — not even including our force.”

The entire tournament stopped as Malesiewski was taken out of the venue to the nearest hospital. Doctors said his neck was so shattered that it looked like someone stepped on a potato chip. 

“No Sad Stories: Ian Malsiewski” is the third installment of FloWrestling’s series about wrestlers who have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Viewers will learn about the unyielding support Malsiewski received from his family and how wrestling gave him the strength to carry on. 

“Wrestling has made every roadblock in life a lot easier,” Malsiewski said.

“No Sad Stories: Ian Malsiewski” debuts on Wednesday, June 28 on FloWrestling.