ITHACA, N.Y. — For Simon Ruiz, wrestling wasn't the original plan.

Growing up in Morristown, New Jersey, he was immersed in mixed martial arts. MMA was his first sport — fast, physical, technical, and the perfect fix for a young kid to burn off energy. But it didn't take too long before family friends suggested he try wrestling to sharpen his skills.

Only in elementary school at the time, he stepped onto a wrestling mat... and it clicked.

"I just loved it," Ruiz says. "It was fun. It never felt forced."

That feeling — freedom instead of pressure — defined his early development. His parents, Robert and Caroline, were unwaveringly supportive. They never pushed too hard. They never made results the center of the conversation.

Their only rule?

"Don't cry if you lose."

It sounds simple. Almost funny. But for Ruiz, it removed fear from competition. Losing wasn't catastrophic. It was feedback. It was growth. And most importantly, wrestling stayed fun.

That same grounded foundation carried him to Delbarton School, one of the nation's premier high school wrestling programs. There, Ruiz became a two-time NJSIAA state champion while balancing the demands of an elite academic institution.

When it came time to choose a college, the blueprint was clear.

"I knew I wanted somewhere I could succeed both in wrestling and academically," he says.

That balance led him to Cornell University, where he now studies Applied Economics and Management in the Dyson School at the SC Johnson College of Business.

"It's definitely time-consuming," he says. "But I get things done. And I think that's the most important thing."

Getting things done has become something of a habit.

As a freshman, Ruiz stormed through his first collegiate season at 174 pounds, finishing 27-7, capturing the Ivy League title, earning First Team All-Ivy honors and being named Ivy League Rookie of the Year. At the NCAA Championships, he went 5-2 to place fifth and secure his first All-America honor.

But the placement did more than validate his résumé.

"That run showed me I'm a lot better than I think I am," Ruiz says. "Last year, I felt like I was kind of on the fringe of where I wanted to be. Now I know what it takes. I have the formula."

That formula has translated into a dominant sophomore campaign. Ruiz enters the Ivy League Tournament undefeated at 14-0 and ranked No. 2 in the nation — wrestling with confidence, clarity and purpose.

Yet internally, the shift has been subtle.

"I had to learn not to put too much thought into every match," he says. "Sometimes I'd win, but it wouldn't feel dominant enough. I had to stop being so result-oriented and focus on what I'm actually doing. When you do that, the results take care of themselves."

That maturity — steady, composed, process-driven — helped earn him the distinction of sophomore captain.

Last season, he led primarily by example. He trained hard. He stayed intrinsically motivated. Teammates followed.

This year, he's made a conscious effort to expand his voice.

"Now it's about helping guys understand my thinking," he says. "Not just copying what I do, but understanding my philosophy."

His philosophy is quiet intensity. There are no elaborate rituals. Just a clear mind, deep breaths — and music.

Lately, that music has been In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins, sometimes played on repeat before matches.

"It kind of just locks me in," he says.

If that sounds serious, even ominous, it fits the wrestler fans see on the mat — dominant, assertive, relentless at 174 pounds.

Which makes his nickname all the more unexpected.

"Cuddles."

The name came from his mother when he was little. As a child, Ruiz always wanted to be close to his parents, always nearby, always hugging them.

It stuck.

Now, inside packed gyms, that childhood nickname echoes in a very different tone.

"Let's go, Cuddles!"

His mom proudly wears a shirt to competitions that reads simply: "CUDDLES." The sweetness of the nickname stands in stark contrast to the version of Ruiz opponents face — physical, composed, and unyielding.

The duality fits him.

Off the mat, Ruiz is relaxed and self-aware. When Ithaca's weather cooperates, he'll spend time on one of the area's public golf courses — not chasing a low score, just enjoying the rhythm.

"I'm not that good," he says. "I just go for fun."

He even shares the same birthday as his older sister — exactly two years apart — another small detail that reflects the tight-knit family foundation that shaped him.

As Ruiz prepares for another Ivy League Tournament and a return to the national stage, his goals are direct.

"Win," he says. "And get ready for nationals."

There's no overcomplication. No theatrics.

Just execution.

From MMA beginnings in New Jersey to All-America honors in Ithaca, Simon Ruiz has built his rise on balance — intensity without panic, confidence without ego, dominance without losing the joy that started it all.

They call him Cuddles.

And no one in the country takes him lightly.