Dubuque - Ryan Heim is a two-time state wrestling champion for Dubuque Hempstead High School. While red-shirting as a freshman for the Iowa Wrestling team, that car accident changed his plans to compete at the college level. Heim will soon begin a career in the sport he says shaped his life.

During the winter of 2002, Ryan Heim was living his dream, wrestling for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
But one January night, while driving home from a tournament, the dream took a turn.

Heim said, "I slipped on a patch of ice, then hit by a semi, which left me in coma for three months."

Heim spent the next months and eventually years, re-learning everything. He tackled intense rehab here in Iowa and in China.
He was determined to return to the wrestling mat.

Heim said, "There is a saying, after you have wrestled for seven minutes, everything else is a cake walk."

Heim finished his course work at the University of Iowa and graduated last December.
And starting next week, he'll return to the wrestling mat at North Iowa Community College in Mason City, this time, as a coach.

Heim said, "The intensity has been kind of building for seven eight years now."

As he sets out for his next adventure, he keeps in mind, his past.
Heim said, “I was handed lemons and you know I made some lemon-aid."

So, a lemon-aid cheers to Ryan Heim, seven plus years later, he has the same wit, same charm and the same passion.

Ryan will be an assistant coach for the NIACC Wrestling team.
He'll be a student as well, studying physical therapy.