Glendive, Montana, native and former DSU wrestler Trevor Conrad (’16) is busy building a life full of family, teaching, coaching, and of course, wrestling.
Can you tell us a little about your life before you came to Dickinson State?
I graduated from Dawson County High School in Glendive where I wrestled and played football in a basketball town. During my senior year, four of us wrestlers made the state finals, which is the most the school has ever had, and we had the highest finish at the state tournament in school history. I grew up and wrestled with a fellow Blue Hawk, Cole Bilbrey (’18). In a small town I was able to play a couple sports and be involved in student council, choir, and other activities. I valued school and sports because I was taught you can’t rely solely on sports. I knew early on that if I could be in a school all day and then head out to football or wrestling practice, then I could honestly say I was “living the dream.” God blessed me with a great support group in Eastern Montana.
What led you to choose DSU?
My uncle Travis Ellison (’95) wrestled for DSU; my high school head wrestling coach, Tim Zody, wrestled for DSU; and my high school mentor and trainer in Glendive, Jason Ackerman (’01), was a three-time All-American for DSU. The Blue Hawk wrestling program was consistently in the top ten in the NAIA, and I looked up to Coach Thadd O’Donnell like he was a celebrity. Coach O’Donnell was gracious enough to offer me a wrestling scholarship and to allow me to work a couple jobs while competing. To have five years of high school football coaching experience before graduating from DSU was not something many student-athletes were able to make happen. Low tuition for a quality teaching degree played into the equation as well.
When did you graduate and what degree did you earn?
I graduated in May 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in leadership studies and a concentration in middle school social studies.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time at DSU?
God blessed me with becoming friends with Janae Moore, DSU women’s basketball player. She has impacted my life in so many ways I cannot begin to name them. Janae (from Sidney, Montana), James Stanton (from Billings Central in Billings, Montana), and I had a special friendship due to being rivals in high school but growing very close in the short time we had together competing for the Blue Hawks. I love Janae and miss her every day, but I am beyond thankful to call her a dear friend. Her family is made up of amazing individuals who have shown so much strength in their faith. After reflecting on my college years, I am certain that I made the right choice in attending DSU, and Janae Moore will always be a big part of my journey there.
The Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program allowed another basketball player and me to establish a texting and driving initiative on campus after Janae’s accident to raise awareness of the dangers of doing so.
Do you still keep in touch with anyone from your days at DSU?
Yes, a group of about 15 of our DSU wrestling teammates have a group chat called Old Man Rolls because we still go to the wrestling room and roll around and wrestle to (try to) stay in shape. We communicate with each other almost daily, and each fall we go pheasant hunting for a weekend at Bird Camp. I also still see many DSU football and wrestling coaches and often discuss coaching techniques with them.
Where are you currently working, and what’s your title?
I work at Dickinson High School where I teach social studies. Our department has eight teachers, and most of us graduated from DSU. I am also a co-head wrestling coach (along with DSU wrestler Jeremiah Hayes (’15)) and assistant football coach for the Midgets.
Do you have an accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Several things in my life that I’m proud of are: marrying my wife Sadie Conrad and having two sets of twins, ages three years old and six months old; being a three-time NAIA Academic All-American in wrestling; winning the first ever wrestling state championship in DHS history (2019 state dual team) as a coach, along with a school record of 13 state placers at the tournament; and earning my master’s degree from Chadron State College while raising our first set of twins.
What do you like to do with your free time? Would you like to share anything about your family?
With the free time I get, I love to spend it with my family on either of our family farms. Being outside and working at the farm creates life lessons we want our children to learn. Simply enjoying the people we are surrounded by, whether family or friends. Any way to enjoy God’s blessings with the people we love.
Any fun plans for your future you’d like to share?
Who knows, maybe more twins?!!
