Rising Bay Area Wrestler Dies After Fall While Hiking in Yosemite; Aged Only 19

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Ryan George, a promising young wrestler from the Bay Area, recently died after an accidental fall while hiking in Yosemite National Park. George was a member of the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) men’s wrestling team; news of the tragedy broke just as the new season was getting underway.

George was a key competitor for the SRJC team in the 197-pound weight class this season. Shortly before the accident, on the 18th, he competed in the Dave Pacheco Invitational at Sacramento City College. He advanced to the finals in the 197-pound division but ultimately lost a close match—8 to 11 in overtime—to Luke Meyer of Fresno City College, finishing as the runner-up.

This marked George’s second consecutive season competing for SRJC. In December 2025, as a freshman, he competed in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) state championships. He posted a 5–1 record in the 197-pound class; after a loss in the quarterfinals, he won four straight matches to secure third place in the state and earn All-American honors. He was one of three wrestlers from Santa Rosa Junior College to achieve All-American status that year, helping the men’s team finish ranked seventh in the state.

A fundraising page previously set up to cover George’s travel expenses for competitions noted that he did not begin wrestling until his freshman year of high school. He went on to become a state-level competitor and was described as the first wrestler from Montgomery High School to earn All-American honors. In addition to wrestling, he participated in the school choir.