Cleary University Wrestler and Multi-Sport Athlete Ryley Lotz Passes Away at 19; Community Launches “Live Like Ryley” Campaign for Tributes

A Tragic loss!

December 3, 2026

This article was last updated by Rohit Maharjan on December 3, 2026

Ryley Michael Lotz, a 19-year-old wrestler who earned a scholarship to Cleary University and captained the Swan Valley High School squad, died Oct. 29, 2026, after a severe asthma attack, his family says. Loved ones surrounded him.

Born July 26, 2006, to Michael and Brittanie Lotz of Saginaw, Ryley grew up between Freeland and Shields and became known across the community for quiet leadership, faith and an easy humility.

A four-year varsity letter winner, team captain, 100-match victor, and individual state qualifier at Swan Valley, he continued his wrestling career at Cleary. He planned to join the Swan Valley varsity coaching staff this season.

Lotz was a multi-sport athlete. (Source: Facebook)

He also spent years coaching youth wrestlers and mentoring younger teammates.

“When the mat was silent, the woods became his sanctuary,” his family wrote, noting Ryley’s love of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors, passions he often shared with his best friend Nathan Schramke.

He is survived by his parents, brothers Cadyn and Greyson, and his fiancée, Violet Boehler.

He was preceded in death by cousin Madeline Birchmeier, grandmothers Katherine DeGroot and Judith VanBrunt, friend Nathan Schramke, and college roommate Ryan Mosher.

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Great Tribute from the Community

The response from friends, classmates, and community members was immediate and heartfelt.

Brittanie Lotz posted a mother’s grief that resonated with many: “There isn’t a minute that goes by that I don’t think about you, Ryley. The world just isn’t the same without your laughter… You loved your family deeply, cared fiercely for your friends, and shared a special bond with your girlfriend that always made you smile. Love you always, my son.”

Lotz competed in wrestling at various levels. (Source: Facebook)

In a message that captured a father’s private heartbreak, Michael Lotz wrote that Ryley “loved fiercely, dreamt wildly and lived spiritually,” and that he had been not only a son but “my best friend.”

Those who knew Ryley through wrestling and school described a rare, steady presence.

Photographer and teacher Shannon Henige recalled watching him grow through youth wrestling and later having him in her classroom.

“You did a fine job…instilling what is most important,” she wrote to his parents, adding that Ryley was “a rare gem” whose character and devotion to family and friends left a lasting mark.

Community posts on a tribute page called , filled with short memories, prayers, and offers of support.

“There are no words. Holding Ryley’s family and friends close to my heart and lifting them in prayer,” one friend wrote.

Others sent hugs and practical counsel for grief: “The days go by, and you’ll always wonder how you survived them… take the time YOU need,” one commenter advised, signing messages with sympathy and faith.

Members of the local wrestling family and neighbors organized ways to help.

was shared on behalf of the Lotz family, and the family also suggested memorial contributions to Michigan Outdoors Wishmakers, a nod to Ryley’s love of the outdoors.

The family thanked the community after a Celebration of Life at Swan Valley High School on Nov. 21, 2026, saying, “Seeing hundreds of family members, friends, and community members come together meant the world to us. It reminded us… just how many lives our son touched in his short 19 years.”

Ryley’s story, his parents said, is not a farewell but a reminder to “live fully, love deeply, and meet God in the wind and stillness.”

Friends and family continue to post memories and condolences on the Live Like Ryley page as they grieve and honor a young life that, in many small ways, steadied others around him.

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Anish Koirala has loved sports since he was a kid. He grew up playing basketball and soccer, and that passion stayed with him over the years. Today, Anish works as a writer and editor, sharing his knowledge and love for the game through articles and stories. He uses his playing experience to make his writing clear, thoughtful, and fun to read.

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