Who says you can’t blaze your own trail? Not Riley Hanrahan.
She’s building a unique path, brick by brick.
While a few have participated in USA Wrestling’s Elite Accelerator Program at the Olympic Training Center instead of their senior high school season, Hanrahan has a plan in place for after high school. The Black River Falls, Wisconsin, native will enter the Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) later this year.
“She’s awesome,” said Bruce Robinson, head WCAP women’s wrestling coach. “Driven. Hard working. She’s a 17-year-old with the maturity of a 30-year-old. She knows what she wants. She’s driven, and that’s what I like about her.
“She graduates from high school in December. After that, we’ll work to get her into the WCAP program. I’ve already told her dad that we have a plan laid out.”
Riley’s dad, Kevin, was in the Marine Corps and was severely injured by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Afghanistan. The family spent three years living at a wounded veteran hospital during his recovery.
"I chose WCAP because I want to be in an environment that pushes me every single day." -- Riley Hanrahan
He lost his left leg and the majority of his right leg, went through over 60 surgeries, and continues to deal with long-term injuries. Riley was two at the time, but lived at the hospital with her dad and mom, Whitney, and was five when Kevin was medically discharged.
Riley went through the struggles alongside her dad, and because her early childhood revolved around her dad’s recovery, she was encouraged to commit to something she loves — as long as she put in the work.
Riley didn't plan on joining the military. She was drawn to the discipline, structure, and training that WCAP provides. And it didn’t hurt that the program has developed elite-level women’s freestyle wrestlers. Of the 10 wrestlers in the program, three are in Final X, and two are competing for National Team spots.
Riley and Kevin Hanrahan
“I chose WCAP because I want to be in an environment that pushes me every single day,” Hanrahan said. “Being around some of the best wrestlers in the world and having that level of discipline is exactly what I’m looking for.”
Her gutsy, hard-working mentality came from watching her dad. His mindset and resilience shaped how she approaches everything, especially wrestling.
That led to a thrilling 17-12 win at FloWrestling’s Who’s Number One in 2025, and a U20 World Team spot in 2026. She also finished seventh at the Senior U.S. Open in April.
“My goal is to reach the highest level I can in wrestling,” Hanrahan said. “I want to compete with the best, learn from it, and keep getting better every time I step on the mat.”
Hanrahan is considering her college options (she's spoken with Iowa and McKendree), but will take her time to find the right fit both academically and athletically. She plans to study exercise science, something she’s passionate about because of the influence her dad has had as a personal trainer.
Riley wants to compete in Mixed Martial Arts following, and perhaps during, her wrestling career. She’s already competed in a pankration match and trains in both striking and jiu-jitsu.
While it helps her wrestling now, it’s also part of her bigger vision.
“Long term, I want to see how far I can go in wrestling and then transition into MMA,” Hanrahan said. “Everything I’m doing right now is about building toward that and not cutting any corners along the way.”