Braden Ewing was a defensive lineman on Brown's football team and heavyweight wrestler for the Bears last season.
Transfer from NCAA Division I Brown will strengthen Flames’ wrestlers at heavyweight
6/2/2025 1:50:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
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Originally planning to become a doctor, Braden Ewing heard a clear calling to follow his father’s lead into the ministry while furthering his athletic career in wrestling and football.
Braden Ewing, a heavyweight wrestler from Tyrone, Pa., near Penn State University, who red-shirted his freshman season at NCAA Division I Brown University in Providence, R.I., due to a hand injury, is transferring to Liberty to compete on its NCWA Division I program.
"I felt called to ministry, and couldn't do that at Brown," Ewing said. "My biggest dream, what I want to do in life, and what feel I'm called to do is touch lives through Christianity. Wrestling means a lot to me, and I played football at Brown, but my No. 1 priority is growing the Kingdom of God and that really starts at Liberty."
The son of a pastor who earned his M.Div. through Liberty's online programs, Ewing started wrestling at age 4 when he was in kindergarten and went on to become a three-time state qualifier in high school as well as an all-state offensive and defensive lineman in football. He played football and wrestled at Brown, as he hopes to do eventually as a walk-on for the Flames' NCAA Division I Football team.
Ewing made an official visit to Liberty in late April after entering the transfer portal.
"Nothing matched Liberty for its schooling and community, as well as its athletics," he said. "I've definitely seen the impact (outgoing Head Coach Jesse Castro) had on the program, which was NCAA Division I for a while before dropping out. He seemed like a great coach."
Ewing, who weighs around 240 pounds, anticipates wrestling at the 235-pound weight class at Liberty, which is not an option in the NCAA ranks.
"He was a Pennsylvania state place-winner, which bodes well competing in the toughest state in the country for high school wrestling, near College Park (Pa.)," Castro said. "He is a seasoned wrestler, and he is going to help us. He still has four years of eligibility."
"I want to excel in everything I do, including as a wrestler," Ewing added. "The goal is to win a national championship as a team and as an individual. I've competed at the highest level, so I know what it takes."
Ewing knows if he walks on and makes the football team, this summer or in the future, he likely will have to choose between the two sports.
"It was hard to do both at Brown, for sure," he said. "During wrestling season, I suited up for all of the home football games, though there weren't any freshmen that played. I have a really big passion for wrestling and football. At Liberty, if you want to do both, football comes first, and I wouldn't be able to wrestle anymore. Right now, I'm just going to focus on wrestling and see what happens."
This summer, besides putting in a lot of training on the mat and in the weight room, Ewing is working part-time as a waiter in a restaurant while also doing an internship through Calvary Church in Tyrone, where his father, Bill, is the senior pastor and his mom, Sarah, is the children's ministry director.
"I always try to work hard, no matter what I'm doing," Ewing said. "I love sports, but it is important to work to make some money so I can get through school."
At Brown, an Ivy League liberal arts school, Ewing was studying biology with plans to become a doctor, but he is looking forward to making the switch to Christian studies, which is "where I'm called to be," he said.
"My dad told me to lean into what God is telling me to do," Ewing said. "Neither of my parents swayed me either way. The decision came down to me and my faith and what would be best for me, and I think it's Liberty."
By Ted Allen/Staff WriterAs a freshman at Brown University, Ewing wrestles against a University of Virginia opponent during the Princeton Invitational.
