As a collegiate athlete, Coach Ecker wrestled for Ithaca College in South Hill New York where he was a 3x NCAA Division III All-American, 2x NCAA Division III National Champion, ECWC Rookie of the Year as a freshman, 2x ECWC Wrestler of the Year, recipient of Ithaca College’s Male Athlete of the Year Award and voted the Men's At-Large Academic All-American of the Year. One of the most prestigious academic honors a college athlete can receive.