Written By: Justin Lee

It only takes one moment for someone to find their true passion. For former Cleveland State wrestler and now Cleveland Police Sergeant Tim Gill, it all started with a trophy. 

"Wrestling has always been a part of my life, but how I found it was an oddity," Gill said. 

Growing up in West Park, Cleveland, a young Gill came home from school to find his brothers had received a trophy as an award. Though Gill's older brother played football, that moment inspired Gill as he wanted his own trophy to flaunt. Motivated by his brother's new flashy trophy, Gill told his friends about the award, and his friends then introduced him to a sport that would then shape the rest of his life. 

"I was interested in wrestling basically because I wanted to win a trophy," Gill laughed. 

Gill started to wrestle at a Catholic youth organization starting in the fifth grade. 

"I soaked it up like a sponge! I just loved doing it and I couldn't get enough of it." 

As he continued to grow and develop as a man and as a wrestler, Gill moved to Fairview Park High School where he won a state title his senior year. He proceeded to earn a scholarship to wrestle at CSU in 1994 under legendary Hall of Fame coach Dick Bonacci.

When asked about his decision to attend CSU, it was a no brainer for Gill. 

"Coach Bonacci was a legend. I wanted to be mentored by him, and I knew I was going into good hands. My father also lived close by so he could watch me compete, and Cleveland State University gave me a full scholarship and a free education. It was triplicate." 

While attending CSU from 1994 to 1998, Gill completed summer classes three out of four years to graduate with a double major in communication and psychology. He credits his professor, Dr. Ashcraft, for making sure he secured his second major. Coming out of college, Gill aspired to work with the federal government and become a federal agent. He started his professional career by joining the Cleveland Police Department immediately after graduation in 1998, continuing the legacy of the Gill family in law enforcement. 

"My family lineage has police officers, firemen and nurses down the family tree. I'm third generation, and my nephew is fourth generation law enforcement. After my nephew retires, there will be over 100 years of law enforcement in my family," Gill proudly shared.

While becoming a federal agent wasn't in the cards, after working 23 years with the Cleveland Police Department, now Sergeant Gill hasn't forgotten his values or his go-to takedown since his time on the mat as a Viking. Gill's experiences have translated from wrestling to law enforcement in many ways. From cutting weight to being in some sticky situations in the heart of Cleveland, his tenacity and mental health have always been his strong suit. 

"My tactics are unbelievably sharp because of wrestling. You cannot have a better avenue for this profession than wrestling—it's top notch. Cutting weight in wrestling gave me the mental health and tenacity to know I'll get through a tricky situation because I've seen difficulty before." 

When not patrolling Cleveland, Gill still enjoys his favorite past time. Gill tries to stay in touch with wrestling by watching matches and mentoring his nephews. He tries to go to at least one Viking match a year. 

"I miss the training, I miss the sweat, I miss competing. I miss breaking people. Now that I've been away, I miss it all. Wrestling gave me everything."

The pandemic has made all facets of life difficult and complicated. As a Sergeant and supervising over 30 people, Gill knows managing people and keeping morale high along with maintaining his own mental health during these unprecedented times is far from easy. Nevertheless, Gill's advice for the current crop of Viking wrestlers was simple.

"Keep training. As long as the dorm has stairs, you can always run. If practices are canceled, if the gym is closed, you can still do push-ups. Keep your mind and body occupied." 

Gill can't thank Cleveland State and the wrestling program enough for his success and his education. 

"CSU gave me an education that allowed me to be in the position I am in today. It all started with CSU and the wrestling program. CSU is making men, and they're making those men leaders in our society, and I'm proud to be an alumnus." 

Whether it's been on the mat or out on the street, in his singlet or his police uniform, Gill has always used tenacity, determination and hard work to never lose sight of the prize.