Sam Schad has been down the wrong path.

Alcohol and drugs were a big part of his life for the past few years.

But now Schad’s past is in the rear-view mirror, and he appears to have his life pointed in the right direction.

One of the driving factors in Schad’s road to recovery has been his love of mixed martial arts.

Schad was an accomplished high-school wrestler. And “accomplished” is an understatement. He compiled a career record of 201-31 at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School in northern Minnesota. Schad won a state title his junior year, was a four-time state place-winner and was a five-time state participant. He is one of just 40 Minnesota wrestlers to ever record 200 career victories. Schad had a 154-5 record during his final four seasons, losing just twice outside of the state tournament.

After graduation in 2006, Schad went on to wrestle collegiately at Augsburg. But then his drinking caught up with him.

Schad calls that the “stupid” time in his life. His problems culminated one night, when he ran from the police in a car he recently purchased.

“I was depressed,” Schad said. “I had just bought the car, didn’t have insurance, didn’t have the title transferred yet. The cop was a long ways behind me, so I took off. I made it eight miles and the engine quit on me, so I got caught. Felony fleeing. In that drinking stage, I did a lot of stupid stuff.”

It’s amazing how candidly Schad talks about those times now. He’s not proud of what he did, yet he’s completely accepting of the consequences that resulted from his actions.