MD Native, World Champion Wrestler Arrested In Prostitution Sting

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The youngest American wrestler to win Olympic gold in 2016 and a Howard County native has been arrested in a prostitution sting in Ohio.

Proclaimed as one of the most successful wrestlers in U.S. history, Kyle Snyder, 29, has been charged with engaging in prostitution following his arrest, according to Columbus, Ohio, police. A three-time NCAA champion at Ohio State from 2016-2018 and a three-time world champion, Snyder made history at 20 years old with a victory at 97 kilograms at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, Reuters reported, then earned a silver at the Tokyo Games. Ohio State University inducted him in 2024 into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame, reported The Columbus Dispatch.

Snyder was caught during an undercover operation carried out by the Columbus Division of Police’s Police and Community Together unit, which has been tasked with curbing prostitution on the Columbus' north side, according to The Baltimore Banner. He was one of 16 individuals arrested.

Snyder reached out to the contact in an undercover ad on the internet offering escort services around 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, and arranged to meet a person at a nearby hotel. Snyder arrived around 20 minutes later, paid cash and asked for oral sex from the undercover officer, according to The Daily Voice. Uniformed officers arrested him at the scene, reported The Baltimore Banner.

The Howard County native was released from custody with a summons and a scheduled court appearance of Sunday, May 19. He currently lives in Pennsylvania and is a member of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. He also offers clinics and camps.

Snyder, who recently signed with the Real American Freestyle wrestling league, is married to Maddie Pack Snyder, a former Syracuse University soccer player. The league has pro wrestling icon Hulk Hogan serving as the commissioner.

“David, Kyle, Aaron, Trent and Kyle represent the best of the best, and that’s who we’re targeting for Real American Freestyle,” Hogan said in a statement after Snyder and others signed. “Our goal is to give these athletes an opportunity to continue their careers, create a platform for greatness and inspire a legacy that lasts.”

AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File