Against All Odds: When a Wrestler Fought a Grizzly to Save a Friend

On a crisp October day in 2022, what started as a regular antler hunting trip in Wyoming’s Shoshone National Forest turned into a dramatic story of courage and friendship. Northwest College wrestlers Kendell Cummings and Brady Lowry were exploring the mountain terrain when their afternoon took a terrifying turn.

As the two friends made their way through the forest, Lowry noticed bear marks on the ground. Before he could fully process what he was seeing, a grizzly bear burst through the trees. The massive animal knocked Lowry off a small ledge and began its violent attack. “It started chomping on me pretty good. It got a hold of my left arm, it was shaking me around, broke my left arm,” Lowry later recounted to CNN.

From a distance, Cummings watched in horror as his friend was mauled. With no hesitation, he sprinted towards the bear, shouting and hurling rocks and sticks to draw its attention. But the bear remained fixated on Lowry.

Desperation drove Cummings to do the unthinkable ( a decision that would later earn him North America’s highest civilian honor for heroism – the Carnegie Medal). He grabbed the bear by its ear and fur, yanking it away from his friend. The bear turned its fury on Cummings, tackling him and launching a brutal attack. The grizzly bit him multiple times, leaving deep wounds on his arms, legs, head, and face. Lowry seized the opportunity to escape and call for help, while Cummings was left to endure the bear’s relentless assault.

Despite his severe injuries, Cummings managed to descend the mountain after the bear finally walked away. Lowry, along with two other teammates, Orrin Jackson and August Harrison, eventually found him drenched in blood and struggling to walk. When Cummings asked how he looked, Harrison encouraged him: “You look great, we’ve gotta go!”

The group took turns carrying their injured friend down the mountain until local farmers and emergency responders could reach them. Both wrestlers were then transported to a hospital in Montana, where they began their long road to recovery.

Reflecting on the incident, Lowry attributed their survival to the deep bonds formed through wrestling: “We become best friends going to hell and back with each other. Seeing someone sweat and bleed … coach teaches us that. You aren’t going to leave a brother behind.”

The story of Cummings’ heroism spread far beyond Wyoming. Yet, those who know him describe a humble, soft-spoken young man who shies away from attention – except when he’s on the wrestling mat. When asked about his actions, Cummings simply stated, “I thought it was the right thing to do.”

Both wrestlers made remarkable recoveries. Within six months, they were back on the wrestling mat. Lowry went on to achieve All-American status, while Cummings continued competing for Northwest College. Their coach, Jim Zeigler, observed how the incident strengthened team bonds: “It got guys so much closer and helped get past the petty things. They genuinely care so much about one another. It became even more of a family event.”

The experience left its mark on Cummings beyond his physical scars. While he maintains his wrestling hasn’t changed, his outlook on life has shifted. “Life – it’s short and it can be over just like that,” he reflected. This spring, as Cummings completes his associate degree in business at Northwest College, he carries with him not just the Carnegie Medal, but also an unshakeable bond with his teammates who lived through this extraordinary event together.

The grizzly attack occurred in an area known for significant bear activity. According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the region where the attack took place had “six to 10 different bears moving between agricultural fields and low elevation slopes.” While this encounter could have ended tragically, it instead became a gripping (well, literally) story of friendship, bravery, and the unexpected moments that can transform ordinary people into heroes.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4