A former wrestling coach from Kansas has been charged with producing child sexual abuse materials after allegedly recording minors without their knowledge during a high school sporting event.
Court documents state that Ryan Brungardt, 37, of Salina faces two counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography. Brungardt previously worked at Lakewood Middle School and served as the wrestling coach for Salina Central High School.
Authorities allege that Brungardt used a cellphone to record three minors while they were showering in a locker room during the Tournament of Champions, which took place at Newton High School in January 2024.
Brungardt appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks G. Severson on March 4, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas regarding the criminal complaint. A detention hearing is set for March 9, 2026.
The investigation is being conducted by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Salina Police Department, and Newton Police Department. Investigators are currently reviewing additional videos found on seized cellphones that may have been recorded at other wrestling events in Newton, Hays, Garden City, and Salina during the 2023-2024 season. Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed suspicious activity or potential crimes at these events to contact the KBI at (785) 600-8790 or report online at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.”
Authorities emphasize that a criminal complaint is only an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
