Bobby Douglas Celebration of Life
With great respect and admiration the TDR shares this posting for Coach Douglas.
TEMPE – Family, friends, former athletes, and the wrestling community are invited to honor the life and remarkable legacy of Robert “Bobby” Edward Douglas, one of the most influential figures in ASU and American wrestling history.
The Bobby Douglas Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, May 24, 2026, beginning at 12:00 p.m. MST at the San Tan Ford Club at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
Bobby Douglas (March 27, 1942 – February 23, 2026) was a trailblazing athlete, coach, and pioneer. A two-time Olympian (1964 and 1968), he was the first black wrestler to represent the United States in the Olympics and later served as captain of the 1968 U.S. Olympic team.
As a coach, he built powerhouse programs at Arizona State University (head coach 1975-1992), where he led the Sun Devils to the 1988 NCAA national championship, the program’s only team title, and compiled an outstanding 229-95-6 dual record. He later coached at Iowa State University and served on multiple U.S. Olympic coaching staff.
Douglas mentored 13 NCAA individual champions, produced 110 All-Americans, and earned more than 400 dual-meet victories across his collegiate career. A member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, he left an indelible mark on the sport through his leadership, dedication, and commitment to developing champions both on and off the mat. … more at … https://thesundevils.com/news/2026/04/30/bobby-douglas-celebration-of-life?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
The Complexities of Adding Division One Women’s Wrestling at Oklahoma State or Oklahoma University
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- The potential addition of women’s wrestling at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma is a significant topic in wrestling circles in the state.
- The wrestling community strongly supports the addition of women’s wrestling at these universities.
- The discussion around adding women’s wrestling must consider issues such as NIL and revenue sharing in college athletics.
- Athletes are now allowed to receive sponsorship money and schools can revenue share and directly pay athletes within NCAA rules.
- Perspectives from athletic directors, school presidents, and common fans should be part of the conversation about adding women’s wrestling.
A big topic that is thrown around wrestling circles in the state is the possible addition of women’s wrestling at OSU and/or OU. Obviously, our wrestling community here really wants it, but I thought I’d explore it from a bit of a more neutral perspective of what an athletic director, school president, … more at … https://owrestle.com/the-complexities-of-adding-division-one-womens-wrestling-at-osu-or-ou/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
UNC-Pembroke Wrestling Adds Terrence Zaleski As Assistant Coach
By: Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletic Communications Director
PEMBROKE – UNC Pembroke wrestling head coach O.T. Johnson has announced the addition of Terrence Zaleski as assistant coach for the Braves.
A former wrestler at UNCP, Zaleski joins the Black & Gold after spending nine and a half years in the United State Marine Corps, where he was an Officer and served in multiple leadership roles and represented the Marine Corps as a high-level competitor.
“I am excited to have Terrence return to UNCP on the coaching side, as he brings a great deal of experience from his time in the military and his time traveling the world to compete for the Marine Corps and Team USA,” said Johnson. “It’s an honor to have him back in the Black and Gold and I am looking forward to learning from him.”
Zaleski’s wrestling career spans more than a decade of national and international competition. He is a two-time Greco-Roman Olympic Trials Competitor, four-time Greco-Roman World Team Trials Competitor, and eight-time U.S. Open Greco-Roman All-American. His achievements include representing the United States as a 2023 Beach Wrestling World Team Member, winning both the 2020 Armed Forces Greco‑Roman and Freestyle Championships, earning bronze at the 2018 Lavrikov Tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia, and placing multiple times at ASICS University Nationals and FILA Junior national events.
During his military career, Zaleski served with the All-Marine Wrestling Team as both an athlete and a Public Affairs Officer, supporting athletes’ performance while managing organizational messaging, media production, and stakeholder engagement. He later held strategic leadership positions within Marine Corps Recruiting Command, directing regional marketing operations, managing multi‑million‑dollar programs, and building partnerships with educators, coaches, and community leaders across the eastern United States.
Before competing at the senior level, Zaleski built a strong collegiate foundation at UNC Pembroke, qualifying for the 2015 NCAA Division II Championships with a 39-5 record. His early success began in North Carolina high school wrestling, where he was the 2010 state champion for Havelock High School and 2009 state runner‑up for White Oak High School.
Zaleski returns to his alma mater to pursue his Master’s in Social Work, and brings a coaching philosophy … more at … https://uncpbraves.com/news/2026/5/26/wrestling-adds-terrence-zaleski-as-assistant-coach.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Hidlay’s Late Four-Point Move Secures Final X Victory; Earns Senior Men’s Freestyle World Team Spot
Round 1 Recap
CHANTILLY, Virginia – 2025 World champion Trent Hidlay sealed the series sweep at 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, with a four-point maneuver with three seconds left to secure an 8-3 victory in the second match of the 92 kg men’s freestyle series at Freedom High School on Saturday.
With the Final X series victory, Hidlay earns the opportunity to represent Team USA at the 2026 Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, October 24-November 1.
After winning the first match of the series, 2-1, Hidlay fell behind early against Michael Macchiavello. Macchiavello took the 1-0 lead after Hidlay failed to score while on the activity clock.
The 1-0 Macchiavello advantage held going into the break.
Hidlay scored back-to-back step-out points to grab a 2-1 lead at the start of the second period. The seesaw battle got underway with Macchiavello earning a step-out point, then a lost challenge gave him the 3-2 edge. Hidlay tied the score in the final minute with another step-out point, and he led on criteria.
In the waning seconds of the bout, Hidlay sealed the match, sending Macchiavello from feet to back for four points on the edge of the mat. A lost challenge made the final score 8-3, and Hidlay swept the series to earn a spot on the Senior World Team for the second-straight year. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/june/13/hidlay-s-late-four-point-move-secures-final-x-victory-earns-senior-men-s-freestyle-world-team-spot?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inducted on Saturday night at Honors Weekend to themes of resilience and gratitude
STILLWATER, Okla. – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum Honors Weekend concluded on Saturday night at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Oklahoma State University with the formal induction of the Class of 2026 honorees.
The evening of celebration was moderated by Hall of Fame announcer Sandy Stevens. Each honoree was introduced with a detailed short film created by Skooter Schultz, before being presented with their tailored award and sharing some words of inspiration for the crowd of supporters.
Four Distinguished Members were inducted this year: Ben Askren, Tervel Dlagnev, Lee Roy Smith and Shannon Williams-Yancey.
As one of the most influential wrestlers of his generation, Asken was a two-time NCAA Division I champion, four-time NCAA finalist and two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner for the University of Missouri. Askren represented the U.S. at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Following his competitive career on the mats, Askren pursued mixed martial arts with great success and helped found Askren Wrestling Academy, which is now one of the nation’s premier youth wrestling clubs. In 2025, Askren required a double lung transplant, which he has pushed through to a full recovery.
In a few words, Askren explained to the crowd how wrestling is among the highest of intellectual pursuits, and something that drew him because he could control his own fate on the mats.
“Wrestling showed me I was capable,” he reflected. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/june/06/hall-of-fame-class-of-2026-inducted-on-saturday-night-at-honors-weekend-to-themes-of-resilience-and-gratitude?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
NWCA Announces 2026 National Convention in Baltimore
Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has announced details for the 2026 NWCA National Convention, the sport’s premier annual gathering for youth, scholastic and collegiate coaches, athletic directors, and media. The event will be held July 30 through August 2, 2026, at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. The 2026 NWCA National Convention is made possible through the generous support of title sponsors Cliff Keen, Cluffy, Defense Soap, DripDrop, Resilite, and the United States Marine Corps.
The NWCA National Convention brings together the sport’s leadership from every level of collegiate wrestling for three days of championship meetings, rules sessions, professional development, and networking at one of the East Coast’s most iconic waterfront destinations.
“The NWCA Convention is the single most important gathering on the calendar for anyone leading a wrestling program. This year in Baltimore, we’ve built a lineup that reflects the depth and momentum of our sport, from championship-level meetings and rules sessions to performance, nutrition, and leadership content that coaches can take straight back to their programs. Baltimore is a world-class destination, and we can’t wait to welcome our community there.” — Mike Moyer, Executive Director, National Wrestling Coaches Association
CONVENTION PROGRAMMING
The convention opens Thursday, July 30, with an optional golf outing at Pine Ridge Golf Course, followed by registration, exhibit hall opening, and the annual Exhibitor Social. Full programming runs Friday, July 31, Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2.
Highlights of the 2026 schedule include: … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2026/6/9/national-wrestling-coaches-association-nwca-announces-2026-national-convention-in-baltimore.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
PSAC announces addition of Women’s Wrestling as 24th Championship Sport, D’Youville, Felician as Associate Members
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Athletic Conference has announced that it will sponsor women’s wrestling as its 24th championship sport, beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.
The PSAC Board of Directors approved the addition of the sport during its annual meeting in May, which will increase the number of conference-sponsored championship sports to 24 (11 men’s, 13 women’s.)
Five PSAC institutions currently field women’s wrestling teams – East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Gannon, Lock Haven, and Pitt-Johnstown. Two Associate Members for women’s wrestling will be added, with D’Youville and Felician’s programs also competing. Teams will participate in a round-robin dual meet schedule, and the team with the best record will be named Dual Meet Champions.
“Pennsylvania and wrestling are synonymous together, so adding women’s wrestling to our championships menu makes perfect sense,” said Steve Murray, PSAC Commissioner. “There are 271 high school women’s wrestling programs in PA and the number is growing fast at the collegiate ranks as well. Our five members sponsoring women’s wrestling will be bolstered by the additions of Felician, D’Youville, and eventually Lackawanna College when they join the PSAC full-time in the near future. We will have a solid foundation as a Division II-only women’s wrestling conference. It’s a great addition for us.”
“We are so excited to be part of the PSAC for the 26-27 season,” said Carlene Sluberski, head women’s wrestling coach at D’Youville University. “We will now have the opportunity to compete for a conference championship in a way that highlights our sport through a series of duals. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2026/6/5/national-wrestling-coaches-association-psac-announces-addition-of-womens-wrestling-as-24th-championship-sport-d-youville-felician-as-associate-members.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Former NC State Teammates Fighting for a Spot on the World Team
RALEIGH – Two former members of the NC State wrestling program have earned a qualification to Final X, the freestyle event that determines who earns a spot on USA’s Senior World Team. Reigning World Champion Trent Hidlay (’24) will take on Michael Macchiavello (’18) in a best-of-three series on Saturday, June 13, at Freedom High School in Chantilly, Virginia.
Greatness at the highest level in the sport of wrestling continues to run through Raleigh with the NC State wrestling program and Wolfpack Regional Training Center. Trent Hidlay and Michael Macchiavello are both graduates of the Wolfpack with storied collegiate careers. A five-time All-American, two-time NCAA Finalist, and four-time ACC Champion, Hidlay is one of the most notable wrestlers for NC State to compete in the most recent era of the program. A leader for the Pack when Hidlay got to campus, Macchiavello won a national title and helped lead the team to its highest ever finish at NCAAs (4th) in 2018.
Representing Wolfpack RTC, Hidlay stunned the world by winning the Senior World Championship in 2025 in his first time competing for the Senior World Team. Facing a 10-2 deficit in the finals match in Croatia, he stormed back 13-10 to claim his gold medal and be titled as the most elite wrestler … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2026/6/8/wrestling-former-teammates-fighting-for-a-spot-on-the-world-team?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
South Dakota State University MOURNS THE PASSING OF COACH FRANK KURTENBACH
South Dakota State Athletics is mourning the death of former student-athlete, head coach, and longtime benefactor Frank J. Kurtenbach, who passed away at the age of 88.
Kurtenbach, a native of Dimock, South Dakota, leaves behind a legacy that spans generations of Jackrabbit student-athletes. His impact on SDSU wrestling helped transform the program into what it is today and will continue to shape its future.
“Frank’s impact on South Dakota State wrestling goes far beyond his generosity. He valued building relationships, connecting people and supporting others,” said SDSU wrestling head coach Damion Hahn. “His legacy isn’t just measured in his contributions, but in the lives he helped shape. That support will continue to carry future Jackrabbit wrestlers forward for years to come.”
Kurtenbach arrived at South Dakota State in the fall of 1957 and competed in football and wrestling during his time as a student-athlete, launching a lifelong connection to the university.
After his competitive career, Kurtenbach returned to lead the Jackrabbit wrestling program during the 1968-69 season. In his lone year at the helm, he guided SDSU to an impressive 11-2 dual record and a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, cementing his place in program history.
Kurtenbach’s commitment to SDSU extended far beyond his competition and coaching tenure. During visits back to campus, he noticed that the wrestling facilities had changed little since his days as a student-athlete. Motivated to elevate the program he loved, Kurtenbach provided the lead gift for what would become the Kurtenbach Family Wrestling Center, a game-changing facility that helped propel SDSU wrestling onto the national stage. His generosity set a new standard for the program’s infrastructure and continues to benefit current and future Jackrabbits.
“Our thoughts are with the Kurtenbach family with the passing of Frank,” said Justin Sell, SDSU Director of Athletics. “Frank has had a tremendous influence on SDSU from his time as a student-athlete and as a longtime supporter of Jackrabbit athletics. His … more at … https://gojacks.com/news/2026/6/1/wrestling-sdsu-mourns-the-passing-of-frank-kurtenbach?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Havelock High coach Chase Holleman receives statewide Toby Webb Outstanding Coach Award
A Havelock High School wrestling coach has received a statewide coaching honor, according to Craven County Schools.
Chase Holleman was selected by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Foundation as a recipient of the Toby Webb Outstanding Coach Award.
Holleman was honored on Wednesday, June 10, during the annual NCHSAA Awards Celebration in Greensboro.
The Toby Webb Outstanding Coach Award is presented each year to coaches who have made a meaningful impact on student-athletes, their schools, and high school athletics across North Carolina.
According to Craven County Schools, Holleman has built a distinguished career at Havelock High School through sustained excellence, leadership, and a commitment to growing wrestling at the school and statewide levels.
Holleman has 18 years of coaching experience and leads both the men’s and women’s wrestling programs at Havelock.
Under his leadership, Havelock’s wrestling teams have earned more than 350 dual team victories, multiple conference and regional championships, a women’s state runner-up finish, and numerous individual state champions.
Craven County Schools said Holleman has also helped expand wrestling opportunities across North Carolina … more at … https://wcti12.com/news/local/havelock-high-coach-chase-holleman-receives-statewide-toby-webb-outstanding-coach-award?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
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