Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

From Gori, Georgia to Durham: Ross Returns Ready for the Next Step

By: Emily Carter, Duke Creative Services Summer Intern
DURHAM, N.C.– After hours of travel, Dylan Ross had barely any time to recover before stepping onto the wrestling mat. 
Ross landed in Georgia at 4 a.m., after a long international journey and was back in wrestling gear by 7 a.m. “We had no sleep,” Ross said. 
He would begin the first of three daily sessions that would define his next 10 days.  After earning the starting spot at 149 pounds as a Duke redshirt freshman, Ross finished last season with a 16-12 overall record and went 5-4 in ACC competition. The season gave him his first real opportunity to test himself at the collegiate level.
But Ross knew he could improve, and he spent part of his summer in Gori, Georgia, training under his longtime coach Valentin Kalika at a camp in one of the world’s most legendary wrestling cultures.
The schedule was demanding. Every morning began at 7 a.m., with conditioning at a local park before mat practices at 11 a.m., and 5 p.m. Between sessions, there was just enough time to eat, recover and prepare to do it all again, leaving very little room for anything besides wrestling.
For Ross, that was exactly what made the experience so valuable. He was exposed to a place where wrestling is deeply integrated into the culture. “[We were] outside the city, so it’s an underdeveloped area,” Ross said. “I feel like all the kids there, all they know and live is wrestling. They wrestle two or three times a day every single day their whole lives.” 
This trip was not just about training abroad — it was a chance to reunite with the coach who played a major role in shaping Ross’s wrestling career.  “My coach has been inviting me for a while, but it never worked out because it was kind of a big commitment,” Ross said. “This summer I found the time and one of my training partners back home wanted to go with me. It was hard to say no to an opportunity like that.”
Ross, who grew up in Edgewater, N.J., first began training with Kalika in the seventh grade and continued to train under him privately throughout high school before Kalika moved to California. Looking back, he admits that Kalika’s training style is unlike anything he had ever experienced.  “He brought a style of wrestling that I had never seen before,” Ross said. … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2026/8/11/wrestling-from-gori-georgia-to-durham-ross-returns-ready-for-the-next-step?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 19, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

Hunter retires as Chadron State men’s wrestling coach

Brett Hunter is stepping away from the Chadron State wrestling program, retiring as head men’s wrestling coach after a career that left its mark on Nebraska wrestling at every level. It was first reported by NEwrestle.
A Rushville native, Hunter was a two-time state champion for Rushville High School before wrestling for Chadron State under Hall of Fame coach Scott Ritzen. He became the winningest wrestler in program history with 133 career wins and a two-time national champion (2007, 2009) — still the only repeat national champion in Eagles history.
Hunter stayed on as an assistant under Ritzen before taking over as head coach for the 2012-13 season. Over more than a decade leading the program, he developed numerous NCAA qualifiers and All-Americans and guided the Eagles to the 2023-24 RMAC dual title, earning NWCA Region VI Coach of the Year honors. He was inducted into the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 2019 and, outside the room, has taken up ultramarathon running, including a 100-mile finish at the Black Hills’ Lean Horse Ultra. … more at … https://www.theopenmat.com/articles/tom6a70ef3394f6d?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 18, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Seven-Figure Gift from UVA Wrestling Alumnus Establishes Enduring Legacy for the Program

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Dr. Colin G. Steele, a Virginia wrestling alumnus who endowed the Colin G. Steele Bicentennial Scholarship with a fully realized gift of $1.15 million, was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on August 7.
Born in Norfolk, Va., Steele had a successful wrestling career at Norview High School, claiming a state championship and leading him to the University of Virginia where Steele was a two-time ACC champion for the Cavaliers. He claimed titles at 123 pounds in 1955 and 1956. He was one of two wrestlers to claim an individual championship in that 1955 season and marked the first individual ACC championships in wrestling in program history. Steele was the first two-time individual ACC champion in Virginia athletics history.
He helped lead the Cavaliers to runner-up team finishes in the ACC in both the 1955 and 1956 seasons.
“Colin was such a strong supporter of this program,” said Virginia head coach Steve Garland. “He absolutely loved Virginia wrestling. He was so grateful for his time here and I am grateful that I had a chance to become friends with him over the years. My fondest memory of Colin is taking him up to New York with us for a tournament. He was literally on the mat showing guys moves in between bouts. It was so cool to see a guy at that stage in life still so passionate about the sport. He was also very passionate about passing on the lessons learned and wisdom gained from his experiences at the University of Virginia to our wrestlers over the years. I remember him coming into the locker room before one of our biggest dual meets of the year and giving the team a motivational speech. Finally, I just want to say how thankful we all are for his generosity. The gift he left for this program will help us more than he probably ever could have realized.”
In addition to wrestling, Steele was active in ROTC at Norview High School. Upon graduating from UVA, he continued his naval career in San Diego before being stationed at the Pentagon. After completing … more at … https://virginiasports.com/news/2026/08/11/seven-figure-gift-from-uva-wrestling-alumnus-establishes-enduring-legacy-for-the-program?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 18, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Duke’s Lanham Adds Six Freshmen for 2026-27

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke wrestling head coach Glen Lanham has announced additions to the 2026-27 roster with the signing of six incoming freshmen. 
The group of newcomers includes Hunter Berger (Honolulu, Hawaii), Colby Vital (Coventry, R.I.), Austin Laws (Newton, N.C.), Charlie Lussier (Hanson, Mass.), Brendan Kelly (West Chester, Pa.), and Jack Dragoumanos (Tyngsborough, Mass.).
“I really like this group. They’re one of the more active recruiting classes when it comes to continuing to compete throughout the summer,” said Lanham. “I’ve seen a lot of these guys wrestling at Fargo, National Duals and a variety of freestyle events, which speaks to their commitment to improving. I’m excited about what this class brings to the table. They fill some important needs on our roster, especially in the lower weight classes, where we’ve been focused on building depth and continuing to develop. This group brings an impressive combination of accomplishments and experience. Overall, it’s a talented, experienced class that we’re really excited to welcome to our program.”
Incoming Freshmen Additions:
Hunter Berger
5-9 * 141/149
Honolulu, Hawaii (Saint Louis School)
At Saint Louis School

August 17, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

North Carolina Extends Wrestling Coach Rob Koll’s Contract

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina wrestling coach Rob Koll, who enters his fourth season leading the Tar Heels in 2026-27, has agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension. Koll’s new contract will run through June 30, 2029; the terms were approved by UNC’s Board of Trustees in late July.  
“Coach Koll has a proven track record of building success on the wrestling mat while developing leaders in the community and connecting with fans and alumni,” said Director of Athletics Steve Newmark. “Since returning to Chapel Hill three years ago, Rob has brought championship-level leadership and commitment for his alma mater and program, and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead the Carolina wrestling program.” 
Coach Koll has a proven track record of building success on the wrestling mat while developing leaders in the community and connecting with fans and alumni. Since returning to Chapel Hill three years ago, Rob has brought championship-level leadership and commitment for his alma mater and program, and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead the Carolina wrestling program.
Director of Athletics Steve Newmark
Koll, a 1988 national champion wrestler for the Tar Heels, became Carolina’s seventh head coach in program history on Aug. 31, 2023. He returned to his alma mater after spending two seasons at Stanford (2021-23) and the previous 28 as the head coach at Cornell (1993-2021).  “Returning to Chapel Hill three years ago to lead the wrestling program means everything to me,’’ Koll said. “I’m truly thankful for the trust and support shown by Chancellor Lee Roberts, current and former Directors of Athletics Steve Newmark and Bubba Cunningham and the Board of Trustees. 
“Our standard will be continuing to recruit the nation’s top talent and competing for championships while staying rooted in the University and community. The future of Tar Heel wrestling is bright, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of it.” 
Returning to Chapel Hill three years ago to lead the wrestling program means everything to me. … more at … https://goheels.com/news/2026/8/13/unc-extends-wrestling-coach-rob-kolls-contract

August 14, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | | Leave a comment

2,400-year-old grave of possible ancient pro wrestler discovered in Turkey

A tomb excavated in Aspendos, Turkey, revealed a skeleton buried with several coins featuring ancient wrestlers.
Archaeologists excavating near the ancient town of Aspendos in Turkey have discovered the grave of a person who may have been a pro athlete over two millennia ago.
“Coins with depictions of wrestlers and other artifacts found in the tomb indicate that the person buried here may have been involved in sports, perhaps even a wrestler,” Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkey’s minister of culture and tourism, said in a translated statement Monday (Aug. 10).
The archaeologists found the skeleton and artifacts in a box-style sarcophagus made of stone slabs while digging in one of the cemeteries outside Aspendos. The tomb likely dates to between 475 and 300 B.C., during the city’s Classical period, according to the statement.
Aspendos was a Greco-Roman city in southwest Turkey, roughly 10 miles (16 kilometers) inland from the Mediterranean Sea. The city was founded by Greek colonists in the fifth century B.C. and quickly rose to prominence as a trading center for salt, olive oil, wood and horses. Aspendos had a large Greek gymnasium as well as a large stadium that was erected in the second century A.D. and could hold up to 8,000 spectators who watched footraces, javelin contests and wrestling.
The ancient sport of wrestling is linked to Aspendos primarily through the city’s coinage. … more at … https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/2-400-year-old-grave-of-possible-ancient-pro-wrestler-discovered-in-turkey?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 12, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

2027 Senior World Team Procedures Approved In Olympic Weights

Aug 10, 2026, 1:38 PM EDT
by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Wrestling has approved and posted its procedures to determine the Senior World Team in the 18 Olympic weight classes for the 2027 season.
A distinct set of procedures is established for each Olympic discipline—men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. These procedures were developed and approved by the Sport Committee for each discipline, then received final approval from the USA Wrestling Board of Directors.
All three Olympic disciplines will determine their Senior World Team in the Olympic weight classes—six weights per discipline—at the U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, in April 2027. This is a significant procedural update from the 2026 Senior World Team selection process. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/august/10/2027-senior-world-team-procedures-approved-in-olympic-weights?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 12, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Wrestling grows in Texoma as more high schools add programs

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – This school year, athletic competition in Texoma will expand as multiple high schools have added wrestling programs.
Wichita Falls Independent School District (WFISD), Burkburnett, Harrold, and Holliday will all have new teams competing in the University Interscholastic League (UIL). So far, all of them except Burkburnett are confirmed to compete together in District 3, along with Henrietta and Vernon, which already have teams for the sport. The UIL has not yet verified which classification and district the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs will compete in. Additionally, Holliday is only adding a girls’ team as of now.
WFISD athletic director Devon Dorris talked about a reason that he believes led to the addition of wrestling at Memorial and Legacy High Schools, which is it came from a demand for there to be programs within Wichita Falls at the UIL level. “I think it’s a push from the community of wanting to have an opportunity for our local kids that have been wrestling as younger to be able to do it for our own school district in the UIL,” Dorris said.
As for Burkburnett, new head coach Akira Mierez believes that adding the sport will give its students the chance to join a community that already has high popularity in nearby Oklahoma. “I’m really excited that, you know, we’re able to provide that opportunity to them now to get back into a sport that they’ve been experiencing with maybe an outside lens,” Mierez said.
Seth Bell has coached wrestling at Henrietta since the fall of 2024. … more at … https://www.newschannel6now.com/2026/07/29/wrestling-grows-texoma-more-high-schools-add-programs/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 11, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Idaho Has Earned a Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Program: The Data No Longer Supports Waiting…

A Data-Driven Case for Expanding Athletic Opportunity in the Gem State
For years, the conversation surrounding women’s collegiate wrestling in Idaho centered on one question:

Is there enough talent to support a program?
The answer is now clear.
Idaho has developed into one of the nation’s fastest-growing producers of elite female wrestlers. Participation has surged, nationally ranked athletes are emerging from communities throughout the state, Fargo National All-Americans are becoming increasingly common, college commitments are growing, and Idaho-born wrestlers are earning All-American honors across multiple levels of collegiate competition.
Yet despite this success, Idaho remains one of the few wrestling-rich states without an in-state women’s collegiate wrestling opportunity. The issue is no longer whether Idaho has enough athletes to support a program.
The evidence demonstrates that Idaho has reached the point where establishing women’s collegiate wrestling represents a logical and strategic expansion of athletic opportunity.

Breaking the Barrier: Idaho’s Last Untapped Varsity Opportunity

Among Idaho’s eight colleges sponsoring intercollegiate athletics, nearly every traditional men’s sport has developed a corresponding women’s varsity opportunity. Across NCAA, NAIA, and junior college athletics, women compete in basketball, cross country, track and field, golf, soccer, tennis, swimming and diving, skiing, rodeo, volleyball, softball, and numerous other sports.
Wrestling remains the notable exception.
It is the only traditional collegiate sport currently offered in Idaho where a men’s varsity program exists without an equivalent women’s opportunity.
This disparity is particularly significant at North Idaho College (NIC), which has established one of the most successful men’s wrestling programs in junior college history. While NIC wrestling has built a national reputation through decades of championship success, Idaho’s female wrestlers continue to leave the state to pursue collegiate opportunities elsewhere. … more at … https://simplemanwrestling.com/2026/07/14/idaho-has-earned-a-womens-collegiate-wrestling-program-the-data-no-longer-supports-waiting/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 9, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

Beyond Wrestling: von Savoye Finds Growth Through ACC Experiences

By: Courtney Hicks, Duke Athletics Communications Summer Intern
DURHAM, N.C.– Student-athletes across the ACC gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, June 24-26 for the fourth annual ACC Career Trek, a professional development event designed to connect student-athletes with industry leaders and explore career opportunities beyond college athletics.
Throughout the three-day program, participants expanded their professional networks by meeting with representatives from 12 companies, participating in six industry panels, and gaining firsthand insight into what employers value in future candidates. Through hands-on experiences, panel discussions, and networking conversations, student-athletes explored a variety of career paths while developing skills to prepare for life after graduation.
Shortly after the ACC Career Trek, the ACC Unity Tour brought student-athletes, coaches and administrators to Washington, D.C., for a leadership-focused experience centered on community engagement, collaboration and service. Participants met with policymakers, historians, and community leaders while visiting historic landmarks and exploring ways to create meaningful change within their communities.
Redshirt junior wrestler Spencer von Savoye represented Duke at both the Career Trek and the Unity Tour. As a first-generation student navigating career opportunities for the first time, he gained valuable perspectives on professional development and leadership. “Being able to have the experience to talk to those employers, hear what they’re looking for and understand what I need to do to position myself for success was really valuable for me because I didn’t have that prior knowledge and I didn’t really know where to find it either,” von Savoye said. “It gave me the push I needed to take that step, reach out to those people, build those connections and make those calls.”
While the Career Trek emphasized professional networking and career exploration, the Unity Tour offered a different outlook, encouraging participants to engage with history, public service and leadership. Student-athletes toured Washington, D.C.’s historic landmarks, met with policy leaders and participated in community outreach, giving them a chance to reflect on their roles as leaders beyond athletics. “To be able to see the Declaration of Independence, … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2026/7/29/beyond-wrestling-von-savoye-finds-growth-through-acc-experiences?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 8, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

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