NCHSAA Board approves the addition of John Paul II Catholic and Durham Charter
John Paul II Catholic High School out of Greenville will join the association in 2027-28, and Durham Charter in 2026-27
Five new schools will be joining the N.C. High School Athletic Association over the next two years.
The NCHSAA Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve the implementation of two new schools as a part of the consent agenda at the 2026 spring meeting.
John Paul II Catholic High School in Greenville will join the association in 2027-28, and Durham Charter in 2026-27.
The addition of JPII comes as both a surprise and a milestone.
JPII will be the fifth Catholic school admitted to the association, joining Bishop McGuinness, Cardinal Gibbons, Charlotte Catholic, and Christ the King. Unlike the existing four, JPII is not a part of a Diocese.
The school left the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, which operates Cardinal Gibbons, in 2021. Bishop McGuinness, Charlotte Catholic, and Christ the King operate under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.
It is yet to be determined which conference JPII will be added to.
The Board of Directors previously approved the addition of three schools for the upcoming 2026-27 school year:
- Wilson’s Mills High School, a traditional public school in Johnston County
- Revolution Academy Charter School in Summerfield, Guilford County
- The Hawbridge School, a charter school in Saxapahaw, Alamance County
Durham Charter has been playing existing NCHSAA teams as a non-conference opponent. As a part of the approved consent agenda, the Lions will compete in the Triangle North 1A/2A starting this August.
As a part of today’s consent agenda, The Hawbridge School has been accepted into the Central Tar Heel 1A Conference for the 2026-2027 school year. … more at … https://www.highschoolot.com/story/nchsaa-board-approves-the-addition-of-john-paul-ii-catholic-and-durham-charter/22355109/
How do the New Additions Impact the Pac-12?
Last week, we learned that the Pac-12 is in the process of making power moves to strengthen the league from a wrestling standpoint. Before the 2025-26 season started, the conference announced that Northern Illinois would join for the 2026-27 season. The news released last week announced that Air Force, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, and South Dakota State would join, as well.
The question is, how does this move impact the conference going forward? Of course, the obvious answer is more stability and a nine-team conference tournament instead of the bare bones four-team tournament. Looking deeper than that, what could some of these weight classes look like with the new additions?
In 2026, the Pac-12 earned 13 allocations for the NCAA Tournament and added one additional at-large for a total of 14 wrestlers in Cleveland. The five new schools were responsible for 17 national qualifiers – one 2026 All-American, one past All-American and a bloodround’er.
Going forward, there’s a chance that the Pac-12 can double its representation at nationals with the changes. Playing devils advocate, one might say these new schools benefitted in some ways from a Big 12 conference with a bunch of allocations available. That’s true in … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/pac-12/how-do-the-new-additions-impact-the-pac-12-r100937/
Women’s College Wrestling Is Better With Jason Moorman In It
Jason Moorman is a transformational women’s college wrestling coach. And we need that to continue.
If actions speak, then Jason Moorman’s college coaching career is worth examining.
Moorman landed at Tarleton State after his surprise departure from King University on October 18, 2024. It should surprise no one that an influx of talent followed him to Stephenville, Texas.
Aine Drury was the biggest get. She finished second and fifth at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships after winning a California Community College title. She also reached Final X and won the 2025 U.S. Open.
Tarleton State competes in the NCWA division, which is sort of like a club division, despite spirited debate about its place among women’s college wrestling. It’s the only women’s college division with a national folkstyle championship.
So, when Dury won the 2026 NCWA at 145 pounds, it was folkstyle — not freestyle. Again, no surprise that Tarleton State won back-to-back NCWA team titles.
“(Jason) is the best collegiate women’s wrestling coach in the country. And it’s not close.” – North Central coach Joe Norton
There are others, like California’s Piper Pike. She watched Moorman coach at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships as a high schooler and decided she’d follow him to whichever college he was the head coach at. “When we watch the NCAA finals, I noticed his girls were in quite a few of them,” Pike said. “He’s a really good coach. I like everything about his style and his honesty, and I definitely gelled with that.”
Tarleton State was expected to add a Division I women’s wrestling program, but it hasn’t happened yet. And there’s no timeline on whether it will.
That leaves Moorman in wrestling purgatory. He wants to coach, and he wants to win, but we can’t expect him to stick around forever if the Texans don’t have a sanctioned program. The NCWA is a good option for some, but it isn’t the NCAA or the NAIA. That’s where Moorman needs to be. That’s where women’s wrestling needs him to be. He’s too valuable on the sidelines.
“Jason took me in and taught me how to utilize my talent and not let it go to waste.” – 2016 Olympian Haley Augello
His track record speaks for itself. Moorman started … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15844605-womens-college-wrestling-is-better-with-jason-moorman-in-it
UNC-Pembroke’s Davis Named Super Region 2 Rookie Of The Year
By: Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletic Communications Director
NWCA Release
MANHEIM, PA. – 125 pounder Cooper Davis capped off his impressive redshirt-freshman season by being named the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division 2 Super Region II Rookie of the Year, the organization announced.
The Davidson native earned the honor after finishing his season 24-10 overall with 19 bonus point victories (Eight pins, ten technical falls, one major decision). Davis brought home a third-place finish at the NCAA Super Region II Tournament to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships, where he went 1-2 with a win via technical fall. Davis becomes … more at … https://uncpbraves.com/news/2026/4/29/wrestling-davis-named-super-region-2-rookie-of-the-year.aspx
Nate Yetzer Named 2026 Open Mat Coach of the Year
The Roanoke College wrestling team recently concluded its best season in program history, finishing the dual meet season undefeated and ranked No. 1. In addition, the Maroons had their highest finish ever at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships.
Roanoke head wrestling coach Nate Yetzer was named NCAA Division III Wrestling Coach of the Year by the Open Mat on Tuesday. He had already earned the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III National Men’s Coach of the Year and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Coach of the Year honors.
Yetzer, an NCAA Division I All-American at Edinboro, was hired in 2020 as the first head wrestling coach at Roanoke College. The program started competition the following year and in just five years has become one of the top programs in NCAA Division III wrestling.
In the 2024-25 season, Roanoke finished 15-2 in dual meets, crowned its first national champion and finished in the top 15 at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships.
This past season, Yetzer guided the program to even greater heights. Roanoke finished the season as the nation’s No. 1 dual meet team after compiling a 15-0 dual meet record. The highlight of Roanoke’s dual meet season came at the NWCA National in January. … more at … https://roanokemaroons.com/news/2026/4/29/wrestling-nate-yetzer-named-2026-open-mat-coach-of-the-year.aspx
N.C. State Wrestling Alumnus, Mike Macchiavello, Wins U.S. Open
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Highlighted by NC State wrestling alumnus Michael Macchiavello winning the Senior Freestyle 92kg bracket, between former and current Wolfpack wrestlers, six landed on the podium at the 2026 U.S. Open in Las Vegas over the weekend.
Across the five days of competition at The Expo at World Market Center in Las Vegas, representatives of NC State wrestling delivered a strong showing at the highly competitive U.S. Open freestyle tournament over the weekend.
Between former and current athletes of the Wolfpack’s program, 11 wrestled in the tournament, while six of those guys found a place on the podium in their respective weight bracket. One alumnus (Mike Macchiavello) and two current freshmen (Will Denny and Cason Howle) earned placements in the top-three. … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2026/4/29/wrestling-alumnus-mike-macchiavello-wins-us-open
Newberry College Women’s Wrestling Recognized Among Nation’s Top Academic Programs by NWCA
NEWBERRY, S.C. — Last month, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has recognized the Newberry College women’s wrestling program among the top academic teams in the nation, as part of its 2026 NCAA Women’s Team Scholar All-America Awards.
Newberry earned a team GPA of 3.5795, placing 24th nationally in the NWCA’s Top 40 team rankings. The honor reflects the program’s continued commitment to excellence both in competition and in the classroom.
The NWCA Team Scholar All-America Awards recognize collegiate wrestling programs that demonstrate outstanding academic achievement across their entire roster. This year’s rankings highlight programs that have successfully balanced the demands of elite athletic performance with high academic standards.
In addition to the team recognition, Newberry student-athletes also earned individual academic honors from the NWCA:
Brittany Gordon, Freshman, Exercise Science … more at … https://newberrywolves.com/news/2026/4/21/womens-wrestling-newberry-college-womens-wrestling-recognized-among-nations-top-academic-programs-by-nwca.aspx
Buckeyes Celebrate 2025-26 Season, Announce Team Awards
Ohio State finished 18-1 in duals, boast five All-Americans
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State wrestling program celebrated its successful 2025-26 season at the annual awards banquet last weekend.
It was a tremendous season marked by an 18-1 dual record, the 2025 National Duals Championship, a runners-up finish at the 2026 Big Ten Championships, a fifth-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Championships with five individual All-Americans.
The 2025-26 individual award winners are:
Tommy Rowlands MVP – Jesse Mendez … more at … https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/news/2026/4/21/wrestling-buckeyes-celebrate-2025-26-season-announce-team-awards
Transfer Portal Update (4/22/2026)
The transfer portal continues to produce news on a regular basis and Tuesday was no exception. One of the top lightweight prospects in the nation, Christian Castillo, announced yesterday that he was heading home and transferring to Arizona State.
Castillo tabbed the #14 overall recruit in the high school Class of 2025 after winning a pair of Super 32 titles and making 2022 U17 World Teams in both styles. That year, Castillo earned a silver medal in freestyle. He made the 2023 U17 freestyle team, but did not bring back any hardware.
During his redshirt season at Iowa State, Castillo won seven of eight matches including a title at the Grand View Open and a fourth-place showing at the Midlands Championships. In the semifinals, Castillo fell in sudden victory to Northern Illinois national qualifier, Blake West.
The other notable portal news of the day is that two-time All-American Hunter Garvin will remain with Stanford. Garvin participated in the 2025 NWCA All-Star Classic and then went 1-1 before being lost for the year due to an injury. With Garvin back in the lineup, Chris Ayres’ team could unveil a lineup that features five returning All-Americans (Knox, Valencia, Cardenas, Posada). Without Garvin in the lineup, Stanford still managed to finish sixth at the 2026 NCAA Championships.
Transfers
Christian Castillo (Arizona State) – 125 lbs: From Iowa State
Travis Clawson (Chattanooga) – 125 lbs: Clarion
Alan Koehler (Wisconsin) – 125 lbs: From Nebraska
Brendan McCrone (North Carolina) – 125 lbs: From Ohio State
Vince Robinson (Nebraska) – 125 lbs: From NC State … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/transfer-portal-update-4222026-r100969/
Seven Blue Devils Tabbed to All-ACC Academic Team
DURHAM, N.C. — The ACC announced Wednesday members of the 2025-26 All-ACC Academic Wrestling team with seven Duke grapplers earning honors.
Receiving accolades for Duke were Raymond Adams, Connor Barket, David Hussey, Owen McGrory, Dylan Ross, Riley Rowan and Spencer von Savoye.
Adams and Barket received recognition for the third year in a row, while Hussey earned honors for the second time. McGrory, Ross, Rowan and von Savoye earned accolades for the first time in their careers.
Duke’s seven selections led all teams in the league, while Pitt and Stanford were second with six each. The Blue Devils have featured at least one All-ACC Academic Team selection in each of the last 19 years.
Academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team include a 3.0 grade point average for the previous two semesters and 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career, while being enrolled at the institution for at least one year and being classified as an undergraduate student. In addition, student-athletes must compete in at least 50 percent of their team’s athletic contests. … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2026/4/22/wrestling-seven-blue-devils-tabbed-to-all-acc-academic-team
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
Takedown Report 