Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Three Returning NCAA Champions Highlight 149 Pounds

Who will emerge from the stacked 149-pound field, featuring three NCAA champions and a returning national finalist?
What’s better than one returning NCAA champion? How about three?
That’s what wrestling fans get at 149 pounds, with Stanford’s Aden Valencia as the returning 2026 champion at 149, Oklahoma State’s Sergio Vega as the returning 2026 champion at 141, and Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson as the returning 2024 champion at 149. 
Valencia entered nationals as the 10-seed with seven losses, but had a magical run capped by an 8-5 sudden victory win over Penn State’s Shayne Van Ness. Most of Valencia’s losses were close, taking a couple of lopsided setbacks before finding his stride late.  Regarding Van Ness, he may be the best current wrestler across all weights who has yet to win a title. He finished third in 2023 and 2025, before reaching the finals in 2026. He was seeded first and finished the season 26-1. 
Vega moves up from 141, where he won the NCAA Championships as a true freshman without surrendering a takedown. He had close wins during the season, but his stingy defense and his ever-evolving takedown game make him a title threat at a new weight. 
Henson missed last season due to redshirt, but he’s sure to add intrigue to this weight. He can win whatever type of match you want, from a 1-0 war of attrition (2024 NCAA semis against Ridge Lovett) to a 15-7 shootout (2024 NCAA finals against Austin Gomez). Tony Robie, his coach, calls him one of the most mentally tough wrestlers in the game, and he’ll need every bit of it against this field. 
It doesn’t stop there. 
Anthony Echemendia transferred from Iowa State to Nebraska,  … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/16184090-three-returning-ncaa-champions-highlight-149-pounds?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

October 2, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

How NCAA Athlete Eligibility Limbo Has Sown ‘Actual Chaos’

As NCAA eligibility remains a moving target, college coaches, GMs, and industry lawyers told Front Office Sports they’re all still trying to sift through the upheaval.
As a college sports coach, it’s almost always reasonable to assume a Friday night in late July will be an off-night. No one is in season since football training camps don’t start until August, rosters and revenue-sharing budgets are set, and there’s no transfer portal window to obsessively track. 
But on Friday, July 31 at about 7 p.m. ET, Colorado district court judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction in the case Wisne v. NCAA, which upended college sports. The ruling essentially forced the NCAA to immediately allow all players who entered college in 2022, but who had exhausted four years of eligibility, a fifth year to compete. 
Thousands of players immediately became eligible to join an NCAA team in every sport. “I think I found out how everyone else found out—social media. Someone texting me a Twitter link,” one SEC football GM told Front Office Sports, who added that not only were they off duty, but their compliance directors were away on vacation. Another source in the athlete-compensation space told FOS they were “hanging out with coaches” Friday night when “things were afoot.”  
Their once-quiet evenings now turned upside down, coaches in virtually every sport scrambled to determine how the late-night ruling could give them an unprecedented roster opportunity. Agents raced to market players they thought wouldn’t have another shot at NCAA sports. NIL operators sprang into action, brainstorming how to fund extra players. 
The NCAA is using every possible avenue to reverse the ruling. “We are working to restore the status quo as soon as possible, because the status quo represented the considered judgement of the membership about what was best for all student-athletes, including the many thousands already on campus  … more at … https://frontofficesports.com/article/how-ncaa-athlete-eligibility-limbo-has-sown-absolute-chaos/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

October 1, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

When Does The College Wrestling Season Start? Here’s The Schedule

The 2026-27 college wrestling season begins in early November. Here’s what to know about major events, the NCAA Championships and more.
The college wrestling offseason is winding down, and programs across the country are preparing for another NCAA season.
While schedules vary from team to team, the start of the college wrestling season marks the return of dual meets, open tournaments and some of the sport’s biggest regular-season events. 

As wrestlers begin their journeys toward conference championships and the NCAA Championships, fans will once again have opportunities to watch many of the nation’s top athletes compete.
Here’s what to know about the start of the college wrestling season.

When Does The College Wrestling Season Start?

The NCAA wrestling season typically begins in early November, with programs returning to competition after months of preseason training.
Teams usually open their seasons with a mix of dual meets, open tournaments and invitational events before conference competition begins later in the year. The opening weeks of the season often provide the first look at incoming freshmen, transfers and returning All-Americans.
As schedules continue to be announced, fans can expect  … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/16184226-when-does-the-2026-27-college-wrestling-season-start?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=substack

October 1, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Most Collegiate Teams’ Historic Wins

Last season Oklahoma State became the first, and so far only, college team to win over 1,200 dual meets. Only six other schools have over 1,000 wins. Springfield College is the only non-division I school in this exclusive group as they surpassed 1,100 wins. The following schools are listed in descending order by the number of wins.
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All Time College Wrestling Teams – Years of CompetitionPer
   Sept. 2026Yearwinningest coach at that team
#SchoolLev.WLTPct. LatestYrs.Avg.Most Wins CoachYears
1Oklahoma State (A & M)I1202141220.8891914-1915202610711.23Smith, John1991-2024
2Iowa State UniversityI1162451190.7181915-1943,’45-202610910.66Nichols, Harold J., Dr.1948-1985
3Springfield College MAIII1110519260.6791914-1915202610810.28Parker, Doug1955-1990
4Iowa University ofI1098243290.8121910-191120261169.47Gable, Dan1976-1997
5Oregon State UniversityI1080389280.7311908-1909202610510.29Thomas, Dale1957-1990
6Minnesota, University ofI1052498270.6761919-192220261079.83Robinson, J1986-2016
7Penn State UniversityI1032305360.7651908-190920261188.75Sanderson, Cael2009-2026
8Lehigh UniversityI987468230.6761910-191120261168.51Sheridan, Billy1912-1952
9Oklahoma UniversityI947446330.6761919-192020261029.28Abel, Stan1973-1993
10U.S. Naval AcademyI943339260.7311908-190920261187.99Peery, Ed1961-1987
11Wilkes UniversityIII940464140.6681946-194720268011.75Reese, John G.1953-1995
12Wartburg CollegeIII906269140.7681947-194820267911.47Miller, Jim1991-2013
13Cornell UniversityI888426200.6731907-190820261187.53Koll, Rob1993-2020
14Michigan, University ofI885387260.6921921-192220261058.43Keen, Clifford P.1925-42, 45-70
15Appalachian StateI877476240.6461927-’41,’46-53, 55-2026889.97Mance, Paul1976-2009
16Ohio State UniversityI876544280.6151920-192120261068.26Hellickson, Russ1981-2006
17Lycoming CollegeIII87234970.7131956-195720267012.46Crebs, Roger1993-2026
18Olivet College (Mich)III85930280.7381964-196520266213.85Klein, Jare1968-2001
19Northern Iowa Univ. (IA St. Teachers) I835458290.6431922-192320261028.19Patten, Chuck1965-1983
20Kent State UniversityI833432120.6571927-19282026968.68Begala, Joe1930-42, ’45-’71
21College of New Jersey, The III82719770.8061966-196720266013.78Icenhower, David1976-2011
22North Carolina StateI808492220.6201924-’31, 1932-2026988.24Guzzo, Bob1975-2004
23Lock Haven UniversityI807414130.6591939-42,’46-2026839.72Poff, Carl1990-2002
24Wisconsin UniversityI807560370.5881910-191120261147.08Davis, Barry1993-2018
25Indiana UniversityI789641290.5511909-191420261176.74Goldman, Duane1992-2018
26Nebraska UniversityI786582290.5731910-191120261077.35Manning, Mark2000-2026
27North Idaho Jr. Coll.JUCO78314840.8401969-197020265713.74Owen, John1977-1997
28Ursinus College (PA)III782387210.6661929-19302026978.06Racich, Bill1980-2018
29Illinois, University ofI772542280.5861910-191120261166.66Johnson, Mark1992-2010
30Rutgers UniversityI755477240.6111930-19312026918.30Goodale, Scott2007-2026
31North Carolina UniversityI750559190.5721922-192320261047.21Lam, Bill1974-2003
32U.S. Army (West Point)I743498370.5961921-192220261057.08Alitz, LeRoy1954-1977
33PrincetonI743728300.5051904-190520261226.09Johnston, John1959-1994
34Augsburg CollegeIII73816530.8161948-19492026789.46Swenson, Jeff1980-’84,’86-’07
35Ohio Northern UniversityIII728368110.6631966-196720266012.13Beaschler, Ron1988-2026
36St. Cloud State Univ.II727351170.6721949-19502026779.44Costanzo, Steve2006-2026
37Calf. State POLY SLOI709486180.5921948-19492026789.09Hitchcock, Vaughn1963-1985
38Franklin & MarshallI709626190.5311923-19242026997.16Mayser, Charles W.1923-1944
39Virginia TechI704536190.5671920-192120261016.97Cheynet, Jerry1974-1996
40Wabash CollegeIII70325090.7351955-19562026719.90Servies, Max1960-2000
41Pittsburgh-JohnstownII69717050.8021974-197520265213.40Pecora, Pat1976-2024
42Cornell CollegeIII679514110.5691922-192320261026.66Duroe, Mike2005-2018
43Tenn.-Chattanooga, Univ. ofI674400120.6261951-19522026758.99Morgan, Jim1969-1984
44Delaware Valley UniversityIII67326780.7141962-196320266410.52Marshall, Robert (Floyd?)1974-2002
45York College (PA)III67335840.6521968-196920265811.60Kessler, Tom1992-2013
46Minnesota State-Mankato II671410190.6191950-19512026768.83Macias, Robert1950-’80,’81-’88
47West Virginia UniversityI671522170.5621920-192120261016.64Turnbull, Craig1978-2014
48Purdue UniversityI668745360.4731913-’18,’19-33,’37-20261076.24Reyes, Jessie1992-2007
49PennsylvaniaI667620320.5181904-190520261225.47Reina, Roger1986-’05,’17-’25
50Missouri University ofI666430140.6061923-37, ’59-2026818.22Smith, Brian1998-2026
51Maryland, University ofI663488210.5751939-42, 1946-2026837.99McHugh, John1963-’69, ’78-’03
52Ithaca CollegeIII662365180.6421930-1936, ’46-2026867.70Nichols, Martin1996-2026\
53St. John’s UniversityIII659385130.6301941-’42, ’462026818.14Elton, John1981-2004
54Michigan State UniversityI659595270.5251903-05,1921-’2220261086.10Peninger, Grady1963-1986
55Central Michigan Univ.I658371170.6371955-19562026719.27Borrelli, Tom1991-2024
56East Stroudsburg State Univ.II656626210.5121930-’42, -’46-2026927.13Whitman, Clyde H. (Red?)1961-71,’72-79
57Buffalo Univ. (SUNY)I650574150.5311933-’42, ’46-2026897.30Michael, Ed 1970-1991


September 30, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

Mid-Plains Community College … Adds Wrestling at North Platte Campus

Mid-Plains Community College will operate under a $63.5 million budget for 2026-27 after the Board of Governors approved the budget and a $5.79 million property tax request Wednesday night.
The board approved a property tax request of $5,791,384 and the 2026-27 budget, which includes expenses and transfers totaling $63,492,004.
No members of the public spoke during either of the two public hearings held before the meeting on the property tax request or the college’s budget.
MPCC President Ryan Purdy said the college’s property tax situation has changed substantially over the past three years. “Over the past three years, our property taxes have went from that $0.08 levy down to a $0.02 levy with the future fund going on,” Purdy said.
He said MPCC previously collected roughly $17 million in property taxes, compared with approximately $5.7 million under the current system.
Purdy said the current capital levy is particularly important because it is essentially the college’s funding source for capital projects across its campuses. “We get the capital fund, which is $5.7 million on a $201 million physical plant across all of our campuses,” Purdy said. “And anything that won’t cover, then we have to go privately fundraising.”
Purdy also addressed the more than $22.7 million in unused budget authority the board approved carrying forward from previous years.
He emphasized that the figure does not represent money sitting in a college bank account. “It is strictly authority,” Purdy said. “We don’t plan on using it. But if a new governor comes in or whatever, and they say we’re going back the way it was, then we would have the ability to shift it back to the way we were funded previously.”
The board also approved the addition of men’s and women’s intercollegiate wrestling at North Platte Community College beginning with the 2027-28 academic year.
Purdy said the decision is tied to the college’s broader strategic enrollment efforts and an effort to keep students from the MPCC service area close to home.
The college looked at athletic programs that are growing and have strong participation throughout its service area. Purdy said there are currently 29 boys wrestling programs and 25 girls wrestling programs in the MPCC service area. “Women’s wrestling is the fastest growing sport in collegiate athletics, regardless of division,” Purdy said. … more at … https://northplattepost.com/posts/6d228376-b1e5-4a32-95dc-3cf2a5101dc6?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

September 29, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

Girls High School National 2026-27 Preseason Wrestling Rankings

Girls national high school preseason wrestling rankings for 2026-2027 season are out!

Girls national high school preseason wrestling rankings for 2026-2027 season are out!
We strive to craft accurate and precise rankings, both with regard to the personal information included and to ensure the rankings properly reflect the wins and losses on the wrestlers’ resumes. 
Events that occurred toward the end of last season (such as Fargo and the World Team Trials) will be given the most weight when factoring the records from which we derive the rankings. With all that said, and especially given that this is the first set of rankings of the season, we are bound to have made some errors, either with incorrect information or from omitting or misjudging various wins and losses. 
Which is why we encourage, nay, insist, that you contact us with any corrections or feedback. You can reach our ranker via email at [andrew.spey@flosports.tv] or on X (formerly Twitter) at @speywrestle. You will help make are rankings better!
And don’t forget to tune in to Who’s Number One presented by Cliff Keen … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/16201226-girls-high-school-national-2026-27-preseason-wrestling-rankings?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

September 29, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

USA Wrestling announces six recipients of 2026 Women’s College Growth Fund

Sep 22, 2026, 4:52 PM EDT by Zack Chavez, USA Wrestling

USA Wrestling, in partnership with the Greg Strobel Leadership Fund and through a private donation, has announced the six recipients of the newly established Women’s College Growth Fund — a landmark program providing strategic funding to support the growth and sustainability of women’s college wrestling.
This year’s recipients include Alara Boyd of Brown University, Maya Letona of Columbia University, Kendra Ryan of Northwestern University, Kevin Pine of UNLV, Amani Jones of Oklahoma State University and Alejandro Torres of Arizona State University.
“As a recipient, this will make a meaningful impact by giving me the opportunity to grow within wrestling from a different side,” said Amani Jones, assistant coach at Oklahoma State’s Cowgirl Wrestling Club. “I’ve spent most of my life as an athlete, and now I’m able to grow as a coach while giving back to a sport that has given me so much. Being able to help create opportunities for the next generation that weren’t always available to women before is really special to me.”
Each recipient of the Women’s College Growth Fund will receive an annual $5,000 stipend for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years. Because Columbia University will officially add women’s wrestling as a varsity sport … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/september/22/usa-wrestling-announces-six-recipients-of-2026-women-s-college-growth-fund?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

September 28, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Elizabeth City State Vikings inaugural NCWA season has ambitious vision for growth of wrestling at historic HBCU

– – ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Wrestling is returning to Elizabeth City State University as the Vikings prepare for their inaugural season as members of the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) and its Mid-Atlantic Conference. The new program grew from a conversation between a group of ECSU aviation students — Kevin Jones, Shawn Fields, Stephen Norwood and Michael Johnson — and Dr. Tim Goodale, an Endowed Professor at ECSU and former NCAA Division I wrestler at Old Dominion University. Seeing Goodale wearing a USA Wrestling jacket in the university’s newly renovated dining hall sparked a conversation that ultimately developed into a plan to bring collegiate wrestling back to the ECSU campus.

With wrestling mats secured and practice space available in historic Williams Hall Gym, that idea has quickly grown into a program with as many as 30 student members. Jones and Fields have played key leadership roles in recruiting students and helping manage the program’s day-to-day development. ECSU previously sponsored NCAA Division II wrestling through 1998, and the return of the sport has also generated enthusiasm among alumni and members of the surrounding wrestling community.

Leading the Vikings will be Dr. Goodale, who competed at Old Dominion University from 1999–2003 under legendary coach Gray Simons and has more than 25 years of coaching experience at the youth and high school levels. He currently oversees Bull Island Grappling, a nonprofit youth wrestling organization in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Local high school coaches Jen Smith and Lorenzo King have also supported the developing ECSU program by opening their wrestling rooms to the team during the offseason and assisting with coaching.

The Vikings enter the NCWA with both immediate competitive goals and a much larger vision. ECSU’s strong aviation program has already attracted several members of the wrestling team, and the program expects academics to become one of its early strengths. With exceptionally affordable tuition and degree opportunities in aviation and other high-demand fields, ECSU Wrestling hopes to become an attractive destination for student-athletes seeking both a quality education and the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. The long-term objective is to demonstrate how wrestling can positively impact enrollment, retention, academic performance, graduation rates and alumni involvement, creating a pathway for the program to continue growing.

Competition will begin immediately. ECSU plans to wrestle at events hosted by programs including East Carolina University and The Apprentice School, compete in the NCWA Mid-Atlantic postseason and host an invitational on its own campus. Among the wrestlers expected to … more at … https://ncwa.net/news/2026/elizabeth-city-state-university-wrestling-joins-ncwa?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

September 28, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

Mississippi Wrestling Foundation partners with USA Bracketing for high school wrestling events and weight management operations

USA Wrestling and the Mississippi Wrestling Foundation (MWF) have partnered to use USA Bracketing for all wrestling events, results, statistics, and weight-management technology needs within the Mississippi High School Activities Association, beginning with the 2026-27 wrestling season.

Under the partnership, all regional, sectional and State Tournament wrestling events in Mississippi will use USA Bracketing. Additionally, all school-hosted dual meets and tournaments can use the software at no additional cost to the school or host and stream to multiple providers with fully integrated graphics.

“USA Wrestling is thrilled to partner with the Mississippi Wrestling Foundation as it implements our USA Bracketing event management software to enhance high school wrestling operations within the Mississippi High School Activities Association,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. “USA Bracketing is designed to meet the technology needs of state associations, and our partnership with the MWF will help both organizations elevate their programs. We thank the MWF for choosing to work with us and look forward to great success with this partnership.”

USA Bracketing grants event hosts the ability to manage multiple levels of competition — including varsity and junior varsity — while running individual and dual meets within a single event.

“We are excited to begin this new partnership with USA Bracketing,” … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/september/21/mississippi-wrestling-foundation-partners-with-usa-bracketing-for-mississippi-high-school-activities-association-wrestling-events-and-weight-management-operations?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

September 27, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Three NCWA Transition Programs Successfully Move to NCAA Division II

DALLAS, Texas — Three wrestling programs that utilized the National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s Transition Program have successfully reached full NCAA Division II membership, marking another significant success for the NCWA’s role in supporting collegiate wrestling programs moving between national governing organizations. The University of Jamestown and Point Park University became full NCAA Division II members effective September 1, 2026, while Menlo College received full active Division II membership effective September 11 following a successful appeal to the NCAA. All three institutions are now eligible for NCAA Division II postseason competition.

The NCWA Transition Program was established to provide postseason opportunities for established wrestling programs whose institutions are changing competitive divisions and are temporarily ineligible for postseason competition within their new governing organization. Under NCWA rules, transition programs may compete in NCWA Conference Championships and advance qualifiers to the NCWA National Championships during that transition period. The arrangement allows student-athletes to continue competing for conference and national honors while their universities complete the NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA membership process.

Menlo College provided perhaps the most dramatic example of what that opportunity can produce. The Oaks won the NCWA Men’s National Championship in both 2025 and 2026 while transitioning to NCAA Division II. Menlo’s NCAA-transition team crowned three individual national champions and produced 10 All-Americans in 2025, then followed with six national champions and nine All-Americans in 2026. Over those two NCWA championship seasons, Menlo accumulated two team national championships, nine individual national titles and 19 All-American honors. Menlo scored 235.5 points to win the 2026 championship after scoring 214.5 in its 2025 title run.

The University of Jamestown also made an immediate impact during its NCAA transition. The Jimmies captured the 2026 NCWA Northwest Conference Championship behind seven individual champions … more at … https://ncwa.net/news/2026/three-ncwa-transition-programs-successfully-move-to-ncaa-division-ii?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

September 27, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

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