Cardinal secures best NCAA finish in program history
2025-26 Season in Review
STANFORD, Calif. – In its third season under Chris Ayres, The Matt Gentry Head Wrestling Coach, Stanford produced a school record four All-Americans, its third individual NCAA champion and the highest finish in program history at the national tournament.
Stanford broke into the top 10 for the first time, securing sixth place at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland. Ayres was named the National Tournament Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).
The Cardinal was the runner-up at the ACC Championships in Blacksburg, Virginia, claiming two individual crowns. Overall, Stanford was 7-6 on the season and 4-2 in ACC duals.
The Cardinal qualified eight wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. Earning automatic berths were Nico Provo (125), Tyler Knox (133), Jack Consiglio (141), Aden Valencia (149), Daniel Cardenas (157), EJ Parco (165), Abraham Wojcikiewicz (184) and Angelo Posada (197).
The No. 10 seed, Valencia knocked off the undefeated No. 1 seed Shayne Van Ness of Penn State in overtime at 149 pounds to become the first Stanford freshman to win an NCAA crown and the fifth to achieve NCAA All-America status. Valencia was named the Co-ACC Wrestler of the Year and ACC Freshman of the Year following the NCAA Championships.
Provo, the No. 7 seed, placed third at 125 pounds to secure his first career All-America honors. After dropping his second-round match, he reeled off six straight wins on the back side of the bracket to take third, including his third win of the season over defending national champion Vincent Robinson of NC State. Posting a 20-6 record on the season, the third-place finish was the highest by a Cardinal 125-pounder in school history.
The No. 15 seed, Knox placed sixth at 133 pounds, climbing two spots higher on the podium than last season. He became the eighth wrestler in program history to earn multiple NCAA All-America honors, and his sixth-place showing is the best by a Stanford 133-pounder at the national tournament.
The No. 9 seed at 197 pounds, Posada also took sixth for the Cardinal. The Poway native became just the second true freshman All-American in program history. He was 20-8 in his first season on The Farm, leading the team with eight falls.
Stanford’s sixth-place team-finish in Cleveland was five spots higher than its previous best of 11th set in 2011. For the first time in school history, the Cardinal has produced multiple All-Americans in three consecutive seasons. It marks the sixth time in the past seven years Stanford has had multiple All-Americans in the same season, and the 12th time overall.
Ayres was also named ACC Coach of the Year following the season. Earning All-ACC honors for Stanford were individual champions Cardenas (157) and Consiglio (141), and runners-up Knox (133), Posada (197) and Provo (125). Three Cardinal picked up ACC Wrestler of the Week awards during the season – Valencia (Nov. 11), Consiglio (Dec. 9) and Provo (Jan. 20).
The Cardinal closed out the dual season on a four-match winning streak. Stanford was third as a team at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 5-6). Five Cardinal reached the podium individually, including third-place outings from Provo (125), Consiglio (141) and Cardenas (157). Stanford finished 16th as a team at the 61st Ken Kraft Midlands Championships (Dec. 29-30) in Evanston, Illinois. Three Cardinal turned in podium finishes – true freshman Brokton Borelli (4th – 197 pounds), Wojcikiewicz … https://gostanford.com/news/2026/06/30/2025-26-season-in-review-wres?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Meet the college wrestling star propelling the USA towards Rugby World Cup 2027
For Cory Daniel and the USA Men’s Eagles, the inaugural Nations Cup arrives at a useful point in their journey to next year’s Rugby World Cup.
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The July window will give Scott Lawrence’s side three Tests against Portugal, Zimbabwe and Spain, with the wider competition also featuring Tonga. For the USA, it is a block that should offer a clearer read on where the squad is, which players are forcing their way into the picture, and how much progress has been made since the start of the year.
For Daniel, it is another chance to keep building.
The Old Glory DC back-row has never had the standard rugby route. He came to the sport late, having first competed in wrestling and American football, and only started playing rugby when he was almost 24. His college wrestling coach connected him with the game, and although there was plenty to learn, Daniel found a way to digest it.
“I started playing it, and I fell in love with it pretty early on,” Daniel told RugbyPass. “There were definitely challenges, for sure, but with my football background, I understood that, if you simplify the game as much as you can, one team has the ball and is trying to score, and the other team is trying to stop them.”
That football background helped with the basics of handling, evasion and contact skills. Wrestling however shaped far more of the player he has become.
“With the wrestling, that really helped me, especially in the tackle area and the breakdown area,” he said. “I did not realise early on, but it was probably the best sport I could have transitioned from.”
That remains clear in his game. Daniel has become one of the Eagles’ more dependable defensive forwards who regularly gets through heavy contact work and has built much of his value around tackling, breakdown pressure and repeat effort.
Lawrence sees that value in straightforward terms. “Cory is the kind of no-nonsense, work hard, love your family, love your country individual that represents the true heartbeat of our country.”
Daniel did not brush off the comment when asked about it. “I think that is a good way to describe someone like myself, and it is pretty special he said something like that.” … more at … https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/meet-the-college-wrestling-star-propelling-the-usa-towards-rugby-world-cup-2027/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Pat Santoro to Step Away From Men’s Wrestling Head Coaching Position; Brad Dillon ’04 Named Head Coach
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After more than a quarter-century of service to Lehigh wrestling as a coach, including the last 18 seasons as head coach, Pat Santoro is announcing his retirement from his position as the Lawrence White Head Coach of Men’s Wrestling. Former Lehigh All-American and current Associate Head Coach Brad Dillon ’04 will lead the Mountain Hawks into the 2026-27 season.
“Pat Santoro represents the very best of Lehigh University and college wrestling,” said Lehigh’s Murray H. Goodman ’48 Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson. “For more than a quarter century—first as an elite assistant and then for 18 exceptional seasons as our head coach—Pat has led this program with unmatched integrity, passion, and competitive excellence. His legacy is not just measured by the six EIWA team titles or the dozens of All-Americans he mentored, but by the profound, lifelong impact he has made on generations of student-athletes. We are deeply grateful for his tireless service, his leadership, and his unwavering commitment to the Brown and White, and we wish him and his family the absolute best in this next chapter.”
“After much prayer, reflection, and many conversations with my family, I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from Lehigh wrestling,” Santoro said. “This program has been such a huge part of my life and a great blessing to me and my family. It’s hard to put into words what Lehigh wrestling has meant to me. When I look back, what stands out most are the people and the relationships. I’m incredibly grateful for the student-athletes who trusted us, the coaches and staff who gave so much, and the alumni, parents, and supporters who have poured into this program over the years. Lehigh wrestling has given me far more than I could ever give back, and I will always carry those memories and relationships with me.”
After playing an integral role to Lehigh wrestling’s renaissance in the late 1990s under Greg Strobel, … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2026/6/25/national-wrestling-coaches-association-pat-santoro-to-step-away-from-mens-wrestling-head-coaching-position-brad-dillon-04-named-head-coach.aspx
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
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 