Campbell Wrestling announces 2026-27 schedule
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell wrestling and head coach TJ Dudley announced the program’s 2026-27 schedule Wednesday afternoon. Dudley enters his second season at the helm. The schedule includes one Big 10 contest, one Pac-12 bout, two ACC matchups and seven home duals.
“We are excited about the schedule we’ve put together this season,” Dudley said. “It gives our guys opportunities to challenge themselves against high-level competition throughout the year while continuing to grow and prepare for March.”
Campbell opens the season at the Southeast Open in Roanoke, Va., on Nov. 1. The Camels host Northern Colorado on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. for their first home dual of the season before returning to tournament action at the Life Open in Marietta, Ga., on Nov. 21.
The Camels begin SoCon competition on the road against Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., on Dec. 10.
Campbell closes the calendar year with a pair of duals against Power Four opponents in Lincoln, Neb. The Camels face Nebraska on Dec. 19 before taking on Virginia on Dec. 20. … more at … https://gocamels.com/news/2026/9/23/wrestling-announces-2026-27-schedule.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
MAIN STREET MAYHEM IS COMING TO TARBORO!
We’re taking wrestling out of the gym and into the streets!
Join us Saturday, October 17, 2026, for Main Street Mayhem an action packed outdoor wrestling tournament taking over the heart of Historic Downtown Tarboro!
Come for the wrestling and enjoy the full Main Street experience, with food trucks 
, vendors 
, and all-day excitement!
Lanham Announces 2026-27 Duke Wrestling Schedule
DURHAM, N.C. — Duke wrestling head coach Glen Lanham announced the 2026-27 schedule Tuesday, a slate that features seven home dates, six ACC duals and a challenging mix of nationally competitive opponents.
The Blue Devils open action Sunday, Nov. 1, with their Black and Blue Duals in Card Gymnasium before officially opening the season Nov. 7 at the Journeymen Duals in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
At the Journeymen Duals, Duke will face Bloomsburg and Navy before returning to action Sunday, Nov. 8, at Wranglemania in Bethlehem.
Duke then travels to Princeton, New Jersey, for the Princeton Duals where the Blue Devils will face Princeton, Ohio and Chattanooga. The Blue Devils close out November with a road match at Appalachian State Nov. 20 before returning home to host UNI Sunday, Nov. 22, in Card Gymnasium.
The month of December opens with a pair of matches in Fargo, North Dakota, against North Dakota State and Michigan State Dec. 4. The Blue Devils then return home to host Gardner-Webb Dec. 18 in Cameron Indoor Stadium before closing out the calendar year at the Journeymen College Duals Dec. 20 in Binghamton, New York, against Buffalo, Northern Colorado and Penn State.
Once again, Duke opens the new year at the Southern Scuffle Jan. 2-3 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Blue Devils then begin ACC competition Jan. 8 at NC State in Raleigh before closing non-conference play by hosting Brown Friday, Jan. 15 in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke continues its ACC slate with three matches to close out January, … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2026/9/22/lanham-announces-2026-27-duke-wrestling-schedule?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Tampering, impermissible recruiting violations occurred in Iowa State men’s wrestling program
Impermissible contact violations occurred in the Iowa State men’s wrestling program when local regional training center assistant coach Chris Perry had contact with two transfer student-athletes and one of those student-athletes was not yet in the Transfer Portal, according to an agreement released by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel.
The school and enforcement staff agreed that the violations in this case occurred after the then-head men’s wrestling coach communicated with an exiting men’s wrestling head coach at another university and expressed interest in recruiting two of that coach’s student-athletes. After that exchange, Perry, who worked as an assistant coach at the Cyclone Regional Training Center (where the then-Iowa State head men’s coach also served as head coach of the training center team) contacted the prospective transfers. Perry called one prospect, who was not in the Transfer Portal, on two separate occasions and texted him 14 times, including requesting that individual’s transcripts, providing information about potential revenue-share payments and cost of attendance, and explaining that the prospect should request a “do not contact” tag when his name was entered into the Transfer Portal. Perry also provided a “commitment” graphic to the second prospect to share on social media when he committed to Iowa State.
Both student-athletes ― who committed to Iowa State on the same day they entered the Transfer Portal ―indicated during interviews with enforcement that Perry was their first point of contact and primary recruiter to the school.
Although Perry was not employed by Iowa State, his work to recruit the student-athletes to Iowa State triggered “booster” status because he was working in an individual capacity to represent the school’s interests in recruiting conversations. As a result, his contact with those prospects constitutes impermissible contact violations, … more at … https://www.ncaa.org/news/tampering-impermissible-recruiting-violations-occurred-in-iowa-state-mens-wrestling-program/
N.C. State Wrestling Announces 2026-27 Schedule
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State wrestling has released its schedule for the 2026-27 season, as announced by head coach Pat Popolizio, Monday afternoon.
The schedule features 11 regular-season duals, with six at home and five on the road.
Special events and tournaments include Southeast Open in Salem, VA, JourneyMen Collegiate Classic in Bethlehem, PA, National Duals in Tulsa, OK and Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, TN.
Season tickets are still available and can be purchased on GoPack.com. Individual-match tickets will also be available on the site once they go on sale. Start times and television information for the duals will be announced at a later date.
The Wolfpack will open the 2026-27 season at home in Reynolds Coliseum on Thursday, Nov. 12, when Navy comes to Raleigh. The following week, Ohio State will make the trip to Raleigh for a match up on Nov. 20. … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2026/9/21/wrestling-announces-2026-27-schedule?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
UNC Wrestling Announces 2026-27 Schedule
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Entering year four under the direction of head coach Rob Koll, the North Carolina wrestling program has announced its schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.
The slate, which features six matchups inside Carmichael Arena, is also highlighted by the 2026 National Duals Invitational on Dec. 12-13 and a neutral-site meeting versus South Dakota State at the Sanford Pentagon on Dec. 18.
Carolina will open the season on Nov. 1 traveling to the Southeast Open, followed by the program’s Blue and White Showcase the following Friday (Nov. 6). To close the opening month of the season, the Tar Heels will compete in the Mountaineer Invitational (Nov. 15) and host Northern Iowa on Nov. 21.
In December, UNC will take part in the two-day National Duals Invitational, a groundbreaking $1 million collegiate wrestling event, sponsored by Paycom. Carolina, one of 16 teams announced for the event, will compete in the two-day event taking place Dec. 12-13 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.
Defending National Duals Invitational champion Ohio State will be joined in the field by Arizona State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Iowa State, Minnesota, Missouri, NC State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Stanford, Virginia Tech and Wyoming. Together, the 16 programs represent some of the most storied traditions in collegiate wrestling, combining for 54 NCAA team titles and over 400 individual titles.
Carolina’s return to the BOK Center will be the first for the program since the 2023 NCAA Championships, when 157-pounder Austin O’Connor claimed his second national championship. With the win, O’Connor joined T.J. Jaworsky as the second Tar Heel to win multiple national championships in their career.
To end 2026, the Tar Heels will face South Dakota State at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Dec. 18, followed by a matchup versus App State on Dec. 20, held at Chapel Hill High School.
Opening the new calendar year, UNC will travel to Coralville, Iowa, for Soldier Salute (Jan. 2-3), a tournament where the Tar Heels finished runner-up a season ago. Carolina will begin the Atlantic Coast Conference portion of the slate on Jan. 8 at Pitt, with a non-conference matchup on the road at West Virginia less than 48 hours later (Jan. 10).
The Tar Heels conclude January with two home duals against Virginia (Jan. 15) and NC State (Jan. 29), with a road dual out west at Stanford in between (Jan. 22).
In the final month of the regular season, Carolina will stay within the Tar Heel State, hosting Virginia Tech (Feb. 5), a road dual at Duke (Feb. 12) and the regular-season finale against Campbell (Feb. 20).
The 2027 ACC Championships is slated for March 6-7 at Victory Heights Arena, hosted by Pitt. The 2027 NCAA Wrestling Championships are set for March 18-20 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
The Tar Heels enter the upcoming season with four returning NCAA qualifiers from a season ago, including the program welcoming nine newcomers in the offseason, seven freshmen and two transfers. … more at … https://goheels.com/news/2026/9/15/wrestling-announces-2026-27-schedule?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Southern Virginia University Announces Pete Hansen ’14 as New Men’s Wrestling Head Coach
BUENA VISTA, Va. – Southern Virginia University Director of Athletics Josh Monsen has announced the hiring of Pete Hansen ’14 as the university’s next men’s wrestling head coach.
Hansen becomes the fifth head coach in program history, succeeding Brigg Hoopes, who stepped down following four seasons at the helm.
A Southern Virginia alumnus, Hansen was one of the program’s standout student-athletes, earning NCWA All-America honors in 2009 while also competing on the football team from 2005–09.
“Bringing an alumnus back to lead this program is incredibly special, and Coach Hansen made an immediate impression on us from day one,” Monsen said. “He pairs a deep wealth of knowledge with an innate understanding of our program’s culture. His character-driven leadership is exactly what we were looking for, and we cannot wait to see him guide this program into its next chapter.”
Prior to returning to Southern Virginia, Hansen served as the inaugural head coach for the men’s and women’s wrestling programs at Emory & Henry, where he guided multiple national qualifiers and All-Americans in both the NCWA and NCWWC. He has also coached football at the collegiate level, serving on the staffs at Southern Virginia, Frostburg State, Methodist, and Emory & Henry. “I am honored to be named the next head wrestling coach at Southern Virginia University,” … more at … https://knightathletics.com/news/2026/7/10/mens-wrestling-southern-virginia-university-announces-pete-hansen-14-as-new-mens-wrestling-head-coach.aspx
Led by Girls Flag Football and Girls Wrestling, High School Sports Participation Increases for Fifth Consecutive Year
Led by the continual growth of girls flag football and girls wrestling, participation in high school sports increased for the fifth consecutive year in 2025-26 and set another all-time record.
The annual NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey indicated that 8,415,684 participants were involved in high school sports in 2025-26 – up 149,440 from the previous year. The total includes 4,761,095 boys and 3,654,589 girls – both record highs – according to figures obtained from the 51 NFHS member state associations, which includes the District of Columbia.
The continual spike in the number of girls participating in flag football and wrestling since the pandemic has been nothing short of phenomenal. In the first post-pandemic survey in 2021-22, there were 15,716 girls participating in flag football nationally. That number has now ballooned to 102,360 – an increase of 87,000 participants in just four years.
Amazingly, participation in girls flag football increased 48.7 percent last year – 68,847 to 102,360 – and the sport cracked the Top 10 list for most popular girls sports. The number of schools reporting girls flag football participation increased from 2,736 to 3,990 in the past year, and a total of 37 states will be either sanctioning the sport or conducting independent/pilot programs by next year.
The popularity of wrestling for girls is not far behind flag football. Participation in girls wrestling increased 19.9 percent from the previous year – from 74,064 to 88,771 – and the number of schools sponsoring the sport for girls now rests at 8,853.
Since the return to activities from the pandemic, the number of schools offering the sport has jumped from 4,802 to 8,853, and the number of participants has increased from 31,654 to 88,771. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2026/8/31/national-wrestling-coaches-association-led-by-girls-flag-football-and-girls-wrestling-high-school-sports-participation-increases-for-fifth-consecutive-year.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Brock University to host 2027 Canadian university wrestling championships
OTTAWA – The nation’s top university wrestlers are returning to the Niagara region, as Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL), in partnership with U SPORTS and Brock University, announced today that the 2027 WCL | U SPORTS Invitational Wrestling Championships will be held February 26–27, 2027, at the Walker Sports Complex in St. Catharines, Ont.
Brock recently hosted the 2025 WCL | U SPORTS Invitational Wrestling Championships and is eager to once again welcome the nation’s top university wrestlers.
“We are thrilled to be returning to Brock University for the 2027 WCL | U SPORTS Invitational Wrestling Championships and grateful to Brock for stepping forward to host this important event,” said WCL CEO Tamara Medwidsky. “Brock has consistently demonstrated its commitment to wrestling, and its top-class facilities provide an outstanding environment for our athletes, coaches and fans. Having experienced firsthand what a great host Brock was for these championships in 2025, we know the event will be in excellent hands, and we’re excited to return to St. Catharines in 2027.”
“We are excited to return to Brock University for the second time in three years for the 2027 WCL | U SPORTS Invitational Wrestling Championships,” said Matthew Davies, U SPORTS Chief Sport Officer. “Returning to a premier facility like Brock’s Walker Sports Complex will provide student-athletes and fans with an exceptional championship wrestling experience. Wrestling Canada Lutte and Brock University continue to be fantastic partners in delivering and growing the sport of wrestling at the university level.”
“Brock Sports & Recreation is proud to welcome the 2027 WCL | U SPORTS Invitational Wrestling Championships to our campus. Hosting this premier event reflects Brock’s longstanding commitment to wrestling excellence and provides an opportunity to showcase Brock University, … more at … https://wrestling.ca/brock-university-to-host-2027-canadian-university-wrestling-championships/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Presbyterian Women Bring A Balanced, Deep Team Into Season
Presbyterian has eight returning All-Americans and 10 national qualifiers on a team capable of winning a trophy at the 2027 NCAA Championships.
Presbyterian will always have the distinction of being the first school to add a Division I Women’s Wrestling program. That’s an important piece of history, but head coach Brian Vutianitis has built a team that is relevant at the highest level.
The Blue Hose finished fifth at the 2026 NCAA Championships, with 10 national qualifiers and six All-Americans.
The team was 27 points behind Grand Valley State for fourth at nationals (the final trophy spot), and 29 points ahead of Lehigh for fifth. They also finished fifth at the NWCA National Duals, including a 26-19 win over Lehigh on January 30.
Translation: Presbyterian was on its own island last season. They were way ahead of the pack, but out of contention for a trophy. The Blue Hose had a consistent top-to-bottom line-up with an All-American caliber wrestler at every weight, but they needed a finalist or two for a trophy run.
Vutianitis should feel optimistic about this season’s team. He has 10 returning NCAA qualifiers and eight returning All-Americans on a deep team that will require tough roster decisions at multiple weights. This team is good, and anyone who overlooks the Blue Hose will do so at their own peril.
The lightest two weights are the most interesting. Chloe Dearwester, a sixth-place finisher at nationals, is the obvious frontrunner for the 110-pound spot, but everything else is wide open. The absence of Sloane Kruger leaves a battle for 103, including newcomer Daylee Watson, who will vie for the spot.
Jenna Anderson (117) has a unique skill set and can give anyone she wrestles problems. Her memorable match against U23 World champion Sage Mortimer at the National Duals showed what she can do before a second-period injury default. She took time off, regrouped, and rebounded for a sixth-place finish at nationals, including tight consolation matches against Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) and Carleigh Czerneski (Adrian).
The next three weights are where Presbyterian can gain ground. Alyssa Mahan finished eighth at 124, and Kassey Daugherty (131) and … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/16151483-presbyterian-women-bring-a-balanced-deep-team-into-season?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
