Eight Blue Devil Wrestlers Named NWCA Scholar All-American
DURHAM, N.C. — Eight different members of the Duke wrestling program have been named to the 2025-26 NCAA Division I Men’s Scholar All-America Team by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).
Receiving honors for Duke were Raymond Adams, Connor Barket, Aurelius Dunbar, David Hussey, Owen McGrory, Dylan Ross, Riley Rowan and Spencer von Savoye.
Adams and Barket received accolades for the third year in a row, while Hussey earned honors for the second straight season. Dunbar, McGrory, Ross, Rowan and von Savoye earned honors for the first time in their careers.
Duke’s eight selections were tied for second in the ACC along with Stanford and Virginia, while Pittsburgh led the way with nine honorees.
The award recognizes outstanding academic achievement by individual student-athletes across the nation. A total of 390 student-athletes, representing 73 institutions, were recognized for … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2026/4/3/wrestling-eight-blue-devil-wrestlers-named-nwca-scholar-all-american
Iowa State Adds Women’s Wrestling As 18th Varsity Program
AMES, Iowa – Women’s wrestling will debut as Iowa State University’s 18th intercollegiate athletics program during the 2027-28 academic year, Endowed Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.
“Iowa State enjoys a rich wrestling tradition, and we believe the addition of women’s wrestling will afford tremendous opportunities for young women not only in Iowa, but around the country, to compete at the highest level in the sport,” Pollard said. “This is a great day for wrestling in the state of Iowa and at Iowa State University, and we look forward to growing a program under Coach Alli St. John that will build off the historic success of our men’s team.
“As we considered future opportunities for female athletes, it became clear that women’s wrestling offered Iowa State University the best combination of strategic fit, start-up efficiency and growth potential,” he added. “Women’s wrestling is recognized as one of the nation’s fastest growing sports at both the high school and collegiate level, and we are excited to help grow the sport for future generations of young women.”
Identified as an emerging sport in 2020 by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for all three divisions, the NCAA held its first national championship in the sport last month in Coralville, Iowa. Currently, there are 113 NCAA members that sponsor wrestling as a varsity sport, including six at the Division I level—Iowa, Lehigh, Delaware State, Lindenwood, Presbyterian and Sacred Heart with Kent State having announced plans to begin a program in 2027-28. Within the state of Iowa, there are 15 universities and colleges that currently sponsor the sport. “Women’s wrestling has been an Olympic sport since 2004 and is the fastest-growing sport for young women in our nation,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director upon the announcement that the sport would become the NCAA’s 91st championship in 2026.
At the high school level, 218 Iowa high schools sponsor women’s wrestling and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union held its fourth state championship … more at … https://cyclones.com/news/2026/4/16/athletics-iowa-state-adds-womens-wrestling-as-18th-varsity-program
One Artemis II astronaut was once a two-sport college athlete years before space mission
There’s an athlete set to orbit the moon.
Victor Glover, a 1999 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate, had a different career in mind before becoming one of four astronauts on NASA’s 10-day mission aboard Artemis II.
The Ontario, Calif., native played defensive back for the Mustangs’ football team and wrestled during his days at Cal Poly.
The latter, he said, was nearly as hard as rocket science.
“The hardest thing that I’ve ever chosen to do in my life was walking in space,” Glover told Cal Poly president Jeffrey Armstrong, per The Athletic. “The second-hardest thing that I ever chose to do in my life was wrestling practice with Lennis Cowell,” Cal Poly’s longtime wrestling coach.
His smarts were apparent to Andre Patterson, who coached football at Cal Poly while Glover was there, and now serves as the Giants’ defensive line coach.
“He may not have been the fastest guy out there or the most athletic guy out there, but he was going to succeed since he was the best technician out there,” Patterson told the Athletic. “That’s who he is at his core.”
Glover, who is set to become the first black man to orbit the moon, has maintained a connection to the university, giving speeches to various groups on campus, including the wrestling team. … more at … https://nypost.com/2026/04/02/sports/artemis-ii-astronaut-victor-glover-was-once-a-two-sport-college-athlete/
Moore Named Wrestling Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Belmont Abbey wrestler Caleb Moore was named the Conference Carolinas Men’s Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the league office Wednesday afternoon. Moore was selected by the Conference Carolinas Student-Athlete Affairs and Awards Committee for the Award.
He holds a 3.97 GPA and is a business management major at Belmont Abbey. In the 197-pound weight, class, he was a first-team All-Conference Carolinas selection and together another outstanding season for the Crusaders earning a regional championship as well as earning first-team All-Conference honors. He also qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Prior to the regional tournament, he compiled a 21-3 overall record entering and was ranked No. 12 in the NWCA rankings for his weight class. He had five wins by pin this season, including one in just 14 seconds against Ferrum. … more at … https://abbeyathletics.com/news/2026/4/8/moore-named-wrestling-conference-scholar-athlete-of-the-year.aspx
Three Crusaders Earn NWCA Division II Scholar-All America Honors
MANHEIM, Pa. — Three Belmont Abbey wrestlers earned Scholar All-American honors from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) by the organization last week.
Skyler Caban, Austin Marry and Caleb Moore each earned the honor by the association. Caban is a graduate student studying leadership and Marry and Moore are both studying business management.
A total of 440 student-athletes, representing 64 of the 71 Division II institutions, were honored for their success in the classroom while competing throughout the season.
In order to qualify for recognition, wrestlers must have either been an All-American at the 2026 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 3.0 GPA, … more at … https://abbeyathletics.com/news/2026/4/7/wrestling-three-crusaders-earn-nwca-division-ii-scholar-all-america-honors.aspx
Bradyn McConneha Officially Signs To Wrestle For Appalachian State
By: Jared Barton
North Allegheny wrestling senior Bradyn McConneha has officially signed his letter of intent to wrestle for Appalachian State University next fall.
McConneha filled out the letter of intent on Wednesday, following his commitment to the institution back in December. He is set to study accounting.
The heavyweight division contender had a career high school record of 104-31, including a 42-4 mark this season. McConneha finished first place in the section, second place in the district, first place in the western region and was the PIAA runner-up in Hershey this winter. Last year, McConneha was 38-13 overall, finishing in 2nd place in the section, 4th place in the district, and 4th place in the region. In 2023-24, McConneha was 24-14 overall with a 2nd-place finish in the section and 4th place in the region. He is a three-time state qualifier, placed three times in the WPIAL playoffs, was a WPIAL runner-up, section champion and three-time section finalist.
Additionally, McConneha was the 21st-ranked heavyweight wrestler in the country and was a Fargo All-American. … more at … https://athletics.northallegheny.org/news/bradyn-mcconneha-officially-signs-to-wrestle-for-appalachian-state/
Leo Kocher to be Inducted in UAA Hall of Fame
CHICAGO — The University of Chicago will have one of its greatest coaches and one of its best student-athletes inducted into the 2026 class of the Richard A. Rasmussen UAA Hall of Fame, as announced by the University Athletic Association on Tuesday morning.
Leo Kocher has left one of the most enduring legacies in the history of University of Chicago Athletics through nearly five decades of excellence as both a competitor and coach. A standout wrestler at Northwestern University, Kocher achieved success at the national and international levels, including a title at the Montreal Open and a runner-up finish at the U.S. Freestyle National Open. He arrived at UChicago in 1979 and went on to build one of the premier programs in Division III over a 45-year head coaching tenure—the longest in department history.
Under the leadership of Kocher, the Maroons produced more than 30 All-Americans, NCAA champions, and over 140 individual conference champions, while capturing 18 team titles and earning multiple top-15 national finishes. Beyond competition, Kocher helped shape collegiate wrestling through service on the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee and national coaching organizations, and his contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including hall of fame inductions and lifetime service awards. Even after retiring from his head coaching role in 2024, he has continued to mentor student-athletes as a volunteer assistant, … more at … https://athletics.uchicago.edu/news/2026/4/7/womens-cross-country-rhaina-echols-and-leo-kocher-to-be-inducted-in-uaa-hall-of-fame.aspx
2025 NCAA Champion Vince Robinson Enters the Portal
The transfer portal received a massive entry at its smallest weight this afternoon as 2025 NCAA champion Vince Robinson added his name to the portal. Robinson has earned All-American honors twice, in as many years, while competing for NC State. Robinson won the 2025 national title at 125 lbs after finishing second in the ACC and entering the tournament as the #4 seed. Robinson won two-point matches in the quarters and semifinals before earning a victory in tiebreakers over Troy Spratley of Oklahoma State in the national finals.
This year, Robinson went 21-6 overall and finished third in the ACC. That gave him the #12 seed at nationals. This time, Robinson fell to Spratley in the Round of 16, but battled back with three straight wins to secure All-American status for a second-straight season. In the bloodround, Robinson outlasted ACC nemesis Eddie Ventresca to claim his spot on the podium. Coming into that match, Robinson had lost four straight matches to Ventresca.
Robinson ended up defeating Spratley later in the consolation before falling in the third-place match. Robinson should have no shortage of potential suitors, as most teams would be in the market for an upgrade at 125 lbs. Should Robinson leave Raleigh, it would certainly make a … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/2025-ncaa-champion-vince-robinson-enters-the-portal-r100938/
Penn State sets NCAA scoring record with four champs; Record four freshmen stand atop podium
by Brian Reinhardt
2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships individual champions.
Penn State and Oklahoma State came into the 2026 NCAA D1 Wrestling Championships with high expectations, and both the Nittany Lions and Cowboys are leaving Cleveland with the hardware to prove they are the top two programs in college wrestling.
For the third straight year, Penn State set the team scoring record. In 2024, the Nittany Lions surpassed the long-standing mark of 170 points by Iowa in 1997 when they finished with 172.5 points. Last year, it was 177 points. It was even higher this year, as the Nittany Lions finished with 181.5 points. The other team trophies went to Oklahoma State in second with 131 points, followed by Nebraska in third (100.5) and Iowa in fourth (92.5).
Penn State (four) and Oklahoma State (three) combined for seven of the 10 individual titles. Minnesota also had a national title for the Big Ten Conference. The ACC had two individual champions to round out the top wrestlers at each weight class. The finals started with fireworks as a trio of freshmen took out higher seeds. At 141 pounds, Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) took out two-time defending national champion Jesse Mendez, and at 149 pounds, Aden Valencia (Stanford) got the extra time takedown against top-seed Shayne Van Ness. Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) used a two-point near fall in the second to take out returning national champion Antrell Taylor. Mitchell Mesenbrink defended his title at 165 pounds with a 20-4 tech fall. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/march/21/penn-state-sets-ncaa-scoring-record-with-four-champs-record-four-freshmen-stand-atop-podium
And …
Penn State Re-Establishes Team Scoring Record During 5th Straight Title; Freshmen Shine
Saturday night marked the end of the 2025-26 NCAA DI wrestling season. The championship finals closed the book on what was another excellent national tournament. The tournament had everything you’d hope for in an event of this magnitude. Stars dominating, some unforeseen upsets, and young stars emerging, among other things.
The evening started with some fireworks and unexpected results as Oklahoma State Sergio Vega completed his remarkable true freshman campaign undefeated. The 141-pounder finished the year without having surrendered a takedown. Vega’s opponent, two-time NCAA champion Jesse Mendez, had multiple opportunities to score but was typically stymied on each occasion by Vega. In the sudden victory overtime period, Mendez got to Vega’s legs again. This time, Mendez was met with a cradle. After a few seconds, Vega lost the hold, but broke Mendez down to his hips for the winning takedown.
The upset in the first match proved to be a sign of things to come just a match later at 149 lbs. Within the first minute of their clash, #10 Aden Valencia took down top-seeded Shayne Van Ness to take an early 3-1 lead. Van Ness bounced back to tie the bout amidst a handful of stoppages due to bloodtime. Undeterred, the redshirt freshman Valencia was able to get his offense in the sudden victory overtime and took the match (and title), 8-5. Valencia became only the third Stanford wrestler to win a national title. There was a high level of familiarity among the next four weight classes as they featured rematches of recent results.
True freshman Landon Robideau was able to reverse the result from the last time that he and 2025 national champion, Antrell Taylor met. … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/penn-state-re-establishes-team-scoring-record-during-5th-straight-title-freshmen-shine-r100909/
State Champion Lucas Angstadt named the 2026 James Johnson Memorial Award
Lucas Angstadt will be awarded the 2026 James Johnson Memorial Award. Lucas started wrestling in the 9th grade at Ashley High. He admits that “…”I was terrible.”. He couldn’t break the varsity lineup as a freshman. Lucas worked the entire off-season preparing. He returned as a sophomore starter and qualified for the State Tournament. Illness prevented him from wrestling his best and he did not place at the State Tournament. Lucas was a Regional champ as a Junior and wrestled well at States, but did not place. He then focused on being a senior state champion. He only lost once in the regular season, to a previous State Camp, and that removed nerves and worries for the rest of the season. He lost to Luke Richards of Cardinal Gibbons in the first round of the dual team playoffs. Yet, he did not get discouraged as he faced Richards in the Regional final the next weekend. Lucas won a major decision 10-0. Coach Wes Knight shared that “Lucas was laser-focused at the State Tournament. He had a great showing. Lucas always put in the work. He always wanted more wrestling. preseason, regular season, or postseason, he tried to get more mat time. Based on a strong performance at the NHSCA Senior Nationals in Virginia Beach he seeking to wrestle in college next year.
Last year Gerald ‘J.J.’ Johnson of West Craven was presented the James Johnson Award. In previous years, the award winners were Deondre Johnson of Clayton (2024), Caleb Beatty of Corinth-Holders, Avery Buonocore and Alex Hopper of Laney High School in 2023. Devon Bell and Mark Samuel of Laney in 2022, River Carroll of West Carteret (2021), Tyler Hughes and Christian Decatur of C.B. Aycock and Bryan Argao of North Brunswick (2020), Timothy Decatur of Rosewood (2019), Beau Studebaker of East Carteret, Jeremiah Derby of First Flight and Thomas Hudson of Dixon (2018), Carlos Martinez of First Flight (2017), Will Newbern of West Carteret (2017), Tanner Stamper-Smith of Havelock (2016), Joe Mondragon of Ashley H.S. (2015), De’Andre Jones of New Bern (2014), Alex Bray of Croatan (2013), Jon Wiley (2012) of South Brunswick, Marquin Hill (2011) of Washington H.S., Branden Lietz (2010) of J.H. Rose, Mamour Camara (2009) of Louisburg, Anthony Rogers (2008) of Knightdale, Ngu Tran (2007) of C.B. Aycock, Victor Hojillo (2006) of West Carteret, Raymond Jordan (2004) of New Bern, Shaun Sheffield (2003) of Havelock, David Pelsang (2005), and Paris Dottery (2002) of White Oak.
James Johnson started wrestling his junior year for D.H. Conley High School in Greenville with Milt Sherman as his coach. James was Coney’s 1st state champion in any sport in 1976. He was North Carolina’s 1st Eastern Junior National Champion in 1975 and North Carolina’s 1st Junior Nationals All-American with 3rd in 1976. He started four years at the University of Kentucky. He was inducted as an “Outstanding American” in the North Carolina State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2012 he was a coach for the U.S.A. Olympic Greco-Roman team in London. He was on the USA National Wrestling team for 12 years, winning 3 National Championships, USA Athlete of the Year, AIM Christian Athlete of the Year, and Olympic Team Alternate. He was an Ambassador for the United States Olympic Committee, USA wrestling and The Sunkist Kids Wrestling organization for over 20 years. Johnson passed away in September, 2019 after coaching the USA Juniors Greco-Roman team at the World Championship in Estonia. The TakeDown Report has promoted amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina for over 25 years and sponsors this award. Editor Martin Fleming noted, “Lucas had a great season. We are honored to present him with this award. This award is to encourage young men from teams in the eastern part of the state with an opportunity to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top notch wrestler,” he added. The TDR also ranks wrestlers in a TDR Top 12 List displayed on the TDR Blog page.
Is 3rd Better Than 1st At The NCAA Wrestling Championships?
Team scoring at the NCAA Championships might need an overhaul, and there’s a simple solution.
Here are eight irrefutable facts about a fully contested 32-person folkstyle bracket in which a wrestler who loses can wrestle back for third, and there are no true second-place matches.
1. A wrestler who finishes second will always have four wins and one loss.
2. A wrestler who finishes third will always have more wins than the wrestler who finishes second.
3. The wrestler who finishes second lost his or her final match of the tournament.
4. The wrestler who finishes third, at minimum, won his or her final two matches.
5. A wrestler who finishes third can score more team points than the wrestler who finishes second or first.
6. The minimum team points for first is 20, and the maximum is 30, unless the referee deducts a team point.
7. First place always goes undefeated.
8. A team that crowns 10 champions and wins every match (50-0) can conceivably lose the tournament.
This is assuming that the following recognized scoring system is used.
1st — 16
2nd — 12 … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15760839-is-3rd-better-than-1st-at-the-ncaa-wrestling-championships
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 