PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast
TDR Editor’s Notes; The latest N.C. State Wrestling Podcast. Check out the link below.
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RALEIGH, N.C. – Episode 22 of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast visits with head coach Pat Popolizio to talk about the summer of wrestling, whether it be freestyle or camp season, here in Raleigh. NC State wrestling was well-represented at the World Team Trials Challenge tournament in Rochester, Minn., back in May, and has two from the Wolfpack Wrestling Club in the upcoming Final X.
Rest of the story at http://gopack.com/news/2018/6/7/wrestling-packmentality-pop-ins-podcast-ep-22-final-x-preview-u23-recap-guest-kevin-jack.aspx?mc_cid=a8d28b9957&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Cassy Lopez, the first woman to receive a scholarship to wrestle at a Division I school
TDR Editor’s Notes; An impressive wrestler making another First in the growing sport of women’s wrestling. She will be competing just to the south of us in South Carolina. By next year there will be 40-50 collegiate women’s programs and almost a dozen state high school associations sponsoring girls’ wrestling or will be hosting a state tournament for girls in their state. At the same time some of the colleges are expanding or reviving teams for men.
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ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — Cassy Lopez never saw herself as a pioneer when she stepped onto the mat for her first wrestling match four years ago. If you want to be specific, Lopez actually didn’t see much of anything. Lopez’s vision was impeded half the time because her hair cap kept falling over her face. She eventually lost the high school match, but not before throwing down her male opponent to the ground in the final period. “The crowd was like, ‘Whoa,'” Lopez said. “It was a little wake-up call that girls can wrestle, too.” With newfound confidence — as well as a sewed hair cap — Lopez finished her varsity career at Mount Hebron High with a 45-29 record, pinning her male opponents 32 times. She then dominated the first Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association tournament for girls in February, pinning each of her first three opponents in 20 seconds or less before winning the championship with a pin at 1 minute, 13 seconds. Her successful career culminated in a historic takedown, when Lopez became the first woman to receive a scholarship to wrestle at a Division I school. Last month, Lopez signed a national letter of intent for the newly formed women’s wrestling program at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, which will start competing alongside 38 other schools in the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association in 2019. “As far as taking that big step forward, this is going to be huge for women’s wrestling,” said Mark Cody, the director of wrestling at Presbyterian. Lopez lives about 30 miles north of the hometown of Helen Maroulis, who became the first American woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Olympics in 2016. Like Maroulis, Lopez embraces the role of ambassador for one of the fastest-growing high school sports for girls. Nationally, there are 15,000 young women participating in high school wrestling, according to Cody. The number of state high school championships for girls wrestling increased to nine this year. Rest of the story at http://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/23715364/meet-cassy-lopez-first-woman-receive-scholarship-wrestle-division-school?mc_cid=e5a88d9676&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
PA Power Wrestling Announces Inaugural Pre-Season Tournament “The Surge”
TDR Editor’s Notes; Your first thought may be, now isn’t that the same time as the Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, NC? Well, we wondered as well and quickly checked in at https://www.super32.com/ and see that this new event will be the weekend after The Super 32. OK, so just passing along the options to those looking forward to the fall.
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PITTSBURGH -– The Pennsylvania Wrestling Media Company, PA Power Wrestling, has announced an inaugural preseason tournament, The Surge, which will place on Saturday, Nov. 3 and Sunday Nov. 4, 2018, on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. The Surge will serve as a guide to PA Power Wrestling’s preseason State Rankings for returning Keystone State stars, but also a chance for high school freshmen to earn a spot on the Top Incoming Freshmen (TIF) Report. Located four hours from Philadelphia and 90 minutes from Pittsburgh, Johnstown is conveniently situated, making it an ideal destination for wrestlers all across the Keystone State. It is no secret Pennsylvania is home to the nation’s top wrestling talent. PA Power Wrestling owner Jeff Upson indicated Pennsylvania was due to host a premier preseason tournament. “We felt it was important to the Pennsylvania wrestling community that we host a tournament which highlights and showcases the best talent prior to the start of official competition” Upson stated. “This is a tournament designed to benefit not only the top tier wrestlers who want to solidify their spot a top the State Rankings, but also allowing those wrestlers who have put in the work over the off-season to prove their worth. Additionally our Top Incoming Freshmen Report has grown exponentially, and the best way to determine where a rookie should rank is by throwing them in the mix and seeing how they do.” Upson and PA Power co-operator and tournament director Eric Knopsnyder have been working on The Surge for months. Rest of the Story at http://www.papowerwrestling.com/pa-power-wrestling-announces-inaugural-pre-season-tournament-the-surge/?mc_cid=e5a88d9676&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
New Jersey Athletic Association is considering a Girls State Tournament
TDR Editor’s Notes; Could not click and copy much of the text on this thus we recommend that interested readers go to the link below and learn of another state association that is looking to expand their wrestling opportunities.
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Rest of the story at https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/sports/high-school/wrestling/2018/06/06/wrestling-njsiaa-considering-girls-tournament/677449002/?mc_cid=a1ed0d26d3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
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 