Long-time Ursinus coach Bill Racich passes away
Bill Racich, head wrestling coach at Ursinus College since 1980 and one of the all-time winningest college mat coaches in the nation, died Friday, according to the Pennsylvania-based school.
Bill RacichRacich ranked fourth among all-time collegiate wrestling coaches in all divisions — and second among active coaches — with 540 victories at the end of last season.
By any measure, Racich’s accomplishments as coach were impressive. The Bears won 11 Centennial Conference championships, including five in a row from 2003-07 to become the only school in league history to accomplish that feat. Racich coached 56 Centennial Conference champions and over two hundred Middle Atlantic and Centennial Conference placewinners. With Racich at the helm, Ursinus could claim 17 NCAA All-Americans and two CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. In addition, five Ursinus wrestlers have won the prestigious Chris Clifford Award, while six others were named Outstanding Wrestler at the conference championships.
Prior to becoming wrestling coach, Racich was a standout athlete. At West Chester University, he was a four-year varsity performer and a team captain in 1974-75. He was a four-time conference finalist and a two-time NCAA Division I qualifier. In 1974 Racich won the 118-pound Middle Atlantic Conference championship, and his West Chester team was MAC champions in 1971, 1972 and 1974.
Rest of the story at http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/20569
Wolfpack RTC to Have Busy Next Month of Action
Gantt, Davis and McCall to Compete in Russia, Gwiazdowski and Macchiavello training in Colorado with U.S. World Team
RALEIGH, N.C. – As the 2018-19 NC State wrestling season is about to get underway in a little more then a month, the Wolfpack’s Regional Training Center (RTC) will be just as busy the next few weeks.
Three members of the Wolfpack’s RTC just recently landed in Russia for an international tournament. Former Wolfpack grapplers Tommy Gantt and Lee Davis, as well as Timmy McCall, will all be in action at the Mining Glory International Freestyle Tournament which takes place Sept. 22-23. Last year at this tournament, Gantt won a bronze medal while McCall placed fifth. A senior-level training camp is also currently being held out in Colorado at the USA Wrestling headquarters.
Former NC State national champions Nick Gwiazdowski and Michael Macchiavello are already out there, this after both participated in another domestic camp in California a couple of weeks back. Gwiazdowski is gearing up for the 2018 World Championships to be held in Hungary in late October.
Joining Gwiazdowski and Macchiavello in Colorado Springs this weekend will be current R-So. Nick Reenan, who advanced to the Final X this past summer. The Wolfpack RTC’s current head coach Obe Blanc will also be traveling out to help train the U.S. World Team. Also former Duke All-American, Jacob Kasper, who also trains at the Wolfpack RTC, will head to Colorado as well. A current member of the Wolfpack will be in international action in November. R-So. Hayden Hidlay earned top honors back in June at the U23 World Team Trails, and advanced to the World Championships which will be held Nov. 12-18 in Romania. Hidlay will compete in freestyle at 70 kg.
Macchiavello also qualified for the U23 World Championships by winning his first post-college event at 92 kg. But his 24th birthday falls in this calendar year and he will not be able to compete. For more details and further news check Visit www.GoPack.com
Legendary college wrestling coach inducted into Hall of Fame
It didn’t take long to honor Gary Taylor as one of the best. The recently retired head coach at Rider University was inducted into the New Jersey Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame during a banquet Sunday at The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village in Plainsboro. He received a Lifetime Service Award, one of six men to be honored. Taylor coached the Broncs 39 years, leading Rider to numerous top 20 national rankings while coaching 15 individuals to All-American status, 173 national qualifiers, 110 individual conference champions and 14 team conference championships. His 442 dual meet wins rank him among the top five in Division I. He became the seventh member with Mercer County ties to be inducted into the New Jersey chapter. Rest of the story at https://www.nj.com/times-sports/index.ssf/2018/09/taylor_inducted_into_wrestling.html?mc_cid=b690006a2b&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 