Wilson Fike Demons work to make Wickham’s dream come true
By Paul Durham paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808 | Twitter: @PDsports
This story was corrected from an earlier version to indicate that Fike High senior Saulo Rodriguez is making his second trip to the NCHSAA state tournament, not first.
Somewhere, Mike Wickham is smiling. The late Fike High wrestling coach would be elated that five Golden Demons qualified for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A tournament this coming weekend in Greensboro. In addition to junior Aaron Bancroft, who repeated as a champion Saturday at the NCHSAA 3-A East Regional tournament at Cleveland High, seniors Joseph Speight and Saulo Rodriguez, junior Jahmez Settles and sophomore Vincent Page will be going to Greensboro. Bancroft, one of the top wrestlers in the state at any classification, will be aiming for a state championship, which would be the first ever for a Fike wrestler. The son of Fike assistant coach George Bancroft, he might be the No. 1 seed in the 3-A 160-pound weight class in Greensboro. While Fike’s other four wrestlers may not reach the state final in their respective classifications, they have achieved a lot just by making it there.
“I’m so excited for these guys because Joseph, Jahmez, Vince and Saulo — they’re exceptional kids as far as their mannerisms,” said Fike head coach Bradley Watson. “I love who they are. I mean, kids are going to be kids but, at the same time, they’re just good-hearted kids. When I started coaching, I knew I would get connected to the kids but I didn’t know how much, how quickly. I’m just drawn in. I just love my guys and am excited to see them succeed that way.” Watson wrestled at Fike but before Wickham was the coach. However, when Wickham’s ongoing bout with cancer made it apparent that he wouldn’t be able to lead the team last season, he reached out to Watson, who embraced the role. Coupled with George Bancroft, whose passion for wrestling is unsurpassed, Watson has been able to continue the job that Wickham, who died on Jan. 1, 2018, started when he took over a dormant Fike program in 2011 and turned it into a perennial 3-A Big East Conference contender that annually produced state tournament qualifiers. Rest of the story and numerous pictures at the following links
http://www.wilsontimes.com/stories/demons-work-to-make-wickhams-dream-come-true,160792?
Top ACTIVE College Coaches in Dual meet wins & level Top 70 w/ at least 130 wins
- Pat Pecora (Pitt-Johnstown) 598 – II
- John Smith (Oklahoma State Univ.) 426– I
- Roger Crebs (Lycoming College) 406 – III
- Tom Borelli (Central Michigan, Lake Superior State) – 375 – I, II
- Mike Denney (Maryville Univ./Nebr.-Omaha) 365 – II
- Don Murray (SUNY-Brockport) 350 – III
- Lonnie Morris (Johnson & Wales) 347 – III
- Bruce Haberli (New York Univ./Manhattan Coll.) 336 – III
- Ron Beaschler (Ohio Northern Univ.) 324 – III
- Rob Koll (Cornell Univ.) 305 – I
- Jim Makovsky (Minn. St.-Mankato/Valley City St.) 302 – II
- David Pacheco (Sacramento City College) 301 – Calf. Jr.
- Brian Smith (Missouri/Syracuse) 285– I
- Dave Mitchell (Luther (IA) 277 – III
- Pat Whitcomb (North Idaho Jr. Coll.) 273 – Juco. – resigned in Jan. ’19
- Tom Ryan (Ohio State/Hofstra) 270 – I
- Steve Costanzo (St. Cloud St. Univ./Dana College) 269 – II
- Mark Manning (Nebraska/Northern Iowa) 267 – I
- Jim Zalesky (Oregon State/Iowa) 266 — I
- Martin Nichols (Ithaca College) 262 – III
- Jon Laudenslager (Wilkes University) – 253 – III
- Tom Brands (Iowa, Va. Tech) – 235 – I
- Jay Jones (Rhode Island College) – 234 – III
- Mike Ritchey (Southern Oregon State) – 231 – NAIA
- John Oostendorp (Coe College) 229 – III
- Tim Flynn (West Virginia Un./Edinboro Univ.) – 227 – I
- Brad Bruhn (SUNY-Cortland) – 223 – III
- Joel Greenlee (Ohio University) – 221 – I
- Roger Reina (Pennsylvania, Univ. of) 219 – returned in 2017 – I
- Bryan Brunk (Messiah College) – 216 – III
- Robert Fisher (Kutztown University) – 209 – II
- Don Henry (Gannon University) – 208 – II
- Mike Machholz (Missouri Valley) – 206 – NAIA
- Drew Black (Wesleyan Univ., Phoenix Coll.) – 205 – III
- Joe Renfro (Northeastern Oklahoma, Labette Jr. Coll.) 204 – JuCo
- Frank Romano (Notre Dame College, Kent State) – 196 – II/NAIA/I
- Johnny Johnson (Wisconsin-Stevens Point) – 194 – III
- Pat Santoro (Lehigh University, Maryland) – 192 – I
- Cael Sanderson (Penn State, Iowa State) – 184 – I
- Dave Malecek (Wisconsin-LaCrosse State) – 184 – III
- Pat Popolizio (North Carolina State, SUNY-Binghampton) – 183 – I
- Jason Reitmeier (Augustana College, S.D.) – 181 – II
- Jim Andrassy (Kent State Univ.) – 180 – I
- Heath Grimm (Upper Iowa Univ.) – 179 – II
- Franky James (Campbellsville Univ. Tennessee-Chattanooga) – 179 – NAIA,I
- Kevin Dresser (Iowa State, Virginia Tech Univ.) 178 – I
- Mike Wehler (Mercyhurst, West Liberty State) – 177 – II
- Scott Goodale (Rutgers University) – 173 – I
- Mike Howard (SUNY-Oswego State) – 171 – III
- Duane Ritter (SUNY Oneonta State) – 168 – III
- James Kisgen (McKendree College) – 163 – NAIA
- Steve Martin (Old Dominion University) – 159 – I
- Steve Garland (Virginia University) – 158 – I
- Luke Moffitt (Iowa Central Community College) – 158 – JuCo
- Sean Gibbs (Baldwin-Wallace, U.N.C.-Pembroke) – 153 – III/II
- Doug Moses (New Mex. Highlands, South. Colo., Col. St.) 150 – II incomplete
- Jon McGovern (Dubuque University) – 144 – III
- John Stutzman (Buffalo SUNY, Bloomsburg) – 143 – I
- Dan Wirnsberger (Bucknell, Bloomsburg) – 142 – I
- Josh Rhoden (Clackamas Comm. College) – 141 – JuCo
- Leo Kocher (University of Chicago) 140 – III incomplete
- Rob Hjerling (The Citadel) – 140 – I
- Dan Garriott (Cerritos College) – 140 – Calif. Jr. Coll.
- Brian Anderson (Wabash College) – 139 – III
- Bruce Shumaker (Apprentice School) – 138 – III retired in 2017
- Jay Weiss (Harvard Univ., Moravian College) – 136 – I/III incomplete
- Craig Thurber (Thiel College) – 134 – III
- Caleb Schaeffer (Providence Univ. was Great Falls Univ.) – 133 – NAIA
- Dave Shutter (Truman State, NE Missouri State) – 133 – II
- Vince Silva (Santa Ana College) – 131 – Calif. Jr. Coll.
- Kerry McCoy (Maryland, Stanford) – 131 – I – resigned in 2019
- Steve Marianetti (Elmhurst College) – 130 – III
More State Championships Matches
Pamlico’s Javon Armstrong in 1A 285 lbs. final
https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18198005/
and https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197995/
Laney’s Cael Willis in the 4A 170 lbs. Finals
https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18198003/
and https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18198008/
and https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197970/
Rosewood’s Christian Decatur Wins!
https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18198009/
Rosewood’s Jordan Todd wins his 2nd State Championship https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197997/ and https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197942/
Ayden-Grifton’s Ray Darden wins a state title at https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197982/ and at https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197972/
West Craven’s Jon Ward in the state finals at
https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197973/
Lejeune’s George Vrachnos wins
state championship at https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197993/
and https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197964/
Rosewood’s
Timothy Decatur Wins!
https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197965/
Clayton’s Noah Johns celebrates at
https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197954/
Broken Arrow High School create state’s (Oklahoma) first varsity girls program
Details of this interesting story at https://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/high-school/high-school-wrestling-broken-arrow-creates-varsity-girls-program/article_5cefd7d5-1904-5e1a-8afa-92b3cdf5b571.html?mc_cid=d3221c4d42&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
State Championships Matches
Some of the coverage by HighSchoolOT.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Clayton’s Noah Johns wins the 3A 106 lbs. finals match 7-1.
https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18197788/
And https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18198014/
Clayton’s Noah Johns interview on HS OT.com
https://www.highschoolot.com/noah-johns-i-m-just-proud-and-happy/18197890/
Broughton’s Kaleb Wright defeats Willis of Laney at
https://www.highschoolot.com/highlights-broughton-s-kaleb-wright-earns-state-championship/18197851/
Fike’s Aaron Bancroft starts off championship round with the tittle
https://www.highschoolot.com/highlights-fike-s-bancroft-gets-championship-round-started-with-title/18197865/
Rosewood;s Christian Decatur Wins!
https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18198000/
Rosewood’s Timothy Decatur Wins!
https://www.highschoolot.com/wrestling/image/18198017/
Central Methodist names Wilbourn, Delgado to coach new mat programs
Central Methodist University has named head coaches for its two new wrestling programs, with Terrel Wilbourn heading up the men’s mat program, while Brieana Delgado will coach the women’s program, the central Missouri school announced Friday. The school had announced it would be adding men’s and women’s wrestling to its roster of intercollegiate sports on Feb. 12.
Terrel WilbournWilbourn has wrestling roots in the state of Missouri. Most recently, he was an assistant coach at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., coaching three All-Americans and the NCAA Division II Wrestling National Champion at 125 pounds. Prior to joining Lindenwood’s coaching staff, Wilbourn wrestled for the Lions, where he was a four-time All-American, three-time national finalist, and two-time national champion.
Before coming to Lindenwood, Wilbourn was a three-time Missouri state wrestling champ for Francis Howell Central just outside St. Louis. Wilbourn was also an NHSCA (National High School Coaches Association national champion, cadet freestyle national champion, and junior freestyle national runner-up. He also claimed the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) National Champion title in the 141-pound weight class as a freshman at Iowa Central Community College. Rest of the story at
https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/21835
Top 10 NCAA Matches Of The Season
After months of high intensity scrappin’ we’ve reached the end of another incredible NCAA season. But before we hit the freestyle/greco mats, let’s take a look back at the top 10 matches from the NCAA season.
10. Gable Steveson, Minnesota vs Sam Stoll, Iowa
We didn’t get it during the year, but it was certainly worth the wait. When Gable Steveson met up with Sam Stoll there were a lot of eyes on the mat waiting to see how the freshman would handle the tough task of taking on Stoll. When the clock had all zeroes the crowd was enthused with how the youngster bullied the Iowa big man. Rest of the story and videos at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/6425460-top-10-ncaa-matches-of-the-season?mc_cid=d3221c4d42&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Visit Wichita to Host NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championship in 2020
Visit Wichita wins bid to bring NAIA Men’s Wrestling to the city for the 2020-2021 seasons
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced on Monday that Visit Wichita has secured the bid to host the 2020 and 2021 NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championships at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan. The national championship will move from Des Moines, Iowa after a two year run. “The NAIA is excited that Visit Wichita will host our men’s wrestling championship,” said Jim Carr, NAIA President and C.E.O. “I have no doubt it will be an exceptional event that our student-athletes will remember for years to come.” The NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championship comprises 240 student-athletes that compete in a 32-man, double elimination championship bracket at 10 weight classes. Each year, over 5,000 fans are in attendance to see the two-day event, which culminates in the national championship in each weight class covered live on ESPN3. “We are excited to bring this event to Wichita, a sports city capable of hosting sporting events of all kinds and magnitudes,” said Brian Hargrove, executive director of sports development at Visit Wichita. Rest of the story at http://www.naia.org//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=211798068&mc_cid=d3221c4d42&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 