Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Bo Nickal’s legacy: a creative pinner and two-time Schalles Award winner

By Mike Finn
Bo Nickal may be the most famous “Bo” since Bo Jackson, the former multi-professional sport athlete of the 1980s, who capitalized on his fame with the “Bo Knows” commercials. But there are a lot of differences between these men with the same first name and not just because Bo is Nickal’s given name, and not a nickname that Jackson showcased with the Kansas City Royals or Oakland Raiders. Nickal, who recently capped off his final season at Penn State with a third national championship and won the 2019 Hodge Trophy, admitted he does not know everything when it comes to wrestling.

“We have 35 guys on the team and everyone one of them does something better than I do so I have something to learn from every single guy on the team,” said Nickal. The native of Allen, Texas, said that attitude is also part of his style which helped  him earn the 2019 Schalles Award, presented by WIN Magazine, as the nation’s top pinner for a second straight year. “Being in the Penn State room and having the amazing partners and coaches that I have, I’ve seen ten times in practice every situation I’ve been in during a match,” he said. “I’m very confident in every position that I’m in. That’s a huge testament to my coaches and training partners.” That included teammate and fellow three-time national champion Jason Nolf, who had three less pins (15) than Nickal’s 18 falls this past winter but finished one pin ahead of Nickal (60-59) in career falls at Penn State. Rest of the story, photo and list of previous winners at https://www.win-magazine.com/2019/05/nickal-wins-2019-schalles-award/?mc_cid=5cf27f4634&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

June 2, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

2019 WIN Journalist of the Year Justin Hoch looks for more than fire inside wrestlers

By Mike Finn
In meeting the photographer who created the “The Fire Inside” project — an extremely up-close and intense group of portraits of at least 1,800 people who are currently associated with the sport of wrestling — one might think Justin Hoch was an angry person. But when countless people actually meet this resident of New York City, they actually realize that Hoch is one of the nicer, more inquisitive people who is trying to promote the sport with his unique photography. “I want (the project) to be a representation of the intensity of the sport and what it creates within people,” said Hoch. “When you see one of these portraits, it tells you something about that individual. And when you see a collection of all of those things, it starts to paint a picture of what the wrestling community is.”

But Hoch also sees something richer in these images that he believes also can impact people not associated with wrestling. “Sometimes I think we lose sight of what the particular valuable things are,” he said. “It’s a good reminder to know how cool it is and feel good to be part of it. It’s also important for non-wrestlers because it can tell the story about wrestling that they don’t know. They will learn wrestlers’ stories and what the sport did for those people and how those people are giving back to the wrestling community.” Hoch’s “The Fire Inside” project, which fans can find on-line — http://www.jhoch.com/the-fire-inside/— is also displayed at many national wrestling tournaments. For the creative project and years shooting wrestling at all levels, the 38-year-old photographer has been named WIN’s 2019 Journalist of the Year. Rest of the story, photo and a list of previous winners of this award at https://www.win-magazine.com/2019/05/hoch-named-2019-win-journalist-of-the-year/?mc_cid=5cf27f4634&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

June 2, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

History Class with Mr. Klingman: A look at Dan Gable’s international wrestling career

Trackwrestling’s Kyle Klingman looks back at Dan Gable’s international career, including his shoes from the 1972 Olympic Games and his bracket from the 1971 World Championships. Rest of the story and video at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1558146830941&twSessionId=ukceyxfeqi&videoId=1449488132&mc_cid=0600a65dd4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

June 2, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Darden presented Michael Stokes Award as a top senior wrestler in eastern North Carolina

The TakeDown Report presented the 27th Michael Stokes Award to State Champion Darden of Ayden-Grifton High School, as a Top Senior Wrestler in the Tar-Roanoke area in Eastern North Carolina in 2019.  Darden finished the year with 33 wins and 1 loss. That loss came against neighboring South Central when Ray moved up a weight class to test himself.  Darden was also named the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the Eastern Carolina  Conference and was Pitt County Champion.  During the season Darden earned 1st Place in all of his regular season tournaments.  He was the 2A East Regional Champion and that qualified him for the NCHSAA 2A State Championships in Greensboro.  He won the 195 pounds title. After High School is going to attend Saint Andrew’s University and will participate on the wrestling team. Darden also received a personalized wooden plaque engraved with his name and the TDR logo as the top wrestler at his weight class in eastern North Carolina. 

Michael Stokes wrestled the 1981-1984 seasons at Tarboro High School and with a (96–4) career record.  He was North Carolina’s 2nd 3-time State Champion when there was only one individual champion at a weight in the state. He wrestled for N.C. State and won ACC wrestling titles in 1988 and 1989 and was named the ACC Most Valuable Wrestler both years.  His record of 68 wins 8 losses and 3 ties (.879) is the best career winning percentage at NC State.  He finished second at the NCAA Nationals at 126 lbs. in 1989 to Kendall Cross, the eventual Olympic Gold medalist. Stokes co-captained the Wolfpack in 1989 and one of the ACC’s all time 50 greatest wrestlers as recognized during the conference’s 50th anniversary celebration.  Stokes credits wrestling as “providing me with a mental toughness that enables me to remove boundaries that stand in my way.  Wrestling has given me the sheer determination to believe that I can conquer anything that I set my mind to do.”   Previous Stokes Award wrestlers include Michael King of North Pitt (2018), Quadarrius Hopkins of Tarboro (2017), Wilson Smith of Rocky Mount (2016), Angel Najar of North Pitt (2015), Reggie Huff of Southern Nash (2014), David Guevara of Tarboro (2013), Alexander Knight and Jaciento Williamson of Rocky Mount (2012), Xavier Najar of North Pitt (2011), Joe Young of Northern Nash (2010), Corey Smith of Tarboro (2009), Jasmine Cooper of Nash Central (2008), Eric Wischhusen, (2007), Roylando Lucas (2001) and Ira Bing (2000) of Southern Nash, John Brewer (2006) of Wilson Fike, Anthony Taylor (2005) of Rocky Mount, Sammi Hadi (2004) and Ryan Huffman (1997) of SouthWest Edgecombe, Charles Washington (2003) of Northern Nash, Quadric Eason (2002), Mike Christopher (1999 & 1998), Tony Mercer (1996) and Lee Carroll (1994 & 1995) of Tarboro.  The TDR promotes amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina and sponsors this award.  “The awards are to recognize great wrestlers from before and the current ones for their efforts,” Editor Martin Fleming noted.  The TakeDown Report has promoted scholastic wrestling for over 20 years in North Carolina and encourages coverage of the sport.  Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com or https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/ or ‘The TakeDown Report’ on FaceBook.

June 2, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

OSU’s 1965 Wrestling Team: The Best Ever to Not Win an NCAA Title

OSU’s 1965 Wrestling Team: The Best Ever to Not Win an NCAA Title
In 2018, Ohio State finished second to Penn State at the NCAA tournament. Many current wrestling writers, fans, spectators, coaches and commentators felt that Ohio State was the “best ever” to finish in second place at the NCAA tournament. A few months ago I did a write-up that included some research on Bobby Douglas. Douglas was an Olympian and one of the most successful coaches in the history of the sport. After an undefeated 1965 regular season at Oklahoma State, Douglas had a concussion in his first match at the NCAA tournament and was unable to continue competing. Ultimately the Cowboys fell to Iowa State 87-86, and missed out on what would now be one of 35 NCAA titles. Rest of the story at https://pistolsfiringblog.com/osus-1965-wrestling-team-the-best-ever-to-not-win-an-ncaa-title/?mc_cid=0600a65dd4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

June 2, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Matside Updates: Tough Farewells; Matt Finesilver Prepped

Matt Finesilver Prepped for 2019 World Team Trials Challenge
Duke rising senior Matt Finesilver doesn’t have to go far for his next national wrestling tournament as NC State plays host to the 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament this weekend, May 17-19. Finesilver will be among the nation’s top wrestlers competing for spots in one of two Final X events, which determines the World Team. Finesilver, fresh off of taking fourth at the U.S. Open at the end of April to secure an Olympic redshirt, will compete at 79 kilograms in the senior freestyle division. Action begins for him, Saturday, May 19 at 10 a.m. Session II gets underway at 5:30 p.m. Competing at 174 pounds for the Blue Devils the past two seasons, Finesilver is a two-time NCAA qualifier and garnered All-ACC honors in 2019 with a runner-up finish.
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye
The quartet of Mitch Finesilver, Zach Finesilver, Brandon Leynaud and Alec Schenk officially became Duke alums this past Sunday at the 2019 Duke Commencement ceremony. The group’s impact on the wrestling program can’t be put into words, but lives in the Blue Devils’ consecutive top 25 finishes at the NCAA Championships. Without the tireless work of these four during their careers, Duke would not be where it is today as a wrestling program.

June 2, 2019 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment