Jordan Todd presented Michael Stokes Award as a top senior wrestler in eastern North Carolina
The TakeDown Report presented the 28th Michael Stokes Award to State Champion Jordan Todd of Rosewood High School, as a Top Senior Wrestler in the Tri-River area in Eastern North Carolina in 2019 finished the year with 39 wins and 1 loss. Todd won over 200 matches as a 4 time finalist and two time state champion in high school.
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 Ray Darden of Ayden-Grifton (2019), 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.
Men’s freestyle collects eight golds to complete team title sweep at Junior Pan Ams
BY TAYLOR MILLER, USA WRESTLING | JUNE 08, 2019,
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The men’s freestyle team help complete a team title sweep at the 2019 Junior Pan American Championships, winning eight gold medals on Friday night in Guatemala City. An outstanding day for Team USA, the squad went 32-2 on the day and earned the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler award in Roman Bravo-Young, who went 4-0 on the day, winning all matches by tech fall without surrendering a single point the whole day. Winning gold medals were Trevor Mastrogiovanni at 57 kg, Bravo-Young at 61 kg, Peyton Robb at 70 kg, Danny Braunagel at 74 kg, Shane Griffith at 79 kg, Zac Braunagel at 86 kg, Tanner Sloan at 97 kg and Seth Nevills at 125 kg.
Silver medalists for the Red, White and Blue were Real Woods at 65 kg and Jake Woodley at 92 kg. Woods fell in the finals against Cristian Solenzal Lopez of Cuba, who won a Greco title earlier in the week. Woodley finished on top, securing the silver medal with a pin in 33 seconds in his final match of round-robin action. In the team race, the USA was unmatched, scoring 240 team points, beating second-place Canada by 120 points. Finishing third was Mexico with 113 points. Across the three styles, the USA won 29 medals, Rest of the story and results at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/June/08/Jr-Pan-Am-MFS
USA wins nine medals and Greco team title at Junior Pan Ams
BY TAYLOR MILLER, USA WRESTLING | JUNE 06, 2019,
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The United States began the Junior Pan American Championships with nine medals in Greco-Roman on Wednesday in Guatemala City. USA’s medal count included two gold, five silver and two bronze. Winning Junior Pan Am titles on Wednesday were Hunter Lewis at 63 kg and Lee Herrington at 130 kg. Lewis not only wrestled his way to a gold medal but also the Outstanding Wrestler recognition.
In five matches, Lewis did not surrender a single point and collected all his victories by either technical fall or pin. This marks his third Pan Am title as he won the freestyle and Greco divisions in the 2018 Cadet Pan American Championships. At heavyweight, Herrington also did not give up a point on the day, winning an international gold medal in his first attempt. Wrestling three bouts, the UNK Loper tallied a 6-0 decision, a first-period pin and an 8-0 tech fall, respectively. Claiming silver medals for the Red, White and Blue were Haiden Drury at 60 kg, Isaiah Alford at 77 kg, Max Wohlabaugh at 82 kg, Keaton Fanning at 87 kg and Braxton Amos at 97 kg. After impressive morning sessions, Alford and Wohlabaugh fell short in their finals matches, but both walked away with their first international medals.
Drury and Fanning dropped matches in the morning session but finished strong with wins to claim second place. Amos went up against 2019 Senior Pan American champion Gabriel Rosillo Kindelan twice on the day in a six-man pool/bracket. Although both matches resulted in a loss for Amos, he showed major improvements between their first-round matchup and the finals. Bronze-medal winners included Billy Sullivan at 55 kg and Benji Peak at 67 kg. Both wrestlers dropped tough battles in the semifinals and bounced back to secure spots on the podium as well as crucial team points. Rest of the story and results at
Daton Fix’s NCAA Championship Loss Brings About Rule Amendment in the Sport
After controversial finish to Daton Fix’ freshman campaign the NCAA adds third party review.
The evolution of the wrestling review process continues to be influenced by Oklahoma State. In 2012 Jordan Oliver was looking to defend his NCAA title at 133 pounds. In what at the time was a very controversial and talked-about finish, Oliver seemed to have a late takedown that would’ve given him the match and his second NCAA title. That takedown wasn’t called, and at the time there was no review process in place and no ability for coaches to challenge calls. Later a challenge and review process became a part of the sport, largely influenced by the last few seconds of this match.
Another 133 pound NCAA final involving Oklahoma State has now caused a shift in the review process at the NCAA wrestling tournament. In March, Daton Fix wrestled Nick Suriano for the NCAA title at arguably the toughest college wrestling weight of all time. As Fix hit a slide by in sudden victory overtime on Nick Suriano, Suriano clearly grabbed Fix’ headgear to defend the takedown. Fix attempted to alert the ref, which opened him up, and was taken down and lost the match. Had the headgear grab been called Fix would’ve been given a point, the match, and the NCAA title. Rest of the story and videos at https://pistolsfiringblog.com/daton-fixs-ncaa-championship-loss-brings-about-rule-amendment-in-the-sport/?mc_cid=190c90f01d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Edwardsville (Illinois) Wrestling Club adds girls program
EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Wrestling Club has announced the addition of a girls wrestling program. The girls’ coach is Sarah Bollinger, a three-time Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association All-American. “We’ve seen a trend that’s really moving in that direction in the sport of wrestling, with a bunch of college programs all over the country and especially in the surrounding communities, that are endorsing female wrestling,” EWC head coach Pat McNamara said. “The state of Missouri has just endorsed it as a state-sanctioned sport and we feel that Illinois is going to be moving in that direction. We’re excited to give girls the opportunity to learn about the great sport of wrestling.”
Missouri held its first state tournament for girls’ high school wrestling during the 2018-19 school year, and McNamara feels it won’t be long before the IHSA follows suit. “I don’t think the IHSA has a timetable for when that might happen, but we know it’s coming,” McNamara said. “We’ve had girls in our program for a while, but we want to try to take it to the next level.” The Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association offers its own girls’ state series, which is reserved for any high school girls in the state of Illinois. Almost 200 wrestlers entered five sectionals this year, with the top three wrestlers in every weight class from each sectional competing in the state tournament in Springfield. Until this year, girls have been allowed to compete with and against boys in IWCOA events. But with the IHSA declaring girls’ wrestling an “emerging sport” last year, a new era has dawned for girls, many of whom historically have been reluctant to participate within a coed context.
“In the past, we’ve had around 15 girls across ages 6 and under up to age 14, but we’re hoping to double that number,” McNamara said. “We’d love to have 30 girls or more this year.” There are 16 states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington) that have sanctioned girls’ wrestling as a high school sport. There is also a campaign called “Wrestle Like a Girl,” which has its members travel throughout the nation to tout the benefits of girls’ wrestling. Rest of the story at
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 