Takedown Report

Meet the New Women’s Collegiate Programs for 2019-20

With Labor Day having come and gone, we inch closer and closer to the beginning of the college season. For women’s wrestling, this should be a banner year. 14 schools are set to offer women’s wrestling for the first time, two states will get their first women’s collegiate programs (South Carolina, and West Virginia), while Minnesota gets an active program (Minnesota-Morris offered women’s wrestling from 1993-2003). As good as those numbers sound, expect them to grow in 2020-21 as eight colleges have already pledged to start women’s team’s during that school years. But before we get ahead of ourselves and worry about next season, let’s take a look at the women’s programs that will hit the mat for the first time in just a few short months. 

Alderson Broaddus Battlers – Phillipi, West Virginia (DII)
Head Coach: Sam Gardner
The plan for Alderson Broaddus in 2019-20 is to bring in a small class and wrestle and abbreviated schedule. Next year, with two recruiting classes enrolled, the Battlers will wrestle a full schedule. 
Staff: Sam Gardner will handle coaching the women’s team along with the men’s squad. The 2019-20 season will be his fifth leading the wrestling program. Under his direction, two wrestlers have combined to qualify for the DII national tournament on three occasions. Gardner is a Maryland native, so he may turn back to his hometown roots when looking to recruit for the women’s team. He’ll be in luck, as Maryland will sanction a girl’s state tournament for the first time in 2019-20. 

Augsburg Auggies – Minneapolis, Minnesota (DIII)
Head Coach: Max Mejia
Key Contributors:
Emily Shilson (109)
Vayle Baker (116/123)
Gabby Skidmore (123)
Kaylee Moore (130/136)
Melissa Jacobs (143)
Marlynne Deede (155)
Faith Tuttle (170/191)
There’s a lot to be excited about surrounding the first year of the Augsburg women’s wrestling program. Augsburg has a storied history with their men’s team, so there’s no doubt that the school, administration, and the community will support the women’s program, as well. Augsburg becomes the only school in the state of Minnesota that offers women’s wrestling.  Rest of the story and details at https://news.theopenmat.com/womens-wrestling/meet-the-new-womens-collegiate-programs-for-2019-20/74332?mc_cid=0c4ed16935&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

September 6, 2019 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Vote for Jordan Burroughs as Team USA Athlete of the Month!

BY TAYLOR MILLER, USA WRESTLING | SEPT. 04, 2019, 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee today announced the finalists for the Team USA Awards presented by Dow, Best of August, which recognize the outstanding achievements of Team USA athletes from last month. 2012 Olympic champion and four-time World champion Jordan Burroughs was selected as a finalist after a standout performance at the Pan American Games, where he won his third Pan Am Games title. Fans are invited to vote for their favorite athletes and teams at TeamUSA.org/Awards through midnight Monday, Sept. 9. Fans may vote as many times as they wish, so remember to vote now and vote often, then share the link with the rest of the wrestling community.
Click here to vote for Jordan Burroughs for USOPC Male Athlete of the Month
Burroughs navigated a tough 74 kg men’s freestyle bracket, defeating two past World medalists en route to a gold medal. In his first match, Burroughs defeated Abel Pastor of host country Peru, 10-0. In the semifinals, Burroughs took down four-time World medalist Geandry Garzon of Cuba with a dominant 15-4 performance. For gold, the 2012 Olympic champion outlasted 2011 World silver medalist Franklin Gomez from Puerto Rico with a methodical 4-1 decision. The feat came on the seven-year anniversary of Burroughs winning his Olympic title at the 2012 London Games. Rest of the details and story at
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/September/04/Burroughs-selected-as-finalist-for-USOPC-Athlete-of-the-Month?mc_cid=0c4ed16935&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

September 6, 2019 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment