Elmira College to Add Men’s & Women’s Wrestling Teams
ELMIRA, N.Y. — Elmira College Director of Athletics Renee Carlineo announced on Wednesday morning the addition of men’s and women’s wrestling as intercollegiate programs that will begin competition during the 2020-21 academic year. The teams expand Elmira’s varsity sports offerings to 20 intercollegiate programs. “I am incredibly excited for the addition of two wrestling teams to our athletic department and the student-athletes to our community,” said Carlineo. “Wrestlers are gritty, resilient, and will add a new dimension to our already well-rounded student body. We have a perfect geographic location for this sport and possess unique academic offerings to attract competitive wrestlers that are academically strong.”
As part of a larger department-wide initiative, adding men’s and women’s wrestling will impact current athletic facilities in a positive way. The College will begin to explore recreating existing space for locker rooms, not only for the two new athletic programs, but also for Elmira’s current athletic varsity teams. “The addition of men’s and women’s wrestling comes at a particularly exciting time for the College,” stated Elmira College President Dr. Chuck Lindsay. “We have the opportunity to provide a unique co-curricular experience for a new wave of student-athletes, while adding to our already robust athletics programs and the vibrant culture within our current student body.”
Wrestling has become an emerging sport in NCAA Division III for both men and women. However, Elmira will become somewhat of a pioneer in the world of women’s wrestling in the region, as the Soaring Eagles will sponsor the first NCAA Division III women’s wrestling program in New York. Additionally, Elmira’s implementation of men’s wrestling will be the 12th Division III program in the state. “The National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NWCA) would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary leaders at Elmira College for recognizing the educational value that men’s and women’s wrestling will bring to their campus,” added Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the NWCA. “We are thrilled to have been able to facilitate a substantial startup grant from regional benefactors to insure the successful launching of the men’s program along with the first-ever intercollegiate women’s team at a four-year college in New York.” Rest of the story at https://athletics.elmira.edu/news/2019/9/11/general-elmira-college-to-add-mens-womens-wrestling-programs.aspx?mc_cid=5f6b837449&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Looking Back To Hall of Fame Opening In 1976
Amateur Wrestling News
Originally Published October 9, 1976
The sport of wrestling has reached a long-awaited milestone with the opening of its hall of fame and museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Dedication and formal opening of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame were conducted Saturday, September 11, 1976 by the United States Wrestling Federation. The weekend’s activities were highlighted by induction of the charter class of 14 Distinguished Members during the first annual Honors Banquet. Outstanding wrestling personalities from across the nation, including eight Olympic champions, were on hand to participate in the dedication, banquet and other activities. Each of the eight living inductees was present, and the six honored posthumously were represented by their wives, sons and daughters.
In the central Honors Court of the Hall of Fame, each of the 14 Distinguished Members is recognized by a large granite plaque, each accompanied by an individual audio system extolling his achievements in the sport. Smaller replicas of the granite plaques were presented to the Distinguished Members or their families. Each recipient was invited to select a person to present this plaque at the banquet. Rest of the story at
https://nwhof.org/blog/looking-back-to-hall-of-fame-opening-in-1976/?mc_cid=5f6b837449&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Remembering 9-11 Fallen and Rescue Workers
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame would like to pay tribute to all those who died in the World Trade Center or as rescue workers and firefighters on September 11, 2001. We extend a special remembrance to our three Hall of Fame Medal of Courage recipients for their heroic efforts during the 9-11 attacks on the United States. Because of them countless lives were saved and these brave patriots proved that the greatest courage is giving your life to save others.
Chief Raymond Downey
Being a hero was nothing new to New York Fire Department Chief Raymond Downey. The well-respected leader had risen through the ranks to earn the title of Chief of Special Operations and led task forces that responded to the Oklahoma City bombing, Hurricane Marilyn and the Atlanta Olympics. In addition, he was a team leader in response to Hurricanes Hugo, Andres, Fran, and Opal. Downey was a panel member of the Gilmore Commission, and a Presidential Committee on Terrorism, which had been assessing domestic response capabilities for terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction. Rest of the story at
https://nwhof.org/blog/a-tribute-to-the-9-11-fallen-and-rescue-workers/?mc_cid=5f6b837449&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Iowa-Penn State ranked #1/#2 in WIN’s Preseason College Poll
By Mike Finn Updated: September 11, 2019
NEWTON, Iowa — The University of Iowa wrestling program, owners of 23 all-time NCAA team titles, is ranked No. 1 in WIN Magazine’s 2019-20 Preseason NCAA Tournament Power Index and Individual Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletics. The Hawkeyes, whose last NCAA title came in 2010, features seven returning All-Americans — including two-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee at 125 pounds — and have nine ranked wrestlers for 106.5 TPI points. Penn State, which has won the last four NCAA team championships and eight over the past nine years, is ranked second with 97 TPI points as eight Nittany Lions are ranked in the pre-season poll. That includes five past All-Americans, including three past champions in heavyweight Anthony Cassar (2019), 165-pound Vincenzo Joseph (2017-18) and 174-pound Mark Hall (2017).
The next three ranked teams are Wisconsin (51.5 TPI points), Nebraska (50) and Lehigh (42.5). WIN’s rankings could change once teams decide on what weights wrestlers will compete and if certain guys will redshirt or not. The preseason rankings also do not include true or redshirt freshmen. They’ll be be added once the season begins in November and have wrestled varsity matches. WIN’s Tournament Power Index is a prediction of accumulated NCAA points of ranked wrestlers on a respective team associated to where they might place at the 2020 NCAA Championships, March 19-21, in Minneapolis, Minn. Rest of the story at https://www.win-magazine.com/2019/09/iowa-tops-penn-state-in-wins-2019-20-preseason-rankings/?mc_cid=5f6b837449&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Jeff Buxton named U.S. Men’s Freestyle World Team Coach
BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING | SEPT. 10, 2019,
Jeff Buxton of Easton, Pa., head coach of the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club, has been named as the volunteer coach of the 2019 U.S. Freestyle World Team, which will compete at the World Wrestling Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, September 19-22. Buxton will coach alongside USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Bill Zadick and the USA Wrestling Men’s Freestyle National Coaching Staff in Nur-Sultan. Buxton became head coach for the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club in 2012, and has guided the athletes at this respected national club and Regional Training Center affiliated with Lehigh University since then. He has coached numerous athletes who have made the Freestyle National Team or earned Senior-level All-American honors, including 2019-20 national team member Darian Cruz.
For many years, Buxton has coached U.S. men’s freestyle international tour teams which have competed in a number of different nations. He has also been a personal coach and coaching staff member for past U.S. World Teams. Buxton has attended and coached at numerous U.S. National Team training camps in the last decade. Prior to joining the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club, Buxton was recognized as one of the nation’s top high school coaches, serving three decades with the national power Blair Academy in New Jersey. Buxton was a coach and math teacher at Blair starting in 1982. At first, Jeff coached both lacrosse and wrestling at Blair, but eventually focused on wrestling, becoming co-head wrestling coach in 1984 and head wrestling coach in 1991. During his tenure, Blair won 30 National Prep team titles and finished as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation 10 times. He coached numerous wrestlers who went on to success at the college level and the international levels. Rest of the story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/September/10/Jeff-Buxton-named–Freestyle-World-Team-Coach?mc_cid=5f6b837449&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
InterMat Reads: Adam Wheeler’s Believe and Achieve
By Mark Palmer
The wrestling community loves an “overcoming adversity” story. Adam Wheeler’s life is the very definition of that term, growing up in a single-parent home with serious economic struggles — not to mention a couple major medical challenges — to become an Olympic bronze medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling at 96 kilograms/211 pounds at the 2008 Beijing Games who has since served as a police officer, then as a firefighter. Now Wheeler shares his inspirational real-life story in his new book, Believe and Achieve: Overcoming Obstacles to Excel, written along with respected wrestling writer Craig Sesker.
The early years: A life of struggle on and off the mat
Adam Wheeler was born and raised in Lancaster, California about an hour north of Los Angeles. “To say my childhood was tumultuous would be an understatement,” the future Olympian wrote in the opening chapter of Believe and Achieve. “I overcame more than my share of challenges and obstacles while growing up in Southern California.” Wheeler’s father left the family when his son was three. Adam, his mom, brother and sister struggled with life, having to move frequently. In seventh grade, Wheeler recalls not having any Christmas presents.
In addition to being raised by a single mom, Wheeler faced a life-threatening situation: he nearly died at eleven months from a rare blood disease, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Wheeler made a full recovery, going out for baseball as a youngster. He first took up wrestling as a high school freshman. “My only exposure to the sport was Saved By The Bell,” according to Wheeler.
At first, Wheeler struggled in the sport; the future Olympian was 1-15 in first year of high school. Wheeler had other struggles off the mat, skipping classes and eventually getting booted from school. However, thanks to the support of his high school coach, Wheeler attended another school and was able to make up for lost time and classes … and earn his way back onto the wrestling team at his original school. By his junior year, Wheeler was 37-7 … and received a grant to participate in J Robinson’s Intensive Camp. After graduation, he was signed up for the U.S. Coast Guard, and was able to advance his mat career to higher levels, eventually earning a place on the U.S. Greco-Roman Olympic team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and, ultimately, a bronze medal. Rest of the story at
http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/22319?mc_cid=5f6b837449&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Jordan Burroughs wins USOPC Male Athlete of the Month
BY UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE | SEPT. 10
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee today announced that standout performances from wrestler Jordan Burroughs (Sicklerville, New Jersey), gymnast Simone Biles (Spring, Texas) and the U.S. wheelchair rugby team earned them Best of August honors for Team USA Awards presented by Dow. Burroughs claimed his third straight Pan American Games title in August, winning the 74 kg. bracket in men’s freestyle. The American collected a perfect 3-0 record and defeated two past world medalists en route to his victory. In his first match, Burroughs defeated Abel Pastor of Peru, 10-0, before taking down four-time world medalist Geandry Garzon of Cuba with a dominant 15-4 performance in the semifinal match. In the final, Burroughs outlasted 2011 world silver medalist Franklin Gomez from Puerto Rico with a methodical 4-1 decision to earn his third Pan American gold medal. The feat came on the seven-year anniversary of Burroughs winning his Olympic title at the Olympic Games London 2012.
Biles won her sixth U.S. all-around title, becoming the first woman in nearly 70 years to win six senior U.S. all-around titles. She now ties Clara Schroth Lomady, who won the all-around from 1945-46 and 1949-52, for the record. At the national championships, Biles was also crowned the vault, balance beam and floor exercise champion and the uneven bars bronze medalist. Never one to settle, she continued to push the limits of the sport and made national headlines by performing two skills never before performed by a female gymnast in competition: a double-double dismount on the beam and a triple-double on the floor exercise. Rest of the story at
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/September/10/Burroughs-USOPC-Athlete-of-the-Month?mc_cid=5f6b837449&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 