A New Season Arises
With the flip of the calendar from September to October comes the start of a new wrestling season. The unofficial start of the 2019-20120 wrestling season begins this month as a number of tournaments will signal the start of the new season. Wrestling will begin this weekend and continue through the month as October will feature some of the top preseason wrestling tournaments in the country.
Grappler Fall Classic October 5
Jenison Fieldhouse
East Lansing, MI
The Grappler Fall Classic will feature some of the top youth wrestlers in the country as the event annually draws wrestlers from all over the country. It’s the top preseason tournament in the Midwest as it provides a great opportunity for wrestlers to get mat time versus some quality competition.
You can learn more about the event here.
Wild West Folkstyle Tournament October 6
Natomas High School
Sacramento, CA
The Wild West Folkstyle Tournament is the first tournament of the season in the state of California. It annually draws wrestlers from California and surrounding states and will once again give the opportunity to young wrestlers to get some much needed mat time. The event serves as the first leg of the California Triple Crown.
You can learn more about this year’s event here.
Super 32 Challenge October 12-13
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, NC
Regarded as not only the toughest preseason wrestling tournament but also one of the toughest of the season, the Super 32 will kickoff on October 12. This is an event that a majority of the top wrestlers compete in and this year’s event will feature top wrestlers such as Vince Bouzakis, Ty Kapusta and Paul Ognissanti.
You can learn more about the Super 32 here.
California World Challenge October 12-13
Clovis West High School
Fresno, CA
Last year more than 900 youth wrestlers competed in the 2018 California World Challenge. The event is annually one of the top preseason events in the state. Last year’s event featured a number of state champions and that’ll most likely be the case again this year as wrestlers will have the chance to compete against quality talent. Rest of the details and the story at https://youth1.com/wrestling/new-season-arises?mc_cid=7570eee4d9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b#
Sesker Slant: Random Thoughts as Winter Approaches
TDR : This posting is from a publication in Iowa and it is an interesting story. We are looking forward to the winter wrestling season.
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By Craig Sesker For The Predicament
It is exciting to see 50 years of The Predicament being celebrated. It brings back an abundance of fond memories for me. My parents bought a subscription to the magazine when I first started wrestling in the late 1970s. I remember battling my two brothers to be the first to read the newest issue when it arrived in our mailbox in Tipton.
Reading The Predicament provided me with plenty of enjoyment and motivation as an athlete. Reading about Iowa prep stars like Jeff Kerber, Greg Randall and Scott Morningstar certainly inspired me.
Congrats to G. Wyatt Schultz, Matt Levins and everyone else who continues to contribute to the long tradition of a publication and website I have a great appreciation for. With the World Championships just completed and the college season about to start, here are a few other random thoughts about the sport:
The Iowa Hawkeyes certainly have the firepower to make a run at an NCAA team title this season. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds with perennial power Penn State looking strong again.
How good will the 2020 Olympic Trials be? With only six Olympic weight classes in freestyle you will see world champions battling for spots on the team. Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake are expected to square off with J’den Cox facing either David Taylor or Kyle Snyder. It will be entertaining. It’s too bad there aren’t eight or even 10 weight classes for the Olympics. Six isn’t nearly enough.
Junior world champion David Carr is a superstar in the making. I can’t wait to see how he fares for the Iowa State Cyclones during his redshirt freshman season. He’s a talented and driven young man with a dynamic style.
Who is ready for Spencer Lee to take the mat again? He is halfway to becoming Iowa’s first four-time NCAA champion. Lee also excels in freestyle where he is an age-group world champion. Will we see him at the 2020 Olympic Trials?
Will Wartburg College bounce back after a rough finish in 2019? I wouldn’t bet against the Knights.
Where will Nelson Brands fit into Iowa’s plans this season? He had a strong redshirt season and now he looks ready to challenge for a starting spot.
The U.S. qualified just 4-of-18 weight classes for the Olympics at the World Championships. The Americans had five world champions, but three were in non-Olympic divisions. Seems to me like all the best American wrestlers should be trying to help their country qualify for the Olympics.
I was happy to see Carver-Hawkeye Arena ranked No. 1 for best college wrestling venue. There isn’t a better place in the world to watch wrestling than Carver. The atmosphere is incredible.
Adeline Gray set an American record by winning her fifth world title in women’s wrestling. She needs to be celebrated alongside all of the great champions in this sport’s history. Women’s wrestling is here to stay and it’s remarkable recent growth can be attributed to people like her. Now Gray needs to go win an Olympic gold medal to cap her amazing career.
There isn’t a better person in wrestling than Dan Gable. He is retired, but he really isn’t. The guy is constantly on the go. He still does a tremendous amount for the sport and is always more than willing to help people. He is a generous and gracious man. Wrestling is so fortunate and blessed to have Dan Gable. He’s the best.
Great to see Grand View adding a women’s program. They continue to achieve amazing feats on that highly successful Des Moines campus. Rest of the story at https://www.thepredicament.com/2019/10/sesker-slant/?mc_cid=7570eee4d9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Every Ranked Wrestler At Super 32
It’s the 20th anniversary of the Super 32 Challenge, and 2019 is shaping up to be the most talent laden competition in event history. Over 100 nationally ranked high schoolers are expected to lay it on the line in Greensboro, NC. You can also expect to see over 200 wrestlers who are listed on a big board (a list ranking the top college recruits in each high school class).
Watch Super 32 LIVE on FloWrestling
Saturday & Sunday, October 12 & 13 | Starting at 8:00AM ET
Yes, it will be a veritable smorgasbord of elite high school wrestling.
Check the complete list, video and other options at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/6572387-every-ranked-wrestler-at-super-32?mc_cid=79d6a9cbce&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Gardner-Webb Wrestling Releases 2019-20 Schedule
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb wrestling released its 2019-20 schedule Monday afternoon, with five home matches set in Paul Porter Arena. The Runnin’ Bulldogs open the season on the road with a pair of tournaments, kicking off the year on November 3 at the Hokie Open in Blacksburg, Va. before taking part in the Appalachian Invite in Boone, N.C. on November 9.
GWU will then travel across the country to take on Cal Baptist on November 23 in Riverside, Calif., and will compete in the Road Runner Open on November 24 in Bakersfield, Calif. The ‘Dogs remain on the road, facing both George Mason and LIU Post on December 6 in Fairfax, Va. before taking part in the Patriot Open the next afternoon. Gardner-Webb opens its home slate on December 18 with a match against Franklin and Marshall.
GWU returns to action on January 1, taking part in the two-day Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn. before returning to Boiling Springs, to open Southern Conference action by hosting Appalachian State on January 9.
Other home SoCon bouts include visits by The Citadel (Jan. 30), Campbell (Jan. 31), and Davidson (Feb. 16). Remaining road conference matchups include trips to Chattanooga (Jan. 12), Presbyterian (Feb. 9), and VMI (Feb. 14). Rest of the story at https://gwusports.com/news/2019/10/7/gardner-webb-wrestling-releases-2019-20-schedule.aspx?mc_cid=79d6a9cbce&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Women’s Wrestling Opens Season With Dual Wins Over Ferrum, Presbyterian
TDR Editor’s Notes ; The first college dual meet results that we have seen this season are from Ferrum, Virginia.
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THE RUNDOWN
- Event: Ferrum Duals | Host: Ferrum (Ferrum, Va.)
- Result: Gannon went 2-0 to open its season.
- The Short Story: Gannon won 15 of 20 bouts to roll to a pair of dual victories to kick off the 2019-20 season Saturday in Virginia.
GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
- Box Scores: Click Here
- Photo Gallery (Courtesy Ferrum Sports Information): Click Here
SCORES
- Gannon 28, Ferrum 21
- Gannon 40, Presbyterian 8
Rest of the details and story at https://gannonsports.com/news/2019/10/6/womens-wrestling-opens-season-with-dual-wins-over-ferrum-presbyterian.aspx?mc_cid=79d6a9cbce&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 