Takedown Report

Steiner believes it is time to give up folkstyle for freestyle

TDR Editor’s Notes ; This is an interesting proposition and worth consideration. It has been discussed many times before and often the rational becomes that it will help the U.S. score better in Olympic and World competition. The number of wrestlers who enter international matches is a fraction of 1 % of all the students who wrestle scholastically or collegiately. It is our view that the current american folkstyle is more beneficial to the development of wrestlers as athletes and students. This is why we have scholastic sports; for the development and betterment of the students and not so the top 0.5 per cent can do better in an event that happens once every four years. If wrestling were to switch to freestyle the number of participants would drastically drop and the recent growth in collegiate opportunities would not only end, but would decline.
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Terry Steiner had never seen a college wrestling meet until he was a senior in high school. He and his identical twin brother, Troy, grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota, and drove to Minneapolis in 1988 to watch Iowa defeat Minnesota. Both eventually signed with Iowa and won individual NCAA titles under Dan Gable.  Their second meet? North Idaho wrestled Bismarck State Junior College when they came to the Steiners’ hometown. 
Today, the Steiners are wrestling influencers. Terry is the head women’s national team coach at USA Wrestling and Troy is the head wrestling coach at Fresno State. Both have accumulated a wealth of experience since that point, traveling the country and the globe on behalf of wrestling.  To be clear, the Iowa-Minnesota meet was the very first time either had watched a college wrestling meet of any kind. Terry and Troy Steiner were wrestling neophytes when they attended Iowa.
That was over 30 years ago and wrestling has changed exponentially since that point. Imagine a scenario where a good high school wrestler has not seen hours of wrestling footage either online or in person. 
Rest of the story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1574209947591&twSessionId=lmvzpgpewm&postId=1754455132&mc_cid=4c42a27e7e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 2, 2019 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

15th College News, Results and such

Pittsburgh-Johnstown Improves to 2-0 in the PSAC With 44-3 Win at Millersville
The Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers won the first nine bouts and got falls from  Matt Siszka (133 lbs.), Dalton Group (174 lbs.), Connor Craig (184 lbs.), and Alex Delp to improve to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC with a lopsided 44-3 victory at Millersville on Saturday. Brendan Howard got the Mountain Cats started with an 8-6 win over Devin Flannery at 125 lbs., and Siszka pinned Jacob Lehman at 7:38 to give Pitt-Johnstown an early 9-0 lead.
Rest of the story at https://pittjohnstownathletics.com/news/2019/11/16/wrestling-wrestlers-improve-to-2-0-in-the-psac-with-44-3-win-at-millersville.aspx?mc_cid=21372cd7df&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Cardinal Knocks Off Tar Heels
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford wrestling opened its home schedule with a 21-11 upset win over No. 17 North Carolina, Saturday, in Burnham Pavilion. The Cardinal (1-1) won seven of the 10 bouts against North Carolina (1-1), including three wins over individually ranked Tar Heels. Tyler Eischens, a redshirt freshman from Anoka, Minnesota, trailed No. 16 A.C. Headlee 2-1 after the opening period at 157 pounds. Headlee went down to start the second and a strong ride by Eischens kept the score 2-1. Eischens tied it up with an escape to start the third before scoring the winning takedown to seal the upset. Rest of the story at https://gostanford.com/news/2019/11/16/wrestling-cardinal-knocks-off-tar-heels.aspx

Rutgers Finishes West Coast Road Trip with 24-12 Victory over Cal State Bakersfield
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Willie Scott (174)worked a tech fall, Gerard Angelo (149) muscled a major decision over a ranked foe and Rutgers wrestling (5-0) won seven of 10 bouts to earn a 24-12 victory over Cal State Bakersfield (0-3) on Saturday afternoon in Bakersfield, California. The win completed a 2-0 road trip for the Scarlet Knights in the Golden State, as RU also collected a 23-13 victory over Fresno State on Friday night in Fresno. Rest of the story at https://scarletknights.com/news/2019/11/16/wrestling-finishes-west-coast-road-trip-with-24-12-victory-over-cal-state-bakersfield.aspx?mc_cid=21372cd7df&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Michigan State Defeats Kent State, No. 20 Oklahoma in Tri-Meet
Kent, Ohio – Michigan State wrestling opened the 2019-20 dual meet season with a pair of victories over Kent State and No. 20 Oklahoma on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Kent State’s Tri-Meet inside the MAC Center. In a triangular scramble format, the Spartans rotated between two mats throughout the day against Kent State and Oklahoma. MSU, which ranks No. 29 in the latest team rankings, defeated the Sooners, 21-16, and followed with a dominating 36-6 win over the Golden Flashes. MSU’s win over Oklahoma is its first since Feb. 2, 2003 and the ninth time overall out of 48 meetings. Michigan State’s win over No. 20 Oklahoma was the first over a top-25 opponent since 2013. Rest of the story at https://msuspartans.com/news/2019/11/16/wrestling-defeats-kent-state-no-20-oklahoma-in-tri-meet.aspx?mc_cid=21372cd7df&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

No. 10 Lehigh knocks off No. 4 Oklahoma State 21-20 on criteria
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Competing in Staber Arena for the first time since 2016, No. 10 Lehigh went down to the wire with No. 4 Oklahoma State. A Cowboy forfeit in the final bout at 133 left the dual tied at 20-20, and on the third criteria, total match points, a 58-48 advantage gave the Mountain Hawks the 21-20 victory Saturday afternoon.
Lehigh won three of the first five bouts, with a pair of major decisions, to build an 11-6 led at intermission. Oklahoma State got back in the dual with a fall at 184 and a major decision at 197 but the Cowboys did not have a 133 pounder available. When junior Brandon Paetzell kept fourth-ranked Nick Piccininni to a regular decision at 125, the forfeit allowed the Mountain Hawks to tie the dual and ultimately, win their dual opener on criteria. Rest of the story at https://lehighsports.com/news/2019/11/16/wrestling-no-10-lehigh-knocks-off-no-4-oklahoma-state-21-20-on-criteria.aspx?mc_cid=21372cd7df&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Men’s Wrestling Honors Former Coach Paul MacDonald in Dual-Match Home Opener
ADRIAN, Mich.–The Adrian College men’s wrestling team will conduct Paul MacDonald Night on Thursday, Nov. 21, when the Bulldogs will honor their former head coach at halftime of their dual-match home opener against Manchester University. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the Merillat Sport and Fitness Center. MacDonald, who coached from 1967 to 1977, was the architect of the program’s only three Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships in men’s wrestling. Adrian rolled through the MIAA competition in winning back-to-back-to-back conference titles from 1969-71 with a 17-0 MIAA record. During his 11-year career at the helm, he led the Bulldogs to a 73-70-3 dual-match record, three NCAA tournament appearances (1975-77) and a 30-17 conference record for a .638 winning percentage. Overall, he mentored 20 MIAA individual champions including 1971 conference most valuable player Steve Fugaban (190 pounds) and 1976 MVP Lou Stravopopus (150). Adrian also was the MIAA runner-up in 1972 and 77. Rest of the story at https://adrianbulldogs.com/sports/m-wrestl/2019-20/releases/20191111of4nz9?mc_cid=4c42a27e7e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

No. 9 Baldwin-Wallace Opens OAC Action with Convincing Victory
ADA, Ohio – The No. 9 Nationally-Ranked Baldwin Wallace University wrestling team improved to 1-0 after the 28-6 Ohio Athletic Conference victory over Ohio Northern University, inside the ONU Sports Center. Freshman 125-pounder Jack Stanley (Brecksville / Brecksville-Broadview Heights) got the night started with a pin in 6:35. Senior All-American and Academic All-OAC 141-pounder Charlie Nash (Norwalk) extended the BW lead to 9-3, after a 2-0 decision. Junior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC 149-pounder Tanner McHugh (New Ringgold, Pa./Tamaqua) gave BW a 12-3 advantage after a 3-2 decision. Rest of the story at https://www.bwyellowjackets.com/sports/wrest/2019-20/releases/onu?mc_cid=4c42a27e7e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Edinboro Wins Second MAC Dual over Ohio, Shuts Out Long Island in Boro Duals
EDINBORO, Pa. – The Edinboro wrestling team improved to 5-1 early in the season with a pair of wins in the Boro Duals on Saturday at McComb Fieldhouse. The Fighting Scots won their second Mid-American Conference match in their first season as a member of the MAC, defeating Ohio University 25-7. The ended the duals with a 51-0 win over an out-manned long Island program that is in its first year of division I competition. Rest of the results and story at https://gofightingscots.com/news/2019/11/16/wrestling-edinboro-wins-second-mac-dual-over-ohio-shuts-out-long-island-in-boro-duals.aspx?mc_cid=21372cd7df&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Diplomats Sweep Double Header in Lexington
LEXINGTON, Va. – A pair of Cenzo Pelusi decisions at 285 pounds sealed two Franklin & Marshall dual victories on Saturday in Lexington. The Diplomats fought back to down VMI by a narrow 19-17 tally before winning two of the three final matches in a 22-16 win over Davidson in the nightcap.  The Diplomats got off on the right foot for their dual-meet schedule, opening at 2-0 on year.  A pin at 125 pounds put F&M in an early 6-0 hole against VMI.  Rest of the story at https://www.godiplomats.com/sports/m-wrestl/2019-20/releases/20191116smfncq?mc_cid=21372cd7df&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Short Time Shots: Garage Days (11-19-19)
By Jason Bryant
I’m Jason Bryant, and this is Short Time Shots, a mostly daily look at the scores and more from around the world of wrestling. My wife’s asleep, so I’m doing something different and recording this using the Backpack app on my phone. I’m standing in my 44-degree garage. And of course, this is now the second time I’m recording it, since stupid me tested it, changed a setting, but didn’t re-test it. So now I’m back in the garage. 
Rest of the story and audio at http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/shots/short-time-shots-garage-days-11-19-19/?mc_cid=4c42a27e7e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 2, 2019 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

CIAC in Connecticut announces high school Girls Wrestling Invitational Tournament for 2020

CHESHIRE, Conn. – For the first time the CIAC will host a Girls Wrestling Invitational Tournament in conjunction with the CIAC Wrestling State Open February 28-29 at the Floyd Little Center in New Haven. This marks the first CIAC organized event solely for female wrestlers. The Invitational will crown winners in 10 weight classes, and the first, third, and fifth-place matches will coincide with the same matches in the State Open competition. The Invitational seeding and brackets will be released either Monday February 24 or Tuesday February 25. “Over the past 99 years the CIAC has been committed to providing student-athletes with exceptional education-best experiences,” CAS-CIAC Executive Director Glenn Lungarini stated. “The inaugural CIAC Girls Wrestling Invitational Tournament exemplifies the CIAC’s innovative approach toward empowering student-athletes through school-based sports. We have every belief this will be a great showcase for talented student-athletes who are certainly deserving of this spotlight.”
Per CIAC by-laws, girls are been permitted to compete on boys wrestling teams, and the number of girls competing in high school wrestling in Connecticut has grown from 70 in 2015-16 to 131 in 2018-19. Female competitors will be able to wrestle in either the Girls Invitational or the Boys Tournaments. There will be no qualifying standards for the Girls Invitational – all girl wrestlers may enter the Invitational. “There was tremendous enthusiasm to create this Invitational with the members of the CIAC Wrestling Committee, and there is great hope this will create even more excitement and growth for girls wrestling in the state,” said Bob Lehr, CIAC Executive Staff member and Wrestling Committee liaison.
Since 1994 the number of girl high school wrestlers nationally has risen from 804 to 16,562 based on data provided by the NFHS and thirteen states currently hold a state wrestling championship for girls. The growth of the sport in Connecticut has not risen to reach the threshold in which it can be sanctioned as an official CIAC Championship sport, but the Invitational will join several other CIAC organized events designed to provide a championship-level experience. Rest of the story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/November/18/Connecticut-adds-girls-high-school-tournament?mc_cid=722104edd8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Tulpehocken School Board retires policy that banned girls from competing on boys teams
The action was prompted by a seventh-grade girl who wants to wrestle on the junior high team. It opens the door to girls competing on boys teams in all sports.
WRITTEN BY RON DEVLIN
A 12-year-old girl who can put the moves on boy wrestlers took the Tulpehocken School Board to the mat at Tuesday’s school board meeting. Reacting to a challenge by the family of Katalyna Borreli, a seventh-grader who wants to wrestle on the school district’s boys team, the board retired its longstanding policy of prohibiting girls from competing in contact sports with boys. Superintendent Andrew Netznik read a statement at the opening of the meeting in the district administration building in Rehrersburg. Rest of the story at https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/tulpehocken-school-board-decides-to-allow-girls-to-compete-on-boys-teams?fbclid=IwAR1a6qFCan6gGPW8sRWNUSTlSzWzYdhYciTLISP–ZDphlg8h2it3oViwg8&mc_cid=4c42a27e7e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b#.XdSeRqcWKYE.facebook

December 2, 2019 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

14th College News, Notes & Results

Northwestern Wildcats Upset No. 14 Northern Iowa in Home Opener
EVANSTON, Ill — No. 21 Northwestern returned to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday with an emphatic 24-20 win over No. 14 Northern Iowa in its home opener. With the win, the ‘Cats improve to 1-1 on the season. NU was able to come out on top today thanks in large part to the fact that four of their five individual wins Sunday were of the bonus point variety. “Saw some really great individual performances tonight. Super proud of the effort put out by Mike DeAugustino, Shayne Oster and the other guys that got their hand raised,” Head Coach Matt Storniolo said following his team’s victory. Rest of the story at https://nusports.com/news/2019/11/17/wrestling-wildcats-upset-no-14-northern-iowa-in-home-opener.aspx?mc_cid=6feecf2e4d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

No. 6 Lindenwood Earns Two Wins on Saturday
The No. 6 Lindenwood wrestling team (2-0) went 2-0 on Saturday with wins over Ouachita Baptist and Emmanuel College.  The Lions defeated Ouachita Baptist 47-6, while taking down Emmanuel College 38-8 in Arkadelphia, Ark.
Blaine Martinez went 2-0 on the day with a major decision against Emmanuel College.  Tim Bogar registered a pin against Ouachita Baptist, going 2-0 on the day.  Austin Stofer dominated his opponents, earning a pin and a tech fall in his two matches. Rest of the results at https://lindenwoodlions.com/news/2019/11/16/no-6-lindenwood-wrestling-earns-two-wins-on-saturday.aspx?mc_cid=6feecf2e4d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

IOWA Hawkeyes Blank Mocs in Season Opener
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Wrestling team opened the 2019-20 season Sunday with a 39-0 shutout of Tennessee-Chattanooga at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes swept 10 bouts, scoring bonus points in five matches and punctuating the dual with a first-period fall at heavyweight. Rest of the story at https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2019/11/17/wrestling-hawkeyes-blank-mocs-in-season-opener.aspx?mc_cid=6feecf2e4d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Ferrum Women’s Wrestling Beats Liberty 21-20
SALEM, Virginia — The Ferrum College women’s wrestling team competed against Liberty University Saturday, November 16, in a dual meet held at the Salem Civic Center. The Panthers and Flames battled to a 20-20 deadlock, with Ferrum earning an extra team point on criteria to claim a 21-20 win. Rest of the story at https://www.ferrumpanthers.com/sports/wwrest/2019-20/releases/20191117mfid7r?mc_cid=6feecf2e4d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

#11 Johnson & Wales Wins Roger Williams Invitational
BRISTOL, R.I. – Five top three finishes propelled the Johnson & Wales University wrestling team to the title at the Roger Williams University Invitational. JWU posted 174 points to best Castleton by 28 points. The biggest upset of the tournament came at 133 pounds. Rookie Hayden Brown worked his way to the finals where he defeated the top-ranked wrestler in the country, TCNJ’s Jake Giordano, 4-2. Also claiming an individual title was senior Michael DiNardo, 3-1, over Ryan Higgins from Bridgewater State at 285 pounds. Rest of the story at https://providence.jwuathletics.com/sports/wrest/2019-20/releases/20191116yuzeee?mc_cid=6feecf2e4d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

No. 12 Iowa State Tops Bucknell, 24-15
AMES, Iowa – The No 12 Iowa State wrestling team (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) topped Bucknell (0-2, 0-0 EIWA), 24-15 in the dual season-opener. The Cyclones won six of the 10 bouts and were aided by bonus-point victories from Jarrett Degen (major decision), David Carr (technical fall) and Marcus Coleman (fall).
How It Happened
Alex Mackall put the Cyclones on the board to open the dual with a 10-3 victory over Brandon Siedman. Mackall tallied four takedowns, including three in the first period, to improve his season record to 4-0. Rest of the story at https://cyclones.com/news/2019/11/17/wrestling-no-12-iowa-state-tops-bucknell-24-15.aspx?mc_cid=6feecf2e4d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Virginia Tech Hokies upset No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Virginia Tech wrestling defeats third-ranked Ohio State Sunday in Columbus. The upset victory is already the second of the season for No. 11 Tech, first over a top-3 opponent.
Joey Prata secured the win for the Hokies after a 5-2 decision over No. 20 Malik Heinselman to end the dual. Sunday was the second straight win for the Hokies when the dual came down to the last match. Highlights & details at https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/11/17/wrestling-hokies-upset-no-3-ohio-state-in-columbus.aspx?mc_cid=6feecf2e4d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Rider Rolls to 26-6 Win at Northern Illinois
DEKALB, IL – The Rider University wrestling team continued to make statements on the mat, defeating Northern Illinois at the Huskie Duals, 26-6, on Sunday afternoon at Victor E. Court. Eight Broncs contributed individual wins for Rider, as the Broncs led throughout the dual. Rider started the match with wins at 125, 133 and 141. Jonathan Tropea (Harrington Park, NJ/Saint Joseph (Montvale)) earned a 9-8 decision over 2019 NCAA Qualifier Bryce West. Chris Wright (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin) and Robbie Cleary (Edison, NJ/Bound Brook [Rutgers]) followed with major decisions to put the Broncs on top, 11-0. Complete story at https://gobroncs.com/news/2019/11/17/untitled-story.aspx?mc_cid=6feecf2e4d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

#1 Penn State Rolls at Army West Point Invite
WEST POINT, N.Y.; – The Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 1 nationally by InterMat, dominated action at the 2019 Army West Point Invite on Sunday in West Point, N.Y. Fifteen Penn Staters competed at nine weights and the Nittany Lions came away with four champions with 11 total place-winners. The Nittany Lions four champions were Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.) at 133, Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.) at 141, Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) at 149 and Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) at 174.  Luke Gardner (Pottsville, Pa.) was runner-up at 149 as well, dropping a tough bout in an all-Penn State final at that weight.
Rest of the story at https://gopsusports.com/news/2019/11/17/wrestling-1-penn-state-rolls-at-army-west-point-invite.aspx?mc_cid=6feecf2e4d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Oklahoma State’s First Dual Loss in Two Seasons Came After Controversial Failed Skin Check
On Saturday, Oklahoma State lost its first dual since the 2017-18 season when the Cowboys fell to Lehigh on the road 21-20. The score was tied at the end of the dual, but went to criteria which gave the win to Lehigh. There were a number of stories surrounding this and I’ll touch on those in the coming week. There was one that greatly impacted the dual and I felt deserved some immediate attention. Rest of the story at https://pistolsfiringblog.com/reece-witcraft-failed-a-skin-check-and-it-cost-osu-their-first-dual-loss-in-two-seasons/?mc_cid=6feecf2e4d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 2, 2019 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment