28th Annual Pierce-Davis Memorial Tournament
This weekend at North Pitt High School.
History of Pierce and Davis
This is an annual tournament held in eastern North Carolina. Southwest Edgecombe High School started hosting this event. Tarboro High also hosted this event for two years and currently it is held at North Pitt High School.
Terry Pierce and Maurice Davis were two very special young men who wrestled for SouthWest Edgecombe’s during the first year of the team. Terry, a junior, wrestled at 152 lbs. and Maurice, a sophomore, wrestled at 160 lbs. They were co-captains of their team along with Hassan El Faysal. Terry recorded the first official pin for the record book at SouthWest Edgecombe. Terry was 8-1 and Maurice was 9-0 at the time of their deaths on December 10, 1993. The young men were on their way to meet their teammates at the coach’s home where they were spending the night when they were killed in a tragic car accident. The team had wanted to get an early start for the South Granville Tournament where both Terry and Maurice were seeded at the top of their weight classes. Both had taken first place in SWE’s Tar River Invitational Tournament just prior to their death. The tournament was renamed the Pierce-Davis Memorial Tournament in honor of their great contributions to the SouthWest Edgecombe athletic program. Terry and Maurice also played varsity football.
Rest of the details, history, records and results at https://piercedavis.weebly.com/
NO. 18 NORTH CAROLINA DEFEATS APPALACHIAN STATE, 19-13
CHAPEL HILL — Zach Sherman’s major decision win and Joey Mazzara’s first dual meet win at UNC helped No. 18 North Carolina to a 19-13 win over Appalachian State Sunday at Carmichael Arena.
After the Mountaineers won at 149 pounds with a major decision to begin the afternoon, the Tar Heels rattled off five straight wins to take command of Sunday’s dual.
A.C. Headlee began the momentum with a 3-2 upset win over No. 13 Matt Zovistoski. He used a first-period takedown and strong defense throughout the seven minutes to pick up the decision, his second over a top-15 opponent this season.
No. 19 Kennedy Monday and Clay Lautt kept pushing the team score in UNC’s favor with a pair of wins via decision before Joey Mazzara won his first dual meet match as a Tar Heel. The redshirt freshman was trailing App State freshman Julian Gorring after two periods, 1-0, but a late takedown earned Mazzara a 3-2 decision to spark the Carmichael Arena crowd.
Rest of the story and details at https://goheels.com/news/2019/12/1/wrestling-no-18-north-carolina-defeats-appalachian-state-19-13.aspx?mc_cid=e765be94da&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Dan Gable University officially opens, the first Legend Series video experience
BY USA WRESTLING AND NWHOF | NOV. 27, 2019
The first video in the Dan Gable University series, featuring Olympic gold medalist, World champion, two-time NCAA champion and Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Dan Gable, was released on November 27. USA Wrestling members can purchase the series from their online profile at USAWmembership.com. Click on “USAW Events” and then “Coaching Clinics” to access the Legends Series videos. Fans who are not USA Wrestling members can purchase the course for a slightly higher fee by creating a free account and profile in the membership system. You can also click “Extras” from the top tool bar to select Dan Gable University. Rest of the story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/November/27/Gable-University-now-open?mc_cid=614a7f3681&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
21st College News, Notes and Results
NC State’s Trent Hidlay Named ACC Wrestler of the Week
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – NC State 184-pound redshirt freshman Trent Hidlay has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week after he defeated two top-five opponents on the road in a span of just a few hours. Hidlay, also named the National Wrestler of the Week by The Open Mat, opened with a 7-5 decision over No. 5 Ben Darmstadt in the Wolfpack’s 25-9 win at No. 15 Cornell on Saturday afternoon. With the score tied 4-4 and ride time locked for Darmstadt, Hidlay forced a second stall and then notched the winning takedown with just 12 seconds left.
Later in the day at Binghamton, Hidlay downed No. 4 Lou DePrez in extra time, 2-1, to help NC State to a 28-9 team victory. Hidlay and DePrez were knotted at 1-1 with just three seconds showing on the clock in overtime when Hidlay’s escape produced the winning point. Trent Hidlay moved from No. 12 to No. 4 in this week’s InterMat weight class rankings. Rest of the story at http://theacc.com/news/2019/11/25/athlete-awards-nc-states-trent-hidlay-named-acc-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=785dda8f52&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Track Wrestling Week 4 Stock Watch
This week’s rankings had some notable moves at 184 pounds with Taylor Lujan of Northern Iowa moving up the rankings at No. 2 after defeating Taylor Venz of Nebraksa and Iowa’s Nelson Brands entering the rankings at No. 9 after a win over previous No. 8 Sam Colbray of Iowa State. Those weren’t the only moves in the rankings. Here’s a look at those who made the biggest moves — in both directions — in the latest edition of the Trackwrestling Division I Rankings presented by Resilite.
UP
Nelson Brands (Iowa) + 25
Hawkeye freshman Nelson Brands enters the rankings at 184 pounds after picking up a big win over in-state rival and previous No. 8 Samuel Colbray of Iowa State.
Joe Manchio (Columbia) +23
The Lion sophomore wasn’t in the rankings last week and jumped to No. 11 this week thanks to a 6-3 win over Stanford’s Gabriel Townsell and a 125-pound title at the Roadrunner Open.
Kordell Norfleet (Arizona State) +22
Norfleet’s 10-4 win over Penn State’s Kyle Conel may have been the most significant victory of the weekend since it was the deciding match in Sun Devils’ 19-18 win over the Nittany Lions. It snapped Penn State’s 60-match dual meet streak and it catapulted Norfleet into the rankings at No. 12 after being unranked.
Matt Zovistaski (Appalachian State) +18
Zovistaski moved from No. 28 to No. 10 following his 3-2 win over No. 11 Anthony Artalona of Penn.
Rest of the story and list at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1574828820923&twSessionId=rzvjqrxhuf&postId=1783928132&mc_cid=785dda8f52&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Short Time Shots: Auditing the show notes (11-26-19)
Time to get back in the ring, to take another swing. The walls were shaking, the earth was quaking, my mind was aching – you know what, I saw AC/DC live back in 2016, you don’t need to relive that show, although it was super awesome. I’d previous had tickets to see them in high school, in September of 1996. That tour got canceled before it got to Hampton. So there I was, 20 years later, with my pregnant wife on Valentine’s Day rocking out to AC/DC. What’s that have to do with wrestling? Nothing really, other than AC/DC is a favorite on wrestling playlists worldwide. I’m Jason Bryant, and this is Short Time Shots, a mostly daily look at the scores and more in and around the sport of wrestling. By the way, if you notice the episode numbers changing, that’s because I did an audit of the amount of Short Time episodes in the feed. The most recent show where I interviewed some folks in Little Rock was actually the 580th episode. Rest of the story and details at http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/shots/short-time-shots-auditing-the-show-notes-11-26-19/?mc_cid=785dda8f52&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Campbell’s Heil named SoCon Wrestler of the Week
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After a tournament title at the Navy Classic, Campbell’s Josh Heil has been named the Southern Conference’s Wrestler of the Week. Heil earned his second individual tournament championship of the season, going a perfect 4-0 on the day with wins over two ranked opponents at the Navy Classic. After earning a 4-2 decision over Edinboro’s Carmine Ciotti, Heil advanced with a medical forfeit, defeating No. 18 Mitch Moore of Virginia Tech 5-3. In the title match, the 141-pounder tallied a 2-1 decision over No. 6 Kyle Shoop of Lock Haven. The Brunswick, Ohio native has fashioned a 9-1 overall record through the first month of the 2019-20 season, including a 4-1 mark against ranked opponents. Heil has gone 8-0 in tournament bouts. Rest of the story at https://gocamels.com/news/2019/11/27/wrestling-heil-named-socon-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=614a7f3681&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Wartburg is No. 1 in NWCA Div. III dual meet ranking
Wartburg College (IA) holds the No. 1 position in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III dual meet team ranking. With a 2-0 record at this time, Wartburg is ahead of three teams which all currently have 1-0 dual meet records: No. 2 Loras College (IA), No. 3 Augsburg University (MN), No. 4 Wabash College (IN). Coming in at No. 5 is Johnson & Wales University (RI), with a 4-1 record. Also released is the most recent individual rankings. The only school with two No. 1 ranked individuals is Mount Union, with Jordin James (141) and Antwon Pugh (157). Complete listing of the teams and individuals at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/November/27/Wartburg-is-No-1-in-NWCA-D-III-dual-meet-rankings?mc_cid=614a7f3681&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Nebraska School Athletics Association pondering proposal for girls’ wrestling
There are interesting things brewing with the Nebraska School Athletics Association. District meetings in early November included a conversation about sanctioning girls wrestling in the state of Nebraska at the high school level. Sally Roberts, Executive Director of Wrestle Like a Girl, a nonprofit organization that works to empower girls and women in the sport, spoke with Matt Kumrie of Team USA in May about the positive importance of girls wrestling.
“The growth of female wrestling is critical to the sport of wrestling at large because it opens up the sport to the other half of the population–girls and women,” Roberts said. Ron Powell of the Lincoln Journal Star outlined the motion in front of the district members in Nebraska in his Nov. 23 story.
Powell said the motion calls for a two-year transition period that would allow girls the option of competing in the boys’ lineup during regular-season contests if there are no girls to compete at their class. The proposal goes on to outline that after a two-year transition period, the NSAA girls wrestling advisory committee will decide whether participant numbers are enough for girls-only competition separate from the boys.
This is not the first time that a proposal like this has been in front of the NSAA. Powell’s article said last year’s proposal asked for a more complete separation for the girls and Representative Assembly members were concerned that would cut down opportunities for some female wrestlers to compete. Further, if a school had a girls’ wrestling team, it would have kept girls from wrestling boys from other schools at a meet, even if there were no girls to compete in that weight class.
Girls wrestling is becoming more of a norm on the high school sports scene, and some competitors are saying that the roadblocks to the sport being sanctioned for girls are not the competitors. Rest of the story at https://www.gothenburgleader.com/sports/nsaa-pondering-proposal-for-girls-wrestling/article_28b46fbe-0fcc-11ea-8d0c-d716699e4e63.html?mc_cid=614a7f3681&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Grand View, with an NAIA men’s powerhouse, seeks success with its new women’s wrestling program
BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING | NOV. 27, 2019
Grand View women’s wrestling website
You don’t have to explain the wrestling success of Grand View University within the NAIA sports community. Grand View has won eight straight NAIA men’s wrestling national team titles. The Vikings have been No. 1 in the NAIA poll 54 consecutive times. The word ‘dynasty’ is quite appropriate. It is in this environment of wrestling excellence that the new Grand View women’s wrestling team has been launched. The Viking women wrestlers began competition this fall, looking to make its mark in the growing and competitive world of women’s college wrestling.
To launch this program, Grand View hired Angelo Crinzi, a 2014 Grand View graduate who competed on three NAIA men’s wrestling national champion teams. Crinzi brings a strong coaching background, after four years as men’s and women’s coach at Lindenwood-Belleville. He comes in understanding the sports culture at Grand View first-hand.
“It is the sports system here. There is a lot of support, a very good environment. Of course, (men’s coach) Nick Mitchell is the man. As an athlete, the school is very positive. Looking at it as a coach, a lot of sports here are doing really good, not just wrestling. They have had national champions in other sports, also. There is a winning atmosphere here, and a lot of very good coaches,” said Crinzi.
Rest of the story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/November/27/Grand-View-womens-wrestling-team?mc_cid=614a7f3681&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Final California Community College State Rankings by John Sachs – November 26, 2019
Full listing at http://thecaliforniawrestler.com/final-california-community-college-state-rankings-by-john-sachs-november-26-2019/?mc_cid=147f9403c9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Live Stream Schedule for NCAA Division I Wrestling: Nov. 30th – Dec. 1st
6 NCAA Wrestling duals featuring Division I teams are live streaming on the internet this week. Where can you watch? There are many outlets scattered around the web that will provide college wrestling this weekend, some free, some for a fee. Here is the list of all NCAA Division I wrestling events we’ve found steams starting Saturday, November 30th through Sunday, December 1st. If you spot any streams that are not listed, let us know by sending an email to support@theopenmat.com . Enjoy!
Rest of the story at https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/live-stream-schedule-for-ncaa-division-i-wrestling-nov-30th-dec-1st/75635?mc_cid=147f9403c9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Josh Hokit changed his plans to help team. As season closes, here’s what he thinks about that
The plan fell apart faster than it was put together, and now Josh Hokit is a day away from playing his final college football game. The Fresno State senior, a two-sport stalwart, was supposed to have more. He was going to take a redshirt this football season, move to linebacker from running back and maybe get into a few games, gain some valuable experience while retaining that year of eligibility and possibility. After that, he would wrestle as a heavyweight, rather than at 197 pounds as he did a year ago, avoiding that quick cutting of weight going from one love to the next, and vice versa in the spring when he returned to football.
Then, a shot at the NFL.
“Had it all planned out,” coach Jeff Tedford said.
But just about everything this season has strayed from script for the Bulldogs, who went from 12-2 with a Mountain West Conference championship a year ago to 4-7, out of bowl contention with a week to go and will play their final game on Saturday at San Jose State. Rest of the story at https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/college/mountain-west/fresno-state/article237837294.html?mc_cid=147f9403c9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
NWCA DII Coaches Poll
Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association today released the first regular-season coaches poll of the season and it includes the same top-five teams from the preseason poll, just reshuffled. After an early-season #1 vs #2 matchup between then, #1 Pitt-Johnstown and #2 St. Cloud St. at the North East Duals in Troy, NY, the second-ranked Huskies took the dual, and the top ranking with a 31-6 score. The rest of the Top-five includes, #2 Nebraska-Kearney and McKendree tied with 72 points, as well as #4 Pitt-Johnstown and #5 Notre Dame. Rest of the story and listing at http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwca-dii-coaches-poll-regular-season-1/?mc_cid=614a7f3681&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Brian Keck, 48, National Team athlete, coach and wrestling event organizer, passed away in Mexico
BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING | NOV. 26, 2019
USA Wrestling has received the sad news that Brian Keck, 48, of San Diego, Calif., a U.S. National Team athlete and the event director of the USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals, passed away while in Mexico. “The news last night of Brian Keck’s untimely passing sends a shock wave through our community. Brian was an incredible ambassador for USA Wrestling and the entire sport. His tireless contributions, first as a fierce athlete and later as a top administrator, will be sorely missed. Known by many as just the ‘Kecker,’ his kind spirit, quick wit and passionate love for our sport will leave a lasting legacy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Keck family and the thousands of young wrestlers that he impacted,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
A native of Parma, Ohio, he was an Ohio state champion for Padua Franciscan High School. Keck won a Junior College national title for Cuyuhoga CC and went on to Bloomsburg, where he was a two-time NCAA qualifier for the Huskies. Keck competed for a decade as a Senior-level athlete in both Greco-Roman and freestyle, spending many years as a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete.
Keck was just one of two athletes to qualify for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. He compete in the Olympic Trials in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He qualified for the U.S. Freestyle National Team in 2003-04, when he placed third in the 2003 Freestyle World Team Trials. Keck placed nine times at the U.S. Open, with placements in both men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. Internationally, Keck was a 2003 Pan American Championships champion in men’s freestyle, and added a bronze medal at the 2004 Pan American Championships. He also won international medals in Iran, Finland, Sweden and the United States.He has served as an assistant coach for Cleveland State, and the wrestling coach for Xtreme Couture, an MMA gym owned by wrestling and MMA legend Randy Couture. He was also with Alliance MMA, where he trained MMA fighters. One of Brian Keck’s biggest contributions to wrestling was as an event organizer. He has served more than a decade as the event director of the USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals, a major early season national folkstyle wrestling event for athletes of all ages. The USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals was initially held in Cedar Falls, Iowa, then has moved to Des Moines, Iowa. This event has grown over the years in size and prestige. Keck also directed a number of other wrestling competitions. One of the wrestling competitions Keck has directed, the Turkey Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa, will go on as planned this weekend on December 1. Kayla Spurley will serve as the event director. The event website is turkeynationals.com
Rest of the story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/November/26/Brian-Keck-obituary?mc_cid=785dda8f52&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
What are the Best and Worst Things to Say as a Coach?
By Jude Swisher November 25th, 2019
As most people may know, I am a dedicated high school wrestler. As a result, I competed throughout the preseason at several different events and as I progressed through these tournaments, I found myself paying close attention to the things that coaches would say to their wrestlers. After observing so many coach-wrestler interactions, it’s clear to me now that a coach’s attitude and tone when talking to their athlete can have a profound impact on the athlete’s performance, for better or worse. With that in mind, my partner (Sam Herring) and I decided to compile a list of the best and worst things that you can say to your competitor.
As an active high school wrestler, I can say that the things that my coaches say to me DO make a difference. All sorts of thoughts – positive, negative, and everything in between – go through my ears and into my brain for me to either dwell on or replace. As we all know, it’s easier to compete at your best when you’re enjoying wrestling and thinking positive thoughts, so it’s that much more important for a coach to stay positive with their athlete! Here are some positive guidelines to follow while coaching to help your wrestler think positive thoughts:
- Compliment them! Tell them that their attacks look sharp, their defense is stingy, they’re wrestling great, and they are powerful. Compliments are an easy way to put positive thoughts into a wrestler’s head and can distract them from thinking negatively. Be genuine!
- Remind them of the work they’ve put in. Remind them of the hard work they’ve put in, and keep them focused on the things that they do best. Explain why they have earned their right to win.
- Rest of the story with other good ideas at http://www.hmawrestling.com/article/what-are-the-best-worse-things-to-say-as-a-coach/?mc_cid=d3b3a1a68e&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 