Takedown Report

TDR Top 12 – Jan. 1st, 2020

The following is part of our first listing of potential TDR Top 12 wrestlers – Best of Eastern North Carolina – for this season ‘2020. This is just the top 5 in each weight class. Records are incomplete, weight classes are off yet as any serious fan knows that changes over the course of the season. The full list is posted at https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/tdr-top-12-2020/
We encourage and welcome your input, insights, information, corrections and even snide remarks. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com or even at martinkfleming@gmail.com.

January 1, 2020 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

37th College News, Notes & Results

KEVIN’S COMMENTARY — MONTORIE BRIDGES
To my way of thinking, there isn’t much wrong with Montorie Bridges. Wyoming’s 133-pound wrestling All-American is a two-time NCAA qualifier and will finish his career—which has a season-and-a-half remaining–among Cowboy leaders in wins.  He excels in the classroom, and is a member of the UW’s student-athlete leadership team. What’s not to like?Well, there is one thing. He’s a Boson Red Sox fan. At least he loves the game of baseball, so he’s alright in my book despite his misguided affiliation. In fact this past summer he had an opportunity to see his beloved team play the Indians in Fenway Park.  He sat  next to the Pesky Pole in right field.  “What an experience,” he says, “it was unbelievable.  I’ve got to get back there.” Bridges is off to another sensational start for Mark Branch‘s Cowboy wrestling program.  He leads the team in wins with 15, and he’s already won the Reno Tournament of Champions, … Rest of the story at https://gowyo.com/news/2019/12/19/general-kevins-commentary-montorie-bridges.aspx?mc_cid=2cc69f4cfd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

GRIFFINS ROLL TO WIN OVER Davis & Elkins
The Griffin wrestling team closed out their pre-Christmas campaign with a non conference dual against Davis & Elkins on Thursday evening. Seton Hill won nine of the ten matches to improve to 2-0 on the season with a 42-3 victory over the Senators. The Griffins jumped out in front with an 8-6 win at 125 pounds from Frank Bonura.  Vincent Distefanis extended the Griffins lead to 6-0 with a 6-3 decision at 133 pounds.  Joel Cawoski picked up the first of three Griffins win by fall with a win two minutes into the first period at 141 pounds.  Austin Shaw followed with a 13-3 win to increase the SHU lead to 16-0.  Tyler Alberts earned a win by injury default at 157 pounds as SHU led 22-0 midway thru the match.  Rest of the story at http://athletics.setonhill.edu/news/2019/12/19/wrestling-griffins-roll-to-win-over-d-e.aspx?mc_cid=2cc69f4cfd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Freshman Ridge Lovett brings ‘that extra element’ to No. 2 ranked Nebraska
Nebraska coach Mark Manning met with Ridge Lovett in September about the possibility of him redshirting this season. After all, Lovett turned 19 in August and was still getting acclimated to college wrestling. “Juggling the challenges of wrestling in the best conference in the country and being a student in a big-time conference is quite a load,” said Manning, whose team has its last nonconference dual when it hosts Oregon State at 6 p.m. Friday at the Devaney Center. The Huskers had senior Zak Hensley at 133 pounds for their first three duals this season, but Manning pulled the redshirt off Lovett against Northern Iowa on Nov. 24. Lovett lost that match, but had a breakout performance two weekends later at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas. He went 5-1 and finished third in his weight class. His only loss came to Montorie Bridges of Wyoming, ranked seventh at 133 by InterMat. And Lovett debuted at No. 10 in the rankings the next week. Rest of the story at https://www.omaha.com/sports/college/huskers/teams/wrestling/freshman-ridge-lovett-brings-that-extra-element-to-no-ranked/article_1e662492-f748-5061-b19a-07cfbd52d51a.html?mc_cid=2cc69f4cfd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b#10

SUNY-Binghamton downs Sacred Heart 25-9
Bearcats win seven of 10 bouts en route to the win
The Binghamton University wrestling team defeated Scared Heart by a score of 25-9 Friday afternoon in Vestal. The Bearcats won seven of 10 bouts, highlighted by Carson Sauriol’s first career dual victory at 125 pounds and a major decision by heavyweight Joe Doyle to close things out.
“We came away with a win, which was great, but we need to find a way to get more points on the board,” said head coach Kyle Borshoff. “I’m expecting more from our guys – more major decisions, tech. falls and pins. We’re going to need to score more in order to keep up with the likes of Lehigh and Virginia Tech. I’m happy with the win, but we have work to do.” Rest of the story at https://bubearcats.com/news/2019/12/20/wrestling-downs-scared-heart-25-9.aspx?mc_cid=f9cca19b1a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Bucknell Wrestling Rolls Past LIU, 39-7
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Bucknell wrestling team rolled past LIU, 39-7, in its EIWA opener on Friday night at the Pratt Recreation Center. The Bison (2-2, 1-0 EIWA) used two pins, a technical fall and a major decision to down the Sharks (2-13, 0-2 EIWA) in a dual that lasted only an hour and 15 minutes. After LIU forfeited at 125 and 133 pounds, David Campbell (141) pinned Michael Blando in 3:22 to extend Bucknell’s lead to 18-0. Campbell, a former EIWA placewinner at 133 pounds, was making his first dual start at 141 pounds. Rest of the story at https://bucknellbison.com/news/2019/12/20/wrestling-rolls-past-liu-39-7.aspx?mc_cid=f9cca19b1a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Augustana Defeats No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney, Goes 2-0
The Vikings defeated UW-Parkside in the day’s first match
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Augustana wrestling team defeated UW-Parkside 20-15 and No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney 25-12 on Friday in its first home duals to move to 2-2 on the season. 
Augustana 20 – UW-Parkside 15
The Vikings overcame deficits of 12-4 and 15-7 against the Rangers who were receiving four national votes in the NCAA Division II Wrestling rankings coming into today’s matches. After losses at 125 and 133 pounds, redshirt freshman Hunter Burnett dominated at 141 pounds with over three minutes of riding time en route to an 18-7 major decision win. The Vikings suffered a fall at 149 pounds to go down 12-4, before the pivotal moment of the match. Rest of the story at https://goaugie.com/news/2019/12/20/wrestling-augustana-defeats-no-2-nebraska-kearney-goes-2-0-on-friday.aspx?mc_cid=f9cca19b1a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Ohio University Takes Down West Virginia in Parkersburg
PARKERSBURG, W. Va. — The Ohio wrestling team (2-3, 0-1 MAC) earned a 20-13 victory over regional rival West Virginia (0-5, 0-1 Big 12) this evening at Parkersburg High School. “We’ve been trying so hard to get a win, and I think our guys feel the pressure. I know I feel the pressure,” said 23rd-year head coach Joel Greenlee. “Hopefully, that takes a little bit of that, and we just wrestle hard and have fun the rest of the year.” West Virginia opened things up with a 3-0 lead at 125 pounds as redshirt sophomore Joey Thomas picked up a 4-2 win by decision. The Bobcats began to flip the script beginning at 133, though. Redshirt junior Mario Guillen (Perrysburg, Ohio) evened the match at three-all courtesy of a 10-4 win by decision over sophomore Lucas Seibert. Redshirt senior Shakur Laney (Canal Winchester, Ohio) gave Ohio a 7-3 advantage after notching a 19-7 major decision win at 141 over sophomore Caleb Rea. Laney finished the bout with nine takedowns. Rest of the story at https://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/wrest/2019-20/releases/20191220w377ho?mc_cid=f9cca19b1a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

#10 PANTHERS OUTLAST MARYLAND, 27-10
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The 10^th-ranked University of Pittsburgh wrestling team won seven bouts en route to its fifth win of the year over Maryland Friday night at the XFINITY Center. With the win, the Panthers finish 2019 5-1 overall, while the Terrapins drop to 1-4. Two Pitt wrestlers performances stood out in the team win in redshirt freshman Cole Matthews and redshirt junior Gregg Harvey. Matthews pinned his opponent in 6:53, while Harvey defeated No. 20 Philip Spadafora.
“It was a good match to head into our holiday break with,” said head coach Keith Gavin. “Maryland wrestled hard and our guys got tested in some of those bouts.” Rest of the story at https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/12/20/-10-panthers-outlast-maryland-27-10.aspx?mc_cid=f9cca19b1a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

George Mason Patriots Split MAC Road Matches
The Patriots move to 6-2 (2-1 MAC) this season after splitting two MAC duals today. Mason edged Edinboro, 21-19 in a Noon match today, then dropped a 22-14 match at Cleveland State later this evening. Edinboro won the first match at 125 pounds to take a 3-0 lead, but Mason would win the next four matches and take a commanding 18-3 lead halfway through the match. The Fighting Scots fought back with decisions in four of the final five matches.  In a pivotal match at 174, graduate student Tony Lombardo edged Jacob Oliver, the second-ranked wrestler in the MAC in that weight class, 7-5. Rest of the story at https://gomason.com/news/2019/12/20/wrestling-patriots-split-mac-matches-today-at-edinboro-and-cleveland-state.aspx?mc_cid=f9cca19b1a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Gophers Takedown Jackrabbits 22 – 10
BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Minnesota wrestling program defeated the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 22-10 in a Friday evening dual that saw the Gophers win seven-of-ten on the road across the border.  At 125-pounds Patrick McKee got the Gophers started as he battled hard in his bout against Danny Vega. After surrendering the initial takedown McKee got a key reversal and proceeded to rack up over two minutes in riding time. McKee would add another reversal, and the riding time point, en route a 6-4 decision. After getting a takedown only 28 seconds into the bout, 141-pound Mitch McKee worked towards a 6-1 decision with 4:29 in riding time. McKee dominated in the top position with his massive amount of riding time plus two stall calls and a rideout of the entire second period.  In the evening’s most anticipated bout, No.5 Brayton Lee earned a 4-3 victory over No.15 Henry Pohlmeyer. The first period proved crucial as both men secured takedowns, but only Lee earned the one-point escape. Still, the two would’ve remained tied at three if it weren’t for Lee’s riding time advantage of over two minutes. So, Lee earned the 4-3 decision victory.  Rest of the story at https://gophersports.com/news/2019/12/20/wrestling-gophers-takedown-jackrabbits-20-12.aspx?mc_cid=f9cca19b1a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Hilltopper Wrestling Sweeps Davis & Elkins, King
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The No. 10-ranked West Liberty University wrestling team powered its way to a pair of impressive wins here Friday in a triangular with Davis & Elkins and King (Tenn.). Coach Danny Irwin‘s nationally-ranked Hilltoppers handed King a 43-12 loss and closed out the day with a 37-9 victory over the Senators. Davis & Elkins cruised to a 40-9 win over the Tennessee-based Tornado in the first match of the day. In the opener against King, sophomore All-American Cole Laya – ranked No. 4 nationally at 125 pounds – got the Black and Gold off to a flying start with a 10-2 major decision against Rylee Billings. Junior Corey Secrist, wrestling up a weight at 133, followed with a 9-3 decision over Elijah Hicks and the Hilltoppers were on their way.
    Back-to-back forfeit wins at 141 and 149 put WLU on top, 19-0, before the Tornado hit the scoreboard with a fall at 157. The Morgan twins – Chase and Chance – scored consecutive falls at 165 and 174 to restore order with a 31-6 Hilltopper lead and freshman Zane Lanham joined the pin parade at 184. West Liberty added a forfeit win at 197 and King prevailed via injury default at 285 to conclude the scoring.
    The Hilltoppers’ match against Davis & Elkins played out to a similar script. Laya once more got the ball rolling with a major decision, handing the Senators’ Shawn Moore a 13-3 loss at 125. Jett Pattison followed with an 11-4 decision at 133 and senior Darius Bunch – ranked No. 3 nationally at 141 – flashed his All-American form with a second-period fall against D&E’s Tyler Cutright. Rest of the story at https://hilltoppersports.com/news/2019/12/20/hilltopper-wrestling-sweeps-d-e-king.aspx?mc_cid=f9cca19b1a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Bonus Points Help CSU Top George Mason
QUICK HITS

• Cleveland State came from behind to top George Mason, 22-14
• The Vikings won the final three bouts after having trailed, 14-10
• Logan Heil, DeAndre Nassar and Ben Smith all won with bonus points
• Nassar’s win marked his first dual victory as a collegian
• Cleveland State started a season 4-0 for the first time in 16 years
• The match was the first home MAC dual for CSU

MATCH RECAP
The Cleveland State University wrestling team came from behind for a second straight dual as the Vikings fought back to claim a 22-14 victory over George Mason Friday evening in Woodling Gymnasium. Facing a Patriot squad that entered with a 6-1 mark, the Vikings found themselves trailing, 14-10, with three bouts remaining. However, CSU ended with a flourish as the Vikings shut out Mason down the stretch to pick up the win in the program’s first-ever home MAC dual. True freshman Logan Heil got CSU off on the right foot with a dominating 18-5 victory at 125 pounds. He used six takedowns, two near-fall points, two stalling points, an escape and a riding time point to rack up points in bunches. George Mason never led in regulation at 133 pounds, but the Patriots used late scoring to send the match to sudden victory. Mason would get the winning takedown in the extra session to get on the team scoreboard. Rest of the story at https://www.csuvikings.com/sports/m-wrestl/2019-20/releases/20191220wjbpbe?mc_cid=f9cca19b1a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

January 1, 2020 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment