Takedown Report

The Wondrous Week to be; USA Seniors show up, show out in TX; SoCon News; and a Big Tease

3rd Season Column 17 by Ted Carreras
The time frame of December 27th through Jan. 2nd has wrestlers, coaches, and fans gloriously enjoying 3 huge competitions in 3 VERY different U.S. geographic regions for, one could argue, fairly different reasons. The South Beach Wrestling Experience, a 4 day event starting on the 27th, began just 2 years ago. Cornell Head Coach Rob Koll helped lead the charge to South Florida, and teams from youth levels to D1 from across the country will convene at the Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center. After two days of youngsters competition, the college level teams take to the mats in a 2 day, 2 duals per day format. 12 teams are currently listed, down from the 16 last year. Reasons for the reduction seem to be centered around a slew of upsets that occurred last time, and the benefits from the win/loss ratio. Nonetheless, Cornell, Duke, Lehigh, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan State, NC State, North Dakota State, Old Dominion, Oklahoma, South Dakota State and Wyoming were registered as of this writing. However, a quick perusal of various teams websites showed NC State and NDSU headed to the Southern Scuffle instead while Oklahoma is apparently swapping the South Beach Experience for the Midlands. College wrestling does promote flexibility and the ability to change direction at any moment. Not to mention levels. Speaking of the Ken Kraft Midlands, the 57th edition of College wrestlings longest currently running tournament is a Sunday-Monday affair this year. The location changed 2 years back from the campus of the host school, Northwestern, to the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, Ilinois. More room and more accessibility to hotels and restaurants were probably major factors. And, maybe, just like the College World Series “outgrew” friendly, old, familiar Rosenblatt Stadium, the Midlands just needed something different. What’s NOT different is the potential for this event to morph into the Iowa Open again. Don’t hate on the Hawkeyes, just beat them, if you can. Probably not going to happen this year, though, as Iowa will probably have 6 top seeds and most all of their wrestlers expected to make the semis. Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, Princeton, Northern Iowa, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Campbell all have Top 10 hopes and individual title aspirations to varying degrees. From here, though, sure looks like the Hawkeyes world. In keeping with this columns focus on events, teams, and individuals not always in the spotlight, heres a few fine fellows from less heralded hotspots…..
Khizan Clarke, 149, American University. 4 tournament titles so far in a 17-0 season.
Trevor Allard, 184, Bloomsburg. On pace for a 30 plus win season and 100 plus win career, 12-1 so far in 2019.
Nino Bastianelli, 197, Brown. 3 year varsity starter who’s won tournaments every season. Bastianelli and the Bears have seen limited action this year and The Midlands is easily their biggest test before Nationals. Besides those Cognitive Psychology, Applied Mathematics, and BioEngineering Finals.
Rest of this interesting column at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2019/12/24/3rd-season-column-17-the-wondrous-week-to-be-usa-seniors-show-up-show-out-in-tx-socon-news-and-a-big-tease/?mc_cid=6368d2c7ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

January 3, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized