Takedown Report

High School News, Notes & Results – # 11

(New York)
Minisink wrestling coach Kevin Gallagher hits win 500
Kevin Gallagher scrolls through the many pictures taken by Minisink Valley fans this season and the Hall of Fame coach isn’t focused on the wrestling. Gallagher is locked on the reactions of his wrestlers on the bench, parents and followers. The passion shown towards Minisink Valley’s program is enough for Gallagher. Not his countless amount of accolades. Gallagher recently became the second wrestling coach in Section 9 to reach 500 career dual-meet wins on Friday, Jan. 24, joining Cornwall’s Don Blaine. There was no time to reflect on the accomplishment. Gallagher was standing by his motto of “getting better each day.” His attention was on Minisink Valley, the top seed, chasing the state Division I dual-meet championship Saturday at the SRC Arena in Syracuse. …. story at https://www.recordonline.com/varsity/20200131/minisink-wrestling-coach-kevin-gallagher-hits-win-500?mc_cid=1ee623c6f3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

UPSET IN THE EMPIRE STATE

While states like Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio and Illinois get ready for their respective state dual tournaments, a number of states have already crowned their champions. Perhaps the most notable of those results came this past weekend. Up in New York, powerhouse Hilton was upended by Massapequa in the Division I state tournament. This was only the second year of a new format that replaced team rankings as the determining factor.
SHOWDOWN ON THE WEST COAST 
High school wrestling diehards know all the big duals. Blair Academy-Wyoming Seminary, Bethlehem Catholic-Nazareth in Pennsylvania, St. Edward and St. Paris Graham in Ohio.  In California, it’s all about Buchanan and Clovis. The gym is packed every year for these two neighboring rivals who also happened to have two of the best programs in the country almost every year. This year is no different and after the two each reached the finals of the (unsanctioned) inaugural California State Duals, they will once again meet on a big stage. On Thursday at Clovis High, the two will meet for area bragging rights and the right, at least temporarily, to be called the best dual team in California.  … rest of story at

(in West Virginia)
Miluk and crew made duals a success
You might say the West Virginia Wrestling Coaches Association was “Puttin’ on the Ritz” last weekend at America’s Resort, The Greenbrier. The inaugural West Virginia Dual Team State Championships were held in the Colonial Room, with four teams each in Class AAA and Class AA schools participating. Parkersburg defeated University 44-24 in Class AAA and Point Pleasant beat Oak Glen 59-9 in the AA division to capture the first duals state titles. Spring Mills (AAA) and Herbert Hoover(AA) had third-place finishes. St. Albans and Bridgeport were the other participating teams. When the coaches association met and the subject of a duals tournament emerged, again, they looked at their president, Greenbrier East coach Brian Miluk, and said, “Let’s do it.” Knowing the excitable and hardworking Miluk, I immediately got this vision from the movie “Rocky II” …. rest of the story at https://www.register-herald.com/sports/miluk-and-crew-made-duals-a-success/article_d7e51632-1677-5752-9c3e-b2fc0e98bced.html?mc_cid=920b1cb2df&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

(In Ohio)
In 28 years, wrestling club produced 48 state champs
 From 2000-05, Waite was the dominant team in Toledo City League wrestling, and that was when St. John’s, St. Francis, Whitmer and Central Catholic were in the mix.   
        There might not have even been a Waite wrestling team had it not been for Gary Burgess.
        In 1992, Burgess, Hector Ramirez and his brother Earl Ramirez started the East Toledo Wrestling Club.
        The club continued through 2018, and during those 26 years it produced 39 Ohio high school state champions. There have been dozens more state placers and even a national champion — Waite high school state placer Antonio Guerra went on to win two NCAA Division II championships for the University of Findlay in 2005 and 2006 and is now the head coach at Defiance College.
        In addition, there were 27 grade school state champions, five two-time grade school state champions, 18 junior high state champs, one three-time junior high state champ and 27 tournaments of champions and placers.
        “It’s amazing how committed Gary has always been with all his wrestlers and all the challenges he has had to endure.  He’s been a committed person. I quit this program about five years ago and my brother about seven, but Gary has been committed all these years,” Hector Ramirez said.
        Burgess, who is now under treatment for cancer but was still helping at Clay, remembers how it got started.
        “The Waite High School wrestling team was going down in numbers to a point they were thinking about canceling wrestling out there. Being an ex-Wrestler from Waite myself, as soon as I got out of the Army I started coaching again,” Burgess said.
        “I went over and talked to the athletic director and I asked him to give us a chance and I’ll start a youth club and get you a feeder system into the high school. That’s how we got started. I got a hold of Hector and his brother Earl and Herman (Obitua) — all actually ex-Waite wrestlers and I told them what I’d like to do and see if we can get something going.”
        Once the first group of freshman wrestlers reached Waite, City League championships started to happen. Meanwhile, in the offseason, the ETWC was taking wrestlers to events all over the country.
        “We went to Oklahoma nationals, we went down to Columbus and helped run tournaments, …. rest of the story at http://presspublications.com/content/28-years-wrestling-club-produced-48-state-champs?mc_cid=3ff45774c0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 11, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized