Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Popolizio and the Pack

How a coaching change and the creation of #PackMentality took NC State to new heights and gave Raleigh wrestling fever.

If a casual sports fan had wandered into William Neal Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of North Carolina State last Friday, they would have been greeted by the crowd of more than 4300 fans who were there to watch the dual meet between #3 NC State and their bitter rival, #8 UNC. They would have walked into a wall of sound coming from the Wolfpack fans and laid their eyes on a sea of red that filled seemingly every nook and cranny of the arena. The environment was exactly what you would expect in a high stakes rivalry sporting event and, if one knew nothing of wrestling or the history of NC State’s program, they would have thought that the Wolfpack was a perennial power and that crowds like this were fairly normal for wrestling matches. What they wouldn’t know is that less than a decade ago, attendance was scarce and wins were rare. They wouldn’t know that just eight years ago, the Wolfpack finished dead last in the ACC and scored a half point at the NCAA Tournament – and that half point was cause for celebration! What a casual sports fan wouldn’t know or ever assume by witnessing the record setting crowd in Reynolds Coliseum last Friday is how far the NC State Wrestling program has come in the last eight years, a turnaround that started with Debbie Yow’s decision to hire a man that would come to be known as “Skip.”
Part 1: The Skip
March of 2012 was a good month for Pat Popolizio. The Niskayuna, New York native was wrapping up his sixth year as the head coach at Binghamton University and had just led the Bearcats to a 14th place finish at the NCAA Tournament a mere five years after going winless in dual meets in 2006-07. Donnie Vinson and Nick Gwiazdowski had both earned All American honors in 2012 and had at least one year of eligibility left and both looked to be legitimate national title contenders in the very near future. It was starting to look like Binghamton could make a real run at cracking the top ten and putting multiple wrestlers in the national finals, a monumental feat for a program that had been reinstated less than a decade prior. Popolizio finally had things rolling at Binghamton and was excited to see what would come next, but little did he know that he would find himself trading Binghamton green for NC State red just a few weeks later. …. story at http://www.hmawrestling.com/article/popolizio-and-the-pack/?mc_cid=a84c1748d7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 15, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

College News & Results — # 70

U.S. Coast Guard Academy Beats MMA to Clinch SUPT Trophy For Sixth Straight Season
KINGS POINT, N.Y. — Coast Guard, ranked 10th nationally, won eight of the ten matches to secure the Superintendents’ Trophy for the sixth straight year with a 24-7 win over archrival Merchant Marine. Coast Guard now leads the Superintendents’ Trophy 10-1 with seven contests left in the 2019-20 year. The Bears finish the season 7-2 in dual meets. All ten matches were decided by decision with Noah Caskey (141), AJ Pagliarulo (149), Philip Rogers (165), AJ Aeberli (174), Paul Detwiler (184), Jon Wagner (197), Patrick Irwin (Hwt.) and Parker Brunkala (125) all picking up wins by decision. Merchant Marine held a slight 7-6 edge after four matches before the final six matches of the night. Coast Guard clinched the win with an Irwin 8-2 decision at heavyweight. … story at https://uscgasports.com/sports/wrest/2019-20/releases/20200212wcq34y?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

#25 Mavericks Win Eight Bouts in Dual Win
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The No. 25 Colorado Mesa men’s wrestling team started the road trip off right with a 35-6 win over New Mexico Highlands on Wednesday evening in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference dual.  
Cian Apple (125) and Dylan Keeney (133) opened the dual with a pair of pins to give the Mavericks an early 12-0 lead. Apple earned a first round pin while Keeney’s came late in the second round.  
At 141 pounds, redshirt sophomore Daniel Van Hoose dropped a close 6-4 decision to Jonathan Trujillo who entered the bout ranked No. 12 nationally. …. story at https://cmumavericks.com/news/2020/2/12/wrestling-25-mavericks-win-eight-bouts-in-dual-win.aspx?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Central Oklahoma Bronchos Fall To No. 2 McKendree
LEBANON, Ill. (Feb. 12) – No. 6-ranked Central Oklahoma had a six-match winning streak snapped Wednesday night with a hard-fought 20-12 loss to No. 2 McKendree. The Bronchos won four of the 10 matches and were within 14-12 after 184 pounds, but the Bearcats won the final two weights to secure the win. UCO fell to 11-2 on the season. “It was a good, tough match and we just came up a little short,” head coach Todd Steidley said. “We wrestled hard, but McKendree has a great team and they were just better than us tonight.” … story at https://bronchosports.com/news/2020/2/12/wrestling-bronchos-fall-to-no-2-mckendree.aspx?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

For Chris Ayres and Princeton wrestling, a breakthrough in 14-year journey with more to come
The emotions of 14 years of struggle overwhelmed Chris Ayres on Sunday as Travis Stefanik locked up a cradle in the closing seconds of his 184-pound match. Stefanik’s win clinched a 19-13 victory for the Princeton University wresting team over Cornell that ended the Big Red’s Ivy League winning streak at 92 matches and 18 years. … story at https://www.nj.com/sports/2020/02/for-chris-ayres-and-princeton-wrestling-a-breakthrough-in-14-year-journey-with-more-to-come.html?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

KILLORAN’S PIN SEALS NO. 17 GOLDEN BEARS’ 26-16 SENIOR NIGHT WIN OVER SHIPPENSBURG
KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Reserve heavyweight Tommy Killoran’s (Perkiomenville, Pa./Boyertown) third period pin caused an eruption from the Kutztown bench and secured a 26-16 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference dual win over Shippensburg for the 17th-ranked Golden Bears on Senior Night, Wednesday, at Keystone Arena. Killoran has spent two seasons training with the top heavyweight in defending national champion Andrew Dunn Jr. (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic), and has put that work to good use in limited action this season. Wrestling in just his second dual of the season, Killoran delivered in his final home match. Shippensburg’s (8-10, 0-7 PSAC) Dan Scheib led 4-2 after two periods and chose the bottom to start the third, hoping to add more of a buffer with escape. That decision backfired when Killoran rolled him over and stuck him 40 seconds into the final stanza. … story at https://kubears.com/news/2020/2/12/wrestling-killorans-pin-seals-no-17-golden-bears-26-16-senior-night-win-over-shippensburg.aspx?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Morgan takes SoCon Wrestler of the Week
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After earning his 12th win in his last 14 outings, Campbell’s Andrew Morgan has been named the Southern Conference’s Wrestler of the Week for February 5-11. Morgan, ranked No. 6 in the nation at 184 pounds, shut out No. 14 Matthew Waddell 5-0, and locked in Campbell’s 26-11 win over Chattanooga on Saturday. The victory was Campbell’s sixth straight dual win, remaining perfect in SoCon action. …. story at https://gocamels.com/news/2020/2/12/wrestling-morgan-takes-socon-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

‘They’ve grown to be brothers’: UNC wrestling roommates form a successful foundation
“Company is misery’s best companion,” Joey Melendez said, seated next to his teammates Clay Lautt, Jaime Hernandez and Zach Sherman. “Going through it together is way better than doing it by yourself.”  The four UNC wrestlers had just finished a Monday evening practice in the blistering hot wrestling facility tucked away in Fetzer Hall. They walk out of the locker room and back to the mats together, exchanging jokes and laughs before crouching down with tired legs in folding chairs.  Upon meeting the group, it’s easy to see the friendship shared among them. The quartet are all starters on a team that has seen a meteoric rise into a top-10 national ranking; all sought-after recruits that took a chance in leaving their home states to come to Chapel Hill. And they all share an off-campus house together. …. story at https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2020/02/four-unc-wrestlers-find-success-as-roommates?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

ARGOS DEFEAT LIGHTS IN FINAL REGULAR SEASON DUAL
BILLINGS, Mont. – In the final dual of the regular season, the #9 University of Providence men’s wrestling team defeated Montana State Northern 28-14 in Billings Thursday night. The Argos got down 6-0 early before T. J. Baun (141 lbs.) got a big win in the third match of the night. Shonn Roberts (149 lbs.) and Casey Dobson (157 lbs.) recorded back to back pins to give the Argos the lead. Jordan Komac (165 lbs.) defeated Nakoda Seigel  in a tough match. Hayden Schrull (184 lbs.) sealed the deal with a pin before Justin Harbison (285 lbs.) closed the dual out with a major decision. …. story at https://upargos.com/news/2020/2/13/mens-wrestling-argos-defeat-lights-in-final-regular-season-dual.aspx?mc_cid=a84c1748d7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Stanford Cardinal Dominates Little Rock
STANFORD, Calif. –  No. 13 Stanford won eight of 10 bouts in a dominating 38-10 win over Little Rock, Thursday, at Burnham Pavilion. Stanford improved to 11-2 overall and 4-1 in the Pac-12 Conference. Little Rock, which is in its inaugural season of wrestling and is the newest member of the Pac-12, dropped to 1-7 overall and 0-2 in the conference. During the intermission, Stanford recognized its five seniors –Jake Barry, Brandon Kier, Trevor Rasmussen, David Showunmi and Gabriel Townsell – as it was the final regular-season home dual on The Farm. …. story at https://gostanford.com/news/2020/2/13/wrestling-cardinal-dominates-little-rock.aspx

Diplomats Secure Rupp Cup Win
LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall’s wrestling team celebrated senior night with a commanding 23-10 win over Millersville on Thursday evening in Mayser, bringing the Rupp Cup trophy back to campus. The Diplomats improved to 5-6 while the Marauders fell to 7-10. Before the start of the annual rivalry, the Diplomats honored their six-member senior class of Cole Aaron, Brett Kulp, Emmett LiCastri, Reid Robilotto, Eli Smith, and Jimmy Stillerman. …. story at https://www.godiplomats.com/sports/m-wrestl/2019-20/releases/20200213xjgaor?mc_cid=a84c1748d7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 15, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

College Coaches’ News

Azevedo To Be Inducted into California Wrestling Hall of Fame
PHILADELPHIA – Mert and Joanne Hill Head Coach of Wrestling Matt Azevedo will be one of 11 inductees into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame, when the organization holds its banquet on June 13.  
Azevedo is in his ninth season at the helm with Drexel. He has coached the Dragons to their first appearance in the USA Today/NCWA DI Coaches Poll and kept Drexel in the Top 25 for six weeks in the 2016-17 season. The next year, Drexel finished the season ranked in the coaches poll as well as three other rankings compiled by national media outlets Intermat and FloWrestling. The Dragons have won 10 or more duals in three of the last four complete seasons. Twenty-eight Drexel wrestlers have qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Championships under Azevedo’s watch. …. story at https://drexeldragons.com/news/2020/2/12/azevedo-to-be-inducted-into-california-wrestling-hall-of-fame.aspx?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Penn State coach Cael Sanderson speaks out on how to grow wrestling
Cael Sanderson is a titan at seemingly every level of the wrestling world. He’s the most successful collegiate wrestler in NCAA Division I history, won an Olympic Gold and has won eight NCAA titles as a head coach. And yet, one of the sport’s biggest names at one of the country’s most well-known universities, feels he only has so much pull when it comes to changing and growing the sport he’s made his livelihood. “I just try to do the best that I can with the job I’ve been hired to do. That’s how we try to do our best to make the sport more interesting, more competitive and I think that’s happening as we’re seeing just with numbers alone,” Sanderson said. “We’re just gonna do what we can control. That’s always been my philosophy — just do the job I was hired to do.” Sanderson knows wrestling is a niche sport that is difficult to follow and understand at times. Of the nine NCAA sanctioned men’s team sports at the Division I level, wrestling ranks fifth with 75 programs, well behind the next closest sport, swimming and diving, which has 131 teams competing. … story at https://www.collegian.psu.edu/sports/wrestling/article_1fd672e0-4d32-11ea-9957-0fde7402caf6.html?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Univ. Pitt-Johnstown’s Pecora alone at the top of the mountain
No coach in college wrestling history has won more dual meets than Pat Pecora. The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown coach watched his Mountain Cats defeat Mercyhurst, 22-12, last Friday – giving him 617 career victories, one more than Dale Thomas of Oregon State. The man who said he always thought of coaching as a family was surrounded after the match by current and former wrestlers who helped him reach that remarkable wins total. “When I started coaching, I was 22 years old. What did I know? I never was even an assistant coach in my life,” Pecora said at the UPJ Wellness Center. “I ran a team like my parents raised a family. That’s all it was. That’s what I try to do in everything I’m in.” Pecora arrived at UPJ in 1976 to take over a young Mountain Cats program, and his first team went 4-12. But the Cats have had only one losing season since, and have rolled up 29 straight winning campaigns. …. story at https://www.tribdem.com/news/editorials/editorial-upj-s-pecora-alone-at-the-top-of-the/article_acbf4f6a-4d0a-11ea-8257-57b3979032fe.html?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Family-first mentality propels Pat Pecora to all-time NCAA wins record
By STEVE ROTSTEINPittsburgh
Post-Gazette srotstein@post-gazette.com
story at https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/other-colleges/2020/02/12/pat-pecora-pitt-johnstown-mountain-cats-wrestling-chris-eddins-jody-strittmatter/stories/202002120026?mc_cid=e1e9966c02&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 15, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment