Takedown Report

International Wrestling News

Now Olympics-eligible, former Wolfpack wrestler Gwiazdowski plays waiting game
By Jared Fialko, WRAL Sports anchor/reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — “Social distancing” is not exactly a plausible concept in Nick Gwiazdowski’s line of work. “Instead of shaking the ref’s hands, we’re giving him knuckles, but then again you grab a hold of your opponent and you wrestle him,” said former Wolfpack wrestler Nick Gwiazdowski, with a laugh after recollecting his previous weekend’s tournament in Ottawa. The two-time NCAA champ from NC State pinned another major accomplishment to the mat recently. Gwiz claimed Gold at the Pan-Am Olympic Qualifier, becoming eligible for Tokyo. All he’s gotta to do now is make the U.S. Squad in the 125 kg weight class. Those trials were set to be held in two weeks in State College, Pennsylvania. Obviously, that’s been put on-hold. However, Nick’s prep work? …. https://www.wralsportsfan.com/now-olympics-eligible-former-wolfpack-wrestler-gwiazdowski-plays-waiting-game/19022549/?mc_cid=64d98db446&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

‘We’re not in control’: U.S. wrestlers finish Olympic qualifier amid uncertainty
In one of the rare sporting events not canceled this past weekend, U.S. wrestlers competed Friday through Sunday at a Pan American Olympic qualifier in Ottawa, without spectators and with an uncertain future. Canada’s wrestling federation, after consulting with local health authorities, said Friday that the tournament would go on with essential personnel and limited family members. “It’s been a hard week for everyone, I think, in the wrestling world and the whole world,” U.S. women’s national team coach Terry Steiner said after all four American women qualified a quota spot for the nation on Saturday. “To be able to just keep your eye on and stay focused on the task at hand was very important. They had to be really mentally resilient.” …. story at https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/03/16/wrestling-pan-american-olympic-qualifying-tournament-coronavirus/?mc_cid=9e69424014&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Wrestler from Puyallup on a mission to compete at the Olympics
Whitney Conder, one of state’s the most decorated wrestlers, hopes to represent the USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Fifteen years ago, Puyallup’s Whitney Conder made history at the state high school wrestling championship when she became the first girl to medal. Now she’s trying to make history again, and become the first female wrestler from the state to compete at an Olympic games. Conder, 32, already is one of the most decorated wrestlers in Washington state history.  “When I’m on the mat, I’m out there on a mission. I’m out there to win and like my coaches say, you don’t step out on that mat, unless you think that you’re going to win,” Conder said. And she has won a lot. She’s a junior world champ, a six-time U.S. Open champ and a two-time gold medalist at the Pan-American Games. But in 2016, with a trip to the Olympics on the line, Conder took second place. The U.S. only sends one wrestler per weight class to the Olympics. …. story at https://www.king5.com/article/sports/olympics/olympic-dreams-whitney-conder/281-dfecb173-e69a-493d-b69e-8f7394d06d36?mc_cid=9e69424014&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Team Canada will not send athletes to Games in summer 2020 due to COVID-19 risks
TORONTO (March 22, 2020) – The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), backed by their Athletes’ Commissions, National Sports Organizations and the Government of Canada, have made the difficult decision to not send Canadian teams to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2020.   The COC and CPC urgently call on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to postpone the Games for one year and we offer them our full support in helping navigate all the complexities that rescheduling the Games will bring. While we recognize the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community.  …. story at https://olympic.ca/press/team-canada-will-not-send-athletes-to-games-in-summer-2020-due-to-covid-19-risks/?fbclid=IwAR1j3x193xNwulTrKLVGqWzqU4dnMLkCvBYDlJR-YxZVJ0wWMqzShGs7v6g&mc_cid=e20a7e57a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

WCL statement on Team Canada decision
Wrestling Canada Lutte supports the decision made by the Canadian Olympic Committee to not send athletes to the Olympic Games in summer 2020 due to COVID-19 risks. The safety of our athletes and wrestling community is our top priority. …. story at https://wrestling.ca/wcl-statement-on-team-canada-decision/?mc_cid=e20a7e57a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Coach Lindland’s Weekly Report: Post-Ottawa Tour 2020
Fresh off of returning from Ottawa, Canada where four United States Greco-Roman athletes qualified their weight categories for the 2020 Olympic Games, National Team head coach Matt Lindland is here with a pronounced assessment of what transpired. Each of the four wrestlers who achieved their objective — Ildar Hafizov (60 kg), Alex Sancho (67 kg), Joe Rau (87 kg), and G’Angelo Hancock (97 kg, Sunkist) — is highlighted individually, as are the training plan, the previous week’s Pan-Am Championships, and the environment in which the athletes operated. …. story at http://www.fivepointmove.com/usa-greco/lindland-post-ottawa-qualifier/?mc_cid=a4e126b07e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

President Statement on Tokyo 2020 and Next Steps
Dear Athletes and Members of the Wrestling Community,
Coming from the Joint Statement of the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, I would like to inform you that the Tokyo2020 Games will be postponed to no later than Summer 2021. This decision was made after accounting for the health of the athletes, those involved in the Olympic Games, and the international community at-large. The decision to delay will have a significant impact on our athletes and the remaining qualification process. Like other federations and stakeholders, we are waiting to receive more detailed guidelines from the IOC Sports Department concerning the qualification process and will provide an update as soon as possible. I understand that this delay impacts your preparations, and there are many uncertainties at this moment, but I assure your health and safety remain our top priority.  As things change, I promise to keep you up to date. …. full story at https://unitedworldwrestling.org/article/president-statement-tokyo-2020-and-next-steps?mc_cid=a94878ac8d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Sarah Hildebrandt and Clarissa Chun to be featured on Friday’s Moments Off the Mat at 5 p.m. ET
BY USA WRESTLING | MARCH 23,
WATCH Sarah Hildebrandt and Clarissa Chun LIVE AT 5 P.M. ET ON THEMAT.TV
Earlier this week, USA Wrestling announced its newly designed video platform, TheMat.tv, where wrestling fans can find thousands of wrestling videos in one location. TheMat.tv also launched a new web series called Moments Off the Mat, presented by USA Wrestling. Moments Off the Mat is a daily 30-minute live segment which features interviews with coaches, athletes and as well as several other notable figures within the wrestling community. So far, Moments Off the Mat has featured USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender, High Performance Manager Cody Bickley and National Team head coaches Bill Zadick, Matt Lindland and Terry Steiner, and Olympic and World champion Jordan Burroughs. 
Friday’s Moments Off the Mat guests are 2018 World silver medalist Sarah Hildebrandt and Women’s Freestyle National Team assistant coach Clarissa Chun. TheMat.tv features tons of content such as coach and athlete interviews, matches, technique and workout videos, Silver Coaches College presentations, Coaches Core Curriculum, National Wrestling Hall of Fame Legends Series and so much more. …. https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/March/23/The-Mat-tv-launch-and-Moments-Off-the-Mat?mc_cid=3137d16555&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

April 6, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized