Takedown Report

Cancellation – 4th reports

They could have been All-Americans. Instead Huskers saw wrestling championship canceled
Taylor Venz was all set to become an All-American again, and this time he was going to do so in his backyard. The Nebraska junior wrestler grew up in Farmington, Minnesota, just south of the Twin Cities. The NCAA wrestling championships were scheduled to finish on Saturday in Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium. “It will be cool for it to be in a big arena, but also then in my home state,” Venz said earlier this month. Venz, who finished fourth at 184 pounds at nationals as a freshman, was seeded seventh for this year’s tournament. Venz was one of seven Huskers to be seeded in the top 10 in individual weight classes. But the day after the seedings were announced, the NCAA canceled the championship. “It seems like a month, but it’s only been a week,” Nebraska coach Mark Manning said on Thursday. “But in our sport, you take what life throws at you, you make adjustments and you move on.” The Huskers are doing that. Venz will be back next season, but Manning said he feels for his seniors as well as wrestlers like junior CJ Red, who was on track to become a four-time All-American. …. Story at https://www.omaha.com/sports/college/huskers/teams/wrestling/they-could-have-been-all-americans-instead-huskers-saw-wrestling/article_2397d397-112f-56e0-8cca-cc0f7f6a06c4.html?mc_cid=64d98db446&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

No ‘Moore’ NCAA title shots: OSU, Norwayne wrestling great riding out coronavirus shutdown, turns focus to Olympic Trials
COLUMBUS — Ohio State senior Kollin Moore should have been at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Thursday afternoon, going through weigh-ins prior to competing later that night in the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Ranked No. 1 and undefeated at 197 pounds, the three-time All-American and Big Ten champion from Norwayne High School was an overwhelming favorite to win his first national title this weekend. He was one of only three grapplers ranked first in all three polls. Instead, Moore sat in his apartment located near the OSU campus and worked on a 1,000-piece Star Wars puzzle. Rather than face a gauntlet of the nation’s best 197-pounders, Moore’s biggest challenge was trying to find where to put the similar looking brown pieces that made up Chewbacca’s fur. “The puzzle has everyone from the movie in there,” Moore said. “I’ve been grinding away on it. I worked on it several hours yesterday, too. I’m just trying to keep myself busy.” The NCAA wrestling tournament was one of countless events shut down in an attempt to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. All NCAA winter and spring tournaments were canceled, as well as the entire spring sports season for all collegiate sports. Moore has been forced to make big changes to his life like most other Americans, but it would be hard to find another local athlete who lost out on a bigger sports opportunity. “My initial reaction was just pure sadness,” said Moore, who was named on Friday as one of eight finalists for the Dan Hodge Trophy, the wrestling equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. …. story at https://www.the-daily-record.com/sports/20200321/no-moore-ncaa-title-shots-osu-norwayne-wrestling-great-riding-out-coronavirus-shutdown-turns-focus-to-olympic-trials?mc_cid=64d98db446&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Keller feeling mixed emotions over abrupt ending
NCAA WRESTLING: COVID-19 costs NT native shot at national title.
By Jonah Bronstein scoreboard@gnnewspaper.com Mar 21, 2020
Troy Keller lives for the hunt. Mainly deer, as signified by the antlers tattooed across his back, but also turkey, duck, goose, squirrel, rabbit. And wrestling championships. In past title-hunting seasons, Keller won Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Section VI championships and was a state finalist during his senior year at North Tonawanda High School. He went on to become a two-time All-American and national champion at Niagara County Community College. Over the past two years competing for the University at Buffalo, Keller claimed consecutive Mid-American Conference championships. Keller’s pursuit of an NCAA title, however, was foiled by an opponent nobody has been able to pin down yet — the global coronavirus outbreak. The Division I national championship tournament scheduled for this weekend in Minneapolis was canceled March 12 while Keller was preparing to make a presentation in his field ecology class, sitting next to teammate Derek Spann, another national qualifier. Delivering the news, UB coach John Stutzman said, “was one of the hardest phone calls I ever had to make.” “I was fine for like 10 minutes,” Keller said. “Then it sunk in when people started texting me, telling me they were sorry and that I had a great career. “I started crying in class. It was terrible. But it was nice to be able to leave class and talk with Derek, because we were both going through the same thing.” Keller amassed a 40-12 record and back-to-back MAC titles at 165 pounds. He was twice ranked in the top 20 nationally. An environmental studies major carrying a 3.6 grade point average, Keller was the most recent MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week recipient. …. https://www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/keller-feeling-mixed-emotions-over-abrupt-ending/article_53def23a-a95b-53df-aa46-8728309f26ad.html?mc_cid=64d98db446&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

‘I’ll Always be a Loper’: Hinrichs Reflects on UNK Career and its Sudden End By TYLER ELLYSON, UNK Communications
Kearney, Neb. – Jarrod Hinrichs and his Loper teammates were preparing for their final workout of the season when the University of Nebraska at Kearney wrestling coaches called an impromptu meeting. It was around 4 p.m. March 12, less than 24 hours before the NCAA Division II Championships were scheduled to begin at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “You could tell by the look on their faces they were about to give us some real bad news,” said Hinrichs, one of seven Lopers who qualified for the national tournament. “There was just a weird feeling all day.” Like most college students, the UNK wrestlers were following social media from the team hotel. They knew athletic events across the country were being impacted by the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. …. story at https://lopers.com/news/2020/3/23/wrestling-i-ll-always-be-a-loper-hinrichs-reflects-on-unk-career-and-its-sudden-end.aspx?mc_cid=3137d16555&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Wrestling Seniors Close Out Careers Unceremoniously
With the 2019-20 season now suddenly in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look back at our seven seniors who have closed out their careers in Maroon and Gold. With over 300 combined victories, 150 bonus point victories, and 13 NCAA Tournament qualifications, this senior class has left an indelible mark in program history.  Now, we take a look at each individual Gophers senior and the accomplishments they racked up in Dinkytown. Plus, their thoughts on what wearing the Maroon and Gold singlet so special. 
Mitch McKee
A St. Michael native and 2019 All-American for “The U,” Mitchell McKee has been one of the most exciting wrestlers for the university throughout his time in Maroon and Gold as a four-time NCAA Qualifier. A high-flying style boosted by his freestyle success on the international stage, McKee consistently delighted Gopher fans as he finishes his career the team’s active leader in victories and pins with 91 wins and 33 pins. …. story and other seniors at https://gophersports.com/news/2020/3/23/wrestling-seniors-close-out-careers-unceremoniously.aspx?mc_cid=3137d16555&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Fans chime in on whether to award college team titles for NCAA/NAIA Nationals that were canceled
BY USA WRESTLING | MARCH 21,
On April 17 in his Abbott Blog, Gary Abbott suggested that college national championship team titles be selected for the divisions which cancelled the final national events, NCAA Div. I, NCAA Div. II, NCAA Div. III and NAIA women. He also proposed that if the national organization would not do so, that the coaches and media in wrestling conduct a poll and award national team titles. He did not suggest that individual titles be awarded at those divisions.
If you did not read the column, or wish to re-read it, please click below.
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/March/17/Abbott-Blog-select-college-champion-teams Fans were invited to send in their thoughts via email, and many did. Others responded on USA Wrestling’s website, or on Facebook. An informal count showed that more people were against it than for it. The tally was 42 against and 22 in favor of naming champions. Some advocated not only naming national champion teams, but also national champion individuals and All-Americans. …. story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/March/21/Fans-respond-to-idea-of-awarding-college-national-titles?mc_cid=64d98db446&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

A career complete: Seth Gross
MADISON, Wis. — Though his Badger career was short, Seth Gross made a lasting impression on Badger fans. Ranked as the No. 1 wrestler at 133 pounds for a majority of this redshirt senior season, Gross held a 14-2 record against ranked opponents. He led the team in technical falls and major decisions. He won the Midlands Championship with a win over No. 1 Austin DeSanto and took third at the Big Ten Championship in the 133 pound weight class.
Honors and Accolades 
• 2019 Midlands Champion in the 133 pound weight class; named the Dan Gable Outstanding Wrestler of the Championship
• Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (Jan.3, 2020)
• Olympic Trial Qualifier after winning the Bill Ferrell Memorial
• USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week (Nov. 20, 2019) …. Story and match history at https://uwbadgers.com/news/2020/3/23/wrestling-a-career-complete-seth-gross.aspx?mc_cid=a94878ac8d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Colbray tries to focus on the positive amid COVID-19
Former Hermiston state wrestling champion had qualified for the NCAA Championships

AMES, Iowa — Sam Colbray had punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships, so injury defaulting the third-place match at the Big 12 Championships seemed the smart thing to do to make sure his hip would be ready for an All-American run two weeks later. For the former four-time state champion at Hermiston High School, and junior at Iowa State University, it was his second time qualifying for the NCAAs, and he was excited. Then, in a matter of days, it was gone. The NCAA canceled all postseason tournaments, from basketball to wrestling. “They told us at practice,” Colbray said. “I was upset, but there’s nothing you can do about it. We just have to keep our spirits high and remain hungry for the next opportunity. Getting upset puts energy in the wrong place.” When news of the coronavirus first started to circulate, Colbray, his teammates, and the rest of the sporting world were prepared to compete without fans. “We went from no fans, to school getting canceled until further notice, to having our coach tell us it was over,” Colbray said. “It was shocking. Some guys were emotional. There is no way to mentally process it or make it feel better. If it was my senior year, it would have hit me harder, but there is nothing I can do about it. You have to find the humility in it.” The NCAA Championships typically are held during the college spring break. Colbray had gone to watch in the past, and competed in 2019. This year, he drove home to Oregon to see his parents, Delta and Leroy. …. story at https://www.hermistonherald.com/sports/colbray-tries-to-focus-on-the-positive-amid-covid/article_b6b57780-6dec-11ea-9b6e-2b221cbb6521.html?mc_cid=a94878ac8d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

N.J. college wrestlers’ ultimate dream got canceled. Could NCAA grant relief?
By Bill Evans | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Ask any wrestling coach at the college or high school level about a tournament or a dual meet during the season and inevitably the phrase “It’s all practice for March” will be part of the response. For high school wrestlers, March is the state tournament. For college wrestlers, it is the NCAA Wrestling Championships. The significance of the NCAA Championships is the reason there is support in the wrestling community to award extra eligibility to the 330 national qualifiers for the Division 1 championships in Minneapolis this year but didn’t get a chance to compete because coronavirus concerns canceled the tournament. …. https://www.nj.com/sports/2020/03/nj-college-wrestlers-ultimate-dream-got-canceled-could-ncaa-grant-relief.html?mc_cid=0750227b4f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

A Chapter Not Finished: NDSU Wrestling Coach Roger Kish Reflects on Season & Canceled NCAA Wrestling Championships
CHAMPIONSHIPS CANCELED TWO DAYS BEFORE COMPETITION
FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota State Wrestling finished both their regular season and had the opportunity to compete in the Big 12 championships. However, the Bison were two days away from their six NCAA Championship qualifiers competing for titles before the NCAA canceled the championships due to COVID-19. The emotion of a cancelled championships reached far more than just the six who were about to hit the mats. “Its never an easy conversation. Its really not just the six qualifiers that are devastated its a team out there,” head coach Roger Kish said. “Our guys who didn’t make it to the NCAA tournament or guys who aren’t in the starting lineup necessarily. These are guys, their whole goal here is to help their friends and teammates and their brothers.” Of the six qualifiers, three of them were seniors in Cam Sykora, Andrew Fogarty and Cordell Eaton, who won’t get the chance to go out on a high note, with the four years of work put it in, made it that much harder for head coach Roger Kish to deliver the message. “Not what you want to have happen,” Kish said. “You put in a lot of work and effort and watch these young men give everything they’ve got week in and week out to reach that pinnacle of wrestling. We had a lot of conversations about how are season went down. Its ultimately a marathon and not a sprint. This year was a little different.” Even though those three didn’t get a chance to complete their goals of being on the podium, coach Kish says there’s so much he’s thankful for of what they’ve accomplished. “These guys have really built a foundation that were so proud of,” Kish said. …. story at https://www.kvrr.com/2020/03/26/a-chapter-not-finished-ndsu-wrestling-coach-roger-kish-reflects-on-season-canceled-ncaa-wrestling-championships/?mc_cid=5dfdb1c828&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

April 9, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized