Takedown Report

High School News — # 16

WRESTLING COACH OF THE YEAR: Rockdale’s Alonzo Allen finds success in first year
Heading into his first season as the head wrestling coach at Rockdale County, Alonzo Allen had goals of reshaping and retooling the Bulldogs program in hopes of bringing a state title back to Conyers in one way or another. With several Bulldogs coming close to winning an individual state title in recent years, no one had accomplished the feat since Allen did so himself in 2014. Last month, Allen accomplished his goal of bringing a title back to his alma mater when junior Kaleb Walley won the 195-pound state title in Class AAAAAAA  without losing a match all season. Allen went on to coach three other Bulldogs to state placements this season. Senior heavyweight Ed Pollard finished third, senior Jalon Bailey (170) finished fourth and senior Jovanni Butler (152) finished fifth.  The Bulldogs’ four state placers were good enough for a fifth-place finish at state. All-in-all, Allen called his first season at the helm a successful one. “I came in here wanting to get us at least one state champion and several placers,” Allen said. “We got one state champ and three other placers. So for me, that’s an accomplishment. We haven’t had a state champ since 2014, so getting one in my first year is good. That just sets the bar. Next year, we’re going to try and shoot for two. We want to keep going up.” …. story at https://www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com/sports/wrestling-coach-of-the-year-rockdale-s-alonzo-allen-finds/article_6033d244-6883-11ea-b126-33dfb1293848.html?mc_cid=9e69424014&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Wyoming Seminary finishes season ranked No. 1 in Fab 50
Link:Final Fab 50 Team Rankings
The 2019-20 high school wrestling season was certainly one to remember. Crowning a national champion this year was pretty clear, despite the only undefeated team (Simley, Minn.) being ranked No. 18 in the country. This year’s national champion is Wyoming Seminary (Pa.). The Blue Knights were dominant champions at the nation’s best in-season tournament, Walsh Jesuit (Ohio) Ironman; dominant champions at a top-five tournament, Powerade; and champions at National Preps over four other ranked teams (two of which are in the top ten). The lone blemish on the season for Wyoming Seminary came in a 31-24 dual meet loss to Blair Academy (N.J.) on Jan. 17. However, the Blue Knights were without the services of Nic Bouzakis (126) on that evening. Five weeks earlier, the Wyoming Seminary won the Walsh Jesuit Ironman by 45.5 points over Blair Academy; then five weeks later, Wyoming Seminary won the National Prep title by 81 points. Anchoring the Blue Knights’ roster were three wrestlers who ended the season ranked No. 1 in the country: Nic Bouzakis (126), Beau Bartlett (138), and Lachlan McNeil (145). Four other wrestlers concluded the season ranked: Brennen Cernus (No. 17 at 113 pounds), Drew Munch (No. 8 at 132), Gabriel Arnold (No. 13 at 160), and Kolby Franklin (No. 9 at 220). Rounding out the top five were the following teams: …. story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/23430?mc_cid=a4e126b07e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

(Penna.-Maryland-W. Virginia)
Saluting wrestling all-stars – despite Border Brawl falling to virus (WITH SLATED MATCHUPS)
By Eric Knopsnyder
This was supposed to be one of the biggest weekends in the long and storied history of amateur wrestling in this country. More than 40,000 fans – by far the most ever to watch the NCAA Wrestling Championships – were supposed to file inside U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in an event that probably would have seen Iowa unseat Penn State as king of the college sport – at least for one season. That didn’t happen, of course. Neither will the Border Brawl Mason-Dixon Wrestling Classic, which was scheduled to take place at Pitt-Johnstown on Sunday afternoon, pitting the top high school seniors from The Tribune-Democrat’s coverage area against their counterparts from Maryland and West Virginia. It would have been the fifth edition of the all-star match and might very well have been the most competitive dual. Reaching a bit outside of the Cumberland Times-News’ coverage area, organizers were able to pluck some very talented wrestlers for the southern squad. The highlight match would have featured Bedford’s Kaden Cassidy, …. story at https://www.tribdem.com/sports/eric-knopsnyder-saluting-wrestling-all-stars-despite-border-brawl-falling/article_581fbf8c-6bda-11ea-a37a-1bfc2bc90118.html?mc_cid=64d98db446&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

(Alabama)
Arab wrestling: Legendary coach retires, at least with Knights
By ARCHIE ANDERSON, The Arab Tribune
After 25 years and 11 state championships, wrestling coach Michael Pruitt is calling it a career – at least at Arab High School. Last Thursday, the city board of education officially approved Pruitt’s retirement as a teacher and coach, effective June 1. The Knights won traditional state titles an amazing eight times and the relatively new duals state crown three times (duals matches are simply one team versus another team). Pruitt’s overall duals record at Arab is 639-141-3. During his tenure, the Knights have had 32 state champions, 132 state placers and 227 state qualifiers. 
Pretty amazing.
“It’s really bittersweet,” Pruitt said. “It’s not like I want to leave Arab, but financially it just makes sense for me at this point to try to start on a second retirement either at a private school in Huntsville or maybe go to another state like Tennessee. “That’s the only reason I’m doing this.” Pruitt said his thoughts about Arab and the school district are all positive. 
“I think the world of all the administrators at Arab and they have been great to me. I can’t say enough about the place,” he said. “Arab has great kids and I truly cared about all the kids in my classroom and all the kids I ever had the opportunity to coach. …. story at http://www.thearabtribune.com/sports/arab-wrestling-legendary-coach-retires-at-least-with-knights/article_a4b545b8-7384-11ea-91f3-57333685ac5e.html?mc_cid=1f2298c90d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

(Iowa)
JOURNAL WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: West Sioux’s Adam Allard already building off latest loss
One loss doesn’t define a career. West Sioux’s Adam Allard already proved that once in his career. When Allard was a freshman, he lost his first-ever high school match at the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Invitation in December. It was the last loss for Allard that season. It was also the last loss for Allard for more than three years. During that time, Allard — the Sioux City Journal Wrestler of the Year — went on to win three individual state titles, became the 21st wrestler in IHSAA history to win 200 matches and put together the longest consecutive matches winning streak in IHSAA history.
HIGH SCHOOL
JOURNAL WRESTLING COACH OF THE YEAR: Mark Van Oort leads West Sioux to second-straight third-place state duals finish
The end of his high school career made history, too, and not the kind he wanted. In his quest to become the 28th four-time IHSAA state champion, Allard was defeated by Cascade’s Aidan Noonan after a late turn in the match for a 4-2 victory for the 126-pound Class 1A state title. ….. story at https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/high-school/journal-wrestler-of-the-year-west-sioux-s-adam-allard/article_9b2e37bd-6f23-5ad8-8c93-5cf67f13514c.html?mc_cid=0750227b4f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

(National)
March Trackwrestling/OPC Update
By Pat Tocci, Senior Director
Who were the stat leaders in your state? As you may have recently seen, the NCAA released its 2021 Stat leader Award winners. The NCAA recognizes each year by division, the leader for falls, technical falls, and most dominant. The most dominant award is based on ‘match’ points earned or lost throughout the season divided by the number of matches you have. It is a way to showcase a wrestler who has been winning all season with bonus points. These awards are based on data that is captured in the Trackwrestling software system. One of the things that the media likes to talk the most about is stats. Every turn on a baseball game, you will always hear announcers talk about a player’s stats. Read a basketball article, and the reporter will be talking about stats and who the leading stat winners are—historically, wrestling has struggled in recognizing these outstanding achievements. However, with the Trackwrestling software system, seeing who the stat leaders are in your state has never been easier. …. story at http://www.nwcaonline.com/march-trackwrestling-opc-update/?mc_cid=5dfdb1c828&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

(South Dakota)
Madison Wrestling Coach Finds A Way To Keep Teaching
MADISON, S.D. — Football players at Dakota State look to head coach Josh Anderson for answers during the regular season. Yet with school out, when the coaches daughter needed answers, a middle school teacher in Madison found a way to help out. Josh’s sixth grade daughter emailed her teacher Chris Waba for help with her math work, and the Madison Middle School teacher, who is also the head wrestling coach at the high school, came over to safely tutor her from outside. …. story and video at https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/content/sports/Madison-Wrestling-Coach–569206261.html?mc_cid=1270ffe756&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

(Ohio)
Season’s sudden end disappointing for wrestlers
If the OHSAA wrestling season had been scheduled to end one week earlier, right now many wrestlers across the state would be enjoying their time at home knowing they finished out the season the right way. Either by garnering a state championship, some type of state placement, or by knowing they put it all on the line versus the best wrestlers in Ohio. However, that did not happen due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19. When it was announced by OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass that all winter tournaments were postponed indefinitely on March 12 – a day before the State Individual Wrestling Tournament was set to begin in Columbus – the competitors and their coaches had to accept reality. That being, they may not get to complete the season the way they would like. Furthermore, it is now known that the 2020 state tournament will not happen. The OHSAA announced Thursday its plans to cancel the winter sports tournaments. …. story at https://www.fcnews.org/sports/24137/seasons-sudden-end-disappointing-for-wrestlers?mc_cid=864912e0e4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

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