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Trackwrestling unlocks entire United World Wrestling on-demand video library
Trackwrestling, in partnership with Defense Soap, is unlocking the archives to more than three seasons of on-demand matches from our United World Wrestling package. For a limited time, while fans are socially distanced from live wrestling events, we’ll showcase the globe’s top stars and the world’s biggest events. Visit Trackwrestling.com/uww to browse the latest United World Wrestling content and search for events and matches to watch. 
The archives include:

  • The Senior, U23, Junior and Cadet World Championships, World Cup and continental championships from 2017, 2018 and 2019.
  • The epic clash between young phenoms Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev with the 2017 men’s freestyle World team title riding on the outcome.
  • A series of comebacks by Jordan Burroughs during his path to a 2017 World title.
  • Helen Maroulis’ historic run through the field in 2017 in Paris.
  • David Taylor’s remarkable run through the 86-kilogram bracket two years ago in Budapest.
  • The trifecta of titles for Jacarra Winchester, Tamyra Mensah-Stock and Adeline Gray at the 2019 World Championships. …. story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1585765725275&twSessionId=kggkymtxpl&postId=779262135&mc_cid=2b0e4cf56d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2020 Honors Weekend Rescheduled To 2021
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday that, due to the health risks associated with the COVID-19 outbreak, it has rescheduled its 2020 Honors Weekend from June 5-6 to June 4-5, 2021.
“The rescheduling of 2020 Honors Weekend was not an easy decision for us to make. It is our signature event and has been held every year but one since the Hall of Fame opened in 1976,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the Hall of Fame. “The safety and health of our honorees and attendees is of the utmost importance to us and we believe this is the best decision to ensure that we do not put anyone at risk. “We look forward to June 2021 when we will celebrate the Class of 2020 that will now become our Class of 2021.” …. story at https://nwhof.org/blog/hall-of-fame-reschedules-2020-honors-weekend-to-2021/?mc_cid=2b0e4cf56d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Also note that the National Hall of Fame in Oklahoma is closed until further notice … story at https://nwhof.org/blog/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame-closed-until-april-5/ and
The Dan Gable Museum in Iowa is closed through April 30th … story at https://nwhof.org/blog/dan-gable-museum-closed-until-march-31/

Beat The Streets “Grapple At The Garden,” postponed until later in 2020
BY BEAT THE STREETS, INC. | APRIL 02, 2020, Annual Event Was Scheduled For May 28 at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden
(New York, April 2, 2020) Beat The Streets, the largest grassroots inner-city wrestling program in the United States, today announced that “Grapple At The Garden,” its annual fundraiser which was to be held on Thursday, May 28, has been postponed due to the current COVID-19 outbreak. The organization is entertaining several dates and formats for a rescheduled event later in the summer. “Our primary focus is the health and safety of all involved, especially our supporters, our athletes and staff, and in order to be properly prepared for what is always a celebratory first class event for all, we have decided to postpone our late May date,” said Brendan Buckley, Beat the Streets Executive Director. “We are working with our partners at Madison Square Garden and all our stakeholders to find the most effective date in the coming months.” “Grapple at the Garden” made a highly successful, sold-out debut at the Hulu Theater in 2019 following nearly a decade at various other iconic New York City venues.
About Beat the Streets
The mission of Beat the Streets is to develop the full potential of the urban youth and to strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTS works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to bring the life-changing sport of wrestling to over 3,000 New York City student-athletes to help them achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTS and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life lessons of grit, personal responsibility and teamwork, physical fitness and nutrition, and life-long learning. The goal of fostering strong, well-rounded student-athletes is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, life skills workshops, and summer camps. More information can be found at http://www.btsny.org. …. story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/April/02/Beat-the-Streets-New-York-Benefit-postponed?mc_cid=c504aeb86a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

OSU Wrestling: Booker T. Washington Naming Hoops Court after Kenny Monday
Tulsa Public Schools to honor the Cowboy legend and Olympic Gold Medalist
According to the Twitter account of Kenny Monday’s wife Sabrina, the basketball court at Booker T. Washington High School will now share the names of Monday and former OU basketball star Wayman Tisdsale.
Monday was a four-time state champion at Booker T. Washington, then went on to wrestle for the Cowboys from 1981-1984. He was an NCAA champion in 1984 and became the first African American to win an Olympic Gold medal in wrestling in 1988. He won a silver at the 1992 Olympics and made the team again in 1996. … story and video at https://pistolsfiringblog.com/osu-wrestling-booker-t-washington-naming-hoops-court-after-kenny-monday/?mc_cid=7b60b45611&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Letter to USA Wrestling members from Bruce Baumgartner and Rich Bender
BY BRUCE BAUMGARTNER, PRESIDENT, AND RICH BENDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | APRIL 07, 2020, 
We hope that you and your loved ones are doing well during these trying times. As the United States and the world continue to face the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, here at USA Wrestling, we are focused on being a support and resource for all of our members and their families. In everything that we do, our number one priority is always the safety of our athletes and their families, all our members, our national staff and the entire U.S. wrestling community.
USA Wrestling is a big family, with more than 255,000 members and 4,500 clubs nationwide striving together to strengthen the sport. During these unprecedented times, we are coming together in so many ways. We believe the best strategy to get through this situation is to listen to our members and to communicate regularly with our wrestling family. With that in mind, we would like to let our members know what USA Wrestling has been doing to serve them and to increase the value of their membership:
• USA Wrestling has formed an amazing COVID-19 Advisory Committee of experts who are helping us better understand the situation and make informed decisions. These leaders are: Dr. Tom Price, a physician who is a past U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and past member of Congress; Dr. Bernard Feldman, UWW Medical Commission member and Hall of Fame wrestling physician; and John Bardis, past U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, and a longtime USA Wrestling leader who has had a successful career in the medical industry. …. story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/April/07/Letter-to-USA-Wrestling-members-from-Bruce-Baumgartner-and-Rich-Bender?mc_cid=9b0303e966&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

April 20, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

College Awards

MAC Announces Wrestling Postseason Awards
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE NAMES 2020 WRESTLING POSTSEASON AWARDS
Central Michigan’s Borrelli and NIU’s Ludwig share Coach of the Year, Central Michigan’s Stencel Named Wrestler of the Year and NIU’s Olejnik Named Freshman of the Year
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced today the wrestling postseason awards for the 2020 season.  Sharing the honor as MAC Coach of the Year is Central Michigan’s Tom Borrelli and NIU’s Ryan Ludwig as Co-Coaches of the Year.  Central Michigan junior Matt Stencel was named MAC Wrestler of the Year and NIU’s Izzak Olejnik was named MAC Freshman of the Year.  The awards were voted on by the Conference’s 15 head wrestling coaches.  
In his 29th year at Central Michigan, Borrelli led the Chippewas to a runner-up finish at the MAC Championships and an 8-4 overall, 7-2 MAC, dual-meet record. Three of Borrelli’s charges won individual MAC titles, including Dresden Simon at 141 pounds, who was named the MAC Championship Outstanding Wrestler Award. Central Michigan was the only MAC program with more than one MAC Champion. Six Chippewas earned a berth in the NCAA Championships, which ranked second in the MAC among the 15 league teams only behind Missouri’s eight selections.  
Borrelli has amassed a 337-155-7 dual-meet record in 29 years at Central Michigan. His 337 Division I dual-meet victories are second to Oklahoma State’s John Smith among active coaches and currently ranks 17th in NCAA history. NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig guided the Huskies to one of their most successful seasons as NIU amassed 13 wins on the season, the most by a Huskie wrestling team since 2004-05. The Huskies saw four of their wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships and had its first MAC champion since 2013, as Brit Wilson defeated Dylan Wisman of Missouri for the 184 pound championship. …. story at https://getsomemaction.com/news/2020/4/13/mac-announces-wrestling-postseason-awards.aspx?mc_cid=48a895b9a1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2020 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR AND ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
The d3wrestle.com Freshman of the Year award is given to the top Division III wrestler who competed in high school in the previous season. The 2020 Freshman of the Year is Ryan Anderson of Centenary University. Anderson came to the Cyclones from Bethlehem Catholic High School where he was a two-time state champion and three-time placewinner, helping his team to a pair of state duals championships. Anderson was the #1 seed at 149 lbs. in the canceled NCAA Championships and was ranked 1st in the final d3wrestle.com Rankings. He finished the season with a 31-3 record and did not lose to a DIII opponent. He won his last 28 matches in a row to finish his season with a title in the Mideast Regional. He also won the Doug Parker Invitational, Bob Quade Cyclone Open, and the Shorty Hitchcock Open. He had 15 falls this season with 13 coming in the first period. His final regular season victory came against the previously #1 ranked wrestler at his weight, and his final victory of the season was a win over a 2018 NCAA champion. Anderson is the second winner from Centenary after Chris Burdge in 2011. …. full story and listing at https://www.d3wrestle.com/2020-freshman-of-the-year-and-all-freshman-team/?mc_cid=eb28f2fdb6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

NWCA DIVISION I COACHES GROUP ANNOUNCES 2020 ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association has announced the 2020 Division I All-American teams.  Each year the NWCA recognizes the outstanding work of the DI Student-Athletes by naming the All-Americans based on their achievements in the national championship, however, this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic the championships were canceled. All-American honors were based on each wrestler’s overall body of work through the conference tournaments and up to the national championships. …. story and full lists at http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwca-division-i-coaches-group-announces-2020-all-america-teams/?mc_cid=845f982bf2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

J’den Cox named 2019 John Smith Award winner, as USA Wrestling’s Freestyle Wrestler of the Year
BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING | APRIL 17, 2020, 
J’den Cox (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC/USOPTC) has been named the winner of the 2019 John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time that he has won this prestigious award. The award is named in honor of two-time Olympic champion and four-time World champion John Smith. Cox won his second straight World Championships gold medal, when he powered through the 92 kg bracket to win the World title in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan in September. He defeated Ali Reza Karimimachiani of Iran in the gold-medal finals, 4-0. Cox had a 4-0 record at the World Championships without allowing a point, defeating his four opponents by a 26-0 margin. It was his fourth straight medal at the World and Olympic level, to go along with his 2016 Olympic bronze medal, his 2017 World bronze medal and his 2018 World gold medal. Cox went the entire 2019 year without a loss. …. story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/April/17/Jden-Cox-named-2019-John-Smith-Award-winner-as-top-mens-freestyler?mc_cid=845f982bf2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Hayden Hidlay Named ACC Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State redshirt-junior Hayden Hidlay, who two weeks ago was named the 2020 ACC Wrestler of the Year, has also been tabbed the 2020 ACC Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year and heads up the sport’s 19-man All-ACC Academic Team. Hidlay, a business administration major from Lewistown, Pennsylvania, is a three-time member of the All-ACC Academic Wrestling Team. He posted a 3.846 grade point average for the most recent fall semester and earned Dean’s List honors. Hidlay is a three-time member of the ACC Honor Roll and was named an NC State Scholar-Athlete.
 “This is a great achievement for Hayden,” said NC State head coach Pat Popolizio. “He is a class act that represents himself, our wrestling program and NC State well. He continues to strive for greatness both on and off the mat. I’m proud and happy that the ACC recognizes his hard work and commitment.” Hidlay, who earned a No. 2 NCAA seeding at 157 pounds, finished the year 28-1 overall, including a 12-0 record in dual matches. …. story at https://gopack.com/news/2020/4/16/hayden-hidlay-named-acc-wrestling-scholar-athlete-of-the-year.aspx?mc_cid=c40241fd14&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Blessing in Disguise
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For any average four time All-American and Dan Hodge Trophy recipient, a world without wrestling may seem rather empty– but for Bo Nickal, it’s more of a blessing in disguise.
 As one of Penn State’s most notable wrestlers to come through the program, Nickal had graduated with the hopes of trading his Nittany Lion blue and whites for a USA singlet and a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He trained alongside legends in Rec Hall as a part of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.
 But his dreams of Olympic glory would soon move to the back burner as the world would bear the brunt of a widespread global pandemic – sending professional athletes, like Nickal, into a tailspin.
 “At the beginning, it was tough because we didn’t know when we were going to get back,” Nickal said. “But at this point, we know it’s going to be a while, so I’ve been able to set a schedule and get more of a routine. It’s been enjoyable to do something different.”  While athletes, coaches and spectators alike scrambled to make sense of lost seasons and broken dreams, Nickal took an alternative approach to coping with the change – with a positive attitude that’s fueled success throughout the majority of his career. “At this point, it’s said and done. We know what to expect and I can look at it with a little bit of gratitude,” Nickal said. “This happened for a reason. I now get the chance to rest, recover and let my body heal up, so I can get ready to get back on and grind whenever I’m allowed to start practicing again.”  But until he gets the green light to slip back into his wrestling shoes and hit the mat, Nickal has to get a little creative with maintaining his Olympic physique, with only the means he has available in his State College residence.  Now that we know the quarantine is going to be long term, I’ve been in my backyard chopping down trees and trying to be creative with different ways to get exercise,” Nickal said. “I’m just the type of person who likes to be active, so that’s like the start of it. Even though the Olympics and everything was postponed, it’s still a year and a half away, so I’m always going to be prepping for that.”
 Even with years of rigorous training to grapple the strongest of competitors, nothing could’ve prepared even world-class athletes, like Nickal, for the challenges of a stay-at-home order. But with so much uncertainty spread throughout the athletic community, Nickal doesn’t think he or his teammates will be at much of a disadvantage come go-time. …. story at https://gopsusports.com/news/2020/4/13/wrestling-blessing-in-disguise.aspx?mc_cid=2380a36a7a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

April 20, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Eastern N.C. High School – # 11

New Bern High athletes receive all-Conference awards
The 3A/4A Eastern Carolina Conference released its all-conference teams earlier this week from the winter sports season. New Bern High School had 21 student-athletes receive recognition across the five sports. From boys basketball, freshman Will Brimmer was the only player to make the All-Conference team with Tyriq Hicks and Saiquan Bell being honorable mentions. In girls basketball, Journee McDaniel and Destinee Banks made the team while Janaya Lambert and Keyanna Stewart were honorable mentions. Wrestling was where the Bears had their strongest representation of the season as coach Bo Lansche was named conference Coach of the Year. Michael Baysden, Sam Barnett, Grant Gupton, Jaidon Bennett, Marcus Grist, Jackson Bird and Wyatt Stevens all made the team as wrestlers. …. story at https://www.newbernsj.com/sports/20200319/new-bern-high-athletes-receive-all-conference-awards

Staying alive in Greensboro: Fike’s Bancroft, Settles, CBA duo reach 3-A semis
GREENSBORO — While all seven Fike High wrestlers competing in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A wrestling championship tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on Friday afternoon made it to Saturday, only two kept their state championship dreams alive. Golden Demons seniors Aaron Bancroft and Jahmez Settles each won their first two matches to reach Saturday’s semifinals round along with C.B. Aycock’s unbeaten senior duo of Christian Decatur and Tyler Hughes. Nine other area wrestlers are still in action in the consolation bracket. Matches will be held for third and fifth place. The championship semifinals will start at approximately noon once the consolation quarterfinals are complete. The Parade of Champions is set for 7 p.m., followed by the state championship finals matches, once the consolation bracket is done. Bancroft had little trouble collecting his 48th and 49th wins without a loss as he stopped Eastern Guilford’s Isaiah Manning in an 18-3 technical fall in their 170-pound opener and then handed Enka’s Garrett Pugh tech fall by the same score in the quarterfinals. Bancroft, who became Fike’s first state champion last year in the 160-pound division, will face Fayetteville Cape Fear sophomore Jaden Paul (36-8) in the semifinals. …. rest of the story at http://wilsontimes.com/stories/staying-alive-in-greensboro-fikes-bancroft-settles-cba-duo-reach-3-a-semis,202050?newsletter=202054

Curtain lifts Friday on NCHSAA wrestling championships
From staff reports
Eighteen wrestlers from The Wilson Times readership area will launch bids at a North Carolina High School Athletic Association individual state championship when action gets underway at Greensboro Coliseum. The opening round is set for midday Friday after inclement weather forced the NCHSAA to push the start of the tournament back a day. The plan is still to complete the tournament by Saturday, although a formal schedule was not announced by the association in its release addressing the postponement late Wednesday evening. On Saturday, the consolations conclude earlier in the day, with the Parade of Champions and finals in all classifications. Fike High, coming off its first trip to the NCHSAA 3-A East final in the dual  team playoffs, leads the pack with seven entries and reigning 160-pound champion Aaron Bancroft. However, Bancroft, who hasn’t lost in 47 matches this season, makes the step up to 170 pounds in 2020. Joining Bancroft from Fike are regional champions Jayleen Bullock and Jahmez Settles. Settles, a senior at 106 pounds, takes a 43-8 record into the proceedings. Bullock, owning a 44-3 ledger, steps onto the mat at 195 pounds as a junior. A quartet of Golden Demons placed third in regional competition including freshman Barrett Klutey (41-17) at 120 pounds, senior Garrett Weaver (24-4) at 138, junior Patrick McCullen (47-6) at 145 and junior Vincent Page (30-7) and 152. Hunt junior Chris Silva, competing in the 195-pound ranks, is the lone Warriors qualifier and takes a 37-7 ledger into the state championships. For Southern Nash, the junior trio of Luke Coble, Jadel Davis and Terrence Raspberry, all qualified. …. story at http://wilsontimes.com/stories/curtain-lifts-friday-on-nchsaa-wrestling-championships,201918?

Friendly sibling rivalry helps fuel Extra Effort winner toward state wrestling record
By Jason Jennings, WRAL sports reporter
PIKEVILLE, N.C. — Wrestling runs in the blood of Christian Decatur. Not only is the C.B. Aycock senior going for his third straight state championship this year, his older brother, Timothy, also won three state titles for Rosewood and earned the Extra Effort Award last year. “I can’t imagine what it was like in their house,” said C.B. Aycock wrestling coach Brian Doyle, this week’s Extra Effort Award winner. “(Christian had) the greatest practice partner in the world right there in the living room,” said C.B. Aycock assistant head wrestling coach Mark Bass. “(Timothy) started Instagram Lives of us having matches so people could watch,” Christian said of his brother. While Christian admits that Timothy — who is one year older, slightly heavier and now wrestles for UNC — usually wins those matches, Christian can still beat his brother in another area: the state’s all-time wins record. Since the “new era” of NCHSAA wrestling (when match limitations have been put in place around the start of this decade), Timothy holds the record with 236 career wins. Christian currently has 221 wins. If he completes a third state title run, Christian will beat his older brother’s record. …. story, video & pictures at https://www.highschoolot.com/friendly-sibling-rivalry-helps-fuel-extra-effort-winner-toward-state-wrestling-record/18904890/

Cape Fear Extra Effort winner takes family’s passion for wrestling to state title again
By Jason Jennings, WRAL multimedia sports journalist
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Dallas Wilson is a two-time defending NCHSAA 3A state wrestling champion for Cape Fear High School who is going for his third straight title this Saturday. “I tell people, you can walk up to me and hand me a million dollars, and it still wouldn’t equal what the sport of wrestling has given me,” Wilson said. New Bern High athletes receive all-Conference awards The sport is in Wilson’s blood. His father, Heath, is also his high school coach. Back in 1990, the elder Wilson won a state title wrestling for Cape Fear. Imagine the Wilson’s father-son wrestling matches over the years. “My mother, she would have an absolute fit until we stopped,” Heath Wilson said. “We’ll be in the kitchen and start wrestling, and (family members) will be like, ‘Stop! Stop!'” Dallas Wilson said. While Dallas has his father beat in the number of state title victories, it wasn’t until this year where he could beat Heath on the mat. …. story, video & pictures at https://www.highschoolot.com/cape-fear-extra-effort-winner-takes-family-s-passion-for-wrestling-to-state-title-again/18950521/

April 20, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment