College Coaches Update
TDR Editor’s Notes : We have a new college program in Virginia, one in Ohio ending as the college is closing and few new coaches announced.
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Central Christian College of Kansas NAMES MCPHERSON NAITIVE TIM PRESCOTT AS HEAD MEN’S WRESTLING COACH
Central Christian College of Kansas (CCCK) is excited to announce the appointment of Tim Prescott as Head Men’s Wrestling Coach. A native-son of McPherson, Prescott has been surrounded by the sport of wrestling for most of his life. As a member of the McPherson community, Prescott wrestled with the McPherson Wrestling and the Smokey Valley Wrestling Clubs before beginning his high school career where he became a two-time State Finalist and a four-time State Medalist. After high school and a number of wrestling honors at Neosho Community College, Prescott went on to compete at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, where he won the NCAA DII National Championship, after which he was also named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Wrestler of the Year. After completing his undergraduate work, Prescott went on to pursue a Master’s in Sport Performance and Leadership, while he simultaneously served as a graduate assistant for the wrestling program at Northern State University, under the direction of Coach Rocky Burkett. During his time at Northern, Prescott was instrumental in restoring the strength of the program, advancing the program’s NCAA ranking to 17th place. Over the last year, Prescott has served as the head assistant wrestling coach at Cornell College. …. rest of story at http://www.ccctigers.com/article/2969?mc_cid=c43b02d0ed&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b#.XrsPl6hKhPb
Virginia’s Patrick Henry Community College to add wrestling
“Give me liberty … and give me collegiate wrestling!” Patrick Henry Community College — the school named for the Revolutionary War patriot who uttered a phrase like that more than 200 years ago — has announced that it will be adding a men’s intercollegiate wrestling program. The Virginia-based, two-year public college has also hired two coaches for the program, slated to begin this fall. Patrick Henry CC has named Justin Smith, the former head wrestling coach at Franklin County High School, has accepted the position as Head Coach of the program. Tim Nininger, the former head wrestling coach at Cave Spring High School, will be Smith’s assistant. In the inaugural season, the coaches plan to build the program through local talent. Both Smith and Nininger have extensive wrestling backgrounds. …. rest of the story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/23612?fbclid=IwAR1Orb3ywKkV64vRju-MYYI52VCfV96gk81yRKyQAsjgh0QFxpF_oX96Iz4
Urbana University will permanently close, ceasing enrollments
URBANA — Urbana University has announced it will close as the coronavirus pandemic has “added a level of stress and uncertainty to Urbana’s prospects that make it impossible to sustain,” the university said. The university will cease enrollments and discontinue physical operations on the Urbana campus at the end of the 2020 Spring Semester, according to the school’s website. Urbana University is a branch campus of Franklin University, based in Columbus. “As a result of this decision, academic programming will be moved to Franklin University, while athletic offerings and on-site administrative roles will cease at the Urbana branch campus,” the university said. As a result of the closure, 111 full-time employees will be impacted and some will be offered employment at Franklin University. …. rest of the story at https://www.whio.com/news/local/urbana-university-will-close-ceasing-enrollments/NKEGT4EMKFDRLH7KZSMDVAQ6NY/?mc_cid=945de33a33&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
CONTOS TAKES REINS OF MEN’S & WOMEN’S WRESTLING PROGRAMS
Mt. Pleasant, IA – April 23, 2020 – Shawn Contos will take the reins of both the Men’s & Women’s Wrestling programs beginning May 1, 2020. This announcement is made as Coach Robert Powell submits his resignation to pursue other professional opportunities. “I am pleased to announce Coach Contos as our Head Wrestling Coach. His wealth of knowledge in freestyle and folkstyle wrestling, combined with his high energy and professionalism, make him an ideal candidate to lead both men’s and wrestling programs”, said Director of Athletics, Derek Zander. Contos brings with him over 20 years of experience as a wrestling coach. He has coached and competed alongside many notable wrestlers throughout his years. Contos coached at Iowa State with Cael Sanderson and at Penn State with both Cody Sanderson and Casey Cunningham. …. rest of the story at https://www.iwtigers.com/article/2759?mc_cid=17ded1ad3b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Wheeling tabs Wesley to revive wrestling program
WHEELING, W.Va. (April 24) – Wheeling University has appointed August Wesley as Head Coach of the wrestling program, with the anticipation to be back on the mat for this upcoming season. Wesley joins Wheeling after a successful four-year stint running the Iowa State University club wrestling program. During his time in Ames, Wesley tutored 27 National Qualifiers, four All-Americans, six Academic All-Americans, and guided the Cyclones to a fifth place in the 2018 NCWA National Championships.
“I would like to thank Wheeling University President Ginny Favede, Carrie Hanna and the hiring committee for the opportunity to take the helm of this decorated program,” Wesley said. “I feel confident that with the continued support from the administration and fans, we will foster a championship environment displaying continued growth on the mat and in the classroom. Together we will reignite the wrestling flame here in our community and showcase our fighting spirit.” President Ginny R. Favede said, “Wheeling University is excited to rebuild its wrestling program and I am confident that in August Wesley we have found a superb coach who will lead our wrestlers with professionalism, technical knowledge, ambition and confidence along with the manner in which he exudes the enthusiasm to continue Wheeling University’s history of success.” …. rest of the story at https://wucardinals.com/news/2020/4/24/wheeling-hires-wesley-to-revive-wrestling-program.aspx?mc_cid=52d81661de&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Gibson to lead SOU men’s, women’s wrestling teams in 2020-21
By: SOU Sports Information
ASHLAND – Southern Oregon University Director of Athletics Matt Sayre is staying in-house to pick Mike Ritchey‘s successor, at least for now. Sayre announced Monday that Joel Gibson, who completed his first season as the Raiders’ head women’s wrestling coach in 2019-20, will additionally oversee the men’s program in 2020-21. A national search to replace Ritchey, SOU’s head men’s coach of 25 years, had been in progress before the COVID-19 disruption prompted SOU to enact a hiring freeze. The search will be revisited next year. In a pair of coinciding moves, Bob Bergen will be elevated to head women’s assistant coach and Tucker Van Matre to head men’s assistant. Both served on Gibson’s women’s staff this season. “We’re experiencing strange times right now and have had to make adjustments to our normal process,” Sayre said. …. rest of the story at https://souraiders.com/news/2020/4/27/gibson-to-lead-sou-mens-womens-wrestling-teams-in-2020-21.aspx?mc_cid=9b182d31f3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Reece Humphrey is winner of 2019 Terry McCann Award as USA Wrestling Freestyle Coach of the Year
BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING | APRIL 22, 2020,
Reece Humphrey (Dayton, N.J./New Jersey RTC) has been named the winner of the 2019 Terry McCann Freestyle Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time that he has won this prestigious award. Humphrey became the first head coach of the New Jersey Regional Training Center in April of 2018, a regional training center which is affiliated with both Rutgers University and Princeton University. Humphrey works with the Senior-level athletes who are part of the NJRTC, as well as elite young athletes in the New Jersey region who are eligible to train at the RTC. He coached two NJRTC athletes to the 2019 U.S. Senior World freestyle team, Tyler Graff at 61 kg and Patrick Downey at 86 kg. Both qualified for their first Senior World Team. Humphrey was on the coaching staff at the 2019 Senior Worlds in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, where he coached Graff and Downey. Graff reached a medal match and placed fifth at the World Championships, while Downey finished ninth in his weight class. …. rest of the story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/April/22/Humphrey-named-Freestyle-Coach-of-the-Year?mc_cid=547ad9bd30&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Top Division II Coaches in Career Dual Wins
ALL-TIME Coaches (D-II)– Top 20 (or so) with at least 210 wins
Wins earned while coaching a D-II school
- Pat Pecora (Pitt-Johnstown) 618
- Don Elia (Carson-Newman) 461
- Mike Olson (UNC-Pembroke, Upper Iowa, Monmouth) 428 – II ??
- Arthur “Bucky” Maughn (N Dak State) 408
- David James (Cent. Oklahoma) 396
- Mike Denney (Maryville Univ./Nebr.-Omaha) 372
- Vaughn Hitchcock (Cal-Poly-SLO) 353 – II
- Jim Makovsky (Minn. St.-Mankato/Valley City St.) 312
- Robert “Rummy” Macias (Minn. St.-Mankato) 299
- P.J. Smith (UNC-Pembroke, Campbell) 299
- Vince Monseau (West Liberty St./Peru St.) 286
- Steve Costanzo (St. Cloud Univ.&Dana Coll.) 285
- Jim Koch (Wisconsin-Parkside) 277
- Mike Sterner (SW Minnesota St.) 254
- William “Bill” Corman (Shippensburg State) 243
- Jason Liles (S.D. State/Montana St.-Northern) 236
- Terry Wetherald (Univ. of Indianapolis – Ind. Central) 230
- Robin Ersland (Minot St./Cent. Mo. St./Calif. (Pa.), N. Mich. 225
- Robert Fisher (Kutztown Univ.) 219
- Doug Henry (Gannon Univ.) 216
- Marc Bauer (Univ. of Nebraska-Kearney) 215
Looking to Next Season (#1)
Missouri Tiger Style Adds Steven Kolcheff to Bolster Nation’s Third-Ranked Recruiting Class
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite already having the nation’s No. 3-ranked recruiting class, Mizzou Wrestling head coach Brian Smith added another dynamic wrestler to this year’s signing class as Howell, Mich., native Steven Kolcheff signed his national letter of intent Thursday (April 16). Kolcheff originally committed and signed to Old Dominion back in November, but after Old Dominion cut its wrestling program, he reopened his recruitment and joined Mizzou’s already loaded class. Kolcheff attended Detroit Catholic Central High School, the same as fellow Mizzou signee Josh Edmond, who is ranked fourth nationally at 141 pounds. He is a two-time Michigan State Champion, winning as a junior and a senior, and helped his team to three-consecutive state titles. He is the nation’s No. 12-ranked heavyweight according to FloWrestling.org and checked in at No. 17 according to Intermat. “Steven comes to us from the same high school as fellow signee Josh Edmond, so we were able to get two of the best kids from of the state of Michigan out of one of the state’s best programs,” head coach Brian Smith said. “He is a stud who was a two-time state champion who we expect to have great success at heavyweight at Mizzou. His dad was a former college football coach and Steven himself was a football player, …. rest of the story at https://mutigers.com/news/2020/4/16/wrestling-tiger-style-adds-steven-kolcheff-to-bolster-nations-third-ranked-recruiting-class.aspx?mc_cid=c40241fd14&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Bucknell Wrestling Welcomes Nine Incoming Freshmen
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Head coach Dan Wirnsberger announced the Bucknell wrestling team’s nine-man incoming freshman class on Thursday. “I am extremely excited to welcome the next generation of Bison wrestlers to Lewisburg,” Wirnsberger said. “This class brings with it a host of academic and athletic accolades. Each student-athlete has the potential to excel both in the classroom and on the mat. Our staff is eager to begin their development process.” The class of 2024 includes three state champions, seven state placewinners and eight team captains. The incoming freshmen hail from four different states: Pennsylvania (6), Michigan, Missouri and New Jersey. Four of the Pennsylvania natives appeared in PA Power Wrestling‘s listing of top 115 recruits.
PA Power Wrestling also listed Bucknell among its top four teams winning the Pennsylvania recruiting battle. The Bison were tabbed second behind Pitt; they were slotted ahead of fellow EIWA schools Army West Point and Lehigh. Bucknell went 10-6 (9-3 EIWA) during the 2019-20 campaign. The Bison placed six …. rest of the story at https://bucknellbison.com/news/2020/4/16/bucknell-wrestling-welcomes-nine-incoming-freshmen.aspx?mc_cid=c40241fd14&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Four-Time California State Champ Jesse Vasquez Commits To Arizona State
Story and video at …. https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/6744255-four-time-california-state-champ-jesse-vasquez-commits-to-arizona-state
NCAA grants Michael Kemerer sixth year of eligibility
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa wrestling program announced Monday that Michael Kemerer has been granted a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. The NCAA granted the three-time All-American a clock extension resulting from a redshirt year during initial year of enrollment and a hardship waiver (NCAA Bylaw 12.8.1.7). The NCAA decision means Iowa will return nine All-Americans from a 2020 team that saw 10 All-Americans win a Big Ten title, post a 13-0 dual record, and enter the NCAA Championships as the favorite to win the 24th team title in program history. …. rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/April/20/NCAA-Grants-Michael-Kemerer-6th-Year-of-Eligibility?mc_cid=8ec233ede0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
DelVal Athletics Names Andrew Taylor Full-Time Head Men’s Wrestling Coach
DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) — Delaware Valley University Director of Athletics David Duda announced on Monday that, after a national search, Andrew Taylor has been named the full-time head men’s wrestling coach. Taylor comes to DelVal by way of Division III affiliate Baldwin Wallace University where he served as assistant coach for his alma mater for six seasons under head coach Jamie Gibbs. “We are thrilled to have Andrew take the reins of our storied wrestling program. Andrew comes from a great stock, working with Coach Gibbs and a wonderful staff at national D-III powerhouse Baldwin Wallace,” said Duda. “Andrew had his fingerprints on the growth and development of the program at Baldwin Wallace and we look for him to position Delaware Valley atop the conference, regional, and national ranks.” …. rest of the story at https://athletics.delval.edu/news/2020/4/20/delval-athletics-names-andrew-taylor-full-time-head-mens-wrestling-coach.aspx?mc_cid=8ec233ede0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
‘We’re gonna be the best team’: After Olympics postponed, redshirting wrestlers plan to return
Sean Bormet had everything perfectly planned out.
Three of his top wrestlers would redshirt the 2020 season to prepare for the Olympics. They’d compete in Tokyo this summer. Then they’d come back for their final season at Michigan, joining a team loaded with talent and primed to contend. It was an arrangement that should’ve worked for everyone. Instead, all of it is in flux. First, COVID-19 canceled the NCAA Championships. Then it pushed the Olympics back to 2021. Now, Bormet and the Michigan wrestling team must adapt again. Fifth-year seniors Myles Amine, Logan Massa and Stevan Micic, all of whom took Olympic redshirts last year, plan to return to the Wolverines for the 2021 season while simultaneously training for Tokyo. According to Amine, the Wolverines haven’t received official word from the NCAA on whether they will be able to take a second Olympic redshirt. But all three are already sold on coming back. …. story at https://www.michigandaily.com/section/wrestling/wrestlers-returning-olympic-redshirts?mc_cid=945de33a33&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Arizona State Wrestling Announces Two Additions to 2020-21 Roster
TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State wrestling has added a pair of signees to their 2020-21 roster over the past weekend, that includes highly talented transfer Michael McGee and California top prospect Jesse Vasquez. The two, along with the second-ranked recruiting class from 2019, will help bolster a lineup that graduated five wrestlers this season. “Over this past weekend, Sun Devil Wrestling has gotten tremendously better,” Head Coach Zeke Jones said. “Jesse (Vasquez) and Michael (McGee) give us two more excellent pieces of the puzzle in putting a championship program together.” …. story at https://thesundevils.com/news/2020/4/23/-asuwrestling-announces-two-additions-to-2020-21-roster.aspx?mc_cid=17ded1ad3b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
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