Takedown Report

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 17^th 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

May 12, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized