Takedown Report

College News # 95

Northern Iowa AD, head coaches, select staff take pay cut in response to pandemic
CEDAR FALLS, Ia. — Northern Iowa athletics director David Harris, as well as all Panthers head coaches, senior staff members and select staff members, will take upcoming pay cuts as part of ongoing financial tightening during the coronavirus pandemic.  Harris and the head coaches of UNI’s five ticketed sports — Mark Farley (football), Ben Jacobson (men’s basketball), Tanya Warren (women’s basketball), Bobbi Petersen (volleyball) and Doug Schwab (wrestling) — will all take 10% salary reductions for May and June.   UNI announced the move Thursday.  
“I am proud to do my part and proud of our head coaches and staff members that have stepped up to help our department address these unprecedented circumstances,” Harris said in a school release. “Our priority is the welfare and success of our student-athletes, and these temporary and voluntary cuts help us align our fiscal reality with our departmental goals.” …. rest of story at https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/northern-iowa/uni-panthers/2020/04/30/northern-iowa-head-coaches-staff-members-take-pay-cut-covid-19-pandemic/3058379001/?mc_cid=d92f731bd9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Virginia athletic director Carla Williams, coaches take voluntary pay cuts through end of the year
Virginia athletic director Carla Williams and 71 head coaches, assistant coaches and staff members from the school will take voluntary salary reductions through the end of the calendar year, according to a release from U.Va.’s athletic department. All 20 of U.Va.’s head coaches and many staff members were asked in mid-April by Williams to participate in the pay cuts, and all of the head coaches ultimately volunteered. The cuts are due in large part to economic concerns produced by the coronavirus pandemic. “The shared sacrifices of our coaches and staff will help us address financial shortfalls during this difficult time,” Williams said in the release. “Our hearts go out to those who are suffering and to those who have lost loved ones.” A U.Va. athletic department spokesperson said the cuts are either 5% or 10% based on level of annual salary. …. rest of the story at https://www.dailypress.com/sports/college/university-virginia/vp-sp-uva-coaches-salary-cuts-20200501-iyhay2iafffb5hvvtsjj7h57pu-story.html?mc_cid=d92f731bd9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Wisconsin-Whitewater team left wondering what could have been
In Cedar Rapids, Iowa members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Wrestling team were in their hotel awaiting the 2020 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. They had just finished eagerly preparing for the tournament, for which they had sent four wrestlers – three of whom were favorites to win national titles in their weight classes. But those wrestlers never got a chance to compete. The tournament was canceled by the NCAA on March 12, a day before the tournament was set to take place, due to COVID-19.
Seniors Hazen Rice, Mike Tortorice, and Ryder Sigler, and sophomore Jarrit Shinhoster had completed a successful 2019-20 regular season and had qualified for the national tournament.  …. rest of the story at https://royalpurplenews.com/26811/sports/wrestling-team-left-wondering-what-could-have-been/?mc_cid=945de33a33&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Leukemia in remission for former Iowa wrestler Brandon Sorensen
Iowa 4-time All-American received outpouring of support after diagnosis in late November
IOWA CITY — Brandon Sorensen wasn’t alarmed and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Sure, he felt a little ill, but figured it was a touch of the seasonal flu as the calendar was about to flip from November to December. Discomfort, fatigue and even a bloody nose isn’t unusual or uncommon for wrestlers. Sorensen had experienced this in the past and conditioned himself to power through them all. Not even someone as gritty as Sorensen could ignore a bloody nose that lasted for two hours. The 25-year-old visited the hospital and received the shocking news after multiple tests. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of cancer in the blood and bone marrow, affecting white blood cells, that is more prevalent in children. “At first, it was like, ‘No way. What do you mean?’ It was disbelief, for sure,” Sorensen said. “Once you get the news, you sit down and think about it. You’ve got nowhere to go except forward and I put all my energy into that going forward. It was about doing it instead of dwelling on it.” Sorensen approached it with the toughness and tenacity that helped him become a four-time All-American and NCAA finalist for Iowa. …. rest of the story at https://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/brandon-sorensen-leukemia-fight-iowa-wrestling-20200418?mc_cid=c43b02d0ed&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Confidence Restored, Fire Reignited: New Pal’s Red turns within to rediscover his passion at Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. — Confidence isn’t a trait Chad “C.J.” Red Jr. has ever lacked. In fact, the word itself defined his identity throughout his legendary high school career at New Palestine. A four-time unbeaten state champion from 2013-16, Red’s swagger mirrored his greatness. A smile in the face of adversity revealed his calm. No challenge was insurmountable. No match unwinnable. The ninth four-time champion in state history and third undefeated four-time state champion all-time, Red closed his chapter with the Dragons a flawless 183-0 before heading to Lincoln, Neb. four years ago. …. rest of the story at http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/2020/04/21/confidence_restored_fire_reignited_new_pals_red_turns_within_to_rediscover_his_passion_at_nebraska/?mc_cid=945de33a33&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

‘We Bleed Black & Gold’
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior Spencer Lee was a guest this week on “TigerHawk Talk,” an online Zoom conference call with Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair, Gary Barta, and invited guests. Lee was introduced by Barta before participating in a Q&A with Associate Athletics Director Matt Henderson. The conversation ranged from COVID-19 response to Lee’s reflection on a historical season, not only for the Iowa Wrestling program, but for the entire Hawkeye athletics department.
GARY BARTA: We have a number of student-athletes that we’d love for you to hear from, as we had so much momentum going into the crisis. Men’s basketball, Luka Garza was the best player in America in our opinion. Women’s basketball, Kathleen Doyle was drafted in the second round of the WNBA. Laulauga Tausaga, the defending national champion in discus, the list goes on and on and on.
Spencer Lee really represents everything we could possibly ask for in a student-athlete. He had more to gain, and his team had more to gain and lose than really anybody. And as hard as that would be, his attitude, leadership, and commitment to moving forward …. rest of the story at https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2020/4/23/general-we-bleed-black-gold.aspx?mc_cid=17ded1ad3b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Pinning down success: Exeter’s Brown rediscovers his love for wrestling at JWU
After a painful end to his high school career, Exeter’s Hayden Brown found the motivation and eventually the confidence to carry himself through a successful freshman wrestling season at Johnson & Wales University.
By Mike Whaley / mwhaley@seacoastonline.com
After a painful end to his high school career, Exeter’s Hayden Brown found the motivation and eventually the confidence to carry himself through a successful freshman wrestling season at Johnson & Wales University. Brown, the regional champion at 133 pounds, was instrumental in JWU capturing a fourth straight NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Championship in late February at Rhode Island College. Brown went 37-5 as a freshman. He was named New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Rookie of the Year, NEWA First Team, d3wrestle.com All-Freshman Team, and D-III All-American First Team — the first JWU freshman to earn that honor. The Wildcats were on the verge of competing in the NCAA Division III National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, when the NCAA canceled the winter sports season on March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That Brown ended up at JWU is a story in itself. …. rest of story at https://www.seacoastonline.com/sports/20200422/pinning-down-success-exeters-brown-rediscovers-his-love-for-wrestling-at-jwu?mc_cid=17ded1ad3b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling: A familiar game plan
      PLATTEVILLE, WIS. – When former Midland wrestling standout Brett Schoenherr puts his mind to something, Eagle fans have come to know that he always seems to get it done. As a Midland High School freshman, Schoenherr wanted to someday make it to the state wrestling tournament and eventually stand on the podium on Championship Saturday night.       Mission accomplished.
      Now, as a freshman with the Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling program, Schoenherr is back at it again setting up goals much like he did back in high school, and if history is any indication, the future is certainly going to look bright for the former Eagle. …. story at https://www.journal-eureka.com/sports/community/article_0e320a3e-88b2-11ea-a372-efce0d341ea7.html?mc_cid=b693ccac6a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

30 and No: Drew Kasper’s Admirable Journey
WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Undefeated Drew Kasper (30-0) never got his final chance to win a national title, but he’s been told no before. He battles depression. He was cut from a travel wrestling team. He’s overcome a learning disability and will soon graduate college. He never got to take the elevated center mat on NCAA Championship Saturday night, but hopes his story can help the next kid accomplish that.. story linked at https://otterbeincardinals.com/news/2020/4/6/wrestling-30-and-no-drew-kaspers-admirable-journey.aspx?mc_cid=91538a90c1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

May 14, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized