Takedown Report

Wrestling History # 6

1 } – Pat Smith: My Wrestling Hero
The 25th installment of My Wrestling Hero features Greco-Roman World Team member Pat Smith, who shares his thoughts on his wrestling hero: Mike Houck.
These are Smith’s words on his wrestling hero:
“If I had to pick, it would probably be Mike Houck because of his incredible story. He was the first (Greco-Roman World champion from the United States) and the person he is, as well. A lot people say, ‘Don’t meet your heroes because heroes disappoint you.’ But he definitely over-delivers from that standpoint. He’s definitely one of the best people I’ve ever met, the most integrity, lives what he talks about. 
“He’s been an example of everything through action. … rest of story … https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1589846281894&twSessionId=atzmltkojt&postId=782015135&mc_cid=588b1d30ac&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – John Smith to be First Wrestler Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame is set to announce its 2020 class this week and Oklahoma State head coach John Smith will become the first wrestler ever inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
On a “Sneak Peek” Tweeted out on Friday, John Smith is pictured to the center-left and sources have confirmed that he is expected to be announced as a part of the 2020 class on Thursday. Last year I wrote about it in my article titled: John Smith, Ed Gallagher and the Hall of Fame Snub No One Is Talking About. With all of the history with the sport of wrestling, in the first 92 years of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, they had never inducted a wrestler. Now two-time Olympic and four-time World Champion John Smith will become the first wrestler ever to be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. … Rest of story … https://pistolsfiringblog.com/john-smith-to-be-first-wrestler-inducted-into-the-oklahoma-hall-of-fame/?mc_cid=588b1d30ac&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Two-time NCAA champion Kevin Randleman named to UFC Hall of Fame
Las Vegas – UFC® today announced that former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman has been named to the UFC Hall of Fame class for 2020 as a Pioneer. The 2020 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires®, will take place later this year and will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS®.
“Kevin Randleman was one of the first real athletes in the early days of UFC,” UFC President Dana White said. “He was a two-time NCAA Division I National Champion and All-American wrestler at The Ohio State University. He was the fifth heavyweight champion in UFC history and one of the first athletes to successfully compete at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. He was a pioneer of the sport and it’s an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2020.” … rest of story … https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/May/18/Randleman-named-to-UFC-Hall-of-Fame?mc_cid=588b1d30ac&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Tervel Dlagnev: My Wrestling Hero
The 26th installment of My Wrestling Hero features Ohio State assistant Tervel Dlagnev. The three-time World and Olympic bronze medalist shares his thoughts on his wrestling hero: Tolly Thompson. 
These are Dlagnev’s words on his wrestling hero:
“Growing up I watched a lot of the legends in our sport. I really liked watching Cael (Sanderson), watching John Smith, watching (Bruce) Baumgartner. The person that sticks out and is the person who got me to believe and got me excited about international wrestling after college was Tolly Thompson.
“When I went to a regional tournament my sophomore year I stuck around at Northern Iowa and trained with Tolly for a couple days and befriended him. … rest of story at … https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1589997765364&twSessionId=pzdkojobbh&postId=782039135&mc_cid=a518fb1f79&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – #131 Steve Marianetti – 1995 NCAA Champ, 3x All American
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Steve Marianetti is a former NCAA champ and 3x All American for the Fighting Illini.  He’s well known for beating Lincoln McIlravy in the 1995 NCAA finals, thus pulling off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA finals history.  After college, Steve wrestled internationally and then worked as an assistant coach under legendary coach, Mark Johnson. Today, Steve is the head coach of Elmhurst college.  Enjoy this one folks! … rest of story … https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/marianetti/?mc_cid=a518fb1f79&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Former OSU legends discuss John Smith’s impact: ‘His drive and determination to be the best drove him to reinvent the sport’
Oklahoma State wrestling coach and former wrestler John Smith was announced as the first wrestler to be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame on Thursday. Many of Smith’s current and former wrestlers, which included national champions, MMA standouts and successful coaches, reacted to their former coach’s honor, mentioning not only Smith’s impact on them individually, but on the entire sport of wrestling.
DALTON FIX on JOHN SMITH
“I cannot think of someone who deserves to be in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame more than Coach Smith. He has had a huge impact in my wrestling career. I am lucky that I get to learn from one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. Hopefully this opens the door for more wrestlers to receive this honor.” Fix was an NCAA runner-up as a freshman in 2019 before redshirting this past season to prepare for the 2020 Olympics, which were postponed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 crisis. Before going to OSU, Fix was a four-time state champion and never lost a match at Sand Springs. … rest of story … https://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/college/osu/former-osu-legends-discuss-john-smiths-impact-his-drive-and-determination-to-be-the-best/collection_2b1b4333-5c9a-58dd-8f97-59bf0618830d.html?mc_cid=4b3d9c77ea&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b#2

7 } – High school wrestling career of pro wrestler Cody Runnels
It might be an understatement to say that wrestling is in the blood for Cody Runnels. However, it might not be the type of wrestling that takes place in high school gyms and wrestling rooms across the country. Before Runnels was ever born, his father made a name for himself by winning multiple professional wrestling world titles as Dusty Rhodes. Eventually the youngest son of the internationally famous “son of a plumber” would follow his father into the so-called squared circle, but his own extensive wrestling career began on the amateur mats.
Runnels began wrestling at the youth level, and his family name quickly attracted attention. By the time he was in middle school, he had become accustomed to opponents and parents realizing he had a famous father.
“In middle school, I remember seeing this father grab his kid and give him a pep talk, almost shaking him, ‘You’ve got to wrestle Dusty Rhodes’ son. If you win, you beat Dusty Rhodes,” … rest of story … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/23633?mc_cid=97df5e5b46&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – #133 Sunny Abe – 1996 Olympian for Japan, NCAA Champ for PSU
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Sunny Abe is a former national champion for Penn State. At age 17, he moved from Japan to the US without speaking English. After two years of rigorous training (8+ hours a day), he was enrolled at Penn State where he’d go on to finish 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st for the Nittany Lions. He was also an Olympian for Japan at the 96 games. Enjoy folks!
FOLLOW THE PODCAST
WrestlingChangedMyLife.com … rest of the story … https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/sunny/?mc_cid=16ee523e9b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4bhttps://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1590514634797&twSessionId=gfefzvfhud&postId=782122135&mc_cid=a56cef7301&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9 } – Bruce Baumgartner also made his name at Edinboro
By John Johnson
After 36 years of hard work and dedication, legendary freestyle super-heavyweight-turned-wrestling-coach-and- administrator Bruce Baumgartner chose to retire from Edinboro University on May 8. It was a career that saw him progress within the university located in the western Pennsylvania community of Edinboro; from starting out as an assistant wrestling coach in 1984, elevated to head coach in 1990, named interim athletic director in 1997, and permanent AD eight months later. Baumgartner then held the position of athletics director until 2018, when he was Appointed Assistant Vice President of University Advancement. Baumgartner will remain the President of USA Wrestling, a position he has held since 2016. So why now for retire from Edinboro?
“Two things,” he said. “One, I have seen too many people work long, 65 or 70, and when they retire, they don’t have the ability to do what they want to do because their health isn’t there. I am healthy and my wife is healthy.  … rest of story … https://www.win-magazine.com/2020/05/bruce-baumgartner-also-made-his-name-at-edinboro/?mc_cid=af75736df9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – The Turning Point in Abe’s Life: A Wrestling Match
Lincoln is one of the greatest leaders in US history, but prior to his being elected the 16th President of the United States, he used his skills as a wrestler to win approval from the masses. Here to tell the story is wrestling historian, Mike Chapman. … rest of story … http://www.ouramericannetwork.org/story?title=The-Turning-Point-in-Abe-s-Life-A-Wrestling-Match&mc_cid=af75736df9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

June 24, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized