Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

College Coaching Changes # 2

TDR Editor’s Notes ; News from Stanford felt like a kick in the gut. Hopefully it will not become a trend. It is hopeful that the sports will have one more season which opens the possibility for wrestling fans to seek support and generate a campaign to change the school’s decision.
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1 } – ‘Heartbreaking day’ – Stanford drops 11 sports, including wrestling, to cut costs
Stanford was already facing some difficult financial choices as it tried to support one of the nation’s largest athletics departments. The coronavirus pandemic forced a dramatic and painful decision: Faced with a nearly $25 million deficit next year, Stanford became the first known Power Five school to eliminate athletic programs because of the pandemic, announcing Wednesday that 11 of its 36 varsity sports will be shuttered next year. The school will discontinue men’s and women’s fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, men’s rowing, co-ed and women’s sailing, squash, synchronized swimming, men’s volleyball and wrestling after the 2020-21 academic year. Stanford also is eliminating 20 support staff positions.
“As you can imagine this has been a heartbreaking day for all of us, especially with those student-athletes and coaches involved,” athletic director Bernard Muir said. “We came to this decision only after exhausting all other viable alternatives. It recently became painfully clear we would not remain financially stable and support 36 varsity sports at a nationally competitive level, which is what we desire.” The pandemic shut down sports in March, including the massive revenue-generating NCAA basketball tournaments. With no March Madness, the NCAA was short $375 million scheduled to be distributed to its member schools, which are already facing questions about enrollment levels and tuition shortfalls. … rest of story at https://www.swxrightnow.com/stories/2020/jul/08/stanford-drops-11-sports-including-wrestling-to-cu/?mc_cid=fc895bba88&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Rice’s Tanner Gardner, a Stanford wrestling alum, says program’s demise ‘devastating’
Stanford wrestling provided Rice athletics chief operating officer Tanner Gardner an opportunity to grow and expand. By the time his five-year collegiate career ended, he’d transformed into the program’s first three-time All-American. Gardner is 12 years removed from his Stanford graduation, but after Wednesday’s announcement that the school will discontinue wrestling and 10 other varsity sports programs at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year, he felt a jolt of the same shock that thousands of athletes experienced when precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19 ended their collegiate athletic careers. … rest of story at https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/Tanner-Gardner-Rice-Stanford-wrestling-15395488.php?mc_cid=fc895bba88&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Former Anoka wrestler Tyler Eischens blindsided when Stanford drops wrestling, 10 other sports
Former Anoka state champion reeling as Stanford drops program, 10 other sports.  Tyler Eischens was at home in Andover late Wednesday morning, wrapping up lunch, when the news blast hit: Stanford announced it was discontinuing 11 varsity sports in response to growing financial challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those teams being eliminated is Eischen’s wrestling squad, after he went 21-9 as a redshirt freshman last season and qualified for the NCAA tournament. “We had no clue,” Eischens said. “We got an e-mail this morning that said there is an athletic meeting in about 20 minutes. That’s when the coaches first knew. We had a Zoom meeting, and that’s when the news dropped. I’m just in disbelief, shock. I don’t know what to think.” Stanford’s decision to drop 11 sports comes as colleges … rest of story at https://www.startribune.com/former-anoka-wrestler-eischens-disbelief-shock-at-stanford-dropping-program/571681812/?mc_cid=fc895bba88&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b&refresh=true

4 } – UChicago wrestling team will not compete in fall semester
The University of Chicago wrestling team, along with all fall and winter sports, will not compete in the fall semester, the school announced. A letter was sent by Rosalie Resch, Interim Director of Athletics and Recreation. … letter and rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/23766?fbclid=IwAR3vuvDJMrtjGlFplKeaDaOLcc3EIO2fxDWmgQZuugO2EL7S1BH5uJf_h-E

5 } – Ivy League Outlines Intercollegiate Athletics Plans; No Competition In Fall Semester
PRINCETON, N.J. — Amidst continuing health and safety concerns due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Ivy League Council of Presidents has set in place plans for intercollegiate athletics activity in the upcoming fall semester.  
With the safety and well-being of students as their highest priority, Ivy League institutions are implementing campus-wide policies including restrictions on student and staff travel, requirements for social distancing, limits on group gatherings, and regulations for visitors to campus. As athletics is expected to operate consistent with campus policies, it will not be possible for Ivy League teams to participate in intercollegiate athletics competition prior to the end of the fall semester. 
 Practice and other athletic training opportunities for enrolled student-athletes will be permitted provided they are structured in accordance with each institution’s procedures and applicable state regulations. … rest of story at https://pennathletics.com/news/2020/7/8/baseball-ivy-league-outlines-intercollegiate-athletics-plans-no-competition-in-fall-semester.aspx?mc_cid=fc895bba88&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – An open letter to the Stanford community and the Stanford Athletics family
One of Stanford’s great sources of pride is our intercollegiate athletics program. Over the course of our storied history, through innumerable days of challenge, triumph and joy, our student-athletes have set the standard for exceptional achievement in both academics and athletics. Cheering on the Cardinal is an integral part of life at Stanford, and the commitment and dedication of our student-athletes serve as an inspiration for fans and followers well beyond The Farm. As you may know, Stanford currently offers more varsity sports than nearly every other Division I university in the nation. Our goal is to provide excellent support and a world-class experience for our student-athletes in the sports that we offer. Over time, however, providing 36 varsity teams with the level of support that they deserve has become a serious and growing financial challenge. … rest of story at https://news.stanford.edu/2020/07/08/athletics/?mc_cid=fc895bba88&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Ben Rosen named new Lakeland head men’s wrestling coach
Ben Rosen, an accomplished coach and competitor, has been named Lakeland’s new head men’s wrestling coach. He comes to Lakeland from Campbellsville University, an NAIA-member institution in Campbellsville, Ky., with a very successful men’s wrestling program. He has served as a full-time assistant coach for the past two seasons. This past winter, the team finished 21-2 overall and was seventh at the NAIA Championship with five All-Americans. It’s the 16th year in a row the program has placed at the NAIA Championship.  In his first season as an assistant, he helped lead the Tigers to earn one Mid-South Conference Championship and two NAIA All-American honors. Off the mat, he was extensively involved in recruiting, event management and he managed/created the wrestling program’s social media platforms. “Wrestling has been a long road and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that it has led me to Lakeland University,” Rosen said. “Lakeland is a fantastic institution and I’m excited to be a part of it. … rest of story at https://lakelandmuskies.com/news/2020/7/8/07-08-20MWRRosen.aspx?mc_cid=fc895bba88&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Interview with Morningsides new Assistant Coach Colton McCrystal
Newly hired Colton McCrystal is headed to Morningside as assistant to Jake Stevens. Colton prepped at Sergeant Bluff-Luton where he was a four time finalist and two time state champion. He then went on to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln where he was a two time NCAA qualifier.  He was also a gold medalist at the Pan American games in 2019. … rest of story at https://www.thepredicament.com/2020/07/interview-with-morningsides-new-assistant-coach-colton-mccrystal/?mc_cid=35441de679&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – ERICKSON TO BE HEAD COACH OF HASTINGS COLLEGE WRESTLING PROGRAM
(Hastings, Nebraska) – Former University of Nebraska-Kearney Assistant Wrestling Coach and current business entrepreneur Josh Erickson will be joining Hastings College this fall as its head men’s wrestling coach. Erickson has spent the last year rebuilding the wrestling program at Alma High School (Nebraska). He will be the fourth head coach in the Broncos wrestling programs’ 13 year history since the program was restarted in 2008-09. “When I got the call to offer me the job, I felt like it was a dream come true,” Erickson said. “I felt like all the effort and energy I’ve put into building athletic teams and other organizations has prepared me for this one opportunity.” Erickson brings many different leadership qualities to this position as he developed and subsequently operated Team Concepts for the past 11 years. His familiarity with Hastings College stems from Team Concepts assisting with leadership skills for the campus on numerous occasions. As an organization Team Concepts purpose is to facilitate public speaking, corporate training and team building for organizations of all shapes and sizes. He leads a successful team of presenters and staff. “Josh Erickson undoubtedly brings the leadership qualities Hastings College is looking for in a head coach,” … rest of story at http://www.hastingsbroncos.com/article/3461.php?mc_cid=35441de679&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b#.XxTTHChKhPZ

10 } – North Idaho College wrestling season pushed to January
The lone college wrestling team in the region – North Idaho College – plans to have an upcoming season. It just won’t start at its usual time. The National Junior College Athletic Association recently announced it will begin wrestling matches on Jan. 20 and pushed the NJCAA championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to April 23-24. NIC, which has won 14 national team championships, typically begins its season in early November. In an effort to help curb the coronavirus pandemic, junior college wrestling teams will be given one month of fall practice in October before beginning official practices on Jan. 1. The 2020 NJCAA championships in March were one of the few sports in the country to finish a national tournament before the pandemic halted athletics days later. … rest of story at https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/jul/07/north-idaho-college-wrestling-season-pushed-to-jan/?mc_cid=35441de679&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

July 19, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment