Takedown Report

High School Wrestling News # 20

1 } – Christian County Wrestling Coaching Staff Receives National Award
Robert Burnham, who led the Christian County wrestling program for 16 years before stepping down at the end of the 2019-20 season, has been named National Wrestling Coaches Association High School Boys Head Coach of the Year for the state of Kentucky. In winning the state coach of the year honor, Burnham became a finalist for the NWCA Section Two Coach of the Year Award. In addition, Burnham’s coaching staff was named the Assistant Coaching Staff of the Year for Kentucky by the NWCA. They also become finalists for the NWCA Section Two Assistant Coaching Staff of the Year Award. The Christian County High School staff consists of coaches Dee Leavell, Anthony Smith, Damien Leavell, Anthony Harris, and Anthony Adams. Christian County finished as state runner-up in 2020, setting a new school record for points scored at the state meet.  The Colonels finished as runner-up in the region seven straight seasons from 2014-20. … rest of story at _{https://www.yoursportsedge.com/2020/06/16/former-colonel-wrestling-coach-burnham-receives-national-honor/?mc_cid=5a3eb39922&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

2 } – Nick LeClere named new Cedar Rapids Kennedy head wrestling coach – Former North Linn state champ and Coe NCAA runner-up had served as Cougars assistant
CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Kennedy Activities Director Aaron Stecker confirmed Wednesday that Nick LeClere is expected to be the Cougars’ next head wrestling coach, pending Cedar Rapids Community School District board approval. “The interview committee sat down and looked at Nick’s experience and his vision for the program through the transition from three to five years ago and what he wants it to look like …,” Stecker said. “We’ve seen what he’s built in our Junior Cougar wrestling program and it all just fit.” LeClere has served as an assistant on the wrestling staff for seven season and is an assistant softball coach. He worked with former wrestling coach Dennis Hynek, who resigned after last season. “I feel pretty invested in the program,” LeClere said. “I think we had it going on the right direction under Hynek’s leadership. I’m excited to keep it going.” … rest of story at _{https://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/nick-leclere-named-new-cedar-rapids-kennedy-head-wrestling-coach-20200617?mc_cid=19bf6bc4f5&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

3 } – Cheesehead Apocalypse: Mulhauser, Baer & Leonard Claim titles
The Empire State sent a plethora of studs to the Cheesehead state, Wisconsin this past weekend. New York would come away with three champions and eight more place finishers. 2020 NYS champion Carter Baer of Gouverneur went 4-0 at 155lbs. Two of his wins came via fall, followed by an 11-1 major decision and a 6-3 win over Kaleb Burgess of Palmyra Macedon. Burgess had three convincing wins 9-2, F3:34 & 7-0 en route to the finals. Baer and Burgess battle this past season at states with Baer winning 6-1. … rest of story at _{https://www.newyorkwrestlingnews.com/news_article/show/1110300?mc_cid=825569db34&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

4 } – High School Courage Award winner has a new fan in Olympic wrestling champion Jordan Burroughs
Had the world not been turned upside down by a pandemic, maybe Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs would have chatted with Dathan Wickson Jr. for a moment or two, taken a couple of photos with the high school wrestler. Instead, Burroughs has been able to really get to know the teenager and learn his story – a story Burroughs believes the whole world should hear. “You might not see yourself as a leader, you might not see yourself as a motivational individual. But your story is inspiring and when people hear it, they’re going to love it,” Burroughs told Wickson on Thursday morning. “And they’re going to want to be their best because they’ve watched you be your best. “You’ve got big things ahead of you, my man.” Wickson is the recipient of the Courage Award, which he’ll receive Thursday night during the on-demand presentation of the USA TODAY High School Sports Award show. … rest of story at _{https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2020/06/18/usa-today-high-school-sports-awards-show-jordan-burroughs/3215453001/?mc_cid=46983272fd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

5 } – Detroit Catholic Central’s wrestling record-filled dynasty stands alone By Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com
Over the last decade, the Detroit Catholic Central wrestling program has put itself into the argument of being the greatest wrestling program of all time. Thanks to claiming eight state Division 1 championships in the last 11 seasons — not forgetting the seven team titles between 1969 and 1988 — Catholic Central has put together an unmatched culture of dominance that the Metro Detroit area has never seen in the sport. … rest of story at _{https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2020/06/detroit-catholic-centrals-wrestling-record-filled-dynasty-stands-alone.html?mc_cid=4a8eea0a01&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

6 } – Trib HSSN boys athlete of the year: Pine-Richland’s Spencer transforms from star QB to champion wrestler
It’s not uncommon for Pine-Richland’s Cole Spencer to be heavier in the fall than in the winter, a transformation that takes him from standout quarterback to champion wrestler. His accomplishments, however, loom large year round. As a junior, Spencer ranked third among all WPIAL passers last fall with 2,994 yards. He tossed 36 touchdowns and led the Rams to the WPIAL Class 6A finals. It was his second season as the team’s starting quarterback, following in the footsteps of former Rams stars Ben DiNucci and Phil Jurkovec. With Spencer as a starter, the team’s record is 21-5. He earned first-team all-state honors and was picked for the Trib 25. … rest of story at _{https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trib-hssn-boys-athlete-of-the-year-spencer-transforms-from-star-qb-to-champion-wrestler/?mc_cid=7ba10e0d72&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

7 } – Wrestling coaches bracing for a season filled with changes
If there is a high school wrestling season this winter, it’s almost a guarantee it’ll be like no season before it. Could there be a chance wrestlers will have to wear some kind of protective device on their face during matches? It’s probable the prematch and postmatch handshakes will become a thing of the past. And it’s almost a guarantee there will be some massive change in how practice rooms and matches are sanitized. … rest of story at _{https://www.morningjournal.com/sports/wrestling-coaches-bracing-for-a-season-filled-with-changes/article_11e54228-b7e1-11ea-9bbb-1f7651832a1e.html?mc_cid=12f1229b4b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

8 } – Laser focus still hallmark for Justin Zeerip, an all-time wrestling great in Michigan
By Scott DeCamp | sdecamp1@mlive.com
Justin Zeerip was perfect in his high school wrestling career at Hesperia. His 260-0 overall record, 203 career pins and four-straight Division 4 state championships placed him at the top of the heap in Michigan High School Athletic Association lore and he maintains those lofty positions in the record books. His consecutive wins and career pins also have held strong as national records since his graduation from Hesperia in 2007. … rest of story at _{https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2020/06/laser-focus-still-hallmark-for-justin-zeerip-an-all-time-wrestling-great-in-michigan.html?mc_cid=4a8eea0a01&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

9} – Easton used to be the gold standard in high school wrestling | Letter By Express-Times Letters to the Editor
I have never been a fan of Easton Area High School wrestling but have long been an admirer of their program for more than 60 years. I befriended former Nazareth Hall of Fame wrestling coach Ray Nunamaker when he was appointed to the position. Nunamaker decided to go head-to-head with Easton every year he coached. He often said he needed to beat Easton, which was the gold standard for high school wrestling anywhere in the country. He felt he had not achieved his desired goal and success until he did. … rest of story at _{https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/opinion/2020/06/easton-used-to-be-the-gold-standard-in-high-school-wrestling-letter.html?mc_cid=4a8eea0a01&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

10 } – Tim Roberts, NWCA National Boys Scholastic Coach of the Year – SOW6 by Jason Bryant 
Episode 6 of State of Wrestling by the NWCA talks to Dundee (Mich.) High School head coach Tim Roberts. Earlier this month, Roberts was named the NWCA’s National Boys High School Coach of the Year. Roberts led Dundee to the 2019-20 Division 3 state team championship and also crowned seven individual state champions. Roberts has put Dundee on the map both within the state and the region, winning 12 team state championships. He’s been the head coach for the past 21 seasons and has been on the bench at his alma mater for 30 years. … rest of story at _{http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/state-of-wrestling/tim-roberts-nwca-national-boys-scholastic-coach-of-the-year-sow6/?mc_cid=4a8eea0a01&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

July 21, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized