Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Wrestling History # 12

1 } – Raymond Bunker: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Raymond Bunker. The 2019 Greco-Roman World Team member shares his thoughts on his wrestling hero: Jordan Burroughs. 
These are Bunker’s words on his wrestling hero:
“My wrestling hero is Jordan Burroughs. When I was in high school I wasn’t the best wrestler and my senior year I watched him compete in the London Games and I saw that he had a really good double-leg and I didn’t really know much about wrestling at the time, so that’s something I developed was trying to be like him on the mat and do my double-leg. My senior season I set the school record for the most takedowns in the history of the school at 162, the majority of them were double-legs.  “I watched a video of how Jordan Burroughs eats ice cream after his workouts, so I started eating ice cream every day. I wanted to be like him. Now we fast forward years later and I still see him as a great role model in the wrestling community, … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1595355557154&twSessionId=qyatlyyvbu&postId=786701135&mc_cid=aa0bad43f6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Chris Campbell: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Chris Campbell. The three-time World and Olympic medalist and 1981 World champion shares his thoughts on his wrestling heroes, including Lee Kemp, John Smith, Bruce Baumgartner, Kenny Monday and Dan Gable. 
These are Campbell’s words on his wrestling heroes: “Lee Kemp, John Smith, Bruce Baumgartner, Kenny Monday, obviously Dan Gable, Wayne Wells, and Fred Fozzard are my heroes.
“Kenny Monday was the ultimate warrior. At the 1992 Olympic Games when he got second, two or three days before the Games started he totally dislocated his elbow. I watched his arm bend back the other way. He basically wrestled with one arm. Had he not had that injury he’d have won the Olympics and he would have been a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He’s just a tough son of a bitch.
“Bruce Baumgartner was the most athletic big man that I’ve ever seen. He was really quick. I wrestled with him and he was really, really quick. I always think Bruce underachieved because nobody should ever beat him. He should have won everything. That’s easy for me to say. I’m impressed with Bruce on that. “John Smith was one of the most beautiful wrestlers that I’ve watched … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1595300787906&twSessionId=zdkrsabhth&postId=785598135&mc_cid=7e573bd55d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Lou Rosselli: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Lou Rosselli. The Oklahoma coach and 1996 Olympian his thoughts on his wrestling heroes, including his high school coach, Dick Lange. 
These are Rosselli’s words on his wrestling heroes:
“The hard part is I don’t have a lot of wrestling heroes. I’m just a fan of wrestling in general. I respect all these guys that have done so well. I just have respect for all of them from (Jordan) Burroughs to (Cael) Sanderson to all those elite guys. There’s always someone to look to. It’s a collective view of all them — before my time and after my time. When you’re around international wrestling, you know how hard it is if you’ve done it. I was lucky enough to coach those teams and I know what they go through. Overall, I’d say it’s the respect for the people who have done so well and how hard it is to do and watching the elite guys be the best.  “My dad worked in a factory and I was from a small town in Buffalo, New York, so there was no real guy at the time who was the reason why. When it comes to being an elite athlete my high school coach, Dick Lange, put in a lot of man-hours and taught me how to work with people and relationships.  … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1595300787906&twSessionId=zdkrsabhth&postId=785575135&mc_cid=7e573bd55d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Ryan Mango: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Ryan Mango. The 2019 Greco-Roman World Team member shares his thoughts on his wrestling heroes: Spenser Mango and Dremiel Byers. 
These are Mango’s words on his wrestling heroes:
“(My wrestling hero is) two people with one being my brother, (Spenser), and the other being Dremiel Byers. I’ll say my brother because of firsthand experience and some of the obstacles he has had to overcome in his wrestling career and in our lives and his ability to be a humble leader is something I try to emulate in my wrestling as well as who I am as a person.  “Dremiel Byers because of his dedication to wrestling, … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1595532794205&twSessionId=hinqmznnhc&postId=787102135&mc_cid=fb559ea200&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – What we’ve learned from the Trackwrestling quarantine interviews so far
Trackwrestling has conducted interviews with more than 100 wrestlers, coaches, and administrators since the NCAA Championships were canceled in March. Here are a few highlights (with the full interviews linked below):  Jordan Burroughs and Greg Jones are two kids in a candy store
Trackwrestling publishes a daily feature called ‘My Wrestling Hero.’ It features prominent wrestling figures to articulate who influenced them during their wrestling journeys. The answers range from parents to high school coaches to high-profile athletes.  Five-time World and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs said Greg Jones — a three-time NCAA champion for West Virginia — was his wrestling hero. Trackwrestling content manager Andy Hamilton interviewed both simultaneously and the banter back and forth was pure gold. 
Chris Campbell’s career defies logic
Chris Campbell — an NCAA champion for Iowa in 1976-77 — missed out on his best year of international wrestling when the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Campbell was the prohibitive favorite to win a gold medal at the Olympics — and he proved it by winning the 1981 World Championships (he was named most technical wrestler in the world that year).  Injuries and timing prevented Campbell from making the 1984 team, so he became an attorney instead. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1595532794205&twSessionId=hinqmznnhc&postId=786916135&mc_cid=fb559ea200&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – OSU Wrestling: The Top 10 Wrestlers of the John Smith Era
A look at the top 10 wrestlers of the John Smith coaching era.
Lately I’ve had some time to brainstorm for some wrestling content, in the absence of wrestling. I’m starting it out with this list of the top 10 wrestlers of the John Smith era and am actually going to dive even deeper and take a look at Ed Gallagher, Myron Roderick, Tommy Chesbro, and Joe Seay and make similar lists for them.
Let’s kick it off here with the current coach and wrestlers that we’ll all probably be most familiar with.
1. Pat Smith
Pat Smith is the younger brother of John and in 1994 became NCAA wrestling’s first four-time NCAA champion. To some that would almost make him a lock for No. 1, but I actually struggled a bit with whether or not to even include him on the list as he started his career at OSU before John was hired. Ultimately, if you consider him a part of the John Smith coaching era, it’s tough to argue he doesn’t deserve the top spot.
2. Alex Dieringer
Dieringer is one of three three-time NCAA champions on this list and one of two Hodge trophy winners. As the only one who can claim both of those accolades, he grabs the second slot. Most people reading this will know Dieringer better than anyone else on this list as he’s still an active competitor on the senior level. His time at OSU was about as dominant as it gets. He nearly made the NCAA finals as a freshman and just absolutely wrecked people from his sophomore to senior year. His wide array of offense attacks along with his speed and power made him nearly unstoppable on his feet during his time in the orange singlet.
3. Mark Branch
Branch was somewhat interesting to rank here. He only had two titles compared to Guerrero and Rosholt, who both had three.  … rest of story at https://pistolsfiringblog.com/osu-wrestling-the-top-10-wrestlers-of-the-john-smith-era/?mc_cid=fb559ea200&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Quentin Wright: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Quentin Wright. The two-time NCAA champion, three-time finalist and four-time All-American shares his thoughts on his wrestling hero: Neil Turner.
These are Wright’s words on his wrestling hero:
“I’m going to go with Neil Turner. He was one of the founders of Mat Town USA Wrestling Club in Lock Haven. The reason is because of the impact he had through his coaching style. It was what he said during practice. One of his quotes was ‘I shoot, I score. He shoots, I score.’ He also had the quote, ‘I don’t want to interrupt while you’re talking.’ 
“I went to that wrestling club when I was in high school. He had such a positive impact on the direction of where I went to college and in life. He also said, ‘You never really lose. You just run out of time.’ You take that positive message and it’s not over — you just ran out of time and I’m going to do better next time.  “He was inducted into the EWL Hall of Fame. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1595625751298&twSessionId=mvokaovpnx&postId=787198135&mc_cid=a3e4678353&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Jay Weiss: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Jay Weiss. The Harvard coach shares his thoughts on his wrestling heroes, including Granite Taropin. 
These are Weiss’ words on his wrestling heroes:
“I’ve been fortunate to have a coaching staff that I’ve learned so much from. A big one is Granite Taropin, who coached the Beloglazov (twins) in the Soviet Union. He came one of my first couple years at Harvard and he was one of my assistants for a long time. A lot of my coaching has come from him as far as training the individual and how to train the team. I learn so much from him. 
“You can go down the line —Kendall Cross, who I just picked his brain, physically and mentally. Jared Frayer. Jamill Kelly. Bryan Snyder. Everyone one of these guys have had such a big impact on me in my coaching. Every time someone new comes in I’ve adapted and learned. Things are different now than they were 25 years ago as far as … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1595905848263&twSessionId=ofehofbokx&postId=787304135&mc_cid=84274241b0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – .#153 Barry Davis – Dan Gable Disciple, 3x NCAA Champ
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Barry Davis is a 3x NCAA champ for the great Dan Gable and the Iowa Hawkeyes. In 1984, Barry was the Olympic Silver Medalist. He’d then go on to coach at Iowa, as well as lead the Wisconsin Badgers for a number of years. He’s an icon. A legend. A great storyteller. Enjoy it folks! … podcast and story at https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/barry/?mc_cid=84274241b0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Former OSU Wrestler and NCAA Champion Fred Davis has Passed Away
The former Cowboy and long time BYU head coach has died at 86.
According to the Tulsa World, former Cowboy wrestler, three-time All-American, and NCAA champion Fred Davis passed away on Friday at the age of 86.
Davis, who is pictured above showing technique with former Cowboy head coach and teammate of Davis Myron Roderick, was a three-time All-American for the Cowboys from 1954-56 under Art Griffith. He won a national title in 1955 and helped lead the Cowboys to team national titles in all three of his seasons as a Cowboy.
Later in life he went on to coach at BYU. He started there in 1964 and led the wrestling program for 20 years. … pictures, video & rest of story at https://pistolsfiringblog.com/former-osu-wrestler-and-ncaa-champion-fred-davis-has-passed-away/?mc_cid=84274241b0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

August 8, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Junior Nationals


TDR Editor’s Notes ; The following are some excellent articles and resources with more information about the previous 49 ‘Junior Nationals’ which is often called “Fargo” by wrestlers and coaches. This year was to be celebrated as the grand 50th gathering for the largest tournaments in the country. Yet with the pandemic concerns and restrictions it was cancelled for this year. We have only been to two of these events with the first in the Dome at Northern Iowa in the late 1980s. The first time seeing almost 40 mats set up on the indoor football memory was a great jaw dropping moment. Then we attended the event in Fargo in 2001 and it looked even better. The wrestling was amazing to view but, we wait until next year.
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1 } – UPDATED JUNIOR AND 16U NATIONALS ALL-AMERICAN ALAMANAC IS NOW AVAILABLE
USA Wrestling | July 23, 2020, 
Need a Fargo fix? The Junior & 16U Nationals All-American Almanac is now available. This massive 187-page publication, written by wrestling journalist Jason Bryant, is the ultimate source of information on the largest wrestling tournament in the world, featuring complete information on two of USA Wrestling’s most important age-group national events. Bryant updated the document with all of the 2019 results, including changes in a number of all-time records. Price is just $20, and everyone who orders gets free updates for life. To order, visit FargoAlmanac.com This year was supposed to be the 50th anniversary of the Junior Nationals, which was created in Iowa City, Iowa in 1971. The USMC Junior and 16U National Championships which was scheduled for Fargo, N.D. was cancelled due to the COVID … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/July/23/Junior-and-16U-Nationals-Almanac-now-available?mc_cid=fb559ea200&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Moments that made the Junior Nationals over nearly 50 years
The following story appeared in the July issue of WIN Magazine. Click here or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe to WIN Magazine.
By Mike Finn and Rob Sherrill
There have been 49 different Junior National championships over the past 50 years as the current COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 national tournament — as well as the U-16 (formerly Cadet) Nationals in freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle — and prevented a golden anniversary of the event that has been held the past 27 years in Fargo, N.D. But as wrestlers, coaches and fans look to the return of this event in 2021, this is a good time to look backwards at some of the more historic moments of this event that started in Iowa City and eventually made stops at the likes of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Allendale, Mich., and Warrensburg, Mo., before Fargo became the annual host city for the event in 1993.
Click here or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe to WIN Magazine
The following is a chronological order of those moments:
1971 – The first Junior Nationals, organized by the United States Wrestling Federation (the predecessor to USA Wrestling, which was formed in 1983), was held at the University of Iowa Fieldhouse in Iowa City, Iowa. The first tournament was just a freestyle event and the first 10 wrestlers to win Junior National championships were Nathaniel Byrd (105.5, Michigan), Joe Corso (114.5, Iowa), Jimmy Carr (123, Pennsylvania),  … rest of story at https://www.win-magazine.com/2020/07/moments-that-made-the-junior-nationals-over-nearly-50-years/?mc_cid=b08de964d0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b#utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=moments-that-made-the-junior-nationals-over-nearly-50-years

3 } – Fargo Champs by State (2010-19)
In any other year, we would be smack dab in the middle of the craziest week of wrestling on the high school calendar, Fargo! Or it’s official name, the Junior and 16U National Championships. Like many other events in wrestling,  sports, and life, in general, it has been canceled by the spread of COVID-19. So without any new matchups to breakdown or highlights to review, let’s take a look back at the last decade of action from the FargoDome. Here are the winners by age group and style over the last ten years. Some wrestlers may be on the list for multiple states; they have been listed for whichever state they represented during that tournament. Siblings that shared titles (there are a few during this time period) were each counted as champions. 
It should be no surprise when seeing the states that top each list. For the men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman, Illinois has been the class in both age groups on a consistent basis. While some states have made improvements of late, California continues to dominate on the women’s side.  For all of the Fargo information you can imagine and then some, check out Jason Bryant’s Fargo Almanac. If you order it, you’ll receive annual updates, as well. 
16U Men’s Freestyle 
Illinois (19) – Dean Hamiti Jr (145/2019), Hayden Copass (285/2019), Hayden Copass (285/2018), Dylan Ragusin (100/2017), Noah Surtin (113/2017), Fidel Mayora (138/2017), … rest of story at https://news.theopenmat.com/high-school-wrestling/fargo-champs-by-state-2010-19/78515?mc_cid=b08de964d0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – .Mat Talk Online’s Jason Bryant talks Fargo with Pat Kelly on Air Time
Jason Bryant joins the program to celebrate what would have been Fargo Week. The journalist and wrestling personality discusses a wide range of topics with interesting and informed insight. Have a listen! … rest of story at http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/mat-talk-onlines-jason-bryant-talks-fargo-with-pat-kelly-on-air-time/?mc_cid=fb559ea200&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – JUNIOR NATIONAL MEMORIES: ADAM COON, SEAN HAGE, BRENT METCALF AMONG TOP JUNIOR BOYS NEWSMAKERS
The Junior Nationals has always been a showcase of the best high school athletes in the nation. For many athletes, Junior Nationals gave them an opportunity to show the world (and college coaches) their skills and potential, truly opening the door for opportunities in the future. For a select few, Junior Nationals truly allowed some talented wrestlers to take a step above their peers and become history-makers. On the final day of our series (as Fargo was scheduled to end today had it not been cancelled) we remember three newsmakers on the boys side who used their abilities in both freestyle and Greco-Roman to make big news: Adam Coon of Michigan, Sean Hage of Georgia and Brent Metcalf of Michigan.
Adam Coon of Michigan, first two-time Junior Triple Crown winner
USA Wrestling started its Triple Crown award program in 1997 in the Kids division, to honor wrestlers who win USA Wrestling national titles in folkstyle, Greco-Roman and freestyle the same year. In 2003, USA Wrestling expanded … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/July/24/Fargo-Memories-Coon-Hage-and-Metcalf?mc_cid=cddd407beb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – JUNIOR NATIONAL MEMORIES: TESHYA ALO WINS CADET WORLDS AND FARGO JUNIOR TITLE FIVE DAYS APART
One of the most miraculous weeks in Junior Nationals history happened in 2014, when Hawaiian legend Teshya Alo won the 2014 Cadet World Championships in Snina, Slovakia, quickly flew to Fargo, N.D., then won the Junior Nationals, in less than a week. Alo had a great season in 2013, winning her first Junior Nationals title after her freshman year, and also winning a bronze medal at the Cadet World Championships. In the summer after her sophomore year, Alo earned a spot a return trip to the Cadet Worlds by winning the UWW Cadet Nationals. Her 56 kg weight class at the Cadet Worlds was set to finish on July 17 in Slovakia. The Junior Nationals, one of her favorite events, was set for July 21-22 in North Dakota. Alo and her family decided that she could do both events back-to-back. In Snina, Alo won five straight matches to capture the gold, some by a razor-thin margin. She had two victories were by one point. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/July/23/Junior-Nationals-Memory-Teshya-Alo-wins-Worlds-and-Juniors-same-week?mc_cid=fb559ea200&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Cadet and Junior Nationals King: David Kjeldgaard won 11 medals and eight championships
With no Fargo this year, it’s a fine opportunity to go back through the history books and talk to the most accomplished Cadet and Junior age-group wrestler in USA Wrestling history. It’s not Cael Sanderson or Kyle Snyder or John Smith, rather, Council Bluffs, Iowa native and former Oklahoma Sooner David Kjeldgaard. Now working in Texas, Kjeldgaard was one of three 11-time All-Americans at the two age-groups and is one of two wrestlers to ever win eight championships between Cadet (now 16U) and Juniors. He’s the only wrestler in American wrestling history to place 11 times and win eight titles. … rest of story at http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/cadet-and-junior-nationals-king-david-kjeldgaard-won-11-medals-and-eight-championships/?mc_cid=1419bf9910&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Talented Nebraska team misses chance to compete in ‘largest wrestling tournament in the world’
It became an annual summer trip for Zac Dominguez, a pilgrimage to the Fargo, North Dakota, event that’s recognized as the largest wrestling tournament in the world. That is until COVID-19 grabbed control of the country. “I’ve been to Fargo every year since 1993,” Dominguez said. “Twenty-seven years, first time not going. I’m going to put an asterisk by this year. It doesn’t count.” Dominguez, president and head of coaching of MWC Wrestling Academy in Papillion, also is on USA Wrestling’s Junior Olympic committee. As the coronavirus grew into a pandemic this spring, he said the committee still hoped the Fargo nationals could be staged. But in late May, it was canceled. The tournament would have taken place this week, wrapping up Friday. “We held out as long as we could. … We just went month to month and hoped for the best,” Dominguez said. “We’re wrestlers. We love to compete, we love to get after it. It was tough, but it’s safety first. “Safety of our athletes, safety of our parents, safety of our organization. That was our primary concern.” The cancellation prevented one of Nebraska’s most talented teams from competing at Fargo. … rest of the story at https://omaha.com/sports/high-school/talented-nebraska-team-misses-chance-to-compete-in-largest-wrestling-tournament-in-the-world/article_e8411f28-df44-5d30-82bb-76443f6b9be1.html?mc_cid=a3e4678353&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

August 8, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment