Takedown Report

College News & Notes – # 107

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Stories of wrestlers on different paths but all showing how the sport is important to them and how it makes a difference. As none us know how the future looks for the sport and there are causes for concern. We hope to see the season in full swing by January at the latest.
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1 } – Lawyer in the Making: Unlocking Ki Zhan Clarke
Sometimes a unique story starts from the beginning of one’s life. Literally – the very beginning. Kizhan Clarke’s father intended for his son to be named Keyshawn, but his German mother was on her own for the birth, and did her best. His birth certificate officially says “Ki Zhan.” Clarke’s path has often been a bumpy one ever since. But all along the way, he’s been able to turn his dreams into realities. Before this All-American wrestler’s collegiate career on the mat is over, he’ll be well on his way to achieving yet another dream – completing law school. When American University classes resume, Clarke, who already earned his bachelor’s degree in justice & law from the School of Public Affairs, will be enrolled in the Washington College School of Law as a part-time student. The program required a waiver from the NCAA which was granted, and Clarke will be able to focus on his fifth and final year of wrestling during the day while working toward his law degree at night. … rest of story at _{https://aueagles.com/news/2020/7/16/wrestling-kizhan-clarke.aspx?mc_cid=78726f35ba&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

2 } – NSIC CANCELS FALL COMPETITION & CHAMPIONSHIPS; SUSPENDS ALL SPORTS COMPETITION THROUGH DECEMBER 31
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – In light of the NCAA Board of Governors’ decision to direct all institutions and conferences to meet specific requirements to conduct fall sports and the NCAA Division II Presidents Council’s announcement that all NCAA Division II fall championships are canceled, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s Board of Directors has canceled NSIC fall competition & championships, and has suspended all athletic competition through December 31, 2020.
The NSIC recognizes the value an NCAA championship experience provides for student-athletes and that was a factor in the analysis. However, health and safety concerns prevailed in the league’s decision. Additionally, current recommendations for testing, exposure, and quarantine make it very difficult for a season to be successfully completed at an institution or across the conference without severe disruptions.
“The league’s initial decision to delay the start of fall sports was made with the rationale to allow campuses the ability to focus solely on reopening safely for their broader university communities,” said NSIC Commissioner Erin Lind. “In light of the recent decisions made by the NCAA Board of Governors, it is no longer feasible to conduct outside competition this fall semester. Our student-athletes deserve a competitive experience that provides a greater degree of safety and certainty than current conditions would allow. We believe now is the right time to provide clarity to our student-athletes so we can turn our efforts towards helping institutions reopen and ensuring a safe return to campus to start the academic year.” Although the NSIC will not conduct a league schedule for 2020 fall sports, … rest of story at https://northernsun.org/news/2020/8/12/nsic-cancels-fall-competition-championships-suspends-all-sports-competition-through-december-31.aspx?mc_cid=18ec0c1b30&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – I Am Stanford’: Past, current wrestlers seek to continue conversation
“I Am Stanford” is part of a collection of articles documenting the reactions of the Stanford athletic community to the July 8 announcement that Stanford Athletics would discontinue 11 varsity programs, including the wrestling team, following the 2020-21 season.  Stanford wrestling’s last full season was arguably the greatest of the program’s 104-year history on The Farm. In 2019, Stanford won its first Pac-12 championship and head coach Jason Borrelli was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year. 
Expectations remained high heading into 2020, but Borrelli’s team again exceeded them. The Cardinal finished with five NCAA tournament qualifiers: then-redshirt junior Nathan Traxler; then-redshirt freshmen Real Woods, Shane Griffith and Tyler Eischens; and then-true freshman Jackson DiSario. Stanford also had three All-Americans (Traxler, Griffith and Woods).  The four freshmen NCAA tournament qualifiers constituted the most of any program in the nation, and the three All-Americans tied for most in program history. However, the season, which seemed on track to break more records, was cut short prior to the NCAA Tournament due to COVID-19. The duo of Griffith and Woods finished the season with 28-0 and 19-1 records, respectively, in their first year of eligibility. Griffith was named a Hodge Trophy finalist and Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year for his efforts, … rest of story at _{https://www.stanforddaily.com/2020/08/14/sports-wrestling/?mc_cid=fca2dfc53b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

4 } – 3x N.J. state champ, NCAA star confused, hopeful after Stanford drops wrestling
What began as an incredible start to 2020 for Shane Griffith has seen the former Bergen Catholic standout wrestler suffer a second gut punch in a matter of months. The former three-time state champion was undefeated last season as a redshirt freshmen 165-pounder at Stanford, one of the country’s rising stars. He was seeded third for the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis when the tournament was abruptly canceled in March because of the coronavirus.
On Wednesday, Griffith received more devastating news when Stanford announced it was dropping 11 sports, including wrestling, at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year. “There’s just so much not going in our favor,” said Griffith, who was one of eight finalists for the Hodge Trophy honoring the country’s most outstanding wrestler. “With the NCAAs we didn’t get a chance to prove ourselves. You’re looking for the payoff right now.” … rest of story at _{https://www.nj.com/bergen/2020/07/3x-nj-state-champ-ncaa-star-confused-hopeful-after-stanford-drops-wrestling.html?mc_cid=35441de679&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

5 } – On The Banks Podcast Episode no. 71 featuring Scott Goodale
Host Lance Glinn discusses high expectations with the leader of Rutgers wrestling amid the uncertainty of next season.
Welcome to episode no. 71 of the On The Banks Podcast, as host Lance Glinn welcomes returning guest Rutgers wrestling head coach Scott Goodale. Despite the uncertainty of next season during the current global health crisis COVID-19, the program has been recruiting at a very high level this offseason. Goodale and his staff have added JUCO heavyweight national champion Boone McDermott and three-time All-American Sebastian Rivera to the roster and just secured a commitment from the top recruit in New Jersey in the class of 2022, Brian Soldano. Lance and coach Goodale multiple scenarios of when next season could actually take place, the potential for all of college sports to be cancelled in the coming academic year, … rest of story at _{https://www.onthebanks.com/2020/7/14/21323711/on-the-banks-podcast-episode-no-71-featuring-scott-goodale-rutgers-wrestling-big-ten-ncaa-covid-19?mc_cid=2a2de153ce&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

6 } – The Noke Wrestling News Podcast – Episode 2 (Recruiting)
Welcome to the latest project from The Open Mat. We have teamed up with the newly formed Roanoke College wrestling program to bring you Noke Wrestling News. Roanoke College is a Division III school in southwestern Virginia. This podcast will bring you up to date on all of the news and happenings surrounding this team in its initial season. In episode two we are joined again by head coach Nate Yetzer, along with assistant coach Blake Rosenbaum. After getting to know Blake and his relationship with Nate, we delve into the Maroons first- … rest of story at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/podcasts/the-noke-wrestling-news-podcast-episode-2-recruiting/78526?mc_cid=fb559ea200&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

7 } – HMA Interview #44: Ethan Lizak
On this episode of the Home Mat Advantage wrestling podcast, Jude sits and talks with 3x AA and NCAA finalist Ethan Lizak of the PRTC! Please be sure to leave us a 5-star review wherever you listen to the show. … rest of story at _{http://www.hmawrestling.com/podcast/hma-interview-44-ethan-lizak/?mc_cid=fca2dfc53b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

8 } – Checking In with Bailee O’Reilly
For any young wrestler growing up in Minnesota, it is more than likely a dream to one day strap on the iconic Maroon & Gold singlet. For Bailee O’Reilly, that dream became a reality. After winning two state titles, O’Reilly found himself on campus just an hour up the road from his hometown of Goodhue, Minnesota. Two years of sitting behind All-American Devin Skatzka, and Bailee finally made his breakthrough into the starting lineup at 165 pounds. Now, after a successful first season as a Division-1 starter, the redshirt junior is looking to use his experience to fill another role as a much-needed leader for this young Gophers core. Hear from Bailee O’Reilly as he reflects on his experience of fulfilling a lifetime dream, where his focus is going into next season, and more. … rest of story at _{https://gophersports.com/news/2020/8/18/wrestling-checking-in-with-bailee-o-reilly.aspx?mc_cid=503739b0f8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

9} – Missouri super senior Grant Leeth and his unfinished business
Grant Leeth is one of the oldest athletes in Division I wrestling. A 2014 high school graduate, Leeth’s career started at Duke before he transferred back to his native Missouri to wrestle for coach Brian Smith at the University of Missouri. Leeth joins Short Time to talk about his career and some of the things he’s balancing with wanting more eligibility, even though he’s entering his seventh year of competition. He’s had more appendages injured than … well, most everyone. … rest of story at _{http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/missouri-super-senior-grant-leeth-and-his-unfinished-business/?mc_cid=38a5eef6bd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

10 } – HOOS LIFE: Miller Spends Self-Sustaining Summer At Family Farm In Idaho
Quinn Miller (Lilburn, Ga.), who is entering his fourth season with the Virginia wrestling program, has spent most of the summer with his parents on their farm in Idaho as the family shifted to a self-sustaining lifestyle and farming off the grid. The heavyweight, who has redshirted his freshman season and then suffered an injury early in his second year, qualified for the NCAA Championships this past season. In this edition of Hoos Life, Miller talks about his summer on the farm and talks about his wrestling career with an eye toward the upcoming season.
Q: You’ve been spending the summer in Idaho with your family? What prompted the trip out west for the summer?
MILLER:  I came out here to visit my parents. They moved out here (from Georgia) when I started at UVA. It was to get a good visit in for a little bit and then head back to school.
Q: You came to UVA after growing up in the suburbs of Atlanta. What prompted them to decide to move to Idaho?
MILLER: The both retired from work and wanted to get out and try the self-sustaining lifestyle. … rest of story at _{https://virginiasports.com/news/2020/08/18/hoos-life-miller-spends-self-sustaining-summer-at-family-farm-in-idaho/?mc_cid=503739b0f8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

August 20, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized