Takedown Report

Wrestling History # 15

TDR Editor’s Notes ; A holiday such as Labor Day is great time to look back on wrestling history. Several entries are from the series that Track Wrestling has as current coaches and wrestlers share about previous coaches and wrestlers that encourage and/or motivated them. Good to listen in to others’ experiences and views on what wrestling has done for their heroes and for themselves.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – Cory Land: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Cory Land. The 2019 Cadet World Team member and three-time Alabama state champion shares his thoughts on his wrestling heroes: his brother, Michael. 
These are Land’s words on his wrestling hero: 
“I’d have to say my wrestling hero is my brother (Michael) because he’s the one who got me into the sport and he’s always been right there to support me and help me. He’s my biggest fan. We’re really close. We’ve spent countless hours wrestling in the living room on our carpet floor. We’re always on each other. “It used to be he was teaching me stuff since he started wrestling … rest of story at _{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1597115238197&twSessionId=qqayahikyu&postId=788263135&mc_cid=a0c3658079&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

2 } – Celebrating Jordan Burroughs
Today marks the eighth anniversary of USA Wrestling legend Jordan Burroughs winning a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. To celebrate, we’ll look back at some of the notable matches from Jordan’s storied international career. Just over two years ago, we collaborated with Jordan to put together a list of his top 20 matches. Of course, Jordan’s career is far from over, and he has only added to his legend in those two-plus years. So here are five more matches that are must-see from Burroughs from mid-2018 on. Make sure to check out our previous list, as well as these more recent matches, as you appreciate one of the all-time greats on an important date for him. 
The following matches are listed in order with the most recent matches last. 
2018 World Championships vs. Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran) – Round of 16
The latest in a long line of tough Iranian opponents that have threatened to unseat Burroughs, Mostafa Hosseinkhani gave Jordan a test early in the 2018 World Championships. Hosseinkhani was a World bronze medalist … rest of story and videos at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/international-wrestling/celebrating-jordan-burroughs/78671?mc_cid=a0c3658079&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

3 } – Olympic Wrestler Speaks About 1980 Moscow Games
(KBAK/KBFX) BAKERSFIELD, CALIF — In 1980, the United States led a boycott of the Summer Olympic Games in Moscow to protest the late 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In total, 65 nations refused to participate in the games, whereas 80 countries sent athletes to compete.
Bakersfield resident, Dan Mello was of member of the 1980 USA greco roman wrestling team. Mello never got the chance to compete because of the boycott. … rest of story and video at _{https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/olympic-wrestler-speaks-about-1980-moscow-games}

4 } – Gil Sanchez – The Last Man to Beat John Smith in College
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Gil Sanchez is the last man to beat John Smith in college. It happened in November of 1986 in Lincoln Nebraska. Gil would go on to take 2nd to John at the 1987 NCAA’s. I love this conversation and hope you do as well.
SPONSOR
This episode is brought to you by the Wrestling Changed My Life online store. … rest of story at _{https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/gil/?mc_cid=44ca76fc30&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

5 } – Tom Borrelli: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Tom Borrelli. The Central Michigan coach shares his thoughts on his wrestling hero: John Smith.  
These are Borrelli’s words on his wrestling hero: 
“My wrestling hero is probably John Smith. I’m a little bit older than John, but I got to watch him from the time he was in middle school. His middle school coach was the head coach at Clemson when I was an assistant. Eddie Griffin was the head wrestling coach at Del City High School when John was in middle school. That’s where John ended up going to high school. 
“I’ve known John from afar for a long time and watched him a lot. It’s amazing how much that guy improved. Absolutely amazing how much that guy improved. I saw him when he was in high school at Junior Nationals his senior year, maybe his junior year. He took fourth and there were three guys from Oklahoma who finished ahead of him in his weight class. I don’t think people remember that. … rest of story at _{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1597350470306&twSessionId=tasfyfqlsm&postId=788508135&mc_cid=18ec0c1b30&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

6 } – Jason Borrelli: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Jason Borrelli. The Stanford coach shares his thoughts on his wrestling hero: Casey Cunningham. 
These are Borrelli’s words on his wrestling hero:
“My mind goes two places. It goes to who did the most for me and meant so much to me with what I was involved with, which is Casey Cunningham. As a younger kid and you’re in middle school and he’s in your dad’s program and he’s the guy who is the face of the program and the person who is going to turn the program around. I’m thinking about him being and my dad is talking about him being a national champion and to see that come to fruition — that something that’s big. 
“There were a lot of things. I looked up to Casey so much and he was like a big brother to me since I was around him all the time. He wasn’t that much older than me, to be honest to you. We were about six years apart. I wrote on my folders in middle school and I’d have ‘CC Rules’ on it. Everyone would ask, ‘What does CC stand for?’ I never told anybody, but it was Casey Cunningham Rules. I would write on the walls in my bedroom ‘CC Rules’ … rest of story at _{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1597806625190&twSessionId=swvvddkvgr&postId=859601135&mc_cid=503739b0f8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

7 } – Joe Colon: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Joe Colon. The 2018 World bronze medalist shares his thoughts on his wrestling heroes, including Kevin Jackson. 
These are Colon’s words on his wrestling hero:
“Growing up Kevin Jackson was a hero. That was pretty cool that he got to coach me at the World Championships. There are a lot of guys I grew up watching. Dan Gable used to be one. Growing up in Iowa there are so many guys I grew up watching.
“I liked the way Kevin competed and the way he wrestled. I was 1-year-old when he won an Olympic gold medal, so it was watching tapes. He was a guy who I (watched and) wanted to do those things. When I made my commitment to UNI, I wanted to do the things that he was doing — go make an Olympic team and win medals. When I was picking between Doug (Schwab) and Kevin — Kevin was one of my heroes, but I didn’t wrestle at Iowa State for him, … rest of story at _{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1597635255496&twSessionId=aqqlixoqzf&postId=788550135&mc_cid=1321811b68&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

8 } – Jeremy Spates: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Jeremy Spates. The SIU Edwardsville coach shares his thoughts on his wrestling heroes: his father Jack, and John Kading.  
These are Jeremy Spates’ words on his wrestling heroes:
“I have a lot of heroes with my dad (Jack) being the biggest one. His wasn’t as much as a hero, and he was more the person I looked at for the work ethic. I had a couple of heroes over the years. One of my favorites was actually John Kading. When I was in high school I used to go up to the Oklahoma wrestling room at night and John was up there always getting an extra lift and runs. I always looked up to his work ethic. He couldn’t make the team as a freshman because they had Andy Foster at 190 pounds and went up and was an All-American at heavyweight then went back down and won it. His senior year his knee was completely torn. The first match at the NCAA he wrestled a kid from Syracuse and the kid was cranking on it and it was to the point where John dragging his leg back and then battled through the tournament and made it to the finals where he lost to Lee Fullhart of Iowa. … rest of story at _{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1597461672256&twSessionId=ytczdmrkhb&postId=788522135&mc_cid=fca2dfc53b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

9} – Apprentice School Wrestling Announces All Decade Team
Wrestler of the Decade (1)

Marcus Chevres (2008-2012) – Chevres finished his career as the second ever four-time All-American for the Builders.  The Norfolk native set the all-time school wins record at the time with 134. In all four seasons “Chevy” never lost more than one bout at the National Championships, finishing 3rd his final two seasons and as the runner-up his first two seasons.  He was also named the Apprentice School Co-Athlete of the Year with Men’s Basketball Senior Isaiah Harrison.
All Decade Team Captain (1)

Colton Messick (2016-2020) – Ignoring his individual athletic achievements, Colton is arguably the greatest leader the Builders have ever seen. Colton was instrumental in cultivating a family-like mentality on the squad, as well as holding his teammates to a higher standard.  Leading by example with hard work, he guided the team to a pair of second place finishes at the National Championships.
All Decade Team
125-Colton Messick (2016-2020) – The three-time All-American’s career was highlighted with a National Title in 2018.  He was also a two-time MAC Champion, and a two-time USCAA Champion.  His 128 career wins are the third most in school history.
133-Marcus Chevres (2008-2012) – Aside from his four All-American honors, Chevres was also a four-time Mid-Atlantic Conference champion. … rest of story at _{https://www.gobuilders.com/sports/wrest/2019-20/releases/20200813l8xf3d?mc_cid=18ec0c1b30&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

10 } – Brandon Slay: What I learned from Kevin Jackson
Kevin Jackson coached Brandon Slay to a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Jackson is a three-time World/Olympic champion (1991-92, ’95), a three-time All-American for Louisiana State (1983-85), and a runner-up at the 1987 NCAA Championships for Iowa State. He currently serves as USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Developmental Coach.  Slay was an NCAA tournament runner-up for Penn in 1997 and 1998 as well as a two-time Greco-Roman Cadet World medalist (1990-91). He currently serves as the head coach and executive director of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center. 
These are Slay’s words on what he has learned from Jackson. 
The NCAA Championships aren’t the Olympics
The first thing I learned from Coach Jackson is that you don’t have to be an NCAA champion to be an Olympic champion. That’s one thing that I struggled with a little bit after college. I got second at the NCAA tournament twice — my junior and senior years. I think there’s a temptation to think that you have to win the NCAAs to be an Olympic champion.
When I got to the Olympic Training Center there was a part of me that didn’t believe that I was worthy of being that yet. I needed that boost of confidence. He was just the ideal coach for me because when I started sharing that with him he immediately got fired up and passionate. … rest of story at _{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1597350470306&twSessionId=tasfyfqlsm&postId=788246135&mc_cid=18ec0c1b30&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

September 6, 2020 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment