Takedown Report

National Wrestling News – Oct. # 2

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Two articles that are encouraging to see are the interview with USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender who shares his enthusiasm and plans for wrestling beyond the current pandemic news (#6) and the last article which has the pre-season college team and individual rankings by WIN magazine. (#10)
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1 } – J’den Cox Strives For Greatness
View All 2020 BTS Virtual Benefit
Create Free Account on FlowWrestling to view this video and others form the Senior Nationals this week. … rest of story at _{https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/6782496-jden-cox-strives-for-greatness}

2 } – Xtream Arena set to open as events, tourism look for boost during pandemic
CORALVILLE, Iowa (IOWA’S NEWS NOW) — The pandemic delayed its grand opening – but now Coralville’s Xtream Arena is being looked at as a possible saving grace for the greater Iowa City and Johnson County areas. “I refer to it as an attractor,” Think Iowa City president Josh Schamberger said on Wednesday as local media got a first look at the arena. “You have attractions in various communities – whether they be cultural or otherwise – but then you have attractors – the reason people go to communities.”
Xtream Arena will be able to hold 5,100 people in permanent seating once pandemic restrictions are lifted (and 6,600 when chairs are added to the floor for some concerts). The venue’s Green State Family Fieldhouse is already open for pickleball players and will also host the All Iowa Attack basketball program. The venue is already set to be the future home of Iowa Hawkeye volleyball – as well as the host of USA Wrestling’s Senior Nationals tournament in October. … rest of story at _{https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/xtream-arena-set-to-open-as-events-tourism-look-for-boost-during-pandemic?mc_cid=27cd8af936&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

3 } – Wrestling Launches 100 for $100 Campaign
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco State Wrestling has launched its 100 for $100 campaign to support SF State student-athletes. The campaign is seeking 100 donors to donate $100 each to meet the wrestling program’s fundraising goals for the Fall.
San Francisco State Wrestling has a rich history but with the challenges facing college athletics today, your support is more crucial than ever. The Gators’ most recent season saw Maxamillian Schneider named RMAC Wrestler of the Year while teammamtes Mason Boutain and Justin Pichedwatana were also named All-RMAC. Pichedwatana had a fantastic season and advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships for back-to-back seasons but saw … rest of story at _{https://sfstategators.com/news/2020/9/9/wre-wrestling-launches-100-for-100-campaign.aspx?mc_cid=d4c11c167e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

4 } – Nationally Ranked Matchup Announced for NOC
By Ross Bartachek
IAwrestle is proud to announce it’s main event for the September 26th Night of Conflict card with one of the state’s top ranked wrestlers taking on a nationally ranked opponent. The out of state prep will be none other than Alek Martin of St. Paris Graham, Ohio who checks in at #6 on MatScout’s national rankings at 145 pounds. Naturally with one of the best in the country coming in state to battle, we looked to Lisbon’s Robert Avila to answer the call.
Checking as IAwrestle’s #4 ranked wrestler in the FAB50, Avila is easily one of the biggest names – and perhaps the biggest available recruit in the entire state. He’s won titles as a freshman and sophomore for the Lions setting him up to be the third Lisbon wrestler to win four state titles within the last ten years. Avila also boasts a Greco-Roman All-American honor and was a USA Wrestling Postseason national champion which has put him in the top 100 for the Class of 2022.
From out of state we have Martin, from the powerhouse Graham that has produced numerous Division I stars over the years, including three-time Hawkeye All-American Alex Marinelli. … rest of story at _{https://iawrestle.com/2020/09/10/nationally-ranked-matchup-announced-for-noc/?mc_cid=27cd8af936&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

5 } – Always Aggressive Podcast: Season 2, Episode 3
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue redshirt junior Jared Florell joins head coach Tony Ersland and the crew for the Always Aggressive Podcast, airing out his incredibly impressive resume and variety of interests as a Boilermaker student-athlete.
In addition to being a Boilermaker wrestler, Florell boasts an outstanding GPA and several academic awards as a finance major in the Krannert School of Management. He’s a member of the Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition, the President elect of the Purdue Student Athlete Advisory Council and works with several other groups on campus. In short, Florell is taking advantage of all things that college has to offer him. … rest of story at _{https://purduesports.com/news/2020/9/9/wrestling-always-aggressive-podcast-season-2-episode-3.aspx?mc_cid=d4c11c167e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

6 } – RICH BENDER COLUMN: SUPPORT WRESTLING’S STRONG COMEBACK IN 2021
As the Summer of 2020 ends and we head into autumn, who would have expected that we are still dealing with COVID-19 challenges after the whole world shut down way back in March? The pandemic has remained a harsh reality in our lives and continues to affect every aspect of what we do on earth. For many, it may seem like all that has been going on in wrestling has been the postponement or cancellation of competition and training. For sure, that has happened. However, there has been much work at USA Wrestling and within the entire sport planning for the safe return of wrestling at all levels.
USA Wrestling has formed four COVID-19 committees of experts who are helping educate the sport and guide our decisions. We have developed Return to the Mat Guidelines and Return to Events Guidelines to organize wrestling in the safest environment possible. We have been very creative in how we engage the wrestling community through new methods of communication and training. We have also fully participated in the national discussion about social justice and equality, with a unified commitment to be better moving forward.
USA Wrestling has been blessed during the pandemic to continue working hard for our sport and members. Due to many prudent financial decisions by our volunteer leaders over the years, much shared sacrifice at all levels, and some fortunate timing of when the pandemic hit, USA Wrestling has been able to maintain its commitment and financial support for its National Team athletes, while employing its national staff in full. We understand that there are many more challenges in front of us, … rest of story at _{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/September/11/Rich-Bender-column-Join-in-Wrestlings-Comeback?mc_cid=aa70f844b7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

7 } – JORDAN BURROUGHS ADDED TO ALL-STAR CAST FOR BEAT THE STREETS VIRTUAL TELETHON
Beat the Streets has added Olympic and four-time World champion Jordan Burroughs as a speaker at their Virtual Telethon, which will be held on September 17 at 6:00 p.m. on FloWrestling.
Burroughs, who has competed in the Beat the Streets benefit competitions more than any other athlete, is one of three Olympic champions and five Olympians who are participating in this event. Other Olympic champions as part of the Virtual Telethon are Helen Maroulis and Henry Cejudo, as well as 2016 Olympic bronze medalist J’den Cox and 2008 Olympian Ben Askren. All of these Olympians have also competed in Beat the Streets events in the past. World bronze medalist Sally Roberts, founder of Wrestle Like A Girl, will serve as host. MMA star and former college wrestler Justin Gaethje is also featured during the Virtual Telethon.
According to Beat the Streets in an email sent earlier this week, the Telethon has raised $326,614 of our $650,000 goal, a little over halfway there. Funds will support Beat the Streets youth wrestling initiatives in New York City. The Virtual Telethon will be a thoughtful and dynamic event that showcases the resilience of Beat the Streets staff, kids, and community. It is free of charge to watch the Beat the Streets Virtual Telethon on FloWrestling. … rest of story at _{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/September/11/Jordan-Burroughs-added-to-Beat-the-Street-Telethon?mc_cid=aa70f844b7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

8 } – BEAT THE STREETS UNDERCARD PREVIEW: FIVE GREAT MATCHUPS FEATURING TOP MEN AND WOMEN FREESTYLERS
In spite of the current pandemic, Beat the Streets has been able to pull together a live competition card of elite wrestling matches, to be held alongside its Virtual Telethon tomorrow, Thursday September 17.
The Virtual Telethon, featuring a variety of wrestling celebrities, will be free on FloWrestling for fans to enjoy, starting at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. The six-match competition card, held in an undisclosed location somewhere in the New York metropolitan region, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time, and can be viewed by those who have a FloWrestling subscription. This event has one purpose, besides entertaining and inspiring wrestling fans. It is serving as a fundraiser for Beat the Street’s extensive programs for youth in New York City.
Here is a short preview of these matches in the undercard, in the order that they will be held, leading into the Main Event of Yianni Diakomihalis vs. Vlad Khinchegashvili.
Bout One – Women’s Freestyle: Emily Shilson vs. Charlotte Fowler
Shilson’s Resume
Shilson became the first U.S. athlete to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games, … rest of story at _{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/September/16/BTS-Undercard-match-preview?mc_cid=f697b041da&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

9} – How former Penn State wrestler Mark Hall’s move to the Penn RTC could help reinvigorate two programs
It’s not lost on Mark Hall that his decision to move on from Penn State wrestling and its freestyle club, the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, was a big one. Back in June, Hall announced he’d be continuing his freestyle career at the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center out in Philadelphia in 2021.
Hall’s decision wasn’t born out of any hard feelings toward his former program. It was instead more about the opportunity. “It was about [Penn RTC] coach [Brandon] Slay — there’s a lot of opportunities. It wasn’t so much me wanting to get out of Penn State — I love this place, obviously. I love living in State College and I love all my teammates. It was more me wanting to be in Philadelphia,” Hall told The Daily Collegian.
Hall benefited from the training partners during his time in Penn State’s room, both with the collegiate team and with the NLWC. He said he saw how helpful it was to have World and Olympic caliber wrestlers in the same room. Now, he’ll get the opportunity to serve in a similar capacity for two different programs — Penn and Drexel — and try to help elevate those programs and lay the foundation for them to be successful. … rest of story at _{https://www.collegian.psu.edu/sports/wrestling/article_bddc682e-f61e-11ea-b6dc-23b63741f47d.html?mc_cid=aa5954ac13&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

10 } – Iowa rated No. 1 in WIN Preseason TPI and Rankings, which include past champs Lee, Suriano, Diakomihalis and Lewis
NEWTON, Iowa — As the NCAA waits to announce when the Division I college wrestling season will take place this winter in the wake of the COVID pandemic, the University of Iowa has earned the No. 1 ranking in WIN Magazine’s 2020-21 Preseason Tournament Power Index and Rankings, which includes four past individual champions. WIN’s College Rankings are presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.
The TPI is an accumulation of potential national tournament points that are associated with individual wrestler’s rankings in WIN’s preseason poll and predicts how teams could finish at the 2021 NCAA Division I Championships, which are scheduled March 18-20 in St. Louis, Mo.
The Hawkeyes, with 114 TPI points, feature a ranked wrestler at every weight class, including a pair — two-time champ Spencer Lee (125) and three-time All-American Michael Kemerer (174) — who are ranked No. 1 in their weight classes. Iowa, which is looking to win a 24^th all-time NCAA team title and first since 2010, also features four past All-Americans in Austin DeSanto (5^th/133), Kaleb Young (9^th/157), Alex Marinelli (2^nd/165) and Jacob Warner (4^th/197) … as well as Jaydin Eierman (2^nd/141), who transferred from Missouri.
Three of the remaining eight top-ranked individuals per weight class have won NCAA championships in the past before taking an Olympic redshirt in 2019-20: Rutgers’ Nick Suriano (133), Cornell’s two-time champ Yianni Diakomihalis (141), and Virginia Tech’s Mehki Lewis (165). The other No. 1-rated wrestlers are North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor (149), Northwestern’s Ryan Deakin (157), Cornell’s Max Dean (184), West Virginia’s Noah Adams (197) and Minnesota’s Gable Steveson (heavyweight).
Rounding out the top five teams in WIN’s TPI are Michigan (72.5 TPI points), Cornell (68), Oklahoma State (56) and Nebraska (52.5). The Wolverines, Big Red and Cowboys all return former All-Americans who took Olympic redshirts last winter. WIN will announce a dual-team ranking once the season begins. … rest of story at _{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/September/11/Rich-Bender-column-Join-in-Wrestlings-Comeback?mc_cid=aa70f844b7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

October 12, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized