Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

College Coaching News – # 5

1 } Celso “Tony” DeAnda Named NMU Women’s Wrestling Head Coach
MARQUETTE, Mich. – Northern Michigan University has selected Celso “Tony” DeAnda to be the first women’s wrestling coach in program history. 
“Members of the search committee and others involved in the search process were impressed with Tony’s detailed plan for building NMU women’s wrestling into a nationally competitive program,” said Director of Athletics Forrest Karr. “Tony has contributed significantly to the growth of the sport and his considerable experience will benefit NMU student-athletes going forward.”
DeAnda comes to NMU after starting the women’s wrestling program at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, where he coached five Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association All-Americans including two National Champions. In 2020, his team finished fourth at the WCWA Nationals. During his time with the Blue Hose, a total of 15 athletes earned conference Academic Honor Roll while two went on to qualify for the Olympic Team Trials.
“I would first like to thank Forrest Karr, Bridget Kyle, and the search committee for this amazing opportunity,” DeAnda said. “I am thrilled and honored to return to Marquette, to be the new head coach of women’s wrestling. NMU has a rich history of wrestling and I am excited to begin a new chapter with what promises to be a successful program. I have many fond memories of the people and student-athletes at Northern Michigan since this is where my coaching career began. My family and I are looking forward to becoming a part of the Wildcat family.”
Prior to Presbyterian, he served as the Head Coach of Women’s Wrestling for the University of Providence from 2017-2018. Under his guidance, he coached one WCWA All-American to a runner-up finish while two placed at the 2017 UWW Under 23 Championships. His team finished 15th in the 2018 WCWA Nationals.
DeAnda started his collegiate coaching at the University of Jamestown where he was the Head Coach of Women’s Wrestling. … rest of the story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/Celso-Tony-DeAnda-Named-NMU-Women-s-18-10-2020

2 } Albion College names Adam Wilson Head Men’s and Women’s Coach
ALBION — On Thursday, Albion College Director of Athletics Matt Arend announced the hiring of Adam Wilson as the head men’s and women’s wrestling coach. Wilson will bring back men’s wrestling after its disbandment from the college in the 1970s while establishing the new women’s program.
A western Michigan native, Wilson comes to Albion after spending the last four seasons as the head assistant men’s wrestling coach at Olivet College. During his time with the Comets, he was heavily involved in recruiting and building a competitive program in the MIAA. Wilson was also responsible for fundraising, managing social media, alumni engagement and competition day items.
“I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to lead the men’s and women’s wrestling programs at Albion College,” said Wilson. “In addition to the excellent academic opportunities, graduate outcomes and tradition within the athletic department, Matt Arend shared a vision of building a championship program. I am thankful to have this opportunity and I am excited to get to work and have my family join the Albion community.”
Wilson also had one-year stints on the coaching staffs at Trine and Washington and Lee, where he oversaw recruiting and training programs for his student-athletes.
Wilson, a 2011 Olivet graduate, started his career as an admissions representative at his alma mater. For three years, he learned recruiting strategies while building connections with high schools in the surrounding areas. He obtained his Masters of Higher Education Administration from Upper Iowa University in 2014. … rest of the story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/Albion-College-names-Adam-Wilson-Head-15-10-2020

3 } – College wrestling: Iowa assistant Morningstar recovering from stroke
IOWA CITY– University of Iowa assistant wrestling coach and former Hawkeye all-American Ryan Morningstar suffered a medical emergency on Aug. 17. Morningstar was admitted and treated for a stroke at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and later released on Aug. 21.
“I feel great and am thankful for the exceptional care provided by the doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals at UIHC,” Morningstar said in a statement. “I am humbled by the prayer and support I received from my family and friends, and appreciative of the privacy I was afforded throughout my recovery. It is good to be back in the wrestling room doing what I love with the best people in the world.” Morningstar has been an assistant coach on Iowa’s staff since 2012. He was an All-American on Iowa’s 2009 and 2010 NCAA championship teams, where he took third and seventh, respectively. Morningstar won 110 career matches at Iowa. … rest of story at https://wcfcourier.com/sports/college/iowa/college-wrestling-iowa-assistant-morningstar-recovering-from-stroke/article_4d40e85f-12f8-5071-b403-b4947f414ac3.html?mc_cid=f697b041da&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Simpson welcomes Jeff McGinness to wrestling coaching staff
INDIANOLA, Iowa — Jeff McGinness, a two-time national champion at the University of Iowa, joins Simpson wrestling head coach Dylan Peters’ staff as an assistant ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. “It’s very exciting to have Jeff McGinness join our program,” said head coach Dylan Peters. “I am confident he will be an invaluable asset for the team. During his career at the University of Iowa, he experienced the pinnacle of collegiate wrestling.” The 2018 University of Iowa Hall of Fame inductee amassed a record of 127-16 while competing for the Hawkeyes. From 1994-96, he won 43 consecutive matches, which still stands as 10th-most in program history. As a two-time team captain, McGinness was a member of three national champion squads, two of which were coached by Dan Gable. He also received the Mike Howard Award twice, which is handed out annually to the program’s most valuable wrestler. “I am excited to join coach Dylan Peters … rest of story at https://www.thepredicament.com/2020/09/simpson-welcomes-jeff-mcginness-to-wrestling-coaching-staff/?mc_cid=e10bcd29f6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – New NJC wrestling coach Arsenia Barksdale ready to lead Plainsmen
First time head coach glad to be back in Colorado
There’s a new wrestling coach in town for the Northeastern Junior College Plainsmen. He’s new to Sterling, but familiar to Colorado. He hasn’t won with the Plainsmen yet, but he brings winning with him wherever he goes. His name is Arsenia Barksdale, and he’s glad to be the newest leader of the wrestling program at NJC.
Barksdale was announced as the new wrestling coach at NJC on July 27th, following the departure of Adam Fiero. This is the first head coaching job for Barksdale. He decided to pursue the opportunity to prove that he was worthy of being the man in charge. “I’ve always wanted to get on the head coaching scene,” he said. “I’ve been an assistant coach for the last ten years so I felt this would be a good opportunity for me to show off my skills. When I found out this job was opening up I had a couple of other coaches reach out to me and say they thought this would be a good fit for me so I took advantage of the situation.”
Barksdale comes to Sterling following a four year stint as an assistant coach at Northwest Kansas, where he helped coach 11 All-Americans and 3 national champions. Northwest Kansas won a national duals team title in 2019 with Barksdale as an assistant, a first in school history.
Prior to Kansas, Barksdale was an assistant at Adams State University, … rest of story at https://www.journal-advocate.com/2020/09/21/new-njc-wrestling-coach-arsenia-barksdale-ready-to-lead-plainsmen/?mc_cid=e10bcd29f6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Zacherl Joins Clarion Wrestling Coaching Staff
CLARION, Pa. – Clarion wrestling coach Keith Ferraro announced today that Brock Zacherl, a six-year member of the Golden Eagle wrestling program and a 2020 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-American, will join the coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach. Zacherl will work alongside second-year assistant coach Nathan Kraisser and fellow volunteer coach Nick DeLoia.
  “Brock was a transformative leader during his six seasons at Clarion, and I have no doubt he will continue to have an immense impact in this coaching role,” Ferraro said. “I have believed for quite a while that Brock’s talent and skill set would make him an incredible wrestling coach.”
Zacherl finished his Golden Eagle career as one of the most decorated wrestlers in Ferraro’s six years as head coach, earning four trips to the NCAA Division I Championships and compiling an all-time record of 114-17 in the Blue and Gold, including a 59-2 mark in dual matches. Perhaps the most impressive number attached to Zacherl’s career is his undefeated record in home matches, as he compiled a 44-0 record in varsity matches as a Golden Eagle. Zacherl finished his career ranked … rest of story at https://clariongoldeneagles.com/news/2020/9/22/zacherl-joins-wrestling-coaching-staff.aspx?mc_cid=9754f989b3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Luke Smith eager to take the reins with CSUB wrestling
It wasn’t long ago that some devastating news had Luke Smith pondering a career change. Smith seemed to be in a good place at the end of the 2018 wrestling season. Having just completed his seventh year as an assistant at Eastern Michigan University, he held a prominent role on an Eagle team that had put together arguably the best season in program history. Long a doormat in the Mid-American Conference, the Eagles nabbed a program-best third-place finish at that year’s MAC Tournament. They also had their first conference champion since 2009, their first All-American since 1999, and were primed to be even better with five national tournament qualifiers set to return the following season. But all that momentum was halted just weeks … rest of story at https://www.bakersfield.com/sports/college/luke-smith-eager-to-take-the-reigns-with-csub-wrestling/article_e6d22188-ff56-11ea-a9f9-f790dc0562d6.html?mc_cid=29285b55e6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Rivera Steps Down, Smith Assumes Interim Role
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield Athletics Department has announced that Manny Rivera, Head Coach of the Roadrunner Wrestling team, will step down to pursue opportunities outside of coaching. Current assistant coach Luke Smith will take over as interim head coach, immediately, and Rivera will stay on through the end of October. “We are very thankful to Coach Rivera for his four years of service to the `Runner wrestling program,” said Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried, CSUB’s Director of Athletics. “We wish Manny and Katie great success and happiness in their future endeavors.” Rivera mentored four Pac-12 Conference champions an 15 NCAA Qualifiers during his tenure on campus, while winning 25 dual meets and leading the `Runners to three third-place finishes at the conference meet in four seasons.  “I am extremely excited about the future of the CSUB wrestling program,” Siegfried said. “Additionally, I have full confidence in the leadership of our Interim Head Coach, Luke Smith.”
Smith enters his third year on the coaching staff of the Bakersfield… rest of story at https://gorunners.com/news/2020/9/24/rivera-steps-down-as-csub-wrestling-coach.aspx?mc_cid=29285b55e6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – Tech Wrestling head coach Tony Robie rewarded with contract extension
Three-year extension will keep Robie in Blacksburg through at least 2025
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock announced Friday that head wrestling coach Tony Robie has agreed to a three-year contract extension which will keep him in Blacksburg through the 2025 season.  
“We are fortunate to have Tony Robie and his talented staff leading our wrestling program at Virginia Tech,” Babcock said. “We were very pleased to keep Coach Robie in Blacksburg and we are very optimistic about the continued trajectory of Virginia Tech wrestling under his leadership.”
 Since taking over the reins of Hokies wrestling in February of 2017, Robie is responsible for two ACC tournament titles, an ACC dual meet title, the program’s first national champion, 13 All-Americans and 14 ACC Champions. Robie is 34-11 in dual meets and has won the ACC Coach of the Year twice in that span. Under Robie’s guidance, Mekhi Lewis won Tech’s first individual title in the 165-pound bracket as a redshirt freshman at the 2019 NCAA Championships.
 “Speaking on behalf of my entire family, I want to sincerely thank Whit Babcock, Chris Helms and Virginia Tech for once again extending my contract,” Robie said. “Knowing that we will continue to call Christiansburg/Blacksburg home for the foreseeable future brings us great peace of mind, especially in these uncertain times. Being a part of this program and this community for the past 14 years has truly been an amazing experience. I love what we have going on and am very optimistic about the future.” … rest of story at https://hokiesports.com/news/2020/9/25/tech-wrestling-head-coach-tony-robie-rewarded-with-contract-extension.aspx?mc_cid=29285b55e6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Ryan Hunsberger Joins VMI Wrestling staff
LEXINGTON, Va. – Ryan Hunsberger has joined the VMI wrestling staff for the 2020-21 season as an assistant coach, head coach Jim Gibson announced recently. Hunsberger was the founder and head coach of the Viking Wrestling Club in Woodbridge, Va. The club helps build upon mental awareness, student-athlete development, and character building on and off the mat. Hunsberger ran practices, clinics, camps, National Team events, recruiting, revenue tracking and fundraisers. He coached, mentored, and recruited seven high-school All-Americans, 15 state champions, seven state finalists and over 30 college wrestlers. He independently trained 11 Division I wrestlers and two Division I NCAA Qualifiers.
“While I was looking to add to our staff, and talking amongst the wrestling community, Ryan’s name kept being brought up,” said head coach Jim Gibson. “He came to me with great recommendation from several people of high respect in our sport. His ties with in the Virginia wrestling community and USA Wrestling will be of great value to our program.  Ryan is motivated and excited to help VMI Wrestling. I’m looking forward to watching him continue to grow as a coach.” Hunsberger has been the head assistant coach at Woodbridge High School for the past four seasons … rest of story at https://vmikeydets.com/news/2020/9/25/ryan-hunsberger-joins-vmi-wrestling-staff.aspx?mc_cid=29285b55e6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

October 21, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NWCA 2021 Multi-Division National Duals Cancelled

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Understandable yet sadden by the cancellation. Even in the best of conditions many teams would not be in the middle of their season. Hopefully other events can go forward and/or make adjustments. Good to see they have announced plans for next season. We hope to attend this event in 2022.
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Manheim, PA –  On Wednesday, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced the cancellation of the upcoming 2021 Multi-Division National Dual Championships presented by ARMS Software, Defense Soap, and the United States Marine Corps. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic prompted the event’s cancellation to occur at the Kentucky Expo Center (Louisville, KY) on January 8-9.  

“On behalf of the NWCA Board of Directors, we have to, unfortunately, announce the suspension of the 2021 Multi-Division National Dual Championships,” said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. “We based this decision for our 90-team event on several factors, including our student-wrestlers’ health and safety and the ongoing uncertainty of the upcoming wrestling season (travel restrictions, COVID-19 protocol, competition start dates, etc.). We look forward to next year’s event and wish everyone a safe and successful 2020-21 season.”

The 2022 NWCA Multi-Division National Dual Championships hosted by NUWAY will occur January 7-8, 2022, at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, KY.  … rest of story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/NWCA-2020-Multi-Division-National-Duals-21-10-2020

October 21, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

QUOTING THE COACHES: UNC WRESTLING BACK ON THE MAT

As wrestling season begins across the country, the atmosphere in the wrestling room in Chapel Hill has a unique feel. Admittedly, it will be a bit different walking into practice as the year begins – with masks being commonplace and new safety measures in effect. But when head coach Coleman Scott begins his pre-practice talk with the team, a familiar feeling is expected to return: normalcy.
 
Below, hear from the UNC Wrestling staff as the team begins its 2020-21 season, one that follows a historic campaign for the Tar Heels.
 
Coleman Scott
 
“We’re ready to go and to hit the ground running this year. It’s a new year and a fresh start. Everyone is in the same position, and I feel confident that our guys did enough over summer and preseason to come into this year with a chance to do some special things. I believe in every single person in our room. We’ve built a culture where everyone relies on each other, whether you’re a wrestler, coach, or our support staff. We’re all here to improve each and every day, and to win.”
 
Tony Ramos
 
“This is an exciting time for all of us. Our entire team has been craving to get back onto the mat and have some consistency and normalcy to their everyday lives. Wrestling helps us be able to do that. This marks the start of our 2020-21 season, which is always exciting. We have some very talented and very motivated individuals in our room, and I’m looking forward to having our fans see what Carolina Wrestling is going to look like this year.”
 
Jamill Kelly
 
“With all of the chaos that this past year brought upon all of us, it just feels really good to get back to some kind of normalcy. As a new addition to the UNC staff, I’m looking forward … rest of the story at https://goheels.com/news/2020/10/19/quoting-the-coaches-unc-wrestling-back-on-the-mat.aspx?mc_cid=c883bf378a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

October 21, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Team USA Will Not Send A Team To The Senior World Championships

PRESS RELEASE FROM USA WRESTLING – USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, will not send a team to compete at the 2020 Senior World Wrestling Championships, set for Belgrade, Serbia, Dec. 12-20.

USA Wrestling’s Executive Committee, which acts on behalf of the Board of Directors between Board meetings, in an October 20 meeting, unanimously approved a proposal not to participate in the Senior World Championships due to health and safety issues caused by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

“The health and safety of U.S. athletes, coaches and staff is always the No. 1 concern for USA Wrestling. After reviewing updated medical, scientific and government data, and providing an opportunity for athlete and stakeholder input, the Executive Committee concluded that it would not be in the best interest of all involved to organize a delegation to travel to and participate in the Senior World Championships in Serbia,” said Bruce Baumgartner, USA Wrestling President.

On Monday, October 12, United World Wrestling (UWW), the international federation for wrestling, announced that its Executive Committee voted to approve existing plans to host the event. In the same announcement, UWW cancelled the 2020 Junior World Championships, which had been set for early December in Belgrade. The Senior World Championships is the only World Championships event left on the 2020 UWW calendar, after having cancelled all other World events at the age-group levels.

In a letter to all national wrestling federations including USA Wrestling, UWW explained that international federations would be able to enter athletes in the World Championships only through November 5. According to the UWW letter, on the 6th of November, the UWW Executive Committee “would meet to check the registrations and discuss the current situation of the pandemic around the World. During this meeting, it will be decided to keep the event or cancel it.”

USA Wrestling held a series of meetings with stakeholders and subject experts to fully discuss the issue of sending a U.S. team to the Senior Worlds and allow for input. Included were two meetings of the Executive Committee, as well as a USA Wrestling’s Athlete Advisory Committee meeting. In addition, a survey was sent to 117 Senior athletes, including current National Team athletes and athletes who placed in the top eight at the 2020 Senior Nationals. The athlete survey collected data … rest of the story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/6801396-team-usa-will-not-send-a-team-to-the-senior-world-championships

October 21, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment