Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Wrestling History – # 22

TDR Editor’s Notes ; A look at some or the wrestling heroes and accomplishments ofour past. Podcasted interviews are included as well as several interesting stories on the web. Especially would like to point out article # 6 by Bill Welker about the growth in folkstyle wrestling after World War II.
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1 } – Track Wrestling Interviews
Logan Stieber: ‘I wouldn’t mind if nobody knew any of my stats’
Logan Stieber, a four-time NCAA champion for Ohio State and a 2016 World champion, breaks down the stress of competition, financial compensation, and the interesting characters he’s met along the way. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1598671152126&twSessionId=fnhzbibpht&videoId=864266135&mc_cid=ea5a873124&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
#167 Cory Cooperman – The Blair Dream Team
Cory Cooperman is a 3x NCAA wrestling All American. He wrestled for the prestigious Blair Academy where he won 4 national prep titles. Today, Cory coaches in New Jersey where he runs Coop Trained / Apex Wrestling. … rest of storyand podcast at https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/167-cory-cooperman-the-blair-dream-team/?mc_cid=a2feb99899&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Ryan Crookham: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Ryan Crookham. The two-time Pennsylvania state champion and recent Lehigh commit shares his thoughts on his wrestling hero: Darian Cruz.  These are Crookham’s words on his wrestling hero: “Darian Cruz is my wrestling hero just because of everything he overcame to win a national title. There were a lot of people doubting him. Being so small as a 125-pounder, I feel like I can relate to him being in the Lehigh Valley and going to Lehigh. 
“I talk with him quite a bit. He’s also the nicest person ever. He’s so humble. He’s a great guy.
“He’ll compare me to him a lot and where I’m at in my career. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1597953784346&twSessionId=bzlircnxpe&postId=859781135&mc_cid=27a5988c78&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Zac Dominguez: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Zac Dominguez. The MWC Wrestling Academy coach shares his thoughts on his wrestling heroes: the coaches who helped shape his career as an athlete and coach. “I have a slew of really awesome coaches from starting wrestling to where I’m at now. My first coach as I started to get into wrestling was Dave Aceret, a half brother of Andre Metzger. I had him for two years before he got shipped off in the military. He has since passed away.
“My next coach is Joe Edmonson — a gentleman out of Omaha, Nebraska, who coached from a wheelchair. He was amazing. He definitely understood what hard work meant.  “After that, it was Keith Massey, who brought technique and love of the sport. He helped me understand the sport so well. 
“Tim Neuman and Gordy Morgan as I was in college … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1601001932128&twSessionId=wwclsdpoau&postId=867656135&mc_cid=f2d65a70bb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – #166 Dan Russell – 4x NCAA D2 Champion
Dan Russell is a 4x NCAA, Division 2 national champion. After wrestling, Dan authored an autobiography titled “Finish Strong: The Dan Russell Story”. Today, Dan is an ambassador for Wrestling for Peace and is based out of Amman, Jordan. To learn more about Dan, visit Battleground.TV.
SPONSOR : This episode is brought to you by the Wrestling Changed My Life online store. We have podcast T-Shirts, Hoodies, Crew-necks, Stickers and more. Go to Store.WrestlingChangedMyLife.com to shop. … rest of story at https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/russell/?mc_cid=8e7f0f219d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Sean Bormet: My Greatest Loss
Note: This is the eighth edition of the ‘My Greatest Loss’ series. In the weeks ahead, we’ll interview some of wrestling’s past and present stars to hear their thoughts on the losses that helped shape their careers and put them on a higher trajectory toward greatness.  Sean Bormet was a two-time All-American for Michigan, placing third at the NCAA Championships in 1993 and second in 1994. Bormet lost to Oklahoma State’s Pat Smith, 5-3, in the 158-pound finals of the 1994 NCAA tournament when Smith won his fourth NCAA title. He wrestled for Providence Catholic High School in Illinois where he placed third at state during his sophomore and junior years and won a state title as a senior (1987-89). The former Wolverine star is the current head coach at Michigan. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1601416268919&twSessionId=zhuaihwocz&postId=867885135&mc_cid=72c2868447&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Shane Sparks: My Greatest Loss
Before he became a wrestling voice for the Big Ten Network, Trackwrestling and NBC Sports, Shane Sparks was a top-ranked high school senior who was a minute away from becoming a state champion in Wisconsin’s private school division. 
Known then as Shane Nebl — his sports talk show co-host later gave him the radio name Shane Sparks — he was a skinny 103-pounder for Winnebago Lutheran Academy who was zeroing in on the school’s first state title.  Then everything unraveled. Sparks led 11-6 with roughly 70 seconds left against Thomas More sophomore Rudy Ruiz. He got called twice for stalling on top. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1602030583233&twSessionId=ahiwizbfpg&postId=868401135&mc_cid=aeabd832c4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Tom Ryan: What I learned from Dan Gable
Dan Gable coached the University of Iowa 15 NCAA team championships and 21 straight Big Ten titles from 1977-97. He coached Tom Ryan to All-American honors in 1991 and 1992 (second in 1991 and third in 1992). Ryan is the current head wrestling coach at Ohio State University where he led his team to an NCAA championship in 2015. 
The following are Ryan’s words on what he learned from Gable. 
CHOOSING THE HARD WAY
We’re talking 28 years after I left the place, it gives you a different perspective. I would say the gifts he has given to me were all the results of his suffering and the challenges he put himself through. Dan Gable is the man he is because he chose the hard way time after time from a physical standpoint and then, of course, what he went through (with his sister being murdered). That ability to suffer so deeply helped him to coach people — me being one of them — to better understand how deeply we can go to obtain something we want. I learned how to suffer at a deeper level.  I learned from Coach Gable that words matter. Being positive and truthful and real matter. His actions were far more valuable than his words.  I learned from Coach Gable how to run an organization … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1601585172455&twSessionId=ztsdhfowdi&postId=868019135&mc_cid=a2feb99899&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Emergence of Folkstyle Wrestling Post World War II
By Bill Welker, EdD
Introduction
During the WWII years, many wrestling programs across the United States were disbanded because their collegiate and scholastic coaches were off to do battle. Upon returning home after the conflict, wrestling mentors reinstated their mat programs. In fact, they also implemented numerous strategies to promote the creation of wrestling in other colleges and local school districts. I would have loved to interview these former wrestling luminaries, but their mat legacies can only be found in old college and high school yearbooks as they have all passed on. Fortunately, I was blessed with the honor of being influenced as a youngster by such former masters of the mats. As a native of Pennsylvania, I will use the Keystone State as a microcosm of how folkstyle wrestling grew throughout the nation following WWII.
Wrestling Icons and Their Works
The Pennsylvania pioneers of post-war development of wrestling included a plethora of college and scholastic wrestling coaches who reintroduced the mat sport throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. … rest of story at https://nwhof.org/blog/emergence-of-folkstyle-wrestling-post-world-war-ii/?mc_cid=a2feb99899&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – LEGENDARY U.S. GRECO-ROMAN COACH AND LEADER JOE DEMEO, 79, PASSED AWAY
USA Wrestling is saddened to receive news that longtime Greco-Roman coach and leader Joe DeMeo of Niskayuna, N.Y. has passed away at age 79. DeMeo dedicated his life to the sport of wrestling, impacting athletes at the youth, high school, college and Olympic level. His enduring legacy is not only the great champions that he has mentored, but also the thousands of lives he has impacted as a coach and leader. Among the athletes who have competed in the Olympics and were tutored by DeMeo are Shawn Sheldon, Andy Seras, Ike Anderson, Frank Famiano, Chris Catalfo, Dave Schultz, Jeff Blatnick and others. Both Schultz and Blatnick were 1984 Olympic champions, with Schultz winning in freestyle and Blatnick winning in Greco-Roman. He also coached one of the greatest women wrestlers of all time, two-time World champion and nine-time World medalist Kristie Davis, who, like Schultz and Blatnick, are Distinguished Members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “He is arguably one of the most consequential figures in U.S. Greco-Roman history. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/October/02/Joe-DeMeo-obituary?mc_cid=accb7cd38c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – My Wrestling Journey – Bud Hennebaul
by Nate Naasz September 30, 2020
My life in wrestling probably began when I was one year old. My uncle Fred suffered a freak accident and became a quadriplegic while wrestling in a high school meet. My dad and family chose to embrace wrestling rather than run from it. I am thankful today for their decision to dedicate their lives to wrestling. My dad started an elementary school wrestling team in 1965 at the Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, YMCA. I was there with him at practice many times, yet too young to wrestle. It had to be challenging to keep up with me as I always wanted to get out on the mat and wrestle. He finally gave in when I was five years old. I took some severe beatings back then and loved it all the time. After spending two and three nights a week making the commute from what we called the Back Mountain to the YMCA in Wilkes Barre, I had a transition to make to Junior High at Lake Lehman Junior/Senior High School. I spent many seasons wrestling far more matches than I should have and was suffering from being burned out. I decided not to wrestle in Junior High, but I did not have the courage to tell my dad. Instead of practicing, I would find places to hang out until after practice, when my mom would come to pick me up. I was young and not very bright. While I was doing my alter boy responsibilities a couple of weeks into wrestling, one of my dad’s high school coaches told him it was a shame I decided not to wrestle. That may have been one of the worst days of my life. I will not go into details other than the wrestling room we had in our house became hell on earth that day. Yes, dad had a temper. … rest of story at http://www.nwcaonline.com/my-wrestling-journey-bud-hennebaul/?mc_cid=a2feb99899&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – Friday Feature: Four In A Row
EDMOND – Only one All-American was back from Central Oklahoma’s national championship wrestling team of the season before and he was lost to a knee injury in February. The 34-man roster was dominated by 16 freshmen, with at least four expected to start during the 1986-87 campaign. And still the Bronchos did what was quickly becoming commonplace – capture the NAIA national championship. It was UCO’s fourth straight title and the seventh in nine years. This championship was probably more surprising than the first six, given the many unfamiliar and unproven individuals fifth-year head coach David James had in the practice room when the season started. “This squad realizes that we are a new team with new faces,” James told the Vista in its season preview. “When you have a young group like we do, the guys seem to work harder, they’re more hungry. We know we can’t live in the past.”
The Bronchos were looking for a trio of key transfers – senior Darren Peaster and juniors Jerry Goss and Todd Steidley – along with talented youngsters Brett Beams, Shawn Fleming and Johnny Nimmo to lead a championship charge. And that’s exactly what happened. A rugged dual schedule led to a 2-5 start, though those losses were close setbacks to ranked Division I teams Oklahoma State (26-18), Oklahoma (20-11) and Weber State (23-19) and Division II powers Nebraska-Omaha (20-17) and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (21-17). … rest of story at https://bronchosports.com/news/2020/10/2/wrestling-friday-feature-four-in-a-row.aspx?mc_cid=accb7cd38c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Steve Fraser: My Wrestling Hero
Today’s installment of My Wrestling Hero features Steve Fraser. The 1984 Olympic gold medalist and longtime former USA Wrestling Greco-Roman coach shares his thoughts on his wrestling heroes: Dan Gable and Masaaki Hatta. “Of course, Dan Gable was a hero when I was a youngster. Dan Gable, the Peterson brothers, and Chris Taylor were the first wrestling posters I ever had in my room. I would say those guys as a youngster.
“I can tell you who a wrestling hero was for me is my high school coach Masaaki Hatta, who was second in the world for Japan. He’s a hero because he took me under his wing when I was a 10th grader. He really, really taught me the ropes about wrestling. There have been many great coaches back then and since, but he’s one of my heroes. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1600232107097&twSessionId=zhxbvicxrg&postId=866777135&mc_cid=451344eca7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 3, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

College Wrestling News – # 114

TDR Editor’s Notes ; An update on college news in a variety of aspects.
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1 } – NCAA Division I Council reportedly votes to grant additional year of eligibility to winter-sports athletes
Spencer Lee’s pathway to become a four-time NCAA champion could be cleared again, and the drive for five might be alive for Yianni Diakomihalis and Mekhi Lewis.  The NCAA’s Division I Council voted Tuesday in favor of granting an additional year of eligibility to winter sports athletes, college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman reported. Goodman tweeted that the decision could be brought back for reconsideration and won’t be official until the close of Wednesday’s meetings.  In August, the NCAA granted blanket waivers to athletes participating in fall sports, enabling them to compete this season without exhausting a year of eligibility. The NCAA also ruled then that schools would be allowed a temporary expansion of scholarship limits to accomodate seniors who opt to return for an additional season.   The decision on winter-sports athletes could open the door for potential historic feats in college wrestling.  … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1602639465254&twSessionId=katzbfkdqt&postId=869451135&mc_cid=2844d9a77e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Fresno State Athletics announces program changes
FRESNO, Calif. – In response to ongoing financial challenges for Fresno State Athletics, whose revenues have been dramatically impacted this fiscal year by the COVID-19 pandemic, Fresno State announced today its decision to implement program reductions that will ensure long-term financial sustainability of its athletics program. At the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year, the following sports teams will be discontinued: varsity lacrosse, men’s tennis and wrestling. Fresno State Athletics expects an overall annual budget savings of approximately $2.5 million, once all scholarships and other contractual obligations have been fulfilled.
Following the reduction, Fresno State will continue to sponsor 18 NCAA Division I sports (six men’s sports and 12 women’s sports), serving and supporting approximately 430 student-athletes, while also ensuring the University’s ongoing commitment to gender equity.  “Today’s decision is difficult for everyone and yet it is a necessary step to ensure the financial viability of our Athletics Department,” said President Joseph I. Castro. “We appreciate those who have supported these Bulldogs programs over the years, including coaches, current and former student-athletes, and their families.”
The expected operating deficit for Fresno State Athletics this fiscal year is approximately $6.6 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the sports teams’ competitive seasons and the related result of not being able to have fans in its venues. (For context, the department’s average annual operating deficit is approximately $2.2 million. … rest of story at https://gobulldogs.com/news/2020/10/16/general-fresno-state-athletics-announces-program-changes.aspx?mc_cid=ef4f862d31&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Adventures with the AD – Wrestling
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – “Adventures with the AD” is a video series in which each of our Centenary Athletics teams will get a chance to challenge Athletics Director Travis Spencer to complete a skill or drill that they are required to perform in practice or a game. In Episode 4, the wrestling team puts Spencer through his paces including a challenge to climb the rope and do some drilling on the mat. Do you think he successfully completed the challenge? Watch the video. … rest of story at https://centenarycyclones.com/news/2020/10/14/adventures-with-the-ad-wrestling.aspx?mc_cid=61e8f19369&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Southeastern Wrestling Releases 2020-21 Schedule
LAKELAND, Fla.—Southeastern University wrestling coach Brandon Jorge released the team’s 2020-21 schedule this afternoon. The Fire will participate in two opens to start the year followed by 12 dual meets.
 “Despite some of the scheduling challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were still able to put together an extremely challenging schedule that will prepare us for our conference and national tournaments,” said Jorge. “We return a very tough dual lineup, so I am looking forward to some of our head-to-head duals against some of the best teams in the nation.”  On November 7th, the sixth season of competition begins in Williamsburg, Ky. at the Patriot Open. The following week, the Fire will head to Marietta, Ga. for the Life University Open.  
The first dual meets will take place the following week as the Fire host the annual Fire Duals at The Fire Pit. Action will start at 8 a.m. and will feature visits from first-year program Montreat, Reinhardt, Texas Wesleyan, and Keiser. History will be made on December 5th as the Fire host the Florida Duals which will feature three collegiate wrestling teams from the Sunshine State. It has been more than 35 years since multiple programs in Florida have competed in college wrestling. … rest of story at https://fire.seu.edu/news/2020/10/16/wrestling-releases-2020-21-schedule.aspx?mc_cid=ef4f862d31&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Adam Wilson named head men’s and women’s wrestling 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. … rest of story at https://albion.prestosports.com/sports/wrest/2020-21/releases/20201015dgtz17?mc_cid=1a1915e009&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Iowa wrestler Tony Cassioppi talks about living through pandemic, what’s next – Podcast
Former Hononegah star wrestler Tony Cassioppi was about to make his run at an NCAA national championship last March, seeded third at 285 headed into the season finale. But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and sports across the country (including the NCAA wrestling championships) were canceled. Cassioppi spent the summer waiting for his opportunity to return to the mat, and now the red-shirt sophomore who is eagerly awaiting his next season with the Hawkeyes has a chance to get warmed up in a big way. Cassioppi is not only a part of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club’s Showdown Open on Nov. 1, but he will close out the evening with a match against a former two-time NCAA champion who won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships. “This is a great way to get out on the mat and challenge ourselves,“ … rest of story at https://www.rrstar.com/story/sports/high-school/wrestling/2020/10/23/podcast-iowa-wrestler-tony-cassioppi-talks-about-living-through-pandemic-whatrsquos-next/114469034/

7 } – Golden Gopher coach Luke Becker loves his team’s wrestling rivalry with Iowa
Minnesota assistant coach Luke Becker is always ready for a showdown with Iowa. That’s why he is excited about Zach Sanders competing in the Nov. 1 HWC Showdown Open live on Trackwrestling. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1603682264092&twSessionId=gshnlohvgq&videoId=870910135&mc_cid=ab142e53b8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Four-time All-American Matt Kolodzik goes On The Mat
Princeton’s first four-time wrestling All-American, Matthew Kolodzik, will go On The Mat to talk about his upcoming battle with Pat Lugo at the Hawkeye Wrestling Club Showdown Open on November 1. An Ohio native, Kolodzik wrestled at prep powerhouse Blair Academy in New Jersey before enrolling at Princeton. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton On The Mat, the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com. … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/trackwrestling/on-the-mat/matthew-kolodzik-goes-on-the-mat-otm617/?mc_cid=5358e83a0f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – CWRU Athletics Announces Cancellation of Winter Sports Competition in 2020-21
Case Western Reserve University announced on Tuesday afternoon that its winter varsity sports (men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, and wrestling) will not be participating in intercollegiate competition this season.
“After consultation with health experts and university leadership, we have also determined that winter sport varsity and club athletic competition cannot take place safely this winter sport season,” said Amy Backus, the James C. Wyant Director of Athletics and Chair of Physical Education at CWRU in an e-mail to student-athletes on Tuesday. “The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff is the top priority driving this decision. As we have done in the fall, we anticipate that winter sport student-athletes will be able to practice and condition with their coaches in a controlled and safe environment when they return for the spring semester.” The announcement follows a decision announced earlier in the day by the University Athletic Association, cancelling competition in winter sports hosted by the league. Prior to today’s decision, CWRU initially made the announcement to cancel competition for fall sports on July 8, and extended the cancellation on August 3 to include all sports through the end of the calendar year. … rest of story at https://athletics.case.edu/general/2020-21/releases/20201027mux2br?mc_cid=2e944b01db&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – DI board backs transfer proposal, suspends academic penalties
Effects of pandemic lead to Academic Performance Program changes for two years
The Division I Board of Directors strongly supports legislation that would allow all Division I student-athletes the opportunity to transfer and compete immediately, regardless of the sport they play. The board met virtually Wednesday. “It’s time to provide uniform transfer flexibility to Division I student-athletes,” said board chair Denise Trauth, president at Texas State. “The board members agree that the Working Group on Transfers created a sensible proposal that provides all student-athletes, no matter what sport they play, the opportunity for academic and athletic pursuits at the school that is the best fit.”  Trauth was officially elected chair during Wednesday’s meeting and has served on an interim basis since the summer. … rest of story at https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/di-board-backs-transfer-proposal-suspends-academic-penalties?mc_cid=aa8061392c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 3, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

College Coaching News – # 7

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Included are interviews of college coaches and notices of changes in coaching positions at new programs and at existing programs.
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1 } – Coach Profile: Joe Galante
Every Wednesday, TCNJ Athletics will profile a coach from one of its programs. Today, its head wrestling coach Joe Galante ’07. Galante will be entering his 10th season in 2020-21. He has produced a career record of 120-57 in dual matches and has led the Lions to three top-10 finishes at the NCAA Division III Championships. The 2019 NCAA Mideast Regional Coach of the Year and 2020 NWCA Mideast Regional Coach of the Year, Galante has coached 20 All-Americans, including two NCAA Champions. In 2020, he coached TCNJ to its first ever NCAA Regional Championship.
You are now entering your 10th season as head coach at TCNJ following your wrestling career at the College. What is it about TCNJ that keeps you coming back year after year?
TCNJ is a healthy environment filled with motivated individuals who are focused on improvement and success. I love being a part of that culture and helping to make it stronger.
You have coached three teams to national top-10 finishes, athletes to 20 All-America honors, and two National Champions. What has been the key to that success? … rest of story at https://tcnjathletics.com/news/2020/11/4/wrestling-coach-profile-joe-galante.aspx?mc_cid=68c338ad78&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Tyson Thivierge wants to bring another NAIA championship back to Montana
Tyson Thivierge wants Montana State-Northern back on top. The Northern Lights head coach dives into pronouncing his last name, building a championship culture, and loyal fans who cheered against his team when they faced Iowa. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1604979663796&twSessionId=rfnmaghwfh&videoId=874986135&mc_cid=799fb85b6c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – MEISTER TABBED AS NEW FRIENDS UNIVERSITY MEN’S AND WOMEN’S WRESTLING COACH
WICHITA, Kan. – Friends University Director of Athletics Dr. Rob Ramseyer has announced the hiring of Aaron Meister as the head coach of the newly added men’s and wrestling programs. “We feel lucky to attract a coach with the experience of starting and running a successful wrestling program,” Ramseyer said.  “Aaron brings a great deal of experience to the role and Christian higher education. We are confident he will build a quality program that will be successful in being competitive but also producing students who are engaged and will graduate.  We are excited to welcome him and his wife Jill back to Kansas.”
Meister is indeed familiar with Kansas after attending Holton High School, Labette County Community College and then graduating from Fort Hays State University. He comes to Friends after helping to jumpstart the men’s and women’s wrestling programs as an assistant coach for four seasons at Wayland Baptist University (WBU) in Plainview, Texas. He then took the reins of the program after head coach legendary head coach Johnny Cobb retired prior to the 2014-15 season.
Meister’s decorated coaching career includes coaching a World Champion, Tamyra Mensah-Stock, four World medalists, 13 National Champions, 96 All-Americans, and the 2019 NAIA Women’s Dual Champions. Among those All-Americans is an Olympic Trials champion, two World Team Trials champions, three U.S. Open champions, a University World runner-up, and 25 of those individuals are either World or Olympic Trials qualifiers. … rest of story at https://www.friendsathletics.com/article/3536?mc_cid=b4122c2e60&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Get to Know: Head Assistant Wrestling Coach Ross Needham
La Crosse, Wis. – UW-La Crosse Intercollegiate Athletics is giving fans an opportunity to get to know its staff during the 2020-21 season.  We thank members of the Eagles’ staff for participating.  Today’s staff member is UWL Head Assistant Wrestling Coach Ross Needham. 
Needham is in his 11th season as an assistant wrestling coach at UWL in 2020-21, including his ninth as the head assistant coach.  He also serves as an instructor in the exercise sport science department. Needham was named the 2014-15 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year after helping lead UWL to a third-place finish in the regional championship.  The Eagles advanced five wrestlers to the NCAA Division III Championships with two earning regional titles.  UWL has finished in the top-eight four years at the national championships in Needham’s tenure, placing third in 2010-11 and fourth in 2011-12 and 2012-13. The Eagles were sixth in 2015-16, seventh in 2017-18 and eighth in 2014-15.  A total of 34 wrestlers have earned NCAA III All-America honors in the last 10 seasons. … rest of story at https://uwlathletics.com/news/2020/11/12/get-to-know-head-assistant-wrestling-coach-ross-needham.aspx?mc_cid=b4122c2e60&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Former Boxer Zach Binkerd Named Interim Men’s & Women’s Wrestling Coach
The Boxer wrestling program is now in the hands of former Pacific wrestler and former assistant coach Zach Binkerd as he’s officially been named interim Head men’s and women’s wrestling coach.  Binkerd knows first-hand how Pacific and the ability to compete in a sport you love at the college level can make a significant impact in one’s life. “I think some of the things that I learned as an athlete helped me in my professional career. The things that I learned in the classroom pushed me above my peers. I truly believe that Pacific University has a great education. I did both my undergrad and graduate work here, and I came out of my graduate program feeling like a professional –  like I was ready to attack the world. I owe that a lot to the education that I received at Pacific and the culture that was created through the wrestling program,” said Binkerd. Athletic Director Keith Buckley is excited to have Binkerd lead the way for the Boxer wrestling program moving forward.  “Coach Binkerd has a tremendous connection to the Boxer wrestling community and is eager … rest of story at https://goboxers.com/news/2020/11/12/former-boxer-zach-binkerd-named-interim-mens-womens-wrestling-coach.aspx?mc_cid=b4122c2e60&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – 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, … rest of story at https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/wwrest/2020-21/releases/20201014i0izpu?mc_cid=1debff05aa&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Get to Know: Head Men’s Wrestling Coach Ian Clark
ELMIRA, N.Y. — A year ago, Elmira College’s Associate Vice President of Athletics, Renee Carlineo, announced that the Soaring Eagles would return to the mats for the first time since the 1970s with the re-introduction of men’s wrestling. Two months later, former SUNY Cortland Red Dragon and Oswego State assistant coach, Ian Clark, was appointed the team’s new head coach. Originally from Evan Mills, New York – a small North Country village located just outside Fort Drum – Clark won a Section III Class A championship as a heavyweight at Indian River High School during his senior year. That season, he narrowly missed out on a berth in the state tournament as the Section III runner-up in the large school division. Clark went on to study at nearby Jefferson Community College, before finishing his collegiate career at SUNY Cortland, where he earned a degree in Business Economics in 2011. No stranger to working with young programs, Clark’s most recent coaching stint saw him play a valuable role in reviving the men’s wrestling team at Division III Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. … rest of story at https://athletics.elmira.edu/news/2020/10/6/get-to-know-head-mens-wrestling-coach-ian-clark.aspx?mc_cid=aeabd832c4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – New Bees coach welcomes opportunity
Bo Bettinson embraces the uniqueness of the opportunity. Named Monday as the head coach for the new St. Ambrose wrestling program that will begin competition during the 2021-22 school year, Bettinson welcomes the chance to build a program from the ground up. “This is an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often and it’s both a little scary and yet very exciting at the same time,’’ said Bettinson, a four-time NAIA national qualifier at Waldorf who has worked since 2017 as an assistant coach at Montana State-Northern. “I’m looking forward to building a program, bringing in guys who value their grades, have a great work ethic and believe in a family culture. Those are the things that we want St. Ambrose wrestling to be about.’’ A Reno, Nevada, native, Bettinson has spent six years in Iowa, wrestling and coaching at Waldorf where he was a four-year team captain and won 105 matches during his career at 125 pounds and worked as a graduate assistant coach from 2015-17. … rest of story at https://qctimes.com/sports/college/wrestling/new-bees-coach-welcomes-opportunity/article_9269ffe1-7e64-539b-b059-7d157e460df9.html?mc_cid=2e944b01db&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – Twin coaches Anthony and Gennaro Bonaventura talk D3 wrestling, podcasting and coaching #InternationalPodcastDay
Twin brothers and Division III wrestling coaches Anthony and Gennaro Bonaventura are up next on Short Time. The pair host the D3 Nation Podcast, which focuses on, you guessed it, Division III wrestling. Anthony is a coach at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, while Gennaro is an assistant at their alma mater of Waynesburg. This interview was part of the #InternationalPodcastDay marathon live stream from Mat Talk Online … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/twin-coaches-anthony-and-gennaro-bonaventura-talk-d3-wrestling-podcasting-and-coaching-internationalpodcastday/?mc_cid=9d92b7854a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Spotlight: Joe Jamison
Each week our Spotlight Series will focus on a coach or staff member to showcase the incredible talent we have at Ursinus. This week’s subject is wrestling coach Joe Jamison, who is entering his second season with the program. In his debut campaign, Jamison led the Bears to a fourth-place finish at the Centennial Conference championships, where four of his wrestlers reached the finals of their respective weight classes.
What drew you to Ursinus, and what makes Ursinus unique?
The community and support at Ursinus is second to none. It’s an incredibly welcoming place that prides itself on helping others succeed and develop into who they want to become.
What’s the best piece of advice, coaching or otherwise, you’ve ever received?
The last thing my dad ever told me was to “never stop working hard.” From a coaching perspective, it’s that I’m an educator, and wrestling is what I’m teaching. The student-athletes’ well-being and personal development is the goal. … rest of story at https://ursinus.prestosports.com/general/2020-21/releases/20201005du9s5z?mc_cid=bbb5286d21&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 3, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Wrestlers In Business Network – November Newsletter

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Here is most of the latest newsletter from the WIBN (Wrestlers In Business Network). This is a quality organization and a good opportunity to build networking with businesses with those of similar backgrounds and interests in supporting wrestling opportunities. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Webinar Speaker Series Launched: I am excited to announce that the WIBN National Webinar Series will kick off on Thursday, December 10, at 4:30 pm EST. Our first presenter, Carl Eschenbach (click here for bio), is a rock star leader in the venture capital/technology sector (Sequoia Capital), and you won’t want to miss him. Before joining Sequoia Capital in 2016, Carl was President and COO of VMware, where he helped grow the company from $31 million in his first full year to $7 billion in revenues and from 200 people to 20,000. Carl will be a 2021 member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an Outstanding American. He will be presenting on “Key Traits of Successful Managers and Entrepreneurs,” followed by a Question/Answer opportunity.
We will be hosting one or two of these WIBN National webinars each month to keep our WIBN members and chapters fully engaged until we can get back to regular events and activities. Please be sure to forward any suggestions for future presentation topics that you think would have broad appeal to our vast WIBN network of members (please send to Mike Moyer at mmoyer@nwca.cc).  
New/Revitalized WIBN Chapters: I am happy to report that we have a strong interest in Reading, PA, to form a WIBN Chapter. We also have great possibilities in New Orleans, Chicago, and Pittsburgh, PA. If you live in any of these regions and are interested in being considered to serve on the local chapter Board, please contact me, and I will be sure to connect you to the appropriate people. 
WIBN Business Development Highlight: Whenever possible, I like to highlight a Wrestlers In Business Network Connection. In this issue, I’d like to illustrate the great work of our WIBN/Denver Chapter leader, Kevin Brooks, who is a partner at Sunbelt Business Brokers. Last month via a WIBN introduction, I connected Kevin with WIBN/Long island member Neil Duncan. Neil is in the process of selling a Relocatable Light Fabrication & Distribution Company. Needless to say, a strong relationship built on their mutual wrestling interests resulted, and now the company is officially for sale with multiple inquiries from potential buyers. Here is a link if anyone is interested in learning more about the opportunity:  https://wrestlersinbusiness.org/forsale
I encourage any other WIBN members with similar stories to please send them to Mike Moyer mmoyer@nwca.cc so we can feature them in future issues of WIBN newsletters. This is truly the power of the WIBN network. 
Update on Interscholastic & Intercollegiate Wrestling Season: It is great to see that the intercollegiate wrestling has begun, primarily with the NAIA and Women’s divisions. It appears as if most of the other intercollegiate teams will be competing shortly after January 1, 2021. There are a few isolated instances where conferences and/or individual institutions have suspended all winter sports. While it is a very fluid situation, our college wrestling coaches’ consensus is that they are willing to make whatever compromises necessary to protect the national championship. We expect a potentially chaotic and unpredictable season, but hopefully, all of the various national championships can go off as scheduled.  
The interscholastic wrestling season is just as fluid. With each passing week, a growing number of state high school athletic associations appear to be pushing the start dates for their seasons back toward January while others are moving as far out as the Spring. For a complete update, please click here to view an up-to-date illustration of where each state association is with their season.  
In closing, and on behalf of our NWCA President, Coach Kevin Ward, and our Board of Directors, I hope everyone has a terrific Thanksgiving season!

December 3, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment