Takedown Report

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 7^th, 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 5^th 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 The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized