Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

High School News – # 27

TDR Editor’s Notes ; A look at some of the changes and announcements of wrestling seasons in various states. While these articles are dated and the season may have been changed again since then so we will track that down and look to update soon.
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1 } – (Arizona) AIA board eliminates wrestling invitationals, reduces basketball, soccer tourneys amid pandemic
Arizona high school winter sports will look different this year because of the pandemic. There will be no more wrestling invitationals but muti-team meets can be held for schools that don’t have enough wrestlers, as long as no more than one match is conducted per wrestler that day, under revised guidelines approved by the Arizona Interscholastic Association Thursday. For basketball and soccer, only one tournament per school can be played and only during winter break when the schools are not in session. The tournaments can include no more than eight teams with no out-of-state teams and no adjacent courts and fields to be used, under the revisions. The jump ball still will be used for basketball. And, like fall sports, there will be no handshake line post-game. If a tournament is held at a soccer complex, every other field has to be used to provide spacing between teams. The revisions were passed by the AIA’s Executive Board after meeting … rest of story at https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/10/29/aia-board-eliminates-wrestling-invites-modifies-basketball-soccer/6077828002/?mc_cid=69b31ff737&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – (Virginia) VHSL approved to move forward with plan for return to sports
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – High school sports are returning to Virginia in December. The Virginia High School League announced Friday it will move forward with the previously adopted “Championships +1” model after “Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed the fourth amended Executive Order 67 which includes changes to Section 12 related to recreational sports.” According to a release from the VHSL, “the amended Executive Order did not change the number of attendees permitted at a sporting event, which cannot exceed the lesser of 50% of the occupancy load or 250 persons. For sports played on a field, attendees are limited to 250 person per field.” High school sports competitions in Virginia have been shut down since March due to COVID-19. Teams are currently permitted to hold offseason workouts. … rest of story at https://www.whsv.com/2020/10/30/vhsl-approved-to-move-forward-with-plan-for-return-to-sports/?mc_cid=69b31ff737&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Wrestling, track canceled for winter season
MONTPELIER — The state of Vermont put out its winter sports guidance on Tuesday during the governor’s press conference and while there’s good news for some, there’s horrible news for others. While sports like basketball and outdoor sports like Nordic skiing will happen this winter, two major offerings — wrestling and indoor track — will not be played this year. Mount Anthony wrestling coach Brian Coon said that the coaches came up with a couple of proposals but they weren’t considered. “I want the kids to have basketball and we should have wrestling as well,” Coon said. “We came up with two or three different proposals — only wrestling dual meets, only in-state teams, only wrestling two or three matches in a week, not having any crowds, but the governor’s group didn’t seem [to take that into account].”
Other states are getting ready for or having wrestling events. Pennsylvania, for example, is hosting the sport with many changes for safety. The Super 32 meet, one of the more prestigious events in the national wrestling scene, went down a couple of weeks ago in Myrtle Beach, S.C. “Things are happening all over, down south and out west,” Coon said. … rest of story at https://www.benningtonbanner.com/sports/wrestling-track-canceled-for-winter-season/article_37f69d8e-1e22-11eb-a299-37ac2577ccb4.html?mc_cid=1abb33fe3e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – (Illinois) Wrestling coaches relish chance to give athletes delayed opportunity
Wednesday’s IHSA Board of Directors special meeting was widely talked about because of the group’s decision on basketball. Specifically, deciding to start it as scheduled on Nov. 16 despite pushback from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state departments about playing the sport amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But that meeting addressed more than one sport.
Boys’ swimming and diving, competitive cheer, competitive dance, bowling and girls’ gymnastics all will go on as planned, the board determined. Practices can begin Nov. 16, and competition will end Feb. 13.
Then there’s wrestling. “My thought all along, all school year long, was just that it was going to be canceled this season,” Monticello wrestling coach Andy Moore said. “As these (COVID-19) cases grew in Illinois, I really felt they would cancel it for the year,” Champaign Central wrestling leader Merle Ingersoll added.
The IHSA board had a surprise in store for Moore, Ingersoll and others following their train of thought. That being a postponed — not canceled — season for this school year. The board decided to shift the campaign from its planned Nov. 16-Feb. 13 timeline to the IHSA’s one-year summer season of April 19-June 26. This decision fell in line with a September proposal to the IHSA from some of the state’s wrestling coaches and officials. … rest of story at https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/wrestling-coaches-relish-chance-to-give-athletes-delayed-opportunity/article_0cdc36b6-e27a-5e99-9a41-2621a9220e53.html?mc_cid=69b31ff737&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Minnesota/USA Wrestling Produces COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for Tournaments
MN/USA Wrestling has published a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for MN/USA Wrestling Tournaments on their website along with the following statement:
“Minnesota/USA Wrestling is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all our members, workers, officials, coaches, parents, and participants. To ensure we have a safe and healthy environment, MN/USA Wrestling has developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tournament organizers and hosts are all responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our tournaments and communities, and that requires full cooperation among our workers and management. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of all persons in our workplaces.” … rest of story at https://theguillotine.com/2020/10/mn-usa-wrestling-produces-covid-19-preparedness-plan-for-tournaments/?mc_cid=8d4526dbd7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – SEVEN RETURNING CHAMPS STILL IN MIX AT BRIAN KECK MEMORIAL PRESEASON NATIONALS
By Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling | Oct. 30, 2020
DES MOINES, Iowa – The first day of the 2020 Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals wrapped up on Friday night with the high school boys divisions wrestling through the round of 16, setting up for Saturday’s quarterfinals. Among those that advanced to the quarterfinals include seven returning Preseason Nationals champions, a 2019 Cadet World Team member and a 2019 U15 World silver medalist. They are listed below: … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/October/30/Preseason-Nats-HS-boys-1?mc_cid=69b31ff737&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
MANTANONA AND STRICKENBERGER WIN OW AWARDS AT BRIAN KECK MEMORIAL PRESEASON NATIONALS By Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling | Oct. 31, 2020
DES MOINES, Iowa – The high school boys divisions of the Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals wrestled to completion with two athletes—Beau Mantanona (California) and Jett Strickenberger (Colorado)— claiming the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler accolades on Saturday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa.
9th-10th grade recap
Recording six falls and one major decision, Mantanona was the 120 pound champion in the 9th-10th grade division. Representing the CVBJJ, Beau wasn’t the only one from his club to find success. In fact, the CVBJJ, based in California, brought four athletes to the competition and left with four champions in the 9th-10th division, including Brock Mantanona at 100 pounds, Sonny Kling at 195 pounds and Daniel Herrera at 285 pounds. “It’s been tough to train in the middle of the pandemic, but these guys really train hard when there’s a tournament to prepare for,” CVBJJ coach Anthony Mantanona said. “We’ve had this tournament in our sights for a while. The kids were excited and really stepped it up. They all wrestled really tough. Their confidence built as the tournament went on and these guys were awesome.” … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/October/31/HS-boys-preseason-nats-2?mc_cid=41fa5d2268&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – (Oklahoma) Former NFL linebacker named Po-Hi Interim Wrestling Coach
PONCA CITY — Former NFL linebacker and 2004 Ponca City High School graduate, Justin Roland has been named Interim Head Wrestling Coach at Ponca City High School. Roland is the third Po-Hi graduate to lead the wrestling program in over 90 years. Roland has been involved in the PCPS wrestling and football programs for the past 10 years. “I’m excited to be the leader of this program that taught me about toughness and discipline. I plan to bring toughness, discipline, and sweat equity to the program. In addition, it is imperative to me for this program to be a positive influence on our school and community.” said Roland.  Roland spent eight years as a junior high assistant wrestling coach and two years as the junior high head wrestling coach. During that time, he guided multiple state placers and champions. In addition, his junior high team captured the 2019-20 State Championship. He was selected as the Junior High Coach of the Year.  Roland has spent 10 years on the high school football staff, serving as an assistant for six years and defensive coordinator for four years.  … rest of story at https://kaynewscow.com/2020/11/03/former-nfl-linebacker-named-po-hi-interim-wrestling-coach/?mc_cid=1abb33fe3e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Wrestling fighting to go maskless as Delaware’s fall sports’ social distancing called a ‘nightmare’
Delaware is one of two states, along with Michigan, that are requiring mask use for most of its high school athletes, but one winter sport is trying to crack that trend. The Delaware Wrestling Coaches Association has submitted a letter to the Division of Public Health and the DIAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee saying that wrestling should be exempted from the rule. DWCA President David Williams, head coach at Newark Charter, told WDEL that current facial coverings would be essentially useless, especially if you’re trying to shorten contact time between wrestlers.
“A facial covering won’t stay on in wrestling. It will continually come off during the match. The referee will have to keep on stopping that match, and that will prolong the match. Even though a match is six minutes, it actually takes about nine minutes. With facial coverings, the matches will take 18-20 minutes more than likely with the amount of times the referee will have to start and restart.” While one mild concern could be a mask snap being a distraction, Williams said the masks could also hurt in another key part of the sport. “You can’t breathe as you wrestling as it is. … rest of story at https://www.wdel.com/news/wrestling-fighting-to-go-maskless-as-delawares-fall-sports-social-distancing-called-a-nightmare/article_92bf5a10-1d84-11eb-b95f-03f8ec0dcd21.html?mc_cid=1abb33fe3e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – (Wisconsin) Senior National wrestling title the latest accomplishment for Olympic hopeful and Elkhorn grad Peak
When the 2017-18 high school wrestling season rolled around, one name from the area was notably absent. Benji Peak had won the WIAA Division 1 state title at 126 pounds in February 2017 as a junior for Elkhorn Area High School. There would be no title defense in 2018, however. Peak had bigger goals in mind. “Once you win state, there’s not really—in high school at least—much else to do,” he said in a recent phone interview. “And I was like, I’m not going to go wrestle college folkstyle, so I’m leaving now.”
Peak moved to Marquette, Michigan, finished his high school credits online, enrolled at Northern Michigan and began Greco-Roman wrestling training there at the United States Olympic Education Center. Three years later, Peak said he has absolutely has no regrets. And his recent accomplishments are solid proof that he has not looked back. Peak won the 2020 Senior Nationals in Iowa last month. He was named the event’s Most Outstanding Wrestler after outscoring his competition 46-0 over five matches in the 67-kilogram bracket. … rest of story at https://www.gazettextra.com/sports/local/senior-national-wrestling-title-the-latest-accomplishment-for-olympic-hopeful-and-elkhorn-grad-peak/article_a29b6275-4d36-5579-bcc1-f5139590bf29.html?mc_cid=1abb33fe3e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Penna. High school wrestling: Bethlehem Catholic standout makes college commitment, Powerade tournament venue change
Senior Evan Gleason is the latest Bethlehem Catholic wrestler to commit to Harvard, according to a Facebook post Wednesday by his father, Michael. “We are humbled to announce Evan’s commitment to the Harvard University admissions process,” Michael Gleason wrote. “Evan will be continuing his academic and wrestling career there. Thank you to all our friends and family who have helped accomplish this goal.”
Evan Gleason was 37-13 last season for coach Jeff Karam’s Golden Hawks. He won District 11 Class 3A gold at 138 pounds, then was second at regionals and fifth in the state. He is a two-time district and regional placewinner with a 72-32 career record. Gleason will join Bethlehem Catholic graduates Kenny Herrmann and Dillon Murphy at Harvard.
Powering on: The 54th annual Powerade tournament is moving its event from Canon-McMillan High School to Monroeville Convention Center and it will be Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 28-29, according to a release Thursday morning by tournament director Frank Vulcano Jr. … rest of story at https://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/wrestling/mc-spt-lehigh-valley-wrestling-commitment-20201029-5at52pac3zhqfoltxoztgwtp2u-story.html?mc_cid=69b31ff737&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 6, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Women’s Wrestling News – # 53

TDR Editor’s Notes ; It is important to recognize and celebrate individual women wrestlers such as in the first three articles. A transfer from a school without women’s wrestling to Arizona State in article #4. The schedule for Life University team in #5. A look at the top wrestlers and the latest college poll in #6 & #7. It has been fascinating and amazing to look back over the history is shown in #8. Possible growth to the Ivy League in #9 and a look forward for the sport in general in # 10.
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1 } – Sarah Hildebrandt – 3x Team USA, 2018 World Silver Medalist
About This Episode
Sarah Hildebrandt (@sarhilde) is currently the #1 50kg wrestler in the US. She recently dominated the 2020 Senior Nationals, winning OW in the process.  Back in 2018, she won a World Silver medal and is currently gunning for a spot on the 2021 Olympic Team.  Please enjoy folks! (Photo: Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers are Warriors)
FANS: If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews! … rest of story and podcast at https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/174-sarah-hildebrandt-3x-team-usa-2018-world-silver/?mc_cid=5358e83a0f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Sarah Hildebrandt: What I learned from Amy Hildebrandt
Sarah Hildebrandt, a 2018 World silver medalist and a two-time WCWA champion for King, shares thoughts on what she has learned from her younger sister by two and a half years: Trine University head women’s wrestling coach Amy Hildebrandt.
TRY. FAIL. WHO CARES?
“What I’ve learned from Amy is to chase your dreams. Go after them. Who cares what your past is? Who cares what people are saying in the present? I think about my sister and she didn’t wrestle in college and didn’t love wrestling until later on in life and now she is so in love with it and chasing her dream. It’s different than what she ever anticipated and she’s out there doing that.
DON’T PRE-SUFFER
“This is specific but it stuck with me for a long time. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1604026332825&twSessionId=eizsageqbn&postId=872416135&mc_cid=8d4526dbd7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – BOOK REVIEW: AFSOON IS A GREAT READ FOR ALL WRESTLERS, OR ANYBODY WHO REALLY WANTS TO BE INSPIRED
I was very hopeful when I heard that there would be a book written about Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, the Iranian immigrant who became a pioneer for women’s wrestling in the United States.
To be transparent, I consider Afsoon a friend. I have had a number of opportunities to hear different aspects of her amazing life story, which she shared with me over the years. I was already a staff member at USA Wrestling back in 1989 when Afsoon was in high school and started her international wrestling career. I have known Afsoon ever since, witnessing first-hand her career on the mat, her development as an Olympic coach, and her role as a volunteer leader in USA Wrestling over the last three decades.
The book, aptly named Afsoon, and written by respected wrestling author Craig Sesker, came out earlier this season. I brought the book with me for a recent vacation flight and never put it down. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/October/26/Book-Review-of-Afsoon?mc_cid=5358e83a0f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Arizona State University Is the Next Destination For Jess Battilochi
WHEELING — The sport of wrestling has allowed Jess Battilochi to travel to different parts of the world during her days as an athletic trainer at Wheeling University. She has been to Beijing, China; Panama City, Panama and Klippan, Sweden. However, all of those journeys were roundtrips. Her next trip will be a one-way shot. The 2009 Buckeye Local graduate recently accepted an assistant trainer’s position with the wrestling program at Arizona State in Tempe. Her last day at WU will be Nov. 3. “This is truly my dream job. I was notified last Tuesday and I’m still in shock,” Battilochi said in a telephone interview Monday night. “I saw the job posting and applied. I went through three zoom interviews with various members of the athletic department and wrestling program. Then I received notification that they had hired me.”
Battilochi has been working at Wheeling University for the past three-plus years. In addition to the wrestling program, she has also worked with the women’s soccer; rugby and softball programs. … rest of story at https://www.theintelligencer.net/sports/top-sports/2020/10/asu-is-the-next-destination-for-jess-battilochi/?mc_cid=2e944b01db&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Life University Women’s Wrestling Announces 2020-21 Scheduling
MARIETTA, Ga. —- Life University women’s wrestling head coach Ashley Sword announced the completed 2020-21 schedule Wednesday afternoon. Sword mentioned, “Our ladies have been eager to compete since the cancellation of the 2020 NAIA National Invitational. As coaches, we are excited to see what this very young, but very talented group of athletes has in store.” Starting off the year, Jordan Nelson will compete in the Hawkeye Wrestling Club Showdown Open on November 1. She will match up with Precious Bell in the event that has captured the attention of the international wrestling community. Sword added, “It seems right that our only senior Jordan will take center stage at the Hawkeye Wrestling Club Showdown Open to kick off our year. We are proud of her tireless work ethic, and honored for this opportunity to show what we can do on the national stage.” The Running Eagles as a team will open up competition in late November … rest of story at https://liferunningeagles.com/news/2020/10/28/womens-wrestling-announces-2020-21-scheduling.aspx?mc_cid=aa8061392c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – LOOKING AT THE WOMEN’S FREESTYLE WRESTLERS REGISTERED FOR THE U23 AND UWW JUNIOR NATIONALS
The UWW U23 and Junior Nationals will take place in Omaha, Nebraska, next week from November 13-15. Each division will feature all three Olympic styles (men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman) with 10 weight classes in each style. The tournament was initially slated to act as a World Team Trials for the Junior and U23 World Teams. However, both age-group-level World tournaments have been cancelled by United World Wrestling. While registration doesn’t close until Tuesday, November 10, a strong contingent of athletes already lined up to compete. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/November/06/Womens-freestyle-registration-U23s-and-Juniors?mc_cid=b6ed949da8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – NCAA WOMEN | Pre-Season Poll
Manheim, PA – On Monday, the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced the pre-season individual and tournament team rankings for the NCAA Women. This is the second season that the NWCA has sponsored a poll for the NCAA Women’s division. 
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
Freshmen are not included in the preseason polls. Of note, many athletes are coming off redshirt years.
With NCAA women competing in freestyle competition, it has been determined that results from sanctioned freestyle events such as USA Wrestling’s U23 Championships will be factored into the individual rankings throughout the season. … rest of story at http://www.nwcaonline.com/ncaa-women-pre-season-poll/?mc_cid=41fa5d2268&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – A thread on King women’s wrestling and intrasquad results
King University has been a staple program in women’s wrestling for a decade. 
When the program was added in 2010 there were just 12 teams competing that season: 9 NAIA, 3 NCAA. There are 87 programs a decade later and NCAA women’s wrestling has emerging sport status. 
Some of the current most dominant freestyle wrestlers have roots in Bristol—think Sarah Hildebrandt, Alli Ragan and Forrest Molinari, to name a few. Not to mention the coaches that have grown there as well. Assistant Coach Julia Salata is a lead voice in women’s wrestling and contributes cross-functionally as a coach, athlete and pioneer with Wrestle Like A Girl. Travis Mercado leads at Colorado Mesa, Breonnah Neal at Ferrum, Nick Goebel and Jessi Kee at Tiffin. … rest of story at https://www.transitionwrestling.com/a-thread-on-king-womens-wrestling-and-intrasquad-results/?mc_cid=5c187c6cfd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – .Are Ivy League programs ready to add women’s college wrestling?
Join Chris Ayres of Princeton, Zach Tanelli of Columbia, and Jacque Davis for a round table discussion on bringing Division I women’s college wrestling to Ivy League schools. .. rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1605239724849&twSessionId=hfguqgcrvd&videoId=875254135&mc_cid=b4122c2e60&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Women’s wrestling continues to march forward in 2020
Trackwrestling recently hosted a 30-minute round table discussion with Columbia head coach Zach Tanelli, Princeton head coach Chris Ayres and women’s wrestling advocate Jacque Davis on bringing Division I women’s college wrestling to Ivy League schools.
Although the round table discussion was simply a starting point to create momentum for women’s college wrestling, the conversation offered insight into growing the entire sport. Below are a few takeaways from the call.
You can watch the entire interview here.
Jacque Davis, women’s wrestling advocate
“We’re in an incredible place (for women’s wrestling). We’re at nearly 30,000 girls across the country that are wrestling at the high school level. We have 87 colleges — and growing — that are offering women’s wrestling.
“If we can get them in this space, maybe they’ll know it’s possible.”
Chris Ayres, Princeton head coach
“The benefit of wrestling is the same for women as it is for men. I just want women to have those opportunities. We’ve ignored the other half of humanity. This is good for wrestling, not just men or women. When you add a woman to your program you don’t just add one fan. You add her parents, her grandparents, her aunts, her uncles.  “For anyone who will listen, I will tell them the story of what’s going to happen down the road because we kind of know how this story is going to end. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1605239724849&twSessionId=hfguqgcrvd&postId=875923135&mc_cid=b4122c2e60&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 6, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment