Takedown Report

College Wrestlers Awards & News – # 1

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Mostly stories of wrestlers and their awards, challenges and successes.
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1 } – Larson, Thompson Lead Bullets Wrestling
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – A pair of veteran senior leaders will steer the Gettysburg College wrestling team during the 2020-21 campaign as Marc Larson (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) and Sean Thompson (Plainfield, N.J./West-Windsor Plainsboro South) have been named captains by Interim Head Coach Gino Frank.
Larson is coming off a breakout junior campaign. After winning a total of 16 matches in his first two seasons at Gettysburg, he recorded 21 wins as the starter at 165 pounds during 2019-20. Nine of his wins came by pin fall, while three were major decisions. Larson placed fourth at the Gettysburg Invitational and he won four of his final five matches to grab seventh at the highly-competitive Petrofes Invitational hosted by Messiah College. One of the highlights of Larson’s junior campaign was a record-breaking nine-second pin against Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. Larson is a political science major and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.  
Thompson has been a steady star in Gettysburg’s lineup over the last three seasons and ranks among the program’s top 20 with 82 career wins. The senior has wrestled the entirety of his career at 141 pounds and is a three-time place-winner at the Centennial Conference Championship, finishing as high as runner-up in 2019. Last season, he led the team with a career-high 31 wins and six major decisions, while finishing second on the team with 11 falls. A political science and history double-major, Thompson is a member of Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, Drop the Octave acapella group, the Eisenhower Institute, and the Civil War Institute. … rest of story at _{https://gettysburgsports.com/news/2020/12/1/larson-thompson-lead-bullets-wrestling.aspx?mc_cid=2514c7e76e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

2 } – HARGROVE GARNERS FIRST WEEKLY HONOR
Oskaloosa–Cameron Hargrove (Fr., Bolingbrook, Ill.) picked up a big win to open his collegiate career and his efforts helped him to be named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Men’s Wrestler of the Week Monday. Hargrove earned his first-ever laurel by defeating Blake Pomajzl of Northwestern last Tuesday.
The freshman 157-pounder was leading Pomajzl 9-6 midway through the third period when he turned and pinned him in 5:59.  Pomajzl entered the match ranked #1 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. … rest of story at _{https://www.statesmenathletics.com/article/8954?mc_cid=2514c7e76e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

3 } – Peters named GPAC Wrestler of the Week
Briar Cliff’s Ben Peters was named GPAC Wrestler of the Week for the week of November 16-22. Peters, a redshirt junior at 157, went 3-1 on the week. Peters, the second ranked wrestler in the GPAC, started the week with a 12-3 win over the GPAC’s #1 Pomajzl of Northwestern in the teams’ dual at the Newman Flanagan Center. Peters then beat two opponents at the Grand View Open before falling just 8-6 to Grand View’s Tanner Abbas, who ranked third in the NAIA in the 157-lb. weight class. … rest of story at _{https://bcuchargers.com/news/2020/11/28/wrestling-peters-named-gpac-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=9fce5d3dda&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

4 } – Builder Athletics Suspends Winter Sports Seasons
NEWPORT NEWS, VA — The Apprentice School has suspended athletics competition for 2020-2021 winter sports season, following an internal announcement issued last week. A decision on spring sports will be determined in January.
Director of Athletics Michael W. Allen stated, “The past eight months have no doubt been a challenging time in our country, and especially the climate of organized athletics. We all have been trying to navigate our world being turned upside down and adapting on a daily basis of unknowns and frustrations that COVID has created. In recent discussions with our Director of Education, Dr. Latitia McCane, as well as other high-level stakeholders of Newport News Shipbuilding, we have had many meetings and discussions of crafting a well thought-out plan for how we could safely return to practices and competitions for our apprentice-athletes. Given the nature of who we are and what we do here at NNS, we unfortunately cannot safely and effectively compete with other schools at this time. Therefore we regret to announce we will not be able to return to sport competition in January.” … rest of story at _{https://gobuilders.prestosports.com/general/2020-21/releases/20201201dlf638?mc_cid=2514c7e76e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

5 } – THREE WRESTLERS PURSUE MASTERY OF MAT AND DEGREES
It’s one thing to be a master on the mat. It’s another to hold a degree to prove the title. Ohio State wrestlers Kaleb Romero, Fritz Schierl and Zach Steiner entered graduate school this semester so they can do both. The three have a combined 10 Ohio State Scholar Athlete and seven Academic All-Big Ten recognitions.
“With wrestling being one of these sports that there’s not a lot of professional development after you’re done competing, it’s hard to really start up a career,” Romero said. “It’s nice to know that having all of these academic accomplishments will jumpstart us after we’re done wrestling.” The trio have been teammates for the past three seasons. Schierl is a redshirt senior, while Romero and Steiner are redshirt juniors. Head coach Tom Ryan said the basis of their academic success roots back to their discipline. “They have an aerial view of their life, so they’re focusing on the now, but they’re also aware that their decisions now can actually control their future,” Ryan said. “Ohio State wrestling can further that.” … rest of story at ^{https://www.thelantern.com/2020/09/three-wrestlers-pursue-mastery-of-mat-and-degrees/?mc_cid=8e7f0f219d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

6 } – What a first day on the job: A Buena Vista freshman wrestler, new to Iowa, helps save a co-worker’s life
Diego Aguilera is a late-blooming wrestler who made his way from Texas to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake this summer to pursue his passion. As Aguilera has learned, good wrestlers need the ability to think quickly, act decisively and, most importantly, execute in big moments. The freshman wrestler’s fortuitous path to school and a job in Iowa put him in the right place at the right time a few weeks ago to exercise those traits — and help save a life. On Sept. 17, Aguilera was in his first day of work at the Walmart in Storm Lake. He was being trained as an associate in the produce department by a colleague in his 60s. They stocked shelves into the evening, then retired to a break room in the back. … rest of story at ^{https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa/wrestling/2020/09/30/buena-vista-iowa-wrestler-starts-new-job-helps-save-walmart-co-workers-life/3530749001/?mc_cid=a2feb99899&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

7 } – Navonte Demison hopes changes in diet, mechanics will lead to more success at ASU
Navonte Demison’s competitive drive can sometimes get on the nerves of the people around him. “My girlfriend gets mad at me about it, but I’m a very competitive person,” he said. “Whether we’re playing basketball, whether we’re playing Yahtzee, whether we’re playing cards, I’m very competitive and I want to win.” Demison had a perfect outlet for those competitive urges at Bakersfield High School, where he became one of the most decorated wrestlers in Driller history. Demison was a 138-pound state champion as a junior in 2016 and a 145-pound state champ as a senior in 2017. And while the same drive has followed Demison to college, his ambitions have routinely been halted during a frustrating three-year run at Arizona State. Eager to prove himself at one of the top wrestling programs in the country, things started slow for Demison. After redshirting in his first season in Tempe,  he’s since had to deal with a multitude of injuries.
… rest of story at ^{https://www.bakersfield.com/sports/bvarsity/navonte-demison-hopes-changes-in-diet-mechanics-will-lead-to-more-success-at-asu/article_cfba040e-0355-11eb-964c-476395deaf96.html?mc_cid=a2feb99899&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

8 } – Jordan Robinson Dedicates to Success on the Mat
When Jordan Robinson, a member of the Johnson & Wales University wrestling team, was choosing schools, he was looking for a balanced coaching staff that he felt comfortable with and that he could be most successful. He fell in love with the shared mentality he had with Head Coach Lonnie Morris and the long-time assistant coaching staff, as well as several classes he could take that were significant to his desired criminal justice major. It turns out, Robinson made the right choice in JWU. Ranked a top five wrestler in Division III athletics within his weight class during the 2019 season, Robinson says that his biggest accomplishment so far has been becoming a JWU 141 All-American last season. But it hasn’t come without hard work and sacrifice. During his sophomore year, Robinson admits it wasn’t his best year academically. Once he noticed he was falling off track, he made changes and came back hungry for a championship. The Garfield, New Jersey native says, “Wrestling has taught and forced me to be a mentally stronger person. Cutting weight while having to train and go to class is very emotional.” He explained how hard dieting is, especially in the offseason. … rest of story at ^{https://providence.jwuathletics.com/sports/wrest/2020-21/releases/20201005snqxdi?mc_cid=aeabd832c4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

9} – ALIREZ WINS 65 KG BRACKET, NAMED OUTSTANDING WRESTLER AT 2020 SENIOR NATIONALS
CORALVILLE, Iowa – Putting an exclamation point on an exceptional weekend, Northern Colorado wrestler Andrew Alirez won the 65 kg bracket as the No. 9 seed and was named the 2020 Senior Nationals men’s freestyle Outstanding Wrestler on Sunday in Coralville, Iowa. Facing No. 3 Evan Henderson, Alirez used a passivity point and a late first-period takedown to give him a 3-0 lead at the break. In the second period, he snagged another takedown for an eventual 5-1 win and a USA Wrestling national championship. In addition to Henderson, Alirez took out three other seeded wrestlers over the weekend, including No. 1 and U23 World bronze medalist Joey McKenna, No. 8 and Junior World silver medalist Mitch McKee and No. 12 Yahya Thomas. Two-time age-group World silver medalist Vitali Arujau scored his first USA Wrestling Senior-level national title, shutting down Dylan Ragusin, who strung together an impressive weekend, in the 57 kg finals. Ragusin drew first blood with an early step out, but the Cornell All-American stormed back, scoring a takedown for the lead. Ragusin added two more on exposure from a chinwhip, but Arujau went behind for a takedown and finished off the bout with a trapped-arm gut, turning Raugsin five times for the win. … rest of story at ^{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/October/11/Andrew-Alirez-wins-Senior-Nationals?mc_cid=aabea4b794&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

10 } – Patrick Granted Additional Year of Eligibility
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Head coach Josh Moore of the Cleveland State University wrestling team announced Monday that redshirt senior Justin Patrick has been cleared to compete in the upcoming 2020-21 season. Patrick, who transferred to CSU prior to the 2019-20 season, was granted a sixth season of eligibility and will get the chance to compete for the Vikings for a second campaign. Patrick placed seventh at the Mid-American Conference Championships at 133 pounds this past spring. He posted a 19-13 mark on the year, including a 9-6 record in dual action. He was one four Vikings to win at least five MAC duals during the season and tallied seven bonus-point victories overall. He demonstrated he could compete with, and defeat, the league’s best as he knocked off eventual MAC champion Tim Rooney, a top-20 national foe, in CSU’s dual at Kent State in February. His win over Rooney came courtesy of a takedown in the final five seconds and was instrumental in helping the Vikings earn a big team victory. Patrick, who won three MAC dual bouts by scoring in the final seconds, won the Ohio Intercollegiate Open and also placed at the Clarion Open. He was one of two Vikings to start every dual on the season. … rest of story at ^{https://csuvikings.prestosports.com/sports/m-wrestl/2020-21/releases/20201005kpyqxu?mc_cid=bbb5286d21&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

December 21, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized