Takedown Report

Wrestling History – # 25

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Historic matches, historic wrestlers and teams are encouraging historic memories. These pleasant memories are shared along with news of the passing of veteran contributors to our sport and others too soon while they are still youthful. Good to recognize and honor those that have made contributions and good memories for our sport.
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1 } – That One Match w/ Jake Herbert
Welcome to episode two of TOM’s latest podcast “That One Match”. This will be a deep dive into all things related to Jake Herbert’s 2006 Big Ten Final against Mark Perry. That is the premise of the show. Just focusing on all of the important details of one singular match. With Herbert being a two-time NCAA champion, Hodge Trophy winner, World silver medalist, and an Olympian, why is this match so significant? Well, it was his 21st birthday. In Jake’s words, “What better way to celebrate your 21st birthday than to pin a legendary Iowa Hawkeye for your first Big Ten title”. Jake talks about getting into scrambles with Perry who was known for his proficiency in those areas, along with his mentality before that match and all bouts. For that and much more, give it a listen! … rest of story at ^{https://news.theopenmat.com/podcasts/that-one-match/that-one-match-w-jake-herbert-episode-2/79153?mc_cid=6032bfb245&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

2 } – U.C.O. Friday Feature: A Repeat Title
EDMOND – The return of five All-Americans from a national championship team put a target on Central Oklahoma’s back heading into the 1992-93 wrestling season, but the Bronchos were up to the task. And then some. UCO entered that campaign loaded in the first seven weights, but didn’t appear as deep as in previous years. Two champions were back in 118-pounder Randy Zellner and 158-pounder Keith Cunningham, while All-Americans Travis Moman (126), Ryan Martin (134) and Todd Drake (142) also returned, though Martin ended up missing the season with a knee injury suffered the year before. “We’re coming off a national championship year and that’s good and everything, but that’s in the past and it’s time to forget in and move on,” 11^th-year head coach David James said in the pre-season preview. “It’s time to reload, get to work and start a new year.” The returners did their job, with the influx of several newcomers proving critical as the Bronchos went on to capture their second straight NCAA Division II national championship – and the program’s 10^th in 15 years. … rest of story at ^{https://bronchosports.com/news/2020/10/23/wrestling-friday-feature-a-repeat-title.aspx?mc_cid=cc6d7a1ffb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

3 } – Outtakes on the history of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club
On the day of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club Showdown Open, we published a piece on the formation and history of the HWC. But there were plenty of anecdotes and accounts that didn’t make the cut for that story.  Here’s a sampling of what else we learned while putting that piece together. 
ON COMPETING AGAINST 1984 OLYMPIC CHAMPION RANDY LEWIS IN THE PRACTICE ROOM
1991 WORLD SILVER MEDALIST BRAD PENRITH: “When I came out of collegiate style, I was not very solid on down position. I was getting gut wrenched and ankle laced. Lewis was turning me like a top.” 
THREE-TIME WORLD/OLYMPIC MEDALIST BARRY DAVIS: “I never got the best of Randy Lewis. I might get to his leg 50 times because things were pretty wide open. Maybe I’d finish five or six, he may finish 25 and 20 no scores. Randy made me better and I made him better. Randy got me ready for guys like Kevin Darkus, Joe McFarland, and those type of guys. If I could finish on Randy, I could finish on anyone else in my weight class, which was a weight class lower. He was good because I might get to his leg but he would fight me off when he was tired. We had some great workouts. We made each other better. 
“Did I like those workouts? No. I’m using Randy to get ready for Darkus and McFarland. Randy is using Barry Davis to get ready for Mike Land, Lee Roy Smith, and Ricky Delagatta. It was a trade-off. A lot of guys don’t want that. Why would I want to wrestle if I get beat all the time? … rest of story at ^{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1605065777048&twSessionId=hfulnkuybh&postId=875174135&mc_cid=c33f4da146&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

4 } – Wayne Baughman: The wrestler who became a statue
You’ve undoubtedly heard of Wayne Baughman. The former University of Oklahoma wrestler owns the distinction of having won 16 national titles during his career in four different styles of wrestling (collegiate, freestyle, Greco-Roman, and sambo). He was also a member of the 1964, 1968, and 1972 U.S. Greco-Roman Olympic teams. Beyond his career as a wrestler, Baughman coached the 1976 freestyle Olympic team to six medals … and served as head wrestling coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy for 27 years, retiring in 2007. All that said, Baughman also has a lasting legacy that can’t be matched, having served as the model for the U.S. Air Force Monument which has been on display in downtown Oklahoma City for nearly 55 years.
Standing tall in OKC
Located in downtown Oklahoma City, the U.S. Air Force Monument is in Kerr Park on Broadway — a major north-south street — about halfway between two well-known landmarks in Oklahoma’s capital city: Chesapeake Energy Arena (site of past NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships) … and the Oklahoma City National Memorial which honors the victims of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building which killed 168 people and injured hundreds more. At the heart of the monument is a bronze statue features a 12-foot-tall nearly-naked male figure … which is modeled after Wayne Baughman. In his right arm,  … rest of story at ^{https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/22120?mc_cid=ebacab18d4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

5 } – Northwestern wrestling legend Ken Kraft dies, leaves behind a legacy
Ken Kraft was there for all of wrestling’s biggest moments throughout the end of the last century.
In 1966, he founded the Midlands Championships, which have since turned into the most prestigious amateur collegiate wrestling event in the country. USA Wrestling’s Man of the Year in 1976, Kraft covered the Olympic Games in 1972, 1976 and 1980. And he revolutionized sports at Northwestern, twice serving as acting athletic director, coaching for 22 years. Ken Kraft never left Northwestern, never stopped calling it his home. He died last week, leaving behind a wife and daughter — and a University in which he’s built a legacy. NU’s wrestling facilities are named in honor of the late coach. “It is with a heavy-heart that we say goodbye to Coach Kraft,” coach Matt Storniolo said in a statement to Northwestern Athletics. “Ken was — and will forever be — a legend in both the wrestling and Northwestern communities. He was so much more than a coach. He was an innovator, ambassador, and a role-model that impacted the lives of so many.” … rest of story at ^{https://dailynorthwestern.com/2020/11/11/sports/wrestling/northwestern-wrestling-legend-ken-kraft-dies-leaves-behind-a-legacy/?mc_cid=b4122c2e60&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

6 } – Matt Lindland: What I learned from G’Angelo Hancock and Chael Sonnen
Matt Lindland, a 2000 Olympic and 2001 World silver medalist, currently serves as the head national Greco-Roman coach for USA Wrestling following a successful Mixed Martial Arts career. He current coaches three-time Senior-level World Team member G’Angelo Hancock and he has coached Chael Sonnen in Mixed Martial Arts. Below are Lindland’s thoughts on what he has learned from Hancock and Sonnen. 
KEEP CALM
I’ve learned a lot from all my athletes. I learn about them as individuals and how to work with their personalities. I learned later on how effective Chael’s marketing was and getting paid more — and that’s in the sport of MMA.  I learned how to coach him best. I could pick that up from every athlete that I had those deep relationships with. Sometimes it’s these certain moments. I remember right after G’Angelo Hancock lost a match at the Junior Worlds one year and I was like, ‘Okay, we’ve got to go. We have to pick up the pace.’ I had this sense of urgency in my voice.  Hancock was like, ‘You had this panic in your voice.’ I didn’t think it was panic. I was letting him know we were in the last 30 seconds and we had to make an attack now. He felt like it was panic. I’ve learned when I coach Hancock it’s all about keeping a calmness and keeping him calm. He doesn’t compete well when he’s in that panic mode. … rest of story at ^{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1601085880003&twSessionId=acmypzhsvn&postId=867688135&mc_cid=29285b55e6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

7 } – Tim Gill: Eyes Always on the Prize
It only takes one moment for someone to find their true passion. For former Cleveland State wrestler and now Cleveland Police Sergeant Tim Gill, it all started with a trophy.  “Wrestling has always been a part of my life, but how I found it was an oddity,” Gill said. Growing up in West Park, Cleveland, a young Gill came home from school to find his brothers had received a trophy as an award. Though Gill’s older brother played football, that moment inspired Gill as he wanted his own trophy to flaunt. Motivated by his brother’s new flashy trophy, Gill told his friends about the award, and his friends then introduced him to a sport that would then shape the rest of his life.  “I was interested in wrestling basically because I wanted to win a trophy,” Gill laughed.  Gill started to wrestle at a Catholic youth organization starting in the fifth grade.  “I soaked it up like a sponge! I just loved doing it and I couldn’t get enough of it.”  As he continued to grow and develop as a man and as a wrestler, Gill moved to Fairview Park High School … rest of story at ^{https://csuvikings.prestosports.com/sports/m-wrestl/2020-21/releases/20201119fiz66x?mc_cid=59de35edde&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

8 } – Kevin Jackson: My Greatest Loss
Kevin Jackson was a four-time college All-American: placing third, third and seventh at the NCAA Championships for Louisana State (1983-85) and second in 1987 for Iowa State. Jackson went on to win World titles in 1991 and 1995 and an Olympic gold medal in 1992.  Jackson breaks down his 10-4 loss to Royce Alger in the 1987 NCAA Championship finals after dropping two matches to Alger during the season. 
WINNING AN NCAA TITLE WAS THE ULTIMATE GOAL
“When I got to college my goal was to be an NCAA champion. I was third as a true freshman and I was Freshman of the Year, so I think my projection was to be an NCAA champ. I came to Iowa State after being a three-time All-American for Louisiana State (after it dropped the program). I had a devastating loss at Louisiana State. I lost in the first round (of the 1985 NCAA championships) when I was seeded No. 1, to a Division III wrestler, John Monaco, who was undefeated in Division III and got thrown into the bracket since he was a Division III wrestler (Monaco eventually placed fourth).  “I didn’t win at the moment, but at the same time, it didn’t take away from my ultimate dream of being an NCAA champion. That didn’t happen until I got to Iowa State and I lost to Royce (Alger of Iowa) in the NCAA finals. We had wrestled three times and I lost all three matches. I was ahead in two of the three and I might have been ahead in the NCAA finals. … rest of story at ^{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1605844443871&twSessionId=mzvwgfyhho&postId=877663135&mc_cid=59de35edde&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

9} – Pitt-Johnstown Mourns the Passing of Former Wrestler Tyler Chesney
Pitt-Johnstown mourns the loss of former Mountain Cat wrestler Tyler Chesney, who passed away peacefully at his residence in Ocean City, MD, earlier this week.  Chesney was 29.  Chesney, a former PIAA AA State place-winner at Northern Bedford High School, came to Pitt-Johnstown in 2009, where he red-shirted as a true freshman.  Chesney was a three-year letterman and a member of four NCAA Super Region I Runner-up teams as a Mountain Cat. Born in Altoona in 1991, Chesney graduated from Pitt-Johnstown with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication and a Minor in Writing. Chesney was a four-time District Champion and placed fourth at the PIAA AA State Wrestling Tournament at Northern Bedford High School. Prior to his death, Chesney worked as a bartender at the Purple Moose and Riptide Pool Bar in Ocean City. Chesney is survived by his parents Richard and Chris Chesney and three sisters. … rest of story at ^{https://pittjohnstownathletics.com/news/2020/11/20/wrestling-pitt-johnstown-mourns-the-passing-of-former-wrestler-tyler-chesney.aspx?mc_cid=46ecd7f19c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

10 } – Ceremony to rename bridge for Carlton Lee Haselrig set
Hickory Street Bridge will be renamed Carlton Lee Haselrig Bridge during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday. The public is invited to attend and gather at the nearby Sandyvale Memorial Gardens and Conservancy. The event will include speeches and music. Johnstown City Council approved renaming the bridge during its October meeting. “It should be a great time,” said City Councilman Ricky Britt, who, along with Haselrig’s uncle, Bruce Haselrig, and Jim White, a former municipal official, led the effort to get the bridge renamed. Haselrig – a Greater Johnstown High School graduate, six-time individual national wrestling champion at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and Pro Bowl offensive lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers – died earlier this year at age 54. “So many of us, including myself, took things for granted when he lived with how great of an athlete this guy was,” Britt said. “In my personal opinion, he’s probably the best that ever came out of Johnstown – all-around athlete.” … rest of story at ^{https://www.tribdem.com/news/ceremony-to-rename-bridge-for-carlton-lee-haselrig-set/article_168ec16c-2d40-11eb-96c1-b741a23f43aa.html?mc_cid=638194e439&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

December 31, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized