Takedown Report

Carolinas’ Colleges’ News (2021) – # 1

TDR Editor’s Notes ; A collection of stories and articles about college wrestling teams in North and South Carolina in the past month or so. Support you local college teamwhen you can.
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1 } – Matside Recap: RTC Cup, Tar Heel Wrestling Open
The first-ever RTC Cup went down over the weekend, and the event more than delivered. Richard Mann (@richardamann) and Clay Sauertieg (@ByCSauertieg) break down all the matches from the final between SERTC/NJRTC vs. Cliff Keen WC as well as some overall reactions from the two-day event. Following that, the duo looks at the top two matches from the debut Tar Heel Wrestling Club show.
0:00 – Open
4:25 – Nahshon Garrett vs. Seth Gross
10:37 – Matthew Kolodzik vs. Alec Pantaleo
16:13 – Mekhi Lewis vs. Logan Massa
22:35 – Nate Jackson vs. Myles Amine
27:08 – Ty Walz vs Tim Dudley … rest of story at _{^{https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24027?mc_cid=c2c44a5110&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

2 } – SoCon Wrestling Championships Returning to Boone Through 2024
BOONE, N.C. — The Southern Conference has again awarded the league’s championship wrestling tournament to App State, with the 2021 event on Sunday, Feb. 28, at the Holmes Center beginning a string of four more years in Boone. App State’s success in hosting the SoCon championships at the Holmes Center in 2019 and 2020 contributed to Boone being an attractive option again from 2021-24.
The late-February date adopted recently by the league for 2021 allows for two open weekends and 18 total days between the SoCon Championships and the NCAA Championships that run from March 18-20 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Enterprise Center is the 19,260-seat home to the NHL’s St. Louis Blues.
Stay tuned for more information about fan attendance and ticket availability for this year’s championship tournament. The addition of Bellarmine in Louisville, Ky., increases the number of SoCon wrestling programs to nine for the 2020-21 season. … rest of story at _{^{https://appstatesports.com/news/2020/12/7/socon-wrestling-championships-returning-to-boone-through-2024.aspx?mc_cid=c2c44a5110&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
App State Announces 2020-21 Wrestling Schedule
BOONE, N.C. — App State has announced its 2020-21 wrestling schedule, which includes eight league matches as part of four tri-meets and the Southern Conference Championships in late February being held at the Holmes Center in Boone for the third straight year. … rest of story at _{^{https://appstatesports.com/news/2020/12/8/app-state-announces-2020-21-wrestling-schedule.aspx?mc_cid=6c7e360412&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

3 } – Popolizio on scheduling, RTC Cup and a chat with Dustin Kawa – NCS71
Episode 71 of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast is back, in person, with head coach Pat Popolizio. The Wolfpack Wrestling Club recently competed at the RTC Duals and coach Popolizio will break down that and more, including the schedule, on this episode with host Brian Reinhardt.
Show Segments
1:40 – So much wrestling news right now!
3:30 – How hard was it to prep for this season?
5:00 – No notes, no problem. It’s a free year.
6:50 – Looking at the home schedule. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/pack-mentality/popolizio-on-scheduling-rtc-cup-and-a-chat-with-dustin-kawa-ncs71/?mc_cid=372ecbefe1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

4 } – Palisades’ Haubert ready for the challenge of The Citadel
For some student-athletes, the stringent discipline, intense demands and powerful traditions of a military college that has been in existence for 178 years could be overwhelming even before taking a class or attending a practice. Not Ben Haubert.
The Palisades senior, the 152-pound District 11 2A and Southeast Regional champion as a junior,  has committed to wrestle at The Citadel, the Charleston, S.C. military school with a distinctive history dating back to 1842. “It’s a bit out of my comfort zone,” Haubert said. “That’s something I like as well.”
Haubert, who said he also looked at Pittsburgh, Lock Haven, West Virginia and Delaware Valley, said he thinks he and The Citadel can give each other a boost. “I just enjoy the structure of it,” he said. “I still need to develop … rest of story at _{^{https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/highschoolsports/2020/12/palisades-haubert-ready-for-the-challenge-of-the-citadel.html?mc_cid=fecb1aa0c2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

5 } – Get to know The Grind at Appalachian State #InternationalPodcastDay
Jeremy Barnes (aka J.B.) is one of the hosts for The Grind, a podcast committed to promoting all things Appalachian State Wrestling. The show started in effort to bring more awareness to Appalachian State Wrestling. Most people probably recognize the name from football, but our wrestling is just as successful or even more so.
All that news and more …
Daily Wrestling News, delivered every day, free.
As always, you can support this network, its shows and its projects at mattalkonline.com/jointheteam or rokfin.com/creator/mattalkonline and I’d like to thank you for spending your time with me, because you’ve always got time, for Short Time! … rest of story at _{^{https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/get-to-know-the-grind-at-appalachian-state-internationalpodcastday/?mc_cid=3c167aa54c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

6 } – TOM Interview with Scott Sentes (Campbell)
With less than 48 hours until he takes the mat for the first time as the head coach for the Campbell University Camels, TOM had the opportunity to speak with Scott Sentes. Campbell will take on in-state foe North Carolina on New Year’s Day in the first all-DI dual of the 2021 season. Coach Sentes talks about his transition from the teams head assistant coach to leading man during this unprecedented time. We talk about the Camel squad for the upcoming season and some of the possibilities for lineups around the country with this being a “free-year” eligibility-wise. Among other topics we hit are the importance of rankings this year, his coaching staff, and Campbell’s social media presence. We close by focusing on Coach Sentes’ career at Central Michigan, which led to an impromptu impersonation of legendary head coach Tom Borrelli, along with his 2011 NCAA second-round match against a North Carolina coach he’ll face off with tomorrow. … rest of story at _{^{https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/tom-interview-with-scott-sentes-campbell/79731?mc_cid=b46d50bbf8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

7 } – Unbeaten Records, OT Win Highlight App State Individual Quad
BOONE, N.C. — Unbeaten days from Codi Russell, Thomas Flitz, Caleb Smith and Francis Morrissey, coupled with Will Formato’s overtime win in a matchup of Southern Conference standouts, highlighted the season-opening performances at the App State Individual Quad event Saturday in Varsity Gym.
Wrestlers from App State, Virginia and The Citadel combined to participate in more than 100 matches in an event that featured a round-robin format, with most competitors getting in three matches and some taking the mat as many as four times.
Formato went 2-1 at 165 pounds, winning by a 16-0 tech fall against Virginia’s Loudon Hurt and dropping a 7-5 decision against Virginia’s Jake Keating (who had 42 wins in his first two competitive seasons) before earning a 3-1 decision against The Citadel’s Dazjon Casto thanks to a takedown with six seconds left in the Sudden Victory-1 period. Formato executed a second-period escape with Casto at 57 seconds of riding time, and Casto tied the match with an escape early in the third period. … rest of story at _{^{https://appstatesports.com/news/2021/1/2/wrestling-unbeaten-records-ot-win-highlight-app-state-individual-quad.aspx?mc_cid=1dba1d3746&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

8 } – No. 8 Hokies beat Camels 28-6 in opener
Tech won eight of 10 matches Saturday
BLACKSBURG – Over 10 months from its last dual meet, Virginia Tech wrestling started 2021 the right way with a 28-6 win over Campbell in Cassell Coliseum Saturday afternoon. The eighth-ranked Hokies won eight matches over the Fighting Camels, including two bonus-point victories.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

• Making his dual debut, freshman Sam Hillegas won in convincing fashion, pinning his opponent Shannon Hanna in 4:17. The Pittsburgh product was a two-time Pennsylvania state champion before signing with the Hokies in November 2019.
• After taking an Olympic redshirt for the 2019-20 season, 2019 NCAA Champion Mekhi Lewis returned to Cassell Coliseum and won a 13-4 major decision over Austin Kraisser. Lewis used a four-point near fall to separate himself and lead 10-2 after the first period. A reversal in the third and riding time gave Lewis the bonus-point victory.
• In the only ranked matchup of the day, No. 20 Bryce Andonian upset No. 9 Josh Heil via 12-9 decision. The two combined for six takedowns in what was a back-and-forth match, but Andonian was able to hold off Heil’s late comeback attempt and start the season with a top-10 victory.
• Sam Latona and Andy Smith won by decision in their dual debuts. Latona, a redshirt freshman, took a 5-3 decision while the freshman Smith won 12-7.
• After missing all last season due to injury, Korbin Myers got back on the mat Saturday and earned a 4-1 decision win over Gabe Hixenbaugh. Myers had a takedown and an escape and held the riding time advantage to open the season with a victory.
• BOX SCORE
• No. 8 Virginia Tech 28, Campbell 6
• HWT: No. 17 John Borst (VT) dec. Taye Ghadiali (CAM), 6-3 … rest of story at ^{_{https://hokiesports.com/news/2021/1/2/wrestling-hokies-fighting-camels.aspx?mc_cid=1dba1d3746&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

9} – Limestone Wrestling Announces Schedule Changes
GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Limestone University men’s wrestling team has postponed competition due to COVID-19 management requirements within the South Atlantic Conference Carolinas in conjunction with the NCAA. The men’s wrestling program will move into a pause of all team activities that will span 14 days from the date of the positive test. The two matches that are affected are the Saints home opener against Queens that was scheduled for this Thursday, January 7 as well as their slated road trip to Lander on January 14. The match against Queens has been moved to February 14 at 1 p.m. at home while the road match against Lander will now take place on February 16. The Saints will now look to open the season on January 17 as they play host to a pair of teams for a double-dual with Mount Olive and UNC Pembroke. The first match of the day is slated for a 12:00 PM start. … rest of story at _{^{https://golimestonesaints.com/news/2021/1/4/mens-wrestling-limestone-wrestling-announces-schedule-changes.aspx?mc_cid=ea644fcb33&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

10 } – Campbell Wrestling opens season with top-25 matchups
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell will open the 2020-21 season with a pair of nationally-ranked dual matchups, starting New Year’s Day at No. 12 North Carolina inside Carmichael Arena. The Camels’ 6:00 p.m. matchup with the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, N.C. will mark the first NCAA Division I dual of the 2020-21 season, more than nine months after the 2019-20 campaign was cut short just before the NCAA Championships. One day later, CU will take on another ranked ACC opponent, traveling to Blacksburg, Va. on Saturday to face No. 9 Virginia Tech at 3:00 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum. North Carolina and Virginia Tech will be the Camels’ only nonconference duals of the 2020-21 season. Watch both matches on ACC Network Extra, and follow on Twitter @GoCamelsWrestle. … rest of story at _{^{https://gocamels.com/news/2020/12/31/wrestling-opens-season-with-top-25-matchups.aspx?mc_cid=b46d50bbf8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
Wrestling season opener at No. 12 UNC postponed … story at _{^{https://gocamels.com/news/2021/1/1/wrestling-season-opener-at-no-12-unc-postponed.aspx?mc_cid=6915204714&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

11 } – CAROLINA WRESTLING Q&A: BACK ON THE MAT
North Carolina Wrestling is back on the mat this week, as UNC will play host to Campbell on Friday night at 6 p.m. to kick off the season in Chapel Hill. As the team prepares for Friday night’s dual meet, several members of the team were asked to describe what it meant to have the opportunity to be back in Carmichael Arena and compete in Carolina Blue more than eight months after the 2019-20 season was cut short due to COVID-19.
 Below are comments from around the wrestling room as “dual meet week” has arrived yet again.
 What does it mean to you to be able to be back on the mat again this Friday night?
 Josh McClure, redshirt senior, 157 pounds
 Being back on the mat, to me, means another opportunity to achieve my goal of becoming an All-American. … rest of story at _{^{https://goheels.com/news/2020/12/29/carolina-wrestling-q-a-back-on-the-mat.aspx?mc_cid=3c167aa54c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
NO. 13 NORTH CAROLINA SET TO OPEN SEASON AGAINST CAMPBELL
No. 13 North Carolina kicks off its dual meet season Friday at 6:00 p.m. EST when the team hosts Campbell in Carmichael Arena. The dual in Chapel Hill will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. The Tar Heels return to the mat for the first time since the ACC Championships last season, where the team notched three individual titles – Zach Sherman (141), Austin O’Connor (149) and Clay Lautt (174). … rest of the story at _{^{https://goheels.com/news/2020/12/31/wrestling-no-13-north-carolina-set-to-open-season-against-campbell.aspx?mc_cid=b46d50bbf8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

12 } – #188 Hunter Gamble – UTC Assistant Coach / 2x NCAA Qualifer
Hunter Gamble is the assistant wrestling coach at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.  As a wrestler he was a 2x NCAA Qualifier for Gardner Webb.  Really enjoyed this wide-ranging conversation.  Please enjoy!
… rest of story at _{^{https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/188-hunter-gamble-utc-assistant-coach-2x-ncaa-qualifer/?mc_cid=e96ed12e50&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

January 11, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized