Takedown Report

NAIA Division News (2021) – # 1

TDR Editor’s Notes ; We have been delinquent in sharing news and stories from the other four year college programs in the NAIA. The interest in wrestling and growth of the number of programs has tripled in the NAIA in the ast 15 years. This growth looks to continue as these schools see wrestling as a low cost positive enrollment driver for these smaller schools across the country. E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – Providence, MSU-Northern wrestling teams face challenges, opportunities
Normally at this time of year, Montana’s two men’s college wrestling programs would already be a month into their season with dozens of matches under their belts. But due to COVID-19, competition won’t begin until later this month. The University of Providence, which has instituted remote learning for the entire semester, won’t have athletes back on campus until Dec. 7 and won’t start practice until Dec. 10. The Argos won’t scrimmage until Jan. 4 and won’t compete until Jan. 6. Practice will look a lot different when the team does return to the mats. “We are going to be splitting our team up a little bit to minimize the amount of individuals within the practice. We’re very fortunate to have a very large facility,” said UP second-year head coach Steve Komac. “So even though there’s no way to make wrestling a socially distanced sport, as far as the numbers of kids working out and the amount of people getting together at any certain time, we certainly do have a lot of control over that kind of stuff.” … rest of story at _{^{https://www.montanasports.com/frontier-conference/providence-msu-northern-wrestling-teams-face-challenges-opportunities?mc_cid=29548697b5&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

2 } – 2020-2021 NAIA Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll – No. 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Grand View University (Iowa) claimed the No. 1 spot in the third poll of the 2020-21 season. Joining the Vikings in this week’s top five was Life (Ga.), Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), Reinhardt (Ga.) and Indiana Tech. 
Poll Methodology

• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the eight conferences.
• Two days prior to the national poll, each qualifying group rater submits the top six individuals from each weight class in his conference into the system. Only wrestlers listed on a conference ballot are considered for the national ballot.
• The top 20 individuals in each weight class is based on how each voter ranks the best individuals. An individual receives 20 points for each first place vote, 19 for second place and so on through the list. This same point system is used to determine the team ranking. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.naia.org/sports/mwrest/2020-21/Releases/MWrest-Poll3?mc_cid=4a4f0e7778&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

3 } – Five NAIA hammers you need to know about
The NAIA has been men’s college wrestling’s fastest-growing division in recent years, and the quantity growth has been mirrored by the increasing level of quality.  Though several of the level’s top performers graduated, including four-time national champion Evan Hansen of Grand View and three-timer Lucas Lovvorn of Baker, four national champions — Montana State-Northern’s Nick Kunz (125), Doane’s Baterdene Boldmaa (141), Graceland’s Brennan Swafford (165) and Lindsey Wilson’s Brandon Reed (285) — return, along with a cast of others worth keeping an eye on. 
Here are five NAIA wrestlers to watch: … rest of story at _{^{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1605588488541&twSessionId=lvczilzrpe&postId=877011135&mc_cid=7e05e44971&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

4 } – COLLEGE WRESTLING: E&H anxious for first wrestling season in school history
EMORY, Va. – One year ago, Emory & Henry football assistant Pete Hansen received a life-changing offer. “I heard a rumor that Emory was going to start a wrestling program,” said Hansen, who excelled at the sport in high school and college. After talking with his wife over the Christmas break, the 38-year-old Utah native originally decided not to apply for the job. Flash forward a few weeks later. Hansen was in the school cafeteria when he was approached by a couple of E&H students. … rest of story at _{^{https://heraldcourier.com/sports/watch-now-college-wrestling-e-h-anxious-for-first-wrestling-season-in-school-history/article_40e3a5be-5099-11eb-8b2e-870da088867d.html?mc_cid=4a4f0e7778&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

5 } – Morningside wrestling has big expectations for 2020-2021 season
NAIA college wrestling is a month away for the Morningside Mustangs, a group fresh off sending five grapplers to nationals last year, and are looking for more in 2021. On top of the five that made it to nationals, the Mustangs also had a pair of GPAC champions: returning senior Jonah Egli and the now-graduated Jacob Wiley. As a whole though, they didn’t finish quite where they wanted to. The team was third in the GPAC standings and fourth in the GPAC Conference Championship Tournament. But with three national-qualifying retuners on the squad, the team has big expectations for the 2020-2021 season. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.siouxlandproud.com/sports/morningside-wrestling-has-big-expectations-for-2020-2021-season/?mc_cid=c33f4da146&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

6 } – Brandon Reed is among the best heavyweights in the nation to keep an eye on this season
Brandon Reed got a late start in wrestling but he found his way to Lindsey Wilson College — an NAIA program in Columbia, Kentucky. He is already a two-time national champion but he wants more during his senior campaign. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1611033081025&twSessionId=wdilhucopl&videoId=975414135&mc_cid=ad63827ef7&mc_eid=%5B2ef7cbca4b%5D}}

7 } – VIZCARRONDO NAMED AMC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Isaiah Vizcarrondo has been named the American Midwest Conference Wrestler of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday. 
Isaiah Vizcarrondo, Williams Baptist (Ark.)
133-pound | Fr. | Philadelphia, Pa.
Defeated Jack Hale of Lincoln (Ill.), by tech fall (19-2).
With the bout win, Vizcarrondo helped the Eagles to a dual win over Lincoln, 42-6 … rest of story at _{^{http://www.wbueagles.com/article/1712.php?mc_cid=ad63827ef7&mc_eid=%5B2ef7cbca4b%5D}}

8 } – LEE COLLECTS NAIA NATIONAL WRESTLER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Kansas City, MO – The National Association of Collegiate Athletics (NAIA) released their week three men’s wrestler of the week today, January 20. Ben Lee (SO/Cambridge, IA) represents Grand View with this honor and is the third-consecutive Viking to garner national recognition this season. This past week, Lee also earned Heart of America Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week. He defeated two top-ranked opponents to help win two out of three duals competed in last week. The Viking defeated the No. 13 ranked Hayden Wempen of Missouri Valley by fall of 5:00 and No. 3 ranked Drew Sams of Graceland by decision 5-1. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.gvvikings.com/article/6880?mc_cid=36a2e0aa41&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

9} – 2020-2021 NAIA Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll – No. 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Grand View University (Iowa) claimed the No. 1 spot in the fourth edition of the 2020-21 NAIA Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 . Joining the Life (Ga.), Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), Reinhardt (Ga.) and Indiana Tech. 
Poll MethodologyThe poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the eight conferences.
Two days prior to the national poll, each qualifying group rater submits the top six individuals from each weight class in his conference into the system. Only wrestlers listed on a conference ballot are considered for the national ballot. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.naia.org/sports/mwrest/2020-21/Releases/MWrest-Poll4?mc_cid=5a9932a916&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

10 } – Avila Welcomes Graham Karwath as Head Wrestling Coach
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Avila University Department of Athletics is thrilled to introduce Graham Karwath as the first head coach of the department’s newly-unveiled men’s and women’s wrestling teams, which will begin competition in the 2021-22 school year. “I am really excited to welcome Graham to the Avila Athletics family,” said Avila University Director of Athletics Shawn Summe. “Graham had reached out to me prior to us even announcing that we were starting wrestling with the thought that Avila would be a great place to start a wrestling program, and he exudes eagerness and a passion for the sport of wrestling.” Avila unveiled its plans to add both men’s and women’s wrestling, along with both men’s and women’s bowling, to its roster of varsity sports last month, which will raise the school’s total up to 16 varsity sports. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.avilaathletics.com/article/2500?mc_cid=4ec9be6c16&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

11 } – Pham, Diaz recognized by SAC
Wayland Baptist’s Nina Pham and Jesse Diaz have been named Wrestlers of the Week by the Sooner Athletic Conference following their performances at a dual at Texas Wesleyan. Pham, the NAIA’s top-ranked wrestler at 101 pounds, pinned seventh-ranked Madison Brown just two minutes into their match at 109. The win kept Pham undefeated this season at 7-0 for the top-ranked Pioneers. A senior from San Jose, Calif., Pham was the runner-up at 101 at the NAIA Invitational two years ago. … rest of story at _{^{https://wbuathletics.com/news/2021/1/25/-rv-mens-wrestling-pham-diaz-recognized-by-sac.aspx?mc_cid=4ec9be6c16&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

12 } – Aaron Meister is the master of wrestling at Friends University
Aaron Meister was hired as the men’s and women’s coach at the newly formed Friends University wrestling program. Meister is all about building an all-inclusive team. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1609991250056&twSessionId=ddygjjyzzh&videoId=931892135&mc_cid=4295bf0eb8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

February 14, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized