Takedown Report

Wrestling History (2021) – # 3

TDR Editor’s Notes ; The podcasts are grouped in #2 as they offer views of significant events in the history of wrestling. While it is encouraging to look back to see great individuals and their accomplishments this also includes news of the passing of coaches and heroes that are greatly admired. Several tributes and obituaries of coaches and wrestlers (#1, 7, 8 & 9) are gathered below. It saddens us to see their leaving yet it is best to remember and appreciate their time and energy while with us. Keep on Wrestling!
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – Augustana icon Dodge leaves lasting legacy in wrestling circles
The Augustana College and Illinois state wrestling families lost a great one this past weekend when former NCAA College Division All-American Tim Dodge died unexpectedly in his sleep at his home in Lindenhurst, Ill. Dodge, 72, made a big impression on those who knew him. “If I was in a survival situation and my life depended on one person, I would want Tim being that person,” said life-long friend John Malvik, a Quad-Cities attorney and former teammate of Dodge’s at Augie. “There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do.” His passing was a loss to the entire wrestling community as was evidenced by a number of tributes posted on social media this week ranging from coaches to former Illinois High School Association Executive Director Marty Hickman. … rest of story at _{^{https://qctimes.com/sports/college/wrestling/augustana-icon-dodge-leaves-lasting-legacy-in-wrestling-circles/article_02fc6830-574f-518e-9974-b669af9b0165.html?mc_cid=e4f16a9e0e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

2 } – PODCASTS – Wrestling History 2021
#192 Julius Whetstone – How Beat the Streets Changed My Life
Julius Whetstone (Julius_Grit) wrestles for Niagara County Community College, and is a product of the Beat the Streets New York program. Enjoy this one folks!
TEXT the SHOW!
–Keyword: Wrestle
–Number: 224-54 … rest of story at _{^{https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/192-julius-whetstone-how-beat-the-streets-changed-my-life/?mc_cid=4295bf0eb8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
#194 Victoria Francis – 2x World Team Member
Victoria Francis is a 2x World Team Member, most recently in 2019.  She’s currently shooting for a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  Enjoy it folks! … rest of story at _{^{https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/194-victoria-francis-2x-world-team-member/?mc_cid=01186bea70&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
#191 Kyven Gadson – NCAA Champion for the Cyclones
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Kyven Gadson (@GadsonStrong) is a NCAA champion for the Iowa State Cyclones. In this finals bout, he pinned the great Kyle Snyder.  Today, he wrestles for the Cyclone RTC (@cycloneRTC) and is aiming for a trip to Tokyo in 2021.  Outside of wrestling Kyven is involved with both the Black Wrestling Association (BWA) as a board member, and the Be Rare Initiative.  Learn more at KyvenGadson.Com. … rest of story at _{^{https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/gadson/?mc_cid=e4f16a9e0e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

3 } – Pat King’s wrestling idea turned into Pacific Coast Championships
No tournament this year, so we look back at the origins of the event
It’s the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and dozens of the best high school wrestling programs from the West should be competing in Vancouver this week. Alas, the Pacific Coast Championship tournament is a no-go, just like so many other sporting events in 2020. With no wrestling to watch, how about a quick chat with the man who created the event toward the end of the 20th century? Pat King, a longtime coach in the Evergreen School District, came up with the idea. Now retired and living in Issaquah to be near his grandchildren, King is thrilled to see that Pac Coast has remained on the calendar in Southwest Washington.
After all, it was all about getting some recognition for the region. “I’m super proud of what we could do to elevate Southwest Washington wrestling a little bit,” King said. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/pat-kings-wrestling-idea-turned-into-pacific-coast-championships/?mc_cid=e4f16a9e0e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

4 } – What college programs from the past decade deserve dynasty status?
Decades and dynasties are debatable. Did a new decade begin in 2020? Or do we start another one in 2021. How many championships over a 10-year stretch does it take to be considered a dynasty? The final day of 2020 brings us to a stopping point, a time to look back and reflect on the last 10 years and examine which college programs ruled the roost in their respective divisions. Some programs established themselves as the dynasty of the decade and others nearly got there. 
Division I
Dynasty: Penn State
With the exception of 2015, Penn State made a clean sweep of the decade (eight out of nine titles). Nittany Lion coach Cael Sanderson was hired to take over the team for the 2010 season and the following year he led Penn State to its first NCAA team championship since 1953. Sanderson and crew compiled staggering numbers from 2011-19. There were 90 NCAA champions crowned over nine seasons and 23 of those were Nittany Lions (26 percent). … rest of story at _{^{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1609475218009&twSessionId=hxfydyyoeg&postId=926235135&mc_cid=b46d50bbf8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

5 } – Yellow Jackets highlight best and brightest of the past 10 years
Wrestling announces all-decade team
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Dec. 31) – As 2020 comes to a close, the Waynesburg University wrestling team decided to take a look back at its best and brightest since 2010. After plenty of discussion and looking back at what has been one of the most successful decades since joining the NCAA Division III ranks, head coach Ron Headlee and his staff are proud to announce the all-decade team from 2010-2020. The following individuals, along with dozens of teammates that have put on the Waynesburg singlet, helped the Yellow Jackets to put together some truly impressive numbers over the past 10 years:
… rest of story at _{^{https://waynesburgsports.com/news/2020/12/31/wrestling-announces-all-decade-team.aspx?mc_cid=6915204714&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

6 } – Chance Leonard pays homage to high school wrestling’s greatest dynasty with new film
Chance Leonard was icing his back the morning after sustaining a back injury that ended his freshman season for Oklahoma powerhouse Perry High School. He fractured a bone in his spine, but it went undiagnosed since his family didn’t take him to see a doctor. He could barely move since the muscle spasms were so severe.  Judi Leonard entered her son’s room and explained the gravity of the situation. She understood he was in pain, but there was no sympathy. She only had one thing on her mind: Perry wrestling would not have a 123-pound participant at the Oklahoma state championships. This was important because her son could not be replaced by someone else. Chance won his first match at regionals, was defeated in the quarters, and defaulted due to a back injury in his consolation match. Only the top four wrestlers at regionals go to state. His points could make the difference between Perry winning a state championship and finishing second. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1609711340424&twSessionId=hfzurosuzk&postId=928689135&mc_cid=d8fa13dc26&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

7 } – SF State Wrestling Hall of Famer Lars Jensen Passes Away Celebration of Life Will Be Held this Summer, Early Fall
SAN MATEO, Calif.— San Francisco State University wrestling legend Lars Jensen passed away on December 8, 2020, surrounded by his immediate family at Mills Peninsula Hospital. There will be a private outdoor funeral on New Year’s Eve in San Jose, California. Jensen, who was the head wrestling coach at SF State from 1983 to 2017. He guided the Gators to the 1997 NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championship. During his coaching career, Jensen coached 122 Gator wrestlers that qualified for the National Championships. He produced 62 All-Americans including ten individual national champions. Naveed Bagheri was SF State’s last national champion in 2012-13 where he captured the title at 141-pounds. Jensen coached 55 conference champions and 67 National Wresting Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-America Team members. He also coached three NCAA Division I national qualifiers. Following the 1983-84 season, Jensen was selected as the Amateur Wrestling Rookie coach of the Year in his first season as the head coach at his alma mater. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.nwcaonline.com/sf-state-wrestling-hall-of-famer-lars-jensen-passes-away-celebration-of-life-will-be-held-this-summer-early-fall/?mc_cid=b46d50bbf8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

8 } – Remembering former Blue Earth wrestling great
Al DeLeon found success on the mat as a wrestler and as a coach
The news of the death of former Blue Earth resident and three-time State wresting champion, Al DeLeon, saddened those who had gotten to know him from his days as a student at the local school on their way to lifelong friendships. DeLeon, 82, died on Dec. 16, after battling Parkinson’s disease for many years.
“Al was one of the quickest wrestlers I have ever watched move around the mat,” Buccaneer teammate and friend, A.B. Russ, says. “At practice he would have a team member stand on the edge of the six-foot circle located at the center of the mat, he would do the same thing across from his teammate. Al would grab the other wrestler’s ankle before they could back out of the circle. He was that quick.”
DeLeon almost won a fourth State title but lost on a referee’s decision in the semifinals in 1956. He came back the next year and claimed the championship honors once again. “Actually, he qualified for the State tournament a fifth time,” Gary Olsen, another teammate and friend adds. “He qualified as an eighth grader but his family was poor and he did not go.” DeLeon was a member of the Blue Earth wrestling squad which had five individual champions in the same year, … rest of story at _{^{https://www.faribaultcountyregister.com/news/local-news/2020/12/28/remembering-former-blue-earth-wrestling-great/?mc_cid=3c167aa54c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

9} – PITT WRESTLING MOURNS MIKEY RACCIATO
PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh wrestling program is mourning the death of 2015 ACC champion and former Pitt student-athlete Mikey Racciato, who has passed away at the age of 26.  
“We are all saddened to hear this terrible news,” Pitt wrestling head coach Keith Gavin said. “We offer our condolences to the Racciato family and Mikey’s friends. Although I did not have the privilege of coaching Mikey, I know he was loved by his teammates, coaches and fans during his time here. He certainly made an impact and will be dearly missed.”  
“Mikey’s personality lit up the room,” said Pitt wrestling assistant coach Drew Headlee, who coached Racciato for several seasons. “He always knew how to make everyone laugh. On the mat, he was dangerous from every position, … rest of story at _{^{https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2020/12/26/pitt-wrestling-mourns-mikey-racciato.aspx?mc_cid=0d946e15c0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

10 } – Danny Hodge’s legendary wrestling life provided special memories for friend Jim Ross
Jim Ross spent many Saturdays watching his boyhood idol, Danny Hodge, wrestling on television. The introduction wasn’t only entertainment. It paved Ross’ professional journey, which has included a Hall of Fame career in professional wrestling. On Saturday, Ross was saddened after learning of Hodge’s death. Hodge died Thursday at 88. It wasn’t a loss only felt in the Perry native’s home state. Hodge was beloved around the globe. “Danny Hodge was a legend in Japan. He was a legend in Australia. He was a legend in Canada. It wasn’t just in Tulsa and Oklahoma City,” Ross said. “It was a whole bigger picture. The reason it’s not as celebrated today is because when he did so many of his great things, media was limited.”
Hodge is a 1978 charter member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. … rest of story at _{^{https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/danny-hodges-legendary-wrestling-life-provided-special-memories-for-friend-jim-ross/article_5cebd758-47b2-11eb-ba17-3bc832cf1893.html?mc_cid=e4f16a9e0e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

11 } – In his own words, Sgt. Slaughter on the late Danny Hodge
The wrestling world lost Danny Hodge on Christmas Eve. The only wrestler to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated for his wrestling credentials, Hodge was a standout in three varieties of the sporting world – collegiate and international wrestling, boxing and professional wrestling. As Hodge became one of the favorites in the world of professional wrestling, he worked and trained with hundreds of would-be superstars, including Robert Remus, an Eden Prairie, Minnesota native who would later become one of the most iconic superstars in the business, Sgt. Slaughter. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/in-his-own-words-sgt-slaughter-on-the-late-danny-hodge/?mc_cid=6915204714&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

12 } – Damion Hahn: My Greatest Loss
South Dakota coach Damion Hahn was a four-time All-American for Minnesota (2001-04), a two-time NCAA champion (2003-04), and a three-time New Jersey state champion. 
Hahn breaks down his loss to Shawn Scannell in the New Jersey state finals as a high school freshman and loss to Oklahoma State’s Daniel Cormier as a freshman in college. 
EVERY LOSS COUNTS
“Every loss matters to me and there were a couple in my career that stands out. I don’t want to say one more than the other because every one of them changed me. One of the losses I took as a freshman in the state finals when I was in high school really changed a lot for me. I wanted to be a four-time New Jersey state champ, which was something that was never done before when I was going through. I lost in the finals — I don’t even remember — 2-1 or 3-2 or something like that. I lost by a point to an eventual All-American for Rider University, Shawn Scannell. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1609554384543&twSessionId=xalhmovxfy&postId=927133135&mc_cid=6915204714&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

February 19, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized