Takedown Report

NAIA Division News (2021) – # 2

TDR Editor’s Notes ; With all NAIA schools continuing to wrestler there are several ‘Wrestlers of the Week’ from the different conferences. The conference tournaments during the last two weekends of February will determine the individual wrestlers who will qualify for the national tournament which will be in Kansas City on the first weekend in March. The NAIA looks to be the only division to be able to hold their national tournament both in 2020 and 2021. Keep on wrestling!
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – Ybarra ready to take lead for wrestling program
Down the stretch of last season, former Husker offensive lineman Tanner Farmer’s progression towards a heavyweight national championship match appearance caught plenty of attention. Overshadowed in terms of media coverage and physical stature, teammate Mario Ybarra put together a fine season of his own. There will be no more shadows to hide Ybarra. The Scottsbluff High School product stands out as the most accomplished competitor on the current Concordia University Wrestling roster. Had a 2-1 loss at the 2020 national tournament gone the other way, Ybarra would have earned All-America honors. That close call has fueled him since March. “I’m excited to get back to that national tournament,” Ybarra said. “It’s been lingering for the past several months, just how my tournament went. I know I can get myself up on that podium. I know I can win the national tournament. I’m truly that confident that I’m the hardest worker in this country and I just want to prove that. There’s still work to be done, but I’m excited to get to that point.”
Six of the other seven Bulldogs who joined Ybarra at the 2020 NAIA Wrestling National Championship have departed. A retooled roster now includes 16 freshmen. Those dynamics are not lost on Ybarra, who is embracing an increased leadership role. The defending 125-pound GPAC champion commands the respect of the room. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/Clip/news/ybarra-ready-to-take-lead-for-wrestling-program.htm?mc_cid=cc6d7a1ffb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

2 } – REED NAMED MSC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
COLUMBIA, Ky. – Brandon Reed of the Lindsey Wilson wrestling team was named the Mid-South Conference Wrestler of the Week, conference officials announced on Monday.
Reed picked up three victories with one coming against an NAIA ranked opponent. The Blue Raiders also trailed in two of three matches heading into Reed’s match closing bout’s against No. 3 Reinhardt and No. 5 Southeastern. Reed picked up decisive victories in both matches to secure the wins for the Blue Raiders.
With the wins, Lindsey Wilson moves to an impressive 9-0 on the season with eight wins over opponents in or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches Top-25 poll. Lindsey Wilson has defeated four opponents inside of the top-10. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/12911.php?skipSplash=1&mc_cid=2646a1a5c8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b&skipSplash=1&skipSplash=1}}

3 } – MontanaSports.com 2020 male athlete of the year: Nick Kunz
HAVRE — Nick Kunz knows who is in control when he’s on the wrestling mat. “He just exudes confidence,” said Montana State-Northern wrestling coach Tyson Thivierge. “He knows what he’s capable of, and he knows that when he slips up, it’s on him. He doesn’t point fingers at anybody, he’s mad at himself.” Kunz’s performance in March didn’t leave much to be angry about. The Helena Capital High School product stormed through the 125-pound weight bracket at the NAIA national championships, becoming the fifth Lights wrestler in Thivierge’s tenure to earn a national title. That performance — combined with how he got there and where he’s headed — made Kunz the 2020 MontanaSports.com male athlete of the year.
There was stiff competition for the award, but not much beats a national champion, especially when the title seemingly comes out of nowhere. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.montanasports.com/frontier-conference/montanasports-com-2020-male-athlete-of-the-year-nick-kunz?mc_cid=b46d50bbf8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

4 } – CARSON TAYLOR EARNS NAIA WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Kansas City, MO – Carson Taylor (FR/Humboldt, IA) not only garnered Heart of America Conference Wrestler of the Week, but he was also recognized at the national level as NAIA Wrestler of the Week released today, January 13. This past weekend the freshman wrestler beat two top-ranked opponents at the Central Baptist Invitational to win the 133-weight class at the tournament. Taylor defeated No. 13 Gavin Christ in the semi-finals by major decision 12-2 and No. 11 Lucas Nelson in the finals by a fall of 1:41. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.gvvikings.com/article/6867?mc_cid=6b4820f7a2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

5 } – Boldmaa Named GPAC Wrestler of the Week
Doane wrestler Baagii Boldmaa (JR/Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) posted a 4-0 week with a pair of wins over NAIA Top 20 opponents at the Concordia Dual this past week. For his efforts, he has been named the Great Plains Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week. The honor is the first of the season and fourth of his career. Boldmaa rolled past his competition on the week, posting three technical falls and one pin in posting 21 team points. He was the only wrestler on the weekend to post four wins by a combination of tech falls and pins. He scored 72 points in his matches, also the highest for the weekend. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.doaneathletics.com/article/5123.php?mc_cid=fecb1aa0c2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

6 } – HAGAN COLLECTS HEART WRESTLER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Kansas City, MO – The Heart of America Athletic Conference announced this week’s recipients for the Heart Player of the Week awards. Men’s wrestler, Greg Hagan (FR/Des Moines, IA), represented Grand View in this week’s awards. Each week, award winners are nominated and selected by the Heart Sports Information Directors. For a complete list of winners, click here.
GREG HAGAN | MEN’S WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Hagan, wrestling heavyweight, records his first Heart of America Conference Wrestler of the Week accolade after helping the Vikings beat the college all-time dual win streak and set a new record at 93+ consecutive duals won.  … rest of story at _{^{http://www.gvvikings.com/article/6853?mc_cid=e96ed12e50&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND TAYLOR AND GOMEZ GARNER WRESTLER OF THE WEEK ACCOLADES
Kansas City, MO – The Heart of America Athletic Conference announced this week’s recipients for the Heart of America Player of the Week awards. Men’s wrestler Carson Taylor (FR/Humboldt, IA) and women’s wrestler Alexis Gomez (FR/Carol Stream, IL) collected their first Wrestler of the Week honors. Each week, award winners are nominated and selected by the Heart Sports Information Directors. For a complete list of winners, click here.
CARSON TAYLOR | MEN’S WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Carson Taylor was named Men’s Wrestler of the Week for the first time this week after an impressive weekend. The unranked freshman defeated the No. 11 and No. 13 ranked wrestlers to take the 133 first-place finish at the Central Baptist Invitational. Taylor also led his team to a team championship at the conclusion of the invite. … rest of story at  _{^{http://www.gvvikings.com/article/6863?mc_cid=7d0bae3ce9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

7 } – Marian’s Blake Mulkey Named NAIA Wrestler Of The Week
Kansas City, Mo. – After being named the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week for the second time this season on Monday, Blake Mulkey of the Marian wrestling team has been named the NAIA Wrestler of the Week, as announced Wednesday afternoon. This is the first NAIA Wrestler of the Week honor for Mulkey in his career, and the first for Marian this season.  Mulkey went 3-0 for Marian as the team split their duals at the Missouri Valley Duals on Saturday. Mulkey’s highlight win came against No. 4 Reinhardt’s Trent Leon, as the Knights’ junior was able to get a 12-9 decision win over the No. 3 wrestler in the NAIA. Mulkey then picked up an 18-0 tech. fall win in the first period against William Penn, and won by a 13-3 major decision against Briar Cliff. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/Clip/news/marians-blake-mulkey-named-naia-wrestler-of-the-week.htm?mc_cid=bf1f14c6db&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

8 } – New Avila head coach Graham Karwath and his unusual career in college coaching
Graham Karwath wasn’t ready for college wrestling. The Louisiana native had a solid high school career on the mats, but after graduating, he hung around and began coaching. When trying to get his younger brother recruited to college, Karwath crossed paths with then-Williams Baptist head coach Kerry Regner. His path to college coaching began as a student assistant coach before taking over head coaching positions at two schools how consolidated and closed in back-to-back years before he landed the men’s and women’s coaching job at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri.  What a long, strange path it’s been. Hear about it now on Short Time! … rest of story at _{^{https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/new-avila-head-coach-graham-karwath-and-his-unusual-career-in-college-coaching/?mc_cid=8a92ee7e2c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

9} – Ex-Pekin wrestling star Jared Dowell lands at Lincoln College after stay at McKendree
PEKIN — Jared Dowell doesn’t sit still. After quickly coming to the conclusion that McKendree University wasn’t the place for him, the former Pekin wrestling star transferred last month to Lincoln College to continue his wrestling career. “At first I worried about what others might think about me transferring so soon, but I realized I have to think about myself and what makes me happy,” Dowell said. “I could have waited a semester while looking into transferring, but did I want to make myself miserable? I reached out to (Lincoln College wrestling coach Jordan Bakley) after I decided it wasn’t worth it for me to stay at McKendree. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.pekintimes.com/story/sports/2021/01/18/former-pekin-wrestling-star-lands-lincoln-college/4199810001/?mc_cid=ad63827ef7&mc_eid=%5B2ef7cbca4b%5D}}

10 } – Smith tabbed MSC Wrestler of the Week
EBANON, Tenn. – Cumberland University’s Cole Smith was voted Mid-South Conference Wrestler of the Week after posting four dual victories at the Missouri Valley Winter Clash Duals, as announced by the league office Monday. The Channohan, Illi. native, posted a perfect 4-0 record including three ranked wins. He earned a 16-1 tech fall over Missouri Baptist’s No. 20 Trace Timmons. He followed that up with a pin over Grand View’s Jacob Shoop in the second period. Smith then picked up a 16-6 major decision over No. 10 Dracius McKee from Texas Wesleyan. His highest ranked victory came over No. 7 William Seibert from Missouri Valley in a tight 10-7 decision. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.gocumberlandathletics.com/wrestling/news/2020-21/8363/smith-tabbed-msc-wrestler-of-the-week/?mc_cid=e96ed12e50&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND NICKEL TAKES MSC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK WITH BIG WIN
Bowling Green, KY – After a big win over a ranked opponent, Bryce Nickel claims his second career MSC Wrestler of the Week award, announced by the conference office on Monday. Nickel, ranked 15th in the NAIA at 141 pounds, went 2-0 on the weekend in duals as the Patriots met #13 Marian and #5 Indiana Tech on the mat. Nickel went toe-to-toe with sixth-ranked Conner Gimson of Indiana Tech, a match that came down to the final minute. With the match even at three-all into the final period, Nickel broke away for an escape and scored on a takedown to take the win over the 2020 All-American. He won 6-4 over the higher-ranked grappler, the first win of the day over Indiana Tech. … rest of story at _{^{https://cumberlandspatriots.com/news/2021/1/11/mens-wrestling-nickel-takes-msc-wrestler-of-the-week-with-big-win.aspx?mc_cid=01186bea70&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

11 } – Glise named GPAC Wrestler of the Week
Briar Cliff wrestling’s Jeremiah Glise has been named the GPAC Wrestler of the Week. Glise, a junior from Maryville, Missouri, won the 197-pound class at the Hastings College Open and was a perfect 4-0 on the week. Glise pinned Central Methodist’s Alexander Drmac in 4:28 in the first-place match. He opened the day with a 3-2 decision over Trevor Bodine of Central Methodist before recording an 8-0 major decision over Jesse Cagle of Arizona Christian. Glise then beat Andrew Hamilton (Grand View) 3-2 before his win in the championship match.  … rest of story at _{^{https://bcuchargers.com/news/2021/1/13/wrestling-glise-named-gpac-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=6b4820f7a2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

12 } – SMALLWOOD TABBED AS MID-SOUTH CONFERENCE WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
COLUMBIA, Ky. – Derrick Smallwood has been named the Mid-South Conference Wrestler of the Week, conference officials announced Monday. Smallwood, who ranks No. 2 at 157-pounds, earned an 8-6 sudden victory over Kevin Almond (No. 5 at 157-pounds) of Midway (Ky.) last Friday.  Smallwood trailed the match 6-4 in the third period before forcing overtime with a takedown. He went on to secure the victory after notching a takedown in overtime. Smallwood earns this weekly honor for the first time this season and for the second time in his career. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/13008.php?skipSplash=1&mc_cid=3d847489c9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b&skipSplash=1&skipSplash=1&skipSplash=1}}

February 21, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized