Takedown Report

High School News (2021) – # 9

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Most of the articles here on high school wrestling are from Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado and other states that have recently held their state championship tournaments. Yet the last article (#12) is the most important for the long run for wrestlers. The Beat The Streets organization continues to expand its outreach at promote and grow wrestling in under served areas where a large population of students need and could benefit from the lesson learned in wrestling. We are greatly encouraged to see this organization and others that promote increased opportunities in wrestling. Keep on Wrestling!
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – (Iowa) Wrestling Mailbag: Previewing the Iowa state tournament, seeding, potential final matches
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane to start this mailbag. The state wrestling tournament is approaching 100 years, at least under the direction of the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The history is spread all over, including at the state’s three major Division I wrestling programs. Iowa State’s Kevin Dresser was a two-time state champ for Humboldt, in 1980-81. He posted a 112-11-1 career record before becoming a Hawkeye. Iowa’s Tom Brands, from Sheldon, won state in 1986 and finished second in 1985. Northern Iowa’s Doug Schwab won in 1996 and twice took second, in 1993 and 1995, while wrestling at Osage. Their assistants were all Iowa prep stars, too. Terry Brands won two titles, in 1985-86, and finished second in 1987. Ryan Morningstar won three, from 2003-05. Derek St. John won twice, 2007-08. Randy Pugh won in 1996, and took third in 1994. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.thehawkeye.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/02/16/wrestling-mailbag-iowa-high-school-wrestling-2021-state-tournament-seeding-potential-finals-matchups/4486943001/?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

2 } – (Iowa) Lisbon 2-time state wrestling champ Robert Avila Jr. powered by family and faith
Junior 145-pounder looks for 3rd title this week
Robert Avila Jr. was just 5 years old when he made an uncommon proclamation for someone so young. He told his mother that he wanted to go to Turkey to wrestle and spread his faith. Avila recalled her reaction, ranging from amazement of his devotion and how he even knew about the country. When his parents received a phone call about an opportunity for a week-and-a-half wrestling trip with stops in France, Bulgaria, Romania and, yes, Turkey, Avila believed he had a special purpose in wrestling. “Just from getting the blessing and achieving something I said I was going to do at 5 years old, I realized God had given me something special,” Lisbon’s top-ranked 145-pound junior said. “I chose to use those talents he had given me to show the world how to be and give the best example of myself to others. “He’s given me the ability. I have to do my part.” Avila has thrived and utilized those gifts to become one of the state’s top wrestlers. He will attempt to win his third state title in the Class 1A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines this week. Action begins Thursday with the first round at 9 a.m. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/lisbons-robert-avila-jr-powered-by-family-and-faith-20210217?mc_cid=76aa098ad3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

3 } – (Colorado) Keeping it light is the name of the game for Pueblo West wrestler Matthew Holdredge
For Pueblo West High School wrestler, Matthew Holdredge wrestling is a part of his everyday life. Growing up with family heavily involved in the sport has influenced his own desire to succeed and do well. However, for Holdredge, performing at his best starts with removing himself from the mindset of thinking about a dual before it happens. In fact, he said if someone asked why they should wrestle he would respond with, ‘I would tell them because we like to play frisbee a lot.’ “It’s a thing with me and Hayden Crosson,” Holdredge said. “(Wednesday) we played an hour of frisbee before weigh ins just to get our mind off the dual, because it’s a simple game. A lot of wrestlers at a higher level like Yianni Diakomihalis, they are always like ‘I always think about the match.’ … rest of story at _{^{https://www.chieftain.com/story/sports/2021/02/15/pueblo-west-wrestler-matthew-holdredge-keeping-light-mat-for-chsaa-state/4294868001/?mc_cid=9e45a80a12&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

4 } – (Virginia) VHSL postpones Thursday’s state wrestling, swimming events
Old Man Winter has struck again.
The VHSL has postponed Thursday’s Class 5 and Class 3 state wrestling tournaments, and Class 5 and Class 2/Class 1 state swimming meets because of the forecast of inclement weather. No makeup dates were announced. … rest of story at _{^{https://roanoke.com/sports/high-school/vhsl-postpones-thursdays-state-wrestling-swimming-events/article_5b0d34c6-7067-11eb-99e5-933ba340ef4d.html?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

5 } – (Iowa) Wrestlers, coaches grateful to be wrestling a few more days
DES MOINES – Champions will be crowned Wednesday night inside Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Waverly-Shell Rock wrestling head coach Eric Whitcome never doubted it would happen. The 2021 state dual championships will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday with Whitcome’s Waverly-Shell Rock squad the top seed in Class 3A as the Go-Hawks go for their fifth state dual championship, but first since 2010. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to hold its grip on the United States and Iowa, testing prep athletic programs and the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls Athletic Union at every turn, both organizations have found ways to host championship events. … rest of story at _{^{https://wcfcourier.com/sports/high-school/wrestling/wrestlers-coaches-grateful-to-be-wrestling-a-few-more-days/article_169ae259-453a-53b0-81fb-db23c1c8a741.html?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

6 } – How West Delaware wrestling developed team culture key to state duals success
‘We’re fighting for people in the stands that have watched for years and years’
Wrestling is considered an individual sport. Within the walls of West Delaware’s wrestling room, however, a different attitude prevails. Team means something important to the Hawks. Words like “family” and “brotherhood” are a way of life. Not buzz words or coach speak. It is genuine. They train, battle and compete as one, pooling their blood, sweat and tears to drown opponents. They are motivated by something greater than their personal achievements. They wrestle for each other and for the program. “It’s bigger than us,” Hawks 195-pounder Wyatt Voelker said. “Our wrestling is a lot bigger than we are. It’s West Delaware wrestling. We’re fighting for people in the stands that have watched for years and years. “The black and orange, the name on the singlet, the tradition, all the wrestlers and coaches. It’s for all of them.” … rest of story at _{^{https://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/iowa-prep-sports/wrestling/how-west-delaware-wrestling-developed-team-culture-key-to-state-duals-success-20210216?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

7 } – (Nebraska) State wrestling: Where there’s a championship-caliber wrestler, a great practice partner is not too far behind
If Jeff Rutledge wanted to make some extra cash, he may be on to something. The co-head wrestling coach at Lincoln East has a front-row seat each day in practice to Brandon Baustert and Keith Smith, two of the state’s most talented wrestlers. They’re juniors and have known each other since elementary school. Baustert wrestles at 113 pounds and Smith at 120.
District wrestling: Class A results and state qualifiers
Unable to defend state duals title, Aquinas wrestlers look to make up for it in Omaha this year
Clark Grell
When they wrestle live, that’s when the fireworks start to happen, Rutledge said. “I joke around with them, if I could film them wrestling a live match during practice, I could sell it on the internet and people would pay for it because their level is so high and it’s such fun, exciting wrestling to watch,” the coach said. … rest of story at _{^{https://journalstar.com/sports/high-school/wrestling/state-wrestling-where-theres-a-championship-caliber-wrestler-a-great-practice-partner-is-not-too/article_4c2d42c4-5eb0-578d-a4fe-8ed90dbc34ab.html?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

8 } – (Nebraska) Making History 2021
Going for FOUR! — Paul Garcia (Scottsbluff) B126
In 2021, there is just one wrestler going for their fourth state title, Wyoming commit Paul Garcia. Pauly was a big name entering the season his freshman year and didn’t disappoint. He won an exciting 3-1 overtime match against Gabe Grice to kick start his run for four titles. The past two seasons, he has wrestled district opponents in the finals at state as well. In 2019 as a sophomore he beat Jace Russman of Cozad 5-2. Last year he avenged two prior losses to Gering’s Paul Ruff, and won the title with a 4-2 win in overtime. Garcia has moved up one weight class each season after starting his career at 106. His road to the finals at 126lbs will likely go through #5 Thomas Ivey in the semifinals. It’s possible for his finals match to be against a B4 District foe for the third straight year, with both #2 Paul Ruff and #3 Cyrus Wells on the opposite side of the bracket. Paul beat Wells 9-2 to win the district and has split with Ruff this season. The Garcia/Ruff final would garner a lot of hype just because of how well Ruff matches up in that one. … rest of story at _{^{https://newrestle.com/2021/02/17/making-history-2021/?mc_cid=76aa098ad3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

9} – (Pennsylvania) PIAA irons out final logistics for team and individual wrestling championships
CD East High School will be buzzing this month as host sites evolve for the PIAA and District 3 Class 2A individual wrestling championships. The Panthers will kick off the individual postseason on Saturday by hosting one of two District 3 sectional championships, then come back on Sunday to host the District 3 championships. Those tournaments are being wrestled on back-to-back days to fit a new, temporary postseason format that now includes a “super regional” round between regionals and the PIAA championships. That extra weekend meant another dose of consolidation in the 2A classification in order to free up Saturday, Feb. 27 for the Southeast Regional wrestling championships. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/wrestling/2021/02/piaa-irons-out-final-logistics-for-team-and-individual-wrestling-championships.html?mc_cid=76aa098ad3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

10 } – (Oklahoma) Cascia Hall’s Ernie Jones nearing end of remarkable coaching career; Glenpool’s Mike Edwards latest wrestler of the week
About halfway through his remarkable career as a high school wrestling coach, Ernie Jones had a chance to do something different and live a normal life. “Here I was, working a 40-hour week, making more money than I ever had, and I was miserable doing it,” he said. When Cascia Hall administrators invited him to start a new program in 1999, he jumped at the chance. Now, 22 years later, he said it’s time to call it quits. Jones, 77, has guided the Commandos to six tournament and two dual-state runner-up finishes, and that isn’t half of the story. He also worked more than two decades for the Tulsa Public Schools, first guiding Booker T. Washington to four state championships and then guiding Webster to four more. … rest of story at _{^{https://tulsaworld.com/sports/high-school/cascia-halls-ernie-jones-nearing-end-of-remarkable-coaching-career-glenpools-mike-edwards-latest-wrestler/article_e87ccf48-70e3-11eb-a491-9b63d1cd2ee9.html?mc_cid=76aa098ad3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

11 } – (New Jersey) Mobbin’ Classic tourney showed N.J. can safely run individual wrestling events
The Mobbin’ Classic, which brought together the largest array of New Jersey high school wrestling talent since the barely pre-pandemic state championships last March, may have unknowingly provided a blueprint for the NJSIAA’s postseason wrestling in 2021, mid-pandemic. The tournament, held at St. Joseph in Metuchen Monday, brought together 112 of the state’s rock-star wrestlers. However, the Mobbin’ Classic was also the test tube, the Petri dish, the clinical trial that showed tournament wrestling could be staged in a stringently controlled environment. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2021/02/mobbin-classic-tourney-showed-nj-can-safely-run-individual-wrestling-events.html?mc_cid=76aa098ad3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

12 } – Launch of Beat the Streets New England Extends Youth Wrestling Engagement to New Communities
Beat the Streets Merges with Boston Youth Wrestling to Create Beat the Streets New England, a Groundbreaking Regional Wrestling Powerhouse
BOSTON – February 18, 2021 – Beat the Streets (Providence) and Boston Youth Wrestling today announced a merger to form Beat the Streets New England (BTSNE), a coalition making history as the nation’s first regional youth wrestling organization. By expanding its reach to the greater New England region, BTSNE will establish new community based regional training centers, collaborate with more schools, engage additional stakeholders and partners, host regional fundraising campaigns, and empower more communities by serving the needs of a broader population of youth wrestlers.
Beat the Streets delivers youth wrestling programs to underserved communities, helping students develop a goal oriented mindset through on the mat training that translates into off the mat life skills. Its programs are designed to encourage a desire for excellence, respect, teamwork, leadership, integrity, and perseverance through the instruction of quality wrestling programs. Coupled with off the mat resources to develop students’ full academic potential, these programs open doors to prestigious universities for a diverse group of young women and men.   “Wrestling creates leaders. These kids become leaders and that’s transformative. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.btsne.org/news/official-press-release?mc_cid=279b9a2f50&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

March 3, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized