Takedown Report

NAIA Division News & Results (2021) – # 3

TDR Editor’s Notes ; The 64th consecutive NAIA Men’s National Wrestling Championships start tomorrow in Wichita, Kansas. A start on more information on that event is ay https://www.naia.org/sports/mwrest/2017-18/releases/20180620s9kjl and a list of qualifiers is at NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS Grand View University is favored to win a record 10th Consecutive Championships. Yet there are many other contenders seeking to block that and to win the title for their team. The following collection of articles looks at some of the last matches, some wrestler of the week honors and some conference results that determine the qualifiers. The National Championships for the women wrestlers and teams will be next weekend in North Dakota. Keep on Wrestling! Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – Antesberger Named GPAC Wrestler of the Week
Bradley Antesberger, Doane University – 197lb Weight Class
Doane wrestler Bradley Antesberger is this week’s GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Wrestler-of-the-Week.  Antesberger, a sophomore from North Pole, Alaska, went 4-0 for Doane at the GPAC duals as the Tigers were unbeaten on the day. He allowed only one point in his matches on the day and defeated NAIA No. 9 Caleb Shanks of Briar Cliff. His win over Shanks clinched the team victory … rest of story at _{^{http://www.doaneathletics.com/article/5155.php?mc_cid=653cd27934&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b&skipSplash=1}}

2 } – 2020-2021 NAIA Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll – No. 5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Grand View University (Iowa) claimed the No. 1 spot in the fifth edition of the 2020-21 NAIA Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 . Joining the Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), Life (Ga.), Reinhardt (Ga.) and Missouri Valley. 
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/NationalPoll-MWrest?mc_cid=82bfd879a8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

3 } – REED NAMED NAIA WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
COLUMBIA, Ky. – Brandon Reed has been named the NAIA Men’s Wrestler of the Week, the national office announced on Wednesday. The national honor comes on the heels of being named the Mid-South Conference Wrestler of the Week on Monday. Reed (No. 1 at 285) went 2-0 for the Blue Raiders helping Lindsey Wilson defeat No. 11 Cumberlands and No. 20 Campbellsville. The senior picked up a 7-3 decision over Cumberlands’ (Ky.) Aaron Johnson (No. 4 at 285) and then pinned Campbellsville’s Alex Coleman in 40 seconds to secure the Mid-South Conference North Division Regular Season Crown. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/13065.php?skipSplash=1&mc_cid=5e3b2f2de3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b&skipSplash=1&skipSplash=1}}
AND SOU’s Barrera, Coon cleared to compete at NAIA Championships
NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
ASHLAND – The Oregon Health Authority’s approval of the Cascade Conference’s return-to-play plan for high-contact sports was timely news for two Southern Oregon University men’s wrestlers. Despite having not yet competed this season, 125-pound senior Pancho Barrera and 133-pound junior Justin Coon will travel to Wichita, Kan., to compete at the NAIA Championships on March 5-6. Barrera and Coon were among 32 individuals selected to represent the Cascade Conference by the CCC’s head coaches in lieu of traditional qualification through the conference tournament, which was canceled due to COVID-19. … rest of story at _{^{https://souraiders.com/news/2021/2/23/mens-wrestling-sous-barrera-coon-cleared-to-compete-at-naia-championships.aspx?mc_cid=9c47fa024a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

4 } – Grand View’s Caldwell Named NAIA Wrestler Of The Week
Kansas City, MO – Men’s Wrestler, Kyle Caldwell (SR/Willard, MO) garners NAIA National Wrestler of the Week honors after winning the Heart of America Conference Championships at the 165-weight class. The senior went 3-0 at the Heart of America Conference Championship this past weekend while taking down the No. 2 and No. 1 ranked wrestlers in his respective weight classes including teammate Dalton Jensen (SO/Downs, IL) and Elias Vaoifi of Missouri Valley. Caldwell is currently 17-3 overall on the 2020-21 season headed into the National Championship taking place on March 5-6 in Wichita, Kansas where Grand View will be competing for their 10th straight national championship. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/Clip/news/grand-views-caldwell-named-naia-wrestler-of-the-week.htm?mc_cid=76aa098ad3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND Sienna Heights University wrestling makes anticipated return
ADRIAN — After a long wait, Siena Heights’ men’s wrestling program made its return to the mats this past weekend and the stakes couldn’t have been much bigger, at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships. Even so, the return meant a lot to the wrestlers and their coaches, head coach Adam Greene and assistant coach Andrew Morse. “It was really satisfying,” Greene said. “As cliched as it sounds, it was a dream come true. To sit down in the corner of the mat and see two guys go out to the middle and shake hands, and one of them is wearing Siena Heights gear, it’s a real thing now. It’s a program that is here to stay, and hopefully is going to be competitive for years to come.” … rest of story at _{^{https://www.lenconnect.com/story/sports/college/2021/02/18/siena-heights-wrestling-makes-return/6785238002/?mc_cid=279b9a2f50&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

5 } – 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}}

6 } – FAIRCHILD NAMED AMC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Robert Fairchild has been named the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Wrestler of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Fairchild was selected based on his performances from Feb. 8-14.
AMC Wrestler of the Week
Robert Fairchild, Williams Baptist (Ark.)
125-pound | Jr. | Metarie, La.

• Won the 125-pound weight class at the AMC Wrestling Championships
• All three bout wins came by fall.
• Named Most Outstanding Wrestling of the Championships.
• Helped the Eagles to the AMC Wrestling Team Championship. … rest of story at _{^{http://www.wbueagles.com/article/1753.php?mc_cid=9e45a80a12&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

7 } – Mid-South Conference announces Academic All-Conference and Champions of Character Teams as Story and Sallah are recognized
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – With the postseason approaching for men’s wrestling, the Mid-South Conference announced both the Academic All-Conference Team and Champions of Character Team for the 2020-21 season. Campbellsville University’s Luke Story earned a spot on the Academic Team as Mahlic Sallah is the CU representative on the conference’s Champions of Character Team. In order to be nominated by an institution, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved at least sophomore academic status. The student-athletes that are honored on the Champions of Character Team were nominated by their coaches based on their leadership on campus and in the community while demonstrating the five core character values of the NAIA. Both Story and Sallah have spent significant time on the mat for the Tigers … rest of story at _{^{https://campbellsvilletigers.com/news/2021/2/18/mens-wrestling-mid-south-conference-announces-academic-all-conference-and-champions-of-character-teams-as-story-and-sallah-are-recognized.aspx?mc_cid=279b9a2f50&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

8 } – Indiana Tech Men’s Wrestling Defeats Thomas More with Late Pin
CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – Indiana Tech men’s wrestling battled with Thomas More earlier today only to have a late comeback and win 26-22. The match started at the 125-pound weight class where Brendon Mark faced off against Shay Horton. Horton started with a quick takedown before going out of bounds and being reset to the middle of the mat. Mark escaped to make the score 2-1 before the end of the first period. Mark strategically chose down for the start of the second period but was unable to get away from Horton while Horton worked for the pin. Mark lost to Horton via fall in 3:44. Next up for Tech was Malachi Greene at 133 to face James Mulenga. Greene was the aggressor earlier with the first takedown and two points before Mulenga escaped. Greene went right back at him and earned another takedown before getting Mulenga to his back and pinning him in just 1:32 to tie the match 6-6. At 141, Kyle Kantola faced off against Ryan Moore. Kantola scored the first two points of the match before Moore earned the reversal to tie it 2-2. Moore earned two more points before the period was out to lead 4-2. Kantola deferred the decision for the second period to Moore who chose down. Moore worked for a reversal on Kantola and took a 6-2 lead to ride out the second period. In the third period the wrestlers started in neutral before Moore recorded another takedown to lead 8-2. A stalling call on Kantola and a point for riding time earned Moore the 10-2 major decision victory and a 10-6 lead for Thomas More. … rest of story at _{^{https://indianatechwarriors.com/news/2021/1/16/mens-wrestling-defeats-thomas-more-with-late-pin.aspx?mc_cid=80454f9eb5&mc_eid=%5B2ef7cbca4b%5D}}

9} – Life University Men’s Wrestling Dominates on Path to MSC South Tournament Title
LAKELAND, Fla. —- The No. 3 nationally ranked Life University men’s wrestling team dominated its way to the Mid-South Conference South Division Tournament title with seven conference champions, earning a clean sweep of the postseason awards with all 12 grapplers qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament.  Tyree Johnson (141 lbs.), Denver Stonecheck (149 lbs.), Jack Bass (157 lbs.), Sid Ohl (165 lbs.), Asher Eichert (174 lbs.), Myles Starke (184 lbs.) and Zane Lanham (197 lbs.) each stood atop the podium in their weight class for the tournament. In the South Division postseason awards, Stonecheck was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament, Brandon Orum (125 lbs.) was named the Freshman of the Year, Ohl earned Wrestler of the Year honors and head coach Omi Acosta received Coach of the Year accolades. … rest of story at _{^{https://liferunningeagles.com/news/2021/2/20/mens-wrestling-dominates-on-path-to-msc-south-tournament-title.aspx?mc_cid=4fc5b594c8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

10 } – GPAC GLORY – EGLI, VASQUEZ INDIVIDUAL TITLES PROPEL MORNINGSIDE TO TOURNEY CHAMPIONSHIP
FREMONT, NEB. – Five National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ national qualifiers — two Great Plains Athletic Conference individual champions — a second team league tourney triumph in the last three years. Morningside College head coach Jake Stevenson had a tremendous sense of pride for his still youthful Mustangs following an impressive two-day performance at Midland University’s Wikert Events Center on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 19-20. “It’s a little bittersweet, as we had wanted as many guys as possible to advance to the national meet,” he reflected. “However, every one of our wrestlers put themselves in a spot to make a run at it this weekend.” Sophomore 133-pounder Taylor Vasquez (SO/Fountain, Colo.) (Fountain, Colo.) and senior 174-pounder Jonah Egli (SR/Fort Dodge, Iowa) (Fort Dodge, Iowa) picked up Mside’s two individual championships. Vasquez ranked No. 14 on the latest national poll, didn’t allow much doubt as to whether his NAIA championships ticket should be punched. He turned in a medical forfeit win and then registered back-to-back pins, including over Dakota Wesleyan’s Darlen Malone in the finals. Egli, entering the weekend with a 13-match win streak and No. 8 ranking, was dominant, too. He compiled two pins and then knocked off Doane University’s Michael Scarponi 6-4 in a match the senior controlled between two top 12 listed grapplers. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.msidemustangs.com/article/mens-wrestling/gpac-glory-egli-vasquez-individual-titles-propel-morningside-to-tourney-championship?mc_cid=4fc5b594c8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

11 } – No. 14 Tigers can’t hold on in heavyweight match; No. 11 Cumberlands wins 18-16
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — A wrestling dual coming down to the final weight class creates excitement but 11^th-ranked University of the Cumberlands took that spark tonight by from behind to beat the 14^th-ranked Campbellsville Tigers. The Patriots rallied to win, 18-16, to give Campbellsville its lone loss of the shortened regular season so far. The two are now tied inside the conference standings at 2-1.  The night started with a big win by Brandon Miller at 125 pounds but then it was three straight decisions for the Patriots giving them a 9-3 lead. The Tigers then answered right back.   At 157 pounds, Tristan Sellmer won 9-4 before Gavin Smith picked up a major decision at 165 pounds giving the Tigers a 10-9 lead.  Moving to the most anticipated match of the night, No. 3 Mahlic Sallah and No. 10 Jarod Swank didn’t disappoint at 174 pounds. Swank rallied late in the third period to tie the match at 7-all but it was Sallah earning a two-point take down in sudden victory to push CU’s lead to four points, 13-9. … rest of story at _{^{https://campbellsvilletigers.com/news/2021/2/5/mens-wrestling-no-14-tigers-can-t-hold-on-in-heavyweight-match-no-11-cumberlands-wins-18-16.aspx?mc_cid=7fbcdf9574&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

12 } – Dustyn Azure Named CCC Men’s Wrestling Coach of the Year
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University’s Dustyn Azure was named the 2020-21 Cascade Collegiate Conference Men’s Wrestling Coach of the Year, announced Tuesday. He was voted on by the conference’s head men’s wrestling coaches to earn the award, his first Coach of the Year honor.  “Congratulations to Dustyn on his selection as the CCC Men’s Wrestling Coach of the Year,” stated CCC Commissioner Robert Cashell. “This has indeed been a challenging season for all of our teams and Dustyn has done a wonderful job with his team, as well as serving as our conference and national rater.”  This is Azure’s fifth year at the helm for EOU and five Mountaineers qualified for the NAIA National Championship, scheduled for March 5-6 in Park City, Kan. – the second-most in the CCC. Under Azure, EOU boasts a 34-34 dual record, including an impressive 15-5 mark last season. … rest of story at _{^{https://eousports.com/news/2021/2/23/dustyn-azure-named-ccc-mens-wrestling-coach-of-the-year.aspx?mc_cid=9c47fa024a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND Cornerstone announces Chris Williamson as inaugural Wrestling Coach
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Director of Athletics Aaron Sagraves and Cornerstone University are excited to announce the hiring of Chris Williamson as the inaugural men’s wrestling coach. Cornerstone announced that men’s wrestling will be the 20^th varsity sport offered on campus in early January, and are now excited to have Williamson begin the recruiting process as the program will begin action in 2021-22. … rest of story at _{^{https://cugoldeneagles.com/news/2021/2/23/mens-wrestling-cornerstone-announces-chris-williamson-as-inaugural-wrestling-coach.aspx?mc_cid=9c47fa024a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
 

March 5, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized