Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

International Wrestling News (2021) – # 4

TDR Editor’s Notes ; A look at wrestling events around the world and with USA Wrestlersinvolves in international matches. Keep wrestling on. Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – Iran’s regime punishes innocent murdered wrestler’s coach and club
“The regime just took the wrestling club of Navid’s coach and cut his insurance and salary. They gave his wrestling club to Omid Norouzi, the head of Sepahe Fajr Basij.” Islamic Republic of Iran authorities in January launched a new crackdown against athletic friends of the wrestling champion Navid Afkari who was hanged in September because he protested against the growing political and economic corruption of Iran’s clerical regime.Sardar Pashaei, the renowned Greco-Roman Iranian wrestler world champion, confirmed on Saturday to The Jerusalem Post that “the regime just took the wrestling club of Navid’s coach and cut his insurance and salary. They gave his wrestling club to Omid Norouzi, the head of Sepahe Fajr Basij. They also changed the wrestling club’s name from Jahan Pahlevan Takhti to Omid Norouzi Academy.” … rest of story at https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/irans-regime-punishes-innocent-murdered-wrestlers-coach-and-club-656475?mc_cid=ff92a43b17&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND Iranian Wrestling Federation vice-president calls for execution of Hosseini to be prevented
According to The Jerusalem Post, Iranian wrestler Hosseini is due to be executed after being found guilty of murder.  He had reportedly been arrested in 2015 and charged with murder during a group brawl. The execution is expected to be imminent as the victim’s family has not agreed to pardon Hosseini for the alleged crime.  Sourian, a London 2012 Olympic gold medallist in the Greco-Roman 55 kilogram division, has pleaded with the family to prevent Hosseini’s execution from taking place.  “I beg Doctor Gholami Gheibi, who is one of the prominent doctors in Dezful, as the father of the victim, to please God,” he reportedly said.  “I hope that the honourable family of Gheibi will forgive this young man by doing this good deed.” … rest of story at https://www.insidethegames.biz/index.php/articles/1102914/calls-to-stop-execution-of-hosseini?mc_cid=7d0bae3ce9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – #197 Matt Gentry – 2x Olympian & NCAA Champion
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Matt Gentry is a 2x Olympian and NCAA Champion.  He wrestled collegiately for Stanford and then went on to represent Team Canada at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.  Please enjoy! … rest of story at https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/197-matt-gentry-2x-olympian-ncaa-champion/?mc_cid=63515b3c44&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND Gruenwald: ‘Trust, Love, & Hope’
During his remarkable career as a Greco-Roman athlete, Jim Gruenwald managed to become a two-time Olympian and one of the unquestioned leaders of the US National program. He was an elite international competitor who was uncompromising and vicious on the mat; yet filled with a love for Christ and a willingness to passionately share his faith off of it. Today, he is the head coach at Wheaton College in Illinois, as well as a highly-influential voice pertaining to all matters of encouragement, devotion, and Christian servitude.  Trust, love, and hope. On the surface, not the first three words you would normally associate with the image of a wrestler, let alone one straining to become an Olympic Champion. Yet there are very few words as important. … rest of the story at http://www.fivepointmove.com/christian-faith/gruenwald-trust-love-hope/?mc_cid=e1d5a94c45&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Patrick Smith Checks In From Croatia: “Super-Grateful” For Latest Opportunity
The Minnesota Twins on Thursday signed veteran lefthander JA Happ to a one-year deal worth $8 million, pending a physical. Haap, 38, had spent the previous three years with the New York Yankees, amassing a 21-10 record in 50 starts after coming over from the Toronto Blue Jays midway through the 2018 season. It was a solid run in the Bronx, though one that ended without a pennant. Haap’s brief tenure in pinstripes concludes with an ERA of 4.13 in 51 regular season appearances (50 starts) — but his 1.196 WHIP across 274 innings-pitched during that span ranked as the lowest in his career. So anyway, yeah, Patrick Smith (77 kg, Minnesota Storm, 5PM #1) cares about this. The two-time World Team member — who is currently in Porec, Croatia for camp alongside fellow Team USA rep Joe Rau (87 kg, TMWC/IRTC, world #7, 5PM #2) — is a passionate, knowledgeable baseball fan and pays rapt attention to meaningful offseason roster moves that might prove positive for his beloved Twins. Like most of his ilk, Smith cannot help but embrace the hope that arises each January just before spring training … rest of story at http://www.fivepointmove.com/usa-greco/patrick-smith-croatia-camp/?mc_cid=ff92a43b17&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4bhttps://wrestling.ca/wcl-announces-departure-of-high-performance-director/?mc_cid=4ec9be6c16&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Monday Roundup: Russian Nat’l Results; HUN With Interesting Plans
Last week came and went the Russian Nationals. If you are squinting your eyes and scratching your head because it seems like that event had already recently transpired, you needn’t feel vexed. This past October offered the “Russian Cup”, which despite a very slight tweak in the format basically served as a fall edition of their flagship domestic event. A month later welcomed in the “Moscow Grand Prix”, which brought forth competition only in the six Olympic weight categories. Held in Rostov, the 2021 Russian Nationals for Greco-Roman did not see participation from multi-time World/Olympic star Roman Vlasov, who is hoping to qualify 77 kilograms (for Tokyo) in March. Reigning two-time World champ Musa Evloev (97 kg, world #1) was also missing in action. Both Vlasov and and Evloev triumphed at the inaugural Individual World Cup last month after appearing in October’s “Russian Cup”. … rest of story at http://www.fivepointmove.com/greco-wrestling-news/russia-nationals-tata-camp/?mc_cid=4ec9be6c16&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Latrobe’s Luke Pletcher Continues Olympic Prep with Strong Showing at PWC2
Luke Pletcher, a Latrobe, Pennsylvania native, and member of the Pittsburgh Wrestling Club, and Dymond Guilford of the Titan Mercury WC were among the top senior-level performers on the PWC2 card, presented by PWC on Tuesday night.
In the final match of the card, Pletcher jumped ahead with a strong first period, then controlled the action on the way to a 7-1 decision over Dean Heil of the Navy-Marine Corps RTC at 67 kg. Pletcher was happy with the win, but knows he was far from perfect. … rest of story at https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2021/01/27/latrobes-luke-pletcher-continues-olympic-prep-with-strong-showing-at-pwc2/?mc_cid=bf1f14c6db&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Iran executes wrestler Mehdi Ali Hosseini
Despite pressure from the international community, and one of Iran’s top wrestlers, Iran carried out the execution of Mehdi Ali Hosseini.
On Monday Iran carried out the execution, via hanging, of national-level wrestler Mehdi Ali Hosseini. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) reported that Hosseini, who was from Andimeshk, was executed in Dezful prison. He was 30 years old. Authorities charged Hosseini with murder in 2015, saying he killed someone during a mass brawl. Hosseini’s death sentence was upheld because the victim’s family declined the opportunity to grant him clemency. Iranian wrestling hero Hamid Sourian, an Olympic, World and Asian Championship gold medallist, had petitioned the family to show mercy to Hosseini.
Hosseini’s death comes a few months after Iran executed Navid Afkari, a wrestler who represented Iran’s national team. Afkari had been charged with murdering a security officer. Iran said that Afkari’s charges and conviction stemmed from a confession Afkari made while in detention. … rest of story at https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2021/1/28/22254046/iran-executes-wrestler-mehdi-ali-hosseini-navid-afkari-human-rights-wrestling-news?mc_cid=8a92ee7e2c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Scarborough wrestler facing a battle off the mat in his fight to compete for Canada at the Olympics
It’s Jevon Balfour’s dream to represent Canada at the Olympic Games. But that dream has turned into more of a nightmare for the Brock University wrestler. Balfour barely missed out on competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and is determined to compete for Canada at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics. Sadly, there’s a major obstacle in his way that has nothing to do with his ability as a wrestler, which is considerable. In September, 2019, Balfour underwent eye surgery to repair a detached retina. Because of that, he was unable to compete at the Canadian Olympic trials in December 2019. … rest of story at https://calgarysun.com/sports/scarborough-wrestler-facing-a-battle-off-the-mat-in-his-fight-to-compete-for-canada-at-the-olympics?mc_cid=8a92ee7e2c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND Statement on Balfour appeal
On March 30, 2020, SDRCC Arbitrator The Honourable Yves Fortier, Q.C. made a determination in respect of Jevon Balfour’s participation with Wrestling Canada Lutte’s national team. That decision is available at the following link: http://www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca/resource_centre/pdf/English/948_SDRCC%2020-0446.pdf. While WCL is currently abiding by the decision, WCL confirms it has a received a request for appeal from Mr. Balfour. …rest of story at https://wrestling.ca/statement-on-balfour-appeal/?mc_cid=e1d5a94c45&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – UWW offers financial support for smaller nations to attend Olympic qualifiers
United World Wrestling has announced financial support for smaller nations and developing countries to help their athletes attend upcoming qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The technical assistance was announced by UWW’s development department. The governing body said financial support will help cover the costs of the international travel and accommodation for athletes to participate in the qualifiers. A maximum of two athletes and one coach nation will be accepted. The UWW says applications must be lodged by member federations to the development department via its official UWW email address. Nations will have until February 19 to apply for assistance to compete at the European Olympic qualifier, which will take place in Hungarian capital Budapest from March 18 to 21. … rest of story at https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1103668/uww-wrestling-support-olympic-qualifiers?mc_cid=8755157a86&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – Monday Roundup: TWO Rule Updates; Army Finally Mobilized
In last week’s Roundup, the major item outside of the Russian National results was the appearance of a presumptive change to passivity governance that incorporates a third par terre option. Seven days later, and this rule update is no longer in the testing phase. Rather, it has been approved for immediate use in all upcoming competitions. Effective today under Article 47 of United World Wrestling’s International Wrestling rulebook, the potential for a third par terre opportunity is included. Below is the language employed to describe the new procedure as written. … rest of story at http://www.fivepointmove.com/greco-wrestling-news/rule-update-army-boise/?mc_cid=3d847489c9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – What to Know: Ranking Series Points, Olympic Seeding, Prize Money and the 2021 Season
CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 1) — The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the competition schedules of the sporting world, including wrestling. The changes to competitions and myriad travel restrictions have meant that United World Wrestling has been asked to adapt with changes to the 2021 schedule and competition arrangement.  The 2021 season will be unlike any in recent memory. While athletes gear up for the Olympic Games by competing in qualification events and tournaments that will impact their seeding, they will also be wrestling in tournaments which help determine the 2021 Ranking Series champion. Those two trajectories will mean two sets of points for athletes, fans, and coaches to track in 2021. The Tokyo 202One seeding is almost complete, … rest of story at https://unitedworldwrestling.org/article/what-know-ranking-series-points-olympic-seeding-prize-money-and-2021-season?mc_cid=3d847489c9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – AMERICA’S CUP MEN’S FREESTYLE DUAL MEET EVENT, FEATURING TOP U.S. OLYMPIC HOPEFULS, TO AIR ON FLOWRESTLING, FEB. 10-11
USA Wrestling and FloWrestling are pleased to announce the creation of a new men’s freestyle dual meet event, the America’s Cup, which will be held in Concord, N.C., Feb. 10-11 and broadcast live by FloWrestling. The event will feature between four to six men’s freestyle teams, featuring elite athletes, competing for $60,000 in prize money. Each team will have six athletes, covering the six men’s freestyle weight classes (with a 2 kg allowance per day), plus 2-3 alternates. U.S. athletes eligible for America’s Cup will include athletes who will attend a USA Wrestling Freestyle Training Camp in Concord, including numerous National Team athletes and Olympic Trials qualifiers. Teams will be selected once the potential participants are finalized, in a manner which will provide each team with a competitive lineup. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/February/02/Americas-Cup-set-for-February-10-and-11?mc_cid=e1d5a94c45&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – IOC PUBLISHES FIRST PLAYBOOK OUTLINING MEASURES TO DELIVER SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL OLYMPICS IN TOKYO
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (Tokyo 2020) today published the first Playbook, a resource which outlines the personal responsibilities key stakeholders must take to play their role in ensuring safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.
The series of Playbooks provide a framework of basic principles that each key stakeholder group will follow before they travel to Japan, when entering Japan, during their time at the Games and when leaving the Games. They will provide direction and set parameters that will enable people and organisations to advance their planning at this stage. A preview of the Playbook for athletes was already given in a call with the Global Network of Athletes’ Commissions on Monday. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/February/03/IOC-publishes-Olympic-playbooks?mc_cid=653cd27934&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 7, 2021 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NCAA Division I News (2021) – # 11

TDR Editor’s Notes ; This weekend most wrestling fans are probably fixated in locating options on how to view the Big Ten and Big 12 Conference Championships on their TVs and/or computer screens. These are the last two Division I national qualifier tournaments. The brackets for the National Championships in two weeks will be released on March 10th. The NAIA National Championships are this weekend with the tightest title race in many years. While looking for these matches you can scan over the following collection of articles about Division I teams and wrestlers. Keep on Wrestling!
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – Ethan Laird Earns MAC Co-Wrestler of the Week
Senior heavyweight defeated No. 5 Jordan Wood in Broncs’ win at Lehigh
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University senior heavyweight wrestler Ethan Laird (Waterford, PA/General McLane) has been named Mid-American Conference Co-Wrestler of the Week, the league office today announced. Laird scored arguably the biggest win of his collegiate career with an 8-5 decision over #5 Jordan Wood of Lehigh on Sunday, clinching the Broncs’ 17-15 dual victory. The Broncs’ senior heavyweight jumped out to a 5-2 lead, before Wood evened the score at 5-5 in the third period. Following an escape with 30 seconds remaining to retake a 6-5 lead, Laird put the match out of reach with a takedown with 16 seconds remaining and rode out the victory. He’s now a perfect 5-0 on the year. … rest of story at https://gobroncs.com/news/2021/2/10/wrestling-ethan-laird-earns-mac-co-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=5e3b2f2de3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND Mizzou’s Mauller Named MAC Wrestler of the Week
MAC Announces Wrestler of the Week
Brock Mauller, Missouri, Junior, 149 lbs.              
Columbia, Mo (Father Tolton HS)
No. 3 Brock Mauller went 3-0 at the Cowboy Challenge to improve to 13-0 on the season. He defeated nationally ranked No. 4 Boo Lewallen from Oklahoma State by 7-5 decision in TB-1 to win the 149 pounds weight class. He also picked up a 16-4 major decision over Oklahoma State’s Jarod Kadel. … rest of story at https://getsomemaction.com/news/2021/2/17/wrestling-mizzous-mauller-named-mac-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=76aa098ad3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Virginia Tech notes: Wrestling team hopes to keep rolling
The Virginia Tech wrestling team is coming off its biggest win of the season, but there is still plenty on the line in its next match. The Hokies, who rose from No. 8 to No. 4 in Tuesday’s national coaches poll, clinched at least a share of the ACC regular-season title by knocking off then-No. 3 North Carolina State last Friday night. If the Hokies (8-0, 4-0) beat 16th-ranked Pittsburgh (3-3, 1-3) in their regular-season finale at 6 p.m. Friday at Cassell Coliseum, they will clinch that crown outright. “We can’t let that [win over State] affect us,” Tech coach Tony Robie said Wednesday in a phone interview. “It was an emotional evening. It was fun. But we’ve got to make sure we stay focused. “Our guys understand what’s at stake, … but it’s always hard. … Sometimes you have a lull after a match like that.” … rest of story at https://roanoke.com/sports/college/va_tech/virginia-tech-notes-wrestling-team-hopes-to-keep-rolling/article_090dd5c4-6c87-11eb-8c4d-fbe239627cff.html?mc_cid=b6bf9ab19d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Bulls Bounce Back with Dominant Win over Bloomsburg
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo wrestling team rebounding from a tough weekend to defeat Bloomsburg, 28-10, on Thursday afternoon at Alumni Arena. With the win, the Bulls closed out the dual season with a record of 4-3. The Bulls won three of the first matches to set the tone. Tristan Daugherty led things off a with an 11-4 decision at 125. Daugherty had two takedowns and a two-point nearfall in the first period and never looked back. Matt Ryan jumped out to a 6-0 lead over Josh Mason in the 141 match with a takedown and a four-point nearfall in the first period. However, after suffering a couple stall calls and a third-period takedown, Ryan was able to hold on for the 7-5 victory. … rest of story at https://ubbulls.com/news/2021/2/11/wrestling-bulls-bounce-back-with-dominant-win-over-bloomsburg.aspx?mc_cid=b6bf9ab19d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Penn State Heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet Not Expected to Wrestle This Season
Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson doesn’t expect redshirt freshman heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet to compete this season. “If Greg were available, he’d be wrestling,” Sanders told the media Wednesday. “We’re not expecting to get him back this year, unfortunately, so it’s [Seth] Nevills’ opportunity to step up and get things done.” Coming into the year ranked as the nation’s No. 5 heavyweight, Kerkvliet did not see the mat in Penn State’s first three dual meets. The four-time Minnesota state high school champion went 8-0 wrestling unattached during his redshirt season in 2019-20. … rest of story at https://www.statecollege.com/penn-state-heavyweight-greg-kerkvliet-not-expected-to-wrestle-this-season/?mc_cid=b6bf9ab19d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND Carter Starocci Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
Freshman downs second-ranked Wolverine to earn his first weekly laurel
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.  – Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.), ranked No. 5 in this week’s InterMat individual rankings, has been named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Feb. 14, 2021.  It is the first such honor for the Penn State freshman. Starocci earned the laurel by defeating sixth-year senior Logan Massa of Michigan in a key bout in the Nittany Lions’ 18-13 victory in Ann Arbor.  Massa entered the day ranked No. 2 by InterMat while Starocci was ranked No. 8 at the time.  The Erie Cathedral Prep graduate battled Massa evenly through regulation, heading to sudden victory tied 1-1 … rest of story at https://gopsusports.com/news/2021/2/16/wrestling-carter-starocci-named-big-ten-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – ‘This Is for the Next Generation’: Inside the Fight, at Stanford and Beyond, to Save Olympic Sports
At Stanford and other schools, athletes of discontinued NCAA sports teams are pushing back—and raising money to try to self-fund their programs in the process. The Home of Champions at Stanford is not your normal Hall of Fame. This 18,000-square-foot space on the university’s sprawling campus is a shrine to the country’s most successful college athletic program. The exhibit, opened in 2017, features more than 40 displays chronicling, in a state-of-the-art manner, the 130-year history of Stanford athletics. That includes a nation-leading 152 national championship teams, 270 Olympic medals won by Stanford athletes and the 25 consecutive Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cups, awarded annually to the country’s best athletic program. Visitors can use an interactive interface to watch videos of 21 Stanford greats, see Jim Plunkett’s Heisman Trophy and, in one corner of this giant hall, view some of the most recent sports artifacts on display here, from Olympic fencer Alexander Massialas. Encased in glass before a life-sized photo of a fist-pumping Massialas are the fencing mask and foil he used to claim the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. … rest of story at https://www.si.com/college/2021/02/12/stanford-save-cut-sports-movement-ncaa?mc_cid=ffcd6840e0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND #KEEPSTANFORDWRESTLING: WHAT’S THE REAL REASON STANFORD ELIMINATED 11 SPORTS?
This is the question we ultimately asked Provost Persis Drell that she would not answer.
In addition to the Provost, Patrick Dunkley, Deputy Athletic Director, joined us on the February 9th Zoom meeting. From our side, we had: • KSW co-chairs, Patricia Miranda ’01 and Robert Hatta ’97
• 36 Sports Strong co-chair, Kathy Levinson ’77
• Ohio State University President, Dr. Kristina Johnson BS ’79, MSEE, PhD ’83
To guide our conversation, we used the presentation found here. Through it, we made the ask that the 11 sports be reinstated and allowed to self-endow. We laid out both publicly available and AD-provided budget data that show the cuts made a minimal impact on the overall deficits, which will not only remain but grow even after COVID and the elimination of 1/3 of Stanford’s student athletes. We showed that wrestling’s ability to raise over $12 million over such a short period of time proves that sports can individually endow themselves. We closed with impassioned personal testimonies supporting the diversity of opportunities and excellence that come with a broad-based sports offering (see notes on the very last slide to see our closing statement to Provost Drell). … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/February/19/Keep-Stanford-wrestling-Why-did-Stanford-drop-11-sports?mc_cid=a32eea18bb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Wrestling’s Schultz Named Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week
SAN FRANCISCO – As announced by the Pac-12 Conference on Wednesday, redshirt freshman Cohlton Schultz has been named Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week for the first time in his Sun Devil career after his performances over the weekend against No. 13 Iowa State and Northern Iowa. Schultz, ranked No. 5 by WIN Magazine, wrestled arguably his most complete weekend of the season as he went 2-0, knocking off two top-10 opponents to end the regular season undefeated with 10 victories. … rest of story at https://thesundevils.com/news/2021/2/17/wrestlings-schultz-named-pac-12-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=76aa098ad3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – CBU Wrestling Accepts Conditional Membership Status from Big 12 Conference
RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University wrestling has received a letter of intent from the Big 12 Conference regarding affiliate membership starting in 2022-23. The Big 12 is currently home to Air Force, Fresno State, Iowa State, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Utah Valley, West Virginia and Wyoming. The Lancers would give the conference 12 teams in 2022-23, as Fresno State is set to discontinue its program at the end of this season. … rest of story at https://cbulancers.com/news/2021/2/16/cbu-wrestling-accepts-conditional-membership-status-from-big-12-conference.aspx?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND 2021 Big 12 Wrestling Championship TV Coverage Announced
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –Television coverage for the 2021 Big 12 Wrestling Championship, set for March 6-7, at the BOK Center, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been announced. The first three sessions of the championship will be distributed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, the conference’s digital platform, while the championship matches will be televised live on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. ET. All matches from the championship also will be available on the ESPN App. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $59.99 per year) at ESPNplus.com, ESPN.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It also is available as part of The Disney Bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (ad-supported) — all for just $12.99/month. … rest of story at https://wvusports.com/news/2021/2/19/2021-big-12-wrestling-championship-tv-coverage-announced.aspx?mc_cid=a32eea18bb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Hastings Earns Big 12 Wrestler Of The Week Honors
IRVING, Texas. (Feb. 16, 2021) – For the second week in a row, and second time this season, a Wyoming Cowboy has been named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week. Hayden Hastings takes the honor after a first-place finish at the Cowboy Challenge Tournament that was held in Stillwater, Okla. The 174 lb redshirt junior went 3-0 in the tournament and sealed first place with a win over No. 7 Dustin Plott (OSU) in the finals. This is the first time in his Cowboy career that Hastings has been named Wrestler of the Week.  At the Cowboy Challenge Tournament Hastings posted back-to-back decision victories to reach the finals outscoring his opponents 11-5 in his first two matches, before he faced off against Plott in the finals.  Plott struck first in the match scoring the first two takedowns and took an early 4-2 lead over Hastings after the first period. … rest of story at https://gowyo.com/news/2021/2/16/wrestling-hastings-earns-big-12-wrestler-of-the-week-honors.aspx?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – UNC’s Heilmann, Virginia’s Keating Named ACC Wrestlers of the Week
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina sophomore Joe Heilmann and Virginia junior Jake Keating have been named the final 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestlers of the Week following their wins over ranked opponents in last Saturday night’s regular-season finale. UNC’s Heilmann, an unranked 133-pounder, posted a 2-0 win over Virginia’s Louie Hayes, helping the No. 14 Tar Heels to a 25-9 team win over the No. 21 Cavaliers in a matchup of ranked ACC teams. Hayes earned the No. 7 spot in the 133-pound weight class in last week’s first NCAA coaches panel rankings and was ranked No. 10 by Intermat. Heilmann, who hails from South Plainfield, New Jersey, posted his first win career win over the a top-10 opponent. … rest of story at https://theacc.com/news/2021/2/16/wrestling-uncs-heilmann-virginias-keating-named-acc-wrestlers-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – UNI, Navy sit atop first Mid-Major Top 20 for 2021
Northern Iowa checks in at No. 1 in NWCA Mid-Major Division I Poll
Manheim, Pennsylvania – The National Wrestling Coaches Association released its first Mid-Major Top 20 of the season on Wednesday. Formulated in 2017, the Mid-Major Top 20 concentrates on the programs that fall outside of the traditional “Power 5” conferences. COVID-19 played a significant role in this year’s college sports season, with wrestling being impacted without the participation of seven schools that would qualify for inclusion in the Mid-Major Top 20. The six wrestling Ivy League schools – Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Penn and Princeton along with the lone Division III school sponsoring Division I wrestling, Franklin & Marshall, did not compete this season. Northern Iowa, one of the nation’s top non-Power 5 wrestling programs historically, comes in atop of the poll, followed by the U.S. Naval Academy and first-year head coach Cary Kolat. Traditional Mid-American Conference power Central Michigan is third, followed by Campbell at four and Rider fifth. … rest of story at http://www.nwcaonline.com/uni-navy-sit-atop-first-mid-major-top-20-for-2021/?mc_cid=76aa098ad3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – College wrestling season has been one test after another, Penn State’s Cael Sanderson says
As the college wrestling season that basically just started already begins to wind down, Penn State coach Cael Sanderson is certain of one thing and one thing only: every team is in the same proverbial boat. Some may even be in a lifeboat but rest assured that no one is on a pleasure cruise heading toward the NCAA’s postseason championship events. “I’m excited about the challenges this season because everybody is going through the same thing,” Sanderson said on Tuesday. “You talk to the coaches of the other programs and everybody’s tired, everybody’s exhausted. … rest of story at https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2021/02/college-wrestling-season-has-been-one-test-after-another-penn-states-cael-sanderson-says.html?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND Will a college wrestling legend emerge from a global pandemic?
Until his final breath, Dick Hutton insisted that he defeated Verne Gagne in the heavyweight finals of the 1949 NCAA Championships. And he’s not wrong for thinking that way, either.  The Oklahoma State junior (known as Oklahoma A&M at the time) lost by split referees’ decision to Gagne — a senior from Minnesota who won the 191-pound title the year before. The fate of the match was left in the hands of someone else, and the outcome truly wasn’t settled on the mat.  This seminal moment in college wrestling history was multiplied when both pursued professional wrestling careers. It didn’t matter where they were or the circumstances of the gathering: Hutton said he was the rightful winner of the match. Gagne said the same thing. It always led to playful banter whenever they were in a room together. For his part, Gagne — one of the biggest names in professional wrestling history — spoiled the final chance for a college wrestler to win four NCAA championships. At least that’s what everyone assumed.  … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1613968879360&twSessionId=zydvzxtigz&postId=1079962135&mc_cid=4fc5b594c8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – Fresno State Duals vs. Oklahoma & Oregon State canceled
Due to COVID-19 contact tracing within the Fresno State wrestling program, the Bulldogs home matches against No. 18 Oklahoma and Oregon State scheduled for Sunday at the Save Mart Center have been canceled. Additionally, the scheduled match between Oklahoma and Oregon State will not be hosted in the Save Mart Center. … rest of story at https://gobulldogs.com/news/2021/2/10/wrestling-dogs-dual-with-oklahoma-oregon-state-canceled.aspx?mc_cid=5e3b2f2de3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND IOWA RETURNS TO LIMITED IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES; DUAL AGAINST NORTHWESTERN ON FEB. 19 POSTPONED
STATEMENT FROM THE IOWA WRESTLING PROGRAM
At the direction of the University of Iowa medical team, the Iowa Athletics Department announced Monday that the Iowa Wrestling program has returned to limited in-person activities, ending a seven-day pause in response to positive COVID-19 test results within the program. Iowa will continue to follow Big Ten Conference medical protocols and the direction of the UI medical team regarding a full-team return to in-person activities. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/February/15/Iowa-returns-to-in-person-activities-but-Northwestern-dual-postponed?mc_cid=9e45a80a12&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b


 

March 7, 2021 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment