Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Women’s Wrestling News (2021) – # 10 {High School}


TDR Editor’s Notes ; These articles are from many different states with news of girls’ wrestling on the high school level. Some are still wrestling on the boys teams but a growing number of states have started their competition for girls wrestling teams. These teams have met in innaugural state championship tournaments. Over half of the states now have sanctioned high school wrestling as a separate sports. Keep on growing the opportunities for wrestling!
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – {oklahoma} Broken Arrow leads the way at girls wrestling East Regional
BROKEN ARROW — It was a historic day for high school wrestling in Oklahoma on Monday. For the first time, girls from across the state competed in a west regional in Edmond and an east regional in Broken Arrow to determine who will compete at the first officially sanctioned OSSAA state girls meet in Oklahoma City on Feb. 25. Broken Arrow dominated the regional, winning four weight classes to top the team standings, amassing 163 points. Jay was second with 121.

Broken Arrow coach Cassidy Jasperson was happy with how the Tigers performed. “This is opportunity for the girls,” Jasperson said. “They work hard every day, and getting to showcase that for people is something they deserve. It has been a long time coming, and I am so proud to be a part of it. I know each and every girl in the state is glad to be a part of it.” … rest of story at https://tulsaworld.com/ba-leads-the-way-at-girls-wrestling-east-regional/article_fd6e8364-6a77-11eb-9624-ef21414e39dc.html?mc_cid=82bfd879a8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – {Ohio} Miami East High School student becomes first girl to place at boys state wrestling tournament
MIAMI COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) – A Miami East High School senior became the first girl to place at a boys state wrestling tournament. Miami Valley Today reported that Olivia Shore made history at the boys state wrestling tournament with her second win of the tournament Saturday. Shore finished in the top six and will begin her college career at Tiffin University next year. … rest of story at https://www.wdtn.com/news/local-news/miami-east-high-school-student-becomes-first-girl-to-place-at-boys-state-wrestling-tournament/?mc_cid=1e4a49e3cd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – {tennessee} Tindall is Carter’s first state wrestling champion!
Jailynn Tindall’s move from Georgia to Strawberry Plains last summer has proved to be just peachy for Carter High School. Tindall, a junior, notched a TSSAA state wrestling championship in the girls’ 140-pound weight class Thursday at the Chattanooga Convention Center. “As far as I know, she is Carter’s first state champion in wrestling,” said Coach Tim Free. According to TSSAA’s state championship history, Carter has had 21 appearances in state wrestling events, but never a champion … until now!

Tindall pinned Cane Ridge junior Bryce White in 2 minutes and 56 seconds for the title. “When she came off the mat, she said she couldn’t believe it,” recalled Coach Free. “She was very, very happy. She was in tears and I was too.” Jailynn then gave her coach a big hug. “I think she did a great job,” said Free. “She listened very well and executed. “She did great. I’m very, very proud of her.” … rest of story at https://knoxfocus.com/archives/this-weeks-focus/tindall-is-carters-first-state-wrestling-champion/?mc_cid=d34d798fb2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – {oklahoma} Wagoner wrestling pioneer Alexis Miller focusing on first girls OSSAA state tournament
Wagoner senior Alexis Miller said she isn’t always as mad as she seems before an important wrestling match. “People tell me they didn’t even think I could smile because I’m always ‘mean-muggin’,” she said. “But honestly, I’m almost always happy.” Rated the nation’s No. 9 high school female in her weight by USA Wrestling, Miller simply wants to focus on the business at hand. “I can laugh and smile afterwards,” she said.

She was grinning from ear to ear in Broken Arrow last week after winning the first girls-only wrestling regional sanctioned by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association. Miller pinned all four tourney foes, including Vian’s Avery Richey in the championship match at 107 pounds. She’s now headed back to Oklahoma City on Feb. 25 to compete in the first OSSAA-sanctioned state tournament.

“It’s something I’ve worked at for a long time,” she said. “I’ve tried to promote women’s wrestling any way possible, and to have an official state tournament means a lot. I didn’t know it was going to happen before I got out of school, and I’m just grateful to get to wrestle in one.” … rest of story at https://tulsaworld.com/community/wagoner/wagoner-wrestling-pioneer-alexis-miller-focusing-on-first-girls-ossaa-state-tournament/article_6c661808-6e4d-11eb-88e1-53736622ee3b.html?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Schedule And Brackets For The First Ever Girls OSSAA State Championship
On Thursday the first ever OSSAA sanctioned girls wrestling state championships will take place. The schedule of events and brackets are listed below.
The State Wrestling Tournaments will be held in Oklahoma City at the State Fairgrounds Arena.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS … rest of story at https://owrestle.com/schedule-and-brackets-for-the-first-ever-girls-ossaa-state-championship/

5 } – {montana} Great Falls High’s Kaylin Taylor chasing girls wrestling history
CASCADE — According to Montana High School Association figures released earlier this month, there are 169 girls competing in the first year that girls wrestling was sanctioned as an official high school sport. But in Great Falls, there is only one. That would be Great Falls High freshman Kaylin Taylor.

The first thing you’ll notice about Taylor is her signature sense of style, exemplified by the bright, colorful and loud socks she wears every time she steps on the mat. “I’ve been wearing rainbow socks at a lot of my tournaments since at least seventh grade,” she said. “But I have a lot of other crazy socks that I like to wear.”

She’s not kidding. In middle school tournaments, Taylor would frequently rock dyed pink hair and a Wonder Woman singlet. To this day, she continues to draw compliments from opponents and fans alike. “Just a little bit ago in my last match, she was telling me how she liked my socks,” Taylor said. … rest of story at https://www.montanasports.com/high-school-sports/wrestling/great-falls-highs-kaylin-taylor-chasing-girls-wrestling-history?mc_cid=5e3b2f2de3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Prep Notebook: The ultimate dream for girls’ wrestling comes true Friday in Billings
When Kaylin Taylor takes center stage this Friday, it will mark her beginning. When Rebecca Stroh toes the line, she’ll will be nearing the end. And when Lily Grismer steps into the circle, she’ll be somewhere in the middle. This is the story of three girls from three different schools and in three different stages of high school who will be part of history Friday morning when the very first All-Class Girls’ State Wrestling Tournament gets underway at the Lockwood High School gymnasium. The 103-pound Taylor is a freshman at Great Falls High. … rest of story at https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/sports/2021/02/18/prep-notebook-montana-girls-wrestling-kaylin-taylor-rebecca-stroh-lily-grismer/4496598001/?mc_cid=279b9a2f50&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – {colorado} McKenna Reynolds a product of Vista Ridge girls wrestling’s pack mentality culture
Culture is often pointed out as a crucial factor in the success of athletic programs. A culture provides a roadmap for how a program runs and what it takes to sustain success both in competition and in life outside the sport. Like every girls wrestling team in the state, Vista Ridge is competing in its first season as a CHSAA sanctioned sport. But the Wolves have spent the better part of five years building a culture that will promote success for this year and for years down the road.

McKenna Reynolds is a product of that. She’s off to a dominant 10-0 start to the season and has been relishing the chance for her, and all girls wrestlers across the state, to showcase the skills needed to be successful. “I wanted people to understand that just because you’re a female, you can’t do really cool stuff,” she said. “That was a problem for a while. I just wanted to make sure people knew you could still do cool stuff.”

In each match, Reynolds has had her hand raised after pinning her opponents. It’s a reward for the way that the Wolves force themselves to work and get better. Rather than designating team captains, the team operates on a pack leadership mentality and it’s something that has been noticed by USA Wrestling. … rest of story at https://chsaanow.com/2021-02-12/mckenna-reynolds-a-product-of-vista-ridge-girls-wrestlings-pack-mentality-culture/?mc_cid=a6cfb4b322&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Boundary to Boundary Colorado HS Girls – Legacy Head Coach Jeremy Cortez
Episode #82 of Boundary to Boundary – Colorado HS with Jeremy Cortez Legacy HS Girls head coach. This 4X state qualifier is taking on the duties of head coach of the district girls team with Legacy as the host school. The five school – Thornton, Horizon, Legacy, Mountain Range and Northglenn all are sending wrestlers to Legacy to combine as one unified team. … rest of story and video link at http://insidecoloradowrestling.com/index.php/11-uncategorized/1877-boundary-to-boundary-colorado-hs-girls-legacy-head-coach-jeremy-cortez?mc_cid=76aa098ad3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – {utah} For first time in UHSAA history, girls wrestling will be a championship sport this week
SARATOGA SPRINGS — American Leadership Academy sophomore Olivia Carrillo has wrestled boys. She has wrestled girls. She’s not afraid to measure herself against any gender of competition. But the 158-pound grappler with a 21-2 record and 18 pins admits there are plenty of advantages to separating a sport that has long been coed into their respective gender classifications. With girls wrestling being in its first year as a sanctioned sport by the Utah High School Activities Association, the comparisons between boys and girls wrestlers won’t stop. But for the first time in Carrillo’s life, the playing field is a little more level.

“You feel like you have to measure up to the boys, kind of, with girls wrestling being so new,” said Carrillo, who was one of 119 all-state wrestlers honored in 2021. “We all have to prove ourselves out there, which is kind of nerve-wracking.” While wrestlers will go for the gold in the state’s top classifications this week at Corner Canyon and Wasatch high schools, for the first time in state history, the girls won’t join them. … rest of story at https://www.ksl.com/article/50107599/for-first-time-in-uhsaa-history-girls-wrestling-will-be-a-championship-sport-this-week?mc_cid=9e45a80a12&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – {colorado} Wrestling for her dad: Piper Jo Jones competes for first time in Soroco
OAK CREEK — Chad Jones never wanted his daughter to wrestle guys. “He didn’t want me to wrestle boys because as a coach he couldn’t handle watching me get beat. He as a dad couldn’t handle watching me get hurt,” said Hayden junior Piper Jo Jones. “So he never let me wrestle against boys, but I kind of found a loophole in wrestling against girls.”

Chad Jones was a wrestling coach in Hayden for years and is part of the reason the wrestling program there is so successful. In September 2018, he died unexpectedly. Piper Jo has stayed connected to the sport and her father by managing the high school wrestling team. With a growing girls wrestling program in Oak Creek, she decided this was the year to put on a singlet.

“I’m just excited because she’s excited,” said Hayden head coach Matt Linsacum. “I think she’s wanted to do this and she uses her dad as a motivational factor. It’s fun to see her be excited about something her family has been so passionate about. It was pretty fun to watch her.” .. rest of story at https://www.steamboatpilot.com/sports/wrestling-for-her-dad-piper-jo-jones-competes-for-first-time-in-soroco/?mc_cid=a32eea18bb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – {pennsylvania} WYOMING SEMINARY GIRLS BEAT PENNSYLVANIA USA WRESTLING IN ALL-STAR FREESTYLE DUAL MEET
Carpenter Athletic Center on the snowy campus of Wyoming Seminary played host to Freestyle for Females: Wyoming Seminary vs. Team Pennsylvania today. The young Wyoming Seminary girls wresting team was led by freshmen Faith Bartoszek, Carina Giangeruso, Rianne Murphy, Tai Mallqui, Tiffany Stoshak, and Cloe Charlesworth, all who won their matches to lead the Blue Knights to a 62-43 win. Murphy and Charlesworth both picked up falls in their bouts.

Cadet World team member Lilly Freitas picked up two technical falls. Other SEM wrestlers also won via technical fall, including Virginia Foard, Abby Duke, Piper Staniford, and Kendall Bostelman. Team Pa started out with back-to-back wins from Juliette Trout and Julia Horger in the youth matches. Also earning victories on the day were Pennsylvania were Joelle Scott, Sierra Chiesa, Jael Mille, Alexa Ortiz, Jordyn Fouse, and Haylie Jaffe. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/February/21/SEM-vs-PA-girls-all-star-dual-meet?mc_cid=4fc5b594c8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4bhttps://www.steamboatpilot.com/sports/girls-outnumber-guys-on-soroco-wrestling-team/?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – {Colorado) Inaugural CHSAA girls wrestling season brings more than 400 athletes across Colorado to mat: “Watching them grow from not knowing anything to getting their first pin, it’s amazing”
LITTLETON — Journey Ruiz began competitive wrestling when she was 9 years old after watching her brother’s team and volunteering to help during practice. The sport got her hooked. Today, as a sophomore wrestler at Chatfield High School, a self-confidence that wrestling inspired has provided Ruiz with a newfound mentality toward the pursuit of success, on and off the mat.

“For my first-ever time wrestling, my first pin and everything, I just felt so awesome,” Ruiz said. “I didn’t really grow up to be winning things. It was just awkward at first. But it felt so nice to win something, and be proud of it, too.” On Thursday afternoon, beneath a low-hanging spotlight in Chatfield’s home gym, Ruiz displayed just how much she’s learned as one of the top 111-pound wrestlers in the state, pinning her Pomona opponent in 28 seconds as a sparse crowd of masked parents witnessed Colorado high school sports history in the making.

CHSAA’s inaugural season of girls wrestling, after a two-year pilot program, is well underway with at least 425 girls registered to wrestle among 54 schools across the state, according to CHSAA assistant commissioner Adam Bright. Chatfield entered its last home dual as the undefeated top-ranked team in Colorado, per cowrestling.com, and is the two-time defending pilot-program state champion. … rest of story at https://www.denverpost.com/2021/02/19/inaugural-chsaa-girls-wrestling-season/

11 } – {New Jersey} Sunday’s Chick Wrestler Classic invitational for high school-age girls full of highlights
There were surprises, dominating performances and marquee matchups, including two rematches of state finals from last season. Sunday’s Chick Wrestler Classic invitational tournament featured some of New Jersey’s best wrestlers on display about a week before the start of high school practice. Of the 11 weight classes, nine were decided by either a pin or technical fall at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen with several state champions and placewinners involved.

Since the tournament was not sanctioned by the NJSIAA, high school coaches were prohibited from being in the corners of their respective wrestlers and the athletes couldn’t wear their school-issued uniforms. Sunday’s event was sure to fire up the fans and competitors for the shortened NJSIAA high school season. Practices start March 1 with the dual meet season beginning March 16. It’s uncertain how many opportunities girls will have to compete and if there will be a postseason individual tournament.

Sunday’s tournament showcased nearly 90 high school-age girls from across New Jersey with several memorable performances. … rest of story at https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/wrestling/2021/02/21/sundays-chick-wrestler-classic-high-school-age-girls-full-highlights/4505156001/?mc_cid=4fc5b594c8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – {North Dakota} Mandan Girl wins first in statewide wrestling tournament after breaking leg
Some local athletes have taken the saying, “break a leg,” to a whole new level. A Mandan wrestler kept going after unknowingly breaking her leg. Summer Fike, part of the unsanctioned girls wrestling team, ended up having to sit on the sidelines after fracturing her leg during practice. “I was like wow because it didn’t even seem like broken because I could walk on it. I look at it as more of an achievement to push myself. Trying something new. I’m actually not afraid of getting hurt too much,” said Fike.

“All of a sudden one day she came with some x-rays and a knee brace and some crutches and said her leg was broken. I said that’s pretty dang tough if you made it through a few weeks of practice,” said Tyler Steinwand, Head Wrestling Coach, Mandan. After waiting weeks to get back in the game, Fike was able to join her team and didn’t miss a beat.
Her teammates tell us her perseverance is inspiring.

“I was feeling really bad for her because I know how much she loves the sport, and I wanted her to keep wrestling. When I saw her come back from her injury and not have any practice, I was really shocked,” said fellow wrestler, Diane Aranda. … rest of story at https://www.kxnet.com/news/mandan-girl-wins-first-in-statewide-wrestling-tournament-after-breaking-leg/?mc_cid=bd28fec561&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And North Dakota Girls’ State Showcased in the FargoDome
Girl wrestlers in North Dakota showcased their talents at the Girls Wrestling High School State Championships over the weekend. While North Dakota’s efforts to officially sanction high school girls’ wrestling are ongoing, the fifth unofficial state championships were extra special this season. Wrestling was held in the FargoDome—a venue that’s no stranger to young wrestlers with big dreams. This is a feat that had been sought after for years. At the conclusion of the Boys’ State Duals Tournament, the girls were given the opportunity to showcase their talents.

Fifty-one North Dakota girls between seventh and twelfth grade were able to display their hard work in pursuit of a state title. The girls were divided into eleven weight-based brackets and wrestled in a round-robin format. Regardless of numbers, each athlete was able to come away with a handful of matches. Hands were raised, tears were shed, but most importantly, experience and exposure had been gained. The eleven individual champions hailed from eight different programs including … rest of story at https://www.transitionwrestling.com/north-dakota-girls-state-showcased-in-the-fargodome/?mc_cid=329018bca1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 29, 2021 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Wrestling History (2021) – # 4

TDR Editor’s Notes ; We urge wrestlers, coaches and fans to also look back periodically to our long and proud history of the sport of wrestling. Lessons can be learned and encouragements found is reading the history told. Keep on Wrestling! Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – Twenty years of coverage for Connecticut Wrestling Online
Twenty years ago this week, Derby High was the defending Southern Connecticut Conference champions and the Raiders won for the 29th time in 30 matches with a 63-10 win over Branford. Newington secured the 200th win in the history of their program and Ledyard handed Bacon Academy a 43-27 defeat in the Bobcats’ first-ever ECC match.

It was also 20 years ago today that Connecticut Wrestling Online made its first appearance on January 5, 2001. On the next day, Connecticut Wrestling Online covered their first event as Cranston East, R.I. won the 20th annual Bristol Central Tournament with a comfortable 67½ point margin over the host Rams.
… rest of story at https://ctwrestling.com/2021/01/twenty-years-of-coverage-for-connecticut-wrestling-online/3679/?mc_cid=4295bf0eb8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Season 4, Column 1: No to far away but Yes locally; An FTD wish for a Northern neighbor; Cancel Culture, New England Style; and ‘Cue the local angle
Theres no way to sugarcoat it: the United States decision to not send teams to this year’s World Wrestling Championships creates an oral vacuum of immense magnitude. Athletes have voiced a variety of opinions on the matter, coaches have (mostly) quietly supported the USA Wrestling decision, but fans are pissed. Frankly, throw all of it into the lap of UWW (United World Wrestling). They went through more format changes with this event than Bruce Jenner post Olympics. And just as messy. Once it was announced that the competition facility was being converted into an emergency Covid-19 center, well, that put a cork in it for the USA. We weren’t the first team to say “no thanks”, and we weren’t the last. The U.W.W. had a mess on its hands, and after it became apparent they couldn’t make it work, they made it into something else. Some kind of something called an “Individual World Cup” will be held instead. Whom from what countries will risk much for who knows what is very much up in the air. Stateside, though, there are a bunch of high level matches popping up all over the place. Ohio St. 4xAA and 2016 National champ Myles Martin just stepped up to and through a LOADED field of former National champs, AAs, and international medalists in a winner take twenty thousand dollar title tournament at 195 lbs. Kudos again to FloWrestling and their slick work at making the 1 day mini tournament for pay fun and, slowly, part of the sports future. Also in the Flowage: a showdown match between the current G.O.A.T. of American Freestyle wrestling, Jordan Burroughs, and former 3xAA, 2X NCAA champ for … rest of story at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2020/11/12/season-4-column-1-no-to-far-away-but-yes-locally-an-ftd-wish-for-a-northern-neighbor-cancel-culture-new-england-style-and-cue-the-local-angle/?mc_cid=b4122c2e60&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Seven to be inducted in CT Chapter of National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2022
Seven outstanding individuals who have helped young men and women grow thanks to the sport of wrestling will be honored and inducted into the Connecticut Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in April 2022. Three are current coaches, two are former coaches, one individual is a long-time tournament organizer and one inductee will be the first woman to be inducted into the chapter’s Hall of Fame. The seven inductees are:

4 } – Wrestling Changed Their Lives: John Smith audio documentary to be released
Ryan Warner grew up idolizing John Smith. Warner, perhaps the biggest wrestling fan on Earth, is the host and producer of the Wrestling Changed My Life podcast. He’s made over 180 episodes, interviewing the biggest names in wrestling, but Smith always eluded him. So when the National Wrestling Hall of Fame approached Warner to make an audio documentary about one of its members, he asked for Smith and his brothers — Lee Roy and Pat.

“Next thing I know, we had interviews lined up,” Warner said. “I started research for the documentary in April and it’s been going on near every day since.” The seven-part audio documentary is set to be released in January and covers the 17 years that span across the three brothers’ college careers. … rest of story at https://www.ocolly.com/sports/wrestling-changed-their-lives-john-smith-audio-documentary-to-be-released-in-january/article_ae7623b0-4b42-11eb-8d89-0b2d2f6bc392.html?mc_cid=4295bf0eb8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And ThaHustle: The Smiths Documentary Thoughts
by Jason Bryant 
Subscribe to this show via: Apple Podcasts | RSS
I spend some time talking about my big take aways from the 7 part audio documentary about the Smith Family that dives deep into the lives of Pat, Lee Roy and 6X world and Olympic Champ John Smith. I approached it mainly from a coaching perspective and how his rare view of elite competition resonated with me. … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/thahustle/thahustle-the-smiths-documentary-thoughts/?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – #THROWBACKTHURSDAY USA WRESTLING HISTORY LESSON: TOWNSEND SAUNDERS
Welcome to TheMat.com’s weekly series called USA Wrestling History Lesson. Each week, we will highlight one athlete that has wrapped up his or her wrestling career, sharing the impact that they’ve had on the sport. This week, we take a look at Townsend Saunders, a 1996 Olympic silver medalist, two-time Olympian and 2004 Olympic coach.
Check out the other USA Wrestling History Lessons HERE.
Saunders became prominent in high school when he placed second in the California state championships for Torrance High School. Known then as “Junior Saunders,” he went on to Cal-State Bakersfield, where he won the Div. II national title. He transferred to Arizona State, winning two NCAA Div. I All-American honors under the Hall of Fame coach Bobby Douglas, placing second at 142 pounds in 1989 and third at 150 at 1990. His career really took off after college, when he focused full-time on freestyle wrestling … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/January/07/History-lesson-Townsend-Saunders?mc_cid=4a4f0e7778&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Five things you need to know about the 134-pound bracket at the 1981 NCAA Championships
The 134-pound weight class at the NCAA Championships had all kinds of twists and turns. Here are five things you need to know about the bracket. 

Jim Gibbons “Ames” High
Jim Gibbons — the eventual winner of the bracket — owns a unique piece of history. He is the only wrestler to win an individual state title, an individual NCAA title, and he’s the only person to coach an NCAA team championship for schools located in the same town.
Gibbons won state titles for Ames High School from 1975-77 before winning an NCAA championship at Iowa State (located in Ames) in 1981. He led Iowa State to an NCAA team championship in 1987 — the most recent NCAA team wrestling championship for the Cyclones. Gibbons was born in Waterloo, Iowa, but he claims Ames as his hometown. Can you blame him with a record like that? 
He was also the second wrestler to defeat two returning NCAA champions on his way to the title. The former Iowa State star currently serves as an on-air commentator for the Big Ten Network. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1610338206698&twSessionId=odefydkksn&postId=949605135&mc_cid=ee9459dd97&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Announced
WATERLOO, Iowa – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum announced that it has finalized the Class of 2021 for the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction weekend, scheduled for July 15-17.
The Class of 2021 is Adnan Al-Kassie (Living Inductee), Don Kernodle (Living Inductee), Earl Wampler (Posthumous Inductee), Trish Stratus (Lou Thesz World Heavyweight Championship Award), Mark Henry (Frank Gotch Award), and Ken Shamrock (George Tragos Award).
It was also announced that legendary wrestling announcer Gordon Solie will be the inaugural recipient of the Gordon Solie Award, which will be presented annually for outstanding achievement in professional wrestling broadcasting. Gordon’s son, Jonard, will accept the award on behalf of Gordon, who passed away in 2000. … rest of story at https://nwhof.org/blog/tragos-thesz-hall-of-fame-class-of-2021-announced/?mc_cid=01186bea70&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Des Moines Register wrestling writer Cody Goodwin on the changing face of sports media
by Jason Bryant 
There’s been a long time between the time I spoke with Cody Goodwin of The Des Moines Register for International Podcast Day. We’d just finished up with the Night of Conflict out in Sioux City, Iowa and were conversing about the state of wrestling coverage. Part of that wrestling coverage discussion is here on Episode 644 of Short Time where the 2019 NWMA National Wrestling Journalist of the Year talks about his foray into podcasting with In The Room, how he talked his bosses at the paper into starting one and how he’s used the medium to cover angles that don’t often get the space in the paper. … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/des-moines-register-wrestling-writer-cody-goodwin-on-the-changing-face-of-sports-media/?mc_cid=7d0bae3ce9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Hazard ‘69
Kevin Hazard Hall of Fame Bio
In the Alumni Spotlight series, former Keystone student-athletes share their experiences as a Giant. This interview was with Kevin Hazard ’69, who was on the wrestling team.
1. Since your time at Keystone, what have you done for a career?
“I’ve had a number of careers.  I was first a teacher and coach for four years after finishing college. I decided that there was just not enough money and went into the construction field.  In this field, I’ve held every job from laborer to president/owner and I still love it. I was also able to continue coaching, which I did for 40 years. I also had a Washington DC local television show that ran for six years and did stringer work for other sports outlets including ESPN – that was fun.”
2. What advice do you have for current students at Keystone in terms of networking and career-building?
“You have to remember that I entered the workforce during the early 1970s and it was a much different networking environment. Today the networking possibilities seem endless, so much so, that I think that you have to prioritize and focus on those types of activities. … rest of story at https://www.gokcgiants.com/news/2021/1/12/wrestling-alumni-spotlight-kevin-hazard-69.aspx?mc_cid=7d0bae3ce9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – Kenny Monday: What I learned from Dave Schultz
Kenny Monday was a 1988 Olympic gold medalist, a 1989 World champion, and an NCAA champion for Oklahoma State in 1984. His fiercest rival was Dave Schultz, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist, a 1983 World champion, and a seven-time World/Olympic medalist. 
Monday defeated Schultz to make the 1988 Olympic team at 74 kilograms. Schultz was murdered by John du Pont on January 26, 1996. The following are Monday’s words on what he learned from Schultz. 

SELFLESS WARRIOR
“Dave was selfless. He did some things that I probably didn’t have. After I beat him to make the Olympic team he was at training camp in 1988. He wasn’t my coach but he was selfless. He would say, ‘Kenny, what do you need today?’ If I needed some water he would run and get water. If I needed another workout he would stay. If needed some situation wrestling he would stay. He was selfless in that regard. 
“He asked to sit in my corner in the (Olympic) finals (in 1988). That really wasn’t planned. People ask me all the time what happened there. He went to Coach (Bobby) Douglas since Douglas was my coach. He asked Douglas if he could sit in my corner. Douglas said he would ask me so Douglas came up and said it was totally my choice. I thought about it at first and then I decided it was fine because at that point I was so prepared mentally and physically. You could have sat in my corner and I’d have had the same result. I was really ready. 
“I don’t think I would have been able to do that if the roles were reversed, to be in the corner and cheer for the guy who beat me off the team. That takes a special person to be able to do that.” … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1611720117165&twSessionId=drhyxqbtir&postId=1003621135&mc_cid=348fe62197&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – York College Wrestling All-Decade Team
The York College Wrestling All-Decade Team is a comprehensive group of high level student-athletes that represented the Green and White on the national landscape both athletically and academically throughout the 2010s.
The Spartans had a stellar run through the early part of the decade as the lineup boasted All-Decade honorees Chris Albright, Matt Heisey, Alex Martocello and George Saliba. This quartet of Spartans helped set the program’s single-season wins record (25) in 2011-12 after tying the program record with 21 dual wins the year before. All four Spartans qualified for the NCAA National Championships in 2012, which marked the highest number of national qualifiers since 2006 (4), and they led the Green White to a 12th-place finish out of 54 teams at the national competition with three All-American performances. Throughout the middle of the decade, the wrestling program experienced several individual highlights and established new milestones along the way. … rest of story at https://ycp.prestosports.com/sports/wrest/2020-21/releases/20201028logfye?mc_cid=aa8061392c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – Mat Chat With Ryan Epps Two-Time NCAA DIII Champion
Minnesota Storm Team Member / Augsburg University Graduate / Cannon Falls HS
By Chad Otterness
Ryan Epps is a Cannon Falls High School and Augsburg University graduate. Ryan has been busy competing and training as he pursues his Olympic goals. Ryan was a three-time All-American at Augsburg University and two-time National Champion. Ryan Epps just competed against the Wisconsin RTC wrestling club and picked up a 6-2 victory over three-time NCAA Division I qualifier Rickey Robertson of the Wisconsin RTC.
Ryan previously wrestled in his first USA Senior level Greco-Roman and Freestyle Nationals tournament in Coralville, Iowa. Ryan came away with a fifth place finish in the Greco portion of the tournament going 4-2 at 77 KG (169.4 LBS). Ryan also wrestled up a weight class and went 1-2 in freestyle at 86 KG (189.2 LBS). … rest of story at https://theguillotine.com/2021/01/mat-chat-with-ryan-epps-two-time-ncaa-diii-champion/?mc_cid=4ec9be6c16&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – My Wrestling Journey – Paul White
THE START….. 1950s
My first memories began in the late 1950s. I grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a hotbed for southern wrestling. The Chattanooga newspapers did a great job of covering both high school and college wrestling. Pictures of matches were featured each week. The University of Tennessee of Chattanooga (UTC) had a strong team. The top two teams in the state were both in Chattanooga. McCallie and Baylor were both all-male military schools that year in and year out were the best teams in the state and got a lot of local press coverage. The elementary school I attended, Lookout Mountain Elementary, had P.E. programs that included units in wrestling. Former high school wrestlers from McCallie and Baylor came in and helped Coach Buck Stamps teach the basics of wrestling. So at the age of ten, I was introduced to the sport of wrestling.  I was the shortest and lightest in my class, so wrestling was a good fit. 

JUNIOR HIGH… 1963-1966-McCallie

After elementary school, I went to McCallie, one of the best wrestling schools in the state and south. The coaching staff was exceptional. Dave Spencer, Jim Morgan, and Paul Tessman were all future Hall of Fame coaches. I played three sports including football, wrestling, and track, but my best sport was wrestling. At Christmas of my eighth-grade year, my dad had a heart attack and died at the age of 37. I had a younger brother and sister, and it became tough on my mother to afford private school. After my ninth-grade year, I transferred to a public school (Chattanooga “City” High School). … rest of story at https://www.nwcaonline.com/my-wrestling-journey-paul-white/?mc_cid=ad9f03475a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 29, 2021 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment