Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

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
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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

No comments yet.

Leave a comment

« Previous | Next »