Takedown Report

Carolinas’ Colleges’ News (2021) – # 6

TDR Editor’s Notes ; A collection of articles, podcasts and blogs from across the Carolinas on college wrestlingaction the past month. University of North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor is a National Champion, Appalachian State’s Jonathan Milner is their newest All-American and North Carolina State will return several All-American wrestlers for next year. These are just some of the stories and highlights shared in the selections below. We welcome input and news to be sent in to us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Keep On Wrestling!
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1 } – North Carolina coach Coleman Scott goes On The Mat
North Carolina head coach Coleman Scott goes On The Mat
Coleman Scott was a four-time All-American at Oklahoma State and a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in London. In 2021, he coached his first individual champion at North Carolina as Austin O’Connor won the 149-pound title, becoming the Tar Heels first NCAA champion since 1995. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com. 
Show Segments
0:35 – Andy rocks a Costanza (not Costanzo) wallet.
0:51 – Kyle literally got choked up – and you WILL hear about it later (hint hint)
1:18 – Division I championship recap – Iowa got it done. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1618178481084&twSessionId=hvkhhvdaai&videoId=1154527135&mc_cid=0dc666bfba&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – @PackWrestle Look Back: Top Tournament Performances
@PackWrestle Look Back: Top Tournament Performances Under Pat Popolizio
Revisit nine of the best tournament showings over the last few seasons
Wolfpack Wrestling shines bright on the big stage. Over the last seven NCAA Championships, the Pack has finished in the top-20 each and every time – a new school record. NC State brought home its first-ever team trophy in 2018 with a fourth place showing at the NCAA Championships. In 2021, the Pack cracked the top-10 for the second time in three tournaments with a six place team finish and four All-Americans.
In conference action, the Wolfpack has won each of the last three ACC Championships (2021, 2020 & 2019), and three of the last five overall (2016). … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/4/13/wrestling-packwrestle-look-back-top-tournament-performances.aspx?mc_cid=d0f3fda251&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Catching up with Pat Popolizio – NCS81
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Catch-up on Wolfpack Wrestling news with head coach Pat Popolizio on episode 81 of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast. Host Brian Reinhardt and Popolizio run the gamut of wrestling action over the past month, from the NCAA Championships to the Olympic Team Trials to four Super Senior returning to the Pack. The duo also offer up some breaking news, boasting loudly how the podcast ranks in Japan.
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And if you’re a fan of the extensive and broad-based reach of the shows on the Mat Talk Podcast Network, become a TEAM MEMBER today. There are various levels of perks for the different levels of team membership. If you like wrestling content — scratch that — if you LOVE great wrestling content, consider becoming a team member. You’ll get some cool stuff too. … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/pack-mentality/catching-up-with-pat-popolizio-ncs81/?mc_cid=831636c404&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Millner Named SoCon Wrestler of the Month
BOONE, N.C. — Southern Conference champion and automatic NCAA Championships qualifier Jonathan Millner of App State has been named the SoCon Wrestler of the Month for February.  
A redshirt junior from Greensboro, Millner went 4-0 last month with three wins against ranked opponents, including a 2-0 victory against Campbell’s Joshua Heil during a top-15 showdown in the SoCon Championship final at 149 pounds. At the time, Heil was ranked 11th in the country at that weight, and Millner has earned a No. 7 seed in his 33-man bracket for next week’s NCAA competition in St. Louis.  
In February, Millner also had two major decisions against another ranked opponent, Selwyn Porter of The Citadel, after posting a 10-0 major decision against VMI’s Job Chishko. Millner won by scores of 13-1 and 10-2 (in a SoCon semifinal) against Porter, a 2020 NCAA qualifier.  
Millner is 13-1 on the season after qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the second straight year. … rest of story at https://appstatesports.com/news/2021/3/12/wrestling-millner-named-socon-wrestler-of-the-month.aspx?mc_cid=adf7973f0f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Gwiazdowski into Best-of-Three Finals for Spot in Summer Olympics
Former Wolfpack national champion back in action Saturday night
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – With a pair of shutouts today, former NC State two-time national Champion Nick Gwiazdowksi has reached the final stages of qualifying to represent the U.S. at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.  
Gwiazdowski will face Gable Steveson tomorrow night in a Best-of-Three Finals series, with the winner getting to represent the U.S. at 125kg at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.  
In the Challenge Tournament semifinals in the night session, the top-seeded Gwiazdowski downed #4 seed Dom Bradley 6-0. After a clock violation point, Gwiazdowski scored an exposure to take a 3-0 lead at the break. He then added a pushout, and a takedown in the final seconds for the final margin. … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/4/2/wrestling-gwiazdowski-into-best-of-three-finals-for-spot-in-summer-olympics.aspx?mc_cid=b369974b64&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Four Super Seniors to Return to @PackWrestle
All four were part of the #1 recruiting class in 2016
RALEIGH, N.C. – With the NCAA providing an extra year of eligibility for all winter sports in 2021, four members of the NC State wrestling team will take advantage of the ruling and return to the Pack as Super Seniors for the 2021-22 collegiate season.  
Thomas Bullard, Hayden Hidlay, Nick Reenan and Tariq Wilson will all be returning to the Pack’s lineup for one final season. The four were all starters and NCAA Qualifiers in 2021, and they made up part of the #1 recruiting class back in 2016.  
The four have combined to earn eight All-American honors, five individual ACC titles and have qualified for the NCAA Championships 15 out of a possible 16 seasons. They have also helped the Wolfpack win seven team trophies during their careers.  
• Thomas Bullard (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Bullard is a four-time NCAA Qualifier, his first season at 157 pounds and the last three at 165. 2022 will mark the first season he will wrestle without his twin brother, Daniel, on the same team since they came to NC State.  
• Hayden Hidlay (Lewistown, Pa.)
NC State’s first-ever four-time All-American, Hidlay announced on the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast that not only will he be returning, but he will be moving up two weight classes to 174 pounds. Hidlay became the 10^th wrestler in ACC history to win four ACC Championships, all at157 pounds, and he placed fifth at the 2021 NCAA Championships. … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/4/6/wrestling-four-super-seniors-to-return-to-packwrestle.aspx?mc_cid=c3ca94c3de&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Lausier Lands 11 Commits for the Class of 2025
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Head wrestling coach Andy Lausier and assistants Joey Dance and Chad Walsh have been hard at work locking down the 11-man Class of 2025, officially announced by Lausier Monday.   
“The incoming recruiting class represents a huge step forward for Davidson Wrestling.  We are adding great talent and future potential to our team, but most importantly Davidson Wrestling will now operate with a roster that aligns itself with the NCAA average size among all Division I wrestling programs,” said Lausier. “With 11 incoming freshmen, and 30 total wrestlers on the team, this is the biggest recruiting class and team roster in the history of Davidson Wrestling.“
The class totaled 12 state medals and 10 competing at the national level.  
Braeden Baller | 165 | Fort Worth, Texas
Baller was a three-time Texas State Champion at All Saints Episcopal School and a Tulsa National Champion. He posted an 87-10 record and was twice a Prep Nationals All-American and Freestyle All-American.   
Nick Cambria | 125 | Cummings, Ga.
Cambria joins the Wildcats after grappling for Buford High School in Cumming, Ga. While at Buford, he compiled a 139-32 record and placed four times at the State Championship level, earning a pair of silver’s, a fourth and sixth place spot, respectively.   
Noah Frack | 141/149 | Topton, Pa.
Frack earned a state medal in 2019 and compiled a 94-12 record throughout his career at Brandywine Heights High School. He placed among the top seven in back-to-back PIAA Championships including a fifth-place result in 2020. Frack has earned a pair of medals at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, high school division, including a first-place showing in 2019.  
Matt McLaughlin | 125 | Broad Run, Va.
McLaughlin hit the century mark in wins while competing at Kettle Run High School, going 113-37 in his career. He placed as high as third at the State Championship and was a two-year captain.  
Sam Nini | 133/141 | Cream Ridge, N.J.
Nini, a New Jersey State qualifier and a three-time regional qualifier went 68-25 at Christian Brothers Academy. … rest of story at https://davidsonwildcats.com/news/2021/4/12/wrestling-lausier-lands-11-commits-for-the-class-of-2025.aspx

8 } – AUSTIN O’CONNOR NAMED ACC WRESTLER OF THE YEAR
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) –  National champion Austin O’Connor of North Carolina has been chosen the Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Year and heads up the sport’s 2021 season award winners announced on Wednesday by the conference. “We’re incredibly proud of Austin for how he represents our program,” said Head Coach Coleman Scott. “He’s truly an example for how to use hard work and dedication to reach your goals. He’s deserving of this award after the season he had. I couldn’t be more excited about what he is doing at Carolina and am looking forward to seeing how he continues to succeed.”
Connor is joined by ACC Freshman of the Year Sam Latona of Virginia Tech, while NC State’s Pat Popolizio and Pitt’s Keith Gavin received the nod as ACC Co-Wrestling Coaches of the Year. ACC season honors are determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
The second-seeded O’Connor’s 3-2 win over No. 1 seed Sammy Sasso of Ohio State in the 149-pound final on March 20 secured UNC’s first NCAA wrestling gold medal since 1995 and the 20th all-time by an ACC wrestler. It marked the sixth NCAA title all-time by a Tar Heel wrestler.
O’Connor, a redshirt junior from Lockport, Illinois, … rest of story at https://goheels.com/news/2021/3/31/wrestling-austin-o-connor-named-acc-wrestler-of-the-year.aspx

9} – #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 80 – The Decision with Hayden Hidlay
RALEIGH, N.C. – With the conclusion of the 2021 NCAA Championships, we now turn to the offseason on Episode 80 of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast. Some major decisions are going to be announced in regards to the extra year of eligibility, as host Brian Reinhardt visits with four-time All-American Hayden Hidlay to talk about his NC State Wrestling journey and what lies ahead in his future. … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/3/24/wrestling-packmentality-pop-ins-podcast-ep-80-the-decision-with-hayden-hidlay.aspx?mc_cid=3727c6a762&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Our Wolfpack RTC from a Coach’s Perspective
Editor’s Note: Adam Hall joined the NC State Wrestling program for the 2015-16 season. Not only to the Wolfpack coaches serve the current roster, but they are heavily involved with the Senior-lever athletes in the Wolfpack’s RTC. As we head toward the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this weekend, here is one perspective about all the work that goes into the job.
 
Hall: In the summer of 2019, I spent eight days in Colorado Springs with Michael Macchiavello, Tommy Gantt, and Jacob Kasper as they helped Nick Gwiazdowski and other members of the 2019 U.S. Senior World Team prepare for the World Championships. Aside from World Team members and their selected training partners, other athletes and coaches must pay for their room and board, flights, and any additional travel costs. The trip opened my eyes to the resources it takes to help athletes prepare for one of the biggest tournaments of their lives. We lived on the Olympic Training Center’s campus and trained multiple times a day in their facilities. We ate at a high-performance dining hall and utilized all resources for lifting and recovery as well in their state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center. A significant part of our Wolfpack RTC’s success comes from the outside support we receive from generous donors. Training camps, competitions, and athlete’s salaries are all funded by contributions to the RTC. I appreciate our RTC donors even more, especially after having had the opportunity to coach our RTC internationally.  
International trips have given our wrestlers a dynamic experience, but comes with high cost. After the U.S. Training Camp, Nick, Mike, Jacob and I spent two weeks overseas. The first week was spent in Germany at the Ramstein Air Force Base for a final team training camp. The second week was spent in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan for the World Championships. Ramstein afforded the opportunity to acclimate to a similar time zone before heading to Kazakhstan to compete. We lived in their on-base hotel, practiced in their community recreation center, and had meals catered for specific dietary needs. Again, the respective RTCs of coaches and athletes who were not paid for were responsible for all associated costs. Flights alone, I departed Raleigh for Munich for the training camp, left Munich heading to Nur-Sultan for the World Championships, flew back to Munich after the tournament, then finally returned to Raleigh. … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/3/29/wrestling-our-wolfpack-rtc-from-a-coachs-perspective.aspx?mc_cid=a2abe03ca2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Millner becomes eighth All-American wrestler in App history at NCAA Championships
ST. LOUIS — Appalachian State wrestling added a new All-American to its history books on Saturday, March 20, when redshirt junior Jonathan Millner secured eighth place in the 149-pound weight class at the NCAA Division I Championships in St. Louis. Millner was part of a record-setting seven wrestlers from App to attend, alongside Codi Russell (125), Sean Carter (133), Anthony Brito (141), Cody Bond (157), Will Formato (165) and Thomas Flitz (174). Formato and Flitz each received at-large bids to make it to the championships, while the other five Mountaineers were Southern Conference Champions in their weight class for automatic bids.
Russell, Carter and Millner were the only three to make it past the first day of the competition, with no other Mountaineers securing a win in their two matches each. Millner secured two day-one wins, while Carter and Russell both went 1-1. Carter lost to eventual national champion Roman Bravo-Young of Penn State. On day two, Carter and Russell were stopped, but Millner kept going through the tournament. Millner lost in the third round of the tournament to Austin O’Connor of University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, but made up for it with a win over Duke’s Josh Finesilver in the “Wrestlebacks” bracket, allowing those who have already lost to compete for up to a third-placed finish.
O’Connor would later beat Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso to win the national title in the 149 weight class. Millner’s run came to an end against Florida State’s Kyle Parco, but he finished high enough to make Mountaineer history. By winning an All-American spot, the Greensboro native joins the seven other NCAA All-Americans in program history, Charles Parks (1941), Al Crawford (1941), Donnell Rawls (1992), Mark Fee (2002, 2003), Kyle Blevins (2012), Austin Trotman (2012) and Denzel Dejournette (2017). “I’m just really proud of Jon Jon and having another All-American in this rich tradition of App State Wrestling,” App Head Coach JohnMark Bentley was quoted … rest of story at https://www.wataugademocrat.com/sports/millner-becomes-eighth-all-american-wrestler-in-app-history-at-ncaa-championships/article_c3e13580-415a-5e26-a872-08a9adf660c3.html?mc_cid=7490ba8a46&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – ACC Champion Daniel Bullard and Sport Administrator Josh Dalton – NCS78
With the brackets still yet to be revealed, head coach Pat Popolizio goes into hiding, leaving host Brian Reinhardt with the opportunity to bring NC State Sport Administrator Josh Dalton on to the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast. After we get an update from Dalton, Reinhardt will FINALLY get ACC Champion Dalton Bullard on the show for the first time. What are the differences between the Bullard twins and why does Brian still mess it up?

SUPPORT THE SHOW
And if you’re a fan of the extensive and broad-based reach of the shows on the Mat Talk Podcast Network, become a TEAM MEMBER today. There are various levels of perks for the different levels of team membership. If you like wrestling content — scratch that — if you LOVE great wrestling content, consider becoming a team member. You’ll get some cool stuff too. … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/pack-mentality/acc-champion-daniel-bullard-and-sport-administrator-josh-dalton-ncs78/?mc_cid=2cfe70fede&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 78 – ACC Champion Daniel Bullard
RALEIGH, N.C. – With the brackets still yet to be revealed, head coach Pat Popolizio goes into hiding, leaving host Brian Reinhardt with the opportunity to bring NC State Sport Administrator Josh Dalton on episode No. 78 of the #PackMentality​ Pop-Ins Podcast. After we get an update from Dalton, Reinhardt will FINALLY get 2021 ACC Champion Daniel Bullard on the show for the first time. How has life changed now that one of the Bullard twins is married? … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2021/3/10/wrestling-packmentality-pop-ins-podcast-ep-78-acc-champion-daniel-bullard.aspx?mc_cid=2a2fd7a25b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – COMMENTARY: NCAA extended eligibility could produce a never-before-seen Wolfpack
With the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel getting closer every day, for NC State Athletics, it will come in the form of something more than just a return to normalcy: extended eligibility. Due to the odd athletic season every collegiate athlete saw this year, the NCAA has decided to extend an extra year of eligibility for all 2020-2021 winter and fall athletes, regardless of if their team played or not. By doing so, this has given some athletes a fifth year of eligibility and in some cases, a sixth.
So what does this mean for the Wolfpack? It means we will see a large percentage of senior starters and leaders returning to their respective sports for one last season of competition, giving the team an edge through the returning experienced athletes. Benefiting greatly from the extended eligibility will be NC State wrestling. With the 2016 No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, four of those seniors will be returning to the mat for one last season. 
This includes redshirt seniors Thomas Bullard, Nick Reenan, Tariq Wilson and Hayden Hidlay. Between the four, they have qualified for nationals 15 times, won five ACC titles and received eight All-American honors. Hidlay has announced he will be moving up to the 174 weight class to compete in the 2022 season, wrestling closer in weight with his brother, national runner-up redshirt sophomore Trent Hidlay. Pack wrestling is not the only powerhouse getting its stars back. Top-seeded women’s basketball ended the season with three starters scheduled to depart from the Pack. However, due to NCAA’s new eligibility, we will see all three on the court next season. … rest of story at http://www.technicianonline.com/sports/article_b18c6f4a-9814-11eb-863f-eba335f093e8.html?mc_cid=480d7959b9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

April 17, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized