Takedown Report

NCAA Division III News (2021) – # 6

TDR Editor’s Notes ; For the 2nd consecutive year the official NCAA Division III National Championships tournament has been cancelled. This year the NWCA sponsored an end of the season tournament to fill in as a championship style event last month in Iowa. This month another toutnament sponsored by NUWAY and the Division III coaches will be held in Pennsylvania. The following stories are about those events and the wrestlers and teams in the NCAA Division III. Keep on wrestling! E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – Locals lead Augie wrestlers into alternate national event
Even with the NCAA scrapping all national tournaments for winter sports, the Augustana College wrestlers will get one last shot on the mats this coming weekend at a national event. Picking up the opportunity to compete at a modified national championship, the Vikings will be among 34 teams participating at the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Coaches Association National championships. The event is being held at the Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa, on Friday and Saturday.
Viking coach Tony Willaert is taking a full roster of 10 wrestlers to the event and is hoping for some good outcomes. “I think we’ll win matches at every weight,” said the fourth-year Viking boss. “Like I said, maybe we can turn a few heads. … I think we’ve got some chances to place; we’re good enough to have a couple of guys in that blood round if not earn All-American honors.” … rest of story at https://qctimes.com/sports/college/wrestling/locals-lead-augie-wrestlers-into-alternate-national-event/article_3d32c7e5-18f5-5dbe-82c8-10888ad7abc3.html?mc_cid=2a2fd7a25b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – NWCA DIV. III PREVIEW – 33 TEAMS TRAVEL TO IOWA FOR SEASON-ENDING NATIONALS, AFTER NCAA CANCELLED THEIR TOURNAMENT AGAIN
When the members of the United States Coast Guard Academy wrestling team head out on their five-year commitments, they certainly will have an idea about about rough seas, at least figuratively, after navigating their way through college wrestling the past 12 months. The Bears had six national qualifiers a year in Cedar Rapids when the NCAA Division III Championships – as well as all other NCAA winter sports – were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic less than 24 hours before wrestling was set to begin.
After the NCAA announced that this year’s national tournament also would be scrapped, Coach Kevin Bratland was hesitant to tell his wrestlers that there still was hope of ending the season with some kind of national event. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/March/11/NWCA-D-3-preview?mc_cid=1a80b5744e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – College wrestling: Iowa Wesleyan ready for Division III championships after 30-year hiatus
MOUNT PLEASANT — Less than two years ago, Iowa Wesleyan University decided to bring the men’s wrestling program back from a hiatus of over 30 years. This weekend, the Tigers will be on the national stage competing in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Wrestling Championships at Xtreme Arena in Coralville.
The event begins at 11 a.m. Friday, with the championship matches set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. It will be the biggest tournament Iowa Wesleyan has competed in for over 30 years, and the Tigers hope to make a big splash on the big stage. “This is good just to get them some experience and just to fight,” Iowa Wesleyan head coach Shawn Contos said. “We will not focus on the results. The results are going to be whatever they are. We are going to tell them exactly what we told our ladies. There is no pressure on us, so that’s beautiful. We don’t have to worry about anything. We can just go out there and scrap for it and do our best. Try to score points. Try to fight every position. … rest of story at https://www.thehawkeye.com/story/sports/2021/03/11/college-wrestling-ten-tigers-compete-national-tournament/6923017002/?mc_cid=1a80b5744e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Bailey named NWCA Super Region III Rookie of the Year
INDIANAPOLIS- Greyhound freshman Logan Bailey has been named the Super Region III Rookie of the Year, announced by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Monday.
Bailey, a true freshman, was the UIndy starter at 149 in 2021. The Indianapolis Cathedral product qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships in his first year as a Greyhound, after placing third at 149 at the Super Region III Championships. In all, Bailey posted a record of 11-4 on the season. Five of those 11 wins came with bonus points, including the freshman recording a pin in his first match in a Greyhound singlet. 
With the Super Region III honor, Bailey will now appear on the ballot for NCAA Division II Rookie of the Year. … rest of story at https://athletics.uindy.edu/news/2021/3/29/bailey-named-nwca-super-region-iii-rookie-of-the-year.aspx?mc_cid=a2abe03ca2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – UW-Stevens Point’s Berlin Selected Wrestler of the Year
UW-Whitewater’s Pogorzelski Named Newcomer of the Year
MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Matt Berlin has been selected the 2021 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestler of the Year, while UW-Whitewater’s Ethan Pogorzelski has been tabbed the Newcomer of the Year based on voting conducted by the league coaches.
Berlin claimed the honor for the second straight season and is the sixth wrestler in conference history to receive the award multiple times. He compiled an 8-0 record during the 2021 campaign and was named the John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet at the WIAC Championship after winning the 133-pound title for the second consecutive year. Berlin amassed a 40-0 record over the past two seasons.
Pogorzelski competed at 133 pounds … rest of story at https://wiacsports.com/news/2021/3/30/wrestling-uw-stevens-points-berlin-selected-wrestler-of-the-year-uw-whitewaters-pogorzelski-named-newcomer-of-the-year.aspx?mc_cid=44df579129&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – R.I.T. Wrestling places a record 24 on ECWC All-Academic Team
ROCHESTER, NY – A school record 24 members of the RIT wrestling team earned 2020-21 Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference All-Academic Team honors, as announced on March 29. It is the third straight season the Tigers have led all member institutions in selections.
Seniors Colby Hall (Deposit, NY/Deposit-Hancock) and Jake Warner were selected. juniors Chris Horton (Athens, PA/Athens Area), Ian Houck (Rondout Valley, NY/Rondout Valley), Calik Kennedy (Amherst, NY/Amherst), Alex Prunoske (Safety Harbor, FL/Clearwater Catholic) and Zach Stedeford (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) were honored, while sophomores Austin Bourgeois (Chattaqua Lake, NY/Westfield Academy), Andrew DiBernardo (West Chester, PA/West Chester East), Colby Giroux (Richmond, VT/Mount Mansfield Union), Austin Lamb (Owego, NY/Tioga), Colby LaValley, Nate Osborne (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), James Ost (Sunnyvale, CA/Fremont) and Nate Parker received the honors. Freshman Colton Ammerman (Dushore, PA/Sullivan County), Matthew Grant (Onoway, MI/Onoway), Michael Glynn, Logan Patterson (Philadelphia, NY/Indian River), Josh Post, Clay Rankin (Spotsylvania, PA/Riverbend), Josh Sam, Seth Russo (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) and Liam Strouse (Dillsburg, PA/Northern) were selected. 
Houck and Horton are three-time recipients of the award, while Bourgeois, DiBernardo, Giroux, Lamb, Osborne, Ost and Parker are all two-time selections. 
Recipients of this honor must have a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average … rest of story at https://ritathletics.com/news/2021/3/31/wrestling-rit-wrestling-place-a-record-24-on-2020-21-ecwc-all-academic-team.aspx?mc_cid=b369974b64&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – WRESTLING RULES COMMITTEE MEETS THIS WEEK
The NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee is set to meet April 12-14 via video conference. The wrestling rule book is updated every other year, and the upcoming season is a rule book year. This means that there is the possibility, but no guarantee, of significant changes for the 2021-2022 season. Major changes in recent rule books include neutral danger, out of bounds stalling, and the five second drop down rule. The most recent rule book that was in effect for the 2019-2021 seasons did not make major changes compared to those that preceded it. Here is a list of the changes from the last rule book revision.
Coaches and administrators have the ability to submit rule change proposals, and the rules committee sends out annual surveys to coaches, conference commissioners, and officials regarding both the application of previous rule changes and potential new rules for upcoming season. Here are the results of the 2019-2020 survey. The survey this year was structured differently and asked respondents whether they would be for or against 18 possible rule changes. Some examples included making takedowns worth three points, shortening the match from seven to six minutes, and adding a step out point in neutral if a wrestler goes out of bounds with both feet.
There is no guarantee that any of the changes in the survey will go into effect, … rest of story at https://www.d3wrestle.com/wrestling-rules-committee-meets-this-week/?mc_cid=3018ac16e0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Wrestling Program to host Scranton Spring Exhibition Dual Sunday in Long Center
After being away from competition for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The University of Scranton wrestling team will hit the mats on Sunday, April 18, as the Royals host their 2021 Spring Exhibition Dual inside the John Long Center beginning at 1 PM.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fans will not be allowed to attend the dual on Sunday in Scranton. However, the entire competition will be streamed live on the Landmark Conference Digital Network by heading here: https://landmarknetwork.tv/scranton/. Sports Information Director John Gatto and wrestling head coach Al Russomano will call the action live from the Long Center.
Before competition begins, the Royals will also honor their lone senior for 2020-21 – Kyle Shaffer (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) – for his contributions to the program over the last four years. … rest of story at https://uscranton.prestosports.com/sports/wrest/2020-21/releases/20210415l41skw?mc_cid=22fcb0de91&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – N.Y.U. Celebrating Our Seniors: Wrestling
Three Members of the NYU Wrestling Team are Graduating Next Month
Three members of New York University’s wrestling team are graduating among the class of 2021.
Donny Albach (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township), Will Ortman (Hopewell Valley, NJ/Hopewell Valley Central) and Miguel Ruiz (Madera, CA/Madera) are all set to graduate in May.
Albach and Ortman both joined the team as freshmen prior to the 2017-18 season, while Ruiz came aboard in 2019-20 after transferring from Fresno City College in California.
Over the last three years of competition (the 2020-21 season was lost due to the coronavirus pandemic) the wrestling team posted an overall record of 39-21 under Head Coach Bruce Haberli. The grapplers placed 19th at the 2018 NCAA Division III National Championships and captured the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship in 2020. “These three young men all have the work ethic, maturity, team-first attitude, … rest of story at https://gonyuathletics.com/news/2021/4/16/general-celebrating-our-seniors-wrestling.aspx?mc_cid=22fcb0de91&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – College Recruiting: two-time state placewinner Venz to Augsburg University
Parker Venz of Farmington has committed to wrestling for Augsburg University next season.
Venz is a two-time state placewinner. He was the Class AAA 195-pound third-place finisher in 2021 and he placed fourth at 182 pounds as a junior. Venz is projected to wrestle at 184 or 197 pounds for the Auggies. … rest of story at https://theguillotine.com/2021/04/college-recruiting-two-time-state-placewinner-venz-to-augsburg-university/?mc_cid=831636c404&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b&doing_wp_cron=1619114317.2974519729614257812500

And Huskies wrestling inks three more recruits
ST. CLOUD, MINN. – St. Cloud State University head wrestling coach Steve Costanzo announced the addition of three more student-athlete to an already strong 2021 recruiting class. Nicholas Lopez (Huntley, Ill.) and Paul Ruff (Gering, Neb.) have signed a National Letters of Intent with the Huskies while Nate Rocheleau (Gering, Neb.) has signed an Acceptance of Admission form.
Along with Lopez, Ruff and Rocheleau, seven additional stand-outs have announced their intentions to continue their education at St. Cloud State next fall: Mac Copeland (Bennett, Colo.), Augustus Donovan … rest of story at https://scsuhuskies.com/news/2021/4/15/wrestling-huskies-wrestling-inks-three-more-recruits.aspx?mc_cid=831636c404&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – UW-La Crosse’s Malecek Secures 200th Career Dual Meet Victory
MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling head coach Dave Malecek secured his 200th career dual meet victory in the Eagles’ 32-9 win over UW-Stevens Point in La Crosse on Feb. 19.
Malecek is in his 15th season at UW-La Crosse and owns a 200-47-1 record (.808 winning percentage). He is the fourth coach in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) archives to reach the 200-win mark. Malecek has guided the Eagles to nine WIAC championships and a top-four finish at the NCAA Division III Championship seven times. … rest of story at https://wiacsports.com/news/2021/2/24/wrestling-uw-la-crosses-malecek-secures-200th-career-dual-meet-victory.aspx

12 } – DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR THE DIII COACHES ASSOCIATION NUWAY CHAMPIONSHIP
The NWCA DIII Coaches Association Leadership Group and Association President Lonnie Morris are pleased to announce that there is still time to register for the DIII Coaches Association NUWAY Championship Event.
Location:
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
250 Kalahari Blvd
Pocono Manor, PA 18349
Date: April 21st – 23rd
Skin Check & Weigh-In: Wednesday, April 21st at 4:45pm
Wrestling: Thursday & Friday April 22-23
Due to COVID-19, the 2020 and 2021 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships were canceled. In order to provide a championship experience, the NWCA DIII Leadership Group hosted a championship event in Coralville, Iowa March 12 and 13. Over 300 wrestlers from 34 teams participated in that event.
The Leadership Group felt that those who could not participate in the Coralville event should be given an opportunity to compete in a season-ending tournament, and the Pocono championship event was created. With the help of NUWAY, the event will provide an additional opportunity for deserving DIII wrestlers. … rest of story at https://www.d3wrestle.com/deadline-approaching-for-the-diii-coaches-association-nuway-championship/?mc_cid=480d7959b9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

April 22, 2021 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment