Takedown Report

NCAA Division I News (2021) – # 23 {Pennsylvania}

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Have been away to Ohio settling family business thus the delay in posting news and stories from Division I college teams in Pennsylvania. The Keystone state has a long, wide and deep tradition in wrestling. In the past decade Penn State has been the most dominant program in the state and nationally. Yet they are not the only successful program. Read on to learn more about the other programs as well. Keep on wrestling!. Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2932 (6/20/21)
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1 } – Pitt wrestling building success around local products
Pitt wrestling has found much success on the mat this year, as five Panthers had a chance to wrestle at the NCAA Championships this year. Among those five wrestlers, two of them — redshirt senior Jake Wentzel and redshirt junior Nino Bonaccorsi — not only won ACC titles in their respective weight classes, but worked their way up through the NCAA Championship bracket and had a shot at an NCAA title.

Redshirt junior Micky Phillippi also put up a strong performance in the ACC championships, placing second in his weight class. The other two Pitt wrestlers to qualify were redshirt sophomore Cole Matthews and redshirt senior Gregg Harvey.

The five Panthers who competed in the NCAA Championships have one thing in common — they’re all from Pennsylvania. In fact, 27 of the 31 wrestlers on Pitt’s roster hail from Pennsylvania. Pitt’s head coach, Keith Gavin, is also from Pennsylvania … rest of story at https://pittnews.com/article/164803/sports/pitt-wrestling-building-success-around-local-products/?mc_cid=69381deb62&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Malyke Hines Named EIWA Freshman of the Year

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh’s Malyke Hines has been named EIWA Freshman of the Year, it was announced following a vote of the league’s head coaches.
Hines was one of four individual EIWA champions for the Mountain Hawks, who won their fourth consecutive team title in February at Spooky Nook Sports Complex.  
The Kissimmee, Florida native went 8-3 in his deferred freshman season, competing at 133 pounds. Hines went 3-1 during the regular season, including a win up at 141 over Binghamton’s Zack Trampe in Lehigh’s come-from-behind win over the Bearcats in late January. He posted bonus-point victories in his first two bouts at the EIWA Championships before winning a 4-2 decision over Navy’s Jacob Allen in the finals to claim the second of Lehigh’s four individual championships.
Hines was the No. 17 seed at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, going 2-2. Both of his NCAA victories provided bonus points as he beat Oregon State’s Devan Turner by an 8-0 major decision in the first round and then won his second round consolation by major decision over Sean Carter of Appalachian State. Hines’ four major decision victories were tops on the Mountain Hawks during the 2021 season. … rest of story at https://lehighsports.com/news/2021/4/7/wrestling-malyke-hines-named-eiwa-freshman-of-the-year.aspx?mc_cid=69381deb62&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – One and Done: How ‘High Risk’ Drexel Sports Teams Made it Through a Pandemic Season
When the Drexel University men’s basketball team returned to campus for the 2020–2021 season, Matey Juric, a third-year biology student and guard on the team, remembers Head Coach Zach Spiker instilling in them an age-old concept that had taken on new meaning for a season that would prove to be unlike any other.

“He kept saying, ‘The most disciplined team will win and will be the last one standing,’” Juric remembered of Spiker during that socially distant, late September meeting outside the Daskalakis Athletic Center, which kicked off for men’s basketball the already delayed fall sports season. “He meant it obviously in basketball terms, but also, I think more importantly, with the COVID situation, we needed to make sure we were staying disciplined with all the protocols.”

It was clear from that point on for players and coaches alike that not only was the season delayed, but it was going to be a lot different. Working with the Philadelphia Department of Health, the Drexel Athletics Department was poised to put a myriad of protocols in place so that practice and competition for basketball and wrestling — which the health department had deemed “high-risk” sports due to taking place in doors and little ability for players to social distance — could get underway. Those protocols included everything from pod practice in the Buckley Bubble vs. on the basketball court or in the wrestling room, restricted use of locker and weight rooms, and later, modified travel and meal arrangements for away games as well as daily testing. … rest of story at https://drexel.edu/now/archive/2021/May/One-and-Done-How-High-Risk-Drexel-Teams-Made-it-Through-a-Pandemic-Season/?mc_cid=812142449d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Edinboro community builds champions with successful wrestling fundraiser
EDINBORO, Pa. – Edinboro University’s Department of Athletics and the Fighting Scots wrestling team – in conjunction with the Office of University Advancement – recently wrapped up an effort to build champions on the wrestling mat, in the classroom and in the community.
Following a month-long campaign to support the wrestling team, Edinboro University raised $15,813 as a direct community investment in the academic growth of student-athletes. The funds from the Building Champions campaign will directly support the Athletics Scholarship Fund for current and future Fighting Scots.
Head Coach Matt Hill, who assumed the role in May 2018, said he is thankful for the support from the wrestling community and Edinboro alumni.
“These funds help our program thrive and grow through these challenging times,” said Hill, who wrestling for Edinboro from 2003-2007. “We are extremely grateful for all the support and can’t wait to get back on the wrestling mats this November for our fans and alumni.”
Dr. Katherine Robbins, director of Edinboro Athletics, thanks donors and alumni for contributing to the fundraiser and committing to the success of student-athletes.  
“You know well the level of time, commitment, discipline and hard work it takes to be a Division I wrestler, and our student-athletes simply could not do what it takes to compete at the highest level without your support,” she said. “We are very excited about the future of Boro wrestling with you as a partner.  Together, the sky is the limit.”
Fighting Scot wrestlers are part of a proud tradition of excellence, resilience and sportsmanship, and loyal financial supporters play a critical role in propelling that legacy forward. … rest of story at https://gofightingscots.com/news/2021/5/12/wrestling-edinboro-community-builds-champions-with-successful-wrestling-fundraiser.aspx?mc_cid=cc121404a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – 2021 Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame Class Announced
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame Committee has revealed the Class of 2021, and seven former Bison greats — representing seven different sports — will comprise the 43rd induction class.
The Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021:

• Julia Diaz ’95, a standout women’s tennis player who won nearly 80 percent of her career matches for teams that compiled a 49-8 record.
• Jenny Snyder ’99, a four-time All-Patriot League shortstop on the Bucknell softball team.
• Kyle Walter ’06, a four-time All-Patriot League outfielder on the Bison baseball team.
• Amanda Faust ’09, the only Bucknell field hockey player ever to earn First Team All-Region honors three times.
• Andrew Cohen ’10, the 2009 Patriot League men’s golf champion who helped lead the Bison to two NCAA Tournament appearances.
• Kevin LeValley ’11, a two-time wrestling All-American and the program’s all-time wins leader.
• Christa Matlack ’11, an offensive force for the Bison women’s soccer team who captured back-to-back Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2009 and 2010.

The new Hall of Fame Class will be formally inducted on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m., as part of a special Hall of Fame Weekend at Bucknell. Since last year’s induction ceremony was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Class of 2020 will be honored on Friday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. The new Hall-of-Famers will also have a chance to tour the brand new Hall of Fame area, … rest of story at https://bucknellbison.com/news/2021/5/13/bison-club-2021-bucknell-athletics-hall-of-fame-class-announced.aspx?mc_cid=c4978adc2e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Lower Dauphin grad Clayton Ulrey maniacally works through growing pains toward bright wrestling future at Virginia Tech
Lower Dauphin grad Clayton Ulrey felt all kinds of new things as a freshman at Virginia Tech, not the least of which was a bout with COVID-19 when he and the Hokies returned from the ACC championships. A manic worker whose wrestling style can best be described as nonstop and fast-paced, Ulrey was forced into quarantine and had to find ways to get all that energy out. Doctor’s orders were about the only thing that could keep Ulrey out of the Hokies’ practice room. “By the third or fourth day, I was going crazy,” Ulrey said. “I was doing what I can at the house, push-ups and sit-ups all the time.”

Ulrey made his mark as a freshman at Virginia Tech with that ironclad work ethic, but the adjustments he needed to make were also clear from the outset. For the first time in as long as he can remember, Ulrey wasn’t a starter and saw limited action in duals in bonus contests. When he got his chances, Ulrey made the most of them and showed how explosive he can be with a 6-1 record, four major decisions and a tech fall. … rest of story at https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/wrestling/2021/04/lower-dauphin-grad-clayton-ulrey-maniacally-works-through-growing-pains-toward-bright-wrestling-future-at-virginia-tech.html?mc_cid=41e05ef71b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – ‘The kid’s really special’: Drexel wrestler Luke Nichter’s outlook is as bright as ever after taking lumps at NCAA championships
Drexel freshman Luke Nichter sat in the stands at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis and struggled to come to terms with what he was watching. The former Chambersburg standout went 0-2 and was eliminated on Day 1 of his NCAA wrestling championships debut, but he watched those later rounds feeling like he could have hung with just about any 149-pounder in the country. That was a tough reality to face in the first few moments after Nichter’s freshman season ended, but the experience also gave him confidence that he is closer to reaching the national podium than his results might suggest. Nichter lost a 16-2 major decision to No. 9 seed Legend Lamer from Cal Poly in his opener, then was eliminated with a 7-1 loss to No. 8 seed Jaden Abas of Stanford.
“I watched [NCAAs] on TV growing up, then I got there and it was like, ‘All right, it’s the big show. Let’s go,’” Nichter said. “Then I lost those two matches and I’m sitting there watching all the placement rounds and everything and I was like, these kids are obviously really good, but they’re not as good as I hyped them up to be.” The national tournament was a whirlwind conclusion … rest of story at https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/wrestling/2021/04/the-kids-really-special-drexel-wrestler-luke-nichters-outlook-is-as-bright-as-ever-after-taking-lumps-at-ncaa-championships.html?mc_cid=d0f3fda251&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Former ACC Champion Brent Moore Transfers to Clarion
Brent Moore of Virginia Tech announced on Thursday via Twitter that he will be transferring to Clarion University, where he will join Head Coach, Keith Ferraro and Assistant Coach, Nathan Kraisser.

Moore was a standout wrestler at Virginia Tech, winning the ACC Championship tournament in 2018 at 141lbs, where he was also crowned the Most Valuable Wrestler. When asked to comment on his decision to transfer, Moore said, “I dropped out of Virginia Tech in February of 2020. I was dealing with depression, and not doing well mentally. I turned my back on wrestling completely, gained a bunch of weight, and ended up moving back home with my parents in Ohio. Once I was home for a few months, I started to do a little better. I was working for my dad’s construction company and started getting back into shape.” He then went on to say, “After going to the NCAAs to watch my brother Mitch wrestle for Oklahoma University, I decided to enter the transfer portal. Jesse Dellavecchia from Rider University was a huge inspiration to me because we had similar journey’s, and I knew I still had more gas left in the tank. Volunteer Assistant Coach Brock Zacherl and I have been working tirelessly for a few months to get another year of eligibility approved, which became official on Tuesday. It’s been extremely stressful, and I honestly didn’t think the NCAA was going to grant my appeal, but they did, and all of my coaches and I feel really good about it. I know they’re excited to have me join the Clarion Eagles, and I am too.” … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24644?mc_cid=08007c6b87&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – Nittany Lion Wrestling Club has embraced newest members and reaped the benefits

It’s taken time, but Thomas Gilman is finally learning to love the sport of wrestling again.

It’s a sport that has been a part of Gilman’s life for much of it, one that he competes at an exceptionally high level at — but it’s also one that he was quickly becoming disillusioned with. That is, until he packed his bags and headed from one hallowed wrestling program to another. An Iowa native who went to high school in Omaha, Nebraska, and then journeyed back to Iowa for college, wrestling on big stages is nothing new for Gilman.

He’s competed at Big Ten, NCAA and World championships — all with success — and can now add the Olympic Trials to that list after beating Cornell’s Vito Arujau two matches to none in the finals of this year’s Olympic Trials. That means for the first time in his career, Gilman is an Olympian and will be the United States’ representative at 57 kilograms in Tokyo when the games commence in July. And he’ll have done it all under the tutelage of Cael Sanderson, someone whom Iowans — both Hawkeyes and Cyclones — know well from Sanderson’s days as a wrestler and coach at Iowa State and now as the coach at Penn State.

Sanderson also leads the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, a regional training center based out of the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex in State College that features many prominent former Nittany Lions, but also some relative outsiders, like Gilman who joined last March. “In my head, when I was coming to the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, it was for a lot of reasons, but the main reason was to get better at wrestling,” Gilman said. “I was at one place in my career and I needed to get to another place in my career if I wanted to accomplish my goals and that essentially was just getting better at sport wrestling and finding the love for the sport again.”

Gilman was a three-time All-American for the Hawkeyes and comes from a long line of successful 125-pounders to compete for Tom Brands in Iowa City. After one of Brands’ longtime assistants, Mark Perry, left Iowa and headed to Tempe to be a coach at Arizona State, Gilman was at a crossroads. He had to think, something he said his grandfather warned against doing too much of for fear that overthinking would get him into trouble. Still, it was something Gilman knew he had to do. Eventually, Gilman landed in State College, home to onetime former rival Penn State.

Gilman ingratiated himself and was embraced by his teammates and everyone else around the program quickly, and at a level even he found surprising. “I was an outsider — I was a nomad looking for a home,” Gilman said. “They’ve taken me in and done more for me than I could ever ask anybody to do for me. It’s just been amazing, not only with the guys on the team or coaches, but there’s the whole community.”

Part of what they’ve done — Sanderson in particular — for Gilman is reinforced and emphasized the value of being present in all aspects of life. As a result, you’re now likely to hear the words “us” and “Penn State” in the same sentence coming from a Hawkeye legend in Gilman. “It’s what he talks about every day — just have fun. It’s cliche, and it’s why I think a lot of people don’t like us here at Penn State,” Gilman said. “It’s because we’re having fun, and we’re just being present. It’s hard to have fun when you’re thinking about the future and you’re having anxiety or thinking about the past and you’re having depression. It’s about just being present.” …

Both Snyder and Maroulis joined Gilman on Team USA and punched their tickets to their second career Olympic games after winning their respective best-of-three series at this year’s Olympic Trials too. Snyder, hailing from Ohio State, was familiar with Penn State and all it had to offer. Snyder is the longest tenured new addition, coming to State College in the fall of 2019 after winning a bronze medal at that year’s World Championship. … rest of story at https://www.collegian.psu.edu/sports/wrestling/nittany-lion-wrestling-club-has-embraced-newest-members-and-reaped-the-benefits/article_d2cb713c-966c-11eb-a083-576181065936.html?mc_cid=c3ca94c3de&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Nittany Lion Wrestler Brady Berge to Graduate, Step Away From Competition
Two-time NCAA qualifier suffered tournament-ending injury at NCAAs two weeks ago
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.  – Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Brady Berge (Mantorville, Minn.) has announced his intent to graduate and step away from competitive wrestling.  The two-time NCAA qualifier missed most of last season and suffered a tournament-ending injury at this year’s NCAA Championships in St. Louis two weeks ago.
Berge qualified for the NCAA tournament as a redshirt freshman in 2019, going 2-2 in his first trip to nationals.  After missing nearly all of last season, Berge returned to the line-up this year and entered the 2021 NCAA Championships as the No. 12 seed.  Berge began his tournament with two impressive wins, a 12-4 major over No. 21 Andrew Cerniglia of Navy in the opening round and then a thrilling 3-2 victory over No. 5 Kaleb Young of Iowa in the second round.  The win over Young advanced Berge to the NCAA quarterfinals where he met No. 4 Jesse Dellavecchia of Rider.  Berge suffered an injury in the first period of that bout, was unable to continue and medically forfeited out of the tournament.
Berge announced his decision on his social media channels and said, in part, “Due to concussions and my own health, it is in my best interest to step away from  competition.  This is not an easy decision as I have had the goal of being a national champion since I can remember.  I am not defined by my wins and losses. I am defined by my faith in God and the person he has guided me to become.” “I want to thank my coaches, my teammates and … rest of story at https://gopsusports.com/news/2021/4/7/wrestling-nittany-lion-wrestler-brady-berge-to-graduate-step-away-from-competition.aspx?mc_cid=69381deb62&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – Penn State Wrestling Season-Ending Notes!

A final recap and seasonal archive for the 2020-21 Penn State wrestling season The following (and pdf linked to the right) is the final season-ending notes for the 2021 Penn State Wrestling season! Re-running the season’s last recap after our 4-0 run through the NCAA finals, adding up all the numbers and collecting everything we accomplished as one of the youngest teams competing at the 2021 NCAA Championships and throughout the abbreviated campaign! 
The final recap follows immediately with the season’s notes after that…and the full pdf with updated qualifier bios, full dual/event recaps and stats available via the blue button-link to the right!

FINAL RECAP (3/20/21 – NCAA Finals)

ST. LOUIS,  Mo.; March 20, 2021 –The Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0, 6-0 B1G), under the direction of head coach Cael Sanderson, added four more national champions to its growing list of title-holders at the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships.  Penn State went a perfect 4-0 in the NCAA finals, with all four individuals winning their first individual crowns. The Nittany Lions qualified nine for this year’s tournament and the three-day event was held in the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo. Junior Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), freshman Carter Starocci (Erie, Pa.) and sophomore Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md.) each won, marking the third time a Sanderson led Penn State team had four or more champions in one year.

Penn State now has 48 national champions in its long history, with 27 of them coming during Sanderson’s tenure as head coach. Penn State finished as NCAA national runner-up, trailing only first-place Iowa in the final team standings.  In Sanderson’s 12 years, Penn State been NCAA Champion eight times, runner-up once (this year), and placed sixth and ninth in 11 total tournaments. … rest of story at https://gopsusports.com/news/2021/3/30/penn-state-wrestling-season-ending-notes.aspx?mc_cid=44df579129&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – Penn State wrestling finds a perfect fit in Biglerville’s Levi Haines, a humble state champ who loves the grind

Biglerville’s Levi Haines has a fair explanation for why Penn State’s wrestling program has been nearly automatic in churning out champions. Haines has a better idea than most because he has the same motivations and a mentality for the sport where results are the furthest thing from his mind. Just like coach Cael Sanderson and some of the biggest names to have come through the Lions program, Haines has a real love for wrestling, but perhaps more importantly, the grind to excel at it. Haines isn’t driven by achievement because he knows glory doesn’t happen without competing against himself in practice and mastering the process.
That level of preparation has become a bigger and bigger part of who Haines is as a wrestler, and who he plans to be after committing to Penn State this week. Haines was Sanderson’s first verbal commitment in the 2022 recruiting class. “I think he’s definitely matured and he does a good job of keeping things in perspective,” Haines’ dad and high school coach, Ken Haines, said. “He doesn’t put too much emphasis on wins and losses and that kind of thing. He doesn’t let the sport define who he is.” … rest of story at https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/wrestling/2021/05/penn-state-wrestling-finds-a-perfect-fit-in-biglervilles-levi-haines-a-humble-state-champ-who-loves-the-grind.html?mc_cid=986c5e1566&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

June 20, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized