Takedown Report

NCAA Division I News (2021) – # 24 {Big 10, 3 eyes}

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Back to rounding up and passing along reports of college wrestling teams’ news as we return to the Threee I’s of the Big 10. They are Iowa, Indiana and Illinois. Iowa leads with the most news reports as National Champs so read on and Keep cheering wrestling on! E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2949 (7/25/21)
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1 } – SPENCER LEE NAMED MIKE HOWARD MOST VALUABLE WRESTLER
IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa three-time national champion Spencer Lee has been named winner of the Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler Award. The Iowa wrestling coaching staff announced the 2021 award winners Tuesday.

Lee won the 125-pound NCAA Championship and the 125-pound Big Ten Championship in 2021. He won both the Dan Hodge Trophy and was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year for the second straight season. He was 12-0 in 2021 with 11 bonus-point victories, outscoring his 12 opponents 141-15. Lee was also named winner of the Mike J. McGivern Most Courageous Award. He was 5-0 at the NCAA Championships, outscoring his opponents 59-8 while winning his third national title. He announced after the tournament that he was wrestling without an ACL in either knee. Lee was one of seven Hawkeyes to earn an All-America Award. The NCAA champion Hawkeyes had more All-Americans than any other school at the national tournament. Iowa has crowned at least one All-American in 50 consecutive NCAA Championships. … rest of story at https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2021/04/13/spencer-lee-named-mike-howard-most-valuable-wrestler/?mc_cid=d0f3fda251&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – Saint Mark’s alumnus Bobby Telford helps lead Iowa to NCAA wrestling championship
Saint Mark’s graduate Bobby Telford, a two-time state champion wrestler for the Spartans and all-American, recently helped the Iowa Hawkeyes to the 2021 NCAA wrestling championship. Telford, a 2010 graduate of Saint Mark’s, is an assistant to Tom Brands, for whom he wrestled in Iowa City.

As a Spartan, Telford went 118-37, including 80-1 over his junior and senior seasons. He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2010 state tournament, and he was 8-0 at the Virginia Duals as a junior and senior. Telford also won at Mount Mat Madness, Beast of the East, War on the Shore, the Bethlehem Hurricane Classic, Ray Oliver Invitational and Hurricane Invitational. At Iowa, he was a three-time NCAA all-American and won 108 matches in his career in the 285-pound class. Since graduating from the university in 2015, he has been a member of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, competing both nationally and internationally. He joined the wrestling coaching staff at Iowa in 2018.
… rest of story at https://thedialog.org/local-sports/saint-marks-alumnus-bobby-telford-helps-lead-iowa-to-ncaa-wrestling-championship/?mc_cid=d0f3fda251&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Michael Kemerer to Return in 2021-22
This evening, Iowa’s NCAA runner-up Michael Kemerer announced, in a well-crafted Twitter video, that he would be suiting up for the Hawkeyes in the 2021-22 season. With Kemerer on board, Tom Brands’ squad 2021 NCAA Championship squad will return in tact and ready to defend their team title. Kemerer has placed at the NCAA Championships on three occasions and was named an All-American following the 2020 season, as well. Despite having a highly decorated career, Kemerer was able to bring home his first Big Ten championship in 2021 and did not lose until the NCAA finals. After five years of competition, Kemerer has amassed an 86-8 record for the Hawkeyes and has never finished lower than fourth at the NCAA Championships. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24501?mc_cid=480d7959b9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – MAT CHAT EPISODE 96 FEATURING TERRY BRANDS IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING AND DOWNLOAD
In episode 96 of Mat Chat with David Mirikitani, David sits down with Iowa’s Associate Head Coach Terry Brands, a two-time World champion and Olympic bronze medalist. David and Terry reflect on the Hawkeye’s title-winning season and the future of the program. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/April/30/Mat-Chat-Episode-96-featuring-Terry-Brands-is-now-available-for-streaming-and-download?mc_cid=6d9f324080&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And PHOTOS: 2021 IOWA WRESTLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION AT KINNICK STADIUM story linked at https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2021/04/17/photos-2021-iowa-wrestling-national-championship-celebration-at-kinnick-stadium-04-17-2021/?mc_cid=82e9baddf8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Greg Hansen: Iowa-bound Sebastian Robles does his family, school proud
The most honored piece of sports turf in Tucson isn’t McKale Center or Tucson National or Hi Corbett Field. It’s the wrestling room at Sunnyside High School. It’s 34 state championships since 1979. It’s more than 100 individual state champions. It’s an indisputable sports dynasty that has never been matched at any level of Tucson sports. There is no official “first family” of Sunnyside wrestling because there are so many first families. The Cotas, the DeBerrys, the Sanchezes, the Ybarras, the Gallicks and a distinguished list of Blue Devils champions that seems to never end.

And then there’s the family tree of the late Federico and Virginia Robles, which has taken root and spread like a sturdy oak tree protecting the Sunnyside wrestling program. When Sunnyside won its 34th state title in February, senior Sebastian Robles became the latest Blue Devil to win back-to-back state championships. His brother, Rico, won a state championship in 2019. … rest of story at https://tucson.com/sports/greghansen/greg-hansen-iowa-bound-sebastian-robles-does-his-family-school-proud/article_57b994bc-a9e3-11eb-9885-93ae04c9c3a6.html?mc_cid=f2268a753e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – The Daily Iowan names Spencer Lee 2020-21 Male Athlete of the Year
Lee won individual titles at both the Big Ten and NCAA championships in 2020-21.
Following his run at both individual and team national championships in 2020-21, Iowa wrestling’s Spencer Lee has been named Male Athlete of the Year by The Daily Iowan. The DI’s sports staff bestowed the honor upon Lee in unanimity. On March 20, Lee won his third-straight individual national championship, and the Hawkeyes claimed the 24th NCAA wrestling team title in University of Iowa history. With one exception, Lee tacked bonus points onto the Hawkeyes’ team score in each of his matches last year — winning via fall, technical fall, or major decision. The only opponent Lee faced that did not allow him to score bonus points was Arizona State’s Brandon Courtney. In the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship finals at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, Lee defeated Courtney by 7-0 decision to cap his run at a national title. Iowa went on to finish the NCAA tournament 15.5 points clear of all its competition.

Lee finished the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships 5-0, outscoring his opponents, 59-8. Lee is the seventh three-time national champion in UI history. Eight days prior to the start of the NCAA tournament, Lee suffered a torn ACL in his knee. After he defeated Courtney and stood atop the 125-pound podium, Lee revealed his injury. … rest of story at https://dailyiowan.com/2021/06/28/the-daily-iowan-names-spencer-lee-2020-21-male-athlete-of-the-year/?mc_cid=7334e288ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – HAWKEYES ANNOUNCE 2021 HALL OF FAME CLASS
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The National Iowa Varsity Club and the University of Iowa Athletics Department announced its 2021 Hall of Fame class Tuesday. The 32nd Hall of Fame class includes Dan Bachman, Kari Hamel, Kristi Hanks, Frank “Kinney” Holbrook, Kristen Holmes, Roy Marble, Fred Mims, Diane Nukuri, Brad Penrith and Ed Podolak. The 10-person class will be inducted into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 — the evening prior to the Iowa football team’s season opener against Indiana (2:30 p.m., BTN). All Hawkeye athletes who have earned at least one varsity letter award at Iowa are eligible for the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame. Athletes must have completed their eligibility 10 years, and coaches/administrators five years prior to their induction.
Brad Penrith, Wrestling (1984-88)
Brad Penrith won the 126-pound NCAA championship in 1986, leading Iowa to its record-tying ninth straight team title. Penrith was a three-time All-American and three-time Big Ten champion, winning honors and titles from 1986-88. He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year in 1986 and made two United States World Championship Teams, winning a World silver medal in 1991. … rest of story at https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2021/07/06/hawkeyes-announced-2021-hall-of-fame-class/?mc_cid=9d57322631&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – ‘These kids missed a lot’: How IU wrestling’s freshman class grew through struggle
IU wrestling’s 2020 freshman class dealt with a season like no other this year. Head coach Angel Escobedo said this class missed out on a lot because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the team showed resilience and heart in the face of it. Escobedo said his freshmen would typically come to IU for six weeks in the summer to take classes and acclimate to what college was going to be like, but this year they weren’t able to do that. He said they missed out on living in the dorms and being able to interact with other student-athletes and people on campus.  “I mean that’s a big part of the college experience,” Escobedo said. “And these kids missed a lot.” … rest of story at https://www.idsnews.com/article/2021/05/iu-wrestling-freshman-class-struggle?mc_cid=2136f7bdf1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – Riley Lefever Named Indiana Wrestling Assistant Coach
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.  – IU head coach Angel Escobedo has announced the addition of four-time national champion Riley Lefever as an assistant coach for the Indiana wrestling program.
Lefever, who grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, wrestled at Wabash College, where he was a four-time DIII National Champion (three times at 184 and once at 197). “I’m excited to welcome Riley Lefever to our staff,” Escobedo said.  “Riley had a tremendous career at Wabash College, becoming only the second wrestler in DIII history to win four NCAA titles. Riley also brings international experience to his resume as he trained at Penn State for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. Riley will work with our upper weights and will look to help them achieve their goals on and off the mat.” Lefever posted a 158-6 record at Wabash and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He was a team captain and a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American. Lefever earned two NCAA DIII Most Domination Wrestler awards and was also a junior national team member in freestyle. Lefever graduated from Wabash in 2017 and moved to State College, Pa., to train freestyle with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club for the last five years. … rest of story at https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2021/6/28/riley-lefever-named-indiana-wrestling-assistant-coach.aspx?mc_cid=16b19c4117&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Mike Poeta Named Fighting Illini Head Wrestling Coach
Champaign, Ill. — Mike Poeta, who established himself as one of Illinois’s all-time greatest wrestlers and top assistant coaches in the nation as a member of the Fighting Illini staff, was named head wrestling coach today by Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. “We are thrilled to welcome Mike Poeta to our Fighting Illini head coaching family,” Whitman said. “Mike is a native of our great state, is a proud University of Illinois alumnus, and is one of the most decorated wrestlers in our program’s rich history. From our first conversations about this position, Mike impressed us with his leadership skills, energy, and vision for the future of the Fighting Illini wrestling program. He has unrivaled passion for Illinois Wrestling, and we are confident that enthusiasm will carry forward into his recruiting and coaching. “Mike has first-hand appreciation for, and will build upon, the longstanding tradition of wrestling success built by Mark Johnson and Jim Heffernan over the past three decades. Congratulations and welcome to Mike, Callie, and their four children for joining us on this journey and leading Illinois Wrestling to a bright, successful future.” … rest of story at https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/4/21/mike-poeta-named-fighting-illini-head-wrestling-coach.aspx?mc_cid=d92d6a4129&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Poeta’s goal is to elevate Illinois wrestling
CHAMPAIGN — The coaching search process to find Jim Heffernan’s replacement as the leader of the Illinois wrestling program was different this time around for athletic director Josh Whitman. Whitman had hired eight other coaches — turning over the football job twice — and reorganized the track and field program since he returned to Illinois in 2016. … rest of story at https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/poetas-goal-is-to-elevate-illinois-wrestling/article_c32d96ee-a4fd-5aa8-8a71-fcdbc4d51b87.html?mc_cid=391a23a860&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Head Coach Mike Poeta Introductory Press Conference … story at https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/4/22/press-conference-illinois-wrestling-press-conference.aspx?mc_cid=a0d7657398&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – Poeta begins new chapter in wrestling program
When Mike Poeta was introduced to the Illinois faithful as the new wrestling coach, he knew he had big shoes to fill. However, all early signs are pointing to the fact that Poeta was a fantastic hire for the future of the team. “I am honored and consider myself extremely lucky to be standing up here as the next head wrestling coach for the University of Illinois,” Poeta said. “It was a dream of mine to come here as a wrestler, it was a dream of mine to come back here as an assistant coach and, now, an absolute dream to be the next head coach.” Poeta recently took over for former head coach Jim Heffernan, who spent a combined 29 years with Illinois wrestling. During his tenure, Heffernan established the Illini as one of the strongest programs in the country, amassing 13 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and coaching 11 national champions. … rest of story at https://dailyillini.com/sports/mens-sports/wrestling/2021/04/25/poeta-begins-new-chapter-in-wrestling-program/?mc_cid=9e2c82acd7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And After 49 years, Heffernan ready to step away
Jim Heffernan knew it was time. One year shy of half of a century of involvement in wrestling as a competitor and coach, Heffernan announced last week that he was calling IT a career. The four-time collegiate All-American and 1986 NCAA wrestling champion for the University of Iowa is stepping down after spending the past 29 seasons at the University of Illinois, the first 17 as an assistant coach the last 12 as the Fighting Illini head coach. “My energy levels are starting to drop a little bit. Things are starting to become a chore and that’s not what this has been for 34 years for me,’’ Heffernan said Friday. “This has been fun. It’s been enjoyable. It’s been my passion, my life’s work. But, it’s starting to become work. I don’t want my energy level to affect the program and where the program is going.’’ … rest of story at https://qctimes.com/sports/college/wrestling/after-49-years-heffernan-ready-to-step-away/article_529fd0a6-a8cb-5af3-8e58-f4244957d0a8.html?mc_cid=0dc666bfba&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – Poeta Adds Ed Ruth to Coaching Staff
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois head wrestling coach Mike Poeta announced the addition of Ed Ruth to his staff on Thursday, July 1. Ruth will serve as an assistant coach with the Fighting Illini wrestling program. “I am so excited to announce the addition of Ed Ruth to the Illinois wrestling staff,” said Poeta. “Ed’s wrestling credentials speak for themself and he will go down as one of the greatest college wrestlers of all time. Not only does he bring world class wrestling skills to get our guys to another level, but after getting to know him more, I saw how much of a role model and mentor he will be. He’ll be great at growing our wrestlers as young men and assisting them in reaching their wrestling goals.” Ruth, a native of Harrisburg, Pa., joins the Illini wrestling staff following several years as a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter. Ruth wrestled collegiately at Penn State from 2010-2014, where he was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time Big Ten champion at 184-pounds. He also garnered a 136-3 overall record during his career as a Nittany Lion. Following his time in State College, Ruth was a representative for team USA at the 2014 World Wrestling Championships and was also a Silver Medalist at the 2015 USA World Team Trials. … rest of story at https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/7/1/wrestling-poeta-adds-ed-ruth-to-coaching-staff.aspx?mc_cid=a1dbf0c0e5&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

July 27, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized