Takedown Report

NCAA Division I News (2022) – # 3 {BIG 12}

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Some stories and news from some of the Big 12 schools. We have, in order, 1) Oklahoma, 2) N.D. State, 3) Northern Iowa, 4) all Big 12, 5) S.D. State, 6) Wyoming, 7) Oklahoma State, 8) Northern Colorado, 9) Oklahoma, 10) Missouri, 11) Iowa State and 12) West Virginia. We are eager to see a full season back in action. Keep Wrestling Onward!
Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 3007 (11/07/21)
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1 } – Five Observations from OU’s New Roster
OU has published an updated 2021-2022 season roster on SoonersSports.Com. I did a quick run over some of the updates and changes and thought I would share some observations here.

1. Easton Hudson, Jake Stiles, Collin McCoy, Mason Naifeh, and Tommy Hoskins are no longer on the roster-Some of these we’ve been tracking for a bit. Tommy Hoskins announced a transfer to Ohio University and Jake Stiles entered the transfer portal back in May. Hudson and McCoy were both Juniors as far as their eligibility, but had used a redshirt and had been in college for four years. It’s fairly safe to assume that they’ve graduated and just moved on from the sport. Probably the most noteworthy is Mason Naifeh. He was the starter for OU at 125 last season and a redshirt senior. … rest of story at https://owrestle.com/five-observations-from-ous-new-roster/

2 } – North Dakota State Bison Wrestling Announces 2021-22 Schedule
FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State wrestling program and head coach Roger Kish announced the full schedule for the 2021-22 season Friday morning. The Bison schedule will feature nine Big 12 matchups, as well as trips to New York and Tennessee.  
The Bison will open up the season with three-straight events at home, including a season opening dual against future Big 12 member California Baptist on November 6 at the Scheels Center.  
North Dakota State will host Missouri in the first Big 12 matchup of the year on November 11, before hosting the Bison Open two days later on November 13. After a trip to Augustana in early December, the Bison will close the fall schedule with three matches in New York over two days in mid-December. The Bison will play Binghamton and Edinboro in Binghamton on December 10. NDSU will then head to Buffalo on December 11.  
NDSU will kick off the new year in Tennessee, participating in the two-day Southern Scuffle, hosted at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga on January 1-2. Eight of the final nine matches will be in Big 12 play, beginning with a trip to Utah Valley and Wyoming in mid-January. The Bison will travel to Iowa to take on Northern Iowa and Iowa State on January 22-23.  
North Dakota State will then host four-straight at the Scheels Center, … rest of story at https://gobison.com/news/2021/9/17/bison-wrestling-announces-2021-22-schedule.aspx

3 } – UNI wrestling releases 2021-22 schedule
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa wrestling team will host seven home events in the 2021-22 season.
The Panthers open the season on the road at the Cyclone Open in Ames, Iowa. The dual season will kick off in Columbia, Missouri, with matchups against Missouri and Virginia Tech.
UNI will kick off the home season in the UNI-Dome with the UNI Open Dec. 11-12. The first four duals of the home season will be held in the West Gym. The team will cap the regular season at home in the McLeod Center with two duals.
Nine of the 10 wrestlers who represented UNI at last year’s Big 12 Championships and all six national qualifiers from 2021 return to compete. All-American Parker Keckeisen took third at the 2021 NCAA Championships. Senior Jacob Holschlag, rounds out all-Americans returning for UNI.
Season tickets are still available on the UNItix website.
… rest of story at https://unipanthers.com/news/2021/10/19/wrestling-uni-wrestling-releases-2021-22-schedule.aspx?mc_cid=3816687d90&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – Where Could the Big 12 Wrestling Programs End Up?
It was recently reported that OU and Texas are moving to the SEC, and now the college sports world is abuzz regarding conference realignment. Will more schools leave the Big 12? Where will they go? Will the conference fall apart?
All of this is very speculative and who really knows what could happen? But I thought it would be interesting to take a look at logically where we could potentially see some of these schools wind up.

Oklahoma-MAC/PAC 12/Big 12? /SoCon
This is one school that will almost certainly be changing conferences. The SEC doesn’t have wrestling and they’ll need to find a new home soon. Mizzou went to the MAC when they moved to the SEC and are about to return to the Big 12. So that’s a bit of a natural direction we could see OU going. The Pac-12 has also made a push to grow their wrestling profile and could make a move for OU, and I think there is one farfetched, but somewhat feasible scenario I could see them staying in the Big 12. If the conference stays alive but shifts dramatically. Hypothetical example. Texas Tech, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Kansas, and Iowa State all bail for other power 5 conferences, and are replaced by Air Force, Navy, Houston, SMU, and Wyoming, then the total composition of the Big 12 will shift and the new powers that be may not mind having OU in the conference for wrestling as ultimately their exit will be a positive thing for them and their brand. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24811?mc_cid=eccbde8e25&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – South Dakota State WRESTLING GROUNDBREAKING SET 
A groundbreaking ceremony for a new wrestling practice facility at South Dakota State University is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 9.  
The program is set for 2 p.m. at the construction site, which is located on the southwest corner of the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex and directly north of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Construction on the Frank J. Kurtenbach Family Wrestling Center is set to begin this fall, with completion scheduled for 2022. The project was authorized by the South Dakota Board of Regents last December and received final approval from the South Dakota Legislature this past spring.
Former SDSU wrestler and coach Frank Kurtenbach provided the lead gift for the state-of-the art facility, which will feature four competition mats, plus a strength and conditioning area, locker rooms, team room, coaches’ offices and spaces for academics and nutrition. … rest of story at https://gojacks.com/news/2021/9/1/wrestling-wrestling-groundbreaking-set-for-sept-9.aspx?mc_cid=7c54a7fcd6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Why Brian Andrews Should be on Your Radar at Heavyweight
Wyoming’s fifth-year senior, Brian Andrews, has proven himself to be a competitor that should not be taken lightly at the Division 1 level. And if you’re a wrestling fan gearing up for the upcoming season, then this heavyweight definitely needs to be on your list of guys to watch.
In his time at heavyweight, he has made two Big 12 Finals appearances, being crowned champion in 2020, as well as three trips to the big dance. The Grapevine, Texas native won three state titles at the 5A classification for Grapevine High School, was a three-time NHSCA All-American and posted an 8th place finish at Fargo in 2016 in freestyle. After interviewing Brian Andrews, I can tell you that he needs to be on your radar right now.
Career Before Becoming a Poke
Before he decided to become a Cowboy and call Laramie, Wyoming home, Andrews started his college career out at the JUCO level, wrestling for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. In his one year in Miami, Oklahoma, he was able to secure a third-place finish at the NJCAA Championships. … rest of story at https://www.fancowrestling.com/why-brian-andrews-should-be-on-your-radar-at-heavyweight/?mc_cid=ec459aa678&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – WRESTLING: Former Cowboy Jezik opts to transfer into football career
Turning down an opportunity to continue to wrestle for one of the nation’s top-ranked college programs for the unknown might be a hard decision for most but not for 2020 IHSA Class 1A 195-pound state champion and former Coal City standout Daniel Jezik. After talking it over and gaining full support from his friends and family, Jezik officially announced in May he will be leaving the sixth-ranked Oklahoma State wrestling program and enter the transfer portal in order to pursue his childhood dream of playing college football. “I loved all the coaches and everyone on the wrestling team at Oklahoma State,” Jezik said. “It had nothing to do with them; it was just the fact that wrestling is something I haven’t been in love with for a long time, and I have loved football my whole life. “So, it was an easy but hard decision because it’s a great opportunity to wrestle at OSU, but it was an easy decision in a sense because I knew I wanted to play football.”
Originally, Jezik thought he could channel his inner Bo Jackson by being a two-sport NCAA Division I athlete. However, once he got on campus in Stillwater, Jezik quickly realized that dream wouldn’t be possible given how opposite the two sports are in their demands. “Honestly, my main focus when I knew I was going to college was that I wanted to play football somehow and someway,” Jezik said. “Not that you can’t do both, but it’s kind of difficult because my wrestling coach wanted me to drop a lot of weight and, obviously, it’s difficult to do that and play football with the same competitiveness.” … rest of story at https://www.daily-journal.com/sports/wrestling-former-cowboy-jezik-opts-to-transfer-into-football-career/article_686f18e6-e4f2-11eb-b3ef-475f5ee93b10.html?mc_cid=fb87a783fb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Univ. Northern Colorado Wrestling signs a Top 15 Class for 2021
For the second time in three season’s Northern Colorado Wrestling signed a top 15 recruiting class
GREELEY, Colo. – Troy Nickerson and the UNC Wrestling coaching staff put together another top 15 recruiting class in 2021 with the addition of 12 wrestlers to the 2021-22 roster. It is the second time is three season the Bears welcome a top 15 class. Northern Colorado’s class came in ranked No. 15 by FloWrestling and No. 19 by Mat Scouts. “This is the second top-15 recruiting class for our staff in three years and we were able to add some key pieces to the puzzle,” Nickerson said about the new additions.”The amount of talent in this class is outstanding and to say we are excited about them would be an understatement. This group is full of high-character athletes who are also great students. We really look forward to having them all in Greeley this year!”

Benji Alanis
Alanis is the No. 25 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts, and ranks No. 4 nationally at 138 lbs. He comes to the Bears from Phoenix, Ariz., where he attended Valiant College Preparatory. Alanis has an impressive high school resume that includes being two-time FloNationals All-American, two-time NHSCA All-American, UWW Junior All-American, USAW Junior All-American, and Super 32 medalist. He projects at 141 or 149 lbs.

Branson Britten
Britten is the No. 107 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts, and ranks No. 18 nationally at 182 lbs. He competed for Canyon Randall High School in Amarillo, Texas. Britten was a two-time Texas State Champion and was a three-time Texas State finalist. He is also a four-time USAW Cadet/Junior All-American. Britten amassed a 152-26 career record. He projects at 184 lbs. … rest of story at https://uncbears.com/news/2021/7/26/wrestling-signs-a-top-15-class-for-2021.aspx?mc_cid=108a6e3c7b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – Top Ranked Joey Cruz Commits to Wrestle at OU
Huge recruiting news for the Sooners today as they’ve landed one of the top lower weight prospects in the country out of California. Joey Cruz out of Bullard High School in Fresno committed to OU today according to his high school Twitter account.
Cruz currently ranks as the #1 ranked 120 lber in the country and #16 overall pound for pound prospect in Willie Saylor’s MatScouts Rankings on Rokfin. OU has been loading up at the upper weights recently so this fits perfectly for them as Cruz, who is currently a high school senior, could slot in seamlessly at the 125-pound spot. Tough to overstate how big this is for the Sooners. Cruz is an absolute hammer that is projected to do big things on the college level. … rest of story at https://owrestle.com/top-ranked-joey-cruz-commits-to-wrestle-at-ou/

10 } – Mizzou Wrestling Announces 2021-22 Schedule
The Tigers will return to the Big 12 with a strong conference schedule
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Mizzou Wrestling will face off against 10 Big 12 Conference foes during the 2021-22 season in its return to the league as the Tigers revealed their schedule Wednesday. Head coach Brian Smith‘s squad will begin its season Oct. 26 with the annual Black and Gold Scrimmage inside the Hearnes Center. Fans can purchase season tickets today by visiting MUTigers.com/TigerStyleTix.
“We are returning an experienced team with wins under their belts at the NCAA Championships, but they have set some higher goals for this season,” Head coach Brian Smith said. “I know the team and staff are excited for the challenge the Big 12 brings. I know from talking with our fan base they are ready to come out to see us compete through our Big 12 schedule.”
The Tigers open up the season with a trip to Fargo, North Dakota for a Nov. 11 matchup against North Dakota State at 7 p.m. CT. Mizzou premieres the home portion of the schedule with conference duals against Northern Colorado (Nov. 14) and Air Force (Nov. 19). Among the home foes coming to the Hearnes Center this season are Virginia Tech and Northern Iowa (Dec. 4), South Dakota State (Jan. 22), Oklahoma State (Feb. 6) and Iowa State (Feb. 16). Road duals will take place at SIUE (Jan. 14), Oklahoma (Jan. 20), Utah Valley and Wyoming (Jan. 29) … rest of story at https://mutigers.com/news/2021/9/29/mizzou-wrestling-announces-2021-22-schedule.aspx?mc_cid=1a20739d9d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – Iowa State Wrestling announces 2021-22 schedule
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser announced his team’s 2021-22 schedule on Monday. This year’s home slate at Hilton Coliseum features the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk dual vs. Iowa, as well as four Big 12 duals.
“We are excited about our schedule,” Dresser said. “We have a lot of flexibility with some open tournaments and we obviously have some very high-quality teams. I think it will set us up really well for the Big 12 Championship and the NCAA Tournament.” Iowa State opens the season hosting Army (1 p.m.) and California Baptist (3 p.m.) on Nov. 27 in Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones will also host Iowa (Dec. 5), Northwest Kansas Technical (Jan. 6), Utah Valley (Jan. 22), North Dakota State (Jan. 23), West Virginia (Feb. 4) and Air Force (Feb. 5) in 2021-22.
The Cyclones also have a pair of unique neutral site dates on this season’s schedule. Iowa State will wrestle Purdue on Dec. 19 in Humboldt, Iowa – the hometown of both Dresser and Boilermaker head coach Tony Ersland. … rest of story at https://cyclonefanatic.com/2021/09/iowa-state-wrestling-announces-2021-22-schedule/?mc_cid=a0250c87c5&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – West Virginia Wrestling Releases 2021-22 Schedule
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Shane Lyons revealed the 2021-22 wrestling schedule on Monday. After going 7-3 and receiving seven votes in the NCAA poll to end the abbreviated 2021 season, West Virginia’s wrestling team is back for a total of 16 events in a march toward another appearance at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. “The guys are really excited for this season,” coach Tim Flynn said. “We have a really good group of freshmen together with upperclassman that are a year older, a year stronger and a year better. There has been a lot of optimism since we arrived three seasons ago, and this season shall be no different.”
Flynn has installed a fourth-season slate filled with many obstacles along the journey to the postseason. Highlighting the 16 dates are seven duals against top-25 competition according to the latest InterMat team dual rankings, which includes home showcases against No. 12 Oklahoma in the home opener (Nov. 13), No. 3 Oklahoma State in the final tri-meet of the season (Jan. 16), and No. 13 Wyoming to close out the regular season. “It is a real challenging schedule for sure, just with the Big 12 Conference alone,” Flynn explained. “Obviously you have Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Iowa State, and the addition of Wyoming becoming a top-20, top-15 program, but now we add two top-10 programs in NC State and Virginia Tech. You put that all together and we probably have one of the toughest schedules in the country.” The Mountaineers challenge No. 6 NC State (Nov. 21) on the second day of a four-match road trip … rest of story at https://wvusports.com/news/2021/10/4/wrestling-releases-2021-22-schedule.aspx?mc_cid=b46754b2b5&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

November 7, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized