Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Newberry Ranks Second in Super Region II Preseason Polls

GREENWOOD, S.C. – The NCAA Division II Super Region II preseason rankings were released this morning, with Newberry coming in at number 2 in those rankings.

The Wolves, landing at the second spot with 88 total points, were represented well individually, with senior Will Evans (157 lbs; Richmond, Ga.)  and junior Khris Walton (197 lbs; Merrillville, Ky.) being the top ranked individuals in their respective weight classes. 

Also, Newberry was one of two teams that had a wrestler ranked in all ten of the weight classes, with the second team being Lander University, who ranks number one in the region.

The season is fast approaching, and with a competitive campaign ahead, the Wolves look to start strong with the first event of the year, the Scarlet & Grey Intrasquad Wrestle Offs, to kick off Homecoming 2022 on October 28 at 4 PM. 

The Wolves will then hit the road for Salem, Virginia for their first competition of the year, the Southeast Open, on November 5 at 9 AM. … rest of the story at Newberrywolves.com//wrestling-ranks-second-in-super-region-ii-preseason-polls

October 13, 2022 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Coaching Legend With A Rather Peculiar Start

By Jeff Bro Olsen

Robert “Thors” Thorson has to be one the most unlikely wrestling coaches in the entire state.

He never wrestled in either high school or college.

Eventually, he became a renowned practice room wrestler after he arrived in Fertile in 1965 to teach elementary school.

Now retired, Thors, as he is called, turned 80 on August 16.

“I graduated from Halstad High School, which is about 70 miles north of Moorhead.

Play basketball in high school?

“Yeah, I did. I wasn’t worth a damn. I sat on the bench the whole damn time except my senior year. I think I scored a total of one point, but I could guard really well.”

He’s a man who always cheers for the underdog and noted that Halstad High School didn’t have wrestling. … rest of story at Theguillotine.com/A-coaching-legend-with-a-rather-peculiar-start/

October 13, 2022 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Caleb Murphy seizing his chance with IU football: ‘My whole life’s led up to this moment.’

Zach Osterman of the Indianapolis Star

BLOOMINGTON – Nestled a little more than halfway between Mitchell and Salem on State Road 60, Campbellsburg is roughly 51 miles from Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium.

As of 2010 census, Campbellsburg claimed a population of 585 people. Its elementary school and its high school adjoin one another. The West Washington Senators compete in Class A.

It is not traditionally the kind of place Big Ten football programs go looking for talent. But Caleb Murphy was determined to do anything he could to close those 51 miles and play bigtime college football for his state’s flagship school. So he started a wrestling program.
“I was just looking for another avenue to compete in the offseason,” Murphy said, “a way I could improve on the football field in the offseason.”

It was one of the many ways Murphy made sure he fulfilled his FBS ambitions, but it might have been the most telling.

At the time, Murphy’s shop teacher, Dennis Tankersley, coached the sport at a regional rival, Salem. Murphy and a friend approached Tankersley with a proposal: If they could get enough signatures to get in front of the school board, and then get the board to agree to support a wrestling program at West Washington, would Tankersley consider coaching them instead.
“Once he said yes, it just kind of rolled,” Murphy said, “and within a year we were a team and competing.”

By his own admission, Murphy struggled his first year. An older teammate actually wrestled ahead of him at Murphy’s original weight class, 220.

By the end of his wrestling career, cut short because of a collarbone injury, Murphy locked down that varsity 220 spot. … rest of story at Indystar.com/story/sports/09/30/caleb-murphy-iu-football-roster-indiana

October 13, 2022 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment