No. 19 App State Wrestling Dominates Duke
BOONE, N.C. — Less than 10 seconds after the home dual against Duke began, Caleb Smith brought fans in Varsity Gym to their feet with an emphatic takedown.
Fans of the 19th-ranked Mountaineers had reason to cheer all evening, as App State won the first nine matches in a 42-3 victory against Duke on Tuesday night. The crowd of 968 witnessed eight of those wins produce bonus points in a one-sided affair that gave the Mountaineers their 10th victory over a Power Five program since JohnMark Bentley became head coach.
After climbing to its highest-ever ranking in the NWCA Coaches Poll earlier in the day — App State is as high as No. 18 in the country in a different poll and has been as high as No. 16 in InterMat’s rankings, back in 2016-17 — the Mountaineers improved to 7-2 overall by dominating their final nonconference dual.
The Appalachian Open on Saturday is next on the schedule, and App State will take a 3-0 league record into its SoCon dual at Gardner-Webb on Monday.
Smith’s fast start in Tuesday’s opener at 125 pounds propelled him … rest of story at APPstatesports.com/news/2023/1/24/-19-wrestling-no-19-app-state-wrestling-hammers-duke
College & University results – D 2 & 3
Wilson and Williams pick up wins in Pride’s match at Roanoke College
Roanoke, VA – The Greensboro College Men’s Wrestling team dropped an ODAC match to Roanoke College Thursday night but Josh Wilson and Brandon Williams were able to pick up victories over their opponents to keep in contentionion their respective weight classes. Results are below:
125 – Jude Robson (RC) fall JaJuan Givens (GC)* ; RC leads 6-0
133 – Sean Hall (RC) fall Ivan Benitez (GC), 1:05; RC leads 12-0
141 – #5 Josh Wilson (GC) maj. Dec. Dustin Smith (RC), 14-2; RC leads 12-3
149 – Nick Young (RC) wins by forfeit; RC leads 18-3
157 – Andrew McDougal (RC) wins by forfeit; RC leads 24-3
165 – David Reid (RC) fall Luke Gregory (GC), 2:03; RC leads 30-3
174 – Josh Epperly (RC) wins by forfeit; RC leads 36-3
184 – No. 17 Mahlic Sallah (RC) tech fall Khalil Beck (GC), 16-0, 5:05; RC leads 41-3 … rest of story at Greensborocollegesports.com/news/2023/1/19/mens-wrestling-wilson-and-williams-pick-up-wins-in-prides-match-at-roanoke
No. 2 Lander University dominates Mount Olive and Belmont Abbey in a tri-meet
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – After being ranked the No. 2 team in The Open Mat on Wednesday and No. 2 in the latest NWCA Div. II rankings, the Lander wrestling rolled over Mount Olive and Belmont Abbey in a tri-meet Saturday afternoon. Lander moves 16-2 overall and 6-0 in the SACC. The Bearcats are now winners of their last six conference matches and have won seven straight overall.
No. 2/2 Lander (36) – Mount Olive (10)
The Bearcats started hot against the Trojans after beginning the match up 15-0 with two pins. James Joplin kicked things off with a first-period pin at 125 against the Trojans before Elijah Lusk earned three more points with a 2-0 decision before Zeth Brower used a first-period pin of his own to give the Blue and Gold a 15-0 edge.
Mount Olive would earn a major decision at 149 and a pin at 157 to get within five points of Lander.
David Hunsberger would respond with a 6-1 win by decision to get the Bearcats back on the scoreboard and increase the lead to 18-10. Hunsberger used an escape and takedown along with a point from riding time to extend his lead in the third period.
Jack Bond would help increase Lander’s lead to 21-10 with a 10-4 win by decision at 174 that saw takedowns in all three periods while the only points picked up by Mount Olive were from escapes. … rest of story at landerbearcats.com/news/2023/1/21/no-2-wrestling-dominates-mount-olive-and-belmont-abbey-in-a-tri-meet
Seliga Nabs SACC Wrestler Of The Week Honors Again
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The hardware kept rolling in for redshirt sophomore Logan Seliga on Tuesday afternoon when the Belle Vernon, Pa., native picked up South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Week laurels for the third time this season, the league office announced.
Seliga, who took over the top spot in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) rankings at 125-pounds on Wednesday, celebrated his No. 1 ranking with a pair of quick wins on Thursday at the Lincoln Memorial Tri-Meet. He registered a pair of pins over a combined 1 minute and 56 seconds as the Black & Gold recorded dual meet victories over Lincoln Memorial and King in Harrogate, Tenn. Seliga opened action at the Lincoln Memorial-hosted tri-meet by pinning LMU’s Porter Finstad at the 1:35 mark of the first period, and then closed out his day with a pin of King’s Tyson Upchurch in just 21 seconds.
A two-time NCAA Championships qualifier for the Black & Gold, Seliga has compiled a 36-12 (.750) career record in Pembroke, … rest of story at UNCPbraves.com/news/2023/1/24/wrestling-seliga-nabs-sacc-wrestler-of-the-week-honors-again
No. 2 Wrestling runs over Lincoln Memorial at home
GREENWOOD – Returning home after trouncing Mount Olive and Belmont Abbey in a tri-match on Saturday, the No. 2 Lander wrestling team chopped down Lincoln Memorial 46-9 at Horne Arena Tuesday evening. Lander moves to 17-2 overall and 7-0 in the SACC while LMU drops to 1-9 overall and 0-6 in the SACC. The Bearcats started the match up 18-0 as the Railsplitters forfeited at 157, 184 and 197. LMU would rebound with a major decision at 125 to get on the scoreboard while Kaiden Fisher would answer with a first-period pin at 133. Fisher was up 12-0 in the first period before recording the win.
The Railsplitters got points at 141 with a pin of their own to make it a 24-10 contest. Lander would see wins the rest of the way starting with Jack Tangen running circles around his opponent at 149.Winning by tech fall 24-9, Tangen recorded six takedowns in the third period as his opponent only recorded points from escapes. Randy Myers took a win at 157 from forfeit before Gage Bernall recorded a pin 49 seconds … rest of story at Landerbearcats.com/news/2023/1/24/no-2-wrestling-runs-over-lincoln-memorial-at-home
Wichita to host NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championships
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — For the next three years, Wichita will play host to the National Association of Interscholastic Athletics (NAIA) Men’s Wrestling National Championships.
The Championships will take place at Hartman Arena. Wichita hosted the event in 2020, 2021, and 2022. It will also host in 2023 and through 2025.
“We are pleased to continue holding the men’s wrestling championship in Wichita, Kansas,” said Austin Bennett, NAIA Director of Championships. “Visit Wichita has been an outstanding host for the championship and excels at organizing a fantastic student-athlete experience.”
Visit Wichita says the event will bring in nearly $800,000 in local economic impact each year it is held.
The 2023 championship will take place on March 3 and 4. It will be open to the public.
Girls Wrestling News
NEW YORK BECOMES 37TH STATE TO HOST A RECOGNIZED GIRLS STATE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
USA Wrestling’s Girls High School Development Committee has determined that New York has become the 37th state high school association to host a recognized girls state high school wrestling tournament.
On July 29, 2022, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced that girls wrestling “has now met the criteria to be considered an emerging sport.” At that time, the NYSPHSAA also announced that a statewide committee for girls wrestling would be formed.
On January 12, 2023, the NYSPHSAA announced that it would conduct the first Girls Wrestling Invitational Tournament on Friday, January 27 at SRC Arena on the campus of Onondaga County Community College in Syracuse, N.Y.
The USA Wrestling Girls High School Development Committee, co-chaired by Joan Fulp and Andrea Yamamoto, has determined that the NYSPHSAA has met the standard required to be included in the list of states with official girls high school wrestling programs.
The decision to give girls wrestling emerging sport status in New York, along with the fact that the NYSPHSAA will conduct the state-level Girls Wrestling Invitational Tournament (rather than another organization) were factors in recognizing New York along with the other state associations which have stepped up for girls wrestling. The NYSPHSAA has put girls wrestling on the administrative path to become an official state championships sometime soon. … rest of story at Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/January/18/New-York-becomes-37th-state-with-girls-HS-wrestling-program
Plainwell wrestler climbs ranks, grows girls division in Michigan
Madison Nieuwenhuis is 27-7 this is season
PLAINWELL, Mich. — “When I started I only wrestled boys because there wasn’t that many girls but now you can choose to wrestle boys or girls,” said Plainwell Freshman wrestler Madison Nieuwenhuis. Madison Nieuwenhuis has been a wrestler since she was four. Watching her older cousin compete in Wisconsin and has been on the mat ever since. “My dad started a club here in Vicksburg and I was always wrestling with my little brother,” said Madison. Since middle school, Madison has been traveling the country to compete. Now as a freshman at Plainwell, she’s helping grow the newly emerging girls division in Michigan.
“The culture that she brings into the room as far as her work ethic goes upgrades our team as well, especially those smaller weight classes where she’s wrestling. Which makes everyone motivated to do better better because of the competition it brings to the room,” says Head wrestling Coach Rodd Leonard. While she does compete at girls only tournaments in the 100 pound weight class, Madison doesn’t shy away from wrestling boys on her team or tourneys. Even though she says it’s been challenging at the high school level. … rest of story at Fox17online.com/sports/blitz/plainwell-wrestler-climbs-ranks-grows-girls-division-in-michigan
GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: SPARKMAN WINS ALABAMA STATES, DUAL MEET STATES HELD IN TEXAS, GEORGIA & UTAH, NO. 8 MARINA WINS AYALA INVITE (CA)
Katey Valdez of Doherty High School (CO) competing in Fargo in 2022. Valdez became the first two-time girls champion at the Colorado Springs Metro Championships. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
Throughout the rest of the scholastic season, we will review some of the biggest events and activities in the high school girls wrestling season across the nation. Hopefully, as more information is shared, we will help promote and grow girls high school wrestling.
Sparkman edges No. 20 Daphne to win Alabama States; Eight champions finish year unbeaten
Sparkman scored 191 points, to finish 11 points ahead of No. 20 Daphne to win the Alabama girls state championships. Sparkman was led by champions Akerah Artis (145) and Reagan Grant (152), plus third-place Aliza Wix-Amaya (235). State champions for Daphne were Alanah Girard (100) and Kalyse Hill (132), plus a runner-up and two third-place finishers. Sparkman displayed more depth, scoring more points from their team members who did not place in the top four.
National No. 24 Evelyn Holmes-Smith of Enterprise won the 120-pound title, going unbeaten. Eight of the individual champions had no losses: Holmes-Smith, Hill, Artis plus Juliana Eldridge of Wetumpka (107), Lena Johnanson of Weaver (138), Mackenzie Schultz of Enterprise (165), Aniyah Griffin of Pinson Valley (185) and Tamara Reed of Baldwin County (235).
Texas THSWCA Duals shake up rankings: Dumas wins 5A title and Euless Trinity claims 6A honors
Texas has great depth in its high school girls wrestling program, … rest of story at Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/January/24/Girls-HS-Roundup
NCAA releases first coaches’ ranking for 2023 Division I wrestling championships
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA has announced the first coaches’ ranking for the 2023 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
The coaches’ rankings are determined by a vote of 14 coaches in each weight class with two head coaches from each of the seven conferences. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. Wrestlers must have eight Division I matches in the weight class to be considered with at least one within the last 30 days.
Of the 10 weight classes, six are led by members of the Big Ten Conference and no school has two individuals in the top spot.
A pair of national champions sit atop the 165-pound and 174-pound weight classes with Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole and Penn State’s Carter Starocci.
Minnesota’s Patrick McKee sits atop 125 pounds, while Oklahoma State’s Daton Fix leads at 133 pounds. Andrew Alirez of Northern Colorado boasts the top spot at 141 pounds, while Austin Gomez of Wisconsin leads 149 pounds.
At 157 pounds, Nebraska’s Peyton Robb was ranked first by the coaches, while Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa sits atop 184 pounds.
Pittsburgh’s Nino Bonaccorsi debuts atop 197-pounds, while Michigan’s Mason Parris is the top ranked heavyweight.
The coaches’ ranking is one of several criteria that will be evaluated by the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee … rest of story and rankings at Guillotine.com/2023/01/ncaa-releases-first-coaches-ranking-for-2023-division-i-wrestling-championships
ACC Conference Recap (1/23/23)
Opening night for the ACC did not disappoint. The Virginia Tech vs NC State dual got the national spotlight and they put on a show. North Carolina and Pitt both took lopsided wins on the road. We are off and running in conference competition; let’s take a look at how the weekend played out.
#28 North Carolina at Duke
North Carolina took on their Tobacco Road rival and left Cameron Indoor Stadium with a statement win. The Tar Heels won the first eight matches, including seven bonus-point victories to open ACC competition.
One of the highlights of the evening was the return of Clay Lautt to the UNC lineup. Lautt has been out since the Appalachian State dual in mid-December. He returned to put on an offensive showcase, taking an 18-3 tech fall over Gaetano Console. Lautt’s season record moves to 6-2 for the season. Lautt will be favored in his next two matches before a top-10 showdown with Mekhi Lewis.
It was a difficult evening for Duke, but they ended the dual with two big wins. Vince Baker edged Max Shaw at 197 to stretch his season record to 5-3; this was a quality win for Baker who has quietly started off strong for the Blue Devils; two of his three losses are to top-12 ranked wrestlers. Jonah Neisenbaum ended the night on a positive note for Duke, gritting out a hard-fought 3-1 sudden victory win over Brandon Whitman.
The Tar Heels put on an offensive display after opening the dual with a forfeit win for Jack Wagner. Their lowest match point total on the evening was from Jace Palmer in a 7-6 decision over Logan Agin. The next six matches were bonus point victories for UNC. Lachlan McNeil dominated in a 17-2 tech fall over Jarred Papscy. Zach Sherman bounced back after a loss last week, gaining his first bonus point win of the year with a 12-1 major decision over Patrick Rowland. Austin O’Connor continued his undefeated season, adding his 11th bonus point victory with a first-period pin of Preston Decker. … rest of story at Intermatwrestle.com/articles/26443
NWCA Releases Division II Men’s Coaches Regular Season Poll #3
MANHEIM, PA – The Central Oklahoma Bronchos stayed atop the NCAA Division II wrestling rankings, in the latest edition of the NWCA Division II Coaches Poll, released Jan. 20 by the Association.
The Bronchos held at number one, but a new team is on their heels, with Lander jumping from four to the two spot with 66 points. Nebraska-Kearney moved to No. 3 with 63 points, followed by West Liberty (58 pts.) and St. Cloud State (56 pts.) rounding out the nation’s top five teams.
All 10 of UCO’s starters are nationally ranked, highlighted by Dalton Abney (197) and Shawn Streck (285) both in the two-spot in their respective weight classes. St. Cloud State has seven ranked wrestlers, headlined by Abner Romero in the top spot at 174. Lander, UW-Parkside, and Augustana all have six ranked individuals.
There are two new top-ranked wrestlers, with Logan Seliga of UNC-Pembroke moving into the top spot at 125, while returning National Finalist Derek Blubaugh of Indianapolis is the new No 1 at 197. The Lopers of UNK are the lone program with more than one top ranked wrestlers, with Billy HIggins at 184 and Lee Herrington at 285 representing Nebraska-Kearney.
Just under half of the top ranked wrestlers come from two of the nation’s six regions, with 32 top-12 ranked individuals coming from Super Region 5, while another 25 come from Super Region 4. Super Region 5 has three teams in the Top 10 in SCSU (5), UW-Parkside (7) and Upper Iowa (10), while both Super Region 4 and Super Region 6 each have two programs in the Top 10. Three of the top-ranked wrestlers in D2 come out of Super Region 6, with the two UNK Lopers and Adams State returning National Champion Noah Hermosillo (157).
The final edition of the NWCA Division II Coaches Rankings will come out Feb. 17, prior to the 64 teams heading to NCAA Division II Super Regionals the weekend of Feb. 25-26. … rest of story and rankings at NWCAonline.com/nwca-releases-division-ii-mens-coaches-regular-season-poll-3
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
Takedown Report 