All Time Top Division I Coaches in Dual Meet Wins
TDR Editor’s Notes ; This list of college coaches by the number of dual meet victories in which they led their Division I teams. Several of the coaches have a greater overall number of victories when their time as a coach at another level is added in. Some notes of interest are John Smith of Oklahoma State is closing in on the 2nd spot and could pass Harold Nichols in a year or two. Tom Borelli moved past Bob Guzzo of N.C. State and Dan Gable of Iowa. Brian Smith of Missouri moved past four coaches to tie Carl Adams at 20th. Tom Ryan of Ohio State and Mark Manning of Nebraska both moved past the 300 wins mark to join just 31 other D-I coaches of the past 120 years of college wrestling. We welcome input, information and reactions to us at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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ALL-TIME Coaches(D-I)– Top 125 with at least 116 Wins
- Dale Thomas (Oregon State) 616
- Harold Nichols (Iowa St.) 493
- John Smith (Oklahoma State Univ.) 476
- Gary Taylor (Rider) 442
- Bobby Douglas (Iowa St/CSSB/ArizSU) 440
- J Robinson (Minnesota) 440
- Jack Childs (Drexel) 423
- T.J. Kerr (U. Calif. Bakersfield/San Jose St.) 421
- Wally Johnson (Minnesota Univ.) 392
- John Johnston (Princeton) 382
- Bill Lam (North Carolina Univ.) 378
- Lonnie Timmerman (Drake) 364
- Tom Borelli (Central Michigan) 360
- Bob Guzzo (N.C. State ) 356
- Dan Gable (Iowa) 355
- Russ Hellickson (Ohio St./Wisc.) 350
- Paul Mance (Appalachian State.) 348
- Rob Koll (Stanford/Cornell Univ.) 334
- Gray Simons (ODU, Tenn, L. Haven, Ind. St.) 327
- Carl Adams (Boston Univ.) 326
- Brian Smith (Missouri/Syracuse) 326 up 4 spots
- Bob Bubb (Clarion Univ.) 322
- Jack Spates (Oklahoma & Cornell) 322
- Dave Amato (Brown) 319
- Joe Seay (Okla.St., Ca.-Bak., U.Tenn.-Chatt.) 319
- Dennis Deliddo (Cal. St. Fresno) 313
- Ron Finley (Oregon Univ.) 311
- Ed Peery (U.S. Naval Academy) 311
- Tom Ryan (Ohio State/Hofstra) 307
- Randy Stottlemyer (Pittsburgh) 304
- Mark Manning (Nebraska/Northern Iowa) 303
- Stan Abel (Oklahoma, Cincinnati) 302
- Roger Sanders (Bloomsburg, New York Univ.) 300
- Duane Goldman (Indiana Univ.) 297
- Dick Bonacci (Cleveland State) 296
- John McHugh (Maryland, Catholic, American) 288
- Craig Turnbull (West Virginia Univ.) 287
- Joe Begala (Kent State Univ.) 282
- Tom Brands (Iowa & Virginia Tech) 282
- Ed Carlin (Syracuse Univ.) 280
- Jim Zalesky (Oregon State/Iowa) 278 (now at NAIA school)
- Clifford Keen (Michigan Univ.) 274
- Dave McCuskey (Iowa / Univ. Northern Iowa) 262
- Tim Flynn (West Virginia/Edinboro St.) 254
- Ron Gray (Kent St./Franklin & Marshall) 253
- Arnold ‘Swede’ Umbach (Auburn Univ) 249
- Joel Greenlee (Ohio Univ.) 244
- Roger Reina (Pennsylvania, Univ. of) 242
- Red W. Watkins (Appalachian State/Maryville) 239
- Joe McFarland (Michigan/Indiana) 238
- Ed Steers (Army, E.C.U. William&Mary) 235
- Cael Sanderson (Penn State, Iowa State) 235
- Barry Davis (Wisconsin) 234
- Oscar Gupton (Virginia Military Institute) 232
- Mark Johnson (Illinois & Oregon State) 231
- Pat Popolizio (North Carolina St., SUNY-Bing.) – 231
- Kevin Dresser (Iowa St./Virginia Tech Un.) 228
- Tommy Chesbro (Oklahoma State) 227
- Pat Santoro (Lehigh University, Maryland) 225
- Harry Houska (Ohio University) 224
- William Sheridan (Lehigh & Penn) 222
- Bob Carlson (Utah State) 221
- Fred Powell (Slippery Rock State) 221
- Dale Bahr (Michigan) 221
- Bill Harvey (Duke) 220
- Chuck Patten (Northern Iowa Univ.) 217
- Grady Peninger (Michigan State Un.) 213
- Ed Michael (Buffalo) 213
- Fred Davis (Brigham Young Un.) 210
- Scott Goodale (Rutgers University) – 209
- Bill Koll (Penn State, Northern Iowa, Cornell Coll.) 208
- William “Sully” Krouse (Maryland) 207
- Paul Billy (Delaware Univ.) 206
- Jimmy Miller (Cornell Univ.) 203
- Linn Long (So. Illini-Carbondale/Colorado) 203
- Tim Neumann (Nebraska) 199
- Jim Andrassy (Kent State Univ.) 198
- Charles Sherwood (Cent. Mich. Un.) 195
- Jerry Cheynet (Virginia Tech) 194
- Charlie Speidel (Penn State) 191
- Greg Strobel (Lehigh University) 189
- Fran McCann (Indiana St/WinonaSt./Notre Dame) 184
- Steve Garland (Univ. of Virginia) 181
- Charles Mayser (Iowa St./Yale/Franklin&Marshall) 180
- Clyde H. “Red” Whitman (East Stroudsburg St.) 180
- Jessie Reyes (Purdue) 179
- Reg Wicks (U.S. Naval Academy) 173
- John Stutzman (Bloomsburg/Buffalo Univ.) 173
- Steve Martin (Old Dominion Univ.) 172
- Pete (Tom?) Robinson (Old Dominion Un.) 172
- Thad Turner (Lehigh Univ.) 171
- Dan Wirnsberger (Bucknell/Bloomsburg) 170
- Carl Poff (Lock Haven Univ.) 167
- John Sacchi (Rutgers University) 167
- Lowell Lange (Georgia Tech/Cornell Coll.) 161
- Joe Wells (Oregon State Univ.) 161
- John Trudgeon (V.M.I.) 160
- Hugh Otopalik (Iowa State) 159
- Jack Effner (Clev. St./U.S. M.A.) 158
- Mike Young (Boise State) 155 – inc.
- Harold Pinther (Eastern Illinois Univ.) 149
- Jay Weiss (Harvard Univ) 147
- Rob Hjerling (Citadel) 144
- Donn Matson (Cal. State-Fullerton/Santa Barbara) 144
- Ray Swartz (Central Oklahoma, U.S. Naval Acad.) 143
- Richard Voliva (Rutgers Univ.) 142
- Myron Roderick (Oklahoma State Univ.) 140
- George Redman (Central Conneticut)133
- Jerry Swope (Millersville Univ.) 133
- John Mark Bentley (Appalachian St.) 133
- Kerry McCoy (Maryland/Stanford) 131 – retired 2019
- Joe Seay (Okla.St., U.Tenn.-Chatt.) 130
- Bert Waterman (Yale University) 130 – inc.
- Mark Branch (Wyoming Univ.) 130
- Steve Suder (Wyoming University) 127
- John Schutz (U.S. Naval Academy) 126
- Ron Russo (Columbia Univ.) 125
- W. Roy Phillips (Franklin & Marshall/Pennsylvania) 124 – inc.
- A. Frank Teske (Virginia Tech) 122
- Neil Turner (Lock Haven) 120
- Mark Cody (Presby/Oklahoma/American) 119
- Greg Randall (Boise State) 117
- Ike Sherlock (V.M.I./Campbell) 116
- Jim Heffernan (Univ. of Illinois) 116
- Zeke Jones (Ariz. St./U. of Penn.) 116
Top Active Division I Coaches in Dual Meet Wins
TDR Editor’s Notes ; This is the first of a series of lists of college coaches by the number of dual meet victories in which they led their teams. This year two Big 10 coaches, Ryan & Manning joined the 300 win club which grew to six in Division I coaches. Sanderson of Penn State jumped up three rungs on the list past the top North Carolina Coach, Pat Popolizio at North Carolina State, into 12th place. Bentley of Appalachian State joined the top 25 part of the list. We have just the top 30 coaches listed but do keep track of all. We welcome input, information and reactions to us at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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Top 30 Division I ACTIVE Coacheswith at least 100 Wins
- John Smith (Oklahoma State Univ.) 476
- Tom Borelli (Central Michigan) 360
- Rob Koll (Cornell Univ.) 334
- Brian Smith (Missouri/Syracuse) 326
- Tom Ryan (Ohio State/Hofstra) 307
- Mark Manning (Nebraska/Northern Iowa) 303
- Tom Brands (Iowa & Virginia Tech) 282
- Jim Zalesky (Oregon State/Iowa) 278 now at NAIA school
- Tim Flynn (Edinboro State Univ.) 254
- Joel Greenlee (Ohio Univ.) 244
- Roger Reina (Pennsylvania, Un.) 242
- Cael Sanderson (Penn State, Iowa State) – 235
- Pat Popolizio (North Carolina St., SUNY-Binghampton) – 231
- Kevin Dresser (Iowa State/Virginia Tech Univ.) 228
- Pat Santoro (Lehigh University, Maryland) 225
- Scott Goodale (Rutgers University) – 209
- Jim Andrassy (Kent State Univ.) 198
- Steve Garland (Virginia University) 181
- John Stutzman (Buffalo SUNY, Bloomsburg) – 173
- Dan Wirnsberger (Bucknell, Bloomsburg) 170
- Jay Weiss (Harvard Univ.) – 147
- Chris Bono (Wisconsin/South Dakota/U.Tenn.Chatt.) 144
- John Mark Bentley (Appalachian State) – 133
- Jason Borelli (American/Stanford Univ.) – 131
- Mark Branch (Wyoming Univ.) – 130
- Mark Cody (Presbyterian, Oklahoma U., American U.) – 119
- Jim Heffernan (Illinois University) – 116
- Zeke Jones (Ariz. St., Univ. Of Penn.) – 116
- Roger Kish (North Dakota State) – 109
- Greg Williams (Utah Valley State) – 101
Final Women’s College Pound-For-Pound Rankings Are Here!
Check out the final 2022-23 women’s college pound-for-pound rankings.
The final women’s college pound-for-pound rankings are here following the completion of every national championship (NJCAA, NCWWC, and NAIA). Every wrestler listed reached the finals of her respective national tournament. Historical national placings are listed underneath each wrestler.
This is a collaboration between FloWrestling and American Women’s Wrestling.
Ranked by division
NCWWC (NCAA): 14
NAIA: 10
NJCAA: 1
1. Yelena Makoyed (North Central), SR, NCAA, 170 pounds
Makoyed pinned her way through her bracket at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships, including a fall over King’s Cheyenne Bowman. Bowman defeated Makoyed at the 2022 National Duals which was Makoyed’s last college loss. The North Central senior completed season 28-0 with 15 falls and 11 techs.
NCWWC placings: 2-1-1-1
Previous: 1
2. Adaugo Nwachukwu (Iowa Wesleyan), SO, NAIA, 136 pounds
Nwachukwu blitzed her way through the NAIA Championships with three falls and a 15-2 tech in the finals. She finished the season with a 31-0 record, including 29 falls or techs.
NAIA placings: 1-1
Previous: 2
3. Dymond Guilford (Cumberlands), SR, NAIA, 170 pounds … rest of list at Flowrestling.org/articles/10779111-final-womens-college-pound-for-pound-rankings
Mercyhurst wrestling coach takes one for the OTHER team
In a sport like wrestling, athletes rely on their own individual abilities and, still, the competitiveness and camaraderie of a team sport through training, development, and support are ever apparent.
So, when Mercyhurst University Wrestling Coach Mike Wehler stepped out of his team’s inner circle to coach a wrestler on another team at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Iowa earlier this month, it was a moment that sparked both surprise and admiration.
Aaron King, NCAA championship manager for the Division II Wrestling Championships, tells it this way:
“During Session II, the Shippensburg head coach was transported to the hospital for treatment. Shippensburg had a 157 LB wrestler that was preparing for an enormous quarterfinal bout. Without hesitation, Mike stepped up to make sure the Shippensburg student-athlete was taken care of and offered to coach the student-athlete in the absence of any other representation from Shippensburg. Mike continued to coach the student-athlete throughout the remainder of the tournament.
Knowing Mike, he will play this off as if it is not a big deal, but to me this embodies the epitome of sportsmanship and I know it is something the student-athlete will never forget. I am very appreciative of Mike stepping up and want to commend him for what he did.”
King’s account was sent to Mercyhurst Assistant Vice President for Athletics Brad Davis, who reached out to Wehler to add, “To provide this support at a championship for another team is first class. Congrats on getting two All-Americans.”
That’s right. Mercyhurst’s wrestlers earned top-eight finishes that weekend. Eric Bartos earned fourth place while Jake Niffenegger placed seventh. Both were named All-Americans. … rest of story at Mercyhurst.edu/news/mercyhurst-wrestling-coach-takes-one-for-the-other-team
Ohio State recruits beat Penn State recruits, Pa. squad falls at Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic
By: Paul Schofield
Vinny Kilkeary and Rocco Welsh ended their high school careers with wins at the 49th annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic on Saturday at Peters Township.
And the future Ohio State commits did it by defeating two Penn State commits. This could be the start of a good wrestling rivalry.
While Kilkeary and Welsh were winners, the strong United States squad handed the Pennsylvania squad a sound 33-9 beating before a standing-room-only crowd.
On hand for the match were former Classic All-Stars Sammy Sasso of Ohio State and Bethel Park grad and Pitt national champion Nino Bonaccorsi, who received a standing ovation.
Kilkeary turned a back trip into a cradle for a four-point move in the third period in his 5-2 victory against Braeden Davis of Dundee, Mich.
The Latrobe senior, the Tribune-Review Westmoreland Wrestler of the Year, was the first Pennsylvania wrestler to win.
Pins by Destiny Rodriguez and Brayden Thompson gave the United States a quick 12-0 lead.
Three more close decisions pushed that lead to 21-0 before Kilkeary stepped on the mat.
“It’s such a great feeling to get that last one done and go to the next level at Ohio State,” Kilkeary said. “I never hit that move, and I said, ‘Oh it’s right there. I have to hit it.’ It’s in my profile. I used it my freshman year to win a match in the quarterfinals.”
Kilkeary said he and Welsh winning made the day good.
“We only won three matches, and Rocco and I took out two Penn State guys,” Kilkeary said. “You can’t be happier to do that.” … rest of story at Tribhssn.triblive.com/Pa-squad-falls-at-pittsburgh-wrestling-classic
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 