Growing number of schools ready for official NCAA sanctioning of women’s wrestling

By Mike Finn

Joe Norton, the head coach of the North Central women’s wrestling team in Naperville, Ill., actually wanted to be a sports journalist before the former college wrestler became a coach.

With that in mind, Norton had a headline in his mind after the Cardinals claimed the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships team title, March 4, at the Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

“North Central Dominated,” was the coach’s opinion … and the Cardinal women certainly backed up their coach’s beliefs when 15 wrestlers from this NCAA Division III school earned All-American honors. That included three champions: Madison Avila (101 pounds), Jaslynn Gallegos (116) and Yelena Makoyed (170), who became the first wrestler from the school to win three national titles.

This story appeared in the April 6 edition of WIN Magazine. Click on the cover or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe.

The NCWWC tournament was created three years ago, shortly after the NCAA announced women’s wrestling had earned “emerging-sports” status … leading the NCAA member schools like King and McKendree — which finished second and third to North Central — to compete in this event.

But there were two things that made this year’s event historic. One, it was held at a neutral site for the first time and the finals drew over 2,000 fans. Two, it took place a couple days after an annoucement that there were now enough programs for the NCAA to eventually award varsity status to the sport in the next few years.

Julia Salata, who represents the Wrestle Like a Girl organization, was in Cedar Rapids to help announce the move to an officially sanctioned sport.

“Logistically speaking for this to work, the sports sponsorship data will be submitted by all the institutions in July,” Salata said. “In September, the recommendation will be made to the committee on women’s athletics to make women’s wrestling a championship sport. It’s not a matter of if, but when.”

Salata pointed out the NCAA will vote on the proposal next January and that the process usually takes about 14 months to put a championship together. That means there is a chance that the first NCAA women’s championships could take place in March of 2025, but most likely 2026.

Most of the schools competing in this event were smaller schools. But there were a few Division I schools like Sacred Heart and Lock Haven, which finished seventh and 11th in the 2023 NCWWC team standings. … rest of story at WIN-magazine.com/Growing-number-of-schools-ready-for-official-ncaa-sanctioning-of-womens-wrestling

May 17, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Wrestling Coach Mike Denney Announces Retirement

Legendary Maryville University wrestling head coach Mike Denney announced his retirement from coaching today. His experience spans over 50 years and dedicated over a decade to the success of the Maryville team. Coach Denney rose the ranks as one of Division II’s greatest wrestling coaches, a multiple national champion and one of the most prominent figures in the history of the sport.

“Coach Denney transformed the athletics culture at Maryville University. His championship pedigree, commitment to student-athlete education and his belief in character created a culture of excellence in our wrestling program and throughout the University,” says Mark Lombardi, president of Maryville University. “It has been an honor and privilege to work with him over the past 14 years. He will be leaving an enduring legacy for Maryville wrestling.”

Coach Denney began his remarkable collegiate coaching tenure in the 1979-80 season and complied a 386-164-5 dual record. He coached seven NCAA Championship teams and was a three-time NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year. 

“Coach Denney has been incredible as our first-ever wrestling coach,” says Lonnie Folks, director of athletics at Maryville. “He and our program have been shining examples for not only our athletics department but across campus. I look forward to leaning on his knowledge during the process as we look for the next coach of our program.”

Denney’s wrestling team won three consecutive NCAA Division II National Championships and six of the last eight at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO). However, UNO eliminated the wrestling program after 63 years of competition. Denney directed the wrestling team for the last 32 years before Maryville University named him the inaugural head wrestling coach June 1, 2011. … rest of story at Maryvillesaints.com/2023/4/12/wrestling-coach-mike-denney-announces-retirement

SESKER: Denney made incredible impact

There is no finer man on planet Earth than Mike Denney.
He’s one of the best college wrestling coaches in NCAA history.
His Nebraska-Omaha teams won seven national championships.
And his wrestlers earned a large number of All-American and Academic All-American honors.
Denney retired from coaching earlier this week after more than 50 years in the profession.
And what an incredible impact he made. Nobody did it better, on and off the mat.

I learned that first-hand when I covered his UNO teams from 2000-06 during my time as a sportswriter at the Omaha World-Herald. First and foremost, Coach Denney is a class act all the way. He is a gentleman who is kind, compassionate and generous. He cared about every kid on his roster, and he made everyone on his teams feel special.
Denney is known for his enthusiasm. He greets everyone with a huge smile and a firm handshake. He is as genuine as they come. His positive attitude is infectious. You always feel better after spending time with him. Denney developed UNO into one of the most highly respected programs in the country.

Many of his wrestlers became highly successful coaches, including Nebraska’s Mark Manning, Nebraska-Kearney’s Marc Bauer and Omaha Skutt Catholic’s Brad Hildebrandt. Denney was a tireless worker who would start his days long before the sun came up. He is a selfless person who always wanted his athletes to receive all the credit and recognition when his teams were successful. Denney also had to cope with one of the worst decisions I have ever seen in 35 years as a sportswriter.

Just hours after he coached his seventh UNO team to a national title in 2011, he received a late night phone call from athletic director Trev Alberts. Denney was informed that UNO would be dropping wrestling. The timing couldn’t have been much worse and the decision to cut the school’s best athletic program was even worse. It was an awful and miserable night. I know because I was there at the UNO team hotel in Kearney. It was just a terrible decision.

Just a few days later, Coach Denney received an opportunity to start a new program at Maryville University in St. Louis. He jumped at the opportunity, and a number of his UNO wrestlers and recruits followed him to Maryville. Just four years later, Denney led his team to a national championship. Maryville captured the title at the 2015 National Duals. … rest of story at Mississippivalleypublishing.com/the_hawk_eye/sesker-denney-made-incredible-impact

May 17, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment