Texas College Wrestling Foundation
TDR Editor’s Notes; It is encouraging to see another effort to promote the growth of collegiate wrestling opportunities. We welcome input and news about new teams starting and programs reviving across the nation. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Texas College Wrestling Foundation is proud to lead the fight to bring the sport of wrestling for both men and women to the colleges and universities to the great state of Texas.
The Foundation is comprised of businesspeople, coaches, and those who both honor and love the sport of wrestling.
The Foundation is reaching out to schools across the state offering assistance in developing a wrestling program for both men and women. … rest of story at … https://www.texascollegiatewrestlingfoundation.org/
2024 Olympic Redshirt Qualifier List
A current list of who’s qualified to take an Olympic Redshirt in the 2023-24 NCAA season
The NCAA season is right around the corner and it’s got me thinking – who will be competing for their college team and who will be focusing 100% on their Olympic dreams? Like real redshirts, the Olympic version is ongoing. You don’t need to formally declare your intentions to do so, and if you do plan on taking one you can still end it and begin competing for your team at any time. However, if you do take one, you cannot compete collegiately in the 203-24 season.
Let’s first take a look at the criteria:
- Past National Team members
- Top 8 at the April 2023 Senior US Open
- Top 8 at the December 2023 Senior US Nationals
- Top 3 at the 2023 NCAA D1 Wrestling Championships
- NCAA D1 champion from a previous year AND top 2 from 2023 U23 Nationals (must accomplish both)
- Previous U17, U20, or U23 World Medalists
The U23 World Championships are the only age-level World Championships remaining before the season. These athletes could still become eligible if they win a medal:
- Julian Chlebove, Arizona State
- Brock Hardy, Nebraska
- Doug Zapf, Penn (potentially with Sammy Sasso likely no longer wrestling in U23 World Championships)
- Julian Ramirez, Cornell
- Dustin Plott, Oklahoma State
- Nick Stemmet, Stanford
- Yusief Lillie, Utah Valley (Greco)
- Jordan Hamdan, Michigan State (Greco)
- Tereus Henry, Fort Hayes State (Greco)
A wrestler could also become eligible if they place top 8 at Senior Nationals in December. However, they would not be able to compete attached before that unless they are a true freshman. … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/articles/11207500-2024-olympic-redshirt-qualifier-list
2023 Walsh Ironman Teams
The Walsh Ironman has long held the title of “toughest regular season tournament ” at the high school level. The tournament has released its teams for the 2023 Ironman and it will undoubtedly retain that title again.
Here are the teams:
Alliance (OH)
Archbishop Moeller (OH)
Archbold (OH)
Aurora (OH)
Barnesville (OH)
Baylor School (TN)
Bethlehem Catholic (PA)
Bishop Hartley (OH)
Bishop Kelly (ID)
Bishop McCort (PA)
Bishop Lynch (TX)
Bishop Watterson (OH)
Bixby (OK)
Blackfoot (ID)
Blair Academy (NJ)
Brecksville (OH)
Broken Arrow (OK)
Brooke Point (VA)
Brownsburg (IN)
Buckeye (OH)
Canon-McMillan (PA)
Caraval Academy (DE)
Cardinal Gibbons (FL)
Center Grove (IN)
Clay (OH)
Conant (IL)
Copley (OH)
Corner Canyon (UT)
Crestview (OH)
Crown Point (IN)
Cuyahoga Valley CA (OH) … rest of story at … Intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/recruiting/2023-walsh-ironman-teams
Plenty of Movement on the 2023 Coaching Carousel
The 2023 offseason coaching carousel got off to a slow start, but has picked up steam. This past week, in particular, there were a handful of notable names that changed jobs. Movement begats movement and as new jobs are accepted, typically new positions open up. We’ll certainly have more updates as the summer progresses and fades into fall and the college preseason.
Obe Blanc (North Dakota State Head Coach) – North Dakota State Associate Head Coach
Steve Bleise (Army West Point) – CSU Bakersfield Assistant Coach
Tyler Caldwell (Oklahoma State Assistant Coach) – Oklahoma State recruiting coordinator
Marcus Coleman (Davidson Assistant Coach) – Iowa State athlete
Evan DeLong (Clarion Assistant Coach)
Ceron Francisco (North Dakota State Assistant Coach) – Nittany Lion WC athlete
Ben Freeman (Buffalo Volunteer Assistant) – Buffalo athlete
BJ Futrell (Northwestern Assistant Coach) – Penn Assistant Coach
Tommy Gantt (NC State Assistant Coach) – Wolfpack Wrestling Club
James Green (Nebraska Assistant Coach) – USA Wrestling Freestyle Development … rest of story at … Intermatwrestle.com/college/plenty-of-movement-on-the-2023-coaching-carousel
Wrestling Programs To Join St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Clarksville, Ark.- The University of the Ozarks women’s and men’s wrestling programs will join the NCAA Division III St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) as an affiliate member effective the 2023-24 academic year.
In March, the SLIAC President’s Council approved the addition of men’s and women’s wrestling to its list of sponsored championships. Seven member schools will compete in women’s and men’s wrestling: Blackburn College, Eureka College, Fontbonne University, Lyon University, Schreiner University, University of the Ozarks and Westminster College.
“This is exciting for both of our programs,” said athletic director Jimmy Clark. “Now our teams will be able to compete for conference championships. This provides even greater opportunities for regional competition and opens up our recruiting base to outstanding high school wrestling.”
The SLIAC wrestling championships will be held in early February.
“As Commissioner, I am extremely pleased about the addition of the University of the Ozarks as one of the first two new affiliates in the sports of men’s and women’s wrestling to the SLIAC,” said Dr. Dick Kaiser, SLIAC Commissioner. “With the conference adding both men’s and women’s wrestling championships this year to the sports sponsorship, it is obviously very exciting to be able to expand the total number of participating institutions in SLIAC wrestling to seven institutions in our first year of the championships.” … rest of story at … UOfoathletics.com/sports/wwrest/2022-23/releases/
OSU hires Coleman Scott as associate wrestling head coach
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State’s wrestling staff shuffling continued Monday, with the program announcing the hiring of former Cowboys standout Coleman Scott as associate head coach.
Scott was North Carolina’s head coach the past eight years.
“Coming back to Oklahoma State and having the opportunity to serve Coach (John) Smith and this program means the world to me,” Scott said.
Scott’s hiring comes days after former OSU assistant Zack Esposito left the program for a coaching position with USA Wrestling. Esposito served as the Cowboys’ associate head coach the past seven seasons and served under Smith since 2010.
Scott most recently coached North Carolina to 12th place at the NCAA Championships in Tulsa — UNC’s best team finish since 1995 — and 157-pounder Austin O’Connor to his second NCAA individual national title in March. … rest of story at … Tulsaworld.com/college/osu/osu-hires-coleman-scott-as-associate-wrestling-head-coach
Gardner-Webb Wrestling Announces 2023-24 Schedule
Slate features nine home matches
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Head Wrestling Coach Daniel Elliot announced the 2023-24 Gardner-Webb wrestling schedule on Friday, Aug. 18.
The slate sees the Runnin’ Bulldogs traveling to five different tournaments, along with hosting a pair of tri-matches, one opponent from the ACC, and four SoCon matches inside of Paul Porter Arena.
The season begins on Sunday, Nov. 5 at the Clarion Open for the second straight season. The Runnin’ Bulldogs finished sixth at the tournament last year, with RJ Mosley picking up four wins individually to lead the team.
The ‘Dawgs then head up to Boone for the Mountaineer Invite on Nov. 12. GWU picked up a pair of fourth place finishes at last year’s event. Gardner-Webb closes out the opening portion of tournament play with a trip to West Point, N.Y. for the Black Knight Invite, hosted by Army West Point.
Duals begin at home for the Runnin’ Bulldogs, hosting Buffalo and Kent State on Dec. 2. GWU last faced the Buffalo Bulls on Feb. 23, 2020, in Athens, Ohio, falling by a score of 34-12.
Gardner-Webb will host one more dual before Christmas break, hosting George Mason and Ohio on Dec. 21. The last time GWU hosted the Patriots, the Runnin’ Bulldogs knocked off George Mason 22-14 on Dec. 19, 2021. The ‘Dawgs are 0-5 all-time against Ohio, falling to the Bobcats 23-15 in Athens last season.
The new year begins for Gardner-Webb in Chattanooga, Tenn., as the ‘Dawgs get set for the Southern Scuffle. GWU sent 13 competitors to the event last season, with Todd Carter picking up a pair of victories.
Gardner-Webb hits the road again to face ACC foe Virginia in Richmond on Jan. 6, before competing in their final tournament of the regular season on Jan. 9 at the Davidson Duals.
Non-conference action closes on Jan. 16 for the Runnin’ Bulldogs, with GWU hosting ACC foe Duke inside Paul Porter Arena. GWU has won two of their last three matches against the Blue Devils, including a 30-10 win in Durham last season.
The eight-match SoCon schedule begins on the road for GWU on Jan. 18 at Bellarmine, … rest of story at GWUsports.com/news/2023/8/18/gardner-webb-wrestling-announces-2023-24-schedule…
Can King’s Court Win This Season’s Women’s College Crown?
Jason Moorman made off-season moves that put his team in contention for the 2024 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. Will it be enough?
King coach Jason Moorman’s off-season recruiting haul sent a message: Overlook King at your own peril.
The Tornado have weathered the storm against the best NCAA women’s programs in the country — and won.
Moorman led his team to four straight WCWA (all divisions) titles from 2014 through 2017 and has 12 top-five finishes at the national collegiate championships over the past 13 seasons.
They are also the reigning two-time NWCA National Duals champions with finals wins over the eventual NCWWC champions, McKendree and North Central. Sarah Hildebrandt, Forrest Molinari, Alli Ragan, and Haley Augello are just a few of the world-caliber wrestlers the program has produced.
King At The National Championships
| Year | Division | Place |
| 2023 | NCWWC | 2nd |
| 2022 | NCWWC | 2nd |
| 2021 | NCWWC | 2nd |
| 2020 | NCWWC | 3rd |
| 2019 | WCWA | 5th |
| 2018 | WCWA | 6th |
| 2017 | WCWA | 1st |
| 2016 | WCWA | 1st |
| 2015 | WCWA | 1st |
| 2014 | WCWA | 1st |
| 2013 | WCWA | 3rd |
| 2012 | WCWA | 2nd |
| 2011 | WCWA | 4th |
King’s Recruiting Haul
King has a formidable line-up with plenty of top-end power. King returns three wrestlers in FloWrestling’s pound-for-pound college rankings: Samara Chavez (#4), Sage Mortimer (#6), and Cheyenne Bowman (#21).
Moorman went on a recruiting spree to add even more firepower. He recently landed junior college stars Victoria Baez-Dillone (Umpqua), Aine Drury (Cerritos), and Alexa Garcia (Southwestern Oregon) along with a promising crop of incoming freshmen. … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/Can-kings-court-win-this-seasons-womens-college-crown
Wrestling created a home in Arizona for Ukrainian Fenn
By Bill X. Barron
At age four, Ivan “Vonn” Fenn was adopted, along with his brother Serge, who was six, from the Ukrainian region – Donetsk – literally on the border of Russia’s ongoing, relentless aggression.
Perhaps that back-history foretold that Vonn would become an ambassador, one who builds bonds and who repairs rifts between one-time enemies.
“I don’t interact with an opponent before a match, but once it’s over, he’s a friend I help get up off the mat,” he proclaims.
In the words of the Thunderbird (Arizona) head coach, Lee Chandler, “Vonn is most cerebral; show him a move once or twice, and he has mastered the technique. Later he’s teaching it to teammates.”
Yet another part of Fenn’s personality is that “he does not overthink situations, so he is able to move beyond things that might get another person down,” asserts his mother, Danita.
If you view Vonn by his most recent accomplishments in 2023 — Arizona Division 2 state high school champion at 120 pounds and RMN national champion at 18U/120 in both folkstyle and freestyle — you would only see the tip of the iceberg.
His real story lies beneath the surface.
In 2009, the Fenn family consisted of five girls. Then Danita “watched a news show on orphaned kids in Russia that broke my heart.” But Russia was closed to adoption, so Danita and Daniel explored options in recently-liberated Ukraine. With a sense of humor, the agency thought they needed boys.
At the time, Vonn and his brother were severely malnourished and undersized. While Serge quickly learned English and engaged socially, Vonn tread a more concerning path and had difficulty making and keeping friends. He wore them out, trying too hard to be their buddy.
Everything changed in seventh grade.
Long before Vonn Fenn won a state championship for Thunderbird High School, the native of Ukraine got a chance to see who were the other greats at this Arizona school.
“Not another community other than wrestling would have accepted his quirkiness,” said Danita. “In wrestling, touching was an acceptable means of making a connection and, in time, he earned the respect of his team.”
On “pure tenacity and desire,” Vonn began to change the perception others had of him and, more importantly, to trust himself.
“No one works harder,” said Chandler. “He’s always asking questions in order to get better at everything he does.”
Vonn demonstrated he had poise as early as ninth grade. Coach Travis Azevedo recalls an early-season match with Tempe in which Vonn was the final wrestler at 106 pounds, with the Titans down by five points.
“I told him it was up to him, and he assured me he would handle it,” said Azevedo, adding that Vonn’s second-period pin solidified his team’s victory.
Though he was successful in high school from the outset, the top of the podium eluded him. As a freshman, Vonn qualified for state and fell one match short of the Blood Round. In his sophomore year, he advanced to the finals, only to fall short by a 1-0 margin. As a junior, he was 41-0 entering the finals, but lost 9-5. … rest of story at … WIN-magazine.com/2023/08/18/wrestling-created-a-home-in-arizona-for-ukrainian-fenn
Glory Passes On Paris Pursuit To Get Started On Wall Street
Princeton coach Chris Ayres said Patrick Glory, the school’s first NCAA champion in 72 years, has decided to start his professional career with Citi.
Patrick Glory’s competitive wrestling days have apparently come to an end after the NCAA champion passed on the pursuit of Paris, opting instead to get started with his career on Wall Street.
Princeton coach Chris Ayres said Glory — the school’s first national champion in 72 years — decided to get his professional career started with Citi.
“He had a finance internship on Wall Street his junior year — it’s pretty typical for a lot of our guys — and got a great job offer at Citi, so he knew he was going to able to have the Wall Street job, which is awesome for him, it’s what he wanted to do,” Ayres said earlier this month at the National Wrestling Coaches Association convention. “But we had him ask the question: ‘Hey, if I want to make a run at the Olympics, will you take me one year later? So can I have a year where I try to chase it?’ And they said yeah.
“So going through the year, that was sort of the plan, but we didn’t talk about it too much. And then he goes to nationals and wins it and he’s like, ‘OK, that was great.’ So he decides he’s going to go to the (U.S.) Open, which was a surprise to us, to be honest, but we didn’t want to stop him. I think it was a little too quick (of a turnaround after the NCAA Championships), but I think he wanted to see how he felt. Didn’t do great, lost a match and then he withdrew, and at the tournament he says, ‘I’m not sure.’”
Glory notched a pair of technical superiority victories at the U.S. Open before falling to Jakob Camacho in the 57-kilogram quarterfinals. … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/glory-passes-on-paris-pursuit-to-get-started-on-wall-street
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 