Takedown Report

PENN STATE WRESTLING HONORED DURING WHITE OUT GAME AGAINST WRESTLING’S BIGGEST RIVAL: IOWA

Penn State football doesn’t like Iowa, and neither does Penn State wrestling. For the football program, that dislike has intensified over the past two years due to Iowa fans infamously booing Penn State’s injured players at Kinnick Stadium in October 2021. But is Penn State-Iowa football seen as a true “rivalry game?” Some say yes. Others would say no. But there’s no such debate for Penn State and Iowa wrestling.

The schools are fierce rivals and placed No. 1 and 2 respectively at this year’s NCAA national championships.

The team that finished first celebrated Saturday night while its school’s football squad played the team that finished second.
Did PSU purposely schedule honoring the wrestling team against Iowa, or was it more because the White Out game is Beaver Stadium’s most celebrated tradition?

We might never find out, but what we do know is that Saturday was a great night for PSU football (31-0 win over Iowa), Penn State wrestling (national championship celebration) and the University in general.

Penn State’s expected to dominate again in 2023-24. The squad is ranked No. 1 again in the FloWrestling preseason poll.

Coach Cael Sanderson’s empire is loaded once again. As of now, the squad returns both of its individual national champions— Carter Starocci (174-pound weight class) and Aaron Brooks (184), as well as a pair of national runner-ups in Levi Haines (157) and heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet. Penn State also added in the transfer portal, getting Aaron Nagao (Minnesota), Bernie Truax IV (Cal Poly) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (Cal Baptist). … rest of story at … Nittanysportsnow.com/2023/09/penn-state-wrestling-honored-during-white-out-game-against-wrestlings-biggest-rival-iowa

September 28, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Johnson Downed by Armenia; USA Finishes 2023 World Championships

Only one American athlete suited up for the fourth and final day of Greco-Roman in Belgrade. Xavier Johnson (63 kg, Army/WCAP) had gone 1-1 on Saturday following a destructive victory over India’s Vikram Kurade and a defeat to recent World medalist Murad Mammadov (AZE). But because Mammadov advanced to the gold-medal match, Johnson was back in action this morning with a chance to, potentially, compete for bronze. Given his opposition in the opening repechage round, it was going to be a difficult challenge.

Repechage on Day 4 of the 2023 World Championships began at 4:30pm local time from Belgrade, Serbia and aired live in the US on FLOWrestling.

Johnson needed to get past two-time U23 World bronze Hrachya Poghosyan but the bout quickly unraveled in the Armenian’s favor after an early takedown. Poghosyan was able to secure a lift that netted four points from the ensuing par terre and closed Johnson out with a gutwrench for two more. Poghosyan will face Georgi Tibilov (SRB) for bronze.

Johnson, 27, enjoyed a strong comeback season on the heels of a two-year absence in the wake of the All-Marine Team’s practical dissolution as a program, for whom he had previously competed. With still plenty of promise remaining in his wrestling aspirations, Johnson left the Marines in order to join Army/WCAP. An injury temporarily disrupted his return this year but a solid performance at the Nationals coupled with a triumph at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament propelled him right back towards the top. Johnson then took two straight matches from multi-time National Champion Hayden Tuma (Suples) at Final X: Newark, which resulted in his making the Senior World Team for a first time.

Notes and other insights from the 2023 World Championships will be available in the forthcoming Monday Roundup. 

2023 WC DAY 1 RECAP 
2023 WC DAY 2 RECAP
2023 WC DAY 3 RECAP

2023 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

September 21-24 — Belgrade, SRB

TEAM USA DAY 4 RESULTS

63 kg: Xavier Johnson (Army/WCAP)
LOSS Hrachya Poghosyan (ARM) 8-0, TF

TEAM USA FULL RESULTS
*Placings will be updated as they become official

55 kg: Brady Koontz (TMWC/Dubuque RTC) — 10th
WON Jeon Hyeokjin (KOR) 7-3
LOSS Denis Mihai (ROU) 9-0, TF … rest of story at … Fivepointmove.com/usa-greco/2023-worlds-day-4-xavier-johnson/Wrestling+News

September 28, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment