Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

SUNYAC ADDS 2 FULL-TIME MEMBERS, 5 ASSOCIATES & MEN’S WRESTLING

SYRACUSE, NY – The State University of New York Athletic Conference – a premier NCAA Division III conference – has added two new full-time member institutions, designated men’s wrestling as its 22nd sport, and added five associate members that will compete in five different sports.
The announcement was made on Thursday, Oct. 5, by Commissioner Tom DiCamillo following approval by the SUNYAC Presidents Council. SUNY Canton and SUNY Morrisville will join the SUNYAC as full-time members beginning in 2024-25, while Alfred State has been accepted as an associate member in the sports of men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field – also beginning next year.

With the SUNYAC adding men’s wrestling to its roster of NCAA Division III sponsored sports, the conference has accepted Ithaca, RIT, St. John Fisher and Utica as associate members that will join Brockport, Cortland, Oneonta and Oswego to form an eight-team league under the SUNYAC umbrella. Wrestling competition will commence immediately for the 2023-24 season.

“We are thrilled that SUNY Morrisville and SUNY Canton have accepted our invitation to become full-time members of the SUNYAC,” Alberto Cardelle, the president of SUNY Oneonta and chair of the SUNYAC Presidents Council, stated. “And we are excited about the creation of our eight-team wrestling conference with associate members Ithaca, RIT, St. John Fisher and Utica, as well as the addition of Alfred State that strengthens our indoor and outdoor track & field championships.”

As a SUNY institution with more than 10 years of history as an affiliate member, Morrisville joining the SUNYAC was a natural fit for the conference. “Seventy-five years ago, Morrisville joined together with colleagues across the state to establish a new SUNY system of higher education,” Dr. David Rogers, president of SUNY Morrisville, said. “SUNY Morrisville is now delighted to be joining the SUNYAC which is known for its quality of play and its commitment to high standards and excellence. During our many years as an associate member, our students have benefitted from this rich history and success and we look forward to participating as a full member.”

Matt Grawrock, director of athletics at SUNY Morrisville, agreed. “We are ecstatic about joining the SUNYAC – one of the premier NCAA Division III conferences in the country,” Grawrock stated. “We have been a longtime associate member and when this opportunity to join the SUNYAC full-time presented itself, it was an invitation we could not refuse. SUNY Morrisville’s mission, athletic programs and location align with our sister institutions in the SUNYAC and we are excited about the opportunities that await our student-athletes, our coaches and our college starting next year.”

DiCamillo echoed Grawrock’s comments. “We are excited that SUNY Morrisville will be joining the SUNYAC … rest of story at … SUNYacsports.com/general/2023-24/releases/20231005

October 12, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Olympic Wrestling Gold Medalist Rulon Gardner Isn’t Done Yet

At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, American wrestler Rulon Gardner stunned the world. Gardner was competing in the Greco-Roman heavyweight final against Aleksandr Karelin, the defending champion from Russia. Karelin had won gold at the past three Olympics: Seoul in 1988, Barcelona in 1992, and Atlanta in 1996. But in 2000, Karelin fell short. Gardner prevailed, winning gold and instantly becoming a legend.

Gardner, who grew up as the youngest of nine children on a dairy farm in Wyoming, started wrestling when he was just six years old. His hometown hosted a wrestling camp each year, kickstarting his interest in the sport. Gardner continued wrestling through junior high and college, and after his big upset in 2000, returned to the Olympics in 2004 seeking to defend his title. Although he wasn’t able to clinch another gold at the Athens Games, he did take home another medal – this time, bronze.

And then, Gardner retired.

Perhaps surprisingly, wrestling is the sport where the U.S. has won its third highest number of Olympic medals, behind track & field and swimming. And yet, for all of these medals, Gardner’s 2000 win was the last time an American took home gold in Greco-Roman wrestling (as opposed to freestyle, in which the U.S. has had much more recent success). But the future of American wrestling is bright, thanks in part to two young athletes who have their own connections to Gardner himself.

On the same day that Gardner made magic happen in the 2000 event that’s now known as “The Miracle on the Mat,” a baby was born who would go on to become a wrestling star. His name? Cohlton Schultz. Last month, Schultz competed for the United States at the World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. It was his seventh time at this tournament, and he’s only 23.

Another American wrestler who made this year’s world team, Mason Parris, grew up with a signed Gardner poster in his bedroom. While Gardner made his mark in the Greco-Roman style, Parris competes in freestyle. These two styles are similar; the primary difference is in which part of the body competitors are allowed to attack. In Greco-Roman, wrestlers have to keep their holds on opponents above the waist, while in freestyle, competitors can target the legs. The two forms of wrestling have a long history at the Olympics, with men contesting both since the 1896 Games in Athens. (And even before its induction into the modern Olympics, wrestling was contested at the ancient Olympics starting in 708 BC – making it one of the oldest Olympic sports.)

The two-and-a-half decades since Sydney have been complicated for the Olympic champion. He’s faced two near-death experiences (the first in 2002, during a snowmobiling accident in which he developed hypothermia and had to have a toe on his right foot amputated, and the second in 2007, when he crashed an airplane into Lake Powell, Utah and developed hypothermia for the second time); published a memoir called Never Stop Pushing: My Life from a Wyoming Farm to the Olympic Medals Stand; and lost 173 pounds as part of NBC’s reality show The Biggest Loser.

These days, Gardner lives in Utah and works as an insurance agent while also coaching wrestling at Herriman High School. As for his own wrestling career, Gardner might be starting a new chapter. In April 2023, at age 51, he tried to compete in the Greco-Roman heavyweight division … rest of story at … NBCsports.com/olympics/news/olympic-wrestling-gold-medalist-rulon-gardner-isnt-done-yet

October 12, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

State Champions Alex Hopper, and Avery Buonocore presented the James Johnson Memorial Award

            State Champions Alex Hopper and Avery Buonocore of Wilmington Laney High School were presented the James Johnson Award for the 2022-2023 season as the top senior scholastic wrestlers in eastern North Carolina.  The award is named in honor of three-time Greco-Roman national champion James Johnson.  Avery Buonocore won 48 of 50 matches this season and won the 138 4-A state championship.  He was a two-time finalist and placed three times at the state championships.  He is a N.H.S.C.A. All-American and scholar athlete committed to wrestling next year at U.N.C.-Pembroke.
            Alex Hopper won 49 of 50 matches this season while winning his 2nd state championship title at 182 lbs.  In his four-year career at Laney he won 172 matches and just 11 losses and holds the school record of 152 pins. He is a strong scholar athlete committed to wrestling next year at Appalachian State.

            Also named was Caleb Beaty of Corinth-Holders High School who won his last 85 matches over three seasons and three state championships.  He will wrestle at American University this year.

            Devon Bell and Mark Samuel of Laney High School were presented the James Johnson Memorial Award trophies in 2022.  In previous years the award winners were River Carroll of West Carteret (2021), Tyler Hughes and Christian Decatur of C.B. Aycock and Bryan Argao of North Brunswick (2020), Timothy Decatur of Rosewood (2019), Beau Studebaker of East Carteret, Jeremiah Derby of First Flight and Thomas Hudson of Dixon (2018), Carlos Martinez of First Flight (2017), Will Newbern of West Carteret (2017), Tanner Stamper-Smith of Havelock (2016), Joe Mondragon of Ashley H.S. (2015), De’Andre Jones of New Bern (2014), Alex Bray of Croatan (2013), Jon Wiley (2012) of South Brunswick, Marquin Hill (2011) of Washington H.S., Branden Lietz (2010) of J.H. Rose, Mamour Camara (2009) of Louisburg, Anthony Rogers (2008) of Knightdale, Ngu Tran (2007) of C.B. Aycock, Victor Hojillo (2006) of West Carteret, Raymond Jordan (2004) of New Bern, Shaun Sheffield (2003) of Havelock, David Pelsang (2005), and Paris Dottery (2002) of White Oak.

James Johnson started wrestling his junior year for D.H. Conley High School in Greenville with Milt Sherman as his coach.  James was Coney’s 1st state champion in any sport in 1976.  He was North Carolina’s 1st Eastern Junior National Champion in 1975 and North Carolina’s 1st Junior Nationals All-American with 3rd in 1976.  He started four years at the University of Kentucky.  He was inducted as an “Outstanding American” in the North Carolina State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2012 he was a coach for the U.S.A. Olympic Greco-Roman team in London.  He was on the USA National Wrestling team for 12 years, winning 3 National Championships, USA Athlete of the Year, AIM Christian Athlete of the Year, and Olympic Team Alternate. He was an Ambassador for the United States Olympic Committee, USA wrestling and The Sunkist Kids Wrestling organization for over 20 years.  Johnson passed away in September, 2019 after coaching the USA Juniors Greco-Roman team at the World Championship in Estonia.                 The TakeDown Report has for over 20 years promoted amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina and sponsors the Award.  This award is for the most successful senior wrestlers in eastern North Carolina. Fleming noted, “It is more expensive to have multiple awards yet we see each undefeated state champion senior wrestler as deserving to be recognized.”  “It encourages young men from teams in the eastern part of the state with an opportunity to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top notch wrestler,” he added.  The TDR also ranks wrestlers in a TDR Top 12 List that is displayed on the TDR Blog page.

October 12, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment