Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

GRAPPLING WITH HISTORY: GREG HATCHER AND THE RISE OF ARKANSAS WRESTLING

Wrestling may be considered the oldest sport in the world, but it is relatively new to Arkansas.
Given its growth, however, it seems like wrestling has been in the state a lot longer than it has.
In 15 years, Arkansas has become the first state to sanction wrestling from high school to the collegiate NAIA and NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III levels and is among the first states to sanction the sport for girls. Beginning with 44 in 2008, there are now more than 100 boys and girls wrestling programs combined at the high school level.
“I come from Oklahoma, which Oklahoma has had wrestling for maybe 120 years, and we have more colleges wrestling in our state than Oklahoma does,” said Pat Smith, the collegiate legend at Oklahoma State who heads the Arkansas Wrestling Academy. “That is mind-boggling.”
Pushed by businessman Greg Hatcher and a coalition of allies, Arkansas has embraced a sport that can be traced at least to ancient Greece, if not further. The timeline for Arkansas is not quite as long, and according to some, is remarkably short.
“If it wasn’t for Greg Hatcher, we would never have been moving at this pace,” Smith said.

Hatcher
Arkansas and Mississippi were the only states that did not have scholastic wrestling when Hatcher began his efforts to grow the sport in 2005. “If you look across the country, only the SEC does not have wrestling,” Hatcher said. “Football and basketball dominated, and they didn’t have it. Plus, we were a small state.”
Hatcher was a nine-time varsity letterman at Michigan’s Alma College, where he graduated in 1983. As a senior, he was named All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in wrestling and was a member of three hall-of-fame wrestling teams, two hall-of-fame baseball teams and, thanks to his multiple sports, six MIAA championship teams.
In 1984, he joined his family in Arkansas, where his father, Joe, had moved to become president of Hendrix College in 1981. Greg Hatcher worked for a computer company and enjoyed the South, but he missed sports and returned north. After a stint as baseball graduate assistant at Notre Dame and as a summer coach, he quickly returned to Arkansas to work for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “I realized there wasn’t anything wrong with Arkansas,” Hatcher said. “I just missed the sports.”
A public relations major in college, Hatcher knew he had a flair for salesmanship, and in 1990, he founded the Hatcher Agency in Little Rock, now the state’s largest health insurance provider. Hatcher also established the Mighty Bluebirds in Little Rock to create athletic opportunities for kids. The organization now has soccer fields, baseball fields and a gym.
By 2005, the Mighty Bluebird wrestling team was already beginning to build a reputation through competition. “When the Mighty Bluebirds rolled up at tournaments out of state, people knew who we were,” said Hunter Jones, a four-time state champion at Little Rock Christian who wrestled collegiately at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia.
Then Hatcher got a call from northwest Arkansas businessman Don Schuler (not to be confused with National Wrestling Hall Of Famer Don Shuler), who ran a wrestling club. “He called me one day and said, ‘I heard you were a college wrestler. We sure need high school wrestling in this state,’” Hatcher said. “‘Somebody said I ought to call you.’” … rest of story at … Armoneyandpolitics.com/greg-hatcher-arkansas-wrestling

October 21, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Every Returning NCAA Wrestling All-American This Season (2023-2024)

A list of every past NCAA wrestling All-American that will be competing this season.
Wrestling season is here. While new names will surely arise and establish themselves, here are the men who have already proven themselves to be the best wrestlers in the country.

125

Returning 2023 All-Americans
Matt Ramos – 2nd
Anthony Noto –  4th
Eddie Ventresca – 7th

Other All-Americans In The Field
Patrick McKee – 3rd in 2021, 5th in 2022
Michael DeAugustino – 4th in 2022
Eric Barnett – 8th in 2021, 7th in 2022
Brandon Kaylor – 8th in 2022

133

Returning 2023 All-Americans
Vito Arujau – Champ
Daton Fix – 4th
Aaron Nagao – 5th
Sam Latona – 7th
Kai Orine – 8th

Other All-Americans In The Field
Lucas Byrd – 5th in 2021 and 2022
Chris Cannon – 7th in 2021 and 2022

141

Returning 2023 All-Americans
Real Woods – 2nd
Beau Bartlett – 3rd
Lachlan McNeil – 4th … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/articles/Every-returning-ncaa-wrestling-all-american-this-season-2023-2024

October 21, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Longest D1 Winning Streaks Entering The 2023-24 College Wrestling Season

See the wrestlers who have the longest active winning streaks heading into the 2023-24 Division 1 College Wrestling Season

It’s almost college wrestling season! Before the 2023-24 Division 1 season kicks off, get to know the wrestlers who are carrying the longest winning streaks into this year.

5). Aaron Brooks , Penn State – 13

Last Loss: December 20, 2022 – Iowa State dual to Marcus Coleman (Iowa State)

Aaron Brooks is entering his final college season as a 3-time national champion and is looking to make history as just the 6th ever 4-time national champion (7th if Starocci wrestles before him at NCAAs). Many believe Brooks’ loss to Marcus Coleman last year was a fluke, and Brooks’ performance at NCAA’s proved that after he won consecutive matches against Kaleb Romero (4-1), Trent Hidlay (6-3), and Parker Keckeisen (7-2) to win the 2023 NCAA title at 184 pounds. 

This year, Brooks will make the move up to 197 pounds where he’ll face an entirely different group of contenders. Of the wrestlers ranked in the top 10 at 197, Brooks has only wrestled Trent Hidlay (also making the move up from 184). Brooks is the pre-season favorite, but the new challenges will make it fascinating to watch him during his final college season as a Nittany Lion. … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/articles/Longest-d1-winning-streaks-entering-the-2023-24-college-wrestling-season

October 21, 2023 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment