Takedown Report

Division I News and Notes

No. 2 Wrestling Takes Down Illinois In Mizzou To The Lou Dual, 29-6
ST. LOUIS – The No. 2-ranked University of Missouri wrestling team defeated Illinois in its Mizzou to the Lou match in Stifel Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 21. The Tigers move to 5-0, 3-0 in the Big 12, while the Illini are 3-3 overall. Redshirt junior Noah Surtin earned a 6-1 decision at 125 pounds to get the dual started. Redshirt freshman Kade Moore earned his second consecutive major decision, winning 17-8 at 133 pounds. The Tigers kept it going as No. 20-ranked redshirt sophomore Josh Edmond followed at 141 pounds, defeating No. 18 Danny Pucino by a 10-5 decision. Just before the break, redshirt senior Brock Mauller secured a 14-5 major decision at 157 pounds, giving Mizzou a 14-3 lead. Coming out of intermission, redshirt sophomore James Conway wrestled at 165 pounds, as junior Keegan O’Toole went up to 174 to take on No. 5 Edmond Ruth. O’Toole went to work and upset Ruth 12-7.  … story at … MUtigers.com/No-2-wrestling-takes-down-illinois-in-mizzou-to-the-lou-dual-29-6

Gardner-Webb Splits in Duals with George Mason and Ohio
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb wrestling squad split matches on Thursday, December 21 with a win over George Mason University, 25-15, and a tough loss to Ohio University, 28-17 in non-conference action.   
Three Runnin’ Bulldogs went 2-0 on the mat including graduate student Drew West, who finished the duals winning by injury default in his first match and a fall against Ohio’s Ryan Meek. Senior Todd Carter picked up a fall in his opening match against Dominic Hargrove and finishing with a tech fall in his final match versus the Bobcats. Redshirt senior Jha’Quan Anderson locked in a sudden victory against the Patriots and a decision over Max Ray for Ohio. 
Gardner-Webb will take a few days off for Christmas break until New Year’s Day, when the ‘Dawgs will travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the Southern Scuffle at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga from January 1-2. … story at … GWUsports.com/Gardner-webb-splits-in-duals-with-george-mason-and-ohio

Ohio Wrestling Wins 28-17 Over Gardner-Webb
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Ohio wrestling (4-1) defeated Gardner-Webb (2-2) by a score of 28-17 to pick up the team’s fourth dual-meet win of the season.  With the win, Ohio continued its undefeated streak against the Runnin’ Bulldogs. The Bobcats are 6-0 in dual meets against Gardner-Webb.  Sophomore Mason Brugh (Wadsworth, Ohio) picked up the first win of the day for Ohio and his first dual-meet victory of the season. He defeated Tyson Lane by fall at 4:14.  Junior Dan Segura (Columbus, Ohio) picked up the next win for the Bobcats over Tyler Brignola. Segura and Brignola battled back and forth, but ultimately Segura picked up the win by way of a 7-2 decision. Like Brugh, the win gave Segura his first dual-meet win of the season.  Jumping up to 165 from his typical weight of 157, redshirt sophomore Peyten Kellar (Cutler, Ohio) remained undefeated in dual-meet matches, picking up his fourth win of the season and improving his overall record to 11-2. He won with an 11-0 majority decision over Andrew Wilson.  … story at … Ohiobobcats.com/Wrestling-wins-28-17-over-gardner-webb

Cleveland State Wrestling Topples Clarion in Final Dual of 2023
CLARION, Pa. – Cleveland State (1-4, 1-1) sailed past Clarion (3-6, 0-2) 25-11 in their final dual of the first half of the season. The match started at 285 pounds and saw all the points scored in the final period, with No. 25 Daniel Bucknavich winning 6-2 to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead. Ben Aranda extended the margin to 6-0 after picking up a 4-1 sudden victory at 125-pounds. Jake Manley recorded a 7-2 decision at 133 pounds, and No. 25 Dylan Layton notched an 11-2 major decision at 141-pounds to make it 13-0 in favor of the Green and White. Douglas Terry trailed 2-1 with a minute remaining in the third period before scoring five straight points to win 6-2, extending the advantage to 16-0. Clarion notched their first points of the match at 157-pounds behind a pin in 2:57 to trail 16-6. … story at … CSUvikings.com/releases/20231221Wrestling+News

Little Rock Wrestling Earns Program’s First National Team Ranking
LITTLE ROCK – The Little Rock wrestling program is nationally ranked. The team is receiving votes for the first time in the NWCA Division I Coaches Poll, as well as earning nods from wrestling media FloWrestling, InterMat, The Open Mat, and WIN Magazine. The most impressive part? It only took head coach Neil Erisman and associate head coach Javier Maldonado five years to get here.  
“We stuck to our values and the things that make us Trojans,” explained Coach Erisman on the development over the past five seasons. “We set a plan and a vision, and then we went to work for it.” … story at … LRrojans.com/Little-rock-wrestling-earns-program-first-national-team-ranking

January 3, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Motivational speaker Jensen credits wrestling for helping him regain his sobriety and life

By Tristan Warner
When Richard Jensen found himself lying on the floor of a homeless shelter at the age of 34, he never imagined some day he would be traveling the country in a tour bus as a motivational speaker inspiring thousands of people by sharing his story of triumph and perseverance.  The grips of addiction led him to jail, prison and homelessness and the Oregon native found himself at rock bottom.  Jensen remembers a time in which finding the light at the end of the tunnel seemed impossible. But then, lying on that cold, lonely floor, a shell of the man and father he always intended to be, he also remembered a time when he felt a sense of belonging, had an identity, and above all else, had a purpose.

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

“I had a lot of hyperactivity as a kid, so one of the local elementary coaches encouraged my mom to sign me up for wrestling,” Jensen recalled. “I quickly found myself falling in love with the sport. It gave me something to be a part of, and the value wrestling brought to my life stuck with me forever.” 
A self-proclaimed “.500 wrestler at best,” Jensen knew the wins he was accumulating by participating in the sport were more intrinsic than anything else.  His mom loved watching him compete. Win, lose, or draw, her favorite thing to do was watch her son wrestle, and that was something special for the two of them to share. 
The sport taught him discipline and toughness, two values that would greatly impact him later in life, though he did not know it at the time.  And, providing a sense of identity and belonging, wrestling under high school coach H.D. Weddel impacted Jensen’s life and story immeasurably.  “We had five or six Division I-caliber wrestlers on that team and I was not one of them, but Coach Weddel treated me the exact same as everyone else,” Jensen remembers. “I needed wrestling more than wrestling needed me. But, he created an inclusive culture where I felt I belonged, and it really stuck with me. It reshaped my life.” So, 16 years after his high school wrestling career ended, Jensen picked himself up and decided to make a change. 
That change involved a return to the wrestling mats, no matter how far-fetched it may have seemed at the time.  “I decided to make a positive change and get away from drugs and alcohol because I wanted to be the father that I dreamed of,” Jensen said. “Within a few years of sobriety, I decided I wanted to get back on the mat because I remembered what kind of value it brought to me.” “I used wrestling to be the vehicle to win my life back. It didn’t matter if I ever won a match or not. I was just trying to be the athlete, coach, and mentor I always dreamed of being.”
So, at the age of 37, Jensen jumped at the opportunity to enroll at Clackamas Community College and join the wrestling team. He saw it as potentially his one-and-only chance to get an education and be a part of something positive again.
Three years sober, Richard Jensen got one last chance to wrestle in college at Oregon’s Clackamas CC in 2006-07.
“A 37-year-old trying to make a comeback in college wrestling is not your everyday story,” he chuckled. “When I stepped in the wrestling room with all that baggage, the wrestling community took me in with open arms, though.” 
Sober three years by that time and on the straight and narrow, Jensen was productive and was well on his way to conquering his past demons, but his on-the-mat prowess was lacking. He recalled only winning one match that first year back, which is when Jensen decided to elevate his focus even one step further.  “I rented a garage and trained that entire summer completely by myself. I came back in the fall in the best shape of my life and had lost 15 pounds. … story at … WIN-magazine.com/Motivational-speaker-jensen-credits-wrestling-for-helping-him-regain-his-sobriety-and-life

January 3, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Examining the growth of high school wrestling participation – Mat Stats 26

The upcoming episode of MatStats, airing on November 15th, 2023, promises a deep dive into the state of high school wrestling. The episode, titled “Rock ‘N’ Roll High School (Part 1),” features special guest Dr. Jackie Paquette from the NWCA, who will discuss recent trends in high school wrestling participation. The episode will explore the growth in the number of high school wrestlers, with particular attention to the increases in both boys and girls participation.
Key insights from the episode include an examination of the relationship between high school wrestling numbers and various factors, such as state population and the number of NCAA & NAIA wrestling teams. The episode will also address the distinction between boys wrestling as a mature industry and girls wrestling as a growth industry, reflecting the historical and emerging trends in the sport.
Listeners can expect detailed statistical analysis and correlations, exploring how these trends have evolved over the years and what they might indicate for the future of wrestling at the high school level. The episode sets the stage for a comprehensive exploration of high school wrestling’s current state, its growth, and its impact on the broader wrestling community.
Full Slideshow: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/matstats26.pdf
About Mat Stats
Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. … story at … Mattalkonline.com/Examining-the-growth-of-high-school-wrestling-participation

And Part 2
Part 2 of the Mat Stats deep dive into participation numbers at the high school level continues, this time focusing on girls high school participation. Joining hosts Jason Bryant, Glenn Gormley and Kevin Hazard is NWCA Deputy Director Dr. Jackie Paquette. … story at … Mattalkonline.com/Examining-the-growth-of-high-school-wrestling-participation-part-2

January 3, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 100 Girls Wrestlers Eastern North Carolina 2024 – part 2 – TDR # 31-16

TDR Notes; The lower six weight classes are listed here with wrestlers included in the weight class where they have wrestled their most recent matches. We welcome input on these Jan. 1st rankings as it will help in the end of the regular season rankings. Send information to martinkfleming@gmail.com ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rnk Wght.   Name             Team          Gr.  W.  L.   Pct.

January 3, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 100 Girls Wrestlers Eastern North Carolina 2024 – part 1 – TDR # 31-15

TDR Notes; The top 6 (in weight) classes are listed for the January 1st mid-season rankings. Almost all of the teams in the Eastern Regional are included. We welcome input and clarifications from wrestling fans and readers. Send email to martinkfleming@gmail.com ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rnk  Wght.  Name             Team         Gr.  W.  L.   Pct.

January 3, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

UNI-Dome expects thousands for premier national wrestling event

Collegiate wrestling takes over the Cedar Valley to kick off the new year, as the UNI-Dome hosts the National Wrestling Coaching Association’s National Duals on January 5-6. More than 35 mats will blanket the floor of the Dome, featuring student-athletes from more than 100 men’s and women’s programs across the country. 
The last time the National Duals were held in the UNI-Dome was 2011, bringing more than 5,000 visitors to the Cedar Falls area. The magnitude of the event means a huge boost for business in the Cedar Valley.  “The UNI-Dome is an iconic venue with a rich wrestling history. It’s the only venue in our area that is large enough to accommodate events like these year-round and attract visitors from all over the United States,” said Ashley Johnson of the Cedar Valley Sports Commission, which has estimated a $2.5 million impact for the weekend alone. “The added benefit is the thousands of athletes, coaches and fans staying in area hotels, eating at our fantastic restaurants and visiting our local shops.”

NWCA National Duals by the numbers:

• 5,000+ unique visitors
• 4,000+ hotel nights booked
• 2,250 participants/coaches
• 100+ teams

A full list of competing teams can be found on the NWCA website.

“We are beyond excited to bring the National Duals back on campus in 2024. We can think of no better place than the UNI-Dome to host this wonderful event,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “Our team is hard at work getting things in place already, and we can’t wait to host over 100 collegiate programs in Cedar Falls.”

“As originally envisioned, the UNI-Dome continues to serve as a multi-purpose facility by drawing in local, regional and national events,” said UNI Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, Jamar Thompson. “Events like the NWCA National Duals are a display of the impact events held in the Dome can have on the community.” … rest of story at … NWCAonline.com/NAIA-women-uni-dome-expects-thousands-for-premier-national-wrestling-event

January 3, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NORTH CAROLINA STATE WRESTLING 2023-24

Pack Rallies Back, But Early Pins Sink NC State Wrestling In Rare Dual Loss
NC State wrestling suffered a rare dual defeat Tuesday, despite winning six individual bouts against Ohio State
NC State found itself in a rather unfamiliar position as the Wolfpack walked off the mat at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals in Nashville Tuesday night. The Pack was on the wrong end of the scoreboard in the final dual of the event.
Starting with wins over Lock Haven (34-6) and #28 Northern Iowa (25-16), the marquee match-up of the day was the top-10 showdown with #9 Ohio State.
The Pack, and all fans watching from home, were shell-shocked with the start of that dual. The Buckeyes stormed out to an 18-0 lead after only the first three bouts, all resulting in Ohio State pins. 
Barely 15 minutes into the dual, the Pack found itself in a deep hole. “You rarely see a dual start like that,” NC State head coach Pat Popolizio said from the Nashville airport Wednesday morning. 
NC State battled back, chipping away at the lead, beginning with Jackson Arrington’s 5-3 win against All-American Dylan D’Emilio at 149. Three straight wins for the Pack brought the team score to 18-9 going into 174 pounds. 
The Buckeyes got a key win from Rocco Welsh at 174 with a takedown in the final seconds to jump ahead 21-9 with three bouts left. Again, the Pack had hope and knew bonus points were needed down the stretch. Another decision at 184 pounds was followed by a tech fall from Trent Hidlay at 197, drawing the score to 21-17 with only heavyweight left.
In a top-20 battle, NC State came away with another decision from Owen Trephan over Nick Feldman, but it was not enough as Ohio State claimed a 21-20 victory. With that result, NC State dropped only its fourth dual over the last five seasons – compared to 57 wins dating back to the 2019-20 campaign. 
“I was extremely impressed with the way we competed and fought to battle back,” Popolizio said. “We have all been in dual meets before, but getting down 18-0 after only three matches might be like football going into halftime down 50-0.  “We responded, put ourselves in position to almost win, and that speaks volumes to the culture of our program. I did like the response from our guys.”
The response by NC State was winning six of the final seven matches against the Buckeyes. “Always grateful to compete with the best,” Popolizio posted on X (formerly Twitter after the event). “Did not get all the wins this time, but guys showed a lot of grit and composure fighting back. Love what this team stands for!”
Now, the Wolfpack will take some time off for the holidays. “We are going to get back, and give the guys a few days,” Popolizio said. “We need some rest right now. We have traveled a ton of miles on the road to start this season. Everybody is at the point of needing some downtime.  “Once we all get back to Raleigh after this break, we are going to get ready for our first home dual of the season (vs. Oklahoma State) … story at … Flowrestling.org/Pack-rallies-back-but-early-pins-sink-nc-state-wrestling-in-rare-dual-loss

January 3, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment