Taye Ghadiali makes history, becomes program’s second ever NCAA All-American!
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Campbell heavyweight Taye Ghadiali became just the second Campbell wrestler to make the podium at the NCAA Championships, as he finished in eighth at this year’s finale held at the T-Mobile Center.
Ghadiali joins Nathan Kraisser (2017) as the only two wrestlers from Campbell to finish in the top eight at nationals. Kraisser also finished in eighth at 125 pounds, but Ghadiali is the first non-transfer to make the stand representing Campbell.
Ghadiali becomes the second Campbell wrestler to be named NCAA All-American, joining Kraisser. Five others received NWCA All-America honors in the 2020 season that was cut short before the NCAA Championships.
In the All-American bout against Lehigh’s Nathan Taylor, Ghadiali was trailing 4-2 late in the third period. He scored a takedown with just five seconds left, and Taylor scored the riding time point to make it 5-5 going into overtime. Ghadiali dove at Taylor’s leg and latched on 15 seconds into the overtime period to get both men on the mat. Ghadiali was then able to circle around and find himself on top for the winning takedown at the 30-second mark.
Ghadiali finishes the 2023-24 season with a 35-5 record. The 35 wins is the fifth-highest mark in Campbell wrestling history. He also finished the year with 12 pins, tied for second-most in program history.
In addition to Ghadiali, five other Campbell wrestlers competed at the NCAAs this weekend, with four recording a victory. Domenic Zaccone won his first-round matchup in an upset over No. 11 ranked Zeth Romney (Cal Poly). At 165 pounds, No. 26 Dom Baker defeated No. 23 Derek Fields (NC State) with a pin, and Austin Murphy defeated Mizzou’s Peyton Mocco (No. 22) with a 5-3 decision in the first round. No. 28 Caleb Hopkins advanced in the consolation bracket by way of a medical forfeit from Brian Soldano (Rutgers) before falling in a 13-6 decision against No. 11 Colton Hawks (Mizzou). Levi Hopkins dropped two tight matches against Evan Bockman (#20, UVU) and No. 29 Justin Rademacher of Oregon State. … story at … GOcamels.com/news/2024/3/23/wrestling-ghadiali-named-all-american-wrestling-concludes-season-at-ncaas
TDR Update 2024 – TDR # 31 – 68 : Top 12 & Awards
Packages of TDR Top 12 Plaques were sent out to Rosewood, Havelock, Wilson Fike, Topsail and Washington were mailed out today. The Michael Stokes Award will be presented to Jason Kennedy of Rosewood High School as a Top Senior wrestler. Details shall be released of the wrestler and the award as before the presentation of the trophy.
The TDR will announce the 2024 winners of the James Johnson Memorial Award for the most outstanding senior, and the Roy Heverly Award for the top underclassman this week.
Vito Arujau repeats as NCAA Champion
**Nine All-Americans from the EIWA**
By, Austin Sommer, EIWA Sports Information Director
Key Takeaways
Cornell’s Vito Arujau (133) repeats as NCAA Champion!
Cornell finishes in second place as a team.
Nine EIWA wrestlers earn NCAA All-American honors.
F&M’s James Conway earns the Elite 90 Award.
Last season, the EIWA finished the NCAAs with seven All-Americans crowned, matching the 2022 total of seven. This year the conference had two more wreslters make the podium, increasing the total number of All-Americans in 2024 to nine.
Congratulations to the nine All-Americans from the EIWA listed below.
Vito Arujau, Cornell – Champion at 133lbs
Ryan Crookham, Lehigh – 3rd at 133lbs
Meyer Shapiro, Cornell – 3rd at 157lbs
Jacob Cardenas, Cornell – 4th at 197lbs
Luke Stanich, Lehigh – 5th at 125lbs
Lennox Wolak, Columbia – 6th at 174lbs
Ben Pasuik, Army – 8th at 174lbs
David Key, Navy – 8th at 184lbs
Michael Beard, Lehigh – 8th at 197lbs
Elite 90 Award Recipient
Congratulations to James Conway of F&M at 184lbs. He was awarded the Elite 90 Award as the participant (of 330 participants) in the NCAA Championship who had the highest GPA.
The ELITE 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete … story at … EIWAwrestling.org/sports/wrest/2023-24
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 