Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

College Coaching Marks – TDR # 31 – 81

We all seem to be fascinated with round numbers or maybe just the O.C.D. parts of our minds that recognize when someone achieves a round number of victories. Se the following are some of the notable marks achieved in the past season.

Coach that passed 450 wins
Roger Crebs (Lycoming College) D-III

Coaches passing the 300th dual meet victory
Martin Nichols of Ithaca College – III
Tim Fader of Wisconsin-Eau Claire – III

Coaches passing 250th dual victory
Franky James (Campbellsville) – NAIA/I
Joel Greenlee (Ohio Univ.) – D-I

Coaches passing the 200th dual meet victory mark
Luke Moffitt (Iowa Central Comm. College)
Heath Grimm (Upper Iowa Univ.) – D-II
Duane Ritter (SUNY-Oneonta) – D-III
Jim Andrassy (Kent State) D-I

Coaches passing the 150th dual meet victory mark
Joe Galente (The College of New Jersey) – III
Leo Kocher (Chicago Univ.) – III (yet incomplete totals here)
Jamie Gibbs (Baldwin-Wallace College) III (150th D-III win, not overall)
Steve Marianetti (Elmhurst) – III

College Coaches who reached their 100th dual meet victory
Lee Miracle (Campbellsville – NAIA-Women’s)
Omi Acosta (Life University) – NAIA
Jake Stevenson (Morningside) – NAIA
Jeff Bedard (Reinhardt) – NAIA
Bill Schindel (Adrian College) -III
Nathan Searer (Washington & Lee) – III
Scott Legacy (Vermont-Castleton) – III

If we missed someone or some Mark please let us know.

April 8, 2024 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 Team Plaques – TDR # 31 – 80

The plaques for wrestlers at Corinth-Holders, Ayden-Grifton, Jacksonville and Swansboro have been mailed out. The only ones that have not been sent are for wrestlers from North East Carolina Prep and Tarboro High. They will be presented before the NECP at Tarboro baseball game on April 16th. We appreciate coaches and wrestlers letting us know when they arrive at their school.

April 8, 2024 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

College Coaching Promotions & changes

Two-Time National Champion Matt Valenti C’07 To Succeed Roger Reina C’84 As Penn Head Wrestling Coach in 2025-26
PHILADELPHIA – The torch is being passed from Penn wrestling’s all-time winningest coach to its all-time winningest student-athlete. Two-time NCAA wrestling champion and Penn Athletics Hall of Famer Matt Valenti C’07 will return to coaching effective immediately as associate head coach and will succeed Roger Reina C’84 as the program’s head coach on April 1, 2025. Reina will remain the head coach in 2024-25, culminating in Penn’s co-hosting of the NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Wells Fargo Center, and will serve as head coach emeritus for his final year of coaching in 2025-26. “I am absolutely thrilled for Matt, Roger and our wrestling program that we were able to successfully and thoughtfully plan for this leadership transition,” Alanna Shanahan, the T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 Director of Athletics and Recreation said. “The opportunity for these two alumni to work together for two years will be powerful and impactful for our student-athletes.”
Valenti is the program’s career leader in wins (137) and won NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007 at 133 pounds. He was a three-time NCAA All-American, a three-time EIWA champion, three-time first-team All-Ivy selection and the 2007 Ivy League Wrestler of the Year. Valenti was inducted into the Penn Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and the EIWA Hall of Fame in 2014. “Matt’s incredible success as a student-athlete at Penn was worthy of induction into our Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility,” Shanahan said. “That athletic background, combined with his prior coaching experience at Penn, strong ties to the alumni and campus community, and robust administrative experience in student-athlete success, mental health and as our admissions liaison made him the ideal choice to succeed Roger and lead the Penn wrestling program. Matt has been successful during every stage of his career and I’m confident his return to the coaching ranks will benefit our current and future student-athletes in competition, in the classroom and in the community.” “As a proud alumnus, it is a tremendous honor to step into a leadership role with the Penn wrestling program,” Valenti said. “Roger’s legacy is unparalleled, and I am committed to continuing and enhancing the tradition of excellence that he has cultivated through the years. Together with the Penn wrestling team, alumni, staff, and community, I look forward to forging a path of continued success both on and off the mat.” “This thoughtful transition will enable our Penn wrestlers, families, staff and alumni to work together over the next two years to effectively navigate the change and empower the successful future of Penn wrestling. Our community is committed to a lasting legacy of excellence,” Reina said. “I am excited to begin working with Matt along with our staff in the continued pursuit of our goals.” … story at … Pennathletics.com/Two-time-national-champion-matt-valenti–to-succeed-roger-reina-as-penn-head-wrestling-coach-in-2025-26
And …

Shaun Lally Named Inaugural Head Men’s & Women’s Wrestling Coach
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Director of Athletics Troy Tucker has announced that Shaun Lally has been named the inaugural Head Men’s & Women’s Wrestling Coach at Northampton, effective April 2, 2024.  “Coach Lally’s experience, not only at the college level, but in the Lehigh Valley, really resonated with the committee,” remarked Tucker, “he has shown the ability to recruit on the college level and his teams had success not only on the mat, but in the classroom as well.”
A former head coach at the Junior High, High School, Club, NCWA (National Collegiate Wrestling Association), and NCAA levels, Lally’s programs have won various awards for marketing, branding, fundraising and academics.  Lally is one of only a handful of college coaches to attend all three of the National Wrestling Coaching Association’s (NWCA) Leadership Academies; Men’s Collegiate, Women’s Collegiate, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).  A USA Wrestling bronze-certified coach, Lally attended the first-ever Women’s Leadership Academy at Lock Haven University in 2013.  He went on to coach two women’s wrestlers who were National Qualifiers in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) in 2013-2014.  From 2012-2017, Lally coached 12 collegiate national qualifiers and 7 Academic All-Americans.  
In 2014, Coach Lally led a resurgence at nearby Muhlenberg College.  The Mules, a NCAA Division III team, finished 4-9 overall in his first season, doubling the program win total from the five previous years combined (2-60).  In addition, they broke a 37-match losing streak in the Centennial Conference … story at … NCCspartans.com/2024-25-shaun-lally-named-inaugural-head-mens-womens-wrestling-coach
And …

Pine resigns after successful run at head of Grays Harbor College women’s wrestling program
After a highly-successful reign leading one of the top junior college women’s wrestling programs in the nation, Grays Harbor head coach Kevin Pine has decided to step down. Pine, who has been the Chokers women’s wrestling head coach since 2019 and is coming off a National Collegiate Wrestling Association national championship, tendered his resignation on Monday. “It’s time to move on,” Pine said. “I have a few month left of my term as (Grays Harbor County) Commissioner. This is going to be an opportunity to focus on that. … This will free up some of my free time and I can devote that toward being a good public servant for my community.” Pine’s resignation ends a prolifically successful era for the GHC women’s wrestling program.
Under Pine’s tutelage, the Chokers have had a long list of accomplishments. Over the past five seasons, GHC has earned 40 NCWA All-American honors, eight USA Wrestling medals at the prestigious World Team Trials, five top-three NCWA national team finishes, a Collegiate Cup victory in 2023 and the NCWA women’s national championship this past season. “I’ve been real fortunate to be able to recruit some of the kids we’ve got to come here,” Pine said. “We were doing something right. We had kids that would come here and, for the most part, everybody stayed for two years.” … story at … Pine-resigns-after-successful-run-at-head-of-grays-harbor-college-womens-wrestling-program

Michael Childs Named Head Women’s Wrestling Coach
GLENSIDE – The Arcadia University Department of Athletics and Recreation has announced the hiring of Michael Childs as the first head women’s wrestling coach in program history. Childs will begin his duties at Arcadia on April 8th as he prepares for the program’s first season of competition in 2025-26. “I am tremendously excited and thankful for the opportunity to lead a new women’s wrestling program at a wonderful institution like Arcadia University,” Childs explained. “I’m grateful to the hiring committee at Arcadia for their thoughtfulness throughout the interview process. There was a unique kindness and respect all through my interactions that made me feel comfortable and incredibly excited to begin this journey.”
Childs comes to Arcadia after serving as an assistant men’s wrestling coach for five seasons and an assistant women’s wrestling coach for two seasons at Ursinus College. While with the Bears, Childs assisted in practice planning, helped teach technique, and assisted with match day preparation. Childs also assisted in recruiting, video analysis, and goal setting/action steps. “Coach Childs is a very accomplished wrestler and has an extensive background as a wrestling coach at the collegiate level,” Executive Director of Athletics Brian Granata said. “He is uniquely positioned to leverage his network of coaches and various connections to develop our women’s wrestling program and help it be successful in short order. We are excited to welcome him into our Arcadia Athletics community and look forward to seeing him executive his vision for our program.”
Prior to his time at Ursinus, Childs gained experience as an assistant coach at Division I Franklin & Marshall from 2012-2015, helping coach the first All-American for the Diplomats in 32 years. Childs gained his first collegiate coaching experience at Division I Davidson for two seasons. Childs began his coaching career at numerous Philadelphia-area high schools before transitioning to the collegiate level. … story at … Arcadiaknights.com/Michael-childs-named-head-womens-wrestling-coach
And …

Frank resigns as Gettysburg head wrestling coach
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Gino Frank, who has served 17 years on the Gettysburg wrestling coaching staff and last four as head coach, has stepped down from his position.
Frank was instrumental in guiding the Bullets through a head coaching transition in the midst of the pandemic. “I want to thank Gino for his 17 years of energy, effort, and dedication to the wrestling program,” Executive Director of Athletics Mike Mattia said. “He has had a positive impact on a generation of Gettysburg wrestlers, and he certainly left his mark on the program. I wish him nothing but the best.” In his 17 years on staff, he helped Gettysburg produce four All-Americans, 12 national qualifiers, 23 Scholar All-Americans, 11 Centennial Conference (CC) champions and 61 conference placewinners. In his first season leading the way in the corner, he mentored the CC Most Outstanding Wrestler Eric Mougalian, who captured the individual crown at 149. That same year, Luke Kowalski claimed Rookie of the Year honors and has since gone on to win conference titles the last two seasons at 133 in 2023 and 141 in 2024 under Frank’s tutelage. Kowalski’s 2023 crown earned him Most Outstanding Performer honors, making it back-to-back winners for the Bullets. He went on to finish third at the regional meet and seventh at the national championship to become the program’s first All-American since 2016 and first under 157 pounds in 44 years. Prior to Gettysburg, … story at … Gettysburgsports.com/Frank-resigns-as-gettysburg-head-wrestling-coach
And …

Alnutt Announces Change in Leadership of Wrestling Program
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt announced today that John Stutzman will not be returning as head wrestling coach next season. “I want to thank Coach Stutzman for his dedication and service to the UB wrestling program for the last 11 years. While his tenure was marked with many highlights and accomplishments, after much discussion and thorough evaluation of our program, at this time, I believe a fresh start will move the program forward. We wish John and his family nothing but the best in the future.” … more at … UBbulls.com/Alnutt-announces-change-in-leadership-of-wrestling-program


April 8, 2024 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment