Buffalo Bills announce signing of Olympic champion Gable Steveson
The Buffalo Bills announced the signing of 2020 Olympic champion and two-time NCAA champion Gable Steveson to its roster on Friday afternoon.
Following reports of Steveson’s signing from NFL industry insiders, including ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bills issued a formal announcement through its official X account.
According to ESPN and Schefter, Steveson is signing a standard rookie contract for three years to play Defensive Tackle under head coach Sean McDermott, a former wrestler himself. McDermott has a strong history of backing wrestling as a foundation for elite football players.
ESPN article: Olympic gold medal wrestler Gable Steveson signing with Bills
Steveson most recently competed on the wrestling mat at 2023 Final X held at Prudential Center, where he defeated now World bronze medalist and Paris Olympian Mason Parris two matches to none for the 2023 U.S. World Team spot. Steveson did not compete at the 2023 World Championships, leaving open the opportunity for Parris to shine on the World stage.
A native of Apple Valley, Minn., Steveson was a four-time Minnesota state champion for Apple Valley High School and won NCAA titles for his home-state Minnesota Gophers in 2021 and 2022. He was named the Dan Hodge Trophy recipient as the nation’s top college wrestler both years he won the NCAA tournament. … more at … Themat.com/Buffalo-bills-announce-signing-of-olympic-champion-gable-steveson
Jason Kennedy of Rosewood presented the 2024 Michael Stokes Award
Jason Kennedy named the 33rd Michael Stokes Award winner
State champion Jason Kennedy of Rosewood High School was presented the 2024 Michael Stokes Award today. As a four-year starter Kennedy compiled an outstanding career record of (184-12) and ranks 5th in most wins in school history. He also scored 96 wins by pin, was a 4-x conference champion, and 3-x regional champ. Kennedy qualified for the state tournament three times and placed twice, 2nd in 2021 and 1st in 2024. Kennedy also earned his 3rd TDR Top 12 engraved wooden plaque this year as a top wrestler in his weight in eastern North Carolina.
Jason maintained a 4.1 GPA to finish in the Top 10 in his class and has earned a Presidential scholarship to attend Campbell University. He will major in computer science to seek a cyber-security career. Jason plans to walk-on to wrestle at Campbell University this fall. He has been involved in wrestling for five years and would like to eventually coach wrestling. “Wrestling has made a huge difference in my life. It has made me a better person as I am more driven and dedicated due to the sport, yet humbled by the experiences in wrestling.” Jason shared as he reflected back.
Coach Joshua Gordon shared “We are proud to have Jason as a wrestler and graduate from Rosewood. We look forward to seeing him wrestle nearby at Campbell and wish him the best. The Stokes Award was earned by Jason as he conducted a strong senior season on the road to his state championship.”
Michael Stokes wrestled the 1981-1984 seasons at Tarboro High School and with a (96–4) career record. He was North Carolina’s 2nd 3-time State Champion when there was only one individual champion at a weight in the state. He wrestled for N.C. State and won ACC wrestling titles in 1988 and 1989 and was named the ACC Most Valuable Wrestler both years. His record of 68 wins 8 losses and 3 ties (.879) is the best career winning percentage at NC State. He finished second at the NCAA Nationals at 126 lbs. in 1989 to Kendall Cross, the eventual Olympic Gold medalist. Stokes co-captained the Wolfpack in 1989 and one of the ACC’s all time 50 greatest wrestlers as recognized during the conference’s 50th anniversary celebration. Stokes credits wrestling as “providing me with a mental toughness that enables me to remove boundaries that stand in my way. Wrestling has given me the sheer determination to believe that I can conquer anything that I set my mind to do.”
Previous Stokes Award wrestlers include Walker Bell of West Craven in 2023, Raheem Jones of North Pitt (2022), Aaron Bancroft (2020) and Jayleen Bullock (2021) of Wilson Fike. Ray Darden of Ayden-Grifton and Jordan Todd of Rosewood tied for the award in (2019), Sincere King of North Pitt (2018), Quadarrius Hopkins of Tarboro (2017), Wilson Smith of Rocky Mount (2016), Angel Najar of North Pitt (2015), Reggie Huff of Southern Nash (2014), David Guevara of Tarboro (2013), Alexander Knight and Jaciento Williamson of Rocky Mount (2012), Xavier Najar of North Pitt (2011), Joe Young of Northern Nash (2010), Corey Smith of Tarboro (2009), Jasmine Cooper of Nash Central (2008), Eric Wischhusen, (2007), Roylando Lucas (2001) and Ira Bing (2000) of Southern Nash, John Brewer (2006), Aaron Bancroft (2020) and Jayleen Bullock (2021) of Wilson Fike, Anthony Taylor (2005) of Rocky Mount, Sammi Hadi (2004) and Ryan Huffman (1997) of SouthWest Edgecombe, Charles Washington (2003) of Northern Nash, Quadric Eason (2002), Mike Christopher (1999 & 1998), Tony Mercer (1996) and Lee Carroll (1994 & 1995) of Tarboro.
The TDR promotes amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina and sponsors this award. “The awards are to recognize great wrestlers from before and the current ones for their efforts,” Editor Martin Fleming noted. The TakeDown Report has promoted scholastic wrestling for over 20 years in North Carolina and encourages coverage of the sport. Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com or https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/ or ‘The TakeDown Report’ on FaceBook.
(left to right) Rosewood Coach Joshua Gordon, Jason Kennedy & TDR Editor Martin Fleming
HALL ANNOUNCES FIRST ADDITION TO COACHING STAFF WITH THE HIRE OF TIMMY MCCALL
OREM, Utah – Utah Valley head coach Adam Hall announced on Saturday the hire of Timmy McCall as his head assistant coach. McCall joins Utah Valley after working as an assistant coach at North Carolina State. “I am so excited to add Timmy, Beth, and Tanner to the Wolverine family! Timmy brings a wealth of knowledge to Utah Valley from his extensive coaching experience at NC State. His passion and care for his athletes are hard to match. He truly loves the guys he works with, which shows through his dedication to them. I look forward to watching him grow as a coach in this new role!” said UVU head coach Adam Hall.
His time at NC State started in 2015 when he was a training athlete with the Wolfpack RTC and competed internationally. He saw great success there, including winning the 2017 Henri Deglane Challenge and finishing as the runner-up at the 2016 Bill Farrell and the 2018 Dave Schulz tournaments. In 2018, he took home third at the 2018 World Team Trials while adding a second-place finish at the 2019 Grand Prix of France / Henri Deglane Challenge.
McCall moved into an assistant role with the Wolfpack in 2019 and helped them win four consecutive ACC Championships and aided in the development of 17 ACC Champions, including 2020 ACC Wrestler of the Year Hayden Hidlay and five-time All-American Trent Hidlay.
At the NCAA level, he worked with 15 All-Americans during his four years in Raleigh, … more at … GOuvu.com/Hall-announces-first-addition-to-coaching-staff-with-the-hire-of-timmy-mccall
Sites and dates set for eight 2025 NCWWC Regionals, qualifiers for the national championship for NCAA women wrestlers
The Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Coalition (WCWC), a group of national wrestling organizations which oversee NCAA women’s college wrestling, has announced the sites and dates for the eight Regional competitions which will serve as qualifiers for the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC), set for Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, March 7-8, 2025.
During its meeting on May 23, the NCWWC Executive Committee reviewed bids from 21 NCAA institutions seeking to host a regional. The Executive Committee extended invitations to an institution in each of the eight NCWWC Regions, and all accepted their appointment.
The venue, host institution and competition date for the 2025 NCWWC Regionals are:
Region I – Buffalo State University Arena, Buffalo State University, Buffalo, New York, Saturday, February 22
Region II – Koehler Fieldhouse, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Sunday, February 23
Region III – Shaw Athletic Center, Emmanuel University, Franklin Springs, Georgia, Saturday, February 22
Region IV – Heminger Center, Tiffin University, Tiffin, Ohio, Saturday, February 22
Region V – Merillat Sport and Fitness Center, Adrian College, Adrian, Michigan, Saturday, February 22
Region VI – Hyland Arena, Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Missouri, Sunday, February 23
Region VII – Cowles Fieldhouse, Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa, Saturday, February 22
Region VIII – Kitty Magee Arena, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas, Saturday, February 22
In April, the NCWWC Executive Committee approved increasing the number of regions … more at … NWCAonline.com/NWCA-sites-and-dates-set-for-eight-2025-ncwwc-regionals-qualifiers-for-the-national-championship-for-ncaa-women-wrestlers
Wrestling superstars need more than Olympics to carry the sport
By Kyle Klingman
The 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials are over, leaving hundreds of wrestlers to shelve their dreams for another four years. And only 15 of 18 wrestlers became Paris Olympians after a last-chance Olympic qualifier in May. “Not many finish on top,” said 2000 Canadian Olympian and Simon Fraser coach Justin Abdou. “I was down there with one of my wrestlers. Seeing all these grown men cry reminded me how real and tough our sport is.”
Although many casually mention their desire to make an Olympic team in interviews, the process is beyond comprehension. Imagine selecting an All-NBA team, an All-NFL team, or an All-MLB team once every four years, but the number shrinks by 40 percent.
The United States gets a maximum of six spots in three disciplines (men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman) once every four years in the only event that matters to the general public. “The Olympic Games is a two-week time frame where you have swimming, track & field, and wrestling, and all these sports are there and you watch it every night. And it’s once every four years,” Iowa coach and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Tom Brands said. “You can say what you want but the Worlds are just as important. It’s probably tougher to win a World title and it’s just as exciting. “It’s more about the public perception. There’s only one reason I watch Michael Phelps. I’ve never seen Michael Phelps swim in a World Championship. I don’t even know his credentials. I could guess he’s probably a World champion in something. I know he won 23 Olympic gold medals because it was on primetime television and that’s how wrestling is.”
That’s the allure. A fringe sport with a loyal fan base gets momentarily lifted into a worldwide spotlight. Helen Maroulis, Tamyra Mensah-Stock, Jordan Burroughs, Dan Gable, Rulon Gardner, David Taylor, and Gable Steveson made names for themselves beyond the wrestling base by winning Olympic gold medals. All other credentials are secondary.
No grandchild says his or her grandfather tried out for the World Championships or the NCAA Championships. It’s always, “My grandfather tried out for the Olympics.”
Many are delusional about credentials from the past but mention the word Olympics and heads will inevitably turn. And that’s part of the problem.
Wrestling needs more than the Olympic Games, but it can’t be forced and it must happen organically. … more at … WIN-magazine.com/Wrestling-superstars-need-more-than-olympics-to-carry-the-sport
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 