Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Lynchburg adding men’s wrestling program

Lynchburg, Va. — University of Lynchburg Director of Athletics Jon Waters announced the addition of men’s wrestling which will compete as an NCAA varsity sport during the 2025-26 academic year. “We are excited to offer men’s wrestling here at Lynchburg,” Waters said. “Wrestling has grown dramatically with the addition of several ODAC programs in recent years and continues to thrive in many of the geographic areas where we are actively recruiting students.”
The Hornets will compete in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference along with seven other schools in 2025-26. Roanoke, Washington and Lee, Averett, Ferrum, and Shenandoah sponsor the sport along with Southern Virginia and Greensboro as associate members. 
Lynchburg opened its nationwide search for a head wrestling coach immediately. The new program will operate out of Crosswhite Athletic Club in Lynchburg, Va., just a few minutes from Lynchburg’s campus. The space features a newly enclosed 12,000-square-foot facility dedicated to the Lynchburg wrestling program, complete with locker rooms and a strength and conditioning area. “The opportunity to partner with Crosswhite on a high quality space to facilitate our program gives us a great opportunity to be successful,” Waters said.
Men’s wrestling will be Lynchburg’s 26th intercollegiate sport and the sixth addition to the athletic department in the last five years. Lynchburg added men’s and women’s swimming in 2018 and women’s golf in 2019. Beach volleyball completed its second season in 2024, and the men’s volleyball program starts up January 2025.
Lynchburg has a history of wrestling on campus thanks to hall of fame athletic director, coach, and teacher Dr. James C. Fox. He brought wrestling to campus in the 1960s and coached until 1984. The Hornets won the ODAC championship in 1980, and Fox was a three-time ODAC coach of the year in the sport. Lynchburg produced 11 individual ODAC champions during its time in the league from 1976-80. The ODAC dropped the sport in 1980, and Lynchburg lost its wrestling program five years later. The ODAC began sponsoring the sport again ahead of the 2022-23 school year … more at … NWCAonline.com/NWCA-lynchburg-adding-mens-wrestling

June 25, 2024 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The NWCA: Developing coaches, advancing wrestling, ensuring sustainability

MISSION STATEMENT: The NWCA brings the wrestling coaching community together to advance the sport and ensure that current and future generations have the opportunity to engage in a safe and educationally-based wrestling experience. This is primarily done by strengthening existing programs, creating new programs, and providing coaches with progressive educational opportunities.
VISION: NWCA is focused on growing the sport through its core competencies:  

  • Coaching Development
  • Advocacy
  • Student-Athlete Well-Being
  • Ensuring the financial sustainability of the NWCA

SUPPORT OUR CAUSE:Spark Progress, Support the NWCA (Link) … more at … NWCAonline.com/NWCA-developing-coaches-advancing-wrestling-ensuring-sustainability

June 25, 2024 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

National Wrestling Hall of Fame inducts Class of 2024, led by Distinguished Members Stieber, Scott, Montgomery, Hatta

STILLWATER, Okla. – The 47th Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame concluded with the Induction Ceremony on Saturday night at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts.

Class of 2024 Distinguished Members were honored at the end of the formal program, each receiving a smaller version of their portrait which will now be displayed on the walls of the Hall of Fame. This year’s Distinguished Members were World or Olympic medalists Coleman Scott, Logan Stieber, Toccara Montgomery plus legendary coach Tadaaki Hatta,

Scott was a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in men’s freestyle, and an NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Oklahoma State. A  two-time Junior National champion and three-time Pennsylvania high school champion, Scott has transitioned into a college coach, including a stint as head coach at Div. I North Carolina.

Scott talked about the many of the ups and downs in life and in wrestling, and how it made him the person that he has become.

“When I think about how I got here, it was the selflessness of others. For 32 years, I have chased a dream. I have done everything in my power to achieve it. As I progress through this, I will be thankful for this sport and what it has done to shape me,” said Scott.

Stieber was 2016 World champion in freestyle, and was the fourth wrestler in history to win four NCAA Div. I titles, which he won for Ohio State. Stieber was a member of the U.S. team which won the 2017 Senior World Championshipes Team, and also led the Ohio State team which won an NCAA team titles in 2015. A four-time Ohio state champion, he is now an assistant coach at his alma mater Ohio State.

Stieber thanked a number of influential people, but chose to spend the majority of his speech thanking his parents.

“I want to talk about my mom and my dad. They sacrificed for us, but I think they enjoyed it. They gave their time, their money and their heart for us. As children, we went on a lot of trips. Two of them were for fun, but the rest of them were for wrestling. Thank you to my mom, my dad and everyone else in my life. I couldn’t be happier,” said Stieber.

Montgomery was a member of the historic 2004 U.S. Olympic team which competed in the Athens Games. Three of the four members of that team are now Distinguished Members, and Montgomery was the first African American woman to wrestle in the Olympics. A two-time Senior World silver medalist and a Junior World silver medalist, she was also a two-time college national champion for the University of the Cumberlands. She first learned to wrestle in Ohio. She was a head coach at Lindenwood University.

Montgomery recalled the time that she heard in high school the announcement inviting boys and girls to join the wrestling team. She is hopeful that more girls will answer that invitation and become part of this great sport.

“Wow. Thank you. This honor is absolutely monumental. It is crazy to see my career come full circle. My list of thank yous is too large to call out here tonight, but that says a lot about the support group that has been behind me,” said Montgomery.

Hatta came from a legendary wrestling family in Japan, and came to the United States to wrestle for Oklahoma State, where he was an NCAA champion and two-time All-American, wrestling for two OSU teams which won national team titles. He became a respected coach at many levels, and coached both men and women at the Olympic Games and World Championships. An art teacher who has done many wrestling paintings, he gives back to the sport by working with youth wrestlers often.

Hatta had numerous people that he thanked … more at … Themat.com/NWHOF-inducts-class-of-2024-led-by-distinguished-members-stieber-scott-montgomery-hatta

June 25, 2024 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment