Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Lineup Shuffle In The Works For NC State Wrestling

ACC champs Ryan Jack and Jackson Arrington are expected to redshirt this season while Pat Popolizio tries to balance NC State’s short- and long-term needs.
You could make the argument college wrestling is unlike any other sport. You have 10 weight classes, room for 10 starters for your postseason roster. There is no use of a sub at the conference championships or NCAAs, so you must establish your 10 and that is who you roll with striving for a team trophy.

Many programs will see a log jam at a weight class or two each season, making for some tough decisions on who gets that singlet for postseason action.

NC State found itself in that situation as the 2024-25 campaign has gotten underway and has decided to redshirt a pair of 2024 ACC champions this upcoming season in Ryan Jack and Jackson Arrington.

Those lineup decisions were not easy, as Jack was ranked #5 in the preseason at 141 pounds after earning All-American honors last year while Arrington slotted in at #6 at 149 pounds coming off of his sophomore campaign.

“There were a lot of variables that went into those decisions,” said NC State head coach Pat Popoilizio who enters his 13th season at the helm of the program. “You must look at who is returning (on your team), possible weight classes different guys can go, and I think these decisions just opened the door for some talent that we have waiting in the wings to get their opportunity to make a name for themselves. 

“In both the short-term and the long-term, to be able to redshirt those two guys is the best thing for NC State Wrestling.” … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/12979084-lineup-shuffle-in-the-works-for-nc-state-wrestling

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

USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender receives ACES Stephen D. Ducoff Leadership Award

USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender has received the respected Stephen D. Ducoff Leadership Award as presented by ACES, the Association of Chief Executives of Sport.

The Stephen D. Ducoff Leadership Award is given periodically to an ACES Member who has made significant contributions to the organization and its members over time.  The award is in honor of Ducoff, the ACES co-founder, who served as CEO of ACES from 2007 until his passing in 2017.

Rich Bender has been Executive Director of USA Wrestling since 2000, leading one of the most successful National Governing Bodies of Olympic sport through six Olympic quadrenniums, with a focus on the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics . He is one of the longest serving CEOs in the history of the Olympic family, and is the longest serving Executive Director in USA Wrestling history.

From 2010-2016, Bender was elected chairman of U.S. Olympic Committee’s National Governing Body Council, representing over 13,000,000 members from all of the NGBs affiliated with the U.S. Olympic movement. Bender was also elected in 2019 to serve as a USOPC Board Member representing the NGB Council, a position he still holds.

Bender received the award during the ACES Conference in Huntsville, Alabama on October 15.

“It was my honor to present the 2024 award to Rich Bender at the ACES Conference, on behalf of the ACES Board and our members. His wide-ranging positive impact on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement and the sport of … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2024/october/30/usa-wrestling-executive-director-rich-bender-receives-aces-stephen-d-ducoff-leadership-award

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

Jennifer Lopez Pushes Her Son to Wrestling Glory in ‘Unstoppable’ Trailer

Film is based on the true story of Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg but still became a high school and college wrestling champ

By Jon Blistein
A wrestler with one leg embarks on a seemingly-impossible journey to be become one of the best wrestlers in the country in new trailer for Unstoppable, starring Jennifer Lopez and Jharrel Jerome. 

The upcoming film is based on the true story of Anthony Robles (Jerome), who was born with one leg and became a star high school wrestler, even winning a national championship his senior year. But despite his achievements and skill, many of the best college wrestling programs overlooked Roebels for recruitment. In the new Unstoppable trailer, he’s offered a full scholarship to Drexel but turns it down, choosing instead to try to walk onto the team at highly-ranked Arizona State University.  

As the clip shows, Unstoppable will chronicle Robles’ athletic endeavors and his relationship with his mother, Judy (Lopez), who ceaselessly supported her son and his dreams even as she struggled to make ends meet at home. “You make people believe in something,” Judy tells Anthony after reading him a letter sent by a young fan. “When they see you, they don’t see someone who’s missing a leg. They see someone who is unstoppable.” 

Along with Lopez and Jerome, Unstoppable’s all-star cast also features Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Don Cheadle, and Shawn Hatosy. The film is based on Robles’ own 2012 book of the same name, and it marks the directorial debut for Oscar-winning editor William Goldenberg (he won for Argo and also earned nominations for films like Seabiscuit, Zero Dark Thirty, and The Insider). 

Unstoppable is set to open in select theaters on Dec. 6, before arriving on Prime Video on Jan. 16, 2025. … more at … https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/unstoppable-trailer-jennifer-lopez-anthony-robles-biopic-1235147714/

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

Using The Big Lebowski Quotes to Preview the 2024-25 College Wrestling Season

I remember the first time I saw The Big Lebowski. My Dad and I rented it from a Hollywood Video and watched it on our own while my Mom was out of town. I don’t think I got it. I remember it was funny, but I remember being way more confused than I was laughing. I was maybe 13 at the time. Since then my sense of humor has become more developed, and I now regard this as one of my favorites and one of the funniest movies ever made. The timing, layering of the jokes, uniqueness of the characters, and plot. It’s one of one, and it’s funny every time. A couple of years ago I hit some storylines headed into the NCAA season by using Vision Quest quotes. This year I’m doing the same, but with the masterpiece that was at one point the vision of the Coen Brothers. Join me as we roll like tumbling tumbleweeds into some of the exciting things to look for in the NCAA 2024-2025 wrestling season.

“It’s down there somewhere, let me take another look” – The Dude as he gets his head dunked in a toilet by a goon asking for the money.

What a great way to start a movie and introduce us to an icon. With respect to this season though, this was a lot of us waiting for the wrestling schedules before they finally dropped. 

Finally, though, they are out and we can begin planning the excitement we are about to watch. I was picturing myself sitting on a couch with some snacks and a tasty beverage as I watch some of our favorite wrestlers go to work. Whether it’s Michigan and Minnesota, Ohio State against Iowa, or Penn State against Nebraska, we are ready to go! It’s set and we are ready to rock!

“The rug really tied the room together” – The Dude, Walter, and Donnie at various points.

Sadly the rug is gone, and so are some of the greats we had from last season. Vito Arujau, Aaron … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/using-the-big-lebowski-quotes-to-preview-the-2024-25-college-wrestling-season-r99681/

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

Unique Dual Venues for the 2024-25 Season

With the collegiate wrestling season ready to kick off fans are once again excited to fill up the iconic arenas throughout the country such as Carver Hawkeye Arena, Hilton Coliseum, Rec Hall, or Gallagher-Iba Arena. However, it is becoming more and more common for high-level duals and other competitions to take place in other non-traditional venues. Could it be possible that these events outside of traditional campuses allow matches to air on more and more streaming services? The answer is likely yes. It also can create a different environment and hopefully stir up interest around the competition. Whatever the reason, it has led to matches taking place in some interesting spots. In the end, you only really need to roll out a mat and set up a scoring table for a collegiate wrestling match. The following looks at some of the unique venues that will host NCAA Division I wrestling this season.

October 31st –  The “Dual at the Daddy” Wyoming vs. Campbell

Campbell has been at the forefront of avant-garde venues in the collegiate wrestling world. During the 2022-2023 season, the Fighting Camels wrestled Michigan and North Carolina in an airplane hangar at the military base formerly known as Fort Bragg. At one point it rained, and a match had to be delayed while they repositioned an aircraft and closed the hangar doors.

Last year, they faced off against Wyoming in the aptly named “Battle in the Barn,” which, you guessed it, took place in a barn. Of course, it was a very nice barn at the Deerwood Ranch in Laramie, Wyoming. Per the website, the wedding venue features “rehearsal, ceremony and … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/unique-dual-venues-for-the-2024-25-season-r99680/

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