Duke Wrestling News
Blue Devils Collect 22-12 Win Over VMI to Conclude 2024
DURHAM, N.C. — The Duke wrestling team collected its third straight victory on Sunday with a 22-12 victory over VMI inside Cameron Indoor Stadium to close 2024. The Blue Devils (4-6) won seven out 10 matches on the afternoon against the Keydets (4-6).
HOW IT HAPPENED
With a 7-3 decision by Gaetano Console, the Blue Devils took a 15-7 lead with three matches remaining. Console, a tri-captain from Barrington Hills, N.J., led 3-2 heading into the third period, but totaled an escape and takedown to jump out to a 7-2 lead with over a minute remaining in the contest. It marked Console’s second-straight win on the season.
The Blue Devils opened the contest with a solid, 10-4, decision by freshman Riley Rowan against Cody Tanner. The win marked the first collegiate victory by Rowan. A product of Perry, Ohio, Rowan registered a takedown in the first period and led 6-3 heading into the final period. He posted a riding time point along with a takedown at the end to net the decision.
After sophomore Raymond Adams dropped a 4-2 decision to Dyson Dunham at 133, the match was even, 3-3. At 141, Christian Colman trailed, 5-3, going into the final period, but totaled an escape and takedown to come away with a 7-6 decision against Phoenix Alyea.
Duke netted a second-straight win as SP O’Donnell never trailed en route to a 5-3 decision versus Raymond Cmil. Eric Doran of VMI posted a 12-4 major decision against Duke’s Logan Ferrero to cut into the Blue Devil lead, 9-7. Duke sophomore Aidan Wallace continued his solid start to the 2024-25 season with a takedown in the first 17 seconds and went on to total a 9-4 decision versus Ryan Vigil. … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2024/12/22/wrestling-blue-devils-collect-22-12-over-vmi-to-conclude-2024-fall
And …
The Heavyweight: Connor Barket Has Big Plans on and off the Wrestling Mat
By: Meredith Rieder
DURHAM, N.C.– Duke wrestling’s Connor Barket is the total package. On the mat, the redshirt sophomore is all about turning pressure into pleasure. Off the mat, the redshirt sophomore is hoping to take all the life lessons and privileges he and other Duke athletes have garnered through sports and share them with young athletes in the Durham community through his newly founded Rising Athletes Foundation.
Barket is off to a stellar start to the 2024-25 campaign with a 14-2 record and a top 30 ranking for the first time in his career. The 14 wins are two shy of his total last season, his first as Duke’s starting heavyweight. He also is fresh off an inspiring summer service trip to Panama through Duke’s ACE program, leaving him inspired to make a difference off the mat.
Barket took the bumps and bruises both physically and mentally in his first two seasons in a collegiate wrestling room. Now he is back with a firm grasp on his physical strengths, which he plays to well, and a mental edge that has grown exponentially — the perfect formula for success.
“I remember my freshman year,” said Barket. “We had a big heavyweight in Jonah Niesenbaum. He was an exceptional wrestler and also just a gigantic human being. He was probably 6-4 and 260. I stepped on campus at about 200 to 205 pounds, and I was expected to go wrestle him every day. Life was completely miserable to start, to be completely honest. It was no fun at all, especially in the sport of wrestling where if you lose, you get your face beat in by somebody else’s hands. So, going through that every day for months makes you question a lot.” … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2024/12/24/the-heavyweight-connor-barket-has-big-plans-on-and-off-the-wrestling-mat
Hanna earns SoCon Wrestler of the Week honors
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell graduate student Shannon Hanna has been named the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday afternoon.
Hanna went 3-0 on Saturday in duals against Wisconsin, North Dakota State and No. 22 West Virginia at the Knockout Christmas Classic. His biggest win of the day was an upset victory over WVU’s Jordan Titus, ranked No. 15 by Intermat. Hanna (ranked No. 28) defeated Titus in a 4-2 decision.
Hanna, a native of Lakeland, Fla., defeated Wisconsin’s Brock Bobzien (7-3 decision) and NDSU’s Michael Olson (4-2 decision) prior to his victory over Titus.
The recognition is the second SoCon Wrestler of the Week award for the Camels this season. … more at … https://gocamels.com/news/2024/12/24/wrestling-hanna-earns-socon-wrestler-of-the-week-honors.aspx
McNeil Named ACC Wrestler Of The Week
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina wrestler Lachlan McNeil has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday morning.
McNeil earns Wrestler of the Week honors from the ACC for the second time in his career.
The Tar Heel 149-pounder went 3-0 at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals on Saturday, picking up wins over Ohio State, Iowa State and Lock Haven.
McNeil collected an 8-2 decision over Ohio State’s 12th-ranked Dylan D’Emilio in the opener, his second-straight ranked victory.
The Toronto, Ontario native followed with a technical fall over Iowa State’s Carter Fousek, rounding out the tournament with a 10-1 major decision over No. 31 Lucas Kapusta of Lock Haven. … more at … https://goheels.com/news/2024/12/24/wrestling-mcneil-named-acc-wrestler-of-the-week
NCAA D1 Wrestling Week 7 Roundup: Do Duals Matter?
The world’s finest collection of noteworthy happenings from the 7th week of the 2024-25 NCAA D1 wrestling season.
We’ve completed another week of rad wrestling from the 2024-25 NCAA D1 season, and we’re here to recap it for you!
Box Scores | Rankings | Last Week’s Roundup
It was a fairly light week of competition as many teams were recovering from the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (which ruled). With limited results to examine, I figure now’s as good a time as any for a brief digression, in which I will answer the question: “Do dual meets matter?”
Regular readers of this blog will know I absolutely believe duals matter. Dual meets are, in my humble opinion, the lifeblood of the sport. They are the engine that powers the collegiate season. Without duals, there would be no season, no season, no fans, etc.
Duals also matter to the sport’s stakeholders. Wrestling is an individual sport, but it takes more than competitors and coaches for the sport to thrive. To maintain the level of funding that many D1 programs enjoy you need buy-in from school administrators, alumni, donors and the community at-large. You need to demonstrate to these stakeholders that your program has value. And the best way to generate enthusiasm from stakeholders is with raucous college rivalries, which are best expressed in head-to-head team competitions.
When people say “duals matter”, this is what they mean.
However, in another more specific way, duals, in fact, do not matter.
And that take is not driven by opinions, but rooted in the rule book. The NCAA team … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13255794-ncaa-d1-wrestling-week-7-roundup-do-duals-matter
Citadel Ousts Limestone in 2024 Finale, Cruises Past Saints 56-0
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Bolstered by a trio of pins from Malik Hardy, Micah DiCarlo and Adam Ortega, The Citadel (3-1, 0-0 SoCon) closed out the 2024 portion of the campaign against visiting non-conference foe Limestone (1-3, 0-0 CC) on a serious high note, powering past the Saints behind a perfect 56-0 margin Thursday afternoon at McAlister Field House.
FINAL RESULTS
The Citadel def. Limestone, 56-0
Thursday, Dec. 19 | McAlister Field House | Charleston, S.C.
125 —Malik Hardy (CIT) over Jeremiah Ellis (LMS), FALL (1:42)
133 —George Rosas (CIT) over (LMS), FOR
141 —Thomas Termini (CIT) over (LMS), FOR
149 —Carson DesRosier (CIT) over (LMS), FOR
157 —Tyler Badgett (CIT) over Malachi Thomas (LMS), TF (17-2, 2:03)
165 —Thomas Snipes (CIT) over Samuel Daniels (LMS), TF (17-0, 2:23)
174 —Ben Haubert (CIT) over Christopher Drakeford (LMS), TF (19-4, 6:01) … more at … https://citadelsports.com/news/2024/12/19/wrestling-ousts-limestone-in-2024-finale-cruises-past-saints-xx-xx.aspx
David Taylor is positioned to dominate college wrestling’s future
David Taylor completed his first semester as the Oklahoma State wrestling coach, and his grades are posted. He earned straight A’s with a team title at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, the second-ranked recruiting class and an undefeated dual record – topped with a 34-9 win over No. 7 Virginia Tech Thursday in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The possibilities for the next decade of his career are as enticing for OSU as they are concerning for the rest of the country.
Seven months before his 34th birthday, Taylor was given the enviable position to coach the winningest program in NCAA history and the unenviable task to follow John Smith.
Sources have told the News Press that Smith fully intended and expected his replacement to be chosen from within, and Smith said he coached a few extra years to set the program up for success. Instead, Taylor was hired and had to earn the team and the fanbase’s confidence as a coach.
He has swiftly done that in the best way possible: by being himself. And the team has taken on the aggressive identity of its coach. “We’re just looking to score the whole time up and down the lineup,” Luke Surber said. “Coach Smith wanted to score, too. But what we’re doing is a little bit different.”
Last season, the Cowboys scored more than 31 team points in one dual. This season, they have yet to score fewer than 32 team points. Smith deserves a lot of credit for the team’s strong finish in the spring leading to its strong start in the fall. “Our guys that have been there and had success at the national tournament – their aura, their demeanor, their work ethic – is super valuable for some of the younger guys on our team,” Taylor said.
But Taylor’s coaching has clearly unlocked something extra in wrestlers such as Troy Spratley, Tagen Jamison, Luke Surber and transfers Dean Hamiti and Wyatt Hendrickson. Especially after Hamiti destroyed No. 4 Lennox Wolak, it would not be surprising to see him win the national title, and that was unexpected when he committed to OSU. … more at … https://www.stwnewspress.com/sports/in-the-loop-david-taylor-is-positioned-to-dominate-college-wrestlings-future/article_fb2ccacc-bea9-11ef-8be9-03c589b71f4b.html
No. 13 Cyclones Go 2-1 at Collegiate Duals
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 13 Iowa State (4-3, 1-0 Big 12) went 2-1 Saturday at the Collegiate duals in Nashville, Tenn. The Cyclones defeated Lock Haven (2-4, 1-0 MAC) and No. 25 North Carolina (4-4, 0-0 ACC) before falling to No. 5 Ohio State (7-0, 0-0 Big Ten) in the final dual of the day.
The Cyclones notched victories over the Bald Eagles, 30-6, and Tar Heels, 23-14, but dropped the finale to the Buckeyes, 29-10.
Kysen Terukina went 2-0 at 125 pounds in his first action of the season while Paniro Johnson and Evan Bockman went 2-0 at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively. Cody Chittum went 3-0 on the day at 157 pounds with an upset over Ohio State’s No. 7 Paddy Gallagher.
Osmany Diversent earned the first top-15 win of his career with a win over Lock Haven’s two-time All-American No. 13 Anthony Noto.
Individual dual recaps from the day can be found below.
Iowa State is back in dual action after the New Year at West Virginia on Jan. 8.
No. 13 Iowa State 30, Lock Haven 6
No. 13 Iowa State took eight of 10 bouts, including four with bonus points, in the first dual of the day against Lock Haven. Kysen Terukina, Jacob Frost, Cody Chittum and Manny Rojas tallied extra points in ISU’s 30-6 victory over the Bald Eagles.
In his first match of the season, Terukina earned a 20-5 tech fall over Lucas Fye at 125 pounds. The Hawaiian tallied five takedowns in the win.
Osmany Diversent notched the first top-15 victory of his young career with a commanding 9-3 victory over two-time All-American No. 13 Anthony Noto. Diversent had a takedown in all three periods.
Frost continued his strong start to the season with a 20-4 tech fall over No. 21 Wyatt Henson at 141 pounds. Frost gave up the first takedown but settled in and turned Henson twice to break the match open. Lock Haven got on the board at 149 pounds when Carter Fousek fell to No. 31 Lucas Kapusta, 9-6. Fousek reversed Kapusta to his back at the end of the second period but time ran out before the Cyclone could accumulate near fall points.
At 157 pounds, Chittum earned bonus points with a 13-4 major decision over Nick Stampoulos, putting Iowa State ahead of Lock Haven, 17-3, at the halfway point. Rojas earned the first dual victory of his career with a 12-3 major decision over Caden Dobbins at 165 pounds. … more at … https://cyclones.com/news/2024/12/21/wrestling-no-13-cyclones-go-2-1-at-collegiate-duals.aspx
Utah Valley tops No. 23 Oregon State, 20-14
OREM, Utah – Utah Valley wrestling defeated No. 23 Oregon State, 20-14, on Friday night inside Lockhart Arena. The Wolverines (4-4) won six of the ten bouts, including major decisions by No. 18 Haiden Drury and Smokey McClure in his UVU debut.
“We embodied grit tonight to take down a top 25, nationally ranked team! It was definitely not the prettiest dual. Both teams had guys out, made mistakes, and had hard-fought wins, but we came out on top. I’m excited for our guys to get some well-deserved rest after this weekend and to get ready for some important matchups in January. Go Wolverines!”
Oregon State got out to a 3-0 lead in the team scores when former Wolverine Kekana Fouret picked up an 11-5 decision over Kaden Bennie in his UVU Debut. Bennie trailed going into the third period but scored on a key takedown and added an escape to make it 10-5 before Fouret held on for the win.
The Wolverines won the next three bouts first with 174-pounder Mark Takara upsetting No. 32 Sean Harman. Takara scored five points in the final minute of the opening period on a takedown and a two-point near fall. He would not score again until an escape to open the third period and hold on for the upset. It is the first-ranked win for the redshirt sophomore from Temecula, Calif.
Caleb Uhlenhopp kept the momentum going in UVU’s favor, going up 3-0 in the first period against TJ McDonnell at 184. The lead was pushed out to 6-0 in the second. McDonnell fought back and cut the lead to 6-3 after a takedown, but it was too late to come back.
Kael Bennie gave the Wolverines a 9-3 lead with a 14-7 decision over Riverton native and Bingham alum Mason Christiansen. The high scoring affair favored Bennie, 5-4, before he extended the lead out to 10-7 after two. In the final period, he sealed the match for his seventh win of the season with a takedown.
Leading 9-3, the Beavers found some life with their ranked wrestlers at heavyweight, … more at … https://gouvu.com/news/2024/12/20/wrestling-utah-valley-tops-no-23-oregon-state-20-14.aspx
No. 6 Ohio State Earns Three Wins at 2024 Collegiate Duals
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 6 Ohio State (7-0) picked up three wins Saturday at the 2024 Collegiate Duals held at the Ensworth Frist Campus in Nashville.
In the first dual of the day, Ohio State defeated No. 21 North Carolina, 23-11. Graduate Carson Kharchla made his season debut and prevailed in his match at 174 over Joshua Ogunsanya (UNC), 10-3.
The Buckeyes opened the battle against the Tar Heels with a couple upset wins by redshirt freshman Vinny Kilkeary at 125 and by true freshman Ben Davino at 133. Kilkeary defeated No. 23 Spencer Moore in sudden victory (6-3) before Davino shut out No. 12 Ethan Oakley, 5-0.
Ohio State cruised to a 36-6 win in the middle dual against Lock Haven with six bonus-point victories.
The Buckeyes closed out the day with a 29-10 victory over No. 14 Iowa State to improve to 7-0 and finished 2024 undefeated in dual competition.
How it Happened
Ohio State vs. North Carolina
125-Vinny Kilkeary (OSU) def. No. 23 Spencer Moore (UNC) | D, 6-3 SV-1
Kilkeary took a 3-1 lead into the second period with a takedown and a Moore escape. Moore added another escape in the second and trailed 3-2 going into the final two minutes. The match went into sudden victory … more at … https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/news/2024/12/21/wrestling-no-6-ohio-state-earns-three-wins-at-2024-college-duals
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
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