More Than a Game: How Newport News Shipbuilding Uses Collegiate Sports to Close the Skills Gap
The following story was written for the Manufacturing Skills Institute newsletter by Wes Smith, the Executive Director of Workforce Solutions at MSI.
NEWPORT NEWS – As student debt rises and the promise of a four-year degree delivering a stable career grows less certain, more young people are rethinking the traditional college path. At the same time, employers nationwide face growing challenges in filling skilled positions. The Apprentice School offers a very innovative solution to this—one that combines accredited education, competitive athletics, and a full-time career into a single, debt-free pathway to career success.
With seven NCAA Division III athletic programs—football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s wrestling, baseball, and golf—The Apprentice School delivers the same high-level competition and team experience found at universities, but with a major distinction: graduates leave with nationally recognized trade credentials, years of work experience, and a career at one of the most advanced shipyards in the world.
A Proven Record of Success
- 12 National Championships and 16 Individual National Championships
- 175 current Apprentice Athletes representing 19 states
- Over 500 athletic alumni still with the company—250+ from the year 2000 onward
- 40+ former athletes in upper management at Newport News Shipbuilding … more at … https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46141528/two-vanderbilt-players-suing-ncaa-extend-eligibility
NCAA Releases Proposed Women’s Regional Assignments
The NCAA will host six regionals for the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships.
Although it’s not official, the NCAA released its recommended regional assignments for the 2025-26 women’s wrestling season. There are six regions, and three wrestlers from each region qualify for the 2026 NCAA Championships in Coralville, Iowa, on March 5-7.
This is the inaugural NCAA Championships for women’s wrestling.
There are 10 weights with 18 national qualifiers per weight. Divisions I, II, and III compete at the same tournament.
Click here for full listings with a map on ncaa.org, or view the charts below. Jamestown is transitioning from NAIA to Division II and is not listed, but based on geography, Region Six seems likely if it competes this season.
Region One teams ….. teams in Northeast — N.Y. and New England
Region Two teams ….. teams in Mid-Atlantic — Penna. & N.J.
Region Three teams
| School | Division |
| Allen, SC | 2 |
| Bluefield State, WV | 2 |
| Delaware State University | 1 |
| Emmanuel University, GA | 2 |
| Emory & Henry, VA | 2 |
| Frostburg State, MD | 2 |
| Greensboro College, NC | 3 |
| Huntingdon, AL | 3 |
| King University, TN | 2 |
| Lincoln Memorial University, TN | 2 |
| Marymount, VA | 3 |
| McDaniel, MD | 3 |
| Mount Olive, NC | 2 |
| Newberry College | 2 |
| Presbyterian, SC | 1 |
| Randolph, VA | 3 |
| Southern Virginia, VA | 3 |
| Waynesburg University, PA | 3 |
… more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14514975-ncaa-releases-proposed-womens-regional-assignments
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 