Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

North Carolina Tar Heels Concludes Preseason At Blue & White Showcase

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina wrestling program wrapped up its preseason with the annual Blue and White Showcase Saturday evening  
Blue And White Showcase Results
125lbs: Liam Hickey (Blue) over Cam Stinson (White): 1-0 Dec 
133lbs: Matthew Botello (Blue) over Max Martin (White): 22-7 TF
141lbs: Luke Simcox (White) over Elias Navida (Blue): Fall
149lbs: Mitchell Younger (Blue) over Nikolus O’neill (White): 13-10 Dec 
149/157lbs: Nate Askew (Blue) over Cullen Kane (White): 14-4 MD
165lbs: Luke Sipes (Blue) over Colin Nugent (White): 15-1 MD
184lbs: Jake Dailey (Blue) over Nick Fea (White): 4-1 Dec … more at … https://goheels.com/news/2025/10/25/wrestling-concludes-preseason-at-blue-and-white-showcase

November 2, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Penn State, riding a 71-match dual meet win streak, opens up the season ranked No. 1

Nittany Lions are unanimous No. 1 to start 2025-26
Manheim, Pennsylvania – The National Wrestling Coaches Association has released its preseason Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll, with NCAA champion Penn State opening the year as the nation’s No. 1 team. The Nittany Lions received all 16 first-place votes after finishing last season 15-0 in duals and capturing their 12th national title under head coach Cael Sanderson and 13th overall.
Nebraska, last year’s NCAA runner-up, starts at No. 2, followed by Iowa, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State. The top 10 also includes Iowa State, NC State, Lehigh, Minnesota, and Virginia Tech, representing four different conferences.
The Big Ten Conference once again leads all leagues with eight teams ranked in the preseason Top 25, including seven in the top 15. The Big 12 also places eight programs in the poll, highlighted by Oklahoma State at No. 5 and Iowa State at No. 6. The ACC follows with five, while the EIWA has two teams and both the Ivy League and Pac-12 claim one apiece.
Historically Streaking
Penn State returns nine All-Americans and its 71-match win streak is the longest in the NCAA’s Division I era (since 1973) and is the sixth longest in college wrestling history regardless of division. Oklahoma State holds the major college record of 76, set from 1937-1951.
The NCAA record is 77 in a row, set by Division II St. Cloud State from … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/10/29/ncaa-division-1-men-penn-state-riding-a-71-match-dual-meet-win-streak-opens-up-the-season-ranked-no-1.aspx

November 2, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Two-Sport World Champion: Stephen Neal’s Hall of Fame Journey

Most athletes never become the best in the world at their sport, but Stephen Neal accomplished the feat in both Wrestling and Football.
Few athletes in the history of Cal State Bakersfield – or anywhere, for that matter – have achieved what Stephen Neal did. A two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion, four-time All-American, and winner of the 1999 Dan Hodge Trophy, Neal dominated collegiate wrestling before going on to win the World Wrestling Championships.
Yet, what makes his story even more extraordinary is what came next: a decade-long NFL career and three Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots, all without ever having played college football.
On Oct. 25, Neal will take his rightful place among the inaugural inductees into the CSUB Athletics Hall of Fame, a recognition of a career – and a life – defined by belief, resilience, and relentless work. “My time as an athlete at Cal State Bakersfield meant a lot to me. I was able to get an education … more at … https://gorunners.com/news/2025/10/17/general-two-sport-world-champion-stephen-neals-hall-of-fame-journey.aspx

November 2, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment