Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Induction for The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum – David Siler

(above David Siler and Milt Sherman)
David Siler – Siler was born in Winston-Salem and his family moved to Raleigh at a young age. He attended Broughton High School, where he wrestled, served as a student athletic trainer, and was a member of the Service Club. After graduating high school in 1981, he attended North Carolina State University, where he earned a varsity letter in sports medicine and worked as an athletic trainer with the Wolfpack wrestling team. By his senior year, Siler was on a full athletic scholarship for sports medicine. He graduated from NC State in 1986 with a degree in mathematics education. While attending NC State, he traveled to Mexico, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic with Athletes in Action, finishing third in an international freestyle tournament.

Siler taught and coached at Havelock High School from 1986 to 2002, where he served as head wrestling coach and athletic trainer for 16 years. He then moved to Havelock Middle School, coaching wrestling and serving as the school’s athletic trainer until his retirement in 2015 after 29 years as an educator. When he was hired at Havelock High School, he became only the second wrestling coach in the program’s history, replacing Wilber Sasser.

During his 14 years as head coach at Havelock High School, Siler built one of the state’s elite wrestling programs. His teams won state tournament championships in 1996, 1997, and 2001, finished as dual team state runner-up in 1996, and captured the dual team state championship in 1997. Havelock also won three consecutive east regional championships in 1995, 1996, and 1997. His teams also reached the regional dual finals multiple times. Siler compiled a dual meet coaching record of 205-68-1 and coached 26 state medalists, six individual state champions, and 11 state finalists. His accomplishments earned him recognition as NC Mat News Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2001, along with USA Wrestling’s North Carolina coach of the year honors in 2001. Known as a man of character and leadership, Siler emphasized mentorship and personal development alongside success on the mat.

 Following his retirement from Havelock, Siler continued his work in education for 10 more years as a math teacher at The Epiphany School of Global Studies. Now fully retired, Siler still supports the Havelock wrestling program and enjoys watching practices and matches when he can. Siler and his wife, Donna, have been married since 1987 and have a son, Andrew, and a daughter, Ashley.

National Wrestling Hall of Fame website.  https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame 

May 26, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

Induction for The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum – Johnny Brown

May 17, 2026 · W.C. Friday Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
2026 honorees for “Lifetime Service to Wrestling”:
Johnny Brown · Charlie Jenkins · Harold Smith
Bryan Tutterrow · Elizabeth Ross Carpenter Shelton
David Siler · Jeff Queen

(above David Rothwell & Johnny Brown)
Johnny Brown – Johnny Brown, a native of Salisbury, is a 1970 graduate of East Rowan High School. Brown was a standout high school athlete who wrestled, played football, and baseball. During his high school career, he wrestled for three years, earning team MVP honors. He capped off his senior wrestling season with a fourth-place finish in the WNCHSAA state tournament at 145 pounds. He also was the co-captain of East Rowan’s undefeated WNCHSAA state championship football team and a member of two teams that captured WNCHSAA state baseball championships.

Following high school, Brown attended Western Carolina University, where he graduated in 1974 with a degree in health and physical education. While in college, he began what would become a 30-year wrestling officiating career, starting in 1973 by calling middle school matches. From 1973 to 2003, Brown was one of North Carolina’s most respected wrestling officials, working 15 sectional tournaments, five NCHSAA state tournaments, and three NCHSAA dual team finals. Brown also officiated football for 50 years, calling his final game in 2025. His football officiating career included the 1992 state championship game and the 2004 East-West All-Star game. In addition, Brown also spent a decade officiating baseball.

In addition to his officiating accomplishments, Brown made a lasting impact as a football, wrestling, and track coach. From 1974 to 1986, he founded the wrestling program and served as head wrestling coach at Corriher-Lipe Junior High School, where his 1986 team completed an undefeated season and captured the conference tournament championship. He also started the wrestling program at North Rowan Middle School in 1988 and coached wrestling at East Rowan High School for two seasons.

Brown taught for over twenty years before moving into administration. He served in various administrative roles within Rowan County Schools for seven years before concluding his career as Director of Transportation, retiring in 2010 after two years in that position.

Known for his integrity, leadership, professionalism, and humility, Brown earned widespread respect on and off the mat. As an official, he was recognized for his command of matches, staying active, and commitment to excellence whether he was officiating a state championship final or a middle school dual meet.

National Wrestling Hall of Fame website.  https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame 

May 26, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

UWW Announces LA 2028 Olympic Qualification Calendar

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 1) — United World Wrestling has announced the calendar for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification.
As previously announced, the LA 2028 qualification cycle will include four Ranking Series events, 2027 and 2028 continental championships, 2027 World Championships, the 2028 continental qualifiers and the 2028 World Olympic Qualifier.
The first event of the Olympic qualification cycle will be the 1st Ranking Series event in February 2027. The Ranking Series event will be held in a new seven-day format from February 15 to 21.
It will be followed by the 2027 continental championships beginning with Asian Championships from March 30 to April 4. European Championships will be held from April 5 to 11, followed by the African Champions from April 12 to 18.
The Oceania Championships will be held … more at … https://uww.org/article/uww-announces-la-2028-olympic-qualification-calendar?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

May 26, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment