Penn State’s four-time champ Aaron Brooks wins 2024 Hodge Trophy
By Tristan Warner, WIN Magazine
NEWTON, Iowa – Paralleling his coach, Cael Sanderson, Penn State’s Aaron Brooks won three NCAA titles at 184 pounds before deciding to move up to the 197-pound weight class in pursuit of his fourth collegiate crown this season.
Partly because his body was growing and the weight cut to 184 was becoming more difficult, but Brooks also asserted that he wanted to make his final season more fun by challenging himself to face new opponents at a higher weight class.
Aaron Brooks
It is that type of mentality, the desire to seek new challenges and never become complacent, that propelled Brooks to a dominating senior season that saw the North Hagerstown, Md. native post a 22-0 record with three major decisions, 11 technical falls and six falls en route to becoming just the seventh-ever four-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion. With that final stat sheet, Brooks has officially been named the recipient of the 2024 WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy awarded to the nation’s top college wrestler. Brooks will be presented the Hodge Trophy at the Penn State University wrestling banquet on Sunday, April 7 in State College. Like in past seasons, Brooks will then publicly be presented the Hodge at a football game this fall. For more information on the Dan Hodge Trophy, including a list of all past winners along with the release story and stats from the year they won the Hodge, visit http://www.WIN-magazine.com.
The seventh Nittany Lion to win the Hodge, Brooks comfortably won the vote as he acquired 48 out of 59 first-place votes. The Hodge Trophy Voting Committee is comprised of: a retired college coach from each region of the country, a representative from each of the national wrestling organizations, select national media members and past Hodge winners. Second-place Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa, 184 pounds) received eight first-place votes, Carter Starocci (Penn State, 174) got two votes and Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State, HWT) received one vote.
The Dan Hodge Trophy
Brooks accumulated the highest portion of the fan votes as well, which accounted for the final five of first-place votes. The four-time NCAA champion received 13,416 votes out of the total 26,928 fan votes that were cast online March 26-29. Keckeisen finished second in the fan vote with 9,675, while Starocci finished third with 1,868. “Winning the Hodge Trophy is a blessing,” Brooks commented. “It is like the Heisman Trophy in football, so to know the hard work and dedication I’ve put in is being rewarded with such a historic award is really cool.” “I am really happy for Aaron,” Sanderson added. “He worked hard, kept improving in all of his positions and had a dominating season.”
Founded in 1995 by Mike Chapman, the creator of WIN Magazine, and sponsored by ASICS, the Dan Hodge Trophy is awarded to the most dominant wrestler each year by WIN and Chapman’s company Culture House. The late Dan Hodge was an undefeated three-time NCAA champion at 177 pounds for the University of Oklahoma, and the only wrestler to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated (April 1, 1957). “Aaron Brooks stands tall in the long list of Dan Hodge Trophy winners, not only for his performance on the mat this year (and all four years, for that matter) but for the way he has represented his school and his sport. Penn State has set the standard for team excellence over the past dozen years and also for individual excellence. It’s a pleasure to welcome Aaron to the roll call of Dan Hodge Trophy recipients,” said Chapman. … story at … WIN-magazine.com/Penn-states-four-time-champ-aaron-brooks-wins-2024-hodge-trophy
Beat the Streets’ 2024 Annual Benefit set for June 4 at Ziegfeld Ballroom
The event will feature a fireside chat with Jordan Burroughs and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc. will host its 2024 Annual Benefit fundraising event on Tuesday, June 4 at Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan.
The event will support and celebrate BTS programs that empower New York City students to achieve their goals on the wrestling mat and in the classroom – and honor coaches and partners who make each win a reality. The event will feature a cocktail reception, USA Wrestling Olympic athletes, and a live auction.
Seven-time World and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs will guide a fireside chat with Neil deGrasse Tyson, who will detail his experience as a high school wrestler in The Bronx and how wrestling shaped his success as a World-renowned astrophysicist.
BTS student-athletes and their coaches will be recognized for their accomplishments with awards throughout the evening, and two student award recipients will speak about how BTS programs have impacted their lives. BTS provides a safe, positive atmosphere for student-athletes to learn essential life lessons of discipline, perseverance, self-reliance, humility and a strong work ethic through wrestling.
The BTS Annual Benefit events help the organization raise more than $1 million each year to support local youth wrestling programs, which empower young people in New York City. This year’s event will be the 14th BTS Annual Benefit. The event will start at 6 p.m. Eastern time. … story at … BTSny.org/beat-the-streets-wrestling-2024-annual-benefit-tickets-june-4
Top 60 All-Time NAIA Coaches – TDR # 31 – 78
The coaches are ranked by the number of dual meet wins while they were a head coach at a NAIA school. Totals include matches from the 2023-2024 season.
ALL-TIME NAIA Coaches– Top 60 with at least 55 wins
Active Coaches in Bold
- Milton Martin (Westmar) 462
- Bob Riehm (Southern Oregon) 270
- Franky James (Campbellsville) 251 (16) up 2 spots
- Gerald E. “Jerry” Hampton (Graceland U.) 238
- Mike Ritchey (Southern Oregon) 236
- Mike Machholz (Missouri Valley) 232
- Vern Tate (Huron – SD Si Tanka) 201
- Bill Hughes (Black Hills State) 187
- Nick Mitchell (Grand View College) 182 (13) up 1 spot
- Clayton Ketterling (Waynesburg/Dickinson St) 170 inc.
- Mike Jones (Simon Fraser) 162 inc
- Archie Randall (Oklahoma City Univ.) 160 – Women’s Team
- Don Lemnus (Valley City State) 158
- Jason Moorman (King University) 156 (9)– Women’s Team
- Rodger Jehlicka (Adams State, Chadron St.) 147
- Corey Ruff (Lindsey-Wilson) 135 (7) up 4 spots
- David Ray (So. Illinois-Edwardsville, Montana St.) 135
- Caleb Schaeffer (Providence Univ./Great Falls) 133
- Fran Hummel (Northern State, Midland Lutheran) 133 – inc.
- Don Woods (Northern State) 130 – inc.
- Milo Trusty (Univ. of Mary) 128
- Tom Jarman (Taylor College) 128
- Tyson Thivierge (Montana St. Northern) 121 (7) up 3 spots
- Thadd O’Donnell (Dickinson State) 121
- Arnold Brandt (Morningside College) 121
- Fran Hummel (Northern State) 115
- Corey Ruff (Lindsey-Wilson College) 113
- Lee Miracle (Campbellsville Univ.-Women’s) 112 (13) up 1 spot
- Omi Acosta (Life University) 109 (23) up 4 spots
- Jake Stevenson (Morningside College) 104 (7) up 2 spots
- Jeff Bedard (Reinhardt Univ.) 101 (15) up 3 spots
- Jess Wilder (Univ. of Cumberlands) 101
- K.C. Rock (Embry-Riddle College) 98 (6) up 1 spot
- Archie Randall (Oklahoma City Univ.) 97
- Thomas Pompei (Indiana Institute of Technology) 96 (12) up 1 spot
- Rik Dahl (Northwestern College) 90 (6)
- Donnie Stevens (Cumberlands Univ.-Wom’s) 89 (11)
- Joey Martinez (Menlo) 88 (8)
- Gary Garvis (William Penn) 83
- James Hicks (Cumberland Univ.) 77 (9)
- Sam Schmitz (McKendree) 77 – Women’s Team
- Tim Jager (Morningside) 75
- John Jeffire (Findlay College) 70
- Todd Allen (Williams Baptist/Cumberland Univ.) 69
- Dana Vote (Doane, Midland) 68 (10)
- Steven Bradley (Marian Univ.) — 66 (6)
- James Kisgen (McKendree College) 66 – school now in Div.II
- Colby Crank (Ottawa University) 65 (11)
- Rollie Greeno (Jamestown Univ.) 65
- Aaron Meister (Friends Univ.) 63 (3)
- John Petty (California Baptist/Northwestern) 63
- Cody Garcia (Baker College) 62 (8)
- Joe Privitere (Briar Cliff) — 62 (6)
- Daniel Payne (Embry-Riddle/Nor. Arizona) 62
- Steve Costanzo (Dana College) 61
- Brandon Jorge (Southeastern University) 60 (11)
- Dan Sanville (Warner Pacific) 58
- Bill Kracilik (Colorado Mesa) 58
- Aaron Meister (Friends Univ.-Wom’s) 55 (2)
- Beau Vest (Dana-Midland) 55
- Lenny Zalesky (Calif. Baptist) 55
Top 100 All-Time Division III Coaches – TDR # 31 – 77
The coaches are ranked by the number of dual meet wins while they were a head coach at a Division III school. Totals include matches from the 2023-2024 season.
ALL-TIME Div. III Coaches Top 100 (or so) with at least 130 wins
- Jare Klein (Olivet College) 569 – III
- Bill Racich (Ursinus College) 540 – III
- David Icenhower (College of New Jersey) 534 – III
- John Reese (Wilkes Univ.) 515 – I/III ????
- Max Servcies (Wabash) 487 – III
- Ned McGinley (King’s College) 458 – III
- Roger Crebs (Lycoming College) 450 – III (11)
- Lonnie Morris (Johnson & Wales) 446 – III (24) up 1 spot
- Mike Olson (UNC-Pembroke, Upper Iowa, Monmouth) 428 – II/III ???
- Phil Grebinar (Worcester Poly Tech.) 414 III
- Jim Miller (Wartburg) 413 – III
- Bob Skelton (Western New England College) – 402 III
- Robert Marshall (Del. Valley Coll./Dickinson) – 396 III
- Ron Beaschler (Ohio Northern Univ.) 391 – III (17) up 2 spots
- Al Baxter (Buena Vista Univ.) 376 – III
- Budd Whitehill (Lycoming Coll.) 376 – III
- Don Murray (SUNY-Brockport) 359 – III –
- Bruce Haberli (New York Univ.) 345 –III (10)
- Dave Mitchell (Luther College) 327 – III (12) up 3 spots
- Jeff Swenson (Augsburg Coll.) 321 – III
- Tom Kessler (York College) 321 – III
- Tim Fader (Wisc.-Eau Claire, Whitewater, LaCrosse) 319 (19) up 5
- Steve Eldridge (U.S. Coast Guard Ac.) 317 – III – Inc.,
- Martin Nichols (Ithaca College) 313 – III (14) up 4 spots
- Bob Del Rosa (Case Western Reserve) 310 – III
- Kerry Volkmann (John Carroll) 304 – III
- Daryl Arroyo (Springfield, Mass) 301 – III
- Willie Myers (Wisconsin-Whitewater) 301 – III
- Byron James (Wisc.-River Falls) 297 – III
- Jon Laudenslager (Wilkes University) 290 – III (8) up 2 spots
- Al Sosa (SUNY-Oneota State) 284 — III
- Kenneth Ober (Elizabethtown College) 282 – III
- John Oostendorp (Coe College) 278 – III (12) up 1 spot
- Jay Jones (Rhode Island College) 274 – III (13) up 2 spots
- John Elton (St. John’s {Minn.} 273 – III
- Bryan Brunk (Messiah College) 266 – III (11) up 1 spot
- Frank Cheek (Humboldt State) 261 – III
- Al Hanke (Elmhurst Coll./Lake Forest Coll.{ILL}) 254 – III
- Dave Kemmy (Roger Williams) 251 – III
- Brad Bruhn (SUNY-Cortland) 236 – III
- Randy Steward (Loras College) 235 – III
- James R. Howard (SUNY-Oswego State) 234 — III
- Dave Malececk (Wisc.-Lacrosse) 232 – III (12) up 3 spots
- Sebastian Amato (Trinity College) 228 – III (11) up 5 spots
- Drew Black (Wesleyan Univ/Phoenix.) 227 – III (8) up 3 spots
- John Davis (Maryville College) 224 – III
- Steve Stellner (Montclair State) 223 – III
- Russell “Rusty” Carlsten (Rhode Island College) 222 – III
- Bob Gaudenzi (Hunter College) 218 – III
- Johnny Johnson (Wisc.-Stevens Point) 216 – III (3) up 2 spots
- Jerry Petrofes (Lebanon Valley College) 214 – III
- Tony DeCarlo (John Carroll Univ.) 213 – III
- Donald Montgomery (Mount Union College) 212 – III
- Duane Ritter (SUNY Oneonta State) – 207 – III (12) up 5 spots
- Ron Zalokar (Carthage College) 204 – III
- John Summa (Baldwin-Wallace College) 201 – III
- Earl Fuller (Rochester Inst. Of Tech.) 197 – III
- Gary Franke (Washington & Lee) 196 – III
- Ron Peterson (Simpson College) 195 – III
- Larry Shank (Heidelburg College/Capital) 194 – III
- Jon Egan (Roger Williams) – 193 (10) up 8 spots
- George Olson (Wheaton College) 192 – III
- Richard Walker (Wartburg College/Grinnell College) 191
- Vernon “Finn” Grinaker (Concordia/Moorhead, Mn.) 190
- Mike Howard (SUNY-Oswego State) – 189 (5) up 2 spots
- Sam Case (McDaniel Coll.(West.Md./John Hopkins) 189
- Rich Achtzehn (York College, Penna.) 184
- Eric Keller (Wartburg/Nor.Central Coll.) 183 (15) up 5 spots
- Richard Walker (Wartburg College) 183
- John Hopkins (Scranton University) 183
- Tom Jarman (Manchester, College) 179
- Jon McGovern (Dubuque University) – 178 (7) up 1 spot
- Chester Anderson (Bemidiji State) 177-III (inc.)
- Craig Thurber (Thiel College) – 171 (4)
- Brian Anderson (Wabash College) – 167 (6) up 4 spots
- Claude B. Sharer (Case Western Reserve) 166 – III
- Gene Nighman (SUNY-Cortland) 163-III
- Don Parker (Wisc-Eau Claire/Upper Iowa) 163 – inc
- Charlie Kunes (Susquehanna Univ.) 163
- Joe Galente (College of New Jersey) 158 (13) up 9 spots
- Kevin Puebla (Augustana College, Ill.) 158 – III
- Leo Kocher (University of Chicago) 154 – inc. (6) up 6 spots
- Jamie Gibbs (Baldwin-Wallace) – 154 (15) up 11 spots
- Steve Marianetti (Elmhurst College) – 152 (8) up 7 spots
- John Murray (Ithaca College) 150
- Mike McCarty (S.W.Missouri State) 150
- Barron Bremner (Cornell Coll. / Coe Coll.) 150 — III
- Mike Poe (Millikin College) 149 – III
- Eric Van Kley (Central College ) 148 (12) up 8 spots
- Davies, Gomer H. (Swarthmore) 147 – inc.
- James Holder (Springfield College) 145 (14) up 11 spots
- Mike Duroe (Cornell College) 145
- Chassey, Wilfred (Mass. Inst. Tech.) 145 – inc.
- Biddiscombe, John (Wesleyan Univ./Muhlenberg) – 141
- Alan Zellner (Kutztown/Wilkes Univ. ) 140
- Brandon Brissette (Olivet College) 138 (9) up 9 spots
- Bruce Shumaker (Apprentice School) 138
- Leech, Ray (Ohio Wesleyan) 138 – inc.
- Larry Sciacchetano (Montclair St. & NY-Maritime) 135
- Branden Totten (Delaware Valley College) 132
The 2024 HighSchoolOT All-State Girls Wrestling Team
Lumberton, Jack Britt, and Havelock led the way with three selections each. The first-of-its-kind team has a first team and a second team with two wrestlers per weight class, then 12 honorable mention wrestlers regardless of weight class.
The inaugural HighSchoolOT girls wrestling all-state team is here. The first-of-its-kind team has a first team and a second team with two wrestlers per weight class, then 12 honorable mention wrestlers regardless of weight class.
Since only the N.C. High School Athletic Association sanctions girls wrestling and has only one open classification, the top two finishers made first team and the third- and fourth-place finishers were on second team.
The 12 honorable mention all-state wrestlers — the same number of girls weight classes — are selected without regard to weight class (for instance, 100 pounds could have three HM all-state wrestlers, while 106 could have zero). … story at … Highschoolot.com/2024-highschoolot-all-state-girls-wrestling-team
Top 70 All-Time Division II Coaches – TDR # 31 – 76
The coaches are ranked by the number of dual meet wins while they were a head coach at a Division II school. Totals include matches from the 2023-2024 season.
ALL-TIME Coaches (D-II)– Top 70 (or so) with at least 100 wins Wins
- Pat Pecora (Pitt-Johnstown) 661 (15)
- Doug Parker (Springfield, Mass) 485
- Don Elia (Carson-Newman) 461
- Mike Olson (UNC-Pembroke, Upper Iowa, Monmouth) 428 – II ??
- Arthur “Bucky” Maughn (N Dak State) 408
- David James (Cent. Oklahoma) 396
- Mike Denney (Maryville Univ./Nebr.-Omaha) 389 – retired in 2023
- Vaughn Hitchcock (Cal-Poly-SLO) 353 – II
- Steve Costanzo (St. Cloud Univ.&Dana Coll.) 333 (14) up 1 spot
- Jim Makovsky (Minn. St.-Mankato/Valley City St.) 326 (2)
- Robert “Rummy” Macias (Minn. St.-Mankato) 299
- P.J. Smith (UNC-Pembroke, Campbell) 299
- Vince Monseau (West Liberty St./Peru St.) 286
- Jim Koch (Wisconsin-Parkside) 277
- Mike Sterner (SW Minnesota St.) 254
- William “Bill” Corman (Shippensburg State) 243
- Robert Fisher (Kutztown Univ.) 241 (5) up 1 spot
- Jason Liles (S.D. State/Montana St.-Northern) 236
- Doug Henry (Gannon Univ.) 233 – retired in 2023
- Terry Wetherald (Univ. of Indianapolis – Ind. Central) 230
- Heath Grimm (Upper Iowa Univ.) 229 (19) up 4 spots
- Jason Reitmeier (Augustana College-S.D.) 225 (13) up 3 spots
- Robin Ersland (Minot St./Cent. Mo. St./Calif. (Pa.), N. Mich. 225
- Marc Bauer (Univ. of Nebraska-Kearney) 215
- Mike Wehler (Mercyhurst, West Liberty State) 214 (7) up 1 spot
- Larry Kristoff (So. Illinois-Edwardsville, SW Mo. St.) 212
- Mike Palmisiano (Nebraska-Omaha, Ohio Northern) 200
- Tracy Borah (Western State College) 200
- Jason Valek (Newberry) 194
- Joe Seay (Cal. State Bakersfield) 187
- Allan Abraham (Calif. State San Francisco) 176
- Miles Van Hee (Western State College) 170
- Lars Jensen (Calif. State San Francisco) 170
- Stamatis Bulgaris (Wright State & Dayton) 169
- Ray Kowatch (Ashland College) 167
- John Oxton (St. Cloud State Univ.) 167
- Paul Kendle (Augustana College-S.D.) 163
- Howard Westcott (Portland State) 162
- James Kisgen (McKendree College) D-II – 2013 152 (14) up 4
- John W. Hancock (Northern Col., Col. St. Coll) 152
- Doug Moses (N.M. Highlands, So. Color., Col. St.) 151 – inc
- Bill Garland (Minnesota State-Moorhead) 147
- Roger Denker (Central Missouri State) 143
- Jack LaBonde (Northern Colorado, Col. St. Coll) 142
- John Sterner (Minnesota State-Moorehead) 137
- R.C. LaHaye (Lander/Grand Canyon) 135 (17) up 14
- Scott Ritzen (Chadron State College) 135
- Warren Williamson (South Dakota State ) 134
- Othello ‘O.T.’ Johnson (U. N.C.-Pembroke) 133 (14) up 11
- Dave Shutter (Truman State, NE Missouri State) 133
- Mike McGlinchey (Salisbury State) 133
- Jason Warthan (Indianapolis) 132 (9) up 6
- Jason Ramstetter(Adams State) 131 (6) up 4
- Jack Maughan (Northern Colorado) 129
- Chuck Piper (Colorado Mesa St.) 129
- Ken Caudell (Belmont-Abbey) 127 –– retired in 2023
- Martin Grahn (Portland State) 126
- Dan Hinkel (Kutztown) 124
- Mark Osgood (Ashland Univ.) 121
- Blaine Gorney (Livingstone) 121
- Jesse Nelson (SW Minnesota/Ridgewater) 120 inc. (4)
- Dock Kelly (Lourdes/Anderson Coll.) 117 ** now at NAIA school
- Bob Dalling (East Stroudsburg State) 115
- Dalton Jensen (Nebraska-Kearney) 112 (18) up 10 spots
- Tony Cipollone (Mercyhurst) 112
- Jack Ramey (Kearney State/Fort Hays St.) 107
- Shawn Nelson (Findlay Univ.) 107 inc. (3) up 1
- Seth Bloomquist (Shippensburg State) 105 (1)
- Nathan Osur (Connecticut/Wesleyan Univ.) 103
- Richard Ulrich (Adams State Univ.) 102
- Todd Steidley (Central Oklahoma) 101 (15) up 10 spots
Coaching Retirements
Kocher Announces Retirement After 45 Years With UChicago Wrestling
CHICAGO – It’s an end of an era for University of Chicago wrestling as head coach Leo Kocher has announced his upcoming retirement after 45 years at the helm for the Maroons.
“I cannot imagine a more rewarding professional and personal adventure than the one that has been provided to me by my years at the University of Chicago,” said Kocher. “The opportunity to work with the amazing student athletes who, while handling the most psychologically and physically grueling of intercollegiate sports, at the same time earn a degree from a college which is unsurpassed in its ability to deliver a demanding and extraordinary education.”
Kocher will leave UChicago as the most tenured of all head coaches in the department’s history. He has coached one NCAA D-III champion, one NCAA D-III outstanding wrestler, 32 All-Americans, 144 individual University Athletic Association (UAA) champions, and has led the Maroons to 18 UAA team titles with the last coming in 2023.
Kocher continued by saying, “I am also very grateful for the support and warm friendships shared with so many of my colleagues in Chicago athletics, as well as our college students and university professionals who impacted the lives of my wife Joy and me in our seven years as resident heads in the college housing system. Speaking of Joy, she earns enormous credit and my undying love for her dauntless management of the challenges the spouse of an intercollegiate athletic coach must face. This includes instances of unassisted minding of our three children, competition’s many late evenings and road trips. For the past four decades Joy has dealt with it all with grace and enviable competence.”
Kocher received the school’s John T. Wilson and Norman Maclean awards during his time at the university to go along with several inductions into wrestling hall of fames, numerous Man of the Year and lifetime service awards, and other various recognitions from associations and publications over the years. … story at … UChicago.edu/Kocher-announces-retirement-after-45-years-with-uchicago
And …
CMU’s Tom Borrelli Set to Retire After NCAA Championships
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan’s Tom Borrelli, one of the most respected figures in college wrestling, has announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
One of the sport’s all-time winningest coaches and an iconic name among his peers, Borrelli led the Chippewas to a first-place finish in the Mid-American Conference Championships over the weekend at Kent State. It was CMU’s 17th such title, the 15th under Borrelli. Including regular season crowns, the Chippewas captured a remarkable 30 MAC championships during Borrelli’s reign. He was named the MAC Coach of the Year for a record 15th time on Saturday.
Borrelli will officially step down after the NCAA Championships on March 23, bringing to an end a career that began in 1979 as a high school coach at his alma mater Goose Creek High School near Charleston, S.C. and continued at Riverwood High School near Atlanta.
Borrelli, who joined the college ranks as an assistant at Clemson in 1984, plans to remain heavily involved with the program that he has been instrumental in building and maintaining since coming to CMU from Lake Superior State in 1991. “The program is in a good spot, I think we’re going to have a good team next year, but I think it’s time for maybe a little different direction, some new enthusiasm – just a younger, more energetic person to lead the program,” said Borrelli, who amassed a 414-204 career dual meet record, ranking fourth in victories among active college coaches and second to Oklahoma State’s John Smith among those leading NCAA Division I programs. … story at … Getsomemaction.com/CMUS-tom-borrelli-set-to-retire-after-ncaa-championships
And …
Central Michigan’s Tom Borrelli Took Unconventional Coaching Path
Tom Borrelli will retire as the head coach of Central Michigan after the 2024 NCAA Championships, but his journey was not without challenges.
Mar 13, 2024 by Kyle Klingman
Tom Borrelli still doesn’t know why he was put in charge of his high school wrestling team as a junior. He was only 16 and competed at 98 pounds — the lightest weight class. It was a week before the South Carolina state championships and most of the wrestlers who had qualified were juniors and seniors at heavier weights. The head coach had to leave practice Borrelli became the interim coach for an hour. Nervous and more than a little shocked, Borrelli warmed up the team and put them through a series of drills. After the first set, he noticed that the team was goofing off. That did not sit well with Borrelli. He stopped the entire practice and ripped into the team. “I don’t know what you guys are thinking but I want to do well in the state tournament and I want to finish strong at the end of the year,” Borrelli told the team. “I’m going to practice hard. If you want to practice hard then practice hard. If not, you probably don’t need to be here.”
Borrelli watched as practice resumed. Everyone was working hard. Everyone listened. Everyone responded to the smallest wrestler on the team. “It was the first time I ever had the feeling that I might be able to motivate people someday,” Borrelli said. “That was the first time I ever experienced that I guess.” Experience is something Borrelli had little of when he took his larger teammates to task in 1974. He started wrestling in 10th grade and didn’t place at the state tournament the previous season. He eventually finished second as a junior and third as a senior for Goose Creek High School — but Borrelli admits that South Carolina wasn’t a national wrestling power, either.
As it turned out, Borrelli was never destined to be a wrestler. He was destined to be a wrestling coach. Because his high school didn’t offer the sport until he was a sophomore, Borrelli had to rely on instruction from his father — a former Pennsylvania state champion who served in the Navy for 24 years. His high school wrestling coach was the football coach who understood that wrestling would help the football team.
The elder Borrelli would ask his son what he learned in practice and then they would go out in the yard and work on moves. Remember, this is South Carolina so the snow wasn’t a factor during the winter. Tom learned to execute moves and would return to practice and explain the technique. The coach eventually discovered that Tom’s father was a former wrestler and invited him to be an assistant. … story at … Flowrestling.org/Central-michigans-tom-borrelli-took-unconventional-coaching-path
New College Men’s Teams – TDR # 31 – 75
New Men’s Teams; There have been several announcements about teams that will be started or in some cases re-started this fall for the next season. It is encourage to see the continued growth of opportunities for wrestlers to continue their education while competing in the sport.
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New Junior College teams include Andrew College in Georgia., Big Bend Comm. College in Washington will move from club status to the NJCAA. Bismarck State College in North Dakota and Northern Oklahoma will restart their Junior College teams.
In NCAA Division II California State Poly at Humboldt will restart their men’s program. Felican University in New Jersey will start both a men’s and women’s team. Salem University in West Virginia will start a new team in the fall. A D-II team will end at Notre Dame College as the school is closing.
In NCAA Division III new programs have been announced at Maine Maritime Academy, Misericordia University in Pennsylvania, Penn State-Altoona, and Randolph College in Virginia. All schools will also start a women’s program as they expand their athletic opportunities.
In NCAA Division I Tarleton State in Texas will be starting a men’s program along with a women’s team. This increase will be offset by a fairly new D-I team at Queens University has ended this spring.
In NAIA Westcliff University in California will be adding a wrestling program this fall.
As we learn of new programs being started and other changes we will post the news here.
The 2024 HighSchoolOT All-State Boys Wrestling Team
Forty wrestlers are making the team for the second, third, or fourth season and five have made it all four seasons.
The fourth-annual HighSchoolOT boys wrestling all-state team features 40 athletes making an appearance on the team for the second, third, or fourth time, led by five wrestlers who became our first four-time all-state honorees.
Mallard Creek’s Cameron Stinson, Fred T. Foard’s Brayden Mejia, Reidsville’s Rayshun James, Central Cabarrus’ Charleston Baglio, and Robbinsville’s Kage Williams made the team each year of their high school careers.
Stinson and Williams made history in becoming the 13th and 14th wrestlers in NCHSAA history to win four individual championships. Stinson became the third to do it while having never lost in his career. There are six wrestlers at minimum listed with each weight class. The top two are on first team, the next two on second team, and fifth and sixth wrestlers on third team.
Then, 28 honorable mention all-state wrestlers — twice the size of a 14-wrestler starting lineup — are selected without regard to weight class (for instance, 106 pounds could have three HM all-state wrestlers, while 113 could have zero).
The following athletes now have multiple appearances on the HSOT all-state wrestling team, with Stinson leading the way with four first-team appearances:
- 4-time (5): Stinson****, Mejia*, James*, Baglio**, Williams***
- 3-time (11): Seaforth’s Josh Miller*, Cape Fear’s Samuel Aponte**, Cox Mill’s Cooper Davis*, Northwest Guilford’s Eli Pendergrass*, A.L. Brown’s Trevor Freeman**, Lake Norman’s Eli Murray**, Lumberton’s Jackson Buck*, Hough’s Jackson Rowling*, Cardinal Gibbons’ Liam Hickey*, Topsail’s Ian Fritz*, North Iredell’s Bray Trivette
- 2-time (24): Robbinsville’s Alexis Panama; Rolesville’s Frank Bianco; Pisgah’s Kane Bryson; Avery County’s Cael Dunn*, Cooper Foster*, Benjamin Jordan, and Grant Reece; Uwharrie Charter’s Lorenzo Alston*; Kings Mountain’s Jaelen Culp*; Mooresville’s Jace Barrier and Johnny Merriman; Seaforth’s Gabe Rogers; Morehead’s Elijah Horton; Grimsley’s Grant McCord; North East Carolina Prep’s Ryan Mann; Hickory Ridge’s Colt Campbell; Ragsdale’s Bradley Yokum; Trinity’s Spencer May; Northwest Guilford’s Dylan Pepin; Mount Pleasant’s David McEachern*; Davie County’s Hunter Testa*; Union Pines’ Nicholas Mascolino; Cape Fear’s Landon Sargent*; Lincolnton’s Geviaunta Walker* …. rest of story at lists at … Highschoolot.com/2024-highschoolot-all-state-boys-wrestling-team
Service Academies Have Record Year At NCAA Wrestling Championships
All three military service academies had a place winner at the 2024 NCAA Championships, while Coast Guard crowned its first national champion.
The United States military service academies had a banner year at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, including the first national champion for Coast Guard.
Air Force, Army, and Navy had a place winner at the NCAA Division I Championships for the first time since 2003. Wyatt Hendrickson of Air Force (3rd at 285 pounds), Ben Pasiuk of Army (8th at 174 pounds), and David Key of Navy (8th at 184 pounds) reached the podium of this year’s national tournament.
Chase Randall of Coast Guard won an NCAA Division III Championship at 133 pounds and was named Oustanding Wrestler. Two of Randall’s teammates, Coy Spooner (6th at 197) and Carl DiGiorgio (3rd at 285), also placed.
Air Force Coach Sam Barber On Service Academies At The 2024 NCAA Championships
“Having all three Division I service academies place athletes on the podium in Kansas City hopefully shines the spotlight on what Kevin (Ward), Cary (Kolat), and myself already know about what is possible at a Federal Service Academy if you are committed to pursuing excellence on and off the mat. “All three Academies have the resources, training partners, and world-class coaches to enhance your growth and development in pursuit of NCAA National Titles, All-American Honors, World Teams, and World Medals. Wyatt, Ben, and David proved that to be true this weekend. I have watched all three athletes improve each year on the mat and as leaders on their teams and within the respective Academies.
“Further, it does not take any more time and effort to compete and win at the highest level at a Service Academy. We have the same 20 hours a week that every other program has. Our athletes have big goals and high inner motivation; the three All-Americans this past weekend got there through their willpower, determination, and hard work. As coaching staff and programs, we impacted the results and supported their efforts by ensuring they had every recourse necessary. We spend our time growing and developing our athletes, and they beat a lot of big-board recruits
“Finally, I never promise any recruit a result or an achievement on the mat. That is up to them as they utilize and maximize the resources we make available to them. What I do promise them is a world-class education, the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves, a challenging but fulfilling college experience that will be paid for in a full-ride scholarship, plus a monthly paycheck; upon graduation, you have a guaranteed job making an excellent wage and life long relationships with your brothers in arms that will last your lifetime. “Wyatt, Ben, and David put in the work on and off the mat. … story at … Flowrestling.org/Service-academies-have-record-year-at-ncaa-wrestling-championships
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
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