Takedown Report

Vito Arujau repeats as NCAA Champion

**Nine All-Americans from the EIWA**
By, Austin Sommer, EIWA Sports Information Director
Key Takeaways
Cornell’s Vito Arujau (133) repeats as NCAA Champion!
Cornell finishes in second place as a team.
Nine EIWA wrestlers earn NCAA All-American honors.
F&M’s James Conway earns the Elite 90 Award.
Last season, the EIWA finished the NCAAs with seven All-Americans crowned, matching the 2022 total of seven. This year the conference had two more wreslters make the podium, increasing the total number of All-Americans in 2024 to nine.
Congratulations to the nine All-Americans from the EIWA listed below.
Vito Arujau, Cornell – Champion at 133lbs
Ryan Crookham, Lehigh – 3^rd at 133lbs
Meyer Shapiro, Cornell – 3^rd at 157lbs
Jacob Cardenas, Cornell – 4^th at 197lbs
Luke Stanich, Lehigh – 5^th at 125lbs
Lennox Wolak, Columbia – 6^th at 174lbs
Ben Pasuik, Army – 8^th at 174lbs
David Key, Navy – 8^th at 184lbs
Michael Beard, Lehigh – 8^th at 197lbs

Elite 90 Award Recipient
Congratulations to James Conway of F&M at 184lbs. He was awarded the Elite 90 Award as the participant (of 330 participants) in the NCAA Championship who had the highest GPA. 
The ELITE 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete … story at … EIWAwrestling.org/sports/wrest/2023-24

March 27, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Update 2024 – TDR # 31 – 67 : Top 12 & Awards

Packages of TDR Top 12 Plaques were sent out to Goldsboro, SW Onslow, South Central, Northeastern, First Flight and Pamlico County were mailed out today. We were delayed by the NCAA Division I Championships. The Lee Carroll Award will be presented to Holton Quincy of North East Carolina Prep. The Olivia Neal Award for the top senior female wrestler will be presented to seniors Lillian Prendergast of South Brunswick and Kamilah Brooks of Pasquotank County.
The TDR will announce the 2024 winners of the James Johnson Memorial Award for the most outstanding senior, the Roy Heverly Award for the top underclassman, and the Michael Stokes Awards this week.

March 26, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Grand View (Iowa) Claims 12th Team Championship in 13 Years

PARK CITY, Kan. – Grand View (Iowa) claims the programs 12^th Battle For The Red Banner as they win the 2024 NAIA Men’s Wrestling Championship by 55.5 points. The 67^th Annual event concluded Saturday Night inside Hartman Arena and was hosted by Visit Wichita from February 29^th – March 2^nd.
The Vikings have won the Red Banner in 12 of the last 13 years, which further extends the NAI Record for team titles. Former members Adams State (Colo.) and Central State (Okla.) are tied for second with eight each. In total, Grand View has 39 individual championships, which is now tied for first all-time with former member Simon Fraser (B.C.).
Saturday’s schedule included Session IV which saw the Sixth Round (Consolation Semifinals) and Placement Round (Third, Fifth and Seventh place) wrestled in the morning. After the midday break for the facility to be switched over and the Parade of All-Americans, Session VI saw the Championship Finals competed live on ESPN3.
Click HERE to see the full schedule and results page. Click HERE for the final team scores of the 2024 championship.
Session V Highlights:

• Sixth Round (Consolation Semifinals) and Placement Round (Third, Fifth and Seventh Place) Notes:
• 125 – No. 1 Aden Reeves of Grand View (Iowa) worked his way back the long way to claim third place defeating No. 2 Brandon Orum of Life (Ga.) who was the 2023 champion. No. 6 Trevor Marsman of Cornerstone (Mich.) won in sudden victory for fifth over No. 16 Allen Calderon of Indiana Tech. No. 4 Brody Gee of Saint Mary (Kan.) recorded a fall in 1:20 to claim seventh over No. 5 Izaeah Beavers of Campbellsville (Ky.).
• 133 – No. 1 Carson Taylor of Grand View (Iowa) defeated No. 6 Dominic Chavez of Texas Wesleyan for third place; Chavez is the first All-American in school history earning fourth. CaRon Watson of Briar Cliff (Iowa) upsets the fifth seed Jackson Cockrell of Grand View for fifth place. No. 8 Andrew Voiles of Southeastern (Fla.) won by injury designation over No. 3 Sammy Shires of Cumberland (Tenn.) in the seventh place match
• 141 – No. 4 Nicholas Yancey of Cumberlands (Ky.) won by decision to claim third over No. 5 Kael Brisker of Southeastern (Fla.). No. 7 Cade Manion of Oklahoma City earned a fall over unseeded Gage Hudson of Cumberlands (Ky.) to claim fifth while No. 12 Edrich Nortje of Dicksinson State (N.D.) defeated unseeded Aric Williams of Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) by fall for seventh
• 149 – No. 4 Parker Dobrocky of Southeastern (Fla.) upset the top overall seed Blake Gonzalez of Grand View (Iowa) in the third place match. Trailing the whole bout, No. 9 … story at … https://www.naia.org/sports/mwrest/2023-24/Releases/DayThree

March 25, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NCWHOF INVITATION AND REGISTRATION FORM

ONE OR MORE OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CLASS OF 2024 HONOREES AND THE NATIONAL
WRESTLING HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THE 20th
“HALL OF FAME DAY” CELEBRATION ON MAY 19, 2024 AT THE FRIDAY CENTER IN
CHAPEL HILL. THE SOCIAL WILL BEGIN AT 2:00 P.M. WITH DINNER SERVED AT 3:00 P.M.
THE AWARD PRESENTATION WILL FOLLOW DINNER.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS BANQUET IS TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR
YEARS OF COMMITMENT AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS TO OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. THE
CLASS OF 2024 HAS GIVEN COUNTLESS HOURS OF THEIR TIME INSTILLING IN YOUNG
PEOPLE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE. THE LIFETIME SERVICE
TO WRESTLING AWARD IS FOR YEARS OF DEDICATION TO THE SPORT OF WRESTLING AS
A COACH, OFFICIAL, OR CONTRIBUTOR. THEY WILL BE PERMANENTLY RECOGNIZED AT
THE NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA.
The Class of 2024
“Lifetime service to wrestLing” award
Neal Dorow Ed Duncan
Mark Harris Barry Nelms
Ben Watson Josh Moore
Outstanding American
This is an opportunity for you to honor these great individuals and promote
the positive aspects of our oldest and greatest sport—“wrestLing”! a
registration form is encLosed for the “haLL of fame day” celebration.
Please complete the appropriate sections and return to the address listed.
We are looking forward to May 19th—a great day for north caroLina’s
outstanding individuals and the sport of wrestling.
North Carolina can be proud of these deserving honorees.
Yours in wrestling,
Rex wells, President
North Carolina Chapter
REGISTRATION FORM
2024 North Carolina “HALL OF FAME DAY” CELEBRATION
Location: The Friday Center Chapel Hill, NC
Banquet Registration
Please make a check ($60.00 per person) payable to “National Wrestling Hall of Fame, North Carolina Chapter” and return
by May 11, 2024.
Name_______________________________________________________________
Total Number Attending _
NAME(S) OF GUEST(S): (Please print neatly. Name tags will be made from this.)

Total Amount Enclosed for Tickets _____
I (WE) ARE ATTENDING IN HONOR OF (RECIPIENT’S NAME): __________________________________
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
HONOREES’ SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION
Yes, I (We) want to honor (Honorees’ Name(s) _______________________________________________

And support the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum by sending a special contribution in the name of the abovementioned Honoree(s).
_ $25 $50 _ $100 $250 Other Amount ____
The NWHOF is a 501(C) 3 Corporation. Any Special contributions made on behalf of an honoree is tax deductible. Your name will
be included on The Special Contribution Page in the Banquet Program. Please write below how you wish to have your name listed.

RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO: National Wrestling Hall of Fame
North Carolina Chapter
123 Foxden Drive Unit 204
Fletcher, NC 28732
(828) 779-1474

https://nc-nwhof.ticketleap.com/2024-north-carolina-chapter-of-the-national-wrestling-hall-of-f/
Please check-in at the registration table that day. If you purchase tickets online, please e-mail the names to rexwells1977@gmail.com to have name tags made.

March 25, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

New Head Coaches and New Teams

Cal Poly Humboldt Welcomes Lennie Zalesky as New Men’s Wrestling Coach
By Drew Gwerder
ARCATA, Calif. — Cal Poly Humboldt Executive Director of Athletics, Dr. Nick Pettit announced the hiring of Lennie Zalesky as the new Head Men’s Wrestling Coach on March 11, 2024. Zalesky comes to Humboldt after following head coaching stints at Division I California Baptist University and UC Davis over the past two decades. 
“Coach Zalesky is an outstanding fit for our university, athletic department, and community,” said Pettit.  “His ties to California wrestling along with his coaching and teaching experience, commitment to academic excellence and desire to create a championship culture and experience for our student-athletes made him the clear choice for Cal Poly Humboldt.”
Zalesky was named the California Baptist University wrestling head coach in June 2011. In 11 seasons, Zalesky led CBU to a 71-70-1 overall record, 17-7 in conference and four top-three national finishes. He was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2016, and was also named Division II Coach of the Year in 2017. He has coached his wrestlers to a total of 35 All-American awards and seven individual national championships, including three at the NCAA level. The Lancers also won a program-best 13 duals in the 2014-15 season. 
As an NCAA Division I member, CBU has produced nine All-American finishes in two seasons at the National Collegiate Open. Zach Schrader was the top finisher of them all, as he won the 2019 heavyweight championship. 
More than athletics, the program has excelled academically, as well. In Division II, the Lancers finished in the top 14 of the All-Academic team standings four times, including three top-10 performances. Nolan Kistler won the Elite 90 Award – presented to the wrestler with the highest GPA competing at the NCAA Championship site – for the third year in a row in 2018 to become the first student-athlete to win it three consecutive years at the same sport.
Zalesky went to CBU after nine years as the head coach at NCAA Division I UC Davis. He was a three-time NCAA All-American and a former assistant coach at powerhouse Iowa and has extensive coaching experience at both the prep and collegiate levels as well as international experience as an athlete.
Zalesky coached nine seasons at UC Davis before the program was dropped prior to the 2010-11 season. … story at … Humboldtathletics.com/Cal-poly-humboldt-welcomes-lennie-zalesky-as-new-mens-wrestling-coach
And …

Elmhurst University to Add Women’s Wrestling in Fall 2024
By: Matthew Haufe, Director of Athletic Communications
ELMHURST, Ill. – Elmhurst University has announced the addition of women’s wrestling to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics program. The team is slated to start competition in the fall of 2024, and will increase the total number of athletic offerings at Elmhurst to 21 varsity sports.
“This is a historic day for Elmhurst University Athletics. We are very excited to add women’s wrestling as a varsity sport. The sport of wrestling has a rich tradition here at Elmhurst University and we look to build a nationally competitive women’s wrestling program,” Director of Athletics Glen Brittich said. “The student-athlete experience is always at the forefront of our minds and we are excited to offer this opportunity to all the women wrestlers across the country looking to have a rich and competitive Division III collegiate athletic experience.”
“Elmhurst University is thrilled to add women’s wrestling to our athletic offerings. The program will provide an increased opportunity for women on our campus to participate in varsity sports, and we are excited at the prospect of being on the forefront of the growth of women’s wrestling,” said Elmhurst University President Troy D. VanAken. “It is great to join the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin as the league’s fifth core member school offering the sport, and we are excited to begin competition in the near future.”
Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, … story at … Elmhurstbluejays.com/Elmhurst-university-to-add-womens-wrestling-in-fall-2024
Ad …

Northampton Athletics to Add Men’s and Women’s Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Northampton Community College Department of Athletics is excited to announce the addition of Men’s and Women’s Intercollegiate Wrestling, set to begin competition in the fall of 2024. Northampton will become the NJCAA’s 3rd men’s program and 2nd women’s program in the state of Pennsylvania. With the addition of the two wrestling programs, Northampton will now sponsor nine (9) intercollegiate sports, beginning in the 2024-25 academic year (Men’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Volleyball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Men’s Wrestling and Women’s Wrestling). “We are extremely excited to launch men’s and women’s wrestling at Northampton,” stated Director of Athletics Troy Tucker, “I believe it is a natural fit for the college given the strength of high school wrestling in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. I think we can be competitive on a national level very quickly.” … story at … NCCspartans.com/Northampton-athletics-to-add-mens-and-womens-wrestling
And …

Chris Freije named Head Wrestling Coach
Frejie comes to Highlands
Las Vegas, NM- Chris Freije has been named the Men’s Head Wrestling coach at New Mexico Highlands University, the announcement made today by Shanna Halalilo and Jim Deisler, Co-Athletic Directors at NMHU. Freije will take over the program following the conclusion of the NCAA Championships in March.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Chris be our Head Wrestling Coach. He’s not only experienced, but extremely passionate about Wrestling and we’re excited to see him find success with the program.”
Chris brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to NMHU’s wrestling program. He is a NCAA DII National Finalist for Western Colorado University, an RMAC/Super Region 4 champion who has competed both for Arizona State University and Western Colorado University.
During his coaching tenure, Chris has coached over 30 National Qualifiers, 3 NCAA DII National Champions, 16 NCAA DII All-Americans, 15 NCAA DII Super Region Champions, and Multiple NCAA DII Super Region finalists. Chris currently serves as the Associate Head Coach at Lander University and has been instrumental in their rise to a top program in the country in only three seasons. Chris is originally from Arizona and will use his ties to the Southwest community in developing the wrestling program at NMHU. “I’m ecstatic to be named the next head coach of New Mexico Highlands University Wrestling. … story at … NMHUathletics.com/Chris-freije-named-head-wrestling-coach
And …

Rio Grande adds Women’s Wrestling, names Ward head coach
By RANDY PAYTON
Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio – The University of Rio Grande has announced the addition of women’s wrestling as a varsity sport for the 2024-25 school year and has named Alexia Ward as the program’s head coach.
Rio Grande athletic director Jeff Lanham made the announcement Thursday morning. “This is an historic day for the University of Rio Grande Athletics. We’re very excited to add women’s wrestling as a varsity sport,” Lanham said. “Women’s Wrestling is the fastest-growing sport in the country. With the hiring of coach Ward, Rio is prepared to provide an increased opportunity for women on our campus to participate in a varsity sport and to be a part of leading the growth of women’s wrestling.” Ward is a 2020 graduate of McKendree University, an NCAA Division II school located in Lebanon, IL.
     She was named a Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association All-American in 2015-16 and was an NCAA National Champion in the 130-pound bracket during the 2019-20 season. Ward served as a volunteer assistant coach at McKendree for each of the past four seasons. “I’m beyond excited to start a women’s program at Rio Grande. My passion for fostering the growth of women’s wrestling and guiding others towards achieving their goals runs deep,” she said “I am confident that we can cultivate an exceptional program where our main focus is to provide young athletes with opportunities for personal growth both on and off the mat.” … story at … RIOredstorm.com/sports/wwrest/2023-24/releases

March 22, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NAIA dual records 2024 – TDR # 31-66

The records listed below were what we could find for the dual meet records of NAIA schools for the 2023-2024 season. We were not able to find the records for several schools and we ask for records to be sent in. We seek your input so that our totals can be complete. Send to martinkfleming@gmail.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 22, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

USA Wrestling sets new total membership record and surpasses 300,000 members for the first time

Mar. 15, 2024, 10:38 AM (ET) by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Today, USA Wrestling has surpassed the milestone of 300,000 total members for the 2023-24 membership year. Total membership includes athlete members, as well as Wrestling Leader (coaches and/or officials) members. This is a first for the organization, going all the way back to its founding in 1968. Early in the day on Friday, March 15, member No. 300,000 was Kaylee Stolley of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, a 13-year old girl wrestler from the Bonners Ferry Wrestling Club.
Earlier this week, USA Wrestling also set a new record for total membership in a year, surpassing the previous record of 296,583 total members, set in the 2022-23 membership year.
There are still five-plus months left in the USA Wrestling membership season, which ends on August 31, 2024. The new records will continue to increase until the membership year concludes. The membership record eclipsed is not just the total number of athletes, as USA Wrestling has also exceeded other key membership records, including (at the time of publication):

• All-time record number of athlete members – 254,318 (breaking 2023-23 record of 252,994)
• All-time record number of Wrestling Leader members – 45,918 (breaking 2023-24 record of 43,608)
• All-time record number of female athlete members – 38,671 (breaking 2023-24 record of 35,833)

Note: These totals continue to grow in live time.
This success only occurs due to the hard work and commitment of USA Wrestling’s volunteers, including its state association leaders, who conduct the programs and activities on the regional, state and local levels on a daily basis. “We constantly remind our grassroots leaders across the nation their importance to providing opportunities for wrestlers, coaches and officials, and these numbers are testament to that collective impact. It was only five years ago, the 2018-19 membership season, where USA Wrestling went over 250,000 members for the first time, and here we are less than seven months into the membership season and we’re already over 300,000 members…that is truly special for our organization,” said Tony Black, USA Wrestling Director of State Services.
At this time, the top 10 USA Wrestling state associations for total membership are:
1. Illinois – 23,593
2. California – 21,599
3. Washington – 16,899
4. Kansas – 16,288
5. Wisconsin – 13,733 … story at … Themat.com/news/2024/march/15/usa-wrestling-sets-new-total-membership-record-and-surpasses-300-000-members-for-the-first-time

March 22, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NCAA Division I Nationals – K.C. – 2024

Note; There are numerous pages, reports and sources for information about the D-I Nationals or “The Big Show” as it is called by us wrestling fans. There are reports of some other sporting event this weekend but who can notice that with all this wrestling going on?!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NCAA announces at-large selections for 2024 DI wrestling championships
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA announced the 47 at-large selections for the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Kansas City. 
🤼 MORE COLLEGE WRESTLING 🤼 🚨 Alerts and updates on Bleacher Report
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The at-large selections, listed in alphabetical order in each weight class, join the 283 student-athletes that qualified through their conference tournament finishes over the weekend.  The at-large selections were made by the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee using the following selection criteria: head-to-head competition, quality wins, results against common opponents, winning percentage, ratings percentage index, coaches ranking and conference tournament finish.
🤼‍♂️ Click here for the full field qualifiers list
… story at … NCAA.com/news/NCAA-announces-large-selections-2024-di-wrestling-championships
And …

Breaking down the 2024 NCAA wrestling at-large bids
With the final 47 at-large bids officially allocated today, all 330 NCAA qualifiers have now been announced. Let’s break down some of the most notable at-large bid decisions. 
All-Americans Will Feldkamp, Carter Starocci, Bryce Andonian, Brandon Kaylor and Michael Blockhus earn at-large bids 
The biggest story heading into the 2024 conference weekend was the health of Penn State’s three-time NCAA champion Carter Starocci at 174 pounds. After injuring his leg in his final match against Edinboro, Starocci’s status was uncertain. The Penn State coaches did not provide any specifics on the nature of Starocci’s injury or his potential to compete for another Big Ten title, but a social media clip posted by the team’s account featuring Starocci walking into the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland ahead of the Big Ten tournament prompted fans to think that Starocci might have been healthy enough to wrestle and earn an auto-qualifying spot. … story at … NCAA.com/news/wrestling/Breaking-down-2024-ncaa-wrestling-large-bids
And …

2024 NCAA wrestling championships: Schedule, brackets, results
Brackets for the 2024 Division I wrestling championship have been revealed following the selection show on NCAA.com. Below are championship matchups along with all 47 at-large selections. 
Click to see 2024 brackets.
Click for all 47 at-large selections. … story at … NCAA.com/d1/2024-ncaa-wrestling-championships-schedule-brackets
And …

The Best Wrestlers Who Didn’t Qualify For NCAAs
The best guys at each weight class who won’t be competing in Kansas City.
Mar 12, 2024 by JD Rader
While we still have to wait another day for brackets, the NCAA has released at-large bids, which means the entire field for Kansas City is set. You can find that HERE. Today · 11:00 AM CDT
2024 NCAA Championships Watch Party
Below is a list of the best guys who didn’t make the cut.
125
#24 Spencer Moore, UNC (15-5) #25 Colton Camacho, Pitt (11-12) #28 Trever Anderson, UNI (11-12) #30 Dominic Mendez, Cal Poly (15-12) Jack Maida, American (15-5) Anthony Molton, Campbell (21-5)
133
#22 Vincent Santaniello, Pittsburgh (15-4) #23 Anthony Madrigal, Illinois (7-5) … story and list at … Flowrestling.org/Best-wrestlers-who-didnt-qualify-for-ncaas
And …

WIN Magazine’s March 12 Tournament Power Index
NEWTON, Iowa — The NCAA is just a couple days away from announcing its full 330-wrestler field, brackets and seedings and there could be at least two new top-ranked wrestlers — Penn State’s Braeden Davis and Oklahoma State’s Daton Fix — according to WIN Magazine’s March 12 individual rankings and Tournament Power Index, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic, who could be in position to get the top seed at their respective weights. 
Davis, a true freshman, moved up nine spots from WIN’s previous rankings to take over the top spot at 125 pounds after the Nittany Lion won last week’s Big Ten Championships. Fix, a four-time All-American, meanwhile, is ranked No. 1 after the Cowboy captured his fifth Big 12 championship last weekend.
Meanwhile, two-time defending national champion Penn State continues to be the favorite to win the team title at the 2024 NCAA Division I Championships, March 21-23, in Kansas City. All 10 Nittany Lions are ranked in the Top 8 of their weight class, including six rated No. 1. In addition to Davis, Beau Bartlett (141), Levi Haines (157), Carter Starocci (174), Aaron Brooks (184) and Greg Kerkvliet (Hwt) are all ranked No. 1. The Nittany Lions have amassed 160.5 points in WIN’s Tournament Power Index, which predicts team standings at the NCAA Division I Championships, based on a point total associated with individual placement and advancement points that could be scored at the 2024 NCAAs, excluding bonus points. After Penn State, No. 2 Iowa (66.5), No. 3 Oklahoma State (63), No. 4 NC State (60) and No. 5 Iowa State (58.5) round out the top five.
It should be noted that WIN’s individual rankings are not simply an update of recent wins and losses, but more of a prediction at this point in the season of where wrestlers will finish at the NCAA Championships taking potential seeds into consideration. The following is a breakdown of those TPI points: 20 for 1st place, 16 for 2nd, 13.5 for 3rd, 12.5 for 4th, 10 for 5th, 9 for 6th, 6.5 for 7th and 5.5 for 8th. Wrestlers ranked 9-12 earn two points each, followed by one and a half points for wrestlers ranked 13-16 and one point for those ranked 17-20. … full list at … WIN-magazine.com/Pre-ncaa-rankings-released-by-win
And …

New Faces Highlight Thrilling Big Ten Tournament
Saying that the Big Ten Wrestling tournament was one of the most exciting events of the college wrestling season isn’t exactly saying much. You might as well tell some that the sky is blue. But this year’s tournament was different. Because not only was it thrilling, but it delivered several fresh faces that could be stars in the college wrestling world for years to come.
This year’s Big Ten finals featured 12 first-time finalists and an incredible eight first-time Big Ten champions.
Only Penn State’s Levi Haines and Aaron Brooks were repeat winners. None of the eight first-time winners are out of eligibility following the 2023-24 season, and only Greg Kerkvliet of Penn State has even discussed the idea of wrapping up his college career following the completion of the season. So, what did these first-time winners have to say? Well, gratitude was a common theme. But so was the idea that, for them, the Big Ten Tournament only marks the start of their quest to top the podium in March. “In a conference like this, there’s a hammer every weekend,” Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez said after his 4-1 win over Beau Bartlett of Penn State. “So you have to be ready. Knowing I could have a Real Woods or a Lemley or a Hardy that next weekend makes me work that much harder. “But, you know, none of this matters unless I get a national title. So the work doesn’t stop yet.”
That was a common refrain among the conference champions. Even those such as Rutgers’ Dylan Shawver, who most fans would not have predicted to come out of a stacked 133-pound weight class. “I manifest these things,” Shawver said of his big weekend. “When I say I manifest them, I think about it. I know it’s going to come true as long as I believe. And that’s me, I believe. Once you give up, you lose all hope. And that’s something I don’t have. I always give it all. And giving it all is what matters.” That confidence is something that Illinois’ Edmond Ruth said that he’s developed since joining the Fighting Illini after starting his career at Lehigh. Ruth’s path to a championship at 174 pounds was unconventional. Both top-seeded Carter Starocci of Penn State and No. 2 Shane Grifftih of Michigan defaulted out of the tournament, with the latter doing so in the final. But Ruth isn’t taking any less pride in his accomplishment. … story at … Intermatwrestle.com/New-faces-highlight-thrilling-big-ten-tournament
And …

Making Sense of the 2024 NCAA Brackets
Last night, brackets for the 2024 NCAA DI Championships were released. As the NCAA selection show progressed, or people found a way to fast forward ahead, social media and message boards quickly exploded with plenty of chatter regarding the brackets. 
Generally, I’ve thought that the brackets generated over the past couple of years have been decent. I understand that people are going to have gripes any way you try to sort out seeding 330 wrestlers in ten groups of 33. Usually, a lot of that negative feedback can be attributed to some sort of team or family association. It can be difficult to digest the cold-hard facts when your heart is involved.  Speaking from an outside observer, someone who doesn’t have an affiliation to one particular school or doesn’t have a child in the tournament, the 2024 brackets were….eh, not particularly good. 
Let’s talk about ‘em.
1. The system is formula-driven
There is an NCAA Championship Committee that meets to determine at-large berths and to compile the NCAA brackets; however, a large portion of their job is formula-driven. Wrestlers get a certain number based on the coaches rankings, … story at … Intermatwrestle.com/Making-sense-of-the-2024-ncaa-brackets
And …

How Many Points Will Each Conference Score At NCAAs?
How many points will the teams in each conference cumulatively score at 2024 NCAAs? What about in 2025? And how does that compare to the recent past? Mar 14, 2024 by Andrew Spey
We’ve already shown you how many points each college wrestling team will score at the 2024 NCAA Championships based on seeds (click here!), but what about the number of points each entire conference will score, also based on the seeds?
More NCAA content: Qualifiers by State | Qualifiers by School
Good question, read on and we’ll show you! Today · 11:00 AM CDT
2024 NCAA Championships Watch Party
2024
We used the projected finishes based on seeds and added up approximate advancement and placement points but did not factor in potential bonus points. That produced the following table for this year’s championship.

Five Thoughts on NCAA Wrestling Championships Brackets
Ten individual brackets, each with 33 wrestlers, is a lot to think about.
The NCAA revealed Wednesday night the brackets for the NCAA Wrestling Championships, which starts next Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri. All 10 Oklahoma State wrestlers qualified for the tournament, with 133-pounder Daton Fix being the Cowboys’ only top seed. You can see the full brackets here if you haven’t yet. Later in the week I’ll break down each bracket and every Cowboys’ path to a national title or All-American status, but first, here are five thoughts after my first glance of the brackets.
1. Daton Fix Was Gifted
No road to the NCAA finals is smooth, but Fix has a paved Oklahoma state highway to the 133-pound final in his fifth and final appearance in the tournament.
I tweeted (or X’d, I don’t know?) Wednesday night that my initial thought from the brackets was that Fix was finally gonna win a natty after coming up short in the finals three times. Immediate reactions are overreactions, but I don’t think my take is quite Stephen A.-esque. The committee gave Fix a parting gift after seven years of bad luck. Fix got the No. 1 seed for the third time in his career after going 17-0 this season. Despite his perfect record and becoming the first five-time conference champion in Big 12 and OSU history, Fix getting the top spot here is actually a bit of a surprise. … story at … Pistolsfiringblog.com/five-thoughts-on-ncaa-wrestling-championships-brackets
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Facts, Trends, and Numbers from the 2024 NCAA Championships
With the at-large’s announced on Tuesday and brackets released Wednesday, the NCAA Championships are officially looming. And now, less than a week away. Before we get into the meat and potatoes of our previews, here’s a fun look at the NCAA Tournament and its competitors (individuals/teams). It’s some of the facts, trends, numbers, and overall randomness that you never thought to look up about the participants of the 2024 NCAA Championships.
Conference-Related Notes
Since 2011, 13 different freshmen have captured Big Ten titles. Seven have wrestled for Penn State. They are David Taylor, Ed Ruth, Bo Nickal, Aaron Brooks, Levi Haines, and now Braeden Davis and Mitchell Mesenbrink.  The others are Silas Allred (‘23), … story at … Intermatwrestle.com/Facts-trends-and-numbers-from-the-2024-ncaa-championships

March 21, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NCWA National Championships – 2024

Bellarmine men repeat as NCWA Nationals champions with six individual golds, Liberty takes second
Mar. 17, 2024, 12:24 AM (ET) by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
BOSSIER CITY, Louisiana – Led by six individual champions, Bellarmine repeated as men’s team champions at the NCWA Nationals. Bellarmine, in transition to NCAA Div. I, had nine of their 10 entries earn All-American honors, all placing fourth or better. Bellarmine finished up with 245.5 points, with runner-up Liberty at 182 points. Thomas More placed third with 143.5 points, The Apprentice School in fourth with 125.5 points and Lindenwood was fifth with 123.5 points.
The Bellarmine finalists are Damion Ryan (125), Trayce Eckman (133), Gray Ortis (157), Grant O’Dell (165), Cole Nance (174) and Sam Schroeder (184). Nance won the NCWA title for the second straight year. All of the Bellarmine champions won their finals match with bonus points, except for Eckman, who edged Ethan Vugman of Florida in a wild 18-16 decision. Liberty and Thomas More each had two champions. Liberty’s individual champions were Josiah Murphy (235) and Frederick Weaver (285). Both repeated as NCWA champions, and both needed to go into sudden victory to win their finals match. Murphy stopped Joseph Pineda of the Dubuque WC, 4-1 in sudden victory. Weaver beat Jonovan Smith of Caribbean, 2-1 in sudden victory. Champions for Thomas Moore were Cole Thomas (141) and Ryan Moore (149). Moore knocked off returning champion Zac Cowan of Bellarmine, 7-2. Thomas outscored Bruno Alves of Apprentice, 16-10. … story at … Themat.com/Bellarmine-men-repeat-as-ncwa-nationals-champions-with-six-individual-golds-liberty-takes-second
And …

Bellarmine Wrestling repeats as NCWA National Champions
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. – An already successful 2023-2024 season for Bellarmine wrestling finished in a fitting way on Saturday night in Louisiana as the Knights defended their NCWA National Champion status, winning as a team for the second straight year while six Bellarmine wrestlers secured individual titles. “This season has been incredible to see the progression in each member of our team,” said Bellarmine head coach Ned Shuck. “These 10 men represented their teammates really well this week! They won with class and lost with dignity. They battled and enjoyed every challenge their opponents brought to them.”
Bellarmine dominated the event, winning the team title with 245.5 points. Liberty finished as runner-up with 182 points, a whopping 63.5 points behind the Knights. Thomas More rounded out the team podium, placing third with 143.5 points. Over the three-day tournament, the Knights accumulated 48 total wins and earned bonus points in 44.
Redshirt freshmen Damion Ryan (125), Trayce Eckman (133), Gray Ortis (157) and Grant O’Dell, junior Cole Nance (174) and redshirt sophomore Sam Schroeder (184) all took home individual national titles in their respective weight classes. For Nance, the win marks his second title in as many years.
In addition to the Knights winning national titles, redshirt sophomore Zac Cowan (149) took home a second-place finish while sophomores Chase Hall (141) and Thadd Huff (285) brought home a third-place finish and fourth-place finish, respectively. As a team, Bellarmine racked up 23 pins, … story at … Bellarmine.edu/Wrestling-repeats-as-ncwa-national-champions
And …

Grays Harbor women claim NCWA Nationals title with two champs, Ottawa-Arizona places second
Mar. 17, 2024, 12:07 AM (ET) by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
BOSSIER CITY, Louisiana – Led by two individual champions and 10 All-Americans, Grays Harbor claimed the team title in the women’s division at the NCWA Nationals on Saturday night. Grays Harbor scored 158 points, followed by Ottawa-Arizona with 148 points. Washington State was third with 82.5 points, followed by Utah Tech with 81 points and Grand Canyon with 57.5 points. Grays Harbor reversed the team results from 2023, when Ottawa-Arizona was team champions and Grays Harbor placed second. Individual champions for Grays Harbor were Renaeh Ureste (191) and Jojera Dodge (235). Both pinned Ottawa-Arizona opponents in the finals. Ureste stopped Deonne Topete in 1:42 and Dodge put away Evelyn Coronado in 2:07. Ureste repeated as national champion.
Ottawa-Arizona had the most individual champions with three: Olivia Atkins (101), Liliana Voakes (109) and Anja Hansen (136). Atkins scored a 14-5 major decision over Jasmine Cortez of Texas State. Voakes shut out Jillian Lackey of Allen. Hansen edged Paige Kalish of Central Florida, 6-4. Joining Ureste as repeat champions were Viveca Pannell of MIT (130) and Veloria Pannell of MIT (143). Both won their finals bouts by pin. … story at … Themat.com/Grays-harbor-women-claim-ncwa-nationals-title-with-two-champs-ottawa-arizona-places-2nd

March 20, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Campbell Camels Wrestling News

Six Camels to wrestle at NCAA Championships
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell wrestling begins their run at the 2024 NCAA Championships on Thursday, with six Camels qualifying for the event. The tournament takes place March 21-23 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. The action begins at noon (ET), and the entire event can be viewed on the ESPN family of networks. Campbell has now sent five or more wrestlers to the NCAA Championships for six consecutive seasons.
Domenic Zaccone (133) is competing in his third straight NCAA tournament. He is seeded No. 22 and will face the 11-seed Zeth Romney from Cal Poly. Zaccone placed second at the SoCon Championships this year. He’s ranked eighth in the country for tech falls, recording nine this season.
At 165 pounds, Dom Baker is the No. 26 seed and will go up against Oklahoma State’s Izzak Olejnik (No. 7 seed). Baker earned his way to the NCAA Championships by winning the true-place match at the SoCon tournament, a 1-0 decision over Chattanooga’s Kamdyn Munro. This will be Baker’s first trip to the national tournament.
Austin Murphy heads to the NCAAs for the second time, doing so in the 2020-21 season. He is the No. 11 seed at 174 pounds, facing off against No. 22 Peyton Mocco (Missouri) in the first round. Murphy won the SoCon Championships and finished his year with a 22-6 record.
Qualifying for the NCAAs for a fourth time, Caleb Hopkins represents Campbell at 184 pounds. An at-large selection, Hopkins is seeded 28^th and will go up against Nebraska’s Lenny Pinto (5 seed). The two wrestled earlier this year, with Pinto winning a close decision.
Levi Hopkins (197 pounds) is heading to nationals for the second time in his career. … story at … GOcamels.com/Six-camels-to-wrestle-at-ncaa-championships
And …

Seedings announced for NCAA Championships
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Six Campbell wrestlers learned their seedings, as the NCAA announced the brackets for the NCAA Wrestling Championships Wednesday night. The event will be held March 21-23 in Kansas City, Mo. at the T-Mobile Center.  
Domenic Zaccone is the 22 seed at 133 pounds. He is matched up against No. 11 seed Zeth Romney (POLY). Zaccone finished the season 24-8 and finished in second place at the SoCon Championships this past Saturday.
At 165 pounds, Dom Baker is the No. 26 seed. He is paired with No. 7 Izzak Olejnik from Oklahoma State. Baker has a 19-7 record this season, finishing second at the SoCon Championships.
Austin Murphy is the 11-seed at 174 pounds after winning the SoCon Championship. He finished the season with a 22-6 record, highlighted by a sixth-place finish at the Las Vegas Invitational. He will face No. 22 Peyton Mocco of Missouri in the opening round.
Caleb Hopkins received an at-large bid to the tournament at 184 pounds, and he will be the No. 28 seed. He will go up against Lenny Pinto (No. 5 seed) from Nebraska. Each wrestler won 22 matches this season. When the two wrestled in early November, Pinto recorded a 6-5 decision victory. … story at … GOcamels.com/Wrestling-seedings-announced-for-ncaa-championships
And …

Ghadiali named SoCon Wrestler of the Month
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell wrestling’s Taye Ghadiali has been selected as the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Month, the conference announced Friday afternoon. Ghadiali is the No. 7 seed at next week’s NCAA Championships. He is ranked No. 9 in the final NCAA Coaches Rankings, and he was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the SoCon Championships.  
With 32 wins this season, Ghadiali leads all of Division I. In the month of February, he was a perfect 7-0 against conference opponents. He won all seven matches with bonus points, recording four falls and three tech falls. He then recorded two falls at the SoCon Championships to win the heavyweight division. Ghadiali is near the top of multiple national rankings heading into the NCAA Championships. He is fifth in pins with 12 and sixth in tech falls, totaling 10 during the season.
Ghadiali bookends his season with his second wrestler of the month honor from the SoCon, receiving the award for the month of November as well. This is his third time overall earning this recognition. … story at … GOcamels.com/Ghadiali-named-socon-wrestler-of-the-month

March 20, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment