Takedown Report

Wrestling Contributor and 2024 EIWA Hall of Fame Inductee Denny Diehl passes away

Dennis Roby Diehl, Lehigh University Class of 1970 and EIWA Hall of Fame Class of 2024, passed away early on January 4, 2024.

Denny became a college wrestling fan while still in high school, as his older brother Gary (Lehigh ’68) shared with him the exploits of the Terrific Trio (Mike Caruso, Joe Peritore, and Billy Stuart, all NCAA finalists in 1965) during one of the greatest eras of Lehigh Wrestling.  One of the team’s biggest fans, Denny became a major contributor to collegiate wrestling at all levels.

In 1975 Denny co-founded National Mat News, the first wrestling publication to release rankings in every issue.  He later became a contributor to Amateur Wrestling News; authored Mat Power: Lehigh Wrestling Highlights, documenting the Lehigh program from 1910-1997 (never failing to give credit for statistical research assistance to fellow Lehigh grad Jay Hammond); helped design LehighWrestling.com, a top college wrestling club website offering current events and archived school history; and served as the Director of Media Relations for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships for several years, providing bout-by-bout commentary, statistics, and biographical information to the media.

When Greg Strobel took over as head coach of the Lehigh program in 1995 he asked Denny to help build fan interest, asking his assistance in “filling Grace Hall” like the old days.  Alumni began receiving e-mails from Denny on a regular basis, promoting coming duals and reporting on all matters relating to collegiate wrestling; eventually this became the Lehigh University Wrestling News.  Tame by today’s standards perhaps, this began at a time before sports teams had websites and was the only electronic source of college wrestling news.  Although Denny had planned to cease publication in the mid-2010s, he kept pushing that back.  The final edition was released on 4/23/2023; publication officially ceased in June 2023 due to his illness.  Denny had been planning on the 2023-24 season until then.

Denny left his mark on these and even more wrestling-related fronts (including numerous fundraising campaigns and serving on several Hall of Fame Committees), but he was also recognized for the excellence of the contributions that he made.  In 1999, he received the highest honor there is for a wrestling writer:  the Bob Dellinger Media Award, the only media award recognized by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.  He was one of the few to receive the Lehigh Alumni Lifetime Award. … story at … EIWAwrestling.org/2023-24/releases/20240104oWrestling+News

January 12, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 Rankings – Mid-January 215-285 – TDR # 31-19

Editor’s Notes; The first set of mid-January rankings for male scholastic wrestlers in eastern North Carolina with the first two weight classes. The rankings are imperfect and are intended to generate discussion and interest. The top 12 wrestlers in each weight class are listed in order. Wrestlers listed as 13th are considered as honorable mention for the weight class. We welcome reader’s input and information. Coaches need to update their wrestlers records on the TrackWrestling system.
Email us at martinkfleming@takedownreport +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rank  Wght.  Wrestler         Team          Gr. Yr. Wins Ls  Pct  Region

January 12, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

West Liberty to Honor Ohio Valley Wrestling Legend

Bobby Douglas Wrestling Complex Kickoff Event Set for January 19

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University and the WLU Foundation have announced plans to honor international wrestling icon and Ohio Valley native Bobby Douglas with the addition of the Bobby Douglas Wrestling Complex to the Hilltopper campus.
The fundraising campaign officially gets under way on Jan. 19 with the Bobby Douglas Wrestling Complex Kickoff Event at the R. Emmett Boyle Conference Center inside the ASRC. Several guest speakers will be on hand along with many of West Liberty’s former wrestling All-Americans and national champions. Artists’ renderings and graphics will be on display, providing visual images of the finished project.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with light refreshments and photo sessions before the program starts at 6:15. There is no admission charge and the event is open to all alumni and friends of the university but reservations are required. Those planning to attend must RSVP to athletic secretary Robin Brunner at (304) 336-8046 no later than January 16. “West Liberty University is proud to honor Bobby Douglas with the announcement of the Bobby Douglas Wrestling Complex, a facility that will enhance the student-athlete experience for our men’s wrestling program and our newly-announced women’s wrestling program for decades to come,” West Liberty interim athletic director Brad Forshey said.

“In the 60-plus years since Bobby Douglas became West Liberty’s first national champion, his impact on the sport of wrestling as a trailblazing athlete, coach and mentor – nationally and internationally – has been staggering. … story at … Hilltoppersports.com/West-liberty-to-honor-ohio-valley-wrestling-legend

January 12, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

More Division I Matches with big crowds

No. 2 Missouri Wrestling Rallies To Defeat No. 11 Virginia Tech, 22-17
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The No. 2-ranked University of Missouri wrestling team snapped its three-match losing streak against No. 11 Virginia Tech, overcoming a six-point deficit to defeat the Hokies, 22-17, at Hearnes Center on Tuesday, Jan. 2. The Tigers maintain their undefeated start to the 2023-24 season, improving to 6-0, while the Hokies fall to 3-2.
Redshirt junior Noah Surtin fought valiantly in the night’s opener at 125 pounds, but dropped a sudden-victory decision against No. 11 Cooper Flynn. The Tigers got their win back with the next bout, as redshirt freshman Kade Moore claimed a monumental upset over No. 5 Sam Latona at 133 pounds, pinning the two-time NCAA All-American in the second period. 
Another trio of close decision losses followed, as redshirt sophomore Josh Edmond (141) and redshirt junior Logan Gioffre (149) dropped their matches by a combined three points. In a top-10 showdown at 157 pounds, redshirt senior Brock Mauller could not upend No. 7 Bryce Andonian headed into the intermission trailing by six.
Coming out of intermission, Keegan O’Toole went to work at 165 pounds, picking up a tech fall over No. 27 Connor Brady. James Conway (174) could not pull off another top-five upset, falling to No. 2 Mekhi Lewis as the Tigers entered the final three bouts trailing 17-11.  
Redshirt freshman Clayton Whiting started the rally at 184 pounds by taking down Dakota Howard in a 11-3 major decision. Junior Rocky Elam (197) pitched a shutout … story at … MUtigers.com/Wrestling-rallies-to-defeat-no-11-virginia-tech-22-17

JACKRABBITS KNOCK OFF NO. 6 MICHIGAN
SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota State and Michigan each won five matches, but the Jackrabbits notched four bonus-point victories to carry them to a 22-17 dual victory in a battle between top-15 teams Thursday night before a crowd of 2,740 at the Sanford Pentagon.
The 15^th-ranked Jackrabbits improved to 4-2 overall in picking up their second win over a top-10 team in the last three seasons. Sixth-ranked Michigan dropped to 2-1 in duals.
SDSU never trailed, getting out of the gates quickly by building a 9-0 lead through the first two bouts against a pair of Wolverine backups. Tanner Jordan posted a methodical 5-3 victory over Christian Tanefeu at 125 pounds, recording the match-winning takedown midway through the third period.
Derrick Cardinal, ranked 15^th at 133 pounds, followed with what would be the only pin of the night by either squad, sticking Nolan Wertanen’s shoulders to the mat in 6 minutes and 39 seconds. Cardinal was already on track for bonus points by holding an 11-2 lead before his final takedown that led to his third win by fall of the season.
In the first matchup of the night between ranked wrestlers, 30^th-ranked Sergio Lemley of Michigan knocked off 14^th-ranked and returning 141-pound All-American Clay Carlson, 6-4. Carlson, who returned to the lineup last week after sitting out the first two months of the season due to injury, held a 4-2 lead early in the third period before being penalized for stalling and giving up the decisive takedown down the stretch. Michigan claimed another matched between ranked wrestlers in the 149-pound matchup as No. 7 Austin Gomez … story at … GOjacks.com/Jackrabbits-knock-off-no-6-michigan

Austin Gomez Returns For One More Run At NCAA Title
Austin Gomez thought he was finished with college wrestling on two occasions, but the All-American is back and set to make his Michigan debut Thursday
Twice, Austin Gomez has stepped away, but has been unable to stay away from college wrestling. The allure of pursuing a national championship and team glory while representing a collegiate program coupled with a strong sense of unfinished businesses has brought him back.  Initially, Gomez thought his competitive wrestling career was over back in December of 2020 during his fourth season at Iowa State when the effects of several injuries, including concussions, led to him announcing he was medically retiring. After redshirting in 2017-18, Gomez reached the round of 12 at the 2019 NCAA Championships, but had not wrestled since.  “I had to sit down with myself, our athletic trainer, doctors, coaches, and my family to make this decision,” he posted on social media at the time. “Although I feel like I have so much more fight left in me, my health has to come first when dealing with this injury. I thought I’d wrestle until my body told me I couldn’t do it anymore, but God has a different plan for me than I did for myself.” … story at … Flowrestling.org/Austin-gomez-returns-for-one-more-run-at-ncaa-title

Nittany Lion Wrestlers Roar to 36-3 Road Win at Oregon State
Penn State freshmen shine, Lions tally four second half techs in Corvallis
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (3-0, 0-0 B1G) roared to a resounding 36-3 road win at No. 18 Oregon State (4-2) in Corvallis, Ore. Three Nittany Lion freshmen came up with big wins and the Nittany Lions tallied four second half tech falls in the road victory.
A near-capacity crowd of 8,540 filled Oregon State’s Gill Coliseum for the dual, an all-time record crowd for Oregon State wrestling.
The dual meet began at 125 where true freshman Braeden Davis opened up the dual by dominating No. 15 Brandon Kaylor. Davis notched three takedowns in an 11-6 win with 2:10 in riding time. Sophomore Aaron Nagao, ranked No. 4 at 133, then controlled the action against No. 26 Gabe Whisenhunt, winning scrambles on his way to a 9-0 major with 2:52 in riding time. Penn State led 7-0 early.
Senior Beau Bartlett, ranked No. 2 at 141, battled No. 25 Cleveland Belton through regulation and used a counter takedown late in extra time to post a hard-fought 8-5 (sv) win. True freshman Tyler Kasak got the nod at 149.  Kasak battled No. 12 Nash Singleton tough and used a third period takedown to post the thrilling 4-1 victory, giving Penn State a 13-0 lead. Sophomore Levi Haines, ranked No. 1 at 157, used two third period takedowns for a rousing 10-8 comeback win over Oregon State’s Isaiah Crosby. Penn State lead 16-0 at halftime. … story at … GOpsusports.com/Nittany-lion-wrestlers-roar-to-36-3-road-win-at-oregon-state

January 12, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

North Carolina Colleges’ Results

No. 24 App State Shuts Out Duke Wrestling
DURHAM, N.C. — Make it another dual shutout and another Power Five win for App State Wrestling.
The 24th-ranked Mountaineers won all 10 individual matches, plus two extra matches, before leaving Duke’s Card Gym with a 44-0 victory against the Blue Devils on Monday night.  
It was App State’s national-leading 15th shutout since the start of 2020 and its 12th win against a P5 program since JohnMark Bentley became head coach. The Mountaineers (2-1) had also faced ACC opponents in their first two duals (No. 3 NC State, No. 21 North Carolina) of this season, and they square off against another one (No. 11 Virginia Tech) on the road Friday night.
Coming off a fourth-place finish at the Southern Scuffle, an encouraging development following an injury-delayed start to his season, Riley Edwards took the mat first in his first career dual start and opened the competition against Duke (4-6) with a 15-2 major decision at 141 pounds.
After building leads of 7-0 and 11-4, Carson Floyd delivered a pin at 197 pounds in just his fifth match of the season, while Tomas Brooker (16-2 major decision at 184 pounds) and Chad Bellis (forfeit at 125 pounds) officially recorded their first career dual victories.
Back-to-back-to-back tech falls from Tommy Askey (157 pounds), Will Miller (165) and Luke Uliano (174) pushed the lead from 7-0 to 22-0 at the midway point. The other wins came from Cody Bond (7-3 decision at 149), Jacob Sartorio (8-1 decision at heavyweight) and Ethan Oakley (7-3 decision at 133).
Bond trailed 3-2 entering the third period but had 90 seconds in riding time thanks to a second-period rideout. He earned an escape early in the third and gained separation on a takedown with 1:06 left.
In Brooker’s win, he used strong defense in the opening two minutes to avoid falling behind, then produced a key takedown with 10 seconds left in the period to seize control. … story at … APPstatesports.com/Wrestling-no-24-app-state-shuts-out-duke-wrestling

3 takeaways from No. 9 Oklahoma State wrestling’s 22-12 dual win over No. 4 NC State
Friday night was a night for intensity inside Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh as No. 9 Oklahoma State wrestling fought past No. 4 NC State behind bonus-point performances from All-Americans Daton Fix and Dustin Plott as well as upset wins from underclassmen Troy Spratley and Teague Travis.
Oklahoma State coach John Smith outscored his former athlete Pat Popolizio’s team 22-12 to remain undefeated on the year, while the Pack, ranked as high as No. 2 in the country earlier this year, took their second consecutive loss after dropping a 21-20 dual to Ohio State last month.
Here’s are three takeaways from this electric dual performance as both teams regroup and prepare for their dual schedules.
Oklahoma State’s young stars shined bright
This year’s Oklahoma State team looks a lot different than the squad that struggled through last year’s NCAA tournament and settled for 17th place. This is a trophy-contending team now, in large part due to the energy and fight coming from the current class of redshirt freshman. Those freshman (plus a standout sophomore) carried their team with three huge wins, and they’ll now be names to watch as point-scoring contenders heading into March.
OKLAHOMA STATE WRESTLING: History, titles, statistics, records
Freshman Troy Spratley kicked things off for the Cowboys at 125 pounds when he overpowered NC State’s Jakob Camacho, someone who has ranked No. 1 earlier in the season, 7-2, quieting the rowdy fans. Spratley came out fighting off the first whistle and wrestled tough in all three positions to outscore the Wolfpack veteran. The win over No. 17 Camacho should move No. 20 Spratley up a few spots in the rankings, while Camacho’s loss, his fourth of the season, will likely have a more significant impact on his standing, given the unpredictability of the weight class as a whole. 
Sophomore Teague Travis delivered another blow to the Wolfpack up at 157 pounds when he narrowly topped All-American No. 5 Ed Scott, 7-6, in a performance that should skyrocket him into the top 15. Travis, who spent last year wrestling behind 141-pounder Carter Young, is now 10-1 on the year, though the Scott win is unquestionably his biggest accolade so far this season. … story at … NCAA.com/news/3-takeaways-no-9-oklahoma-state-wrestlings-22-12-dual-win-over-no-4-nc-state

Roanoke Wrestling rolls 49-3 at Greensboro
The Facts:
Score: Roanoke 49, Greensboro 3
Location: Greensboro, N.C.
The Short story: The Roanoke College wrestling team rolled to a 49-3 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) win at Greensboro Tuesday night at the Royce Reynolds Family Student Life Center Gym.
How it happened:
The Maroons won four-straight matches by fall, Topher Tryon in 2:23 at 157, Josh Epperly in 2:45 at 165, Kyle Lee in 5:43 at 174 and Vincenzo Corvetto needed just nine seconds to pin his foe at 184. Michael Policarpio had a 14-2 major decision victory at 125 to help Roanoke improve to 5-1 and 2-0 in the ODAC. Complete results:
Roanoke College (Roa) 49.0 Greensboro (GRNB) 3.0
125: Michael Policarpio (Roa) over Christopher Watson (GRNB) (MD 14-2)
133: Josh Noble (Roa) over (GRNB) (For.)
141: Josh Wilson (GRNB) over Mark Samuel (Roa) (Dec 11-6)
149: Zachary Turner (Roa) over (GRNB) (For.)
157: Topher Tryon (Roa) over Ethan kring (GRNB) (Fall 2:23) … story at … Roanokemaroons.com/Roanoke-wrestling-rolls-49-3-at-greensboro

January 11, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

HUSKERS OPEN 2024 WITH TWO DUAL VICTORIES

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska wrestling team collected two dual wins over Wyoming and UNI on Saturday at the Devaney Center in front of 2,503 fans. NU dominated Wyoming in its first match of the day, securing four pins and two technical falls to take the 44-3 victory.
In a Cliff Keen rematch and top-ten matchup, No. 3 Caleb Smith (125) fell to No. 8 Jore Volk in a 5-1 decision. Smith tabbed an escape in the second period, but Volk tallied five points in the final period with an escape, takedown and penalty called on Smith.
At 133, No. 32 Jacob Van Dee tied up the team score with a 7-5 decision over Cooper Birdwell. Van Dee struck first with a takedown, but Birdwell secured five-straight points with a pair of escapes and a takedown. Van Dee earned a reversal to tie the bout at five and went on to get an escape and the riding time point to end the match.
No. 6 Brock Hardy dominated from start to finish in a 15-3 major decision over No. 31 Cole Brooks at 141. Hardy opened with a takedown and a combined seven nearfall points, ending the first period with a 10-1 advantage. Stretching his lead, Hardy managed a reversal in the second and third period, along with the riding time point.
Top-ranked Ridge Lovett was aggressive from the whistle, grabbing his third pin of the season over No. 23 Gabe Willochell in 1:25. At 157, No. 3 Peyton Robb jumped out to a 7-0 first-period lead over Wyoming’s Cooper Voorhees with a takedown and four nearfall points. He carried the momentum into the second period, tallying an escape and a takedown. With a takedown and the riding time point, Robb clinched the 18-1 technical fall in 3:18.
No. 24 Antrell Taylor took offensive control in the 165 bout, earning four takedowns in the first three minutes to hold the 12-3 lead over Brett McIntosh. In the second period, Taylor got three swipes and another takedown. He continued chipping away, moving the score to 22-5 to take the second-straight technical fall in 5:38.
No. 33 Bubba Wilson grabbed his third career pin, getting Kevin Anderson’s shoulders on the mat in just 50 seconds. With the pin, Wilson brought the team score to 29-3. At 184, Elise Brown Ton secured a 10-3 decision over Tyce Raddon. Through the first two periods, Brown Ton held a 3-2 advantage with a takedown and a pair of Raddon escapes. Stretching his lead, Brown Ton grabbed an escape and two takedowns in the final period.
NU closed with two back-to-back first-period pins. At 197, No. 11 Silas Allred got No. 21 Joey Novak on his back in 2:15. At heavyweight, Nash Hutmacher took the mat for the first time in a Nebraska singlet, pinning Mason Ding in 2:07.  Nebraska went on to win a close match against UNI with a final score of 18-17 after a pin and four decision victories.
In the first bout against the Panthers, No. 3 Smith and No. 26 Trever Anderson each had an escape through three periods. In sudden victory, Smith quickly used a double leg to get the takedown and earn the 4-1 decision. At 133, No. 32 Van Dee dropped the bout to No. 22 Julian Farber in a 8-1 decision. In the first three minutes, Farber notched a takedown and Van Dee escaped for a point. The two went scoreless in the second period, but Farber managed a takedown, escape and the riding time point to get the win.
In the second top-ten matchup of the day, No. 6 Hardy (141) fell to No. 8 Cael Happel in sudden victory. Entering the final period, Hardy held a 4-3 advantage after a takedown and escape. Hardy grabbed another takedown in the third to build a margin, but a big reversal and takedown by Happel tied it at eight as time expired. In sudden victory, Happel struck first with a takedown to take the 11-8 victory.
No. 1 Lovett (149) tied up the team score at 6-6 with a 7-1 decision over Cael Rahnavardi. In the opening three minutes, Lovett went up 3-0 with a takedown. He led 6-0 after the second with a reversal and stalling called against Rahnavardi. To close, Rahnavardi was awarded an escape and Lovett took the riding time point.
No. 3 Robb dropped a top-15 matchup to No. 13 Ryder Downey at 157, 6-5. Downey led 5-3 after two periods, using a takedown and two escapes. Robb tied it up with a big reversal, but allowed an escape to drop the match by one. … story at … Huskers.com/Huskers-open-2024-with-two-dual-victories

January 11, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships

NWCA Releases NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships Men’s Bracket for NCWA Men
MANHEIM, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has posted the NCWA Men’s bracket for the upcoming NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships. Presented by A Better Way Athletics, Capitol Construction, and Defense Soap, this premier wrestling event is set to take place at the University of Northern Iowa’s UNI-Dome on January 5-6, 2024, and is hosted by NUWAY.

The top four seeds in the NCAA D3 Men’s bracket are as follows:

1. Bellarmine
2. Apprentice School
3. Liberty
4. Dubuque WC … story at … NWCAonline.com/NWCA-releases-usmc-multi-division-national-dual-meet-championships-mens-bracket-for-ncwa-men

NWCA Shares the NAIA Men’s Bracket for NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships
MANHEIM, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has shared the NAIA Men’s bracket for the upcoming NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships. Presented by A Better Way Athletics, Capitol Construction, and Defense Soap, this premier wrestling event is set to take place at the University of Northern Iowa’s UNI-Dome on January 5-6, 2024, and is hosted by NUWAY.

The top eight seeds in the NAIA Men’s bracket are as follows:

1. Grand View
2. Life
3. Southeastern
4. Campbellsville
5. Menlo
6. Doane
7. Indiana Tech
8. Providence … story at … NWCAonline.com/NWCA-shares-the-naia-mens-bracket-for-nwca-usmc-multi-division-national-dual-meets

Five D2 Storylines To Follow At The NWCA National Duals
One of Division II wrestling’s most intriguing events of the season kicks off Friday when the NWCA National Duals begin at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. This year’s field features nine of the top 10 teams in the Flowrestling Division II team tournament rankings — #1 West Liberty, #2 Indianapolis, #3 St. Cloud State, #4 Central Oklahoma, #5 Lake Erie, #7 Lander, #8 Upper Iowa, #9 Northern State and #10 Mary.
The National Duals are a grueling two-day event that will test the depth of each team in ways that a traditional tournament format does not. Every lineup member plays a role, and bonus points may separate the winners from the losers. Here are five things to watch for this weekend in Iowa. 
The Top Two Seeds
Top-seeded Central Oklahoma might be at full strength for the first time all season. The Bronchos’ returning national champion heavyweight Shawn Streck is set to rejoin the lineup after sitting out the first semester due to semester limitations. He will join two-time national champion Dalton Abney (197) to anchor UCO at the two heaviest weights. 
UCO coach Todd Steidley is comfortable with where the Bronchos are given the number of young wrestlers he used in the first half of the season.  “We did some good things the first semester and got a lot of mat time for our younger guys,” Steidley said. “It’s great to have a few days off for Christmas so we can get recharged and ready for the rest of the season.” 
One of the surprises for UCO is the quick rise of 184-pounder Garrett Wells. The redshirt freshman captured the Midwest Classic title just before the break and will be a force to be reckoned with for the remainder of the season. With a full stable of Bronchos ready to wrestle they will be tough to be at the National Duals. 
Streck’s return could push Central Oklahoma back to the top when the next set of team tournament rankings are released.  The #1 spot is currently occupied by West Liberty, which drew the #2 seed this weekend. The Hilltoppers are led by returning national champion Ty McGeary at 184 pounds.  West Liberty coach Danny Irwin loves McGeary’s leadership. “He’s just a great role model both on and off the mat,” Irwin said. … story at … Flowrestling.org/Five-d2-storylines-to-follow-at-the-nwca-national-duals

Five D3 Storylines To Follow At The NWCA National Duals
Tony Valek recalls he wasn’t a big fan of sitting in the stands back in the mid-2000s watching his older brother, Ryan, wrestle for Augsburg University at the National Duals inside the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. To clarify, Valek liked the event. He liked the venue, liked the atmosphere. But as a competitor, Valek wanted to be on the floor. Eventually, Valek got his turn winning national dual team titles with the Auggies as a competitor in 2009 and 2010. 
Now, 13 years after the national duals last appeared in Cedar Falls, Valek will be returning to the UNI-Dome as Augsburg’s head coach. The U.S. Marine Corps/NWCA Multi-Division National Duals will kick off Friday in Cedar Falls and conclude Saturday as the event will be held inside the UNI-Dome for the first time since 2011.
Here are five storylines to follow this weekend in Cedar Falls. 
Augsburg’s Pursuit Of Another Title 
The Auggies are the defending champs, winning their eighth title last year in Louisville over Johnson and Wales, 35-8. “I have some good memories of it being in the Dome,” Valek said. “First, Iowa wrestling fans are so knowledgeable, they know what they are talking about.
“But I was there to watch my brother (Ryan) wrestle for Augsburg, I won titles with Augsburg in 2009 and 2010. I remember the year Augsburg beat Wartburg, Minnesota beat Iowa and NDSU won the Division II title with a bunch of Minnesota kids. “I also remember when Cole Konrad beat Steve Mocco to help Minnesota beat Oklahoma State for the title. There was a lot of excitement. We’re excited to come back to the UNI-Dome.”
Augsburg, which has not competed since winning the North Central College Invitational on Dec. 9, enters as the top seed.
The Auggies have earned that #1 seed with their body of work to date.
At NCC, Augsburg had five wrestlers win titles – Cooper Willis (165), Seth Goetzinger (174), Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann (184), Parker Venz (197) and Tyler Kim (285). Additionally, Kaden Reetz took second at 157 and defending national champion Sam Stuhl bounced back from an early loss to finish third at 141. … story at … Flowrestling.org/Five-d3-storylines-to-follow-at-the-nwca-national-duals

Five NAIA Storylines To Follow At The NWCA National Duals
One of the season’s most exciting events goes down Friday and Saturday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The NWCA National Duals will be full of entertaining duals and must-watch individual matches. The past four editions of the National Duals have concluded with Grand View versus Life in the NAIA final. Those two are the favorites again this year, but there are few locks in this year’s bracket. Menlo is back in the bracket, checking in as the fifth seed. Central Methodist has earned its first bid to the National Duals after a stellar national tournament last spring. Here are five things to keep your eyes on in the men’s division. First-Round Fire
These are the first-round matchups: 
#1 Grand View vs. William Penn
#8 Providence vs. Ottawa
#5 Menlo vs. Oklahoma City
#4 Campbellsville vs. Central Methodist
#3 Southeastern vs. Marian
#6 Doane vs. Southern Oregon … story at … Flowrestling.org/Five-naia-storylines-to-follow-at-the-nwca-national-duals

NWCA Women’s Freestyle Wrestling National Duals Watch Guide
What: 2024 NWCA National Duals — Women’s Freestyle (NAIA and NCAA)
Where: Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome)
When: Friday, January 5 and Saturday, January 6
Tournament Brackets: Click here
How To Watch: Click the below link
Jan 5-6 2024 NWCA Multi-Divisional National Championship
Women’s Freestyle Schedule (Central Standard Time)
Friday, January 5
10 AM — NAIA Women (Round One/Eight Mats)
11:30 AM — NAIA Women (Quarterfinals & Consolation/Eight Mats)
1 PM — NAIA Women (Consolation/Four Mats)
2:30 PM — NCAA Women (Round One/Eight Mats)
4 PM — NCAA Women (Quarterfinals & Consolation/Eight Mats)
5:30 PM — NCAA Women (Consolation/Four Mats)
Saturday, January 6
9 AM — NCAA & NAIA Women (Consolations/Eight Mats) … story at … Flowrestling.org/NWCA-womens-freestyle-wrestling-national-duals-watch-guide

January 10, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

ALL-TIME NAIA Coaches–  Top 60 with at least 50 wins – TDR # 31-18

1. Milton Martin (Westmar)                               462
2. Bob Riehm (Southern Oregon)                      270
3. Gerald E. “Jerry” Hampton (Graceland U.)   238
4. Mike Ritchey (Southern Oregon)                   236
5. Franky James (Campbellsville)                   235
6. Mike Machholz (Missouri Valley)                 232
7. Vern Tate (Huron – SD Si Tanka)                 201
8. Bill Hughes (Black Hills State)                      187
9. Clayton Ketterling (Waynesburg/Dickinson St)  170  inc.
10. Nick Mitchell (Grand View College)           169
11. Jason Moorman (King University)             163 – Women’s Team
12. Mike Jones (Simon Fraser)                             162   inc
13. Archie Randall (Oklahoma City Univ.)         160 – Women’s Team
14. Don Lemnus (Valley City State)                    158
15. Rodger Jehlicka (Adams State, Chadron St.)              147
16. David Ray (So. Illinois-Edwardsville, Montana St.)  135
17. Caleb Schaeffer (Providence Univ./Great Falls)        133
18. Fran Hummel (Northern State, Midland Lutheran)   133 – inc.
19. Don Woods (Northern State)                         130 – inc.
20. Corey Ruff (Lindsey-Wilson)                      128
21. Milo Trusty (Univ. of Mary)                           128
22. Tom Jarman (Taylor College)                         128
23. Thadd O’Donnell (Dickinson State)              121
24. Arnold Brandt (Morningside College)            121
25. Fran Hummel (Northern State)                      115
26. Tyson Thivierge (Montana St. Northern)   114
27. Corey Ruff (Lindsey-Wilson College)           113
28. Jess Wilder (Univ. of Cumberlands)               101
29. Lee Miracle (Campbellsville Univ.)               99 – Women’s Team
30. Archie Randall (Oklahoma City Univ.)            97
31. Jake Stevenson (Morningside College)         97
32. K.C. Rock  (Embry-Riddle College)             92
33. Omi Acosta (Life University)                        86 
34. Jeff Bedard (Reinhardt Univ.)                       86
35. Rik Dahl (Northwestern College)                 84
36. Thomas Pompei (Indiana Institute of Technology)    84
37. Gary Garvis (William Penn)                            83
38. Joey Martinez (Menlo)                                   80  
39. Donnie Stevens (Cumberlands Univ.)          78 – Women’s Team
40. Sam Schmitz (McKendree)                              77 – Women’s Team
41. Tim Jager (Morningside)                                  75
42. John Jeffire (Findlay College)                          70
43. Todd Allen (Williams Baptist/Cumberland Univ.)  69
44. James Hicks (Cumberland Univ.)                 68 
45. James Kisgen (McKendree College)                66 – school now in Div.II
46. Rollie Greeno (Jamestown Univ.)                    65
47. John Petty (California Baptist/Northwestern)  63
48. Daniel Payne (Embry-Riddle/Nor. Arizona)    62
49. Steve Costanzo (Dana College)                       61
50. Steven Bradley (Marian Univ.)               —   60  
51. Aaron Meister (Friends Univ.)                      60
52. Dana Vote (Doane, Midland)                         58
53. Dan Sanville (Warner Pacific)                         58
54. Bill Kracilik (Colorado Mesa)                          58
55. Joe Privitere  (Briar Cliff)                        —   56
56. Beau Vest (Dana-Midland)                              55 
57. Lenny Zalesky (Calif. Baptist)                          55 
58. Cody Garcia (Baker College)                        54 
59. Colby Crank (Ottawa University)                54
60. Brian Jackson (Missouri Baptist)                    54  inc. – Women’s Team

January 10, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

North Carolina Colleges News & Results

Bond Reaches Final as 7 Mountaineers Medal at Southern Scuffle
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Highlighted by Cody Bond’s run to the 149-pound final, which included a semifinal pin of a top-10 opponent, App State had seven wrestlers reach the podium as top-eight placers at the Southern Scuffle, presented by Compound Sportswear.
Bond advanced to the championship match with a 3-0 start to the event, including an overtime win and a second-period pin of ninth-ranked Jadan Abas from Stanford. Chad Bellis’ quarterfinal win against 15th-ranked Brayden Palmer from Chattanooga served as another highlight.
Abas, a 2021 All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier, led 6-2 after one period before Bond threatened to ride out the entire second period of their semifinal match. After a restart … story at … APPstatesports.com/Bond-reaches-final-as-7-mountaineers-medal-at-southern-scuffle

Gardner-Webb Has Strong Showing in 2024 Southern Scuffle
Anderson wins first place in 184-placement in 2024 Southern Scuffle
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Gardner-Webb University wrestling team took home a first place finish, and had strong showing overall in the 2024 Southern Scuffle (Jan. 1-2). The two-day event was hosted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs collected 23 individual wins at the event. Redshirt senior Jha’Quan Anderson wen 5-0 to come in first place in the 184-placement. His wins were over Braden Smelser (CSU-Bakersfield), Nick Olivieri (Brown), Jack Darrah (Stanford), Giuseppe Hoose (Oklahoma), and Cameron Pine (Clarion).  
Other standouts for the ‘Dawgs included graduate student Zach Price took fifth place in the 149-placement. He went 5-2 with victories over Dom Findora (Drexel), Kai O’dell (Appalachian State), Benji Alanis (Northern Colorado), Max Petersen (North Dakota State), and Jeremiah Price (Appalachian State). … story at … GWUsports.com/Gardner-webb-has-strong-showing-in-2024-southern-scuffle

Tapia Picks Up Win As Hofstra Falls To No. 4 North Carolina State
WREST: HOFSTRA HIGHLIGHTS
WREST: HOFSTRA COACH DENNIS PAPADATOS POSTMATCH INTERVIEW
PHOTO GALLERY

Hempstead, NY – Noah Tapia picked up the lone Hofstra victory as No. 4 North Carolina State defeated the Pride, 43-5, Sunday at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center.  Hofstra moved to 3-3 on the season with the loss and saw its three-match win streak come to an end. All three of the Pride’s losses have come against top-five nationally-ranked opponents. The Wolfpack snapped a two-match losing streak with the victory and improved to 10-2 on the season. 
Tapia scored a dominating 20-3 technical fall in 3:59 against Trevor Kantor at 149 pounds. The Pride’s true freshman posted four takedowns and twice scored four back points in the match. Kantor’s only scoring came from three escapes. … story at … GOhofstra.com/Tapia-picks-up-win-as-hofstra-falls-to-no-4-north-carolina-state

Molton takes First at F&M Open, eight Camels place
FINAL RESULTS
MATCH REPLAYS
LANCASTER, Pa. – 125-pound Anthony Molton was perfect on the day, taking first place at the Franklin & Marshall Open Friday. In total, a school record eight Camels placed at the event.
Molton was 5-0, with three bonus-point victories to start out. He recorded two fall victories – against Grant Treaster (Navy) in 4:14, and versus Binghamton’s Carson Wagner in 4:01.
Molton then defeated a pair of NC State wrestlers in the semifinals and final. First, he recorded a 5-4 decision over Vince Robinson with a takedown in the final 30 seconds. He followed that up with another takedown in the last 30 seconds and a victory over Troy Hohman (4-1) to take first place. Molton is the first Campbell wrestler to take first place at the Franklin & Marshall Open.
The Fighting Camels had a trio of second place finishers as well. Before today, … story at … GOcamels.com/Molton-takes-first-at-f-m-open-eight-camels-place

Virginia Splits Duals With Gardner-Webb, George Mason
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia wrestling team (4-1) split a pair of dual matches in Richmond, Va., on Saturday (Jan. 6), taking a 22-19 win over Gardner-Webb (2-3) before dropping a 18-17 dual with George Mason (8-4). The duals were wrestled at St. Christopher’s School.
DUAL 1: Virginia 22, Gardner-Webb 19
Gardner-Webb got off to a quick start in the day’s first dual, rattling off four straight wins – including a pin at 133 pounds – as the Runnin’ Bulldogs built a 15-0 lead on the Cavaliers.
Virginia then went to work, winning five of the last six weight classes with four of them producing bonus-points for the Hoos. It started with a major decision from Nick Sanko (157) before Mason Stefanelli (165) and Justin McCoy (174) posted consecutive wins by technical fall that cut the lead to one point at 15-14. Gardner-Webb then picked up one final victory with a major decision at 184 pounds, but Colden Dorfman (197) got two points late for a 6-4 decision to put the Cavaliers within striking distance with heavyweight left to wrestle. … story at … Virginiasports.com/Virginia-splits-duals-with-gardner-webb-george-mason

January 9, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

UNC-Pembroke Wrestling News

Wrestling Grinds Past Newberry In Conference Carolinas Action
By: Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletic Communications Director
Story Links
BOX SCORE
NEWBERRY, S.C. – 9th-ranked and visiting UNC Pembroke rattled off six straight wins to put Newberry out of striking distance and help secure a 27-15 win in Conference Carolinas wrestling action Tuesday night inside Eleazer Arena.
The Braves (7-3, 3-1 CC) moved to 7-11 all-time against the Wolves (3-2, 3-1 CC), and have now taken five of the last six duals in the matchup.
UNCP’s Logan Robinson got the Braves on the board at 133 pounds with a 13-7 decision, while Avery Buonocore followed with a pin in the 141 pound bout to give the Black & Gold the lead for good. 7th-ranked 149 pounder Jake Piccirill tasted victory with a dominating 13-1 major decision over 9th-ranked Devan Moore to make it 13-4 Braves. 6th-ranked 157 pounder and reigning Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Week, Keegan Roberson, stayed hot with a 15-0 tech. fall win, while Caleb Grau followed it up with a 12-3 major decision in the 165 pound match. 2nd-ranked 174 pounder Scott Joll stayed perfect on the year with a 17-2 tech. fall victory to close out the scoring for the Braves.
The Braves will now head north this weekend as they take part in the Pitt-Johnstown hosted Mountain Cat Duals. … story at … UNCPbraves.com/Wrestling-grinds-past-newberry-in-conference-carolinas-action

Roberson Named Conference Carolinas Wrestler Of The Week
By: Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletic Communications Director
Story Links
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Sophomore and 6^th-ranked 157 pounder Keegan Roberson added to his season’s hot start, picking up Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Week honors, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.
Roberson posted a 4-1 record at the Citrus Invitational, while claiming a second place finish in the 157 pound bracket. The Chicago native used two first-period pins and two technical falls to make his way to the championship bout. Roberson currently sits at 22-5 on the season, with nine wins coming via pinfall. … story at … UNCPbraves.com/Roberson-named-conference-carolinas-wrestler-of-the-week

Wrestling Drops Two At Mountain Cat Duals
By: Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletic Communications Director
Story Links

• GRAND VALLEY STATE BOX SCORE
• PITT-JOHNSTOWN BOX SCORE

JOHNSTOWN, PA. – The UNC Pembroke wrestling team suffered two defeats to nationally-ranked squads on Saturday at the Pitt-Johnstown hosted Mountain Cat Duals. UNCP’s final dual against Frostburg State was canceled due to inclement weather in the area.
The Braves will hit the mat again Saturday, January 13 as they return home to host Coker, Allen, and Davis & Elkins for a quad meet. Wrestling action will begin at 1 p.m. on Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.

#9 UNCP vs. #16 GRAND VALLEY STATE (L 24-13)

A Logan Robinson win at 133 pounds, followed by Avery Buonocore’s major decision victory in the 141 pound bout put the Braves ahead 7-4. Caleb Grau recorded a victory at 165 pounds, while second-ranked 174 pounder Scott Joll followed with another win to remain perfect on the year to cut the deficit to 14-13, but the Lakers notched decision victories in the final three bouts to close out the match.

#9 UNCP VS. #11 PITT-JOHNSTOWN (L 36-8) … story at … UNCPbraves.com/Wrestling-drops-two-at-mountain-cat-duals

Buonocore Named Conference Carolinas Wrestler Of The Week
By: Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletic Communications Director Story Links
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Freshman 141 pounder Avery Buonocore added to his impressive rookie campaign, earning Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Week honors, the league announced Tuesday afternoon. Buonocore posted a perfect 3-0 week, racking up dual match wins over Newberry, Grand Valley State, and Pitt-Johnstown. The Wilmington native tallied a first-period pin against Newberry on Tuesday, then recorded an 11-0 major decision against Grand Valley State in the first dual match of Saturday’s Mountain Cat Duals. Buonocore closed out his perfect week with a thrilling 11-10 decision against Pitt-Johnstown, using a reversal in the final seconds of the third period to take the match. He now sits at 11-4 on the season, and has racked up seven victories via pinfall. … story at … UNCPbraves.com/Buonocore-named-conference-carolinas-wrestler-of-the-week

January 9, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment