Olympic Wrestling Gold Medalist Rulon Gardner Isn’t Done Yet
At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, American wrestler Rulon Gardner stunned the world. Gardner was competing in the Greco-Roman heavyweight final against Aleksandr Karelin, the defending champion from Russia. Karelin had won gold at the past three Olympics: Seoul in 1988, Barcelona in 1992, and Atlanta in 1996. But in 2000, Karelin fell short. Gardner prevailed, winning gold and instantly becoming a legend.
Gardner, who grew up as the youngest of nine children on a dairy farm in Wyoming, started wrestling when he was just six years old. His hometown hosted a wrestling camp each year, kickstarting his interest in the sport. Gardner continued wrestling through junior high and college, and after his big upset in 2000, returned to the Olympics in 2004 seeking to defend his title. Although he wasn’t able to clinch another gold at the Athens Games, he did take home another medal – this time, bronze.
And then, Gardner retired.
Perhaps surprisingly, wrestling is the sport where the U.S. has won its third highest number of Olympic medals, behind track & field and swimming. And yet, for all of these medals, Gardner’s 2000 win was the last time an American took home gold in Greco-Roman wrestling (as opposed to freestyle, in which the U.S. has had much more recent success). But the future of American wrestling is bright, thanks in part to two young athletes who have their own connections to Gardner himself.
On the same day that Gardner made magic happen in the 2000 event that’s now known as “The Miracle on the Mat,” a baby was born who would go on to become a wrestling star. His name? Cohlton Schultz. Last month, Schultz competed for the United States at the World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. It was his seventh time at this tournament, and he’s only 23.
Another American wrestler who made this year’s world team, Mason Parris, grew up with a signed Gardner poster in his bedroom. While Gardner made his mark in the Greco-Roman style, Parris competes in freestyle. These two styles are similar; the primary difference is in which part of the body competitors are allowed to attack. In Greco-Roman, wrestlers have to keep their holds on opponents above the waist, while in freestyle, competitors can target the legs. The two forms of wrestling have a long history at the Olympics, with men contesting both since the 1896 Games in Athens. (And even before its induction into the modern Olympics, wrestling was contested at the ancient Olympics starting in 708 BC – making it one of the oldest Olympic sports.)
The two-and-a-half decades since Sydney have been complicated for the Olympic champion. He’s faced two near-death experiences (the first in 2002, during a snowmobiling accident in which he developed hypothermia and had to have a toe on his right foot amputated, and the second in 2007, when he crashed an airplane into Lake Powell, Utah and developed hypothermia for the second time); published a memoir called Never Stop Pushing: My Life from a Wyoming Farm to the Olympic Medals Stand; and lost 173 pounds as part of NBC’s reality show The Biggest Loser.
These days, Gardner lives in Utah and works as an insurance agent while also coaching wrestling at Herriman High School. As for his own wrestling career, Gardner might be starting a new chapter. In April 2023, at age 51, he tried to compete in the Greco-Roman heavyweight division … rest of story at … NBCsports.com/olympics/news/olympic-wrestling-gold-medalist-rulon-gardner-isnt-done-yet
State Champions Alex Hopper, and Avery Buonocore presented the James Johnson Memorial Award
State Champions Alex Hopper and Avery Buonocore of Wilmington Laney High School were presented the James Johnson Award for the 2022-2023 season as the top senior scholastic wrestlers in eastern North Carolina. The award is named in honor of three-time Greco-Roman national champion James Johnson. Avery Buonocore won 48 of 50 matches this season and won the 138 4-A state championship. He was a two-time finalist and placed three times at the state championships. He is a N.H.S.C.A. All-American and scholar athlete committed to wrestling next year at U.N.C.-Pembroke.
Alex Hopper won 49 of 50 matches this season while winning his 2nd state championship title at 182 lbs. In his four-year career at Laney he won 172 matches and just 11 losses and holds the school record of 152 pins. He is a strong scholar athlete committed to wrestling next year at Appalachian State.
Also named was Caleb Beaty of Corinth-Holders High School who won his last 85 matches over three seasons and three state championships. He will wrestle at American University this year.
Devon Bell and Mark Samuel of Laney High School were presented the James Johnson Memorial Award trophies in 2022. In previous years the award winners were River Carroll of West Carteret (2021), Tyler Hughes and Christian Decatur of C.B. Aycock and Bryan Argao of North Brunswick (2020), Timothy Decatur of Rosewood (2019), Beau Studebaker of East Carteret, Jeremiah Derby of First Flight and Thomas Hudson of Dixon (2018), Carlos Martinez of First Flight (2017), Will Newbern of West Carteret (2017), Tanner Stamper-Smith of Havelock (2016), Joe Mondragon of Ashley H.S. (2015), De’Andre Jones of New Bern (2014), Alex Bray of Croatan (2013), Jon Wiley (2012) of South Brunswick, Marquin Hill (2011) of Washington H.S., Branden Lietz (2010) of J.H. Rose, Mamour Camara (2009) of Louisburg, Anthony Rogers (2008) of Knightdale, Ngu Tran (2007) of C.B. Aycock, Victor Hojillo (2006) of West Carteret, Raymond Jordan (2004) of New Bern, Shaun Sheffield (2003) of Havelock, David Pelsang (2005), and Paris Dottery (2002) of White Oak.
James Johnson started wrestling his junior year for D.H. Conley High School in Greenville with Milt Sherman as his coach. James was Coney’s 1st state champion in any sport in 1976. He was North Carolina’s 1st Eastern Junior National Champion in 1975 and North Carolina’s 1st Junior Nationals All-American with 3rd in 1976. He started four years at the University of Kentucky. He was inducted as an “Outstanding American” in the North Carolina State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2012 he was a coach for the U.S.A. Olympic Greco-Roman team in London. He was on the USA National Wrestling team for 12 years, winning 3 National Championships, USA Athlete of the Year, AIM Christian Athlete of the Year, and Olympic Team Alternate. He was an Ambassador for the United States Olympic Committee, USA wrestling and The Sunkist Kids Wrestling organization for over 20 years. Johnson passed away in September, 2019 after coaching the USA Juniors Greco-Roman team at the World Championship in Estonia. The TakeDown Report has for over 20 years promoted amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina and sponsors the Award. This award is for the most successful senior wrestlers in eastern North Carolina. Fleming noted, “It is more expensive to have multiple awards yet we see each undefeated state champion senior wrestler as deserving to be recognized.” “It encourages young men from teams in the eastern part of the state with an opportunity to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top notch wrestler,” he added. The TDR also ranks wrestlers in a TDR Top 12 List that is displayed on the TDR Blog page.
13 Former Super 32 Champs Are Looking To Add Another Belt
Between the boys and girls divisions, 13 former high school division champions are registered with hopes of repeating
A Super 32 belt just might be the toughest high school wrestling accolade to achieve. This year’s boys division has over half the top-twenty-ranked wrestlers in the country, and the girls division is just as tough. While winning Super 32 is incredibly difficult, 7 boys and 6 girls in this year’s field have already accomplished the task at least once. They’ll be looking to repeat their Super 32 success again this year.
2023 Super 32
7 Returning Boys Division Champions
120 lbs – #1 Anthony Knox, St. John Vianney, NJ (junior)
120 lbs – #1 (113) Christian Castillo, Valliant College Prep, AZ (junior)
132 lbs -#1 Ben Davino, St. Charles East, IL (senior)
132 lbs – #3 Bo Bassett, Bishop McCort, PA (sophomore)
157 lbs – #2 Ladarion Lockett, Stillwater, OK (junior)
215 lbs – #4 Jude Correa, Wyoming Seminary, PA (junior)
285 lbs – #8 Parker Ferrell, Christiansburg, VA (senior)
While seven different former champions will enter this year’s boys high school division at Super 32, at most, five can win. At 120 lbs, both #1 Anthony Knox and #1 (113 lbs) Christian Castillo are looking to repeat. Both will have their hands full as their bracket contains a total of 11 ranked wrestlers and six in the top ten. Knox owns a victory over Castillo from Who’s Number One in 2022.
Two champs are also registered at 132 lbs. Ben Davino won a title last year at 126 lbs while Bo Bassett took the belt at 113 lbs. Their bracket has 13 ranked wrestlers and seven in the top ten.
Ladarion Lockett beat a tough Ty Watters last year for his first belt. In order to win a second, he’ll likely need to top fellow U17 World champion Joe Sealey in the finals.
At 215 lbs, Jude Correa is hunting for a second title up a weight from where he won a year ago. His toughest tests could be Fargo champions Michael Mocco and Dreshaun Ross, two tough sophomores from Florida and Iowa respectively.
Parker Ferrell has also moved up a weight since last year. His bracket has a lot of parity. He can repeat, but it won’t be easy.
6 Returning Girls Division Champions
112 lbs – #1 Gabriella Gomez, Glenbard North, IL (junior)
132 lbs – #1 Taina Fernandez, Archbishop Spalding, MD (freshman)
148 lbs – #1 Nebi Tsarni, Watkins Mill, MD (senior)
160 lbs – #8 Kaylie Hall, Hampshire, WV (junior)
175 lbs – #18 Ella Murphey, Hardin Valley Academy, TN (senior)
175 lbs – #5 Amarisa Manuel, Romeo, MI (senior)
The girls division, like the boys division, can’t have as many returning champs as it has contenders. At 175 lbs, Both Ella Murphey and Marisa Manuel are looking to repeat.
Gabriella Gomez secured here Super 32 title in 2021 but came up just short last year. She’s coming off a victory at Who’s Number One and looking to stick to her winning ways. … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/articles/11302517-13-former-super-32-champs-are-looking-to-add-another-belt
125-Pound Pre-Season NCAA Wrestling Preview & Predictions
A preview with predictions for the 2023-24 season at 125-pound weight class in Division 1 college wrestling.
The 125-pound class appears to be wide open following the graduation of three wrestlers who reached the NCAA tournament finals at least once. Most notable is Iowa’s three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee who transcended the sport with his masterful top game and his ability to score points in bunches.
Princeton’s Pat Glory — a 2023 NCAA champion — is also gone, as is 2021 national finalist Brandon Courtney of Arizona State. That leaves six returning All-Americans and a lengthy list of promising wrestlers vying for the top spot at the lightest college weight class.
Purdue’s Matt Ramos entered the 2023 NCAA tournament as the #4 seed and pinned Lee in the semifinals before falling to Glory, 4-1, in the championship match. Ramos was the first Boilermaker to reach the finals since Chris Fleeger in 2006. He can become Purdue’s fourth individual NCAA champion and the first since Charlie Jones won a title in 1991.
Arizona State’s Richie Figueroa might have something to say after a 14-0 redshirt freshman season that included a 3-2 win over Ramos in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Returning All-Americans Anthony Noto, Eddie Ventresca, Patrick, McKee, Michael DeAugustino, Eric Barnett, and Brandon Kaylor will also play a factor as the season unfolds. … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/articles/11302705-125-pound-pre-season-ncaa-wrestling-preview-predictions
Emerging Sports for Women program continuing to increase opportunities
3 sports nearing sponsorship mark to move toward championship
In a year where the celebration of Title IX’s 50th anniversary is front and center in college athletics, the Emerging Sports for Women Program continues to be a catalyst for increasing opportunities for female student-athletes.
Since the program was established in 1994, based on a recomendation from the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force, five women’s sports have earned NCAA championship status: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003) and beach volleyball (2015). In the 2021-22 academic year, those sports collectively included more than 13,000 student-athletes, about 6% of the total student-athletes competing in NCAA women’s championship sports, according to the most recent NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates data released in December by NCAA research. Women’s rowing accounted for more than 6,800 of those student-athletes, per the data.
“Since implementation of the Emerging Sports for Women program, we have seen an increase in opportunities for our young women to participate at the DI, DII and DIII levels,” said Ragean Hill, executive associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Charlotte, who chairs the Committee on Women’s Athletics. “It also has provided institutions the opportunity to pick the best sports that fit within their athletic programs that are already being offered. The CWA has been and will continue to be committed to creating opportunities for our young women through the emerging sports process. Without the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women process, the membership misses out on athletic and academic talent for our universities.”
Kelley Kish, director of athletics at Wingate, said the Emerging Sports for Women program is a “helpful guide” for NCAA schools looking to add women’s sports. …
Women’s wrestling
Women’s wrestling has rapidly grown since becoming an emerging sport in 2020-21, when 30 schools reported sponsoring it. In 2021-22, 39 schools sponsored women’s wrestling, with more than 550 student-athletes competing among them. Of the schools reporting women’s wrestling in 2021-22, 22 were from Division III, 15 from Division II and two from Division I.
The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin became the first Division III conference to host a women’s wrestling championship in January. Conference Carolinas and the South Atlantic Conference in Division II plan to host their first combined women’s wrestling championship in 2023-24. … rest of story at … NWCAonline.com/news/2023/10/5/national-wrestling-coaches-association-emerging-sports-for-women-program-continuing-to-increase-opportunities
‘ALWAYS IMPROVING:’ THE ‘COHLTRAIN’ COHLTON SCHULTZ PLANS TO BRING MORE CHAMPIONSHIPS TO TEMPE
Schultz plans to bring an Olympic medal and NCAA championship to Tempe in 2024 while leading the Sun Devils into a new season
Redshirt junior wrestler Cohlton Schultz is 285 pounds of heart and hard work. The Parker, Colorado native continues to impress on a global scale year in and year out for both the Sun Devils and Team USA.
Schultz, who has been wrestling since the age of four, attended Ponderosa High School in Parker and dominated with 188 wins and only two losses. During that span, he won four straight state championships. When he was 14 years old, Schultz said he got the opportunity to train with the Team USA Senior Greco-Roman World Team at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, about an hour away from his hometown, Parker.
Eventually, his success became national when he became the No.1 pound-for-pound recruit in the nation, and was the winner of the 2019 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
Schultz continued to pin helpless opponents while honing his skills with world-class wrestlers and eventually ended up getting attention from the best wrestling programs in the country, including ASU.
“I had a good enough high school career that I was blessed to get recruited by ASU, where I have had a pretty good career so far,” Schultz said. “I’m still looking to win a national title and bring home a team title.” … rest of story at … Statepress.com/article/2023/10/cohlton-schultz-wrestling-profile
Mizzou wrestling eyes NCAA National Championship ahead of 2023-24 season
Mizzou wrestling enters the 2023-24 campaign coming off its 20th straight winning season, eighth consecutive top-10 finish, second straight Big 12 title and a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championship tournament with 64.5 points.
Last season, five Tigers finished with All-American honors led by now two-time 165-pound national champion Keegan O’Toole.
The others included Rocky Elam (197 pounds), Brock Mauller (149), Peyton Mocco (174) and Zach Elam (285). All five of these Tigers will return for the 2023-24 season, and this is a group that Mizzou coaches feel is destined to have a great season.
“They’re a direct reflection of the culture and the culture that Coach Smith has built here,” associate head coach Kendric Maple said. “This culture produces these kinds of champions, and I think it’s going to be reflected, you can see it in the character of these guys.”
While there is more than enough excitement surrounding the accomplished veterans on the team. The coaching staff is proud of the young talent that they have this year and look forward to seeing how they perform this season.
“We had an amazing summer and just to see some of these younger guys that are going to be in the lineup [and] how they perform when the lights are on,” Maple said.
Maple noted that the team has a “growth” mindset and is working to get better each and every day to improve on the little things. This mindset is one that O’Toole takes into his early preparation for the season.
“Just try to put money in the bank is what I say every single day. Get a little bit of work in every single day, and definitely reflect as much as I can, looking back at where I made mistakes and going forward,” O’Toole said. “How can I fix them? And how can I be better? I think just the expectation of getting better each and every day. And being grateful for the opportunities that we have. We have great facilities (and) great people around us.”
O’Toole is coming off of winning back-to-back 165-pound national championships, which has inspired some of his teammates. … rest of story at … Missouri.rivals.com/news/mizzou-wrestling-eyes-ncaa-national-championship-ahead-of-2023-24-season
World Champs Lockett & Sealey Headline Loaded 157 lbs Super 32 Field
A Super 32 final between World Champs could be brewing at 157 lbs if LaDarion Lockett and Joe Sealey can navigate a loaded bracket
Super 32 is always packed with ranked wrestlers, incredible matchups, and deep brackets, but the 2023 version is shaping up to be one of the best high school tournaments in recent memory. Perhaps the best example of the quality of this year’s tournament is a 157 lbs bracket featuring the 2022 and 2023 U17 World Champions, Joe Sealey and LaDarion Lockett.
2023 Super 32
Sealey and Lockett met at Elite 8 Duals in the spring of 2022 at the end of Sealey’s sophomore year and Lockett’s freshman year. That was before either had made a World team. Since then, the two have been in the same bracket at both the U17 World Team Trials and Ironman, but the rematch had failed to materialize. Also, and more importantly, since then, both Sealey and Lockett have secured gold medals at the U17 World Championships.
Before Lockett and Sealey can meet in the Super 32 finals with a belt on the line, both will need to navigate a loaded bracket that includes 11 top-twenty-ranked wrestlers and dozes more of dangerous foes.
11 Top-20-Ranked Wrestlers
#1 Joseph Sealey, Wyoming Seminary, FL (12th grade)
#2 LaDarion Lockett, Stillwater High School, OK (11th grade)
#5 Conner Harer, Montgomery, PA (12th grade)
#9 Cory Thomas, Pontiac High School, MI (12th grade)
#11 Latrell Schafer, Veterans High School, GA (12th grade)
#13 Leo Contino, Buchanan, CA (11th grade)
#14 Matthew Henrich, Southern, NJ (12th grade) … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/articles/11285477-world-champs-lockett-sealey-headline-loaded-157-lbs-super-32
2023-24 NC State Preview
The Wolfpack added their fifth straight ACC Championship and a share of the ACC dual title last season and are looking to add to the trophy collection with a very dangerous lineup. It is a big compliment to Coach Popolizio and crew regarding their recruiting that they never seem to have any “holes” in their lineup. They mix experienced starters with talented newcomers and seem to consistently have a balanced team that is dangerous in both duals and tournaments. There will be some new faces in the lineup this year between redshirts and weight shifts but I don’t expect any dropoff from the Pack. They enter the season with nine ranked wrestlers, with six of those ranked in the top 10.
TOP RETURNERS
Jakob Camacho: Two-time ACC champ is returning from a redshirt year. … rest of story at … Intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/acc/2023-24-nc-state-preview
2023-24’s Top 50 Collegiate Wrestlers: #46-#50
What has become a preseason staple for us at InterMat, counting down the top 50 wrestlers for the upcoming season, is back for 2023-24. With a large chunk of sixth and seventh-year seniors gone, there is plenty of turnover from last year’s list to this one. That makes for a lot of fun and perhaps some spirited debates.
Like last year, the third iteration of this feature will show five wrestlers at a time, counting down from #50 to #1.
For each wrestler, we’ll have some basic information along with career highlights, and a brief analysis of their career (with an emphasis on last season), followed by an outlook for the upcoming season.
50) Meyer Shapiro (Cornell) … rest of story at … Intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/2023-24s-top-50-collegiate-wrestlers-46-50
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
Takedown Report 