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
Breaking down the 2023-2024 Penn State wrestling schedule
The 11-time national champion Nittany Lions will officially make their return to the mat on Sunday Nov. 12 for competition as they begin their quest for yet another NCAA title. With a stacked lineup that includes two three-time returning NCAA champions, two returning NCAA finalists and four additional All-Americans, this is a team that will be expected to roll through their competition this year and dominate the national scene once again.
🤼 MORE COLLEGE WRESTLING 🤼
🚨 Alerts and updates on Bleacher Report
Let’s break down some of the teams and athletes the Blue and White will have to conquer if they want to stay undefeated on their way to the national tournament in Kansas City in 2024.
Nov. 12 Journeymen Collegiate Classic (Bethlehem, Pa.) + Nov. 19 Black Knight Invite (West Point, N.Y.)
Much like years past, Penn State will start its competition schedule with two open tournaments, and this year those tournaments include the Journeymen Collegiate Classic and the Black Knight Invite. The Nittany Lions put five athletes on the top of the podium at the Black Knight Invite in 2022 including Beau Bartlett, Shayne Van Ness, Levi Haines, Alex Facundo and Max Dean. All of those athletes, with the exception of Max Dean, return for the 2023-2024 campaign, and Bartlett, Van Ness and Haines will each come into this season looking for their second career All-American honors after finishing third, third and second respectively at last year’s national tournament.
2023 CHAMPS: Here’s how Penn State won the most recent NCAA tournament
These open tournaments are a good chance for athletes, particularly young athletes, to gain experience and shake off the rust. Every once in a while, an open tournament will produce a wild result, but, more traditionally, these tournaments are just an opportunity for wrestlers to ease back into the season and find their rhythm.
Nov. 21 NWCA All-Star Classic (Exhibition)
Given that the All-Star Classic is slated for two days after the Black Knight Invite, don’t expect most Penn State’s biggest names to participate in the open tournaments. The lineup for the 2023 All-Star dual has not been released yet, but, last year, Penn State had three of its athletes — Carter Starocci, Aaron Brooks and Greg Kerkvliet — compete in this exhibition showcase, and all three notched impressive wins. The All-Star Classic results don’t count on a wrestler’s official record, but these wins matter for pride, confidence and reputation. A win here gives an athlete an edge. … rest of story at … NCAA.com/news/wrestling/article/2023-10-03/breaking-down-2023-2024-penn-state-wrestling-schedule
2023 NWCA All-Star Classic Set For November 21 At Penn State
The 2023 NWCA All-Star Classic is scheduled for Tuesday, November 21 at Penn State’s Rec Hall.
The NWCA All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen is back this season. Many of the best men’s and women’s college wrestlers in the country will head to Penn State on Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 pm est. for an early-season showcase packed with dream matchups. All of the action will be streamed live on FloWrestling.
The prestigious event began in 1967 and was a staple of the college season until 2017. After a four year hiatus, the All-Star Classic made its return in 2022 in Austin, Texas due, in large part, to the support of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. This year’s meet will take place at Rec Hall on the campus of Penn State.
Last year’s event featured 6 NCAA champions in the men’s matches and 6 college national champions in the women’s matches. Matchups and ticket information will be released soon.
2022 All-Star Classic Results
125 lbs – Pat McKee (Minnesota) FALL Kysen Terukina (Iowa State) 3:48
133 lbs – Lucas Byrd (Illinois) DEC Michael McGee (Arizona State) 3-2
141 lbs – Andrew Alirez (Northern Colorado) DEC Cole Matthews (Pitt) 4-2 SV
149 lbs – Austin Gomez (Wisconsin) DEC Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) 10-9
157 lbs – Will Lewan (Michigan) DEC Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech) 3-1
165 lbs – Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) DEC Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) 7-1
165 lbs – David Carr (Iowa State) DEC Quincy Monday (Princeton) 2-1 … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/articles/11283366-2023-nwca-all-star-classic-set-for-november-21-at-penn-state
Nebraska’s 2023-24 Wrestling Schedule Drops: Observations and Top Matchups
The 5th-ranked Huskers’ schedule came out yesterday; plus five of the most anticipated matches I can’t wait to see this season.
Nebraska’s complete 2023-24 schedule has finally been released.
As usual, being in the Big Ten and all, Nebraska has a schedule full of top teams. But not only is Nebraska’s conference schedule brutal, it also has a tough slate of non-conference opponents. All of Nebraska’s 14 dual opponents are ranked in the top 50 according to FloWrestling’s Team Tournament Rankings for the 2023-24 season. Four are preseason ranked in the Top 10.
Nebraska currently sits at No. 5 in the preseason rankings due to a stacked lineup with few holes. As you’ll see, Nebraska will certainly get to prove itself as a top team with its schedule.
#5 Nebraska’s 2023-24 Schedule
Saturday, Nov. 4 — at #45 North Dakota St.
Friday, Nov. 10 — vs #36 Campbell
Saturday, Nov. 18 — Navy Classic
Fri.-Sat., Dec. 1-2 — Cliff Keen Invitational
Saturday, Dec. 16 — vs. #12 South Dakota St.
Saturday, Jan. 6 — Triangular vs #50 Wyoming and #14 Northern Iowa
Friday, Jan. 12 — vs. #2 Iowa … rest of story and schedule at … Cornnation.com/2023/10/3/23833738/nebraskas-2023-24-wrestling-schedule-drops-observations-and-top-matchups
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
