Daniel Herrera, who won back-to-back state wrestling titles, will finish high school in Iowa
Herrera intends to play football and wrestle near the Ames, Iowa campus of Iowa State University, where he has committed to be a dual-sport athlete.
State wrestling champion Daniel Herrera committed to wrestle and play football at Iowa State University last October. Now, before he has even begun his senior year of high school, Herrera is packing his things and heading to Iowa.
Herrera, who won back-to-back California state wrestling titles in the heavyweight division, will not return to Palm Desert High School for his senior year.
Instead, he is moving to Iowa, where he’ll live in an apartment near the Iowa State campus in Ames. Herrera said that he intends to play football and wrestle for one more year in high school before enrolling at ISU.
“I’m still planning on doing both sports out there,” said Herrera, who was The Desert Sun’s male athlete of the year for the 2021-22 school year. Herrera will make the move to the Midwest in early August.
Herrera was the kind of physical force that only comes through the Coachella Valley every few decades. Though there have been other elite athletes from the desert over the years, there has never been someone as physically dominant on both the football field and the wrestling mat.
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Herrera never lost a wrestling match during his three years wrestling in high school and was a three-time all-league first team performer playing on the defensive line for Palm Desert, a school that won three league titles in Herrera’s three seasons. Herrera was the Desert Empire League’s defensive player of the year in 2022. … rest of story at Desertsun.com/story/sports/high-school/wrestling
TRUE THIRD PLACE MATCHES DETERMINED NO. 3 ATHLETES FOR 2023-24 SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM
NEWARK, N.J—The true third place matches that decided the No. 3 athlete on the 2023-24 Senior National Team at specific weight classes took place prior to Final X at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The top three in each weight class earn stipend support and a chance to win bonus funds, based upon performance, as well as receive access to international tours and National Team training camps.
The Greco-Roman action started with Randon Miranda of Rise RTC and Dylan Koontz of Dubuque RTC and Titan Mercury Wrestling Club at 60 kg. Miranda earned the victory by 7-0 decision, as all seven points were scored in the first period of action.
Sammy Jones, of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, won the true third place match at 63 kg over Dylan Gregerson of Brunson UVRTC. Jones, a senior world team member in 2022, defeated Gregerson by 12-2 technical fall.
At 72 kg, Noah Wachsmuth of New York Athletic Club was the true third place champion with his 16-8 technical fall win over Michael Hooker of Army WCAP. Wachsmuth picked up an 8-4 lead through the first period of action. In the second period, Hooker tied the match at eight points apiece, but Wachsmuth responded with eight points for the late technical fall.
The bout at 77 kg saw RaVaughn Perkins of New York Athletic Club defeat Payton Jacobson of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club by 3-1 decision. Perkins was a past senior world team member and faced Jacobson, who earned a spot on the U23 Greco-Roman national team at U23 Nationals June 2. … rest of story at … Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/June/10/True-Third-Matches
National Wrestling Hall of Fame Unveils New Exhibit Women In Wrestling – A Legacy Inspiring Generations
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has a new exhibit – Women In Wrestling – A Legacy Inspiring Generations.
A collaboration between the Hall of Fame and the Committee to Advance Women’s Wrestling, the exhibit will showcase women’s wrestling history and was made possible through generous contributions from former and current Olympic Women’s National Team Leaders Kyra Tirana Barry, Jim Bennett, Christina ‘Kiki’ Kelley, Jeff Levitetz, Art Martori, Kim Martori Wickey, Steve Silver, and Stan Zeamer.
“This exhibit celebrates women’s wrestling as it continues to surge in popularity at every level,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “We hope that sharing the stories, particularly about its evolution and the pioneering athletes who have brought it to this point, will help make visitors more aware of what women’s wrestling has to offer for participants and fans.
“This project was made possible through the generosity and leadership of former and present Olympic Women’s National Team Leaders, who sponsored the exhibit,” he added. “I want to particularly thank Kyra Tirana Barry, an Olympic Team Leader and Co-Chairperson for the Committee to Advance Women’s Wrestling, for spearheading the fundraising for this exciting new exhibit.”
“Thank you to our partners at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for creating this new permanent exhibit at the NWHOF museum to highlight and memorialize women’s achievements in wrestling,” said Kyra Tirana Barry, Co-Chairperson for the Committee to Advance Women’s Wrestling. “I am thrilled to see the female legends of our sport featured alongside their male counterparts.
“The visibility and recognition of these pioneering women plays a fundamental role in the sport’s future. It allows every young girl the ability to dream and goal setting while seeing herself at the highest level in every aspect of wrestling,” she added. “I would also like to thank my fellow Olympic Women’s National Team Leaders for their endless vision, passion and support of our national team members. Together they are propelling U.S. women’s wrestling to grow and thrive.”
Featured in the exhibit are images of Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, Sheila Wager, and the members of the 2004 United States Olympic team (Sara McMann, Patricia Miranda, Toccara Montgomery and Tela O’Donnell Bacher) with Women’s National Team Head Coach Terry Steiner.
It also includes a digital kiosk where visitors will be able to access a timeline of great moments in U.S. women’s wrestling history, females honored by the Hall of Fame, and see the group of donors who made the exhibit possible.
CLICK to visit “Great Moments in U.S. Women’s Wrestling History”
The exhibit also features women’s wrestling memorabilia, including a singlet from Tamyra Mensah Stock, the first Black woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling and a two-time World champion.
Johnston is the first American woman to win a World medal for USA Wrestling, capturing bronze at the 1989 World Championships. It was also the first Women’s World Championships that the United States entered. Asia de Weese and Leia Kawaii both earned silver medals.
Wager became the first U.S. female to referee at the Olympics when she worked the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Wager, who also worked the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, was honored as a Meritorious Official by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1995, becoming the first female to be recognized by the Hall of Fame. … rest of story at … NWHOF.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame-unveils-new-exhibit-women-in-wrestling-a-legacy-inspiring-generations
2020 OLYMPIANS HAFIZOV, SANCHO AMONG CHAMPIONS AS U.S. GRECO-ROMAN WORLD TEAM SET AT FINAL X
NEWARK, N.J. – It was a highly-competitive night as the 2023 U.S. Senior Greco-Roman World Team was determined at Final X on Saturday night.
Five of the 10 best-of-three series went the full three bouts, and the U.S. team will be a mix of proven veterans and some new faces. Winners in Final X will compete at the Senior World Championships in Serbia in September.
A pair of 2020 U.S. Olympians claimed titles, Ildar Hafizov at 60 kg and Alejandro Sancho at 67 kg. Hafizov needed three matches to beat Army WCAP teammate Dalton Roberts in the finals. Hafizov pinned Roberts in the first match in 4:01, but Roberts rallied for an impressive 9-0 technical fall in the second bout. In a tense third match, the match ended at 1-1 for Hafizov with criteria, but Roberts’ corner challenged at the end, which was denied. It was the third time Hafizov and Roberts had wrestled each other in Final X, with Hafizov having won two of the three times.
Sancho showed his experience edge with a two-match sweep of rising young talent Robert Perez III. Sancho won a tight 3-2 match in the first round, then came back with a 5-1 victory in bout two. Sancho will compete at the Senior Worlds for the second straight year.
Five other Final X Greco-Roman champions have competed on at least one previous Senior World Team: Patrick Smith at 72 kg, Kamal Bey at 77 kg, Spencer Woods at 82 kg, Josef Rau at 97 kg and Cohlton Schultz at 130 kg.
Smith needed three matches to defeat 2023 U.S. Open champion Justus Scott in the final series. Scott won the first match in a 3-3 criteria decision, but Smith rallied to win the second bout 5-4. In the deciding third match, … rest of story at … Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/June/11/Final-X-Greco
WORLD CHAMPS GRAY, PARRISH, WINCHESTER, ELOR AMONG NINE FINAL X WOMEN’S FREESTYLE CHAMPIONS
NEWARK, N.J. – Nine of the 10 Senior World Team berths in women’s freestyle were determined in an exciting Final X at Prudential Center on Saturday night.
Among the women’s freestyle Final X winners were four World champions, six-time World champion Adeline Gray at 76 kg, 2019 World champion Jacarra Winchester at 55 kg and 2022 World champions Dominique Parrish at 53 kg and Amit Elor at 72 kg.
Gray swept her finals series over young star Kennedy Blades, avenging a loss to her in the 2023 U.S. Open finals. Gray won the first match 7-5 on a last-second takedown, then broke open a close second match by turning and pinning Blades at the 4:38 mark. Gray gave birth to twins less than a year ago and has made great progress since returning to competition in April Winchester defeated 2023 U.S. Open champion Alisha Howk in two straight matches, both by technical fall. Winchester won 10-0 in bout one and 11-0 in bout two, opening up her explosive offense. Winchester was also a 2020 Olympian and will compete on her fourth World Championship team.
Parrish won two straight matches against young talent Katie Gomez, scoring a pin in 1:54 in the first match, then scoring a 5-0 shutout in the second match.
Elor, who won three UWW World titles in 2022 (U20, U23 and Senior) will return to the Senior Worlds after a dominating two-match sweep of Joye Levendusky, winning both matches by 10-0 technical falls. Elor was the youngest U.S. Senior World champion last year at the age of 19.
Olympic and World medalist Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg) and two-time World silver medalist Kayla Miracle (62 kg) were among the other talented veterans to win Final X.
Hildebrandt blitzed high school sensation Audrey Jimenez in two straight bouts, with an 8-0 shutout in the opening round, then an 11-0 technical fall in session two.
Miracle showed her experience advantage against U20 World medalist and two-time NAIA champion Adaugo Nwachukwu, Miracle won the first match 6-1, then got her offense rolling in a 10-3 victory in the second match.
The other three winners will be competing in their first Senior World Championships, Jennifer Page at 59 kg, Macey Kilty at 65 kg and Emma Bruntil at 68 kg. … rest of story at … Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/June/10/Women-Final-X
OLYMPIC CHAMPS TAYLOR, SNYDER, STEVESON WIN, MARSTELLER TOPS BURROUGHS, IN MEN’S FREESTYLE AT FINAL X
NEWARK, N.J. – Three Olympic champions earned titles and six athletes qualified for their first Senior World Team in an exciting men’s freestyle segment of Final X on Saturday night at Prudential Center.
Advancing to the 2023 Senior World Championships will be 2020 Olympic champions David Taylor at 86 kg and Gable Steveson at 125 kg, plus 2016 Olympic champion Kyle Snyder at 97 kg.
Taylor, also a two-time World champion, defeated another Penn State legend, Aaron Brooks in two straight matches in the finals series. Taylor shut out Brooks in the first match, then won a closer 5-4 match to advance back to the World Championships.
Steveson defeated an old college rival, Mason Parris, in two straight matches. Steveson won the first match 6-2, and shut out Parris in the second bout for a two-match sweep. Although he is an Olympic champion, Steveson will be competing in his first Senior World Championships.
Snyder, also a three-time World champion, did not wrestle today. His opponent, two-time World champion and Olympic medalist J’den Cox weighed in, but was injured and could not compete. Snyder will represent the USA at the World Championships or Olympics for the ninth straight time.
Chance Marsteller defeated 2012 Olympic champion and six-time World champion Jordan Burroughs in three exciting matches at 79 kg. Burroughs had competed on every Senior World Team since his 2011. Burroughs won the first match 3-3, getting a point for Marsteller pulling on his singlet late in the match and then getting criteria. In the second bout, Marsteller ground out a tough 5-4 win. In the deciding third match, a key throw on the edge, which was originally scored for Burroughs, was awarded four points for Marsteller on the challenge review. Marsteller finished off an 8-3 victoryu.
Four-time World champion Kyle Dake returns for a fifth World Championships with a two-match sweep over Jason Nolf, both by shut outs. … rest of story at … Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/June/10/Mens-Freestyle-Final-X-wrap
Wrestling ‘helped shape me into who I am today,’ says ECU-bound graduate
Cumberland County Schools
Each year, Cumberland County Schools names a graduating senior at each high school as a Standout Senior. The 17 2023 Standout Seniors are bright, hard-working students who have overcome the odds to graduate and dedicate themselves to serving their community.
To learn more about their plans to attend college, serve in the military or begin their careers, go to www.ccs.k12.nc.us/graduation.
Karilynn Cuevas-Rodriguez will graduate from Seventy-First High School. She answered these questions about his education and his future.
- What accomplishment are you most proud of or what do you want to be remembered for?
An accomplishment that I am most proud of is my singing and wrestling career here at Seventy-First High. I’ve been singing since the ninth grade, and over time my talents have grown. I love music. It is something I have always had a passion for and it’s definitely something I will continue doing. Wrestling is something I want to be remembered for; it is also something I’m proud of. I joined the wrestling program at Seventy First High in October 2021. It was different for me because I had never fully committed myself to a sport the way I did with wrestling. It was definitely a love-at-first-sight kind of thing.
- What are your plans after graduation?
After high school, I plan to attend East Carolina University to major in business and entrepreneurship as well as join the Air Force ROTC program. To further my wrestling career, I will continue to do club wrestling for ECU. … rest of story … Cityviewnc.com/stories/standout-senior-2023-karilynn-cuevas-rodriguez
Amie Just: The story behind Peyton Robb’s gnarly leg scars shows wrestler’s strength, courage
By Amie Just
To the untrained eye, Peyton Robb had a hockey-puck-sized, purple-hued, slightly raised bruise on his left shin that had developed black spots.
Gnarly, sure. But life-threatening?
“F***,” an orthopedic surgeon at Bryan East Campus muttered after seeing Robb’s leg.
He had never seen necrotizing fasciitis with his own two eyes, but he knew how deadly it was — hence the departure from standard bedside manner. He needed to secure the next bed in the hospital’s operating room.
Immediately.
Robb’s a wrestler. A two-time All-American at that. Bruises happen, as do nicks, cuts and bloody teeth. His adrenaline rushes while competing, so sometimes he doesn’t notice the aftereffects of a hard hit until much later.
But this wasn’t a bruise, and those black spots weren’t blisters. They were remnants of dead tissue — a sign that Robb’s infection with the flesh-eating strep bacteria had progressed into a later stage. … rest of story … Journalstar.com/huskers/wrestling/amie-just-the-story-behind-peyton-robbs-gnarly-leg-scars-shows-wrestlers-strength-courage
STIFFLER, SYLVESTRE AMONG TRIPLE CHAMPIONS AT USA WRESTLING SOUTHEAST REGIONAL
CHEROKEE, N.C. – The USA Wrestling Regionals series continued with the Southeast Regional Championships being held at Cherokee Convention Center Expo Hall and Ballrooms.
There were eight double champions in the Junior boys division, athletes who won both the freestyle and Greco-Roman styles: William Jakeway of South Carolina (106), Tanner Spalding of Georgia (126), Anderson Heap of Florida (145), Layton Schneider of Oklahoma (152), Jude Randall of Oklahoma (160), Dominic Bambinelli of Georgia (170), Oscar Williams of Oklahoma (220) and Richard Thomas of Oklahoma (285).
Three competitors in the 16U boys division tripled up on gold medals: Hudson Chittum of Tennessee (94), Blue Stiffler of Georgia (138) and Ryder Wilder of Georgia (182).
Two athletes in the junior Girls division were triple champions in Gabriele Tedesco of Florida (106) and Naomie Sylvestre of Florida (122) as both won first place in freestyle, Greco-Roman and folkstyle. Zao Estrada of South Carolina (112-117) won first place in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.
In the 16U girls division, one competitor brought home a title in Greco-Roman, freestyle and folkstyle in Evelyn Holmes-Smith of Alabama (127).
The top six boys and top six girls in each weight class in the Junior and 16U divisions have qualified for their state teams for the 2023 USMC Junior and 16U Nationals in Fargo, N.D.
There were also tournaments held in freestyle, folkstyle and Greco-Roman at the 14U, 12U, 10U and 8U divisions for both boys and girls. Results for each weight class can be found below, with complete brackets available at Trackwrestling.com. … rest of story at … Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/June/07/Stiffler-Sylvestre-among-triple-champions-at-USA-Wrestling-Southeast-Regional
3-point takedown approved in wrestling
Rules change meant to incentivize offensive action
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Thursday approved making all takedowns in wrestling worth 3 points, effective with the 2023-24 season.
Members of the Wrestling Rules Committee, which proposed the change, agreed that increasing the scoring for takedowns by an additional point will enhance the sport by rewarding offensive actions and risk-taking.
The committee also agreed there was a need to create a more appropriate point differential between takedowns and escapes and incentivize offense when competitors are in the neutral position.
Eliminating the hand-touch takedown also was approved by the panel. Rules committee members think demonstrating control is an important component of college wrestling, so it made sense to eliminate the hand-touch takedown in favor of a single requirement for all takedowns.
To help balance the new takedown scoring rule, there also are new requirements for the top wrestler to work toward a near fall or pin. A 3-point near-fall scoring component was added.
Previously, officials could award 2 or 4 points for near falls. The rationale for the rule change includes giving wrestlers a chance to be more creative in attempting to earn points.
Video review
Panel members also approved a change to the coach’s video review request.
The rule change provides the referee with the authority to confirm or overturn all calls or missed calls during a video review challenged sequence. For coach’s challenges, the sequence is described as the time from the alleged error until the match is, or should have been, stopped by the referee.
Other rule changes
- The first medical forfeit of a tournament will count as a loss on the wrestler’s record. An exception will be if the medical forfeit occurs immediately after an injury default in a tournament.
- The penalty for a delayed coach’s video review challenge request will be changed to a loss of the video review. Previously, it was a control-of-mat violation and 1-point deduction from the team total.
- Any true placement matches conducted in an event will not alter the final team score.
- Officials can let action continue after penalizing an illegal hold and not require a stoppage after imminent scoring finishes when the safety of wrestlers is not in danger. … rest of story at … NCAA.org/news/2023/6/8/media-center-3-point-takedown-approved-in-wrestling
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 