Takedown Report

NCAA Wrestling: Fall vs. Tech Fall

Fall or Tech Fall: Both are equally difficult but should the point system be swapped? Would the outcome of the NCAA Wrestling Championships be changed? Take a look!

Now entering full offseason mode and an opportunity to veer away from the weekly previews and reviews, it’s time to branch out and look around for new ways to expand the knowledge of those interested in the wrestling world, both collegiately and into the lower levels of the high school ranks.

I recently argued with myself on team points and how they could be changed or ways to score victories differently. In what may be an unpopular opinion, I have concluded that a win by technical fall could be swapped with a win by fall, points-wise. I have also concluded that I don’t think anything should be changed. So basically, I’m still on the fence about what to believe.

Initially, a win by fall would conclude in a team receiving six points for a dual or two points if you are in tournament action. As to a tech fall where you receive five team points in a dual and one and a half points in a tournament. But what if these two were swapped? How would it change the outcomes or affect scoring?

I went back over the past ten years for a decent sample size … rest of story at Rockmnation.com/2023/5/4/23678657/ncaa-division-one-wrestling-pin-vs-tech-fall

May 12, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

AWN’s Hoke, FloSports’ Hamilton announced as 2023 recipients of NWMA’s Jay Hammond Award

New Brighton, Minnesota — Two of wrestling’s most impactful individuals have been named the recipients of the National Wrestling Media Association’s Jay Hammond Memorial Recognition Award. 

John Hoke, Publisher of Amateur Wrestling News since 1981, and Andy Hamilton, a Managing Editor at FloSports in its popular FloWrestling vertical, are this year’s winners of the highest honor presented by the National Wrestling Media Association.

The NWMA, founded in 1989, is a professional organization for journalists who cover the sport of wrestling through any and all levels. This includes reporters, editors, publishers, webmasters, photographers, broadcasters, sports information directors, and other media professionals who share an interest and involvement with the sport.

“When you look at wrestling through the eras, there are two things that seem to be constant. One of those things is Amateur Wrestling News, and the other is something written or produced by Andy Hamilton,” said Jason Bryant, current NWMA president. “For more than half a century, Amateur Wrestling News has been one of the only sources the sport had for not only covering wrestling, but documenting it as well.”

The Hammond Award is named in honor of the late Jay Hammond, a former president of the NWMA and one of the key figures in helping document the sport’s history through technology. The Hammond Award is awarded for outstanding work in the effort to educate and enhance the sport of wrestling through media. 

Hoke’s foray into wrestling came early as his father, Jess Hoke, founded AWN … rest of story at Nationalwrestlingmedia.com/2023/05/awns-hoke-flosports-hamilton-announced-as-2023-recipients-of-nwmas-jay-hammond-award

May 11, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Walker Bell of West Craven presented the 32nd Michael Stokes Award

State finalist Walker Bell of West Craven High School was presented the 2023 Michael Stokes Award at the West Craven baseball team’s senior night.  In four years as a starter Bell compiled a record of 135 wins and 25 losses.  This is the 4th most wins in school history.  He was a 4-x conference champion, 2-x conference wrestler of the year 4-x time regional placer, 3-x regional champ and a 4-x state qualifier.  He placed 5^th in the state tournament in 2022 and 2nd in 2023.  His teammates voted him captain three consecutive years. He maintained a 3.67 GPA and is a NCWA Scholar and Character and Leadership All American. Coach Jeremiah Hohlfelder stated “Walker led by example with his outstanding grades and work ethic and he helped build a foundation for the program at West Craven” 

As previously released; Michael Stokes wrestled the 1981-1984 seasons at Tarboro High School and with a (96–4) career record.  He was North Carolina’s 2nd 3-time State Champion when there was only one individual champion at a weight in the state. He wrestled for N.C. State and won ACC wrestling titles in 1988 and 1989 and was named the ACC Most Valuable Wrestler both years.  His record of 68 wins 8 losses and 3 ties (.879) is the best career winning percentage at NC State.  He finished second at the NCAA Nationals at 126 lbs. in 1989 to Kendall Cross, the eventual Olympic Gold medalist. Stokes co-captained the Wolfpack in 1989 and one of the ACC’s all time 50 greatest wrestlers as recognized during the conference’s 50th anniversary celebration.  Stokes credits wrestling as “providing me with a mental toughness that enables me to remove boundaries that stand in my way.  Wrestling has given me the sheer determination to believe that I can conquer anything that I set my mind to do.”

            Previous Stokes Award wrestlers include Aaron Bancroft (2020) and Jayleen Bullock (2021) of Wilson Fike. Ray Darden of Ayden-Grifton and Jordan Todd of Rosewood tied for the award in (2019), Sincere King of North Pitt (2018), Quadarrius Hopkins of Tarboro (2017), Wilson Smith of Rocky Mount (2016), Angel Najar of North Pitt (2015), Reggie Huff of Southern Nash (2014), David Guevara of Tarboro (2013), Alexander Knight and Jaciento Williamson of Rocky Mount (2012), Xavier Najar of North Pitt (2011), Joe Young of Northern Nash (2010), Corey Smith of Tarboro (2009), Jasmine Cooper of Nash Central (2008), Eric Wischhusen, (2007), Roylando Lucas (2001) and Ira Bing (2000) of Southern Nash, John Brewer (2006), Aaron Bancroft (2020) and Jayleen Bullock (2021) of Wilson Fike, Anthony Taylor (2005) of Rocky Mount, Sammi Hadi (2004) and Ryan Huffman (1997) of SouthWest Edgecombe, Charles Washington (2003) of Northern Nash, Quadric Eason (2002), Mike Christopher (1999 & 1998), Tony Mercer (1996) and Lee Carroll (1994 & 1995) of Tarboro.                       The TDR promotes amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina and sponsors this award.  “The awards are to recognize great wrestlers from before and the current ones for their efforts,” Editor Martin Fleming noted.  The TakeDown Report has promoted scholastic wrestling for over 25 years in North Carolina and encourages coverage of the sport. 

May 10, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

College Programs ranked by historic dual meet wins

TDR Editor’s Notes ; The following is a ranked listing of the top 106 college wrestling programs with 500 or more historical dual meet wins. Oklahoma State is the top team with 1,170 wins in 104 seasons since 1914. Iowa State is second with 1,125 wins. Springfield College is the top Division III program and in third place over all with 1,069 wins. They are closely followed by Oregon State and the University of Iowa with less than ten wins behind on the list. The top four teams have averaged over 10 wins each season. The average number of wins per season is in the column on the right next to the name of the coach who led their program to the most wins at that school.

The top North Carolina schools are;
Appalachian State University – in 15^th with 849 wins
North Carolina State – 24^th with 766 wins
University of North Carolina – 32^nd with 721 wins The top School in other divisions
Division II – Pittsburgh-Johnstown in 41^st with 658 wins and the All-Time top coach in dual wins, Pat Pecora with 646 wins.
Division III – Springfield College in 3^rd with 1,069 wins
NAIA – Southern Oregon State in 76^th with 580 wins
Juco – North Idaho Junior College in 29^th with 737 wins
California C.C. – Sacramento City College in 98^th with 522 wins.
Women’s – Oklahoma City College in 310^th with 177 wins
Highest Average Wins per season is Johnson & Wales with almost 17 wins per year.  In the top 100 schools Olivet College, The College of New Jersey, North Idaho and Pitt.-Johnstown lead with 13 wins or more per season.
We welcome input, information and corrections sent to martinkfleming@gmail.com so that we can have the most complete records.
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May 3, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

CHANGES IN NFHS HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING RULES

CHANGES IN NFHS HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING RULES INCLUDE ALLOWANCE OF SIX MATCHES IN ONE DAY OF COMPETITION

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 27, 2023) – High school wrestlers will be able to wrestle in six matches in any one day of competition beginning with the 2023-24 season. The six-match limit includes championship and consolation matches and excludes forfeits.

This change to Rule 1-4-3 was one of 12 revisions recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 2-4 meeting in Indianapolis. All changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

The increase from five to six matches for regular-season competition follows the change two years ago which permitted six matches in any one day of tournament competition. With experiments conducted last year by state associations with no reported injuries, the committee thought the increase to six for regular-season competition was a natural progression.

With risk minimization in mind, the committee also approved Rule 1-4-7, which states that no contestant shall wrestle in more than 10 matches in two consecutive days.

Another significant change was made in the Definitions (Rule 5) section of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Book. In Rule 5-15-2a which lists the points of support when a wrestler is down on the mat, “foot/feet” was added to the list that includes the knee(s), side of the thigh, buttocks, hand(s) and head.

“Feet are regularly supporting the wrestler’s weight during the match while on the mat,” said Elliot Hopkins, director of sports and student services and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee. “We allow a wrestler’s feet to be considered supporting points while in a near-fall situation. By adding it to the list of usual supporting points on the mat, it will create more clarity and consistency for the wrestlers, coaches and officials – without creating additional injury risk.”

In another Rule 5-Definitions revision, the committee expanded the definition of forfeit in Section 13 to include a medical forfeit. The new language states that “it shall be considered a medical forfeit when the opponent … rest of story at Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/April/27/NFHS-rules

April 29, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee Proposes Massive Changes

The NCAA wrestling rules committee recommended some ground-shaking proposals this week in Indianapolis.

College wrestling is on the verge of monumental change. 

If NCAA rules committee proposals pass, three-point takedowns will be in, three-point near-falls will be back and a riding-time point without a turn will be a thing of the past. 

Those were three of the headline-grabbers from a groundbreaking rules committee meeting this week at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. 

The committee also recommended eliminating the hand-touch takedown, adjusting video review to allow for sequences to be reviewed rather than just singular moves, and counting the first medical forfeit of a tournament as a loss on a wrestler’s record, except in instances where a medical forfeit immediately follows an injury default. 

“We needed to add excitement back to the sport without compromising the integrity of the sport — and I think we did that,” Rider coach and NCAA rules committee chair John Hangey said.

“We’re either going to be loved or hated or remembered as the worst or the best rules committee in history. But we felt we were taking wrestling from where it is to where we want it to be.” 

College coaches will have a two-week period to review the proposals and submit feedback before the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel meets June 8 to discuss the recommendations. If they pass, next season will usher in a historic period of change for the sport. 

“We felt we needed to make a change right now and felt it was a crucial time,” North Carolina coach and rules committee member Coleman Scott said. “Viewership was down for the NCAA tournament with probably some of the best storylines we’ve ever had all in one year, so we’ve got to be conscious of that to make sure the product we’re putting out is the best to build our sport and our viewership. Some of that can be dictated by the rules.”

The two-point takedown and riding-time points have been woven into college wrestling’s fabric for decades, but one could be on the way out and the threshold for the other could be drastically different next season. In an effort to increase scoring and action, the rules committee voted to increase the value of a takedown to three points and also moved to require wrestlers to score near-fall points in order to secure a point for accruing a minute or more of riding time. 

The three-point takedown had been a discussion piece in recent years but hadn’t generated much traction. But with national tournament match points down 19 percent since 2019 and takedowns down almost 17 percent during the same time frame, the rules committee made a three-pronged move to jumpstart action, risk-taking and scoring. 

“We’ve got to incentivize,” Scott said. “We talked about 50 different scenarios in a match. Three takedowns in a first period, opponent gets three escapes, escapes again in the second period and then takes you down and it’s a 6-6 match and it’s three takedowns to one. Should that be where it’s at? That’s a lot of effort. It’s hard to take down somebody three times — a high-level guy. If we redid it with three-point takedowns, you’re looking at 9-7.

“It puts an emphasis on risk and we need more risk. If you look at the numbers statistically, takedowns have gone down, backpoints have gone down, tech falls have gone down. Everything has decreased in the last 10 years in our numbers, so we’ve got to figure out how to create more action, more points, more opportunities.” 

The most impactful change might be the new riding time caveat. … rest of story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/10889313-ncaa-rules-committee-proposes-massive-changes

April 29, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Top Women’s Teams Coaches

TDR Editor’s Notes; The following lists are for coaches of women’s college teams. The list includes college teams from all divisions. The sport is growing rapidly and will have over 150 teams in the near future. Twenty years ago there were only a handful of teams thus the list of top active coaches and the top All-Time coaches have many names in common. As the sport grows there will become separate listings for NCAA & NAIA divisions. The number in italics after the number of wins for an active coach is how many wins from the most recent season. We welcome input and corrections.
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ACTIVE Women’s Coaches– Top 15 with 15 or more wins              

1. Jason Moorman (King Univ.)                        147  +6
2. Lee Miracle (Campbellsville)                        99   +17
3. Sam Schmitz (McKendree Univ.)                  84   +7
4. Donnie Stephens (Univ. of the Cumberlands)  78  +12
5. Link Davis (Emmanuel)                                 74   +13
6. Brian Jackson (Missouri Baptist)                   67 – inc.  +13
7. Ashley Sword-Buster  (Life University)        50  +16
8. Carl Murphree (Missouri Valley College)     47  — inc  +11
9. Tony DeAnda (Presbyterian/Jamestown)      41 – inc.  +8
10. Joey Bareng (Menlo College)                        40   +7         
11. Travis Mercado (Colorado Mesa Univ.)        32   +14
12. Cliff Cushard (Adrian College)                      25   +6
13. Mahdi Bigdely (Ottawa Univ.)                       25   +7
14. Shaunna Isbell Kent (Jamestown)                  19   +3
15. Kevin Corbett (Lyon College)                        17   +1

ALL-TIME Women’s Coaches– Top 20 with 10 or more wins           

1. Archie Randall (Oklahoma City Univ.)        160
2. Jason Moorman (King Univ.)                     147 
3. Lee Miracle (Campbellsville)                       99 
4. Sam Schmitz (McKendree Univ.)               84 
5. Donnie Stephens (Univ. of Cumberlands)   78 
6. Link Davis (Emmanuel College)                  74 
7. Brian Jackson (Missouri Baptist)               67 – inc. 
8. Aaron Meister (Wayland Baptist College)      53
9. Ashley Sword-Buster (Life University)       50 
10. Carl Murphree (Missouri Valley College)  47  – inc. 
11. Lee Dale Allen (Menlo Colleg)                      40
12. Joey Bareng (Menlo College)                      40 
13. Tony DeAnda (Jamestown)                           33
14. Travis Mercado (Colorado Mesa Univ.)    32
15. Cliff Cushard (Adrian College)                   25 
16. Mahdi Bigdely (Ottawa Univ.)                    25  
17. Johnny Cobb (Wayland Baptist College)        25
18. David Mathews (Life University)                  22
19. Shaunna Isbell Kent (Jamestown)              19 
20. Kevin Corbett (Lyon College)                      17 
21. Beau Vest (Midland Lutheran)                        17
22. Craig Jaxkson (Umpqua Comm. Coll.)      15 
23. Pauk Rademacher (Southern Oregon St.)        11
24. Tony Champion (Southern Oregon State)       11
25. Matt Stevens (Oklahoma City)                        11

April 26, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

James Johnson Memorial Awards 2023

State Champions Beaty, Hopper, and Buonocore to receive the James Johnson Memorial Award

            Undefeated State Champion Caleb Beaty of Corinth-Holders High School, Alex Hopper and Avery Buonocore of Wilmington Laney High School will be 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. 

            Caleb Beaty won his last 85 matches over three seasons as he won three state championships in two different weight classes. Caleb is a rare four-time member of the annual TDR Top 12 team as recognized by an engraved wooden plaque. Caleb has a 3.8 g.p.a at Corinth-Holders and will attend American University to study environmental policy.  He is looking forward to wrestling for Coach Borelli and helping build AU wrestling. Caleb placed second at the National High School Coaches Association Senior Nationals this year.

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 2^nd 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.

            Devon Bell and Mark Samuel of Laney High School were presented the 26^th & 27^th Annual 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.  Contact the TDR at takedownreport@gmail.com, & https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/

April 25, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Junior Hodge, Coach of the Year, Impact Award, Schalles and Jr. Schalles, Journalist honored

NEWTON, Iowa — Cael Hughes, Cael Sanderson, Anthony Robles, Wyatt Hendrickson, Ryder Rogotzke and Earl Smith are featured as award-winners in the April 28 issue of WIN Magazine, which is announcing its remaining annual awards for the past wrestling season.

Click here or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe to WIN Magazine.

Hughes, WIN Magazine’s top-ranked wrestler at 132 pounds from Stillwater (Okla.), was selected as the winner of the 2023 Junior Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s most dominant wrestler.

Cael Hughes

Presented annually by Resilite, the Junior Hodge is the high school equivalent of the the Dan Hodge Trophy given to college wrestling’s most dominant wrestler. Hughes, a future Oklahoma State wrestler, finished the year 39-0 with 21 pins and won a fourth Oklahoma state title after also winning this year’s Ironman and Pittsburgh Classic events.

Penn State’s Cael Sanderson

Sanderson, who became head coach at Penn State 14 years ago, was named the winner of the 2023 Dan Gable Coach of the Year award after he led the Nittany Lions to a 10^th team championship. Led by two champions and eight All-Americans, the 2022-23 Penn State team won a second straight team title by 55 points.

Anthony Robles

Robles, who won the 2011 NCAA championship at 125 pounds for Arizona State with just one leg, has earned the 2023 Mike Chapman Impact award. Since winning his national title, Robles has been a motivational speaker, returned to coach his former high school in Mesa, Ariz., and created the Robles Unstoppable Foundation. There is also a movie, based on his life and called “Unstoppable”, that is currently in production.

April 25, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment