Gardner-Webb Wrestling Announces Upcoming 2025-26 Schedule
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Now official, Head Coach Daniel Elliot and the Gardner-Webb wrestling team have announced its 2025-26 competitive slate, featuring eight matches inside Paul Porter Arena.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs open 2025-26 with an exciting event, hosted by Rutgers of the Big Ten. GWU will face hosts Rutgers, as well as Bloomsburg and Centenary on November 2nd.
Throwdown on The Yorktown is next, as the Runnin’ Bulldogs take to the deck of the USS Yorktown in Charleston once again. This year, Gardner-Webb will square off with Big Ten opponent Maryland, as well as Air Force on November 15th.
GWU once again travels to West Point in 2025-26, as the Runnin’ Bulldogs then visit Army for the Black Knight Invite on November 23rd.
After a short break for Thanksgiving, dual meets get started with a bang as the Runnin’ Bulldogs open December with a pair of big home matches. Duke visits Paul Porter Arena on December 3rd, followed by Michigan State on December 5th, before GWU heads back out on the road to face Kent State and Buffalo on December 13th, with both matches taking place in Buffalo, NY. Gardner-Webb rounds out the bulk of non-conference with a trip to Ohio on December 21st.
Into the new year, the annual Southern Scuffle takes place in Chattanooga on January 3rd and 4th. Conference meets then follow, with the Dawgs opening Southern Conference action, at home against Chattanooga, on January 16th. Campbell up next, with the Runnin’ Bulldogs battling the Fighting Camels as well as Clarion head to head on January 23rd in Buies Creek.
From there, Gardner-Webb returns home to host Davidson (date TBA) and The Citadel on February 6th. Bellarmine and Presbyterian each follow on the road on January 8th and 12thin Southern Conference action, before the Runnin’ Bulldogs head back home to face VMI on February 15th … more at … https://gwusports.com/news/2025/9/4/gardner-webb-wrestling-announces-upcoming-2025-26-schedule.aspx
Carr Jr. Adds Scott Joll as Assistant Davidson Coach
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson College wrestling head coach Nate Carr Jr. announced the addition of Scott Joll to his staff as an assistant coach Monday morning.
Joll joins the team after serving as an assistant at his alma mater UNC Pembroke for the 2024-25 season, where he was an NCAA Championship qualifier during his career as a Brave. “We are excited to add Scott to the staff,” said Carr Jr. “He brings a lot of wrestling knowledge and life experience, having had the opportunity to wrestle for WVU in the Big 12 and finish his career at UNC Pembroke. We are looking forward to Scott’s immediate impact on the program.”
Joll wrestled four seasons at West Virginia University, before transferring to UNC Pembroke for his extra year of eligibility. Joll made his lone season as a Braves wrestler a memorable one, finishing third in the 174-pound weight class at the NCAA Championships. The Belle Vernon, Pa. native was also named a DII Most Dominant Wrestler, earned the Most Falls Award and additionally was the recipient of the Gregorian Award following the NCAA Championships. “I’m super excited to be joining the Davidson family … more at … https://davidsonwildcats.com/news/2025/9/1/wrestling-carr-jr-adds-scott-joll-as-assistant-coach
Participation in High School Sports Hits Record High with Sizable Increase in 2024-25
High school athletics participation increased by nearly 200,000 in 2024-25, continuing an upward trajectory since the pandemic and registering an all-time high for participation.
The NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey indicated that 8,260,891 participants were involved in high school sports in 2024-25, which is up 198,589 from the previous year and tops the previous record of 8,062,302 set in 2023-24. The total includes 4,723,907 boys and 3,536,984 girls – both record highs – according to figures obtained from the 51 NFHS member state associations, which includes the District of Columbia.
The 2024-25 total marked the third consecutive notable increase after numbers fell during the pandemic. Since the initial survey after the pandemic, participation in high school sports has increased 642,837 in three years and represents a turnaround from the decline that started the year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is wonderful to see the interest in high school sports reach new heights,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the NFHS. “The immense value of high school sports is reflected in these impressive numbers. As high school students have consistently demonstrated their desire to play with their peers and represent their schools and community, state and school administrators have stepped up to offer more participation opportunities to meet that demand.”
The biggest gains in 2024-25 were mainly found in girls sports, with flag football leading the way. The rapid rise of girls flag football programs across the country led to 68,847 girls participating in the sport last year – an impressive 60 percent increase from the previous year. In addition, schools sponsoring the sport increased by nearly 1,000.
Girls wrestling topped 74,000 participants for the first time, jumping 15 percent from a year ago and adding nearly 1,000 schools with a girls wrestling program. Boys wrestling participation is also enjoying a rebound in numbers, recording an increase of 8,340 to top 300,000 for the first time.
The number of participants in Unified Sports and Esports also registered increases in 2024-25. The survey indicated a total of 70,006 participants in the 15 Unified Sports, up from 51,502 in 2023-24. A total of 30,440 students participated in Esports last year – an increase of 2,939 participants from the previous year.
Outdoor track and field, volleyball and soccer all registered increases and remained the top three participatory sports for girls. Track and field participation increased to 513,808, followed by volleyball at 492,799 (up 2.85%) and soccer at 393,048 (up 2.38%). Basketball (356,240) remained in the No. 4 spot followed by fast-pitch softball (331,306). Competitive spirit (206,262) jumped to the sixth-most popular girls sport with a nearly 14-percent increase, while tennis (204,721) also increased by more than four percent. Cross country (189,260), swimming and diving (138,303) and lacrosse (99,292) round out the top 10.
Outdoor track and field, soccer and golf had significant gains on the boys side, and all 10 of the most popular sports held steady or registered gains. After 11-player football (1,031,039) and outdoor track and field (644,235), the rest of the boys top 10 includes basketball (540,704), soccer (484,908), baseball (472,598), wrestling (300,214), … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/8/18/national-wrestling-coaches-association-participation-in-high-school-sports-hits-record-high-with-sizable-increase-in-2024-25.aspx
Wrestling’s better because weight cutting has improved
y Bryan Van Kley
Do you ever think about how much wrestling has changed and improved over the years? Coming up on my 50th birthday soon, maybe I’m showing my age by starting a column like that! I’m incredibly proud of how our sport has grown and evolved in regards to overall participation numbers and respect in the at-large sports community. Attending USA Wrestling’s Junior Nationals and seeing over 8,500 participants, including 2,245 girls reinforced this.
However, there are moments I cringe when talking to non-wrestling people about the sport; they have that look of disgust and lack of respect when it is brought up, immediately referencing some wrestling friends in high school starving themselves and being miserable.
As wrestling people know, the sport has made huge jumps forward by a healthier approach towards weight management on the youth, high school, and college levels with one and two-hour weigh-ins as well as hydration testing that helps decrease the drastic last-minute cuts which used to be commonplace.
When I was wrestling in high school and college in the early to mid 1990s, weight cutting was a rite of passage. Actually, it seemed it was even a measuring stick as to your dedication and discipline. I weighed 162 pounds as a senior and cut 27 pounds down to 135 the first semester before Christmas. With the scales in our wrestling room located between the gym and the classroom area of our high school, my teammates and I would check weight several times throughout the day between classes. Weigh-ins then were at 7 a.m. for an evening meet, so you could rehydrate during the day of the dual, but of course you still didn’t feel strong that night.
We’d practice wearing a hoodie (or two), sweatpants, and a stocking hat. A majority of our focus was the scale instead of getting better. As you can imagine, by the time the end of the season came around, there was a part of us that couldn’t wait for it to be over.
As a senior, I made the 135-pound class six times before Christmas. Despite plans to go up to 145, I wanted the option to be able to try to make state at 135. The rule then was you needed a minimum of seven weigh-ins at the postseason weight you chose. So, that meant making weight one time after our Christmas-break vacation to California.
My brother who also wrestled and I worked out a number of times while on break and carefully watched what we ate. … more at … https://www.win-magazine.com/2025/08/28/van-kley-wrestlings-better-because-weight-cutting-has-improved/
Rutgers to Host 2025 NWCA All-Star Classic
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers wrestling has been selected to host the 2025 NWCA All-Star Classic, presented by Nike Wrestling, on Saturday, November 1 at Jersey Mike’s Arena. FloWrestling will exclusively stream the all-star exhibition live.
Tickets for the event, which is set to begin at 7 p.m. can be found here.
Last year’s event featured five NCAA Champions (Lucas Byrd, Jesse Mendez, Levi Haines, Carter Starocci and Parker Keckeisen) and 12 All-Americans. Last year’s classic also included NCAA Division II men’s champion Derek Blubaugh, NCAA Division III men’s champion Massoma Endene, NAIA women’s champions Carolina Moreno and Jamilah McBryde, and NCWCC women’s champions Amani Jones and Victoria Baez-Dilone. Selections for this year’s all-star showcase will also be released later.
Jersey Mike’s Arena continues to be one of the premier venues in the sport, with the venue hosting the 2020 Big Ten Championships and 2019 Final X in recent years. Rutgers finished fifth in national attendance last season, marking the eighth time in nine campaigns the Scarlet Knights finished within the top five nationally and the ninth consecutive year appearing in the top 10.
Rutgers produced seven national qualifiers and three Blood Round participants at this year’s NCAA Championships in Philadelphia. The Scarlet Knights wrapped up the regular season No. 11 … more at … https://scarletknights.com/news/2025/8/20/wrestling-to-host-2025-nwca-all-star-classic.aspx
Early Lineup Look: 2025-26 NC State Wolfpack
A breakdown of the NC State Wolfpack for the 2025-26 NCAA season.
Development was the name of the game for North Carolina State during the 2024-25 season. Head coach Pat Popolizio redshirted a few of his biggest stars, including Ryan Jack and Jackson Arrington.
The Wolfpack finished eighth at the NCAA Championships and third at the ACC Championships with a team that was battle-tested. Vincent Robinson’s NCAA title at 125 pounds was the highlight, and it marked the first individual crown for NC State since Mike Macchiavello won in 2018.
Popolizio has a solid core, with four national placers and two Round of 12ers in the line-up. All-Americans Ryan Jack, Matt Singleton, Isaac Trumble, and Robinson join three additional national qualifiers in the line-up this season. “Last year was a good developmental year for us,” Popolizio said. “It was frustrating going through the process, but I feel good about who we have in our room. It’s fun watching certain guys develop. “We have six guys with a lot of experience at the NCAA tournament. I’m looking forward to the same kind of thing during the season as we develop and get these guys feeling good toward the end of the year.”
Progress is fundamental at 184 and 197. Popolizio might start two true freshmen, but will evaluate as the second semester begins. “We have new faces at 184 and 197 that we need to work to develop,” Popolizio said
North Carolina State will compete at the inaugural National Duals Invitational on November 15-16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “It’s been a long time coming,” Popolizio said. “It’s exciting to compete with the best teams in the country in a dual meet setting. It is going to be good for college wrestling and good for the fans, and good for exposure for the sport. Other sports are evolving and doing unique things to keep growing. I think wrestling has to do that, … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14468288-early-lineup-look-2025-26-nc-state-wolfpack
Tyler Tracy Earns Bronze at 2025 Junior Pan-American Games
ASUNCION, Paraguay – NC State wrestling’s Tyler Tracy earned a bronze medal representing Jamaica, becoming the country’s first-ever wrestling medalist at the 2025 Junior Pan-American Games in Paraguay over the weekend.
A 10-0 win over Joao Maldonado in his final match placed him on the podium in the 74 kg weight class. He also defeated Tanner Peake who wrestled at Davidson and was selected as first alternate at 157 lbs at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Tracy continues to remain consistent on the world stage, as he previously became Jamaica’s first-ever bronze medalist at the U23 Pan-American Championships in Mexico in April. … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2025/8/25/wrestling-tyler-tracy-earns-bronze-at-2025-junior-pan-american-games
Coach Hunter Finishes 100-Mile Race
CHADRON, Neb. – Brett Hunter, the Chadron State College men’s wrestling coach, achieved his goal of finishing the Lean Horse 100-mile run in the Black Hills of South Dakota with more than three hours to spare on Saturday.
Hunter crossed the finish line in Custer at 4:53 Saturday afternoon, 28 hours, 53 minutes and 47 seconds after the race had started at the same location at noon on Friday. He averaged 17 minutes and 21 seconds per mile.
Hunter completed the race, his first at that distance, in plenty of time to beat the race’s 32-hour cutoff to receive a commemorative belt buckle. Among 94 initial entries, Hunter crossed the line 40th among the 60 racers that earned the coveted buckle and “finisher” status. “It was one thousand percent harder than I expected, without a doubt,” Hunter said. “The first 50 miles, I was feeling good. From miles 60-90, I was starting to break down mentally and physically. The last 10 miles, I was hanging by a thread from being sleep deprived and mentally and physically fatigued, but I had to continue to move forward.”
he contestants ran 50 miles on the Mickelson Trail to Deadwood, then reversed their course and returned to Custer. Hunter had to run alone for the first 50 miles, but received pacing and aid assistance from former CSC wrestlers and endurance race veterans Jake Holscher and Seth Groff, as well as current CSC student-athlete and defending 184-pound national runner-up Keegan Gehlhausen.
“My crew is what kept me going,” Hunter said. “Jake, Seth and Keegan did a phenomenal job. … more at … https://chadroneagles.com/news/2025/8/20/mens-wrestling-hunter-finishes-100-mile-race-2.aspx
WHY WRESTLERS MAKE GREAT MARINES: NWCA CONVENTION 2025
The Marine Corps Recruiting Command strengthened its partnership with the National Wrestling Coaches Association during the NWCA Convention, held July 31 – Aug. 2, 2025, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Throughout the event, MCRC engaged with wrestling coaches to highlight shared values and characteristics that make wrestlers exceptional candidates for service in the Marine Corps.
The collaboration between MCRC and the NWCA leverages the expertise and extensive networks of the wrestling community to help identify young individuals with the mental and physical fortitude to thrive as Marines. Wrestling’s emphasis on discipline, perseverance, and teamwork directly mirrors the core attributes the Marine Corps seeks in future service members. “Our relationship with the NWCA is key to meeting our national partnership program objectives which seek to connect us with coaches, administrators and educators at the local level,” said Greg Gilliam, director of national partnerships and community engagement for MCRC. “Through various activations during the convention we were able to introduce the idea of connecting and collaboration so that when these coaches return home, they know they have a valuable resource in the Marines.”
During the convention, Marines highlighted career, educational, and leadership development opportunities that the Marine Corps provides. Marines participated in a variety of events, including the Coach of the Year Awards, … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/8/26/national-wrestling-coaches-association-why-wrestlers-make-great-marines-nwca-convention-2025.aspx
2025-26 USA Wrestling Membership now available
As the new wrestling season approaches, USA Wrestling is excited to announce that the 2025-26 membership year is now officially open. The membership period runs from September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026.
Now is the perfect opportunity to secure your membership and stay connected with the sport throughout the entire year.
For the first time ever, members of USA Wrestling will be able to purchase an exclusive USA Wrestling member-only shirt from RUDIS, which is the exclusive official licensee and supplier to USA Wrestling of merchandising services in the categories of footwear, apparel, and accessories.
In addition to USA Wrestling membership being available, registration for several key upcoming USA Wrestling events will be opening.
Once you have secured your 2025-26 membership, you will be able to sign up for upcoming USA Wrestling events. Mark your calendar, as these events will open for registration on September 1:
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 