College Women’s News – Jan. 6th
Women’s Wrestling Crowned Inaugural Midlands Champions
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (Dec. 30, 2022) – Competing for the final time in 2022, the North Central College women’s wrestling team dominated the competition on their way to the first ever Midlands Championship while they saw 14 wrestlers place within the top-four while four wrestlers claimed a title in their respective weight classes.
In the 58 year history of the Midlands Championships, this is the first time a women’s division has been held and the Cardinals were crowned the champions of this prestigious tournament after scoring 107.5 points. Augsburg University followed in second with 54 points while Presbyterian College (45) was third, McKendree University (31.5) was fourth and Lock Haven University (15.5) rounded out the top-five.
In the 101-pound bracket, Maddie Avila kicked off the tournament by upsetting No. 4 Samantha Miller of Presbyterian College to advance to the Championship bout against Rianna Murphy. In the finals, Avila would go down 6-0 before climbing her way back to four but her comeback efforts weren’t enough as she fell to Murphy by an 8-4 decision, taking home second place. Amber Turner competed at 101-pounds, taking home fourth after falling in both of her matches. … rest of story at Northcentralcardinals.com/news/2022/12/30/womens-wrestling-womens-wrestling-crowned-inaugural-midlands-champions
NWCA Releases Regular Season NCAA Women’s Coaches Poll #3
MANHEIM, PA – The fourth set of National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NCAA Women’s Wrestling rankings was released today as the teams in the top five remained the same. King University extended the gap between second-ranked North Central College to reclaim the top spot by one point while Aurora University enters the top 10 for the first time. The first set of dual rankings were also released with North Central holding the top spot.
King takes over the top spot with 104 points while North Central is second with 93 points. King and North Central are the only teams with at least 10 individuals ranked as the Cardinals lead the way with 14 and King has 13. Colorado Mesa University regains the third spot over McKendree University with 79 points while McKendree has 53 points. The Mavericks have seven individuals ranked while McKendree has eight. Augsburg University held steady at fifth with 52 points and five ranked individuals.
Simon Fraser University has seven ranked individuals and stayed sixth with 46 points while Presbyterian College remains at seventh with 26 points and three ranked individuals, and Gannon University stays at eighth with 18 points and four ranked individuals. East Stroudsburg moved up to ninth with four individuals ranked and 17 points while Aurora University cracks the top 10 for the first time with 16 points and one individual ranked.
There are three new individuals ranked No. 1, starting with a pair of King individuals at 109 and 116 pounds. Sage Mortimer takes the top spot 109 pounds while Samara Chavez claims the No. 1 ranking at 116 pounds. Alexis Janiak takes the No. 1 ranking at 130 pounds and becomes the first Aurora individual to be ranked No. 1 … rest of story at NWCAonline.com/nwca-releases-regular-season-ncaa-womens-coaches-poll-3
Women’s Wrestling Takes First at Soldier Salute
CORALVILLE, IOWA — Over the course of the Holiday Season, the Life University women’s wrestling team traveled to Iowa for the Soldier Salute tournament and earned a team victory in a strong field this weekend.
Life U took first in the field with 129 team points, narrowly beating out second-placed Army that had 128.5. The top three was rounded out by Iowa Wesleyan with 118.5 points.
The best result of the tournament came from Latifah McBryde, the freshman taking first place in the 155 lbs. bracket. She recorded the most pins and tech falls in the least amount of time, with all seven matches ending in the bonus and only in 13:27. The day started with a pair of 10-0 tech falls, the first over No. 18 Grace Doering. Her next three matches saw three-straight pins to keep her undefeated on the day. The day came to a close with another 10-0 tech fall and hard fought 4:07 pin to secure the clean sweep of the 155 lbs. bracket.
The only other top three finish came from new arrival Sarah Savidge, earning third in the 136 lbs. bracket. The vaunted freshman … rest of story at Liferunningeagles.com/news/2022/12/30/womens-wrestling-takes-first-at-soldier-salute
Individual College Honors
Malcolm Wiley Earns SoCon Wrestler of the Week Honors
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Fresh off his 11th personal victory of a sophomore campaign that has firmly thrusted the 197-pounder into the spotlight, Malcolm Wiley of the Presbyterian College men’s wrestling team was rewarded for his efforts against the Duke Blue Devils by capturing the Southern Conference’s Wrestler of the Week nod on Wednesday afternoon.
Exactly seven days ago, Wiley sent the PC faithful to their feet during the Blue Hose’s nonconference tri-meet against both Duke and George Mason, bouncing back from an earlier defeat by picking up a pinfall W in less than three minutes midway through the evening’s main event vs. the Blue Devils. The sophomore Navy transfer toppled Duke’s Brayden Ray to give Presbyterian a 12-point scoring run and their first lead of the bout across a tightly-contested outcome.
While the visitors were ultimately able to post a 23-19 triumph in the Templeton Center (winning the 10th and final match of the dual with the score tied going in), Wiley’s dominant performance in his showing against Duke gave the Blue Hose new life halfway through the meeting when PC had previously trailed by 10 points. … rest of story at GObluehose.com/news/2022/12/28/mens-wrestling-malcolm-wiley-earns-socon-wrestler-of-the-week-honors
Seliga Retains League Wrestler Of The Week Crown
GREENVILLE, S.C. – It was déjà vu all over again for sophomore Logan Seliga on Tuesday afternoon as an unblemished run through another tournament led to Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Week laurels for the second time.
A product of Belle Vernon, Pa., Seliga turned in a dominant run through the 125-pound tournament at the Citrus Invitational last week, outscoring opponents 39-4 and tallying four victories via major decision. His unblemished run in south Florida included a 10-0 major decision in his opener on Thursday, as well as a 8-0 major decision in the championship bout.
A two-time qualifier for the NCAA Championships, including a region title as a freshman in 2019-20, Seliga has compiled a 34-12 career record in the Black & Gold, including a perfect 16-0 mark this season.
The 18th-ranked Braves (6-1, 3-0 SACC) will be back in action again on Friday … rest of story at UNCPbraves.com/news/2023/1/3/wrestling-seliga-retains-league-wrestler-of-the-week-crown
Newberry Wolves Ring In The New Year With A Win
Newberry Win Early And Often En Route To A 36-14 Win Against King
NEWBERRY, S.C. – Bringing in the new year with an early dual, the Wolves looked to start off the second half of the 2022-2023 season right with a South Atlantic Conference Carolinas matchup against King University. Coming off of a tough invitational at the Midwest Classic back in December (where both programs participated in), Newberry turned their attention to the Tornado as both teams would look to gain momentum in conference standings
Starting off at 125 lbs, the Wolves’ Zach Shupp (Fairfield, Ohio) got going early as he would pin King’s Tyson Upchurch in 55 seconds. The 133 lb match would be different as Franky Medina of King would pin Newberry’s Fletcher Swindall (Alexandria, Ala.) at 5:14. Josh Blatt (Albemarle, N.C.) would get the Wolves back in the winning direction with a 14-6 major decision over Austin Kolikas at 141 lbs.
Devan Moore (Baxely, Ga.) would continue the run for the Wolves with a 17-2 tech fall win at 4:12 at the 149 weight class over Nico Crosnoe, but Newberry’s Nolan Wheeler (Dahlonega, Ga.) would ultimately fall to Trent Mahoney by a 15-0 tech fall at 7:00 in the 157 weight class. Asa Walton (Buena, N.J.) of Newberry at 165 lbs would lose a 9-4 decision to King’s Bo Perkins. … rest of story at Newberrywolves.com/news/2023/1/3/wrestling-wolves-ring-in-the-new-year-with-a-win
Oklahoma State Cowboys Ride as Champions at the Southern Scuffle
OKLAHOMA STATE WINS SOUTHERN SCUFFLE WITH THREE CHAMPIONS; SECOND-PLACE NORTH DAKOTA STATE ALSO WINS THREE TITLES
Three champions and a team title.
No. 14 Oklahoma State won its second Southern Scuffle as Daton Fix (133), Dustin Plott (174) and Travis Wittlake (184) won championships.
North Dakota State finished runner-up while Missouri claimed third.
Fix rolled to his second Southern Scuffle title with a 7-3 win against Chattanooga’s Brayden Palmer. Fix showed his skill with 2:59 in riding time.
Dustin Plott won a Big 12 finals rematch at 174. He defeated Missouri’s Peyton Mocco, 12-7. Trailing 6-5 in the third, Plott responded with a takedown and a four-point near fall.
Wittlake defeated North Dakota State’s Deanthony Parker Jr., 3-0.
NDSU made things interesting with five finalists. At 149, Kellyn March beat Oklahoma State’s Victor Voinovich, 5-3, in sudden victory. March, who trailed 3-0, forced sudden victory via rideout with 10 seconds left. He scored a reversal earlier in the third and grabbed riding time. He finished the job with a takedown 69 seconds into sudden victory.
Jared Franek followed his teammate with a 2-2 rideout win at 157 over top seed Kendall Coleman of Purdue.
The third NDSU title came at 197 pounds, as No. 4 seed Owen Pentz pinned No. 2 seed Lou Deprez of Binghamton at 3:03.
At 125, Matt Ramos gave Purdue its first champion of the day with a 4-3 win over Missouri’s Noah Surtin. … rest of story at OKstate.com/news/2023/1/2/cowboy-wrestling-oklahoma-state-claims-team-title-three-champions-at-southern-scuffle
Oklahoma State Wins Southern Scuffle as Daton Fix, Dustin Plott, and Travis Wittlake Win Individual Titles
The Cowboys entered day two of the Southern Scuffle trailing first-place Missouri by 5.5 points. They had five starters in the semifinals and five starters still wrestling on the consolation side.
In the early rounds of the consolation brackets, the Cowboys took control of the team race going 5-0 and pushing all of their starters into the placement matches. Later came the semifinals where the Cowboys went 4-1 putting Daton Fix, Victor Voinovich, Dustin Plott, and Travis Wittlake all into the finals.
In the first Oklahoma State final, Daton Fix comfortably beat UT Chatanooga’s Brayden Palmer 7-3 to win 133. He picked up two takedowns, a reversal, and a ton of riding time in the process. Dustin Plott had a rematch of last year’s Big 12 final at 174 with Missouri’s Peyton Mocco. He got down early, giving up two takedowns and going behind 4-1. He then methodically started to work his way back into the match with a quick escape and takedown in the second that was followed by a technical violation point for a head-scissor called on Mocco. Then in the third period, Plott cut Mocco making it 6-6. As Plott worked to finish a shot, he put Mocco on his back to win 12-7.
Travis Wittlake had a pretty unique final with North Dakota State’s … rest of story at Pistolsfiringblog.com/oklahoma-state-wins-southern-scuffle-as-daton-fix-dustin-plott-and-travis-wittlake-win-individual-titles
Gophers Wrap Up Southern Scuffle with Top-5 Team Finish
CHATTANOOGA – The University of Minnesota wrestling program completed a full weekend of action at the Southern Scuffle presented by Compound Sportswear on Monday night, as they capped off a top-five team finish inside McKenzie Arena.
The Gophers finished the tournament with ten total placewinners on the event, finishing in fifth place as a team with 96 points.
Aaron Nagao rounded out a 4-1 weekend by placing third at 133 pounds. After falling in the semifinal round to Chattanooga’s Brayden Palmer, Nago responded on the backside with two nice showings, earning a 6-1 decision over Iowa State’s Zach Redding before dominating Bucknell’s Kurt Phipps by a score of 10-3.
141-pounder Jake Bergeland also responded from a semifinal round loss to take third place as he took an overtime thriller over No. 11 Dylan Droegemueller (North Dakota State) in the consolation semifinals, then defeated Rider’s McKenzie Bell in the third-place bout. … rest of story at Gophersports.com/news/2023/1/2/wrestling-gophers-wrap-up-southern-scuffle-with-top-5-team-finish
Oklahoma State Claims Team Title, Three Champions at Southern Scuffle
Chattanooga, Tenn. – The Oklahoma State wrestling team captured its third team Southern Scuffle title in program history, led by the three top-seeded Cowboys who won individual titles, including Daton Fix, Dustin Plott and Travis Wittlake.
The Cowboys’ 181 points is the third most OSU has ever scored at the Southern Scuffle and was 36.5 points more than second place North Dakota State. The three individual champions for OSU were tied for the most of any team at the event with NDSU.
“I thought we wrestled well in most spots,” head coach John Smith said. “We had some matches tonight we were in control of and found a way to lose. But, we also found a lot of ways to win this weekend. Overall, I think it gives our team a chance to continue to develop.”
Fix was the first of four finalists to take the mat for Oklahoma State. A takedown in the first period and reversal to start the second gave him a comfortable lead on his way to a 7-1 decision over Chattanooga’s Brayden Palmer. Fix moved to 10-0 on the season after winning five matches this weekend.
Victor Voinovich advanced to the 149-pound finals with a 4-1 victory over Michael Gioffre of Virginia in the semifinals earlier in the day. Voinovich jumped out to an early lead against sixth seeded Kellyn March in the championship bout, but gave up a reversal and riding time point in the third period, which sent the match to overtime. In the first sudden victory period, … rest of story at OKstate.com/news/2023/1/2/cowboy-wrestling-oklahoma-state-claims-team-title-three-champions-at-southern-scuffle
NDSU Wrestling Claims Three Individual Titles, Takes 2nd Overall at Southern Scuffle
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The North Dakota State wrestling team claimed three individual titles and took second overall at the 2023 Southern Scuffle Monday at McKenzie Arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Jared Franek claimed his second-straight Southern Scuffle title at 157 pounds, while Kellyn March and Owen Pentz claimed titles at 149 pounds and 197 pounds, respectively, to lead the way for the Bison. March and Pentz join Franek as the only Bison to claim Southern Scuffle titles.
North Dakota State finished second overall for the second straight season, finishing with 144.5 points, the most in program history at the event, breaking the previous team high of 109.5 set last season. The Bison finished behind only team champion Oklahoma State (181). Missouri (125), Stanford (105.5) and Minnesota (96) rounded out the top five.
The three individual champions for North Dakota State, matched Oklahoma State for a tournament high. The Bison added two runner-up finishes, a fourth and a fifth. NDSU’s seven placers is a new high for the Bison at the event, breaking the previous high of six last year and in 2020. The five finalists were also the most by any team at this year’s event.
The Bison began the day with all five wrestlers who reached the semifinals, winning to reach the championship final Monday night. March claimed the first title in the evening session, knocking off #21 Victor Voinovich (Oklahoma State) with a take down in sudden victory to win 5-3. March defeated #23 Quinn Kinner (Rider) 9-3 in the semifinal to advance to the title match.
Franek then stepped on to the championship mat and recorded his highest ranked victory in his collegiate career, defeating #3 Kendall Coleman (Purdue) by tiebreaker criteria to claim his second-straight Southern Scuffle title. Franek defeated Stanford’s Charles Darracott to reach the final. … rest of story at GObison.com/news/2023/1/2/ndsu-wrestling-claims-three-individual-titles-takes-2nd-overall-at-southern-scuffle
High School News
Road trips wrap up West wrestling matches for 2022
- By Brian Slattery Sports Editor
- Dec 29, 2022
West Brunswick’s wrestling team finished 2022 with road trips to a dual meet, a tournament and a Mideastern Conference meet, capping the year by traveling to Hampstead to take on MEC 4A foe Topsail High School on Tuesday, Dec. 20. … story at Newsargus.com/brunswick_beacon/sports/road-trips-wrap-up-west-wrestling-matches-for-2022
High School Sports Year in Review: Title appearances abound
From buzzer-beaters to walk-offs, to thrilling victories and heartbreaking losses, the 2022 calendar year saw plenty of storybook performances from area high school teams and athletes. All three seasons saw at least one team or individual competing for a state title in their respective sports. In the end, two area teams and two individual athletes finished their seasons with the ultimate high, an NCHSAA title. Here is a closer look at the top-10 storylines and games from the past year: … story at Reflector.com/sports/high_schools/high-school-sports-year-in-review-title-appearances-abound
Prep Spotlight: D.H. Conley’s Devlen Morris
Devlen Morris is the lone senior on the D.H. Conley wrestling team this winter.
Following in the footsteps of a historic senior class last season, Morris is looking to lead the Vikings to continued success on the mat.
Morris spoke with Reflector prep sports writer following a Big Carolina 3A/4A Conference dual earlier this season about his role as a senior leader, his background in the sport and his goals for the future.
Q: I know the team had a large senior class last season, and now you’re the lone senior on the roster. What is that like?
A: It’s alright because I’ve got all my boys from last year and they all have my back. Next year they’ll just be better off because they won’t have as many people leaving as we did last year.
Q: Has it put any extra pressure on you individually as the only senior?
A: Nah not really. We’ve got such a good team, it just all works out for us at the end.
Q: How long have you been wrestling?
A: Since sixth grade.
Q: Why did you get into the sport?
A: North Pitt’s wrestling coach, he went to my middle school and he told me I should try to join wrestling. I tried it out, and I really liked it, so I stuck with it.
Q: What is your favorite thing about wrestling? … story at Reflector.com/sports/high_schools/prep-spotlight-d-h-conleys-devlen-morris
High School Wrestling: Depleted Panthers go 2-1 at quad
BETHEL — North Pitt came into the 2022-23 wrestling season knowing it would face some challenges as a young team, with no seniors and only two juniors on the roster.
Those obstacles have gotten even larger for the Panthers, as they came into Tuesday evening’s home quad match with more than half of their lineup unavailable due to injuries and illness.
Despite the shortcomings, North Pitt was still able to go 2-1 on the night, securing wins over North Lenoir and Eastern Plains 2A Conference foe SouthWest Edgecombe, before dropping a decision to Northeastern.
“Early on I thought we did really well,” North Pitt head coach Chris Young said. “I wasn’t expecting much, just because of sickness and injury.
“The guys who were here fought pretty hard, and I was really impressed with how hard they fought.”
The hosts started things off with a matchup with fellow EPC squad SouthWest Edgecombe, as just six weights were contested in the match.
North Pitt won four of those six matches, all via pins on its way to a 54-30 victory.
After the first three weights all saw forfeit victories, the Panthers held a 12-6 edge heading into the first contested bout at 113 pounds. … story at Reflector.com/sports/high_schools/high-school-wrestling-depleted-panthers-go-2-1-at-quad
Conley Wrestling rolls at Bunn for their last event in 2022
Conley finished 3rd out of 21 teams on Thursday 12/22/22 @ Bunns Wildcat Innovational. The Vikings had 6 athletes place in the top 3.
106 – Andrew Bullard – 3rd
113 – Colton McClung – 3rd
126 – Chris Bonner – 2nd
182 – Caleb Bess – 2nd
195 – Jamie Jinks – 3rd
220 – Dontae Staton – 3rd
Conley will be back on the mat on Thursday 1/5/23 at Manteo to wrestle Pasquotank, First Flight, and Manteo.
How Andre Adams’ rise as Laney wrestling coach embodies sport’s sacrifice, dedication
Entering his sixth season as the wrestling coach at Laney High School, Andre Adams still has the fire for the sport that captivated him as a teenager.
Adams joined Laney in 2012 as an assistant before taking over the program in 2017. Curating the area’s most dominant wrestling program, the Maryland native has led his team to consecutive NCHSAA Class 4A individual-tournament state titles and ended a 29-year drought by winning the dual-team championship in February.
But before he found success as a coach, an initial failure on the mat in high school sparked an undying flame within Adams.
LANEY WINSLaney wrestling wins state dual-team title after wild finish
STATE CHAMPState champion, All-American wrestler Devon Bell is ready to shine at Campbell … story at Starnewsonline.com/story/sports/2022/12/27/nc-high-school-wrestling-laney-coach-andre-adams
Girls wrestling in first year as varsity sport in Ohio
Jennifer Long wasn’t allowed to wrestle as kid because of her gender.
Long has always been a part of a family of wrestlers. Her brother was a wrestler, and her husband Chad Long, Fremont Ross’ football coach, previously coached the Little Giants and Tiffin Columbian’s boys wrestling team.
A mother of three daughters and a son, Long and assistant coach Stephanie Hetrick helped spearhead Fremont Ross’ girls wrestling team as it jumped from a club team to a varsity sport.
“I think, on a personal level, it was giving my daughters as well as other girl athletes a chance at something they normally wouldn’t have been [able] to,” Long said. “It was a calling. It really was a calling. And last year, starting out in it, it was ‘OK, this is bigger than myself.’ This is something that needs to happen. I need to do this and kind of give girls a chance.”
Access to girls wrestling in northwest Ohio has changed in recent years. Since 2020, female wrestlers have had the opportunity to compete in an individual state tournament hosted by Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced the addition of girls wrestling as an emerging sport for the 2022-2023 academic year in January. It was a unanimous decision, as well as boys volleyball, by the OHSAA board of directors.
“It seems like every year the competition level for the girls grows exponentially,” Rossford coach DJ Recknagel said. “The wrestling’s getting better and the tournaments are getting bigger. And it’s cool. It’s cool to see.”
Liv Hussar began wrestling in eighth grade. Her brother, sister — three-time state champion Zoe Hussar — and father, Rossford High School boys wrestling coach Randy, all participated in the sport.
Liv Hussar, a junior Rossford wrestler, stuck with wrestling once she began high school, where she was able to match up with other girls on the mat. … rest of story at Toledoblade.com/sports/high-school/2022/12/26/girls-wrestling-first-year-varsity-sport-ohio
Northwestern Wins Midlands Team Crown, Three ‘Cats Capture Individual Titles
Wildcats claim first Midlands team title in program history
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (December 30, 2022) – Hosting the 58th edition of the prestigious Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, three Wildcats took home individual titles as Northwestern won the Midlands team championship for the first time in program history.
Northwestern totaled 122.0 points to top the team leaderboard, while Penn (115.0), Pittsburgh (115.0), Wisconsin (114.5), and Illinois (104.5) rounded out the top five.
Lucas Davison was dominant at 285 pounds, shutting out his opponents across five victories on his way to the individual title. After opening the meet with a fall over Alex Semenenko (Brown), Davison steamrolled his way to the top of the podium, downing Dayton Pitzer (Pittsburgh) by a final count of 4-0 to claim the 285-pound crown.
Yahya Thomas notched a pair of major decision victories en route to the 149-pound semifinals, where he downed No. 10 Doug Zapf (Penn), 3-2. Thomas picked up another ranked win in the finals, staving off a late charge from No. 5 Kyle Parco (Arizona State) to secure a 4-3 victory. … rest of story at NUsports.com/news/2022/12/30/wrestling-central-northwestern-wins-midlands-team-crown-three-cats-capture-individual-titles
HOST NORTHWESTERN WINS MIDLANDS MEN’S TITLE, NORTH CENTRAL WINS INAUGURAL MIDLANDS WOMEN’S TITLE
Men’s Midlands wrap
A close title for the hometown squad.
Northwestern used three champions to win its first Midlands title on Saturday night in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
The Wildcats entered the day in second but used its finals run to pull through. Penn jumped to runner-up while Pittsburgh,Wisconsin and Illinois finished the rest of the top five. Parity showed as Northwestern’s total — 122 points was only 15.5 ahead of fifth-place Illinois.
Yahya Thomas (149), Trevor Chumbley (157) and Lucas Davison (285) emerged as champions.
Speed showed at 149. Thomas edged Arizona State’s Kyle Parco, 4-3, in a battle of All-Americans. This clash showed high-level skills from guys that could be NCAA title contenders. Parco flexed his defense as he avoided several takedowns with some roll throughs. Tied 3-3 halfway in the third, Thomas escaped to score the final point.
In a match crucial to the team race, Chumbley stopped Wisconsin’s Drew Scharenbrock, 8-0, at 157. Chumbley dominated with 2:15 in riding time.
In the tournament’s final bout, Davison concluded his incredible shutout run with a 3-0 win over Pittsburgh’s Dayton Pitzer in the heavyweight final.
Back at 125, Wisconsin earned its first champion with Eric Barnett. He beat Arizona State’s Brandon Courtney, 6-2.
Though both are multi-time All-Americans, Barnett showed his skill on top with 2:42 of riding time. … rest of story at Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2022/December/30/Midlands
ABBOTT BLOG: THE TOP 10 WRESTLING STORIES OF 2022
To start this annual column, I’d like to mark a milestone in my life. In 1972, as a seventh grader at Oldfield Junior High in Greenlawn, N.Y., along with my older brother Jim, I joined the wrestling team. I started my career on the B team with six straight losses but rallied to win the last two matches. But I also found a new sport that I was determined to stay with. This holiday season marks 50 years that I have been involved in the sport of wrestling. I remember a while back when dear friend Doc Bennett told me he had been in wrestling 50 years, which then seemed like such a long time. Now that I have reached the half-century mark in the sport, I am tremendously grateful and amazingly humbled.
While it was a crazy year for me in 2022 for a lot of reasons, it was a crazy good year for Team USA on the mats, perhaps the best in our history. The hardest part of this column will be deciding the No. 1 selection. How do you choose between the greatest season ever for a young U.S. star, or the crowning of the greatest champion in U.S. wrestling history? Rather than declare a tie, I will force myself to decide. (PS – I changed my mind a few times).
1. Jordan Burroughs wins seventh World and Olympic title, the most golden U.S. wrestler ever – When Jordan Burroughs stood on top of the podium in Belgrade, Serbia as the World champion at 79 kg in men’s freestyle, he raised six fingers. This was accurate as it was his sixth Senior World title. I kind of wish he raised seven fingers, because that is what made his victory so historic. Jordan Burroughs won his seventh World and Olympic gold medal, breaking a tie he held with John Smith and Adeline Gray. In 1992, John Smith won his sixth straight World and Olympic title with a Barcelona Games gold medal. He never officially retired, focusing on coaching and other things. It took 30 years for another American to beat his record. Early in his career, Jordan Burroughs came up with the Twitter handle of @AllISeeIsGold and talked about breaking Smith’s record. Some saw it as brash, but I never did. Jordan was just being honest, sharing his goals and his belief in himself with the rest of the world. Jordan has reached this specific goal, and at the age of 34, he is not yet done. This new record may not last 30 more years. Jordan is still wrestling and could extend it. Adeline Gray, at six, is coming back. Kyle Dake has four World titles. Kyle Snyder has four combined golds and is just 27 years old. With seven golds and 10 medals at the World and Olympic level, Burroughs deserves the No. 1 story of 2022. There is a lot of talk about who the GOAT is within American wrestling, and deservedly so. Go ahead and debate that. It is good for wrestling.
2. Amit Elor wins U20, U23 and Senior World titles in the same year – On October 23, Jordan Burroughs tweeted this: “Now this is what you call the Triple Crown!” He was re-tweeting a FloWrestling graphic listing Amit Elor’s three World titles in 2022, at the U20, U23 and Senior World levels. Elor had the most remarkable season ever for a young U.S. athlete, and achieved something that had never been done before. In 2021, Elor won two World titles, at the U17 and U20 levels. In 2022, she moved up into two new higher age divisions, and won them both, the U23 and Senior level, while repeating at the U20 level. Clearly, the most impressive was winning the Senior World title at age 18 (our youngest Senior champion ever). … rest of story at Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2022/December/28/Top-10-stories-of-2022
2022-23 NAIA Men’s Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll – No. 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the fourth consecutive ratings period to begin the season, Grand View (Iowa) sits on top of the NAIA Men’s Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll. The rest of the Top Six teams remain the same with Life (Ga.), Southeastern (Fla.), Doane (Neb.), Indiana Tech, and Ottawa (Kan.) following in order. Oklahoma City and Thomas More (Ky.) capture spots 19 and 20 respectively, bumping out Missouri Valley and Montana State-Northern.
Poll Methodology
- The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the eight conferences.
- Two days prior to the national poll, each qualifying group rater submits the top 10 individuals from each weight class in his conference into the system. Only wrestlers listed on a conference ballot are considered for the national ballot.
- The top 25 individuals in each weight class is based on how each voter ranks the best individuals. An individual receives 25 points for each first place vote, 24 for second place and so on through the list. This same point system is used to determine the team ranking.
- The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot
- For the complete Top 20 calendar, click here.
- … rest of story at NAIA.org/sports/mwrest/2022-23/Releases/4_National
College Women’s News
Trio of Bronze Finishes for PC at Midlands Championships; Three More Take 4th
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – On a landmark day for the sport that signified the return of one of collegiate wrestling’s most celebrated events, the 58th edition of the acclaimed Ken Kraft Midlands Championships made its triumphant return on Friday afternoon just outside the Chicago sector, including a women’s field for the first time in the tournament’s storied history. One of the standouts across what will go down as perhaps the most top-heavy bracket over the entire 2022-23 campaign, the Presbyterian women’s team garnered a top-four placement or better from all six competitors on the grand stage, continuing the group’s trend of excellent performances in a multi-team structure.
Of the 12 schools submitted throughout the women’s lineup, nine of them currently rank inside the NWCA’s top 20, including six listed in the top ten. The Blue Hose approached the tourney as one of those highly-publicized programs (checking in at #7 in the latest national poll), proving their stripes by gathering three 3rd-place nods and three more 4th-place earnings at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates.
The Northwestern Wildcats served as the hosting party for the Midlands Championships’ reemergence into the national spotlight after back-to-back health-related cancellations, seeing Samantha Miller (101), Ainslie Lane (116), and Paige Wehrmeister (136) climb to a podium spot by posting six victories between them. Cassandra Lopez (109), Catherine “CG” Bertrand (123), and Sierra Marie Miller (130) rounded out PC’s impressive day by all grabbing 4th-place honors.
Over the course of four tournament appearances, head coach Zach Sheaffer‘s squad has measured up to 16 top-three efforts after bringing home three more such awards from Illinois. That number increased to 23 when taking into account Presbyterian’s seven 4th-place feats since November, … rest of story at GObluehose.com/womens-wrestling-trio-of-bronze-finishes-for-pc-at-midlands-championships-three-more-take-4th
2022-23 NAIA Women’s Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll – No. 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Southern Oregon continues its grasp on the final NAIA Women’s Wrestling Coaches’ Top 20 Poll of the 2022 calendar year. Grand View (Iowa) narrowly edges out Life (Ga.) for second place with Campbellsville continuing to hold onto the fourth position. Menlo (Calif.) and Providence (Mont.) foes from the Cascade are tied in fifth place.
Poll Methodology
- The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the five conferences.
- Two days prior to the national poll, each qualifying group rater submits the top six individuals from each weight class in his conference into the system. Only wrestlers listed on a conference ballot are considered for the national ballot.
- The top 20 individuals in each weight class is based on how each voter ranks the best individuals. An individual receives 20 points for each first place vote, 19 for second place and so on through the list. This same point system is used to determine the team ranking.
- The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point … rest of story at NAIA.org/sports/wwrest/2022-23/Releases/4_National
D3WRESTLE.COM 2022-2023 RANKINGS #4
d3wrestle.com 2022-2023
Ranking #4
December 26, 2022
125 133 141 149 157
- Fry Johnson & Wales 1. Precin North Central 1. Terukina Wartburg 1. Petrella Baldwin Wallace 1. Shilson Augsburg
- Blasioli Millikin 2. Hinton Baldwin Wallace 2. Reed Ohio Northern 2. Gutierrez Stevens 2. Hertel La Crosse
- Decatur Baldwin Wallace 3. Perelka John Carroll 3. Slendorn Stevens 3. Burford Whitewater 3. Hollingsworth Wartburg
- Stanley Mount Union 4. Thompson Platteville 4. Rodriguez Castleton 4. Fleck Chicago 4. Villar North Central
- Hoerle Stevens 5. Cardenas Cortland 5. Wilson Greensboro 5. Estrada North Central 5. Brown Johnson & Wales
- Levy Wartburg 6. Rohrbaugh York 6. Stuhl Augsburg 6. Monn McDaniel 6. McGraw John Carroll
- Day Wabash 7. Pins Wartburg 7. Pena Centenary 7. Siu Averett 7. Smith Loras
- Barrett Averett 8. Bisek Concordia Moorhead 8. Dado Ozarks 8. Sims Brockport 8. Kane Williams
- Parker Washington & Lee 9. Fleetwood Eau Claire 9. Difrancescantonio TCNJ 9. Sumner Ohio Northern 9. Chapman Coast Guard
- Valtierrez North Central 10. Willis Augsburg 10. Leo Johnson & Wales 10. Goebel La Crosse 10. Alvarado Averett
165 174 184 197 285. - Lackman Rhode Island 1. Ross Johnson & Wales 1. Liegel Loras 1. Kawczynski La Crosse 1. King Olivet
- Lackman Alvernia 2. Mulder Wartburg 2. Shinhoster Whitewater 2. Yineman Oshkosh 2. Heldt Wabash
- Pontelandolfo NYU 3. Brossard La Crosse 3. Baczek Wabash 3. Spooner Coast Guard 3. Kim Augsburg
- Lamb RIT 4. Major Stevens 4. Sallah Roanoke 4. Byrne Baldwin Wallace 4. Fulmer Lycoming
- Reicosky John Carroll 5. Grygas Oswego 5. Bushey Wartburg 5. Linahon Central 5. Quick Luther
- Fuller Wartburg 6. Wynsma Platteville 6. Corn Luther 6. Chukwuezi Ithaca 6. Douglas La Crosse
- Vedner Whitewater 7. Geyer NYU 7. S-Ostermann Augsburg 7. Endene Wartburg 7. Wriedt Loras
- Bush Olivet 8. Devera John Carroll 8. Haddad TCNJ 8. Farrow York 8. Leka Johnson & Wales
- Leisgang La Crosse 9. Paul Johns Hopkins 9. Schoenfelder Eau Claire 9. Voss Coe 9. Peavey Southern Maine
- Massie Eau Claire 10. Fleming Castleton 10. Cory Penn College 10. Crebs Lycoming 10. Fibranz Chicago
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
