National Wrestling News (2021) – # 11
TDR Editor’s Notes ; The following selections are from across the summer and are of national interest. Five of the attached articles are selections from Texan wrestling fan Ted Carreras’ series ‘Hand Raised’ columns, These are quite interesting and wide ranging. Well worth reading by wrestling fans and the sports public. Keep wrestling onward! Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2974 (9/02/21)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – 5th Season, 1st Summer Edition
OH SAY, CAN YOU, I.O.C., 7 INTO 5 NOT A WHOLE-SUM EQUATION, SO COOL, SO HOT, SOCON, AND LOOK AT THE BISON (FROM A SAFE DISTANCE)
2021 TOKYO: YES OR NO?
The bigger question may yet prove to be Beijing 2022, but as of right now the pandemic postponed Summer Games are coming at ya like a Japanese Bullet Train. First team to arrive for the Games was Australias softball squad. The distance, not great, but the preparations and precautions MUST have weighed heavily on the Lady Thunder from Down Under. They’ve been on site for weeks now. Wrestling-wise our compatriots from the Worlds best Island Continent haven’t been a force since, well, never, really. The most recent Aussie medal on the Mat came at the London Games….of 1948. As to which team dominates in Tokyo, it’s a “Keyser Soze”(1) lineup featuring Russia, Iran, The U.S.A., Turkey, Japan, and more -stans than you can fit in a Yurt or a Yugo. Americas chances at scoring the most points teamwise probably went out the window when Team USA didnt qualify to compete at 65kg. We have a great shot though, at medaling in 4 of the 5 classes the Red, White and Blue will be competing in. Our rep at 57kg, 2017 World Silver Medalist Thomas Gilman, will be coming in under the radar, off a foot injury, and on pretty much nobody’s potential medalist list. We like it like that. 2x World Champ Kyle Dake and 2018 titlist David Taylor are serious Gold Medal threats at 74kg and 86kg respectively. Former World and Olympic champ Kyle Snyder may be just a step back at 97kg…or he may just step on the gas. 125kg rep Gable Steveson is a multiple World Champ at age class competitions. Tokyo will be his USA Senior Olympic debut. Hopefully its NOT a one and done, but the WWE and Hollywood are already whispering sweet things in both of his ears. More on Team USA, the Ladies and our Greco Men, in later columns. … rest of story at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2021/06/16/5th-season-1st-summer-edition/?mc_cid=57d52f8457&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – MENDEZ, GRIFFITH, BORRELLI, EIERMAN, FACUNDO AND ROTUNDO HONORED WITH WIN AWARDS
NEWTON, Iowa — Six members of the American wrestling community — four athletes, one coach and one photographer — have been honored with WIN Magazine awards for their accomplishments over the past year.
The award winners include:
• Jesse Mendez, Junior Hodge Trophy (nation’s most dominant high school wrestler)
• Shane Griffith, Mike Chapman Impact Award
• Jason Borrelli, Dan Gable Coach of the Year
• Jaydin Eierman, Schalles Award (nation’s top college pinner)
• Alex Facundo, Junior Schalles Award (nation’s top high school pinner)
• Tony Rotundo, Journalist of the Year
Junior Jesse Mendez was chosen as the winner of the 2021 Junior Dan Hodge Trophy, which is named after the late Dan Hodge, the three-time NCAA champion (1955-57) from Oklahoma University which is given each year by WIN to the nation’s most dominant high school wrestler. (The 2021 Dan Hodge Trophy, honoring the nation’s most dominant college wrestler, was presented in March to Iowa’s Spencer Lee and Minnesota’s Gable Steveson. Mendez is a three-time state of Indiana champ from Crown Point (Ind.) High School and finished 34-0 this past winter at 138 pounds. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/02/WIN-2021-awards?mc_cid=cbfa48fa54&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – SEASON 5, COLUMN 2: USA WOMEN LOOK TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN
USA WOMEN LOOKIN GOOD IN BOOTS
Of the climbing variety, or ANY variety of footwear, actually. It’s a sharp looking, stylish crew of assassins that Coaches Terry Steiner, Clarrisa Chun and Jessica Medina have helped assemble and fine tune for Tokyo. They have a tall challenge. A teacher versed in Japanese once corrected the authors translation of a famous cultural touch phrase from the land of the 2021 Olympics. “He who climbs Fuji not once in his lifetime is a fool. He who climbs Fuji more than once is a greater fool.” This, he insisted, was the closest our clumsy Anglo tongues would come to that Nipponese verbal high mark. The fracturing of the phrase somehow, from this viewpoint, lends more poignancy and purpose to our USA Women’s pursuit of Olympic glory. The iconic peak is a marvelous metaphor for the obstacle to be climbed by our females next month. Japan has 90 total medals in international women’s wrestling. China is second with 50. Add our 43 and your math will highlight the gap. That difference is far from the biggest deal about this competition, though. Its ALL about walking into the Lions den and swaggering out with … rest of story at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2021/06/28/season-5-column-2-usa-women-look-to-climb-a-mountain/?mc_cid=16b19c4117&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – Willie’s Friday Mailbag: June 18th, 2021
Joe Caprino, my buddy from IndianaMat.com, wrote me this the other day:
Only 3 of the 13 four-time state champs in Pennsylvania have ever won an NCAA title. How come the best high school state for wrestling has such a low percentage of 4xers winning at least ONE title?
Indiana has 2 of 9 (Jason Tsirtsis and Angel Escobedo). 8 of the 25 Ohio champs won an NCAA title. I almost wonder if this is very much the same across the board.
Figure it out, Brain man!
He followed it up with these stats:
To add to Joe’s totals, California has had 4 four-timers: Darrell Vasquez, Justin Mejia, Seth Nevills, and Jesse Vasquez, who is just starting his college career. None won NCAA top honors. The low percentage is often explained away by message board posters who like to sound smart by quipping that ‘they were overrated’ and ‘I knew he wouldn’t pan out.’ It’s a lame excuse and not entirely accurate. Of course, to be sure, not every state title is equal to the next. California has 25,000 wrestlers and one champ per weight, while some states have six classifications. Ohio and New York expanded classes relatively recently. But let’s not rewrite history by saying the four-timers ‘weren’t that good’ in high school. Their success or lack thereof cannot be explained away so simply. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24692?mc_cid=766ccc313f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And A Look Back at “Win Win”
by Bill Wine
Each week, veteran film critic Bill Wine will look back at an important film that is worth watching, either for the first time or again.
Breadwinning, meet cornercutting.
The boundaries of “doing whatever it takes to get by” change during times of financial hardship, a phenomenon that “Win Win” explores as it dramatizes the decision-making process in everyday life. It’s a quirkily amusing comedy-drama about real-world anxiety — contemporary, compassionate, and convincing — that’s extraordinarily timely in its focus on coping mechanisms available to ordinary people during tough economic times. Lead Paul Giamatti has brought his everyman persona to lots of memorable movies, including “Sideways” and “Cinderella Man,” for which he earned an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor. He does it again in “Win Win” as Mike Flaherty, a fortysomething elder-care lawyer with a foundering practice in suburban New Jersey with a wife and two young daughters. Struggling to make ends meet, Mike is having occasional panic attacks, which he keeps from his wife, Jackie, played by Amy Ryan. Already the volunteer head coach of the doormat wrestling team at the local high school, whose losing streak seems to be paralleling the one Mike is going through in his financial life, he offers to become the guardian of one of his elderly clients (Burt Young), a widower with dementia. … rest of story at https://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/stories/a-look-back-at-win-win,18169?mc_cid=608eaeea75&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME TO “CELEBRATE WRESTLING IN THE OLYMPICS” IN JULY AND AUGUST
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum announced that it will “Celebrate Wrestling in the Olympics” throughout July and August by emphasizing Olympians and their achievements. Located on the corner of Hall of Fame Avenue and Duck Street in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the museum is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit nwhof.org or telephone (405) 377-5243. “Everyone is excited about the Olympic Games and we wanted to celebrate and share some of the amazing memorabilia that we have from the Olympics,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “In addition to gold and silver medals won by American Olympians, we also have the medal platform from the 1984 Olympics that visitors can stand on for their own Olympic moment.” Thirty-eight Distinguished Members of the Hall of Fame have combined to win 41 Olympic gold medals. The museum proudly displays the gold medals won by Robin Reed in 1924, Bobby Pearce and Jack VanBebber in 1932, Frank Lewis in 1936, Doug Blubaugh in 1960 and John Smith in 1988 and 1992. It also has Olympic silver medals won by Danny Hodge and Ross Flood, and the four World Championship gold medals and the Sullivan Award won by Smith, who is the wrestling coach at Oklahoma State. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/05/Hall-of-Fame-to-celebrate-Olympics?mc_cid=9b69983a38&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – SEASON 5, COLUMN 3: USA GRECO, A GLASS HALF-FULL; SO COOL, SO HOT, SOCON; & A PATRIOTIC PREVIEW
Sisyphus, that mythological Greek doomed to push a massive boulder uphill only to have it forever roll down, could very well be the USA Greco Teams mascot. Amazing athletes, talented coaches, years of planning and sacrifices of immense personal and financial nature have woven themelves into a fabric of futility for our Greco team. The heady days of Dennis Hall, Matt Ghaffari, Matt Lindland and Brandon Paulson are distant memories. The World and/or Olympic titles of Steve Fraser, the late Jeff Blatnick, Rulon Gardner and Dremiel Beyers are cherished but hold little weight in Americas collective sports consciousness. For over a decade the USA Greco Team has had heartbreak and suffered salt poured into their wounds. Our medal total since 2010? A silver for Superheavyweight Adam Coon(1) in 2018 and back to back Bronzes for Andy Bisek in 2014 and 2015. The last time team USA seriously challenged the world, we SHOCKED the World, taking the Team Greco Roman title in 2007. This colossal achievement remains Americas ONLY team Greco Roman Championship. It was truly a team effort, also, as the USA had no champs and just 3 medalists. For any number of reasons Greco Roman wrestling has always been a stepchild in the American athletic family and, until recently, in this column. However, the latest group of G-R stalwarts may very well be perched on the edge of American sports consciouness. The teams skill set and socio-cultural makeup are meshing with a rejuvenated American awareness on immigration, race … rest of story at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2021/07/03/season-5-column-3-usa-greco-a-glass-half-full-so-cool-so-hot-socon-a-patriotic-preview/?mc_cid=cbfa48fa54&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – NWCA’s Moyer Works Tirelessly To Improve Sport
An argument can be made that Mike Moyer loves wrestling more than anyone — ever. He has become the sport’s megaphone for the values and virtues that only wrestling can provide. Here’s the irony: he doesn’t watch much wrestling. Sure, you’ll see him at all the major wrestling events across the country but his head is usually buried in or on his cell phone. Moyer famously goes to the NCAA Wrestling Championships every year to not watch wrestling. He’s always making calls. He’s always sending emails. He’s always crafting texts. He’s always making connections. Ask him about the top wrestlers in the country and he might know a few of the bigger names like Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Dake, or Spencer Lee — but that’s about it. You’ll be disappointed if you want him to rattle off the line-ups of Penn State or Iowa. You’ll be lucky if he knows more than two wrestlers on each team. Moyer is your guy if you want to know about the worst wrestler on a high school team. He seeks out those stories and celebrates them as victories for the sport. His interest lies in the transformative properties of wrestling more than gold medals or national titles. His role as executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and Wrestlers In Business Network (WIBN) serve him well. Moyer will let everyone else watch wrestling while he’s shaking hands. He wants to find a business leader or an astronaut or a law enforcement officer or a doctor or politician or actor who applied the values of wrestling into another profession. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1625806277451&twSessionId=fwowclxyix&postId=1203974135&mc_cid=e094d4aecd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – GREG STROBEL’S MEMORIAL IS PLANNED FOR AUGUST 21 IN BETHLEHEM, PA.
A Celebration of Life for Greg Strobel, Hall of Fame Distinguished Member, legendary wrestler, and coach, who passed away on October 8, 2020, has been scheduled for Saturday, August 21, 2021 in Bethlehem, PA, at Packer Memorial Chapel on the Campus of Lehigh University, 18 University Drive. Services will take place at 1:00 and the family will receive relatives and friends from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service. The service will also be live streamed and may be accessed on Greg’s obituary page on the funeral home website or by visiting the following link
Greg Strobel Celebration Live Stream
Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Greg Strobel ‘Beyond the Mat’ National Teams Leadership Academy, which has been created to continue Greg’s legacy of teaching others and unleashing human potential in all areas of life. Founded on his core beliefs of family, accountability, discipline and creating a lifetime of good habits, the Greg Strobel Leadership Academy will support current and future National Team athletes. Please send contributions, made out to USA Wrestling, to the following address: Greg Strobel Leadership Academy, USA Wrestling, 6155 Lehman Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.
Greg’s official obituary from the family is available by clicking below.
Official Greg Strobel obituary … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/14/Greg-Strobel-Memorial-information?mc_cid=f4f15d3e7b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – SEASON 5, COLUMN 4: ALL THE WORLDS AN EMPTY STAGE; VMI SCORES A DOUBLE TAP; RANDOM RAM-BLINGS; & SO COOL, SO HOT, SOCON
The word is in, the World is out. Tokyo 2021 will roll out its 2 week extravaganza without international fans. This is the best idea for an impossible situation: throwing the greatest sporting party on Earth while letting the World indulge only 2 of its 5 senses. What will be especially interesting will be the dynamics between the decision makers and the personal entourage that so many of the Olympians have. Who gets to bring how many support staff? Who gets preferential treatment, who gets turned down for access, and how does that play into the competition? Forget the City wide state of Covid-19 emergency or the brutal chemical war being waged on the Transgender front. Nobody makes it this far without MANY helping hands (1). Who has all or most of theirs, and who misses theirs the most just may be a BIG headline from Tokyo.
TWICE THE NICE, KEYDETS STYLE
Just a short time back in this column space (Season 4, Column 7) the recent fine academic and athletic achievements of Coach Jim Gibsons VMI Keydets received a modest amount of recognition. Further back still (Season 3, Columns 11 & 12, 11/11 & 11/18) you’ll find forward focused interviews with Head Coach Jim Gibson and Assistant Ty Schoffstahl. However, it turns out theres layers to Gibsons career and … rest of story at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/season-5-column-4-all-the-worlds-an-empty-stage-vmi-scores-a-double-tap-random-ram-blings-so-cool-so-hot-socon/?mc_cid=d1b37a6e41&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – Dan Gable likes the direction wrestling is headed
Former Hawkeye coach enjoyed seeing another Gable win gold
Dan Gable watched his wife, Kathy, watch wrestling during last week’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. “She really likes to watch the wrestling,” said a man who won wrestling gold at the 1972 Games in Munich and later coached the University of Iowa to 15 NCAA titles in 21 years. “She was really into it.” One match in particular caught her attention. Minnesota wrestler Gable Steveson battling three-time world champion Geno Petriashvili for gold.
“That was big to me,” Gable said of Kathy’s reaction. Steveson — full name Gable Dan Steveson and, yes, named after the Iowa wrestling legend — won the gold medal. Another gold for another Gable. Pretty cool.
“It was pretty exciting,” the original Gable said. Dan Gable was more than a little excited to see the United States shine so brightly on wrestling’s biggest stage. This was, after all, the year — or rather the Games — wrestling was supposed to go away from the Olympics.In 2013, the International Olympic Committee voted to drop wrestling from the Summer Games, effective in 2020. A sport that was part of the original Olympic program in 1896 in Athens — in the form of Greco-Roman — and has offered freestyle since 1904 was getting dumped. Thanks to the efforts of people like Gable, however, the sport was reinstated. … rest of story at https://www.thegazette.com/hawkeye-wrestling/dan-gable-likes-the-direction-wrestling-is-headed/?mc_cid=79d2b15df8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – Jacob Newby and leaving when at the top – The MatBoss Podcast Ep. 61
The conclusion of an interview with Jacob Newby. Jacob talks about the events that led to him leaving the Oklahoma St. wrestling program while ranked #1 in the country.
About MatBoss: Created by coaches for coaches, MatBoss for iPad® integrates wrestling stats directly into the video you record for each match, completely replacing the need for labor-intensive pencil and paper scoring systems. It’s the wrestling stats app our sport has been waiting for.
Focus on coaching, not busy work
Improve through video analysis
Make data an advantage
Eliminate scoring errors … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/intermat/matboss/jacob-newby-and-leaving-when-at-the-top-the-matboss-podcast-ep-61/?mc_cid=108a6e3c7b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Mike Macch Joins to Talk Brand Deals, Olympics, NIL, World Team Trials
NCAA Champion Mike Macch is back on the show as he fills in for co-host Cenzo today as we catch up with Macch and talk brand deals and what’s next, and talk about the Olympics, the impact Olympics has on the World Team Trials, Suriano News, and more. This show is brought to you by ATAC! ATAC is a new sophisticated training app, with very cool gaming components, for wrestlers and other high-level athletes, with coaching and technique from stars like Jordan Burroughs, Sarah Hildebrandt, and Reece Humphrey, among others! And, the app is available NOW in the Apple App Store.. Download today! … rest of story at https://www.baschamania.com/podcast/mike-macch-joins-to-talk-brand-deals-olympics-nil-world-team-trials?mc_cid=108a6e3c7b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – SEASON 5,COLUMN 5: FINDING FARGO; PLAY COLLEGE-VILLE, WIN @ LIFE; RANDOM RAM-BLINGS; & SO COOL, SO HOT, SOCON
The great state of North Dakota is once again, and for the umpteenth year, playing host to hundreds of coaches, a thousand or more wrestlers, and millions of dreams. Americas aspiring young mat stars will slug it out in Fargo. Competition is held in both international styles of wrestling, Freestyle and Greco-Roman. Their tangible prize: a large, gorgeous wood and metal stop sign. It indicates they put a halt to every other champions hopes for this tournament in their respective weight class. Its that rarest of opportunities: to be able to conclusively say that for this glorious fortnite, they ruled as the best of the best. To their coaches, its affirmation of direction and effort for both their stars and the states they wrestle for. And, for the college recruiters in attendance, its days and days and nights of non stop shop till you drop. Officially, its the United States Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals, with 17 weight classes for the 16U group, 15 for the Juniors. Every athlete who places here is a hot prospect, folks. Every single media member, fan blogger, or bleacher buzzard makes this pilgrimage, or needs to. Call it crazy, call it overblown, call it Mat Mecca for ‘Murica, but at least once call it your Summer Vacation plan. Not this year, ND, but soon, very soon.(1)
BIG SUCCESS, SMALL SCHOOL STYLE
Attention college bound wrestlers, especially those with pre-med plans and/or an interest in a top flight liberal arts education. There’s a school you might not know of but need to. A small school with a big time wrestling legacy, great financial aid options, close to major metropolitan (read: high employment options) areas, and the best Philly Cheeseteak in America. OK, only 3 of those things are really accurate, but they’re the important ones in Collegeville, PA, home to Ursinus. Founded four years after the Civil War, Ursinus has 60 courses of study and competes in the Division III Centennial Conference. Head Coach Joe Jamison heads into year 3 after a decade of the grind that … rest of story at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2021/07/16/season-5column-5-finding-fargo-play-college-ville-win-life-random-ram-blings-so-cool-so-hot-socon/?mc_cid=fb87a783fb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Women’s Wrestling News (2021) – # 20 {High School Level}
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Exciting stories of advancements in providing opportunities for girls in scholastic level wrestling. More than half the states have sanctioned high school wrestling competition. Keep wrestling on! Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2973 (8/31/21)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – {N. Y.} – Liverpool senior wants to turn success on mat into opportunities for girls wrestling
Two years ago, as a sophomore on Liverpool’s wrestling team, Damiana Racciatti stood in the center of the wrestling mat and the referee raised her arm in the air. Racciatti had won her first high school wrestling match. But the win wasn’t everything she had imagined. Racciatti hadn’t actually wrestled anyone. She did everything needed to prepare, training hard enough and cutting weight to earn a varsity spot. But her opponent forfeited the match before she could prove that she was capable. But the boy on the other team didn’t want to wrestle a girl. Racciatti attempted to make the best of her win-by-default and joked that it was the fastest pin of the day. Behind the smile, behind the win, was a little bit of loss. Coach Steve LoFaso doesn’t recall any forfeits, even though they’re written in the records. Racciatti remembers every single one. The details of her opponent are fuzzy, but the feeling of standing alone and celebrating a win she didn’t get to earn sticks with her. … rest of story at https://www.syracuse.com/highschoolsports/2021/04/liverpool-senior-wants-to-turn-success-on-mat-into-opportunities-for-girls-wrestling.html?outputType=amp&mc_cid=db281dc0f1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – HS WRESTLERS RAISE THE BAR AT OTT
Don’t Sleep On Girl’s HS Wrestling
Two weeks ago now, we witnessed something very special happen with the women’s freestyle (WFS) competition at Olympic Team Trials (OTT). Not one, or two, but THREE high school wrestlers qualified for OTT to battle against the best of the best U.S. senior women’s wrestling has to offer. Not only that, but two of those wrestlers went all the way to the OTT final and competed against those OTT finalists! Those three high schoolers are Kennedy Blades, Sage Mortimer, and Kylie Welker. If you don’t already know their names, remember them now! These girls all went to compete at the Last Chance Olympic Qualifier the weekend before OTT. … rest of story at https://www.wreaperwrestling.com/hs-wrestlers-raise-the-bar-at-ott/?mc_cid=22fcb0de91&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Girls wrestling gets its own state championships next year
Five of seven OPRF wrestlers earn all-state recognition at June 21 meet
Girls wrestling is a sport that has seen a significant increase in participation over the last few years in Illinois, so much that the Illinois High School Association has approved a state series that begins next year. It’s the culmination of hard work by the steering committee of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA), of which Oak Park and River Forest High School girls wrestling coach Fred Arkin is a co-chairman. “We’ve been working for several years to convince the IHSA to recognize girls wrestling as a sport,” said Arkin. “There were about 350 girls participating four or five years ago. Next year, we expect to be close to 2,000.”
Arkin is amazed at not only how fast girls wrestling in Illinois has grown in recent years, but also the competitiveness being shown. “The skill level of the girls has come way up,” he said. “Some of them are incredibly accomplished.” This year’s high school wrestling season this year was one of an unusual nature. It was abbreviated and moved to the spring due to COVID-19. Arkin said as a result, OPRF’s numbers were down. There were just 10 girls on the roster, compared to 16 last season. … rest of the story at https://www.oakpark.com/2021/06/28/girls-wrestling-gets-its-own-state-championships-next-year/?mc_cid=16b19c4117&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – Cy Ranch state champion Jayden Bazemore driven to prove doubters wrong
Cypress Ranch High junior wrestler Jayden Bazemore describes the experience as truly surreal. Her win was not expected, Bazemore said, as she was the underdog compared to her opponent who had won the year before and was ranked 10th in the nation. Bazemore (19-0) earned her first championship and remained unbeaten by taking down Plano West’s Devin Patton (Dec 8-3) in the 128-pound final at the UIL Girls Wrestling State Tournament, April 23-24, at Berry Center in Cypress. “It was insane, I couldn’t believe that it happened,” Bazemore said. “I was confident in myself. …Winning just made it a lot better for me knowing that I proved everyone wrong.” Bazemore placed fourth overall in the 119-pound weight class a year ago as a Lady Cavalier. … rest of story at https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/cyfair/sports/article/Cy-Ranch-state-champion-Jayden-Bazemore-driven-to-16142790.php?mc_cid=6d9f324080&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – De Soto senior wrestler Jaycee Foeller breaks barriers making history on the mat
“I think when I watch her walk onto that mat for her country, in the Olympics; that’s when it’s gonna hit me”
DE SOTO, Mo. — De Soto High School senior Jaycee Foeller has been cheerleading for as long as she can remember. Her two younger brothers have been wrestling for as long as they can remember. As the only female sibling, Jaycee’s father J. Foeller said Jaycee learned how to carry her own over the years. “I’ve known several times they’ve been throwing each other in the middle of the living room floor,” J. Foeller said. “I was wondering how the TV didn’t fall off the wall.” But wrestling her brothers turned into something much more in the eighth grade when she went for a casual ride along to her brothers’ wrestling practice.
“I went to go with my mom to pick up my brothers,” Jaycee Foeller said. “And one of the coaches there was like, ‘Hey, why aren’t you wrestling?’ And I was like, ‘Cause I’m a cheerleader.’ You know, just being sassy. Andy I kind of wanted to at first, but my parents. Well, not my parents, but my dad was like, ‘Eh, I don’t know about that.’” Because at the time, there was no sanctioned girls’ wrestling team. “And I didn’t want her wrestling boys,” J. Foeller said. “You can understand that from a dad’s perspective. When I told her she couldn’t, I finally thought. We’re down at practice one day, let her on the mat, go get her tail kicked, and then it’ll be done. And that didn’t happen.”
… rest of story at https://www.ksdk.com/article/sports/high-school/de-soto-wrestler-jaycee-foeller-history/63-2c3af071-89f0-48fa-9bb0-be36e434833f?mc_cid=ce60503c93&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – BLADES AND ELOR MAKE SECOND WORLD TEAM OF THE WEEKEND, CADET WORLD TEAM DECIDED
IRVING, Texas – The USA has its Cadet World Team in women’s freestyle as 10 young ladies emerged victorious on Saturday night at the 2021 Women’s Nationals in Irving, Texas.
Two athletes, Korina Blades and Amit Elor, made their second teams of the weekend today after securing spots on the 2021 Junior World Team yesterday. Blades, a 2019 U15 World champion, competed at 61 kg scorched the field, winning all but one of her matches by either technical fall or pin. In the finals, Blades racked up a 12-0 win and a 14-4 tech fall over Marissa Jimenez of Idaho. Wrestling at 69 kg, 2019 Cadet World bronze medalist Amit Elor didn’t surrender a single point the entire day with only one match making it out of the first period. In the finals, she spent a total of 45 seconds on the mat, pinning Maggie Graham in 21 seconds and 24 seconds, respectively. Advancing to her second finals series in two days, 2018 U15 Pan Am champion Lillian Freitas topped the podium in the Cadet division … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/08/Cadet-World-Team-finals?mc_cid=6292a9adee&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – Princeton’s Chloe Ayres, Manalapan’s Jess Johnson are NJ.com’s Co-Girls Wrestlers of the Year
It is traditionally NJ.com policy to pick a single Player of the Year in every sport.
Even when deciding between John Poznanski and Dean Peterson, Devin Leary and Jonathan Taylor, Jess Hughes and Kelsey Oh our writers come to a consensus, no matter how difficult it might be to break a deadlock. But an exceptional season with exceptional circumstances calls for an exception on NJ.com’s Girls Wrestler of the Year. The honor goes to Princeton High School’s Chloe Ayres and Manalapan’s Jess Johnson – two trailblazers who capped their high school careers as the first three-time state champions in New Jersey girls wrestling after it became an official sport in 2018-2019. In a COVID-19 shortened season, girls had less than a month to make their mark this season – which started on March 16 and ended April 10. But Ayres and Johnson have certainly made their marks in their careers, helping become the stars the next generation of girls wrestling will look to as idols. “She’s definitely been a pioneer,” said Princeton coach Jess Monzo of Ayres. “She was the first to win a third state title. … rest of story at https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2021/05/princetons-chloe-ayres-manalapans-jess-johnson-are-njcoms-co-girls-wrestlers-of-the-year.html?mc_cid=cc121404a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Racine Unified high schools to offer girls wrestling in 2021-22
ACINE — Racine Unified School District board members voted to approve the district’s contract with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association with the addition of girls wrestling as a potential offering. While the agenda did not originally include the addition, board members motioned to add the item for approval, which passed unanimously during Monday evening’s meeting. WIAA approved an individual girls wrestling tournament last June, making it the 27th state to do so. The first girls tournament will occur at the close of the 2021-22 season. … rest of story at https://journaltimes.com/sports/high-school/racine-unified-high-schools-to-offer-girls-wrestling-in-2021-22/article_c381377e-c029-57ec-8208-5f5ffebd5377.html?mc_cid=4a8e8b94a2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Sisters Erica and Lisa Pastoriza win national girls wrestling titles at World Team trials
Erica Pastoriza couldn’t repeat her 2019 accolade as one of The Republic’sAll-Arizona girls wrestling team selections after this past season ended in March. After transferring from Glendale Raymond Kellis to Phoenix Sierra Linda last fall for her sophomore year, the Tolleson Unified School District canceled Sierra Linda’s winter season from the pandemic. Instead, Pastoriza accomplished six national feats within the past two months. First, she won a national individual title in the USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals Championships’ 16U division’s 94-pound weight class. Pastoriza also helped lead the Arizona Girls Wrestling club to a national team title at that event in March.
Third, Pastoriza won another individual title in the 2021 Women’s Nationals World Team Trials Cadet division’s 40 KG weight class on May 9 in Irving, Texas. Her victory earned her a roster spot on Team USA’s Cadet team, which will compete in the World Championships from July 19-25 in Budapest, Hungary. “I was a bummed a bit but I knew it allow me to travel more and prepare for (the World Team Trials) tournament,” … rest of story at https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/05/14/sierra-linda-sisters-win-national-wrestling-club-titles/5097228001/?mc_cid=89b2bf9d78&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – Moeller, Goshen state champion wrestlers help sister, 12, make Team USA 15U wrestling team
KENWOOD – A little more than 11 years ago, a young girl held on to a pair of brothers who had just won Ohio state high school wrestling titles at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Two other brothers and a sister joined the celebratory photo. Chaz Gresham of Goshen and Joey Ward of Moeller would go on to win state titles again a year later with Chaz moving on to Ohio University and Joey to North Carolina where he was an All-American. Younger brothers Jacoby and Jordan also wrestled at Moeller and became state placers before moving onto the U.S. Air Force Academy and North Carolina, respectively. Jordan has since transferred to Wyoming. The young girl in the center of the photo is now the center attraction of the family. Now 12 years old and after a stint with gymnastics, Camryn Gresham has decided to follow in her brothers’ footsteps. While those may be big wrestling shoes to fill, the pre-teen is marching through opponents like Sasquatch, despite competing at 33 kg which is slightly less than 73 pounds. … rest of story at https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/high-school/high-school-sports/2021/05/14/sister-former-ohio-di-state-wrestling-champs-compete-mexico/5049792001/?mc_cid=89b2bf9d78&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – Santa Cruz star wrestler Greta Gustafson ready for next level
Star senior, a three-time CCS finalist and 2020 state placer, commits to Simon Fraser University in British Columbia
Santa Cruz High wrestler Greta Gustafson can count the number of high school matches she has remaining in her abbreviated senior season and high school career on one hand. But the Cardinals’ star will live to pin another day. She has committed to NCAA Division II Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. “I always thought it would just happen,” Gustafson said. “I’d tell people, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna wrestle in college.”But the more she thought about, especially last year, she started to make herself nervous. Options to compete locally were scarce and she wasn’t drawn to programs at Menlo College in Atherton or Simpson University in Redding. “Do I want to wrestle in college? Do I want to leave home?” she asked herself.
She said she was looking for reasons to scare herself, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and it scared her straight. “When COVID forced me to stop for months, I knew, ‘I do want to wrestle in college,’ ” she said. “If I didn’t, I’d regret it. I didn’t want any regrets.” … rest of story at https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2021/05/17/santa-cruz-star-wrestler-greta-gustafson-ready-for-next-level-high-school-wrestling/?mc_cid=a53f0e5e67&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – Editorial: Right move to offer girls wrestling post season
Last week, the Minnesota State High School League gave the official nod to adding a girls wrestling tournament to the Minnesota State High School State Wrestling Tournament, and it’s the right move. In recent years, girls wrestling has gained in popularity not only in Minnesota, but across the country. According to Team USA Wrestling’s website in May of 2020, the number of girls wrestling at the high school level rose from 804 in 1994 to a staggering 21,124 across the nation. In Minnesota, during the 2019-20 wrestling season there were 153 girls wrestling and 30 states have approved of having the sport for girls. “Girls continue to take up the challenge,” said Joan Fulp, co-chair of the USA Wrestling Girls High School Development Committee, who was quoted in the story. “They continue to wrestle in spite of the obstacles endured in finding their space on the mat. One by one they see the inspiration and character building traits once only enjoyed by boys and men. They want to drink from the same fountain.”
Through the regular season the girls will still largely face off against the boys, but now there is a clear goal set out for them that at the end of the year they will have their own state meet on the big stage. If there are going to be these kinds of numbers, and if girls continue to show interest in the sport, there is no reason why they can’t be accommodated. Granted, there will no doubt be those voices that will say girls do not belong in this male-dominated sport, but that is proving to be an archaic way of thinking. High school sports is about opportunity and it’s all we can ask for in ensuring that girls who are truly interested in and willing to work at wrestling get that chance on the mat. … rest of story at https://www.albertleatribune.com/2021/05/editorial-right-move-to-offer-girls-wrestling-post-season/?mc_cid=ce44cea415&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – New Moses Lake girls wrestling coach takes on the role late
By CASEY MCCARTHY
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School’s new girls wrestling head coach David Peralez jumped right into the fire, taking the position just before the season began. His first match was Wednesday night against Eastmont High School. Peralez graduated from MLHS in 2010 after wrestling all four years as a Chief, then earned his Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Washington University. Peralez has served in the past as an assistant with the high school program, in addition to working with the Moses Lake Wrestling Club. Peralez said the lack of lead time has certainly presented some challenges. “It’s tough to have to prepare for something when normally during a normal season you have time to go over the basics and the fundamentals before we have our first match,” Peralez said. “But I was pretty encouraged with how the wrestlers were able to absorb a lot in a short time period.” … rest of story at https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/may/28/new-moses-lake-girls-wrestling-head-coach-reflects/?mc_cid=5196172c07&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And WIAA Board of Control selects La Crosse Center for first girls wrestling state tournament
Story linked at https://madison.com/wsj/sports/high-school/wiaa-board-of-control-selects-la-crosse-center-for-first-girls-wrestling-state-tournament/article_504be91f-6d96-5c28-965e-1d845f16e594.html?mc_cid=4a470838b6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – ‘Female wrestling is going to help save wrestling’: South Sioux program thrilled with NSAA decision to sanction girls wrestling
SOUTH SIOUX CITY — Last week, girls wrestling was officially made a sanctioned sport in the state of Nebraska. South Sioux City coach Evan Bohnet thinks that it might just help save the sport of wrestling. On Wednesday morning, the Nebraska School Activities Association voted 8-0 to sanction the sport, upgrading it from the “emerging sport” designation that the Association decided on last year. With the new designation, Nebraska’s female wrestlers will now compete alongside the boys at the state championships at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. To Bohnet, Wednesday’s news was a big deal, but it won’t change much for his wrestlers inside the practice room. “It’s awesome, and it obviously changes some things as far as recognition for the girls and who they compete under,” Bohnet said. “In terms of work and in terms of goals, it doesn’t change anything. Our goals are going to be the same. The girls never looked at it as ‘Oh, this isn’t sanctioned, so it’s less of a sport.”
Last season, the Cardinals won the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association girls championship, as the team beat out second-place Schuyler, 135.5 points to 129. It was a big step for the program, but sophomore Yohaly Quinones says that winning it next year would probably feel even sweeter. … rest of story at https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/high-school/wrestling/female-wrestling-is-going-to-help-save-wrestling-south-sioux-program-thrilled-with-nsaa-decision/article_96eca7b0-3d18-5d42-9220-13565d2337b0.html?mc_cid=8610e5f1be&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Women’s Wrestling News (2021) – # 19 {International}
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Catching up on stories of women’s international level wrestling from before the Olympics and Fargo tournaments last month. Read on and enjoy the wrestling news. Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2972 (8/30/21)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – Mensah-Stock learned to balance her power and her sweetness to become a World champ and ‘21 Olympian
By Mike Finn
In addition to her roles as World champion and 2021 Olympian for Team USA, Tamyra Mensah-Stock is a big fan of Anime, the Japanese animation series where certain characteristics turn the cartoon characters into superheroes. Perhaps one of those characters should be called Tamyra because this 28-year-old native of Katy, Texas, admits her philosophy of life and the sport would be perfect for Anime … and she could also be the female version of one of Anime’s top characters. “There are some people who always call me an Anime character because that is something I grew up with,” laughed Mensah-Stock. “Watching Dragon Ball Z, I idolized Goku. He is a top-notched superhero, the strongest in the world. His wife has to bring him down to earth. Being a goofball, he’s super lovable and easy to talk to; so loving. But at the same time, he’s a powerful force of nature that has to save the world again and again.
This story appeared in the May 5, 2021 issue of WIN Magazine. Click here to subscribe to WIN Magazine or call 888-305-0606.
“And then there is Lucy from One Piece (series), who is a raw talent who doesn’t care what people think. He loves trying to get people to join in and have fun with him. He doesn’t take life too serious even though he has the greatest mission in the world.” Mensah-Stock also mentioned she has been a fan of the Powerpuff Girls, an American animated television series that focus on three young girls with superpowers. … rest of story at https://www.win-magazine.com/2021/05/06/making-of-a-superhero/?mc_cid=987a3385bf&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b#utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=making-of-a-superhero
2 } – Afsoon Johnston: What I Learned From Tricia Saunders
Afsoon Johnston was a two-time World medalist, winning a bronze in 1989 and a silver in 1990. Johnston reflects on what she has learned from four-time World champion Tricia Saunders.
SETTING THE TONE
Trish was really the one who set the tone and the direction for where women’s wrestling has come and for that quest for equality. In the beginning, there was so much with women’s wrestling that we had to fight for and we weren’t given anything. At the time, I was grateful for anything. A corner of the mat. Coaching advice. Anyone that would give anything to me. What I learned from Trish is that we deserve more than that. We can fight for our share and we can fight for equality. And she would not take no for an answer. When she hit any roadblock, she would not only find a way to get around it but to continue to keep going. Not only for just us or herself at that time but really set the pathway for this entire next generation and generations after her. What I’ve learned from Trish is to fight for that equality and not take no for an answer and that we deserve equality. She was so good at going after it.
THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY
Trish and I served on the board of USA Wrestling together. We would sit in those meetings and everybody in those meetings would tell us what we wanted to hear. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1620447546303&twSessionId=khoqspefhm&postId=1169611135&mc_cid=1c5f62dded&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Shannon Williams: What I Learned From Afsoon Johnston
Shannon Williams was a four-time World silver medalist (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997). Afsoon Johnston was the first medalist for the United States at the inaugural women’s World Championships in 1989. She also picked up a silver medal at the 1990 World Championships. Williams reflects on her time as an athlete and what she learned from Johnston during the formative years of women’s wrestling.
PARTY TIME
We were such a great team because we were all about women’s empowerment. She was already on the team for one year before I joined. The very first year I went to the World Championships was in 1990 and she had gone the year before — I think there were like two or three that went the year before. Once I made that team and we went to Sweden, … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1624505046262&twSessionId=vtfwrdixvz&postId=1201228135&mc_cid=43f68cbfb0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – 2021 Women’s Nationals Preview
This week the women get a change to make some world teams in Texas. The annual Women’s Nationals(formerly Body Bar) is taking place with competition at the 14U, U15, Cadet, Junior, and U23 age levels. There will be 19 competitors from Indiana participating with some doubling up in age divisions. Competition starts today and will run through Sunday.
UWW Juniors
Four girls will be taking the mat in the Junior age group. Leading the way is Alara Boyd who was a team member in 2019. She was 4th at the Olympic Trials and is a favorite to make another world team. Three others that are still in high school will take the mat against a mixture of high school and college stars. State champions Trinity Malave and Torieonna Buchanan will be at 50kg and 53kg respectively. The last one to participate is Delta’s state runner-up anna Krejsa at 57kg.
U23
Three girls will be on the mats for this age division with … rest of story at https://indianamat.com/index.php?/articles.html/international-news/2021-womens-nationals-preview-r1073/&mc_cid=1c5f62dded&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } -WHO’S GOING TO SENIOR PAN-AMS?
Who’s ready for another international tournament before the Olympic Games? We certainly are!
Next up is the senior Pan-American Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala May 27-30. Team USA will send 10 women’s freestyle (WFS) wrestlers to compete including 5 of the 6 Olympians and two National Team members. Head National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner and Assistant Coach Clarissa Chun will be their team coaches. The Trek To Tokyo continues for our Olympians. Pan-Am will be a great tournament to get that international competition feel before heading to Japan. … rest of story at https://www.wreaperwrestling.com/whos-going-to-senior-pan-ams/?mc_cid=3a3b8bc793&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – Junior team set for Pan-Am Champs
OAXTEPEC, Mexico – The Canadian junior wrestling team will be back in action for the first time since 2019, competing at the Junior Pan-American Championships in Mexico. The team of 14 athletes will compete June 10 to 13. Despite the break in competition, the team will step on the mats with plenty of international experience. On the women’s side Serena Di Benedetto and Nyla Burgess are both two-time Cadet Pan-Am medallist. Makitha Bristol also took home silver from the 2019 Cadet Championships. The team also has Junior experience in Jolie Brisco who medalled at the event in 2019. … rest of story at https://wrestling.ca/junior-team-set-for-pan-am-champs/?mc_cid=9db4763a85&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – THREE AMERICANS FINISH FIFTH IN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE AT THE POLAND OPEN
It was a tough afternoon for the American wrestlers competing in the Poland Open. Team USA went 0-3 in bronze medal matches, recording three fifth place finishes. At 50 kg, Erin Golston fell to Russia’s Mariia Tiumerekova, 9-7, on a buzzer-beating last-second takedown. The match was a back-and-forth affair, with the lead changing on four separate occasions. Down 5-2 in the second period, Golston scored a takedown and transitioned into a trapped arm gutwrench, to pull ahead 6-5. Golston added a step out point, which was nearly a takedown, to extend her lead to 7-5. However, she was unable to prevent Tiumerekova from earning two step-out points and the match-winning takedown in the last 40 seconds of the bout. Tiumerekova is a five-time age-group World medalist. Jennifer Page fell in the 62 kg bronze medal match to Ilona Prokopevniuk of Ukraine, 16-4. The bout was even at 4-4 with Page trailing on criteria … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/10/WFS-day-1-medal-round-poland?mc_cid=b1fff1ca32&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Skylar Grote Joins The Beaver Dam RTC
Saturday evening, Senior-level women’s freestyle athlete Skylar Grote announced her new training situation. Grote, a New Jersey native, will move across the country and train at Oregon State’s “Beaver Dam RTC”. The RTC has already bought into supporting women’s wrestling, as Grote will be the fifth woman to join the team. She’ll train alongside Adeline Gray, Mallory Velte, Alyssa Lampe, and Alex Glaude. Grote wrestled in high school at fabled Blair Academy, then moved onto Ontario’s Brock University for college. Before getting to Brock, Grote was a part of two Pan-American Junior teams. She came home with a silver medal in 2014 and a gold in 2015. Since the pandemic has died down, Grote has been active on the Senior level. She was a runner-up at Senior Nationals in October while competing at 68 kg. A month later, … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24696?mc_cid=df40ca5986&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – JOB POSTING: BEAT THE STREETS NEW YORK CITY SEEKS GIRLS’ HEAD COACH
Job Title: Head GirlsCoach
Job Type:Full-time, Salaried
Summary:Beat the Streets (BTS), established in 2006, is a sport-based youth development organization whose mission is to develop the full human and athletic potential of urban youth and to strengthen the wrestling culture within New York City. BTS works with an average of 2,500 male and female student-athletes in all five boroughs, aged 10-18. Programs include the Academy, the Junior League and the Training Center. In addition, BTS partners with the NYC Department of Education’s Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) that sponsors a boys and co-ed wrestling season in the winter and a girls wrestling season in the spring. Reporting to the Director of Programming, the Head Girls Coach will play a critical role in delivering positive youth development in settings that take place on and off the mat in all five boroughs of New York City. The primary responsibility for the Head Girls Coach is to serve as a mentor by building strong relationships with our female student-athletes and to motivate and support them in all that they do. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/25/Beat-the-Streets-NYC-girls-coach-job-posting?mc_cid=95cb484a12&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – Four Different Countries Claim Junior Women’s Titles at #WrestleOaxtepec
OAXTEPEC, Mexico – It was all women’s freestyle action today at the Cadet and Junior Pan American Championships, where 12 athletes claimed gold medals in Oaxtepec, Mexico. This week, the top-eight in the Olympic weights of the Junior divisions will earn bids to the 2021 Junior Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, in December. Four different countries collected titles in the Junior women’s division. The champions included Amani JONES (USA) at 55 kg, Mayra PARRA ALVAREZ (VEN) at 57 kg, London HOUSTON (USA) at 59 kg, Yolanda CORDERO VARGAS (CUB) at 62 kg, Nyla BURGESS (CAN) at 68 kg and Yelena MAKOYED (USA) at 76 kg. Parra’s win at 57 kg was the first gold for Venezuela since 2017. In the Cadet division, USA won four of the six weights with gold medals … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/four-different-countries-claim-junior-womens-titles-wrestleoaxtepec?mc_cid=84503a987c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – FEARNSIDE AND MOLINARI CLAIM BRONZE AS WOMEN’S FREESTYLE ACTION CONCLUDES AT THE POLAND OPEN
Fearnside and Molinari claim bronze as women’s freestyle action concludes at the Poland Open The women’s freestyle portion of the Poland Open wrapped up this afternoon, with two more Americans bringing home bronze medals. At 53 kg, Amy Fearnside gutted out a tough win over Russia’s 2019 World bronze medalist Ekaterina Poleshchuk. Fearnside trailed 1-0 at the break after allowing a passivity point. However, Poleshchuk was put on the clock in the second period, and Fearnside fended her off to earn a passivity point of her own. Russia threw the brick on a last-ditch challenge attempt with short time remaining but to no avail. Fearnside walked away with a 2-1 victory and the bronze medal. The second American to wrestle in this afternoon’s session was Forrest Molinari at 68 kg. Molinari squared off with one of Russia’s … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/11/WFS-Poland-Day-2-finals?mc_cid=84503a987c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – U.S. WOMEN SCORE SEVEN GOLD, TWO SILVER AND ONE BRONZE AT CADET AND JUNIOR PAN AMS
OAXTEPEC, Mexico – Team USA continued its impressive performance adding 10 more medals to its count with U.S. Cadet and Junior women’s freestylers earning seven gold medals, two silvers and one bronze on Friday at the 2021 Cadet and Junior Pan American Championships in Oaxtepec, Mexico.
There were no team trophies today as both division still have competition tomorrow. The tournament continues Saturday with the remaining weights in Junior women’s freestyle and Cadet women’s freestyle as well as the opening of the Junior men’s freestyle and Cadet Greco-Roman tournaments. Action begins at 9 a.m. CT live on FloWrestling. Check out the detailed schedule for more information.
Junior women’s freestyle
The USA qualified three more weights for the 2021 Junior Pan American Games … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/11/Cd-Jr-Pan-Ams-recap-3?mc_cid=84503a987c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – Alesha Zappitella once was told to give up wrestling to focus on ‘girl’s sports,’ now an Invicta champion
When Alesha Zappitella first took up the sport of wrestling, it never really occurred to her that she was the only girl on a team filled with nothing but boys. Growing up in a small town in the most northeastern corner of Ohio, the future Invicta FC atomweight champion was interested in wrestling from a very early age thanks to her older brother. In her world, she never even contemplated that this was a sport meant for any particular gender, despite her school not actually having a program for girl’s wrestling. “I honestly never really even put it together that I was the only girl until it was pointed out to me,” Zappitella told MMA Fighting. “My brother started wrestling when I was like 1 [year old] and I would go to his practices, and I just started running around on the mats and doing takedowns. I learned how to walk, I learned how to run, I learned how to shoot. To me, it was normal. “I thought they were all doing it because it was fun and I wanted to join the fun, too … rest of story at https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/5/21/22446383/alesha-zappitella-once-told-needed-give-up-wrestling-focus-girls-sports-now-shes-an-invicta-champion?mc_cid=ce44cea415&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Women’s Wrestling News (2021) – # 18 {College}
TDR Editor’s Notes ; A collection of articles about the number of women wrestling on the college levels and the number of teams continues to expand even in the year of restrictions. Over 15 new teams have announced that they would start in the coming school year. Sounds Great! Keep on Wrestling!
Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2971 (8/27/21)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – Shilson wins pair of national titles in Texas
IRVING, Texas — Augsburg University women’s wrestler Emily Shilson (SO, Maple Grove, Minn./Mounds View HS) won another pair of amateur wrestling national titles over the weekend, claiming the 50-kilogram (110 pounds) titles at the USA Wrestling/United World Wrestling Women’s Junior Nationals on Friday, and the USAW/UWW U23 Women’s World Team Trials on Sunday, both at the Irving Convention Center. Shilson will represent the United States at the United World Wrestling Junior World Championships in Ufa, Russa, Aug. 16-22, and at the UWW U23 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia on Nov. 1-7. It’s the second straight time that Shilson will represent the USA at the UWW U23 World Championships, after winning the 2019 American crown. She went 1-2 in competition at the 2019 world meet in Budapest, Hungary. She also won the 2020 U23 Nationals and UWW Junior Nationals in November in Omaha, Neb. … rest of story at https://athletics.augsburg.edu/news/2021/5/9/wwr050921.aspx?mc_cid=6292a9adee&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – NWCA 2021 NCAA WOMEN’S SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICA AWARDS
Manheim, PA – On Friday, the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced the Scholar All-America Team and Individual honorees for the NCAA Women with awards going to 101 individuals representing 16 institutions.
LINK: Top 10 Scholar All-American Teams
LINK: Individual Scholar All-Americans
“On behalf of the NWCA and our Board of Directors, it is my honor to celebrate this incredible list of Scholar All-America teams and individuals from the NCAA Women’s division,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “It is so great to see the growth of this award program which is now in its third year. It’s important to note the incredible overlap between the National Placers and Scholar All-Americans as this is exactly what we want to see.”
… rest of story at https://www.nwcaonline.com/nwca-2021-ncaa-womens-scholar-all-america-awards/?mc_cid=89b2bf9d78&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And 2021 Women’s Collegiate Recruiting Rankings
Wow, what a summer it’s been for women’s wrestling. Women’s Nationals, Fargo, a stunning Olympic performance by Team USA – and suddenly we’re just a few weeks away from the World Team Trials. As our post-Olympic withdrawal sets in, it’s a good time to look at recruiting classes, as we now know where the top Class of 2021 women stack up. USA Wrestling provided us with their final set of rankings for the season to kick off July, and after taking a look at where each ranked senior will lace up her shoes in the fall, we can assemble recruiting class rankings based on two main factors: quality and quantity. It’s important to note that now that the NAIA, NCAA and NJCAA have each granted emerging sport status to women’s wrestling, the days of everyone coming together at the WCWA Championships are behind us. The NAIA schools have their own championship event, while the NCAA schools assemble at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships, or NCWW. The NJCAA hosted their first championship event in 2021 as well. We will rank the Top-10 classes across all three organizations, but note for you the school’s division. This is important as it makes a big difference particularly in the world of recruiting, where some schools have athletic scholarships to offer while others do not. All NAIA, NCAA Division 1 and Division 2, and select NJCAA schools have the option to offer wrestling scholarships, while NCAA Division 3 institutions do not.
1. King University (NCAA DII)
Number of Ranked Recruits: 7 Ranked Recruits: Samara Chavez (#1 at 112), Sage Mortimer (#1 at 117), London Houston (#1 at 132), Cheyenne Bowman (#3 at 152) Montana Delawder (#8 at 127), Tiffany Baublitz (#9 at 164) Dianna Holmes (#12 at 112). King takes the top spot in this year’s class because of a mixture of both of our ranking criteria. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24877?mc_cid=3e9037a901&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – Sage Mortimer Signs with King University
Earlier this week, one of the top high school girls in the nation, Sage Mortimer (American Leadership Academy, UT), made her college decision. Mortimer has signed with traditional power King University. She joins an incredible recruiting class with the likes of Tiffani Baublitz, Cheyenne Bowman, Samara Chavez, and Montana Delawder, who are all among the top seniors in the country. Mortimer was a member of the Cadet World team in 2019 and captured a gold medal at the Pan-American Championships at the U15 division in 2016.
… rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24588?mc_cid=cc121404a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – INDIAN HILLS CC WINS FIRST JUNIOR COLLEGE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR WOMEN, WITH BIG BEND CC TAKING SECOND
ROSEBURG, Ore. –Led by three individual champions, Indian Hills CC of Iowa won the historic first Junior College National Championships (JCNC) in women’s wrestling, held at Umpqua CC on Friday. Indian Hills CC finished with 154 points, 11 points ahead of runner-up Big Bend CC of Washington with 143 points. Southwest Oregon CC of Oregon was third with 86.5 points, with host Umpqua CC of Oregon fourth with 80 points and Grays Harbor College of Washington in fifth with 77 points. Indian Hills CC and Big Bend CC were neck-and-neck going into the medal-match rounds of the tournament. Indian Hills had seven athletes in the finals and Big Bend had four. These teams met twice in the finals, splitting the bouts. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/14/Indian-Hills-CC-wins-first-Junior-College-Nationals-for-women?mc_cid=89b2bf9d78&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – Champion wrestler Natassya Lu adds coaching to her resumé
In this Pursuit, we get on the mat with U of G wrestler Natassya Lu to challenge old perceptions and limitations she has conquered on her path to academic and athletic success
Natassya Lu likes to push herself and challenge barriers and preconceptions that limit her and others from pursuing their dreams. Even her decision to become a competitive wrestler was inspired by a dare. “I was in high school and I had a friend who dared me,” said Lu. “It was kind of like, ‘If you try it out, I’ll try it out too,’ and that is kind of how I started. I was her moral support.” That simple act of support for her friend would set in motion a series of choices and challenges that would change Lu’s life. “We both did it, but she didn’t end up staying in the sport,” said Lu. “It was just me and I kind of got roped in by my coach. He wanted me to continue, and it was a good thing.” … rest of story at https://www.guelphtoday.com/pursuit/champion-wrestler-natassya-lu-adds-coaching-to-her-resume-3806231?mc_cid=f239659e8a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – 2 Am thoughts & Wrestling Life Lesson #11: Prepare to Be Original
“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.”- Ken RobinsonThe sport of wrestling changes everyone who participates in it. For better or worse, it changes you. My favorite description of wrestling comes from Troy Bonewell, who I have coached with since 2005, which happens to be the same year I completed the active duty Army Chapter of my autobiography. Coach Bonewell says, “wrestling does not build character, wrestling reveals character.” He has been teaching and coaching for over 29 years. A mere 16 seasons after we began coaching together, his statement about character is even more relevant as our 2021 Pandemic Season nears its conclusion. This season has provided many opportunities to be wrong, as well as original, and I am further humbled by the resiliency of our wrestling community to problem solve for those we are entrusted to coach.“I think wrestling is a good sport, because you can break somebody. You can break their spirit. You know, make them be a different person for the rest of their life.”- Steve Moccohttps://youtu.be/7QdcHrPotm4Before falling asleep, only a few hours ago, … rest of story at http://insidecoloradowrestling.com/index.php/16-high-school/1881-2-am-thoughts-wrestling-life-lesson-11-prepare-to-be-original?mc_cid=4fc5b594c8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Jake Short named Augsburg women’s wrestling coach
MINNEAPOLIS — Jake Short, a University of Minnesota alumnus who has served as a coach for an elite wrestling school for the past three years, will be the next head coach of the Augsburg University women’s wrestling team, the university has announced.
Since 2018, Short has served as a coach at the Pinnacle School of Wrestling, an elite training program based in the Twin Cities. He has served as both a girls’ and boys’ wrestling coach at Pinnacle, a program co-owned by legendary wrestlers Jared Lawrence and Brandon Paulson.
In January 2021, Short was named as the head coach for the Minnesota/USA Wrestling women’s state team, leading its practices and training sessions for tournaments. “I am both honored and grateful for this opportunity,” Short said. “Augsburg University is well known for its successful reputation in both academics and athletics. I’m thankful to be a part of the Auggie community, and ready to pursue excellence on and off the mat.”
A four-year starter and two-year captain as a middleweight at the University of Minnesota, Short compiled a 99-56 record with the Gophers, with 16 pins, 12 major decisions and three technical falls to his credit. In Big Ten tournament competition, he finished fifth at 157 pounds in 2017, seventh at 157 in 2018, and seventh at 149 in 2016. He was a three-time NCAA national tournament qualifier. … rest of story at https://athletics.augsburg.edu/news/2021/6/3/wwr060321.aspx?mc_cid=08007c6b87&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – Former Newman stand-out leads women’s wrestling program in Ottawa
Newman University alumnus and former wrestling stand-out Dalton Weidl recently started his new role as head women’s wrestling coach at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas. Although he just started his position on June 7, Weidl has already settled into his role, focusing on recruiting and talking to female wrestlers about their potential to thrive at Ottawa. His No. 1 goal at the university is to grow the women’s wrestling program. “I’m trying to give as many girls the opportunity to wrestle in college who want to,” Weidl says. Before arriving at Ottawa University, the 2018 Newman graduate in criminal justice and 2014 Newman Jets Breakthrough Athlete of the Year was the head boys and girls wrestling coach at Ottawa High School — his old stomping grounds and the school where he earned the title of 2014 Kansas 4A State Champion. … rest of story at https://news.newmanu.edu/women-wrestling-program-ottawa/?mc_cid=16b19c4117&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – Neal Steps Down from Ferrum Women’s Wrestling Post
FERRUM, Virginia — Ferrum College Head Women’s Wrestling Coach, Breonnah Neal, has announced that she will step down from her position to pursue other opportunities. Neal recently completed her second season at the helm of the Ferrum women’s wrestling program. During Neal’s tenure, the Panthers achieved a number of milestones, notably the first All-American in Ferrum women’s wrestling history when Alisha Elizalde placed sixth at the 2020 Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Championships (WCWC). This past season, Kat Pendergrass earned All-America honors when she placed eighth at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) and the team recorded its highest finish ever at a national championship. “I am extremely thankful for the work Bre has done as our women’s wrestling coach these past two seasons,” said Director of Athletics, John Sutyak. “Under her guidance, the program achieved new heights in having back-to-back all-American wrestlers and … rest of story at https://ferrum.prestosports.com/sports/wwrest/2020-21/releases/20210716qaazx1?mc_cid=fd10261731&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Gannon University Names Breonnah Neal Women’s Head Coach
Erie, PA – Gannon University has named Breonnah Neal as its new head women’s wrestling coach. “I am excited for the opportunity to join a program on the rise,” said Neal. “I look forward to working with all those who are a part of the Gannon family. We will build off previous success and continue to create great individuals on and off the mat.”
Neal joins Gannon University from Ferrum College, where she worked as head women’s wrestling coach since 2019. There she built a foundation that produced the highest national finish (13th) in school history and four national qualifiers. In addition, during the 2021 season, the program had its first All-American. She also worked as an assistant coach at the School of Hard Knocks Wrestling Club in High Point, N.C. beginning in 2013.
“Breonnah Neal is a tremendous hire for our women’s wrestling program,” said Gannon Director of Athletics Lisa Goddard McGuirk. “She has been successful as a head coach at the collegiate level and demonstrates a commitment to the student-athlete experience. Breonnah is a decorated wrestler and an experienced coach who will serve the continued growth of our student-athletes and women’s wrestling.”
Neal began her collegiate career at Campbellsville University in Kentucky where she earned a national runner-up finish at the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) national championships. She was also a University Nationals All-American, qualified for the World Team Trials and earned Dean’s List accolades during her time at Campbellsville. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24870?mc_cid=79d2b15df8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – IOWA WESTERN CC IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA ADDS WOMEN’S WRESTLING AND SEEKS ATHLETES FOR UPCOMING SEASON
With a few tweets and some local media coverage, a new women’s college wrestling team was created this past week. Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, is adding a women’s wrestling team at the NJCAA junior college level.
On its @GoReivers Twitter site, the university announced:
The time is now! Iowa Western to add women’s wrestling.
Iowa Western President Dan Kinney tweeted this:
@GoReivers @ReiverWrestling adds Women’s Wrestling beginning this Fall! Any women interested contact our coaching staff!
During the Junior/16U Nationals in Fargo, N.D., USA Wrestling was given this information to share with the wrestling community:
At Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, it has just been approved to offer a women’s wrestling program for this coming year of 2021-22. Obviously this is great news. However, there is little time to put it together. If you know of any women’s wrestler who has graduated high school and would like to continue their wrestling careers, please contact Head Coach Josh Watts at 229-343-8379 or Assistant Coach Oscar Ramirez at 712-209-3215. Below is an in depth article about the decision from the local press.
NONPAREILONLINE:Iowa Western to add women’s wrestling
by Tim Johnson
Iowa Western Community College athletics will enter a new arena this fall The college will join Indian Hills Community College as the only junior colleges in Iowa with a women’s wrestling program. The program’s launch was approved by the Iowa Western Board of Trustees during its meeting Monday at the Cass County Center in Atlantic. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/26/Iowa-Western-CC-adds-womens-wrestling?mc_cid=108a6e3c7b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Mitchem introduced as MSU’s first women’s wrestling coach
Minot State’s director of athletics Andy Carter has announced Brittney Mitchem will become the first head women’s wrestling coach for the Beavers. In May, MSU announced they will add women’s wrestling as an NCAA Division II sport starting in the 2022-23 academic year. “I am excited to have Brittney lead this new program,” Carter said. “Her energy and passion for women’s wrestling was evident from our first conversation. She is hungry to make an impact on the lives of the women in our program and fits perfectly into our culture and core values. “Brittney is a great addition because of her experience, but also her knowledge and determination to make an immediate impact in the women’s wrestling scene in the upper Midwest. She will not be outworked and will be a great asset for our department, our university, and our community.”
Mitchem begins her duties – building the Beavers women’s wrestling program from scratch – immediately. “It’s an honor,” she said of starting the program at Minot State. “I am very privileged to come to Minot and build a culture around everything Minot State is about. It’s a special thing to do that right off the bat and bring in a lot of like-minded kids. “There’s already an amazing culture there and I just get to add to it, which is an amazing opportunity.”The women’s wrestling program will complement a powerhouse men’s wrestling program that has won 16 All-American honors during its time on the mats at Minot State. “I’m very excited about the addition of women’s wrestling here, and I think we just found the perfect person to lead the program,” Minot State men’s wrestling head coach Evan Forde said. “I feel Brittney will be able to build a nationally competitive team in a short amount of time. … rest of story at https://www.minotdailynews.com/sports/local-sports/2021/08/mitchem-introduced-as-msus-first-womens-wrestling-coach/?mc_cid=9437ea749e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – Northern Michigan 2021-22 Inaugural Women’s Wrestling Schedule Released
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The schedule for Northern Michigan University women’s wrestling’s inaugural season has been set, as the team released their 2021-22 slate Wednesday. The season opens on the road as the Wildcats will take place in the Pointer Open, hosted by UW-Stevens Point, in Stevens Point, Wis. on Saturday, November 6 at 9 a.m. NMU will remain on the road for their next two events as they travel to the Adrian College Women’s Open in Adrian, Mich. on Sunday, Nov. 14 followed by a trip to St. Charles, Mo. for the Lindenwood Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 21. The Wildcats host their first home event, the Wildcat Open, on Saturday, December 24 at 1 p.m. The open will take place in Vandament Arena and will feature a total of five teams taking to the mats. The following three competitions for NMU are on the road. The Warrior Women’s Open (Dec. 11), the Lakeland University Dual (Jan. 5), and the UW-Stevens Point/NCC Dual (Jan. 24) highlight the trip. A return to Marquette signals the end of the regular-season for the team. The Wildcats will host Lakeland University on Saturday, February 5 in the final event before the postseason. … rest of story at https://nmu.prestosports.com/sports/wwrest/2021-22/releases/20210810d0ezj8?mc_cid=4f2ba10c67&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And King women’s wrestling schedule released
BRISTOL, Tenn. – King University women’s wrestling coach Jason Moorman has announced the Tornado 2021-22 schedule. The 2021 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship (NCWWC) runners-up open the season in September at the Senior World Team Trials. The Tornado will compete on September 11-12 in Lincoln, Neb., at the US Senior World Team Trials before opening the collegiate season on November 10 at Emmanuel College. King opens the second semester at the NWCA National Duals, where the Tornado are four-time national champions. The duals are in Louisville, Ky., on January 6-7. The home opener for King comes on January 12 against first-year program Lincoln Memorial University, followed by another home dual against Life University on January 15. The following day, January 16, King hosts their annual Tornado Open. … rest of the story at http://kingtornado.com/news/2021/8/19/womens-wrestling-king-womens-wrestling-schedule-released.aspx?mc_cid=409316e7bb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – Pinning down success: Big Bend wrestling builds a winning tradition on the mat
MOSES LAKE — After wrapping up a successful season, Big Bend Community College women’s wrestling coaches recently reflected on growing their young program. The Vikings ended the year with a second-place finish and three individual champions at the Women’s Junior College National Championship in Roseburg, Oregon. Looking back at his second season, head coach Bryan Seibel said, as any coach can at times, he found himself second-guessing decisions throughout this season. Seibel said he tried to focus on his wrestlers’ health, particularly their mental health, and it paid off. “I took pride in trying to get this program started, coming from Moses Lake and knowing this area can produce really good wrestlers,” Seibel said. “It’s not easy; you’ve got to gain trust and really brand your image and talk to coaches. … you gotta let the people know who you are.” The Big Bend wrestling program made a statement in this, its third year, with three wrestlers crowned National Champions at the culminating JCNC event in Oregon. … rest of story at https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2021/aug/11/big-bend-wrestling-building-winning-tradition-mat/?mc_cid=4f2ba10c67&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
High School National News (2021) – # 18
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Most of the stories involve the biggest tournament of the year in Fargo, North Dakota last month. This event is actually a group of tournaments with Greco-Roman, Freestyle, Women’s and different age level tournaments which create a week long festival. Explore into and onward of the wrestling! Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2970 (8/25/21)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – US Marine Corps Jr & 16U National Champs
Why the Junior and 16U National Championships are so incredibly rad even after 50 years of tournaments.
… rest of story and videos at https://www.flowrestling.org/events/6911775-2021-us-marine-corps-junior-and-16u-national-championships/videos?playing=7101394&limit=60&mc_cid=d1b37a6e41&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – A College Wrestling Fan’s Guide To Fargo 2021
Breaking down all the committed and uncommitted wrestlers in the boys’ divisions at Fargo 2021
It’s Fargo time, one of the biggest high school wrestling events of the year. Which means it’s also one of the biggest events of the year for college wrestling fans. Whether it’s wrestlers looking to get another tough tournament under their belts before attending a school they’ve already committed to, or uncommitted wrestlers looking to raise their stock in the eyes of their future coaches, Fargo is fertile grounds for college recruiters and for college fans searching for a glimpse at what lies ahead. With that in mind, we’ve prepared the information below to help NCAA fans more easily follow the action in North Dakota.
Completed, Jul 17-232021 US Marine Corps Junior and 16U National Championships
Below is a list of committed wrestlers by their weight and age division in which they have registered to compete, as well as national ranking, and state team, by college alphabetically. … rest of story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/7106317-a-college-wrestling-fans-guide-to-fargo-2021?mc_cid=48744dd3ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – Fargo 2021 Finals Twitter Notes & Stats
The stuff only Jason Bryant knows from his Fargo Almanac. Live tweeted but collected here.
Facts, stats and figures dropped on Twitter by Jason Bryant during the Fargo finals in each division. Follow @jasonmbryant for the live feed or come here for updated nuggets periodically during the finals.
Thursday, July 22
16U Greco-Roman
Haakon Peterson of Wisconsin avenges the loss from the men’s freestyle final to win the 16U Greco-Roman title at 88 pounds. Peterson wins the state’s 27th title in the division, which is sixth all-time. Idaho has 7 All-Americans, the most in 16U Greco-Roman in state history and three finalists is the most in state history as well.
Mack Mauger doubles up in Fargo and takes home a triple crown with the 6-0 win in the finals at 94 pounds. Mauger wins the state’s 10th ever 16U Greco-Roman title.
Layne Kleimann wins Utah’s 16th all-time 16U Greco-Roman national title with a dominant tech in the finals at 100 pounds. … rest of story at https://rokfin.com/stack/375/Fargo-Facts?mc_cid=fb87a783fb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – U.S. MARINE CORPS JUNIOR & 16U NATIONALS IN FARGO, N.D., JULY 17-23 WILL CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF JUNIOR NATIONALS
FARGO, N.D. – The nation’s best young boys and girls wrestlers will once again come together for the world’s largest wrestling competition, the U.S Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals at the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D.
The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based upon preliminary registration, this year’s event should shatter participation records, with more than 6,200 athletes already signed up to compete.. This is a year of celebration, as the 50th Junior Nationals will be held in Fargo in 2021. This would have occurred last year if the pandemic had not stopped the event. The first Junior Nationals was held in 1971 in Iowa City, Iowa, with only a men’s freestyle division, and was held 49 straight years prior to last year.
The Junior Nationals were held in Iowa City, Iowa for 12 years (1971-1983), Cedar Falls, Iowa for eight years (1984-1990), Warrensburg, Mo. for one year (1991), St. Paul, Minn. for one year (1992) and Fargo, N.D. for 27 years (1993-2019). This will be the 28th year that Fargo has hosted this event. As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Junior Nationals, a number of the champions from the first Junior Nationals in 1971 will be honored guests at the competition. This competition produces great stories of champions, many who go on to glory in college wrestling, and ultimately at the World and Olympic levels. For six straight days, starting on Sunday, July 18 and running through Friday, July 23, there will be one championship finals held each day.
The U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals features high school wrestlers in grades 9-12. Every year, the Junior division features talented athletes who are proven winners, as well as many top young stars who are making names for themselves. The event opens with men’s and women’s freestyle early in the week, with Greco-Roman in the second half of the week. Only seven different wrestlers have won the coveted USA Wrestling Triple Crown on the Junior level since the program was created in 2007, earned by claiming folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman Junior National titles in the same year. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/13/Junior-Nationals-advance?mc_cid=48744dd3ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – 2021 JUNIOR & 16U NATIONALS SPECIAL SECTION
USMC Junior and 16U Nationals Event Schedule
FloWrestling Fargo Coverage Page
Articles and Features
Team Illinois wins the 2021 Junior Greco-Roman team title; Alaska’s Bockert wins Outstanding Wrestler
2021 Junior Nationals Greco finalist biographies
Friday’s Junior Greco finals are set; Team Illinois boasts five finalists
2021 USMC Junior & 16U Nationals smashes participation record with combined 5,900 entries in six tournaments
Fargo Day 7 preview (7/23): Junior Greco-Roman closes out the biggest Junior/16U Nationals ever
Junior Greco-Roman semifinals set for Friday; Oklahoma’s Williams looking to win second Fargo title of the week
Mauger and Hopke win Triple Crown awards in 16U Greco-Roman finals; Team Pennsylvania wins team title; Nebraska’s Adams named Outstanding Wrestler
Junior Greco-Roman action begins; Junior freestyle champion Webster headlines action … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/13/Fargo-Special-Section?mc_cid=48744dd3ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – 2021 16U AND JUNIOR FOLKSTYLE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ARE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE FOR USA WRESTLING TRIPLE CROWNS IN FARGO
The USA Wrestling Triple Crown is given to any athlete who wins USA Wrestling Folkstyle, Greco-Roman and Freestyle national titles in the same year. This coveted award is available on the 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and Junior levels. The winners from the USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Championships in Iowa in April won the first leg of the Triple Crown. The final two legs of the 2021 Triple Crown at the 16U and Junior level will be at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals in Fargo, N.D., which starts this weekend. There are 15 Junior and 17 16U athletes who enter Fargo still eligible for the Triple Crown. Winning a Triple Crown at these age levels is difficult. Only 23 have won 16U Triple Crowns going back to when it began in 2003, while only seven have won Junior Triple Crowns since it started in 2007.
There has been only one two-time 16U Triple Crown winner, Taylor Massa of Michigan (2008, 2009). … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/14/Triple-Crown-eligible-wrestlers-in-Fargo?mc_cid=f4f15d3e7b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Fargo 16U Preview
The 16U age group(formerly Cadets) is always filled with excitement as there is an element of surprise at many weights with the young kids hitting a big national tournament. This year’s Indiana squad is one to watch as they were double All-American as a team at the National Duals. This is the first time Indiana has ever doubled up at the duals. Many of these same wrestlers will be looking for individual honors at Fargo which could make this year a very good year. Seven of the wrestlers taking the mats will have experience at Bankers Life. Two-time state placer Aidan Torres of Chesterton has the most state experience. He was 4-1 in the Greco duals and 4-5 in freestyle. Other placers that will be coming include Whiteland’s Joey Buttler and his fantastic hair. Buttler was 4-3 in Greco at the duals and 4-4 in freestyle. Western’s little guy Tanner Tishner looks to impress after going 5-4 in freestyle and 4-4 in Greco at the duals. Other state qualifiers that will be heading to Fargo include Evan Cruz, Tony Wood, Cameron Clark, and Logan Farnell.
Some young guns that you need to watch out for include future Brownsburg Bulldog Revin Dickman. He was 9-0 in freestyle at the duals and 5-3 in Greco. He is ranked in numerous grade level rankings and will be one to watch when he dons his purple singlet. Snider’s phenom De’Alcapon Veazy has already been in the high school level rankings and was 6-3 in freestyle and 7-1 in Greco at the national duals. … rest of story at https://indianamat.com/index.php?/articles.html/high-school-news/fargo-16u-preview-r1079/&mc_cid=48744dd3ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And FARGO DAY 7 PREVIEW (7/23): JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN CLOSES OUT THE BIGGEST JUNIOR/16U NATIONALS EVER
USA Wrestling’s USMC Junior/16U Nationals has set an all-time record for entries, just in time to celebrate the historic 50th Junior Nationals. With 5,900 entries over six tournaments, the quality matched the quantity for a fantastic week of wrestling.
WHAT FINISHES: The Junior Greco-Roman Nationals ends with semifinals and finals
The Greco-Roman Junior division heads into the semifinals at 9:00 a.m. and the last few rounds of consolations, with the finals, including all of the medal matches, set for 2:00 p.m.
NOTES by the numbers
0 – athletes who remain eligible for the Junior Triple Crown
1 – athletes who won the Junior Freestyle Nationals title and have reached the Junior Greco-Roman semifinals: Jordan Williams of Oklahoma
3 – Points separating first-place Illinois (21 pts) and second place California and Wisconsin (18 pts.) after day one. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/22/Preview-day-7?mc_cid=dabacf228e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – TEAM ILLINOIS WINS 2021 JUNIOR NATIONALS MEN’S FREESTYLE TEAM TITLE; IOWA’S AYALA NAMED OUTSTANDING WRESTLER
FARGO, N.D. — Team Illinois took home the team title of the 2021 Junior Nationals as the men’s freestyle finals action wrapped up on Tuesday at the FargoDome. Iowa’s Drake Ayala won the Outstanding Wrestler award after winning his finals bout at 126 pounds, becoming a two-time Junior Nationals champion. Team Michigan led the way with three individual champions. Ayala, who is committed to the University of Iowa, wasted no time to pick up his 126-pound Fargo title. Wrestling Indiana’s #12 Sergio Lemley, a 2021 USA Wrestling Junior Folkstyle Nationals champion, Ayala scored multiple times and used a strong gut wrench to finish up the win. Ayala, a three-time 3A Iowa state champion, continues to pick up impressive accolades before he begins his career with the Hawkeyes. The session wrapped with the largest upset of the day, as Wisconsin’s Ben Kawczynski (285 pounds) knocked off Georgia’s top-ranked Chase Horne in the finals with a 12-4 upset victory. Kawczynski, who is set to wrestle at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, stacked scores throughout both periods to win in dominant fashion. He placed third at the 2021 USA Wrestling Junior Folkstyle Nationals and was a 2021 Wisconsin DI state champion at 285. Horne, an N.C. State commit, entered the tournament ranked as the No. 13 pound-for-pound wrestler in the nation by FloWrestling.
In perhaps the premier ranked-on-ranked match of the session, #3 Jordan Williams of Oklahoma pulled off an impressive late move to defeat Iowa’s #4 Caleb Rathjen, a University of Iowa commit. Williams was trailing the 3-1 match late, but pulled off late heroics to win the title. With Rathjen in on a leg with under 10 seconds left, Williams rolled him through on a crotch lift for two as time expired. The move was reviewed, but ultimately confirmed to give Williams the 3-3 win on criteria. Williams is now a three-time champion at this event, winning the 16U division twice (2018, 2019). … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/20/Junior-Freestyle-Finals-wrap?mc_cid=42d5eec6a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – MEYER SHAPIRO WINS GOLD; LILLEDAHL, ROWLEY AND MULLEN TAKE SILVER AT THE CADET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Budapest, Hungary – The second day of the Cadet World Championships wrapped up with Meyer Shapiro bringing home a gold medal for the Red White and Blue. Shapiro, the 65 kg champion, defeated Georgia’s Giorgi Gogritchiani in the finals, 8-4. Shapiro got on the board first, earning a passivity point in the first period. However, 20 seconds into the second period, Gogritchiani executed a perfectly-timed lateral whip for four points. Shapiro quickly got a reversal to cut the score to 4-2. With only 90 seconds left in the match, Shapiro got to work, setting a high pace and increasing his attack rate. He scored his first takedown at the one minute mark, still trailing on criteria, 4-4. 20 seconds later, he converted on another takedown taking the lead 6-4. He tacked on another two points countering a last-ditch throw attempt by Gogritchiani, nearly earning a pin before the final buzzer. While celebrating his victory, Shapiro was already thinking ahead to his future goals. “It’s the best feeling ever. After that kid tried to throw me, I saw his back just slap on the mat, I was really hype. I don’t really remember what happened after that, but I was definitely super excited. I think it’s probably one of the best feelings I’ll ever had. I can’t wait to try to make a Junior Team next year and try to win again,” he said in his post-match interview. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/20/Meyer-Shapiro-Cadet-World-champ?mc_cid=42d5eec6a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award State Winners Announced
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced the state winners of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA).
The DSHSEA was established in 1996 to honor Olympic and World champion Dave Schultz, whose career was cut short when he was murdered in January 1996. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997 and as a member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016. The award recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior male wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service. Winners are evaluated and selected on the basis of three criteria: success and standout performances and sportsmanship in wrestling; review of GPA and class rank, academic honors and distinctions; and participation in activities that demonstrate commitment to character and community. “This year has been so hard for so many seniors whose seasons and state championships were either shortened, postponed or canceled as a result of the pandemic,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “Despite the many challenges they encountered, these student-athletes demonstrated tremendous resolve while working to achieve their academic and athletic goals.
“In recognition of their fortitude, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is excited to recognize these young men with our Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, and we wish them continued success, on and off the mat.”
DSHSEA regional winners will be announced on July 27 and the national winner will be announced on August 10. Regional winners are selected from state winners, and the national winner will be chosen from the regional winners.
… rest of story at https://nwhof.org/news/dave-schultz-high-school-excellence-award-state-winners-announced-2?mc_cid=42d5eec6a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – BASSETT PINS HIS WAY TO GOLD, JESUROGA TAKES BRONZE, TEAM USA FINISHES SECOND AT THE MEN’S FREESTYLE CADET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Budapest, Hungary – The men’s freestyle portion of the Cadet World Championships drew to a close this evening. It was a three-horse race between Team USA, India and Russia for the team title, and it came down to the very last match of the night. When the dust settled, India came out on top, winning their first Cadet team title in history. The U.S. claimed second and Russia settled for third. While finishing runner-up after a stellar performance was bittersweet, the U.S. contingent had plenty to celebrate. At 45 kg, Bo Bassett became the second American to claim a Cadet World title this week. Bassett, who earned two pins and a technical fall en route to the finals, was the youngest competitor in his bracket at only 14 years old. For gold, he squared off with Russia’s Alikhan Ashinov in a battle that was pivotal to the team race. Ashinov was the third wrestler to score the first takedown on Bassett in this tournament. Similarly to the others, he faired poorly. Bassett stormed back, earning two points on a go-behind and quickly followed it up with a set of exposure points off another Ashinov shot. Bassett sprinkled in a little bit of folkstyle on top, using a head lever turned into a cement job to stick Ashinov at the 1:25 mark. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/21/MFS-Cadet-final-day-wrap?mc_cid=fd10261731&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – FARGO ROSTERS: MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA
Starting on July 1, USA Wrestling will start publishing the state team rosters for the 2021 USMC Junior and 16U Nationals set for Fargo, N.D. State teams will be posted whenever a final roster has been submitted and confirmed with the state association. In addition to the list of athletes (by age-group, style and weight), boys who are included in the most recent FloWrestling rankings, as well as girls who are included in the most recent National Girls High School rankings, will be identified. This morning, we add four more state teams: Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Oklahoma. These teams have healthy sized rosters, and there are nationally ranked boys and girls on all of these rosters looking to make an impact in Fargo. Rosters are coming in quickly, so please be aware that we may post more than one story on certain days. It is being verified that these are final rosters, so when they are completed, they will be edited and posted. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/13/Fargo-rosters-MI-NY-NC-OK?mc_cid=48744dd3ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And FARGO ROSTERS: MISSOURI, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, WASHINGTON
… full list linked at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/07/Fargo-rosters-MO-SC-SD-WA?mc_cid=9d57322631&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
NJCAA Junior College News (2021) – # 2
TDR Editor’s Notes ; The Junior colleges in California cancelled their fall season at all schools due to the CoVid pandemic. Most of the other junior college teams did complete their seasons after they postponed the season and championship to the Spring Semester. The following are a collection of articles about that season and some news from the summer. Keep wrestling onward. Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
Blog # 2969 (8/22/21)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – NIACC’s Minto follows in brother’s footsteps
Donning a NIACC blue and gold singlet has been a family tradition for the Minto family. Basil Minto was a two-time All-American for the Trojans from 2012-13 at 184-pounds. He compiled a record of 52-9 and finished fifth at the NJCAA National Tournament in both seasons. Christian Minto has already one-upped big brother. One year after placing runner-up at 165 pounds, Christian completed an undefeated season with a national title at the same weight over the weekend in Council Bluffs. “Coach just told me to keep my foot on the gas, keep moving,” Christian said. “I knew what days to get my weight down, I knew what to eat, I knew what I was getting myself in to. It felt amazing.” The Cape Coral, Florida, native and the co-ICCAC Wrestler of the Year compiled two major decision victories in the semifinals and championship matches, outscoring his two opponents 28-7. It wasn’t any type of catch and release that spurred Christian to dominant performances. Rather, it was strong mat returns and his size that allowed him to wear down his competition. “The kid is just so powerful,” NIACC head coach Steve Kelly said. “Him able to do those hard mat returns in the third period and hard doubles, it shows what kind of wrestler he is.” Christian agrees that being stronger on top, combined with shutting out a narrow-minded strategy, allowed him to flourish on the big stage. “Just non-stop pressure, keep moving forward,” he said. “My teammates push me every day in the room.”
When Basil was in high school, he introduced the sport of wrestling to Christian. At the time, the younger Minto was 11 years old and competed in his first ever wrestling tournament. He lost every match. Now, he’s only suffered one loss in his two years as a Trojan. … rest of story at https://globegazette.com/sports/college/niaccs-minto-follows-in-brothers-footsteps/article_03c39a7b-8ad5-5df1-b69a-6f7e3315b736.html?mc_cid=c1dee7f2bb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – Wrestling success pouring in for Wilson grad Branford
Marckis Branford enjoys everything about the West Coast so much he may well stay there for another year. Well, almost everything. “I definitely don’t like the rain,” said the 2019 Wilson graduate. But downpours are a fact of life along the Pacific Northwest’s coasts and in the green valley outside of Portland, Oregon where Branford has made quite a successful wrestling career at Clackamas Community College. Branford brought All-America honors back to Clackamas for the second year in a row, finishing third at 141 pounds at last week’s NJCAA championship at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Branford may be able to make it three years in a row. He could transfer now to a four-year school, but the COVID-19 pandemic offered another option. “Because of COVID we get an extra year of eligibility,” Branford said. “I am talking to a few four-year schools at the moment, and there’s a few schools I have on my mind, but I am leaning towards staying.” That’s because Branford sees Clackamas as a place where he can make more progress as a wrestler while in an environment he prospers in. “I can still grow being here another year,” he said. “I want to go to a place with a family feeling like we have here, where we don’t just compete for ourselves but for each other. The coaches here are great, the best coaches I have ever had. … rest of story at https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/highschoolsports/2021/04/wrestling-success-pouring-in-for-wilson-grad-branford.html?mc_cid=db281dc0f1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – Triton’s Longtime Athletic Director McGinnis Announces Retirement
During his 29 seasons as Triton College’s head wrestling coach, Harry McGinnis had to get “down and dirty” on the mat to show his athletes the right techniques and mental toughness all rolled up into one. “You have to win with technique and control your emotions,” McGinnis said. “One of things that bothered me is coaches tell you what to do and not show you. I went to clinics to glean from the experts. Everyone has a different style and different body type. I would tell them during the season, this is the time (in practice) to make mistakes. “In the tourney, the team that wins is the one that makes the least amount of mistakes. Learn, and try to eliminate the mistakes. At (the) end of the season, you’re competing at the highest level you can. So I had to show them.”
Grappling with his players even deep into middle age was no tall story by McGinnis. “I’ve seen him wrestle with his players,” Triton head softball coach Christina Christopher said. “He put his money where his mouth is. He can hang with college athletes.” McGinnis added another job to his resume in 2004, after 16 years as the wrestling head coach, when he took over the school’s athletic director position. This time, McGinnis had to be chief vocal backer for all sports, manager of budgets and facilities, be an ambassador and advocate with the college administration. “The athletic director needs to be (a) cheerleader for all sports, not just his own,” McGinnis said. “I’m out there for all the sports. The one sport that did suffer was my own. I’d have to be setting up basketball and volleyball games, and miss part of my practice. You need a good assistant (wrestling) coach who could take over while you do other things. You have to do what you got to do. “The position was open. I felt I had the ability, I felt I had the knowledge to step in and also be a coach of a secondary sport.”
McGinnis, 67, who passed the duties as wrestling head coach over to Tim Duggan three years ago, is retiring full-bore after a memorable run as athletic director. He leaves the Triton athletic program in better shape than when he started. Men’s basketball is established at an elite level, before and after its 2018 national championship. Softball, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball are becoming consistent winners. Men’s soccer has won several regional championships. Baseball, an age-old Triton tradition, is always a contender. Wrestling continues to produce All-Americans. … rest of story at https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/tritons-longtime-athletic-director-mcginnis-announces-retirement/?mc_cid=ce60503c93&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – INDIAN HILLS CC GOES 4-0 TO WIN JCNC NATIONAL DUALS TITLE, ADDING TO TEAM TITLE IN FRIDAY’S INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENT
ROSEBURG, Ore. – Indian Hills CC of Iowa won its second national title this weekend, adding the Junior College National Championships for women’s wrestling dual meet title on Saturday to the team title won at the national individual tournament on Friday. This was the first women’s wrestling national tournament for Junior College athletes in history.
Indian Hills finished with a 4-0 record, with comfortable margins of victory over all of the other four teams in the tournament. Included was a 45-9 win over Big Bend CC of Washington, which finished with a 3-1 record to place second in the tournament. Each team wrestled the other four teams in a round-robin format. The other three teams in the draw finished with 1-3 records. According to event rules, Southwestern Oregon CC finished in third, Umpqua CC of Oregon finished fourth and Gray Harbor College of Washington placed fifth.
Seven different Indian Hills wrestlers went without a loss. In some cases, Indian Hills put different wrestlers in certain weight classes to get matches for additional wrestlers. The Warriors without a loss today were Annaliz Duran (101), Heaven-Leigh Jackson (109), Mya Turnmire (109), Nani-Marie McFadden (123), Alondra Rosado-Martinez (136) and Annalese Barraza (191).
Indian Hills coach Cole Spree was named Coach of the Year. Jennifer Tongi of Grays Harbor College (155) was named Outstanding Wrestler, based upon both days of JCNC competition. Tongi had a great performance at the USA Wrestling Women’s Nationals a week ago, placing fifth in both the U23 Nationals and the UWW Junior Nationals. The Academic All-Americans were Kayla Rogers of Big Bend CC, Abe Jolley of Umpqua, Aliya Yates of Big Bend CC, Nani-Marie McFadden of Indian Hills CC and Evangelina Toruno of Southwestern Oregon CC.
JUNIOR COLLEGE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR WOMEN (JCNC)
At Roseburg, Oregon, May 15
Dual Meet Nationals Team Standings
1. Indian Hills Community College, 4-0 record
2. Big Bend Community College, 3-1 record
3. Southwestern Oregon Community College, 1-3 record
4. Umpqua Community College, 1-3 record
5. Grays Harbor College, 1-3 record … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/15/Indian-Hills-CC-wins-JCNC-womens-dual-meet-title?mc_cid=73bee40328&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – Arizona Christian To Acquire Glendale/Peoria YMCA Property
Arizona Christian University is growing again! Just two years after the University’s move to its new 68-acre campus in Glendale, ACU is expanding again this summer with the planned acquisition of the former Glendale/Peoria YMCA facility, located just across the street and south of the main campus entrance at 59th Avenue and Country Gables. Fueled by the most successful fundraising year in University history – capped by a recent major gift from the Green Fund (David and Barbara Green and family) – ACU has entered into an agreement to purchase the 5-acre property, which includes a gymnasium, fitness center, locker rooms, group workout area, lap pool and accompanying paved parking for the use and enjoyment of the growing Firestorm community. With this acquisition, ACU’s footprint will grow to more than 73 acres. “God’s hand of blessing on ACU is quite evident in this season, and we are so grateful for the incredible support we are receiving from donors who are excited about what God is doing at Arizona Christian University,” said ACU President Len Munsil. “We are especially grateful to have the support of the Green family, whose generosity to Kingdom work for the body of Christ is simply breathtaking in its size and scope. To God be the glory!” The gymnasium will allow ACU to host men’s and women’s volleyball practice and games, men’s and women’s basketball practices, wrestling matches, intramural sports and much more. In addition, students, staff and faculty will have access to the on-site lap pool and well-equipped fitness center, which includes strength and cardio athletic training equipment. … rest of story at http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/Clip/news/arizona-christian-to-acquire-glendale-peoria-ymca-property.htm?mc_cid=73bee40328&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – SMC to Add Basketball, Volleyball and Wrestling for Fall 2022
In keeping with its ongoing mission of providing affordable, high-quality education, including the total college life experience, the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees, during its regular meeting on May 12, unanimously authorized the SMC administration to revive four additional intercollegiate sports for Fall 2022: Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Women’s Volleyball and Men’s Wrestling.
In the summer of 2020, SMC announced that after a 25-year hiatus, it had revived its men’s and women’s cross country programs. The College has been signing runners, momentum is building and excitement is in the air for the return of competition this fall. SMC’s performance in cross country is legendary, with five team national championships, three individual national champions, and 41 All-Americans, but the College also has a rich legacy in other sports, including 11 volleyball All-Americans, four basketball All-Americans, a two-time wrestling All-American and a Women’s Basketball Division II team national championship. The College will immediately apply to expand its participation in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), plus apply for reinstatement to the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA), and renew rivalries with the five other nearby colleges that all currently provide athletics. “Building a robust athletics program will help SMC and the College district in so many ways,” … rest of story at https://swmich.edu/news/smc-to-add-basketball-volleyball-and-wrestling-for-fall-2022.html?mc_cid=ad9587b873&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Missouri wrestling returns to the Big 12; Clackamas wins third straight NJCAA title
Clackamas won its third straight NJCAA national championship on Thursday night after a huge fall by 133-pound champion Zeth Brower gave the Cougars the points they needed to get past Western Wyoming 152.5-147. Western Wyoming and head coach Art Castillo picked up 10 place winners, the first time in NJCAA history a team has had 10 place in the championships. Iowa Central was third, Pratt was fourth and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M was fifth. Mike Spangler of Pratt (125) and Isaiah Crosby (157) of Iowa Western finished as two-time NJCAA champions. Zach Ferris of Cloud County (197) became that school’s first NJCAA individual champion. The second part of the show hits the big news that Missouri wrestling is headed back to the Big 12 after a nine-year run in the Mid-American Conference. Those nine years saw Missouri win all nine MAC championships. The audio today is from Missouri’s press conference. … rest of story and link at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/missouri-wrestling-returns-to-the-big-12-clackamas-wins-third-straight-njcaa-title/?mc_cid=a0d7657398&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – Carl Albert State College Signs Their First Four Wrestlers
Historic times for Oklahoma’s newest college wrestling program as Carl Albert State College has signed four of the programs first wrestlers. Gavin Daniels, Cooper Evans, and RJ Jones all signed with Head Coach Jake Lords and Carl Albert State College last month. The group came together and did a public signing at Westmoore High School this past week. Evans and Jones were both All-State team members out of Westmoore and Gavin Daniels is a two-sport athlete from Moore that also played football. The program’s first signee, and possibly most significant, was two-time state champion Jaxson Roney. Roney was originally from Ardmore(Plainview HS) and started out his college career at Iowa Central Community College. Iowa Central finished third at last season’s NJCAA tournament. The veteran Roney will likely be leaned on heavily early in this brand new college program. … rest of story at https://owrestle.com/carl-albert-state-college-signs-their-first-four-wrestlers/
9} – NJCAA lightens sanctions against NWC wrestlers
NJCAA sanctions against Northwest College wrestling have been eased. College officials announced Thursday that the 10 Trapper wrestlers who used an off-campus sauna in March will not be forced to miss time next year and can instead return to competition. Though saunas can be used for therapeutic purposes, collegiate wrestling rules prohibit their use “at any time and for any purpose” during the season. The blanket ban stems from a 1998 NCAA ruling aimed at eliminating unsafe weight-loss practices within the sport. The NJCAA called the Trappers’ mid-season sauna use — which was self-reported by NWC officials — a “severe weigh-in violation.” Initially, the NJCAA suspended the 10 student athletes and head coach Jim Zeigler for their next eight scheduled matches. The sanctions forced the Trapper wrestlers to miss their last regular-season match of the season plus postseason duals — and the punishment was set to continue into the 2021-22 campaign. However, NWC officials appealed the student-athletes’ suspensions, citing “insufficient or incomplete training on the policy,” and the NJCAA recently agreed to lighten their punishments. … rest of story at https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/njcaa-lightens-sanctions-against-nwc-wrestling,32570?mc_cid=4a8e8b94a2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – Two-time All-American Dan Baker to Return to NEO For Another Season
NEO heavyweight and two-time All-American Dan Baker will return to NEO for an additional season. Baker, who was a two-time state champion out of Sulphur, OK, finished third at the NJCAA National tournament as a freshman and sophomore. The NJCAA, like all other college athletic divisions, has announced that athletes will be allowed to return for an additional season due to COVID, and Baker will be utilizing that option. Baker was widely regarded as the top NJCAA heavyweight in the country for much of the season and entered the National tournament as the #1 seed. He was upset in the Round of 16, but bounced back and pinned his way through the tournament to finish third. Baker was given the Bruce Traphagen Award for Most Falls in the least amount of time at the National tournament. This is a significant boost for NEO as Baker will arguably be the favorite to win the NJCAA title at heavyweight next season and has a penchant for going big and scoring a lot of bonus points. The Norseman finished in fifth place at the NJCAA National Tournament last season with seven All-Americans. … rest of story at https://owrestle.com/dan-baker-to-return-to-neo-for-another-season/
11 } – Unprecedented Circumstances at Clackamas
Clackamas Takes on COVID and Nature to Secure Third Consecutive Title
Unprecedented times took on a new meaning this past wrestling season. Overlooked are the unimaginable circumstances that piled on for the Clackamas Community College Cougars. “In true Oregon fashion,” Clackamas head coach Josh Rhoden said. “We [were] going to be super conservative on the COVID side compared to the states that our competitors are in.” Move-in week for the Cougars was at the end of August 2020. Routinely, fall camp would start around a month later, at the end of September. COVID and local forest fires as close as 17 miles away caused the team to evacuate campus. Having lost multiple recruits over COVID and forest fire concerns, October seemed to look promising as the team was able to participate in outdoor weights and cardio training. “We were just trying to keep everyone on the same page, all along knowing good and well we may not wrestle this year,” Rhoden said. The national tournament was scheduled for April 21-22, where the Cougars planned to compete for their third team title in a row. Behind closed doors, conversations centered around concerns of having a season on the mat continued. Rhoden opened up communication with Nick Mitchell at NAIA power Grand View in Iowa, in hopes of using Grand View’s facilities for his team to train. In the midst of attempting to find an alternative training plan, a COVID outbreak shut down the Clackamas athletic programs for the remainder of the quarter, followed by a January ice storm that removed all power from campus. Come February, the team was granted permission to use North Idaho College’s training facilities twice with proper quarantine, but the request to train in Iowa in a “bubble” setup was denied. “We have social media. So it’s easy to see that Western Wyoming and Iowa Central and all of these places are wrestling,” Rhoden said. At the end of March, COVID regulations finally allowed the Cougars to use their training facilities, less than one month before the team would claim their third team title in a row. “We got the lead at 133 with Zeth’s win,” Rhoden said. “You go from maybe not even being in the venue to [getting to] compete for a chance to win a third title in a row, to securing a third title in the most dramatic fashion.” The Cougars finished the season … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24710?mc_cid=43f68cbfb0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – MAJOR COLLEGE WRESTLING RETURNS WITH NJCAA NATIONALS SET FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA
The crazy 2021 college wrestling season continues with the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championships at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Wednesday April 20 and Thursday, April 21. The top wrestlers from the two-year colleges affiliated with the NJCAA will battle for national titles and All-American honors. The event will be broadcast by FloWrestling. The 2020 NJCAA Nationals was held just prior to the pandemic shutdown. Clackamas is the defending national champion, with the top five from the 2020 NJCAA Nationals including runner-up Northeasterm Oklahoma, third-place Iowa Western, fourth-place Rochester and fifth-place Ellsworth.
The most recent NJCAA national ranking in late March had Clackamas at No. 1, followed by No. 2 Pratt, No. 3 Western Wyoming, No. 4 Northeastern Oklahoma and No. 5 Rochester.
The brackets for the 2021 NJCAA Nationals were released on April 16, with the following athletes holding No. 1 seeds: Michael Spangler of Pratt (125), Zeth Brower of Clackamas (133), Blake Gonzalez of NE Oklahoma (141), Jake Beeson of Pratt (149), Isaiah Crosby of Iowa Western (157), Christian Minto of North Iowa Area (165), Jose Rodriguez of Iowa Central (174), Deron Pulliam of Indian Hills (184), Tarik Sutkovic of Clackamas (197) and Dan Baker of NE Oklahoma (285). There are three returning national champions, all with No. 1 seeds: Michael Spangler of Pratt (125), Blake Gonzalez of NE Oklahoma (141) and Jake Beeson of Pratt (149). … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/April/20/NJCAA-advance?mc_cid=1a96ae13a8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
NAIA Division News & Results (2021) – # 5
TDR Editor’s Notes ; The NAIA hosted an exciting, competitive and organized national championship. Almost all teams had a full season of matches. This summer has produced some news as shared below. Keep wrestling on. Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2968 (8/22/21)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – JIM ZALESKY NAMED NEW JIMMIE MEN’S WRESTLING HEAD COACH
The University of Jamestown is pleased to announce that Jim Zalesky is the new men’s wrestling head coach. A member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Zalesky brings a track record of success to the University of Jamestown. “We are thrilled that Coach Zalesky has decided to lead our men’s wrestling program,” says University of Jamestown Director of Athletics Sean Johnson. “He is a perfect fit for our institution and our department and will provide tremendous leadership for our men’s wrestling student-athletes.” “I’m excited to be part of the University of Jamestown family and look forward to leading the Jimmie men’s wrestling program to success in the classroom, the community and in competition,” says Zalesky.
Zalesky, a native of Shueyville, Iowa, has enjoyed incredible success as a student-athlete and coach. In his 23 years as an NCAA Division 1 head coach, Zalesky won three NCAA Division 1 national championships, 13 conference championships, compiled a 274-109-2 dual match record and coached over 50 All-American wrestlers. As the head coach at Iowa (1997-2006), he led the Hawkeyes to the NCAA title in 1998, 1999 and 2000 and was national runner-up in 2001 and 2004. He was named the national Coach of the Year in 1998 and 1999 and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2004. Zalesky coached 10 NCAA champions, 20 Big Ten champions, 45 All-Americans and two Olympians during his time as head coach at Iowa. During his 14 years as head coach at Oregon State (2006-2020), Zalesky captured seven Pac-12 wrestling titles … rest of story at https://www.jimmiepride.com/article/6037?mc_cid=f2268a753e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Interview with Jim Zalesky
Yesterday news broke that former Iowa and Oregon State head coach would be taking over the vacant position at the NAIA’s University of Jamestown. Coach Zalesky tells us what was attractive about this job and coaching on the NAIA level and more. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24568?mc_cid=2f6eda67bb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – NWCA 2021 NAIA MEN’S SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICA AWARDS
Manheim, PA – On Monday, the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced the 2021 Scholar All-America Top-15 Teams and Individual honorees for NAIA Men with awards going to 62 individuals representing 24 institutions.
LINK: Top 15 Scholar All-American Teams
LINK: Individual Scholar All-Americans
“Congratulations to this year’s Scholar All-American individuals and teams,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “These young athletes are rockstars as they have committed themselves to excellence in the classroom as well as the mat. What a tremendous honor for them and their institutions in a most trying season.” In the team race, Graceland University finished atop of the field with a 3.601 GPA followed closely by #2 Grand View University (3.591). The remainder of the top-five were #3 Baker University (3.583), #4 Northwestern College (3.417), and #5 Vanguard University (3.416). Baker University and Grand View University led the list of honorees with eight Scholar All-Americans, … rest of story at https://www.nwcaonline.com/nwca-2021-naia-mens-scholar-all-america-awards/?mc_cid=a53f0e5e67&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – TRAVIS PATRICK RESIGNS AS ACU WRESTLING COACH
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Yesterday afternoon, ACU Director of Athletics, Dr. Peter Dryer, announced the resignation and departure of ACU wrestling head coach, Travis Patrick. Patrick leaves ACU to accept a head-coaching job at Southeastern University (Fla.). Patrick, who started the wrestling program at ACU after being hired in December, 2018, has led the young team through two full seasons. His departure comes after overseeing five wrestlers qualifying for the NAIA National Championships last month, including coaching the program’s first-ever All-American. “We are grateful for Coach Patrick’s work to get the wrestling program up and running with some early success,” said Dr. Dryer, “and we certainly wish him well as he takes on new challenges. We will continue to move the ACU wrestling program in a positive direction as we immediately move forward in our search for the next ACU head wrestling coach.” Prior to his arrival at ACU, Patrick had coached at Menlo College since 2015, when he was hired as an assistant wrestling coach and sports performance coach. In 2017 he was promoted to associate head wrestling coach while also serving as Fellowship of Christian Athletes Advisor. … rest of story at https://www.acufirestorm.com/article/2592?mc_cid=b369974b64&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And WRESTLING WELCOMES MICHAEL BUTTERFIELD AS NEW HEAD COACH
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Michael Butterfield has been selected as the second head coach in the history of the ACU wrestling program. His tenure began earlier today, and he is already looking forward to leading the Firestorm wrestling program saying, “I’d like to thank Arizona Christian University for this opportunity. I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to coach, and to build a culture of hard work and dedication.” An Illinois native, Butterfield’s coaching career began unexpectedly as a student-athlete at the University of Dubuque, an NCAA Division III institution in Dubuque, Iowa. After sustaining a series of shoulder injuries after his first season of wrestling for the Spartans, the 149-pound class wrestler decided to step away from the mat as a grappler, but returned in a new role – as a coach. That first opportunity to coach was given to Butterfield by current Spartan’s Head Coach Jon McGovern, who has led the UD wrestling program since 2002. McGovern saw promise in his first-year wrestler and promoted Butterfield to the position of Student Assistant Wrestling Coach. Under McGovern, Butterfield learned not only what it takes to be successful on the mat, but he also learned meaningful lessons of what it takes to develop wrestlers as high-character people. Along with McGovern’s sage advice, Butterfield credits his time working with W.R.E.S.T. (wrestling reflection education skills training), while at UD, as a cornerstone of his development as a person and coach. … rest of story at https://www.acufirestorm.com/article/2657?mc_cid=08007c6b87&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Patrick Adds Reyes to Wrestling Staff
LAKELAND, Fla.—Southeastern University wrestling coach Travis Patrick announced the hiring of Koby Reyes as an assistant coach to his staff. Reyes previously worked with Patrick at Arizona Christian University, helping qualify five wrestlers for the NAIA National Championships which included the program’s first All-American last season. “It is important for me to fill out my coaching staff with men who love the Lord, love the sport of wrestling, and are eager to mentor the athletes in our program,” said Patrick. “Koby’s knowledge and passion in each of these areas is obvious and I believe will go a long way in helping our guys jump levels on and off the mat.” … rest of story at https://fire.seu.edu/news/2021/5/6/patrick-adds-reyes-to-wrestling-staff.aspx?mc_cid=987a3385bf&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – Finding a way: Wrestling coach Kelly an inspiration at Lourdes
Three simple words have helped guide Lourdes University wrestling coach Dock Kelly III through tough times when all the cards are seemingly stacked against him.
Find a way
With no fingers on his right hand, Kelly struggled to meet new people as a kid. A simple handshake caused stress, because he didn’t know how the other person would react to a hand with no fingers.
He found a way.
At 23 months old, his right leg stopped growing and was amputated from the knee down. Competing on the mat on his knees, he found a way to become a successful college wrestler and in 1997 earned the Medal of Courage from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. After a successful coaching stint at Anderson University in South Carolina, Kelly decided to take on the challenge of leading a brand new wrestling program at Lourdes. Building the program from the ground up, he has inspired Lourdes to become an NAIA power. … rest of story at https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/lourdes/2021/06/01/Finding-a-way-Wrestling-coach-Kelly-an-inspiration-at-Lourdes/stories/20210601021?mc_cid=4557ffe1b6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – JAMEEL BRYANT NAMED LINDSEY WILSON WRESTLING HEAD COACH
COLUMBIA, Ky. – Jameel Bryant has been named Lindsey Wilson College’s wrestling head coach, Lindsey Wilson Athletics Director Willis Pooler announced on Monday. “It’s an honor to be back home and have the opportunity to work for an institution with such a winning tradition,” Bryant said. “I’m excited that Lindsey Wilson is my first head coaching job. It feels like yesterday I was competing here for a national title and now I get to help others strive for that same goal. “I had the best experience here as a student-athlete,” Bryant added. “One of my top goals is to make sure our student-athletes have that same fulfilling experience, in the classroom and on the mat. I’m eager to get the ball rolling and build on the great successes we have here at Lindsey Wilson College. Bryant becomes the second coach in the program’s history. He replaces Corey Ruff who resigned in early June after starting the program in 2011. “The opportunity to hire Jameel was one I couldn’t pass on. His passion for wrestling and Lindsey Wilson College was evident during our discussions and his knowledge of the sport, our mission, and his clear emphasis on focusing on the student-athlete experience were important aspects of this decision.” Pooler said. Bryant graduated from Lindsey Wilson with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in May of 2015 and was a part of the Lindsey Wilson wrestling program. During his two seasons, he compiled a 56-14 overall record, including winning a pair of NAIA national titles. He was the program’s first two-time individual national champion. “His familiarity with the Mid-South Conference and NAIA are well documented through his successes as a student-athlete and assistant coach,” Pooler said. “He left his mark as an excellent recruiter and mentor at two MSC institutions. I have no doubt he will bring student-athletes to Columbia who are a great fit for our program and will allow us to remain one of the top NAIA wrestling programs in the country. I look forward to working with our two-time national champion.” … rest of story at https://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/13677.php?mc_cid=7f42ab4fd0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – Bebeto Yewah takes on leadership of wrestling programs
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Davenport University’s Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Paul Lowden announced today a shift of leadership for the Women and Men’s Wrestling programs with the resignation of Jamie Boyd. Boyd spent seven years at the helm of the men’s wrestling program and was the only head coach in program history. He then took over responsibilities for the women’s wrestling program which began during the 2020-21 campaign. Current assistant coach Bebeto Yewah will now take over head coaching duties for both programs effective immediately. Yewah came to Davenport as a volunteer assistant coach in the fall of 2018 and then transitioned into an assistant coach role in July 2019. He has helped guide the program into the NCAA Division II ranks and the men’s program joined the Great Lakes Valley Conference in the 2020-21 season competing in one of the best conferences in the nation. The Lansing native wrestled collegiately at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (2009-12) where he was a two-time NCAA Division III National Champion in two different weight classes including 133 pounds in 2010 and 141 in 2011. Yewah was also the national runner-up at 141 in 2012 for a third-consecutive All-American honor and finished his Eagles’ career with an overall record of 89-8. … rest of story at https://dupanthers.com/news/2021/6/10/bebeto-release-head_coach-6321.aspx?mc_cid=b1fff1ca32&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Smith returns to CU as Assistant Coach
LEBANON, Tenn. – Cumberland wrestling coach James Hicks announced the hiring of former Cumberland University standout Tyler Smith as the full-time assistant coach. Smith was a decorated wrestler that has turned into a competitive coach at the NAIA level and High School level. He compiled over 120 wins in his collegiate career as well as won the Mid-South Conference Championship with the Phoenix in 2016. His senior year he posted a 27-11 record while reaching the NAIA National Tournament. Smith used a fifth-place finish in the East Regional to earn a wild card berth to the tournament while serving as the team captain. In his junior campaign, Smith put together a 27-14 record going 3-2 against nationally-ranked opponents. The Calhoun, Ga., native went on to coach at Southeastern University as the graduate assistant in 2016-17 and 2017-18. Over the two seasons, … rest of story at https://www.gocumberlandathletics.com/wrestling/news/2021-22/8795/smith-returns-to-cu-as-assistant-coach/?mc_cid=3ae16b2048&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – OAKS SIGN TRANSFER CHRISTOPHER GAXIOLA OUT OF FRESNO STATE
ATHERTON, CALIF. — Menlo College Head Men’s Wrestling Coach Joey Martinez has never shied away from recruiting outstanding transfers to his program. In fact, Coach Martinez had 11 transfers on his 2019-20 team that took second at Nationals, including National Champion Anthony Orozco and All-American Jacob Mendoza. The Oaks have already announced the signing of two transfers for the 2021-22 season in the forms of Antonio DaCosta and Dwayne Guerrero, and now add a third with the signing of Fresno State transfer Christopher Gaxiola. Christopher has competed at both 149 and 157 at the collegiate level, and will look to split time between the two as an Oak. Christopher prepped at Buchanan High School in Clovis, California, the same school that produced former Menlo 184 standout Young Woo (Pete) An ’19. There, Christopher began his wrestling career at the 122 weight class before bulking up to 145/147 by his senior year. As a senior, Christopher would place second at the Central Section Championships in the 147 bracket, having to bow out of the championship bout due to an injury. The strong showing would still help Buchanan to a Central Section Team Title, and would punch Christopher’s ticket to State. At state, Christopher would go 5-2, good for 7th place, once again scoring big points for Buchanan, who would win the team state title.
Following his time at Buchanan, Christopher chose to continue wrestling at one of the top JC wrestling programs in the state, Fresno City College. After redshirting in his first year, Christopher began turning heads while he was on the mat in his second season. … rest of story at https://www.menloathletics.com/article/8537?mc_cid=9b69983a38&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} -TRANSFER CHARLES GRIFFIN SIGNS ON FOR 2021-2022 SEASON
OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University men’s wrestling team is excited to announce the signing of transfer Charles Griffin for the 2021-22 season. Griffin previously wrestled with Grand View University. Prior to Grand View, Griffin wrestled at Ellsworth Community College. He was a 2019 NJCAA National runner-up at 285 pounds and was named a JUCO All-American in his time with the Ravens. The Baltimore, Md. native was a two-sport athlete at Northwestern High School. He lettered four years in wrestling and football. Griffin was a fourth-place finisher at state for wrestling and was a four-time All-Star game selection in football. … rest of story at https://www.ottawabraves.com/article/mens-wrestling/mwr-transfer-charles-griffin-signs-on-for-2021-2022-season
And Several more Orrawa University stories and developments at https://www.ottawabraves.com/sport/mens-wrestling
10 } – Acosta Named USA Wrestling Magazine Coach of the Year
MARIETTA, Ga. —– Life University men’s wrestling head coach Omi Acosta was honored by USA Wrestling Magazine as the Coach of the Year Thursday afternoon. The award is given to one coach across all collegiate divisions for their performance on the year.
USA Wrestling Magazine had a page insert that has been copied below:
“When a person speaks of the “American Dream,” stories such as the one, encapsulates everything you need to know about this belief and the desire to achieve it. The American Dream is a set of ideals in which the freedom America provides includes the opportunity to achieve great success and prosperity through hard work, determination and initiative. Omi Acosta, the head wrestling coach at Life University is living proof that these ideals of the American Dream still exist and can become a reality if you grind hard enough.
Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Omi Acosta first stepped foot on a wrestling mat in the ninth grade at South Dade Senior High School. Like most mothers, Ms. Acosta wanted the best for her son and moving her family to the United States for that opportunity was the clear option. Weighing all of 103 pounds soaking wet and unable to speak a word of English, Omi and his mother approached the wrestling coach at South Dade asking if he thought Omi was big enough to wrestle. … rest of story at https://liferunningeagles.com/news/2021/7/15/mens-wrestling-acosta-named-usa-wrestling-magazine-coach-of-the-year.aspx?mc_cid=42d5eec6a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Epperson signs to wrestle with National Champions Life University
In his junior season, Lake Epperson took part in several state championship teams. Last week, he decided to take his wrestling talents to Life University in Atlanta, Georgia as he signed with the NAIA National Championship Wrestling team. Epperson wrestled for the Comanche Indians all four years of his high school career. He was a state placer in the last three seasons with his best finish coming his junior season. Finishing as runner-up in 2020 and then finishing third overall in his senior season, Epperson said he chose Life University after going on several visits because he loved the atmosphere there.
“It is a big deal. I always wanted to wrestle in college so getting this opportunity means a lot to me and I’m taking all of it that I can get, the opportunities that I will have there,” Epperson said. “I liked it the best because I went on a couple of visits and there was the most that I liked of all of the visits.”
His assistant coach for three years and head coach for his senior season in wrestling was Casy Rowell. Rowell said he is proud of how Epperson represented the program and thinks this is a good fit. … rest of story at https://www.duncanbanner.com/sports/epperson-signs-to-wrestle-with-national-champions-life-university/article_4571c606-b1d8-11eb-8f44-8f83613b4543.html?mc_cid=ce60503c93&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – Billy Sullivan to Transfer from OCU
Big blow for OCU announced on Twitter this Saturday as Junior Greco World Team member and 125 pound starter for the Stars Billy Sullivan will be transferring. Sullivan had high praise for the staff and school in his announcement, but this will certainly sting the OCU roster a bit as Sullivan was a conference champion and NAIA tournament qualifier at 125 pounds. He has not announced his future college destination yet. Sullivan was a freshman in the 2020-2021 season. … rest of story at https://owrestle.com/billy-sullivan-to-transfer-from-ocu/
And OCU Is Hiring a New Men’s Wrestling Coach
Oklahoma City has posted a new position on their website for Head Men’s Wrestling Coach. … rest of story at https://owrestle.com/ocu-is-hiring-a-new-mens-wrestling-coach/
12 } – Justin Fritz to wrestle for Bluefield State
BLUEFIELD, Va. (WVVA) – Perhaps the most decorated state champion in Graham High School’s history signed his National Letter of Intent on Monday. Justin Fritz captured four state wrestling championships in four separate weight classes during his time with the G-Men. He was also a part of the 2018 football state championship squad. For now, however, Fritz will just stick to the mat, committing to the Big Blue and head coach Blaze Shade. Fritz will enjoy being close to home, but most of all, he looks forward to wrestling for yet another coach that shares his passion for the sport. “It’s local — the coach is amazing, dude,” he said. “[Coach Shade]’s got a heart for wrestling. The same place that I’m at — we’ve both got a heart for wrestling. He’s going to want me to do things to the best of my ability and I like that about him.” Justin will also be reunited with his older brother, Caleb, as teammates at Bluefield State. Caleb was a two-time state champion for the G-Men, as well. … rest of story at https://wvva.com/2021/05/24/justin-fritz-to-wrestle-for-bluefield-state/?mc_cid=8610e5f1be&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And MatBoss Q&A: Jake Stevenson, Morningside head wrestling coach
Jake Stevenson, a 2007 NAIA national champion and four-time All-American, has guided Morningside’s wrestling program to a 77-40 dual meet record in his nine seasons as head coach. He has led the Mustangs to three Great Plains Athletic Conference championships and five conference runner-up finishes. Morningside is consistently ranked among the top-20 NAIA wrestling programs in the nation. MatBoss talked to Stevenson about this past season, academic excellence, Colton McCrystal, NAIA, expectations for the 2021-22 season and more.
You just recently wrapped up your Arena Wrestling Camp at The Expo Center. Multiple-time NCAA Division I All-American Mikey Labriola of Nebraska was a clinician. How did that go?
Stevenson: It went awesome. Mikey did a phenomenal job. Saw a lot of energy and excitement, and he was a great clinician. Had kids from kind of the tri-state area. Had some teams from a few hours away drive in. So that was awesome. It was a good turnout. I had a lot of fun. … rest of story at https://blog.matboss.com/matboss-qa-jake-stevenson-morningside-head-wrestling-coach?mc_cid=e094d4aecd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
REVERSAL
From obscurity to a national power — The story of Campbell Wrestling
Josh Heil had never heard of Campbell University or its wrestling program when he got a phone call from Cary Kolat in 2016. And why would he?
The program had a combined 3-23 record in its previous two seasons and was barely a year removed from serving a one-year postseason suspension because it failed to meet Academic Progress Rate standards set forth by the NCAA. And the struggle wasn’t new — Campbell’s record in dual meets from 2004 to 2011 was a lackluster 23-118.
Fighting Camel Wrestling had little going for it in the fall of 2016. But it had Kolat — a former Olympian and a legend in the sport, and a name Heil and all young wrestlers knew — and it had a group of underrated and hungry young men who had bought into his vision.
So for a kid like Heil — who was short on accolades but big on potential — Campbell was a fit.
“I wasn’t what you’d call a ‘successful’ high school wrestler,” says Heil, who grew up in Ohio, a hotbed for high school wrestling. “I never won state. I never won a national tournament. I was good, but I probably wrestled at the toughest level. So for Cary Kolat to call me and talk to me the way he did — he knew I had something everyone else didn’t see. For a guy like that to think like that, it just felt right. He knew how hard I worked. He knew how hard I wrestled. And he knew that’s the kind of wrestler he wanted.”
Fast forward to 2021.
Entering his sixth year (thanks to a redshirt year and a COVID year), Josh Heil is an All-American. He’s also Campbell’s first four-time NCAA Championships qualifier, has 94 career wins (12 over opponents ranked in the Top 25 nationally in their weight class), has been ranked as high as seventh in the nation himself in the 149-pound weight class and was named an NWCA Division I Scholar All-American in 2021.
As for the program, under Kolat and current head coach Scotti Sentes — who took over in 2020 — Campbell has earned seven Southern Conference team trophies and produced 26 NCAA qualifiers and six All-Americans (including Heil) in the past five years. This past year, Campbell had a school-record seven NCAA qualifiers and two UWW Junior and Senior All-Americans and became a nationally ranked program.
Expectations are at an all-time high entering the 2021-22 season with a returning All-American and a Top 25 ranking in the NWCA Coaches Poll. More importantly for Heil, the atmosphere and swagger in the program’s recently constructed practice facility at the Pope Convocation Center is a far cry from what he experienced as a true freshman in 2016. “Six years ago, I had to trust Coach Kolat and what his plans were for the program,” he says. “We didn’t have the success that he could point to from previous years. We just had to trust him and trust his process. And that’s a big leap of faith.
“For the [freshmen] coming in now, success is expected. If you come here, and you fail, then you’re doing something wrong. But if you come here, work hard, train right, eat right, live right and follow the lead of our upperclassmen, you’re going to succeed. There’s no doubt, you’re going to win.”
Campbell’s wrestling program had its moments before the Cary Kolat era.
Founded in 1968 under the guidance of Coach Gerald Brown, the Camels put together a 6-5 record in dual matches in their first season and a 7-3 record in Year 2, going up against similarly sized schools like Wesleyan, St. Andrews, Western Carolina and Pfeiffer. The third year brought in tougher competition like Duke, the Citadel and Elon, and by the mid 1970s, Campbell wrestling was a middling program that would regularly beat up on smaller schools and regularly lose to larger, more established in-state schools.
Coach Jerry Hartman had the most successful run in the 1980s, posting an 80-39 record and bringing in kids like Bobby Sottile (107 collegiate wins against just 20 losses), Scott Amundsen (109 wins) and perhaps Campbell’s most notable wrestler in the program’s first 50 years, Anthony Cox, who became Campbell’s first wrestler to qualify twice for the NCAA Championships and missed All-American status by just one match in his junior year.
Wrestling joined the Colonial Athletic Conference in 1996 and struggled for the next four seasons against schools like Virginia Tech, William & Mary and James Madison. That changed for a short time with the arrival of former U.S. Olympic Wrestling and UCLA coach Dave Auble, who took over from 1999 to 2004 and peaked with a third-place finish in the conference in 2002. … rest of story at https://magazine.campbell.edu/articles/campbell-wrestling/?fbclid=IwAR3U-22VM1CJKM_BwcZrd-QCvDsMw06uWSiSnt3NsSat_HVIy9uE-4ErVpo
Acosta Named USA Wrestling Magazine Coach of the Year
TDR Editor’s Note ; Our blogs are collection a titles and opening paragraphs of articles that cover and promote wrestling. Then the link to the full story is provided so readers are encouraged to check out the full story which leads to other articles about wrestling. It also can increase hits or traffic to these websites which is good for them. It is rare that we post the entire article but this story is incredible. We extend our congratulations to Coach Acosta for this well deserved award! Keep wrestling on! Contact us at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2966 (8/21/21) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Life University Coach Upsets 9 time Defending Champion Grand View Vikings Powerhouse for Title and Coach of the Year
MARIETTA, Ga. —– Life University men’s wrestling head coach Omi Acosta was honored by USA Wrestling Magazine as the Coach of the Year Thursday afternoon. The award is given to one coach across all collegiate divisions for their performance on the year. USA Wrestling Magazine had a page insert that has been copied below: “When a person speaks of the “American Dream,” stories such as the one, encapsulates everything you need to know about this belief and the desire to achieve it. The American Dream is a set of ideals in which the freedom America provides includes the opportunity to achieve great success and prosperity through hard work, determination and initiative. Omi Acosta, the head wrestling coach at Life University is living proof that these ideals of the American Dream still exist and can become a reality if you grind hard enough.
Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Omi Acosta first stepped foot on a wrestling mat in the ninth grade at South Dade Senior High School. Like most mothers, Ms. Acosta wanted the best for her son and moving her family to the United States for that opportunity was the clear option. Weighing all of 103 pounds soaking wet and unable to speak a word of English, Omi and his mother approached the wrestling coach at South Dade asking if he thought Omi was big enough to wrestle. It was an easy decision and outright blessing for every wrestling coach who is always in search of their next great 103-pound wrestler and Omi Acosta fit the bill perfectly. Omi instantly showed his work ethic both in the classroom as well as on the mat. Before we knew it, Omi was completely fluent in English, passing all his classes with flying colors and becoming a hammer on the mat. As a junior, he qualified for the state championships and made the podium placing 5th at his weight class.
During his senior year, the sky was the limit as Omi knocked off the defending state champion and was on track for an outstanding season. In the finals of that same tournament, Omi broke his arm against another state champion and was unable to compete the rest of the season but like the unselfish true champion he is, he continued to be the captain of a team that would make history. That 2008 season was a record breaking one for the Bucs of South Dade, as they did what no other team had done before in 34 years, beating Brandon High School and ending their 459-match winning streak, the longest winning streak in sports history.
Now, let’s fast forward 13 years later. After completing a stellar college career which saw Omi become a Junior College All-American and National Champion at Waubonsee Community College as well as a 2012 NAIA National Champion at Grand View University. Omi Acosta duplicates a feat, that no one thought possible because no other team had done it in 9 consecutive years. Omi Acosta and the Running Eagles of Life University won the 2021 NAIA National Championship, toppling a Grand View University dynasty that he helped to build. You see, in 2012 when Omi won an NAIA National Championship at 133 pounds for the Vikings that was the beginning of Grand Views’ 9-year stranglehold of that division. Not only was Omi Acosta a part of Grand View University’s first national title but he also stuck around as a part of the Grand View coaching staff which saw them win three more NAIA National Championships. In that 3-year span, he mentored 12 individual National Champions, 19 All-Americans and 15 NWCA Academic All-Americans.
After a brief stint as the assistant coach of the Coast Guard, where he mentored 2 NWCA Academic All Americans, 2 NCAA National Qualifiers and 1 All-American, Omi was named the Head Coach at Life University in 2016. In that short time, while under the guidance of Omi, Life University has produced 3 individual NAIA National Champions, 10 National Runners up, 23 All Americans and 43 National Qualifiers. His team finished third in the nation in 2019 and made back-to-back trips to the NAIA National Duals finals. As much success as Omi Acosta and Life University has had in the previous years nobody saw this coming as they stunned the wrestling world by knocking off one of the most successful programs in NAIA history. This season the Running Eagles qualified all 12 wrestlers for the National Championships, advanced 3 to the finals and 10 of them earned All-American honors. In a battle that came down to the very last match of the finals, Life University out scored Omi’s alma mater, Grand View University by 5 points, securing the first NAIA National Championship in the school’s history.
Wrestling USA Magazine would like to congratulate Coach Omi Acosta for all he does for the great sport of wrestling. We are honored to select him as the 2021 National Wrestling Coach of the Year Award Winner!” The full issue will become available on August 15 at http://www.wrestlingusa.com … rest of story at https://liferunningeagles.com/news/2021/7/15/mens-wrestling-acosta-named-usa-wrestling-magazine-coach-of-the-year.aspx?mc_cid=42d5eec6a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
NCAA Division III News (2021) – # 8
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Retiring coaches, new coaches, and recruits and much more news about Division III schools this summer are included in this blog’s collection of articles. Keep Wrestling upward!
Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2965 (8/20/21)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – Don Murray Steps Down as SUNY Brockport Wrestling Coach After 51 Years
Longtime SUNY Brockport Wrestling Coach Don Murray has stepped down from his coaching responsibilities.
Murray has served as the head coach of Brockport’s wrestling program for the past 51 years. His success during that period included five NCAA team national championships, 27 individual national champions, and 147 All-Americans. He was the longest active tenured coach in any sport in NCAA Division III.
“SUNY Brockport would like to thank Coach Murray for his dedicated service over his long and decorated career. Don built a strong wrestling program and cultivated an international reputation. But we would especially like to thank him for the tremendous impact he has had on the thousands of student-athletes he’s worked with over the years. They are his most enduring legacy,” said SUNY Brockport Director of Athletics Erick Hart. Bill Jacoutot, who has been on Murray’s coaching staff since 2010, has been named interim head coach. Jacoutot spent 28 years as the wrestling coach at Spencerport High School … rest of story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/Don-Murray-Steps-Down-as-SUNY-Brockport-20-8-2021
2 } – Ryan Riggs Named Head Wrestling Coach at Mount Union
Ryan Riggs has been named the head wrestling coach at the University of Mount Union. Riggs, a native of Perry Township, Ohio, comes to Mount Union from Ferrum (Va.) College where he started in 2016 as an assistant coach, then promoted to associate head coach in 2018 before being named head coach in March of 2020. “Ryan’s experiences in coaching and his reputation in wrestling not only locally but throughout NCAA Division III was what separated him among our pool of applicants,” stated Mike Parnell, interim director of athletics. “All of us at Mount Union look forward to the future of our wrestling program under his leadership.” “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return home to Stark County, Ohio as the University of Mount Union head wrestling coach,” commented Riggs. “I would like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Bresse, Mike Parnell, Don Montgomery and everyone on the search committee for believing in my ability to lead the program. I am ready to get to work and start building for the future.” In his time at Ferrum, he handled day-to-day operations of the program, including recruiting, fundraising, practice development and coordinating Ferrum men’s wrestling social media presence. He was instrumental in helping Ferrum host the 2019 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia. … rest of story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/Ryan-Riggs-Named-Head-Wrestling-Coach-7-6-2021
3 } – Logan Meister Named Head Men’s Wrestling Coach at Ferrum
FERRUM, Virginia — Director of Athletics John Sutyak has announced that Logan Meister ’17 has been promoted to Head Men’s Wrestling Coach at Ferrum College. Meister assumes control of the Panther men’s wrestling program following the departure of Ryan Riggs, who accepted the head wrestling coach position at the University of Mount Union. Meister wrestled four years for the Panthers under Head Coach Nate Yetzer and was part of the inaugural graduating class of Ferrum men’s wrestling. He was a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-America in 2016 and 2017 and graduated from Ferrum with a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy in 2017.
Upon graduation, Meister served as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2017-18 season before enrolling in graduate school at McDaniel College, where he served as a graduate assistant wrestling coach during the 2018-19 school year. He earned his Master’s Degree in Kinesiology from McDaniel in 2020. Meister returned to Ferrum in 2019-20 as a part-time assistant coach. He was promoted into the full-time assistant coaching spot the following year. “I am very excited to welcome Logan Meister as the new head coach of Ferrum College men’s wrestling,” said Sutyak. “Ferrum became a national program in a relatively short period of time since its inception and Logan was a part of that from day 1. His experience in recruiting, strength training and coaching make this an easy transition for us to name him our next head coach and I am thrilled we are keeping a valued individual, and alum, here at Ferrum.”
Meister is one of the pioneers of Ferrum’s men’s wrestling program. He was a freshman in Ferrum’s first varsity wrestling season in 2013-14. He placed third at 141 pounds at the 2014 NCAA East Regional to become Ferrum’s first NCAA Div. III qualifier. He qualified again for the NCAA Tournament in 2016 when he won the NCAA Southeast Regional, then … rest of story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/Logan-Meister-Named-Head-Men-s-9-6-2021
4 } – Former Hawkeye Wrestler Glosser Joins Wrestling Staff as Assistant Coach
June 1, 2021 – Loras College wrestling head coach TJ Miller announced the hiring of Jeren Glosser as the next assistant wrestling coach for the Duhawks. Glosser comes to Dubuque from Oskaloosa, Iowa after serving as an assistant coach at William Penn University and brings a wealth of experience as a former wrestler at the University of Iowa. “I’m really excited about Jeren,” said Miller. “He’s going to raise this team’s level on day one and he’s already hit the ground running. He’s a coach that is going to build strong relationships with the entire roster on and off the mat. I could tell almost immediately that he’s the right person for this job and so could a lot of the leaders on this team. We are extremely lucky to have him, and I have never been more excited about the future of Loras wrestling.” Glosser was a four-year letter winner for the Hawkeyes, posting a 74-19 record at 149, 157 and 165 lbs. with 20 career pins and wrestled unattached his first season at Iowa with an impressive 15-4 ledger. He is a two-time Flash Flanagan Open champion, hosted by Loras, and won the Luther College Open in his freshman season, pinning three of his four opponents to advance to the finals. He placed twice at the Midlands Championship during his career and won the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Jim Koch Open the same season, finishing his collegiate career six-straight wins. During his time at Iowa, he also worked with the team’s summer camps, coaching youth wrestlers.
… rest of story at https://duhawks.com/news/2021/6/1/former-hawkeye-wrestler-glosser-joins-wrestling-staff-as-assistant-coach.aspx?mc_cid=4557ffe1b6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – Noah Nieman Added to Men’s Wrestling Coaching Staff
ADRIAN, Mich. – Head men’s wrestling coach Bill Schindel announced the addition of Noah Nieman to the Adrian College wrestling coaching staff. Nieman is a 2021 graduate of Adrian College. “It means a lot to me,” said Nieman. “I’m grateful to be able to help build the program that I was apart of. Staying with my alma mater really shows the love that this program shows. It’s a family that has grown over the years, and I’m glad I can still stay close to that family. In his senior season with the Bulldogs, Nieman was named an All-American with an eighth-place finish at the NWCA DIII National Championships. Nieman was one of four Bulldogs to be seeded during prior to the NWCA National Championships. Also during his senior season, Nieman was featured as a contender in the top-10 individual rankings by D3wrestle.com. Nieman was also a star in the classroom finishing with a GPA of 3.25 with a 3.90 his final semester. He was named to First Team All-MIAA and was a 2020 Scholar All-American. … rest of story at https://adrian.prestosports.com/sports/m-wrestl/2020-21/releases/20210604k02xgq?mc_cid=0fb3325f19&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – Wabash Adds Three To Fulltime Coaching Staff
Wabash College will welcome three new coaches to the ranks of fulltime assistants beginning July 1. Ian Disteldorf joins the Wabash swimming and diving program as the new assistant swim coach. Volunteer wrestling assistant coach Daniel Del Gallo and student assistant football coach CJ Ramsey have both been elevated to fulltime assistant coaching positions.
Disteldorf comes to Wabash from the University of Akron where he served as a graduate assistant coach and head recruiting coordinator for the 2020-2021 season. He worked as a graduate assistant director of operations for the Zips from 2019-2020. During that period Akron claimed its seventh consecutive Mid-American Conference (MAC) title and finished the season ranked in the top-30 in the Collegeswimming.com championship and dual-meet polls. Disteldorf spent two seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Augustana College, where he helped the Vikings produce four individual College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) champions, six all-conference athletes, and the 2019 CCIW Swimmer of the Year.
Disteldorf earned a masters of sports science from Akron in 2021 after receiving a bachelor of arts in business administration and economics from Augustana in 2017. He was a member of the Augustana swim team for four seasons, earning all-conference honors in 2015 and 2016.
… rest of story at https://sports.wabash.edu/news/2021/6/24/general-wabash-adds-three-to-fulltime-coaching-staff.aspx?mc_cid=a01a119869&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Lycoming wrestling announces incoming class
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Paced by five state qualifiers, two state placewinners and three 100-match winners, 28th-year head coach Roger Crebs will welcome 10 new wrestlers when the Lycoming College team begins practice in October, he announced on Friday, July 2. The full class features a well-balanced spectrum, as the 10 wrestlers can represent the Warriors in eight weight classes.
The Warriors had just two seniors on the active roster during the 2020-21 season that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, returning five starters from 2019-20, when the team finished 12-5. The team has enjoyed 27 winning seasons during Crebs’ Hall of Fame tenure. Lycoming will enter 2021-22 needing just seven wins to become the fifth program in NCAA Division III history to claim 800 dual-meet wins, joining Springfield, Wilkes, Wartburg and Olivet.
… rest of story at https://lycomingathletics.com/news/2021/7/2/wrestling-lycoming-wrestling-announces-incoming-class.aspx?mc_cid=cbfa48fa54&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – After a Season Away, Wrestling Program Gears Up for 2021-22 Campaign
Following a 2020-21 academic year in which The University of Scranton wrestling team did not compete against outside competition, the Royals are primed to begin their 2021-22 campaign in a few months under head coach Al Russamano, who will enter his 16th season at the helm of the program this year. With 19 returnees and 11 newcomers entering the program, the Royals will open a strong 2021-22 schedule on Nov. 6 at King’s McGinley Invitational, then head to East Stroudsburg for a dual on Nov. 11. This will be followed by the biggest home event of the year for the Royals, as the annual Electric City Duals returns to the John Long Center on Nov. 14. On the day, Scranton will welcome four other teams (SUNY Oneonta, Alfred State, Lackawanna, and Keystone) as they hope to defend their 2019 crown in the event. From there, the Royals will take part in 11 events throughout the course of the year, with three home dates. On Dec. 11, Scranton will host Elizabethtown in the Long Center, followed by a match against Delaware Valley on Jan. 29. The Royals’ home schedule concludes on Feb. 12 against King’s. For the full 2021-22 schedule for the wrestling team, click here: https://uscranton.prestosports.com/sports/wrest/2021-22/schedule
Top returnees for the Royals include the program’s three captains – graduate student William Laughlin (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) and seniors Matthew Murawski (Harrington Park, N.J./Northern Valley – Old Tappan) and John Murphy (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell). … rest of story at https://uscranton.prestosports.com/sports/wrest/2021-22/releases/20210722o9m8vp?mc_cid=608eaeea75&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – Berlin, Candre, Kohn, Momont Earn Subway Athlete of the Year Honors
STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point athletics department has named the winners of the 2020-21 Subway Athletes of the Year awards. UWSP track and field’s Tom Kohn (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka) and Sylviann Momont (Auburndale, Wis./Auburndale) were recipients for male and female individual sports. Wrestling’s Matt Berlin (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) and softball’s Maddie Candre (St. Charles, Ill./East) were named winners for male and female team sports.
Matt Berlin (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) (Wrestling)
Berlin repeats as Athlete of the Year as he did with most accolades in the shortened 2020-21 season. He was named WIAC Wrestler of the Year for the second-consecutive season. He went 8-0 on the year, extending his unbeaten streak to 40 after a 32-0 season in 2019-20. He repeated as the WIAC Champion at 133 and was named WIAC Wrestler of the Meet. Berlin was named WIAC Wresting Athlete of the Week for the week of Feb. 15-21. … rest of story at https://athletics.uwsp.edu/news/2021/6/29/general-berlin-candre-kohn-momont-earn-subway-athlete-of-the-year-honors.aspx?mc_cid=7334e288ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Here are the eight wrestlers who have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large teams. These wrestlers, along with the rest of the At-Large selections, move on to be considered for Academic All-America recognition. The CoSIDA Academic All-America At-Large teams will be named on August 4th.
Full release with all At-Large selections
NCAA DIVISION III – DISTRICT 2 (CT, DC, DE, MD, NH, NJ, RI, VT, WV)
Brett Kaliner Stevens Institute of Technology Sr. 3.92 Quantitative Finance Kaliner finished 3rd at the NWCA Division III tournament at 149 lbs.
NCAA DIVISION III – DISTRICT 5 (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, MO, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, VA)
Bryce Crew Washington and Lee University Sr. 3.83 Biochemistry Crew is a 2x Regional placewinner. He did not compete this season, as his team had a single dual meet. … rest of story at https://www.d3wrestle.com/cosida-academic-all-district-2/?mc_cid=e094d4aecd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And INTERIM NIL POLICY ADOPTED
Starting July 1st, NCAA athletes in all three divisions can benefit from their name, image, and likeness. Athletes in states with NIL laws or executive orders can follow the guidelines in those states, and the rest may also participate while following the rules at their respective institutions. Athletes are required to report NIL activities to their schools.
… rest of story at https://www.d3wrestle.com/interim-nil-policy-adopted/?mc_cid=3c07ff5887&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And CAN WRESTLERS MAKE MONEY WITH NIL?
Summer is slow in the DIII wrestling world, so this post will focus mostly on Division I athletes. Several states have laws allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) going into effect July 1st. The NCAA Division I Council is meeting today and surely has NIL on its agenda. This is the makeup of the council. Seven members work at schools with wrestling, and one is the commissioner of a conference that sponsors wrestling. NIL is coming to the NCAA either through rule changes or legislation. … rest of story at https://www.d3wrestle.com/can-wrestlers-make-money-with-nil/?mc_cid=43f68cbfb0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – Millikin begins navigating world of athletic sponsorship at the Division III level
DECATUR — When Millikin athletic director Dr. Craig White was playing in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills in the 1980s, he didn’t have to navigate the world of athletic endorsements. “I was like the fifth receiver on a not very good team so there wasn’t a lot there,” White said. “I was on different shows and they give you a gift, that was the extent of it. But it was also a different time.” Times changed significantly this week, including those at Division III schools like Millikin, as the potential to make money on sports endorsements is here following the signage of Illinois legislation on college athlete name, image and likeness this week and the NCAA’s recent decision to allow athletes to pursue deals.
White, along with his coaching staffs, have started treading through the murky water of what these endorsements will look like. “It is going to start out with everyone feeling their way. What does this mean exactly and what can we do? How will it impact what we do and how athletes deal with it? It will have a big impact at the high levels especially because they are more in the media,” … rest of story at https://herald-review.com/sports/college/millikin/watch-now-millikin-begins-navigating-world-of-athletic-sponsorship-at-the-division-iii-level/article_75e26343-4ee7-5307-808a-447d85d575b5.html?mc_cid=cbfa48fa54&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – Fisher Announces the Return of Men’s Wrestling to its Athletic Offerings
Gift Funds Construction of New State-of-the-Art Joseph Pellicano Wrestling Pavilion
PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the expansion of its athletic offerings with the addition of men’s wrestling back to its program. The Cardinals will now feature 25 sports at the varsity level and Fisher will join a group of 113 wrestling programs from across the Division III landscape. The College will begin a national search for its next head coach with a full competition schedule set to begin in 2022. “We are very excited about re-introducing wrestling to our intercollegiate sport portfolio,” said Bob Ward who has served as Fisher’s Director of Athletics for more than 30 years. “Not only is wrestling one of the fastest growing sports at the high school level, but this addition will allow us to continue to engage potential student-athletes in meaningful ways.” The Cardinals have a rich history in wrestling as Fisher competed from 1965 to 1983 where it was one of the region’s top programs. Over its 18-year history, Fisher boasted numerous Catholic National Champions and had several wrestlers compete in the NCAA Division III Championship and NAIA Championship including All-American Sandy Spero ’80 and Jerry DeHey ’75 who have each been inducted into the College’s Athletics Hall of Fame. The return of the wrestling program is boosted by a $400,000 gift from alumnus and trustee William J. Pellicano ’80 and Tracy Pellicano to create a state-of-the-art wrestling room, which is currently under construction and will be open for use prior to the start of training. … rest of story at https://athletics.sjfc.edu/news/2021/7/27/general-fisher-announces-the-return-of-mens-wrestling-to-its-athletic-offerings.aspx?mc_cid=56e3c2ba9d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
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
