High School News (2021) – # 17
TDR Editor’s Notes ; A scattering of stories and reports of high school wrestling news and results from the late spring and early summer. Keep wrestling on! E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
Blog # 2953 (7/28/21)
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1 } – UPDATED 2021 HIGH SCHOOL INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS LIST, AS OF APRIL 26
With so many changes in the high school wrestling season this year, TheMat.com will research and publish, on a regular basis, an update on the 2021 state high school champions for both boys and girls. Winning a state high school title is an amazing achievement for a high school student-athlete. We will post the champions from official state high school championships for boys, as well as the girls who have won official state high school titles, as well as the recognized state competitions which are not run by their state high school association. We will also post the team champions at the state level as available. Since our last posting last week, we added New Jersey (boys and girls), Texas (boys and girls), Minnesota (boys and girls), Michigan (boys and girls) and Kentucky (boys). We will do at least one more posting as a number of state high school wrestling seasons are continuing into the late spring. There are also a few that results are still coming in. The new state tournaments since our last posting are marked in bold type. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/April/26/State-high-school-champions-as-of-April-26?mc_cid=33a8cd508f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – A newly crowned national champion, Burlington’s Nick Curley is the Prep’s top gun in wrestling this spring
Nick Curley has been wrestling for so long he can’t even pinpoint exactly why he does it. As much as anything, the sport has become an unconscious habit for the Burlington teen. Of course, while most folks are busy trying to break certain reflex compulsions, the St. John’s Prep senior has been breaking down opponents. And that’s big time, try national championship big.
Late last month, Curley captured the 113-pound division during the National High School Coaches Association Tournament in Virginia Beach, out-grappling Chelmsford senior Evan Kinney by an 11-7 decision in the finale to finish 4-0 at the event. The victory avenged Curley’s 6-4 loss to Kinney in February of 2020 at the MIAA Division 1 state wrestling tournament. “I just try to do my best, show my teammates that hard work can lead to good outcomes and help our younger guys out,” said the 5-foot-5 Curley, who turns 18 in July and began wrestling when he was five or six years old. “I’ve learned to put my trust in my technique and training. I’ve been doing a lot more weight training. A lot of preparation went into this performance.” … rest of story at https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/herald-citizen/2021/05/08/newly-crowned-national-champion-burlingtons-nick-curley-st-johns-prep-wrestlings-top-gun-spring/4931771001/?mc_cid=6292a9adee&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – 2021 Walsh Jesuit Ironman Field Set
Check the absolutely loaded field that will do battle at the 2021 Walsh Jesuit Ironman.
After a one year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Walsh Jesuit Ironman will return in a big way in 2021 with an absolutely loaded field. Over 500 of the best high school wrestlers on the best teams in the nation will be on display December 10-11 live exclusively on FloWrestling. 24 different states will be represented in this year’s field. Every school that finished in the top 10 of the 2019 edition – Wyoming Seminary (PA), Blair Academy (NJ), Malvern Prep (PA), Brecksville-Broadview Heights (OH), Montini Catholic (IL), Lake Highland Prep (FL), Notre Dame-Green Pond (PA), Elyria (OH), St. Edward (OH), and Waynesburg Central (PA) – will be in attendance again along with some interesting new faces including, Bishop McCort (PA), Bixby (OK), Cleveland (TN), Stillwater (OK), and Washington (IL), just to name a few. … rest of story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/7024584-2021-walsh-jesuit-ironman-field-set?mc_cid=1c5f62dded&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – USA Wrestling Regionals Are Filled With High School Stars
Dozens of the nation’s best high school wrestlers will be on display this weekend at USA Wrestling regional tournaments.
USA Wrestling packed its schedule with three regional tournaments this weekend, which means dozens of the nation’s best high school wrestlers will be on display over the course of the next three days. Here’s a quick breakdown of this weekend’s regional slate and the top wrestlers to watch over the course of the next three days on FloWrestling and Trackwrestling:
Phil Portuese Northeast Regional
When: U23 and Senior men’s freestyle and 8U-Junior girls freestyle on Friday; 8U-Junior boys freestyle on Saturday; Greco-Roman on Sunday
Where: Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania
Who You Don’t Want To Miss: Top-ranked 220-pounder Nick Feldman is the headliner of a star-studded field. The Ohio State recruit is expected to have another top-10 220-pounder in his bracket — New Jersey’s #9 Michael Misita. There’s talent up-and-down the registration list, including Penn State recruit Gary Steen (#9 at 120), Branden Chletsos (#7 at 132), Rocco Welsh (#6 at 152). Welsh is on the entry list at 160, a weight that’s also expected to include #14 Paniro Johnson and #16 Erik Gibson. … rest of story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/7031904-this-weekends-usa-wrestling-regionals-are-filled-with-high-school-stars?mc_cid=c4978adc2e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – There is a misconception that specializing in one sport is a pathway to greatness.
A young athlete playing a wide variety of sports is truly a great joy to see! The physical, social, and psychological benefits are extraordinary! Young athletes get to work as members of teams and witness the importance of transferrable skills. Most importantly, it’s fun and provides a lifetime of cherished memories!
There is a misconception that specializing in one sport is a pathway to greatness.
According to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, seven out of ten olympic athletes surveyed by the United States Olympic Committee said they grew up as multi-sport athletes. Most called the experiences valuable to their development. As parents and coaches, we should introduce our children to several sports both in a formal and informal manner. Pickup games allow young athletes to use their imaginations and make up their own rules. Also, they are building self-esteem and a lifelong love of physical activities.
The cons clearly outweigh the pros when it comes to sport specialization at an early age.
In all honesty, this topic shouldn’t even be discussed until a young athlete’s teenage years. A deep commitment to year-round training in a single sport comes with a hefty price. An intense focus could eventually lead to boredom, burnout, injuries, and even a complete disconnect from sports altogether. Parents and coaches need to encourage young athletes that choices are available. They should feel free to explore different types of sports on their own terms. As parents and coaches, we want our young athletes to participate in multiple sports. … rest of story at https://www.thepredicament.com/2021/05/there-is-a-misconception-that-specializing-in-one-sport-is-a-pathway-to-greatness/?mc_cid=4a470838b6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – Mental Preparation Before Competition
Mental preparation before competition is often overlooked or minimized by athletes and their coaches. As a result of a lack of mental preparation, some athletes become so nervous and tense before competition that they literally feel weak and tired before stepping onto the field, court, running track or pool deck. This can lead to underachievement and poor performance in the early minutes of competition. Developing a pre-competition routine with athletes will help them live up to their potential and cope with the normal stresses of athletic competition. This strategy aligns with the World Health Organization definition of mental health as “a state of well-being and the ability to work productively.” Here are some strategies to help you mentally prepare for competition.
Prior to the start of the season…
…take a few days to create a list of your strengths; your best qualities and abilities. Laminate the list and put it in your locker or equipment bag. Read it before every competition to boost your confidence by reminding yourself of all the reasons you can be successful.
Create a pre-game mental warmup routine
BEFORE THE GAME: On your way to the locker room or to the bus for an away game, change your focus from student to athlete. Focus only on your role as an athlete. The reverse should take place when you’re on your way to class.
… rest of story at https://www.thepredicament.com/2021/05/mental-preparation-before-competition/?mc_cid=c4978adc2e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Powerade wrestling tournament will be loaded with talent
The 55th Annual Powerade Holiday Wrestling Tournament continues to get bigger and better, and this year’s event might end up being the toughest in the country.
The tournament grew to 59 teams and will be held Dec. 29 and 30 at Canon-McMillan High school. The newcomers include Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Blair Academy (N.J.), Bergen Catholic (N.J.), Laurel Highlands Prep (Fla.), Manheim Township, North Allegheny and Notre Dame-Green Pond. They will join Waynesburg, Malvern Prep, Wyoming Seminary, Latrobe, Erie Prep, St. Edwards (Ohio), Reynolds, Canon-McMillan, Connellsville and Kiski Area. Blair Academy, Wyoming Seminary and Malvern Prep are some of the top Prep teams in the country. Waynesburg and Reynolds are returning state champions.
There are seven Powerade champions returning and 105 placewinners. There are also 15 state champions scheduled to compete. Tournament director Frank Vulcano Jr. said he always is looking for ways to make the tournament better. Showdown at Kiski Area
The first Stand Your Ground wrestling tournament recently was held at Kiski Area, and three Hempfield athletes won their matches. … rest of story at https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wrestling-notebook-powerade-wrestling-tournament-will-be-loaded-with-talent/?mc_cid=ad9587b873&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – Cross Earley Wrestling With Life After Near-fatal Crash
An incredible story of resilence in wrestling: Cross Earley’s comeback after a near-fatal crash.
Cross Early put on his green ankle bands, hopped up and down a few times, and brushed his hair to the side before shaking hands with his opening-round opponent at USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals on April 2, 2021. His mother, Angie, watched nervously from her home in Clanton, Alabama.
This could be said about any mother watching her child wrestle. Parents — especially moms — can get edgy and excitable when their offspring compete. Wrestling is personal — and there is nothing quite like the moment when a wrestler walks alone to the center of the mat. The event was held at the UNI-Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Perhaps no wrestler in the history of this venue has overcome more. And that’s saying something.
This is the place where Dan Gable set the all-time point record at the 1997 NCAA Championships during his final season as Iowa’s head coach. This is where Junior Nationals and the National Duals used to be held. This is where major wrestling and sporting events continue to be held. … rest of story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/6986450-cross-earley-wrestling-with-life-after-near-fatal-crash?mc_cid=1a96ae13a8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – Top 10 Finals From NHSCAs
These are the 10 NHSCA finals worth going back and rewatching be it for their excitement and/or the level of wrestling they displayed.
Thousands of wrestlers took the mats in Virginia Beach this weekend to try and prove themselves against some formidable competition. Some of the paths these champions navigated were eye opening. All the champions deserve respect and recognition. Now, of the 55 total finals, these 10 really stand out. These are the 10 NHSCA High School National finals that are worth going back and rewatching be it for their excitement and/or the level of wrestling they displayed. … rest of story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/7007386-top-10-finals-from-nhscas?mc_cid=9e2c82acd7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – Iowa Pulls Away From Oklahoma For Junior Duals Freestyle Title
Iowa completed its two-day thumping of the freestyle field on Saturday by handling Oklahoma 40-23 in the Junior Duals final.
Drake Ayala’s summer wrestling plans mostly fell in the to-be-determined category about three weeks ago when Caleb Rathjen began recruiting his future college teammate to join Iowa’s Junior National Duals freestyle roster. “Caleb texted me and he was like, ‘Hey, bro, we could have a really good Junior Duals team, Come be on it,’” said Ayala, who will continue his wrestling career this fall at the University of Iowa. “I took a little bit to think about it and I was like, ‘I might as well.’ “He added me to a group chat (with) the whole lineup and I was like, ‘We don’t really have a lot of holes. We could win this thing.’” Ayala was the last piece of the roster puzzle for Team Iowa and two-time Fargo champ put the finishing touches on the state’s first National Duals title in 16 years. Iowa completed its two-day thumping of the freestyle field on Saturday by handling Oklahoma 40-23. … rest of story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/7085912-iowa-pulls-away-from-oklahoma-for-junior-duals-freestyle-title?mc_cid=df40ca5986&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And IOWA IMPRESSES WITH 40-23 FINAL WIN OVER OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS RED TO WIN JUNIOR NATIONAL FREESTYLE DUALS
TULSA, Okla. – Iowa’s Junior men’s freestyle team looked strong over both days of the 2021 Junior Freestyle National Duals, but may have saved its best wrestling for the championship finals. After dropping the first two bouts, Iowa won 10 of the final 13 matches, including some very close battles, to defeat returning champion Oklahoma Outlaws Red, 40-23. The finals dual meet began at 138, where Carter Young of Oklahoma secured a controlled 4-1 decision over Joel Jesuroga of Iowa. Young scored a first-period takedown to lead 2-1 at the break, then added two second period step-outs after leg attacks to secure the win.
Jordan Williams of Oklahoma continued the strong Oklahoma start with a tight 8-6 win over Iowa’s Caleb Rathjen in a match of skilled stars at 145. The first period ended 4-4, with both wrestlers getting two two-point moves. Williams scored the next two takedowns, on a slick duck under, then on a scramble after a shot to lead 8-4. Rathjen scored a late takedown to close it to 8-6, but Williams evaded any late attacks. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/19/Iowa-wins-Junior-Freestyle-Duals?mc_cid=df40ca5986&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – OHIO RED EARNS 16U FREESTYLE TITLE, MINNESOTA RED WINS 14U DIVISION AT NATIONAL DUALS
WESTFIELD, Ind. – Ohio Red and Minnesota Red claimed titles in freestyle at the 16U and 14U divisions, respectively, at the 2021 National Duals in Westfield, Ind. In 16U competition, Ohio Red won the tournament with a 41-32 defeat over New Jersey. Ohio won nine of the dual’s 17 bouts to help propel the squad to the win. Taking third was Minnesota Blue, which took out Illinois, 49-27. Pennsylvania Blue finished fifth and California finished seventh in the tournament. Winning the 14U tournament was Minnesota Red, defeating California, 41-31 in the finals. For bronze, New Jersey edged out Iowa, 39-38. Ohio Scarlet was fifth, while Illinois took seventh.
2021 14U & 16U NATIONAL DUALS
Westfield, Ind. | June 9-13
16U freestyle results
1st place – Ohio Red df. New Jersey, 41-32 … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/13/16U-14U-FS-National-Duals?mc_cid=ddbb246640&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – ILLINOIS WINS JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN DUALS, OKLAHOMA SECOND, MINNESOTA THIRD, ALL WITH 4-1 RECORD IN FINALS POOL
Coming into the 2021 Junior National Greco-Roman Duals, Illinois had won three straight team titles, including the most recent one held in 2019. With the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling last year’s event, it would be a different group of wrestlers tasked with trying to make it four in a row for Illinois. Although it wasn’t easy, and the team needed some help from another team, it was Illinois Junior Greco-Roman which had the championship trophy to pose early Thursday evening. The six teams in the Gold/Silver pool each wrestled each other, with all of the teams getting five duals. After five rounds of action, Illinois Junior Greco-Roman, Minnesota Blue and host Oklahoma Outlaws Blue all finished with identical 4-1 records. In short, the tiebreaker goes like this. The team with the least classification points is third, and that was Minnesota. Then, the head to head win by Illinois over Oklahoma gave Illinois the championship trophy. The craziness all started when the Oklahoma Outlaws Blue opened with a huge 34-29 win over Minnesota Blue in the second round. The dual meet started at 160 pounds, … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/17/Illinois-wins-Junior-Greco-Roman-National-Duals?mc_cid=766ccc313f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
St. John Fisher College Announces the Return of Men’s Wrestling to its Athletic Offerings
ITTSFORD, 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.
“We are grateful for this gift from the Pellicano family. … rest of story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/St-John-Fisher-College-Announces-the-28-7-2021
Women’s Wrestling News (2021) – # 17 {Olympics}
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Getting closer to the 5th Olympics with Women’s Wrestling. As we all know this sport, or group within the sport of wrestling has grown in numbers, in depth, in talent and in acceptance by wrestling fans. It is great to see more wrestling and wrestling coverage. Looking forward to the return of more complete wrestling action in the coming winter season. Keep on Wrestling! E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
Blog # 2952 (7/28/21)
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1 } – 2021 Tokyo Olympics: Hildebrandt confident in her chances to claim gold in Tokyo
The third time was, indeed, a charm, and now Sarah Hildebrandt wants to turn it into gold. “I am excited about it,” she said, with a laugh. “It’s like, finally.” Twice before, Hildebrandt, a 2015 graduate of King University, had competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials, only to fall short of her goal in both 2012 and 2016.
Not this time. “I feel like I have settled into the sense that ‘Ok, I am ready to start training again’ but then I kind of get down for a little while and I just get all excited and giddy again,” said Hildebrandt, in a phone interview last week from the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Hildebrandt completed in the U.S. Olympic Trials on April 3 in Fort Worth Texas, defeating Victoria Anthony twice, 12-2 and 10-0 in technical falls in the grand finals, earning her spot on the Olympic team in the 50-kilogram/110-pound weight class. “Since I had qualified in the weight class for the Olympics Trials I was already sitting in the final,” Hildebrandt said. “There was the tournament leading up to it and the winner of that wrestled me, and then it the best two out of three, and I won in two matches.” … rest of story at https://heraldcourier.com/sports/2021-tokyo-olympics-hildebrandt-confident-in-her-chances-to-claim-gold-in-tokyo/article_65097a44-9d93-11eb-bf77-67e7abd456f4.html?mc_cid=831636c404&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And TOKYO OLYMPICS: Hildebrandt ready for challenge of the Olympics
BRISTOL, Tenn. – For the third time in as many Olympic Games, King University will have at least one participant. Former Tornado women’s wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt will compete in August for the United States of America. Five years ago, Hildebrandt came up short at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, going 2-2 at the event at 53 kilograms. However, during those trials Hildebrandt was hampered by a knee injury. “It has been a battle to stay healthy and keep my body feeling good,” Hildebrandt said. “So every time I step on the mat, I am super in tuned with my body and just grateful to even be doing what I’m doing!”
Fast-forward five years, and Hildebrandt was wrestling at 50 kilograms at the Trials in April to earn her spot on the Olympic Team. In what was one of the deepest weight classes for the Americans, Hildebrandt’s dreams became a reality, when she won the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, earning her spot in Tokyo. “We are so extremely proud of Sarah and her accomplishment of becoming an Olympian,” King head coach Jason Moorman said. “This is the dream of so many, yet so few are able to achieve such a high feat. … rest of story at https://heraldcourier.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-hildebrandt-ready-for-challenge-of-the-olympics/article_eeb55a3e-ea95-11eb-a7a0-575114206205.html?mc_cid=dabacf228e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And For Olympic games, Sarah Hildebrandt turns to familiar face, Penn coach Brad Harper
SOUTH BEND — Ever wonder what Brad Harper is saying at matside as the personal coach of Tokyo Olympics-bound wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt? “Next position,” says Harper, who has been helping to guide Hildebrandt’s grappling career for nearly a decade-and-a-half. “I’m just giving her a subtle little reminder. She knows what the next position is supposed to be. She’s got three, four or five (options).”
► More:Sarah Hildebrandt and Olympic wrestling training tour come to South Bend
► More:Granger native Sarah Hildebrandt wrestles her way to a spot in the 2021 Olympics
Harper should know. He and Hildebrandt met at Penn High School 14 years ago when he was starting as head wrestling coach and she was beginning as a student. He’s been keeping her on-task pretty much ever since, especially since she’s been on the national and international scene.
Next position? “That’s the only one that matters,” Hildebrandt says of Harper’s orders. … rest of story at https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/sports/2021/06/30/penn-wrestling-coach-brad-harper-aids-hildebrandt-olympic-games/7809098002/?mc_cid=3c07ff5887&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – WFS 5TH OLYMPIC GAMES
Team USA
Welcome back Wreaper Wrestlers! It’s almost Tokyo Olympic Games time! As we prepare for August 1 and welcome our new class of Women’s Freestyle (WFS) Olympians, let’s take a moment to remember WFS’s past Olympians! This is the 5th year for Olympic WFS wrestling. The past 4 Games featured 16 wrestlers with 2 2X Olympians (Chun & Bernard), 3 BRONZE medals (Miranda, Miller, Chun), 1 SILVER medal (McMann), and 1 Olympic GOLD medal (Maroulis). Below we’ve listed each Team USA WFS Olympic Game’s Olympians, placements, AND added this year’s newest class. Though, the fate of the Tokyo Games has yet to unfold! … rest of story at https://www.wreaperwrestling.com/wfs-5th-olympic-games/?mc_cid=f4f15d3e7b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – Kayla Miracle is the first out LGBTQ Olympic wrestler, and she’s headed to Tokyo
Kayla Miracle has dreamed of representing Team USA an Olympian since she was 4. She’ll fulfill that dream in Tokyo.
Kayla Miracle has been dreaming of her Olympic moment since she was 4 years old. The wrestler born and raised in Indiana found the sport early in life as her siblings and father competed in and coached wrestling. As she tells us on the latest episode of the Five Rings To Rule Them All podcast, when she started in the sport, women did not compete in the Olympics in wrestling. Throughout high school, she competed against boys. In college wrestling women, she was a four-time Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association College National champion for Campbellsville University in Kentucky.
All the while, she didn’t question her sexual orientation. Yet in recent years she has discovered she is a lesbian, now living in Arizona and dating her girlfriend who’s in the Midwest. Competing in Tokyo this July at the Summer Olympic Games is an opportunity to show that her sport of wrestling is inclusive of LGBTQ people. “With wrestling, we always try to say, ‘any body can wrestle,’” she said. “Shape, size, gender, … rest of story at https://www.outsports.com/2021/6/14/22532670/kayla-miracle-wrestling-olympics-tokyo-team-usa-lgbtq?mc_cid=3ae16b2048&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – ‘A HEART OF GOLD:’ Former Katy Morton Ranch High star Mensah-Stock bound for Olympics
As a junior at Katy Morton Ranch High School, Tamyra Mensah-Stock often declared her ambitions to anyone who cared to listen. “I have a heart of gold!” Mensah-Stock professed, whether it was to her best friend Nicole Benton, Morton Ranch head wrestling coach Mark Balser, or college coaches recruiting her. “I’m going to make it to the Olympics.” That she had barely been wrestling for a year was irrelevant. The considerable weight of her dream was merely a pesky deterrent. “But the process of getting there was unbeknownst to me,” the 28-year-old Mensah-Stock, Morton Ranch Class of 2011, says now. “But I knew it’s what I wanted. I was going to do it any way I could.”
Eleven years later, she did. Mensah-Stock, a Chicago native who grew up in Katy, Texas, is an Olympian, mission accomplished, after repeating as the 68-kilogram (150 pounds) gold medalist at the U.S. Olympic Trials in April to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics later this month, July 23-August 8 in Tokyo. … rest of story at https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2021/07/14/a-heart-of-gold-former-katy-morton-ranch-high-star-mensah-stock-bound-for-olympics/?mc_cid=f4f15d3e7b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – Tamyra Mensah-Stock wrestles for family and wrestling’s growth, but most of all she wants gold
World champion plans ‘to dominate’ Tokyo Olympics after missing out on Rio Games
With 14 seconds left in Tamyra Mensah-Stock’s match with Kennedy Blades at USA Wrestling’s Olympic Trials in April, the referee called out 14 seconds, letting both women know there wasn’t much time left. Mensah-Stock had an 8-1 lead. While that deficit would be tough to make up with points in such a short time, in wrestling, a pin is always possible. Mensah-Stock won the first of the best-of-three matches. Becoming an Olympian was just within her reach. She realized she needed to keep her concentration. She told herself that she could not give up any points, much less a pin. “You don’t finish wrestling until the clock is done. So, I’ve always just had that mindset, ‘Stay ready so you ain’t got to get ready, and just stay focused until the very end,’” Mensah-Stock said. But then the final buzzer sounded. Mensah-Stock had reached her goal. She covered her face with both hands, pointed to the sky and hugged her opponent. During the post-match interview, her face broke into a broad smile, soaked with tears. … rest of story at https://www.ballysports.com/national/news/tamyra-mensah-stock-wrestles-for-family-and-wrestling-s-growth-but-most-of-all-s?mc_cid=7334e288ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Olympic wrestler Tamyra Mensah-Stock equal parts hunter and hugger
Tamyra Mensah-Stock likes to watch zombie movies. She roots for the zombies. “I like being the hunter,” she said.
Spoken like the world champion freestyle wrestler that Mensah-Stock is, albeit likely the most likable, chatty, search-and-destroy grappler stalking the mat at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Mensah-Stock, 28, of Katy arrives in Japan as the defending world champion at 150 pounds. An Olympic gold medal would give her a grand slam of sorts, added to two state championships at Morton Ranch High School and two collegiate titles at Wayland Baptist in Plainview. Women’s wrestling is hardly a glamour sport in the Olympic pecking order, but Mensah-Stock sufficiently impressed NBC Sports producers to rate a two-minute biography short that airs frequently during programming on the company’s Olympic Channel. She talks a good game, quoting the Christian rapper Andy Mineo’s line that “my biggest enemy is me, and even I can’t stop me.” … rest of story at https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/tokyo-olympics/article/Olympic-wrestler-Tamyra-Mensah-Stock-equal-parts-16316994.php?mc_cid=fb87a783fb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – How This Olympian, Five-Time Senior World Champion Is Breaking The Stigma On Female Wrestling
The road to the Toyko Olympics has been a long and treacherous five years for the gold medal hopefuls. Having made the 2020 USA teams, many of them had to try out again for this year’s games, not knowing if they’d qualify again. Therefore, it’s not only crucial for an Olympian to focus on their physical physique, but they also have to remain mentally fit to thrive under the immense stress of being on the global stage. When the athletes acknowledge their fears, it can reduce the additional self-inflicted pressure they put on themselves. U.S. Olympic wrestler and five-time senior world champion, Adeline Gray, serves as a role model for the next generation of female wrestlers and embraces sports psychology as a way to prepare for the games mentally. “There’s been some things that I think everyone feels,” Gray expresses. “They don’t really verbalize them and kind of let them eat away at them. One of the things is, and I think a lot of athletes in general, both men and women deal with is like ‘Is everything going to be the same after I win or lose? Is my family still going to love me? Is my husband going to love me? … rest of story at https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylrobinson/2021/07/06/how-this-olympian-five-time-senior-world-champion-is-breaking-the-stigma-on-female-wrestling/?mc_cid=9b69983a38&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b&sh=e27a8e32e7f9
7 } – OLYMPIC GAMES PREVIEW AT 68 KG IN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE: NO. 1 SEED AND 2019 WORLD CHAMP MENSAH STOCK TO FACE TOUGH FIELD
Tamyra Mensah Stock in the 2019 Final X.
Draw: August 1
Dates of competition: Monday, August 2 and Tuesday, August 3
U.S. representative: Tamyra Mensah Stock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC/USOPTC)
Coming into the Tokyo Olympics, 2019 World champion and 2018 World bronze medalist Tamyra Mensah Stock comes in with great momentum and confidence. Mensah Stock has earned the No. 1 seed for the Olympics. In 2021, after the pandemic shutdown, Mensah Stock has won all of her international events, with titles at the Pan American Championships, the Matteo Pellicone in Italy and the Henri Deglane in France. She has an explosive offense, excellent position and will be considered the favorite to win the gold medal. Mensah Stock knows that she must be at her best because of the quality of her opponents. The two other Senior World champions from the past Olympic quad are in the field, … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/21/Olympic-Games-68-kg-preview-in-womens-freestyle?mc_cid=fd10261731&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And OLYMPIC GAMES PREVIEW AT 57 KG IN WOMEN’S WRESTLING: OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS MAROULIS AND KAWAI HEADLINE FIELD
Draw: August 3
Dates of competition: Wednesday, August 4 and Thursday, August 5
U.S. representative: Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (Sunkist Kids)
It is rare to have two Olympic champions in the same weight at an Olympic Games. It is even rarer when both of the Olympic champions won at the same Olympic Games. It is even stranger when neither of the Olympic champions competed at their new weight at those Olympics. Welcome to 57 kg in the women’s competition at the Tokyo Games.
2016 Olympic champions Helen Maroulis of the United States and Risako Kawai of Japan are in the field. Maroulis won her gold medal in the 2016 Rio Games at 53 kg, while Kawai won her Olympic gold medal in Rio at 63 kg. They are meeting in the middle in Tokyo at 57 kg. Let’s start with Maroulis, who shocked the world in 2016 when she defeated three-time Olympic champion Saori Yoshida in the Olympic finals. It was not such a shocker if you consider Maroulis was herself a 2015 World champion coming in and was reaching her wrestling peak. She became the first American woman to win an Olympic wrestling gold, and the next year, she won her second World title in arguably one of the most impressive performances ever in 2017 in Paris. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/15/Olympic-WFS-57-kg-preview?mc_cid=fb87a783fb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – Adekuoroye Shuts Maroulis Out in Build Up to Tokyo Games
WARSAW, Poland (June 11) — It was the calm before the storm. Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) jumped before the start while Helen MAROULIS (USA) was focused in her customary prayer before the bout. But by the end of it, the Nigerian let out a loud scream as she punched the air after winning her quarterfinal at the Poland Open Ranking Series. Perhaps she would not have done it if it was someone else. But Adekuoroye knew a win over an Olympic champion is no mean feat. What made the win special over Maroulis was that she had lost to her in the previous two meetings. Back in 2018, the USA wrestler won 4-1 at Beat the Streets competition and she won a tight bout six years ago at the Golden Grand Prix, Baku in 2015. “When we saw the entries of the Poland Open competition, we only focused on Helen,” Purity AKUH, Adekuoroye’s coach, said. “We rewatched the two videos where she had lost to Helen and planned.” The plan was successful as Adekuoroye chalked out a shutout 13-0 win over Maroulis in the quarterfinal of the 57kg weight class. … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/adekuoroye-shuts-maroulis-out-build-tokyo-games?mc_cid=84503a987c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – After Heartbreaking Rio Exit, Lappage Focused on Tokyo Olympics
Three hours before her bout at the Rio Olympics, Danielle Lappage made an entry in her personal wrestling journal: “August 18, 2016. 7 a.m. Today is the day I have been dreaming of for over a decade! I will be the first women’s wrestling match of the day against Ukraine- she is tough but I am better. You are an OLYMPIC CHAMPION!” All the sacrifices she had made, all the hard work she’d put in for 13 years was now on the line.
Alas, it was not meant to be. The warm-up hall at the Olympic center in Rio was full of wrestlers gearing up for the big day – the fifth of wrestling at the 2016 Games. Lappage was one of them. Like everyone else, the Canadian was also giving final touches to her preparations. “It was very random. It was a warm-up I had done hundreds of times before,” she says. “I had a lot of pain in my butt.” Lappage lay on the mat, hiding her pain from her competitors, who were training right next to her. … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/after-heartbreaking-rio-exit-lappage-focused-tokyo-olympics?mc_cid=7074fa6854&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – Russia Caps off World Olympic Qualifiers with Three Gold
With Olympic quotas safely secured, the three Russian wrestlers at the World Olympic Qualifiers in Sofia, Bulgaria were ready to clinch the three gold medals as well. While Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) pulled off a controlled 6-0 win over 20-year-old Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) in the 53kg final, her teammates Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) at 57kg and Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) at 62kg claimed the top medal as their opponents injury defaulted. There was little action in the other finals as well as Seema BISLA (IND) won gold at 50kg after Lucia Yamileth YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) decided to not compete after an injury. At 68kg, local girl Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) was crowned the champion after Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) to skip the final due to the same reason. Alla BELINSKA (UKR) was also the beneficiary of a similar situation as Yasemin ADAR (TUR) pulled out of the 76kg due to injury. “I need to forget my past wins and start over the next day and that is why I wrestle for the gold medal,” Khoroshavtseva said after beating Ana 6-0 in the finals. … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/russia-caps-world-olympic-qualifiers-three-gold?mc_cid=6292a9adee&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – Four wrestlers nominated to represent Team Canada at Tokyo 2020
TORONTO – Wrestling Canada Lutte and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Team Canada’s wrestling team nominated to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The four athletes qualified for Team Canada based on their performances at the 2020 Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament that took place from March 13 to 15 in Ottawa. “This past year has challenged us in exceptional ways and I feel more than ever the strength of my community and my team behind me,” said Rio 2016 Olympic champion Erica Wiebe, who will compete in the women’s 76kg event. “It’s the greatest privilege in the world to compete for Team Canada and I will step onto the mats in Tokyo ready to compete.” Danielle Lappage made her Olympic debut alongside Wiebe at Rio 2016 but was forced to forfeit after sustaining a ruptured hamstring while warming up for her opening match. Having taken the time necessary to recover physically and mentally, Lappage came back to competition in 2018 and didn’t miss the podium in any of her international events. That included a 65kg silver at the world championships. … rest of story at https://wrestling.ca/four-wrestlers-nominated-to-represent-team-canada-at-tokyo-2020/?mc_cid=e6c3ba1225&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – Olympic champion wrestler Erica Wiebe prepared for different experience in Tokyo
Erica Wiebe says her path to becoming an Olympic champion wrestler has taught her how to roll with the punches. She’s using that mindset to prepare for a Tokyo Olympics that will look much different than what she originally anticipated. Wiebe was one of four wrestlers nominated to Canada’s Olympic team Wednesday, along with Danielle Lappage, Amar Dhesi and Jordan Steen. Wiebe, who won gold in the women’s 75-kilogram event in her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games, said she has had to adjust her expectations of what the environment will be like when she goes for a second gold in Tokyo. The 2020 Games were pushed back a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and restrictions in Japan mean fans outside the country will not be able to attend the Games. … rest of story at https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2021/05/19/olympic-champion-wrestler-erica-wiebe-prepared-for-different-experience-in-tokyo/?mc_cid=e6c3ba1225&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
NCAA Division I News (2021) – # 24 {Big 10, 3 eyes}
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Back to rounding up and passing along reports of college wrestling teams’ news as we return to the Threee I’s of the Big 10. They are Iowa, Indiana and Illinois. Iowa leads with the most news reports as National Champs so read on and Keep cheering wrestling on! E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2949 (7/25/21)
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1 } – SPENCER LEE NAMED MIKE HOWARD MOST VALUABLE WRESTLER
IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa three-time national champion Spencer Lee has been named winner of the Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler Award. The Iowa wrestling coaching staff announced the 2021 award winners Tuesday.
Lee won the 125-pound NCAA Championship and the 125-pound Big Ten Championship in 2021. He won both the Dan Hodge Trophy and was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year for the second straight season. He was 12-0 in 2021 with 11 bonus-point victories, outscoring his 12 opponents 141-15. Lee was also named winner of the Mike J. McGivern Most Courageous Award. He was 5-0 at the NCAA Championships, outscoring his opponents 59-8 while winning his third national title. He announced after the tournament that he was wrestling without an ACL in either knee. Lee was one of seven Hawkeyes to earn an All-America Award. The NCAA champion Hawkeyes had more All-Americans than any other school at the national tournament. Iowa has crowned at least one All-American in 50 consecutive NCAA Championships. … rest of story at https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2021/04/13/spencer-lee-named-mike-howard-most-valuable-wrestler/?mc_cid=d0f3fda251&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – Saint Mark’s alumnus Bobby Telford helps lead Iowa to NCAA wrestling championship
Saint Mark’s graduate Bobby Telford, a two-time state champion wrestler for the Spartans and all-American, recently helped the Iowa Hawkeyes to the 2021 NCAA wrestling championship. Telford, a 2010 graduate of Saint Mark’s, is an assistant to Tom Brands, for whom he wrestled in Iowa City.
As a Spartan, Telford went 118-37, including 80-1 over his junior and senior seasons. He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2010 state tournament, and he was 8-0 at the Virginia Duals as a junior and senior. Telford also won at Mount Mat Madness, Beast of the East, War on the Shore, the Bethlehem Hurricane Classic, Ray Oliver Invitational and Hurricane Invitational. At Iowa, he was a three-time NCAA all-American and won 108 matches in his career in the 285-pound class. Since graduating from the university in 2015, he has been a member of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, competing both nationally and internationally. He joined the wrestling coaching staff at Iowa in 2018.
… rest of story at https://thedialog.org/local-sports/saint-marks-alumnus-bobby-telford-helps-lead-iowa-to-ncaa-wrestling-championship/?mc_cid=d0f3fda251&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – Michael Kemerer to Return in 2021-22
This evening, Iowa’s NCAA runner-up Michael Kemerer announced, in a well-crafted Twitter video, that he would be suiting up for the Hawkeyes in the 2021-22 season. With Kemerer on board, Tom Brands’ squad 2021 NCAA Championship squad will return in tact and ready to defend their team title. Kemerer has placed at the NCAA Championships on three occasions and was named an All-American following the 2020 season, as well. Despite having a highly decorated career, Kemerer was able to bring home his first Big Ten championship in 2021 and did not lose until the NCAA finals. After five years of competition, Kemerer has amassed an 86-8 record for the Hawkeyes and has never finished lower than fourth at the NCAA Championships. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24501?mc_cid=480d7959b9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – MAT CHAT EPISODE 96 FEATURING TERRY BRANDS IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING AND DOWNLOAD
In episode 96 of Mat Chat with David Mirikitani, David sits down with Iowa’s Associate Head Coach Terry Brands, a two-time World champion and Olympic bronze medalist. David and Terry reflect on the Hawkeye’s title-winning season and the future of the program. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/April/30/Mat-Chat-Episode-96-featuring-Terry-Brands-is-now-available-for-streaming-and-download?mc_cid=6d9f324080&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And PHOTOS: 2021 IOWA WRESTLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION AT KINNICK STADIUM story linked at https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2021/04/17/photos-2021-iowa-wrestling-national-championship-celebration-at-kinnick-stadium-04-17-2021/?mc_cid=82e9baddf8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – Greg Hansen: Iowa-bound Sebastian Robles does his family, school proud
The most honored piece of sports turf in Tucson isn’t McKale Center or Tucson National or Hi Corbett Field. It’s the wrestling room at Sunnyside High School. It’s 34 state championships since 1979. It’s more than 100 individual state champions. It’s an indisputable sports dynasty that has never been matched at any level of Tucson sports. There is no official “first family” of Sunnyside wrestling because there are so many first families. The Cotas, the DeBerrys, the Sanchezes, the Ybarras, the Gallicks and a distinguished list of Blue Devils champions that seems to never end.
And then there’s the family tree of the late Federico and Virginia Robles, which has taken root and spread like a sturdy oak tree protecting the Sunnyside wrestling program. When Sunnyside won its 34th state title in February, senior Sebastian Robles became the latest Blue Devil to win back-to-back state championships. His brother, Rico, won a state championship in 2019. … rest of story at https://tucson.com/sports/greghansen/greg-hansen-iowa-bound-sebastian-robles-does-his-family-school-proud/article_57b994bc-a9e3-11eb-9885-93ae04c9c3a6.html?mc_cid=f2268a753e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – The Daily Iowan names Spencer Lee 2020-21 Male Athlete of the Year
Lee won individual titles at both the Big Ten and NCAA championships in 2020-21.
Following his run at both individual and team national championships in 2020-21, Iowa wrestling’s Spencer Lee has been named Male Athlete of the Year by The Daily Iowan. The DI’s sports staff bestowed the honor upon Lee in unanimity. On March 20, Lee won his third-straight individual national championship, and the Hawkeyes claimed the 24th NCAA wrestling team title in University of Iowa history. With one exception, Lee tacked bonus points onto the Hawkeyes’ team score in each of his matches last year — winning via fall, technical fall, or major decision. The only opponent Lee faced that did not allow him to score bonus points was Arizona State’s Brandon Courtney. In the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship finals at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, Lee defeated Courtney by 7-0 decision to cap his run at a national title. Iowa went on to finish the NCAA tournament 15.5 points clear of all its competition.
Lee finished the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships 5-0, outscoring his opponents, 59-8. Lee is the seventh three-time national champion in UI history. Eight days prior to the start of the NCAA tournament, Lee suffered a torn ACL in his knee. After he defeated Courtney and stood atop the 125-pound podium, Lee revealed his injury. … rest of story at https://dailyiowan.com/2021/06/28/the-daily-iowan-names-spencer-lee-2020-21-male-athlete-of-the-year/?mc_cid=7334e288ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – HAWKEYES ANNOUNCE 2021 HALL OF FAME CLASS
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The National Iowa Varsity Club and the University of Iowa Athletics Department announced its 2021 Hall of Fame class Tuesday. The 32nd Hall of Fame class includes Dan Bachman, Kari Hamel, Kristi Hanks, Frank “Kinney” Holbrook, Kristen Holmes, Roy Marble, Fred Mims, Diane Nukuri, Brad Penrith and Ed Podolak. The 10-person class will be inducted into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 — the evening prior to the Iowa football team’s season opener against Indiana (2:30 p.m., BTN). All Hawkeye athletes who have earned at least one varsity letter award at Iowa are eligible for the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame. Athletes must have completed their eligibility 10 years, and coaches/administrators five years prior to their induction.
Brad Penrith, Wrestling (1984-88)
Brad Penrith won the 126-pound NCAA championship in 1986, leading Iowa to its record-tying ninth straight team title. Penrith was a three-time All-American and three-time Big Ten champion, winning honors and titles from 1986-88. He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year in 1986 and made two United States World Championship Teams, winning a World silver medal in 1991. … rest of story at https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2021/07/06/hawkeyes-announced-2021-hall-of-fame-class/?mc_cid=9d57322631&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – ‘These kids missed a lot’: How IU wrestling’s freshman class grew through struggle
IU wrestling’s 2020 freshman class dealt with a season like no other this year. Head coach Angel Escobedo said this class missed out on a lot because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the team showed resilience and heart in the face of it. Escobedo said his freshmen would typically come to IU for six weeks in the summer to take classes and acclimate to what college was going to be like, but this year they weren’t able to do that. He said they missed out on living in the dorms and being able to interact with other student-athletes and people on campus. “I mean that’s a big part of the college experience,” Escobedo said. “And these kids missed a lot.” … rest of story at https://www.idsnews.com/article/2021/05/iu-wrestling-freshman-class-struggle?mc_cid=2136f7bdf1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – Riley Lefever Named Indiana Wrestling Assistant Coach
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – IU head coach Angel Escobedo has announced the addition of four-time national champion Riley Lefever as an assistant coach for the Indiana wrestling program.
Lefever, who grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, wrestled at Wabash College, where he was a four-time DIII National Champion (three times at 184 and once at 197). “I’m excited to welcome Riley Lefever to our staff,” Escobedo said. “Riley had a tremendous career at Wabash College, becoming only the second wrestler in DIII history to win four NCAA titles. Riley also brings international experience to his resume as he trained at Penn State for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. Riley will work with our upper weights and will look to help them achieve their goals on and off the mat.” Lefever posted a 158-6 record at Wabash and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He was a team captain and a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American. Lefever earned two NCAA DIII Most Domination Wrestler awards and was also a junior national team member in freestyle. Lefever graduated from Wabash in 2017 and moved to State College, Pa., to train freestyle with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club for the last five years. … rest of story at https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2021/6/28/riley-lefever-named-indiana-wrestling-assistant-coach.aspx?mc_cid=16b19c4117&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – Mike Poeta Named Fighting Illini Head Wrestling Coach
Champaign, Ill. — Mike Poeta, who established himself as one of Illinois’s all-time greatest wrestlers and top assistant coaches in the nation as a member of the Fighting Illini staff, was named head wrestling coach today by Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. “We are thrilled to welcome Mike Poeta to our Fighting Illini head coaching family,” Whitman said. “Mike is a native of our great state, is a proud University of Illinois alumnus, and is one of the most decorated wrestlers in our program’s rich history. From our first conversations about this position, Mike impressed us with his leadership skills, energy, and vision for the future of the Fighting Illini wrestling program. He has unrivaled passion for Illinois Wrestling, and we are confident that enthusiasm will carry forward into his recruiting and coaching. “Mike has first-hand appreciation for, and will build upon, the longstanding tradition of wrestling success built by Mark Johnson and Jim Heffernan over the past three decades. Congratulations and welcome to Mike, Callie, and their four children for joining us on this journey and leading Illinois Wrestling to a bright, successful future.” … rest of story at https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/4/21/mike-poeta-named-fighting-illini-head-wrestling-coach.aspx?mc_cid=d92d6a4129&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Poeta’s goal is to elevate Illinois wrestling
CHAMPAIGN — The coaching search process to find Jim Heffernan’s replacement as the leader of the Illinois wrestling program was different this time around for athletic director Josh Whitman. Whitman had hired eight other coaches — turning over the football job twice — and reorganized the track and field program since he returned to Illinois in 2016. … rest of story at https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/poetas-goal-is-to-elevate-illinois-wrestling/article_c32d96ee-a4fd-5aa8-8a71-fcdbc4d51b87.html?mc_cid=391a23a860&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Head Coach Mike Poeta Introductory Press Conference … story at https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/4/22/press-conference-illinois-wrestling-press-conference.aspx?mc_cid=a0d7657398&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – Poeta begins new chapter in wrestling program
When Mike Poeta was introduced to the Illinois faithful as the new wrestling coach, he knew he had big shoes to fill. However, all early signs are pointing to the fact that Poeta was a fantastic hire for the future of the team. “I am honored and consider myself extremely lucky to be standing up here as the next head wrestling coach for the University of Illinois,” Poeta said. “It was a dream of mine to come here as a wrestler, it was a dream of mine to come back here as an assistant coach and, now, an absolute dream to be the next head coach.” Poeta recently took over for former head coach Jim Heffernan, who spent a combined 29 years with Illinois wrestling. During his tenure, Heffernan established the Illini as one of the strongest programs in the country, amassing 13 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and coaching 11 national champions. … rest of story at https://dailyillini.com/sports/mens-sports/wrestling/2021/04/25/poeta-begins-new-chapter-in-wrestling-program/?mc_cid=9e2c82acd7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And After 49 years, Heffernan ready to step away
Jim Heffernan knew it was time. One year shy of half of a century of involvement in wrestling as a competitor and coach, Heffernan announced last week that he was calling IT a career. The four-time collegiate All-American and 1986 NCAA wrestling champion for the University of Iowa is stepping down after spending the past 29 seasons at the University of Illinois, the first 17 as an assistant coach the last 12 as the Fighting Illini head coach. “My energy levels are starting to drop a little bit. Things are starting to become a chore and that’s not what this has been for 34 years for me,’’ Heffernan said Friday. “This has been fun. It’s been enjoyable. It’s been my passion, my life’s work. But, it’s starting to become work. I don’t want my energy level to affect the program and where the program is going.’’ … rest of story at https://qctimes.com/sports/college/wrestling/after-49-years-heffernan-ready-to-step-away/article_529fd0a6-a8cb-5af3-8e58-f4244957d0a8.html?mc_cid=0dc666bfba&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – Poeta Adds Ed Ruth to Coaching Staff
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois head wrestling coach Mike Poeta announced the addition of Ed Ruth to his staff on Thursday, July 1. Ruth will serve as an assistant coach with the Fighting Illini wrestling program. “I am so excited to announce the addition of Ed Ruth to the Illinois wrestling staff,” said Poeta. “Ed’s wrestling credentials speak for themself and he will go down as one of the greatest college wrestlers of all time. Not only does he bring world class wrestling skills to get our guys to another level, but after getting to know him more, I saw how much of a role model and mentor he will be. He’ll be great at growing our wrestlers as young men and assisting them in reaching their wrestling goals.” Ruth, a native of Harrisburg, Pa., joins the Illini wrestling staff following several years as a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter. Ruth wrestled collegiately at Penn State from 2010-2014, where he was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time Big Ten champion at 184-pounds. He also garnered a 136-3 overall record during his career as a Nittany Lion. Following his time in State College, Ruth was a representative for team USA at the 2014 World Wrestling Championships and was also a Silver Medalist at the 2015 USA World Team Trials. … rest of story at https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/7/1/wrestling-poeta-adds-ed-ruth-to-coaching-staff.aspx?mc_cid=a1dbf0c0e5&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Keep Fresno State Wrestling
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Passing along this opportunity to sign a petition from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Urge all wrestling fans to join in and support college wrestling in California and the rest of the U.S.A. Keep Wrestling Onward and Upward. Contact us at martinkfleming@takedownreport 7/27/21
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| Dear Wrestling World, You can help bring back Fresno State State wrestling.The pandemic forced Fresno State to make the tough decision to discontinue three varsity athletic programs, but today there is an opportunity to reset and plan for a better future. A group of Fresno State alumni and supporters have just launched a petition urging Fresno State’s new president, Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, to work with students, alumni, and supporters to reinstate all three varsity teams: Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Wrestling and Men’s Tennis. |
| There is a long list of good reasons to bring back the teams. Fresno State is an important part of California’s Central Valley and its athletics programs provide vital opportunities for high school students to obtain a college education. In fact, across all three NCAA divisions, wrestling has the 2nd largest percentage of First Generation College Bound Students. In California, there are over 22,000 high school boys that wrestle, with only 6 intercollegiate teams in the state. The Fresno State programs also represent a commitment the school has made to the region; 57% of athletes on the teams scheduled for elimination are from the San Joaquin Valley. Reinstating the teams reaffirms the strong connection between the community and the area’s top university. I hope you join with me, sign the petition, and urge President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval to work with students, alumni, and supporters to reinstate Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Wrestling and Men’s Tennis.Sincerely, Mike Moyer,Executive Director National Wrestling Coaches Association |
Olympic Wrestling – 2021
TDR Editor’s Notes ; The delayed and long anticipated 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will start at the end of the month. Well the wrestling parts of it will begin. For us hardcore fans all of the other events this week are preliminary events in order to build the pagentry for the first matches. Keep on Wrestling! E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2950 (7/26/21)
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1 } – NBC RELEASES OLYMPICS TV SCHEDULE; COMPLETE WRESTLING COVERAGE WILL AIR ON THE OLYMPIC CHANNEL
NBC released its Tokyo Olympics Listings today, and there is some great news for wrestling fans. Every day of the Olympic wrestling competition will receive extensive coverage on The Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. Starting on Sunday, August 1, wrestling will be on The Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA every single day through Saturday, August 7. Except for the first day on August 1, when tennis is also on this channel, wrestling is the only sport that appears on The Olympic Channel listings for those days. Wrestling coverage also appears on the coverage plan for USA Network a number of days and one day on CNBC, in addition to complete coverage on The Olympic Channel.
For the latest comprehensive Olympic TV schedule information, please visit NBC OLYMPICS SCHEDULE During the Tokyo Olympics, NBCOlympics.com will have the most up-to-date listings and information from NBC. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/09/NBC-Olympic-wrestling-coverage-on-The-Olympic-Channel?mc_cid=4c85391443&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – 97kg Olympic Preview – Will Kyle Snyder Take Out Sadulaev For Olympic Gold?
Kyle Snyder is Team USA’s Olympian at 97kg in a field that includes 2 past world and Olympic champions and 7 other world/Olympic medalists. This 97kg Olympic preview will give an overview of Snyder’s senior level career and explore the careers of each of his potential competitors in Tokyo. We’ll also break down the competitors into tiers based on medal contenders, dark horses and long shots at the Olympic Games. … rest of story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/7098979-97kg-olympic-preview-will-kyle-snyder-take-out-sadulaev-for-olympic-gold?mc_cid=4c85391443&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Olympic Wrestler Kyle Snyder on His Rivalry with Russia’s Abdulrashid Sadulaev Playing Out at Games
Kyle Snyder is ready for the Russia vs. U.S.A. Olympic showdown. The freestyle wrestler will defend his gold medal in the 97kg at the Tokyo Games in just a few weeks, which means potentially facing off against his documented rival, Russia’s Abdulrashid Sadulaev. … rest of story at https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/olympic-wrestler-kyle-snyder-rivalry-180726833.html?mc_cid=e094d4aecd&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – Local teacher is set to referee upcoming Summer Olympic wrestling
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. | For Schuylkill Haven native Sammy Julian, a longtime teacher, coach and wrestling official – it’s an honor to be invited onto the biggest stage in the sport not just once – but twice. “It was incredible. I was beyond excited,” said Julian. “At the age of 35, to say that I was selected twice, definitely makes me more motivated to continue along and maybe see how many I can get.” After working the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio – Julian is preparing to head to Tokyo for the rescheduled games in late July. It’s a unique path he’s been on for quite some time. … rest of story at https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/local-teacher-is-set-to-referee-upcoming-summer-olympic-wrestling/article_9d33074e-c315-11eb-a87f-37a0a8151f0b.html?mc_cid=4557ffe1b6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – DIGITAL VERSION OF JUNE 2021 USA WRESTLER MAGAZINE POSTED, WITH OLYMPIC TEAM FEATURES AND MORE
The digital version of the 2021 USA Wrestler, the official magazine of USA Wrestling, has been posted for the wrestling community to enjoy. This edition has also been produced in a printed format, and will be mailed to current members of USA Wrestling directly to their homes later in June. Click here for June 2021 USA Wrestler
Check out feature stories on Olympians Gable Steveson (men’s freestyle), John Stefanowicz (Greco-Roman) and the six-athlete U.S. women’s freestyle Olympic team are among the stories to enjoy. There are biographies of all 15 members of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team included in the issue, as well as a full two-page photo of the winners of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling in Fort Worth, Texas. A feature with highlights from the U.S. Olympic Team Trials is included as well as a feature on U.S. Cadet World Team member Jim Mullen. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/02/Digital-version-of-June-2021-USA-Wrestler-available?mc_cid=2fffafa367&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – NBCU Details Tokyo Olympics Coverage Plans
There will be some 7,000 hours of programming between two broadcast networks (NBC and Telemundo), six cable channels (USA, CNBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel, Golf Channel, and Universo) and multiple digital platforms. With the Tokyo Olympics still on the schedule to kick off in late July, NBCUniversal is outlining its coverage plans for the games, totaling some 7,000 hours of programming between two broadcast networks (NBC and Telemundo), six cable channels (USA, CNBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel, Golf Channel, and Universo) and multiple digital platforms. Among the notable programming moves this time around: NBC will broadcast the opening ceremony live for the first time in the early morning of July 23, to be followed by the Today show. The network will air the ceremony again in primetime. … rest of story at https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/nbcuniversal-tokyo-olympics-tv-plans-1234963909/?mc_cid=7074fa6854&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – Gophers’ Gable Steveson ready to take on the world in Tokyo
The Gopher heavyweight wrestler has already won a Big Ten title, an NCAA title, gold at the Pan Am Championships and now hopes to win gold in Tokyo.
MINNEAPOLIS — He talks the talk and he definitely walks the walk “Now its like a signature,” Gable Steveson laughs “Ya’ll wanna see a backflip?” Steveson, an Apple Valley native, has had quite a year. The University of Minnesota junior heavyweight went undefeated, won a Big Ten Title, a national title and a spot on the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team. “It’s crazy to sit back and think, ‘Wow, I am on the Olympic team,'” Steveson said. “And I am only 20 years old.” Steveson, who just turned 21 on Monday, is a phenom. His style, simply to dominate you. And he’s really good at it. “I just have that confidence that I can beat anybody by 10 points or by 15 points, it doesn’t matter who it is,” said Steveson. “It’s do or die when you step out on the mat, (and) it’s not my time to die, it’s yours.” And while he’s the best heavyweight in the U.S. – the world is a different stage. Preparing for an Olympics, against wrestlers you don’t normally see, can be tough. … rest of story at https://www.kare11.com/article/sports/olympics/steveson-ready-to-take-on-the-world-in-tokyo/89-4f9292f0-28b2-4a8c-a045-c0f0f8aa4e82?mc_cid=4557ffe1b6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Wrestling-Five to watch at the Tokyo Olympics
June 24 (Reuters) – Five wrestlers to watch out for at the Tokyo Olympics:
ABDULRASHID SADULAEV (RUSSIA)
Abdulrashid Sadulaev will headline Tokyo 2020 as a returning Olympic gold medallist, after bagging the gold at 86-kg in Rio. Now competing at 97-kg, his fiercest rival will be defending Olympic champion Kyle Snyder of the United States. The duo have wrestled twice in three years, splitting the outcomes. Nicknamed the “Russian Tank,” Sadulaev has won four World championships in the last six titles. With an official record of 131 wins against two losses, the 25-year-old wrestler will have the spotlight on the mat, and on Instagram, where he is the most popular athlete in his sport with more than one million followers. … rest of story at https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/wrestling-five-watch-tokyo-olympics-2021-06-24/?mc_cid=43f68cbfb0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Wrestling preview who will be grappling for gold
Wrestling continues to be an Olympic mainstay at Tokyo 2020, with 18 Gold medals up for grabs. For all your Olympic coverage, stay tuned to The Inner Sanctum’s Olympic hub and the Olympics Central.
Tokyo 2020 will see wrestling once again be a key Olympic sport. The Tokyo games will see two disciplines of the event, the traditional Greco-Roman wrestling, and the freestyle. Whilst men can compete in both, women may only compete in the freestyle competition. One of the oldest sports of all time, wrestling has been a staple of the Olympics since ancient times. The term Greco-Roman comes from the ideas that the sport is similar to that of ancient times. In some ways, this is true, with the addition of women to Olympic wrestling in 2004 has been the most significant change. While there are two styles of wrestling, both have the same goal. Without grabbing at clothing, the goal is to get your opponent’s shoulders onto the mat. The difference being in Greco-Roman, competitors may only use upper bodies, where freestyle is exactly that, free for competitors to use any part of their bodies.
Tokyo 2020 The Rules
The sport is fought on a circular mat that is 9 meters wide. … rest of story at https://www.theinnersanctum.com.au/tokyo-2020-olympics-wrestling-preview-who-will-be-grappling-for-gold/?mc_cid=4a8e8b94a2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And WrestleTokyo Olympic Games Entries
CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (July 7) — United World Wrestling has confirmed the 289 final entries and the top-four seeds for the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games. Wrestlers from 60 different nations, along with Aker AL OBAIDI (EOR), who will compete on the IOC’s Refugee Olympic Team, will compete for Olympic gold at the Makuhari Messe August 1-7. The final entry list includes the names of the athletes who qualified their respective nations for the Olympic Games and who have been confirmed by their NOCs. The changes between the athlete who qualified their NOC’s spot and the athlete registered by his/her NOC are listed in bold. Please note: The Late Athlete Replacement (LAR) process is in place, which means the current registered athletes could still be replaced. As the entries sit, there are 11 Rio Olympic champions who’ll be looking to defend their titles in Tokyo. Freestyle and women’s wrestling each have a quartet of ’16 champions, while Greco-Roman returns three champions … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/wrestletokyo-olympic-games-entries?mc_cid=9d57322631&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – UWW Releases Seeds for Men’s Freestyle at the Olympics
Seeds for Men’s Freestyle at the 2020 Olympics
United World Wrestling has announced top-four seeds for each of the six weights for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Seeds for the other two styles will be forthcoming, as well.
57 kg
1. Stevan Micic (Serbia)
2. Zavur Uguev (Russia)
3. Suleyman Atli (Turkey)
4. Kumar Ravi (India)
65 kg
1. Gadzhimurad Rashidov (Russia)
2. Bajrang Punia (India)
… rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24700?mc_cid=7f42ab4fd0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Olympic Seeds Are Set – Brutal Draws Loom For Team USA
Story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/7078801-olympic-seeds-are-set-brutal-draws-loom-for-team-usa?mc_cid=ddbb246640&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – U.S. OLYMPIC WRESTLING TEAM DETERMINED AND BUSY PREPARING FOR OLYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020
The 2020 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was determined at a successful U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, April 2-3, which was covered live on NBCSN. The USA team competing in Tokyo will consist of 15 athletes (six in women’s freestyle, five in men’s freestyle and four in Greco-Roman). The USA competed in the final qualifying event, the World Olympic Games Qualifier in Sofia, Bulgaria, in early May, and was unsuccessful in qualifying at the remaining three Olympic weight classes (65 FS, 77 GR, 130 GR).
The United States trails only Russia (17) with the number of qualifiers for the Tokyo Games, and will be bringing a larger team to Tokyo than it qualified for Rio 2016 (14). Training has been taking place in a variety of locations for each of the Olympic teams, with a combined Olympic camp for all three styles in Alpharetta, Ga., in June, as well as training in Colorado Springs. The final three Olympic training camps will be held in State College, Pa., (men’s freestyle), South Bend, Ind., (women’s freestyle) and Alpharetta, Ga. (Greco-Roman). The acclimation camp for the teams in Japan will be held in Nakatsugawa, Japan, prior to the Olympic Games competition, which will be held in Tokyo, August 1-7. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/23/Olympic-Team-announcement?mc_cid=43f68cbfb0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – UWW RELEASES WRESTLING SEEDS FOR TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES; GRAY AND MENSAH-STOCK ARE NO. 1, SNYDER AT NO. 2
United World Wrestling released the seeds for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 wrestling competition on Twitter this week. The top four seeds for the Olympic competition in each weight class was posted, based upon the results of a seeding system which featured the 2019 World Championships, continental championships and specific UWW Ranking Events. Four seeds will be separated in each weight class in Tokyo. All of those listed are from nations which have qualified to compete at the specific weight class. A pair of U.S. women’s freestyle stars will get the No. 1 seed, five-time World champion and two-time Olympian Adeline Gray at 76 kg and 2019 World champion and Olympian Tamyra-Mensah-Stock. Getting a No. 2 seed in men’s freestyle is 2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Kyle Snyder at 97 kg. The United States has qualified to compete in 15 weight classes in Tokyo, the second-most in the world behind only Russia with 17. The other 12 U.S. Tokyo Olympians did not score enough points in the seeding series to reach the top four. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/25/UWW-releases-Olympic-Games-seeds?mc_cid=95cb484a12&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And OLYMPIC GAMES PREVIEW AT 50 KG IN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE: WORLD CHAMPS STADNIK, SUSAKI, SUN TOP FIELD
Draw: Thursday, August 5
Dates of competition: Friday, August 6 and Saturday, August 7
U.S. representative: Sarah Hildebrandt (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/USOPTC)
This weight class has its share of past World and Olympic medalists, and is headlined by a pair of two-time World champions, Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan and Yui Susaki of Japan. Stadnik is the most recent World champion, claiming the 2019 World title to go along with her 2009 World title. She also earned the No. 1 seed. It is amazing that there was a 10-year gap between her two gold medals, but this is an amazing athlete. Stadnik already has won three Olympic medals, a 2008 bronze, plus silvers in 2012 and 2016. She also boasts five-total World medals. In 2021, she was competing well with wins at the European Championships and the Poland Open. It would be a great story if her fourth Olympic medal was gold. 2017 and 2018 World champion Yui Susaki of Japan was not Japan’s entry at the 2019 Worlds, when Yuki Irie beat her out for the spot. Irie did not qualify Japan there, missing the top six at Worlds, … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/09/Olympic-Games-50-kg-women-preview?mc_cid=4c85391443&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – Nate Engel To Coach At Tokyo Olympic Games
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State wrestling assistant coach Nate Engel will serve as a personal coach for Olympian Adeline Gray as part of the USA Wrestling delegation at the Tokyo Olympics.
“I could not be more excited to go to the Olympic Games and help Adeline (Gray) accomplish her goals,” said Engel. “We have had a lot of fun this summer at training camps, and Adeline has been working so hard at each camp. She is truly one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the history of our sport. I want to thank my wife, Chris Pendleton, Isaiah Martinez, Dan Bartholomae, and USA Wrestling for this opportunity.”
Engel will coach world-ranked No. 1 and five-time world champion Gray who wrestles freestyle at 76kg. “The Olympics are the absolute pinnacle of our sport, and to be able to coach there is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” … rest of story at https://osubeavers.com/news/2021/7/9/wrestling-nate-engel-to-coach-at-tokyo-olympic-games.aspx?mc_cid=4c85391443&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
International Wrestling News (2021) – # 10
TDR Editor’s Notes ; There have been and will continue to be many International style wrestling events this summer before and after the Olympics. Read the sampling of some of those events in the aricles below and explore onward. Keep Wrestling onward and upward. E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2947 (7/24/21)
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1 } – LIST OF OLYMPIC GAMES WRESTLING QUALIFIERS AFTER FINAL QUALIFIER HELD: RUSSIA HAS MOST (17), WITH USA NEXT (15) Below is a complete list of wrestling qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, as of May 9. The list includes a review of all three disciplines combined, but is also broken down by individual style and weight class. In addition, total number of qualifiers per nation is included. The qualification process for the Tokyo Games in wrestling completed this past weekend, with the World Olympic Games Qualifier in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Russia leads all nations with 17 Olympic qualifiers in the 18 weight classes. Russia has full six-athlete teams in men’s and women’s freestyle, plus five wrestlers in Greco-Roman. The United States is in second with 15 qualifiers, with a full six-athlete women’s freestyle team, five in men’s freestyle and four in Greco-Roman. The next two nations on the list are Cuba and host Japan with 12 qualifiers. China, Iran and Kazakhstan is next with 11 qualifiers. Coming in with 10 qualifiers are Tunisia and Ukraine. Five nations have full six-athlete women’s freestyle teams: … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/10/Updated-Olympic-Games-Qualifiers?mc_cid=812142449d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – The college careers of the 2020 US Olympic wrestlers
The 2020 U.S. Olympic wrestling team is one of the most star-studded groups to ever represent the country on the international stage. The lineup includes Olympic champions, world champions, NCAA champions, WCWA champions and future stars. Here’s what these individuals accomplished at the collegiate level and how those experiences shaped them into the Olympians they are now. … rest of story at https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2021-05-10/college-careers-2020-us-olympic-wrestlers?mc_cid=812142449d&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – UPDATED LIST OF QUALIFIERS FOR 2021 U.S. SENIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS AS OF MAY 18, 2021
With the majority of the field already determined, USA Wrestling is listing the qualifiers for the 2021 Senior World Team Trials, which will determine the U.S. team to compete in the 2021 Senior World Championships in Oslo, Norway, October 2-10. The Senior World Team Trials will be held in September, at a date and location to be announced. This event will include all 10 of the World Championship weight classes in all three Olympic disciplines – men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. All of the athletes who qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling in Fort Worth, Texas, automatically qualify for the 2021 World Team Trials. In addition, there are a number of additional qualifying events for this event which have been held in recent months, as determined by the 2021 World Team Trials Selection Procedures. Men’s Freestyle Selection Procedures
Women’s Freestyle Selection Procedures
Greco-Roman Selection Procedures
Please note from the procedures: “Any 2020 Tokyo Olympic Medalist, if competing at the same weight, will receive the automatic selection to the 2021 World Team at the same weight.” The Olympic medalist must declare their intent by August 15. In all other cases, the World Team Trials will be held to determine the 2021 World Team member. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/18/2021-World-Team-Trials-qualifiers?mc_cid=ad9587b873&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – The US Men’s Freestyle Medal Drought at 65/66kg Since 2006
At the 2006 World Wrestling Championships in Guangzhou, China, Bill Zadick won a gold medal at 66 kg. Along the way, he scored victories over four-time World medalist Genadry Garzon (Cuba) and four-time World/Olympic medalist Otar Tushishvili (Georgia). Not only did the current U.S. senior freestyle coach pick up the biggest medal of his career, but he also became the last American to bring home a medal at either 66 or 65 kg. Since 2006, the U.S. has sent eight different wrestlers to the World Championships and the Olympic Games at the weight classes. The eight wrestlers have combined for a 9-16 record and failed to bring home a medal.
The upcoming Olympics will continue the streak for the country. Jordan Oliver had an electric performance at the Olympic Trials where he bested Nick Lee, Yianni Diakomihalis and Joey McKenna. However, the former Oklahoma State wrestler still needed to qualify the weight for the Games. Oliver ultimately finished one match short of qualification as he dropped a 3-2 decision against two-time World medalist Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Poland) in the semifinals of the World Qualification Tournament. The U.S. has certainly been sending quality wrestlers to these tournaments. The eight representatives combined for 14 national titles and 27 All-American seasons on the collegiate level. The competition has also been tough at the Trials. During this stretch, a variety of quality wrestlers failed to make teams, including names like Cary Kolat, Kendall Cross, Zack Esposito, Darrion Caldwell, James Green, Aaron Pico, Jayson Ness and Kellen Russell. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24605?mc_cid=e6c3ba1225&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – U.S. DRAWS SET IN ALL THREE STYLES FOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GUATEMALA
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The draw in all three styles for the Senior Pan American Championships have been determined tonight. The Greco-Roman competition will be held Thursday and Friday. Women’s freestyle is set for Friday and Saturday. Men’s freestyle will be held Saturday and Sunday. There will be 11 members of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team competing for Team USA this weekend, as part of their preparation for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in early August. In Greco-Roman, 2020 Olympian Ildar Hafizov and John Stefanowicz will compete. Hafizov opens with Joshua Alfonso Medina of Peru. Stefanowicz was drawn into Group A, where he faces opponents from Honduras and Colombia. There are five 2020 U.S. Olympians competing in women’s freestyle, including three World champions. Five-time World champion Adeline Gray has a five-athlete roundrobin at 76 kg, with opponents from Ecuador, El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil.
2019 World champions Jacarra Winchester and Tamrya Mensah-Stock also will compete. Winchester is moving up a weight class to 55 kg, and will have four opponents in her round robin from Guatemala, Chile, Canada and the Dominican Republic. Mensah-Stock opens with Alexia Rose Sherland of Canada. The other U.S. Olympian on the women’s team, Kayla Miracle is in Group A, where she will wrestle opponents from Brazil and Colombia. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/26/Draws-for-Senior-Pan-American-Championships?mc_cid=9bb22a2b55&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – U23 MEN’S FREEESTYLE WORLD TEAM TRIALS PREVIEW
The men’s freestyle U23 World Team Trials take place Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb. The tournament is loaded with some of the nation’s top college talent, who will all be vying for a spot to represent the Red, White and Blue in Belgrade, Serbia this November. The tournament will be streamed in its entirety live on FloWrestling.
57 kg
Arizona State’s NCAA finalist Brandon Courtney leads the way at 57 kg but will face steep competition from a deep field. Pat McKee, who finished third at the NCAA Championships for Minnesota and Taylor LaMont, who finished sixth for Utah Valley, will be both be in the hunt, as will 2019 Princeton All-American Pat Glory. 2018 Cadet World Champion Matt Ramos, who is teammates with McKee at Minnesota, is another wrestler to keep an eye on. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/27/U23-mens-freestyle-preview?mc_cid=f239659e8a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – U23 GRECO-ROMAN WORLD TEAM SET AFTER BEST-OF-THREE FINALS AT U23 NATIONALS
Lincoln, Neb. – Day one of the U23 World Team Trials is in the books, and the 2021 U23 Greco-Roman World Team is set. Today’s action concluded with the best-of-three finals to determine who will represent the U.S. in Belgrade, Serbia this November. All ten World Team members won their series in two-straight matches, with no one needing a tie-breaking third match. The lightest two weight classes will be manned by members of the Brunson Utah Valley RTC, with Taylor LaMont earning the nod at 55 kg and Dylan Gregerson claiming the title at 60 kg. Both wrestlers won U23 National titles in 2020 up a weight class, with LaMont competing at 60 kg and Gregerson at 63 kg. LaMont, who made his record-setting eighth age-group World Team, defeated No. 2 on the National Team at 55 kg Brady Koontz, 3-1 and 4-0. Gregerson made his first World Team, defeating Dylan Koontz, twin brother of Brady, 7-5 and 9-6. The next three weight classes feature wrestlers from Northern Michigan University. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/27/U23-Greco-Roman-World-Team-set-after-best-of-three-finals-at-U23-Nationals?mc_cid=f239659e8a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – XAVIER JOHNSON AND JAMEL JOHNSON WIN GOLD MEDALS; FOUR OTHERS CLAIM SILVER AT PAN AM CHAMPIONSHIPS
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The USA collected two gold medals and four silver medals to wrap up the first day of Greco-Roman competition at the 2021 Pan American Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Winning gold medals tonight were Marines athletes Xavier Johnson (67 kg) and Jamel Johnson (72 kg). Xavier Johnson, an Olympic Trials runner-up and Senior Nationals champion, dominated his way to gold today, giving the fans a show with multiple five-point throws throughout the competition. In the finals, he finished off Enyer Feliciano of the Dominican Republic in just 1:12, scoring a two-pointer, followed by a lift for four points and finally a huge throw for five to win 11-0, securing his first international gold medal. Overall, Xavier went 4-0, outscoring his competition 38-3. Xavier’s Marines teammate Jamel Johnson also picked up a gold medal on Thursday, winning the 72 kg bracket. Getting the call to compete just last week, Jamel overcame a short turnaround as well as a second-round injury earlier in the day. Competing in a four-man round-robin bracket, he went 3-0. In the finals, he faced 2018 Pan Am silver medalist Gerardo Oliva Montes of Peru, who got out to a quick 5-0 lead with an early four-pointer. However, Jamel stormed back with a four-point throw near the edge to close the gap. In the second period, he added another four-pointer to take lead and held on for an 8-5 victory. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/27/GR-Pan-Am-2?mc_cid=f239659e8a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – USA SWEEPS PAN AM GOLD MEDALS ON FRIDAY WITH THREE IN GRECO AND FOUR IN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE, GRECO WINS TEAM TITLE
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The USA swept all seven gold medals at today’s Pan American Championships, winning three in Greco-Roman and four in women’s freestyle on Friday in Guatemala City. Three Americans secured their titles earlier in the day in round-robin action, and the other four won in the finals session.
GRECO-ROMAN
At 77 kg in Greco-Roman, Olympic Trials runner-up Peyton Walsh came away with a gold medal in his Pan American debut. In the finals, Walsh took out two-time Senior Pan Am finalist Joilson de Brito Ramos Junior of Brazil in a tight bout. Walsh was up 5-0 early with the help of an exciting four-point toss, but in the second period, de Brito Ramos Junior stormed back with a chance on top in par terre but it was not enough. Ultimately, Walsh held on for a 5-5 criteria win as de Brito Ramos Junior was dinged with a caution earlier in the bout. Senior Nationals champion Ben Provisor went 2-0 in his 82 kg three-man bracket, … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/28/Pan-Am-GR-WFS-2?mc_cid=5196172c07&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – USA Sweeps Gold Medals at Day Two of #WrestleGuatemala as Honduras’ Mejia Earns OW
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The USA won gold medals in all seven weights contested on Friday, including three titles in Greco-Roman and four titles in women’s freestyle at the 2021 Pan American Championships in Guatemala City.
Providing an outstanding performance that outshone the rest, Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON) was named awarded the Golden Boot as the Greco-Roman Outstanding Wrestler for his Thursday-night gold-medal win at 97 kg. Winning in Greco-Roman was Peyton WALSH (USA), Ben PROVISOR (USA) and John STEFANOWICZ (USA). At 77kg, Walsh defeated two-time Senior Pan Am finalist Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) in a hotly contested match. Walsh led 5-0 at the break, but de Brito Ramos Junior fought back hard in the second period, scoring five points. Ultimately, Walsh held on for a 5-5 win on criteria as de Brito Ramos Junior had a caution against him. Two-time Olympian Provisor recorded two technical superiority wins, 9-0 and 8-0, in his three-man round robin to claim the 82kg title. This is Provisor’s third Pan Am gold medal with his first coming in 2017 in Greco-Roman and his second coming in 2018 in men’s freestyle. … rest of story at https://uww.org/article/usa-sweeps-gold-medals-day-two-wrestleguatemala-honduras-mejia-earns-ow?mc_cid=5196172c07&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – THE U23 MEN’S FREESTYLE WORLD TEAM IS SET AFTER THE BEST-OF-THREE FINALS AT U23 NATIONALS
Lincoln, Neb. – The U23 Nationals wrapped up this afternoon, closing the tournament out with the best-of-three men’s freestyle finals. The ten champions will have the opportunity to represent the Red White and Blue at the U23 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia this November. 2019 Princeton All-American Pat Glory took home the tournament’s outstanding wrestler award after an impressive showing in the 57 kg finals. Glory downed Taylor LaMont in two-straight matches, 8-0 and 10-0. On Friday, LaMont made the U23 Greco-Roman World Team at 55 kg.
At 61 kg, Northwestern All-American Chris Cannon defeated stud high school junior Jesse Mendez in three matches. Cannon dominated Mendez in match one with a 13-2 technical fall. Mendez clawed his way back into the series with a tight 9-8 victory in match 2. Match 3 ended unceremoniously, with Mendez going down with a leg injury 32 seconds into the first period. Mendez, a 2021 Junior World Team member, was unable to continue. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/29/U23-MFS-World-Team?mc_cid=cd4ee7a97a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – 12 OLYMPIANS HIGHLIGHT U.S. SENIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS ROSTER
The roster for the 2021 Senior Pan American Championships is finalized! The USA is sending 29 athletes, including 12 of the 15 U.S. wrestling Olympians, to the continental championships, set for May 27-30 in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Olympians planning to compete are Kyle Dake (74 kg), David Taylor (86 kg), Kyle Snyder (97 kg) and Gable Steveson (125 kg) in men’s freestyle, Ildar Hafizov (60 kg), Alex Sancho (67 kg), and John Stefanowicz (87 kg) in Greco-Roman, Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg), Jacarra Winchester (55 kg), Kayla Miracle (62 kg), Tamyra Mensah-Stock (68 kg) and Adeline Gray (76 kg) in women’s freestyle. Winchester is the Olympian at 53 kg but will compete in Guatemala at 55 kg. Jesse Porter (GR 77 kg), is another Olympic Trials champion registered. Other athletes competing include … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/May/17/Senior-Pan-Ams-roster-released?mc_cid=a53f0e5e67&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
NCHSAA Best Fit to Run High School Sports in North Carolina
Beginning with the formation of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association in 1896 and the Illinois High School Association in 1900, state high school associations have been successfully governing education-based high school sports in our nation’s schools for 125 years.
These education-focused associations, most of which were formed by the mid-1940s, were started by school-based people in an attempt to establish eligibility standards and halt the process of colleges and universities controlling meets and tournaments involving high school athletes.
While the structure of the 51 autonomous NFHS member state associations varies – some govern athletics and fine arts, others are athletics-only as an example – all have the same mission: to regulate/direct sports and/or other activities, to provide educational opportunities for high school students in their state and to provide equitable, fair and safety-focused competition.
Many of these associations have recently celebrated 100 years of successfully providing opportunities for students to compete in education-based athletics and activities programs. These associations are governed by Board of Directors and committees composed of individuals within member schools – superintendents, principals, athletic directors, coaches and others – who have an educational focus to enforcing eligibility, playing and academic rules.
In some cases over the years, individuals outside the school setting have been added to governing boards of state associations to provide different perspectives. Many of the NFHS member associations seek to have collaborative relationships with state legislatures to monitor pending legislation, striving to keep the communication channels open and remain educationally – and not politically – connected and focused.
Unfortunately, this week there has been an attempt by a Senate committee in the North Carolina General Assembly to form a separate commission under the administration of the state government to govern high school sports in the state, thereby stripping the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) and its Board of Directors of power – the organization that has successfully provided education-based programs for millions of students for more than 105 years.
The NCHSAA has been one of the most respected associations in the NFHS for many years – developing programs with sustainability to ensure that participation opportunities remain available for generations of students to come. With visionary leaders in the past such as Charlie Adams (1984-2010), to its current executive director Que Tucker, the NCHSAA has crafted innovative programming such as its Student Services and Endowment Programs that have been emulated by other associations across the country. … rest of story at https://www.nfhs.org/articles/nchsaa-best-fit-to-run-high-school-sports-in-north-carolina/?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Voice%20-%20July%2021&utm_id=3061959&utm_term=NCHSAA%20Best%20Fit%20to%20Run%20High%20School%20Sports%20in%20North%20Carolina&dlv-emuid=3045c295-2be4-4638-8077-9cce65ba91db&dlv-mlid=3061959&fbclid=IwAR2YS4i2uCTmaeUcPk4QOOoOVhsZMcC6gB52j27u7XqtKlBRw7ofhGUyVVo
National Wrestling News (2021) – # 10
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Admittedly, we are way behind in posting wrestling news reports. In early June the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend and Inductions were held in Stillwater. Also included are the postings from ‘Hand Raised’ with their end of season 4 reports. Interesting to see another wrestling heaveyweight drafted by a professional football team that recognizes the skills learned in this sport. Keep on wrestling!
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2946 (7/23/21)
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1 } – BRUCE BURNETT, MARK LIEBERMAN, DREMIEL BYERS AND BILL ZADICK INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME
ON SECOND DAY OF HONORS WEEKEND
Stillwater, Okla. – On the second day of Honors Weekend, The National Wrestling Hall of Fame added four new members, Bruce Burnett, Mark Lieberman, Dremiel Byers and Bill Zadick, who were all inducted as Distinguished Members earlier this afternoon. The group joins fellow Class of 2021 members Tim Shiels, Gary Abbott, Gary Chopp and Carl Eschenbach, who were all inducted last night. The class of 2021 was initially scheduled to be inducted as the class of 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/05/NWHOF-Honors-Weekend-2?mc_cid=0fb3325f19&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – THE NATIONAL HALL OF FAME HONORS WEEKEND WRAPS UP WITH GROUP INDUCTION CEREMONY FOR THE CLASS OF 2021
Stillwater, Okla. – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Honors Weekend concluded this evening with the official induction ceremony for the Class of 2021. The eight individuals entering the Hall of Fame were initially scheduled to be inducted in 2020 but had their ceremony pushed back over a year due to the pandemic.
This year’s schedule looked different than prior years, as the first four members of the class had their individual inductions on Friday night, while the other four members were inducted earlier today. Tonight’s ceremony celebrated the class in its entirety. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/06/HOF-wrap-3?mc_cid=0fb3325f19&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
3 } – 2021 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend Induction Speeches
Couldn’t make it to the annual Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame? We’ve got you covered as the Hall of Fame Legends Podcast has released the full induction ceremony from June 5, 2021 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. This year’s induction class features:
Meritorious Service for Officials recipient Tim Shiels.
Order of Merit recipient Gary Abbott
Medal of Courage recipient Gary Chopp
Outstanding American Carl Eschenbach
Distinguished Members
Bruce Burnett
Dremiel Byers
Mark Lieberman
Bill Zadick … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/legends/2021-national-wrestling-hall-of-fame-honors-weekend-induction-speeches/?mc_cid=9db4763a85&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – Elite wrestler Adam Coon of Fowlerville signs with Tennessee Titans
Before Adam Coon became one of the best heavyweight wrestlers in the world, he was an all-state football player at Fowlerville High School.
About a month after his hopes of wrestling in the Summer Olympics ended in Bulgaria, Coon is giving his former sport a shot by signing a National Football League contract with the Tennessee Titans. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Coon will attempt to make the team as an offensive lineman, most likely at guard. Potentially playing in the NFL was in the back of Coon’s mind as he pursued his Olympic dream on the wrestling mat. Coon was a three-time All-America wrestler at the University of Michigan, but hasn’t played football since his senior year at Fowlerville in 2012. … rest of story at https://www.livingstondaily.com/story/sports/nfl/2021/06/08/elite-wrestler-adam-coon-fowlerville-signs-tennessee-titans/7599443002/?mc_cid=9db4763a85&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Ex-Michigan All-American Adam Coon makes leap from wrestling mat to NFL
Adam Coon’s dreams of competing in the Tokyo Olympics are over, but his athletic career is not. The former standout on Michigan’s wrestling team is looking to carve out a career in the NFL, despite not having played football since he starred for Fowlerville High School in 2012. Nevertheless, the Tennessee Titans are giving him a shot to make the team as an offensive lineman, signing him to a contract earlier this month.
Wrestlers, especially at that elite level, have unbelievable balance, core strength, things that I think would translate well to an offensive lineman,” Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said last week. … rest of story at https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2021/06/ex-michigan-all-american-adam-coon-makes-leap-from-wrestling-mat-to-nfl.html?mc_cid=3ae16b2048&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – Tony Ramos: Advocate
Tony Ramos made his mark on college wrestling as an intense and hardworking 133 lber for the Iowa Hawkeyes with three top-three (3,2,1) finishes at the NCAA championship. Ramos has also made a name for himself on the coaching circuit. He has been at the University of North Carolina since 2016, starting as a Volunteer Assistant while still actively competing and has worked his way through the ranks to be a highly sought-after Associate Head Coach. Ramos is now making his mark on the wrestling community with a different title: Advocate.
Tony has been an ally behind the scenes for many years, but last year he took major steps in being an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ athletes in wrestling. “It really kicked off last year during the COVID shutdown when I had more downtime that I could use for good. It has been something that I’ve been discussing with my small group for a few years now, but really became a bigger scale last year when I was able to present at the NWCA coaches convention”. Ramos paired with Jenna Burkert, 57kg Women’s National Team member and SERTC athlete, to put on a presentation called “Wrestling with Pride: Being an Advocate for LGBTQ+”. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24660?mc_cid=273e35accc&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And USA WRESTLING COACHES COUNCIL PODCAST FEATURING GUEST KENNY MONDAY IS NOW AVAILABLE
On this edition of Heads Up – A USA Wrestling Coaches Council podcast, Mike Clayton and Mike Hagerty sit down with the legendary Kenny Monday. A two-time NCAA runner-up and a 1984 NCAA champion for Oklahoma State, Monday went on to have one of the greatest freestyle careers in U.S. history, earning gold at the 1988 Olympics and the 1989 World Championships and silver at the 1992 Olympics and 1991 World Championships.
The trio discuss Kenny’s wrestling career, including some of the adversity he faced growing up, his current coaching career and how he grappled with coaching his own children, as well as why showing referees respect is a pivotal aspect of our sport. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/June/09/Kenny-Monday-podcast?mc_cid=273e35accc&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
6 } – Season 4, Column 5: USA Freestyle Focus; All Transfer Portal Team Picks up a Point Scorer
Sadness from Sofia; & Dantzler-ing with Truths
USA MENS FREESTYLE: MINUS AN ICON AND BETTER THAN EVER
A bold and until very recently unthinkable description of the USA Mens FS team, but one that may very well prove accurate. We Americans head to Tokyo with World Champions/World medalists at all but 1 wt class. Athletes whose accolades have been earned across Cadet, Junior, Senior and Olympic competitions. Four of the six wt. classes in contention in Tokyo have an American as either a defending World Champion or a serious medal favorite. So who’s who in the Red, White and Blue? Glad you asked….
57kg. Thomas Gilman. The lead off man for team USA is truly multi faceted. Extraordinarily intelligent, Gilman is a military history buff … rest of story at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2021/05/09/season-4-column-5-usa-freestyle-focus-all-transfer-portal-team-picks-up-a-point-scorer-sadness-from-sofia-dantzler-ing-with-truths/?mc_cid=6292a9adee&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Season 4, Column 6: Shut-downs, Openings, and the Socon in Spring
[IMPORTANT NOTE: This post has been edited at the Authors choice for 2 reasons:significantly greater distribution opportunity and improved adherence to current professional writing standards. IN NO WAY does the author purport to still be a media professional. However, guidance towards those standards by a professional is hereby acknowledged and appreciated for all the above mentioned factors and more. TEC)
The news from both Palo Alto and Tokyo took a dark turn this past fortnite. While 36 Sports Strong, the group of Stanford alums and fans, remained hopeful that the Schools President and Board are actually still in listen and not kill mode, a separate group has opted to retain counsel. Esteemed Uber-Lawyer Jeffrey Kessler is representing 8 of the 11 soon to disappear Stanford sports teams in their efforts to remain a key part of the Palo Alto experience. Separately, barrister Rebecca Peterson-Fisher filed suit for the women’s teams under the axe.(1) There’s little hope at this point that any group involved in this mess will find a happy place, but perhaps more eyes will be opened. Opened to the terrible truth that even the most well known and outwardly respected of institutions of higher education can and will worship at the Green Altar before and above anything else.
Speaking of money, don’t let anyone say that the Lords of the Rings aren’t just a little bit … rest of story at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2021/05/17/season-4-column-6-shut-downs-openings-and-the-socon-in-spring/?mc_cid=a53f0e5e67&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – Season 4, Column 7: Wonder of Wonders; Taking A Santa Sack & syringes South of the Border
36 SPORTS STRONG, KSW, & STANFORD SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE (1)
An amazing amalgamation of Stanford University Alums voices rang loud and clear as the University reversed direction and chose to reinstate the 11 sports it originally planned to do away with. A struggle that began with a shocking axe blow to the heart of “The Tree” last July came to a completely unexpected and joyous conclusion the 3rd week of May. Almost all sides involved have nearly injured themselves casting roses of appreciation and gratitude at each other. That’s all good, but the next step isn’t flowers but finances, folks. How much is wanted to reinstate Wrestling, let alone the other 10 sports? Millions in pledges were promised, and now comes check cutting time. Will the highly logical 5 year, self funding plan for the reinstated programs be implemented? Is a womans wrestling team coming into being? Who becomes the Head Coach/Coaches? How many athletes on how many of the teams will want to return? Tough questions, but at least it looks like the toughest one has received a positive answer. Let’s take a moment to be grateful that Stanford President Marc Tessier-LaVigne and the Stanford Board of Directors made the correct call. Let’s celebrate Robert Hatta and Patricia Miranda, Stanford Wrestling Alums who co-chaired Keep Stanford Wrestling. They reached across every media platform with a laundry list of facts for the preservation of their sport. The group galvanized folks from all walks of life, including the … rest of story at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2021/05/22/season-4-column-7-wonder-of-wonders-taking-a-santa-sack-syringes-south-of-the-border-the-socon-in-spring-continued/?mc_cid=ce44cea415&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – Season 4, Column 8: Team USA takes a dare & titles
The SoCon in Spring; & TX Roadtrips, back on track
DAMN THE TORPEDOES & THE DISEASE
Either through dogged determination or willful ignorance Team USA headed straight into a CDC threat Level 4 area and found themselves embedded in Covid-19 ravaged Guatemala City, Guatemala this week for the Pan American Championships. 11 2021 American Olympians made the trip which started with a bang for Team USA. 6 of the Red, White and Blues upper-body bangers made the Greco-Roman finals on the 1st day of competition. Americas GR guys earned 2 Golds and 4 Silvers. Sadly, for fans of American GR star G’Angelo Hancock (numerous, enthusiastic and passionate) and this column(1 passionate, several enthused, less numerous) the 97kg 2021 Olympian was a Guatemala City no-show. Messages to his coach/guest of this column TC Dantzler and Hancocks interview clips curated by TrackWrestlings Kyle Klingman gave no answers to this question. Hopefully Hancock is good to go for Tokyo. As a whole, the U.S. cleaned house. On day 2 America won every weight class, picking up 3 more Mens Greco Roman Gold medals and 4 in Women’s Freestyle. … rest of story at https://morewrestlingplease.wordpress.com/2021/05/31/season-4-column-8-team-usa-takes-a-dare-titles-the-socon-in-spring-tx-roadtrips-back-on-track/?mc_cid=22b0f00134&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – Willie’s Friday Mailbag: June 11th, 2021
In last week’s column, a coach asked: “Wrestling in pa is not growing. Lots of small towns are combining. What is one way we can help stop that decline?”
You can read my full response here, but part of the answer was that small town kids congregating to mega-power teams was a big factor. Just a few days later, our Seth Duckworth reported that Kael Voinovich, my #6 overall Freshmen, would move to Stillwater, Oklahoma. Upon learning the news, the Athletic Director of Mustang, Oklahoma – a rival wrestling power, responded on Twitter with his disdain. It was since deleted but the gist included questioning the legality of NCAA and Oklahoma’s high school athletic rules.
Kael is the younger brother of standout Victor Voinovich of Ohio who will wrestle for Oklahoma State next year. And to be clear there’s been a pattern lasting two decades whereby the sibling of an OSU commit also moves into the state while in high school: The Rosholts, Chandler Rogers, Jordan Dieringer, and The Ferraris.
Call it what you want: ‘tricky’ or ‘unique’, ‘creative’ or ‘unfair,’ the attraction is the desire to be around family, a top notch high school program coached by former Wyoming Assistant Ethan Kyle, and of course the legacy of the 34-time team champ Oklahoma State Cowboys. It’s a system, it’s above board, and it’s the product of a century of success. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24668?mc_cid=84503a987c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
11 } – Leveling the Playing Field
I’ll never forget my first trip to NCAAs to watch my husband, Richard Perry, and five of his teammates from Bloomsburg University compete. On the plane ride to Oklahoma, I was surrounded by wrestlers from another D1 program and their team managers. We began to talk and the team managers told me how excited they were for this vacation; they shared how each of the athletes and staff members were given a few hundred dollars for the week for meals and anything else they needed, how each athlete received their own hotel room. My mind was blown. Watching my husband wrestle for a small D1 program while in college, I was certainly proud, and at the same time, frustrated. As a fan, we hear about these well-funded and well-known wrestling programs with incredible alumni support rallying to get their athletes top of the line equipment, wrestling rooms, trainers, dietitians, sports therapists and whatever else their money can buy. Call it jealousy, or just wanting the best for your own guys, but when it comes to accessibility, the mat certainly isn’t level.
Most wrestlers talented and fortunate enough to wrestle for a D1 program, especially within the smaller programs, would never bring this to anyone’s attention; those athletes know how hard they’ve worked to get to where they are, and they won’t for a second make an excuse as they work towards their goal of becoming an NCAA champion. … rest of story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24676?mc_cid=3ae16b2048&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – Chance Leonard and his documentary film, The Price of Legacy
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Chance Leonard recently completed The Price of Legacy, a documentary about the legendary Perry High School wrestling program in Perry, Oklahoma. That documentary goes live on June 15 on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Google Play. Leonard will talk about the film, the town and all that goes with it.
Find out more about the film: http://www.thepriceoflegacy.com
Links to Follow
Daily Wrestling Newsletter: https://www.mattalkonline.com/news
… rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/chance-leonard-and-his-documentary-film-the-price-of-legacy/?mc_cid=3ae16b2048&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Wrestling History (2021) – # 7
TDR Editor’s Notes ; A belated return to posting reports of news about wrestling history. Included is a collection of Hall of Fame announcements, Obituaries, rememberances of greatest losses and the lessons learned. Read on and Keep on Wrestling. E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2945 (7/23/21)
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1 } – Lee Elected to MAC Hall of Fame
ANNVILLE, PA – Wilkes University wrestling standout Mike Lee ’74 has been elected to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Hall of Fame as announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon.
Lee is a member of the 1974 NCAA Division III National Championship team. He wrestled in the 150 lbs. weight class. Lee won the 1974 NCAA Division III 150 lbs. national title. As a sophomore, he placed third in the NCAA College Division National Tournament. Lee was a three-time MAC individual champion, … rest of story at https://gowilkesu.com/news/2021/5/19/wrestling-lee-elected-to-mac-hall-of-fame.aspx?mc_cid=e6c3ba1225&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2 } – Douglas E. “Coach” Parker
ouglas E. Parker, Jr was called to Heaven on April 24th. As a professor/Coach, he dedicated his life to helping his students/wrestlers find success in sport and life by realizing their potential. The same was true with his family which he treasured. Doug was a graduate of Gloucester High School, class of 1944 and Springfield College, class of 1951. Doug was also a WWII veteran serving in the Army Airborne Division. From 1955 to 1990 he was a Physical Education Professor and Wrestling Coach at Springfield College. Doug earned his spot in the Hall of Fame for having the most wins by any Wrestling coach in Springfield College history with 35 winning seasons. His contributions to the sport of wrestling were immeasurable. … rest of story at https://obits.masslive.com/us/obituaries/masslive/name/douglas-parker-obituary?pid=198510870
3 } – Japanese Wrestlers of the 1960s Helped OSU Remain the Dominant Program of the Era
A handful of Japanese wrestlers had a huge impact on OSU wrestling and the sport in general.
As each month that recognizes the heritage of various people comes around, I do my best to recognize it in a blog post. I’ve written on the color barriers broken by African American Oklahoma State wrestlers, the history of some of the programs’ Native American wrestlers, and even the military service of some Oklahoma State wrestlers on Veterans Day.
One area I’ve not touched on is Oklahoma State wrestling’s connection to Japanese wrestlers, which similar to all of it’s other history is something unmatched by any other program. With it being Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I thought I’d dig in. The predominate connection begins with Myron Roderick and Ichiro Hatta. Hatta was the father of Tadaaki and Masaaki Hatta, and was an Olympian and legendary coach in Japan. Hatta was named Commissioner of Sports in Japan after World War 2 and was tasked to reinstate sports in the country.
… rest of story at https://pistolsfiringblog.com/japanese-wrestlers-of-the-1960s-helped-osu-remain-the-dominant-program-of-the-era/?mc_cid=a53f0e5e67&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
4 } – Dan Hodge Tribute Series: Mike Chapman
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The world lost the legendary Danny Hodge on Christmas Eve 2020 at the age of 88. Thousands were impacted by Hodge, but he made his biggest impact in the world of wrestling – both on the collegiate and international side and the more theatrical side of professional wrestling, commonly called sports entertainment.
Episode 659 of the Short Time Wrestling Podcast launches a miniseries of interviews talking to people about Danny Hodge. The first interview is with noted wrestling journalist and historian Mike Chapman, the inventor of the Dan Hodge Trophy, which is presented to the top collegiate wrestler annually. Chapman will set the table on the life and times of Hodge from his perspective as a newsman and author of four books … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/dan-hodge-tribute-series-mike-chapman/?mc_cid=a53f0e5e67&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
And Dan Hodge Tribute Series: Lee Roy Smith
Lee Roy Smith was born and raised in Oklahoma. An NCAA champion, world silver medalist and the first of the four famous Smith brothers, Smith grew up in the era where Bedlam was fierce. An eventual Cowboy at Oklahoma State, Smith now is the Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He’d spent time coaching on the international and collegiate level and speaks on the impact of Danny Hodge, the trophy and what he means, not only to wrestling, but to the state of Oklahoma. … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/dan-hodge-tribute-series-lee-roy-smith/?mc_cid=3a3b8bc793&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
5 } – MEAC Releases 50th Anniversary Wrestling All-Time Team,
Presented by The Home Depot MEAC 50th Anniversary Page
NORFOLK, Va.,April 20, 2021–As the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) continues to celebrate its 50th Anniversary during the 2020-21 academic year, the conference office now announces its Wrestling All-Time Team, Presented by the Home Depot. The team is comprised of 50 outstanding student-athletes who competed during the conference’s sponsorship of the sport between 1972 and 1995, as well as those who excelled for their institutions that had wrestling programs after 1995.
The MEAC Wrestling All-Time Team was selected by a panel of media relations professionals who have either worked at the conference office or at member universities throughout the years. The honorees were selected from a list of former student-athletes who were named MEAC individual champions, Most Outstanding Wrestlers at MEAC Championships,
… rest of story at https://meacsports.com/news/2021/4/20/general-meac-releases-50th-anniversary-wrestling-all-time-team-presented-by-the-home-depot.aspx?mc_cid=2f6eda67bb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b and https://meacsports.com/documents/2021/4/20//MEAC_50th_Anniversary_All_Time_Wrestling_Team.pdf?id=5465
6 } – J Robinson: My Greatest Coaching Loss
The University of Minnesota under J Robinson came close to winning an NCAA team title in 1999 after years of nearing the summit. During the 1999 season, they defeated Iowa twice in duals and won the B1G Championships — snapping the Hawkeyes’ streak of 25 conference titles. Iowa clinched the NCAA title in 1999 when Stephen Neal of Cal State-Bakersfield defeated Minnesota in the heavyweight finals.
The coaching staff counted 17 different ways they could have won in 1999, including heavyweight Wes Hand being chosen as a wild card for the tournament after placing eighth at the B1G tournament. Chad Erikson, Minnesota’s 141 pounder who also placed eighth, was not selected. Iowa won the 1999 NCAA tournament by two points (100.5 – 98.5). Hand scored 3.5 points. There is also the often-discussed coin flip that happened during Chad Kraft’s semifinal match against Penn State’s Clint Musser. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1620096929162&twSessionId=izgotggusy&postId=1166641135&mc_cid=2136f7bdf1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
7 } – Lincoln McIlravy: My Greatest Loss
This is part of the ‘My Greatest Loss’ series. It’s a retrospective look at some of the setbacks that helped reshape the careers of past and present wrestling stars, setting them on a higher trajectory toward greatness. Lincoln McIlravy was a three-time NCAA champion and a four-time national finalist for the University of Iowa, placing first as a freshman and sophomore (1993-94), second as a junior (1995), and first as a senior (1997). His international career included a bronze at the 1998 World Championships, a silver in 1999, and a bronze at the 2000 Olympics. McIlravy reflects on the collection of losses that prevented him from becoming a four-time NCAA champion, a World champion, or an Olympic champion.
GABLE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE GREAT
The good thing about my career is that I had so many great losses that it’s hard to count them. I wish I was like Gable where I had one overarching loss. I think people look at it as a pivotal moment although I would argue against that. … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1620789678127&twSessionId=rggqhbfitk&postId=1172202135&mc_cid=ce60503c93&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
8 } – #236 John Smith on the 1992 Olympics and Pat Smith’s 4th Title
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
John Smith talks about the 1992 Olympics, Pat Smith and the beginning of his coaching career in this never before released episode. This interview was recorded in October of 2020 and is the third and final interview that we recorded with John as part of our audio documentary series, The Smiths. Enjoy!
… rest of story at https://wrestlingchangedmylife.com/236-john-smith-on-the-1992-olympics-and-pat-smiths-4th-title/?mc_cid=ce60503c93&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
9} – The Smiths | Bonus Episode: John Smith Interview Three
Subscribe to this show via: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Deezer | RSS
The third John Smith interview is here! This interview was recorded in October of 2020 at Coach Smith’s office, as part of the audio documentary series, The Smiths. We talk about Pat’s career, John’s loss to Reinoso at the ’92 games, and John’s coaching career. Enjoy!
THE SMITHS
The Smiths chronicles the rise of wrestling icons, John & Pat Smith, with never-before-seen footage, as well as interviews with more than 30 friends, family and competitors.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Etched in Stone, the stories of wrestling’s legends … rest of story at https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/etched-in-stone/the-smiths-bonus-episode-john-smith-interview-three/?mc_cid=cc121404a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
10 } – Steve “Dr. Death” Williams Named to WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame welcomes Baron Michele Leone, Brickhouse Brown, “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, Gary Hart and Ray Stevens as Legacy inductees in the Class of 2020. … rest of story at https://owrestle.com/steve-dr-death-williams-named-to-wwe-hall-of-fame/
11 } – Mark Perry: My Greatest Loss
Mark Perry grew up with dreams of becoming a four-time Oklahoma state high school champion, and he was seconds away from winning a title as a freshman for Stillwater when he got tossed to his back in the closing seconds to drop a 7-6 decision against Broken Arrow’s Brandon Tucker. Tucker went on to become a four-time state champ before wrestling at Purdue, while Perry’s career changed course.
At the time, Perry’s father, Mark Sr., was an assistant at Oklahoma State. Mark Sr. sent his son to New Jersey to train that summer under coach Jeff Buxton at Blair Academy. Days before his sophomore year was set to begin at Stillwater High School, Mark Jr. elected instead to enroll at Blair During his time there, he developed into the nation’s top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2003, signed with Iowa and won two NCAA titles for the Hawkeyes. Now Perry is an assistant at Arizona State. These are Perry’s words on the loss to Tucker in the state finals and how they changed his career: … rest of story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1621395085589&twSessionId=gyombtdlzg&postId=1176347135&mc_cid=ad9587b873&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
12 } – Donny Wichmann Foundation Gives Back
By Jeff Beshey
When Donny Wichmann passed away in July 2019 at the age of 53, it left a void in the Minnesota wrestling community. He touched the lives of the many people he met in a special way – whether as a family member, a teammate, a coach, a friend, or even just an acquaintance. At Donny’s funeral, a group of Augsburg Wrestling alumni came together to celebrate his life, and that’s when the idea of a Donny Wichmann Foundation came into being. “When we got together for the funeral, we started discussing how we wanted to do something in Donny’s name,” said Troy Wondrasch, a long-time friend and Augsburg Wrestling alum. “I think it was something positive to do in our grief.”
… rest of story at https://theguillotine.com/2021/05/donny-wichmann-foundation-gives-back/?mc_cid=ce44cea415&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b&doing_wp_cron=1622397024.9855999946594238281250
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
