Eastern N.C. Coaches
Asking for wrestling coaches, wrestlers, parents and fans to contact us to send us information contact information for the head coaches at C.B. Aycock, Fike, Laney, North Brunswick, Pamlico County and Swansboro. With the schools being closed it makes it harder to find them. Look forward to hearing from you with the names and e-mails. Send it to martinkfleming@gmail.com
Women’s Wrestling News – # 34
TDR Editor’s Notes ;
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Player Spotlight: Abby Nette’s lone season at CU is one for the record books
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Mid-South Conference Wrestler of the Year and 2020 Patricia Miranda Medal Award winner wore Campbellsville University maroon and gray and her name is Abby Nette. The senior from St. Rose, La. was in her first and only season as a Lady Tiger wrestler going unbeaten at 20-0 with WCWA and MSC Championships at 130 lbs., helping CU earn the team titles at each event. Not only was Nette undefeated, she was dominant in her 20 wins, earning 17 wins either by pin or tech fall. She mainly competed in the 130 weight class with only one win coming from the 136 lbs. weight class. Nette was the third Lady Tiger to win MSC Wrestler of the Year and the second to earn the Patricia Miranda Medal Award as Kayla Miracle previously accomplished both in 2017-18 …. story at https://campbellsvilletigers.com/news/2020/4/22/womens-wrestling-player-spotlight-abby-nettes-lone-season-at-cu-is-one-for-the-record-books.aspx?mc_cid=547ad9bd30&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
South Dakota H.S.A.A. approves adding girls’ wrestling
Next year will likely see the start of SDHSAA-sanctioned girls’ wrestling in South Dakota schools. The first reading approving the new sport was taken Tuesday by the South Dakota High School Activities Association’s board of directors. Meeting via teleconference, the board acted on the first reading of a variety of recommendations for changes to the SDHSAA Athletics Handbook that came out of the annual meeting of the state’s athletic directors. In the case of girls’ wrestling, the board agreed to follow a pattern established in Missouri that provides four weight classes for girls’ wrestling at the state tournament. The sport would be integrated into schools based on the interest shown in each school district. The vote by athletic directors was 91-10 in favor of adding girls’ wrestling. Last year, without a separate girls’ division, nearly 40 females competed in SDHSAA-sanctioned wrestling meets. About another 100 girls competed in club-only events. …. complete story at https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/sdhsaa-approves-adding-girls-wrestling/article_5911f2d0-8841-5b77-ab6b-9c9d99787133.html?mc_cid=17ded1ad3b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
A SENIOR SEASON CUT SHORT: RACHEL’S WATTERS STORY
The 2019- 2020 season started out as a weird season for me, little did I know that it would end just as bizarre. In my 2018- 2019 season I only wrestled at the NAIA national championships for the Oklahoma City Stars. I had knee surgery in November of 2019 immediately following the U23 World Championships. The idea was that I would be able to compete in the majority of the post-season for OCU. Sadly, my surgery was much more intense than we thought. I had to have part of my kneecap removed and replaced with calcium. This pushed back my recovery and I ended up missing every tournament that year except for the NAIA National Championships. I fell short that tournament and I was hungry to return to Jamestown in 2020. I continued to compete on the senior level that spring, but to my dismay I wasn’t wrestling at the level I wanted to. After a rough couple of months, I decided to take the summer off from wrestling completely. I hadn’t done this since junior high, but my mind and my body needed it. When the 2019 season started, I was honestly a little scared. I was beginning my senior season with a brand-new coach and I hadn’t wrestled for months. I even remember calling miss y fiancé and asking him, “Do you think I remember how to wrestle? What if I forgot everything?”. He assured me with a chuckle that I would be fine. I was legitimately so scared to get back out on the mat. My senior season started out great. My knee was feeling much better and I was getting my weight management under control. I felt unstoppable. We went to the Missouri Valley Open tournament and I remember having the same fears I did at the start of the season. I just had to wrestle past them. …. story at https://www.wreaperwrestling.com/a-senior-season-cut-short-rachels-watters-story/?mc_cid=8ec233ede0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Augustana, Aurora and MacMurray are the latest program changes in Illinois
Female wrestling in Illinois has made some loud noises across the wrestling community this year. And, in the last few weeks, the state just gained two more NCAA DIII women’s wrestling programs. Only a five hour drive apart, Aurora University and Augustana College announced the addition of women’s wrestling programs within a week of each other. The programs in Aurora and Rock Island provide more options for student-athletes across the nation. Aurora is among only a handful of collegiate women’s wrestling programs in close proximity to a large metropolitan area. It’s similar to North Central in distance to Downtown Chicago at approximately 45 minutes. Two other programs near metropolitan areas include Augsburg University in Minneapolis, and Life University that’s just a quick 30 minutes from Atlanta. Illinois powerhouse McKendree University won the first-ever NCAA member exclusive national championships this spring, the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships, and the first-year program at North Central had five All-Americans of their own. The state has four opportunities for girls to wrestle in college, but high school girls wrestling is not sanctioned in Illinois. …. story at https://www.transitionwrestling.com/augustana-aurora-and-macmurray-are-the-latest-program-changes-in-illinois/?mc_cid=0abef116e3&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Oklahoma S.S.A.A. Board approves to sanction Girls Wrestling in Oklahoma in 2020-21
BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING | APRIL 21, 2020,
The Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), the state high school association in Oklahoma, voted to officially sanction Girls Wrestling in their state, starting in the 2020-21 school year. The OSSAA posted the following statement on its website today, confirming this decision. “The OSSAA Board of Directors voted at their April 20, 2020 Board Meeting to sanction Girls Wrestling beginning with the 2020-21 school year.” According to an article in the Daily Oklahoman, the vote of the board of directors was unanimous. Oklahoma becomes the 22nd state to officially sanction girls wrestling or approved the path for it to become an official sport. In 2020, Oklahoma hosted a successful exhibition girls event during the boys state high school championships. USA Wrestling has been an active leader in helping develop girls high school wrestling, led by the USA Wrestling Girls High School Development Committee, which is co-chaired by Joan Fulp and Andrea Yamamoto. …. story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/April/21/Oklahoma-adds-official-girls-state-championships?mc_cid=945de33a33&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Vladislav “Izzy” Izboinikov named 2019 USA Wrestling Women’s Coach of the Year
BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING | APRIL 21, 2020,
Vladislav “Izzy” Izboinikov of Colorado Springs, Colo. has been named 2019 Women’s Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the second time in his career having won this award, along with receiving the award in 2012. Izboinikov has been an active women’s wrestling coach in the USA for close to two decades, both as a top volunteer coach as well as a stint on USA Wrestling’s national staff as an Assistant National Coach. Most recently, Izboinikov was a member of the women’s coaching staff at the 2019 Senior World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The USA placed third in the team standings, led by three individual champions: Jacarra Winchester, Tamyra Mensah-Stock and Adeline Gray. s also a coach for the USA at the 2020 Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier in Ottawa, Canada, where the USA qualified all four of its remaining weight classes for the 2020 Olympic Games. As a volunteer coach, Izboinikov regularly helps coach the resident athletes at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He also regularly attends Women’s National Team training camps, both domestic and overseas. He is a women’s coach with the Titan Mercury WC, one of the world’s most successful wrestling clubs. He serves as a personal and club coach for a number of top Senior and age-group women wrestlers. …. story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/April/21/Izzy-named-2019-Womens-Coach-of-the-Year?mc_cid=945de33a33&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
UNC Tar Heel News
JOEY MELENDEZ TALKS FRESHMAN SEASON, TEAM CULTURE
This year, redshirt freshman Joey Melendez emerged as Carolina’s starter at 125 pounds. The Norridge, Illinois native went 11-9, winning matches in five dual meets including a key decision over Virginia Tech’s No. 11 Joey Prata in UNC’s upset of the third-ranked team in the country in Blacksburg.
GoHeels.com spoke with Melendez this week about the season, the team culture in Chapel Hill and more.
GoHeels: Can you talk a little bit about your first year starting and what you learned most this season?
Melendez: “My first year starting was a lot of fun; I had my share of ups and downs throughout the season. The thing I learned the most this season was truly how disciplined every part of your training has to be during the season. During the year, you have to maintain such a high level of output through workouts and matches. And, your body needs to be feeling the best it possibly can. I matured in the aspect that I now understand what has to go into the entire season. This season has made me eager to get back on the mat.”
GH: Gary Wayne Harding was in your corner a lot this season. Can you share what he meant to you throughout the year?
JM: “I look at Gary Wayne as a really good friend and an incredible leader who has taught me so much on and off the mat in such a short period of time. He gets me up when I’m feeling low and he keeps me honest when I’m a little too high. G-Dub works so hard and is so consistent on and off the mat. He truly wants to see each one of us win so badly. He has helped me mature in a lot of ways, forcing me to see the mistakes I made and teaching me to correct them.”
GH: Many have talked about the culture in Chapel Hill. How would you describe the atmosphere in the room this year?
JM: “The team culture in Chapel Hill is great right now and that has a lot to do with our coaches. Wrestling is a very difficult and tiring sport, but our coaches find a way to get the best out of us. I consider us all brothers. I believe we have really good leaders on our team to get the best out of us. The nonstop camaraderie with this team is crazy.
“Last summer we flew 50 people out to Japan for almost two weeks. Everyone on this team is always cracking jokes and that’s what make this team so fun to be a part of. My favorite is Tony Ramos‘ constant showdowns with [team chaplain] Coach Shriner, whatever it may be.”
GH: How have you been using this time at home to stay fit and active?…. rest of the story and interview at https://goheels.com/news/2020/4/21/wrestling-joey-melendez-talks-freshman-season-team-culture.aspx?mc_cid=945de33a33&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
USA Wrestling Update
USA Wrestling postpones National and Regional events through July 1
BY USA WRESTLING | APRIL 20, 2020, 
Due to the nature of what it would entail to host a national or regional USA Wrestling competition, with the first priority being the health and safety of all participants involved, USA Wrestling has extended the postponement of its national and regional events through July 1.
In addition to the 10 national and regional events that USA Wrestling previously postponed through May 10, there are 10 additional events which have now been postponed:
• Western Regional Championships, Farmington, UT, May 14-16
• Northern Plains Regional Championships, Rochester, MN, May 15-17
• Central Regional Championships, Fort Wayne, IN, May 15-17
• Southeast Regional Championships, Wilmington, NC, May 22-24
• UWW U23 & Junior World Team Trials, Geneva, OH, May 29-31
• Southern Plains Regional Championships, Dodge City, KS, June 5-7
• 16U National Duals, Loves Park, IL, June 9-13
• 14U National Duals, Franklin, IN, June 10-14
• Junior National Duals, Tulsa, OK, June 16-20
• USA Wrestling Kids Nationals, Wisconsin Dells, WI, June 25-27 …. story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/April/20/National-and-Regional-events-postponed-through-July-1?mc_cid=8ec233ede0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
College National News
The 2020 d3wrestle.com Coach of the Year
The 2020 d3wrestle.com Coach of the Year is TJ Miller of Loras College. Miller coached the Duhawks to a 14-1 record, a championship in the American Rivers Conference and Lower Midwest Region, and a runner-up finish at the National Duals. Loras qualified eight wrestlers for the NCAA Championships, six of whom were seeded in the top eight. In winning the ARC team title, Loras broke Wartburg’s 27 year streak of conference titles and snapped a 220 match conference winning streak. Miller was also named ARC and NWCA Division III Coach of the Year. Miller wrapped up his fourth season as head coach at Loras in March. He led the team to a runner-up finish at the 2019 NCAA Championships. He coached nine All-Americans in his first three seasons and was set to increase that total before the 2020 tournament was canceled. The team was ranked 2nd going into the 2020 championships. …. story at https://wordpress.com/block-editor/post/takedownreport.wordpress.com/11035
NWCA ANNOUNCES 2020 BOB BUBB COACHING EXCELLENCE WINNER
Manheim, PA – On Tuesday, the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced the Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award winner. This award was scheduled to be presented at the NWCA 2020 Jim Koch Division II Hall of Fame Banquet on the eve of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, but the event was canceled along with the Division II Championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence award is presented annually to an outstanding coach who epitomizes the qualities and characteristics of a role model and mentor for developing young student-athletes. The recipient of this year’s NWCA Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award is Shawn Nelson of the University of Findlay. Coach Nelson is in his 23rd year as head coach was inducted into the NCAA Division II Jim Koch Hall of Fame in 2019. He has coached 11 national champions during his tenure and has won multiple coach of the year awards at the conference, region, and national levels. “It’s an honor to announce Coach Shawn Nelson as the 2020 recipient of the Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award,” …. story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/NWCA-ANNOUNCES-2020-BOB-BUBB-COACHING-7-4-2020
NWCA Launches Scholastic Wrestling Webinar Series Presented by the US Marine Corps
Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association, is excited to announce the launch of their new coaching development initiative, the Scholastic Wrestling Webinar Series presented by the United States Marine Corps.
“Coaches are currently operating in uncharted waters as they deal with school closings and social distancing due to to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is our hope that these free webinars will help connect coaches and give them an opportunity for continuous coaching development” Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director
The free webinar series is available for any and all coaches interested in learning from the team of NWCA Scholastic Leadership Academy facilitators. Membership is not required for participation. Each one-hour webinar will be offered on Wednesday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 pm ET. …. story and details at http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwca-launches-scholastic-wrestling-webinar-series-presented-by-the-us-marine-corps/?mc_cid=c40241fd14&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Two-Time NCAA Champion Mark Perry Joins ASU Wrestling Staff
TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State wrestling added another impressive hire to its coaching staff on Friday, with head coach Zeke Jones announcing the addition of four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion Mark Perry.
“We just hit another home run coaching hire with Mark Perry,” Coach Jones said. “He comes with a tremendous amount of elite coaching experience as an associate head coach at the college level. He’s a natural-born leader, with a rich family wrestling tradition and just adds another head coach to our room. Not only has he won national championships, but he’s also coached at the world and Olympic level and will be a great addition to our staff.”
Most recently, Perry has spent his time as a head coach at the Hawkeye Wrestling Club developing post-graduate wrestlers for national and international competition, training most notably 2017 World Silver medalist Thomas Gilman. He returned to Iowa City in 2017, where he has spent the last three seasons before taking the position with the Sun Devils.
The hire comes just over a week after ASU named Frank Molinaro as an assistant coach last Thursday. The Barnegat, N.J. native and Perry know each other far too well, as Perry coached Molinaro at Penn State in his freshman season in 2008-09. …. story at https://thesundevils.com/news/2020/4/17/two-time-ncaa-champion-mark-perry-joins-asu-wrestling-staff.aspx?mc_cid=845f982bf2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
As a Division II wrestling coach, former Nittany Lion Shawn Nelson keeps proving himself
At seemingly every juncture of his career, Shawn Nelson has set out to prove something. It started in high school when Nelson, then just a kid from the south side of Cleveland, wanted to continue wrestling collegiately in the Buckeye State. Intent on proving that Ohio produced the best wrestlers in the country at the time, the three-time Ohio state champion planned on staying home and making that case. The only problem was the feeling wasn’t mutual — no school in Ohio was seriously interested in Nelson as a wrestler and wanted to take a chance on him. “I wanted to stay in Ohio, because I wanted to prove that Ohio had the better wrestlers as a kid growing up,” Nelson told the Daily Collegian. “But, they just didn’t give me the same time of day.” After being spurned by his home state, Nelson was forced to look elsewhere. Drawing on inspiration from a magazine and a visit from a former Penn State coach while still in high school, he headed east and eventually settled in State College, competing for the Nittany Lions and garnering an All-American nod in 1992 at 126 pounds. “I was in a class and we had some downtime. I went and got a magazine from my wrestling coach’s office and [former two-time All-American] Dan Mayo was on it and it said ‘Beasts in the East: Penn State’ and I thought, ‘Oh that’s pretty cool and that’d be a cool place to go to.’” …. story at https://www.collegian.psu.edu/sports/wrestling/article_08c33010-836b-11ea-b558-db2450aca771.html
COACH’S CORNER: WOMEN’S GOLF AND WRESTLING’S ROBERT FISHER
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Coach’s corner is a weekly segment where fans get acquainted with Kutztown University head coaches. Our next coach in the spotlight is KU women’s golf and wrestling coach Robert Fisher.
Fisher will enter his 20th season as head coach of the women’s golf team and 21st season in charge of the wrestling team at Kutztown University in 2020-21. In the last three years, Fisher has led each of his teams to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships. In the fall of 2017, women’s golf won its first-ever PSAC Championship to qualify for its first-ever appearance at the NCAA East Super Regionals. Fisher also guided the wrestling program to its first ever team title, earning a share of the PSAC Division II Dual Championship in Feb. 2019.
Fisher received his bachelor’s degree in special education for the visually impaired from Kutztown in 1995. He went on to serve as a teacher of the blind/visually impaired at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit, in Summerdale, Pa., from 1996-99.
What makes Kutztown University the destination to be a coach? “Kutztown is home. There is no better place than home.”
Favorite place on campus and/or in town? “The [Keystone] Pub. I love their barbeque.”
Why did you get into coaching? “Coaching, teaching and mentoring is what I have always done. Athletics and coaching have given me so much in my life. It’s great to be able to do the same in return for my guys and girls.” …. story at https://kubears.com/news/2020/4/17/coachs-corner-womens-golf-and-wrestlings-robert-fisher.aspx?mc_cid=845f982bf2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Tom Carr Named Head Coach To Lead OKWU Wrestling
OKWU has named Tom Carr to lead the wrestling program following his five-year tenure at Central Christian College. In April 2015, Central Christian College made the decision to add the sport of wrestling and named Tom Carr as the head wrestling coach. In the years since, Carr has laid the foundation for a program that celebrates Christ, both through the athletes’ dedication on and off the mat and their dedication to the community the college serves. In the five years Carr has been at the helm for the Tigers, his wrestlers have shown consistent growth in the classroom and on the mat. During his first year as the Tigers’ head coach, Carr led Devontae Fitzgerald to become the first Tiger athlete to compete at an NAIA tournament, and he has placed eight athletes at the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament since its inception. Carr has an impressive resume in the 12 years since he graduated from Muskingum. He got his start in the coaching profession at Land O’Lakes High School in Florida. There, he served as head coach of a 35-person team that had three state qualifiers, one state champion, and three AAU All-Americans. From there, he moved on to become an assistant coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa. He spent a year at Central College and then took a position as an administrative assistant with the wrestling program at Michigan State. …. story at https://www.okwu.edu/athletics/news/tom-carr-named-head-coach-lead-okwu-wrestling/?mc_cid=eb28f2fdb6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2020-21 High School Wrestling Rules Changes Address Weigh-In Procedures, Hair-Length Restrictions
Courtesy of the NFHS – Link
As the result of a concerted effort to accommodate the growing number of female wrestlers, the 2020-21 high school wrestling rules changes are headlined by significant adjustments to weigh-in protocol and appropriate hair length requirements.
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee met April 5-6 and recommended 11 rules changes to take effect next school year. In accordance with current health safety guidelines, the rules meeting was held in an online format. All rules revisions recommended by the Wrestling Rules Committee were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
“These rule changes are some of the most prolific modifications in the history of high school wrestling,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee. “The rules committee made necessary, drastic changes to attract more young people to our sport without sacrificing the health and safety of the participants.”
The weigh-in procedure was altered through a combination of changes to Rule 4, Section 5 (Weighing–In) of the Wrestling Rule Book. Following an amendment to the legal uniform laid out in Rule 4-1-1c, which now permits female wrestlers to wear a form-fitted compression shirt that completely covers their breasts in addition to a one-piece singlet and a suitable undergarment, Rule 4-5-7 was rewritten to require that a legal uniform be worn during weigh-in and that no additional weight allowance be granted. An additional clause prohibiting shoes and ear guards during weigh-in was also written into 4-5-7.
Weighing-in with a legal uniform allowed the Committee to break down more gender barriers with subsequent changes to Rules 4-5-1, 4-5-2 and 4-5-4. Previously, weigh-ins consisted of shoulder-to-shoulder lineups of each contestant that: were separated by gender (4-5-2), took place a maximum of one hour prior to competition (4-5-1) and required supervision by a referee of each respective gender (4-5-4).
With the institution of the legal uniform (one-piece singlet or two-piece), male and female wrestlers are now able to weigh-in together in the same lineup, allowing gender-specific language to be removed from all three rules. Additionally, the form-fitted compression shirt offers females a more suitable uniform for post-weigh-in skin checks, which are typically done by male officials.
“The change to the weighing-in process is remarkably timely, as schools have struggled in the past to identify adult females to weigh-in the female wrestlers,” Hopkins said. “This action accommodates transgender children as well; it respects their rights and dignity and addresses any modesty concerns for any affected children. We anticipate that the entire weigh-in process will be expedited and more efficient.”
Significant changes to the hair length rule (Rule 4-2-1) were also linked to the committee’s focus on inclusion. Previously, a wrestler’s hair could not “extend below the top of an ordinary shirt collar” in the back, below earlobe level on the sides or below the eyebrows in the front. Those confinements, along with the requirement that a hair cover be used for hair that exceeded said limitations, were deleted. Considerable support for this rule change from coaches and officials was generated by an initiative of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, which successfully experimented with relaxed hair restrictions this past winter. “Removing the hair–length rule is a monumental change,” Hopkins said. …. rest of story and rules at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/2020-21-High-School-Wrestling-Rules-28-4-2020
NC STATE WRESTLING: Wolfpack Announces Top-10 Signing Class
Wolfpack inks nine in 2020 class, third straight class ranked in top-20
RALEIGH, N.C. – Coming off a second straight ACC Championship and a No. 3 final ranking in the NWCA Coaches Poll after an undefeated dual season, the NC State wrestling team has inked a top-10 signing class to join the squad for the 2020-21 season.
NC State’s recruiting class was ranked eighth nationally by FloWrestling. It marked the third time in the last five years the Wolfpack has been ranked in the top-10 nationally, and this is the third straight class ranked in the top-20 by FloWrestling. “It might be one of the best ever, as far as the mentality, work ethic, the quality, total package of kid that you want,” said head coach Pat Popolizio. “It’s very low-risk bringing these guys in, both academically and lifestyle. It’s up to those guys to decide who’s going to be the guy at their weight, but I know they’ll elevate our program on and off the mat.”
Below are bios on the nine signees:
Anthony Noto
125 pounds
Lima N.Y. • Lima HS
Prep: Four-time state champion, he is the school’s first state champion
Named NYSPHSAA Most Outstanding Wrestler as both a junior and senior.
Won state title at 120 pounds as a senior, 113 pounds as a junior, 106 pounds as a sophomore and 99 pounds as a freshman.
– Career record of 174-6.
– Three-time Monroe County champion and four-time sectional and Super sectional champion. MOW at Monroe County Championships as a junior and senior.
– Also two-time All-Greater Rochester Division II Wrestler of the Year.
Three-time All-American (Forgo, World Team Trials and Super 32).
Rankings: #112 overall recruit and #11 at 120 pounds by TheOpenMat
#9 at 120 pounds by FloWrestling
#12 at 120 pounds by InterMat
Ryan Jack
141 pounds
Danbury, Conn. • Danbury HS
Prep:
– Four-time Connecticut state champion. Two-time Connecticut Wrestler of the Year.
– Three-time New England champion, runner-up as a freshman. – State champion as a junior going a perfect 47-0, and named Connecticut Wrestler of the Year. Also won his third Class LL title and third State Open championship.
– Became school’s first national champion after taking first place at the 2019 NHSCA national championships at 126 pounds. Was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
– 2019 NHSCA champion and four-time All-American.
– Super 32 runner-up as a junior in 2018. 2018 Journeymen Classic champion.
Wrestled at the 2019 Who’s #1, the first athlete from Connecticut to take part.
– Younger bother of former Wolfpack three-time All-American Kevin Jack (141 pounds) and also former teammate of 2020 ACC Champion Jakob Camacho.
– Trains at Empire Wrestling Academy along with fellow signee A.J. Kovacs. …. story & rest of the list at https://gopack.com/news/2020/4/27/wrestling-packwrestle-announces-top-10-signing-class.aspx
Eastern N.C. High Schools # 13
Wayne County standouts named to ECC 3A/4A All-Conference team
From Goldsboro News-Argus
Several Wayne County standouts were recently named to the Eastern Carolina 3A/4A All-Conference team this season. In addition, an area head coach took home coach of the year honors. ….story at https://newsargus.com/news/14490/wayne-county-standouts-named-to-ecc-3a4a-all-conference-team/
C.B. Aycock’s Christian Decatur recently completed C.B. Aycock’s third undefeated season (63-0), and he ends his high school career with a state-record 238 wins, which breaks his brother Timothy Decatur’s record of 236 wins. … photo at https://newsargus.com/photo-single/35381/?mode=team
County pair in wrestling finals
- The Daily Reflector
- Feb 22, 2020
A pair of Pitt County wrestlers were in the state championship finals on Saturday night in Greensboro.
Wrestling regionals on tap this weekend
- By Jim Green Sports Writer
- Feb 13, 2020
Pitt County high schools will send 58 wrestlers to the NCHSAA regional tournaments, which begin today and conclude Saturday night.
By Malcolm Shields Sports Editor
Mar 25, 2020
The annual streak of area wrestling programs sending athletes to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Individual State Championships continued during the 2019-20 season. …. story at https://www.dailyadvance.com/sports/high_schools/
Area athletes commit to college programs
By Malcolm Shields Sports Editor
Apr 21, 2020
Several area high school athletes recently committed to play sports at the college level.
https://www.dailyadvance.com/sports/high_schools/
Finalists named for 2020 HSOT Honors; Awards show moves from in-person event to television, live streaming
By Nick Stevens, HighSchoolOT managing editor
RALEIGH, N.C. — The finalists for the 2020 edition of HighSchoolOT Honors presented by Pella Windows & Doors are set and voting is now open, but there are changes to the awards show. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the need to continue social distancing, the in-person awards show at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh has been canceled.
Instead of the in-person event, HighSchoolOT will air a one-hour HighSchoolOT Honors television special at 8 p.m. on May 27.
The show will air on FOX 50/WRAZ in the Triangle, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, and Goldsboro areas. Outside of that area, the show can be streamed live on HighSchoolOT.com and the HighSchoolOT app. …. story at https://www.highschoolot.com/finalists-named-for-2020-hsot-honors-awards-show-moves-from-in-person-event-to-television-live-streaming/19066276/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_source=highschoolot
Jacksonville, West Cart., Washington, Wilson, Goldsboro
Wheeling University tabs Wesley to revive wrestling program
WHEELING, W.Va. (April 24) – Wheeling University has appointed August Wesley as Head Coach of the wrestling program, with the anticipation to be back on the mat for this upcoming season. Wesley joins Wheeling after a successful four-year stint running the Iowa State University club wrestling program. During his time in Ames, Wesley tutored 27 National Qualifiers, four All-Americans, six Academic All-Americans, and guided the Cyclones to a fifth place in the 2018 NCWA National Championships.
“I would like to thank Wheeling University President Ginny Favede, Carrie Hanna and the hiring committee for the opportunity to take the helm of this decorated program,” Wesley said. “I feel confident that with the continued support from the administration and fans, we will foster a championship environment displaying continued growth on the mat and in the classroom. Together we will reignite the wrestling flame here in our community and showcase our fighting spirit.”
President Ginny R. Favede said, “Wheeling University is excited to rebuild its wrestling program and I am confident that in August Wesley we have found a superb coach who will lead our wrestlers with professionalism, technical knowledge, ambition and confidence along with the manner in which he exudes the enthusiasm to continue Wheeling University’s history of success.”
“There are high expectations on this campus stemming from a strong culture with a history of success,” Wesley added. “People from the region have already started reaching out to me and they can’t wait to see our lineup plus watch us compete. They love wrestling here in the Northern Panhandle and are hungry for a national championship team and that inspires me to get the job done!” …. more about Coach Wesley and the restarted program at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/Wheeling-University-tabs-Wesley-to-25-4-2020
Wrestling History — # 2
Lee Kemp: A Story of Almosts
It’s easy to get hyperbolic about athletes. Easy to overstate their greatness, easy to claim “best ever” in profiles, career retrospectives, and documentaries. This is not one of those profiles.
Lee Kemp is one of the greatest. Ever.
Kemp’s incredible career in wrestling — now the subject of a documentary film, Wrestled Away: The Lee Kemp Story — is one of almosts: a few big things that almost didn’t happen, and one huge thing that almost did. Those who are even tangentially connected to the sport know his name, but because of a political decision made nearly 40 years ago, the rest of America doesn’t. …. Almost Basketball
Leroy Kemp Jr. was not his name at first; it was Darnell Freeman until he was adopted by Leroy and Jessie Kemp at the age of five. Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, he was surrounded by blackness and basketball — and, eventually, racial strife and violence, which prompted the family to relocate to the small community of Chardon, Ohio.
That was the first of the almosts. “Had I stayed in Cleveland, I actually would not have wrestled,” Kemp says in an interview from his home in northern California. “It just would not have been a sport that would have even been in my mind or in my environment. It wouldn’t have been something I would have thought about.”
But his new hometown was small, mostly white, and mostly agricultural — the kind of town where wrestling thrives. …. story at https://madison365.com/lee-kemp-a-story-of-almosts/?mc_cid=e68db38422&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
The History of The Historic UCO Wrestling Program
Central Oklahoma boasts a storied wrestling tradition and has always been a player on the national stage, but it took a long-overdue project to fully appreciate the rich history of the program. With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down the spring sports seasons – and, sadly, the need to work games – the task became to start putting in past schedules on bronchosports.com. I started with wrestling and the last schedule listed was 2006-07, which was the season UCO captured its 15th national championship. It took a lot of research to find all the dates from the early years, but 53 schedules later the job was done. And it was an eye-opening project in a variety of ways. Here are some tidbits I gleaned from this research. Central wasn’t scheduled to field a team in 1922, but Oklahoma State had a team back out of a scheduled dual so the Bronchos put together a squad and wrestled their first-ever dual on March 2, 1922, losing a 34-12 decision to the Cowboys in Stillwater. The Bronchos had just two matches the next year, losing to OSU and tying Oklahoma, and four in 1924 before taking a year off. UCO had a team from 1925 to 1940, was inactive off six years for World War II and returned for the 1946-47 season before going on a long hiatus that didn’t end until the program was restored in 1972. …. story at https://bronchosports.com/news/2020/4/17/friday-features-the-history-of-the-historic-uco-wrestling-program.aspx?mc_cid=845f982bf2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Every Journey Worth Taking Begins with One Small Step
2009-10: A quick look back and head coach Cael Sanderson’s first season as Penn State’s mentor
“Every journey worth taking begins with one small step…”
It’s simple to say it but putting the words into action can be daunting…unless everything comes together. On April 17, 2009, Penn State officially announced that a young legend from the Midwest was taking over the reins of a wrestling program steeped in history and tradition. Three days later, over 500 fans poured into Rec Hall to welcome then-29-year-old Cael Sanderson to Penn State as the new head coach of the Nittany Lion wrestling team. Sanderson stood offstage, just off the main venue floor peering out at the mass of Lion faithful who had come to a simple press conference, humbled by the show of support for a man these fans had never met. After a brief introduction, the best wrestler in the history of collegiate wrestling took one small step on to Rec Hall’s hallowed wooden floor and the landscape of collegiate wrestling changed forever. Sanderson, who had served as head coach at his alma mater for three years after winning four NCAA titles and never losing a match as a collegian (going 159-0), made an immediate impact at Penn State. Bringing in his older brother Cody as associate head coach and bringing Casey Cunningham along as head assistant coach, Sanderson spent 2009-10 beginning work on the foundation of one of college athletics’ great dynasties. That first season was a year of growth and transition. …. full story at https://gopsusports.com/news/2020/4/15/wrestling-every-journey-worth-taking-begins-with-one-small-step.aspx?mc_cid=eb28f2fdb6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Wrestling Championship History
at https://www.ncaa.com/history/wrestling/d1?utm_campaign=links-bundle-asset
JOE SOLOMON NAMED TO PA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
LEVITTOWN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame announced Saturday, April 11, that the late Joe Solomon of the University of Pittsburgh wrestling team was named to the 2020 class. Solomon, a 1955 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, was a four-year member of Pitt’s wrestling team. His time as a Panther was highlighted by his NCAA Championship at 167 pounds in 1954. While at Pitt, Solomon was named the team MVP his freshman and sophomore year and the Panthers’ team captain as a senior. Solomon was a four-time EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) champion. Aafter college, Solomon joined the Navy and was the U.S. Navy All Navy Champion and as a coach for the Great Lakes Naval Station Wrestling Team, Solomon won the team title in 1956.
In 1956, he received an invitation to become a member of the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team. …. story at https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2020/4/13/wrestling-joe-solomon-named-to-pa-sports-hall-of-fame.aspx?mc_cid=2380a36a7a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Clarion Mourns Loss of Shae Bloom
CLARION – Shae Bloom, a member of the Clarion University wrestling team, tragically passed away on Thursday, April 16. He was 22 years old. Bloom was a junior Business Management major and an active member of the Golden Eagle team. Information regarding memorial services are not available at this time. “The Clarion University family is deeply saddened to learn of the death of junior Shae Bloom,” said Clarion President Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson. “The coaches, faculty, staff and students are supporting one another during this sad time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.” “Shae was a talented and hard-working young man who embodied the exceptional spirit of being a student-athlete at Clarion,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Wendy Snodgrass. “This is a heartbreaking loss for our community. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, teammates, coaches and fellow student-athletes.”
“Shae Bloom was absolutely one of the toughest kids I’ve ever had the privilege to coach,” said head coach Keith Ferraro. “He set an example for all of his teammates by being ready to stand up to any challenge that came his way. Shae was a part of our family and we are devastated by his loss.”
Members of the Clarion wrestling team were informed of Bloom’s passing on the evening of April 16. Counseling services have been made available to students, faculty and staff. …. Story and history at https://clariongoldeneagles.com/news/2020/4/17/general-clarion-mourns-loss-of-shae-bloom.aspx?mc_cid=845f982bf2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Short Time Shots: Presbyterian picks up the W
There’s over 70 wrestling podcasts out there. This was the second one. I know people have come and gone from the various Mat Talk shows. I like this format. I like the interview format, but this is also my business, I have to make sure my time is cost-effective. This is why I pitch the Patreon links at the end of each show. Maybe I can take the time away to develop the show ideas in the off-season, but as my wife says, wrestling has no off-season. I put out 448 episodes in 2019, always putting my clients and affiliate shows ahead of my own. Thanks for the feedback, constructive and positive. It’s all taken into consideration. That long winded intro is by your host, me, Jason Bryant, and this is Short Time Shots, a mostly daily look back at the scores and more in the world of wrestling. the Attack Style Wrestling Podcast will be coming back with NCAA champion Daryl Weber. We’ll record the first episode in over a year next week.
In Duals:
- We lead with the first victory in over 60 years for Presbyterian College. The Blue Hose hosted NAIA Truett McConnell on Wednesday and shut out the Bears 44-0. It was a forfeit-laden meet. This is the first year of Division I wrestling for Presbyterian, which did have a team back in the early 1950s. It’s the smallest school in Division I and started both men’s and women’s wrestling this year.
- Closest match of the night came in Division II where Indianapolis edged Findlay 19-18 on criteria E – Total number of takedowns scored only from decisions, major decisions and technical falls. Also in Division II, Belmont Abbey topped Queens 36-12. Fairmont State beat Kent State-Tuscarawas, a varsity NCWA team, 35-0. It’s the first win since the program was added back at Fairmont State, but we’re not exactly sure if the Kent State branch campus is actually a countable opponent under NCAA rules. Fairmont State’s last win came at some point in the 1982-83 season. Fort Hays State beat Central Missouri 28-12.
- Second closest match of the night was in Division III where Pitt-Bradford topped Penn State Behrend 28-27. This one came down to the second criteria, most six-point victories, which favored Pitt-Bradford. Too many forfeits here though. In Division III, Castleton beat Rhode Island College 31-6, Springfield topped Norwich 37-9. North Central topped Chicago 22-15, Otterbein beat Case Western 38-15. Case Western Reserve did get one win on senior night as Connor Forrest got a fall in the first period to push the Spartans past Ohio Wesleyan 27-26. …. story at http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/shots/short-time-shots-presbyterian-picks-up-the-w-1-15-20/?fbclid=IwAR094kd1P5Yn7CVdpme4IQnPk7OF0UiOB6upmWAoN5tXXMuFMKHbGpVNImY
Dynasty Duals: ’97 Iowa clips ’12 Penn State to reach semis
Iowa’s record-setting 1997 team edged Penn State’s 2012 squad 20-18 to become the first team to reach the Dynasty Duals semifinals. The two teams split the 10 matches, but the Hawkeyes won thanks to bonus-point wins from Mike Mena, Mark Ironside, Lincoln McIlravy and Wes Hand, each of whom secured more than 70 percent of the fan vote. David Taylor claimed one of the five wins for the Nittany Lions, picking up 58 percent of the fan vote to beat Joe Williams in a battle of multi-time NCAA champions. …. story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1586845567997&twSessionId=khetngozym&postId=779728135&mc_cid=2380a36a7a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
How one high school wrestling team dramatically increased participation by putting kids first
ROLLA, Mo. – Marty Hauck looks at the depth chart of his Rolla High School wrestling team in his office. Each name has a story. Hauck, who is passionately devoted to using wrestling to help build character, commitment and discipline in as many students as possible, starts rattling off the stories. This boy is the state champion who travels nationally for meets and dreams of becoming an Olympian and majoring in biology. That girl convinced her skeptical Muslim parents to let her wrestle and hopes to start the sport for girls in Saudi Arabia when she moves back there soon. This boy never competes – he simply practices because it’s fun and worries he might get injured in a match that would impact his baseball season. Those three on the depth chart? They moved out of their homes and live on their own due to difficult family situations.
“Some of these kids, when I ask what mom and dad did over the weekend, they say, ‘Well, they did a little meth,’” Hauck says. “‘What do you mean they did a little meth?’ ‘They’re not like a meth head, Coach. They just do a little to relax on the weekend.’ Some of these kids, it’s nothing for them to come home and the parents are smoking a bong and they want them to join. These kids are making choices bigger than I know.” …. story at https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/highschool/2020/01/30/how-high-school-wrestling-team-dramatically-increased-participation/2854356001/?mc_cid=0c135afe6f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
