Dan Gable University Will Launch Legends Series
By Mike Clayton
USA Wrestling National Coaches Education Program
USA Wrestling, in partnership with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum, is launching a new video experience called the Legends Series. The first video release on November 27 will feature Olympic gold medalist, world champion, two-time NCAA champion and Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Dan Gable.
The goal of the program is to help individuals, inside and outside of our wrestling community, learn more about the people who have helped forge the way for amateur wrestling in America and the world. The program will launch with the first video, featuring the legendary wrestler and coach. The series will be called Dan Gable University and we plan to launch access through our membership. Each series is designed to have 25-30 video clips that range from 2-20 minutes each. The total program is currently more than two hours of Gable interviews, theories and stories with more being added daily.
USA Wrestling members can purchase the series from their online profile at USAWmembership.com. Rest of the story at https://nwhof.org/blog/dan-gable-university-launches-legends-series/?mc_cid=94c71668b5&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Division III Preseason Rankings
National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III
Pre – Season Team Ranking #1
October 29, 2019
Ranking Team Total Points
1. Loras College (IA) (42)
2. Wabash College (IN) (40)
3. Wartburg College (IA) (35)
4. Augsburg University (MN) (29)
5. Tie University of Mount Union (OH) (27)
5. Tie UW – Whitewater (WI) (27)
7. UW – La Crosse (WI) (26)
8. Tie Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) (20)
8. Tie Baldwin Wallace University (OH) (20)
8. Tie Coe College (IA) (20)
11. U. S. Coast Guard Academy (CT) (19)
Rest of the rankings, listing and story at https://iawrestle.com/2019/10/29/division-iii-preseason-rankings/?mc_cid=94c71668b5&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Battle on the Midway: Results, photos, analysis from the wrestling showcase
Picture the ultimate wrestling environment. An outdoor mat lays across the middle of the floor underneath a dark sky with the only light coming from the brightness of floodlights on all four sides, illuminating the stage. This isn’t just any outdoor mat though, it’s one placed carefully on the flight deck of a battleship adjacent to the Navy Pier that looks over the San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, just waiting to be filled with fans and athletes from four teams around the country.
📸 Battle on the Midway Photo Gallery‼️
🔗 https://t.co/nxEAx9l6D7#GoDogs | #PrideOfTheValley pic.twitter.com/X9gdor4rJ6— FresnoStateWrestling (@FresnoStateWRES) November 2, 2019
This was the environment of the Battle on the Midway, an annual wrestling event on Nov. 1 in San Diego, California. Here’s everything you need to know about the results from the duals, what we learned from each of the teams competing and the history of the event. Rest of the story and results at https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2019-10-27/battle-midway-results-photos-analysis-wrestling-showcase?mc_cid=fd834b255f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
TOM’s Campus Visit – McKendree
What do you do when you are trying to bring more Division II wrestling coverage to the fans and you have a weekend off from work? I was faced with that conundrum last week and I had myself an idea, what if I traveled four hours south to St Louis. I even had a built-in babysitter in my oldest sister and her family. I have a four-year-old and she has two kids right around the same age. I could drop her off with my sister and give my wife a weekend with just her and our eight-week-old while I took the chance to visit three Division II wrestling powerhouses all within 45 minutes of each other. How could I miss up an opportunity like this? Three emails later and I had visits set up with #4 McKendree University, #5 Lindenwood University, and #9 Maryville University. The trifecta!
McKendree University is the oldest university in all of Illinois. Located in the sleepy retirement community of Lebanon, McKendree has been around since 1828. The University may not be the most affordable private option in Illinois at just beyond $40,000 a year, but it offers things other institutions do not. It is the perfect blend of country and city located in a small town surrounded by farm fields, but less than 20 minutes outside of St Louis. It can appeal to those looking for either college experience or both. The Bearcats offer over 50 different undergraduate areas and four master’s programs. A truly ridiculous stat is the 14:1 student to faculty ratio, I guarantee that the professors there know the names of their students. Only the students there know if that is a good or a bad thing. Academics play a large role on campus with athletics coming in a distant second. It makes recruiting all the more difficult for the only head coach the McKendree Bearcat wrestling team has ever had. James Kisgen is entering his 15th season leading the program he has built from the ground up and the four-time All-American, himself, has coached nine national champions. Last season the Bearcats finished third in the team race behind national champion Michael Pixley and this year they enter the season ranked fourth.
For coach Kisgen, the Team is paramount. Any wrestler who steps into the McKendree wrestling room does so knowing that the Team comes first. Everything they do is for the betterment of the Bearcats. That means the rules apply to everyone. There is no favoritism from coach Kisgen or the staff, no one is above the Team. It seems odd that McKendree built an entirely separate facility with a wrestling room and a weight room in it until you hear the story of why. It was part of an agreement that helped spawn a women’s program at the University that Kisgen also oversees. Rest of this interesting story at https://news.theopenmat.com/college-wrestling-news/toms-campus-visit-mckendree/75168?mc_cid=fd834b255f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
NCWA Men’s Division Preseason Rankings Released!
The 2019-2020 season starts this Saturday (11/2) and features a total of 56 returning All-Americans in the Men’s Division including EIGHT Returning Champions and TEN individuals with National Championships under their belt. The team race looks to be Liberty’s for the taking with mainstays Apprentice, Springfield Tech, Grand Valley State, and Central Florida not too far behind. #1 Ranked Wrestlers include: 125 – Colton Messick (Sr-Apprentice), 133 – Kolin Johnson (Jr-Apprentice), 141 – Danny Buteau (Jr-Husson), 149 – Ty’rae Carter (Jr-Texas A&M), 157 – Andrew Burgette (Sr-Liberty), 165 – Mason Brestle (Sr-Maryland WC), 174 – Sam Karel (Sr-Liberty), 184 – Jabari Irons (Sr-Florida Gulf Coast), 197 – Austin Amos (Sr-Liberty), 235 – William Farparan (Sr-Tampa), and 285 – Jeff Allen (So-Liberty). There is also potential for finals rematches at several weights this year with the #1 and #2 at 141, 149 and 174 all returning to the mat. The team race … Rest of the story and rankings at https://ncwa.net/news/2019/ncwa-mens-division-preseason-rankings-released
Life (Ga.) takes No. 1 spot in NAIA Women’s Wrestling Preseason Coaches’ Poll
BY NAIA | OCT. 25, 2019
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In 2019 NAIA Women’s Wrestling Coaches’ Poll, Life (Ga.) took home the top spot with 163 points. The next installment of the Coaches’ Poll is scheduled for Nov. 26.
Top 25 Highlights
– The No. 1 Eagles had nine wrestlers in the top spots within their respective weight classes.
– Menlo had most No. 1 wrestlers with six: Alleida Martinez (109), Gracie Figueroa (116), Tiana Jackson (123), Solin Piearcy (136), Marilyn Garcia (143) and Precious Bell (170).
– Rounding out the top five were Menlo (Calif.), Cumberlands (Ky.), Wayland Baptist (Texas) and Jamestown (N.D.).
This is the second year for women’s wrestling as an NAIA invitational sport. Twenty-eight NAIA institutions sponsor women’s wrestling teams during the 2019-2020 season. Women’s wrestling will be eligible for championship status once 40 institutions sponsor a varsity women’s wrestling program.
Poll Methodology
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the four conferences and groupings.
Two days prior to the national poll, each qualifying group rater submits the top six individuals from each weight class in his conference into the system. Only wrestlers listed on a conference ballot are considered for the national ballot. Rest of the story and complete rankings here at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/October/25/NAIA-announces-preseason-womens-wrestling-rankings?mc_cid=936367f8e2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Men’s Wrestling Opens Season 4-0 at Simpson Duals
REDDING, Calif. – The Eastern Oregon men’s wrestling team began its season in dominant fashion, going 4-0 at the Simpson Duals on Saturday.
The Mountaineers (4-0) finished with team wins of 46-0 over Simpson, 38-6 over Sacramento City College, 38-12 against Lassen College and 35-9 over Sierra College. In all, the Mounties outscored their opponents 157-27 on the day. The shutout of Simpson marked the team’s first since the return of the program in 2016. EOU had a number of wrestlers go undefeated on the weekend, starting with sophomore Keegan Mulhill (4-0) who finished with three pins and an 8-1 decision victory at 174 pounds. Fellow sophomore Ryan Redford went 4-0 as well with two pins a pair of decision wins at 197 pounds. At 184 pounds, junior Marco Retano was undefeated as well with two pins, a major decision and win by forfeit. Redshirt-freshman Jesse Camacho was 4-0 at 157 pounds with a pin, major decision and two decision victories. John Bittinger went 3-1 at 165 pounds, Monte Zufelt was 2-0 along with two wins by forfeit. Senior Blake McNall went 2-1 at 141 pounds, redshirt-freshman Hunter Nees finished 2-2 at 125 pounds. Jared Brant also went 2-1 with another win by forfeit at 149 pounds. Rest of the story at https://eousports.com/news/2019/10/27/mens-wrestling-opens-season-4-0-at-simpson-duals.aspx?mc_cid=936367f8e2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Blue Takes Down Gray in Duke Wrestle-Offs
DURHAM, N.C. – The Blue team registered a 26-24 victory over the Gray team as Duke wrestling held its annual wrestle-offs on Sunday afternoon. “Was definitely good to see these guys get out there and compete,” head coach Glen Lanham said “A lot of them have been here over the summer wrestling each other, trying to establish weights, so you don’t know what you’re going to see. We have a lot of freshman. We have nine in the lineup right now, so it was good to see them working on what we’ve been trying to teach them early this year. It’s exciting. It’s going to be a rollercoaster season with as many young guys as we have but I like the effort overall. We just have to make some small adjustments to make some big gains.” Junior Ethan Krause, who was sidelined the last two years due to injury, had an impressive showing at 141 pounds defeating both Patrick Rowland and Ty Mills during his two bouts.
“Super proud to finally see Ethan get out there,” Lanham added. “For the last two years, we were just wanting him to be able to walk upright on campus. That first first year I didn’t know if he’d ever get out on a mat again. But that wasn’t our main concern. It was just that he can be healthy. So, to see him compete and to see him wrestle hard like that it brings some tears to your eyes. He’s just worked so hard this whole summer and the past two years to try to get himself in wrestling shape.” Earning two tech fall victories was Kaden Russell, who took down rookies Vincent Baker at 197 pounds and Jonah Niesenbaum at heavyweight (285 lbs.). Rest of the details and story at https://goduke.com/news/2019/10/27/wrestling-blue-takes-down-gray-in-duke-wrestle-offs.aspx?mc_cid=936367f8e2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
CAROLINA WRESTLING COMPLETES 2019 WRESTLE OFFS
CHAPEL HILL — Team Navy picked up a 17-15 win over Team Carolina Blue as UNC Wrestling completed its 2019 wrestle offs in Carmichael Arena Thursday night. The match was highlighted by a large group of new names hitting the mat for the Tar Heels, including freshman Timothy Decatur in his 125-pound win over Jeremiah Derby, a 7-6 decision. Returners Jaime Hernandez (133 pounds) and Zach Sherman (141 pounds) collected wins of their own, while Gino Esposito won his first match in Carmichael Arena at 149 pounds. At 157 pounds, AC Headlee made his debut two weights up and defeated Josh McClure, 10-6. In the next match, Kennedy Monday won in a decision against Sawyer Davidson, 8-5. Rest of the matches and story at https://goheels.com/news/2019/10/24/carolina-wrestling-completes-2019-wrestle-offs.aspx?mc_cid=5efd70627f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Stage will be set for McKee to finish college career in style
Mitch McKee can see it from his house.
The bright purple lights that glow at night from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. It’s the place where his beloved Minnesota Vikings play.
And the place where he hopes to cap his collegiate career with an NCAA wrestling championship.
“Having the 2020 NCAA tournament there is going to be amazing,” McKee said. “I will have a lot of family and friends there, and it’s going to be incredible having nationals in that stadium. It’s going to be awesome to finish my career there.” McKee starts his senior season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers ranked No. 4 by InterMat at 141 pounds. McKee placed sixth nationally at 141 pounds last season after bumping up a weight class from 133 pounds. He compiled a 24-8 record as a junior. “My career has definitely gone by fast,” McKee said. “It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long. It’s been amazing, being a part of this wrestling program and this university. I like the way it has turned out so far.” McKee has found the perfect fit at the University of Minnesota during an emotional time for the close-knit McKee family.
Mitch McKee hugs his father Steve after claiming a state title in 2014 (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)
McKee’s father, Steve, lost his battle with cancer in 2014. A few months before Steve died, he shared one final magical, heartfelt moment with his son when Mitch won a Minnesota state high school title. Mitch hugged his father following the win before the wrestler he pinned in the finals, Malik Stewart, also came over to hug McKee’s father. The sellout crowd at the Xcel Energy Center stood and rewarded both wrestlers with a standing ovation. The inspirational story drew national attention. Rest of this story at http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/22441?mc_cid=5efd70627f&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
