TDR Top Coaches Lists Updated
The Lists of Top coaches by Dual Meet Wins are being updated on the TDR Blog Pages which are linked to the right. We welcome input, questions and corrections. The updates are starting on Aug. 21st and will continue during the next week.
OSU Cowgirl Wrestling Club Adds John Smith as Volunteer Assistant
Smith will continue to impact the future of the sport.
Smith will continue to impact the future of the sport. on August 17, 2025 By Marshall Scott
John Smith has found a new way to impact the future of wrestling.
The OSU Cowgirl Wrestling Club on Sunday announced that Smith, legendary wrestler-turned-legendary coach, has agreed to help out as a volunteer assistant coach. This comes a little more than a year removed from when Smith retired as the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ coach after a coaching career that saw him lead OSU to five NCAA team titles, 33 NCAA individual titles and 490 dual wins. Not a bad resume for a volunteer assistant.
Former OSU All-American Izzak Olejnik is the Cowgirls’ head coach. He was a two-time MAC champion and one-time NCAA All-American at Northern Illinois before transferring to OSU for his final season (and Smith’s final season as OSU’s coach). He wrestled to a seventh-place finish at the NCAA championships under Smith, beating future Cowboy national champ Dean Hamiti in the process.
Smith was a two-time national champ for OSU during the 1980s and finished his Cowboy career with a record of 154-7-2. As good as he was on a collegiate mat, Smith was even more heralded internationally. He won gold at the World Championships on four occasions between 1987 and 1991. Smith also won gold at the Olympics in 1988 and 1992.
To go with the coaching acumen listed above, Smith also produced 153 All-Americans, 23 team conference titles, 132 individual conference champions and two Hodge Trophy winners in his 33-year run coaching the Cowboys. … more at … https://pistolsfiringblog.com/osu-cowgirl-wrestling-club-adds-john-smith-as-volunteer-assistant/
Shaut Joins Appalachian State Staff as Assistant Coach
BOONE, N.C. —Hunter Shaut has joined the App State Wrestling staff as an assistant coach.
Shaut (pronounced like shout) concluded his collegiate career at Buffalo in 2025, and the childhood education major earned Academic All-MAC recognition in each of his final two seasons. He won 43 matches during his career, posting 22 dual victories over his final three seasons and going 12-6 in MAC duals.
As a senior, he went 22-15 overall, placed fourth at the MAC Championships at 165 pounds and earned the team’s Academic Excellence Award.
A native of Mohawk, N.Y., … more at … https://appstatesports.com/news/2025/8/15/shaut-joins-wrestling-staff-as-assistant-coach.aspx
Chadron State College Coach Brett Hunter Running 100 Miles this Weekend
By Con Marshall
Chadron State College Men’s Wrestling Coach Brett Hunter was a two-time state champion wrestler at Rushville High School and a two-time national champion at Chadron State, winning a total of 274 matches and at least 31 matches each of the eight seasons he competed in the sport. But this weekend he’ll be attempting a much different and strenuous challenge.
Hunter has entered the 100-mile race that is the headliner of the Lean Horse Ultra Marathon in the Black Hills of South Dakota. On Monday, he said he was both excited and nervous about what’s ahead, then added that it’s something he’s eager to attempt.
His previous longest race was a 50-miler over the same course a year ago, and he recalls that afterwards he felt terrible, hurting all over both physically and mentally. “I had to gut it out to finish. It was terrible.” he remembers.
Now he’s going to try to run twice as far. He knows it will be miserable, but he’s steadfast in giving it his best shot.
He admits that during his days as one of western Nebraska’s all-time outstanding wrestlers he never enjoyed running, but did it to get in shape and to make weight. “Back then I thought running two to four miles was a lot, and when I went out for track as a high school senior I never ran more than a half mile in a meet,” he noted.
Now entering his 14th season as the Eagles’ head wrestling coach, Hunter doesn’t relish running, but he wants to stay active and healthy, and obviously has become much more than a casual jogger.
His first distance race of special note was a half marathon (a bit more than 13 miles) at Jackson Hole, Wyo., in 2022. The next year he ran two 30-mile races in the Black Hills, and was encouraged when he won his age group and finished seventh overall in one of them.
Last year he took on the 50-mile race and completed it in 11 hours and 57 minutes, placing about 30th among the 125 entries. … more at … https://chadronradio.com/csc-coach-brett-hunter-running-100-miles-this-weekend/
Hundreds of supporters demand Davidson County Schools reinstate 3 wrestling coaches
DAVIDSON COUNTY — More than 200 people packed the Davidson County Board of Education meeting Monday night demanding that three wrestling coaches from Ledford and Central Davidson high schools be reinstated immediately.
Superintendent Gregg Slate suspended Ledford assistant coach Tim Ellenberger, Ledford head coach Andy Chappell and Central Davidson assistant coach Carter Ellenberger, Tim Ellenberger’s son. Slate confirmed before the meeting Monday night that their appeals will be heard by the school board within two weeks.
Slate said Chappell is suspended until June 30, 2026. He is a retired teacher. He said Tim Ellenberger is suspended until Oct. 29. He did not state how long Carter Ellenberger is suspended, or whether that includes a suspension from teaching as well. Carter Ellenberger is the only one of the three who also is a teacher. He teaches social studies at Central Middle.
The suspensions stem from a trip to Sliding Rock in Transylvania County by wrestling team members and coaches from Ledford High School and Central Middle and Central High schools in June. A social media post claimed that one of the students nearly drowned.
The Sliding Rock visit took place on the last day of a wrestling summer camp at Brevard College and is a longstanding tradition with the Ledford team.
Davidson County Schools issued a statement in June saying that the report and the actions of school employees were being investigated. Slate declined to explain Monday why the coaches were suspended, … more at … https://www.hpenews.com/thomasville_times/hundreds-of-supporters-demand-davidson-county-schools-reinstate-3-wrestling-coaches/article_2d163886-da49-50e4-8a29-2fdebc79c666.html
Toledo wrestling legend Greg Wojciechowski dead at 73
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A national champion wrestler and fixture of the sport locally, Greg Wojciechowski, has died at the age of 73, according to the Toledo Blade.
Known as “The Great Wojo” as a professional wrestler, Wojciechowski won a national championship as a heavyweight at the University of Toledo in 1971, along with two state titles while wrestling for Whitmer High School.
After his pro wrestling career, he returned to town to be a teacher at Toledo Public Schools, and coach wrestling teams at Archbold, Libbey, and Bowsher high schools.
You can read more about Wojciechowski by checking David Brigg’s column from earlier this summer about his induction into the wrestling Hall of Fame. … more a … https://www.13abc.com/2025/08/14/toledo-wrestling-legend-greg-wojciechowski-dead-73/
And …
Distinguished Member Greg Wojciechowski Passes Away
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame was saddened to learn that Greg Wojciechowski, a Distinguished Member inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025, passed away on Tuesday, at the age of 74. He is also a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum’s George Tragos and Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and he received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the Ohio Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2013.
“Greg Wojciechowski was a driving force in establishing a world-class wrestling culture in the greater Toledo area during the 1960s and 1970s. His passion and dedication to the sport helped spark the creation of the Wrestling World Cup, which debuted in Toledo in 1973 and was hosted by the city an incredible 17 times over the next 19 years,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
“During his induction as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this past June, “Wojo” delivered a heartfelt and moving speech. In a true reflection of his character, he took the time to personally recognize individuals in attendance who had made a meaningful impact on his life. It was a powerful reminder of the deep gratitude and humility that defined him—and a testament to the way he always gave back to the community that shaped him,” he added. “On behalf of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors and our staff, we extend our deepest condolences to Greg’s family, friends, and the many lives he influenced. His legacy will forever live on in the sport he loved and the people he inspired.”
Wojciechowski was an NCAA Division I champion and three-time NCAA finalist, competing when freshmen were not eligible, at heavyweight for the University of Toledo.
By the age of 21 he had won an NCAA title, a freestyle national title and a Greco-Roman national title.
Standing 6-foot tall and weighing approximately 250 pounds, Wojciechowski regularly gave up height and weight to his opponents, including 1972 NCAA champion and Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Chris Taylor, who was 6-foot-5 and weighed over 400 pounds throughout much of his wrestling career.
Wojciechowski had a career college record of 55-2 with his only losses coming in the NCAA finals to Taylor and Oregon State’s Jess Lewis in 1970. … more at … https://nwhof.org/news/distinguished-member-greg-wojciechowski-passes-away
USA Wrestling leader Al Bevilacqua, 85, passed away Sunday.
USA Wrestling received word from his family that long-time USA Wrestling leader Al Bevilacqua, 85, passed away on Sunday, August 10.
Bevilacqua gave a lifetime of service, commitment and love to the sport of wrestling, impacting the lives of thousands of people along the way. He was a staff member and a volunteer leader with USA Wrestling for decades, going back to its roots as the U.S. Wrestling Federation. A respected coach on the high school, college and international levels, his work extended to leadership in many other areas, including his ground-breaking work in the creation of Beat the Streets in New York. He was named USA Wrestling Man of the Year in 2005. He received the Order of Merit from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012. Services: There are two viewings at the Massapequa Funeral Home located at 4980 Merrick Road, Massapequa, NY on Wednesday, August 13th … more at … Themat.com/news/2025/august/11/usa-wrestling-leader-al-bevilacqua-85-passed-away
And …
Legendary Long Island wrestling coach immortalized by ‘Seinfeld’ dies at 85
The legendary Long Island wrestling coach immortalized in an iconic “Seinfeld” scene has died — and everyone from celebrity former students to athletes recalled Tuesday how he went to the mat for them.
“They’re telling me I only have 2 to 3 minutes to give a eulogy,” said Christopher Bevilacqua, the son of beloved late 85-year-old coach and mentor Al Bevilacqua, to The Post.
“I don’t know how you can describe his life in 2 or 3 minutes.”
Al Bevilacqua, who passed away Sunday, got his 15 minutes of TV fame when superstar funnyman Jerry Seinfeld famously name-dropped his former teacher in an episode of his wildly popular series — even though Al never really watched the “show about nothing,” his family said.
“He would go, ‘”Seinfeld”? What is that? A comedy?’ ” said the former coach’s son, Michael. … more at … https://nypost.com/2025/08/12/us-news/legendary-long-island-wrestling-coach-al-bevilacqua-dies/
Ownbey Inducted Into UNC Pembroke Athletics Hall of Fame
PEMBROKE, N.C. – Head Wrestling Coach Daniel Ownbey has been inducted into the University of North Carolina at Pembroke Athletics Hall of Fame, the school announced over the weekend. The prestigious honor highlights Ownbey’s outstanding collegiate career and lasting impact on the UNCP Wrestling program.
“I want to thank UNC Pembroke Athletics and the Hall of Fame committee for this incredible opportunity to join some of the greatest athletes who competed for UNC Pembroke”, said Ownbey. “I also want to thank Othello Johnson for giving me the opportunity to continue my career for the Braves, as well as Chris Notte, for being the coach I needed to push me to my limits to reach my goals. UNCP will always hold a very special place in my heart, and I will always be proud to have worn the Black and Gold. I look forward to seeing my own athletes have this opportunity in years to come at Montevallo.”
The Asheville, North Carolina native was a four-time All-American from 2011-15, compiling an 133-18 record on the mat. Ownbey further cemented his legacy with a pair of NCAA Division II national titles, the first coming in the 2013-14 season. He capped off a stellar career with his second championship in the 2014-15 campaign, becoming the school’s first multi-time national champion.
Ownbey added to his list of accolades following the 2014-15 season, being named the NCAA Super Region II Wrestler of the Year. … more at … https://montevallofalcons.com/news/2025/8/11/wrestling-ownbey-inducted-into-unc-pembroke-athletics-hall-of-fame.aspx
Schulz to join prestigious UNC Pembroke program
MOREHEAD CITY — There wasn’t another school that hardly stood a chance with John Schulz.
The recent West Carteret graduate has known since his sophomore year that he wanted to wrestle at UNC Pembroke. “Pembroke has been my number one school for a long time” he said. “They did a wrestling camp here my sophomore year, and since then, I kind of had them on my radar. I’ve just been developing a relationship with them.”
Schulz credited assistant coach Nick Daggett for his recruitment and attention to developing a relationship over the past three years. It’s easy to see why Schulz is so enamored with the UNCP program.
The Braves finished tied for 10th at the NCAA Division II National Championships in the 2023-2024 season, which was the highest standing since the 2011-2012 campaign. They have now logged team points at 22 straight NCAA Championships, dating back to the 2002-03 campaign.
Othello “O.T.” Johnson, who is heading into his 15th season as the coach, has led the team to some of the finest years in the history of the program, including a 2017-18 season that led to the program’s first conference title in 34 years. In that same season, UNCP turned in its seventh straight top 25 finish under Johnson after finishing 15th at the NCAA Division II National Championships. The Braves have finished in the top 25 on three more occasions since.
Johnson has produced 59 NCAA qualifiers in his tenure. … more at … https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/sports/article_a36dc24b-977a-42b2-843c-066e6e3a236a.html
New College Wrestling programs
TDR Editor’s Notes; The following programs are just some of the new college teams that will be starting up. So far over 50 new teams have been announced for next season while about 10 teams will be dropped mostly due to schools’ closures. So far over 10 new teams in the following year while 2 teams will be dropped due to a school closure. While most of these schools are far away they are exaamples of the growth in collegiate and scholastic wrestling.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Wrestling Returns To Wittenberg
Wittenberg to Sponsor Donor-Supported Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Programs Starting in 2026-27 School Year
SPRINGFIELD, OH – The last time wrestling singlets were adorned with the iconic Wittenberg logo, the year was 1990, and the majority of Wittenberg’s intercollegiate athletics teams had just started competition in a new league.
Fast forward to 2025 and Wittenberg, which discontinued its wrestling program at the conclusion of the 1989-90 school year, has won more than 130 team championships across a variety of sports as a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). While the league has never sponsored competition in the sport, calls from Wittenberg alumni to bring wrestling back have never ceased.
Those calls have grown louder in recent years until they reached a crescendo this year. A group of wrestling alumni stepped forward to support the University by providing financial backing to not only re-start Wittenberg’s men’s wrestling program but also offer a new women’s wrestling program as well.
“We are deeply grateful to our supportive alumni and friends who, as donors, are allowing us to expand our athletics offerings without requiring additional investments from the University,” said Wittenberg President Christian M.M. Brady, DPhil (Oxon.). “This model preserves our financial future and positions us to offer a program of great interest and an overall excellent academic and educational experience to our current and prospective students.”
Both teams will start competition in the 2026-27 school year, following a year that will be dedicated to recruiting. A search for a new coach is already underway. “We are extremely excited about the reinstatement of our wrestling program, which will include a women’s team,” … more at … https://www.wittenberg.edu/news/07-31-25/wrestling-returns-wittenberg
Women’s Wrestling Coming to St. Ambrose in 2026-27
St. Ambrose University is announcing the addition of a varsity women’s wrestling program, building on its legacy of athletic excellence and opportunities for student-athletes. The team will begin official competition in the 2026–27 academic year, with a head coach to be hired during this academic year to lead recruiting, scheduling, and program development.
“As early as four years ago, we saw the tremendous momentum behind girls’ wrestling at the high school level, especially in Iowa and Illinois,” said Mike Holmes, Director of Athletics at St. Ambrose. “We’ve had our eye on this opportunity ever since, and we’re excited to bring that vision to life for our Ambrosian student-athletes.”
The launch of the women’s program builds upon the university’s strategic facilities plan, which included future expansion when the men’s wrestling program was launched in 2021. The current wrestling facility was constructed with dedicated space for a women’s team, including locker rooms and office space.
The university is applying for the women’s wrestling team to compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, the same conference where the men’s wrestling team competes as an affiliate. Adding a women’s team expands opportunities for Ambrosian student-athletes and allows St. Ambrose to further engage in conference-level competition and contribute to the rapid national and regional growth of the sport. “We designed our wrestling facility with this expansion in mind,” … more at … https://www.saubees.com/sports/wwrest/2025-26/releases/20250804g72d65
And …
Mount St. Joseph to Add Women’s Wrestling as 22nd Athletic Team
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Mount St. Joseph University is announcing the addition of women’s wrestling to the Universities athletic programs. The team is slated to begin competition in the fall of 2026 and will increase the total number of athletic teams to 22 at The Mount.
Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports among high schools across the country and specifically in the state of Ohio. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) sponsored their first state championship in 2024. According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the number of female high school wrestlers nationally has exploded 804 in 1994 to more than 50,000 in 2024.
At the collegiate level, women’s wrestling was listed as an “emerging sport” by the NCAA in 2020-21. Since that time the sport has seen tremendous growth at the collegiate level and became the NCAA’s 91st championship level sport in January of 2025.
The MSJ women’s wrestling program will become the NCAA’s 58th Division III team. It will be the seventh D-III program in the state of Ohio and the first south of Westerville. … more at … https://msjlions.com/news/2025/8/5/general-mount-st-joseph-to-add-womens-wrestling-as-22nd-athletic-team.aspx
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
Takedown Report 