Nick Ackerman named 2026 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award recipient
INDIANOLA, Iowa – The NCAA has selected Simpson College alum and former national champion Nick Ackerman as one of its 2026 Silver Anniversary Award recipients, recognizing athletes who graduated 25 years ago and have gone on to demonstrate exceptional leadership, service and professional achievement.
Ackerman will be formally recognized during the NCAA Convention in January, where he and the other Silver Anniversary Award honorees – Drew Brees (Purdue football), Tamika Catchings (Tennessee women’s basketball), and Dr. Lauren Witmer (Millersville women’s tennis) – will be celebrated for their enduring impact and accomplishments.
Ackerman is one of the most celebrated athletes in Simpson College history. In 2001, he won the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship at 174 pounds, defeating defending national champion Nick Slack of Augsburg College, who entered the championship on a 60-match win streak. His remarkable victory made him the first athlete in NCAA history to win a national title without the use of his legs, as Ackerman is a bilateral below-knee amputee due to a childhood illness.
That same year, Ackerman was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA Championships and became the only Division III wrestler to win the Dan Hodge Trophy, wrestling’s equivalent of the Heisman, which he shared with Cael Sanderson of Iowa State. He finished the season with an impressive 38-4 record. … more at … https://www.simpsonathletics.com/sports/wrest/2025-26/releases/20251106inutsy
Appalachian State Uses Strong Finish to Split Season-Opening Duals
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — App State Wrestling began its dual schedule by splitting a pair of Journeymen’s Wranglemania matches Saturday, rallying for a 24-15 win against Hofstra after dropping a 27-13 opener against Navy.
The Mountaineers (1-1) trailed 15-10 before winning the final three matches against Hofstra. Tomas Brooker delivered a 9-4 decision at 184 pounds, and Logan Eller turned a two-point team deficit into a four-point advantage thanks to a first-period pin of Josh Jorgge at 197 pounds. Hofstra needed a major decision at heavyweight to tie the team score, but App State’s Stephan Monchery won by a 19-3 tech fall over Danny Church.
Jarvis Little (major decision at 133), Jeremiah Price (5-1 decision at 157) and Anthony Conetta (8-1 decision at 165) accounted for the other wins against Hofstra, which built a 12-4 lead by winning three of the first four matches, including overtime battles at 125 and 141 pounds.
Brooker, Little and Price all went 2-0 on Saturday, with Brooker posting a 17-4 major decision against Navy in his first dual appearance since he suffered a season-ending injury in the 2024-25 opener.
Little had a 12-6 decision at 133 against Navy, while Price won a 3-2 overtime decision at 157 thanks to a tiebreaking stall penalty following Tiebreaker-2 escapes from each wrestler. Price’s win, which followed Kaden Keiser’s 4-2 decision at 149, gave App State a 9-6 lead at the midway point.
The Mountaineers won four of the first eight matches to trail just 15-13 against the Midshipmen, but Navy broke open a tight dual by winning three of the last four matches via pins from wrestlers with top-20 national rankings. That included No. 12 Spencer Lanosga’s pin in the heavyweight finale after Monchery had nearly recorded a fall while building a 7-0 lead with a takedown … more at … https://appstatesports.com/news/2025/11/8/wrestling-uses-strong-finish-to-split-season-opening-duals.aspx
Wallace, Barket Win Two Matches; Duke Splits with Hofstra & Lehigh
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Duke wrestling tandem of Aidan Wallace and Connor Barket won a pair of matches Saturday at WrangleMania as the Blue Devils split two contests with Hofstra (W, 24-17) and No. 8 Lehigh (L, 38-7) at Freedom High School in Bethlehem.
After falling behind, 14-0, the Blue Devils totaled their second straight come-from-behind victory as Duke won six out of the final seven bouts to win, 24-17.
HOW IT HAPPENED – DUKE VS. HOFSTRA
- Duke’s SP O’Donnell got things rolling for the Blue Devils at 149 pounds as he pinned Alex Turley to put six points on the board.
- Freshman Mikey Boulanger then collected his first collegiate victory at 157 pounds as he defeated Frank Volpe, 8-2.
- With a 2-1 win, Duke redshirt sophomore Aidan Wallace moved to 2-0 on the season at 174 pounds with a victory against Jurlus Clark.
- For the second match in a row, redshirt junior Gaetano Console was impressive as he collected a major decision, 18-4, versus Josh Jorgge at 184 pounds to cut the Hofstra lead to 17-16.
- Redshirt freshman Owen McGrory gave Duke its first lead, … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2025/11/8/wrestling-wallace-barket-win-two-matches-duke-splits-with-hofstra-lehigh
UNC-P Takes Seven Titles, Sends 14 To Podium At PJ Smith Pembroke Classic
By: Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletic Communications Director
Story Links
Highlights
Final Results
PEMBROKE –Cooper Davis (125 pounds), Logan Robinson (133), Don Edwards (141), Avery Buonocore (149), Chase Smart (157), Nick Williams (165), and Nigel Williams (285) all turned in perfect days on the mat to take home titles to highlight wrestling action Sunday at the PJ Smith Pembroke Classic.
The seven-man individual-champion group combined to log 20 bonus-point wins on the day.
Donovan Miller (125 pounds), Mike Lowry (157), Gus Elliott (165), Mason Diemert (184), and Quintez Shipman (197) all brought home runner-up finishes at the event.
De’Shawn Barbee and Jose Zambrano Canuto each took third in the 141 and 184 pound divisions, respectively. 28 wrestlers registered at least two wins for the Black & Gold.
The Braves will kick off Conference Carolinas dual action on … more at … https://uncpbraves.com/news/2025/11/9/wrestling-takes-seven-titles-sends-14-to-podium-at-pj-smith-pembroke-classic.aspx
Like Fargo, Super 32 is a national wrestling family reunion
By Tristan Warner
You may have never heard this fun fact, but at Disneyland and Disney World, you physically cannot take 30 steps in any direction without passing a trash can. Per the parks’ historical accounts, Walt Disney observed that people will walk about 30 steps before dropping litter. With that in mind, he mandated that trash receptacles be placed every 30 feet throughout all of his parks.
What does this have to do with wrestling? Fair question.
After spending two full days at the Greensboro Coliseum for the annual Super 32 Challenge, I was reflecting on the sheer volume of people I crossed paths with that I either know personally or recognized. The Super 32, in similar fashion to Fargo, is a who’s who exhibit of wrestling names and faces.
The Disney trash can reference came to mind when I considered the fact that it was pretty difficult to take 20-30 steps in any direction of the facility without either bumping into someone I knew or intersecting a recognizable wrestling face.
The competition floor is littered with not only many of the nation’s top high school and middle school wrestlers but also an innumerable quantity of high school, college and club coaches serving in various capacities, whether there to coach athletes of their own or to recruit.
Needless to say, for someone who has ate, slept and breathed wrestling for over three decades, I am at an interesting age in which so many of my former peers are now involved as parents, coaches, or both. Some of the conversations and interactions apart from the actual wrestling make up the most memorable moments of this event annually.
That is really saying something considering Super 32 has become the nation’s premier preseason wrestling event. Each year, the number of nationally-ranked wrestlers in the brackets seems to rise. With that, so does the quantity of collegiate coaches in attendance. The belts shine a little brighter, and the difficulty level of actually obtaining one ascends correspondingly.
But as is spoken by nearly every coach ever profiled in WIN’s USA Wrestling Coach’s Corner section, which totals over 50 published as of this issue, the relationships and bonds forged through the sport transcend the outcomes. That may sound like corny or cliché coach speak, but it really is the truth. Perhaps no other event besides possibly Fargo illustrates this concept like Super 32.
Roaming the Greensboro Coliseum for two days bumping into so many former teammates, coaches, opponents, and even subjects I’ve interviewed for WIN Magazine is such a rewarding experience. And the funny thing is, the brief conversations … more at … https://www.win-magazine.com/2025/11/07/like-fargo-super-32-is-a-national-wrestling-family-reunion/
No. 23 Wrestling Blanks Northern Colorado, 40-0
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 23rd-ranked North Carolina wrestling team opened the dual portion of the 2025-26 campaign with a 40-0 victory over Northern Colorado, inside Carmichael Arena.
The Tar Heels, who featured seven new starters in the lineup on Sunday, secured three technical falls, one major decision, five decisions and a forfeit.
Beginning the match against the Bears at 141-pounds, redshirt-freshman Luke Simcox earned his first collegiate dual win with a 15-0 technical fall. True freshman Nate Askew followed with his own first dual victory, a 4-2 decision.
After Laird Root’s 14-4 major decision at 157-pounds, Bryce Hepner, Joshua Ogunsanya, and Jake Dailey posted three-straight decisions, in favor of the Tar Heels. Redshirt-freshman Robert Platt (17-2) and heavyweight Nolan Neves (21-4) … more at … https://goheels.com/news/2025/11/9/no-23-wrestling-blanks-northern-colorado-40-0
#7 N.C. State Dominates Season-Opening Dual with Northern Colorado
RALEIGH – Opening the 2025-26 dual-match wrestling season, seventh-ranked NC State dominated its match in Reynolds on Saturday with Northern Colorado in the first-ever meeting between the two. Starting the evening, redshirt-freshmen Gavin Linsman and Luca Felix wrestled in two exhibition matches at 141 lbs and 149 lbs.
Shortly after, Vincent Robinson’s 2025 125 lb national championship banner was dropped from the rafters of Reynolds Coliseum, to be seen for the first time. Each of the three true freshmen, Will Denny at 165 lbs, Cason Howle at 197 lbs, and Everest Ouellette at 285 lbs, who made their collegiate debut, claimed wins to start their career with the Pack.
Coming off their redshirt seasons, Jackson Arrington and Ryan Jack both made their returns to the NC State lineup. Arrington made his official debut at 157 lbs after spending the previous three seasons at 149 lbs. The only loss for the Pack was by Zach Redding at 133 pounds … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2025/11/8/-7-wrestling-dominates-season-opening-dual-with-northern-colorado
Slippery Rock University announces return of men’s wrestling
Honoring a storied past and celebrating a tradition that never faded, Slippery Rock University has announced men’s wrestling will return as a varsity sport in 2027-28.
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University today announced the return of men’s varsity wrestling with the goal to begin NCAA Division II competition during the 2027-28 academic year.
Slippery Rock’s wrestling program built its reputation from 1958 to 2006 as a program that emphasized a strong balance between athletics, academics and personal development. The program went 362-294-7 over that stretch with many of those wins coming at the NCAA Division I level.
Eight different men oversaw the team as head coach with the most impactful being Fred Powell, who coached the program from 1967-91 with a winning percentage of 66 percent. He coached some of the best collegiate wrestlers in NCAA history, including world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Stan Dziedzic ’72. Powell earned the “Lifetime Service to Wrestling” award and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005.
Slippery Rock expects to launch a national search for a head coach during the 2026 spring semester to allow an academic year for recruiting before the program begins competing in the 2027-28 academic year. “Athletics, in many ways, serves as the front door to our university, and the return of wrestling at The Rock is so exciting,” said SRU President Karen Riley. “We have a long history of excellence in the sport and look forward to adding it back to our compliment of exceedingly successful athletic programs. We are so grateful to members of the SRU community for their advocacy and continued support.”
The Rock will compete at the NCAA Division II level as NCAA rules have changed since the last time SRU fielded a wrestling team and a return to the Division I level is no longer possible. There are currently 70 NCAA Division II wrestling programs competing across the nation in 2025-26. … more at … https://rockathletics.com/news/2025/11/10/general-sru-announces-return-of-mens-wrestling.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Nebraska Wrestling Lining Up Pieces For Another Trophy Push
A.J. Ferrari is set to make his debut with the Nebraska wrestling program while the Huskers are getting the rest of their lineup pieces in order.
Nov 5, 2025 by Dylan Guenther
Nebraska started its season this past weekend with nine of its starters taking the mat – minus top-ranked heavyweight AJ Ferrari – but you won’t have to wait much longer to see the high-profile transfer in a Husker singlet. According to Nebraska coach Mark Manning, Ferrari is slated to make his Husker debut in the team’s home opener on Friday against Army. Ferrari missed the Navy Classic due to a turf toe injury. “He’s strong and a big, powerful guy. He’s really athletic. He’s a great competitor — that’s what we knew we were going to get out of AJ,” Manning said. “He brings a lot of competitive spirit to our team. At heavyweight, if you got a guy who can be a difference-maker, that’s a really big deal. We filled that missing piece with AJ. What he brings to our team can be a game-changer. He’s worked hard and gotten himself into really good shape, and his toe is healed up, so he’s ready to fire on Friday.”
Against Army, Ferrari is likely to take on #14 Brady Colbert in his first career match at heavyweight. He’s 50-2 in college at 197 pounds with his NCAA title coming in 2021 as a true freshman for Oklahoma State. How Ferrari looks against Colbert will tell us a lot with National Duals coming up … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14718051-nebraska-wrestling-lining-up-pieces-for-another-trophy-push
And …
Nebraska Wesleyan Wrestling Adds Peyton Robb as Assistant Coach
LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan head wrestling coach Colton McCrystal has filled the vacancy on his coaching staff with the hiring of Peyton Robb, it was announced Monday. “Peyton is a world class athlete that we are really lucky to have with our program” McCrystal said. “His career speaks for itself, but he also has a great mind and approach to coaching. I’m looking forward to having his insight and coaching style add to what we are trying to shape our program into.”
Robb comes to Nebraska Wesleyan after completing a coaching internship with the University of Nebraska wrestling program, where he assisted with practice planning, athlete development, and program operations during the 2024 fall semester. He also contributed to research on training methods and trends while maintaining relationships with current and former Huskers.
In addition to his work with Nebraska, Robb has been self-employed as a wrestling camp coach, coordinating and leading youth wrestling camps around the country. His ability to teach technique, inspire young wrestlers, and grow the sport has made him a respected name among coaches and athletes alike. Robb is also a current Regional Training Center … more at … https://nwusports.com/news/2025/11/3/nebraska-wesleyan-wrestling-adds-peyton-robb-as-assistant-coach.aspx
And …
3 Takes: Nebraska wrestling wins fourth straight Navy Classic
No. 2-ranked Nebraska wrestling opened its season with a bang at the Navy Classic, taking first place among 10 teams for the fourth straight year. The Huskers impressed, with five of their six finalists winning their divisions. Last season may have been one of NU’s best overall seasons, yet head coach Mark Manning may have an even better one in store for 2025-26.
Here are three takeaways following Nebraska’s dominant showing: … more at … https://www.on3.com/teams/nebraska-cornhuskers/news/3-takes-nebraska-wrestling-wins-fourth-straight-navy-classic/
Iowa’s Kennedy Blades looks forward to chasing ‘iconic trophy’ in inaugural NCAA women’s wrestling championship
Women’s College Wrestler of the Year and Olympic medalist enters her senior season ready for more
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games forever changed how the University of Iowa’s Kennedy Blades approached her stardom.
Before the opening ceremony, the unranked wrestler in her first Olympic Games tried to meet all of her favorite iconic athletes, asking for pictures and autographs.
She saw an athlete she had idolized for a long time and asked to take a picture, but the athlete glared at her and told her “no pictures,” turning around and walking away. “I was sad because I really looked up to this person, and it hurt me so bad. So, yeah, I went back to my room and cried a lot,” she said.
After drying her tears, Blades made a promise to herself. “That feeling I had, I just would never wish it upon anyone else,” she said. … more at … https://www.ncaa.org/news/2025/10/31/media-center-iowas-kennedy-blades-looks-forward-to-chasing-iconic-trophy-in-inaugural-ncaa-womens-wrestling-championship.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
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