#PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 49 – Talking Recruiting with Adam Hall
RALEIGH, N.C. – On episode 49 of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast, host Brian Reinhardt visits with associate head coach Adam Hall. This entire episode talks about recruiting as the summertime is busy for the staff in trying to lure new athletes to Raleigh. Rest of the article and podcast at
ASK KOLAT: Is U.S. Wrestling Changing for the Better?
Trials Format
This week Cary Kolat gives his opinion on the current World Team Trials process, what he thinks about Final X and if the changes being made are for the better. When Kolat first heard of the idea of doing Final X split between multiple cities and weekends he wasn’t sure and was curious as to how it would play out. The first year of Final X was split between three cities and that was probably one too many. Kolat believes this year with two cities was perfect. It allowed for sold out venues with equally exciting matchups.
Growing the Sport of Wrestling
When Kolat was making world teams, there were only about 300-500 fans in the stands and for the Olympic Trials about 5,000-6,000 people. Kolat likes the current format, believes it gets the best wrestlers on the team, and points to the U.S. recent success at worlds. The more USA Wrestling and the wrestling community dial in the process the better it will be and the faster the sport will grow. Rest of the story at
Bellarmine wrestling moving from NCAA Division II to Division I
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Good to see growth in Division I schools yet it would be more encouraging when the big universities obsessed with just football and basketball and the national TV coverage they hope to bring. Large Division I schools should offer a wide spectrum of sporting activities yet that view seems to be limited for now.
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Bellarmine University’s intercollegiate wrestling program will be making the move from NCAA Division II to Division I, the Louisville-based school announced Tuesday. The transition — which will start after the completion of the 2019-2020 season — will take four years. During that time, Bellarmine will not be eligible to compete in NCAA championship events. Once the transition is complete, the Bellarmine Knights will be the only Division I wrestling program in Kentucky. Most Bellarmine varsity sports will be competing in the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) conference which had officially invited the school to join the conference this week. However, for now, wrestling (along with field hockey) will compete in Division I with independent status because most ASUN member schools do not offer intercollegiate wrestling.
The oldest and greatest sport is actually a fairly new varsity sport at Bellarmine. Almost exactly three years ago, the school announced it would be absorbing the wrestling program at St. Catharine College, a tiny college in central Kentucky which had announced in June 2016 it would be closing its doors, effective immediately. Bellarmine stepped forward after another Kentucky-based school had said it would welcome athletes from three other sports but not wrestling. Head coach Spencer Adams, a three-time NAIA (National Association Intercollegiate Athletes) All-American wrestler at Campbellsville University of Kentucky, had coached at St. Catharine before taking the helm of the new Bellarmine program three years ago. For the past three seasons, Bellarmine wrestling had competed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, compiling a 9-5 record during the 2018-19 regular season. In March, two BU Knights — 125-pounder Brandon Lucas, and Gage Branson at 149 — became Bellarmine’s first wrestlers to compete at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, both just missing becoming All-Americans. Rest of the story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/22052
New Mexico to offer girls’ wrestling championship in 2020
Add the state known as the Land of Enchantment to the list of states which will have a separate state wrestling championship for girl wrestlers.
The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal to sanction a girls’ wrestling division that will end with a state championship event beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the organization which governs high school sports in New Mexico announced Thursday. “We are very excited that our Association will now officially offer a girls’ wrestling division that will culminate with a state championship,” NMAA Executive Director Sally Marquez said. “The sport has been growing fast all across the country, and we are happy to become the 18th state to sanction it.” This new championship is an outgrowth of an exhibition event which has been held each of the last two years in conjunction with the boys’ state tournament. Rest of the story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/22031
NWCA & USMC Partner to Present High School All-American Awards
Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) is proud to announce the launch of the High School All-American Awards program in cooperation with long-time partner the United States Marine Corps (USMC). These awards are comprised of the Scholar All-American Award which recognizes wrestlers who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom and the Leadership & Character All-American Award for athletes who have shown exceptional leadership skills and are of sound character. These awards programs are an extension of the existing Scholastic Leadership Academy program that the NWCA and USMC have been providing at no cost to coaches the past couple years. Rest of the story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/NWCA-USMC-Partner-to-Present-High-11-6-2019
NCAA Women’s Scholar All-American Awards
Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has announced that Colorado Mesa University captured the inaugural NCAA Women’s Scholar All-American Team Title with a 3.32 GPA, besting Adrian College’s 3.12 team GPA.
LINK – SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS
LINK – INDIVIDUAL SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICANS
Colorado Mesa University which announced the addition of its women’s wrestling team just over a year ago recently completed its first season of competition in which they finished 21st at the WCWA Championships and garnered the school’s first individual All-American, Sierra Brown Ton who finished in 8th Place.
In the individual category, Gannon University led the way boasting four honorees while Team Champions Colorado Mesa and Team Runners Up Adrian College each had four individuals named Scholar All-American and Tiffin University had two. These awards come on the heels of the NCAA’s announcement that the Committee for Women’s Athletics (CWA) has recommended that women’s wrestling be added to the NCAA Emerging Sports List for each NCAA Division (D1, D2, & D3). Rest of the story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/NCAA-Women-s-Scholar-All-American-Awards-12-6-2019
State Champion Timothy Decatur of Rosewood High School named for the ‘James Johnson Award’ as top Senior Scholastic Wrestler in Eastern North Carolina.
State Champion Timothy Decatur was presented the 21st Annual James Johnson Award trophy as the top senior scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina in 2019 at the Athletic Awards Day at Rosewood High School earlier this week. The award is named in honor of three time Greco-Roman national champion James Johnson. Decatur is a 4 time State Medal winner, and he holds the school record for career wins and the most wins by a wrestler in North Carolina since the annual match limit has been in effect. Most impressively he is a three time state champion and four time regional champion.
In previous years award winners were Beau Studebaker of East Carteret, Jeremiah Derby of First Flight and Thomas Hudson of Dixon in 2018. Carlos Martinez of First Flight (2017), Will Newbern of West Carteret (2017), Tanner Stamper-Smith (2016) of Havelock, Joe Mondragon (2015) of Ashley H.S., De’Andre Jones (2014) of New Bern, Alex Bray (2013) of Croatan, Jon Wiley (2012) of South Brunswick, Marquin Hill (2011) of Washington H.S., Branden Lietz (2010) of J.H. Rose, Mamour Camara (2009) of Louisburg, Anthony Rogers (2008) of Knightdale, Ngu Tran (2007) of C.B. Aycock, Victor Hojillo (2006) of West Carteret, Raymond Jordan (2004) of New Bern, Shaun Sheffield (2003) of Havelock, David Pelsang (2005), and Paris Dottery (2002) of White Oak.
The TakeDown Report has for over 20 years promoted amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina and sponsors the Award. This award is for the most successful senior wrestler in eastern North Carolina. Fleming noted, “It is more expensive to have multiple awards yet each undefeated state champion senior wrestler deserves to be recognized.” “It encourages young men from teams in the eastern part of the state with an opportunity to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top notch wrestler,” he added. The TDR also ranks wrestlers in a TDR Top 12 List that is displayed on the TDR Blog page. Contact the TDR at takedownreport@gmail.com, & https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/ J James Johnson started wrestling in his junior year for D.H. Conley High School in Greenville with Milt Sherman as his coach. James was Coney’s 1st state champion in any sport in 1976. He was North Carolina’s 1st Eastern Junior National Champion in 1975 and North Carolina’s 1st Junior Nationals All-American with 3rd in 1976. He started four years at the University of Kentucky. He is now a sports consultant and coach for the Phoenix-based Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. He also specializes in developing unique training for people of all fitness levels with a broad background in public speaking, sports training techniques, and health and fitness. He was inducted as an “Outstanding American” in the North Carolina State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2012 he was a coach for the U.S.A. Olympic Greco-Roman team in London. He was on the USA National Wrestling team for 12 years, winning 3 National Championships, USA Athlete of the Year, AIM Christian Athlete of the Year, and Olympic Team Alternate. He has been an Ambassador for the United States Olympic Committee, USA wrestling and The Sunkist Kids Wrestling organization for over 20 years. More at http://jjchamp3x.com/.
Body of ex-Campbell wrestler found in Raleigh lake
TDR Ed.’s Notes; With sadness and regret we pass along this news of a former eastern N.C. wrestler.
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The body of a former wrestler whose career spanned middle and high school as well as at Campbell University was recovered from a lake in Raleigh Friday afternoon. Ryan Wayne Hall, 22, had been missing since Thursday evening. The cause of death is unknown. However, police said that foul play is not suspected.
Ryan HallHall had been listed on the wrestling roster at Buies Creek-based Campbell for the 2014-15 season as a redshirt freshman at 157 pounds. Prior to that, Hall had wrestled in middle school and high school, qualifying for the North Carolina state wrestling championships twice for Pasquotank County High School in Elizabeth City in his junior and senior years. In his recruiting profile for North Carolina Sports Association, Hall wrote, “I’ve been wrestling since 7th grade. I was not always the best wrestler back then but I was determined to succeed… I plan on attending a four-year college and studying business because I want to own my own sporting goods store someday.”
Hall had a high school career record of 101-29. “He was my best friend,” Malik Hurdle told the Raleigh News & Observer Friday. “He was someone I could depend on no matter what. He was a light shining so bright he touched everybody he came into contact with. I really can’t believe he’s gone.” Rest of the story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/22017
Carthage College to revive men’s wrestling, add women’s wrestling
KENOSHA, WIS. — Carthage College will broaden its sports offerings in 2020-21 with the revival of men’s wrestling, and the addition of women’s wrestling and women’s bowling. These additions will expand the Carthage athletics department to 27 varsity programs. “I’m thrilled that Carthage is expanding our sport offerings, as it continues our history of offering emerging sports that meet our prospective student’s needs. Adding men’s and women’s wrestling, along with women’s bowling, and increasing our focus on club and recreational sports will enrich our campus community,” says Michelle Manning, director of athletics at Carthage College.
Men’s wrestling will return to the Carthage lineup after a 26-year hiatus. The Red Men wrestling program, which began in 1961-62, will begin its new season with a 204-242-8 all-time record in dual meets. Carthage College Athletic Hall of Fame member Ron Zalokar ’95 was the head coach for all 33 seasons of the Red Men wrestling program. As of the 2018-19 academic year, 108 NCAA Division III institutions across six regions sponsor men’s wrestling. Carthage College will contribute to the national expansion of women’s wrestling and women’s bowling.
Rest of the story at http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/22018?fbclid=IwAR0sMjf71hc6APnsXhCzmokimh85r-NcOFqvjN4fABzFvmX-ZYrvbEc95b0
Olympic Medalist J’den Cox Wins Spot On World Team
J’den Cox punched his return ticket to the wrestling world championships with a win over the NCAA wrestler of the year on Saturday. The win came at the first Final X competition at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Cox defeated Bo Nickal, a three-time NCAA champion from Penn State, by scores of 4-2 and 5-0 in the 92 kg. weight class, advancing to a world or Olympic team for the fourth time. Nickal, who was named the 2019 Dan Hodge Trophy winner as the nation’s top college wrestler, won 30 consecutive matches on his way to a third national championship with Penn State this year. He also won the 2019 U.S. Open, qualifying him for the showdown with Cox.
The victory will result in Cox looking for his fourth consecutive medal on the world stage since 2016. He won a bronze medal in his Olympic debut in Rio in 2016, and followed that up with a bronze medal at the 2017 world championships and a gold medal at the 2018 world championships. Cox was one of 14 wrestlers to secure world team berths on Saturday. The second Final X competition, which will determine the remainder of the world team, is June 15 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The 2019 World Wrestling Championships are in September in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
Nick Gwiazdowski, a bronze medalist at the last two world championships, secured his spot on the world team with a wild victory over Gable Steveson in the 125 kg. weight class. Gwiazdowski won both matches, which were tied at the end of regulation, on rules criteria. He clinched the victory by scoring the final point in a 3-3 tie in the second match. Also winning in men’s freestyle was Zain Retherford at 65 kg. Rest of the story at https://www.teamusa.org/News/2019/June/08/Olympic-Medalist-Jden-Cox-Wins-Spot-On-Wrestling-World-Team?mc_cid=ab4be7a114&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
