Buckeyes’ 2019 Wrestling Class Ranked Best in Nation
College wrestling is very unique in that it’s an individualized team sport, meaning each wrestler competes individually to earn team points. There are many factors that can affect a team’s success, such as coaching, facilities, and injuries just to name a few. But ultimately, recruiting is at the top of the list. A stat posted by Intermat shows just how true this statement is. Rest of the story at https://theozone.net/2019/05/buckeyes-2019-wrestling-class-ranked-best-nation/?mc_cid=9a1926c7e8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Meet the Trojans: UMO Wrestling Unveils Members of the First Signing Class; Part 2
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The University of Mount Olive wrestling program and head coach Jake Patacsil are excited to begin unveiling the inaugural class for the new Trojan wrestling team. Over the next couple of weeks, Coach Patacsil and the Athletics Communications office will introduce the incoming grapplers who will begin competing in the 2019-20 school year. This edition of Meet the Trojans introduces the following group of young men; Hayden Waddell, Dylan Wilman, Tyler Hendley, and Jody Richardson.
The first grappler of this edition is Hayden Waddell. Waddell is an incoming freshman from Asheboro, N.C., and competed at Uwharrie Charter Academy. Waddell garnered several titles during his high school wrestling career. He is a two-time Yadkin Valley Wrestler of the Year, three-time NCHSAA State Champion, three-time East Region Champion, three-time Conference Champion, two-time Conference Wrestler of the Year, and was the Holy Angels Champion. Waddell will wrestle in the 125-pound weight class as a member of the Trojan wrestling team and intends to major in physical education. Rest of the story at http://www.umotrojans.com/sports/wrest/2018-19/releases/20190501eiyth0?mc_cid=5b55891492&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
NAIA Men’s Scholar All-American Awards Announced.
Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) is proud to announce this year’s NAIA Men’s Scholar All-American Award winners for the Team and Individual divisions. This year’s top team is Montana State University-Northern.
LINK – SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS
LINK – INDIVIDUAL SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICANS
The Lights of Havre, MT edged out last year’s champions, Bethany College (KS) by the slightest of margins with a Team GPA of 3.362. MSU-Northern placed four wrestlers on the Individual Scholar All-American Team, including two who finished in Top three and one being a National Finalist. The squad also finished their season with a 10th place finish at the NAIA National Championships. Rest of the story at http://www.nwcaonline.com/naia-mens-scholar-all-american-awards-announced/?mc_cid=5b55891492&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Burroughs-Askren to anchor as final match order set for Beat The Streets Benefit on May 6 at MSG
NEW YORK–With the Beat the Streets (BTS) “Grapple at the Garden” benefit just a few days away, the organization today announced the complete order of matchups, with the highly-anticipated battle between 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs and 2008 Olympian and MMA standout Ben Askren scheduled to conclude the 13-match slate. The tenth annual BTS benefit is set for Monday, May 6, at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Olympic gold medalists Kyle Snyder (sixth match, vs. Nishan Randhawa of Canada) and bronze medalist J’Den Cox (11th match, vs. Patrick Brucki of Princeton Univ.) are among the featured competitors. Rest of the story and list of matches at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/May/02/BTS-match-order-finalized?mc_cid=5b55891492&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Penn State to host Olympic Wrestling Team Trials in 2020
After months of speculation, it looks as if Penn State is finally set to host the 2020 Olympic Wrestling Team Trials, according to a Thursday report by FloWrestling. In a document from USA Wrestling — which outlines the Olympic Team Trials procedures for next year and was obtained by FloWrestling — State College, Pa., is listed as the site of next year’s team trials from April 4-5. USA Wrestling did not return several messages seeking comment, and a Penn State spokesperson declined to comment, referring all questions to USA Wrestling.
Still, the news shouldn’t take wrestling fans by surprise. In March, Penn State wrestling legend David Taylor reportedly told a group of alumni during the NCAA Wrestling Championships that the trials were already headed to Happy Valley. Athletic Director Sandy Barbour then responded, according to Onward State, that she “didn’t realize the news was ready to go public yet.” Apparently, USA Wrestling and Penn State were still not prepared for it to go public. Rest of the story and details at
https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-wrestling/article229957874.html?fbclid=IwAR26S5qeCbbyzdu9sMSGlFH9qI7t6vtQVA-nCOjioF1n98DKtAXgkmDak0Y
Duke’s Mitch Finesilver Leads All-ACC Academic Wrestling Team
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Duke 149-pound senior Mitch Finesilver has been named the 2018-19 Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year and heads up the sport’s All-ACC Academic Team announced on Wednesday. In addition to claiming All-America honors with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships and capturing the ACC title in his weight class, Finesilver was a recipient of an ACC Postgraduate Scholarship and earned a spot on Duke’s fall semester Dean’s List with Distinction. The evolutionary anthropology major from Greenwood Village, Colorado is also a member of the 2018-19 NWCA Division I Scholar All-America Team. Finesilver finished his career ranked eighth in victories with 95 and became the Blue Devils’ fourth All-American in program history. His 33 wins in 2018-19 rank sixth on the program’s single-season charts. He was recently voted Duke’s Male Senior Athlete of the Year. Each of the ACC’s six wrestling programs are represented on the 20-member 2018-19 All-ACC Academic Wrestling Team, including a number of repeat honorees.
Senior Zack Zavatsky represents Virginia Tech on the All-ACC Academic Wrestling Team for the fourth consecutive year. Duke’s Josh Finesilver and Matt Finesilver, NC State’s Daniel Bullard, Sean Fausz and Hayden Hidlay and Pitt’s LJ Bentley were each recognized for the second year in a row. This year’s All-ACC Academic Wrestling Team includes four conference champions in Pitt’s Micky Phillippi (133 pounds), Duke’s Mitch Finesilver (149), NC State’s Hidlay (157) and Virginia Tech’s Zavatsky (184). Rest of the list and story at http://theacc.com/news/2019/5/1/dukes-mitch-finesilver-leads-all-acc-academic-wrestling-team.aspx?mc_cid=77748a53a8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Beat the Streets Announces Annual Award Recipients
Beat the Streets (BTS) has announced the recipients of the annual awards to be presented at Grapple at the Garden on Monday, May 6 at Hulu Theater.
BTSNY has selected these recipients following nominations from members of the New York City wrestling community, such as coaches, student-athletes, administrators and family. The full list of award winners and award information can be found below.
Junior League Female Wrestler of the Year: Sujeydy Matos, Inwood Academy for Leadership
Junior League Male Wrestler of the Year: Sulayman Bah, MS 129
Become Your Own Dream Foundation Scholarship: Adrian Rosario Beato, Mott Haven Campus
This financial scholarship is given annually to a New York City student-athlete who has overcome obstacles, worked through hardship, and plans to continue wrestling in college.
Female Student Athlete of the Year: Lyn Kajihara, The Bronx High School of Science
This career achievement award is given to a female athlete who exhibits the greatest combination of academic and extracurricular success.
Male Student Athlete of the Year: David Berkovich, Poly Prep Country Day School
This career achievement award is given to a male athlete who exhibits the greatest combination of academic and extracurricular success. Rest of the story at https://www.nysportsday.com/2019/05/01/beat-the-streets-announces-annual-award-recipients/?mc_cid=77748a53a8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
‘Get in on it now’: Alex Clemsen wants to build excitement around Maryland wrestling
When Alex Clemsen sat down for his introductory press conference as the new Maryland wrestling head coach Monday, his smile grew wide. After 10 years as an assistant at Virginia and Missouri, he had earned the chance to lead his own program. The self-described “communicator” expressed excitement at the opportunity — and challenge — of taking over the Terps. But for a seasoned recruiter who has helped secure three top-10 classes so far in his career, Clemsen feels he’s an ideal fit to rebuild the program from the ground up. “I’m excited to have that pressure, that opportunity, that challenge,” Clemsen said. “Ultimately it’s my vision that gets to be expressed and the opportunity to really show people that I’ve got the ability to compete at the highest level, not as an assistant or as an associate, but as a head coach.”
[Read more: Missouri’s Alex Clemsen will be Maryland wrestling’s new head coach]
Along with former coach Kerry McCoy — who stepped down in March — the departures of key contributors such as Ryan Diehl, Alfred Bannister and two-time All-American Youssif Hemida hangs over the team. Rest of the story at https://dbknews.com/2019/04/30/maryland-wrestling-alex-clemsen-head-coach-hire-introduction-missouri/?mc_cid=77748a53a8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Bormet Named Amateur Wrestling News’ Rookie Coach of the Year
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — University of Michigan wrestling head coach Sean Bormet has been named the 2018-19 Rookie Coach of the Year by Amateur Wrestling News, it was announced when the publication released its May issue digitally on Monday (April 29). Bormet guided the Wolverines to a 13-1 dual-meet record, highlighted by a dramatic 19-17 road win at No. 2 Ohio State (Jan. 25), to finish third in the final Big Ten Conference standings before wrapping the season with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships (March 21-23) — U-M’s second straight top-five NCAA finish. Senior/junior Stevan Micic (133 pounds), fifth-year senior Alec Pantaleo (157) and senior-junior Myles Amine (174) all captured All-America honors for the third time in their careers.
Named the 10th head coach in the history of the Michigan wrestling program on March 27, 2018, Bormet spent the previous seven years as the program’s top assistant, including four as associate head coach. Over the last eight seasons, he has worked with 14 different Wolverine All-Americans, with Michigan earning 19 All-America citations — from 10 different wrestlers — over the last five seasons. Michigan has also recorded four consecutive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, including a fourth-place showing in 2018 and this year’s fifth-place finish. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Bormet founded and operated the Overtime School of Wrestling in Naperville, Illinois, molding the training center into the nation’s premiere wrestling club and producing numerous champions and All-Americans at all age levels since its opening in 2001. Rest of the story at https://mgoblue.com/news/2019/5/1/bormet-named-amateur-wrestling-news-rookie-coach-of-the-year.aspx?mc_cid=77748a53a8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Recruiting class rankings released, Ohio State No. 1
The point cannot be mentioned enough, but in an individualized team sport such as wrestling, talent matters. While there are clearly factors such as attrition, development, and culture that play integral roles in the success of teams and individuals at the college level — there is a strong tie between ability level and success. When looking at the All-Americans from the last three NCAA tournaments, here is the ratio of All-Americans based on top recruiting rankings:
Top 10: (2017) 19/80 (2018) 23/80 (2019) 25/80
Top 20: (2017) 33/80 (2018) 32/80 (2019) 35/80
Top 30: (2107) 40/80 (2018) 38/80 (2019) 45/80
Top 100: (2017) 60/80 (2018) 63/80 (2019) 67/80
The two programs that have finished first and second at the national tournament each of the last three years, Penn State and Ohio State, have also been dominant within the recruiting landscape — and also have been very successful in turning those recruits into successful starting lineup participants.
The nine NCAA qualifiers for Penn State were ranked as follows coming out of high school:
133: Roman Bravo-Young — 15th in Class of 2018
141: Nick Lee — 5th in Class of 2017
149: Brady Berge — 8th in Class of 2017
157: Jason Nolf — 7th in Class of 2014
165: Vincenzo Joseph — 7th in Class of 2015
174: Mark Hall — 1st in Class of 2016
184: Shakur Rasheed — 56th in Class of 2014
197: Bo Nickal — 5th in Class of 2014
285: Anthony Cassar — WC in Class of 2014
The 10 NCAA qualifiers for Ohio State were ranked as follows coming out of high school:
125: Malik Heinselman — 48th in Class of 2018
133: Luke Pletcher — 8th in Class of 2016
141: Joey McKenna — 8th in Class of 2014
149: Micah Jordan — 6th in Class of 2014
157: Ke-Shawn Hayes — 13th in Class of 2015
165: Te’shan Campbell — 65th in Class of 2015
174: Ethan Smith — 53rd in Class of 2017
184: Myles Martin — 4th in Class of 2015
197: Kollin Moore — 32nd in Class of 2015
285: Chase Singletary — 6th in Class of 2017
Rest of the Story and list is at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/21874
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
