N.C. State Wrestling Alumnus Makes 2025 U.S. Senior Freestyle World Team
NEWARK, N.J. – NC State wrestling class of 2024 alumnus Trent Hidlay has earned a spot on the 2025 U.S. Senior Freestyle World Team at 92 kg and is set to represent the United States at the Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, September 13-21.
The two-time NCAA Finalist for the Wolfpack has torn through the freestyle circuit this season. Hidlay made his way to Newark after winning the U.S. Open in Las Vegas in April, automatically punching his ticket to compete at Final X. The series was best two-of-three at the Prudential Center but it only took the Lewistown, Pa. native the first two bouts to knock out current Penn State wrestler Josh Barr.
Hidlay becomes just the second alumnus of the NC State wrestling program to make the U.S. Senior Freestyle World Team. Two-time heavyweight national champion for the Pack Nick Gwiazdowski was the first … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2025/6/16/wrestling-alumnus-makes-2025-us-senior-freestyle-world-team
N.C. State Wrestling Adds Malik McDonald as Assistant Coach
RALEIGH – NC State wrestling head coach Pat Popolizio has added former Wolfpack wrestler Malik McDonald to his staff as an assistant coach.
The Hope Mills, N.C. native wrestled for Popolizio from 2014-2019, qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the 2017 and 2019 seasons at 197 lbs. During the 2018 season he competed at the U23 World Team Trials, garnering All-American honors with a fourth place finish at 97kg. In 2019 he won the ACC title for his weight class, helping the squad earn the 2019 ACC team trophy. After graduating from NC State with a degree in Social Work, McDonald has continued to pursue his passion for wrestling. McDonald first worked as a volunteer coach for Clarion for the 2019-20 season, followed by taking the head assistant role at Long Island for the 2020-21 season. The Pack alumnus rejoins his alma mater after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at Kent State from 2021-25 where he also gained his Master of Arts in Sport and Fitness Administration/Management.
While wrestling for Popolizio he finished his career with 83 wins and two 20-win seasons. … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2025/6/24/wrestling-adds-malik-mcdonald-as-assistant-coach
Kent State Names Josh Moore as Wrestling Program’s Seventh Head Coach
KENT, Ohio – Kent State Vice President and Director of Athletics Randale L. Richmond announced today the hiring of Josh Moore as the seventh head coach in Golden Flashes wrestling history. Moore, who previously served as head coach at Cleveland State University for seven years, returns to Kent State, where he began his coaching career as an assistant coach from 2004-2015.
“We are very excited to welcome Josh and his family back to Kent State,” said Richmond. “His deep connection to our program and his proven track record of developing championship caliber wrestlers on the mat, in the classroom, and throughout the community makes him the ideal leader for the next era of Golden Flashes wrestling.”
Moore brings 21 years of Division I coaching experience to the position, including impressive achievements at Kent State and Cleveland State. During his tenure as head coach at Cleveland State, he guided the program to national recognition, helping the Vikings achieve one of the top team GPAs in the nation over the past five years while leading the MAC in Individual Academic All-Americans.
His coaching accomplishments include mentoring 10 All-Americans and 69 NCAA Division I qualifiers throughout his career. At Kent State, Moore was instrumental in developing the program’s first-ever NCAA champion, Dustin Kilgore, and helped guide the Golden Flashes to four top-25 team finishes at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. “Coming back to Kent State as the Head Coach is truly a dream come true for my family and me,” said Moore. “I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and fired up to bring the energy, passion, and purpose every single day. Ohio wrestling family, Let’s build something special-together!”
Beyond his coaching success, Moore has demonstrated exceptional leadership in academic achievement and community engagement. He helped Cleveland State Wrestling earn a perfect 1000 Academic Progress Rate (APR) in 2023-2024 and has been instrumental in maintaining team GPAs above 3.25 throughout his career. His fundraising efforts have generated significant support for wrestling programs, including leading Cleveland State as the top Giving Day Ambassador and securing over $200,000. … more at … https://kentstatesports.com/news/2025/6/13/kent-state-names-josh-moore-as-wrestling-programs-seventh-head-coach.aspx
Former Duke Coach & Cowboy Wrestler Clar Anderson Inducted to Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Former Oklahoma State wrestling national champion Clar Anderson was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame Wednesday.
In Anderson’s time with the Cowboys, he was a 1983 national champion, a two-time All-American and tallied an impressive 73-17-4 record. Anderson played a key role on Oklahoma State teams that posted back-to-back conference championships in 1983 and ’84, as well as 44 straight victories and 22 consecutive home wins.
Prior to his decorated career at OSU, Anderson garnered All-America honors at Auburn in 1981.
After his career on the mat, Anderson took an assistant coaching job with the Cowboys and would later join N.C. State’s staff in the same role. After his three-year stint with the Wolfpack, Anderson picked up the head coaching job at Duke in 1997, where he led the Blue Devils for the next 15 seasons.
Anderson brought the Blue Devils’ program to new heights as he led Duke to its winningest season in school history in just his third season, additionally giving the Blue Devils their first All-American in 2009. Anderson was the ACC Coach of the Year in 2004 and earned the Bob Bubb Excellence Award for mentoring student-athletes both on and off the mat and in 2007.
This event marks the 35th class to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1991 and brings total membership to 415. This year’s class includes Anderson, Mike Buczkowski, Joey Giambra, Jack Jurek, Tom Montemage, John Murphy, Paul Owens, Jim Peelle, Meaghan Sittler, James Starks, Kathy Sweet, and Jillian Vogtli. … more at … https://okstate.com/news/2025/6/11/cowboy-wrestling-former-cowboy-wrestler-anderson-inducted-to-greater-buffalo-sports-hall-of-fame
Akron’s Ken Dies receives honor from National Wrestling Hall of Fame
By Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal
When Ken Dies opened a letter at his Highland Square home on June 25, the message caused his wife, Carol, to shed tears of joy.
Dies learned he will have a place in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The letter from the Hall of Fame’s executive director, Lee Roy Smith, states the hall’s Ohio chapter nominated Dies to receive the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award, and the national HOF’s board selected him for the honor. “It’s just overwhelming,” Dies told the Beacon Journal by phone. “I did not expect this.” More on the Dies family: Akron Public Schools gives wrestling enthusiasts proper recognition
An Akron native, Dies is the face of a wrestling royal family Northeast Ohio has known for decades.
The Dies family started running high school and youth tournaments in the late 1970s. After Bill Dies died in 1987, Ken Dies inherited his father’s role as tournament director. His involvement with Ohio Youth Wrestling, the Walsh Jesuit Ironman tournament and the Bill Dies Memorial Wrestling Tournament held at Firestone CLC made him a popular figure in the sport throughout the state.
Now Dies, 81, is being honored at the national level. “My one brother, Steve, he’s a nut,” Dies said with a laugh. “He’s putting me in the same category as Dan Gable. He said, ‘You’re in the same hall of fame as Dan Gable.'” … more at … https://www.newsbreak.com/share/4075349339325-akron-s-ken-dies-receives-honor-from-national-wrestling-hall-of-fame?_f=app_share&pd=0IMTzHkC&lang=en_US&send_time=1750951613&s=i16&trans_data=%7B%22platform%22%3A0%2C%22cv%22%3A%2225.25.0.37%22%2C%22languages%22%3A%22en%22%7D&sep=ns_foryou_rank_exp_25q2-v7%2Cns_foryou_blend_exp_25q2-v7%2Cns_foryou_recall_exp_25q3-v4%2Cns_foryou_model_exp_25q2_v2-v8
Everything You Need To Know About The NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships
Here is what the 2026 NCAA Championship format means for women’s wrestling
The NCAA approved its format for the inaugural 2026 NCAA Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Championships. NCAA Division I, II, and III programs will compete at the NCAA Championships.
There are 112 NCAA programs that offer women’s college wrestling, with the following breakdown. Division I: 6
Division II: 36
Division III: 70
Division I and II programs offer athletic scholarships, and Division III programs do not.
The 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships — a precursor to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships — allowed a maximum of 15 national qualifiers per team, with 32-woman brackets for each of the 10 weight classes (320 total).
The NCAA rejected the recommendation of 210 national qualifiers and established that the championships will include 180 participants in 10 weights (18 per category), with a maximum of one qualifier per weight per school.
Under the new format, each team can send a maximum of 10 wrestlers per region. There will be six regions, with three qualifiers from each region, two weeks before the NCAA Championships.
The 2026 Women’s Wrestling Championships will be held at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.
Below is a graph charting the maximum number of qualifiers for the national championships since NCAA programs hosted their championships for the first time in 2020. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14331608-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-ncaa-womens-wrestling-championships
John Parker Named Conference Carolinas Scholar-Athlete of the Year For Men’s Wrestling
John Parker has been named the Conference Carolinas 2024-25 Winter Scholar-Athlete of the Year Presented by Hudl for men’s wrestling.
John was the NCAA Super Region 2 Champion at 197 pounds, advanced to the NCAA Championships, posted a 27-9 record, with five wins against nationally ranked opponents and ranked #11 in his weight class.
It was the second consecutive season he was the Super Region title and advanced to nationals. … more at … https://newberrywolves.com/news/2025/6/11/john-parker-named-conference-carolinas-scholar-athlete-of-the-year-for-mens-wrestling.aspx
How Cleveland State responded to lawmakers’ last-ditch effort to save its wrestling program
Despite an Ohio House budget amendment and letters from a state lawmaker and a U.S. Senator, President Laura Bloomberg didn’t waver on the decision to cut the sport, records show.
Cleveland State University held its final home wrestling match on Feb. 20, less than a month after its board of trustees announced plans to eliminate the sport and two others.
University leaders said the cuts were part of a continued, broader push to address a budget shortfall once projected to hit as high as $40 million.
But off the mat, another match was taking shape between Cleveland State leaders, state lawmakers and wrestling supporters.
Earlier this spring, Ohio Rep. Phil Plummer, a Republican from Dayton and former wrestling coach, introduced an amendment as lawmakers worked on the state budget. It called for giving $1.6 million over two years to restore Cleveland State’s men’s wrestling program and establish a new women’s team.
Plummer’s amendment came as supporters of the wrestling program kept up a very public push to try to convince the university to reverse their decision.
Plummer’s proposal made it into the House’s version of the budget, but his counterparts in the state Senate left the funding out of theirs. As lawmakers in both chambers reconcile their differences on the budget before sending it to Gov. Mike DeWine, it’s highly unlikely Cleveland State’s wrestling program will reappear.
Public records requested and reviewed by Signal Ohio offer a behind-the-scenes look at tension between public university leaders, determined to stay the course on their own budget priorities, and the lawmakers who help fund the institution.
Politicians saw issue as a possible political win
Shortly after the announcement to end the wrestling program, Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno – a former university board chair and donor – sent a letter to university President Laura Bloomberg in mid-February asking to talk to her about the decision.
The two spoke by phone on Feb. 23 and Bloomberg then wrote Moreno a letter of her own on March 4, records show (Cleveland State’s legal department released these documents June 11 in response to a request Signal Ohio made back on April 7).
Two weeks later, Plummer sent a letter to Bloomberg informing her he was adding in the House amendment to give the university money for wrestling. His March 19 letter echoed some talking points from wrestling supporters, including concerns about cutting the program just a year before the City of Cleveland will host the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
He also touted the growing popularity of women’s wrestling and how the university would benefit from launching that program. “In Ohio, not a single Division I university has a women’s wrestling program,” he wrote. “This is an opportunity for CSU to be a trailblazer in women’s athletics.” … more at … https://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-state-ohio-lawmakers-last-effort-save-wrestling-program/
National Wrestling Hall of Fame inducts Class of 2025 at Honors Weekend in Stillwater, Okla., June 6-7
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be honored and officially inducted during the 48th Honors Weekend on June 6 and 7, 2025 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The Hall of Fame will induct four new Distinguished Members, bringing its number to 216 since the Hall of Fame began in 1976. Also being inducted are winners of the Order of Merit, Outstanding American, Medal of Courage, Meritorious Official, as well as the Dave Schultz/Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award winners.
The weekend begins on Friday night at 6:00 p.m., with a reception and Presentation of Plaques at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. On Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m., an Honoree Tribute Breakfast will be held at 9:00 a.m. at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts. The 48th Honors Induction begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and the black-tie Induction Ceremony at 7:00 p.m. at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts.
A short summary and complete Hall of Fame biographies of this year’s inductees are below: … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/june/06/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame-inducts-class-of-2025-at-honors-weekend-in-stillwater-okla-june-6-7
Wrestling: Scott Honecker named Massachusetts College Coach of the Year
The Ephs finished first out of 14 teams during the RIT Invitational on Dec. 7.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – After leading the Ephs to a first-place finish out of 14 teams at the RIT Invitational and a fourth-place performance out of 18 opponents during the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional, head coach Scott Honecker of the Williams College wrestling program earned Massachusetts College Coach of the Year accolades.
“This is a nice recognition, especially considering all the other great college wrestling coaches in the state,” said Honecker. “This award is largely a reflection of the hard work of my assistant Tom Foote and all of the staff that supports Williams wrestling, but most of all a recognition of the success and dedication of the great student-athletes who compete for the Eph wrestling program.”
During the superb 2024-25 season, Williams defeated No. 9 Oneonta, 43-9, on Feb. 8 and No. 17 Springfield, 37-12, on Jan. 26. The tight-knit group went a perfect 3-0 in dual matches on Nov. 16, defeating Cortland (44-7), Utica (50-3) and Roger Williams (32-13), as the program celebrated 100 years of existence at historic Lasell Gym in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Foote and William Smith were on Honecker’s staff as assistant coaches. Junior captain Peter Kane, who went 42-2 this past year, qualified for the NCAA Championship, earning his third consecutive All-American honor at 157 pounds. The Fairfield, Connecticut, native earned runner-up honors during the 2024 national meet and will attempt to be the first-ever Eph wrestler to win a national championship in 2025-26. The outstanding student-athlete will also try to be the second person in program history to earn All-American laurels four times. First-year Jamie Evarts made his debut … more at … https://ephsports.williams.edu/news/2025/6/16/wrestling-scott-honecker-named-massachusetts-college-coach-of-the-year.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 