NCAA wrestling: Ohio coaching tree casts large shadow
By Brad Bournival / ABJ/Ohio.com correspondent
PITTSBURGH — The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships might very well be an Ohio vs. Pennsylvania dual by the end. As the tournament begins Thursday, it’s the same way in the coaching ranks as the Keystone State and Buckeye State own the event as well. Of the 69 programs that qualified at least one wrestler at PPG Paints Arena, Ohio has 28 head coaches or assistants mentoring wrestlers this weekend. Only Pennsylvania (37) has more.
“I just think it’s the tradition of Ohio wrestling,” Kent State coach Jim Andrassy said. “What happens is you grow up with these guys either wrestling with them or competing against them. Wrestling is a cult sport. People know each other. “With coaches, it’s even more of a cult sport because we’re so much different than football and basketball coaches. You kind of cling to each other. You respect each other because it’s really hard to get into this business. There are only 81 Division I coaches in the country. When you do, you respect the people that do it.” What’s even more incredible is the hotbed Northeast Ohio has in the Division I college coaching ranks.
Andrassy joins Springfield graduate David Bolyard (Michigan assistant) and Brunswick resident Dean Heil (Campbell assistant), who wrestled at Lakewood St. Edward. That’s not all. Lake graduate Scott Mattingly (Gardner Webb assistant), West Holmes’ Colt Sponseller (Ohio University assistant) and Walsh Jesuit’s Clint Musser (American assistant) cut their teeth on the mats in the area. Chanel four-time state champion J Jaggers (Ohio State assistant), who grew up in Northfield and Firebirds champion Cody Walters (West Virginia assistant), who grew up in Macedonia, know all about the strength of the Northeast Ohio.
“It’s the flywheel effect,” Jaggers said. “I don’t know when it started, but Ohio wrestling started producing some great athletes who in turn became great coaches that coached great athletes. It just keeps going. In Northeast Ohio, in particular, there’s just a lot of good opportunities to be around great wrestlers and that helps.” It’s that culture that has fostered many great wrestlers to move on well after their years of competition. Athletes leave the sport all the time, but few have the sport leave them. Rest of the story at https://www.ohio.com/sports/20190320/ncaa-wrestling-ohio-coaching-tree-casts-large-shadow
Inspiring Tale of Determination
NEVER QUIT: Brandon Moen had every excuse to walk away from wrestling, but he didn’t | Sports | southernminn.com
“Brandon Moen isn’t done wrestling. Not yet, at least. Not after the university he originally committed to unexpectedly eliminated the sport from its athletic budget.”
TDR Editor’s Note : Inspiring article of determination and a love for the sport. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Flowrestling shows
FRL 362: The Pre-NCAA Tournament Mega Show!
Listen in at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/6401615-frl-362-the-pre-ncaa-tournament-mega-show
Kyle Conel Seeking Medical Redshirt & Transfer
Listen in and view at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/6401595-kyle-conel-seeking-medical-redshirt-transfer
3 Days To Pittsburgh Nationals: Pennsylvania’s 4-Time All-Americans and 3-Time NCAA Champions
TDR Editor’s Notes; For those fans of wrestling and wrestling stats this article will be of interest to you.
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We are counting down the days until the 2019 NCAA Tournament officially begins in Pittsburgh, PA. In the meantime, let’s take a look back at some of the most successful college wrestlers from the Keystone State. Throughout NCAA history Pennsylvania has seen seventeen wrestlers earn All-American honors four years in a row. Additionally, seven wrestlers have captured NCAA National Championships three out of four years.
In 2019 one wrestler, Jason Nolf (Kittanning/Penn State), could add his name to both prestigious lists. The all-time pins leader at Penn State – he has finished second, first, and first in the last three NCAA Tournaments at 157 pounds. It’s only fitting that the former WPIAL stand-out will etch his name in history at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Only 27 wrestlers ever have become 3-time NCAA Champions and Nolf would be the 28th overall and 8th from Pennsylvania. Rest of the story at https://www.papowerwrestling.com/3-days-to-pittsburgh-nationals-pennsylvanias-4-time-all-americans-and-3-time-ncaa-champions/?mc_cid=a1da8f73f0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Pack Mentality preview of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
By Jason Bryant – If not the hardest working man in wrestling sports coverage he is one of the top 5 (TDR Ed’s Note)
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In Episode 44, NC State head wrestling coach will preview the upcoming NCAA Championships to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before we get to that, we’ll recap the ACC Championship performance with head coach Pat Popolizio. Check it out at http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/pack-mentality/pack-mentality-preview-of-the-ncaa-division-i-wrestling-championships/?mc_cid=a1da8f73f0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Tickets for 2020 NCAAs to go on sale to public on Wednesday
TDR Ed’s Notes; For those that like to plan ahead.
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The 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will take place at U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings
The University of Minnesota wrestling program is excited to begin selling tickets for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championships at U.S. Bank Stadium. The event, marking the first time the wrestling championships will be held in an indoor professional football stadium, will run from March 19-21, 2020. Presale access for Gopher Score members will begin on Monday, March 18, 2019 at 9am. Public sale will begin on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 9 a.m. Tickets will begin at $170.
If you have any questions, please contact the Gopher Ticket Sales & Service Office at fans@gopherfanrelations.com or call 612-624-8080 (Option 1). The Ticket Sales & Service Office is open Monday – Friday 9am-5pm and is located at the 3M Arena at Mariucci Ticket Office. Rest of the story and details at http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/21708?mc_cid=a1da8f73f0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Liberty repeats as men’s champion at NCWA Nationals as Grays Harbor wins its first women’s title
By USA Wrestling and the NCWA | March 17, 2019,
By Scott Farrell, NCWA website
ALLEN, Texas – Liberty defended its NCWA title Saturday, and the suspense was gone shortly after the finals matches began. The Flames won their third overall championship and became the sixth team to repeat as NCWA champions in the association’s 22 seasons. The Flames entered Saturday’s bouts with a 21.5-point lead over rival The Apprentice School, and within three weight classes had expanded the separation enough to clinch the team title. Coupled with its title at the NCWA National Duals and team points earned there, Liberty also claimed the NCWA’s Collegiate Cup as its Grand National champion. The win was Liberty’s third team title in the last five years. All five of Liberty’s finalists won their matches, leaving the rest of the field in its wake.
By USA Wrestling
ALLEN, Texas – Led by five individual champion, Liberty repeated at the men’s champions at the NCWA National Championships on Saturday at the Allen Event Center. In the men’s team race, Liberty scored 201.5 points, with the Apprentice School in second with 164 points. Third place went to Central Florida with 129.5 points. Mott Community College was fourth with 119.5 points and fifth went to Grand Valley State with 110.5 points. The women’s team race was not determined until the finals ended. Led by two champions, Grays Harbor College edged Schreiner University by 2.5 points, as Schreiner finished with one champion. Rest of the story and results at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/March/17/Liberty-is-mens-champion-and-Grays-Harbor-womens-champion-at-NCWA-Nationals?mc_cid=95789d1a6c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
USA edges out Japan, 6-4, for third at the 2019 World Cup
By Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling | March 17, 2019
YAKUTSK, Russia – The United States took third at the 2019 Men’s Freestyle World Cup, claiming a 6-4 win over Japan in the bronze-medal bout on Sunday in Yakutsk, Russia. The whole dual was a back-and-forth battle with the USA prevailing in the end. The U.S. won by forfeit at 57 kg, but Japan snagged the win at 61 kg as National Team member Nico Megaludis suffered his first loss of the tournament, falling to 2018 University World champion Yudai Fujita on criteria, 4-4. At 65 kg, 2017 Senior World Team member and 2012 Cadet World champion Zain Retherford finished the weekend undefeated, producing a 10-0 tech fall against 2014 Junior World bronze medalist and 2011 Cadet World bronze medalist Daichi Takatani.
Japan evened up the team the score with a win at 70 kg as Final X runner-up Jason Chamberlain lost a 5-3 decision to 2018 Junior Asian bronze winner Kojiro Shiga. The U.S. picked up the win at 74 kg with a 10-0 shutout from Final X runner-up and 2017 U23 World Team member Isaiah Martinez, who defeated 2015 Cadet Asian bronze medalist Yuto Miwa. Japan won the next two bouts at 79 kg and 86 kg, but the Red, White and Blue finished strong, taking the final three matches. Rest of the results and story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/March/17/USA-edges-out-Japan-for-third-at-the-2019-World-Cup?mc_cid=95789d1a6c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Menlo, led by five individual champions, wins historic first NAIA Women’s National Invitational title
By Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Led by five individual champions, three runners-up and a total of 12 All-Americans, Menlo College became the first-ever NAIA Women’s National Invitational team champion on Saturday night. This is a historic event, because it is the first officially recognized women’s college wrestling tournament by a national multi-sport organization at the college level. The NAIA gave women’s wrestling emerging sport status and created the National Invitational to be launched this year. This is the second national college women’s wrestling title for Menlo this year, as it also won the 2019 WCWA Nationals in February. The women’s college wrestling community has run national tournaments for teams from all college associations since 2005.
Menlo finished with 230.5 points, a full 76 points ahead of runner-up Oklahoma City with 154.5 points. Third went to the host University of Jamestown with 137.5 points. Campbellsville was fourth with 126.5 points and the University of the Cumberlands was fifth with 106.5 points. The five individual champions for the champion Oaks were Alleida Martinez (109), Tiana Jackson (123), Solin Piearcy (136), Marilyn Garcia (143) and Iman Kazem (155). Martinez and Piearcy were also WCWA national champions in February. Martinez, a freshman who has been dominant this year, scored a 10-0 technical fall over second seeded McKayla Campbell of Campbellsville in the finals. This was a rematch of the WCWA national finals, which Martinez won by pin. Piearcy, a junior, won her second national title of the year after defeating Erica Sotelo of Life, 8-1.
Rest of the results and story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/March/16/Menlo-wins-historic-first-NAIA-Womens-National-Invitational?mc_cid=95789d1a6c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Pitt tandem choose wrestling over basketball, become champions
When he was 14 at McCluer High School in Florissant, Mo., Pitt wrestler Demetrius Thomas thought he wanted to play basketball. Lucky for him, two McCluer coaches conspired to make sure that didn’t happen. Years earlier, Micky Phillippi — just like any 6-year-old would do — dutifully followed his father to the Derry basketball courts, even though the future Pitt wrestling champion had other ideas. “I saw (wrestling), and I said I want to do that,” Phillippi said. “My dad said, ‘I don’t know. You should play basketball.’
“We’d go to the park and play basketball, and I said, ‘I don’t want to do this. I want to wrestle.’ ” And so he did. “I went and tried it, and I loved it,” Phillippi said. “The whole family fell in love with it.” Rest of the story at https://triblive.com/sports/pitt-tandem-choose-wrestling-over-basketball-become-champions/?mc_cid=b1cccea619&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
