As NCAA wrestling tournament heads to Pittsburgh, ties to 1957 event remain
The Division I competition hasn’t been held here in more than 60 years
Ann Peery Ritter doesn’t remember her first NCAA Division I wrestling tournament. “I was eight weeks old when I attended my first NCAA tournament, but I don’t remember it,” said Peery Ritter, who is now 73 years old. “My dad was coaching at the time, and my mom tried to attend all of his matches and tournaments.”
She does, however, vividly remember the 1957 tournament, which was held at Pitt’s Fitzgerald Field House. That event was the last time the Division I tournament was held in Pittsburgh. More than 60 years later, PPG Paints Arena will play host to this year’s tournament starting Thursday. Peery Ritter grew up in a well-known wrestling family. Her father, Rex, and brothers Hugh and Ed, are all three-time NCAA Division I champions and distinguished members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. No other family has combined to win nine NCAA titles in nine attempts. Rex Peery was the most successful coach in Pitt history. Rest of the story at https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2019/03/17/ncaa-wrestling-tournament-2019-pittsburgh/stories/201903180004?mc_cid=95789d1a6c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
2019 Minnesota Girls High School State Championships
2019 Minnesota Girls High School State Championships Results. March 16th at Augsburg University – Minneapolis, Minn.
Brackets/Results on TrackWrestling.com
High School – 102
1st Place – Rian Grunwald of Owatonna
2nd Place – Annabelle Petsinger of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Rest of the details at https://theguillotine.com/2019/03/2019-minnesota-girls-high-school-state-championships/?mc_cid=95789d1a6c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
In Virginia as the numbers of girls wrestling increases the hopes of having their own division increases. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/as-girls-interest-in-wrestling-increases-some-in-virginia-hope-for-their-own-division/2019/03/17/4a6c0872-48dc-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html?mc_cid=95789d1a6c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b&utm_term=.aa986f390b39
Popolizio Named National Coach of the Year Finalist
NC State won ACC regular season trophy and ACC Championship in the same season for the first time since 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. – For the second straight season, NC State wrestling coach Pat Popolizio has been named a finalist for the 2019 NWCA Division I National Coach of the Year presented by Defense Soap. For the first time since the 2014 campaign, NC State won both the ACC regular season title and then the ACC Championship, with three individual conference champions for the second straight year.
This year’s finalists include:
ACC: Pat Popolizio (NC State)
Big Ten: Cael Sanderson (Penn State)
Big 12: Kevin Dresser (Iowa State)
EWL: Scott Moore (Lock Haven)
EIWA: Kevin Ward (Army West Point)
MAC: John Stutzman (Buffalo)
Pac 12: Jason Borrelli (Stanford)
SoCon: Cary Kolat (Campbell)
The National winner will be announced at the NWCA Coaches Social on Tuesday, March 19. The winner will be determined by a vote of all NWCA Division I Member Coaches.
The National Coach of the Year award presented by Defense Soap is in its second year of existence and is intended to honor the coach who has had the most outstanding season up to the NCAA Championship which includes dual meet success and conference tournament placement.
From Brian Reinhardt, Director of Athletics Digital Communications
bcreinha@ncsu.edu
Visit www.GoPack.com
Three from @PackWrestle with Top-10 Seeds for NCAA Championships
2019 NCAA Championships are March 21-23 in Pittsburgh
RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State wrestling team is sending nine wrestlers to the 2019 NCAA Championships next week, and three received top-10 seeds with all nine seeded 23rd or better as the NCAA announced the brackets. In the 10 weight classes, all 33 wrestlers were seeded for the first time this year. Returning NCAA finalist R-So. Hayden Hidlay leads the way for the Pack, as he is the No. 5 seed at 157 pounds. Fellow R-So. Nick Reenan is the No. 7 seed at 184 pounds, while graduate student Justin Oliver is the No. 9 seed at 149 pounds (the third time in his career he enters ranked ninth). In addition to Oliver competing in his fourth NCAAs, R-Sr. Sean Fausz will also be returning for one final time, and is No. 15 at 125 pounds.
Retuning All-American, R-So. Tariq Wilson is the No. 11 seed at 133 pounds. 2019 ACC Champions, R-Sr. Jamel Morris was No. 14 at 141 pounds while classmate Malik McDonald was No. 13 at 197 pounds. Rounding out the Pack’s lineup, R-So. Thomas Bullard is No. 16 at 165 pounds, while twin brother Daniel is No. 23 at 174 pounds.
From Brian Reinhardt, Director of Athletics Digital Communications
Visit www.GoPack.com
Bareng Named NWCA / NAIA Women’s National Coach of the Year
TDR Editor’s Notes; Our congratulations to Coach Bareng in this national honor. It is great to have quality coaches and representatives of this growing Olympic sport.
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Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced on Saturday that Joey Bareng, Head Coach of Menlo College, is the recipient of the 2019 NWCA NAIA Women’s National Coach of the Year Award presented by Defense Soap. Defense Soap Owner, Guy Sako stated, “In continuing our mission, Defense Soap is proud to partner with the NWCA, to keep wrestlers on the mat with our products and education in hygiene.” Coach Bareng and his squad have had a season for the record books. In February, the Oaks captured Menlo College’s first National Championship in any sport when they captured the 2019 WCWA Title in Atlanta. They followed that title up with their second in as many months when this past weekend his squad ran away with the very first title at the NAIA Women’s National Invitational in Jamestown, ND. Rest of the story at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/Bareng-Named-NWCA-NAIA-Women-s-18-3-2019
TDR Editor’s Notes & Update;
Due to travels and limitations on access to the internet while traveling we have fallen behind on passing along and posting wrestling news. We will still complete the following;
TDR Top 12 wrestlers in each weight class in eastern North Carolina with plaques presented to the top wrestlers.
Top 4 Trophy Awards (James Johnson, Michael Stokes, Lee Carroll, & Roy Heaverly) for the top wrestlers in eastern North Carolina.
All-Time College Coaching Wins is being further updated and lists will be posted by the end of the month.
NCAA Division II Championships Final Team Standings & Placement Match Results
TDR Editor’s Notes; This was the first D-II Championships that I was able to attend. It was great! Quality wrestling, good facilities and friendly interactions with all officials and representatives that I was able to meet. Was able to reconnect with coaches from decades ago.
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Team Standings
1. St. Cloud State 95.5
2. Wheeling Jesuit 87.5
3. McKendree 83
4. Notre Dame 77.5
5. Nebraska Kearney 71
6. Pitt Johnstown 68.5
7. Lindenwood 48
8. Tiffin 45
9. Newberry 42
10. Kutztown 41
11. Millersville 40
12. Maryville 38
13. Augustana 26.5
14. East Stroudsburg 23.5
15. Upper Iowa 22.5
Rest of the list at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/21659
125:
1st: Carlos Jacquez (Lindenwood) dec. Josh Portillo (Nebraska Kearney), 5-3
3rd: Cole Laya (Wheeling Jesuit) dec. Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud State), 6-4
5th: Marcus Povlick (McKendree) pinned Tyler Kreith (Maryville), 3:48
7th: Cole Jones (MSU Moorhead) maj. dec. Brendan Howard (Pitt Johnstown), 13-5
133:
1st: Tyler Warner (Wheeling Jesuit) dec. Wesley Dawkins (Nebraska Kearney), 4-1
3rd: Hunter Bray (Notre Dame) dec. Jordan Gurrola (San Francisco State), 5-3
5th: Tate Barnhardt (Mary) pinned Garrett Vos (St. Cloud State), 4:17
7th: Justin Folley (Upper Iowa) dec. Alexis Soriano (Mercyhurst), 8-3
141:
1st: Jose Rodriguez (Notre Dame) maj. dec. Isaiah Royal (Newberry), 16-5
3rd: Eduardo Penha (Colorado Mesa) dec. Brandon Ball (Fort Hays State), 4-2 SV
5th: Joey Alessandro (Pitt Johnstown) dec. Danny Swan (Lindenwood), 4-0
7th: Joseph Calderone (LIU Post) dec. Jared Donahue (Wheeling Jesuit), 3-0
149:
1st: Chris Eddins (Pitt Johnstown) dec. Trey Grine (Tiffin), 7-2
3rd: Gavin Londoff (Lindenwood) dec. James Pleski (St. Cloud State), 3-2
5th: Isaiah Kemper (McKendree) by injury default over Kameron Frame (Newman)
7th: Kyle Rathman (Minnesota State) dec. Josh Wimer (Findlay), 6-3
157:
1st: Matt Malcom (Nebraska Kearney) dec. Colin Ayers (Augustana), 9-4
3rd: Jake Barzowski (St. Cloud State) dec. Nate Smalling (McKendree), 6-4
5th: Tyler Mies (Newman) dec. James Wimer (Findlay), 5-3
7th: Austin Palmer (Newberry) pinned Kevin Almond (Emmanuel), 2:19
Rest of the placers and results at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/21660
NCAA Division III Championships Final Team Standings & Placement Match Results
1. Augsburg 130
2. Loras 66
3. Johnson & Wales 63
4. Ithaca 59.5
5. Mount Union 58.5
6. Wartburg 52
7. UW-Whitewater 49.5
8. TCNJ 44
9. Millikin 42
9. Wabash 42
11. Rochester Institute of Technology 32.5
12. Stevens Institute of Technology 28
13. Lycoming 23.5
14. Baldwin Wallace 19.5
15. Western New Eng. 19
Rest of the teams listed at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/21657
125:
1st: Jay Albis (JWU) pinned Mike Tortorice (UW-Whitewater), 2:26
3rd: Peter Del Gallo (Southern Me.) dec. Ferdinand Mase (Ithaca), 8-5
5th: Victor Gliva (Augsburg) pinned Cameron Timok (Central (IA), 4:03
7th: Carlos Champagne (Wabash) dec. Eron Haynes (Neb. Wesleyan), 9-6
133:
1st: Jordin James (Mount Union) dec. Ben Vosters (UW-Stevens Point), 9-7
3rd: Bobby Jordan (JWU) dec. Charles Nash (Baldwin Wallace), 5-3 SV
5th: Jake Giordano (TCNJ) dec. Yoseph Borai (Stevens), 8-2
7th: Levi Englman (Ferrum) dec. Taylor ‘Kimo’ Dial (Merchant Marine), 3-2
141:
1st: David Flynn (Augsburg) dec. Chris Williams (Millikin), 4-3
3rd: Clint Lembeck (Loras) by injury default over Ben Brisman (Ithaca)
5th: Evan Drill (NYU) maj. dec. Brady Fritz (Wartburg), 13-3
7th: Brendan Ladd (Alma) maj. dec. Mario Vasquez (Ferrum), 14-0
149:
1st: Ryan Budzek (TCNJ) dec. Gregory Warner (York (PA), 4-2)
3rd: Brett Kaliner (Stevens) maj. dec. Alex Wilson (Augsburg), 15-3
5th: Zachary Cooper (Alma) dec. Jarrad Lasko (John Carroll), 4-2
7th: Ryan Snow (Brockport) dec. Luke Hernandez (Mount Union), 8-6 SV
157:
1st: Ryan Epps (Augsburg) won by disqualification over Antwon Pugh (Mount Union)
3rd: Cross Cannone (Wartburg) maj. dec. Brandon Murray (Loras), 10-1
5th: Kaidon Winters (RIT) by medical forfeit over Bradan Birt (Millikin)
7th: Keone Derain (Elmhurst) dec. Grant Zamin (UW-La Crosse), 6-4
Rest of the place winners at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/21658
Campbell wins title at SoCon Championships
BOONE, N.C. — Behind eight medalists, Campbell held off Appalachian State to claim its second Southern Conference Championship in three years Sunday at the Holmes Convocation Center. All 10 Camels wrestled for medals, including seven CU wrestlers in the championship finals, with eight making the podium.
125 pounder Korbin Meink, Josh Heil at 149, Benjamin Barton at 157 and 184 pounder Chris Kober all earned individual championships. Taking runner-up were Noah Gonser at 133 pounds, Andrew Morgan at 174 and heavyweight Odgerel Batkhishig. Nathan Boston also claimed third at 141 pounds.In addition to the four Camels who earned NCAA automatic bids with conference championships, Morgan also punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships, winning his true place match against Kyle Homet. Cary Kolat was named SoCon Coach of the Year after guiding the Camels to the conference’s regular season and tournament championships. Austin McNeill also earned the SoCon Pinnacle Award, given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA on the championship winning team. Campbell, who shared the SoCon’s regular season championship with Appalachian State and Chattanooga, led by half a point heading into the championship round, and fended off the Mountaineers, who placed six in the finals, with four victories. Appalachian State, meanwhile registered three title wins, including Codi Russell at 133, Randall Diabe at 197 and Cary Miller at 285 pounds. Campbell finished with 95 points, just in front of the Mountaineers’ 92.5. Rest of the story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/21668
Vasquez finds a new mat home at Ferrum College, claims All-America honors
ROANOKE — From Texas to Arkansas and now to Ferrum College, Panthers junior Mario Vasquez has been on a wrestling journey, a sojourn that led him to the NCAA Division III national championships this past weekend. The road he traveled to the Berglund Center was not always paved with proverbial gold, but it reached the first of many hopeful crescendos here when he won two elimination bouts Friday in the 141-pound weight class to earn NCAA Division III All-America accolades with an eighth-place finish. Vasquez lost his first bout and was down 5-4 in his second one when his fortunes turned in the second period with a quick series of points that guided him to a 15-8 win over Jordan Napier and, then later in the evening, he bested Joseph Ferinde of Johnson & Wales by major decision. Rest of the story and pictures at https://www.thefranklinnewspost.com/sports/men-s-college-wrestling-vasquez-finds-a-new-mat-home/article_2b784f44-3fdb-56f7-b749-73dca6f28cb8.html?mc_cid=65c16e3c64&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
