Wolfpack RTC to Have Busy Next Month of Action
Gantt, Davis and McCall to Compete in Russia, Gwiazdowski and Macchiavello training in Colorado with U.S. World Team
RALEIGH, N.C. – As the 2018-19 NC State wrestling season is about to get underway in a little more then a month, the Wolfpack’s Regional Training Center (RTC) will be just as busy the next few weeks.
Three members of the Wolfpack’s RTC just recently landed in Russia for an international tournament. Former Wolfpack grapplers Tommy Gantt and Lee Davis, as well as Timmy McCall, will all be in action at the Mining Glory International Freestyle Tournament which takes place Sept. 22-23. Last year at this tournament, Gantt won a bronze medal while McCall placed fifth. A senior-level training camp is also currently being held out in Colorado at the USA Wrestling headquarters.
Former NC State national champions Nick Gwiazdowski and Michael Macchiavello are already out there, this after both participated in another domestic camp in California a couple of weeks back. Gwiazdowski is gearing up for the 2018 World Championships to be held in Hungary in late October.
Joining Gwiazdowski and Macchiavello in Colorado Springs this weekend will be current R-So. Nick Reenan, who advanced to the Final X this past summer. The Wolfpack RTC’s current head coach Obe Blanc will also be traveling out to help train the U.S. World Team. Also former Duke All-American, Jacob Kasper, who also trains at the Wolfpack RTC, will head to Colorado as well. A current member of the Wolfpack will be in international action in November. R-So. Hayden Hidlay earned top honors back in June at the U23 World Team Trails, and advanced to the World Championships which will be held Nov. 12-18 in Romania. Hidlay will compete in freestyle at 70 kg.
Macchiavello also qualified for the U23 World Championships by winning his first post-college event at 92 kg. But his 24th birthday falls in this calendar year and he will not be able to compete. For more details and further news check Visit www.GoPack.com
Legendary college wrestling coach inducted into Hall of Fame
It didn’t take long to honor Gary Taylor as one of the best. The recently retired head coach at Rider University was inducted into the New Jersey Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame during a banquet Sunday at The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village in Plainsboro. He received a Lifetime Service Award, one of six men to be honored. Taylor coached the Broncs 39 years, leading Rider to numerous top 20 national rankings while coaching 15 individuals to All-American status, 173 national qualifiers, 110 individual conference champions and 14 team conference championships. His 442 dual meet wins rank him among the top five in Division I. He became the seventh member with Mercer County ties to be inducted into the New Jersey chapter. Rest of the story at https://www.nj.com/times-sports/index.ssf/2018/09/taylor_inducted_into_wrestling.html?mc_cid=b690006a2b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Girls Wrestling Becomes Emerging Sport
Girls wrestling is on the rise across the nation.
According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), since 1994, the number of girls who wrestle in high school has grown from 804 to 16,562 in 2018. This year, the NAIA granted Invitational status to women’s wrestling. It has also been recognized as an Olympic sport since 2004.
Also according to NWCA, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Hawaii and Washington sponsor a state high school championship for girls. Illinois started dabbling in girls wrestling events in recent years, but made a huge gain heading into the 2018-19 season.
After the IHSA announced girls wrestling as an emerging sport, the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) stepped up and is providing leadership to promote girls wrestling as its own competitive sport. The IWCOA has already made a commitment to girls wrestling the last two years by hosting the girls state wrestling championships. This year, it will be organizing a girls state championship series that will be held in conjunction with the Chicago Public Schools championships. The state tournament will be held the weekend of Jan. 25-27 at a site to be determined, with with three sectional tournaments set to be held Jan. 19-20. The state tournament was held March 11 this past season.
Rest of the story at https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/girls-wrestling-becomes-emerging-sport/?mc_cid=a3cda18eb5&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Alderson Broaddus announces addition of women’s wrestling
PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Alderson Broaddus University Athletic Director Dennis Creehan announced the addition of women’s wrestling to the University’s varsity athletic programs effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
“Alderson Broaddus University wants to continue to be responsive to changes in the athletic landscape,” said Creehan. “We want to be on the forefront of this rapidly growing sport and are excited to begin women’s wrestling.” Head wrestling coach Sam Gardner will begin recruiting immediately for a team to compete in an abbreviated schedule in 2019-20 and then a full schedule in 2020-21. “The plan currently is to recruit enough women to wrestle an abbreviated schedule next year, focusing on the individual development of the student-athletes and getting them competing for spots on different age group teams,” said Gardner. “The second year we’ll have had two recruiting classes and ideally have recruited enough depth to hit the ground running in 2020-21.” There are currently 38 schools offering women’s wrestling. Women’s wrestling is freestyle wrestling and there are 10 weight classes.
Rest of the story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/20557
Corban announces addition of men’s wrestling as varsity sport
Men’s wrestling will become a varsity sport at Corban (Ore.) beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year.
SALEM, Ore. – Corban University Athletic Director Twiggs Reed announced on Thursday that the Warriors would be adding a varsity program, with men’s wrestling officially joining the sporting slate in the fall of 2019 at Corban.
“This is an exciting time for Corban University and our athletic department,” said Reed. “Beginning in the 2019-20 academic year, Corban will be adding men’s wrestling. High school wrestling has been a very popular and growing sport in the Pacific Northwest, and adding a wrestling program will be a part of our strategic plan to increase enrollment as well as to bring high-character, Christ-centered students to our campus. I am excited to watch the sport of wrestling grow at Corban University!” The addition of this program brings Corban’s total varsity teams to 14. Corban is partnering with Courthouse Club Fitness (Battle Creek) in Salem to serve as a practice and competition facility for the Warrior Wrestling squad.
“We are thrilled about bringing men’s wrestling to Corban,” said Corban University President Sheldon Nord. “It provides a unique opportunity for Christian wrestlers to come to a University where they can pursue their athletic passions while earning a degree where they will learn how to make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ, and that is something we think is very exciting.” The University has received significant financial commitments from the Restore College Wrestling Group in support of Corban’s wrestling program, helping jumpstart the squad financially. The Warrior men’s wrestling program will become the 10th Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) institution to have a men’s team.
Rest of the story at http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=211771910
East Carolina Univ. Wrestling Club
The E.C.U. Wrestling Club has developed a Power Point presentation of their program and opportunities for wrestlers to continue competing while continuing their education. Wilkes Wrestling Unveils Mat Honoring Legendary Coach John Reese
Editor’s Notes; A great tribute to one of the most successful college coaches ever. Would be interesting to see more programs to honor their historic coaches in such a manner. Just an idea to consider.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wilkes Wrestling Unveils Mat Honoring Legendary Coach John Reese
WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University wrestling team unveiled a new mat honoring legendary Colonel coach John Reese on Monday morning in the wrestling room.
A group of Wilkes wrestling alumni, family and friends of the program were in attendance to witness the unveiling of the mat which features the 1974 Division III National Championship team carrying the Hall of Fame coach on their shoulders.
Coach Reese is one of the winningest coaches in NCAA wrestling history with 515 wins. Under his leadership, the wrestling program gained national attention with 40 winning seasons, 14 MAC titles, the 1974 Division III National Championship and a nationally ranked Division I program.
During his tenure, Reese coached 10 individual national champions, 61 MAC champions, and 46 All-Americans. In 1976, he moved Wilkes wrestling from Division III and the MAC into Division I and the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. Although it was the smallest Division I program in the country, under Reese’s leadership Wilkes produced 87 EIWA place-winners, including eight champions, and five Division I All-Americans.
Rest of the story at https://gowilkesu.com/news/2018/9/10/wilkes-wrestling-unveils-mat-honoring-legendary-coach-john-reese.aspx?mc_cid=e9912c5561&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Seven returning champs and Penn State among top-ranked in WIN’s 2018-19 Preseason Ranks
Editor’s Notes; Well no surprise here as Penn State looks to dominate again. Yet it will still be a race into March and it is interesting to look over the list of the rankings for not only the teams but for each weight class. Dig in wrestling fans at the W.I.N. web site to see where your favorite wrestlers are ranked.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NEWTON, Iowa — Seven returning national champs, including Arizona State’s Zahid Valencia (above) and Penn State are ranked No. 1 team in WIN Magazine’s 2018-19 Preseason Tournament Power Index and Individual Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.
WIN’s Tournament Power Index (TPI) awards team points for individuals ranked in the respective weight classes based on how many potential All-Americans each school could produce at the 2019 NCAA Championships next March in Pittsburgh.
WIN’s TPI point totals are broken down by the following individual rankings: 1st – 20 (16 AA points + 4 advancement points); 2nd – 16 (12+4); 3rd – 13.5 (10+3.5); 4th – 12.5 (9+3.5); 5th – 10 (7+3); 6th – 9 (6+3); 7th – 6.5 (4+2.5); 8th – 5.5 (3+2.5). Additional points for other rankings include: 9th/12th – 2; 13th/16th – 1.5; 17th-20th – 1. TPI points will be lower than the final actual NCAA tournament point totals because it does not include bonus points.
The Nittany Lions feature seven ranked wrestlers, all of whom are predicted to finish in the Top 8 which would also garner them All-American honors in their weight classes to give the Nittany Lions 112 TPI points. That includes three defending national champions who are rated No. 1 in their weight class: Jason Nolf (157 pounds), Vincenzo Joseph (165) and Bo Nickal (184, who has moved up to 197). Meanwhile, 174-pounder Mark Hall, a 2017 NCAA champion for Penn State, and heavyweight Nick Nevills are ranked No. 2. With Nickal moving up to 197, Shakur Rasheed, an All-American at 197, has dropped down to 184, where he is ranked fifth.
Ohio State, last year’s team runner-up, is ranked No. 2 with 83.5 points. That includes seven ranked wrestlers, six the Top 8 of their weight class. This group includes 184-pound Myles Martin, a 2016 NCAA champion, who is rated No. 1 as well as 141-pound Joey McKenna and 197-pound All-American Kollin Moore, who are ranked No. 2.
Oklahoma State and Iowa are predicted to finish third and fourth, respectively, and are separated by only 1.5 points (73-71.5) as each school features nine ranked wrestlers. Seven Cowboys are ranked in the Top 8 of their weight class, led by Nick Piccininni, No. 3 at 125 pounds. The Hawkeyes feature five in the Top 8, including two top-ranked wrestlers: defending champion Spencer Lee at 125 pounds and heavyweight Sam Stoll.
Rest of the story at https://www.win-magazine.com/2018/09/defending-champ-penn-state-picked-no-1-in-wins-2018-19-preseason-ranks/?mc_cid=b6c167c754&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Super 32 Challenge headlines preseason competition calendar
Editor’s Notes; The Super 32 is the best preseason competition and it is in our back yard next month. This article looks at it and a rundown of other top quality pre-season open competitions.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
With the increasing number of boys and girls specializing in wrestling and training year-round, the number of tournaments on the wrestling calendar continues to grow. Now, unlike a decade ago, there is an abundance of preseason competition opportunities.
The Super 32 Challenge has long been hailed as the premier preseason high school wrestling tournament in the country. It started as a modest local tournament in North Carolina, but has grown into a preseason mega-tournament that attracts the nation’s top high school wrestlers. Over 200 wrestlers at last year’s event won a state-level tournament title the previous season. The field included approximately 100 wrestlers that are ranked in their respective grade levels by InterMat, and over 50 that ended the season in the national weight class rankings.
“Over the last ten-plus years, this tournament has seen many of the nation’s stars and future stars compete on its mats,” wrote Josh Lowe, InterMat high school wrestling analyst. “Furthermore, every year one can count on this tournament producing a match or event — or more — that people will talk about for years to come.”
Thirteen of the 20 NCAA finalists in NCAA Division I this past season competed at the Super 32 Challenge during their high school career, with seven winning titles. Among those champions: Olympic and world champion Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) and three-time NCAA champion Zain Retherford (Penn State). Coaches from virtually all the top college wrestling programs attend the Super 32 Challenge, hoping to find top talent to join their programs. While the Super 32 Challenge has set the standard for a preaseason tournament and attracts the most high-end talent and depth, it’s one of many high school preseason tournaments on the wrestling calendar. Wrestlers can now find preaseason competitions in any region of the country.
Rest of the story at http://matbossapp.hs-sites.com/blog/super-32-challenge-headlines-preseason-competition-schedule?mc_cid=1130640d35&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
New Jersey to add girls wrestling to region, state championships
Editor’s Notes; Well this makes for over 1/4 of all states now with a state sanctioned wrestling competition for females. Will be interesting to see continued growth in our sport in the coming season.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association unanimously approved region and state championships for individual girl wrestlers beginning this winter.
The NJSIAA Executive Committee must also approve the decision at its Oct. 8 meeting to make it official, which NorthJersey.com sports columnist Darren Cooper described as “a slam dunk.” In New Jersey, girls will compete in eight weight classes. The proposal calls for the top-three wrestlers in each weight class at the region competition to advance to the individual state championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the iconic home for the high school wrestling championships. Prior to region and state competition, girls will have the choice of wrestling against only girls or both boys and girls during the regular season.
Last season, 126 girls wrestled in New Jersey. The NJSIAA hopes that separate competitions will help increase the number of girls wrestling in the Garden State. For example, NJSIAA pointed out that Tennessee saw almost a doubling in participation after starting a girls’ wrestling championship. The two states with the greatest number of girl wrestlers — California and Texas, with approximately 5,200 and 4,000 girl wrestlers respectively — both have separate competitions for girls.
Nationwide, 16,562 girls wrestled at 2,351 schools around the country during the 2017-18 school year, according to the annual National Federation of State High School Associations participation survey.
New Jersey will become the 13th state to add girls wrestling, joining six other states which have announced the addition of separate state wrestling championships for girls for the 2018-19 school year: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Oregon. These are in addition to the six states which already have separate state championship competition for girls: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Tennessee, Texas and Washington State.
Rest of the story at http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/20541
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
