Hopkins presented the Stokes Award by the TDR
Quadarrius Hopkins wins Stokes Award as top wrestler in Northern North Carolina
The TakeDown Report presented the 24th Annual Michael Stokes Award to State Champion Quadarrius Hopkins of Tarboro, as the Top Senior Wrestler in the Tar-Roanoke area in Eastern North Carolina in 2017. It was presented during the Tarboro Athletic Banquet Awards night last week
Quadarrius is a 3 time State Qualifer, 2 time Regional Champion, 3 time State Placer (being only the second person is school history to do this). In 2015 he finished 4th at 145 then in 2016 he finished 3rd at 145 and 2017 finished 1st at 152. After graduation next month Quadarrius will enlist in the National Guard. After and once his training in finished next year he will enroll in a 4 Year University where he plans to continue his wrestling career. Coach Andy Harding proudly praised Quadarrius as he described his growth and development over the years. “He could have been a 3 time state champ but as he will tell you he had to learn some lessons, grow and mature as a wrestler.”
Quadarrius agreed as he stated that “I learned a lot from Coach Harding and wrestling helped me grow and mature.” He then related an example when “…in the finals this year I had a big lead yet I knew the guy (his opponent) liked to go for the big 5 point throws so I stayed low when on my feet and knew it was ok if he got 2 because he would let me get one as he wanted to throw.” Hopkins was correct as the match narrowed in the score but he prevailed.
Michael Stokes wrestled the 1981-1984 seasons at Tarboro High School and with a (96–4) career record. He was North Carolina’s 2nd 3-time State Champion when there was only one individual champion at a weight in the state. He wrestled for N.C. State and won ACC wrestling titles in 1988 and 1989 and was named the ACC Most Valuable Wrestler both years. His record of 68 wins 8 losses and 3 ties (.879) is the best career winning percentage at NC State. He finished second at the NCAA Nationals at 126lbs in 1989 to Kendall Cross, the eventual Olympic Gold medalist. Stokes co-captained the Wolfpack in 1989 and one of the ACC’s all time 50 greatest wrestlers as recognized during the conference’s 50th anniversary celebration. Stokes credits wrestling as “providing me with a mental toughness that enables me to remove boundaries that stand in my way. Wrestling has given me the sheer determination to believe that I can conquer anything that I set my mind to do.” Stokes remembered his last time at Tarboro when he presented the Award to David Guevara of Tarboro (2013.So did Quadarrius as he shared how seeing that trophy had motivated him this year as he wanted to earn a Stokes Award.
Previous Stokes Award wrestlers include Wilson Smith of Rocky Mount (2016), Angel Najar of North Pitt (2015), Reggie Huff of Southern Nash (2014), David Guevara of Tarboro (2013), Alexander Knight and Jaciento Williamson of Rocky Mount (2012), Xavier Najar of North Pitt (2011), Joe Young of Northern Nash (2010), Corey Smith of Tarboro (2009), Jasmine Cooper of Nash Central (2008), Eric Wischhusen, (2007), Roylando Lucas (2001) and Ira Bing (2000) of Southern Nash, John Brewer (2006) of Wilson Fike, Anthony Taylor (2005) of Rocky Mount, Sammi Hadi (2004) and Ryan Huffman (1997) of SouthWest Edgecombe, Charles Washington (2003) of Northern Nash, Quadric Eason (2002), Mike Christopher (1999 & 1998), Tony Mercer (1996) and Lee Carroll (1994 & 1995) of Tarboro.
The TDR promotes amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina and sponsors this award. “The awards are to recognize great wrestlers from before and the current ones for their efforts,” Editor Martin Fleming noted. The TakeDown Report has promoted and covered scholastic and collegiate wrestling for 20 years in North Carolina. Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com or https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/ or ‘The TakeDown Report’ on FaceBook.
TDR Travels
Just a quick note to update wrestling fans. Thursday night at the Tarboro High School Annual Sports Banquet and Awards the Michael Stokes presented his award to Quadarrius Hopkins. On Saturday there was a Beach wrestling tournament on the coast (of course) but we missed that. Yet today 6 coaches and wrestling boosters were inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Annual event was in Chapel Hill today with hundreds of wrestlers and fans. Tomorrow night on to West Carteret for a trophy presentation. Will file all the details on Tuesday.
Wrestling returns to Wilmington (Ohio)
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Always exciting to see Another college restarting a wrestling program! Wrestling will return to Wilmington after an absence of 7 years. In 1990 the TDR (then based in NE Ohio) awarded a trophy to a Wilmington wrestler as the best college wrestler in Ohio at his weight. He was in a heavier weight class yet the name escapes me. It must be a sign I am getting older and the TDR has been around a while.
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Wilmington College is starting wrestling as an intercollegiate varsity sport beginning in fall 2018.
The College will hire a full-time wrestling coach and designate a training space in its athletics complex especially for the sport, which will become its 19th varsity-level program. WC will field the Ohio Athletic Conference’s eighth wrestling team. Dr. Terry Rupert, vice president for athletic administration, said the combination of wrestling’s popularity in Ohio high schools and the recent expansion of the College’s athletics facilities makes starting a wrestling program a proposition with a “great opportunity” for success. Rest of the story at ….http://wilmingtonquakers.com/general/2016-17/releases/20170515kgph7i?mc_cid=8f7a1926ea&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
For the Love of the Mat
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Great see growth in wrestling opportunities even in Alabama. Next they should get some college teams started. It used to be that the University of Alabama and Auburn University had top level D-I teams. Auburn even hosted the National Championships one year.
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High school wrestling thrives despite lack of collegiate options in Alabama
For high school football players in the state of Alabama, opportunity at the college level is an incentive made almost tangible because of the omnipresence of college football. If you push your hardest during summer workouts, your future could be at Jordan-Hare Stadium. If you maximize your potential, Bryant-Denny Stadium could be your next destination. Troy, UAB, Samford, Jacksonville State — the list of right-in-your-own-backyard landing spots is extensive for football prospects in Alabama.
Most other high school sports have a significant local presence at the college level, too, to help incentivize student-athletes. High school wrestling, though, has no such luxury. No SEC member school has a wrestling program aside from Missouri, whose wrestling team competes in the Mid-American Conference. In the state of Alabama, only Division III Huntingdon has a wrestling program that competes in the NCAA. Yet the sport continues to grow at the high school level in Alabama, especially of late. According to the annual National High School Athletics Participation Survey, participants in high school wrestling in Alabama rose from 1,747 during the 2002-03 school year to 2,719 in 2015-16, an increase of nearly 56 percent. Rest of the story at …. http://www.oanow.com/sports/high_school/_other/high-school-wrestling-thrives-despite-lack-of-collegiate-options-in/article_875ee612-f0b1-11e6-9478-13182a6626dd.html?mc_cid=75fb1d2847&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
James Johnson Award for Best Senior Scholastic Wrestler in Eastern North Carolina
TDR Editor’s Notes ; The photo is of Joe Mondragon of Wilmington Ashley with the 2015 James Johnson Award Trophy he earned as the best senior scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina two seasons ago. This year for the first time in 16 seasons two award trophies will be presented as there is a tie for the best senior scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina. Undefeated state champion Will Newbern will be presented the award on Monday the 22nd at West Carteret High School. The other undefeated state champion Carlos Martinez of First Flight High School will be presented his award at a time and place to be determined.
Gwiazdowski to Represent Team USA at the Beat the Streets Benefit in Times Square
TDR Editor’s Notes ; A great and unique opportunity to gain recognition and publicity for wrestling in Times Square, New York City. It is primarily a fund raiser for the NYC ‘Beat The Streets’ program which starts new programs in New York City high schools.
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2017 U.S. Open Champion will be competing in dual match on Wednesday vs. Japan
RALEIGH, N.C. – Former NC State All-American Nick Gwiazdowski will return to his home state of New York, as he will wrestle for Team USA as they take on Japan at the 2017 Beat the Streets Benefit on Wednesday in the middle of Times Square. “I’ve watched this event many times, and look forward to my opportunity to wrestle in Times Square,” said 2014 and 2015 NCAA Champion Gwiazdowski. “This is one of the most unique events in the world of wrestling, and I’m very grateful for being in the position I’m in to be included. “Without the Wolfpack Wrestling Club supporters and the Beat the Streets organization, I would not be in the position I am in to take part in this event.” Gwiazdowski will be representing the Wolfpack Olympic Regional Training Center, and be competing for Team USA at 125 kg. He will be wrestling Japan’s Katsutoshi Kanazawa, as the action starts at 6 p.m. and will be streamed by FloWrestling. “This is a very big honor for Nick to be representing the U.S. in this prestigious dual match,” said NC State head coach Pat Popolizio. “Beat the Streets is a great opportunity for Nick to be back in his home state of New York. “Our RTC coaches, Frank Beasley and Obe Blanc, have been working tirelessly this past year helping Nick develop and we are excited for all the hard work he has been putting in to be showcased this week. Frank and myself are looking forward to attending this great event.” Gwiazdowski is fresh off claiming the 125 kg title at the U.S. Open. This year’s event takes place in Times Square/Duffy Square (47th Street and 7th Avenue) beginning at 3 p.m. with the BTS Youth Exhibition Matches. The NYC PSAL Girls Dual Meet Championship follows at 4:45 p.m. with Gwiazdowski and the rest of Team USA taking on Team Japan at 6 p.m. The annual BTS Benefit Celebration follows the event at the Marriott Marquis at 8 p.m. The mission of Beat the Streets is to develop the full potential of the urban youth and to strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTS works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to bring the life changing sport of wrestling to over 3,000 New York City student-athletes to help them achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTS and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life lessons of grit, personal responsibility and teamwork, physical fitness and nutrition, and life-long learning. The goal of fostering strong, well-rounded student-athletes is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, life skills workshops, and summer camps. More information can be found at http://www.btsny.org
Central Christian to add Women’s Wrestling, Hires Schreimann as Inaugural Coach
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Another new Women’s wrestling team starting in the Midwest. Central Christian College added a new men’s team just last season. Another added opportunity for wrestlers to continue their competition and education on the college level.
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By Jeremy Nelson / Central Christian College Director of Sports Information
Central Christian College Athletics Director Twiggs Reed is pleased to announce the addition of women’s wrestling to Central’s docket of athletic programs for the 2017-2018 season and the appointment of Don Schreimann as the new head coach for the Tiger women’s wrestling program. Schreimann brings strong experience with both women’s and men’s coaching at the high school and college level. He began his coaching career at the high school level 42 years ago at Warrensburg High School in Warrensburg, Missouri. He spent 37 years at Warrensburg, before transitioning to the college ranks. This past season he was the head women’s wrestling coach at Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri, but this spring, the college announced that it would be closing its doors at the end of the school year.
Rest of the story at …. http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/news/20170510/central-christian-to-add-womens-wrestling-hires-schreimann-as-inaugural-coach
2017 Lee Carroll Award to be presented to Blaine Mainz
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Undefeated state champion Blaine Mainz of Jacksonville High School has been announced as the 2017 Lee Carroll Award winner. Mainz was named the best senior lightweight wrestler in eastern North Carolina. The details have yet to be determined and announced. The pictures are from 2015 yet are similar to this year’s awards.
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State honors Pitt-Johnstown coach Pat Pecora
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Quite an honor for a long time college wrestling coach to be presented with an honor from the Governor’s office recognizing his induction into the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He currently ranks #1 in active coaches and #2 in all time dual meet team victories.
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When Pat Pecora started coaching Pitt-Johnstown’s wrestling program more than 40 years ago, he never envisioned it resulted in a commendation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but that’s exactly what he got on Thursday. State Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Richland Township, presented with a citation commemorating Pecora’s recent induction into the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “The name Pat Pecora is synonymous with wrestling,” Langerholc said in a press release. “He’s had a great and positive impact on students’ lives and the community.” Pecora was inducted into the hall of fame April 29 in Hershey. He thought that was the end of it until Langerholc called this week to tell him about the state honor.
Rest of the story at ….http://www.tribdem.com/sports/state-honors-pitt-johnstown-coach-pat-pecora/article_920b34ac-36c6-11e7-8736-3737df08a95e.html?mc_cid=e692256af7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Last TDR Top 12 Plaques Mailed
TDR Editor’s Notes ; The last TDR Top 12 Plaques have been wrapped up and mailed on Thursday to Swansboro, First Flight and Jacksonville. The Tarboro plaque will be included with the Michael Stokes Award presentation this Thursday May 18th to Quadarrius Hopkins. The Rosewood team’s plaques will be presented to their coach on Sunday May 21st while at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – North Carolina Chapter Induction ceremonies in Chapel Hill.
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
