Takedown Report

Love of wrestling leads Fike’s Farmer to Mount Olive

By Paul Durham paul@wilsontimes.com

Wrestling has been part of Jacob Farmer’s life since the newly minted Fike High graduate started school, so he’s happy the end of his high school career isn’t the end on the mat for him, too.
Farmer, who graduated with his senior class at Fike on Saturday morning, signed recently to join the wrestling program at the University of Mount Olive. Farmer, who plans to major in exercise science at the NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas school, said that he took the initiative to contact Trojans head coach Dan Willis after attending a match at UMO to watch some of his friends wrestle for the Trojans. “I have friends that I’ve been wrestling with since I was a little kid from club with Coach Jake Brown at The SPOT in Wilson,” Farmer explained. “Timothy Decatur, Christian Decatur and then Aaron Bancroft (Fike assistant coach George Bancroft’s son) — they all used to wrestle when I was in club and then just seeing them wrestle at UMO and I just wanted to go there and it’s a small school and Christian-based. So that really helps me too.”
Bancroft, a two-time state champion at Fike; and the Decatur brothers helped the Trojans to an 11-3 overall mark and a third-place finish in Conference Carolinas. UMO placed fifth in the NCAA Div. II Southeast Regional tournament.
Farmer, who said he also received interest from UNC Pembroke, graduated in just three years from Fike. The son of Claudia and Percy Arrington of Wilson said that he plans to major in exercise science. … more at … Restorationnewsmedia/Love-of-wrestling-leads-fikes-farmer-to-mount-olive

June 17, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hixenbaugh Named Wrestler of the Year by TheOpenMat.com

THEOPENMAT.COM RELEASE
MONTEVALLO, Ala. – 2024 133-LB National Champion, Gabe Hixenbaugh has been named the NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year by TheOpenMat.com, Friday.
Hixenbaugh, who finished the season 31-0 as the 133-LB National Champion, was chosen as the top wrestler, regardless of weight class, in all of Division II by TheOpenMat.com.
Since winning the 133-LB bracket at the Midwest Classic in December, Hixenbaugh has been ranked No. 1 in the 133-LB rankings by TheOpenMat.com.
Hixenbaugh’s historic season saw him become the first All-American in program history and the first National Champion in all of Division-II history at Montevallo – in the wrestling program’s inaugural season.
With his 31-0 record he tallied a team-leading 72 takedowns, … more at … Montevallofalcons.com/Hixenabugh-named-wrestler-of-the-year-by-theopenmat

June 16, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Joey Simcoe Named The Open Mat DII Wrestling Coach of the Year

Grand Valley State first-year head coach Joey Simcoe was named The Open Mat DII Wrestling Coach of the Year it was announced Friday. Simcoe played a major role with the resurgence in wrestling that GVSU made during if first year as a varsity program after a 32-year hiatus. Simcoe took over as the program’s head wrestling coach after spending the previous 11 seasons leading the Tiffin University wrestling program.
It was a groundbreaking season for GVSU. Josh Kenny secured the national title at 174 pounds and Wyatt Miller earned All-America honors with an eighth-place finish at 197 pounds to help the Lakers finish 13th at the 2024 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. 
Kenny, seeded No. 4, reached the national finals at 174 pounds with an overtime victory, a major decision and a technical fall in the semifinals. In the finals, Kenny pinned Central Oklahoma’s Anthony Des Vigne in the second period, becoming GVSU’s first national champion since 1988. He finished the season with a 32-5 record.
The unseeded Miller defeated multiple All-Americans to reach the podium at 197 pounds. He won his round of 12 match in overtime. … more at … GVSulakers.com/Joey-simcoe-named-the-open-mat-dii-wrestling-coach-of-the-year

June 16, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Joll Racks Up Major Awards To Cap Off Season

By: Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletic Communications Director

INDIANAPOLIS – Graduate student Scott Joll put the final touches on his historic season, as he earned the Division 2 Most Dominant Wrestler Award, Most Falls Award, and Gregorian Award following the completion of the NCAA Championships.

The Belle Vernon, Pa. native finished his season with a 35-1 overall record and a third-place finish at 174 pounds, and becomes the first non-national champion wrestler to win the Most Dominant Award. Joll led the country with his 17 pins against D2 competition to win the Most Falls Award, and brought home the Gregorian Award for good measure, as well, …. more at … UNCPbraves.com/Joll-racks-up-major-awards-to-cap-off-season.

WIN-Magazine
JOLL WINS SCHALLES AWARD – Scott Joll, the 174-pound All-American from UNC-Pembroke, became the first non-Division I wrestler since 2005 to win college wrestling’s pinning award as he secured 21 falls in a 35-win season. … more at … WIN-magazine.com/WIN-magazines-annual-awards-issue-is-now-available

June 8, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Top 100 Teams in Historic Dual Meet Wins

June 4, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Former Navy Wrestling Coach Reggie Wicks Passes Away at the Age of 79

Reginald “Reggie” Paul Wicks, 79, wrestling coach and professor at the Naval Academy, passed away peacefully on April 24 of Parkinson’s and Lyme’s Disease at his home in Crownsville, Md.
A native Iowan from Decorah, Wicks attended Decorah High School where he met Linda Grinna, his future bride and wife of 55 years.  
Wicks had a distinguished career in wrestling.  He was a four-year letter winner in high school and was twice named team MVP.  He was a Northeast Iowa Conference Champion at 154 pounds in 1963.  In 1964, he was a district champion at 154 pounds and finished second at the state championship, finishing with a 19-2 record.  
Wrestling for Iowa State University under head coach Harold Nichols, Wicks was a three-time conference place winner and a three-time NCAA qualifier.  In 1968, Wicks won the NCAA National Championship at 160 lbs and earned All-American distinction.  Wicks, who was also the Iowa State team captain in 1968, finished his career with a 44-12-4 record with six of his losses coming by two points or less.
His coaching career started as an assistant coach at Mankato State from 1969-1971, where he also earned his master’s degree.  Wicks earned his first head coaching job in 1971, where he served for four years and coached two All-Americans.
Wicks coached for 28 years at the Naval Academy, assisting Ed Peery from 1974-1987, before taking the reins of the program from 1987-2000.  During his time as the head coach in Annapolis, the Midshipmen were 175-60-5, winning the EIWA tournament in 1990 and finishing second four times (1988, 1991, 1992 and 1994). Wicks coached 17 EIWA champions, 35 NCAA qualifiers and six NCAA place winners at Navy. He was the EIWA Coach of the Year in 1990. Wicks was 10-1-2 against Army. 
Wicks retired from coaching in 2000 with a career record of 200-80-6. Wicks was inducted in several Hall of Fames: Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame (1998), National Wrestling Coaches Association, 25 years award, National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2001) for Life Service, Iowa High School Hall of Fame (2005), and Iowa State University Hall of Fame (2016).  After retirement from coaching, Wicks continued as a full professor at the USNA until 2010.  He also remained active within both the national and local wrestling community.  Wicks enjoyed working in his garden, traveling, and spending time with his family and Jack Russell Terriers.
Reg will be lovingly remembered by his high school sweetheart, Linda Wicks, … more at … Navysports.com/Former-navy-wrestling-coach-reggie-wicks-passes-away-at-the-age-of-79

June 2, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Legendary MSU wrestling coach Macias dies at 102

The adjectives are numerous — legendary, trailblazer, teacher, coach, champion.
They all apply to former Minnesota State University wrestling coach Rometo “Rummy” Macias, who passed away Monday in Florida at the age of 102.
He is remembered as an affable, loquacious, larger-than-life man who was a pioneer of collegiate wrestling.
Macias founded the MSU wrestling program in 1950 and coached for 38 years. During his tenure, he led MSU to three national championships and nine conference titles.
Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the number of wrestlers who turned around and gave back to the sport. At least 145 of his wrestling graduates became high school or collegiate coaches in Minnesota and throughout the country.
Current MSU head coach Jim Makovsky said the term legend is appropriate. “Minnesota wrestling has a pretty good reputation and a lot of people give him credit for that,” Makovsky said. “How many people are known by just one name — Rummy.”
Macias was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in 1982 — six years before he retired as coach. During his tenure, he coached 93 All-Americans, 19 individual national champions and 74 conference champions. “We knew it was going to happen at some point, but it’s still hard to see him go,” said Jack Eustice, a four-time All-American under Macias in the 1970s, who went on to a standout high school coaching, teaching and administrative career. “It’s disappointing because he was such a quality person. He spent a lot of time encouraging us to figure out what we were going to do after wrestling was done. He was so important to the MSU program.”
A 1948 graduate of the University of Iowa, Macias was an assistant coach there for two years before taking on the challenge of starting up the MSU program. He would recruit farm kids in Minnesota and mold them into quality wrestlers.
Makovsky remembers the first time he met Macias upon arriving in Mankato in 1999. “I already knew of him before I got here. (He may have been short in stature but) he was a big figure, everything about him was intriguing,” Makovsky said. “I golfed with him four years ago and he was so sharp, he’d remember things from years ago. Rummy just loved people and was a great teacher.  … more at … Mankatofreepress.com/Legendary-msu-wrestling-coach-macias-dies-at-102

June 1, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Buffalo Bills announce signing of Olympic champion Gable Steveson

The Buffalo Bills announced the signing of 2020 Olympic champion and two-time NCAA champion Gable Steveson to its roster on Friday afternoon.
Following reports of Steveson’s signing from NFL industry insiders, including ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bills issued a formal announcement through its official X account.
According to ESPN and Schefter, Steveson is signing a standard rookie contract for three years to play Defensive Tackle under head coach Sean McDermott, a former wrestler himself. McDermott has a strong history of backing wrestling as a foundation for elite football players.
ESPN article: Olympic gold medal wrestler Gable Steveson signing with Bills
Steveson most recently competed on the wrestling mat at 2023 Final X held at Prudential Center, where he defeated now World bronze medalist and Paris Olympian Mason Parris two matches to none for the 2023 U.S. World Team spot. Steveson did not compete at the 2023 World Championships, leaving open the opportunity for Parris to shine on the World stage.
A native of Apple Valley, Minn., Steveson was a four-time Minnesota state champion for Apple Valley High School and won NCAA titles for his home-state Minnesota Gophers in 2021 and 2022. He was named the Dan Hodge Trophy recipient as the nation’s top college wrestler both years he won the NCAA tournament. … more at … Themat.com/Buffalo-bills-announce-signing-of-olympic-champion-gable-steveson

May 31, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Jason Kennedy of Rosewood presented the 2024 Michael Stokes Award

Jason Kennedy named the 33^rd Michael Stokes Award winner

State champion Jason Kennedy of Rosewood High School was presented the 2024 Michael Stokes Award today.  As a four-year starter Kennedy compiled an outstanding career record of (184-12) and ranks 5th in most wins in school history.  He also scored 96 wins by pin, was a 4-x conference champion, and 3-x regional champ.  Kennedy qualified for the state tournament three times and placed twice, 2nd in 2021 and 1st in 2024.  Kennedy also earned his 3rd TDR Top 12 engraved wooden plaque this year as a top wrestler in his weight in eastern North Carolina.  

Jason maintained a 4.1 GPA to finish in the Top 10 in his class and has earned a Presidential scholarship to attend Campbell University.  He will major in computer science to seek a cyber-security career.  Jason plans to walk-on to wrestle at Campbell University this fall.  He has been involved in wrestling for five years and would like to eventually coach wrestling.  “Wrestling has made a huge difference in my life. It has made me a better person as I am more driven and dedicated due to the sport, yet humbled by the experiences in wrestling.” Jason shared as he reflected back.

Coach Joshua Gordon shared “We are proud to have Jason as a wrestler and graduate from Rosewood.  We look forward to seeing him wrestle nearby at Campbell and wish him the best.  The Stokes Award was earned by Jason as he conducted a strong senior season on the road to his state championship.”

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 126 lbs. 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.”

            Previous Stokes Award wrestlers include Walker Bell of West Craven in 2023, Raheem Jones of North Pitt (2022), Aaron Bancroft (2020) and Jayleen Bullock (2021) of Wilson Fike. Ray Darden of Ayden-Grifton and Jordan Todd of Rosewood tied for the award in (2019), Sincere King of North Pitt (2018), Quadarrius Hopkins of Tarboro (2017), 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), Aaron Bancroft (2020) and Jayleen Bullock (2021) 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 scholastic wrestling for over 20 years in North Carolina and encourages coverage of the sport.  Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com or https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/ or ‘The TakeDown Report’ on FaceBook.

_{(left to right) Rosewood Coach Joshua Gordon, Jason Kennedy & TDR Editor Martin Fleming}

May 31, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

HALL ANNOUNCES FIRST ADDITION TO COACHING STAFF WITH THE HIRE OF TIMMY MCCALL

OREM, Utah – Utah Valley head coach Adam Hall announced on Saturday the hire of Timmy McCall as his head assistant coach. McCall joins Utah Valley after working as an assistant coach at North Carolina State. “I am so excited to add Timmy, Beth, and Tanner to the Wolverine family! Timmy brings a wealth of knowledge to Utah Valley from his extensive coaching experience at NC State. His passion and care for his athletes are hard to match. He truly loves the guys he works with, which shows through his dedication to them. I look forward to watching him grow as a coach in this new role!” said UVU head coach Adam Hall.
His time at NC State started in 2015 when he was a training athlete with the Wolfpack RTC and competed internationally. He saw great success there, including winning the 2017 Henri Deglane Challenge and finishing as the runner-up at the 2016 Bill Farrell and the 2018 Dave Schulz tournaments. In 2018, he took home third at the 2018 World Team Trials while adding a second-place finish at the 2019 Grand Prix of France / Henri Deglane Challenge.
McCall moved into an assistant role with the Wolfpack in 2019 and helped them win four consecutive ACC Championships and aided in the development of 17 ACC Champions, including 2020 ACC Wrestler of the Year Hayden Hidlay and five-time All-American Trent Hidlay.
At the NCAA level, he worked with 15 All-Americans during his four years in Raleigh, … more at … GOuvu.com/Hall-announces-first-addition-to-coaching-staff-with-the-hire-of-timmy-mccall

May 31, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment