Penn State wins the 2024 DI men’s NCAA wrestling championship
Just as they have done 10 times before under head coach Cael Sanderson, the Penn State Nittany Lions captured the Division I national title.
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This time, though, Penn State made a little extra history in its victory.
The Nittany Lions put eight athletes on the podium including four national champions, two runner-ups and two additional place winners.
FINAL BRACKET | FINAL TEAM SCORES
Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks headlined the success for the Blue and White, winning their fourth NCAA titles to become the sixth and seventh athletes to do so in NCAA wrestling. Starocci’s win came by way of a 2-0 decision against No. 6 Rocco Welsh of Ohio State via an escape point and a stall point, but that was all he needed to finish on top once again. Aaron Brooks followed Starocci’s footsteps, becoming the seventh four-time NCAA champ in history and the second for Penn State with his win over Hidlay 6-1. Heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet added a title at heavyweight, his first, with a 13-4 major decision of Lucas Davison in a match in which he did not give up a single offensive point. He set a tone of total domination.
The Nittany Lions produced another national champ at 157 pounds as No. 1 Levi Haines completed his undefeated season with a strategic 4-0 shutout against No. 2 Jacori Teemer.
Penn State’s No. 2 Beau Bartlett and No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink finished as runner-ups, as No. 1 Jesse Mendez of Ohio State topped Bartlett 4-1 at 141 pounds, and Mesenbrink fell to Iowa State’s No. 4 David Carr at 165 pounds 9-8. Carr’s win gave him his second title for the Cyclones, the first of which came in his freshman season at 157 pounds.
The Nittany Lions weren’t the only team with historic moments on Saturday night, though. The Virginia Tech Hokies crowned just the second national champion in program history as No. 4 Caleb Henson turned up the offense at 149 pounds and earned a 15-7 bonus-point win over Michigan’s No. 6 Austin Gomez, the 2024 Olympic rep for Mexico at 65kg. Henson is not only the second Hokie to finish on top of the podium in program history, but he is also the first national champion in NCAA wrestling history from the state of Georgia. His win is one of four podium finishers for the Hokies as part of their standout weekend in Kansas City.
Arizona State, Cornell and Northern Iowa will also leave the Show-Me State with one champ each. Sun Devil 125-pounder Richard Figueroa earned his first national championship by way of a 7-2 victory against Iowa’s Drake Ayala, while Cornell’s No. 6 Vito Arujau topped four-time NCAA finalist No. 1 Daton Fix of Oklahoma State at 133 pounds 5-3 for his second title and No. 1 Parker Keckeisen bonused No. 3 Dustin Plott of Oklahoma State at 184 pounds.
Complete results below:
| WEIGHT | FINALISTS | WINNER/SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | No. 3 Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs. No. 8 Richard Figueroa | Figueroa, 7-2 |
| 133 | No. 1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) vs. No. 6 Vito Arujau | Arujau, 5-3 |
| 141 | No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) vs. No. 2 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) | Mendez, 4-1 |
| 149 | No. 4 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech) vs. No. 6 Austin Gomez (Michigan) | Henson, 15-7 |
| 157 | No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) vs. No. 2 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State) | Haines, 4-0 |
| 165 | No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) vs. No. 4 David Carr (Iowa State) | Carr, 9-8 |
| 174 | No. 6 Rocco Welsh (Ohio State) vs. No. 9 Carter Starocci (Penn State) | Starocci, 2-0 |
| 184 | No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 3 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) | Keckeisen, 14-5 |
| 197 | No. 1 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) vs. No. 2 Trent Hilday (NC State) | Brooks, 6-1 |
| 285 | No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) vs. No. 10 Lucas Davison (Michigan) | Kerkvliet 13-4 |
Gardner-Webb Wrestling at Nationals
Anderson Advances to Day 2 at NCAA Wrestling Championships
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After dropping his opening match, Gardner-Webb’s Jha’Quan Anderson won his second match to advance to day two in the consolation bracket of the 184-pound weight class at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
In his first match of the day, Anderson lost by technical fall, 20-5 (6:29), to fourth-seeded Trey Munoz of Oregon State University. Anderson, who is competing at the national championships for the third time in his career, rebounded with a 9-6 victory over Binghamton University’s Jacob Nolan in the night session.
Anderson will meet (19) James Conway of Franklin & Marshall College in his next consolation match on Friday, March 22.
Wrestling in the 141-pound weight class, senior Todd Carter went 0-2, concluding his season on day one of the championships. Carter lost his opening match by technical fall to top-seeded Jesse Mendez of Ohio State University (19-4, 5:31) and then fell by a narrow 8-6 decision to Dylan Chappell … story at … GWUsports.com/Anderson-advances-to-day-2-at-ncaa-wrestling-championships
Anderson & Carter Earn At-Large Bids into NCAA Championships
INDIANAPOLIS – Two Gardner-Webb wrestlers were announced as at-large selections to compete at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships later this month. Jha’Quan Anderson was selected to wrestle at 184 pounds and Todd Carter was selected to compete at 141 pounds. Anderson and Carter are two of 47 total at-large selections, who join the 283 student-athletes who previously qualified through placement at conference tournaments.
“I am proud of these two to get into the national tournament,” said Head Wrestling Coach Daniel Elliott. “They both were pretty disappointed after not qualifying through the conference tournament last week, but their body of work throughout the season showed they deserve this.
“They both have wins over guys who have qualified and deserve to be there. For Jha’quan to finish his career at the national tournament, it is special. Todd sets the tone for how work hard in our program. These two are so deserving of this opportunity and we are proud to represent Gardner-Webb in the national tournament!”
2024 marks Anderson’s third career at-large selection into the national tournament. He enters with an overall mark of 27-7 after a fourth career top-three finish at the Southern Conference Championships last weekend. Earlier this season, Anderson became the first Gardner-Webb wrestler to be named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the prestigious Southern Scuffle, after claiming the title in the 184-pound weight class.
This year marks Carter’s first career selection into the national tournament. He enters off of a runner-up finish at the SoCon tournament and holds a record of 21-9 … story at … GWUsports.com/Anderson-carter-earn-at-large-bids-into-ncaa-championships
Gardner-Webb Places Fourth in SoCon Wrestling Championships
BOONE, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University wrestling squad was placed fourth in the Southern Conference Wrestling Championships on Saturday with a team score of 49.5.
Todd Carter and Drew West both finished second in their respective weight classes, and Jha’Quan Anderson and Zach Price each finished third.
For more information on the Gardner-Webb wrestling team, fans can follow the team on X at @GWUWrestling or on Instagram at @gwuwrestling.
125
Drew West (2-0) placed 2nd and scored 13.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Drew West (Gardner-Webb) 2-0 won by fall over Malik Hardy (The Citadel) 1-2 (Fall 7:43)
Semifinal – Drew West (Gardner-Webb) 2-0 won by fall over Anthony Molton (Campbell) 21-5 (Fall 5:30)
133
Tyson Lane (2-2) placed 4th and scored 6.5 team points.
Quarterfinal – Dyson Dunham (VMI) 3-1 won by major decision over Tyson Lane (Gardner-Webb) 2-2 (MD 16-5)
Cons. Round 1 – Tyson Lane (Gardner-Webb) 2-2 won by tech fall over Brayden Adams (Presbyterian College) 0-2 (TF-1.5 4:28 (17-2))
Cons. Semi – Tyson Lane (Gardner-Webb) 2-2 won by fall over Blake Boarman (Chattanooga) 1-2 (Fall 4:57)
3rd Place Match – Dyson Dunham (VMI) 3-1 won by decision over Tyson Lane (Gardner-Webb) 2-2 (Dec 8-5)
141
Todd Carter (2-0) placed 2nd and scored 10.5 team points. … complete GWU results at … GWUsports.com/Gardner-webb-places-fourth-in-socon-wrestling-championships
Taye Ghadiali makes history, becomes program’s second ever NCAA All-American!
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Campbell heavyweight Taye Ghadiali became just the second Campbell wrestler to make the podium at the NCAA Championships, as he finished in eighth at this year’s finale held at the T-Mobile Center.
Ghadiali joins Nathan Kraisser (2017) as the only two wrestlers from Campbell to finish in the top eight at nationals. Kraisser also finished in eighth at 125 pounds, but Ghadiali is the first non-transfer to make the stand representing Campbell.
Ghadiali becomes the second Campbell wrestler to be named NCAA All-American, joining Kraisser. Five others received NWCA All-America honors in the 2020 season that was cut short before the NCAA Championships.
In the All-American bout against Lehigh’s Nathan Taylor, Ghadiali was trailing 4-2 late in the third period. He scored a takedown with just five seconds left, and Taylor scored the riding time point to make it 5-5 going into overtime. Ghadiali dove at Taylor’s leg and latched on 15 seconds into the overtime period to get both men on the mat. Ghadiali was then able to circle around and find himself on top for the winning takedown at the 30-second mark.
Ghadiali finishes the 2023-24 season with a 35-5 record. The 35 wins is the fifth-highest mark in Campbell wrestling history. He also finished the year with 12 pins, tied for second-most in program history.
In addition to Ghadiali, five other Campbell wrestlers competed at the NCAAs this weekend, with four recording a victory. Domenic Zaccone won his first-round matchup in an upset over No. 11 ranked Zeth Romney (Cal Poly). At 165 pounds, No. 26 Dom Baker defeated No. 23 Derek Fields (NC State) with a pin, and Austin Murphy defeated Mizzou’s Peyton Mocco (No. 22) with a 5-3 decision in the first round. No. 28 Caleb Hopkins advanced in the consolation bracket by way of a medical forfeit from Brian Soldano (Rutgers) before falling in a 13-6 decision against No. 11 Colton Hawks (Mizzou). Levi Hopkins dropped two tight matches against Evan Bockman (#20, UVU) and No. 29 Justin Rademacher of Oregon State. … story at … GOcamels.com/news/2024/3/23/wrestling-ghadiali-named-all-american-wrestling-concludes-season-at-ncaas
TDR Update 2024 – TDR # 31 – 68 : Top 12 & Awards
Packages of TDR Top 12 Plaques were sent out to Rosewood, Havelock, Wilson Fike, Topsail and Washington were mailed out today. The Michael Stokes Award will be presented to Jason Kennedy of Rosewood High School as a Top Senior wrestler. Details shall be released of the wrestler and the award as before the presentation of the trophy.
The TDR will announce the 2024 winners of the James Johnson Memorial Award for the most outstanding senior, and the Roy Heverly Award for the top underclassman this week.
Vito Arujau repeats as NCAA Champion
**Nine All-Americans from the EIWA**
By, Austin Sommer, EIWA Sports Information Director
Key Takeaways
Cornell’s Vito Arujau (133) repeats as NCAA Champion!
Cornell finishes in second place as a team.
Nine EIWA wrestlers earn NCAA All-American honors.
F&M’s James Conway earns the Elite 90 Award.
Last season, the EIWA finished the NCAAs with seven All-Americans crowned, matching the 2022 total of seven. This year the conference had two more wreslters make the podium, increasing the total number of All-Americans in 2024 to nine.
Congratulations to the nine All-Americans from the EIWA listed below.
Vito Arujau, Cornell – Champion at 133lbs
Ryan Crookham, Lehigh – 3rd at 133lbs
Meyer Shapiro, Cornell – 3rd at 157lbs
Jacob Cardenas, Cornell – 4th at 197lbs
Luke Stanich, Lehigh – 5th at 125lbs
Lennox Wolak, Columbia – 6th at 174lbs
Ben Pasuik, Army – 8th at 174lbs
David Key, Navy – 8th at 184lbs
Michael Beard, Lehigh – 8th at 197lbs
Elite 90 Award Recipient
Congratulations to James Conway of F&M at 184lbs. He was awarded the Elite 90 Award as the participant (of 330 participants) in the NCAA Championship who had the highest GPA.
The ELITE 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete … story at … EIWAwrestling.org/sports/wrest/2023-24
TDR Update 2024 – TDR # 31 – 67 : Top 12 & Awards
Packages of TDR Top 12 Plaques were sent out to Goldsboro, SW Onslow, South Central, Northeastern, First Flight and Pamlico County were mailed out today. We were delayed by the NCAA Division I Championships. The Lee Carroll Award will be presented to Holton Quincy of North East Carolina Prep. The Olivia Neal Award for the top senior female wrestler will be presented to seniors Lillian Prendergast of South Brunswick and Kamilah Brooks of Pasquotank County.
The TDR will announce the 2024 winners of the James Johnson Memorial Award for the most outstanding senior, the Roy Heverly Award for the top underclassman, and the Michael Stokes Awards this week.
Grand View (Iowa) Claims 12th Team Championship in 13 Years
PARK CITY, Kan. – Grand View (Iowa) claims the programs 12th Battle For The Red Banner as they win the 2024 NAIA Men’s Wrestling Championship by 55.5 points. The 67th Annual event concluded Saturday Night inside Hartman Arena and was hosted by Visit Wichita from February 29th – March 2nd.
The Vikings have won the Red Banner in 12 of the last 13 years, which further extends the NAI Record for team titles. Former members Adams State (Colo.) and Central State (Okla.) are tied for second with eight each. In total, Grand View has 39 individual championships, which is now tied for first all-time with former member Simon Fraser (B.C.).
Saturday’s schedule included Session IV which saw the Sixth Round (Consolation Semifinals) and Placement Round (Third, Fifth and Seventh place) wrestled in the morning. After the midday break for the facility to be switched over and the Parade of All-Americans, Session VI saw the Championship Finals competed live on ESPN3.
Click HERE to see the full schedule and results page. Click HERE for the final team scores of the 2024 championship.
Session V Highlights:
- Sixth Round (Consolation Semifinals) and Placement Round (Third, Fifth and Seventh Place) Notes:
- 125 – No. 1 Aden Reeves of Grand View (Iowa) worked his way back the long way to claim third place defeating No. 2 Brandon Orum of Life (Ga.) who was the 2023 champion. No. 6 Trevor Marsman of Cornerstone (Mich.) won in sudden victory for fifth over No. 16 Allen Calderon of Indiana Tech. No. 4 Brody Gee of Saint Mary (Kan.) recorded a fall in 1:20 to claim seventh over No. 5 Izaeah Beavers of Campbellsville (Ky.).
- 133 – No. 1 Carson Taylor of Grand View (Iowa) defeated No. 6 Dominic Chavez of Texas Wesleyan for third place; Chavez is the first All-American in school history earning fourth. CaRon Watson of Briar Cliff (Iowa) upsets the fifth seed Jackson Cockrell of Grand View for fifth place. No. 8 Andrew Voiles of Southeastern (Fla.) won by injury designation over No. 3 Sammy Shires of Cumberland (Tenn.) in the seventh place match
- 141 – No. 4 Nicholas Yancey of Cumberlands (Ky.) won by decision to claim third over No. 5 Kael Brisker of Southeastern (Fla.). No. 7 Cade Manion of Oklahoma City earned a fall over unseeded Gage Hudson of Cumberlands (Ky.) to claim fifth while No. 12 Edrich Nortje of Dicksinson State (N.D.) defeated unseeded Aric Williams of Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) by fall for seventh
- 149 – No. 4 Parker Dobrocky of Southeastern (Fla.) upset the top overall seed Blake Gonzalez of Grand View (Iowa) in the third place match. Trailing the whole bout, No. 9 … story at … https://www.naia.org/sports/mwrest/2023-24/Releases/DayThree
NCWHOF INVITATION AND REGISTRATION FORM
ONE OR MORE OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CLASS OF 2024 HONOREES AND THE NATIONAL
WRESTLING HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THE 20th
“HALL OF FAME DAY” CELEBRATION ON MAY 19, 2024 AT THE FRIDAY CENTER IN
CHAPEL HILL. THE SOCIAL WILL BEGIN AT 2:00 P.M. WITH DINNER SERVED AT 3:00 P.M.
THE AWARD PRESENTATION WILL FOLLOW DINNER.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS BANQUET IS TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR
YEARS OF COMMITMENT AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS TO OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. THE
CLASS OF 2024 HAS GIVEN COUNTLESS HOURS OF THEIR TIME INSTILLING IN YOUNG
PEOPLE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE. THE LIFETIME SERVICE
TO WRESTLING AWARD IS FOR YEARS OF DEDICATION TO THE SPORT OF WRESTLING AS
A COACH, OFFICIAL, OR CONTRIBUTOR. THEY WILL BE PERMANENTLY RECOGNIZED AT
THE NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA.
The Class of 2024
“Lifetime service to wrestLing” award
Neal Dorow Ed Duncan
Mark Harris Barry Nelms
Ben Watson Josh Moore
Outstanding American
This is an opportunity for you to honor these great individuals and promote
the positive aspects of our oldest and greatest sport—“wrestLing”! a
registration form is encLosed for the “haLL of fame day” celebration.
Please complete the appropriate sections and return to the address listed.
We are looking forward to May 19th—a great day for north caroLina’s
outstanding individuals and the sport of wrestling.
North Carolina can be proud of these deserving honorees.
Yours in wrestling,
Rex wells, President
North Carolina Chapter
REGISTRATION FORM
2024 North Carolina “HALL OF FAME DAY” CELEBRATION
Location: The Friday Center Chapel Hill, NC
Banquet Registration
Please make a check ($60.00 per person) payable to “National Wrestling Hall of Fame, North Carolina Chapter” and return
by May 11, 2024.
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NAME(S) OF GUEST(S): (Please print neatly. Name tags will be made from this.)
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I (WE) ARE ATTENDING IN HONOR OF (RECIPIENT’S NAME): __________________________________
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HONOREES’ SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION
Yes, I (We) want to honor (Honorees’ Name(s) _______________________________________________
And support the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum by sending a special contribution in the name of the abovementioned Honoree(s).
_ $25 $50 _ $100 $250 Other Amount ____
The NWHOF is a 501(C) 3 Corporation. Any Special contributions made on behalf of an honoree is tax deductible. Your name will
be included on The Special Contribution Page in the Banquet Program. Please write below how you wish to have your name listed.
RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO: National Wrestling Hall of Fame
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123 Foxden Drive Unit 204
Fletcher, NC 28732
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https://nc-nwhof.ticketleap.com/2024-north-carolina-chapter-of-the-national-wrestling-hall-of-f/
Please check-in at the registration table that day. If you purchase tickets online, please e-mail the names to rexwells1977@gmail.com to have name tags made.
New Head Coaches and New Teams
Cal Poly Humboldt Welcomes Lennie Zalesky as New Men’s Wrestling Coach
By Drew Gwerder
ARCATA, Calif. — Cal Poly Humboldt Executive Director of Athletics, Dr. Nick Pettit announced the hiring of Lennie Zalesky as the new Head Men’s Wrestling Coach on March 11, 2024. Zalesky comes to Humboldt after following head coaching stints at Division I California Baptist University and UC Davis over the past two decades.
“Coach Zalesky is an outstanding fit for our university, athletic department, and community,” said Pettit. “His ties to California wrestling along with his coaching and teaching experience, commitment to academic excellence and desire to create a championship culture and experience for our student-athletes made him the clear choice for Cal Poly Humboldt.”
Zalesky was named the California Baptist University wrestling head coach in June 2011. In 11 seasons, Zalesky led CBU to a 71-70-1 overall record, 17-7 in conference and four top-three national finishes. He was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2016, and was also named Division II Coach of the Year in 2017. He has coached his wrestlers to a total of 35 All-American awards and seven individual national championships, including three at the NCAA level. The Lancers also won a program-best 13 duals in the 2014-15 season.
As an NCAA Division I member, CBU has produced nine All-American finishes in two seasons at the National Collegiate Open. Zach Schrader was the top finisher of them all, as he won the 2019 heavyweight championship.
More than athletics, the program has excelled academically, as well. In Division II, the Lancers finished in the top 14 of the All-Academic team standings four times, including three top-10 performances. Nolan Kistler won the Elite 90 Award – presented to the wrestler with the highest GPA competing at the NCAA Championship site – for the third year in a row in 2018 to become the first student-athlete to win it three consecutive years at the same sport.
Zalesky went to CBU after nine years as the head coach at NCAA Division I UC Davis. He was a three-time NCAA All-American and a former assistant coach at powerhouse Iowa and has extensive coaching experience at both the prep and collegiate levels as well as international experience as an athlete.
Zalesky coached nine seasons at UC Davis before the program was dropped prior to the 2010-11 season. … story at … Humboldtathletics.com/Cal-poly-humboldt-welcomes-lennie-zalesky-as-new-mens-wrestling-coach
And …
Elmhurst University to Add Women’s Wrestling in Fall 2024
By: Matthew Haufe, Director of Athletic Communications
ELMHURST, Ill. – Elmhurst University has announced the addition of women’s wrestling to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics program. The team is slated to start competition in the fall of 2024, and will increase the total number of athletic offerings at Elmhurst to 21 varsity sports.
“This is a historic day for Elmhurst University Athletics. We are very excited to add women’s wrestling as a varsity sport. The sport of wrestling has a rich tradition here at Elmhurst University and we look to build a nationally competitive women’s wrestling program,” Director of Athletics Glen Brittich said. “The student-athlete experience is always at the forefront of our minds and we are excited to offer this opportunity to all the women wrestlers across the country looking to have a rich and competitive Division III collegiate athletic experience.”
“Elmhurst University is thrilled to add women’s wrestling to our athletic offerings. The program will provide an increased opportunity for women on our campus to participate in varsity sports, and we are excited at the prospect of being on the forefront of the growth of women’s wrestling,” said Elmhurst University President Troy D. VanAken. “It is great to join the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin as the league’s fifth core member school offering the sport, and we are excited to begin competition in the near future.”
Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, … story at … Elmhurstbluejays.com/Elmhurst-university-to-add-womens-wrestling-in-fall-2024
Ad …
Northampton Athletics to Add Men’s and Women’s Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Northampton Community College Department of Athletics is excited to announce the addition of Men’s and Women’s Intercollegiate Wrestling, set to begin competition in the fall of 2024. Northampton will become the NJCAA’s 3rd men’s program and 2nd women’s program in the state of Pennsylvania. With the addition of the two wrestling programs, Northampton will now sponsor nine (9) intercollegiate sports, beginning in the 2024-25 academic year (Men’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Volleyball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Men’s Wrestling and Women’s Wrestling). “We are extremely excited to launch men’s and women’s wrestling at Northampton,” stated Director of Athletics Troy Tucker, “I believe it is a natural fit for the college given the strength of high school wrestling in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. I think we can be competitive on a national level very quickly.” … story at … NCCspartans.com/Northampton-athletics-to-add-mens-and-womens-wrestling
And …
Chris Freije named Head Wrestling Coach
Frejie comes to Highlands
Las Vegas, NM- Chris Freije has been named the Men’s Head Wrestling coach at New Mexico Highlands University, the announcement made today by Shanna Halalilo and Jim Deisler, Co-Athletic Directors at NMHU. Freije will take over the program following the conclusion of the NCAA Championships in March.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Chris be our Head Wrestling Coach. He’s not only experienced, but extremely passionate about Wrestling and we’re excited to see him find success with the program.”
Chris brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to NMHU’s wrestling program. He is a NCAA DII National Finalist for Western Colorado University, an RMAC/Super Region 4 champion who has competed both for Arizona State University and Western Colorado University.
During his coaching tenure, Chris has coached over 30 National Qualifiers, 3 NCAA DII National Champions, 16 NCAA DII All-Americans, 15 NCAA DII Super Region Champions, and Multiple NCAA DII Super Region finalists. Chris currently serves as the Associate Head Coach at Lander University and has been instrumental in their rise to a top program in the country in only three seasons. Chris is originally from Arizona and will use his ties to the Southwest community in developing the wrestling program at NMHU. “I’m ecstatic to be named the next head coach of New Mexico Highlands University Wrestling. … story at … NMHUathletics.com/Chris-freije-named-head-wrestling-coach
And …
Rio Grande adds Women’s Wrestling, names Ward head coach
By RANDY PAYTON
Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio – The University of Rio Grande has announced the addition of women’s wrestling as a varsity sport for the 2024-25 school year and has named Alexia Ward as the program’s head coach.
Rio Grande athletic director Jeff Lanham made the announcement Thursday morning. “This is an historic day for the University of Rio Grande Athletics. We’re very excited to add women’s wrestling as a varsity sport,” Lanham said. “Women’s Wrestling is the fastest-growing sport in the country. With the hiring of coach Ward, Rio is prepared to provide an increased opportunity for women on our campus to participate in a varsity sport and to be a part of leading the growth of women’s wrestling.” Ward is a 2020 graduate of McKendree University, an NCAA Division II school located in Lebanon, IL.
She was named a Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association All-American in 2015-16 and was an NCAA National Champion in the 130-pound bracket during the 2019-20 season. Ward served as a volunteer assistant coach at McKendree for each of the past four seasons. “I’m beyond excited to start a women’s program at Rio Grande. My passion for fostering the growth of women’s wrestling and guiding others towards achieving their goals runs deep,” she said “I am confident that we can cultivate an exceptional program where our main focus is to provide young athletes with opportunities for personal growth both on and off the mat.” … story at … RIOredstorm.com/sports/wwrest/2023-24/releases
NAIA dual records 2024 – TDR # 31-66
The records listed below were what we could find for the dual meet records of NAIA schools for the 2023-2024 season. We were not able to find the records for several schools and we ask for records to be sent in. We seek your input so that our totals can be complete. Send to martinkfleming@gmail.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
| Arizona Christian | AZ | NAIA | C.C.C. | 8 | 13 | 0.381 |
| Avila University | MO | NAIA | K.C.A.C. | 6 | 10 | 0.375 |
| Baker University | KS | NAIA | H.o.A.C. | 5 | 6 | 0.455 |
| Benedictine College | KS | NAIA | H.o.A.C. | 5 | 6 | 0.455 |
| Bethany College (Kan.) | KS | NAIA | K.C.A.C. | 0 | 7 | 0.000 |
| Bluefield University | VA | NAIA | A.A.C. | 2 | 11 | 0.154 |
| Brewton-Parker College | GA | NAIA | Mid-South | 6 | 7 | 0.462 |
| Briar Cliff University | IA | NAIA | G.P.A.C. | 6 | 2 | 0.750 |
| Campbellsville University | KY | NAIA | M-S. C. | 16 | 4 | 0.800 |
| Central Baptist College | AR | NAIA | A.M.C. | 0 | 12 | 0.000 |
| Central Christian College (KS) | KS | NAIA | S.A.C. | ? | ? | ###### |
| Central Methodist University | MO | NAIA | H.o.A.C. | 9 | 8 | 0.529 |
| Cleary University , MI | MI | NAIA | S.A.C. | 0 | 7 | 0.000 |
| Concordia Univ. (Nebr.) | NE | NAIA | G.P.A.C. | 8 | 7 | 0.533 |
| Corban University (Ore.) | OR | NAIA | C.C.C. | 6 | 3 | 0.667 |
| Cornerstone University | MI | NAIA | W.H.A.C. | 4 | 8 | 0.333 |
| Cumberland University (Tn.) | TN | NAIA | M-S. C. | 9 | 1 | 0.900 |
| Cumberlands, University of (Ky) | KY | NAIA | M-S. C. | 14 | 5 | 0.737 |
| Dakota Wesleyan University | SD | NAIA | G.P.A.C. | 8 | 6 | 0.571 |
| Dickinson State University | ND | NAIA | H.o.A.C. | 2 | 3 | 0.400 |
| Doane University | NE | NAIA | G.P.A.C. | 10 | 3 | 0.769 |
| Eastern Oregon University | OR | NAIA | C.C.C. | 9 | 3 | 0.750 |
| Embry-Riddle | AZ | NAIA | C.C.C. | 6 | 6 | 0.500 |
| Evergreen State College | WA | NAIA | C.C.C. | 1 | 2 | 0.333 |
| Friends University | KS | NAIA | K.C.A.C. | 3 | 4 | 0.429 |
| Graceland University | IA | NAIA | H.o.A.C. | 6 | 7 | 0.462 |
| Grand View College | IA | NAIA | H.o.A.C. | 13 | 2 | 0.867 |
| Hannibal-LaGrange University | MO | NAIA | A.M.C. | x | x | Program Suspended |
| Hastings College | NE | NAIA | G.P.A.C. | 3 | 9 | 0.250 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology | IN | NAIA | S.A.C. | 12 | 4 | 0.750 |
| Iowa Wesleyan | IA | NAIA | H.o.A.C. | x | x | ###### |
| Jamestown, University of | ND | NAIA | G.P.A.C. | 6 | 9 | 0.400 |
| Jarvis Christian College | TX | NAIA | SAC/AMC | ? | ? | ###### |
| Keiser University | FL | NAIA | Mid-South | 0 | 5 | 0.000 |
| Life University | GA | NAIA | A.A.C. | 23 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Lindsey-Wilson College | KY | NAIA | Mid-South | 7 | 6 | 0.538 |
| Lourdes University | OH | NAIA | W.-H.A.C. | 6 | 4 | 0.600 |
| Marian University (Ind.) | IN | NAIA | W.H.A.C. | 6 | 8 | 0.429 |
| Menlo College | CA | NAIA | C.C.C. | 8 | 2 | 0.800 |
| Midland University | NE | NAIA | G.P.A.C. | 0 | 8 | 0.000 |
| Midway University | KY | NAIA | M-S. C. | 9 | 10 | 0.474 |
| Missouri Baptist University, MO | MO | NAIA | A.M.C. | 8 | 3 | 0.727 |
| Missouri Valley | MO | NAIA | Heart o A.C. | 11 | 2 | 0.846 |
| Montana State University-Northern | MT | NAIA | C.C.C. | 7 | 5 | 0.583 |
| Montreat College | NC | NAIA | A.A.C. | 4 | 10 | 0.286 |
| Morningside College | IA | NAIA | G.P.A.C. | 7 | 1 | 0.875 |
| Northwestern College (Iowa) | IA | NAIA | G.P.A.C. | 6 | 13 | 0.316 |
| Ohio Valley University | OH | NAIA | x | x | ||
| Oklahoma City, OK | OK | NAIA | S.A.C. | 6 | 5 | 0.545 |
| Oklahoma Wesleyan University | OK | NAIA | K.C.A.C | ? | ? | ###### |
| Ottawa University, KS | KS | NAIA | K.C.A.C | 14 | 3 | 0.824 |
| Pikeville, University of | KY | NAIA | A.A.C. | 0 | 8 | 0.000 |
| Providence, University of | MT | NAIA | C.C.C. | 13 | 4 | 0.765 |
| Reinhardt University | GA | NAIA | A.A.C. | 15 | 8 | 0.652 |
| Rio Grande, University of | OH | NAIA | M-S. C. | 4 | 10 | 0.286 |
| Rochester University | MI | NAIA | W.H.A.C. | 10 | 3 | 0.769 |
| Saint Ambrose University | IA | NAIA | H.o.A.C. | 7 | 13 | 0.350 |
| Siena Heights University | MI | NAIA | W.H.A.C. | 3 | 7 | 0.300 |
| Simpson University | CA | NAIA | C.C.C. | 3 | 6 | 0.333 |
| Southeastern University | FL | NAIA | Mid-South | 11 | 4 | 0.733 |
| Southern Oregon University | OR | NAIA | C.C.C. | 14 | 3 | 0.824 |
| St. Andrews University | NC | NAIA | A.A.C. | 17 | 4 | 0.810 |
| St. Mary, University of (Ks.) | KS | NAIA | S.A.C. | 11 | 5 | 0.688 |
| St. Thomas University | FL | NAIA | Mid-South | 7 | 6 | 0.538 |
| Texas Wesleyan | TX | NAIA | S.A.C. | 3 | 4 | 0.429 |
| Thomas More | KY | NAIA | M-S. C. | 5 | 6 | 0.455 |
| Truett-McConnell | GA | NAIA | A.A.C. | 3 | 10 | 0.231 |
| Univ. of Health Sci. & Pharmacy | MO | NAIA | AMC/SAC | 0 | 0 | #### |
| Vanguard University | CA | NAIA | C.C.C. | 2 | 8 | 0.200 |
| Waldorf University | IA | NAIA | H.o.A.C. | 3 | 15 | 0.167 |
| Warner Pacific | OR | NAIA | C.C.C. | 0 | 0 | ### |
| Wayland Baptist Univ. | TX | NAIA | S.A.C. | 3 | 5 | 0.375 |
| West Virginia Institute of Tech. | WV | NAIA | A.A.C. | 2 | 7 | 0.222 |
| William Penn University | IA | NAIA | H.o.A.C. | 5 | 12 | 0.294 |
| William Woods University | MO | NAIA | AMC/SAC | 2 | 9 | 0.182 |
| Williams Baptist University | AR | NAIA | A.M.C. | 2 | 3 | 0.400 |
| York University of Nebraska | NE | NAIA | KCAC/SAC | 1 | 10 | 0.091 |
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
Takedown Report 