Amie Just: The story behind Peyton Robb’s gnarly leg scars shows wrestler’s strength, courage
By Amie Just
To the untrained eye, Peyton Robb had a hockey-puck-sized, purple-hued, slightly raised bruise on his left shin that had developed black spots.
Gnarly, sure. But life-threatening?
“F***,” an orthopedic surgeon at Bryan East Campus muttered after seeing Robb’s leg.
He had never seen necrotizing fasciitis with his own two eyes, but he knew how deadly it was — hence the departure from standard bedside manner. He needed to secure the next bed in the hospital’s operating room.
Immediately.
Robb’s a wrestler. A two-time All-American at that. Bruises happen, as do nicks, cuts and bloody teeth. His adrenaline rushes while competing, so sometimes he doesn’t notice the aftereffects of a hard hit until much later.
But this wasn’t a bruise, and those black spots weren’t blisters. They were remnants of dead tissue — a sign that Robb’s infection with the flesh-eating strep bacteria had progressed into a later stage. … rest of story … Journalstar.com/huskers/wrestling/amie-just-the-story-behind-peyton-robbs-gnarly-leg-scars-shows-wrestlers-strength-courage
STIFFLER, SYLVESTRE AMONG TRIPLE CHAMPIONS AT USA WRESTLING SOUTHEAST REGIONAL
CHEROKEE, N.C. – The USA Wrestling Regionals series continued with the Southeast Regional Championships being held at Cherokee Convention Center Expo Hall and Ballrooms.
There were eight double champions in the Junior boys division, athletes who won both the freestyle and Greco-Roman styles: William Jakeway of South Carolina (106), Tanner Spalding of Georgia (126), Anderson Heap of Florida (145), Layton Schneider of Oklahoma (152), Jude Randall of Oklahoma (160), Dominic Bambinelli of Georgia (170), Oscar Williams of Oklahoma (220) and Richard Thomas of Oklahoma (285).
Three competitors in the 16U boys division tripled up on gold medals: Hudson Chittum of Tennessee (94), Blue Stiffler of Georgia (138) and Ryder Wilder of Georgia (182).
Two athletes in the junior Girls division were triple champions in Gabriele Tedesco of Florida (106) and Naomie Sylvestre of Florida (122) as both won first place in freestyle, Greco-Roman and folkstyle. Zao Estrada of South Carolina (112-117) won first place in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.
In the 16U girls division, one competitor brought home a title in Greco-Roman, freestyle and folkstyle in Evelyn Holmes-Smith of Alabama (127).
The top six boys and top six girls in each weight class in the Junior and 16U divisions have qualified for their state teams for the 2023 USMC Junior and 16U Nationals in Fargo, N.D.
There were also tournaments held in freestyle, folkstyle and Greco-Roman at the 14U, 12U, 10U and 8U divisions for both boys and girls. Results for each weight class can be found below, with complete brackets available at Trackwrestling.com. … rest of story at … Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/June/07/Stiffler-Sylvestre-among-triple-champions-at-USA-Wrestling-Southeast-Regional
3-point takedown approved in wrestling
Rules change meant to incentivize offensive action
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Thursday approved making all takedowns in wrestling worth 3 points, effective with the 2023-24 season.
Members of the Wrestling Rules Committee, which proposed the change, agreed that increasing the scoring for takedowns by an additional point will enhance the sport by rewarding offensive actions and risk-taking.
The committee also agreed there was a need to create a more appropriate point differential between takedowns and escapes and incentivize offense when competitors are in the neutral position.
Eliminating the hand-touch takedown also was approved by the panel. Rules committee members think demonstrating control is an important component of college wrestling, so it made sense to eliminate the hand-touch takedown in favor of a single requirement for all takedowns.
To help balance the new takedown scoring rule, there also are new requirements for the top wrestler to work toward a near fall or pin. A 3-point near-fall scoring component was added.
Previously, officials could award 2 or 4 points for near falls. The rationale for the rule change includes giving wrestlers a chance to be more creative in attempting to earn points.
Video review
Panel members also approved a change to the coach’s video review request.
The rule change provides the referee with the authority to confirm or overturn all calls or missed calls during a video review challenged sequence. For coach’s challenges, the sequence is described as the time from the alleged error until the match is, or should have been, stopped by the referee.
Other rule changes
- The first medical forfeit of a tournament will count as a loss on the wrestler’s record. An exception will be if the medical forfeit occurs immediately after an injury default in a tournament.
- The penalty for a delayed coach’s video review challenge request will be changed to a loss of the video review. Previously, it was a control-of-mat violation and 1-point deduction from the team total.
- Any true placement matches conducted in an event will not alter the final team score.
- Officials can let action continue after penalizing an illegal hold and not require a stoppage after imminent scoring finishes when the safety of wrestlers is not in danger. … rest of story at … NCAA.org/news/2023/6/8/media-center-3-point-takedown-approved-in-wrestling
Repeat Schalles winner Hendrickson is close to winning it all
By Mike Finn
Wyatt Hendrickson came up short in accomplishing his biggest goal of the 2022-23 college season — winning a national championship in Tulsa on March 17 — when the Air Force heavyweight lost 4-2 in the semifinals to Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet.
So how did the No. 2 seed Falcon junior respond to such the loss in the BOK Center? Hendrickson responded by pinning both Northwestern’s Lucas Davison and Iowa’s Anthony Cassioppi in his consolation bouts for a third-place honor and his first All-American honor.
It was fitting; not so much that he was taking his frustration out against the Wildcat and Hawkeye for missing out on a shot at the finals, but rather reminding fans of his abilities at the 2022 Schalles winner.
This story appeared in the April 28 issue of WIN Magazine. Click on the cover or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe.
And this season was no different when Hendrickson once again led the NCAA with 17 pins in a 31-2 campaign; three of which happened in Tulsa, including a first-round fall against Cal Poly’s Trevor Tinker to go along with two major decisions in the NCAAs.
Hendrickson became the sixth collegiate wrestler in 25 years to win consecutive Schalles awards, the honor named after the sport’s most historic pinner.
“There are pinners and there are those who pin. Wyatt is the former,” said Schalles, the award’s namesake who set the college pin record at Clarion (Pa.) State where he also won two NCAA championships (1972-73). During his career, Schalles defeated 153 of 159 opponents and pinned 109.
“It’s just my aggressive wrestling style,” said Hendrickson. “It doesn’t matter if I’m winning by one point or winning by 10, I will not stop attacking and I think people kind of know that.”
“When you watch Wyatt wrestle, you can almost see the wheels turning and asking; ‘How can I put this guy on his back?’” added Schalles. “He’s so good at it that by the end of next season, he might very well be the first three-time Schalles Award winner. I don’t think Vegas is betting against that happening.”
Hendrickson, who has 42 career falls and an 87-11 record over the past three years, would love to collect a third Schalles after winning an NCAA title next March when the 2024 NCAAs are held in Kansas City, Mo.; just 182 miles from his hometown of Newton, Kan.
“It’s very special that no one has to worry about buying all their flights,” said Hendrickson, who was a two-time Kansas state champ and three-time finalist for Newton High. “They can just you know, get in the car and drive a little bit. Come support their good ol’ big ol’ heavyweight wrestler.” … rest of story at https://www.win-magazine.com/2023/05/01/25297/
The Complete Results History Of Final X Presented By Tezos
Final X Wrestling has been filled with intrigue, drama and memorable moments. Take a look back at all of the results since its inception
The fourth edition of Final X presented by Tezos is set for Saturday night in Newark, N.J. The current iteration of the final stage of USA Wrestling’s World Team selection process has produced three years worth of intrigue, drama and memorable moments.
Take a look back at all of the results since the inception of Final X.
Final X 2022 Results
Men’s Freestyle
57 kg — Thomas Gilman vs. Vito Arujau
Match 1 — Gilman TF Arujau 12-2
Match 2 — Gilman TF Arujau 14-2
61 kg — Daton Fix vs. Seth Gross
Match 1 — Fix dec. Gross 5-5
Match 2 — Gross dec. Fix 5-4
Match 3 — Gross dec. Fix 9-5
65 kg — Yianni Diakomihalis vs. Evan Henderson
Match 1 — Diakomihalis dec. Henderson 11-9
Match 2 — Diakomihalis TF Henderson 14-4
70 kg — Jordan Oliver vs. Zain Retherford
Match 1 — Retherford dec. Oliver 8-3
Match 2 — Oliver dec. Retherford 5-4
Match 3 — Retherford dec. Oliver 4-3
74 kg — Kyle Dake vs. Jason Nolf
Match 1 — Dake dec. Nolf 4-2
Match 2 — Dake dec. Nolf 2-1
79 kg — Jordan Burroughs vs. Chance Marsteller
Match 1 — Burroughs dec. Marsteller 4-0
Match 2 — Marsteller dec. Burroughs 2-2
Match 3 — Burroughs dec. Marsteller 5-0
86 kg — David Taylor vs. Zahid Valencia
Match 1 — Taylor dec. Valencia 4-0
Match 2 — Taylor TF Valencia 10-0
92 kg — J’den Cox vs. Nate Jackson
Match 1 — Cox dec. Jackson 4-2
Match 2 — Jackson dec. Cox 3-2
Match 3 — Cox dec. Jackson 3-0
97 kg — Kyle Snyder vs. Kollin Moore
Match 1 — Snyder TF Moore 11-0
Match 2 — Snyder TF Moore 12-2
125 kg — Nick Gwiazdowski vs. Hayden Zillmer
Match 1 — Gwiazdowski dec. Zillmer 5-0
Match 2 — Zillmer dec. Gwiazdowski 4-3
Match 3 — Zillmer dec. Gwiazdowski 5-5
Women’s Freestyle
50 kg — Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Alyssa Lampe
Match 1 — Hildebrandt TF Lampe 10-0
Match 2 — Hildebrandt TF Lampe 10-0 … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/articles/11034367-the-complete-results-history-of-final-x-presented-by-tezos
Girls Wrestling Growing!
Florida high school grad breaks barriers on wrestling mat, and sets record with incredible 11.3 GPA
TAMPA, Fla. – A Florida high school student is graduating this month with a mind-boggling high grade point average, while also breaking barriers outside the classroom. Bhavya Bansal posted an incredible 11.3 GPA to become Valedictorian at Middleton High School in Tampa for 2023.
Not surprisingly, that is the highest-grade point average ever earned at Middleton High. The super student didn’t only dominate in the classroom. She was the only female on the school wrestling team, and also competed on the swimming team. Bhavya plans to attend Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland this fall, and says she eventually wants to be a surgeon. … rest of story at … Florida/06/08/high-school-grad-breaks-barriers-on-wrestling-mat-and-sets-record-with-incredible-gpa
Pioneering Grassfield wrestler — the first area female to win a state tournament match — lands scholarship
By JIM MCGRATH | PUBLISHED: June 7, 2023 at 11:09 a.m. | UPDATED: June 7, 2023 at 5:38 p.m.
One of Hampton Roads’ female high school wrestling pioneers has decided on a college.
Charlize Shuler, Grassfield High’s standout grappler, recently accepted an academic and athletic scholarship from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. Her new team, the Blue Hose, sported an 8-3 mark in the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Conference last season and had three All-Americans, capping their season with a No. 12 national ranking in Division I and a ninth-place finish at the NCWWC Nationals.
Shuler was a three-year varsity starter at Grassfield with a 58-28 career record against boys, and she qualified for the Class 6 boys championships twice at 106 pounds, becoming the first female from South Hampton Roads to win a state tournament match.
“When I visited Presbyterian, I really liked the head women’s coach and the friendly atmosphere,” said Shuler, whose grandfather, Don Shuler, was an All-American wrestler at Arizona State and coached at Liberty University. “It was also important to me to be somewhat close to home, so I can stay connected with family and friends. It was really the perfect place for me because I know I can reach my academic and athletic goals. I also loved the Grassfield wrestling program, my coaches and my teammates. I picked PC because it was the closest fit to Grassfield out of my options.” … rest of story at … Pilotonline/Grassfield-wrestler-charlize-shuler-a-three-year-starter-on-the-boys-team-and-girls-state-champ-will-wrestle-at-presbyterian
Alabama State Games partner with Alabama Girls Wrestling Alliance
Girls-only Folkstyle Tournament being added to the wrestling mats for 40th Annual State Games
GCM Staff Report
MONTGOMERY — Wrestling has become an Alabama State Games mainstay sport since the 1990s. This year, it’s evolving.
Freestyle, Folkstyle and Greco-Roman tournaments are scheduled for June 10 at Hoover High School. This year — through a partnership with the Alabama Girls Wrestling Alliance — the 40th Anniversary Alabama State Games will feature a separate, girls-only Folkstyle Tournament.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to take one of the more traditional Olympic-styled sports and push it to the next level by partnering with the Alabama Girls Wrestling Alliance,” said Ron Creel, Alabama State Games Founder and CEO. “The work done by the AGWA to grow the sport of girls’ wrestling in the state of Alabama has been phenomenal. It’s exciting to see their passion for this sport.”
Go to alagames.com. to register for wrestling or to learn more about the 21 sports offered during the 40th Anniversary Alabama State Games.
“Girls are innovating the sport, crossing over from other activities. They are bringing gifts such as flexibility, rhythm and timing, adding new twists to moves and techniques,” said TJ Zito, AGWA Media Director. “I have served as the announcer for many girls’ tournaments and have been telling everyone that girls’ wrestling will take off. Girls’ wrestling is a different product than the boys’ and has a unique energy, atmosphere and fan participation that has to be experienced at a live event to be understood.” … rest of story at … rest of story at … Gulfcoastmedia.com/Alabama-state-games-partner-with-alabama-girls-wrestling-alliance
Appalachian State Wrestling Announces 9 Newcomers from Class of 2023
BOONE, N.C. — App State Wrestling head coach JohnMark Bentley on Thursday announced the addition of nine Class of 2023 newcomers.
The nine prep standouts combined for 15 individual state championships, 21 state finals and 30 state tournament appearances during their decorated high school careers.
Six members of the class are homegrown talents from North Carolina, while the Mountaineers are also adding standouts from Georgia, Ohio and Tennessee.
App State is moving forward from a 2022-23 season in which it went 12-2 in dual matches, finished with a No. 20 national ranking, followed a SoCon regular-season title with a tournament championship and had six wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships.
FULL CLASS (BY WEIGHT CLASS)
Bryson Terrell — 125 pounds; Georgetown, Tenn. (Bradley Central HS)
Aldo Hernandez — 133/141 pounds; Asheboro, N.C. (Uwharrie Charter Academy)
Jeremiah Price — 149/157 pounds; State Road, N.C. (Surry Central HS)
Jayden Dobeck – 165 pounds; West End, N.C. (Pinecrest HS)
Alex Hopper — 165/174 pounds; Wilmington, N.C. (Laney HS)
Logan Eller — 184 pounds; Trion, Ga. (Trion HS) … rest of story at Appstatesports.com/news/2023/6/8/Wrestling-announces-9-newcomers-from-class-of-2023
BEACH WRESTLING LAUNCHING ON VA BEACHES!
Weekly Match-ups Will Lay Groundwork for Future Events
Virginia Beach Field House, Virginia Beach- Beach wrestling is COMING to Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach in a big way!
Beginning Thursday, June 8th and continuing each Thursday through the summer I-64 Wrestling/VAWA will sponsor “beach match-ups” for wrestlers of all ages. Walk up registration will begin at 5:30pm, with match ups getting under way by 6pm each evening and continuing until approximately 8:30pm.
Beach wrestling is an emerging Olympic sport and is being touted as a possible addition to the 2028 Olympic program in Los Angeles. UWW has also expanded the Beach Wrestling World Series to include stops around the globe in 2023, and the style is a core discipline for the ANOC Beach Games, which take place this fall in Bali, Indonesia.
Domestically, beach wrestling has exploded in popularity. In 2021 it was added alongside the Spartan Nationals and USA SE Regionals in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2022 the Beach Wrestling Tour of America was launched, with stops in 11 locations from Carolina to California. The 2023 season kicked off May 20th in Carolina Beach with a record crowd including athletes from Barbados and Jamaica. Numerous states, including Virginia, have also recently announced the addition of state beach wrestling championships.
Future events coming to the Hampton Roads area will include the VAWA State Beach Wrestling Championships in late August/ early September, as well as the Trident Beach Wrestling Championships, which will be part of the 2023 Tour of America Series.
VAWA Beach Wrestling Chairperson and Virgina Wrestling Hall Of Fame member Frank Lapoli sees the beach “match-ups” as a great way to introduce the “sport of our ancestors” to local wrestlers. “Beach wrestling is a fun style and a great overlap activity that will benefit ALL styles of wrestling.” He promises great action, great fun, and ultimately envisions the Tidewater region as a launching point for future VAWA wrestlers to represent their state and their country in the Olympic games!
DETAILS
Beach Wrestling Match-ups- Wednesday’s this summer beginning June 21st 6:00-8:30pm. … Rest of story at … USAbeachwrestling.com/beach-wrestling-launching-on-va-beaches
Early Line-up Look: North Carolina Tar Heels
An early breakdown of the North Carolina Tar Heels for the upcoming 2023-24 NCAA season.
Overview
Head coach: Coleman Scott (9th season)
Assistants: Tony Ramos, Jamill Kelly, Mohamed Abdelfatah
2023 NCAA tournament finish: 12th
2023 NCAA tournament points: 42
2023 NCAA tournament record: 17-9
2023 ACC tournament finish: 4th
2023 dual record: 6-9 (2-3)
Returning national qualifiers: 3 (Lachlan McNeil, Gavin Kane, Max Shaw)
Returning All-Americans: 2 (Lachlan McNeil and Gavin Kane)
Last NCAA champion: Austin O’Connor (2023)
Highest NCAA team finish: 5th (1982)
Highest NCAA team finish under Scott: 12th (2023)
Most place winners under Scott: 3 (2022, 2023)
Last 10 NCAA Championships
2013: 22nd (Mock)
2014: 25th (Mock)
2015: 24th (Mock)
2016: 32nd (Scott)
2017: 41st (Scott)
2018: 20th (Scott)
2019: 19th (Scott)
2020: Canceled (COVID)
2021: 16th (Scott)
2022: 18th (Scott)
2023: 12th (Scott)
Summary
North Carolina enters the 2023-24 season following a memorable year. Austin O’Connor won his second NCAA title, making him the first Tar Heel to win multiple championships since 1995. Coleman Scott had his highest finish as head coach and he tied his personal record for the most national place winners during his tenure. Scott’s team showed up when it counted most. … rest of story at Flowrestling.org/articles/11035738-early-line-up-look-north-carolina-tar-heels
FINAL X MEN’S FREESTYLE PREVIEW: OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS BURROUGHS, TAYLOR, SNYDER, STEVESON HIGHLIGHT INCREDIBLY DEEP FIELD SET FOR NEWARK
By Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
The men’s freestyle pairings at Final X feature some serious star power, perhaps more than we’ve ever seen at this stage of the U.S. World Team qualification process.
Eight competitors earned a medal at the 2022 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. Seven Olympic medalists, including four Olympic champions, will grace the Final X mats at Prudential Center. 16-of-20 competitors are past NCAA champions, six of whom were awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s top college wrestler.
The June 10 lineup has the potential to be one of the greatest set of matches in a single night in U.S. wrestling history.
We will summarize each pairing in weight order, which is how the matches will be conducted at Final X.
57 kg – Thomas Gilman (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Zane Richards (Champaign, Ill./Illinois RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
The 57 kg men’s freestyle weight class has been owned by Thomas Gilman in recent years. Gilman has represented the U.S. in five of the previous six World Championships or Olympic Games, earning four total medals during that stretch. Most notably, he was a World champion in 2021 and an Olympic bronze medalist in 2020.
Last year, Gilman came up one win short of his second-straight World title, falling to Albania’s Zelimkhan Abakarov, a Russian transplant, in the World finals. The silver medal performance earned Gilman an automatic berth to this year’s Final X. He bounced back with a dominant gold medal outing at the Pan-American Championships held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, earlier this month, and is primed to make another run at the 57 kg U.S. World Team spot.
Standing in Gilman’s way at Final X is U.S. Open champion Zane Richards, who has been in the upper echelon at 57 kg for the U.S. this quad. He was most impressive in Las Vegas, particularly in the finals against two-time NCAA champion Nick Suriano, where he scored the winning takedown at the buzzer. Richards is currently No. 3 on U.S. National Team ladder and does boast some valuable Final X experience having wrestled and won a true third match in Stillwater, Okla., last year.
Gilman and Richards have wrestled two matches against each other on the Senior level dating back to 2019, Gilman winning both convincingly.
Most recent match – 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gilman tech. fall Richards, 11-0
61 kg – Vitali Arujau (Ithaca, N.Y./Spartan Combat RTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Nahshon Garrett (Bethlehem, Pa./Titan Mercury WC/Lehigh Valley WC)
With no returning World medalist, the 61 kg weight class was wide open as far as who would qualify for Final X. … rest of story at Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/May/29/Final-X-mens-freestyle-preview
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
