Newport News will expand middle school sports next year: Soccer, wrestling, football and cheer
TDR Editor’s Notes; Great, encouraging news as a large neighboring school district, just north of many wrestling programs in the northeastern corner of North Carolina, will be increasing wrestling opportunities for middle school students. Middle schoolers need and deserve the benefits that can be gained in interscholastic sports and activities. Yes, it will help some prepare to better compete while in high school, but more importantly it will help a much larger number to grow and mature as students!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By NOUR HABIB | nour.habib@virginiamedia.com | Staff writer
PUBLISHED: June 4, 2023 at 11:39 a.m. | UPDATED: June 4, 2023 at 1:27 p.m.
NEWPORT NEWS — Soccer, wrestling, football and cheer will be offered at all Newport News middle schools starting next school year. The school division is spending about $1.3 million to expand its middle school sports program, which already had offered basketball, volleyball and track. The money is going toward field development, equipment and uniforms, storage sheds and scoreboards.
“We believe this is a much-needed investment in our city’s youth,” said Director of Student Athletics Lee Martin. “We believe organized sports teaches values of sportsmanship and promotes fitness. We also know that being a member of a valued team teaches responsibility, teamwork and improves self-esteem.”
Development of practice and game fields began last month and scoreboards will be installed over the summer. Sports equipment and uniforms have been ordered. Lee said there is plenty of excitement from the community. During a School Board meeting last month, member Marvin Harris applauded the administration and staff for their work, saying that sports at the middle school level is influential.
“It cuts down on a lot of discipline issues,” Harris said. (TDR Editor’s boldfacing this quote)
The division is developing game fields at Achievable Dream, Crittenden and Ella Fitzgerald schools. Practice fields will be in place at Booker T. Washington, Gildersleeve and Passage. Huntington Middle School students, who are currently on the Heritage High School campus, will use Heritage facilities. And alternate plans are being made for Hines Middle School, which does not have space for a practice field. Schools that do not have game fields will have their games at a high school campus or share with another middle school. … rest of story at Pilotonline.com/2023/06/04/newport-news-will-expand-middle-school-sports-next-year-soccer-wrestling-football
NWCA Announces 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Scholar All-American Awards
Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has announced the complete list of honorees for the 2022-2023 Scholar All-America Team and Individual Awards for Division I. This year, 291 wrestlers from 73 institutions were recognized for their academic achievements and commitment to the sport of wrestling.
The team award was won by Drexel University, which finished with an impressive 3.6117 GPA, followed by Cleveland State (3.5465) and Wisconsin (3.5197).
NCAA Division I Individual Scholar All-Americans
The individual awards were led by Harvard, Minnesota, Ohio State, and South Dakota State, with each school having eight Scholar All-American selections. Drexel, Missouri, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, Penn, and Wisconsin each had seven honorees.
The NWCA Executive Director, Mike Moyer, praised the recipients for their dedication to both their athletic and academic pursuits, saying, “Wrestling takes much focus and sacrifice, and we are proud to honor these wrestlers’ obvious commitment to their academic pursuits!”
2023 Division I Men’s Team Scholar All-American Top 30
| Rank | Institution | GPA |
| 1 | Drexel University | 3.6117 |
| 2 | Cleveland State University | 3.5464 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 3.5197 |
| 4 | University of Northern Iowa | 3.4881 |
| 5 | George Mason University | 3.4807 |
| 6 | Hofstra University | 3.4796 |
| 7 | Northwestern University | 3.4781 |
| 8 | North Dakota State University | 3.4713 |
| 9 | Kent State University | 3.4644 |
| 10 | South Dakota State University | 3.4635 |
| 11 | Duke University | 3.4587 |
| 12 | California Baptist University | 3.4587 |
| 13 | Franklin & Marshall | 3.4435 |
| 14 | Campbell University | 3.4355 |
| 15 | Clarion | 3.4282 |
| 16 | Stanford University | 3.4236 |
| 17 | Harvard University | 3.3872 |
| 18 | NC State University | 3.3755 |
Ryan Blackwell inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame State Chapter of North Carolina
Ryan Blackwell (Medal of Courage) – Born in Chesapeake, Virginia, Blackwell’s family moved to North Carolina when he was six years old. He started wrestling when he was in elementary school and enjoyed a
stellar high school career, winning 172 matches, qualifying for the state tournament four times, and capturing state titles in 2009 and 2010. After graduating from Croatan High School, Blackwell wrestled for five years at UNC Pembroke and was a two-year starter, a two-time NCAA Academic All-American, and the 2013 Male Athlete of the year for the Braves. After graduating with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science, he enlisted in the Navy in 2017 on a Warrior Challenge Program contract and began special forces training immediately after completing boot camp. During his training, Blackwell suffered severe injuries that included a drowning where he was resuscitated back to life and a shattered wrist requiring reconstructive surgery. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was to medically retire from the Navy. While Blackwell was awaiting his retirement, he worked for 18 months in an administrative position at the Naval Aviation Schools Command, working with the International Military Training Office at the Pensacola Navy Base in Florida. On the morning of December 6, 2019, a gunman opened fire at the Pensacola base, the first terrorist attack on US soil by a foreign national since September 11 th , 2001. During the shooting, Blackwell shielded two fellow service members from gunfire and was shot six times. Despite life-threatening injuries and a paralyzed right arm, he managed to remove an air conditioning unit from a window and helped his colleagues, both of whom were injured, escape to safety. His heroism continued during transport to the hospital by a local Sheriff’s deputy as he provided first aid to another shooting victim while enroute to the hospital. For his actions, Blackwell received the Purple Heart for Valor and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest non-combat decoration awarded for heroism by the Navy. Blackwell’s recovery from the shooting was long and painful, requiring multiple surgeries and months of being unable to move without help from his wife. During his recovery he reflected on how wrestling and his life experiences had molded him and, one year after the shooting, he opened his own gym. As the owner of “Well Trained Wrestling and Fitness” located in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Blackwell coaches wrestling and works to instill the values of discipline, patience, and determination into others. Currently Blackwell lives in Gulf Breeze with his wife Carly and daughter Reyna (2).
David Barker inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame State Chapter of North Carolina
David Barker – A native of Eden, North Carolina, Barker attended Morehead High School where he wrestled, played baseball, and ran track. Graduating from Morehead in 1995, Barker attended Appalachian State University. While at Appalachian, Barker remained connected with the Morehead program, assisting Coach Greg Frey. Barker was adept at scouting opposing teams and strategically arranging lineups for dual team matches, a technique he learned from his father Wayne, also a wrestling
coach. As a member of the Morehead coaching staff, Barker coached with Panther teams that won state dual titles in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014, and 2016 and state tournament titles in 1998, 1999, 2006, 2014, and 2015. Growing up, Barker was an avid reader of Bob Mauldin’s North Carolina Mat News and a student of team rankings and results. In 1997, he took over the Super 32 rankings for individual high school wrestlers in North Carolina. Barker’s rankings were posted on NCMat.com, a website
maintained by Sara Koenig. In 2000, Koenig and Barker renamed an annual pre-season tournament held at Morehead High School the “Super 32 Challenge,” which began attracting the top talent in North Carolina looking to improve their rankings. In 2001, nationally ranked Great Bridge, Virginia travelled to the Super 32 Challenge, which in turn lured additional nationally ranked teams and individuals to the tournament. In 2005, the Super 32 moved to the Greensboro Coliseum, topping 1,000 entries. The Super 32 has sold out every year since 2003, taking just seven minutes to sell out in 2022. Now in its 23rd year, Barker and Koenig’s Super 32 Challenge remains the premier wrestling tournament in the country. For the past five years, Barker has worked as a wrestling official in the Piedmont Association. He officiated the Men’s Individual State Tournament in 2021 and the Women’s Wrestling Invitational in 2023.
An avid sports card enthusiast, Barker owns a massive collection of hundreds of thousands of cards. He currently lives in Eden with his wife Andrea and children Brooks (9) and Colt (6). David and Wayne Barker are just the second father and son inducted into the NWHOF North Carolina Chapter.
Sara Koenig inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame State Chapter of North Carolina
Sara Koenig – Born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Koenig grew up in Chapel Hill, attended Chapel Hill High School, graduating in 1990. While her mother Kaye was working for the Rams Club at UNC Chapel Hill, at the age of seven, Sara saw her first Tar Heel wrestling match. After high school, Koenig attended UNC Chapel Hill, earning a degree in Peace, War, and Defense in 1994. In the mid 1990’s Kaye Koenig began working for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
Accompanying her mother to the NCHSAA state wrestling tournament in 1995, Sara volunteered to help with data entry during the tournament. This began almost three decades of service to the North Carolina
wrestling community. Koenig was both contributor (1995-1999) and editor (1999-2010) for NCMat.com, at the time one of the most comprehensive and viewed wrestling websites in the country. Koenig served as a member of the Board of Directors (1996-2003) and as National Teams Director (1998-2003) for NC USA Wrestling. In 1999, Koenig was named USA Wrestling Person-of-the-Year for North Carolina and in 2003 was named Wrestling USA’s Person of the Year for North Carolina. For 25 years (1995-2019), Koenig was a member of the NCHSAA state tournament staff, serving as the official scorer of the state wrestling championships. In 1999, Koenig along with Dave Barker, launched a pre-season tournament at Morehead High School. In 2000, this tournament was renamed the “Super 32 Challenge”. Over the past 23 years, the Super 32 has evolved into the largest and most prestigious preseason high school and youth event in the country. In 2022, the Super 32 included over 2800 of the top high school, middle school, elementary,
and girl wrestlers in the country with over one hundred colleges and universities in attendance for recruiting. Since 2010, Koenig has worked for UNC-Chapel Hill’s athletic department, serving as administrative assistant for the Tar Heel field hockey, volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics, and men’s lacrosse programs. In addition to her passion for wrestling, Koenig is a huge fan of sports and Broadway musicals, taking several trips per year to New York to see all the newest shows.
3x All-American Samantha Miller Transfers To Mount Olive
Samantha Miller has found a new home after three successful seasons at Presbyterian
Former Presbyterian standout Samantha Miller entered the transfer portal in March, and now she has a new home. Miller will compete for Mount Olive next season after placing sixth, fifth, and fifth at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships from 2021-23 at 101 pounds.
Presbyterian (located in Clinton, South Carolina) is one of four Division I schools to offer women’s freestyle wrestling. Mount Olive (located in Mount Olive, North Carolina) is a Division II university that placed 23rd at the 2023 championship tournament for all NCAA programs that offer women’s wrestling (NCWWC).
This is good news for head coach Dan Willis. The Trojans have one All-American in program history, so the addition of Miller will likely elevate the team’s output next season.
“College is one of the most important times in your life to explore opportunities and to set yourself up for optimal success,” Miller said immediately after she entered the transfer portal. “I’ve grown and developed as a person and athlete at Presbyterian, but it’s time to further my education and athletics elsewhere to set the best future for myself.”
The Parkersburg, West Virginia, native was one of three place winners at this year’s national tournament on a Blue Hose team that placed ninth. Miller will complete her senior season of eligibility at Mount Olive and then attend graduate school. … rest of story at Flowrestling.org/articles/3x-all-american-samantha-miller-transfers-to-mount-olive
Campbell Wrestling welcomes 2023 signing class
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell welcomes yet another highly talented signing class in the fall of 2023, featuring eight wrestlers, announced by head coach Scotti Sentes.
The incoming freshman class has a combined eight state championships, 32 podium finishes and more than 1,400 career wins, coming to Campbell from six different states.
Wynton Denkins
Wynton Denkins, a Perrysburg, Ohio native, will join the Camels after fashioning a 155-22 career record. He placed second and third at the Ohio state tournament and is a National Duals All-American. He is projected to compete in either the 141, 149 or 157 pound weight class. Denkins is intends to major in homeland security or sports management.
Chris Earnest
Christopher Earnest, a product of Wadsworth High School, will join the Camels after placing in the top four three times at the Ohio state tournament, including one state title and another finalist finish. Earnest also finished seventh at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman Tournament, and seventh at the PA Powerade Tournament. The Wadsworth, Ohio product will pursue a degree in engineering while competing for the Camels at the 157 or 165 pound weight class.
Bentley Ellison
Bentley Ellison out of Cleveland, Tenn. is a three-time state finalist, as well as a state champion, also placing third at Preseason Nationals, and a NHSCA Senior All-American. He will represent the Camels at 125 pounds and looks forward to studying business at Campbell. … rest of story at Gocamels.com/news/2023/5/23/wrestling-welcomes-2023-signing-class
Paul Crouse inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame State Chapter of North Carolina
The 2023 class of new Inductees for the North Carolina Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
on May 21st in Chapel Hill.
Paul Crouse – Born in Salisbury, Maryland, Crouse grew up in Sparta, North Carolina where his family has deep roots. He attended Alleghany High School, joined the wrestling team, and excelled on the mats under Coach Jim Smith. While in high school, Crouse decided to pursue a career in education and coaching. Graduating from Alleghany in 1985, Crouse attended Appalachian State University, majoring in Industrial Arts Education. Due to an upcoming retirement at Alleghany and a potential job opportunity, Crouse worked to complete his degree in just three years. During his final semester of college, Crouse walked onto the Appalachian wrestling team and started in a few varsity matches for the Mountaineers.
In the spring of 1988, he completed his student teaching at Mitchell High School and graduated from Appalachian. While at Mitchell, Crouse assisted Coach Steve Atwood, whose team won the 1988 1A/2A State Tournament. That fall, Crouse was hired at Alleghany and was an assistant coach for the Trojans, who won the 1989 1A/2A State Tournament. During the 1989-90 season, Crouse ascended to head coach at Alleghany. Under his leadership, Alleghany, a 1A school, was one of North Carolina’s most dominating wrestling programs despite an enrollment of around four hundred students. The Trojans won three
1A/2A dual team state titles (1997, 1999, 2002), and two state tournament titles (1997, 1998). Crouse’s teams won six regional titles and ten conference championships earning him conference Coach-of-the-Year nine times. Eleven of his wrestlers won a combined fourteen individual state titles. Crouse’s dual meet record at Alleghany was 180-39-2 including a conference dual record of 66-4-1. Crouse was the North Carolina Mat News Coach-of-the-Year in 1997 and 1999. In 1997, Alleghany became the first 1A/2A school to capture both a dual team and state tournament title in the same season and earned a ranking of 49h nationally from Rob Sherrill’s Prep Wrestling Coast-to-Coast Magazine. Crouse would go on to pursue a degree in administration and would step down as Alleghany’s coach in 2003. To remain connected with wrestling, he then started officiating. Crouse has been an official in the NCHSAA’s
Piedmont Association (2003-present), the Virginia High School League (2014-present) and has worked as an NCAA official since 2013. Crouse has officiated in multiple North Carolina and Virginia State tournaments and NHSCA National tournaments. He recently officiated in the NAIA National (2021, 2022) and the NCAA Division II Regional tournaments (2021, 2022, 2023). Crouse retired from the Alleghany County School system in 2017 and currently owns the Twin Oaks General Store and Café in Sparta. Crouse and his wife Teresa live in Sparta and have a daughter Lynsey (22).
The TakeDown Report offers our congratulations to Paul and the other indutees.
Billy Baker inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame North Carolina Chapter
Billy Baker – Born in Hickory, North Carolina, Baker attended West
Lincoln High School where he was a four-sport athlete in football,
wrestling, baseball, and track. In football, Baker was an All-Gaston
Gazette Area and All-Conference running back. As a wrestler, Baker was
a two-time state medalist (1 st , 3 rd ) in 1987 and 1988. Winning a state title
at 135 lbs. in 1987, Baker became the first Lincoln County athlete to win
a state championship in any sport. After graduating high school in 1988,
he joined the Appalachian State University wrestling team as a walk-on,
eventually earning a scholarship. Baker started three years for the
Mountaineers (1991-1993), winning 70 college matches and placing in
over a dozen college tournaments. Baker finished in the top three at the
Southern Conference Tournament (1991-1993), reaching the finals in 1991.
After graduating from Appalachian in 1993 with a degree in
Business Education, Baker began his coaching career as an assistant at
Morehead High School (1994) before heading to Lincolnton High School
where he founded the school’s wrestling program. In 1997, Baker led the
Lincolnton squad to a top-20 finish at the state tournament. In 1999, he
became head coach at Saint Stephens where, for 24 years (23 seasons), he
coached one of the state’s most successful wrestling programs. In 2004,
Baker was called back into the Army during the Iraq War and promoted
to the rank of Captain while serving in the 1st Infantry Division. Baker’s
teams have amassed a dual record of 715-187, won fifteen conference
championships, five regional tournaments, advanced to the semifinals of
the state playoffs eight times, and reached the dual team finals four
times. In 2019, Saint Stephens won the state dual team championship and
Baker received the National Federation of High School Sports (NFHS)
Coach-of-the-Year, NFHS Regional Coach-of-the-Year, National
Wrestling Coaches Association NC Coach-of-the Year, and the NCHSAA 1991
Region 7 Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award. Baker was the
NC Mat News Coach-of-the-Year in 2001, 2006, and 2019, and was
inducted into both the Lincoln County Hall of Fame (2015) and the
Catawba County Hall of Fame (2020). Baker has also served on the NC
Wrestling Coaches Association Board of Directors since 2007, serving as
Vice President (2017-2018) and Board President (2019-2021). As Board
President, Baker was instrumental in working with the NCHSAA to
navigate the COVID 19 Pandemic and preserve the wrestling season in 2021.
In addition to teaching business and coaching wrestling, Baker has
also served as the Athletic Director at Saint Stephens since 2016. Baker
and his wife Dee Dee live in Hickory and have four children: Blake (22),
Rylee (20), Addison (15) and Sydney (12.)
Steffey presented the 2023 Olivia Neal Award
Angelica Steffey with her Olivia Neal Award (center) with Croatan Coach David Perry (right) and her mother Alicia Strffey (left)
State Champion Angelica Steffey of Croatan High School was presented the 2nd Annual Olivia Neal Award as the 2023 Most Outstanding Female scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina. The presentation was made during the Croatan H.S. athletic awards night by TakeDown Report editor Martin Fleming and Coach David Perry.
Angelica won all 28 of her matches this year against girls and her 2nd consecutive state title. She is the 2nd two-time state champion in Croatan High School history. The first was Ryan Blackwell who was recently awarded the Medal of Courage Award by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, State Chapter of North Carolina. Blackwell went on to wrestle at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke before enlisting in the U.S. Navy.
Angelica plans to wrestle next year at the University of Mount Olive. She will join the 2022 Award winner, Isabel Rodriguez of Dixon on the team. The award is for most inspirational and successful female wrestler in eastern North Carolina each year.
Prior to this season, Angelica was a three-year starter for the Croatan boy’s team. She led all wrestlers on the Croatan team this year with 24 pins. She also was a ‘TDR Top 12 Girls’ wrestler’ with her name engraved on a wooden plaque for the second year.
Girls’ wrestling is rapidly growing with over 35 states having sanctioned girls state wrestling championships. North Carolina will sponsor a sanctioned state championship tournament next season. This increases the opportunities for student development.
In 2008 Olivia Neal became the first female wrestler in North Carolina to qualify for the varsity state tournament. She wrestled for Rosewood High School for four years. Her participation generated publicity for the sport, and she pinned her first state tournament opponent. This inspired a growing number of girls in eastern N.C. to try out for wrestling.
The TakeDown Report sponsors the Award and promotes wrestling in eastern North Carolina by reporting results and encouraging media coverage. Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com or check https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/.
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
