Takedown Report

USA WRESTLING REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS SERIES KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND, WITH SEVEN REGIONALS SET ACROSS THE NATION

USA Wrestling kicks off its 2023 Regional Championships Series this weekend, with the Northwest 16U/Junior Regionals in Centralia, Wash., March 24-26.

There will be seven USA Wrestling Regional Championships held around the nation this year, providing high-quality competition to athletes of many ages. The events are strategically placed around the nation, making them accessible to athletes in a location close to home.
USA Wrestling set a participation record in its Regional Series in 2022, and this year’s Regionals are expected to grow in size and competitiveness. Athlete can attend any or all of the Regional Championships, both in their region and outside of their region.

For those who wish to attend the USA Wrestling Kids Nationals (in freestyle and Greco-Roman), they must compete in their own regional event in order to attend the national tournament (or obtain a waiver to compete from his/her state chairperson).

All of the USA Wrestling Regionals are qualifying events for the Junior/16U National Championships in Fargo, N.D. The top six place winners in each weight class at the 16U and Junior levels at each Regional qualify for their state team for Fargo (in compliance with each state’s rules regarding Fargo participation). … rest of story at Teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2023/March/24/Regional-Series-Advance

March 25, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Blackburn College Welcomes Whelan as Head Wrestling Coach

TDR Editor’s Notes; While the news that Blackburn College, in Illinois, will restart their Division III program and add a Women’s team is outside of eastern North Carolina it is important positive news. The start of the 2023-2024 college season is over 7 months away and there are over 40 new teams that have announced they will join in the competition. Almost 30 of them are Women’s teams in this fastest growing emerging field of wrestling. There will at least 7 men’s teams returning to competition and six new men’s teams. Keep wrestyling going and growing. Please share news of other new opportunities at schools and colleges to us at martinkfleming@takedownreport +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Blackburn College is proud to announce that wrestling has returned to the campus for the first time since the 1980’s. This time, Blackburn will expand to include a women’s team in addition to a men’s team. Khris Whelan, an alternate of the 1976 Olympic Greco-Roman team at age 15, has begun his tenure as the head coach for the men’s and women’s wrestling teams.

Whelan brings exceptional experience to the program. As a wrestler, Khris competed at the University of Missouri, where he was a two-time All-American. Following his experience as an athlete at the University of Missouri, Khris spent his time from 1987-1994 coaching at his alma mater. … rest of story at Blackburnbeavers.com/sports/wrest/2022-23/Wrestling+News

March 25, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

HighSchoolOT’s final statewide and area code rankings for dual-team wrestling

There were four N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team wrestling champions, and three of them were undefeated against in-state teams. Determining which one finished atop the final HighSchoolOT statewide top 25 rankings wasn’t easy.

That lone head-to-head win between two state champs — 4A champ Northwest Guilford defeating 3A champ Fred T. Foard — is what propelled the Vikings to the top spot. Foard was second, followed by 2A champ Newton-Conover and 1A champ Uwharrie Charter. West Rowan, which was the 3A West runner-up, rounds out the top five.

The full rankings — a statewide Top 25 and Top 15 rankings for each of the state’s six area codes — are below. … rest of story at Highschoolot.com/highschoolot-hsot-final-statewide-and-area-code-rankings-for-wrestling-2023

March 22, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 Team members named

The following wrestlers have earned and will be awarded a spot on a team of the best wrestlers in eastern North Carolina this past season. To recognize them we will present a wooden plaque with their name and weight class engraved on it. They will be made in a similar style to the ones from the previous dozen years or so. (have to look it up).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 21, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | 3 Comments

TDR Top 12 – 106 lbs.

TDR Editor’s Note; Typically this lightest weight class is led by the youngest wrestlers and this year has the top 5 spots filled by successful sophomores. Please contact us and share your input sent to us at martinkfleming@gmail.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 19, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – 113 lbs.

TDR Editor’s Note; The State Champion Jacob Kresicki from First Flight is the clear #1 selection at 113 lbs. State placer Israel Guerra of South Johnston takes the 2nd spot. Regional Champion Carter Duhon leads 10 more state qualifiers in the weight class. We welcome input sent to us at martinkfleming@gmail.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 19, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – 120 lbs.

TDR Editor’s Note; Three state place winners lead off the top 3 in eastern N.C. followed by a Regional Champion before one ventures into the weeds of head to head match results. Still looking through the thorns and briars to minimize our missteps. We welcome input sent to us at martinkfleming@gmail.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 19, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – 126 lbs.

TDR Editor’s Note; Been distracted by an intense and exciting three days of wrestling at the National Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma then a journey over to dig up some wrestling history at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater. So much for the excuses. Will offer a rough draft of the last 4 weight classes. Again, we welcome input from interested fans and pundits sent to us at martinkfleming@gmail.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 19, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – 132 lbs.

TDR Editor’s Note; In one of the deepest weight classes in eastern N.C. we have 7 wrestlers who placed in the top 6 in their division’s state championships. The top 3 wrestlers are clear with State Champion Ian Fritz at 1st and Ryan Mann and Corey Fazekas were runner-ups. All three are sophomores and have a combined record of 152 wins and just 6 losses. Klutey defeated Connick at States while Connick bested Shirley the week before. We welcome input sent to us at martinkfleming@gmail.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 14, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – 138 lbs.

TDR Editor’s Note; 4A State Champion Avery Buonocore won a regional and state title along with almost all other matches to claim a clear hold as the top wrestler in eastern North Carolina at 138 lbs. Frank Bianco is 2nd with a strong 5th place finish in 4A and defeated G. Rivera and C. Peters in head to head matches and won 2 of 3 with B. Wilman. G. Johnson defeated Lieberman in mid-season before both won their Regional titles in 2A & 3A respectively.
We welcome input sent to us at martinkfleming@gmail.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 14, 2023 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment