Austin O’Connor is Ready to Get Back to the Top of the NCAA Podium
by Dustin Howard; Photos courtesy of Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com
Not much has gone to plan for North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor over the past five months, but maybe it’s all part of something bigger. O’Connor tore the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, and lateral collateral ligament in his right knee in February and wrestled through it to hit the podium at the NCAA Championships. He had surgery after the season and most recently underwent another procedure to remove scar tissue in the injured area.
The injury zapped O’Connor of his explosiveness and limited his offense last postseason, when he slipped to eighth place at 157 pounds after winning his first NCAA title at 149 the season before. That showing then planted seeds of doubt across the college wrestling world about O’Connor’s ability to get back to the top of the podium.
The recent complications have since made the start of next season murkier as O’Connor races to get healthy, though he admits being ready for the Tar Heels’ first action of the season might not be possible. … rest of the story at https://rokfin.com/article/9852/Austin-OConnor-is-Ready-to-Get-Back-to-the-Top-of-the-NCAA-Podium?affiliate_id=1826&mc_cid=ba6970a31f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
App State Announces 14 Newcomers for 2022-23 Season
BOONE, N.C. — With the fall semester underway, App State Wrestling head coach JohnMark Bentley officially announced the Mountaineers’ newcomers for the 2022-23 season.
Last season, Bentley became a three-time national coach of the year finalist after leading the Mountaineers on an unbeaten run to a Southern Conference championship and a top-30 finish at the NCAA Championships. App State’s five NCAA qualifiers in 2022 included Jonathan Millner, who became a two-time All-American.
The 2022 newcomer class is made up of 14 high school standouts who combined for 21 individual state championships and 28 state finals appearances in their prep careers. Five members of the class are homegrown talents from North Carolina, while the national recruiting from Bentley, Ian Miller and Randall Diabe also brought in wrestlers from eight other states: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Dakota. … rest of the story at appstatesports.com/news/2022/8/29/wrestling-announces-14-newcomers-for-2022-23-season
Davidson Announces Incoming Class of 2026
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson Wrestling has officially announced the addition of seven incoming members of the program in the Class of 2023. The newest members of Wildcat Wrestling are Devon Diaco, Marc Koch, Luke Passarelli, Tanner Peake, Christian Rutherford, Jackson Sichelstiel and Jarek Stewart-Karolewics.
“We’ve brought in a group of high achieving student-athletes who really fit the profile of what this program will be built around,” Assistant Head Coach Ty Eustice said. “These young men all have an incredibly high standard for their academic pursuits, their lifestyle choices, and they’ve all shown intense dedication to the sport of wrestling. We’ve also addressed some weight class needs which is important for the competition we want to see within our own room.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to learn more about each of them and their personalities, they’ve also got a chance to build relationships with each other. I’m excited to see them bond together and make an impact on this program.” … rest of the story at https://davidsonwildcats.com/news/2022/7/13/wrestling-announces-incoming-class-of-2026.aspx?mc_cid=546b497d94&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
UNC-Pembroke Wrestling To Hold Open Tryout On September 6
PEMBROKE – UNC Pembroke wrestling head coach Othello “O.T.” Johnson will be holding an open tryout for the 2022-23 UNCP wrestling team, Sept. 6-7, in the UNCP Wrestling Room. The tryout will begin at 3:30 p.m.
In order to participate, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours for the fall semester at UNCP and be in good academic standing. Please bring a waiver and release for tryout form (PDF), proof of a physical within the past six months, sickle cell testing results and a class schedule to Johnson’s office in the English E. Jones Center on the first day of the tryout. … rest of story at https://uncpbraves.com/news/2022/8/30/wrestling-to-hold-open-tryout-on-september-6.aspx?utm_source=Wrestling+News&utm_campaign=8131c6611e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_08_18_02_33_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_44607e8210-8131c6611e-245314521&mc_cid=8131c6611e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
My PACKed Summer: Wrestler Lewis Travels to India
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State Wolfpack wrestler R-So. Hunter Lewis traveled over to India this summer with Wrestling World Tours which his family puts on to take youth wrestlers to international countries for training experiences. … rest of story at https://gopack.com/news/2022/8/23/wrestling-my-packed-summer-wrestler-lewis-travels-to-india.aspx?mc_cid=9cae62a3d9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
#PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast: Ep. 96 – The Show Goes On!
RALEIGH, N.C. – The show must go on as host Brian Reinhardt and NC State head wrestling coach Pat Popolizio are back for another episode of the #PackMentality Pop-Ins Podcast. … podcast at https://gopack.com/news/2022/8/11/wrestling-packmentality-pop-ins-podcast-ep-96-the-show-goes-on.aspx?mc_cid=d625d20c20&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Olympic Gold Medalist Selected to Lead Revived Wrestling Program at Morgan State University
BALTIMORE – Leading the return of NCAA Division I, Varsity-level men’s wrestling to Maryland’s largest Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Morgan State University today announced the hiring of Kenny Monday as the Athletics Department’s new men’s wrestling coach, effective Aug. 24, 2022. Monday, the first Black wrestler in history to win an Olympic gold medal, is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, three-time Olympian and former NCAA All-American standout, who brings a championship-level coaching pedigree and an expansive yet impressive resume to a Bears’ wrestling program looking to restart after a 25-year hiatus. Monday comes to Morgan after serving as the director of wrestling and head wrestling coach at Spire Academy, since 2021.
To date, Morgan remains the only HBCU to offer NCAA Division I Varsity-level wrestling. The first full season of Morgan’s new wrestling program is slated for 2023–24.
“Wrestling is officially back at the National Treasure, Morgan State University! With the hiring of Coach Monday and the vast, winning experience he brings from competing at the highest echelons, we are certain to return to our championship glory and become a destination for student-athletes desiring top-level coaching and exceptional academic programs,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “It isn’t every day that you can bring in a leader the caliber of Coach Kenny Monday…someone who has successfully competed and coached at the high school, collegiate and professional levels and has won throughout his career. So, when there was a mutual interest in having him become a part of the Morgan family, we made it happen without hesitation.”
In October 2021, the University announced its plans to revive the men’s wrestling program at Morgan with the support a $2.7-million gift from HBCU Wrestling (HBCUW), a new initiative reestablishing wrestling programs on HBCU campuses. The gift, which is among the largest received from a private donor to the University, provides funding for the program and supports up to nine full scholarships annually. … rest of the story at https://morganstatebears.wrestling-program
Also Three-time Olympian and National Wrestling Hall of Famer Kenny Monday to rebuild Morgan State wrestling program
Story at Afro.com/three-time-olympian-and-national-wrestling-hall-of-famer-kenny-monday-to-rebuild-morgan-state-wrestling-program
Blue Devils Announce Incoming Freshman Class
DURHAM – Duke wrestling head coach Glen Lanham has announced the program’s incoming freshman class for the 2022-23 season. Five freshman – Connor Barket, Gaetano Console, Ethan Grimminger, Cameron Morgan and Nick Tattini join graduate transfer Jarred Papcsy as new additions to the roster in the fall.
“As a staff we’re very excited about the incoming recruiting class,” said Lanham. “We really needed to address some depth issues we had in a few of our weight classes. We feel confident that we have done that. I know these guys are looking forward to getting their Duke Blue Devil wrestling careers started!” … rest of the story at https://goduke.com/news/2022/8/10/wrestling-blue-devils-announce-incoming-freshman-class.aspx?mc_cid=4a90ae56a6&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
and Duke Announces 2022-23 Schedule at https://goduke.com/news/2022/8/24/wrestling-duke-announces-2022-23-schedule.aspx
Nate Carr Jr. Named Head Wrestling Coach
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Nate Carr Jr. has been named the 13th head wrestling coach at Davidson College, as announced by Director of Athletics Chris Clunie on Friday.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nate to Davidson as our next head wrestling coach,” Clunie said. “Nate has an incredibly impressive wrestling and coaching background, and we look forward to the tremendous impact he will have on our scholar-athletes, our wrestling program and our community.”
Carr Jr. is a member of one of college wrestling’s most accomplished families, with a storied career of his own.
“I am extremely honored to be named the head wrestling coach at Davidson College,” Carr Jr. said. “Thank you to our Athletic Director Chris Clunie for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve this 100-year program.
“I am truly excited to build an elite atmosphere at Davidson on and off the mat.”
A native of Gray, Ga., his coaching career began as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Virginia from 2012 to the summer of 2013 and at the University of Maryland the following year.
Carr Jr. was a senior-level athlete and coach at the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club, where he competed in senior-level competitions, while also assisting in coaching the Cornell wrestling team. There, he helped coach two top-10 finishes at the NCAA Tournament and five All-Americans in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
While at Lock Haven, Carr. Jr. was an integral part in leading LHU to its first Mid-American Conference (MAC) title in program history in 2022. LHU also captured back-to-back Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) titles in 2018 and 2019. … rest of the story at https://davidsonwildcats.com/news/2022/8/5/wrestling-nate-carr-jr-named-head-mens-wrestling-coach.aspx?mc_cid=41053ea532&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
Davis & Elkins Names Colborn Head Wrestling Coach
TDR Editor’s Notes ; Coach Colborn wrestled for Croatan High School and was the TDR Top 12 top 182 lbs. wrestler in eastern North Carolina in 2015.
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ELKINS, W.Va. — Davis & Elkins Director of Athletics Patrick Snively has announced the hiring of Andrew Colborn as Head Wrestling Coach.
Colborn comes to D&E from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where he served the past three seasons as assistant coach under longstanding coach Othello “O.T.” Johnson. At UNC Pembroke, Colborn assisted with a program that sent seventeen student-athletes to the NCAA Championships. In 2020, the Braves were 2020 Mountain East Conference and NCAA Division II Super Region II Team Champions.
“I am very excited to have been named the next Head Wrestling Coach at Davis & Elkins College,” said Colborn. “I can’t wait to start working with the wrestling student-athletes as well as the campus community, and I look forward to building upon the success they have already seen. I want to thank Coach OT Johnson at UNC Pembroke for being a great coach, mentor and friend over the years. I also want to thank President Wood, Mr. Patrick Snively, and the search committee for this opportunity.”
“We are quite fortunate to bring in an accomplished up-and-coming coach from a program that continually churns out great teams and quality coaches,” said Director of Athletics Patrick Snively. “I think our student-athletes will quickly find that that have a solid leader that will relate well to them and has the ability to push them to build upon the solid foundation that has been laid out by Coach Boland.”
Colborn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Science at UNC Pembroke with a student-athlete. He is working toward a Master of Science in Sports Administration at Minot State University. Colborn, a decorated high school wrestler in the state of North Carolina, registered a perfect 29-0 record and a state championship in his senior season prior to entering college. … rest of story at https://senatornation.com/news/2022/7/31/d-e-names-colborn-head-wrestling-coach.aspx
New Bern’s Foley to represent team USA at Beach Wrestling World Championship event in Romania
TDR Editor’s Note ; Great to see a story about wrestling and a local wrestler as we enter the school year. This one was on local TV station WITN. Our compliments to them.
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NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) – New Bern high wrestler Kane Foley has found his place on the mat with the Bears. Now he has found his place on the beach for Team USA. He will represent our country this week in the Beach Wrestling World Championship event in Romania.
“I think it’s cool to be able to get to wear this,” says New Bern junior wrestler Kane Foley, “Not to go buy it, but to be sent it from Team USA.”
Foley grew up in West Virginia and moved to New Bern with his family in seventh grade.
“Didn’t really know yet how much I loved wrestling,” says Kane. … rest of story at https://www.witn.com/2022/08/30/sports-spotlight-new-berns-foley-represent-team-usa-beach-wrestling-world-championship-event-romania/
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
