NC State Wrestling to Host Annual Coaches Clinic
RALEIGH – NC State wrestling is set to host its annual coaches clinic, featuring 2025 Senior World Champion Trent Hidlay, in the Weisiger-Brown Athletic Facility October 24-25 to kick-start its 2025-26 dual-match season.
Led by NC State’s current coaching staff and recent Senior World Champion Trent Hidlay, the clinic is scheduled for a mid-day start on Friday, October 24 and will wrap up early afternoon Saturday, October 25 in the Weisiger-Brown Athletic Facility on NC State’s campus.
Both days will feature numerous technique sessions, along with lectures on strength and conditioning, weight management, nutrition, and academics. Friday night will conclude with a coaches social at Mitch’s Tavern after each of the technique sessions. The entire event will be capped off by NC State’s Wrestle-Offs in … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2025/9/25/nc-state-wrestling-to-host-annual-coaches-clinic
Eight Champions Crowned at RAF 01 Event
History was made in Cleveland, Ohio, tonight as Real American Freestyle (RAF) held its first card, RAF 01. Eight champions were crowned in an electric atmosphere, with a star-studded list of participants.
Local star Nathan Tomasello will go down in history as the first wrestler to win a RAF bout and the first bantamweight champion. The former Ohio State national champion was a crowd favorite as he used his impressive build and strength to keep Matt Ramos at bay for most of the bout. Tomasello’s four points were all scored off of step-out points. In the second period, Tomasello was close to a pair of takedowns when he earned his stepouts. Ramos nearly shocked the crowd with a late takedown during a sequence that started with a flying squirrel attempt.
The third installment of Yianni Diakomihalis versus Indian world/Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia ended the same way as the first two – with the four-time national champion from Cornell getting his hand raised. It was in the third period when Diakomihalis used a low leg attack to become the first RAF wrestler to register a takedown. That maneuver iced a 5-1 victory for Diakomihalis.
The third bout of the evening featured a current star against a former great and it established a pattern for matches of this ilk. Generally, it was the younger wrestler who got their hand raised. In this instance, Mexican Olympian Austin Gomez needed less than a minute to roll against another hometown hero, Lance Palmer of St. Ed’s and Ohio State fame. This bout did not have a title on the line, but it appears we could have a Diakomihalis-Gomez clash in the future.
Some of the biggest fireworks of the evening came from the combination of Evan Wick and Jason Nolf in the middleweight championship. Wick jumped out to the lead, surprising Nolf on a low, reshot attempt. Nolf would answer by getting a takedown of his own. These were no ordinary two points. Nolf had Wick above his head, sitting on his shoulders for a moment, … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/49_raf/eight-champions-crowned-at-raf-01-event-r100479/
Canadian Collegiate U Sports Changes Transfer Rules
by Jake Bridges 2
September 18th, 2025Canada, College, International, News, Transfers, U Sports
U SPORTS, the governing body for university and college sports in Canada, has updated its transfer rules. First or second-year athletes in the Canadian university system can now transfer schools without penalty. Previously, athletes who transferred in the Canadian system were forced to sit out one calendar year of competition; however, this rule did not apply to all sports. Swimming, cross-country, and track and field had exemptions.
The update also paves the way for easier transfer from NCAA or NAIA schools to a Canadian University, as the 365-day sit-out period previously applied to such transfers.
The new ruleset will come into effect in the 2026-2027 season.
When speaking on the decision, U Sports CEO Pierre Arsenault said, “The landscape of post-secondary sport is evolving, and our role is to ensure our policies reflect the needs of those we serve.”
The change in policy is well timed. In the United States, the House Settlement established new limits on roster sizes across NCAA sports. Most programs are being forced to decrease their size and cut athletes, meaning that as we enter the post-House era, there will be more athletes in the U.S. than roster spots. U SPORTS’ new policy allows them to be a viable alternative for those athletes.
While U SPORTS lagged behind the NCAA in transfer policy, historically, their rulebook has been less restrictive than the NCAA’s.
U SPORTS, for example, does not impose a five-year window … more at … https://swimswam.com/canadian-collegiate-u-sports-changes-transfer-rules/
Blades dominates bronze medal match, Bey to repechage at World Championships
ZAGREB, Croatia – After experiencing her first loss since the Olympic final over one year ago, 22-year-old Kennedy Blades got the next best thing—She showed the grit of a champion to come back for a World bronze medal.
It was a tall task for blades in the 68 kg bronze medal showcase. She was matched against 2024 Olympic bronze medalist and 2023 World champion Buse Cavusoglu Tosun of Türkiye. Blades made Cavusoglu Tosun appear pedestrian, posting a 12-1 technical fall over the savvy veteran.
Blades saved her best effort for last. She got to all of her spots with apparent ease, converting multiple takedowns, displaying excellent mat awareness and body positioning, all-the-while snuffing out any Cavusoglu Tosun threat. Fittingly, a re-attack single leg iced the win with 37 seconds left in on the clock. The bronze is Blades first medal at a Senior World Championships, in this her first appearance. She is a three-time age-group World medalist, with a U20 World title coming in 2021, plus a U20 World bronze and U23 World silver in 2023. Blades collected silver up at 76 kg last year at the Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Women’s freestyle group three athletes Adaugo Nwachukwu at 62 kg and Alex Glaude at 72 kg—both of whom lost in the quarterfinals and … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/september/18/blades-dominates-bronze-medal-match-bey-to-repechage-at-world-championships
Des Moines Register’s Top 50 all-time wrestlers from Iowa colleges: No. 1 through No. 50
Who is the greatest of all-time?
It’s a question that haunts every sport in one way or another. You see it in the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate in basketball, and conversations about Patrick Mahomes catching Tom Brady in football, and when hockey fans wonder if anyone can reach the peak of “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky.
Here in Iowa, we like to debate wrestling. As in, who is the greatest Iowa Hawkeye wrestler of all-time? Will anyone be as great as Iowa State’s Cael Sanderson was in college? How does former Cyclone Dan Gable’s loss to Larry Owings affect his legacy as a collegiate wrestler?
Wrestling is uniquely Iowan. Fans’ passion does not waver from one generation to the next. Iowans care deeply about the Cy-Hawk dual winner in November and the guys who reach the podium at NCAAs in March. Debates about “who’s better” are waged throughout the year.
The Des Moines Register decided to join in the fun and curated a top-50 list of the state of Iowa’s greatest college wrestlers of all-time.
For this exercise, we considered a wrestler’s resume only from their collegiate careers. No high school, national or international accomplishments were considered, comparing only the accolades earned within the confines of collegiate competition at Iowa colleges from every division. Experts such as wrestling historian Mike Chapman and former Wartburg head coach … more at … https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/2025/09/13/iowa-wrestling-des-moines-register-top-50-wrestlers-from-iowa-colleges-1-to-50/85522302007/?sltsgmt=0154_A
Barket, Console & Wallace Tabbed Duke University Wrestling Captains for 2025-26
DURHAM, N.C. —With the wrestling season approaching, Duke head coach Glen Lanham has announced tri-captains to lead the 2025-26 squad as Connor Barket, Gaetano Console and Aidan Wallace were selected. It marks the third season in a row that Barket and Console will serve as captains.
“All of the guys really put in a really good summer of work,” said Lanham. “Gaetano and Connor led us the last two years and now we add in a fresh face in there with Aidan. Aidan is very competitive and wants to take more of a leadership role. So, I think we’re heading in the right direction with all of these guys. Obviously, Connor and Gaetano have the experience of leading the team last year and they’ve done an outstanding job. And now, Aidan has stepped up in the mix. He had a really good season last year, was more vocal in the leadership role, more responsible and was named to the ACC Honor Roll. Aidan has showed that he was capable of being one of those three guys to lead the program.”
Coming off his first appearance in the NCAA Championship, Barket is primed for another outstanding season with the Blue Devils. He has won 40 matches over the last two seasons and was ranked as high as No. 17 nationally a season ago. Barket, who hails from West Lafayette, Indiana, totaled 24 wins this past year, which were the fifth-most in Blue Devil history as a heavyweight.
A native of Barrington Hills, Illinois, Console has been a steady leader since stepping foot on campus three seasons ago. Wrestling at 165/174 over his career, Console has tallied 19 wins as a Blue Devil. He is … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2025/9/19/barket-console-wallace-tabbed-wrestling-captains-for-2025-26
Iran wins Greco-Roman wrestling world championship after 11 years
Iran’s Greco-Roman wrestling team has won the championship title at the 2025 Wrestling World Championships in Croatia, securing victory ahead of schedule with an impressive medal tally.
Amin Mirzazadeh and Gholamreza Farrokhi, competing in the 130 kg and 82 kg weight categories, respectively, delivered outstanding performances, securing two gold medals for their team.
Payam Ahmadi, a young prodigy competing in the 55 kg weight category, won a silver medal. Mohammad Hadi Saravi, the Olympic gold medalist, is set to compete in the finals on Saturday evening and is tipped to clinch the third gold medal for Team Iran at Zagreb.
Danial Sohrabi secured the first bronze medal for Iran on Saturday, beating his Armenian counterpart 7-0 in a commanding fashion. … more at … https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/09/20/755380/Iran–Greco-Roman-wrestling-team-wins-championship-title-Croatia-2025-Wrestling-World-Championships-Pezeshkian-congratulates-team
World Champion Trent Hidlay to highlight second annual coaches clinic
OREM, Utah—Utah Valley University wrestling head coach Adam Hall has announced the second annual Utah Valley Wrestling Coaches Clinic on Friday and Saturday, October 24-25, 2025, in the UVU Wrestling Room. This year’s clinic features 2025 World Champion Trent Hidlay, who earned gold for Team USA on Monday, Sept. 15 in Croatia.
The UVU coaching staff, led by Hall, assistant head coach Timmy McCall, and assistant coaches Andrew Hochstrasser and Ed Scott, will serve as hosts for the event. Over the two days, the clinic will feature four technique sessions and specialized sessions with UVU Athletic Compliance, Sports Nutrition, and Strength and Conditioning.
Also among the presenters will be Utah Valley RTC head coach Jason Chamberlain and 2025 NCAA All-American for the Wolverines, Terrell Barraclough. The UVU staff will also host a coaches’ social from 5:00 to 6:30 on Oct. 24, leading up to Utah Valley’s annual wrestle-offs.
The clinic … more at … https://gouvu.com/news/2025/9/22/wrestling-world-champion-trent-hidlay-to-highlight-second-annual-coaches-clinic.aspx
On the Mat in 2026: IMG Academy to Launch Wrestling Program
IMG Academy Launches 11th Sport Program led by North Carolina Assistant Coach Enock Francios, Adding to its Unprecedented Growth of 4 New Sports Since 2022.
BRADENTON, Fla. (Sept. 17, 2025) – IMG Academy, the world’s leading sports education brand, announced the launch of its newest sports program. This bold expansion marks the fourth sport launched in four years, a testament to IMG Academy’s continued growth and commitment to its mission of empowering student-athletes to win their future both on and off the mat. Driven by its vision to be the global leader in performance and personal development, IMG Academy is expanding access to its world-class resources, providing more student-athletes with the opportunity to pursue their athletic, academic, and personal goals at the highest level.
Following the successful launch of softball and the addition of boys volleyball, the new wrestling program continues IMG Academy’s pursuit to be unrivaled in opportunity and access. As one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, with a 129% increase in participation in 2021–22, wrestling presents a timely opportunity to deepen IMG Academy’s impact here and beyond. Wrestling is set to begin in 2026 with a series of spring and summer camps, leading up to the official launch of the boarding school program in August.
“At IMG Academy, our commitment to empowering student-athletes to win their future fuels our continuous evolution and has allowed us to grow our campus offering at a revolutionary pace over the last several years,” said Mike Milliron, Chief Operating Officer at IMG Academy Campus. “The launch of wrestling as our 11th overall sport marks an unrivaled milestone for our team, students, and families, and we cannot wait to see what we can accomplish under our wrestling leadership.”
To lead its newly launched wrestling program, IMG Academy has appointed Enock Francois as its Wrestling Director. Francois brings a distinguished track record of athletic and academic excellence, along with extensive coaching experience at top collegiate programs. He comes to IMG Academy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he served as an assistant wrestling coach under Rob Koll, an NCAA National Champion, four-time All-American, and three-time ACC Champion. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14542328-on-the-mat-in-2026-img-academy-to-launch-wrestling-program
PSAC 75th Anniversary: 75 Greatest Male Athletes announced
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, celebrating its 75th anniversary season in 2025-26, continues the process of honoring 300 of its most prominent contributors throughout the month of September.
The third grouping so honored are the PSAC’s 75 Greatest Male Athletes, recognizing former male student-athletes that had exceptional athletic careers during or after their participation in the PSAC.
“The legacy of the PSAC has been built on the backs of remarkable student-athletes whose impact transcends box scores and record books,” said Steve Murray, PSAC Commisioner. “Honoring the 75 greatest male athletes in our history is more than a celebration of talent. It’s a tribute to the character, discipline, and competitive spirit that define our conference. These men didn’t just compete in the PSAC—they helped shape its identity.”
The PSAC was founded on March 11, 1951, and comprised 14 institutions as the Pennsylvania State Teachers College Athletic Conference (PSTCAC). Since then, it has grown into one of the largest conferences in the NCAA across all three divisions. … more at … https://psacsports.org/news/2025/9/11/general-psac-75th-anniversary-75-greatest-male-athletes-announced.aspx
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
