Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Mat To Mission: Special Warfare Center & School Hosts Wrestling To Inspire Future Force Generation

By: Elvia Kelly – U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – When collegiate wrestling athletes meet Army special operations at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, the common ground is forged in sweat, performance, and the pursuit of excellence.
The Special Operations Center of Excellence welcomed 39 members from the University of North Carolina’s wrestling team to experience holistic approaches to physical training, cognitive exercises, virtual reality at the synthetic training environment, and nutrition Q&A sessions at the Human Performance Force Generation Training Center, commonly referred to as HP FORGE, at Fort Bragg, on Sept. 21, 2026.
While physical training and mental grit paralleled both institutions for preparation on the mat and in the operational environment, the visit embodied attributes that would inspire future force generation. “Taking our team to the Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg was eye opening,” said head coach Rob Koll. “A lot of our young athletes don’t necessarily appreciate the size and scope of the training and expertise that goes into preparing our special operations Soldiers. This put our guys through a small taste of it.”
By showcasing the state-of-the-art training center, the Special Operations Center of Excellence put the Department of War’s warrior readiness and human performance initiatives on display. The visit highlighted how both institutions utilize sports science, mental resilience, and advanced nutrition. “Seeing the science behind the methods, how carefully everything is structured for performance, recovery, and resilience, gave our team a whole new level of respect for the process,” Koll said.
Beyond tactical training, the engagement served as a pillar in the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School by informing and building trust with the American people. “The visit doesn’t just provide a tour of what we do here, but it shows the first SOF truth that people are more important than hardware,” said Michael Fields, Human Performance and Wellness deputy director. “We do that in a few ways by demonstrating metric-driven recovery and prevention methods, such as physical therapy, mental health, cognitive performance, and physical training. It’s a one-stop holistic shop for training, performance, and rehabilitation.”
During their visit, the wrestling team divided into three groups to experience a three-station rotation. Each station focused on a unique area: a 30-minute workout led by  … more at … https://goheels.com/news/2026/9/30/mat-to-mission-special-warfare-center-and-school-hosts-wrestling-to-inspire-future-force-generation?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

October 6, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

100 Seasons of Wrestling

Franklin & Marshall will become the 40th collegiate team to compete in 100 or more seasons of wrestling this winter. Columbia University has completed the most seasons of competition with 123. Almost all of the 40 teams compete in Division I. Colorado School of Mines has the most seasons of Division II schools. Springfield College is the top Division III school. 4 other Division III schools have competed for at lease 100 seasons

College Wrestling Teams-Competition Years as of Sept. 2026
SchoolLev.Yrs. WinsLossesTiesPct.Most Wins CoachYearsWins
Columbia UniversityI1231903-1904587689200.461Russo, Ron1973-1991126
PennsylvaniaI1221904-1905667620320.518Reina, Roger1986-’05,’17-’25258
PrincetonI1221904-1905743728300.505Johnston, John1959-1994382
Cornell UniversityI1181907-1908888426200.673Koll, Rob1993-2020316
Penn State UniversityI1181908-1909###305360.765Sanderson, Cael2009-2026233
U.S. Naval AcademyI1181908-1909943339260.731Peery, Ed1961-1987311
Indiana UniversityI1171909-1914789641290.551Goldman, Duane1992-2018297
Illinois, University ofI1161910-1911772542280.586Johnson, Mark1992-2010211
Iowa University ofI1161910-1911###243290.812Gable, Dan1976-1997355
Lehigh UniversityI1161910-1911987468230.676Sheridan, Billy1912-1952222
Wisconsin UniversityI1141910-1911807560370.588Davis, Barry1993-2018234
Harvard UniversityI1091913-17,18-43,’46-599618170.492Lee, John1968-1986168
Iowa State UniversityI1091915-1943,’45-###451190.718Nichols, Harold J., Dr.1948-1985456
Stanford UniversityI1091915-1916430486150.470Borrelli, Jason2008-2021127
Michigan State UniversityI1081903-05,1921-’22659595270.525Peninger, Grady1963-1986213
Springfield College MAIII1081914-1915###519260.679Parker, Doug1955-1990485
Minnesota, University ofI1071919-1922###498270.676Robinson, J1986-2016440
Nebraska UniversityI1071910-1911786582290.573Manning, Mark2000-2026318
Oklahoma State (A & M)I1071914-1915###141220.889Smith, John1991-2024490
Purdue UniversityI1071913-’18,’19-33,’37-668745360.473Reyes, Jessie1992-2007179
Ohio State UniversityI1061920-1921876544280.615Hellickson, Russ1981-2006272
Michigan, University ofI1051921-1922885387260.692Keen, Clifford P.1925-42, 45-70274
Oregon State UniversityI1051908-1909###389280.731Thomas, Dale1957-1990616
U.S. Army (West Point)I1051921-1922743498370.596Alitz, LeRoy1954-1977144
North Carolina UniversityI1041922-1923750559190.572Lam, Bill1974-2003378
Northwestern UniversityI103 1923-1924542604190.473Cysewski, Tim1990-2010155
Rochester Inst. Of Tech.III1031927-1942,’47427630160.405Fuller, Earl1948-1994197
Cornell CollegeIII1021922-1923679514110.569Duroe, Mike2005-2018145
Northern Iowa Univ. (IA St. Teachers, St. Coll. Of Iowa)I1021922-1923835458290.643Patten, Chuck1965-1983217
Ohio UniversityI1021919-’23,’24-’43,’46-’48, ’49-644474220.575Greenlee, Joel1997-2026266
Oklahoma UniversityI1021919-1920947446330.676Abel, Stan1973-1993279
Virginia Military InstituteI1021920-’43, ’46-603527150.533Trudgeon, John1985-2013161
Williams CollegeIII1021924-1925577603180.489Honecker, Scott2012-2026119
Northern Colorado/Col. St. Coll.I/II1011925-1926532497120.517Hancock, John W.1925-1966152
Virginia TechI1011920-1921704536190.567Cheynet, Jerry1974-1996194
West Virginia UniversityI1011920-1921671522170.562Turnbull, Craig1978-2014287
Wyoming UniversityI1011921-1922635467170.575Lantz, Everett1936-43,46-52,53-65142
Davidson CollegeI1001920-1921355798180.311Parker, Charlie1940-42,’46-’75,’77-’7999
Washington & LeeIII1001921-43, ’47-547492150.526Franke, Gary1973-2008184
Franklin & MarshallI991923-1924709626190.531Mayser, Charles W.1923-1944145
Colorado School of MinesII981919-28,34-43,’4630363670.324Hancock, John (Jack)1955-1992112
Duke UniversityI981926-42,43-46,47476611100.438Harvey, Bill1966-1997220
North Carolina StateI981924-’31, 1932-808492220.620Guzzo, Bob1975-2004356
Ursinus College (PA)III971929-1930782387210.666Racich, Bill1980-2018540
Citadel, TheI961930-1931425404140.512Hjerling, Rob1999-2020144
Kent State UniversityI961927-1928833432120.657Begala, Joe1930-42, ’45-’71282
Case Western Reserve (OH)III951928-1929576561120.507Del Rosa, Bob1966-’77,’82-’09308
Gettysburg CollegeIII951930-1931557715220.439Sauve, James1969-197778
Northern IllinoisI951931-’43, 1945623552320.529Flavin, Don1968-1986160
Waynesburg College (PA)III941928-’42, ’46-485392130.552Ketterling, Clayton P.1963-1977144
East Stroudsburg State Univ.II921930-’42, -’46-656626210.512Whitman, Clyde H. (Red?)1961-71,’72-79180
Rutgers UniversityI911930-1931755477240.611Goodale, Scott2007-2026259
Wesleyan UniversityIII911934-43, ’44-582533160.522Black, Drew1998-2026230
Virginia, University ofI901920-1930, ’46-60049390.549Edwards, George1969-1992158
Buffalo Univ. (SUNY)I891933-’42, ’46-650574150.531Michael, Ed 1970-1991258
John Hopkins Univ.III891934-193527235540.434Norris, Keith2005-2025110
Appalachian StateI881927-’41,’46-53, 55-877476240.646Mance, Paul1976-2009348
Wisconsin-WhitewaterIII881934-1941,’45-55127980.662Myers, Willie1968-2004301
Findlay Univ.II871939-194026028270.480Nelson, Shawn1997-2026116
Chicago, University ofIII861926-192726229850.468Kocher, Leo1981-2024154
Ithaca CollegeIII861930-1936, ’46-662365180.642Nichols, Martin1996-2026\342
Muhlenberg College (PA)III861923-’25,’42-493621160.443Schleicher, Tom1996-2009108
Brown Univ.I851933-’34, ’42-500587130.460Amato, Dave1975-81, ’84-’11319
New York Univ. in ManhattanIII851941-194251437460.578Haberli, Bruce1995-2025359
Washington & JeffersonIII851932-1933-49, ’58-27625390.521White, James A.1964-1992132
Yale UniversityI851903-1991266258190.507Waterman, Bert1967-1991130
Pittsburgh, University ofI841914-15, 1950-635458190.580Stottlemyer, Randy1979-2013304
Wheaton College ILIII841942-194333537170.475Olson, George A.1945-’57, ’58-’74192
Calf. State San Francisco (SFSU)II831939-’42, ’46-472591140.445Abraham, Allenhttps://www.nbcwashington.com/paris-2024-summer-olympics/maryland-wrestler-aims-to-be-the-greatest-of-all-time/3675270/177
Lock Haven UniversityI831939-42,’46-807414130.659Poff, Carl1990-2002167
Maryland, University ofI831939-42, 1946-663488210.575McHugh, John1963-’69, ’78-’03257
McDaniel Coll.(West. Mary.)III831940-1941531620120.462Case, Sam1963-’64,’65-’70,’71-’89185
U.S. Coast Guard AcademyIII831943-1944540405120.571Eldridge, Steve1966-2014317
U.S. Merchant Marine AcademyIII821944-194539632470.550Stralka, Clem Lt.1950-1969107
Edinboro UniversityI811940-’41,’46-578395140.593Flynn, Tim1998-2018223
Missouri University ofI811923-37, ’59-666430140.606Smith, Brian1998-2026351
St. John’s UniversityIII811941-’42, ’46659385130.630Elton, John1981-2004273
Drexel University I801946-1947649547150.542Childs, Jack1976-2011423
Dubuque University IAIII801938-’44, 1949–367467130.441McGovern, Jon2002-2026200
Millersville Univ. of Penn. AtII801946-1947605524170.535Hitchcock, Floyd “Shorty”1984-2002180
SUNY Cortland III801946-19476943780.142Bruhn, Brad2002-2022236
Wilkes UniversityIII801946-1947940464140.668Reese, John G.1953-1995514

October 2, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

Elizabeth City State Vikings inaugural NCWA season has ambitious vision for growth of wrestling at historic HBCU

– – ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Wrestling is returning to Elizabeth City State University as the Vikings prepare for their inaugural season as members of the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) and its Mid-Atlantic Conference. The new program grew from a conversation between a group of ECSU aviation students — Kevin Jones, Shawn Fields, Stephen Norwood and Michael Johnson — and Dr. Tim Goodale, an Endowed Professor at ECSU and former NCAA Division I wrestler at Old Dominion University. Seeing Goodale wearing a USA Wrestling jacket in the university’s newly renovated dining hall sparked a conversation that ultimately developed into a plan to bring collegiate wrestling back to the ECSU campus.

With wrestling mats secured and practice space available in historic Williams Hall Gym, that idea has quickly grown into a program with as many as 30 student members. Jones and Fields have played key leadership roles in recruiting students and helping manage the program’s day-to-day development. ECSU previously sponsored NCAA Division II wrestling through 1998, and the return of the sport has also generated enthusiasm among alumni and members of the surrounding wrestling community.

Leading the Vikings will be Dr. Goodale, who competed at Old Dominion University from 1999–2003 under legendary coach Gray Simons and has more than 25 years of coaching experience at the youth and high school levels. He currently oversees Bull Island Grappling, a nonprofit youth wrestling organization in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Local high school coaches Jen Smith and Lorenzo King have also supported the developing ECSU program by opening their wrestling rooms to the team during the offseason and assisting with coaching.

The Vikings enter the NCWA with both immediate competitive goals and a much larger vision. ECSU’s strong aviation program has already attracted several members of the wrestling team, and the program expects academics to become one of its early strengths. With exceptionally affordable tuition and degree opportunities in aviation and other high-demand fields, ECSU Wrestling hopes to become an attractive destination for student-athletes seeking both a quality education and the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. The long-term objective is to demonstrate how wrestling can positively impact enrollment, retention, academic performance, graduation rates and alumni involvement, creating a pathway for the program to continue growing.

Competition will begin immediately. ECSU plans to wrestle at events hosted by programs including East Carolina University and The Apprentice School, compete in the NCWA Mid-Atlantic postseason and host an invitational on its own campus. Among the wrestlers expected to … more at … https://ncwa.net/news/2026/elizabeth-city-state-university-wrestling-joins-ncwa?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

September 28, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

The Top 50 Newcomers For The 2026-27 NCAA Wrestling Season

Ranking the best 50 college wrestlers new to the 2026-27 NCAA D1 season.
The 2026-27 college wrestling season is still over two months away, but it’s never too early to start getting excited for next year! To help you better prepare for the season, I’ve compiled a list of 50 wrestlers who didn’t wrestle last year and are either making their college debuts or returning back to college wrestling after an injury or redshirt. 

The Top 10

I’m going to give my breakdown for each wrestler in the top 10 below, but if you want to see the entire list, just keep scrolling! It’s also probably important for me to explain my criteria before you start reading. The best way I can explain my criteria is in one word: VIBES. There’s not much of a science to this list. I put the wrestlers in the order of who I’m most excited to see wrestle and who I think could have the biggest impact on college wrestling next year. That means that your list will probably look a lot different than mine. That’s what makes these things fun!

1. Masanosuke Ono, Penn State – 133/141

How can a world champion who’s never wrestled a competitive folkstyle match not be #1? Yes, there’s still a ton of questions surrounding whether Ono will even wrestle and, if he does, what weight he will be at! However, Ono’s run at the 2024 World Championships, where he teched Vito Arujau and defeated world and Olympic champion Zavur Uguev, was historic. Combine that with Ono’s electric personality, and he has the potential to take the college wrestling world by storm this year.

2. Bo Bassett, Virginia Tech – 141

Bo Bassett is the most popular high school wrestler of all time, and for good reason. He’s a U17 World Champion, 3-time PA state champion, 4-time Super 32 champion, U20 World bronze medalist, and is currently in Final X, waiting to wrestle off Real Woods for the senior world team spot at 65 kg (oh, and he’s also on the U20 and U23 world teams this year). Bo has more hype than anyone who has ever entered college wrestling, and I can’t wait to see how he lives up to it next year at Virginia Tech.

3. Caleb Henson, Virginia Tech – 149

Staying in Blacksburg with Caleb Henson, who is returning to college wrestling after redshirting last year. Henson is a 3-time All-American who has placed 5th, 1st, and 2nd in his three years as a Hokie. As an NCAA champion, he has to be high on this list, but what makes it even better is the depth at 149 pounds this year. Henson will be battling for another NCAA title alongside Sergio Vega, Aden Valencia, Shayne Van Ness, and potentially Jesse Mendez. That’s 4 NCAA champions in one weight class – could this be the best weight of all time!?

4. Dreshaun Ross, Oklahoma State – 285

Now this is where my opinion really starts to affect the order of wrestlers on this list. I think Dreshaun Ross has the potential to be an NCAA Champion at heavyweight this year. When was the last time that was done by a true freshman at heavyweight? Now, I did make this list before David Taylor announced that All-American Konner Doucet has another year of eligibility. I’m going to stick to my guns though here and keep Ross at #4. I think he’s that good, and if he’s in the lineup over Doucet, he has the potential to win a wide-open heavyweight field that won’t have 6 of last year’s 8 All-Americans (only Ben Kueter and Christian Carroll return). … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/16122994-top-50-college-newcomers-for-the-2026-27-ncaa-wrestling-season?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 28, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

Eight Athletes, One Team Inducted Into CSC Hall of Fame

CHADRON, Neb. – Eight former Chadron State College athletes, plus the 1996 football team, will be inducted into the Eagles’ Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, September 25, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the program set to start at 7 p.m. Ticket purchase links will be available soon.
Comprising the individual CSC Hall of Fame Class of 2026 are three football players – Chance Galey, Aaron Ide and Shaine Odell – plus track and field standouts Brad Gamble and Jessica Horsley, softball players Katie Bolin Ackermann and Jamie Mazankowski Hughes and men’s wrestler Jimmy Savala.
The football players concluded their careers in 2008 after the Eagles had won 35 of 39 games during a three-year span that included three conference championships, a playoff game victory each year and a top 10 national ranking each season. 
Galey, a Crawford, Nebraska native, spent three years as the starting center while the Eagles averaged 409 yards of total offense. Galey, a team captain, was both First-Team All-RMAC and Division II All-Nebraska, as well as First-Team Football Gazette and First Team Daktronics All-Region. In addition, Galey was First-Team All-RMAC Academic twice. 
Ide, who hails from Holdrege, Nebraska, was a defensive tackle who took part in 110 tackles, including 16 quarterback sacks. He was First-Team All-RMAC and All-Nebraska and Second-Team All-Region as both a junior and a senior. In addition, Ide graduated with a 3.9 grade point average, was First-Team All-RMAC Academic twice and was Second-Team Academic All-American as a senior. 
Odell, a defensive end from Camp Cook, S.D., joined the Eagles as a junior and started all 13 games in both 2007 and 2008. Odell had 89 tackles, 27 of them for loss, including 14 sacks over his two years as an Eagle. Odell earned First-Team All-RMAC and Second-Team All-Region during his senior season and was First-Team Academic All-District twice. Odell also was the Eagles’ heavyweight wrestler for three years, qualifying for the NCAA National Tournament in 2007.
Gamble only competed for Chadron State for one year, but made it count. … more at … https://chadroneagles.com/news/2026/7/27/general-eight-athletes-one-team-inducted-into-csc-hall-of-fame-2026.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 8, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

2026 App State Athletics Hall of Fame Class Announced

BOONE, N.C. — App State’s Former Athletes Association has announced the 2026 App State Athletics Hall of Fame class.  
In alphabetical order, this year’s inductees will be Kyle Blevins (Wrestling – 2008-12), Hector Crespo (Baseball – 2010-13), John Fitch (Men’s Basketball – 1978-82), KT Stovall (Football – 2000-03) and Maryah Sydnor (Women’s Basketball – 2011-15).
There also will be a Special Service Award given to Chip Sigmon, the head strength and conditioning coach at App State from 1984-90.  
This is the 51st class in the history of the App State Athletics Hall of Fame. The group will be inducted in a ceremony in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility on Friday, Sept. 18, the night before the Mountaineers’ home football game against Charlotte. Registration information for the Hall of Fame dinner will be released in the coming weeks.
 
2026 APP STATE ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Kyle Blevins (Wrestling – 2008-12)
Ranked second in App State history with 124 career wins, Blevins enters the Hall of Fame as one of the program’s most accomplished standouts. He made an immediate impact to earn Southern Conference All-Freshman honors and carried that momentum all the way to a historic senior season. After dropping his opening match at the 2012 NCAA Championships, Blevins stormed back and won six straight matches before placing fourth at 165 pounds, marking the highest finish by any unseeded wrestler that year. Alongside teammate and third-place finisher Austin Trotman, Blevins became part of the first duo in program history to earn All-America honors in the same season, capping his brilliant career with a 40-8 record (the most single-season wins in program history) and a Southern Conference Wrestler of the Year honor.
 
Hector Crespo (Baseball 2010-13)
The first Freshman All-American in program history, Crespo ranks as App State Baseball’s all-time leader … more at … https://appstatesports.com/news/2026/7/22/2026-app-state-athletics-hall-of-fame-class-announced.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

August 1, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

UNC-Pembroke Wrestling Adds Terrence Zaleski As Assistant Coach

By: Alex Pearce, Assistant Athletic Communications Director
PEMBROKE – UNC Pembroke wrestling head coach O.T. Johnson has announced the addition of Terrence Zaleski as assistant coach for the Braves.
A former wrestler at UNCP, Zaleski joins the Black & Gold after spending nine and a half years in the United State Marine Corps, where he was an Officer and served in multiple leadership roles and represented the Marine Corps as a high-level competitor. 
“I am excited to have Terrence return to UNCP on the coaching side, as he brings a great deal of experience from his time in the military and his time traveling the world to compete for the Marine Corps and Team USA,” said Johnson. “It’s an honor to have him back in the Black and Gold and I am looking forward to learning from him.”
Zaleski’s wrestling career spans more than a decade of national and international competition. He is a two-time Greco-Roman Olympic Trials Competitor, four-time Greco-Roman World Team Trials Competitor, and eight-time U.S. Open Greco-Roman All-American. His achievements include representing the United States as a 2023 Beach Wrestling World Team Member, winning both the 2020 Armed Forces Greco‑Roman and Freestyle Championships, earning bronze at the 2018 Lavrikov Tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia, and placing multiple times at ASICS University Nationals and FILA Junior national events.
During his military career, Zaleski served with the All-Marine Wrestling Team as both an athlete and a Public Affairs Officer, supporting athletes’ performance while managing organizational messaging, media production, and stakeholder engagement. He later held strategic leadership positions within Marine Corps Recruiting Command, directing regional marketing operations, managing multi‑million‑dollar programs, and building partnerships with educators, coaches, and community leaders across the eastern United States.
Before competing at the senior level, Zaleski built a strong collegiate foundation at UNC Pembroke, qualifying for the 2015 NCAA Division II Championships with a 39-5 record. His early success began in North Carolina high school wrestling, where he was the 2010 state champion for Havelock High School and 2009 state runner‑up for White Oak High School.
Zaleski returns to his alma mater to pursue his Master’s in Social Work, and brings a coaching philosophy … more at … https://uncpbraves.com/news/2026/5/26/wrestling-adds-terrence-zaleski-as-assistant-coach.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

June 20, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

South Dakota State University MOURNS THE PASSING OF COACH FRANK KURTENBACH

South Dakota State Athletics is mourning the death of former student-athlete, head coach, and longtime benefactor Frank J. Kurtenbach, who passed away at the age of 88. 
Kurtenbach, a native of Dimock, South Dakota, leaves behind a legacy that spans generations of Jackrabbit student-athletes. His impact on SDSU wrestling helped transform the program into what it is today and will continue to shape its future. 
“Frank’s impact on South Dakota State wrestling goes far beyond his generosity. He valued building relationships, connecting people and supporting others,” said SDSU wrestling head coach Damion Hahn. “His legacy isn’t just measured in his contributions, but in the lives he helped shape. That support will continue to carry future Jackrabbit wrestlers forward for years to come.” 
Kurtenbach arrived at South Dakota State in the fall of 1957 and competed in football and wrestling during his time as a student-athlete, launching a lifelong connection to the university. 
After his competitive career, Kurtenbach returned to lead the Jackrabbit wrestling program during the 1968-69 season. In his lone year at the helm, he guided SDSU to an impressive 11-2 dual record and a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, cementing his place in program history. 
Kurtenbach’s commitment to SDSU extended far beyond his competition and coaching tenure. During visits back to campus, he noticed that the wrestling facilities had changed little since his days as a student-athlete. Motivated to elevate the program he loved, Kurtenbach provided the lead gift for what would become the Kurtenbach Family Wrestling Center, a game-changing facility that helped propel SDSU wrestling onto the national stage. His generosity set a new standard for the program’s infrastructure and continues to benefit current and future Jackrabbits. 
“Our thoughts are with the Kurtenbach family with the passing of Frank,” said Justin Sell, SDSU Director of Athletics. “Frank has had a tremendous influence on SDSU from his time as a student-athlete and as a longtime supporter of Jackrabbit athletics. His … more at … https://gojacks.com/news/2026/6/1/wrestling-sdsu-mourns-the-passing-of-frank-kurtenbach?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

June 16, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

Induction for The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum – Wrestlers of the Year Presentation

(above: Faith Bane & Sara Koenig)

(above: Sly Bentley & Martin Fleming)

2026 Tricia Saunders Award: Faith Bane – New Bern High School                        
Competing at 145 pounds, Bane has been ranked in the top five nationally by USA Wrestling and FloWrestling. She is a three-time regional champion and three-time state qualifier in North Carolina. Bane captured the 2024 state championship and finished runner-up in 2025. In 2026, she advanced to the state semifinals before being forced to withdraw due to an injury.

Bane has achieved success on the national level in freestyle and folkstyle. She is a two-time North Carolina freestyle state champion and a three-time National High School Coaches Association All-American. She was runner-up at NHSCA championships 2024 and champion in 2025. She earned All-American honors at the USA Wrestling US Open High School Showcase, finishing 3rd.  In 2025, she placed fifth at the Fargo Junior Nationals and earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish at Super 32 Challenge. She also finished third at the prestigious Beast of the East tournament in Delaware this past season.

In addition to her high school accomplishments, Bane has competed in four college open tournaments, reaching the finals twice against collegiate competition. She also earned varsity letters in track and field during her freshman and sophomore years. A member of the National Technical Honor Society, Bane carries a 3.2 GPA while balancing a demanding schedule.  Bane will continue wrestling at Life University and will study Sport Health Science

2026 Dave Schultz Award: Bentley Sly – Stuart Cramer High School        
Sly wrapped up a stellar high school career by becoming just the 15th wrestler in NCHSAA history to win four state titles. His 2026 title run was a dominant 3-0 performance at the state tournament with two pins and a technical fall without surrendering a single point. His career record in high school is 210–6. Sly was named Big South Wrestler of the Year four times, earned team MVP honors from 2023 to 2026, was named Stuart Cramer’s male underclassman athlete of the year, and served as a four-year team captain.

On the national stage, Sly is a three-time NHSCA All-American, highlighted by a runner-up finish this past April. He also finished 3rd at NHSCA Nationals in 2025 and 6th in 2024. In 2025, Sly boasted a 4th-place finish at Super 32, 4th place at the Walsh Ironman, and a 6–2 performance at Fargo Junior Nationals.  Sly reached the blood round at Fargo Junior Nationals in 2024. 

Off the mat Sly maintains a 3.9 GPA and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society and Beta Club. He volunteers as a coach at youth clinics and tournaments, giving back to the wrestling community. He will continue his wrestling career at Appalachian State University and will major in Risk Management & Insurance.

June 1, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

The Citadel Announces Tim McCall as Wrestling Head Coach

CHARLESTON, S.C. – After conducting a nationwide search throughout the offseason, The Citadel officially named Tim McCall as the Bulldogs’ new wrestling head coach Wednesday afternoon. A former standout and two-time NCAA qualifier at the University of Wisconsin, McCall joins the program following a two-year stint at Utah Valley as the head assistant.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to lead the wrestling program at The Citadel,” McCall said. “This is a place built on discipline, toughness and tradition, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to pour into these young men both on and off the mat. My goal is to build on the strong history and foundation already established here while developing a culture centered around accountability, hard work and belief in one another. I can’t wait to get to work with this team, connect with the alumni and community and help lead this program into its next chapter.”
Led by Senior Associate Athletic Director Rachel Fineberg, the search committee conducted an exhaustive evaluation of a highly competitive pool of candidates, selecting McCall based on his ‘vision, character and proven track record of success, all which perfectly align with the mission of The Citadel and the culture of the wrestling program.’
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach McCall, Beth and their children to The Citadel,” said Art Chase, The Citadel Director of Athletics. “Tim’s competitive spirit, value system and proven coaching acumen will continue to push The Citadel wrestling forward. Rachel [Fineberg] and I are confident he will establish a championship culture that will provide a tremendous opportunity for the young men who choose this dynamic path to flourish academically, athletically and socially. We firmly believe our student-athletes will be the beneficiaries of Tim’s intentional commitment to developing each individual both on and off the wrestling mat.
“The passion and pride throughout the program have never been stronger, and we’re grateful for the support from so many individuals, especially General Mike Regner and Coach Ed Steers, who continue to dedicate their time and energy to elevate our standards. Lastly, we are indebted to Coach Ryan LeBlanc and Coach Luke Welch for their tireless leadership while raising the profile of the program.”
Throughout his tenure with Utah Valley, McCall served as a guiding force within the program as the Wolverines garnered national acclaim over the past two years, notably qualifying five NCAA wrestlers for the NCAA Championships during the 2025-26 campaign — good for the second-most in UVU history — while also knocking off No. 14 Stanford in an early-season dual. The year prior, McCall worked directly with the Wolverines’ sixth-ever All-American Terrell Barraclough — advanced into the 165 lbs quarterfinals of the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships — while Utah Valley picked up a pair of victories over nationally-ranked opponents No. 23 CSU Bakersfield and No. 23 Oregon State.
Further, he helped foster a balanced environment for student-athletes with 13 Wolverines securing Scholar All-American recognition via the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) — including a team-record nine for the 2025-26 season — while 18 earned distinction as Big 12 All-Academic honorees. As a unit, the program maintained a 3.45 GPA during the 2024-25 season as well as a 3.65 GPA the following year, both good for top 10 marks nationally.
Prior to joining Utah Valley, McCall spent the previous nine years working in and around the wrestling program at North Carolina State, initially starting out as a regional training center athlete and international competitor with the Wolfpack RTC — an extension of USA Wrestling — in 2015 before moving into an assistant coach role ahead of the 2019-20 campaign. As part of the former, he won the 2017 Henri Deglane Challenge and finished as the runner-up at both the 2016 Bill Farrell and the 2018 Dave Schulz tournaments. Further, McCall claimed third at the 2018 World Team Trials while adding a second-place finish at the 2019 Grand Prix of France / Henri Deglane Challenge. … more at … https://citadelsports.com/news/2026/5/20/the-citadel-announces-tim-mccall-as-wrestling-head-coach.aspx

May 31, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

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