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
Mid-Plains Community College … Adds Wrestling at North Platte Campus
Mid-Plains Community College will operate under a $63.5 million budget for 2026-27 after the Board of Governors approved the budget and a $5.79 million property tax request Wednesday night.
The board approved a property tax request of $5,791,384 and the 2026-27 budget, which includes expenses and transfers totaling $63,492,004.
No members of the public spoke during either of the two public hearings held before the meeting on the property tax request or the college’s budget.
MPCC President Ryan Purdy said the college’s property tax situation has changed substantially over the past three years. “Over the past three years, our property taxes have went from that $0.08 levy down to a $0.02 levy with the future fund going on,” Purdy said.
He said MPCC previously collected roughly $17 million in property taxes, compared with approximately $5.7 million under the current system.
Purdy said the current capital levy is particularly important because it is essentially the college’s funding source for capital projects across its campuses. “We get the capital fund, which is $5.7 million on a $201 million physical plant across all of our campuses,” Purdy said. “And anything that won’t cover, then we have to go privately fundraising.”
Purdy also addressed the more than $22.7 million in unused budget authority the board approved carrying forward from previous years.
He emphasized that the figure does not represent money sitting in a college bank account. “It is strictly authority,” Purdy said. “We don’t plan on using it. But if a new governor comes in or whatever, and they say we’re going back the way it was, then we would have the ability to shift it back to the way we were funded previously.”
The board also approved the addition of men’s and women’s intercollegiate wrestling at North Platte Community College beginning with the 2027-28 academic year.
Purdy said the decision is tied to the college’s broader strategic enrollment efforts and an effort to keep students from the MPCC service area close to home.
The college looked at athletic programs that are growing and have strong participation throughout its service area. Purdy said there are currently 29 boys wrestling programs and 25 girls wrestling programs in the MPCC service area. “Women’s wrestling is the fastest growing sport in collegiate athletics, regardless of division,” Purdy said. … more at … https://northplattepost.com/posts/6d228376-b1e5-4a32-95dc-3cf2a5101dc6?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
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
Presbyterian Women Bring A Balanced, Deep Team Into Season
Presbyterian has eight returning All-Americans and 10 national qualifiers on a team capable of winning a trophy at the 2027 NCAA Championships.
Presbyterian will always have the distinction of being the first school to add a Division I Women’s Wrestling program. That’s an important piece of history, but head coach Brian Vutianitis has built a team that is relevant at the highest level.
The Blue Hose finished fifth at the 2026 NCAA Championships, with 10 national qualifiers and six All-Americans.
The team was 27 points behind Grand Valley State for fourth at nationals (the final trophy spot), and 29 points ahead of Lehigh for fifth. They also finished fifth at the NWCA National Duals, including a 26-19 win over Lehigh on January 30.
Translation: Presbyterian was on its own island last season. They were way ahead of the pack, but out of contention for a trophy. The Blue Hose had a consistent top-to-bottom line-up with an All-American caliber wrestler at every weight, but they needed a finalist or two for a trophy run.
Vutianitis should feel optimistic about this season’s team. He has 10 returning NCAA qualifiers and eight returning All-Americans on a deep team that will require tough roster decisions at multiple weights. This team is good, and anyone who overlooks the Blue Hose will do so at their own peril.
The lightest two weights are the most interesting. Chloe Dearwester, a sixth-place finisher at nationals, is the obvious frontrunner for the 110-pound spot, but everything else is wide open. The absence of Sloane Kruger leaves a battle for 103, including newcomer Daylee Watson, who will vie for the spot.
Jenna Anderson (117) has a unique skill set and can give anyone she wrestles problems. Her memorable match against U23 World champion Sage Mortimer at the National Duals showed what she can do before a second-period injury default. She took time off, regrouped, and rebounded for a sixth-place finish at nationals, including tight consolation matches against Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) and Carleigh Czerneski (Adrian).
The next three weights are where Presbyterian can gain ground. Alyssa Mahan finished eighth at 124, and Kassey Daugherty (131) and … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/16151483-presbyterian-women-bring-a-balanced-deep-team-into-season?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Beyond Wrestling: von Savoye Finds Growth Through ACC Experiences
By: Courtney Hicks, Duke Athletics Communications Summer Intern
DURHAM, N.C.– Student-athletes across the ACC gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, June 24-26 for the fourth annual ACC Career Trek, a professional development event designed to connect student-athletes with industry leaders and explore career opportunities beyond college athletics.
Throughout the three-day program, participants expanded their professional networks by meeting with representatives from 12 companies, participating in six industry panels, and gaining firsthand insight into what employers value in future candidates. Through hands-on experiences, panel discussions, and networking conversations, student-athletes explored a variety of career paths while developing skills to prepare for life after graduation.
Shortly after the ACC Career Trek, the ACC Unity Tour brought student-athletes, coaches and administrators to Washington, D.C., for a leadership-focused experience centered on community engagement, collaboration and service. Participants met with policymakers, historians, and community leaders while visiting historic landmarks and exploring ways to create meaningful change within their communities.
Redshirt junior wrestler Spencer von Savoye represented Duke at both the Career Trek and the Unity Tour. As a first-generation student navigating career opportunities for the first time, he gained valuable perspectives on professional development and leadership. “Being able to have the experience to talk to those employers, hear what they’re looking for and understand what I need to do to position myself for success was really valuable for me because I didn’t have that prior knowledge and I didn’t really know where to find it either,” von Savoye said. “It gave me the push I needed to take that step, reach out to those people, build those connections and make those calls.”
While the Career Trek emphasized professional networking and career exploration, the Unity Tour offered a different outlook, encouraging participants to engage with history, public service and leadership. Student-athletes toured Washington, D.C.’s historic landmarks, met with policy leaders and participated in community outreach, giving them a chance to reflect on their roles as leaders beyond athletics. “To be able to see the Declaration of Independence, … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2026/7/29/beyond-wrestling-von-savoye-finds-growth-through-acc-experiences?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
The High School On SI Boys Postseason National Wrestling Rankings Set the Stage for Fargo
The final rankings before USA Wrestling’s 16U and Junior Nationals feature weight-class shakeups, a new No. 1 at 157 pounds and the usual Fargo surprises.
We have reached the end of the line. The 2026 Boys Postseason National Wrestling Rankings period will come to a close over the next week at the Fargodome in North Dakota at USA Wrestling’s 16U and Junior Nationals, aka “Fargo.” Boys Freestyle begins on Friday and concludes on Sunday with both divisions competing on all three days. Greco Roman follows that and then the ladies will close out the action.
State rosters were released over the last few weeks, and while there can still be changes at the scale – this is what it looks like heading into Fargo.
Weight Changes Shake Up the Rankings
We moved folks around based on their listed weight on the rosters. Last year we recall scrambling on the first day of boys’ competition to make last-minute changes that were presented at the scales. Weight changes are permitted at weigh in and every year there are at least a handful or more who do so.
A New No. 1 at 157 Pounds
The results of the weight class shuffle due to roster construction gives us a new number one at 157 pounds in Lake Highland Prep, Florida’s Charlie DeSena, who moved up from 150 pounds, where he was ranked second. The previous number one at 157, Melvin Miller (Bishop McCort, Pennsylvania) has migrated up to 165 pounds. Miller is ranked second behind Delbarton, New Jersey’s Jayden James, who defeated him at Ironman.
We will not be getting a rematch at Fargo, though, as James is sitting it out as he prepares for what he hopes will be another gold medal run at the World Championships later this summer. In fact, most of the wrestlers who qualified for the World Team are skipping Fargo.
No Penalty for Sitting Out
There are a lot of stars missing from the Fargo field. Between the World Team members, graduating seniors just taking the summer off, and others choosing different events to attend, a lot of the top ten guys are not registered for Fargo.
One thing we’ve never done and will not start now, is penalizing wrestlers for not competing. If you’ve made your way into our rankings, you will stay there unless you are forced out by your own actions or those of others. While inactivity doesn’t necessarily hurt you, it can lead to a tumble down the ranks as others emerge. … more at … https://www.si.com/high-school/wrestling/the-high-school-on-si-boys-postseason-national-wrestling-rankings-set-the-stage-for-fargo-01kx1n587n0n?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Former White Oak assistant Dave Morgan tabbed as Lackawanna’s men’s wrestling coach
Lackawanna College is bringing in a former national champion and Scranton native to its athletic department, as the school prepares to compete in NCAA Division II and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
Dave Morgan was recently hired as the Falcons’ men’s wrestling coach, replacing John Fox, who will continue to coach the women’s wrestling program.
“As we continue our transition to NCAA Division II and build a championship-level experience, Dave’s background in working closely with students and supporting both academic and personal development will be a tremendous asset,” Lackawanna athletic director Erik Larson said in a press release. “He understands the critical role athletics plays in complementing the work of our coaches, and his ability to connect with student-athletes will help foster a culture of accountability, growth and success both on the mat and in the classroom.”
A 2004 West Scranton graduate, Morgan was a two-time state medalist — fourth place as a sophomore and runner-up as a senior — and finished his high school wrestling career with 144 wins, which is still a program record.
After earning a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh and spending a year with the Panthers, Morgan transferred to King’s College and became a two-time Division III national champion (2007, 2008) and three-time conference champion, finishing his career with an 86-7 record.
Morgan started his coaching career at King’s as an assistant from 2008-2010, and later coached at Scranton High School alongside his brother, Jim, for four years. Then, Morgan built and coached a club program in southern North Carolina and was an assistant at White Oak High School.
Morgan not only has experience on the mat, but also in the cage — with his amateur MMA career starting in 2006. Four years later, he captured a title and entered the professional ranks. He had a 6-12 professional record, securing a belt in 2022.
After 10 years away from Scranton, Morgan returned … more at … https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/2026/07/08/local-college-morgan-tabbed-at-lackawannas-mens-wrestling-coach/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Induction for The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum – Bryan Tutterrow
May 17, 2026 · W.C. Friday Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
2026 honorees for “Lifetime Service to Wrestling”:
(Bryan Tuterrow and Mark Harris)
Bryan Tutterrow – Tutterrow is a Statesville native who attended North Iredell High School. Tutterrow was a four-sport athlete at North Iredell in baseball, wrestling, football, and track. Graduating from high school in 1978, he attended Appalachian State University, graduating in 1984 with a degree in mathematics education. He later earned a master’s degree in mathematics education from Appalachian State University in 1995.
Tutterrow dedicated 40 years to coaching high school wrestling, including 38 years as a head wrestling coach, in addition to coaching baseball and football. He began his head coaching career at West Iredell High School where he spent 11 seasons, won over 100 dual meets, and captured one conference championship. He returned to North Iredell High School in 1996, where he built one of the area’s most successful wrestling programs, winning more than 500 dual meets and four conference championships.
Over the course of his career, Tutterrow compiled 670 dual meet victories. His teams produced three individual state champions and 15 state finalists. In 2014, his North Iredell team finished as regional dual team runner-up and captured the regional tournament championship. Tutterrow was recognized five times as conference coach of the year in 1996, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014.
Beyond the high school level, Tutterrow was part of an effort to grow the sport locally. While at West Iredell, he helped establish the I-40/I-77 Wrestling League, which expanded wrestling opportunities throughout the region. Tutterrow is widely known in North Carolina as an outstanding person, coach, and mentor. His teams were consistently well-prepared, well-behaved, and difficult to beat. He positively impacted his student athletes and worked hard to improve and promote wrestling. He coached his sons Matthew and Jacob, both state medalists. Some of his former wrestlers, including Mike Carey (Fred T. Foard), his son Jacob (Cary), and Ritchie Houston (Madison, Georgia) went on to successful coaching careers of their own. Tutterow retired in April 2026, having worked for four decades as an educator in Iredell County.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame website. https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame
Iowa State Adds Women’s Wrestling As 18th Varsity Program
AMES, Iowa – Women’s wrestling will debut as Iowa State University’s 18th intercollegiate athletics program during the 2027-28 academic year, Endowed Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.
“Iowa State enjoys a rich wrestling tradition, and we believe the addition of women’s wrestling will afford tremendous opportunities for young women not only in Iowa, but around the country, to compete at the highest level in the sport,” Pollard said. “This is a great day for wrestling in the state of Iowa and at Iowa State University, and we look forward to growing a program under Coach Alli St. John that will build off the historic success of our men’s team.
“As we considered future opportunities for female athletes, it became clear that women’s wrestling offered Iowa State University the best combination of strategic fit, start-up efficiency and growth potential,” he added. “Women’s wrestling is recognized as one of the nation’s fastest growing sports at both the high school and collegiate level, and we are excited to help grow the sport for future generations of young women.”
Identified as an emerging sport in 2020 by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for all three divisions, the NCAA held its first national championship in the sport last month in Coralville, Iowa. Currently, there are 113 NCAA members that sponsor wrestling as a varsity sport, including six at the Division I level—Iowa, Lehigh, Delaware State, Lindenwood, Presbyterian and Sacred Heart with Kent State having announced plans to begin a program in 2027-28. Within the state of Iowa, there are 15 universities and colleges that currently sponsor the sport. “Women’s wrestling has been an Olympic sport since 2004 and is the fastest-growing sport for young women in our nation,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director upon the announcement that the sport would become the NCAA’s 91st championship in 2026.
At the high school level, 218 Iowa high schools sponsor women’s wrestling and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union held its fourth state championship … more at … https://cyclones.com/news/2026/4/16/athletics-iowa-state-adds-womens-wrestling-as-18th-varsity-program
Blades, Hikiji, Jimenez, Rodriguez and Welker named finalists for 2026 USA Wrestling Anthony-Maroulis Trophy
Five finalists have been selected for the 2026 USA Wrestling Anthony-Maroulis Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation’s best women’s college wrestler—Kennedy Blades of Iowa, Erin Hikiji of Providence, Audrey Jimenez of Lehigh, Cristelle Rodriguez of Doane and Kylie Welker of Iowa.
Blades, Jimenez and Welker were champions at the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling National Championships. Hikiji and Rodriguez earned national titles at the NAIA Women’s Wrestling Championships.
The award winner will be selected by a vote from three constituent groups—women’s college head coaches, national wrestling media and the fans. Each group accounts for one-third of the total vote.
Public voting is now open at usawrestlingevents.com/wcwoty and will run through Tuesday, March 31. The winner will be announced on Thursday, April 2.
Finalists were determined by the Anthony-Maroulis Trophy oversight committee, which includes representatives of USA Wrestling, college coaches, media, officials and past winners.
| The following criteria were considered when evaluating finalist candidates, using data from the 2025-26 season only:• Season record• Bonus percentage• Number of falls• Number of technical falls• Quality of competition• Integrity and sportsmanship• Impact on program and team success• Cultural impact on women’s college wrestling |
| The USA Wrestling Anthony-Maroulis Trophy is named after Victoria Anthony and Helen Maroulis, who are the first four-time women’s college national champions. Both women won a fourth WCWA national title in 2014 as teammates at Simon Fraser University, becoming the first wrestlers in history to achieve the feat.Previous winners of the award were Yelena Makoyed of North Central (2023), Adaugo Nwachukwu of William Penn (2024) and Kennedy Blades of Iowa (2025).USA Wrestling created the Anthony-Maroulis Trophy to elevate a new award for women’s college wrestling that has significant cultural impact seen with other college athletic awards, such as the Dan Hodge Trophy in men’s college wrestling and the Hesman Trophy in college football. |
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
