Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Cornell Wrestling Earns Three Fifth Place Finishes at the 2025 NCAA Championships

PHILIDELPHIA, Pa. – Cornell wrestling ends the 2025 NCAA Championships with three fifth place finishes and three All-American in Meyer ShapiroSimon Ruiz and Chris Foca.
SESSION FIVE ACTION
With only three wrestlers remaining, Cornell charged into the consolation semifinals with determination and earned three fifth place finishes.
No. 6 Chris Foca went a round with No. 4 Dustin Plott of Oklahoma State and was held without score till the third period. Plott earned a reversal at the end of the second period to take a 2-0 lead. Foca threw in an escape early in the third but could not put up another point falling 2-1. The senior was able to move on to win one last bout in the Big Red singlet as he took fifth over No. 8 Jaxson Smith of Maryland. Foca wrestled with nothing to lose and racked up two takedowns and an escape in his 7-4 victory over Smith. The New Jersey wrestler ended his senior career 18-2 and 95-20 all time for the Big Red.
No.2 Meyer Shapiro met the 157 first place seed Tyler Kasak of Penn State first thing. The top seeds made a match out of it as they pursued the third-place match. Kasak earned the first points of the match with a takedown in the first period. Shapiro was in control of the second period scramble ultimately letting Kasak escape and add another point the board. The sophomore would add an escape of his own and be rewarded with a penalty point falling 4-2 to the number one seed and moving on to the fifth-place match. Shapiro added one more bonus bout to his records earning a 11-0 major decision win over No. Vinny Zerban of Northern Colorado. With a takedown in each period as well as an escape and riding time the two-time All-American walks away from the championship in fifth place.
Freshman No. 5 Simon Ruiz held No. 2 Levi Haines scoreless through the first two periods … more at … https://cornellbigred.com/news/2025/3/22/cornell-wrestling-earns-three-fifth-place-finishes-at-the-2025-ncaa-championships.aspx

March 29, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

Lovett, Taylor Earn National Titles in NU’s Historic Runner-Up Finish

PHILADELPHIA – Ridge Lovett (149) and Antrell Taylor (157) won NCAA titles on Saturday night, helping Nebraska wrestling to its best performance and finish ever at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The Huskers finished as NCAA team runner-up, with 117.0 points.
NU garnered eight All-America honorees at the tournament, with three semifinalists and two champions. Nebraska’s title winners bring home the first individual championship since 2011 (Jordan Borroughs) and the first two in a year since 1984 (Jim Scherr and Bill Scherr). 
The Big Red wrestlers put together 17 bonus-point wins for the fifth-highest point total by a runner-up in NCAA history. Prior to this season, the team’s best finish in standings and points was in 1993, finishing third with 79.5 points. The tournament run earned Head Coach Mark Manning the 2025 NCAA Tournament Coach of the Year award.
In the 149 championship match, No. 2 Lovett took on familiar foe and top-seed Caleb Henson (VT). The pair went scoreless through periods one and two, despite a last-second takedown ruling for Henson, which was reversed after further review. Lovett got on the board with an escape in the third period, which he protected for the final stretch to secure the NCAA title. The Husker became the first national champion since Burroughs in 2011 for NU, in what was his final collegiate bout and 101st victory. Lovett avenged his 1-2 record against Henson, and will bring the 149 title back to Lincoln as a four-time All-American.
At 157, No. 3 Taylor faced No. 8 Joey Blaze (PUR) for the fourth time in the past month, this one for the NCAA championship. Taylor took a late first period lead with a takedown and an escape in the second to head to the final two minutes up 4-0. Blaze got on the board with an escape and a penalty point. The Boilermaker could not get a takedown, and Taylor closed the seven minute stretch with a 4-2 victory. The sophomore’s title win marked the first time since 1984 (Jim Scherr and Bill Scherr) that the Huskers had two NCAA champions. Taylor claimed his second All-American honor, and his 50th career win in Philadelphia, and finished his sophomore season 27-4.
The first Husker on the finals mat, No. 1 Brock Hardy (141) met No. 3 Jesse Mendez (OHST) for the championship bout. Hardy got an early 5-0 lead with a takedown and two nearfall points, … more at … https://huskers.com/news/2025/03/23/lovett-taylor-earn-national-titles-in-nus-historic-runner-up-finish

March 28, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

Drexel Mourns the Loss of Jack Childs

PHILADELPHIA – Drexel Athletics is mourning the loss of Hall of Famer Jack Childs. Drexel’s wrestling coach for 35 years, Childs passed away on March 11, 2025.
Childs guided the wrestling program at Drexel from 1976 until his retirement in 2011. He retired as the active Division I leader in career coaching wins (421). While on the bench in University City, Childs posted 25 seasons in which his teams won 10 or more matches and he led the Dragons to the 1985 ECWA championship.
“Jack’s accomplishments and longevity as a coach at Drexel were unmatched,” said Drexel Vice President, Director of Athletics & Recreation Maisha Kelly. “He impacted countless lives during his time leading the wrestling program and was a fixture within the greater Drexel community. It is with heavy hearts that we mourn his loss. Drexel extends its condolences to his wife Anne, their three children and the entire Childs’ family.”
A four-time recipient of the East Coast Wrestling Association Coach of the Year award, Childs was also named Colonial Athletic Association Co-Coach of the Year in 2002, the first season in which the Dragons competed in the conference. He served as president of the National Wrestling Coaches Association and on the NWCA Executive Board. Over the course of his career, Childs amassed more than 500 wins at all levels of NCAA competition while coaching at both Stevens Tech and Drexel.
“Jack meant so much to the Drexel Wrestling program,” said Mert ’67 and Joanne ’69 Hill Head Coach of Wrestling Matt Azevedo. “He created a strong family culture that still exists to this day. Having him back on campus to celebrate the 1985 championship team meant a lot to our entire program and me. He has been a huge resource with his knowledge and expertise. Jack will be greatly missed among our Drexel community.”
Childs was inducted into the Janet E. and Barry C. Burkholder Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. … more at … https://drexeldragons.com/news/2025/3/13/wrestling-drexel-mourns-the-loss-of-jack-childs

March 17, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

2024-25 high school individual state champions list-March 4: 22 more states

Once again, USA Wrestling will publish regular updates on the 2024-25 state high school champions for both boys and girls.
Winning a state high school title is an amazing achievement for a high school student-athlete. We will post the champions from official state high school championships for boys, as well as the girls who have won official state high school titles, as well as the recognized state competitions which are not run by their state high school association. We will also post the team champions at the state level as available. As available, we will include the state champion’s year in school and final record.
As we move into March, the state high school season is still finishing strong, with 22 different states hosting championships.
This past week, the public school state championships that were held were : Arkansas Boys and Girls State Championships in Little Rock, the California Boys and Girls State Championships in Bakersfield, the Delaware Boys State Championships in Lewes, the Connecticut Boys State Open and Girls State Championships in New Haven, the Illinois Girls State Championships in Bloomington,  the Kansas Boys and Girls State Championships (5A-Overland Park, 4A-Wichita, 3A-Salina, 2A – Hays), the Kentucky Boys and Girls State Championships in Lexington, the Massachusetts Boys and Girls All-State Championships in Methuen, the Michigan Boys and Girls State Championships in Detroit, the Minnesota Boys and Girls State Championships in St. Paul, the Missouri Boys and Girls State Championships in Columbia, the New Hampshire Meet of Champions and Girls State Championships, the New York Boys and Girls State Championships in Albany, the Oklahoma Boys and Girls State Championships in Oklahoma City, the Oregon Boys and Girls State Championships in Portland, the Rhode Island Boys and Girls State Championships in Providence, the South Dakota Boys and Girls State Championships in Rapid City, the Vermont Boys State Championships in Barre, the Virginia Boys and Girls State Championships (Class 1 & 2 in Bristol, Class 3 in Lynchburg, Class 4, 5 & 6 in Virginia Beach, Girls in Glen Allen), the Wisconsin Boys and Girls State Championships in Madison, and the Wyoming Boys and Girls State Championships in Casper. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/march/04/2024-25-high-school-individual-state-champions-list-as-of-march-4-22-more-states-host-championships

March 7, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , , | Leave a comment

Big Ten Network presents coverage of 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, March 8-9

The 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, featuring five of the top 10 teams in the country, begins Saturday, March 8, on the Big Ten Network with complete coverage of college wrestling’s premier conference event.
From 11 a.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET Saturday, March 8, the opening session, including the first round and quarterfinal duals, will be broadcast on BTN and B1G+. Session two on Saturday night begins at 6 p.m. ET on B1G+, with coverage of the wrestlebacks and consolation matches. On B1G+, individual mat cameras, as well as the quad box, will allow viewers to customize their experience. Television coverage resumes for Saturday night’s semifinals on BTN from 8 p.m. ET to 10 p.m. ET.
Coverage continues Sunday, March 9, as session three begins at 1 p.m. ET on B1G+ with individual mat cameras for the consolation semifinals and seventh-place matches. At 5:30 p.m. ET, television coverage resumes as Big Ten champions are crowned on Big Ten Network, with third and fifth-place bouts airing on B1G+.
Big Ten Network veterans Shane SparksJim GibbonsTim Johnson and Zach Mackey will anchor the weekend television broadcasts on BTN.
Before the championships coverage kicks off, a new episode of On the Mat debuts at 10:30 a.m. ET, March 8. Ahead of the final session March 9, a new episode of B1G Live: Wrestling Pregame will air at 5 p.m. ET, as Rick Pizzo and Malik Amine preview the final rounds of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships. A new episode of B1G Wrestling in 60: B1G Championships debuts Monday, March 10, at 7 p.m. ET, recapping the action from the weekend. Additional coverage of all the wrestling championships will be included in new episodes of B1G Today and The B1G Show on the Big Ten Network, and a full schedule can be found at btn.com/shows. Throughout the championships, … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/march/03/big-ten-network-presents-coverage-of-2025-big-ten-wrestling-championships-march-8-9

March 5, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

2024-25 high school individual state champions list, as of Feb. 25: 17 more states host championships

Once again, USA Wrestling will publish regular updates on the 2024-25 state high school champions for both boys and girls.
Winning a state high school title is an amazing achievement for a high school student-athlete. We will post the champions from official state high school championships for boys, as well as the girls who have won official state high school titles, as well as the recognized state competitions which are not run by their state high school association. We will also post the team champions at the state level as available. As available, we will include the state champion’s year in school and final record. February is the busiest month for high school state wrestling championships.
This past week, the public school state championships that were held were Arizona Boys and Girls State Championships in Phoenix, the Connecticut Boys State Championships (LL in Trumbull, L in Wilton, M in North Haven, S in Danielson),  the Hawaii Boys and Girls State Championships in Honolulu, the Illinois Boys State Championships in Champaign, the Indiana Boys State Championships in Indianapolis, the Iowa Boys State Championships in Des Moines, the Maine All-Class Boys State Championships in Topsham, the Massachusetts Boys and Girls State Championships (Div. I in North Andover, Div. II in Salem, Div. III in Foxborough), the Nebraska Boys and Girls State Championships in Omaha, the New Hampshire Boys State Championships (Div. I in Londonderry, Div. II in Goffstown, Div. III in Peterborough), the New Mexico Boys and Girls State Championships in Rio Rancho, the North Carolina Boys and Girls State Championships in Greensboro, the North Dakota Boys and Girls State Championships in Fargo, the South Carolina Boys and Girls State Championships in Florence, the Tennessee Div. I Boys and the Tennessee Girls State Championships in Franklin … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/february/25/2024-25-high-school-individual-state-champions-list-as-of-feb-25-17-more-states-host-championships

February 27, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , , | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – Febr. 1st Girls Rankings 100-114 lbs.

Editor’s Notes; This season’s The TakeDown Report’s Top 120 best female wrestlers in eastern North Carolina rankings as of the end of the Regular season, more or less.. This is the 3rd season of TDR Top 12 rankings and awards for girl wrestlers and the 28th season for boys. We welcome input from coaches, fans and wrestlers. We will recognize the top wrestlers with engraved wooden plaques for the 21st year with the ‘duck under’ logo. We also have TDR T-Shirts with white print on black shirts for just $10!
The following columns are Rank, Weight, wrestler, school, graduation year, wins, losses, win percentage.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1100Johnson, IzabellaCroatan282520.926
2100Ockerman, AnnaCorinth-Holders251410.933
3100Van Pelt, CharlotteJacksonville283230.914
4100Cook, AspenNorth Brunswick251410.933
5100Ayala-Garcia, AngelicaManteo262350.821
6100Raygoza, IsabellaSouth Brunswick271560.714
7100Vee, AlainaSwansboro2825100.714
8100Fuller, RowanHeritage281030.769
10100Davis, BryleeRosewood281470.667
10100Huang, YesanLaney2621110.656
1107Reese, KhiryRosewood272301.000
2107Hijawi, ZainabSouth Central261720.895
3107Simmons, KatieLaney252430.889
4107Wallace, MakaylaAyden-Grifton272040.833
5107Morrow, BrookeBunn252260.786
6107McKethan, ColbyPasquotank County262270.759
7107Rivers, KayleeEastern Wayne27920.818
8107Kishea, ZoeWhite Oak27820.800
10107Moore, MadelineWake Forest262390.719
10107Cline, RyleighSwansboro2722100.688
1114Scales, AhriannaPasquotank County25321####
2114Miller, AdriannaSouthwest Onslow271410.933
3114Lebui, CatherineWest Brunswick281420.875
4114Lee, AngelNorth Lenoir272560.806
5114Vindigni, JulianneCleveland2735100.778
6114Smith, PeytonJacksonville2728100.737
7114Garcia, AbbyHavelock282690.743
8114Maddalena, SarahLejeune262280.733
10114Austin, AlissaFirst Flight281730.850
10114Durham, HelenWakefield2829110.725
10114Sanders, MajestyWake Forest262190.700
10114Smith, Kris’anaAyden-Gifton251570.682
10114Duhon, AverySwansboro2723120.657

February 6, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – Febr. 1st Girls Rankings 120-132 lbs.

Editor’s Notes; This season’s The TakeDown Report’s Top 120 best female wrestlers in eastern North Carolina rankings as of the end of the Regular season, more or less.. This is the 3rd season of TDR Top 12 rankings and awards for girl wrestlers and the 28th season for boys. We welcome input from coaches, fans and wrestlers. We will recognize the top wrestlers with engraved wooden plaques for the 21st year with the ‘duck under’ logo. We also have TDR T-Shirts with white print on black shirts for just $10!
The following columns are Rank, Weight, wrestler, school, graduation year, wins, losses, win percentage.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1120Vindigni, AddisonCleveland254301.000
2120Simpson, SkylaFirst Flight271601.000
3120Ready, OliviaHavelock253210.970
4120Odom, TriniteeHeidi Trask252330.885
5120Hirkala, MariellaSwansboro253360.846
6120Aguirre-Gomez, GabriellaManteo273080.789
8120Belangia, KoriCurrituck Co.272370.767
9120Shipley, HaydenJacksonville2826100.722
7120Ballard, ClaireNew Bern2730100.750
10120Swift, KenzingtonSwansboro27950.643
10120Sanchez, AdelaideLejeune281690.640
10120Delgado, OriannaFranklinton271590.625
15120Ipanaque, JulianaWake Forest281260.667
1126Snow, KennedleHavelock253830.927
2126Johnson, LaNauticaVance County261740.810
3126Kiser, MiaLaney262870.800
4126Holton, MyrezzaManteo262770.794
5126Whitley, MacynDixon262170.750
6126Brewer, AbigailCleveland2731130.705
7126Wiley, TrinitySouth Brunswick271870.720
8126Chavez, FernandaWest Craven2722100.688
10126Waybright, IsabelleLejeune251880.692
10126Wood, AlexandriaCurrituck Co.252090.690
1132Rodriquez, AnabelDixon253020.938
2132Murillo, BellaFike251510.938
3132Sommer, CharliWest Carteret271420.875
4132Almedia-Torres, KeyaraCleveland253490.791
5132Lavigne, MiaWhite Oak2731110.738
6132Martin, VioletRolesville251460.700
7132Beaver, MirellHeritage262470.774
8132Woolley, MichelleHeidi Trask251040.714
10132Vita, KrisaSouth Brunswick251040.714
10132Sapp, AshleighWest Brunswick281040.714
10132Almendarez, FerlaniNorth Pitt2725110.694
10132Collinis, AydelynSwansboro2826120.684
10132Potter, MikaylahCorinth-Holders281890.667
10132Simmons, MatildaSouth Central271050.667

February 6, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – Febr. 1st Girls Rankings 138-152 lbs.

Editor’s Notes; This season’s The TakeDown Report’s Top 120 best female wrestlers in eastern North Carolina rankings as of the end of the Regular season, more or less.. This is the 3rd season of TDR Top 12 rankings and awards for girl wrestlers and the 28th season for boys. We welcome input from coaches, fans and wrestlers. We will recognize the top wrestlers with engraved wooden plaques for the 21st year with the ‘duck under’ logo. We also have TDR T-Shirts with white print on black shirts for just $10!
The following columns are Rank, Weight, wrestler, school, graduation year, wins, losses, win percentage.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1138Ross, Ay’SeanteLaney25291####
2138Hall, LaurenHeidi Trask262001.000
3138Ross, CeliaDixon253560.854
4138Campbell, IsabellaHavelock252960.829
5138Vargus, GabrielaLejeune252350.821
6138Padilla, LexiWest Craven281650.762
7138McCoy, JamesonRosewood282080.714
8138Stonebraker, ClaireCleveland2525150.625
1145Bane, FaithNew Bern26320####
2145Milbery, MaggieSwansboro252530.893
3145Vann, JaelahEast Carteret272550.833
4145Outlaw, ImariAyden-Grifton251830.857
5145Jefferson, KimoraFranklinton251750.773
6145Disbennett, GiovannaDixon252570.781
7145Simmons,  SydneyLaney2626110.703
8145Zatlin, RyleeLejeune251970.731
10145Hankins, Ma’LayshaNorth Pitt261890.667
10145Guzman, LeahCleveland2522120.647
1152Fraser, ToriNorth Pitt26221####
2152Pollock,  ElainaLaney252540.862
3152Tellez, LailaHavelock283470.829
4152Dellinger, HaleighFairmont262130.875
5152Barrera, TalianaDixon272860.824
6152Boychuck, EmmaSwansboro272690.743
7152O’Neal, Jah-QuierrahFike251740.810
8152Mitchell, ZedyaSouth Central261540.789
10152Anderson, TaylorEast Carteret28601.000
10152Reyes, AshleyBunn261960.760
10152Fuentes, CindyWest Brunswick271240.750
10152Gomez, MayalinaCleveland2720100.667

February 6, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | | Leave a comment

Face of Paulsboro wrestling, head coach Paul Morina earns lofty milestone

PAULSBORO – Paul Morina says there’s more to wrestling than just victories and titles.
The legendary coach of the Paulsboro High School wrestling team points to something much more important. “You don’t worry about the wins and losses,” Morina said. “You worry about the process and try to develop the kids to be the best they can be. You try to develop them into good wrestlers and become good people. They learn discipline and how to work hard. Those are the things that you have to concentrate on (as a coach). “If you do that, the other things will fall into place.”
For four decades, plenty of things have fallen into place for Morina, the face of Paulsboro wrestling and an icon in South Jersey wrestling.
On Monday, Morina reached an impressive milestone – career coaching win No. 800 – as Paulsboro pinned a 39-31 decision on visiting Gloucester in a Colonial Conference meet.
A large group of fans came out to support Morina, who boasts a career record of 800-59-4 with 34 state titles and 43 sectional crowns. Morina needs two more wins to tie the state record held by Stan Woods, who won 802 meets over his 57-year coaching career that included 55 seasons at Emerson-Park Ridge. … more at … https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/sports/high-school/wrestling/2025/01/27/paulsboro-wrestling-head-coach-paul-morina-earns-800th-career-victory/77970265007/

February 4, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment