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Amateur Wrestling Reports

National Duals Invitational partners with FloSports and ESPN to deliver every match live

Groundbreaking $1 million event to stream all 28 duals, with the championship final airing on ESPNU at 6 p.m. CST Nov. 16.
The National Duals Invitational, a groundbreaking $1 million collegiate wrestling event sponsored by Paycom, has announced broadcast partnerships with FloSports and ESPN. All 28 duals will be carried live, giving fans nationwide access to every moment of the high-stakes tournament.
FloWrestling will stream 27 duals live from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nov. 15-16, 2025, complemented by coverage leading up to the tournament — including a special bracket-selection show, previews and team features. The championship final will air live on ESPNU at 6 p.m. CST on Sunday, Nov. 16, as the top two teams collide for the $200,000 grand prize.
To support the event, FloWrestling will host a bracket reveal show at 6 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, Oct. 7. The show will stream on FloWrestling and the FloWrestling YouTube, Facebook and X channels. “The National Duals Invitational is about growing the sport and giving it the stage it deserves,” said Matt Surber, tournament director. “By showcasing the excitement of the duals format and pairing it with unprecedented stakes, we’re creating a can’t-miss experience for wrestlers and fans. Partnering with FloWrestling and ESPN ensures that this event reaches the widest possible audience.”
The 16-team field reflects both tradition and depth in college wrestling. Cornell, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, NC State, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech earned automatic bids by finishing in the top 12 at the 2025 NCAA Championships. They will be joined by Arizona State, Lehigh, Little Rock, Missouri and Wyoming, who were randomly selected from programs finishing between 13-24. Together, the teams have more than 60 NCAA team titles and 450 individual national champions. “This is a massive moment for college wrestling and the passionate fans who have been hungry for a best-on-best dual championship event,” said FloSports CEO and co-founder Mark Floreani. … more at … https://nationaldualsinvitational.com/national-duals-invitational-partners-with-flosports-and-espn

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

Big Ten Network Announces 2025-26 Big Ten Wrestling Broadcast Schedule

Television coverage begins Nov. 14 with defending National Champions Penn State
The Big Ten Network today announced the 2025-26 Big Ten wrestling broadcast schedule, as the nation’s premier wrestling conference looks for a 19th consecutive NCAA Championship.
This season, 24 duals and coverage of the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships will air live on the Big Ten Network and the FOX Sports App, with more than 80 matchups airing on B1G+. Coverage begins Friday, Nov. 14, with defending National Champion No. 1 Penn State hosting No. 16 Oklahoma from University Park.
Conference wrestling on BTN begins Saturday, Jan. 10, with a matchup between No. 15 Rutgers and No. 1 Penn State at 4 p.m. ET, followed by a meeting between Maryland and Wisconsin on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m. ET.
The first doubleheader of the season on BTN kicks off with a battle between No. 1 Penn State and No. 4 Iowa on Friday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. ET. Following the top five dual, No. 2 Nebraska travels to take on No. 10 Minnesota in Minneapolis at 9 p.m. ET.
Throughout January and February, Friday night wrestling will be featured on BTN with primetime matchups between the best programs in the country, including a pair of tripleheaders on Jan. 23 and Jan. 30.
A meeting between Michigan State and Purdue at 5 p.m. ET, kicks off the first tripleheader on Jan. 23, followed by No. 5 Ohio State at No. 10 Minnesota at 7 p.m. ET, and concluding with No. 2 Nebraska hosting No. 4 Iowa at 9 p.m. ET. Coverage on Jan. 30 begins with Wisconsin at No. 5 Ohio State at 6 p.m. ET, leading into a battle between No. 2 Nebraska and No. 1 Penn State at 8 p.m. ET and finishes with Indiana taking on No. 13 Illinois at 10 p.m. ET.
To conclude the regular season conference schedule on BTN, Indiana hosts No. 2 Nebraska on Sunday, Feb. 15, at noon ET, followed by a matchup between No. 13 Illinois and Northwestern at 2 p.m. ET.
More than 80 additional matchups will be available on B1G+ , BTN’s subscription service for 2,700 more events, archives of classic games and original content. B1G+ is home to coverage of the Soldier Salute, the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships and supplemental coverage of the 2026 Big … more at … https://bigten.org/article/58764/

November 3, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

College Women’s Wrestling News – end of October

Iowa Women’s Wrestlers Set Sights on Inaugural NCAA Tourney on Home Turf
Coralville’s Xtream Arena will play host to the growing sport’s first NCAA championships in March.
he path to a national title will only get tougher. Iowa women’s wrestling coach Clarissa Chun embraces that reality as a natural byproduct of the sport’s rapid growth.
The Hawkeyes will be at the center of another milestone on the mat, March 6–7, 2026, when they host the inaugural women’s wrestling NCAA championships at Coralville’s Xtream Arena. “These are the things we work toward to not only grow as a sport, but to provide these young women opportunities to compete on a big stage,” says Chun. “This recognizes that they’re there, and there is enough competitiveness in the sport. It also fuels the opportunity for other programs to add women’s wrestling.”
Division I Expansion
Chun says Division I has ground to cover to keep pace with the rapid increase of Division II and Division III institutions offering the sport. Since the NCAA approved women’s wrestling for championship status last January, she has received calls from several Big Ten and Big 12 universities seeking advice on establishing programs of their own. Lehigh University became the sport’s sixth Division I varsity program in May, following historically Black college and university Delaware State. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State fields one of several prominent club teams hoping to make the jump.

NCAA Format Changes

Iowa seeks a third straight national title this season but has fewer opportunities to flex its depth at the championship level. … more at … https://magazine.foriowa.org/story.php?ed=true&storyid=2574
And …

When Will Oklahoma State Add A Women’s Wrestling Program?
Izzak Olejnik discusses his role with the Oklahoma State women’s club wrestling team, the future of the program, and John Smith’s coaching role.
Oklahoma State has a women’s club wrestling team with a roster of 30. Several top high school wrestlers arrived in Stillwater expecting the Cowgirls to become a sanctioned Division I program.
How close is that to happening?
Below are takeaways from a conversation with women’s club coach Izzak Olejnik about his role and the future of the program. Watch the entire interview with Olejnik above.

What’s Olejnik’s role with the women’s club team?

Olejnick transferred from Northern Illinois to Oklahoma State his senior season, finishing fifth at 165 for the Cowboys at the 2024 NCAA Championships. He continued to train with the RTC and was asked if he wanted to run a few of the women’s practices for the upstart women’s team.  “I knew I wanted to coach and this was a great opportunity to see where we can take it,” Olejnik said. “I started dedicating my time to the girls who were in the club. That’s how it all started and 30 girls later we have a full dual schedule and tournament schedule.”
Olejnik still works out with the Cowboy RTC, but is currently injured. 
“I’m helping out with the RTC but pretty much full-time with the Cowgirls. If you really want this to grow, you kind of have to be full time and fully locked into it. I’ve dedicated my time and efforts into Cowgirl wrestling.”

What’s John Smith’s role?

The Cowgirl wrestling team made waves when former men’s coach John Smith — a six-time World and Olympic champion — was added as a volunteer coach. Smith has been in the room almost daily.  “He’s been in the room a lot more than I thought … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14649730-when-will-oklahoma-state-add-a-womens-wrestling-program
And …

5 Women’s Wrestling Documentaries You Need To Watch
Here are five women’s wrestling documentaries you need to see, and how to watch.
This is the year of women’s wrestling documentaries. Here are five you need to watch — and how to watch. Scroll to the end for women’s documentaries available on Flo. 

HAWKEYES: The First Season with Iowa Women’s Wrestling

Experience college wrestling through the lens of the Iowa Hawkeyes as their women’s team makes their way through their very first season. This three part series will display college wrestling in a way that’s never been seen before. Meet the athletes and get to know their stories as they try to help guide the Hawkeyes to a national title.
All American

Women’s wrestling is more than a sport. It’s a movement.

That’s the tagline for Mark Altschul’s soon-to-be-released must-watch women’s wrestling documentary.  The film’s synopsis is this: “In this modern, coming-of-age documentary, Naomi, Jojo, and Arham grapple with economic divides, gender roles, and family dynamics while competing in the fastest-growing high school sport in the country: women’s wrestling.” All of the above is true, but that’s a surface-level description of a documentary that captures wrestling’s essence. Filmed over five years from 2017 to 2022, ‘All American’ provides an in-depth look into women’s wrestling, … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14650279-5-womens-wrestling-documentaries-you-need-to-watch

October 31, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

Bo Bassett Makes Super 32 History — But He Wasn’t the Only Four-Time Champ Crowned in Greensboro

Pennsylvania’s Bo Bassett became the first-ever four-time boys’ champion at the Super 32 Tournament, joining Maryland’s Taina Fernandez, who achieved the same milestone just minutes earlier. Several other stars, including Melvin Miller, Rocklin Zinkin and the Mills brothers, also left Greensboro with gold belts.
As the competition was whittled down on Saturday at the Super 32 Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, it led to the anticipation of Sunday’s stage being set for No. 1 Bo Bassett (Bishop McCort, Pennsylvania) to become the first ever four-time champ in the boy’s division.
History made twice at Super 32
We need to designate boys’ division specifically now because, in running order, shortly before Bassett’s bout came Maryland’s Taina Fernandez’s 138-pound final on the lady’s front. Fernandez’s 10-0 technical fall of Arizona’s No. 2 Morgan Lucio (Valiant Prep) made Fernandez the first ever four-time champ, with Bassett joining the club not long after her. Fernadez, a junior at Archbishop Spalding in Maryland, won a Super 32 Belt when she was an eighth grader. More coverage of her escapades can be found in our girls Super 32 article. … more a … https://www.si.com/high-school/wrestling/bo-bassett-makes-super-32-history-but-he-wasn-t-the-only-four-time-champ-crowned-in-greensboro-01k80wazacf1

High school wrestling star Bo Bassett to make Real American Freestyle debut at RAF3 in Chicago

High school wrestling star Bo Bassett signed with Real American Freestyle and will debut at RAF3 on Nov. 29 in Chicago, the company announced Friday.
Bassett, who is committed to Virginia Tech, has a 126-0 high school record in Pennsylvania with 120 bonus-point victories heading into his senior season. He claimed the U17 world title in 2021 and a U20 world bronze in 2024. “Real American Freestyle is where the best of the best face off, and I’m honored to be given the opportunity to compete this November,” Bassett said in a statement. “This is a great chance to wrestle the best senior level wrestlers in the world, and I’m proud to be part of this organization. RAF is going to be the NFL or NBA of wrestling.”
Chad Bronstein, co-Founder and CEO of Real American Freestyle, said it’s not too early for the 19-year-old to compete at this level. … more at … https://apnews.com/article/wrestling-real-american-freestyle-702cfc1ef1fd2cd97c99a54b738d6757

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

Presbyterian College Men’s Wrestling Publishes 2025-26 Slate

CLINTON, S.C. – Presbyterian College men’s wrestling head coach Mark Cody has ushered in the 2025-26 competition schedule for his seventh season as the program’s one and only director. The upcoming campaign will feature 13 duals and four regular season tournaments.
The Blue Hose will begin a new path on Sunday, November 2 at the Southeast Open, hosted by Virginia Tech.
PC turns over a new leaf this winter, in possession of their biggest-ever roster that includes 16 new student-athletes and 33 wrestlers in total.
A member of the Southern Conference since the team’s inception in 2019, Presby won five matches at last spring’s league championships. They’ll wrestle seven opponents at Templeton Gym this season, including three SoCon opponents.
NOVEMBER + DECEMBER
– Coach Cody’s club will be in a bracket system for the season-opener in 10 days, headed to Virginia for the Southeast Open. PC wrestled in one regular-season tourney last season, also held in November.
– The Blue Hose men’s and women’s wrestling teams will collaborate on the 15th for the annual Throwdown on the Yorktown, a series of neutral duals in Charleston on the deck of a naval ship.
– Aboard the USS Yorktown, Presbyterian will go head-to-head with Campbell in the first of eight SoCon matches for the year. The action begins at three o’clock.- PC will travel to Sin City on December 5 and 6 for the Cliff Keen Invitational, another tournament from fabulous Las Vegas.
– The Blue Hose will make their first appearance at Templeton on the 15th, a first-time meeting with Cal Baptist on a Monday night.
– One week before Christmas, Presbyterian will entertain Air Force, Franklin & Marshall, and conference rival Davidson in a four-way of duals that starts at 9:00 AM.
– PC closes the book on the 2025 calendar by entering in the famed Midlands Championships … more at … https://gobluehose.com/news/2025/10/23/mens-wrestling-mens-wrestling-publishes-2025-26-slate.aspx

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

History Was Made at the 2025 Super 32

As someone who enjoys the historical aspect of our sport, it was a must to be in Greensboro, North Carolina over the weekend for the latest edition of the Super 32. For a tournament that dates back to the 1990’s and has featured countless NCAA All-Americans, national champions, and even Olympic medalists, the Super 32 never had a wrestler win four championships at the high school level. Now there are two. Bo Bassett and Taina Fernandez both dominated their way through Super 32 brackets over the weekend and won their fourth championship belt. In her five bouts, Fernandez only was pushed past the two-minute mark on one occasion. She only allowed a single point while scoring 40 of her own.
Bassett made the finals after six straight tech falls. In the championship match, he defeated Penn commit, Charlie DeSena, via a 13-4 major decision. Two of Bassett’s titles have come over wrestlers that either already earned, or would go on to win, Super 32 titles themselves.
The tournament organizers were prepared in the event that Bassett and Fernandez would win their fourth titles and hand personalized statues made of the two competitors. While each was wrestling in the finals, the tournament stopped so that fans could direct the fullest extent of their attention to these young stars and their attempt at chasing history.
The girls portion of this tournament has only been in existence since 2017, so there isn’t as much history associated with that competition. But for Bassett to be the four-time, in today’s wrestling landscape is quite remarkable. The quality of wrestling and the readiness of young wrestlers is at a much higher level today compared to the early 2000’s.
This should be a high school season full of such milestones for Bassett. He is also on pace to win his fourth title at the Ironman and Powerade. … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/high-school/history-was-made-at-the-2025-super-32-r100583/

October 23, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

A Look At The Schedule For The 2025 Defense Soap Super 32 Challenge

Check out the complete schedule for the 2025 Defense Soap Super 32 Challenge, set for Oct. 18-19 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
If you’re a fan of folkstyle wrestling and want a glimpse of the top young wrestlers in the nation, the Defense Soap Super 32 Challenge is a can’t-miss event that absolutely should be on your radar.
Not only will the 2025 event feature many of the top high school athletes in the country – including 200 nationally ranked boys and more than 150 nationally ranked girls – the two-day tournament also serves as a crystal ball of sorts, as the field will include future stars just now competing in the Elementary School 8 & Under Division.
This year, the Super 32 Challenge will be held Oct. 18-19 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, and we’ve got the schedule for you.

All of the action from the Greensboro Coliseum will be streamed live on FloWrestling and the FloSports app, and you’ll also be able to check out news, notes, brackets, highlights, replays and interviews on both platforms.
Matches will take place throughout the day across more than two dozen mats, with a dozen or more weight classifications for almost all of the age groups. 
Whether you have a favorite wrestler or category, or you’re curious about the future of the sport, remember to tune in to see who will claim this year’s title. 
Here is the complete schedule for the weekend. FloWrestling coverage on both days will begin at 8 a.m. Eastern.
2025 Defense Soap Super 32 Challenge Competition Schedule
All Times Eastern
Friday, Oct. 17
2 p.m. – Coliseum doors open … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14624760-a-look-at-the-schedule-for-the-2025-defense-soap-super-32-challenge

October 16, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

Ranking Individual Transfers for the 2025-26 Season

The news in the offseason never seemed to stop and much of it centered around the transfer portal. While there are gripes about it (and many are understandable), it does add an element of intrigue around each collegiate season. Plenty of familiar faces have traded singlets over the past few months.
The transfer portal isn’t just limited to a few select teams. The five teams atop InterMat’s preseason tournament rankings all had at least one major addition via the portal. Other teams hope to crash that party, potentially led by additions of their own.
This year’s crop of transfers was about as good as any ever. There were two national champions who switched teams. How about a four-time All-American transfer? Or some young stars with multiple years of eligibility remaining. Yes, yes, and yes. All of the above were in and out of the portal this offseason.
And since everyone loves a good set of rankings. We’ve ranked the wrestlers that have swapped teams via the portal leading into the 2025-26 season. The criteria for these rankings were potential impact on the upcoming season and beyond. Wrestlers who have more than one year of eligibility jumped over some more accomplished wrestlers with only one year remaining.

1. AJ Ferrari: Nebraska (from CSU Bakersfield)
Even up a weight class, Ferrari will be a national title contender at 285 lbs. The 2021 NCAA champion, returned to college wrestling with Bakersfield and finished third in the nation at 197 lbs. The returning NCAA runner-up Cornhuskers could roll out a lineup that includes seven returning All-Americans and two past NCAA champions. There’s also a chance that Ferrari could have another year of eligibility after the 2025-26 campaign.

2. Rocco Welsh: Penn State (from Oklahoma State)
Going from Zack Ryder to Rocco Welsh, Penn State has a wrestler who has made the NCAA finals once (in his only previous appearance at nationals). He still … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/ranking-individual-transfers-for-the-2025-26-season-r100552/

October 15, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

Head Coach Nick Mitchell Departs From Grand View University

The Winningest Coach in NAIA Wrestling History
Grand View University Announces the Departure of Nick Mitchell Following His Historic Tenure as Head Wrestling Coach
The winningest coach in NAIA wrestling history led the Vikings to 13 national titles, 157 All-Americans, and the longest dual win streak in collegiate history.
DES MOINES, IOWA – Grand View University announced today the departure of Head Wrestling Coach Nick Mitchell, after a historic tenure that has set the standard for excellence in collegiate wrestling. After 17 seasons leading the Vikings, Mitchell will step away from coaching to pursue an opportunity outside of collegiate athletics. “It is hard to put into words what Coach Mitchell has done for our wrestling program and for Grand View University Athletics,” said Troy Plummer, Athletic Director. “He steps away as the most successful men’s wrestling coach in NAIA history and will leave behind a legacy of remarkable achievement. Nick has been an incredible leader, mentor, and ambassador for Grand View University. His vision and relentless commitment to a championship lifestyle elevated not only our men’s wrestling program but also the entire culture of Grand View Athletics. While we are sad to see him go, we are deeply grateful for the foundation of excellence and integrity he built here. Nick will always be a valued member of the Viking family, and we wish him nothing but the best in his next chapter.”
Mitchell’s impact on Grand View Wrestling and the sport as a whole is unmatched. During his 17 years as head coach, he compiled a staggering 205-12 dual record and guided the Vikings to 13 NAIA National Championships in the last 14 years, along with 12 NWCA National Dual Titles, 7 Central Region National Qualifier Championships, and 9 Heart of America Conference titles. Under his leadership, Grand View produced 157 All-Americans and 45 NAIA Individual National Champions, both NAIA records. His teams also hold the NAIA National Championship Team Scoring Record with 234.5 points in 2017 and achieved the longest collegiate dual win streak in history with 162 consecutive victories from 2011 to 2022.
Mitchell’s personal accolades include being named the 2020 USA Wrestling Coach of the Year, six-time NWCA National Coach of the Year, and nine-time NAIA National Coach of the Year.
Mitchell shared, “As I reflect on the last 17 years at Grand View, … more at … https://gvvikings.com/news/2025/10/9/general-head-coach-nick-mitchell-departs-from-grand-view.aspx

October 11, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

Gary Abbott Was The Right Person At The Right Time For USA Wrestling

ary Abbott leaves a lasting legacy after 37 years as USA Wrestling’s director of communications.
By this point, everyone has a Gary Abbott story. My favorite was at the 2019 World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Several members of the U.S. delegation experienced some sort of bug, and, halfway through the tournament, it got Gary. I saw him in the bathroom with a handful of paper towels when I asked what happened. He puked on press row and was about to clean up his mess. 
Gary vomited three times and never left the tournament. He powered through like a Jordan Burroughs double-leg takedown. 
I moved as far away from Gary as possible, hoping to avoid his fate. I held my breath if he was near. I used paper towels to open doors. I didn’t make eye contact. I tried everything. 
Well, it didn’t work. I got sick the next day and puked three times — just like Gary. 
Only I returned to the hotel to recover. Andy Hamilton, Trackwrestling’s content manager at the time (this was at the peak of the Track vs Flo wars), said Gary defeated me 3-3 on criteria since he kept working through the session, and I did not. 
There’s a strong chance we used “BarfingGary1” as a password for one of our Trackwrestling accounts when we returned home. 
This was quintessential Gary Abbott. Nothing would ever stand in the way of getting the job done — even if you have to sacrifice your health to make it happen. There’s a reason USA Wrestling’s executive director, Rich Bender, calls Abbott the hardest working man in wrestling, and Gary always proved it. 
Gary is calling it a career after 37 ½ years as USA Wrestling’s director of communications. He covered the Olympics, World Championships, NCAA Championships, youth tournaments, beach wrestling, and everything in between. 
His greatest legacy will be the advancement of women’s wrestling. There were times when Abbott was the lone voice for a sport that was working to find its place. 
Bender was an intern at USA Wrestling in 1988 when he was asked to make a presentation to the board of directors about sending a women’s team to the 1989 World Championships. The presentation must have worked since the first U.S. women’s World team competed the following year.
He credits Abbott for the presentation and for his groundbreaking women’s wrestling coverage.  “Few, if anyone, has had a bigger impact on the promotion of women’s wrestling than Gary Abbott,” Bender said. “He’s long been a bulldog on the idea of women having the same opportunities as men. Gary doesn’t jump to the front for credit, … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14588959-gary-abbott-was-the-right-person-at-the-right-time-for-usa-wrestling

October 3, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , | Leave a comment

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