Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Campbell defeats Bellarmine 29-10 to improve to 3-0 in SoCon action

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell wrestling continued their winning ways with a 29-10 victory over Bellarmine Friday evening at Gore Arena.
The Fighting Camels improved to 3-0 in SoCon duals and 4-7 overall, while the Knights started their conference slate 0-1 (1-2 overall).
Anthony Molton and Landon Sargent continued to be effective bookends in the Camel lineup. Each recorded their third bonus-point win in the third consecutive SoCon match.
Molton scored his third-straight tech fall to give the Camels an early lead, defeating Damion Ryan 23-7 just 16 seconds into the second period. The result is his team-leading sixth tech fall of the year.
Sargent recorded his second fall victory, pinning Will Muckler in the first period (1:42) to improve to 3-0 in conference bouts (two pins, one major decision). The freshman from Fayetteville now leads the team in pins, owning five at this point in the season.
Chris Earnest added a pin of his own at 157 pounds as the third bonus-point win on the night for the Camels. His pin in the second period against Jeb Prechtel extended Campbell’s lead to 17-3 at the halfway point in the match.
Logan Heil and Wynton Denkins recorded wins by decision at 133 and 149 pounds, respectively. At 165 pounds, Dom Baker recorded a reversal and 1:30 of riding time … more at … https://gocamels.com/news/2025/1/24/wrestling-campbell-defeats-bellarmine-29-10-to-improve-to-3-0-in-socon-action.aspx

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

Big Ten Results & News

#11 Illini Wrestling Topples #29 Terrapins, 33-7
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The No. 11 Illinois wrestling team(8-2, 3-2 B1G) won their dual against No. 29 Maryland (8-6, 3-1 B1G) 33-7 on Friday (Jan. 24). Illinois improves to 9-0 all-time over Maryland by winning eight of the 10 bouts tonight.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Caelan Riley started off the scoring for the Orange and Blue at 125 pounds with his 10-5 decision win over Abram Cline (MARY) to put Illinois up early, 3-0, in a dual they never trailed.
No. 4 at 133 pounds Lucas Byrd bounced back from his first loss of the season a week ago with a 7-3 decision win over No. 11 Braxton Brown (MARY) to put Illinois up 6-0. No. 12 at 141 pounds Danny Pucino made it three-straight decision wins with his 8-5 win over Dario Lemus (MARY) to make it 9-0 for the Illini.
No. 12 at 149 pounds Kannon Webster put some bonus points on the board for Illinois when he pinned No. 32 Kal Miller (MARY) in 4:39. This was his third fall of the season and ballooned the Illini lead to 15-0. No. 13 at 165 pounds Braeden Scoles added more bonus points with a wicked fast tech. fall over Alex Uryniak, 20-3 (3:15). This shifted the scoreboard 20-4 in Illinois’ favor after Maryland won their first bout of the night at 157 pounds in a major decision.
No. 21 at 174 pounds Danny Braunagel made it back-to-back tech. falls … more at … https://fightingillini.com/news/2025/1/24/wrestling-hold.aspx
And …

No. 21 Indiana Dominates Michigan State
EAST LANSING, Mich. ––– No. 21 Indiana handled Michigan State in East Lansing on Friday night, taking nine of ten bouts to win, 35-3, at Jenison Fieldhouse. The score marked the largest margin of victory in series history with the Hoosiers winning by 32 points.
With the win, Indiana improved to 6-2 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten and 4-0 on the road.
KEY MOMENTS
• No. 18 Jacob Moran (125) used a late takedown in the last 30 seconds of the third period to pull away and win over Caleb Weiand in a 12-10 decision.
• Ryan Garvick (157) held on late to defeat Breaden Stauffenberg in a close 6-5 decision for his first career dual victory.
• No. 12 Tyler Lillard (165) was tied at 1-1 with Jay Nivison after three periods. In overtime, Lillard got Nivison on the edge of the circle and worked a pin (8:41) to win the bout.
• No. 28 DJ Washington only needed 5:11 of match time to work a 19-3 tech fall over Luke Daly.
• No. 20 Gabe Sollars (197) bested No. 25 Remy Cotton in a ranked win on an 11-6 decision.
NOTABLES
• Indiana won nine of 10 bouts in the dual. … more at … https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2025/1/24/wrestling-no-21-indiana-dominates-michigan-state
And …

Minnesota Routs Wisconsin, 39-3, for Largest Victory in Madison
MINNEAPOLIS – No. 7 Minnesota (6-1, 2-1 B1G) had one of its most dominant victories in series history Friday night at the UW Field House with a 39-3 rout of Wisconsin (4-8, 0-4). Winning nine of 10 matches, the Gophers posted their largest margin of victory ever in Madison, surpassing a 40-6 win in 2003. It also marked the sixth straight win at Wisconsin for Minnesota, its longest in series history. The cumulative score during the stretch is 163-59.
The point total was the fourth highest for the Gophers in 107 all-time matchups against the Badgers and the most since that 40-6 win in 2003. The three points allowed were the team’s fewest in the series since 2012.
It was the 70th all-time win in the Border Battle rivalry for Minnesota, 18 more than it has over any other program. The Golden Gophers have now taken 12 of the last 13 meetings between the schools.
The tone was set right from the start at 197 pounds as No. 9 Isaiah Salazar tech falled Niccolo Colucci, 15-0, in just 2:11. It was the first of six tech falls on the night for Minnesota, its most since also posting six in the second dual of the season last year against Morgan State. Salazar only needed one takedown of Colucci, tacking on four separate instances of four nearfall points for his fifth tech fall win of the year and pushing his record to 12-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten.
Top-ranked heavyweight Gable Steveson made it two straight tech falls with a 21-5 triumph over Brooks Empey in 3:09. Steveson hit six takedowns in the opening period … more at … https://gophersports.com/news/2025/1/24/wrestling-minnesota-routs-wisconsin-39-3-for-largest-victory-in-madison
And …

Dominant Start Leads to 29-12 Win at Northwestern
MINNEAPOLIS – No. 7 Minnesota (6-1, 3-1 B1G) won the first five matches, four by bonus point, on its way to a 29-12 victory at Northwestern (2-4, 0-4) Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
In all, the Golden Gophers won seven of the 10 matches Sunday, taking five by bonus points, including three tech falls. They’ve won 13 of their last 14 duals overall, and against Northwestern, Minnesota has taken five of the last six and 19 of the past 21 matchups. The dual kicked off at 165 … more at … https://gophersports.com/news/2025/1/26/wrestling-dominant-start-leads-to-29-12-win-at-northwestern
And …

Wolverines Surge to Decisive Home Win over No. 24 Indiana
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team won seven of the last eight matches, including five over ranked opponents, to shake off a slow start and surge to a 22-13 win over No. 24 Indiana on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 26) at Crisler Center.
Down 10-0 entering the 141-pound matchup, sophomore Sergio Lemley got Michigan on the board with a 15-2 major decision against 28th-ranked Henry Porter. Lemley, ranked 11th in the latest InterMat poll, scored four takedowns, including two in the third period and one in the final :05 on the edge, and accumulated 2:16 in advantage time. … more at … https://mgoblue.com/news/2025/1/26/wrestling-wolverines-surge-to-decisive-home-win-over-no-24-indiana
And …

No. 14 Rutgers Earns Statement Win over No. 10 Illinois, 16-15
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 14 Rutgers wrestling (11-4, 3-2) delivered a thrilling 16-15 win over No. 10 Illinois (8-3, 3-3) on Sunday in front of 3,385 fans at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Down 15-12 ahead of the day’s final bout, No. 7 Yaraslau Slavikouski worked a 4-1 win in sudden victory over No. 10 Luke Luffman to lock up the top-10 dual win thanks to Criteria C, total match points, where the Scarlet Knights held a 38-34 advantage.  
Slavikouski, No. 14 Joseph Olivieri (141), No. 19 Dean Peterson (125), No. 22 Jackson Turley (174) and No. 31 Conner Harer (157) all worked decisions against the Illini. Eight of the dual’s 10 bouts were decided by four points or less, with four of RU’s five wins coming against ranked individuals.  
Sunday marked the first win over … more at … https://scarletknights.com/news/2025/1/26/no-14-wrestling-earns-statement-win-over-no-10-illinois-16-15.aspx

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

Could College Wrestling’s National Duals Invitational Go on Without Penn State?

Penn State coach Cael Sanderson didn’t exactly endorse the idea of a national duals tournament. But it’s coming to the 2025 college wrestling schedule.
A major college wrestling duals tournament will be introduced in 2025, one that will feature more than $1 million in prize money and is being called a “game-changer” for NCAA Division I wrestling. The big question is: Will Penn State compete?
Oklahoma State announced Tuesday the creation of the National Duals Invitational, a two-day team event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that will showcase some of college wrestling’s top teams. The event, sponsored by Paycom and with Oklahoma State acting as the host school, is scheduled to bring 16 college wrestling teams to Tulsa’s BOK Center on Nov. 15-16, 2025. The champion claims a $200,000 prize, certainly a unique enticement to bring in the nation’s best teams. However, Penn State might not be one of them.
The top-ranked Nittany Lions, who have won 64 consecutive dual matches and are pursuing their 12th NCAA team title under head coach Cael Sanderson, don’t appear yet to be preparing for the event. At least according to Sanderson, who discussed the proposal for a national duals at his weekly media session Monday. “I saw that coming around again,” Sanderson told reporters in State College. “I mean, they have somebody that’s trying to host the event down in Oklahoma. I think that’s just kind of always been what people think the answer is the national duals. I don’t really feel any differently now than I do about it 10 years ago, right? I mean, I think you can create a big event without including every team in the country, right?”
Sanderson was asked Monday about Oklahoma State coach David Taylor’s recent comments to FloWrestling regarding a proposed national duals event. Taylor promoted the idea, saying that a national duals tournament would benefit college wrestling. “As we move forward, we have to figure out ways we can continue to market our teams, our programs and the guys that are on the mat. That’s the future,” Taylor told FloWrestling. “I think having both sets a good schedule. I think it’s something the kids will look forward to, the programs will look forward to. But I don’t want to move away from the national championship being decided as it is. But I do think National Duals would be great for wrestling.” … more at … https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/wrestling/could-college-wrestling-s-national-duals-invitational-go-on-without-penn-state-01jj540z5edb
And …

Oklahoma State Coach David Taylor Thrilled For National Duals In Tulsa
Oklahoma State wrestling coach David Taylor teased the idea of an early-season national dual tournament. A week later, the event was revealed.
Oklahoma State coach David Taylor posted a Jan. 14 message on X  suggesting the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s National Duals should return to the college wrestling calendar with an early-season date featuring the top-ranked teams in the country. 
Speak and you shall receive, coach. 
One week later, Flowrestling and Oklahoma State announced the National Duals Invitational, sponsored by Paycom. It’s a massive attempt at advancing the popularity of the sport, especially in the region, with Tulsa tabbed as the host city. With the November 15-16 date, it will provide valuable early-season incentives that will undoubtedly benefit every participating program — exactly what Taylor envisions. “I think it’s something coaches, athletic directors, wrestlers, are going to be really excited to be a part of,” Taylor said. “And then the way the money can be split up, coaches can decide how they want to do that. If they want to put it in their foundation, if they want to focus on NIL, there’s a lot of needs in college wrestling right now. [We’re] just being creative on how we can grow wrestling and create exciting events.” The 16-team field will vie for a purse worth more than $1 million. Each team will receive $20,000 for participating and the top eight squads will receive additional payouts between $20,000 and $200,000.  Any wrestling program could benefit from the financial gain, national spotlight and early-season litmus tests between wrestlers, some of whom otherwise might not meet until March. 
But perhaps most importantly, it gives Division I wrestling the much-discussed regular-season, marquee dual tournament a large segment of the community has been clamoring for in recent years.  “This is an event that programs and fans can get really excited about,” Taylor said. “It’s early, it gives people something to put on their calendar, you can schedule around it how you want to. I think it’s going to be something that can be a part of really growing our sport. People are really excited about it.”
Taylor said he’s already had people call and tell him their hotels are booked and they’re just waiting on the lineups to be finalized.  College wrestling leaders have discussed the duals since the NWCA’s Division I National Duals dissolved in 2011. That event regularly attracted top teams for an early-January bracketed event, but coaches haven’t been able to form a consensus on when, where and how to make a similar event work. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13551050-oklahoma-state-coach-david-taylor-thrilled-for-national-duals-in-tulsa
And …

College wrestling gets boost from new $1 million National Duals Invitational
Chad Richison has long been a fierce proponent of wrestling, encouraging new initiatives and funding different projects. But now, the Paycom founder and CEO is launching a first-of-its-kind college wrestling event in his home state. The inaugural National Duals Invitational, sponsored by Richison’s Paycom, will be held Nov. 15-16 at Tulsa’s BOK Center with a total purse of more than $1 million.
Yes, a purse for a college wrestling tournament.
National Wrestling Coaches Association executive director Mike Moyer calls the new event a game changer. “Due to the unprecedented challenges in NCAA Division I athletics today,” he said in a release, “it is more imperative than ever to have more big moments in intercollegiate wrestling so we can substantially grow our fan base and viewership.”
Half of the squads in the 16-team event, which OSU will serve as the host school for, will earn payouts with the winning team taking home $200,000. Second and third will earn $150,000, fourth $75,000 while fifth through eighth earns between $50,000 and $20,000.
Each team will receive $20,000 just for participating. 

Paycom founder Chad Richison is leading the efforts behind a college wrestling event featuring a $1 million purse later this year in Tulsa.

Funding of that magnitude is rare in college sports outside of football and basketball. And they may continue to be the big winners when revenue sharing kicks in — possibly even pushing schools to drop sports or sports to be cut entirely.
Wrestling is one of the sports with an unknown future, and that was the case before this current shift of the landscape. Over the past 50 years, the number of Division I programs has almost been cut in half, from 155 in 1975 to 79 this season, according to FloWrestling. … more at … https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/2025/01/21/ncaa-wrestling-national-duals-invitational-paycom-chad-richison-million-dollar-payout/77843340007/

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

No. 19 UNC-Pembroke Picks Up Pivotal 20-19 Senior Night Win Over Mount Olive

PEMBROKE – 19th-ranked UNC Pembroke trailed 19-16 heading into the final match, but Oggie Atwood picked up a major decision win in the heavyweight bout to clinch the 20-19 win over visiting Mount Olive on Friday night on Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. The Braves (8-5, 6-1 CC) stayed perfect in the all-time series with the Trojans (8-3, 5-1 CC), improving to 5-0 against its division rival. 
Mount Olive got on the board first with a decision win at 125 pounds, before Logan Robinson took a dominating tech. fall win in the 133-pound bout. The Trojans picked up an injury default win at 141 pounds, before fifth-ranked 149-pounder Jake Piccirilli  won via tech. fall and third-ranked Keegan Roberson earned a thrilling decision win with a last-second takedown in the 157-pound match. A Mount Olive major decision at 165 pounds tied the dual at 13-all, before Logan Hoffman earned a decision win at 174 pounds … more at … https://uncpbraves.com/news/2025/1/24/wrestling-picks-up-pivotal-20-19-senior-night-win-over-mount-olive.aspx

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

Virginia Colleges Results & News – late Jan.

No. 24 Washington & Lee Takes Down Cougars, 34-10, on the Road
DANVILLE, Va. — The 24th-ranked Washington and Lee University wrestling team secured a decisive 34-10 victory over Averett University in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) dual on Wednesday night at Doremus Gymnasium.
With the win, W&L improved to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in ODAC duals, while Averett fell to 15-13 overall and 4-1 in the conference. The Generals posted wins in eight of the 10 bouts, including three technical falls, two major decisions, and a fall.
After the 157 match W&L had a 12-10 advantage before the Generals went on to rattled off five consecutive wins to close out the night. 
Leading the Generals was Carter Stack with a fall at the 285 weight class. Stack was up 17-5 in the first period and registered a final takedown that landed him a pin at the 2:47 mark.  At 197 pounds, John Santowski notched a technical fall with a 15-0 shutout, while Evan Lindner recorded an impressive 22-5 technical fall at 149 pounds. Mark Troni (165) and Skyler Hickman (141) added a pair of extra-point victories to secure key points for W&L.
The Generals will return to the mat … more at … https://generalssports.com/news/2025/1/25/wrestling-takes-down-cougars-34-10-on-the-road.aspx
And …

Roanoke wrestling wins Ober Invitational
The Invitational Facts:
Top Team Scores: 1. Roanoke 165.5, 2. Elizabethtown 146.5, RIT 126.5
Location: Elizabethtown, Pa. – Bowers Center
The Short story: The Roanoke College wrestling team won the 10-team D. Kenneth Ober Invitational Saturday, hosted by Elizabethtown College.
Josh Noble captured the individual title at 125 pounds, Xavier Preston won at 174 pounds while Nicholas Cook did the same at 285. The Maroons had 16 place winners overall.
How it happened:  
*Noble, a senior, went 4-0 on the day with two major decisions and a technical fall.
*Preston, a sophomore, had four technical falls and was 5-0 overall.
*Cook, a junior, was 5-0 with two pins and two major decisions. His only tight challenge was in the semifinals, defeating teammate Brady Elswick in the sudden victory session.
*Jarrod Pominville took second at 157 pounds.
*Michael Policarpio placed third at 133 and Andru Boyd was third at 165
Up Next: *The Maroons host Greensboro College … more at … https://roanokemaroons.com/news/2025/1/25/wrestling-roanoke-wrestling-wins-ober-invitational.aspx
And …

Averett’s Logsdon, Harris sweep ODAC Wrestler of Week honors
FOREST, Va. — Averett University men’s wrestling seniors Alex Logsdon and Noah Harris swept the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s Wrestler of the Week honors on Monday. Logsdon earned the accolades for the lighter weights and Harris was the honoree for the heavier weights.
Logsdon, a native of Wasilla, Alaska, went 5-0 last week wrestling at 125 pounds. He earned an extra match victory on Senior Night during Averett’s dual with Greensboro College, then proceeded to win the 125-pound championship at the Builder Invitational hosted by the Apprentice School.
Harris, a native of Appomattox, Virginia, also went 5-0 last week. … more at … https://averettcougars.com/news/2025/1/20/mens-wrestling-averetts-logsdon-harris-sweep-odac-wrestler-of-week-honors.aspx

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

D-III National News & Results

JWU Wildcats capture 2025 NEWA Championship
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The JWU (Providence) wrestling team captured the 2025 New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Championship with a 24-12 win over VTSU Castleton Sunday afternoon at the Wildcat Center.
Complete Results
Graduate student Dylan Harr was named Most Outstanding Wrestler. He went 3-0 on the day, including a 16-0 tech fall win over No. 4 ranked Haven Tatarek (VTSU Castleton) in the finals. Senior and No. 1 ranked Joziah Fry (125 lbs.) was also a perfect 3-0 on Sunday, and he closed out his third NEWA appearance with a 16-5 major decision win over No. 3 ranked Gavin Bradley (VTSU Castleton).
Senior and No. 2 ranked Hayden Brown (149 lbs.) secured four wins on Sunday – including two by pin – and may rise to No. 1 in the rankings following a weekend which saw him go a combined 9-0 and move to 31-1 on the season.
Freshman and No. 3 ranked Peyton Ellis (133 lbs.) recorded a 16-5 major decision win over No. 4 ranked Kaya Bogle (VTSU Castleton) in the finals to close his first NEWA Championship with a 4-0 record. Junior and No. 3 ranked Adolfo Betancur (285 lbs.) racked up three dubs on Sunday – two pins and a 4-0 decision over Abdul Abdulrahman (VTSU Castleton) in the finals.
Sophomore and No. 2 ranked Jack Richardson (165 lbs.) defeated … more at … https://providence.jwuathletics.com/news/2025/1/26/wrestling-wildcats-capture-2025-newa-championship.aspx
And …

Petrella Becomes All-Time Winningest Men’s Wrestler, No. 5 Jackets Defeat No. 15 Ohio Northern
ADA, Ohio – Senior All-American and No. 1 nationally ranked 157-pounder Michael Petrella (Reynoldsburg/Bishop Hartley) became the school’s all-time wins leader as the No. 5 nationally ranked Baldwin Wallace University men’s wrestling team defeated No. 15 nationally ranked Ohio Northern University in an Ohio Athletic Conference match by a final score of 21-16 inside the ONU Sports Center. Petrella now has a career record of 137-4.  The two-time defending 149-pound NCAA Division III Champion has won 98 straight matches dating back to the 2022 NCAA Championships finals. 
BW (11-4, 6-0 OAC), who won six of 10 matches, claimed a share of the OAC regular season title … more at … https://bwyellowjackets.com/news/2025/1/25/mens-wrestling-petrella-becomes-all-time-winningest-mens-wrestler-no-5-jackets-defeat-no-15-ohio-northern.aspx
And …

JWU Wildcats move to 13-2 with wins agaist Bantams and Engineers
BRISTOL, R.I. – The JWU (Providence) wrestling team rolled to wins over Trinity (CT) (46-3) and WPI (42-7) Saturday afternoon in a quad match hosted by Roger Williams University.
Seven Wildcats – graduate students Cameron Bailey (285 lbs.) and Dylan Harr (197 lbs.), senior Hayden Brown (149 lbs.), junior Noah Krakower, sophomore Jack Richardson (165 lbs.), and freshmen Zach Miller (184 lbs.) and Peyton Ellis (133 lbs.) – each posted a 2-0 record on the afternoon.
Miller picked up two pins in 2:02 and :41 seconds, respectively, as did Richardson (1:23, :41) and Brown (2:12, :21). Krakower secured one win via major decision and another by decision, Ellis notched a tech fall win and a pin (2:33), Bailey picked up a major decision win as well as one by decision, and Harr won by pin (1:16) and forfeit. Ellis is now 20-1 on the season while Bailey evened … more at … https://providence.jwuathletics.com/news/2025/1/18/wrestling-wildcats-move-to-13-2-with-wins-agaist-bantams-and-engineers.aspx
And …

WVU Tech stays undefeated in duals after W at Montreat
CANTON, N.C. — WVU Tech wrestling has won five straight duals including defeating Montreat College 34-22 Wednesday evening.
LOCATION
Pisgah High School | Canton, N.C. 
RESULTS WVU Tech Golden Bears 34 | Montreat Cavaliers 22

BOUT WINS/NOTES

NEXT UP
The Golden Bears will travel to Lebanon, Tenn. … more at … https://goldenbearathletics.com/news/2025/1/22/wrestling-wvu-tech-stays-undefeated-in-duals-after-w-at-montreat.aspx
And …

Men’s Wrestling Beats Mount Union & Muskingum, Loses to BW in OAC Quad
The Blue Streaks picked up a pair of wins at home in OAC action
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – The Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center was a hub of activity on Saturday afternoon into the evening. John Carroll Men’s Wrestling hosted an Ohio Athletic Conference Quad, with Baldwin Wallace University, the University of Mount Union, and Muskingum University traveling to University Heights today.
The Blue Streaks walked away with a solid 2-1 mark after a full day of action. John Carroll opened with a fantastic 31-15 win over Mount Union and continued the momentum with an easy 51-6 victory over Muskingum. Unfortunately, the day ended on a losing note with a SCORE loss to the Yellow Jackets.  John Carroll: 31, Mount Union: 15
Results
This was a revenge tour for JCU. Last year, the Blue Streaks lost by a sizable margin (36-9) at the OAC Quad. In this showdown, it was the Blue Streaks doling out the punishment. 
The Blue Streaks started the day on a roll, winning three of the first four contests. Brett Stanley kicked off with a pin at 125, followed by a hard-earned Ty Daugherty 7-4 decision at 133, and a Kyle Bizjak 16-0 tech fall at 149. 
John Carroll then put it away with three straight wins at 165, 174, and 184. Aiden Ashburn and Wills Bronson conquered their foes by fall, and Frank Gallo earned five points via a tech fall. Mount Union ended things with a pair of wins, but the margin was … more at … https://jcusports.com/news/2025/1/18/mens-wrestling-beats-mount-union-muskingum-loses-to-bw-in-oac-quad.aspx

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

As girls’ wrestling grows, it faces old stigmas and new challenges

More and more female athletes are participating in high school wrestling, but rapid expansion is never simple.
By Michael Howes
On a Friday afternoon this month, five wrestling mats covered the gym floor at Northeast High in Pasadena, the setting for a day-long tournament called “Who’s #1.”
In the minutes before the event began, wrestlers put the finishing twists in their braids and ensured their singlets fit snugly while a sizable crowd filed into wooden bleachers. By the end of the night, the concession stand would sell out of hot food. This tournament was for female wrestlers only, featuring 215 competitors from 47 schools. Its size and scope were a testament to the rapid growth of the girls’ sport. “It was a great event,” Northeast Coach Chris Dyke said. “The chance for us to bring that many girls together at one event is a good thing.”
Over the past decade, female participation in high school wrestling has surged locally and nationally. According to Virginia High School League participation surveys, the number of female wrestlers in Virginia increased by 133.57 percent since the 2021-22 school year, following the VHSL’s addition of an open girls’ individual tournament. Maryland has seen a 53.37 percent rise in female wrestlers since 2019, with 638 girls competing last year, according to USA Wrestling.
But growth is never simple. As the numbers get bigger, old stigmas persist and new challenges emerge. “It’s slowly getting better,” said Rockville senior Anastasia Dakoulas, who won the tournament’s 130-pound bracket. “But there’s still some discrepancies between the girls and the boys.”
Old and new challenges
For a burgeoning sport, recruitment often falls to dedicated coaches and the athletes themselves.
La Plata wrestling coach John Pankhurst was tossing mulch at a 2022 fundraiser when he recruited his first female wrestler. He found himself working alongside Madison Rich, then a freshman with the lacrosse program. Pankhurst convinced Rich to try the sport, and she became one of five female wrestlers to join the team the following winter. Three years later, in Rich’s senior year, the team has 16 female wrestlers. “At school events, we would just go around and say, ‘Are you interested in joining wrestling?’” La Plata senior Oriana Boling said. “We’d get their names down and everything.”
Rockville Coach Ryan Fickes attends other sporting events at the Montgomery County school, talking to parents about the merits of wrestling. He is joined in his recruiting efforts by Dakoulas, who won the 130-pound girls’ state title last season. After being the only girl on the team last winter, Dakoulas recruited friends and former soccer teammates to join her, raising the team’s total to five.
But as she works to grow the sport, Dakoulas said, she has to confront old stigmas. … more at … https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/01/22/girls-high-school-wrestling/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzM3NTIyMDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4OTA0Mzk5LCJpYXQiOjE3Mzc1MjIwMDAsImp0aSI6Ijk2MTc5OTIzLTZkYmUtNDUwMi1iOGQ2LTc1ZTg5NWRmY2Q1MSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9zcG9ydHMvMjAyNS8wMS8yMi9naXJscy1oaWdoLXNjaG9vbC13cmVzdGxpbmcvIn0.1UUOcPfUQCeiuflFzmw0PzpdqxlBNYWwoZ8Lj53HOWk
And …

Through four years of sanctioned girls wrestling in North Dakota, athletes, coaches look back on sport’s rise
Grand Forks’ program has grown exponentially over the last few years, now at a roster of 28 girls.
GRAND FORKS — 2025 marks year four of sanctioned girls wrestling in North Dakota, meaning freshmen on varsity in year one are now seniors going for glory one more time. Grand Forks’ program has grown alongside the sport’s popularity, now with a roster of 28 in 2024-25, including eight middle schoolers.
It’s a sight senior Bryn Larson could have only dreamed of when she first started wrestling in sixth grade. “It was listed as an intramural sport in sixth grade, and I was like, ‘Sure, why not, I’ll give it a go,'” Larson recalled. “All day before practice, I was like, ‘Are you doing wrestling? Is anyone else?’ None of my classes, no kids were doing wrestling,” she added. It turned out she was only one of two girls to show up that day. Instead of quitting, she pressed on, learning the ropes of the sport through her middle school career. “I wanted to show other people that they could do it too if they wanted,” Larson said.
After three years wrestling against boys, girls wrestling became sanctioned in North Dakota right before her freshman year, giving her a chance to compete on a bigger stage and against other girls. “I ran home to my mom screaming, I was so excited,” Larson recalled. “Then we found out that my middle school coach was going to transition to be the high school girls coach, so I was over the moon,” she added. … more at … https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/through-four-years-of-sanctioned-girls-wrestling-in-north-dakota-athletes-coaches-look-back-on-sports-rise

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

South Carolina colleges’ results & news

Bulldogs Dispatch Presbyterian in Road Weekend Finale, Top Blue Hose 33-7
CLINTON, S.C. — Buoyed by a pin from Thomas Snipes (165 lbs) along with a pair of tech falls for George Rosas (133 lbs) and Tyler Badgett (157 lbs), The Citadel (6-3, 2-1 SoCon) extended the program’s win streak out to three with a second-straight SoCon road victory over Presbyterian (1-7, 0-2 SoCon), upending the host Blue Hose behind a strong 33-7 final margin Sunday afternoon at Templeton Gymnasium.
FINAL RESULTS
The Citadel def. Presbyterian, 33-7
Sunday, Jan. 26 | Templeton Gymnasium | Clinton, S.C.
125 —Gylon Sims (CIT) over Brayden Adams (PRES), MD (14-3) … more at … https://citadelsports.com/news/2025/1/26/wrestling-bulldogs-dispatch-presbyterian-in-road-weekend-finale-top-blue-hose-33-7.aspx
And …

#12 Lander Shuts Out Lincoln Memorial and Bluefield State on Senior Night
GREENWOOD – The 12th-ranked Lander Wrestling team made quick work of the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters and the Bluefield State Big Blue on Friday evening, dispatching the two Conference Carolinas opponents by scores of 53-0 and 52-0, respectively. The Bearcats won 18 of 20 matches by either bonus point margins or forfeits.
Lander still sits alone atop the Conference Carolinas West Division with a 5-0 in-division record. They sit at 12-4 overall and 8-0 in the league overall.
Lincoln Memorial drops to 2-13 overall, 1-6 in the league, and 1-3 in the West Division. Bluefield State drops to 4-8 overall and is also 1-6 in the league and 1-3 in the division.
Match 1: #12 Lander 53, Lincoln Memorial 0
Kaden Kuenzi (Silverton, Ore.) and Christian Davis (Arizona City, Ariz.) started the match off with back-to-back tech falls to give Lander a 10-0 lead after two matches.
At 141, Collin Oden (Middletown,N.J.) rode out the entire second period on top and got a reversal in the third period to earn a 3-1 decision to make it 13-0. … more at …https://landerbearcats.com/news/2025/1/24/wrestling-12-lander-shuts-out-lincoln-memorial-and-bluefield-state-on-senior-night.aspx
And …

Falcon Wrestling Thunders Past Presbyterian, 41-3
CLINTON, S.C. – Air Force posted bonus point wins across eight weight divisions to take down Presbyterian in non-conference action, 41-3, Friday morning in Templeton Gymnasium. Air Force improved to 3-0 in non-conference duals with the win.
At 125, sophomore Nico Tocci improved to 3-0 in dual action with a 4-2 decision over Brayden Adams. The Falcons began to pour on at 133 and 141 as Gavin Caprella won by technical fall (17-1) in the second period for his sixth tech fall this season— the most by any Falcon. Freshman 141-pounder Carter Nogle continued his tear with a commanding 11-3 major decision over Ryan Luna. Nogle leads the team with 18 wins this season, 15 of those wins coming with bonus points.
Presbyterian got on at the board at 149 as Elijah Holiday edged senior Alec Viduya, 10-8. It was the last points for the Blue Hose in the dual.
Air Force rattled off bonus point wins from 157 to heavyweight, scoring three technical falls, two major decisions, and a pin. Freshman Josh Palacio earned his first collegiate dual meet win by clinic, scoring a 17-1 technical fall in the third period. Freshman teammate Logan Fowler represented Air Force at 165 pounds, blanking Jamison Colongione, 11-0. Fowler improved to 10-3 on the season for the best win percentage of all Falcons. Senior Jack Ganos let it fly at 174, tech falling Caleb Rose, … more at … https://goairforcefalcons.com/news/2025/1/24/falcon-wrestling-thunders-past-presbyterian-41-3
And …

#2 Life Pulls Away from #12 Lander in Battle of Southeast Cross-Division Heavyweights
MARIETTA, Ga. – David Hunsberger (Duncan, S.C.) earned an exciting 27-4 tech fall at 165 to give the 12th-ranked Lander Wrestling team a 12-10 lead after six matches but the Life Screaming Eagles, the second-ranked team in NAIA, stormed back with four straight wins to close the dual to take a 23-12 win on Wednesday evening in a matchup of two of the best wrestling programs in the nation. Lander dropped to 10-4 with the loss while Life improved to 9-2.
Kaden Kuenzi (Silverton, Ore.) got the match started in a big way as he used three takedowns to secure an 11-2 major decision to give Lander the 4-0 lead after one. The hosts responded immediately with a major of their own at 133, but Isham Peace (Okatie, S.C.) gave Lander the lead right back with a late takedown, securing a 4-2 decision and making it 7-4, Bearcats, after three matches.
Life took their first lead of the contest with back-to-back decisions at 149 and 147 to make it 10-7 in favor of the Screaming Eagles. The Eagle lead was short-lived as Hunsberger jumped all over Steven Villalobos with a ten-point first period. He then added a five-point move in the second and another seven-point move, his second of the match, to earn a 24-7 tech fall over the three-time All-American. … more at … https://landerbearcats.com/news/2025/1/22/wrestling-2-life-pulls-away-from-12-lander-in-battle-of-southeast-heavyweights.aspx
And …

Wolves Wrestling Takes Down #19 UNC Pembroke in Huge Road Victory
Pembroke, NC – The Wolves secured a hard fought 22-21 victory over the UNC Pembroke Braves, ranked #19, in a thrilling wrestling dual on the road. The Wolves overcame multiple close bouts and relied on clutch performances to come out victorious. Newberry first put points on the board at 133 pounds with Ethan McCullough pinning Logan Robinson in 6:25, which evened the score at 6-6.
Newberry took their first lead at 141 pounds when Braden Tatum dominated his match, earning a major decision (9-1) over Avery Buonocore to give the Wolves a 10-6 lead.  The Braves extended their advantage through the middle weights, pushing their team score to 18-10.
Newberry’s rally began at 174 pounds, where Dayton Fields beat Logan Hoffman in an intense 15-12 decision to cut the deficit to 18-13.  Andrew Reed followed up at 184 pounds with a strong 10-4 decision over Quintez Shipman, narrowing the margin to just two points, 18-16.
The pivotal moment of the night came at 197 pounds, where John Parker delivered a critical pin over Nigel Williams in 6:05, giving Newberry a 22-18 lead heading into the heavyweight bout. The night may have ended with a loss in the heavy weights, … more at … https://newberrywolves.com/news/2025/1/21/mens-wrestling-wolves-wrestling-takes-down-19-unc-pembroke-in-huge-road-victory.aspx


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

Big 12 Results & News

Big 12 Weekly Recap (1/21/2025)
This week didn’t see anything too crazy but had a number of solid duals. Both South Dakota State and North Dakota State went 2-0 at home. Missouri got back in the win column, but was pushed by a tough Utah Valley team. West Virginia visited the Sooner state for a pair of duals. They beat Oklahoma and had an entertaining dual with Oklahoma State. Northern Iowa continued their impressive season while Arizona State had some struggles. Fans will be set for a battle of the undefeated’s with Northern Iowa and Oklahoma State this weekend. 
Notable Results:
Thursday (1/16): 
South Dakota State over California Baptist (38-3)
Friday (1/17): Full Results
Missouri over Utah Valley (18-16)
141: #17 Josh Edmond Dec. #13 Haiden Drury (7-5) … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/big-12/big-12-weekly-recap-1212025-r99947/
And …

No. 13 Cyclones Best No. 22 Sooners in Top-25 Battle
AMES, Iowa – No. 13 Iowa State (8-3, 3-0 Big 12) looked as impressive as it has all season in a 25-6 victory over No. 22 Oklahoma (6-3, 2-3 Big 12) Friday night inside Hilton Coliseum. In front of a Beauty and the Beast record crowd of 9,470, the Cyclones took eight of 10 bouts from the Sooners.
MJ Gaitan highlighted the night with a top-10 victory at 174 pounds over No. 8 Gavin Sax while Paniro Johnson secured a top-15 win over No. 13 Willie McDougald at 149 pounds. At 157 pounds, true freshman Kane Naaktgeboren notched his first-career dual victory.
ISU won the takedown battle over OU, 15-5. The Cyclones have won four duals in a row and seven of their last eight. … more at … https://cyclones.com/news/2025/1/24/wrestling-no-13-cyclones-best-no-22-sooners-in-top-25-battle.aspx
And …

Undefeated Cowboys Storm Back To Defeat 13th-Ranked Iowa State
AMES, Iowa – The No. 3 Oklahoma State wrestling team defeated No. 13 Iowa State, 27-12, on Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum in the second ever college wrestling dual televised on ESPN. The Cowboys, who are a Big 12-best 8-0 in conference duals, are now 11-0 overall for the second straight season, while Iowa State falls to 8-4 and 3-1 in conference competiton. The victory was the 64th in the all-time series against Iowa State and the 25th in Ames.  
As they’ve done throughout the season, the Pokes won big through bonus points and aggressive scoring in the back half of the lineup. Through 11 duals, Oklahoma State has a +284-point differential and an average margin of victory of 25.8 points.  
“Our back half has a lot of veterans who have been in tough duals and hold themselves to high expectations,” head coach David Taylor said. “That’s been really valuable the last couple of matches. Those guys are the difference makers in close duals and the difference makers when we get into nationals.”
Troy Spratley continued his successful weekend in Iowa with a 20-10 major decision over Ethan Perryman. The Cyclones bounced back though, rattling off four straight tight wins at 133, 141, 149 and 157 pounds to go up 12-4 heading into the intermission.  
Just like Friday night against Northern Iowa, the Cowboys used a strong performance from the back half of their lineup to close the dual, with four of those wins coming in bonus-point fashion.  
The comeback started at 165 pounds with sixth-ranked Cameron Amine, who controlled the match throughout and earned a crucial three points for the Pokes by defeating Aiden Riggins, 11-4.  
At 174 pounds, Dean Hamiti Jr. rolled past 23rd-ranked MJ Gaitan. Hamiti directed the pace of the match, racking uo five takedowns and a four-point near fall to tech fall Gaitan in just over five minutes and tie the dual at 12-12. Hamiti improves to 16-0 on the season, with 13 of those coming as bonus-point wins and 11 against ranked opponents.  
Three-time All-American Dustin Plott gave the Cowboys then retook the … more at … https://okstate.com/news/2025/1/26/cowboy-wrestling-undefeated-cowboys-storm-back-to-defeat-13th-ranked-iowa-state
And …

Panther Train wins eighth straight dual over Oklahoma
UNI improves to 10-1 overall, 4-1 in Big 12 duals. Panthers compete at West Virginia and Loras Open next Saturday.
OFFICIALS – Kevin Looper, Leo Mercado ATTENDANCE – 3,061
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — One night after coming up short of an upset of No. 3 Oklahoma State, the UNI wrestling team bounced back with a 26-13 dual victory over the 22nd ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday night inside the McLeod Center in Big 12 action.
Northern Iowa scored five bonus point victories in six of its wins against the Sooners, extending its dual winning streak over Oklahoma to eight. UNI also closed out the month of January with a 7-1 dual record. HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first period, Trever Anderson scored the first point of the 125-pound match against No. 23 Antonio Lorenzo with a second period escape, but would fall behind after being taken down. Despite adding an escape from the takedown, Anderson was unable to pressure his opponent … more at … https://unipanthers.com/news/2025/1/25/wrestling-panther-train-wins-eighth-straight-dual-over-oklahoma
And …

No. 23 Wrestling Picks Up Ranked Win Over No. 20 West Virginia
COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 23 University of Missouri wrestling topped No. 20 West Virginia, 22-16, for its first ranked win of the season inside Mizzou Arena Sunday. A trio of victories gifted the Tigers (5-7, 4-1 Big 12) their third Big 12 win in a row over the Mountaineers (8-5, 2-4 Big 12).
The match got off to a fiery start when freshman Gage Walker got out to an early lead over Jett Strickenberger, who is ranked No. 14 by Intermat at 125 pounds entering today. Although Strickenberger came out with a tight decision, 7-6, the Tigers would go on to take each of the next four bouts. Redshirt sophomore Kade Moore‘s pin of Tommy Maddox at 133 put Mizzou on the board. After redshirt junior Josh Edmond picked up a 5-2 decision over Jordan Titus at 141, redshirt junior Logan Gioffre came back from down 8-2 to defeat Sam Hillegas and redshirt sophomore James Conway earned a major decision over Sasha Gavronsky.
Coming out of the break with a 16-2 advantage after a WVU unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, redshirt sophomore Cam Steed took an early lead over Peyton Hall before Hall ultimately took the 10-8 decision. The Mountaineers took bouts at 174, 184 and 197 to even the match at 16 apiece. At 285, redshirt freshman Jarrett Stoner and Michael Wolfgram were tied 4-4, before Stoner took the win by injury default. 
MATCH NOTES
Missouri improved to 5-0 all-time against West Virginia, … more at … https://mutigers.com/news/2025/1/26/no-23-wrestling-picks-up-ranked-win-over-no-20-west-virginia-22-16.aspx

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

New College Wrestling Programs

Northampton Men’s Wrestling Debuts with Win Over Bergen
NEWTON, NJ – The Northampton men’s wrestling team made their debut on Wednesday evening, downing Bergen Community College, 39-11, in their inaugural match, before falling to host Sussex County Community College, 39-11, at Skylander Arena. Jaden Figueroa (Fountain Hill, PA/Executive Charter) made history for Northampton, pinning Daniel Vela of Bergen Community College at 125, for the first victory in Spartan history. 
Diego Dominguez (Perkasie, PA/Palisades) and Xavier Arner (Schnecksville, PA/Whitehall) ended the evening with two victories each, while Luke Velekei (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl) earned a victory in his match, pinning Shawn Pawlowski of Sussex.  “Excited to be part of history,” remarked Head Coach Shaun Lally, … more at … https://www.nccspartans.com/news/2025/1/22/mens-wrestling-wrestling.aspx
And …

Kean Announces Addition of Men’s and Women’s Wrestling; DiSanto Named Head Coach
UNION, N.J. (1/22/25) – The Kean University athletics department has announced the hiring of Christopher DiSanto as the head wrestling coach while officially announcing the addition of men’s and women’s wrestling. DiSanto will lead both programs, which will bring Kean’s NCAA offerings to 22 (23 overall with varsity eSports).  The men’s program will resume after remaining dormant since 1996, while the women’s team will be the first of its kind at Kean. The creation of a women’s program comes at the perfect time as the NCAA just announced Women’s Wrestling as their 91st championship sport. “I am excited to hire Coach DiSanto as our new Head Women’s and Men’s Wrestling Coach,” stated Kelly Williams, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “Chris is well connected within the wrestling community and brings tremendous college coaching experience with a tireless work ethic to lead our wrestling programs to success in the classroom and in competition soon. It is really a special time for Kean Athletics as we make history by adding women’s wrestling to our department and creating another opportunity for young women to follow their passion on the collegiate level.  Also, reestablishing our men’s wrestling program marks the continued expansion of sports offerings, reinforcing the university’s commitment to diverse athletic opportunities for student-athletes.”
DiSanto comes to Kean after being the Head Men’s Wrestling Coach at Bergen Community College since 2013. He dealt with all aspects of the program, including scheduling, organizing home matches, announcing, recruiting and statistical record keeping.
DiSanto was a Region 19 runner up in 2024 and 2016. In 2024, he finished in the top 10 in the NJCAA Division III and had an All-American named while finishing in the top eight. Prior to BCC, DiSanto was … more at … https://keanathletics.com/news/2025/1/22/general-kean-announces-addition-of-mens-and-womens-wrestling-disanto-named-head-coach.aspx
And …

Heart to Add Three Women’s Wrestling Programs
The Heart of America Athletic Conference proudly announces the addition of three new programs that will compete in women’s wrestling in the conference. Full member Graceland University announced … more at … https://www.heartofamericaconference.com/sports/wwrest/2024-25/releases/20250117m9o38h
And …

Heart to Add Bismarck State and Bellevue Men’s Wrestling Programs
The Heart of America Athletic Conference proudly announces the addition of two new programs that will compete in men’s wrestling in the conference. … more at … https://www.heartofamericaconference.com/sports/mwrest/2024-25/releases/20250117n6j6hk
And …

Men’s Wrestling Secures First Dual Win, Concludes CCIW Duals
Titans defeat CUW for first dual win since program’s reinstitution
KENOSHA, Wis. – For the first time since the program was reinstated prior to the 2023-24 season, the Illinois Wesleyan University men’s wrestling team picked up a dual win. The Titans defeated College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe Concordia University Wisconsin, 43-12. The win kicked off the program’s first appearance in the CCIW Duals Saturday, Jan. 25, where IWU would ultimately post a 1-2 record on the day.
Illinois Wesleyan 43, Concordia Wisconsin 12
IWU kicked off the day with a commanding win over CCIW affiliate Concordia Wisconsin, marking the first dual win since the program was reinstated prior to the 2023-24 season. 
Freshman Chandler Gardner (Marengo, Ill.-Marian Central Catholic) picked up a win by forfeit at 125 pounds, while fellow freshman Jackson Castaneda (Oak Forest, Ill.-Oak Forest) earned the win via forfeit at 165 pounds. With the match even after alternating forfeits, sophomore Austin Johnston (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) took down CUW’s Anastacio Martinez. Johnston earned his 12th win of the season, taking the match by major decision, 15-3.
Freshman Ameer Alamawi (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central) was the first of four pins by the Titans on the day, as he needed just 1:39 to take down … more at … https://www.iwusports.com/news/2025/1/25/mens-wrestling-mens-wrestling-secures-first-dual-win-concludes-cciw-duals.aspx


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

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