Induction for The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum – Wrestlers of the Year Presentation
(above: Faith Bane & Sara Koenig)
(above: Sly Bentley & Martin Fleming)
2026 Tricia Saunders Award: Faith Bane – New Bern High School
Competing at 145 pounds, Bane has been ranked in the top five nationally by USA Wrestling and FloWrestling. She is a three-time regional champion and three-time state qualifier in North Carolina. Bane captured the 2024 state championship and finished runner-up in 2025. In 2026, she advanced to the state semifinals before being forced to withdraw due to an injury.
Bane has achieved success on the national level in freestyle and folkstyle. She is a two-time North Carolina freestyle state champion and a three-time National High School Coaches Association All-American. She was runner-up at NHSCA championships 2024 and champion in 2025. She earned All-American honors at the USA Wrestling US Open High School Showcase, finishing 3rd. In 2025, she placed fifth at the Fargo Junior Nationals and earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish at Super 32 Challenge. She also finished third at the prestigious Beast of the East tournament in Delaware this past season.
In addition to her high school accomplishments, Bane has competed in four college open tournaments, reaching the finals twice against collegiate competition. She also earned varsity letters in track and field during her freshman and sophomore years. A member of the National Technical Honor Society, Bane carries a 3.2 GPA while balancing a demanding schedule. Bane will continue wrestling at Life University and will study Sport Health Science
2026 Dave Schultz Award: Bentley Sly – Stuart Cramer High School
Sly wrapped up a stellar high school career by becoming just the 15th wrestler in NCHSAA history to win four state titles. His 2026 title run was a dominant 3-0 performance at the state tournament with two pins and a technical fall without surrendering a single point. His career record in high school is 210–6. Sly was named Big South Wrestler of the Year four times, earned team MVP honors from 2023 to 2026, was named Stuart Cramer’s male underclassman athlete of the year, and served as a four-year team captain.
On the national stage, Sly is a three-time NHSCA All-American, highlighted by a runner-up finish this past April. He also finished 3rd at NHSCA Nationals in 2025 and 6th in 2024. In 2025, Sly boasted a 4th-place finish at Super 32, 4th place at the Walsh Ironman, and a 6–2 performance at Fargo Junior Nationals. Sly reached the blood round at Fargo Junior Nationals in 2024.
Off the mat Sly maintains a 3.9 GPA and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society and Beta Club. He volunteers as a coach at youth clinics and tournaments, giving back to the wrestling community. He will continue his wrestling career at Appalachian State University and will major in Risk Management & Insurance.
Induction for The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum – Harold Smith
May 17, 2026 · W.C. Friday Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
2026 honorees for “Lifetime Service to Wrestling”:
(above David Rothwell & Harold Smith)
Harold Smith – Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Smith moved to Winston-Salem at a young age and attended R.J. Reynolds High School. There, he excelled in basketball, football, and track and was a starter on the school’s 1964 state championship football team. He then attended Hargrave Military Academy for one year, earning letters in three sports before transferring to Wake Forest University to play football. He later transferred to Elon University, where he finished his career as a three-year starter in football and graduated in 1971 with a degree in Health and Physical Education.
Smith began his 47-year career as an educator at Graham High School from 1971 to 1973, where he served as head wrestling coach while also coachingfootball and tennis. Though he had never wrestled himself, he quickly developed a reputation as a driven, successful, and innovative coach. A skilled promoter of wrestling, Smith created an exciting atmosphere by organizing wrestling cheerleaders, bringing in the school band, and securing live local radio broadcasts for home matches. His events attracted crowds of up to 1,000 spectators, elevating wrestling’s visibility in the community.
In 1973, Smith founded the wrestling program at Trinity High School, building what would become one of the state’s top programs. While also coaching football, track, and golf, Smith turned Trinity wrestling into a powerhouse. In 1976, Trinity won its first conference championship in just its third season. The following year, Trinity captured the 1977 WNCHSAA dual team championship with a perfect 18-0 record. That same year, Smith established the Trinity Invitational tournament, an event that continues to this day. His 1980 Trinity team captured sectional, regional, and state championships, earning Smith NC Mat News Coach of the Year honors. Trinity followed its state championship season with a fifth-place state finish in 1981.
Smith also served as head wrestling coach at High Point Central High School from 1983 to 1985 and at R.J. Reynolds High School from 1986 to 1988. His 1984 High Point Central team completed an undefeated regular season, won sectional and regional championships, and finished third in the state wrestling tournament.
After earning a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from North Carolina A&T, Smith moved into administration in 1987, serving in administrative positions in Forsyth County while continuing to coach wrestling until 2018. In addition to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Smith is a member of the Mount Tabor Athletic Hall of Fame (2022). He has also been inducted three times into the Trinity Athletic Hall of Fame (2023, 2024, and 2025), along with his 1977 and 1980 wrestling teams.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame website. https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame
Induction for The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum – Charlie Jenkins
May 17, 2026 · W.C. Friday Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
2026 honorees for “Lifetime Service to Wrestling”:
(Cecil Mock & Charlie Jenkins)
Charlie Jenkins – Jenkins began wrestling in elementary school while growing up in Washington, New Jersey. He attended Warren Hills High School, where he played baseball and was a four-year letter winner in wrestling. After graduating high school in 1980, he joined the workforce and moved to Pennsylvania. While his sons were competing in youth wrestling, Jenkins recognized a need for quality officials and acted by becoming a wrestling official in 1986. He worked his way through the system in Pennsylvania’s highly competitive District 11, arguably the strongest wrestling area in the country. While officiating in District 11, Jenkins worked matches involving nationally ranked programs such as Easton High School, Nazareth High School, Parkland High School, and Blair Academy. While in Pennsylvania, Jenkins officiated two National Prep tournaments, multiple dual team championships, sectional tournaments, and six regional championships.
In 2001, Jenkins married his wife Rhonda and moved to North Carolina where he quickly became a key figure in high school and collegiate officiating. He has worked numerous NCHSAA state tournaments and dual team finals, served as co-head official for the state tournament since 2012, and officiated at the collegiate level from 2002 to 2025. He has called two Southern Conference and ACC tournaments, along with multiple NCAA Division II regional championships.
In 2015, Jenkins became a regional supervisor for the Southeastern Wrestling Officials Association, a role he continues to hold. He played a key role working with the NCHSAA on the transition to a three-day state tournament format and the consolidation of dual team finals into a single central location. He has been a consistent and influential voice for wrestling in North Carolina, working to improve championship events and officiating standards. His philosophy is that officials should be open to corrective criticism along with a consistent focus on improvement. Jenkins received the Dick Knox Distinguished Service Award in 2007.
Jenkins retired from Scotland County Schools in 2022 after serving as Safe Schools Coordinator for 21 years. Despite overcoming significant health challenges, including cancer and open-heart surgery in recent years, Jenkins has continued to perform his duties at the highest level as a regional supervisor and co-head official of the NCHSAA state tournament.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame website. https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame
Induction for The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum – Jeff Queen
May 17, 2026 · W.C. Friday Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
2026 honorees for “Lifetime Service to Wrestling”:
Jeff Queen – Born in Morganton, Queen’s family moved to Greensboro during his childhood. He was introduced to wrestling in elementary school and would serve as the wrestling and baseball scorekeeper at Page High School. Graduating in 1988, he continued his education at Elon University, earning a degree in accounting with a minor in marketing in 1992. He then completed a five-year graduate program at Pfeiffer University, earning two master’s degrees in business and health administration.
While in college, Queen was encouraged by his brother Mike, a wrestler at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to begin officiating. This marked the start of what is now 35 consecutive years of officiating wrestling as a member of the Piedmont Wrestling Officials Association. He has officiated in the NCHSAA state tournament for 18 years, worked multiple state dual team playoff matches, and called two dual team state championships. Queen was the recipient of the Dick Knox Distinguished Official Award in 2019.
Known for his professionalism, preparation, and impartiality, Queen has built a strong reputation throughout the North Carolina wrestling community. Wrestlers, coaches, and fans respect him for his fairness, consistency, and ability to make tough calls with confidence. His calm demeanor, ability to listen, and pleasant nature have made him a trusted presence on and off the mat throughout his career.
Beyond officiating, Queen has given back extensively to the wrestling community. He has donated uniforms to the Page High School wrestling program, provided meals and snacks for officials during NCHSAA state tournaments, and actively mentors young officials. Queen is a corporate accountant and serves as Chief Executive Officer of Vecoplan LLC, a company that focuses on industrial shredding and recycling equipment. His nephews, Hunter and Mike were both state champions for Northwood High School. He currently lives in Greensboro and enjoys spending time with his son, Carter.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame website. https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame
Induction for The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum – David Siler
(above David Siler and Milt Sherman)
David Siler – Siler was born in Winston-Salem and his family moved to Raleigh at a young age. He attended Broughton High School, where he wrestled, served as a student athletic trainer, and was a member of the Service Club. After graduating high school in 1981, he attended North Carolina State University, where he earned a varsity letter in sports medicine and worked as an athletic trainer with the Wolfpack wrestling team. By his senior year, Siler was on a full athletic scholarship for sports medicine. He graduated from NC State in 1986 with a degree in mathematics education. While attending NC State, he traveled to Mexico, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic with Athletes in Action, finishing third in an international freestyle tournament.
Siler taught and coached at Havelock High School from 1986 to 2002, where he served as head wrestling coach and athletic trainer for 16 years. He then moved to Havelock Middle School, coaching wrestling and serving as the school’s athletic trainer until his retirement in 2015 after 29 years as an educator. When he was hired at Havelock High School, he became only the second wrestling coach in the program’s history, replacing Wilber Sasser.
During his 14 years as head coach at Havelock High School, Siler built one of the state’s elite wrestling programs. His teams won state tournament championships in 1996, 1997, and 2001, finished as dual team state runner-up in 1996, and captured the dual team state championship in 1997. Havelock also won three consecutive east regional championships in 1995, 1996, and 1997. His teams also reached the regional dual finals multiple times. Siler compiled a dual meet coaching record of 205-68-1 and coached 26 state medalists, six individual state champions, and 11 state finalists. His accomplishments earned him recognition as NC Mat News Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2001, along with USA Wrestling’s North Carolina coach of the year honors in 2001. Known as a man of character and leadership, Siler emphasized mentorship and personal development alongside success on the mat.
Following his retirement from Havelock, Siler continued his work in education for 10 more years as a math teacher at The Epiphany School of Global Studies. Now fully retired, Siler still supports the Havelock wrestling program and enjoys watching practices and matches when he can. Siler and his wife, Donna, have been married since 1987 and have a son, Andrew, and a daughter, Ashley.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame website. https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame
Women’s College Wrestling Is Better With Jason Moorman In It
Jason Moorman is a transformational women’s college wrestling coach. And we need that to continue.
If actions speak, then Jason Moorman’s college coaching career is worth examining.
Moorman landed at Tarleton State after his surprise departure from King University on October 18, 2024. It should surprise no one that an influx of talent followed him to Stephenville, Texas.
Aine Drury was the biggest get. She finished second and fifth at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships after winning a California Community College title. She also reached Final X and won the 2025 U.S. Open.
Tarleton State competes in the NCWA division, which is sort of like a club division, despite spirited debate about its place among women’s college wrestling. It’s the only women’s college division with a national folkstyle championship.
So, when Dury won the 2026 NCWA at 145 pounds, it was folkstyle — not freestyle. Again, no surprise that Tarleton State won back-to-back NCWA team titles.
“(Jason) is the best collegiate women’s wrestling coach in the country. And it’s not close.” – North Central coach Joe Norton
There are others, like California’s Piper Pike. She watched Moorman coach at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships as a high schooler and decided she’d follow him to whichever college he was the head coach at. “When we watch the NCAA finals, I noticed his girls were in quite a few of them,” Pike said. “He’s a really good coach. I like everything about his style and his honesty, and I definitely gelled with that.”
Tarleton State was expected to add a Division I women’s wrestling program, but it hasn’t happened yet. And there’s no timeline on whether it will.
That leaves Moorman in wrestling purgatory. He wants to coach, and he wants to win, but we can’t expect him to stick around forever if the Texans don’t have a sanctioned program. The NCWA is a good option for some, but it isn’t the NCAA or the NAIA. That’s where Moorman needs to be. That’s where women’s wrestling needs him to be. He’s too valuable on the sidelines.
“Jason took me in and taught me how to utilize my talent and not let it go to waste.” – 2016 Olympian Haley Augello
His track record speaks for itself. Moorman started … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15844605-womens-college-wrestling-is-better-with-jason-moorman-in-it
New Girls Post-Season Wrestling Rankings Shake Up After Women’s Nationals Results
With post-season performances reshaping the landscape, High School On SI’s latest rankings reveal rising stars, tough calls and why every match—win or loss—matters.
This update contains everything since the high school season ended up through the Women’s Nationals. That took us well over a week to go over and led to new candidates emerging and farther research, which led to other shifting in the weight classes.
No Formulas, No Bias—Just Results on the Mat
A few things we want to point out are next. They are procedural and address our approach to the rankings. There is no formula. We don’t have any numerical system. Our rankings are 100% based off the results on the mats. We keep detailed sheets for every wrestler and use ALL matches, not just one result.
Why Losses Matter More Than You Think
You can’t cherry pick and your losses count too. If you have four to five “bad” or losses to unranked girls, one or two, heck sometimes three wins can’t negate those. You will certainly move up but might be behind someone you have a win over because you have losses that outweigh that one win.
Recency Rules: The Weight of Fresh Results
We typically honor the most recent wins over older results. The old results are still there but their importance fades over time as new date takes precedence. Sometimes the only meeting between two wrestlers is an old one, and we will use it. Why not? It’s a data point to be used in the analysis process.
95-Pound Division Still Taking Shape
The 95-pound weight class is growing (up to 17 now). We will not speculate to fill the slots. Eventually, the results on the mat will give us the other candidates. Girls who have been 95 pounds in the past may have grown out of the weight, so we are taking a wait and see approach.
Who’s Eligible—and Who Has to Wait
The last big thing to point out is we are “High School On SI”, so therefore, only high school wrestlers will appear in our rankings unless you reside in a state that allows middle school grapplers to compete with the high school squad. … more at … https://www.si.com/high-school/wrestling/new-girls-post-season-wrestling-rankings-shake-up-after-women-s-nationals-results-01kpv3x5xhca
Team USA Qualifying Schedule: The Meets To Know In 2026
Here’s the 2026 Team USA wrestling qualifying schedule, including the U.S. Open, Senior World Team Trials and Final X.
he road to Team USA looks a little different depending on the style, but for senior-level world team qualification in 2026, three events matter most for freestyle fans: the U.S. Open, the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, and Final X. All three are broadcast on FloWrestling.
- More Information On The US Open Wrestling Championships 2026
- Domestic Men’s Freestyle Rankings
- 2026 US Open Senior Level Wrestling Entries
Each event plays a different role in the process, from setting the field to deciding who earns a spot on the U.S. Senior World Team. For men’s and women’s freestyle wrestlers, these events make up the key stops on the road to Team USA.
*For Greco-Roman, the process is different, with the world team determined in Las Vegas rather than at Final X.
Here’s what to know about the meets that will decide Team USA in 2026.
Team USA Qualifying Schedule 2026
- April 21-26, 2026 – U.S. Open Championships
- May 14-15, 2026 – Senior World Team Trials
- June 19, 2026 – Final X
U.S. Open Championships
April 21-26, 2026 – Las Vegas, Nevada
The U.S. Open is the first major stop in the senior world team process. In men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle, champions at each weight advance directly to Final X, making it one of the most important events on the domestic calendar.
U.S. Open champions who earn Final X berths are not entered into the Senior World Team Trials.
Senior World Team Trials
May 14-15, 2026 – Louisville, Kentucky
The next stop for senior freestyle wrestlers is the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. This event is the final qualifying step into Final X for men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle athletes who did not win the U.S. Open.
The Challenge Tournament winner advances to Final X in weights where there is no returning 2025 World medalist already sitting in that Final X spot, … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15787159-team-usa-qualifying-schedule-the-meets-to-know-in-2026
Legendary Coach J Robinson Passes Away at 79
The wrestling community lost one of its all-time greats. J Robinson, a National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member, passed away on March 29 at the age of 79.
A 1972 Greco-Roman Olympian, three-time Dan Gable Coach of the Year (including twice by WIN Magazine), and proud Army Ranger veteran, Robinson built Minnesota into a national powerhouse — winning three team titles, developing 65 All-Americans and 14 individual national champions over three decades.
His .753 winning percentage and 440 dual-meet victories both stand as the best marks in Minnesota wrestling history.
Off the mat, his J Robinson Intensive Camps trained over 60,000 wrestlers across more than four decades, becoming the largest camp system in the country.
“On behalf of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors and staff, I want to extend our sincere sympathies to J’s wife, Sue, his family, friends and the thousands of wrestlers and coaches across the country whose lives were shaped by his influence, friendship, mentorship and leadership,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the NWHOF. “A legendary Olympic wrestler, esteemed coach, and proud Army Ranger veteran, J’s impact on wrestling began in the 1960s and spanned more than seven decades. Throughout his remarkable career, he built a legacy defined by an unwavering work ethic, visionary leadership, and a lifelong commitment to elevating the sport and inspiring generations of athletes.”
A tenacious competitor, championship coach, innovative leader and a driving force in the sport of wrestling, Robinson’s competitive spirit and “give-it-your-all” attitude emerged during his days as a prep wrestler in California. He won SDIF titles in 1963 and 1964 and was named Outstanding Wrestler in 1964. His flair for international competition and being on the “cutting edge of the sport” began when he became a member of the inaugural California International Team. Competing in Japan, the pioneer team paved the way for young wrestlers of the future.
In the next years, Robinson made his mark in not just one style of wrestling, but three. He honed his collegiate style skills under the instruction of the legendary coach Myron Roderick at Oklahoma State University. Shifting his focus to the international arena, he was a member of two World teams, finishing fourth in 1970 and fifth in 1971. He competed as a member of the 1972 Greco-Roman Olympic Team and was named to WIN Magazine’s All-Olympic Team of the Century. During this time, he won four national titles: … more at … https://www.win-magazine.com/2026/04/03/legendary-coach-j-robinson-passes-away-at-79/
Hayden Hidlay Returns to NC State Wrestling
RALEIGH – NC State wrestling’s first-ever five-time All-American is returning to Raleigh to rejoin the NC State wrestling staff, this time as an assistant coach, as announced by head coach Pat Popolizio on Tuesday.
One of the most decorated athletes to come out of the NC State wrestling program, a Raleigh reunion will be had with Hayden Hidlay as he returns to his alma mater.
Hidlay joins the Wolfpack staff after spending the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons as an assistant coach at Stanford, as well as the 2023-24 season at North Dakota State. Immediately following his graduation from NC State back in 2022, the five-year member of the Pack served as the student-athlete development coordinator for NC State wrestling.
“Hayden was one of the most impactful student-athletes we’ve ever had, not only just within our program, but both at the conference and national levels too,” said head coach Pat Popolizio. “As one of the winningest wrestlers in NC State school history, he was our program’s first-ever five-time All-American, all while accumulating academic accolades across the board as well.
He’s spent the last few seasons growing, as a coach and as a man, at Stanford and North Dakota State. Just days ago, he guided Aden Valencia to his first national championship as a 10th-seeded redshirt-freshman at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland.
Hayden will continue to instill our program’s culture that he helped build as an athlete. We are thrilled at the opportunity to have him back in Raleigh, back in the wrestling room that he accomplished so much in.”
Over the last two seasons, Hidlay helped the Cardinal produce tremendous results during their first inaugural years in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The squad is coming off a historic season with its highest-ever finish at the NCAA Championships in sixth place and the third national champion in program history, a wrestler whom Hidlay closely oversaw.
“I am honored to be returning to NC State wrestling,” said Hayden Hidlay. … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2026/3/24/hayden-hidlay-returns-to-nc-state-wrestling
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
Takedown Report 