David Taylor is positioned to dominate college wrestling’s future
David Taylor completed his first semester as the Oklahoma State wrestling coach, and his grades are posted. He earned straight A’s with a team title at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, the second-ranked recruiting class and an undefeated dual record – topped with a 34-9 win over No. 7 Virginia Tech Thursday in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The possibilities for the next decade of his career are as enticing for OSU as they are concerning for the rest of the country.
Seven months before his 34th birthday, Taylor was given the enviable position to coach the winningest program in NCAA history and the unenviable task to follow John Smith.
Sources have told the News Press that Smith fully intended and expected his replacement to be chosen from within, and Smith said he coached a few extra years to set the program up for success. Instead, Taylor was hired and had to earn the team and the fanbase’s confidence as a coach.
He has swiftly done that in the best way possible: by being himself. And the team has taken on the aggressive identity of its coach. “We’re just looking to score the whole time up and down the lineup,” Luke Surber said. “Coach Smith wanted to score, too. But what we’re doing is a little bit different.”
Last season, the Cowboys scored more than 31 team points in one dual. This season, they have yet to score fewer than 32 team points. Smith deserves a lot of credit for the team’s strong finish in the spring leading to its strong start in the fall. “Our guys that have been there and had success at the national tournament – their aura, their demeanor, their work ethic – is super valuable for some of the younger guys on our team,” Taylor said.
But Taylor’s coaching has clearly unlocked something extra in wrestlers such as Troy Spratley, Tagen Jamison, Luke Surber and transfers Dean Hamiti and Wyatt Hendrickson. Especially after Hamiti destroyed No. 4 Lennox Wolak, it would not be surprising to see him win the national title, and that was unexpected when he committed to OSU. … more at … https://www.stwnewspress.com/sports/in-the-loop-david-taylor-is-positioned-to-dominate-college-wrestlings-future/article_fb2ccacc-bea9-11ef-8be9-03c589b71f4b.html
No. 13 Cyclones Go 2-1 at Collegiate Duals
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 13 Iowa State (4-3, 1-0 Big 12) went 2-1 Saturday at the Collegiate duals in Nashville, Tenn. The Cyclones defeated Lock Haven (2-4, 1-0 MAC) and No. 25 North Carolina (4-4, 0-0 ACC) before falling to No. 5 Ohio State (7-0, 0-0 Big Ten) in the final dual of the day.
The Cyclones notched victories over the Bald Eagles, 30-6, and Tar Heels, 23-14, but dropped the finale to the Buckeyes, 29-10.
Kysen Terukina went 2-0 at 125 pounds in his first action of the season while Paniro Johnson and Evan Bockman went 2-0 at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively. Cody Chittum went 3-0 on the day at 157 pounds with an upset over Ohio State’s No. 7 Paddy Gallagher.
Osmany Diversent earned the first top-15 win of his career with a win over Lock Haven’s two-time All-American No. 13 Anthony Noto.
Individual dual recaps from the day can be found below.
Iowa State is back in dual action after the New Year at West Virginia on Jan. 8.
No. 13 Iowa State 30, Lock Haven 6
No. 13 Iowa State took eight of 10 bouts, including four with bonus points, in the first dual of the day against Lock Haven. Kysen Terukina, Jacob Frost, Cody Chittum and Manny Rojas tallied extra points in ISU’s 30-6 victory over the Bald Eagles.
In his first match of the season, Terukina earned a 20-5 tech fall over Lucas Fye at 125 pounds. The Hawaiian tallied five takedowns in the win.
Osmany Diversent notched the first top-15 victory of his young career with a commanding 9-3 victory over two-time All-American No. 13 Anthony Noto. Diversent had a takedown in all three periods.
Frost continued his strong start to the season with a 20-4 tech fall over No. 21 Wyatt Henson at 141 pounds. Frost gave up the first takedown but settled in and turned Henson twice to break the match open. Lock Haven got on the board at 149 pounds when Carter Fousek fell to No. 31 Lucas Kapusta, 9-6. Fousek reversed Kapusta to his back at the end of the second period but time ran out before the Cyclone could accumulate near fall points.
At 157 pounds, Chittum earned bonus points with a 13-4 major decision over Nick Stampoulos, putting Iowa State ahead of Lock Haven, 17-3, at the halfway point. Rojas earned the first dual victory of his career with a 12-3 major decision over Caden Dobbins at 165 pounds. … more at … https://cyclones.com/news/2024/12/21/wrestling-no-13-cyclones-go-2-1-at-collegiate-duals.aspx
Cowboys, Buckeyes take out ranked opponents, Top 25 sees minimal movement
Manheim, Pennsylvania – One upset created some movement in the lower half of the NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Tuesday, but in large, there were minimal changes in the poll.
The biggest upset came in West Virginia as California Baptist upended then-No. 18 West Virginia 18-15 in New Cumberland. The loss dropped the Mountaineers (3-1) four spots to No. 22.
There were only two duals between ranked teams this past week: No. 3 Oklahoma State (5-0) trounced No. 21 Oklahoma 35-3 at Bedlam, while No. 5 Ohio State topped then-No. 19 Pittsburgh 20-17.
The top 10 remained the same as No. 1 Penn State (3-0) shutout Wyoming 54-0 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Other action saw No. 10 Northern Iowa beat perennial Division II power Nebraska-Kearney 35-8, No. 13 Iowa State beat North Dakota State 27-12, Rutgers (8-2) swept a trio of duals with Gardner-Webb, Kent State and Clarion, while Little Rock beat Chattanooga 32-6 on Monday night.
Methodology: The NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll is voted on by two coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Each first-place vote is worth 25 points, 24 points for a second-place vote, 23 points for a third-place vote, and so on, through to one point for a 25th-place vote. The poll is based on dual meet results.
NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll
December 17, 2024
… more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2024/12/17/ncaa-division-1-men-cowboys-buckeyes-take-out-ranked-opponents-top-25-sees-minimal-movement.aspx
Christian Davis Named Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Week
Second Bearcat Freshman to be Honored this Season
GREENVILLE, S.C. – After winning the 133-lb Midwest Classic bracket over the weekend by knocking off a pair of nationally-ranked opponents, Christian Davis has been named the Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Week as announced by the league this afternoon. Davis is the second Lander wrestler to earn the weekly honor this season and the second freshman to earn the honor, joining Issac Sheeren who earned the award in the first week of the season.
Davis earned the honor on the back of a perfect 5-0 week at the prestigious Midwest Classic that saw him become the fourth Midwest Classic Champion in program history as well as the first freshman to win the tournament in program history. Of his five wins, three of them came by bonus point margins, one of which a 10-2 major decision over the fourth-ranked wrestler in his weight class in Peter Rolle of Central Oklahoma. Davis picked up the tournament title with a dominant 8-2 win over the second-ranked wrestler in his class, Reece Barnhardt of UMary.
Davis now sits at 20-2 on the season … more at … https://landerbearcats.com/news/2024/12/17/wrestling-christian-davis-named-conference-carolinas-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx
NECP, Tarboro wrestlers claim titles in USAF-Eagle Invitational
The North East Carolina Prep School wrestling team produced three championships while Tarboro claimed one during the USAF-Eagle Invitational at Rosewood High School on Saturday.
Holton Quincy took the 113-pound title for the Huskies while Colton Lewis won at 126 and Ryan Mann claimed the 144 crown.
Quincy had a bye through the first two rounds. He then pinned Albert Couch of Southwest Onslow (1:22) in the quarterfinals, won by pin (2:32) over Guy Wavra of Corinth Holders in the semifinals and won by major decision 8-0 over Jesse Farmsworth of Panther Creek in the finals.
Lewis received a first-round bye and pinned George Records of Southwest Onslow (0:59) in the second round. Lewis then pinned Florentino Martinez-Hernandez of North Pitt (0:43) in the quarterfinals, won by technical fall 18-4 over Isaiah Mazura of Rosewood in the semifinals and won by major decision 12-0 over Carson Corl of South Johnston in the finals.
Mann received a first-round bye and pinned Troy Parker of Garner (1:13) in the second round. He then won by technical fall 16-1 over Ethan Johnson of North Pitt in the quarterfinals, took a major decision 10-0 over Ashton Shields-Adams in the semifinals and claimed the championship by pinning Mikey Leaf of Ravenscroft (2:51) in the finals match.
Daniel Silver placed second in the 285-pound (heavyweight) division. Silver received byes through the first two rounds. He pinned Sean Banks of Rosewood (3:16) and Jayden Williams of Clayton (3;58) before falling by pin (1:31) to Nicholas Rodgers of Wilson Fike in the championship match.
Other results for the Huskies are as follows:
• 106: Alan Tebalan finished in third place with a pin over Esteban Placencia of Southwest Onslow (0:19).
• 120: Kemon Downing took fourth place after losing by medical forfeit to Connor Elliot of Millbrook.
• 132: Brayden Waneroik ended up fourth overall … more at … https://www.reflector.com/apgstate/necp-tarboro-wrestlers-claim-titles-in-usaf-eagle-invitational/article_e3496683-b2a4-52cf-8a19-097b7f70aa81.html
Taylor Tabbed Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
Nebraska’s Antrell Taylor (157) was named Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Week, his first time claiming the honor, as the conference announced its award winners on Thursday afternoon.
The sophomore most recently ran a 5-0 Cliff Keen campaign in Las Vegas to take home the 157 title, and improve his season record to 12-0. Taylor took down four ranked opponents, two in the top-10, and had a major decision and pin at the invitational. The first-place finish helped the Huskers claim runner-up in Las Vegas among 30 teams.
Taylor, who is currently the third-ranked wrestler in the nation, is the second Husker to win the award this season, after Ridge Lovett was honored on Nov. 21.
Up next, the Big Red will host a triangular with Augustana (S.D.) and UN-Kearney on Friday, Dec. 20. The Vikings and Lopers will take the mat first, wrestling at 4 p.m., before the Huskers face Augustana (S.D.) at 6 p.m. The UN-Kearney and Nebraska matchup will start following the conclusion of the previous dual. The Huskers’ duals will have live results and be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
2024-25 Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
Nov. 7
W: Joseph Walker, Sr., MICH
F: Ben Davino, OSU … more at … https://huskers.com/news/2024/12/12/taylor-tabbed-big-ten-wrestler-of-the-week
And …
Down To Optimal Weight, Nebraska Wrestling’s Taylor is ‘Here To Stay’
After earning All-America honors last season at 165 pounds, Antrell Taylor is off to a 12-0 start after going back down to his optimal weight of 157.
Nebraska’s Antrell Taylor is back down to his more natural weight of 157 pounds, and after winning a Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational title, he wants everyone to know he’s here to stay after a brief hiatus up at 165. “I definitely see it as I had something to prove,” Taylor said. “I think I proved that, and like I said at the end of the match ‘I’m here to stay’. That’s the type of mentality I have going into every match from here on out.”
After redshirting at 157 pounds, Taylor spent his first season as the starter up at 165 pounds because Nebraska had All-American Peyton Robb at 157 for his senior season. Taylor went 23-10 and finished eighth at NCAAs for All-American honors as a freshman.
After a year spent competing against much bigger opponents, Taylor says he feels much stronger. The season at 165 accelerated his development because he was forced to figure out new ways to get to his offense. “It definitely helped me develop,” Taylor said of facing larger opponents. “I was shooting a single leg, then come up to the body because that’s my best position — the bodylock position — so just finding different ways to my underhooks and bodylocks and stuff like that because I couldn’t really get through guys as much as I wanted to. I didn’t really shoot as many double-legs last year, so it was just finding different ways to get through guys.”
While up at 165, Taylor amassed a pretty solid hit list, including wins over … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13209445-down-to-optimal-weight-nebraska-wrestlings-taylor-is-here-to-stay
Wrestlers grapple with rule changes
If veteran wrestling fans were paying attention at the Tom Torres Duals at Los Lunas High School Saturday, they certainly heard a lot more whistles and saw a faster pace than usual.
That’s because high school wrestling has undergone a series of rule changes this season, more in line with college wrestling.
According to a news release from the National Federation of State High School Associations, NFHS, “six major changes impacting almost 30 rules” were adopted in April. “I like the changes,” said Steve Chavez, LLHS coach, who also admitted, “It’s going to be a big change for the kids and for the referee.”
Among the adjustments, a take down is now worth three points instead of two and a near-fall can count anywhere from two to five points, depending on how long the criteria is held. Chavez said points can now pile up faster. “Matches are going to go by quicker. Better wrestlers are going to be getting points faster.”
Belen wrestler Tommy Freeman gives a thumbs up. “I like the rule changes. The three-point take down is changing (wrestling) a lot,” Freeman said. Josh Jaramillo, a BHS wrestler, who has competed at the national level, also approves. “All I do is watch college wrestling, study the stuff,” said Jaramillo. “I knew it was happening, so my mindset was used to it.”
Valencia freshman Cole Houck is excited about the rules, too. “I think it’s cool because the match goes faster,” Houck said. “One point makes a big difference.” Another adjustment fans may notice is that wrestlers “will be inbounds with only one point of contact of either wrestler inside or on the boundary line,” which could cut down on stoppages. More mundane rule changes include a new official’s timeout signal, “both hands/fingers pointing inward to the referee’s chest,” and the 10-foot circle in the … more at … https://www.news-bulletin.com/sports/wrestlers-grapple-with-rule-changes/article_4e448a5a-b7fd-11ef-a958-db1663a8b51b.html
No. 6 Ohio State Rallies for 20-17 Win at Pitt
Buckeyes win five of the final six matches of the dual to erase a 14-0 deficit
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The sixth-ranked Ohio State wrestling team roared back from a 14-0 deficit on Friday night against Pittsburgh and won five of the final six bouts to earn a 20-17 victory against the Panthers at Fitzgerald Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh. Trailing 14-0 after fourth matches, the Buckeyes got three major decisions, one decision and one technical fall in the second half of the dual to styme the Panthers. Each of the five wins came from wrestlers ranked in the top 12 of their respective weight classes.
Friday night’s dual began at 174 pounds and for the Buckeyes, it almost started with a significant upset. Unranked freshman e’Than Birden, a Dublin native, battled 17th-ranked Luca Augustine all the way to a second overtime period before eventually falling, 2-1. Neither wrestler was able to score a takedown in the match, as Birden carried a 1-0 lead into the third period.
In the next bout, at 184 pounds, Ohio State once again lost a tight decision. This time it was Seth Shumate who went down the wire in a 6-5 loss to No. 11-ranked Reece Heller. Shumate built a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period was ahead 4-3 entering the third period but a Heller takedown proved to be the difference. The win for the Panthers gave them an early 6-0 lead in the team score.
The Panthers would increase their lead to 9-0 following an 8-2 decision for No. 16 Mac Stout at 197 pounds over Ryder Rogotzke in the first ranked match of the night. Stout got going late in the bout, scoring a late second-period takedown to pull ahead 3-1 and then scoring four points in the third period. A 16-1 technical fall at 285 lbs. – the first bonus points of the night – gave the Panthers a 14-0 cushion after four matches. But Brendan McCone swung some momentum back in Ohio State’s favor … more at … https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/news/2024/12/13/wrestling-no-6-ohio-state-rallies-for-20-17-win-at-pitt
Dispelling the myths about Lincoln’s wrestling days
By Mike Chapman
Well, it’s happened again. I recently read a story online that claims Abe Lincoln wrestled 300 matches and lost just once. As a huge fan of Honest Abe, I was disappointed that such a ridiculous claim keeps popping up from time to time.
One can also read some places that Lincoln not only won hundreds of matches but was a state and regional wrestling champion. But none of that is true. It is a part of the myth or folklore that has been built up around this great man for decades.
Lincoln was born on Feb. 6, 1809, and raised in Kentucky. When he was seven, the family moved to Indiana. He grew into a strapping young man nearly six-foot, four-inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds. He developed a strong, lean physique from years of splitting logs and hard work on a farm.
He first strolled into the tiny village of New Salem, Ill., in 1831 as a 22-year-old looking for a new start in life. And soon after his arrival, he was entangled in an event that was destined to play a very important role in his career. It was called scuffling or grappling, and in modern terms … wrestling.
First of all, we need to define what type of contest Lincoln and others would have participated in back then. There were almost no rules, no time limits and no referees, which are the three basic requirements for any type of official wrestling match today.
It was just a good, old-fashioned scuffle with each man trying to throw the other to his back and make him quit. Foot stomping was a frequent tactic as was hair pulling and thumbing of the face. It was a wild and ruckus engagement with little resemblance to wrestling as we now know it.
In that summer of 1831, Lincoln wound up in a scuffling contest with Jack Armstrong, an older man who was considered the toughest fellow in the area. They tangled on a small slice of grass between two small buildings, and by all accounts Abe got the better of it. I have stood on that very spot many times through the years and have conducted two seminars there about the event. I even appeared on a national radio show several years ago to talk about it.
The most thorough discussion of Lincoln’s wrestling background comes in the book “Honor’s Voice: The Transformation of Abraham Lincoln,” written by historian Douglas L. Wilson, in 1999. The book offers an entire chapter – nearly 32 pages — devoted to Lincoln’s wrestling prowess, appropriately entitled “Wrestling with the Evidence”. … more at … https://www.win-magazine.com/2024/12/12/dispelling-the-myths-about-lincolns-wrestling-days/
Wrestling Takes Seven of 10 at Davidson for Fourth Straight Dual Win
DAVIDSON, N.C. – The opening three bouts and the final four bouts all went to American University wrestling as the Eagles picked up their fourth straight win with a 25-9 road victory at Davidson College on Sunday afternoon. AU scored two bonus-point wins including a 16-second fall by Raymond Lopez at 133 pounds.
Notable
- The pin for Lopez was his fifth of the young season, and he stands at 7-1 overall with five wins by fall. The only loss so far for Lopez was a medical forfeit on Dec. 8. His 11 career pins are now tied for 16th all-time in program history.
- Starting off the dual was redshirt freshman Coen Bainey with an 11-2 major-decision victory over Luke Passarelli at 125 pounds. Bainey scored three takedowns including two in the third period to earn the bonus-point win for the Eagles.
- After Lopez’s 16-second pin of Enis Ljikovic at 133, the Eagles got a third straight win at 141 pounds from sophomore Cael McIntyre. He led 7-0 after the opening period and held on for an 8-3 win to put AU up 13-0.
- The Wildcats won three straight bouts to come within four team points at 13-9, but the Eagles closed out with four straight wins by decision.
- With a second-period escape and a riding time point, Caleb Campos won 2-0 at 174.
- Senior Breon Phifer used a late, third-period takedown to help secure his first dual win of the season, 5-4 over Ian McGehee at 184 pounds. … more at … https://aueagles.com/news/2024/12/15/wrestling-takes-seven-of-10-at-davidson-for-fourth-straight-dual-win.aspx
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
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