NWCA All-Star classic match order, Penn State wrestling bout previews, how to watch, and more
The eyes of the college wrestling world will turn toward State College this weekend. The No. 1 Penn State wrestling team opens its 2024-2025 season and NCAA title defense on Sunday when Drexel visits for a 1 p.m. ET dual meet. Of course, that is not the only event Rec Hall is hosting this weekend. One day earlier, the NWCA All-Star Classic, an exhibition event featuring top wrestlers from around the country, will feature 16 bouts, five of which will feature a Nittany Lion.
The NWCA All-Star Classic starts at 7 p.m. ET. Flo Wrestling is streaming it live for its subscribers here. And, some tickets are still available here.
Which Penn State wrestlers are in the NWCA All-Star Classic?
Penn State was set to have six competitors in this event. Now, however, the list is down to five. Heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet dropped out earlier this week due to a family obligation. But, he will be in action Sunday against the Dragons. His teammates competing on Saturday, though, are unlikely to be. The Nittany Lions are represented by Beau Bartlett, Shayne Van Ness, Tyler Kasak, Levi Haines, and Carter Starocci.
“It looks like the majority of them will not be wrestling Sunday,” head coach Cael Sanderson said this week. “I think there’s a couple of them that are considering it, but I think their focus right now is the all-star match. If something changes, obviously they’re on weight, but they’re wrestling some of the best guys in the country, so we want them to focus on that match. We have a lot of really tough and able bodied kids that are ready to jump in there, if the opportunity presents itself.”
NWCA All-Star Classic bout order
Here’s the order of competition, courtesy of the NWCA:
110: 1 Emma Baertlein, Southern Oregon vs #4 Kendra Ryan, North Central … more at … https://www.on3.com/teams/penn-state-nittany-lions/news/nwca-all-star-classic-match-order-penn-state-wrestling-bout-previews-how-to-watch-and-more/
UNC-Pembroke Wrestling Weathers Storm, Takes Down Tornado
PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke wrestling team faced a 19-14 deficit with two matches remaining, but wins from Nigel Williams and Massimo Sullivan secured the narrow 21-19 victory for the Braves in Conference Carolinas wrestling action Wednesday night at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
The Braves (2-0, 2-0 CC) improved to 9-1 in the all-time series with the Tornado (0-1, 0-1 CC).
Bryson Harper got the Braves on the board first with a decision victory at 125 pounds, before King would take the 133 and 141 pound bouts. Ninth-ranked Jake Piccirilli cut into the King lead with a dominating 21-3 tech. fall win at 149 pounds, while King answered with a decision win at 157 pounds to stretch the lead once again. Will Lowery’s reverse pin in the 165-pound match gave the lead back to the Braves, while a King win at 174 pounds saw the lead change once more. A Tornado win by decision at 184 pounds took the King lead to 19-14, before Williams kept the Black & Gold alive with a victory at 197 pounds. Sullivan would then clinch the UNCP win in the heavyweight bout with … more at … https://uncpbraves.com/news/2024/11/13/wrestling-weathers-storm-takes-down-tornado.aspx
Penn State, Iowa begin season ranked atop NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll
Manheim, Pennsylvania – For the third straight year, Penn State will start the college wrestling season ranked No. 1 in the country.
The Nittany Lions garnered all 16 first-place votes as the season’s first poll was released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association on Wednesday. Penn State won its third straight national championship and 12th overall last March, setting a new NCAA tournament scoring mark in the process with 172.5 points and outdistancing runner-up Cornell by an unprecedented 100 points.
Coach Cael Sanderson’s team is also riding a dual meet win streak of 55 in a row, which currently sits as the 13th longest all-time in college wrestling history and the sixth-longest in major college history.
Iowa starts the year ranked second after finishing the regular season 12-2 in duals and fifth at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The Hawkeyes are followed by Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Ohio State in the top five.
Oklahoma State went 14-1 last season and for the first time in nearly 30 years, will be led by a new head coach. World and Olympic champion David Taylor assumed the role over the summer as the Cowboys’ head coach and brings a new feeling of excitement to Stillwater. The Cowboys finished a disappointing 10th at last season’s NCAA championships.
Nebraska went 12-2 in duals and finished ninth at the NCAA championships, while the Buckeyes were 15-2 in duals and finished eighth. The Big Ten, as usual, has an abundance of teams ranked in the Top 25, with eight of the conference’s 14 wrestling schools starting the year in the poll, including four in the top five. Michigan (8-4 in 2023-24) gives the Big Ten a fifth team in the Top 10, coming in at No. 10.
While the Big Ten was unaffected on the wrestling side of things by the continuing world of college realignment, other conferences find themselves with changing membership.
Oklahoma State is one of eight Big 12 teams ranked in the Top 25 to start the season, with newcomer Arizona State adding to the list of usual suspects. Iowa State (13-2) and Missouri (10-4) come in ranked sixth and ninth, respectively.
The ACC boasts five schools ranked – including rivals Virginia Tech (9-4) and NC State (16-2) coming in ranked No. 7 and No. 8 to start the year. Geographical outlier Stanford joins the conference and starts the year ranked No. 21. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2024/10/30/national-wrestling-coaches-association-penn-state-iowa-begin-season-ranked-atop-nwca-division-i-mens-wrestling-coaches-poll.aspx
South Carolina Colleges Match Results
#14 Lander Grounds Newberry, 31-6, on Deck of USS Yorktown
CHARLESTON, S.C. – With the sun setting on the Charleston Harbor creating a picturesque scene, the 14th-ranked Lander Wrestling team handled business against the Newberry Wolves with a 31-6 win on the deck of the USS Yorktown on Friday evening.
Lander improves to 2-0 overall and in Conference Carolinas action while Newberry drops to 1-1 overall and in conference play. “It was a great and electric environment for wrestling and a great way to show off what the state of South Carolina has to offer in the sport of wrestling,” said head coach R.C. LaHaye. Lander got a quick 6-0 lead with decisions from Will Hamilton and Christian Davis in the first two matches before Isham Peace ignited the Bearcat bench with a third-period pin to double the Blue and Gold’s lead to 12-0.
Reid Noble and Sammy Gerrard added major decisions at 149 and 157 to make it 20-0 Lander at the halfway mark. David Hunsberger got a second-period technical fall set the stage for Nate Buckovich to ice the match with a 10-5 decision over #12 Dayton Fields to make it 28-0, Bearcats.
Newberry got on the board at 184 and 197 with a pair of decisions but Issac Sheeran closed the match on a high note as he got a takedown with under ten seconds left to secure a 6-5 decision and the 25-point victory for Lander. “I’m proud of the team for how they handled the environment. They showed a lot of hustle, grit, and fight and they were rewarded for their efforts,” said LaHaye.
The Bearcats will send a squad to … more at … https://landerbearcats.com/news/2024/11/8/wrestling-14-lander-grounds-newberry-31-6-on-deck-of-uss-yorktown.aspx
And …
Limestone Takes Down Emory & Henry 34-17
Saints looked strong in their dominate win over the Wasps
Emory, VA—Limestone wrestling headed to Emory and Henry to take on the Wasps at the John Rutledge Center. The team dominated by only dropping four of the matches, and came away with a 34-17 win. Limestone moves to (1-0) in the conference and overall. Emory and Henry stand at (0-1) overall and in the conference.
Limestone Wrestlers:
William Finnearty represented Limestone in the 125-pound weight class at Emory and Henry. He managed to grab 6.0 points for the Saints. Here’s a recap of his matches:
- Period 1: Finnearty came out firing earning a 3 point takedown early on at 2:40
- Period 1: He shortly after gained another 3 points for one more takedown at 1:41.
- Period 1: With 40 seconds left in period 1 Finnearty took down Tito Hernandez with a fall.
Richard Patanjo competed in the 133-pound weight class, earning 5.0 team points. Here’s a summary of his match:
He would grab the final four points he needed to win by tech fall over Avery Almany (24-7).
Period 1: Patanjo showed aggression early, he tallied three points just 30 seconds into the match.
Patanjo took another three points a minute later creating a lead of 6-1.
He went on to close out the first period with a lead of 10-5.
Period 2: Patanjo opened with a reversal to grab himself two more points making the score 14-5.
He would grab 3 more points at the end of the second to make things 17-7 heading into the third
Period 3: Patanjo became aggressive out of the gate once again bringing the score to 20-7. … more at … https://golimestonesaints.com/news/2024/11/7/mens-wrestling-wrestling-takes-down-emory-henry-34-17.aspx
Murray State College to Add Wrestling Program, Renovate Armory
Murray State College is proud to announce the addition of men’s and women’s wrestling to its roster of competitive teams starting in Fall 2025. “Wrestling is the fastest growing competitive sport in the United States right now,” said Brandon Bowling, Murray State College Athletic Director. “It’s the perfect time to add a new program for our young men and women as we search for opportunities that add value and give students reasons to choose Murray State.”
The Murray State College Board of Regents recently approved to renovate the historic armory on the Tishomingo campus to serve as a state-of-the-art wrestling facility and the new home of the Murray State College Athletic Hall of Fame. “The armory is a special building on our campus that hasn’t been used since its decommissioning in the 1990s. This is a way to bring the facility back to life in a way that serves our students and the community,” said Adisha Chapman, Murray State College Board Chair. “My family has a long history of participation in the sport of wrestling and I’ve seen first-hand the benefits it provides to the athletes.”
The local economic impact of a single wrestling competition has the potential to reach an estimated $47,000. These events bring teams from across the region that will contribute sales tax dollars in the form of fuel, food and other travel-related expenses. With plans to schedule two youth camps per summer, hosting 100 attendees each, it truly becomes an economic asset. “The addition of men’s and women’s wrestling is good for Murray State, but also for the region,” said Dr. Tim Faltyn, Murray State College President. “A project of this nature reflects our unwavering commitment to not only providing exceptional student opportunities and experiences but also to bolster our local communities.”
This historic announcement comes just one year after the start of the first Cross Country team at Murray State. Enrollment has increased 33% over the last three years and is expected to continue to climb. “The importance of academic and athletic programs at Murray State cannot be underscored,” … more at … https://mscok.edu/news/Wrestling-Ardmory
Jason Moorman Out As King University Women’s Wrestling Coach
Jason Moorman is no longer the King University Women’s Wrestling coach as of October 18, 2024
TDR Editor’s Notes; Moorman is the top Women’s Coach in Career Dual Meet Wins!
Jason Moorman is no longer the head women’s wrestling coach at King. Moorman is arguably the country’s most successful women’s college wrestling coach after serving in the role since the 2009-10 season.
He led the team to a 1-9 record during its inaugural season before building a national powerhouse. The Tornado won four WCWA Championships (2014-17) and has placed in the top three at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships since the tournament began in 2020.
King University, an NCAA Division II school in Bristol, Tennessee, stated about his departure: “As of Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, Jason Moorman is no longer employed with King University. We are grateful for his service and wish him well going forward. “The future remains bright for the Tornado, and we will now begin a formal search process to identify the next proven and qualified candidate to guide our highly respected women’s wrestling program.”
The 2014 King University women’s team was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct 6, 2024. Moorman and several team members, including 2024 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hildebrandt, attended the weekend festivities. “I know when abrupt changes like this happen in a sport with men coaching female athletes, first assumptions can go straight to some inappropriate incidents causing harm or mistreating student-athletes, and that is not the case whatsoever,” Moorman said. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/12919987-jason-moorman-out-as-king-university-womens-wrestling-coach
Virginia Colleges’ Results
No. 19 Averett wrestling cruises past Randolph, Saint Andrews to open dual schedule
DANVILLE, Va. — No. 19 Averett University wrestling opened its dual season in dominant fashion, blanking first-year program Randolph College 56-0 before beating Saint Andrews University 50-3 in a tri-meet Saturday in the Grant Center.
Averett (2-0, 1-0 ODAC) picked up five wins by fall in its Old Dominion Athletic Conference matchup against Randolph (0-2, 0-1 ODAC). At 125 pounds, senior Mason Barrett pinned Justin Porter in under a minute, while junior Wyatt Parker also got a pin in the first period at 141. Senior Jesse Alvarado won by fall at 149 pounds, as did junior Jacob Jiminez at 197 and junior Braeden Fluke at heavyweight.
The Cougars’ success continued in another win immediately after the Randolph matchup as Averett improved to 5-0 all-time against Saint Andrews. Barrett, who is ranked nationally at No. 3 and No. 4 in multiple polls, added another quick pin in the first period to improve him to 5-0 this season. Regionally ranked sophomore A.J. Orlando III also won by fall in under a minute as Averett jumped out to a 12-0 team lead against the Knights. Alvarado had the quickest pin of the night at 24 seconds in his win at 149. … more at … https://averettcougars.com/news/2024/11/9/mens-wrestling-no-19-averett-wrestling-cruises-past-randolph-saint-andrews-to-open-dual-schedule.aspx
And …
Hoos Down The Citadel At Throwdown On The Yorktown
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Virginia wrestling team (2-0) went on the road and picked up victory on Friday night (Nov. 8) as the Cavaliers defeated The Citadel (0-1) by a score of 24-11 at the Throwdown On The Yorktown. The event was wrestled on the deck of the U.S.S. Yorktown.
The evening’s second dual against Gardner-Webb was cancelled due to condensation on the mats creating slick conditions.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia got off to a quick start for the second straight dual, winning the first three bouts behind gritty performances from Keyveon Roller (125), Gable Porter (133) and Kyren Butler (141). Butler pushed the Cavaliers to a 9-0 lead as he picked up a sudden-victory decision at 141 pounds.
The Citadel got on the board with a victory at 149 pounds before Virginia rattled off three more decisions from Michael Gioffre (157), Nick Hamilton (165) and Rocco Contino (174). Gioffre took control of a 1-1 match in the third period to take is win and kick off the second run of the night for the Hoos. The three-match stretch was capped by Contino claiming victory with a takedown with 10 seconds left in the match to secure his win. After Citadel wins at 184 and 197, Virginia’s Brenan Morgan … more at … https://virginiasports.com/news/2024/11/08/hoos-down-the-citadel-at-throwdown-on-the-yorktown/
And …
Crusaders Open Home Slate with Victory over Emmanuel
BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey wrestling team opened the home schedule with a strong 41-4 victory over Emmanuel Wednesday evening at the Wheeler Center.
The match represented the opening dual match in Conference Carolinas competition. It was scheduled to be an outdoor match on the Quad but was moved indoors due to weather.
The Crusaders won nine of the 10 bouts on the evening, including a pin from John Carayiannis in the 149-pound weight class over Emmanuel’s Charles Hayes in 1:31. Additionally, the Abbey won three matches by technical fall including freshman Zach Bergman at 133 along with Mason Kump (184) and Caleb Moore (197).
Three others won by major decision with Justin Wright closing out the match with …. more at … https://abbeyathletics.com/news/2024/11/6/wrestling-crusaders-open-home-slate-with-victory-over-emmanuel.aspx
HBCU Wrestling and Delaware State Announce the First Ever Division I Women’s Wrestling Program
DOVER — HBCU Wrestling and Delaware State University (DSU) are proud to announce the historic launch of the first-ever Division I women’s wrestling program at an HBCU, a major milestone made possible by a generous $1.25 million gift from HBCU Wrestling. This initiative represents more than just an expansion in athletics; it is a commitment to equitable opportunities, reflecting both institutions’ dedication to creating pathways where student-athletes can thrive.
“The partnership with HBCU Wrestling gives our women student-athletes a platform to compete, grow, and inspire others. We are excited for this new chapter and the impact it will have for years to come,” said Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson, Director of Athletics.
The Delaware State University athletics department will immediately begin the search for a head coach. The first season for the women’s wrestling program is set to begin in the 2025-26 season.
Founded in 2021, HBCU Wrestling has made it its mission to bring wrestling back to HBCUs, giving young athletes the chance to excel in sports while being empowered as leaders. This movement began with a $2.7 million gift to Morgan State University, leading to the revitalization of its wrestling program. With the launch of DSU’s women’s team, HBCU Wrestling continues its mission to increase representation and opportunity in collegiate sports.
Restoring Tradition, Advancing Equity
Delaware State University’s history in wrestling spans decades, and it was the last HBCU to offer a Division I wrestling program before it was discontinued in 2009 due to financial and compliance challenges. The closure of DSU’s program mirrored a broader trend, as many universities—both HBCUs and others—faced similar pressures that led to the elimination of wrestling programs nationwide. Now, with HBCU Wrestling’s strategic support, DSU is not only reviving its program but doing so in a way that aligns with Title IX standards and promotes gender equity. This new program opens the doors for DSU to develop a sustainable, competitive team where young women athletes can reach their full potential.
“This announcement is not only about wrestling; it’s about expanding access to life-changing opportunities,” said Jahi Jones, Executive Director of HBCU Wrestling. “At HBCU Wrestling, we’ve built a foundation that now allows young women to succeed, thrive, and lead while still being in an environment where they feel seen, valued, and loved. This program aligns with the incredible growth of women’s wrestling nationwide, and I look forward to a strong, lasting partnership with Delaware State University that will inspire and empower future generations.”
A New Era for HBCU Athletics
DSU President Tony Allen highlighted the significance of this partnership.
“Delaware State University is proud to take this historic step in advancing opportunities for women in sports,” said Tony Allen, President of DSU. “We’re also thankful for our partnership with HBCU Wrestling, which … more at … https://dsuhornets.com/news/2024/11/7/general-hbcu-wrestling-and-delaware-state-announce-the-first-ever-division-i-womens-wrestling-program.aspx
Breaking down the fireworks, upsets and epic matches from first weekend of college wrestling
College wrestling season is officially back, and the first weekend of the season brought plenty of fireworks, upsets and epic matches. Here are some of the most notable results and takeaways from the opening few days of the year:
Wyoming and Campbell raise the bar for elite college duals
As mentioned in my weekend preview, one of the biggest stories heading into the first weekend of college wrestling was the Wyoming vs. Campbell dual in a rodeo venue. This match delivered.
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Not only did Wyoming and Campbell put forward an incredible evening that highlighted the ‘fun’ of college wrestling, but they also created ten stellar matches, highlighted elite sportsmanship and a vision for what the future of college wrestling could look like. These are two teams pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the sport and making headlines doing it.
From a wrestling standpoint, Stockton O’Brien of Wyoming earned “Wrestler of the Dual” honors for his pin against Campbell’s No. 18 Domenic Zaccone, but the entire dual featured great action. … more at … https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2024-11-04/breaking-down-first-weekend-college-wrestling
Olympics Wrestling PA Announcer finds community, belonging as Voice of the Huskies
Jason Bryant has emerged as one of the top wrestling public address (PA) announcers in the world over the past decade.
The numbers speak for themselves: 25 collegiate wrestling national championship events, seven world championship events and three editions of the Summer Olympics.
So how did an avid wrestling fan end up as the voice of a Division I men’s hockey team?
When longtime PA announcer Chuck Clausen retired in 2022 after 32 years with St. Cloud State University Men’s Hockey, a significant role needed to be filled.
Bryant first saw the job posting on a PA announcing Facebook group. He showed it to his wife Abby, who encouraged him to give it a try. “We opened up a search not knowing where it would go, and a lot of people wanted to be the next voice of the Huskies,” said Andrew Melroe, Assistant Athletics Director for Athletic Communications. “I was surprised and happy when I saw he had applied, I hoped we could make it work … any time I can add to the Husky family, I’m happy to do so.”
Bryant didn’t feel his in-person audition went great, so he was a bit surprised when he was offered the position. Prior to SCSU’s 2022-23 season opener against St. Thomas, he’d only seen one college hockey game live in his life. Did he feel ready to call one in-person?
“I’ve done the Olympics; nothing is more pressure-packed than that,” Bryant said. … more at … https://today.stcloudstate.edu/2024/10/28/olympics-wrestling-pa-announcer-finds-community-belonging-as-voice-of-the-huskies/
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 