InterMat Staff

DUBUQUE, IA -- Four University of Iowa wrestlers won titles while competing unattached at the Spartan Classic in Dubuque Saturday. Freshman Billy Murphy (133), juniors Mark Perry (165) and Matt Fields (Hwt.) and senior Eric Luedke (174) took home individual tournament titles. Perry recorded the quickest fall of the tournament in his first match, pinning Luke Karner of Knox College in 10 seconds. He totaled two pins, a technical fall and a major decision on the day. Luedke pinned his first three opponents and scored a major decision in the finals. Murphy recorded a pin, technical fall, major decision and decision at 133, while Fields a major decision, technical fall and two decisions at heavyweight. Also placing for Iowa were freshmen Matt Ballweg (2nd-149), Brooks Kopsa (7th-149) and Jake Kerr (165-3rd), and sophomore Dan Erekson (3rd-197). Hawkeye redshirt freshmen Joe Slaton (133), Dan LeClere (141), T.H. Leet (165) and Jay Borschel (174) were scheduled to compete at the Harold Nichols Open in Fort Dodge Saturday. Results were not available a press time.

FARGO, N.D. -- Improving on their runner-up finishes from last year, North Dakota State's Eric Sanders and Jacob Bryce opened up their 2006-07 season by winning individual crowns at the 37th annual Bison Open at the Bison Sports Arena on Saturday, November 11. Sanders, a junior from Wabasha, Minn., defeated Derek Bomstad of MSU Moorhead 9-8 in the championship match at 133 pounds. Sanders went 4-0 on the day which included a pin over Smokey McBride of Concordia College in the second round. Bryce, a sophomore from Glenwood, Minn., won three matches on the day and defeated unattached wrestler Brent Eidenschink in the 197-pound final 5-2. Nine other NDSU wrestlers placed fifth or better at the tournament. Gabe Mooney, Matt Hermann and Matt Wetterling also took runner-up honors. Mooney recorded a pin, technical fall and major decision en route to the finals before losing to Manuel Rivera of Minnesota in the championship match 5-1. Hermann, the lone senior on the Bison squad, loss to three-time Bison Open winner Gabe Dretsch of Minnesota 6-0 at 174 pounds. Roger Kish of Minnesota, the 2005 Division I national runner-up at 184 pounds, pinned Wetterling in 5:10 to win his third Bison Open crown. In his first tournament as a Bison, Eric Hoffman defeated teammate Mike Meger in the third-place match 5-2 at 125 pounds. Along with Meger, Adam Aho also placed fourth. The sophomore went 3-2 for the tournament at 157 pounds. Placing fifth for the Bison were Mike Quamme, Ben Imdieke and Justin LaGosh. Quamme and Imdieke both won by forfeit in the fifth-place match at 157 and 165 pounds respectively and LaGosh beat Jason Finley of St. John's 6-3 at 197 pounds. All-American Tanner Gardner from Stanford won the 125-pound crown, 2005 national champion Dustin Schlatter of Minnesota won his second consecutive Bison Open crown at 149 pounds as did teammate and brother C.P. Schlatter at 157 pounds. Unattached wrestler Scott Glasser won the 165-pound championship and unattached wrestlers Ben Berhow and Joe Nord were co-champions at heavyweight. 187 wrestlers from 10 different schools competed at the event. The Bison will next wrestle at the Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha, Neb., on Saturday, November 18. Matches are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

Philadelphia –- The 2006-07 Drexel wrestling season opened with two victories and one defeat in a quad meet with James Madison, Bucknell and Maryland held at Drexel's John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center. Drexel defeated James Madison, 37-3, topped Bucknell, 26-10, and lost 19-15 to Maryland. The Dragons opened with a victory over Colonial Athletic Association opponent James Madison, 37-3. Reigning CAA Rookie of the Year Steve Mytych opened the match with a convincing technical fall win at 125 pounds over Nhat Nguyen. Fellow sophomore Greg Jensen pinned Shawn Horst in what was a close match. Jensen started the second period on the bottom and executed a reversal and pinned Horst just seconds later. Mark Cartella and Billy Haydt both won their first match after redshirting last season. Cartella fought through an ankle injury to take a 9-2 decision at 149 pounds while Haydt earned a tough 5-2 win at 165 pounds. Cartella would not wrestle in the Dragons' final two matches. Last season's 30-match winners, Ryan Hluschak and Nick Kozar each started his season with a victory. Hluschak earned an 11-4 win while Kozar registered a 14-5 major decision triumph. Sophomore Justin Terhune showed he has recovered from a knee injury that ended his first collegiate season early. Terhune executed a takedown with just 11 seconds remaining in the match to clinch an 8-5 win over Dan Rafeedie. Jon Oplinger and Chris Cowen each earned bonus points for his victory. Oplinger earned a 17-6 major decision win at 197 pounds while Cowen pinned Zack Winfrey to earn the Dragons six points. Bucknell defeated Maryland, 27-14, in the other noon match at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. In the Dragons' second match, Coach Childs' squad defeated Bucknell, 26-10. Mytych opened the match with a major decision victory over Greg Hart, 15-3. Sophomore 141-pounder James Therrien wrestled his first match of the 2006-07 season and earned a 6-1 victory. Kris Park spelled Ryan Hluschak and earned an injury default victory after Park earned a takedown and a near fall and the Bisons' Mike Powers was unable to continue. Kozar picked up his second victory of the day when he earned a 9-4 decision over Shane Riccio. Terhune, Oplinger and Cowen all followed with their second wins of the day as the Dragons finished off the Bison. Oplinger earned his second bonus point of the day for a major decision. In the other 1:30 p.m. match, Maryland defeated James Madison, 35-3. In Drexel's final match of the meet, the Dragons dropped a tough match to Maryland, 22-12. Steve Mytych opened the match with a thrilling 6-5 win in the second tiebreaker. Maryland won the next three matches until Hluschak earned a 5-2 victory for his second triumph of the day. After Maryland won the 165-pound match, Kozar earned his third victory of the day when he broke open a close match with a takedown and near fall with less than one minute remaining in his match to defeat Mike Letts, 8-2. Terhune followed with a hard-fought 7-4 decision over Rich Dipietro. However, Hudson Taylor outpointed Oplinger 3-0 in the 197-pound bout to clinch the match for the Terrapins. In the other match at 3:00 p.m. Bucknell defeated James Madison, 24-9.

Ryan Budd of the Blue beat Alan Reynel, 16-1, for a technical fall at 174 pounds Saturday afternoon to cap the Blue's 33-16 victory over the Orange in Cal State Fullerton's 14-match intrasquad wrestling scrimmage in Titan Gym. The only other bonus points on the day went to T. J. Dillashaw of the Orange for an 11-0 major decision over Nolan Ricman at 133 pounds and to Taylor Smith of the Blue for a 9-0 major decision over Aaron Wilson at 141. The Titans open the season with their annual High School Wrestling Day on Friday, Nov. 17. Fullerton will host Stanford in a Pac-10 bout at 2:30 p.m. simultaneously with a Fullerton-Embry Riddle match and a community college contest between Cerritos and Santa Ana Colleges.

BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State opened the 2006 season with a bang on Friday night, scoring seven pins in a 46-3 victory over Wagner in Varsity Gymnasium. ASU, which placed fourth in the Southern Conference Tournament last season, came out of the gates hungry. Freshman Brody Essick (125 pounds), one of three rookies to break into the starting lineup, started the evening with a 15-4 major decision over Wagner's Nick Keshecki. The Mountaineers followed that with six straight pins in the 133 to 174 weight classes: Terreyl Williams, Clinton Swango, Scott Ervin, Eddie and Tommy Hutchinson, and Neal Martin all pinned their opponents within the first two periods. Freshman Brandon Brothers dropped an 8-4 decision to Rob Rivera in the 197 pound weight class for Wagner's only points, but senior Dave Hazell capped the evening with a pin of Angelo D'Amico to finish the 46-3 win. Appalachian (1-0, 0-0) has over a week off until its next meet. The Mountaineers will travel to Philadelphia for the Keystone Classic on Nov. 19.

AMES, Iowa -- In his debut as head wrestling coach, Cael Sanderson guided the Cyclones in a dominating 46-0 win over Buena Vista Friday night at Ames High School. Coming in as the number one recruiting class in 2005 by Amateur Wrestling News, six redshirt freshmen proved themselves by recording wins, four of which resulted in bonus points. Cyler Sanderson (149), Jake Varner (184) and Nick Fanthorpe (125) led the ISU charge as they each recorded season opening pins. "Our guys looked great tonight," first-year head coach Cael Sanderson said. "We are always looking to improve and that is what these early matches are for. It is all about preparation. Our freshmen worked hard out there and showed a lot of effort. They kept wrestling at the end and were able to get points. If they keep doing that, they are going to improve at rapid rates." Recording the first pin of the season was Cyler Sanderson at 149 pounds. In the first period alone, Sanderson took Calvin Barber down four times to put him up 11-5 after the first period. He then opened the second period from the down position and scored a reversal and nearly pinned Barber by scoring a three-point nearfall. He then stuck Barber's shoulders to the mat to take the win by fall at the 3:58 mark. "The win felt great," Sanderson said. "I have been waiting a long time to wrestle for the Cyclones. I am real happy with how my match went and I am looking forward to the rest of the season." Following up Sanderson's performance was two-time All-American Trent Paulson. Paulson, who is ranked second at 157-pounds, scored a 13-4 major decision against Aaron Cook. At 184-pounds, Jake Varner wasted no time as he scored an early takedown on Austin Hayes. Varner, who tallied 132 falls during his prep career, pinned Hayes in a mere 1:07. "The pin felt really good," Varner said. "It was exciting because my adrenaline was pumping. The crowd was great and I wanted to wrestle for the fans. I cannot wait to wrestle in Hilton Coliseum." Moving up from 184-pounds, Kurt Backes added bonus points by scoring a 20-6 technical fall in 4:53 over Brian Stueve. Backes attacked early by taking down Sueve four times in the first period alone and tacking on a two-point nearfall with 10 seconds left. He then scored three more takedowns in the second period, along with a reversal and another two-point nearfall. Closing out the dual at 125-pounds, redshirt freshman Nick Fanthorpe recorded the third pin of the night by sticking Julian Gunnels with 17 seconds left in the match. Fanthorpe began to take control of the match during the second period by taking a four-point lead via takedown and a two-point nearfall. He then took down Gunnels twice more in the third before pinning him. "I knew he was getting tired," Fanthorpe said. "I saw the opportunity and was able to get the pin. I had a lot of fun out there in my first collegiate match." Iowa State will travel to Fort Dodge to take part in the Harold Nichols Open Saturday at Iowa Central Community College. Last season the Cyclones brought back four individual titles. ISU will return to Ames on Nov. 26 as they play host to Arizona State at 7 p.m.

NEWBERRY, S.C. -- Newberry College jumped out to an early lead, but the 18th-ranked Carson-Newman College Eagles made a strong rally in the sixth match earn the 23-18 victory over the 22nd-ranked Indians on Friday evening at Eleazer Arena. Newberry (1-1) jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead when Kelly Anundson in the 197 pound division pinned Tom Minwell in 2:19. Cy Wainwright followed up with another pinfall in 5:35 in the 285 pound division to increase the Indians' lead to 12-0. Carson-Newman (1-0) stormed back winning the next four matches to go up 14-12. The Indians made a valiant rally, but came up short in the final match. Newberry will participate in the Gardner-Webb Quad Meet at Gardner-Webb University tomorrow. The Indians will face Duke University at 1:00 pm, Gardner-Webb at 3:00 pm, and will wrap-up the day against Wagner College at 5:00 pm.

LAWRENCEVILLE -- The family that wrestles together, pins together, and wins together. The Broncs won six bouts, two by fall by the Morrison brothers, to upset 21st ranked Lehigh in the 2006-07 season opener Friday night in a sold out Alumni Gymnasium. "Lehigh is a great team with great tradition," said Rider head coach Gary Taylor. "They've been one of the premier teams for many years." Freshman Rob Morrison (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cedar Cliff), in his first collegiate dual meet, won by fall to give Rider a 15-6 lead. "I wasn't expecting to get a pin at all," said Rob Morrison. "He was a little strong kid and he wasn't letting free. I decided to see what I could do with it. I was hoping back points, but I'll take a pin." Junior T. J. Morrison (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cedar Cliff) won by fall at 197 to seal the victory. "I couldn't be out-done by my littler brother," said TJ Morrison. "I had to get a pin after he got one. That was one of their back-up wrestlers, so once we knew he was wrestling, everyone told me I had to get a pin. I was a little stressed at that. I just wanted to get the win first, and if the pin comes, great." The Morrison brothers are the son of Tim Morrison, an All-American wrestler at Rider in 1983 and a member of the Rider Athletics Hall of fame. The victory was Rider's first over a top-25 team since defeating 24th ranked Kent State 24-17 in 2003. Rider had lost its last eight matches against top-20 teams, including two to Lehigh. "As in any sports you have opportunities," Taylor said. "You either seize the opportunity or you don't. I felt what our kids did a good job of tonight was seizing the opportunity. It was here, we knew we could go with them, but we also knew that they were favored, they were ranked higher. We had the opportunity to knock them off and the kids rose to the occasion and did it." Sophomore Doug Umbehauer (Shamong/Lenape) upset the eighth ranked wrestler in the nation, Dave Helfrich, to give Rider an 18-6 lead. "Umbehauer, in my opinion, was overlooked in all of the rankings," said Taylor, who has five wrestlers nationally ranked on his team to start this season. "He just trains and trains and gives you everything he's got. You could see it in the match. He wore the kid down and wouldn't take no for an answer." Junior Don Fisch (Williamstown/Delsea), ranked seventh in the nation after red-shirting last season, came back from a 5-0 deficit to win at 141, giving Rider a 6-3 lead. "There is always concern but I wasn't concerned Don could come back, I was just concerned in the fact that it was his first time back," said Taylor. Senior Dave Miller (Southampton/Lenape), ranked 16th in the country, won at 157 to break a 6-6 tie. Freshman Matt Bradley (Jackson) won his first collegiate match to tie the score at 3-3. "Bradley certainly stepped up and did a job and beat one of their better kids," Taylor said. Sophomore Mike Kessler (Randallstown, MD/Owings Mills), ranked 20th in the nation, lost to ninth ranked Trevor Chinn of Lehigh. But it was the Morrisons who stole the show Friday night. "The Morrison brothers are strong competitors," said Taylor. "For Robbie to step up particularly as a youngster was great to see. He's a very exciting, likeable, kid. He's very fired up. He's into it and wants to compete hard, and he obviously beat a very good kid. For a true freshman to come in and step up like that showed me a lot." "We've always been real close growing up," said TJ. "It was a perfect fit for him. I'm definitely happy he's here. Having your brother on the same team is fun." "Having my brother here helped me decide to come here," said Rob, "but the coaching staff here at Rider made so much more of an effort to sign me, that is why I came here. They showed the most interest in me." Rider hosts 25th ranked Pittsburgh Tuesday. "Pitt has a very good, balanced team," Taylor said. "It doesn't get any easier." With the Morrison brothers, it looked easy on Friday.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- It couldn't be written any better: Down five points, last match of the meet and Purdue University senior Nathan Moore stood in the familiar environment of his hometown gymnasium at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis, Ind., needing a pinfall to give his team victory. With just 16 seconds left in the first period, Moore achieved the feat, sticking his opponent to give the Boilermakers a come-from-behind, 18-17 victory over Old Dominion University in both squads' season-opening meet. Purdue freshman heavyweight Chris Kasten opened the meet with a 6-4 decision over ODU's David Mendoza, battling back from a 3-2 deficit after the first period and a 4-2 hole after two. Kasten started the final period with an escape to pull within one and, after about a minute of stalemate, dragged Mendoza to the mat for a match-winning takedown. At 125-pounds, 18th-ranked ODU senior Christian Stalzer rode an early lead to a narrow 4-1 win over Purdue junior Brandon Tucker, but 133-pound Purdue freshman Cameron Doggett regained the Boilermakers' lead with a 13-6 victory over ODU freshman Adam Koballa. Continuing his early-season success, Doggett took a demanding 6-1 advantage in the first frame, and extended the margin to 10-3 in the second with his fourth and fifth takedown of the match. However, Koballa avoided the major-decision loss in the third as Doggett finished off with a 13-6 win. Purdue senior Jason Cook went toe-to-toe with ODU's lone returning NCAA qualifier, sophomore Ryan Williams, but came up short in an 11-6 loss at 141-pounds, evening the score at 6-6. Boilermaker sophomore Jake Patacsil followed with a thrilling 7-6 victory at 149-pounds, using the riding-time point to defeat freshman Kaylen Baxter to give Purdue a 9-6 edge. Patacsil surrendered a last-second takedown in the first to fall behind, but locked the count back up in the waning tics of the second with a three-point nearfall. The third period went back-and-forth, leaving the score at 6-6 at the end of the time, but Patacsil held control for most of the match, giving him the win. ODU reknotted the count at 9-9 in the 157-pound bout as freshman Chris Brown topped Purdue first-year Eric Howe in overtime, 7-5, and the Monarchs seemed to take control of the match in the 165-pound matchup as junior Nick Pullano scored a 20-5 technical fall over Purdue rookie Jason Martin. The Boilermakers cut into the five-point gap in the 174-pound match as sophomore Nick Corpe used his slow-and-steady style and a trio of takedowns to overcome ODU freshman Bryan Koz, 6-5. Usually a 165-pounder, Purdue sophomore Aaron Goebel displayed an incredibly gutsy performance in the 184-pound tilt. Despite surrendering almost 20 pounds to ODU freshman Jesse Strawn, Goebel stood his ground and came up just short in a 5-4 loss. Goebel scrambled and escaped to keep the match close the whole way, and scored a spinning takedown late to pull within one, but the important thing was giving up just three team points to the Monarchs to keep Purdue within striking distance. Moore's heroics looked imminent from the start of the final match as he held a 20-pound advantage over ODU freshman Derek Coffey. Like a snarling pitbull, Moore pounced on him and had his shoulders near the mat within the first minute. Coffey twisted, turned and rolled away from trouble several times, but Moore was able to secure a cradle with about a minute left in the first period and finally pressed Coffey's back to the ground at the 2:44-mark. The Boilers earn their eighth season-opening dual win in the last ten years and its second in a row. They return to action next Saturday as they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. for the ACC/Big Ten Duals.

Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov hasn't been in a wrestling competition in over 7 months. But his memory of that last tournament, the 2006 NCAA Division 1 National Championship, is still very sharp. "When I was wrestling, [the score] was 3-3. I was calm and thinking about one shot, I was working for one shot," Muzaffar explains, describing the 3rd period of his semifinal match against Johnny Hendricks of Oklahoma State. "And then, with 40 seconds to go, when I attacked, he was flipping around on mat. But they gave him a point for stalling. I didn't see the referee; he was standing behind me." With about 20 seconds to go in the match, Abdurakhmanov says, his coach approached the scorers' table, thinking that the scorer had made an error by putting the point on Hendricks' side of the scoreboard. To his surprise, the point had actually been given to Hendricks. "With 20 seconds to go, my coach goes, 'Muz, you're losing.' I was kind of shocked a little bit, you know, 'Why am I losing? It was 3-3.' My coach said, 'I thought they gave you a point because you were attacking and he was flipping on the mat.'" The point actually went to Hendricks? So the referee awarded a stalling point to Hendricks even though Abdurakhmanov was in on Hendricks' leg? "Yeah," answers Abdurakhmanov. He continues. "There's nothing you can do. You can't argue the referee's decision." Hendricks went on to win his next match over Michigan's Ryan Churella by a score of 9-8 and be crowned National Champion. Abdurakhmanov defeated Iowa State's Trent Paulson 7-2 in his next bout, and then he received a victory via medical forfeit over Deonte Penn of Edinboro to finish in third place at 165. It was his senior year of college, and it was the last time he wrestled. All of that will change on Saturday. For the first time since that frustrating NCAA Tournament experience, Muzaffar will be wrestling at the 145-pound weight class in the RPW Regional Qualifier, which will be held in Philadelphia on Nov. 11th. "I want to compete," Abdurakhmanov states. "The last time I competed was at the NCAA's. I miss it. I like to compete." A former Junior National Champion in his native Uzbekistan, Muzaffar came to the United States to wrestle at Colby College, a junior college in Kansas. He credits his former coaches there, Eric Toraya and Steve Lampe, with much of his success. After having success at that level, he went to American University, where he credits much of his success to his head coach there, Mark Cody. Muzaffar AbdurakhmanovSince that last NCAA Tournament, Abdurakhmanov has been mostly training in freestyle wrestling at American University. He is coaching for the program this season while he finishes up his schooling there. The last non-folkstyle competition Abdurakhmanov participated in was the 2004 Sunkist Open, where he finished second to eventual 2004 United States Olympian Joe Williams in the 74 kg freestyle bracket. Muzaffar himself is waiting to become a citizen of the United States, a process which he estimates could take "6 or 7 years." Already 26, Abdurakhamanov will likely be competing under the flag of his native Uzbekistan when he gets back to regularly wrestling in international competitions, something he plans to do starting with the RPW Qualifier in Philadelphia. Muzaffar has experienced great success, both in freestyle and folkstyle wrestling. But will his style translate well to Real Pro Wrestling's format? "I hope so. I don't know," he states candidly. "In wrestling, you never know. Anything can happen. I can't say 'I'm going to beat this guy, or I'm going to beat that guy, or my style is going to work,' because I've never wrestled Real Pro Wrestling. So I don't know. It isn't exactly freestyle. It's like something a little bit freestyle, a little bit Greco, you know?" "We'll see this weekend." We certainly will. And maybe by the end of the weekend, the memory of that match against Hendricks will start to fade just a little bit.

THIS WEEK: North Dakota State University will begin its first run at the NCAA Division I Championships at the 37th annual Bison Open at the Bison Sports Arena on Saturday, November 11. The opening rounds are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. and the anticipated starting time for the final round is 4 p.m. 2005 BISON OPEN: Last year at the Bison Open, 181 wrestlers from 10 different schools wrestled at the tournament. Eric Sanders (133) and Jacob Bryce (197) led the way for the Bison with second-place finishes. Gabe Mooney (149) and Justin LaGosh (197) also placed at the event, finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Wrestling unattached at the tournament last season, first-year wrestlers Zach Molitor (165) took third place and Ryan Adams (141) placed sixth. The top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers will also start their season this Saturday in Fargo. Gophers Dustin Schlatter (149) and Cole Konrad (Hwt.) began their national championship runs here last year and are looking to defend their Bison Open titles. Including Schlatter and Konrad, nine Gophers took home individual titles at last year's event. Stanford University will be competing at the event for the first time ever. The Pac-10 school is already 1-2 in three duals this season and features All-American 125-pounder Tanner Gardner. Other schools scheduled to bring competitors include MSU Moorhead, Concordia, Dickinson State, Jamestown College, Mary, Dakota Technical and Community College and Ridgewater Community College. Mary's Jesse Laber was the only non-Gopher to win a championship at the Bison Open last year. The 2005 NAIA national champion defeated NDSU's Bryce in the 197-pound final with a 3-1 decision. WE'RE BACK: North Dakota State returns all 10 starters back from its 2005-06 season. They finished with a 6-6 record. They'll be led this year by team captains Matt Hermann and Matt Wetterling. Hermann, a Burnsville, Minn., native, is a three-year starter that leads the team in career wins with 63. The senior went 8-7 last year overall and 7-5 in dual action. Wetterling, a junior from Willmar, Minn., had a breakout season last year for the Bison, leading the team with a 25-7 record overall, 9-3 in duals. PIN TO WIN: Matt Wetterling was a pinning machine last year for the Bison, sticking 18 of his opponents. His 18 pins tied for ninth overall and third in Division I according to InterMatWrestle.com, a Web site ran by the National Wrestling Coaches' Association. WESTERN WRESTLING CONFERENCE: North Dakota State and six other schools formed the Western Wrestling Conference (WWC). Along with the Bison, charter members of the Western Wrestling Conference will include: the United States Air Force Academy, the University of Northern Colorado, the University of Northern Iowa, South Dakota State University, Utah Valley State College and the University of Wyoming. Last season the Bison went 4-1 against these schools. Their only loss came to Northern Iowa and their dual with SDSU last year was cancelled due to bad weather. To make up for it, the Bison will face the Jackrabbits twice this year. NEWCOMERS: North Dakota State welcomes 13 new student-athletes to their roster including a couple of decorated transfers. Eric Hoffman comes to NDSU via Iowa Central Community College where he was the NJCAA national champion at 125 pounds in 2005. In two years at ICCC, Hoffman compiled a record of 58-12. Ryan Klinger is a transfer from the University of Illinois where he backed up 133-pound All-American Kyle Ott for two years. In high school, Klinger was Illinois state champion and helped lead his high school team to its first ever state team title in 2003. The 11 high school wrestlers that joined the Bison this year have combined for eight state championships in their career, led by Casey Buchholz (North Dakota) and Vince Salminen (Montana), who each won two. POSTSEASON ELIGIBLE: Thanks to an NCAA ruling in September 2004, North Dakota State could reclassify its wrestling team to Division I in three years instead of five, making them eligible for the NCAA West Regional and the Division I Championships this year. NDSU is on track to reclassify in all sports by 2008-09.

Brookings, SD -- The Dana College wrestling team kicked off the 2006-07 season by claiming three champions at the South Dakota State University Daktronics/Warren Williamson Open in Brookings, S.D., Saturday. Returning All-Americans Burke Barnes (Lake Stevens, Wash.) and Terrence Almond (Pelham, Ga.) won their respective weight classes. Barnes claimed the championship at 133 pounds by defeating Jeff Cooley of South Dakota State University, 4-0. En route to his championship, Barnes defeated Josh Henslee of Iowa Central, 8-5, and Beau Penk of NCAA D-II Augustana College, 3-0. In the semi-finals, Barnes scored a major decision over South Dakota State's Nick Kulseth, 13-4. Three-time All-American Almond recorded his first open championship just like Barnes. Almond won the title at 141 by recording victories over Jeff Cargill by fall, David Schiley of NCAA D-II Northern State University, 13-8, Steve Carlson of Minnesota State-Moorhead by fall, NJCAA All-American Joe Soto of Iowa Central, 13-8 and Iowa Central's David Greenwald in the finals, 15-12. Junior Jason Bilinski (Pittsgrove, N.J.) came off his red-shirt year with a bang by winning the title at 157 with a defeat over Northern State's Jesse Wood, 3-1, in overtime. Bilinski's foes en route to the finals were Tallen Wald of Minnesota State-Moorhead by a score of 8-3, Brady Nagel of the University of Mary, 4-3, and Nate Carr Jr. of Iowa Central Community College by a major decision, 11-2. Two other Vikings placed in the top five. All-American Craig Trampe (Ord, Neb.) finished in 5th place at 125 pounds and red-shirt freshman Ryan "Bula" Tuzon (Wailuku, Hawaii) finished in the 4th place spot at 165 pounds. Dana College will return to wrestling action this Saturday at the Harold Nichols Open in Ft. Dodge, Iowa, on the campus of Iowa Central Community College with action starting at 9 a.m. Viking Results 125- Craig Trampe – Ord, Neb. (4-1) 5th place 133- Burke Barnes – Lake Stevens, Wash. (5-0) 1st place 133- Hunter Samuels – Tonganoxie, Kan. (0-2) 133- Brett Brandl – Madison, Neb. (2-2) 141- Terrence Almond – Pelham, Ga. (5-0) 1st Place 141- Shawn Tsutsumi – Kaneohe, Hawaii (3-2) 141- Dan Rowe – Syracuse, Neb. (1-2) 141- Eric Graham – Kansas City, Mo. (4-2) 141- Clayton Wurtele – Nebraska City, Neb. (0-2) 149- Marcos Martinez – Las Vegas, N.M. (2-2) 157- Jason Bilinski – Pittsgrove, N.J. (5-0) 1st place 157- Dan Pray – St. George, Kan. (2-2) 157- Bryson Pascua – Pearl City, Hawaii (0-2) 165- Bula Tuzon – Wailuku, Hawaii (2-2) 4th place 174- Josh Ghobadpoor - Dahlonega, Ga. (1-2) 174- Jordan Davis – Blaine, Minn. (0-2) 184- Tony Palmer – Dennison, Ohio (0-2) 197- Chancy Hansen – Valentine, Neb. (0-2)

Columbia, Mo. -- Missouri wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith announced today that the Tigers have signed six wrestlers for the 2007-08 season, including three from the state of Missouri. Together, Dom Bradley (Blue Springs, Mo.), Trever Collins (Nixa, Mo.), Troy Dolan (Blairsville, Penn.), Dorian Henderson (Columbus, Ga.), Michael Schmitz (Stewartville, Minn.) and Brandon Wiest (O'Fallon, Mo.) have combined for nine state championship titles in their respective weight class. "Our coaching staff has recruited a very talented class," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "We've managed to fill our needs for the future and bring in some of the top wrestlers from across the country. We're all very excited about the potential this class brings to the Missouri wrestling program." A three-time Missouri state qualifier (2003, 2004, 2005) and two-time state champion (2004 at 215 pounds and 2005 at 275 pounds), Bradley is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Wrestling, Amateur Wrestling News and W.I.N. Magazine. Led by Head Coach Mike Hagerty, Bradley and the Wildcats of Blue Springs High School finished third in the 2005 and 2006 Missouri Class 4 State Championships. During the summer of 2006, Bradley wrestled his way to a Junior National Freestyle title at 275 pounds. Bradley is expected to wrestle at heavyweight for the Tigers. Competing at 171 and 189 pounds, Nixa, Mo., native Collins earned his first Class 3 state title as a sophomore (171 pounds), repeating the feat as a junior at 189 pounds. Expected to grapple at 197 pounds or heavyweight for Missouri, Collins is currently coached by Jason Carter at Nixa High School and stands at No. 11 in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News. Earlier this fall, Collins claimed the Super 32 title at 215 pounds. Dolan becomes the fifth Pennsylvania resident in four years to join the Tiger wrestling program. Currently ranked 11th in the country by W.I.N. Magazine, Dolan closed out his junior campaign with a first place finish at the Pennsylvania State Championship at 119 pounds and stood second in the nation (Intermat) of his classmates. A two-time state champion, Dolan took first at 112 pounds as a sophomore and was named the 2005 Powerade Champion at 119 pounds. Under the direction of Derry Area High School Head Coach Mike Wood, Dolan was crowned the Super 32 Champion in 2006. Dolan is expected to compete at 125 or 133 pounds for Missouri. Expected to wrestle at 174 pounds for the Tigers, Henderson earned back-to-back state titles at 171 pounds in the state of Georgia. Henderson becomes the first Georgia grappler since current senior Amond Prater (Marietta, Ga.) to join the ranks of the Missouri wrestling team. Competing for the Blue Devils of Columbus High School, Henderson and his teammates claimed the 2006 3A state title coached by Larry Morgan. Ranked as high as 11th in the nation at 160-pounds by W.I.N. Magazine, Schmitz opens his senior campaign with the Stewartville Tigers with a 166-31 record. Schmitz finished first at the Minnesota State Championships and Junior National Folkstyle Championships in 2006 while wrestling at 160 pounds, finishing second as a sophomore in 2005. Schmitz is coached by Dennis Kuisle and will likely wrestle at 165 pounds during his time at Missouri. Rounding out the incoming freshmen class, is Missouri native Wiest of Ft. Zumwalt West High School. Coached by former Missouri wrestler Danny Hayes, Wiest is a three-time state runner up and was named the Jaguars nominee for the Wendy's High School Heisman Trophy. Wiest holds a 3.9 grade-point average and is a three-time academic all-conference honoree. "This class has the potential to continue to build on the success our team has achieved over the past few years," Smith said. "Things such as the commitment of our administration, staff and team, combined with our outstanding athletic facilities and strong academics have helped Missouri stand out from some of the other top wrestling programs in the nation." Name Hometown High School Coach Dom Bradley Blue Springs, Mo. Blue Springs Mike Hagerty Trevor Collins Nixa, Mo. Nixa Jason Carter Troy Dolan Blairsville, Penn. Derry Area Mike Wood Dorian Henderson Columbus, Ga. Columbus Larry Morgan Michael Schmitz Stewartville, Minn. Stewartville Dennis Kuisle Brandon Wiest O'Fallon, Mo. Ft. Zumwalt West Danny Hayes

http://mutigers.cstv.com/chat/110906aaa.html Welcome to the weekly mutigers.com moderated wrestling chat! On Monday, Nov. 13, Wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith will stop by to answer your questions about his team and its preparation for the 2006-07 wrestling season! The Q-and-A session with the coach of the nation's third-ranked wrestling team will last approximately 20 minutes. The Nov. 13 chat session with Coach Smith kicks off a season-long campaign (Monday Mat Chat) in which fans will have the opportunity to communicate with various members of the Missouri coaching staff and team. Each chat session will be held Monday at 2:30 p.m. (CT). Mizzou's seventh Head Wrestling Coach, Brian Smith sat down with his team and made a list of goals that he hoped to help the 1998 squad and future Tiger teams accomplish. Over the past eight years, Smith and the 111 men that have come through the varsity program have slowly but surely checked items off the list. Individual Big 12 Champions, improved grade-point averages, record-setting attendances, a top-five national ranking and Missouri's first-ever NCAA National Champion in wrestling were all on Smith's "to-do" list. His unique TigerStyle training program has molded today's team into a national powerhouse looking to contend for the program's first top-five NCAA finish. Smith enters the 2006-07 campaign with an eight-year record of 98-53-1 at Mizzou, and career 100-61-2 mark over nine seasons. While Coach Smith will not by stopping by until Monday afternoon, feel free to submit questions now and we will have them waiting for him when he arrives to chat.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern is set to host the Northwestern Duals Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The full-day event begins at 9 a.m. and will feature 11 dual matches on three mats. The 10th-ranked Wildcats will welcome Wisconsin, Navy, the University of Indianapolis, Cornell College (Iowa), Cumberland University (Tenn.) and the University of Chicago. The Wildcats take on Chicago at 11 a.m., Navy at 1 p.m. and Indianapolis at 3 p.m. The 'Cats took four championships at last weekend's Eastern Michigan Open. Juniors Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion) at heavyweight, Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) at 197 lbs., Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), ranked No. 1 at 184 lbs. and Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward), top-ranked at 141 lbs all went undefeated. Lang was named this week's Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for his performance. A big story of the open was Wildcat freshman Brandon Precin (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) at 125 lbs. who knocked off fourth-ranked and top-seeded Mark Moos of Michigan to start the tournament. The seven-team event will feature NCAA qualifiers, All-Americans and ranked grapplers from various divisioins and conference. Bigelevenwrestling.net has pegged Navy's showdown with both NU and Wisconsin as their "Matches of the Week". A Look at the Teams in the NU Duals: University of Indianapolis Greyhounds: • The Greyhounds are ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association's preseason poll and return all four All-America wrestlers from last year, a season which saw UIndy finish 10th at the national championships, the highest national finish in the program's history. • All four returning All-Americans are also ranked in their respective weight classes. Shane Perkey, at 133, appears third in the individual rankings. Charlie Pingleton is ranked No. 2 at 149. Mike Jackson, who was the runner-up at 174 pounds in 2005-06, is the preseason No. 4. Jose Navarro is ranked fourth in the heavyweight class. Cornell College Rams: • Cornell, which had a record-setting 15-9-1 dual season a year ago, is ranked No. 16 in Division III. • Junior 125-pounder Chris Heilman is rated third. Heilman, one of eight returning starters for the Rams, was 33-9 last season, placing fourth in the Iowa Conference and seventh in the nation. • Another national qualifier, sophomore 141-pounder Dave Paramski , suffered a hand injury in the preseason and will not be available until January. He was 33-11 with seven falls last season, placing third in the IIAC. • There are six Iowa Conference teams ranked in the top 24 in the preseason - defending national champion Wartburg (second), Luther (fourth), Buena Vista (11th), Coe (12th), Cornell (16th) and Loras (24th). University of Chicago Maroons: • Senior Phil Kruzel is the two-time defending University Athletic Association champion at 174-pounds. • Senior Mike Bishof placed third at the 2006 Great Lakes Regional at 165 lbs. • Sophomore Ben Hart finished fourth at the 2006 Great Lake Regional at 125 lbs. • Senior Andrew Bribriesco and sophomore Tom Nero posted sixth-place finishes at 141 and 285 pounds, respectively, at the 2006 Great Lakes Regional. Navy Midshipmen: • Six Navy wrestlers finished second, while three more placed in the season-opening Eastern Michigan Open. • Returning NCAA qualifier Joe Baker, ranked 13th, made an appearance in the championship bout at 133 pounds. Baker earned a pair of major decisions • Senior Brad Canterbury had a solid showing at 141 pounds where he made his way into the championship match. • Senior John Cox, one-of-three returning NCAA qualifiers, is ranked seventh nationally at 149 lbs. He fell in the championship match at the Eastern Michigan Open. Wisconsin Badgers: • The Badgers kicked off the 2006-07 season by going 2-0 in their double-dual match against Dubuque and UW-Oshkosh. Wisconsin rolled by Dubuque 49-0 before defeating UW-Oshkosh 40-3. • Seven Badger wrestlers earned top-20 rankings this season, with two in the top-five at their respective weight classes. Both Tyler Turner and Craig Henning are ranked No. 4, while Dallas Herbert is ranked 10th. Also receiving rankings were four other Badgers, including heavyweight Kyle Massey, rated 16th. At 125 lb.s Collin Cudd napped a No. 17 ranking. Cumberland Bulldogs: • Cumberland, out of the NAIA has already competed in two events this year. The Bulldogs wrestled at the Lindenwood Open before taking on Newberry College last weekend. Cumberland fell 31-7. • They return three National Qualifiers in Daniel Rosbottom, Luke Borneman and Eric McCray, and All-American Desean Willis. Schedule of Matches: 9 a.m. Mat 1: Cumberland v. Navy Mat 2: Wisconsin v. Indianapolis Mat 3: Cornell College v. Chicago 11 a.m. Mat 1: Cornell College v. Cumberland Mat 2: Northwestern v. Chicago Mat 3: Wisconsin v. Navy 1 p.m. Mat 1: Cornell College v. Indianapolis Mat 2: Northwestern v. Navy Mat 3: Wisconsin v. Cumberland 3 p.m. Mat 1: Cumberland v. Chicago Mat 2: Indianapolis v. Northwestern

The Johns Hopkins wrestling team had been scheduled to compete at the Green Terror Duals this weekend. That match has been postponed and now the Blue Jays will return to action on Tuesday, November 14th at Elizabethtown. For the most up to date wrestlign news and for all your Hopkins sports news, check out www.hopkinssports.com

Oklahoma State's wrestling team is set to open the 2006-07 season on Sunday against the Aggies from California-Davis. It is the first ever meeting between the two school. The match can be heard live on HOT 93.7 FM with Rex Holt and Roger Moore calling the action. The Cowboys are coming off of their fourth straight NCAA title and return three All-Americans from the squad, including 165-pound NCAA Champion Johny Hendricks. All-Americans Coleman Scott and Nathan Morgan are moving up in weight to 133 and 141, respectively. OSU will have plenty of new faces in the lineup as the Cowboys will have six new starters. Scouting the Aggies UC Davis comes to Stillwater to open the 2006-07 campaign. The Aggies boast four wrestlers ranked in the top 20 of their weight class, and are bringing a veteran squad with six seniors in the starting lineup. Three NCAA qualifiers return from last year led by Ken Cook, who is ranked fourth at 174 pounds. Derek Moore returns at 141 where he is ranked eighth, and sophomore Tyler Bernacchi is ranked 15th at 184. Omar Gaitan also appears in the national rankings at No. 19 at 133. Fresh Faces Oklahoma State will have six new starters in the lineup for the 2006-07 season. Redshirt freshmen bookend the lineup with Tyler Shinn at 125 and Jared Rosholt at heavyweight. Junior B.J. Jackson will get his opportunity after sitting behind three-time All-American Zack Esposito the past three years. Newly McSpadden will earn the start at 157. Jack Jensen has limited varsity experience and coach Smith could go with either Brent Parkey or Jared Shelton at 197. Cowboys Selected to Compete in All-Star Classic A pair of Cowboys were selected to represent Oklahoma State in the NWCA All-Star Classic at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas on Nov. 20. Johny Hendricks is making his second appearance in the event at 165 pounds, while Coleman Scott is taking part for the first time. Hendricks is set to take on Iowa's Mark Perry in a rematch of the 2005 NCAA finals. Hendricks won that match, 5-2, and defended his title at 165. Perry is a two-time All-American with his runner-up finish in 2005 and a third-place showing last year at 174. Coleman Scott will meet defending NCAA champion Matt Valenti of Pennsylvania. Scott finished fifth at the NCAA Championships last season at 125, and he is currently ranked third in the country at 133. Oklahoma State hosted the NWCA All-Star Classic last year inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. The home crowd saw three Cowboys get upset, including Hendricks who lost an overtime decision to Minnesota's Matt Nagel. Mark Munoz Returns to Stillwater Former Cowboy Mark Munoz returns to Gallagher-Iba Arena where he wrestled at 197 pounds. Munoz was a two-time All-American for OSU from 2000-01. He took third-place as a junior in 2000 before returning to capture the title the following season. Munoz has spent the past couple of seasons as an assistant at UC Davis.

The California Community College Coaches Association has released individual rankings as of 11-8-2006. The next idividual and team rankings will be released following the Regional Championships on December 2nd. 125 1. Ivan Sanchez, Santa Ana 2. Chauncey Phillips, Sierra 3. Taylor McCorriston, Santa Rosa 4. Robert Escalantes, San Joaquin Delta 5. Todd Wilcox, Sierra 6. Cecil Sebastian, Mt. San Antonio 7. Jason Carrillo, Cerritos 8. Sammy Saunders, East LA 133 1. Carlos Alaniz, Cerritos 2. Gabe Aguilar, Santa Ana 3. Cody Gibson, Bakersfield 4. Mike Righi, Fresno City 5. Eddy Ngo, West Valley 6. James Durago, Cabot 7. Claudio Saenz, Mt. San Antonio 8. Armando Martinez, San Joaquin Delta 141 1. Jordan Keckler, Modesto 2. Joe Serrato, Santa Ana 3. Jonathon Ronny, Chabot 4. Leland Gridley, Sierra 5. Edgar Mercado, Fresno City 6. Tyson Knierin, Palomar 7. Andrew Holmes, Cerritos 8. Chris Alves, Shasta 149 1. Alfonso Sanchez, Fresno City 2. Vlad Kochiev, Moorpark 3. James Nelson, Sierra 4. Travis Wood, Sierra 5. Ian Millan, Rio Hondo 6. Scott Sandy, Sacramento City 7. Tony Ruiz, Cerritos 8. Joe Barajas, Palomar 157 1. JD Thrall, Sacramento City 2. Sinai Pezzat, Fresno City 3. Devin Velasquez, Santa Ana 4. Stuart Cole, Palomar 5. Ryan Sanchez, Palomar 6. Matt Giffin, Sierra 7. Mark Bertron, West Valley 8. Emilio Rojas-Chaves, Cerritos 165 1. Glen Shaw, Palomar 2. Nick Bardsley, Fresno City 3. Michael Williams, Cuesta 4. Jack Porter, Cerritos 5. Chris Minafo, West Valley 6. Daniel Garay, Mt. San Antonio 7. Jaspreet Singh, Sierra 8. Josh Dixon, Sacramento City 174 1. Kyle Griffin, Santa Rosa 2. Shaun Ceremello, Fresno City 3. Tom Eaton, Santa Ana 4. Travis Edwards, Cuesta 5. Carlos Ordonez, San Joaquin Delta 6. Sean McCellany, Bakersfield 7. Travis Tielens, Palomar 8. Ryan Sughrue, Modesto 184 1. Tim Hawkins, Mt. San Antonio 3. Jason Carasco, Bakersfield 2. Steven Urquizo, Fresno City 4. Louie Audelo, Cerritos 5. Cory Compton, Sacramento City 6. Marques Gales, Santa Rosa 7. Mark Ryan, Santa Rosa 8. Joey Hauss, Moorpark 197 1. Jayson Collard, Santa Rosa 2. Norman Nail, West Hills 3. Jake Bingham, Santa Rosa 4. Al Kinslow, Cerritos 5. Ryan Silvera, Mt. San Antonio 6. Brandon Stickel, Sierra 7. Joe Rameriz , Modesto 8. Tyler Blair, Fresno City 285 1. Eric Nye, Sierra 2. Josh Marquez, Bakersfield 3. Tyler Porras , Santa Ana 4. Brandon Doran, Cerritos 5. Victor Leyva, Fresno City 6. Luis Leyva, Fresno City 7. Robby Roman Marin, West Hills 8. Matt Klimek, Palomar

ALAMOSA, Colo. -- All-Americans Raymond Dunning (Nashville, Tenn.) and Evan Copeland (Las Cruces, N.M.) each claimed important wins while youngsters A.J. Alexander (Pueblo, Colo.) and James Lucero (Brighton, Colo.) took late thrillers as the white team overcame a pair of pins to post a 20-15 win over the green squad in Adams State College's annual Green & White Wrestling Dual, held Wednesday night in Plachy Hall. Dunning, wrestling at 141 pounds, scored the final 11 points of the match to post a 14-6 major decision victory over highly touted freshman Josh Hensley (Alamosa, Colo.) as the white team went up for good, 7-6. Copeland later took a 5-2 decision over James Reynolds (Monte Vista, Colo.) in a battle of 2-time NCAA Division II National Tournament qualifiers at 174 pounds. Dunning and Copeland both earned All-America honors in 2005 and were tabbed to the Preseason All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference team that was announced on Tuesday afternoon. Although Dunning and Copeland came up big in two of the premiere bouts of the night, it was Alexander and Lucero, both freshmen, who squeaked out narrow wins to give the white team the momentum throughout much of the night. Alexander trailed Rueben Gutierez (Platteville, Colo.), a state champion from Valley High School, by a 5-1 count after two periods before roaring back to take a 9-6 win in a 125/133-pound match-up of newcomers. Alexander was down 6-4 in the waning seconds before scoring a takedown and ensuing near fall to claim the decision that put the white team up 3-0. The green squad wasted little time in avenging the heartbreaker as Joey Deaguero (Commerce City, Colo.) pinned redshirt freshman Joe Kelso (Monte Vista, Colo.) in the first of two 141-pound bouts. Deaguero, who won three state titles while at Adams City High School, was named as the RMAC's Preseason Freshman of the Year on Tuesday. He showed Kelso why as he needed just 49 seconds of the second period to put the green team up 6-3. Dunning, who trailed Hensley 6-3 after the first period, the dominated the latter stages of a second 141-pound battle. Hensley, an undefeated state champion as a senior at Alamosa High School, had scored a reversal, takedown and near fall in the first period before Dunning used three near falls and a reversal in the final four minutes to claim the victory. Alamosa High School fans had more to cheer about in the 149/157-pound bout as Mike Gallegos (Alamosa, Colo.) scored a 12-2 major decision win over Centauri High School product Jacob Sheridan (La Jara, Colo.) giving the white team an 11-6 win. Gallegos, who transferred from Division I Cal State-Bakersfield over the summer, scored two reversals and a 3-point near fall in that match-up of talented redshirt freshman. The fans were then treated to a thriller at 157 pounds as redshirt freshman Noomis Jones (Arvada, Colo.) claimed a 6-4 victory over senior Dusty Vaughn (Montrose, Colo.) pulling the green team within 11-9 after the match that went on for nearly 10 minutes of action. Jones and Vaughn were tied at 3 through regulation before neither wrestler scored in the first 1-minute sudden death overtime. Jones chose the bottom position for the first half of the tiebreaking period getting out of Vaughn's hold with just five seconds left on the clock. Vaughn then returned the favor in the second half of the tiebreaker, but was eventually worn down as Jones claimed the victory with a takedown in the second sudden death overtime. The fans were treated to a nearly as exciting second 157-pound bout as Lucero took a 4-3 win over fellow freshman Jeremy Trujillo (Alamosa, Colo.). Lucero, a 3-time all-conference wrestler while at Brighton High School, had a 2-1 lead after the first period before Trujillo, another Alamosa High School graduate, recorded a near fall to a take a 3-2 lead in the second. Lucero then got out moments later to even the match at 3 before riding Trujillo for the entire third period to claim the win thanks to a 72-second advantage in riding time. Copeland then took his 5-2 win over Reynolds thanks in large part to a disputed takedown at the edge of the mat in the waning seconds of the first period. That win gave the green team a 17-9 lead before true freshman Brandon Morris (Nucla, Colo.) claimed a 6-1 win over redshirt freshman Andre' Harris (Gold Canyon, Ariz.) in the penultimate 174/184-pound battle. Morris, a 2-time state champion from Nucla High School, and Harris, a 2-time Arizona State Tournament placer, were scoreless for five-plus minutes before an escape, two third period takedowns combined with a fine 2-minute ride throughout the second period gave Morris the dual-clinching victory. Down 20-9, the green team did end the dual on a high note as returning 197-pound All-American Casey Woodall (Morenci, Ariz.) pinned freshman heavyweight Keaton Roosen (Monte Vista, Colo.) with just 57 seconds left. Despite giving up about 50 pounds to the 2006 Colorado State Champion, Woodall built a 5-0 lead midway through the second period before closing out the dual with the pin from the top position in the third period. Woodall is ranked first at 197 pounds in the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Coaches Association Preseason Rankings. Coach Jason Ramstetter's Grizzlies, tabbed third in the RMAC and 16th in the nation according to recently released preseason polls, will begin the regular season on Saturday at the Wyoming Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyo. Action begins at 9 a.m.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Senior Johny Hendricks and junior Coleman Scott were both selected to represent Oklahoma State at the NWCA All-Star Classic to be held at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas on Nov. 20. Hendricks is making his second appearance in the classic and will face Iowa's Mark Perry in a rematch of the 2005 NCAA finals. Hendricks won that final and successfully defended his title last season. Coleman Scott is scheduled to face defending NCAA champion Matt Valenti of Pennsylvania. Scott finished fifth at 125 at the 2006 NCAA Championships, and he is currently ranked third at 133. Oklahoma State hosted the event last year in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Hendricks lost his match to Minnesota's Matt Nagel in overtime. Three other Cowboys wrestled in the event last year, with Jake Rosholt being the only Cowboy to win his match. Oklahoma State opens the 2006-07 season on Sunday against California-Davis at 2 p.m. inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State head wrestling coach John Smith announced the signing of four high school seniors today to National Letters of Intent. Clayton Foster, Jamal Parks, Luke Silver and Luke Ashmore all signed with the Cowboys. Foster hails from Idaho, while Parks comes to the Cowboys from Tulsa Union High School. Silver and Ashmore join the Cowboys out of Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas. Smith has had success recruiting the state of Idaho the past few years where Jake Rosholt was a three-time NCAA champion out of Sandpoint. Foster, a native of Kamiah, Idaho, is the top-ranked wrestler at 189 pounds. He is a 2006 Junior National Champion and will wrestle either 184 or 197 in college. Parks is a two-time state champion out of Union where he was the 2006 Junior National Champion. He is the top-ranked wrestler at 135 pounds and projects to wrestle at either 133 or 141 at OSU. Ashmore will join his brother Ben at OSU in the fall of 2007. He is ranked second at 145 pounds and is a 2006 Junior National Champion. Ashmore is a three-time National Prep finalist, winning the title as a sophomore. Ashmore will wrestle at 141 or 149 pounds for the Cowboys. Silver is ranked fourth in the country by WIN Magazine. Silver became the first wrestler from the state of Texas to win the Super 32 Challenge and is a National Prep All-American. He is projected to wrestle at 149 or 157 pounds at OSU. "This class motivates me as much as any class I have signed," Smith said. "All of them are great young student-athletes with great character and a strong wrestling background." The current Cowboys open the season on Sunday against California-Davis at 2 p.m. inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Junior Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward) has been named this week's Big Ten Wrestler of the Week. This is the second honor of Lang's career and the first for the Wildcats this season. Lang, ranked No. 1 in the nation at 141 lbs., not only posted a 5-0 record at last weekend's Eastern Michigan Open, but did not have a point scored on him in his five matches. Lang defeated Deone Williams of Brockport University and Cody Burdett of Utah State by major decision, 12-0 and 10-0, respectively. He cruised past Eastern Michigan's Zach Donofrio 9-0 and advanced to the final by topping Ohio State's Reece Humphrey by a 1-0 decision. He pinned Navy's Brad Canterbury 1:36 into the match to take the title. "It is outstanding to not have a point scored on you in a tournament," head coach Tim Cysewski said. "It's tough to go into matches where every opponent you face knows who you are and wants to take down the No. 1 guy. Opponents will either wrestle you hard or play games to keep it close. Ryan has shown a lot of maturity with that No. 1 ranking." The Wildcats enjoyed a successful start to the 2006-07 campaign at the Eastern Michigan Open, taking championships at four weights. Lang, along with Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion), Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick), all captured titles. Lang is the 'Cats' first Big Ten Wrestler of the Week since Herbert received the honor on Jan. 25, 2006. Lang last won the honor on Nov. 16, 2005. The 'Cats return to action Sunday when they will host the seven-team Northwestern Duals at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The 11-dual event begins at 9 a.m.

Oskaloosa -- The top spots at five of the ten weight classes in the NAIA's Central Region are coveted by William Penn wrestlers as the preseason rating was released recently. After a realignment during the offseason, the Statesmen are now grouped with Bacone (Okla.), Missouri Valley, Oklahoma City, Waldorf, and York (Neb.) in the Central Region. Three-time national champion Missouri Valley enters as Penn's toughest competition, most recently claiming the trophy in 2003. Oklahoma City will be in its first year sponsoring a wrestling program, while Bacone, Waldorf, and York all come over from the same region Penn was in a year ago. Three-time All-Americans Darren Cotton (Sr., Atlanta, Ga., McNair HS), at 149 pounds, and Abel Trujillo (Sr., Durham, N.C., Riverside HS), at 174 pounds, lead the way for Penn as both top their respective weight class. Fellow top-ranked Statesmen wrestlers include 141-pounder Earl Robinson (Jr., Davenport, Davenport Central HS), a two-time national qualifier, 165-pounder Nate Stirgus (Sr., Muskegon, Mich., Muskegon CC), who finished seventh at last year's national tournament for Honorable Mention All-American status, and 285-pounder Jordan Wall (So., Liberty, N.C, Eastern Randolph HS), who was also a national qualifier a year ago. Penn also has seven other individuals ranked second, including 125-pounder Shamar Haynes (Jr., Cedar Rapids, Ellsworth CC), 133-pounder Josh Hines (So., Dallas, Texas, Sam Houston HS), 149-pounder Paul Carter (Sr., Carson City, Nev., Carson HS), 157-pounder Brandon Graham (Jr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS), 184-pounder Jorge Ortiz (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Wilbur Wright CC), 197-pounder Nigel Collins (Sr., Sterling, Ill., Ashford), and 285-pounder Chauncey Coleman (Sr., Fresno, Calif., McLane HS). Within that group are seven national-qualifying campaigns and a junior-college All-American in Haynes (fourth place) last year. Also ranked for the Statesmen is 165-pounder T.J. Stuart (So., Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS), in third, 125-pounder Kevin Jury (Fr., El Paso, Texas, Americans HS) and 174-pounder Mark Lovelace (Sr., Adrian, Mo., Adrian R-1 HS), who are both in fifth, and Spenser Sharp (Fr., Hoquiam, Wash., Hoquiam HS), in sixth. Penn opens the season on November 11 with wrestlers attending one of two tournaments, the Dakota Wesleyan Open in Mitchell, S.D. at 9 a.m. or the Iowa State Open in Fort Dodge at 10 a.m. NAIA Central Regional Preseason Rating - November 7, 2006: 125 1. Billy Exline So. Missouri Valley 2. Shamar Haynes Jr. William Penn 3. Kevin Gray Jr. York 4. Justin Blumer So. Oklahoma City 5. Kevin Jury Fr. William Penn 6. Bryan Yale Fr. Waldorf 133 1. Jon Gerhold So. Missouri Valley 2. Josh Hines So. William Penn 3. Gabe Hale Fr. Oklahoma City 4. Matt Cimmino York 141 1. Earl Robinson Jr. William Penn 2. Clint Leonard Missouri Valley 3. Rob Thomas So. Waldorf 4. Brandon Pigorsch Jr. York 149 1. Darren Cotton Sr. William Penn 2. Paul Carter Sr. William Penn 3. Jody Ashline Missouri Valley 4. Zach Rosson So. Oklahoma City 157 1. Chad Jennings So. Missouri Valley 2. Brandon Graham Sr. William Penn 3. Kelly Rydberg Sr. Waldorf 4. Weston Fleming York 5. Zach Rosson So. Oklahoma City 165 1. Nate Sturgis Sr. William Penn 2. Kevin Guinn Sr. Waldorf 3. T.J. Stuart So. William Penn 4. Ryan Kromer York 5. Dillion Blackman Oklahoma City 6. Brett Trenhaile Jr. Waldorf 174 1. Abel Trujillo Jr. William Penn 2. Jake Oberfoell So. Missouri Valley 3. Josh Wilcox Jr. Oklahoma City 4. Derek Pike Waldorf 5. Mark Lovelace Sr. William Penn 6. Trey Jackson Jr. York 184 1. Jasper Lockett Sr. Missouri Valley 2. Jorge Ortiz Sr. William Penn 3. Kent Scheff Waldorf 4. Mitchell Eichenauer Fr. Oklahoma City 5. Tony Ponce Jr. York 6. Spenser Sharp Fr. William Penn 197 1. Jeff Cobb Missouri Valley 2. Nigel Collins Sr. William Penn 3. Jake Head Jr. Waldorf 4. Cory Johnson Fr. Oklahoma City 5. Bryan Irsik York 285 1. Jordan Wall So. William Penn 2. Chauncey Coleman Sr. William Penn 3. Josh Reis So. Waldorf 4. Wade Empting Fr. Missouri Valley 5. Jeremy Johnson Fr. Oklahoma City 6. Jamie Brisbin York

State College, Pa. -– Four of the nation's top high school wrestlers have signed national letters of intent to attend Penn State and continue their collegiate wrestling careers with the Nittany Lion wrestlers. Fresh off two straight years of highly-ranked recruiting classes, head coach Troy Sunderland is once again putting together a talented class. Tim Darling (Nazareth, Pa.), ranked No. 2 nationally by Amateur Wrestling News at 152 pounds, is a two-time Pennsylvania state champion from Nazareth High School. A four-year starter for head coach Dave Crowell, Darling also placed third at states as a freshman. He is the son of Bob and Kathi Darling and will be making a run at his third state title this season. He enters his senior year with a 123-10 career record. Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 2 nationally by AWN at 140 pounds, is a two-time New Jersey state champion. A superb wrestler for Souther Regional High School and head coach John Stout, Molinaro is working towards a third state title this year. He is the son of Frank and Michele Molinaro and sports a 109-4 career record at SRHS. Jared Platt (Randolph, N.J.), ranked No. 2 nationally by AWN at 215 pounds, is the defending national prep champion. Wrestling at the Blair Academy for head coach Jeff Buxton, Platt was also the runner-up at Junior Nationals. He is the son of John and Tracey Platt and sports a 93-10 career record. Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked NO. 2 nationally by AWN at 275 pounds, is a two time Ohio state champion from St. Peter Chanel High School. Wade was runner up at Junior Nationals and Cade Nationals as well. Wade will be going for a third state title for head coach Graham Goghill. He is the son of Kevin and Trish Wade and sports a 104-25 career record. "We're pleased and excited to welcome four of the top wrestlers in the country and their families to the Penn State wrestling family," Sunderland said. "It's a tribute to the hard work of the assistant coaches and our support staff that we have once again attracted such outstanding young men to our program. These young men and their families felt a strong connection to our team and saw the commitment that Penn State has to wrestling in our new facilities. These four wrestlers want to win multiple team and individual titles here at Penn State and those goals mesh perfectly with the goals of their future teammates." Penn State enters the 2006-07 season ranked No. 8 nationally in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. The Nittany Lions host Wrestle-Offs on Sunday at 1 p.m. (admission is free) and open up the regular season at the Pennsylvania Duals at Lock Haven on Sunday, Nov. 19. Season and single-match tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Penn State ticket office at 814-863-1000 or 800-833-5533 for more information. Fans can also get tickets at GoPSUsports.com. This year's season ticket prices are $24 for adults and $18 for students. Single dual prices are $5 per event for adults and $3 per event for youth.

The 2006-07 competition season for No. 2-ranked Wartburg begins Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open in Fort Dodge and the UW-SP Pointer Open. Head coach Jim Miller and his staff have set line-ups for both meets. They are as follows: Harold Nichols – Junior 149-pounder Tyler Everson of Clinton; senior 125-pounder Kyle Blood of Cedar Rapids; senior 165-pounder Dustin Cooper of Urbandale; sophomore 184-pounder Romeo Djoumessi of Waverly; senior heavyweight Blake Gillis of Spencer; sophomore 141-pounder Blake Hoppenworth of Cambridge; sophomore 165-pounder Justin Hanson of Humboldt; junior 133-pounder Jake Helvey of Mitchellville; sophomore 141-pounder Zach McKray of Iowa City; junior 197-pounder T.J. Miller of Cedar Falls; junior 149-pounder Jacob Naig of Emmetsburg; sophomore 174-pounder Dan Schulte of Watertown, Minn.; junior 125-pounder Robert Struthers of Emmetsburg; freshman 157-pounder Aaron Wernimont of Pocahontas; and senior 174-pounder Jason Zastrow of Coon Rapids, Minn. UW-SP Pointer Open – Senior heavyweight Brian Borchers of Holstein; sophomore 174-pounder Grant Jenkins of Manchester; junior 125-pounder Nate Behrendsen of Rolfe; sophomore 141-pounder David Varney of Waterloo; freshman 174-pounder Craig Abrahamson of Boone; freshman 157-pounder Joel Kennedy of Webster City; sophomore 133-pounder Kalen Lenz of Manchester; sophomore 125-pounder Ben McCorrison of Antioch, Calif.; freshman 141-pounder Chris Sandy of Spirit Lake; freshman 197-pounder Jake Shandri of Urbandale; freshman 157-pounder Mike Unruh of Elburn, Ill.; freshman 149-pounder Adam Weber of Waterloo; freshman 133-pounder Shawn White of Grand Junction, Colo.; freshman 157-pounder Dustin Jaeger of Manchester; and sophomore 174-pounder Matt Schrupp of Watertown, Minn. IN THE POLLS - Wartburg has five individuals ranked in the top eight of their respective weight classes heading into this weekend's season openers. Junior 149-pounder Jacob Naig of Emmetsburg and senior heavyweight Blake Gillis of Spencer are each No. 1, while junior 197-pounder T.J. Miller of Cedar Falls is No. 2, sophomore 141-pounder Zach McKray of Iowa City is No. 4, and sophomore 184-pounder Romeo Djoumessi of Waverly is No. 5. NWCA ALL-STAR HONOR - Gillis has already received a top honor this season, being selected for an exhibition match against NCAA Division II standout Tervel Dlagnev of Nebraska-Kearney, at the NWCA All-Star meet in Dallas, Texas, Monday, Nov. 20. Gillis is the first NCAA Division III wrestler to receive an invitation to this event. Ten matches will be contested between top individuals in NCAA Division I along with the featured exhibitions at the Dallas Convention Center. "This invitation is a great confidence booster to the beginning of my season, as well as my goal of a national title," Gillis said. Miller will join Gillis in Dallas as a coach on the all-star staff.