InterMat Staff

State College, Pa. -- Penn State's 2007 NCAA Heavyweight Wrestling Finalist, Aaron Anspach, will compete for LionHeart MMA this month at the Battlefield Fighting Championships in Fredricksburg, Va. Anspach, who is currently on staff at Penn State as Director of Wrestling Operations said, "Competing in an MMA event will be an exciting new challenge for me. I'm glad to be representing LionHeart and am looking forward to stepping into the cage." Also scheduled to compete for LionHeart at the Battlefield Fighting Championships are NCAA National Champion Phil Davis and undefeated MMA amateur Lou Armezzani. Tickets for the Battlefield Fighting Championships are available at www.lionheartfighters.com

EVANSTON, Ill. -- After taking bronze at the 2006 University World Championships, Northwestern's Jake Herbert is looking to bring home another medal at this year's event, held in Thessoloniki, Greece, from July 9-13. Herbert will provide leadership and experience as the only returning competitor on the men's freestyle team. "Herbert is a returning bronze medalist," Freestyle Developmental Coach Dave Bennett said. "He knows what he needs to do. We're expecting a good performance." Joining Herbert (84 kg/185 lbs.) on the freestyle team are Brad Pataky at 55 kg/121 lbs., Reece Humphrey at 60 kg/132 lbs., Josh Churella at 66 kg/145.5 lbs, Keith Gavin at 74 kg/163 lbs., Brendan Jones at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Tervel Dlagnev at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. The other six wrestlers are making their first trip to compete at University Worlds. Herbert, who took an Olympic redshirt last season to train and compete in international events leading up to the trials, will return to the Wildcats for 2008-09 to pursue his second NCAA title.

University of Iowa Assistant Wrestling Coach Wes Hand has decided to leave the Hawkeye program to pursue other interests. The announcement was made today by Head Wrestling Coach Tom Brands. "The Iowa wrestling program has made monumental strides in the last two years and Wes Hand has been a big part of our march to a national title," said Brands. "We wish him the very best in the future." Hand was a four-year letterman (1997-2000) with the Hawkeyes. A two-time all-American, he finished second in the nation and the Big Ten as a senior in 2000. He had a 102-32 career record as a heavyweight. Hand was an assistant coach, with Brands, at Virginia Tech (2004-06) before accompanying Brands to Iowa two years ago. He helped lead the Hawkeyes to this year's national title. "I would like to thank all the athletes, staff, administration and alumni I've been associated with during my athletic and coaching career at Iowa," said Hand. "It's been a privilege to be part of such a great athletic program and University."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jack Effner, who won 71 dual matches and sent 37 wrestlers to compete at the NCAA Championships in his 10 seasons as head wrestling coach at Cleveland State, has resigned his position in order to accept a school counseling position in Virginia. The resignation is effective August 2, 2008. Jack Effner"I would like to thank Jack for the dedication that he has shown during his 10 years at Cleveland State," CSU Director of Athletics Lee Reed said. "Because of his effort, he is leaving the program in good shape and it should be easy to find a successor. I wish Jack good luck in his new position." Effner, who was hired in May of 1998 as only the second head coach of the wrestling program in CSU modern day history, compiled a 71-91-3 record in his 10 seasons at CSU. He owns a 158-133-8 mark in 19 seasons overall that includes an 87-42-5 mark in nine seasons at Army. Effner took over as head wrestling coach in 1998-99 after Dick Bonacci left after 36 seasons as head coach. In just his second season, he guided the Vikings to a 9-8-1 record, the program's first winning season in eight years. He sent wrestlers to the NCAA Championships in each of his 10 seasons, extending the Viking streak of representation at the national tournament to 43 straight years. Both of Effner's sons, Jason and Marcus, wrestled for him at CSU. Marcus, who will be a fifth-year senior in 2008-09 wrestled at the NCAA Championships as both a freshman (2005) and junior (2007). Jason was a four-year starter, winning 64 bouts at 157 and 165. He remained at his alma mater the last three seasons, serving as Director of Wrestling Operations. "I really appreciate the opportunity that Cleveland State gave me 10 years ago and I will look back on this time with a lot of great memories," Effner said. "My time at Cleveland State has been a real good experience for me and my family but it just felt like it was time for me to travel a different path." A two-time All-American at Indiana State, Effner earned his undergraduate degree in Industrial Education from ISU in 1986 and went on to earn master's degrees in Industrial Education from Clemson in 1993 and in Counseling and Education from Long Island University in 1997. A national search for Effner's successor will begin immediately.

Event: UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin Date: July 5, 2008 Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center (Las Vegas, Nevada) Has Forrest GRIFFIN (21-4) ever been favored to win a big fight? I think not. Yet, on Saturday night in Las Vegas at UFC 86, he stands again as an underdog with a chance of becoming a champion. A shocking upset over Shogun RUA puts him in a spot to face the awesome Quinton "Rampage" JACKSON (28-6), who has rolled through the division's best, including a surprisingly easy KO over Chuck "the Iceman" LIDDELL. The UFC Monster and Forrest Griffin in Las VegasLike most fans, I give Forrest a wild, puncher's chance of winning the belt. He also has the heart of a champion. He will NEVER quit. I mean really, who doesn't love Forrest Griffin? He's a pure fighter with an incredible spirit. But, Rampage is legendary. He has beaten them all. His showmanship wants to stay on the top of the food chain. But, this weight class is loaded with talent, and it will be difficult for anyone to reign for long. But on Saturday night, the title still belongs to Rampage. He wins by second-round TKO, with some ugly, bloody, ground and pound that caps a night of great battles. Ricardo ALMEIDA (9-2) has won seven (7) straight middleweight fights. His opponent, Canadian Patrick COTE, is also on a four (4) fight winning streak. The winner puts himself in title consideration (against "the Spider", Anderson Silva). No thanks. Cote will try to keep this fight on his feet, and hopes to end it all with a rocking right hand. Almeida has different ideas. He wants to take it to the mat where he will dominate with his stronger submission skills … He does and wins by second-round rear-naked choke. Joe "Daddy" STEVENSON (33-8) is coming off a lightweight title shot loss to the great BJ PENN. But, Stevenson didn't just lose. He got beaten to a bloody mess, before getting choked out. He was never in that fight … and his bloodied face told the story. How does a fighter rebound from such a beating? On Saturday night we find out where Daddy's heart really is! I hope it is in beating a very talented and experienced Gleason TIBAU (27-5). I think it will be a battle, but when the bell ends the fight, it will be Joe Stevenson getting the unanimous decision in victory. Josh KOSCHECK (13-2) is a sky-rocketing welterweight, and former NCAA wrestling champion who is a strong favorite to beat the seasoned veteran, Chris "Lights Out" LYTLE (35-15-5). Koscheck was over-matched against Georges ST. PIERRE (GSP), but he has dominated everybody else out there. Chris Lytle will be looking for that one opening of an over-zealous Koscheck charge, that leads to his unloading of a might blow that will put Josh to sleep on the mat. He can do it … and Saturday night, as a last hoorah, he does! Upset special. Tyson GriffinTyson GRIFFIN (11-1) is the only man on the planet to have beaten WEC's Uriah "The California Kid" FABER. I'd love to see Faber vs. BJ. But BJ wants to move up and fight GSP again. GSP wants to go up and fight the Spider. And, the Spider is moving up to fight Irvin. And, I'm sure Faber would like a re-match with Tyson Griffin. Ironically, I think Griffin looked best in his only loss to Frankie EDGAR, than in any of his wins! His opponent, Marcus "Maximus"AURELIO (16-5), is a former Pride fighter who has beaten Takanori GOMI. He's no slouch. I see this one starting out on the feet with Aurelio trying to end it with a punch. Griffin will take it to the ground and wish he hadn't, as Maximus teaches him a lesson in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, catching him with a painful armbar submission late in the first period. Another upset special. On the undercard: Gabriel GONZAGA (8-3) has looked unbeatable (unless he's fighting Ferdicio Werdum or Randy Couture). Justin McCULLY (8-3-2) is a crazy man. One of them will hit the canvass hard. My guess it won't be Gonzaga. But, I think he will be awarded the victory officially by submission as he pounces on his weary opponents body for the kill. For those who like bridge-jumping, take Gonzaga. Cole MILLER (13-3) is a 6'1" lightweight beanpole. These guys are tough to fight. You can't get close enough to hit them, and when they put their long legs around you and crank on something, their leverage is incredible. Despite all of that, I think Jorge GURGEL (16-3) has a bit more experience and will pull a mild upset over Miller with a triangle choke early in the third period. Melvin GUILLARD (39-8-3) looks like a steroid freak, and has a world of experience and ability to beat about anybody. But, he is unpredictable and Dennis SIVER (11-5) may be capable of exposing some weakness in Melvin's game. But, in a non-bettable fight, I'll go with Guillard winning with a strong, rear-naked choke late in the first period. … and finally, let's give Corey HILL (2-0) a shot and staying unbeaten with a first round KO over a stunned Justin BUCHHOLZ (8-2). No betting line available. So, let's try to turn these opinions into cash, using my fictitious $1000 bankroll: Let's lay $240 to win $100 on Rampage (-240) over Forrest. Let's lay $210 to win $150 on Almeida (-140) over Cote. Let's lay $220 to win $100 on Daddy Stevenson (-220) over Tibau. Let's lay $120 to win $300 (yes, $300) on "Lights Out" Lytle (+250) over Koscheck. Let's lay $ 75 to win $210 on Aurelio (+280) over Tyson Griffin. Let's lay $ 90 to win $ 15 (yipes!) on Gonzaga over McCully. Let's lay $ 40 to win $ 40 on Gurgel over Miller. Let's pass on Guillard/Siver and Hill/Buchholz with no betting lines available. Gulliard and Hill would both be plays @ �250 or less, in my opinion. So, that's it. We're laying $995 to win $915 … let's give the balance to Veterans for Peace on this patriotic Fourth of July. Enjoy the fights. I know I will. More later. The UFC Monster

While wrestling at the University of the Cumberlands, Matt Juncal (Brandon, FL) and Eddie Hernandez (Valrico, FL) were known as Patriots, now they're known as Matt "El Sablazo" Juncal and Eddie "The Hulk" Hernandez. Both Juncal and Hernandez are finding success in the cage, as competitors in the Xtreme Fighting Championships (a Mixed Martial Arts organization based out of Tampa, Florida). Juncal and Hernandez were both top performers during their time at the Cumberlands. They helped the Patriots reach a high level of success and also faired well individually, winning the majority of their matches. Juncal earned All-American status during the 2004-05 campaign, when he finished third in the nation at the 184 pound weight class. On June 28th, Juncal made his MMA fighting debut with a victory. The event, "XFC's Salute to Our Armed Forces 4" was held at the St. Pete Times Forum. 10,700 fans watched Matt Juncal win his professional MMA debut via submission 51 seconds into the first round against Jeff Mansir. Hernandez did not fight in the event, but is undefeated as well with a 2-0 record. Both are set to participate in "XFC's Salute to Our Armed Forces 5" at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL on September 13th. For more information, check out www.mmaxfc.com.

Two University of Wisconsin wrestling recruits recently competed at the Junior Greco-Roman National Duals in Oklahoma City. Travis Rutt and Thomas Kelliher both wrestled for the Minnesota 1 team and they helped the squad finish third out of 20 state teams. Rutt (New Prague, Minn.) and Kelliher (Burnsville, Minn.) are two of nine recruits that will join the University of Wisconsin wrestling team in the fall. Rutt went a perfect 5-0, while Kelliher finished 2-2 at the duals, which concluded Wednesday afternoon. Minnesota won its pool and advanced to the championship bracket by defeating Michigan (45-11), Florida (52-11), Virginia (47-14) and Pennsylvania (41-26). In the championship bracket, Minnesota beat Missouri (34-27) and Kansas (46-21) before falling to Illinois (40-22). Rutt and Kelliher both competed in the final dual as Minnesota defeated Iowa, 52-13, for third place. Rutt wrestled at 171 lbs. and dominated the competition. He pinned two of his opponents in under 20 seconds and recorded two tech fall victories. Kelliher wrestled at both 125 lbs. and 130 lbs. and won by tech fall in Minnesota's bout against Florida. The competition does not stop here for these future Badgers. Rutt and Kelliher, along with future freshmen Cole Schmitt and Trey Bertram are all scheduled to compete in the Junior Freestyle National Duals that begin today in Oklahoma City and run through Friday, July 4. Complete results from the Junior Greco-Roman and Freestyle National Duals can be found at www.trackwrestling.com.

MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University head wrestling coach Tom Borrelli has named Mark DiSalvo the top assistant on his coaching staff. DiSalvo is entering his second season as a member of the CMU staff. He served as the second assistant last season and now moves into the first assistant role vacated by Casey Cunningham. Cunningham has accepted a position on Cael Sanderson's staff at Iowa State. "When you have the opportunity to retain people who have wrestled here and done well competitively you're always happy about that," Borrelli said. "Mark did a phenomenal job last year from an organizational and marketing standpoint. Those are his strengths and those are areas where we are looking to grow our program." A 2005 graduate of CMU, DiSalvo returned to the program last season after serving as the director of operations at Cornell during the 2006-07 season. DiSalvo was a two-time All-American at 149 pounds during his collegiate career. He placed eighth at both the 2005 and 2006 NCAA Championships. DiSalvo was the Mid-American Conference champion at 149 pounds both seasons and was named the MAC Tournament Outstanding Wrestler in 2006. He won CMU's Harry Richards Coaches Award, which recognizes team leadership and worth ethic, as a junior and the team's Most Outstanding Wrestler Award as a senior. A two-time member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic team, DiSalvo was the recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and the MAC Commissioners Award for sustained academic excellence. DiSalvo also has been involved at the club level, serving as executive director of Finger Lakes Wrestling Club and co-founder and director of Advantage Wrestling Club. CMU won its 10th straight MAC championship and seventh straight conference tournament title in 2008. The Chippewas tied for seventh at the NCAA Championships, scoring a school-record 69 points. Four individuals earned All-America honors.

Wrestling has been part of the backbone of this country since the birth of our nation. Immigrants brought wrestling traditions to America from around the world, each as varied as their national background. Ultimately, that experience created a collage that is wrestling in the U.S. today. Our youth wrestling programs, camps, high schools, colleges, Olympic teams, and military are steeped in American wrestling tradition 232 years old. TakeDown Radio sends our best wishes and gratitude to our very diverse wrestling community this Fourth of July, our nations glorious birthday. We also feel it's the perfect time to announce the beginning of a new tradition we hope will extend for generations into the future. The High School Wrestler of the Month program will identify, recognize, and reward one young athlete from across this great country each month. The program will be administered by TakeDown Radio, and is made possible by several companies that are corporate pillars of the wrestling community. Resilite, Brute adidas, W.I.N. magazine, Intermat, and Sunflower Wrestling Supply embraced an idea, provided unique creativity, and pledged unselfish contributions in order to place greater focus on one of the most important areas of our sport, high school wrestling. Each month, coaches and parents will submit examples and reasons why their wrestler deserves the award. Recognition in national media, as well as significant prizes will be awarded to The High School Wrestler of the Month. Applications for the program will be provided each month in W.I.N. magazine, as well as PDF versions on the W.I.N. Magazine, TakeDown Radio, and Intermat web sites. The first application will be in the August edition of W.I.N. magazine, for our first award in September. A full press release will follow our Fourth of July break. Complete details, including official rules and regulations will be provided on the award application.

The U.S. World and Olympic Team Trials are the crème de la crème wrestling events in the U.S. for senior level wrestlers. The nation's best freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers battle for two days every summer for the opportunity to represent the U.S. at the World Championships or Olympic Games. All-Americans and NCAA champions are a dime a dozen. For every Trials champion crowned, another eight to ten wrestlers leave with broken hearts. R.C. Johnson (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)In 2009, R.C. Johnson, a Minnesota native who attended Northern Michigan before eventually settling in Colorado, finally broke through to win the Trials and make his first U.S. World Team in Greco-Roman at 96 kg after nearly decade of dedicating his life to the sport. That was last season. This season has been frustrating to say the least for the 27-year-old Johnson. After competing at the 2009 World Championships in September in Herning Denmark, where he lost in the opening round, Johnson took a couple weeks off, and then had surgery on his left shoulder to repair a torn labrum, bicep, and bicep tendons. Shortly after surgery, as soon as the doctor allowed, he had surgery on his right shoulder. The surgeries forced him to miss the entire season of competition. It wasn't until three weeks before this year's U.S. World Team Trials that Johnson was cleared to get back on the mat. With limited training, which mostly involved rehabbing and cutting weight, Johnson entered the U.S. World Team Trials June 11-12 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He cruised to the finals before losing to Justin Ruiz, a 2005 World bronze medalist who retired after falling short of making the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. Ruiz sat out last season (when Johnson made the U.S. World Team), but made the decision to come out of retirement this season. Johnson is now winless in five attempts against Ruiz. So what went though Johnson's head when he heard that Ruiz had come out of retirement? "I thought nothing of it," said Johnson. "It doesn't bother me at all. The way I see it ... I'm the No. 1 guy. All year I was the No. 1 guy, wrestling or not wrestling. I don't care who comes back. I don't care if the past 10 Olympians come back. They've got to take my spot. He took it this year, so OK ... I had three weeks of training ... It happens. Next year it's mine." R.C. Johnson (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)It's hard to doubt someone who has risen from a nobody in the sport in the eyes of many to a U.S. World Team member. Johnson started wrestling in high school and never placed in the state tournament. After graduating from Robinsdale Armstrong High School in 2000, Johnson was set to attend Augsburg College, where he planned to wrestle and play football. That summer, Johnson was encouraged by Minnesota's Greco-Roman coaches to wrestle at the Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota. Johnson, who had never competed in a national event, ended up placing eighth in Fargo and soon Northern Michigan's USOEC Greco-Roman program came calling. Johnson was offered a full-ride scholarship and spending money to attend Northern Michigan and join the USOEC Greco-Roman program. "I got a call on Tuesday and I was there on Saturday," recalled Johnson. "I packed up all my stuff in three days. It's kind of funny ... I cancelled my Augsburg classes from Northern Michigan. Augsburg sent me a bill and I was like, 'Yeah, I'm not going there.'" Minnesota native Gordy Morgan, a former Gopher and 1996 Olympian in Greco-Roman, served as the head coach of the USOEC Greco-Roman program in Northern Michigan when Johnson arrived on campus in the fall of 2000. "It worked really well because Gordy Morgan has that Minnesota mentality," said Johnson. "It's just tough, hard-nosed wrestling. It was good for me. It fit my style. About a year and a half later, Ivan Ivanov came ... and he has that really technical style. That was kind of cool because I got the best of both worlds. From there on out, I really started picking up on the wrestling game." Johnson steadily climbed the U.S. ladder in Greco-Roman. By 2005, he had established himself as one of the top five wrestlers in the country at 96 kg. He placed third at the Trials in 2006, 2007, and 2008 before eventually winning the Trials in 2009. R.C. Johnson made the U.S. World Team in 2009 (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)"It was an 'about time' type of thing," said Johnson of making his first U.S. World Team in 2009. "I had been knocking on the door for a while. I had a really good year of training. It was time. I didn't feel like it was a big shock or surprise to me or anything. It was just another tournament, I won it, and I'm moving on to the Worlds." Even though Johnson was one and done at the 2009 World Championships, he is grateful for the experience. "The experience was great," said Johnson. "It's one of those things that very few people get to experience. Obviously, I didn't wrestle very well because I didn't win. Wrestling is fickle like that. If you win, you wrestled well. If you didn't win, you didn't wrestle well." Johnson graduated with a computer science degree from Northern Michigan in 2004. After graduation, he made the decision to move to Colorado to continue his education and pursue his wrestling goals while training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. "Honestly, I wanted to stay in Michigan," said Johnson. "I think the training was a better fit for me at the time. But there wasn't a Ph.D program or even a master's program for me to get into. So I said, 'OK, since I'm going to Colorado, I'll apply to schools in the area that have Ph.D programs' ... I got accepted, so I was in Colorado." He has been there ever since. Johnson is currently working on his dissertation in computer science, which he says he hopes to have completed by next year. "Wrestling really slows that down as far as the time I can actually spend on writing the paper and doing the research," said Johnson, who lists solving complex equations as one of his hobbies. "The professor I work with is really understanding and willing to work with me, so it's great." He's not yet sure what career path he wants to take after he finishes his dissertation. He's thinking of possibly doing research or maybe even teaching. "It's open ended ... I'm young," said Johnson. Justin Ruiz defeated R.C. Johnson to make the 2010 U.S. World Team (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)As for his wrestling career, Johnson plans to compete through 2012. He says that he has no desire to wrestle after that. He has his sights set on making the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. Chances are the road to the 2012 Olympic Games in London will run through five-time U.S. World Team member Justin Ruiz. Ruiz knows that Johnson is very formidable opponent and someone he can never look past. Said Ruiz of Johnson, "He's strong. He's athletic. He has a really good grip. He's good at hand fighting. He's pretty good at slowing people down and controlling some of those positions on the feet, which makes it harder for some people to score." Johnson's focus, however, is not on Ruiz. "I don't think it's necessarily about getting past Justin Ruiz or getting over the hump," said Johnson. "I've just got to win the tournament. Who knows ... He may get knocked off and then I've got to beat whoever else they put out in front of me. I don't see him as an obstacle at all for me." This story also appears in the June 18 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering amateur wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote amateur wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. Subscribe to The Guillotine.

Jake Deitchler stole the show in Las Vegas. Jake Deitchler became the first high school wrestler to make the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team in 32 years (Photo/The Guillotine)The precocious 18-year-old from Ramsey, Minnesota, became the first high school wrestler to make the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team in 32 years. I have to admit, as a Minnesota native who has followed Deitchler for several years and admired his abilities, I didn't give him much of a chance to come through the 66 kg meat-grinder bracket that included a two-time World bronze medalist (Harry Lester), U.S. Olympian (Oscar Wood), U.S. Nationals champion (Mark Rial), Turkish Nationals champion (Faruk Sahin), and a former U.S. World Team member (Marcel Cooper). In my eyes, Deitchler was still a few years away from contending for a spot on a U.S. World or Olympic Team. Everyone knew this was Harry Lester's weight class and his year to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Apparently someone forgot to give the memo to Deitchler. After Deitchler upset Lester in a thrilling three-period semifinal match that sent shockwaves through the Thomas & Mack Center, I made my way down to the press workroom where there were several wrestling writers and photographers present. I overheard the following exchange between a wrestling photographer and a wrestling writer. Photographer: "A high school kid just beat Harry Lester!" Writer: "Holy $%#@!" That 'high school kid,' who is technically not a 'high school kid' anymore since he graduated from Anoka High School in early April, instantly became the talk of the tournament after upsetting the 24-year-old Lester. Deitchler then followed that performance up with a gutty, come-from-behind victory over a tough Faruk Sahin in the finals. It's hard to put into perspective the significance of Deitchler's achievement. The fact that he became just the third high-schooler ever to make a U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team gives Joe Blow who doesn't follow the sport of wrestling but hears about it on the local news or reads it in the newspaper, an idea of the significance of the achievement. But what is most impressive about the achievement, and what Joe Blow does not know or understand, is that Deitchler beat the U.S's best hope to bring a home a gold medal in Beijing, Harry Lester, someone who many viewed as untouchable. Prior to losing to Deitchler, Lester had not lost to an American wrestler since 2005. I can tell you that USA Wrestling national Greco-Roman coach Steve Fraser did not see this coming. This is a quote from Fraser just prior to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials published on TheMat.com: "Harry Lester has a great opportunity to become a gold medalist for the USA in Beijing. He is one of the most tenacious wrestlers I have ever known. Harry is a great competitor and is extremely talented. The key for Harry will be to manage his weight properly and stay healthy for the summer." I guess Harry Lester won't have to worry about managing his weight properly and staying healthy for the summer anymore. Jake Deitchler has thrived under the tutelage of former Olympians Dan Chandler and Brandon Paulson (Photo/The Guillotine)I don't think enough credit can be given to Deitchler's coaches, Brandon Paulson and Dan Chandler. Paulson and Chandler not only helped Deitchler improve technically and tactically, but also helped instill the confidence in him that he can win at the senior level. Paulson, a 1996 Olympic silver medalist who won a national title in each of USA Wrestling's age group levels, started working with Deitchler in 2004. Chandler, who has served as head coach of the U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman Team, has been churning out Minnesota Greco-Roman stars for over two decades. Deitchler, who won three state titles for Anoka High School, signed to wrestle collegiately at the University of Minnesota. He is the prized recruit (along with Blair Academy's Mario Mason) of the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. He will be wrestling for a collegiate wrestling program that has won three national titles over the past eight years. He will be close to home. And he will have his Greco-Roman coaches, Brandon Paulson and Dan Chandler, who also wrestled collegiately at the University of Minnesota, nearby. Plus, he will get a great education in the process. From an outsider's perspective, it seems like a perfect fit. Still, there are others who believe Deitchler would be better off focusing strictly on Greco-Roman at Northern Michigan, which has a Greco-Roman program at the United States Olympic Education Center (USOEC), or training full-time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. "We tried to get (Deitchler) into our program," said Northern Michigan (USOEC) assistant coach Jim Gruenwald at the 2008 U.S. Nationals. "He's a stud … He's in high school and he's in the national finals … That's the kind of kid we want in our program. But he signed with Minnesota, so we're professional about it, we'll leave him alone, until he decides to …" Jake Deitchler, who will wrestle at the University of Minnesota, has excelled in all three styles of wrestling (Photo/The Guillotine)Is Deitchler making the right decision to attend the University of Minnesota, where he will be focusing almost primarily on a wrestling style that is not Greco-Roman and is not even contested in the Olympic Games? Obviously, Deitchler feels that he is making the best decision for him at this point in his life. And who can really question the kid? He proved on June 14 that you don't have to be a full-time, year-round Greco-Roman wrestler to make a U.S. Olympic Team. But as we have seen over the years, Greco-Roman success does not exactly translate into collegiate success. And visa-versa. In fact, of the seven Greco-Roman champions crowned at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, only one of those wrestlers, Brad Vering, was an NCAA All-American. Interestingly, the last two collegiate wrestlers to make a U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman Team, Brandon Paulson (1996) and Garrett Lowney (2000 and 2004), both wrestled collegiately at the University of Minnesota. Paulson and Lowney were both NCAA All-Americans for the Gophers, but neither won an NCAA title. However, it's important to note that both Paulson and Lowney were undersized in their respective college weight classes. Paulson, who won an Olympic silver medal at the 1996 Olympics competed internationally at 114.5 pounds and collegiately at 118 pounds. Lowney, a two-time Olympian who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics, competed internationally at 211.5 and 213.75 pounds and collegiately at heavyweight, where the maximum weight is 285 pounds. There is no reason to believe Deitchler won't be successful at the Division I level. Because like Paulson and Lowney before him, Deitchler's wrestling resume includes numerous achievements in folkstyle and freestyle that can all but match his achievements in Greco-Roman, of course with the exception of his most recent success in Greco-Roman on the senior level. In folkstyle, Deitchler was a three-time high school state champion (2006-2008), NHSCA Nationals champion in 2007, and won 111 high school wrestling matches in a row. In freestyle, Deitchler was a Junior Nationals runner-up in both 2006 and 2007. But before we start speculating how great this kid can be in collegiate wrestling and putting undue pressure on him to succeed at the next level, let's first let him be a typical 18-year-old kid and enjoy his last summer before college. Oh wait, I forgot, Jake Deitchler is anything but a typical 18-year-old kid. After all, a typical 18-year-old kid doesn't spend his summer wrestling in the Olympic Games. Please Note: This story also appears in the June 27 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering amateur wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote amateur wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. For information on The Guillotine, Click HERE.

TDR returns to our home Brute Adidas Studios this week for another great show. Before we get in to who will be on this weeks show I would like to speak to you on something of great importance. Our wrestling Heritage- recently came under attack by mother nature in the guise of one of the greatest floods in North America's History. Waterloo, Iowa and its residents along with the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum experienced well over $500,000 in damage and will take months of laborious cleanup and restoration to restore this once great repository of our rich history. Many have turned out to help with muscle and some with donations. the museum and our sports heritage need you now! Please help: Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum 303 Jefferson St., Waterloo, IA 50701 319.233.0745 • fax 319.233.3477 info@wrestlingmuseum.org Executive Director of the DGIWIM, Mike Chapman said, "We're down but not out, far from it. We are wrestlers and wrestlers never give up. We appreciate the wrestling communities support as we struggle to rebuild the heritage of the museum." Any and all donations will be appreciate by this not for profit business which had no flood insurance. This week on TDR: Phil Davis- NCAA Champion and All American for Troy Sunderland's Nittany Lions Phil will answer the burning question, "What set PSU apart from other schools?" Why Troy Sunderland? How do you feel when compared to one of the greats Kerry McKoy. Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) was honored as the team's Most Outstanding Wrestler, capping a stellar career that saw the Harrisburg native cement his place in Penn State's history books. A number of Nittany Lions received awards at the annual event. Davis received two awards at the banquet. He took home the William Neidig Award given to the Most Outstanding Wrestler after an outstanding senior year that saw him accomplish so much: Davis went 26-1 and ends his career with a 116-20 career record, ninth all-time at Penn State; he won the 2008 NCAA National Championship at 197 pounds, becoming PSU's 21st NCAA champ and the 18th individual to win a crown; he became only the fourth four-time All-American in Penn State's 100 years of wrestling; his 58 dual meet wins is fourth all-time; his 30 points is sixth all-time; and his 136 career matches is 20th all-time. Davis also won the Charles M. Speidel Award, given to the senior with the most career dual meet wins (58). Dan Wirnsberger- Head Coach of the Bison of Bucknell. The Bucknell wrestling program will welcome eight newcomers to the squad for the 2008-09 season, head coach Dan Wirnsberger announced on Wednesday. The recruiting class, which is the third for Wirnsberger as the front man for the Bison, is comprised of student-athletes from five different states, including three from Pennsylvania, two from New Jersey and one each from New York, Ohio and Virginia. "I am excited to bring these young men into our Bison wrestling family," said Wirnsberger. "It is a talented group, but more importantly, these young men are scholar-athletes. They understand the importance of higher education and the commitment needed to reach their individual athletic goals. I look forward to the development process." Kevin Dresser- Head Coach of the Hokies of Virginia Tech. Dresser became the 12th man to lead the Tech program since its inception in 1920 and has made an immediate impact on the program. Although the new staff posted just six wins in the first season, it's the progress made that has fans and supporters excited about the future. Dresser's incoming recruiting class last season featured the No. 1 overall national prospect and the class as a whole was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally. This years class is one to be proud of as well. We'll talk to Kevin about Tony Robie's induction in to the Edinboro Hall of fame as well. Rashad Evans- (Mich. State) now one of the fastest rising stars in the UFC. Rashad will make his next appearance in the UFC against former Champion Chuck Liddell. In his first fight since a stunning victory over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79, UFC legend Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell is back to face undefeated light heavyweight contender Rashad "Sugar" Evans. Will Evans plow through Liddell to jump to the top of the 205-lb. rankings? Or will Liddell successfully continue his crusade to regain the UFC Light Heavyweight Title? Let's get Rashad's take on this great fight. UFC 88: BREAKTHROUGH - Saturday, September 6, live on Pay-Per-View from Atlanta, GA. Jason Liles-Head Coach of the Jacks of South Dakota State University. Now in his 15th season Coach Liles has not only inked a new deal with Brute Adidas but also has some strong young recruits coming into the program this fall. The winningest wrestler in South Dakota high school history and a junior college All-American have each signed a National Letter of Intent, indicating they will enroll at South Dakota State University in the fall and compete for the Jackrabbits, head coach Jason Liles announced. Signing recently were Zach Blindert of Salem and Kevin Kelly, a Chicago native who previously wrestled at Iowa Central Community College. Blindert wrapped up his career at McCook Central High School with a state-record 275 victories, breaking the mark previously held by former Jackrabbit Dan Bonte. Projected to wrestle either at 184 or 197 pounds, Blindert finished third in the 171-pound weight class as a prep senior. He also was runner-up at 160 pounds as a junior and placed third as a sophomore at 140 pounds. A member of the National Honor Society and academic all-state selection, Blindert plans to major in ag engineering. Kelly wrestled at Brother Rice High School in Chicago, where he was a state qualifier, before moving on to Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. Despite wrestling up a weight class or two, Kelly earned junior college All-America honors with an eighth-place finish in the 197-pound division. Kelly is expected to move down to either the 174- or 184-pound weight class for the Jackrabbits, while pursuing his degree in health, physical education and recreation. Blindert and Kelly will join a Jackrabbit recruiting class that includes South Dakota standouts Brock Edgar (Redfield), Aaron Pickrel (Watertown) and Dustin Walraven (Huron). Also in the 2008 recruiting class are Kansas stalwarts Nick Flynn (Lansing) and Scott Elliott (Derby). CD Mock- Head Coach of the Tar heels of Carolina. If there is one team in the Carolina's doing something well its being done by the Tarheels. Head Coach CD Mock has the recruits coming in, the talent in great assistants and the bright future that lies ahead. North Carolina's wrestling program has signed eight prep standouts from six different states to National Letters of Intent, head coach C. D. Mock announced Monday. This group, which features seven wrestlers in the lighter weight groups, will join the Tar Heel program in the fall and will be eligible to compete for Carolina in the 2008-09 season. "With the exception of heavyweight, we decided to focus our recruiting this year on building depth at the lighter weights," said Mock. "We are only losing one starter this year, so it is a great opportunity for us to add depth and build for the future. In addition to the impressive wrestling credentials this group brings to Chapel Hill, I am particularly excited about their character and enthusiasm about being Tar Heels. They will fit in very well with the group we have coming back. My assistants did an exceptional job bringing in this group of young men." Coaches don't forget we kick off our new High School Wrestler of the month program in the coming weeks. This is your chance to nominate and recognize an excellent student athlete who has gone above and beyond. Check out the Takedownradio.com web site and WIN Magazines full page ad's for more details. Our thanks go to our presenting sponsors: Resilite, WIN Magazine, Brute/Adidas, Sunflower Wrestling Supply and Intermatwrestle.com

State College, Pa. -- LionHeart Management proudly announces the signing of Elite XC fighter Paul Bradley to an exclusive MMA career management contract. Bradley who was seen this season on Spike TV's "The Ultimate Fighter," will represent LionHeart and train at the LionHeart MMA complex in State College, Pa. Currently signed to a 3 fight contract with Elite XC, Bradley is undefeated in the cage with a professional record of 5-0. LionHeat owner, Chad Dubin, who signed NCAA Wrestling Champion Phil Davis earlier this month, believes Bradley will bring an important level of national recognition to his new team. "Signing a fighter with Paul's reputation and experience is a big step forward for us. With the national exposure of an Elite XC contract, there were plenty of other opportunities available to him. The fact that Paul chose to sign with LionHeart means we must be doing something right." Bradley is an Iowa State High School Wrestling Champion and a two-time All-American wrestler at The University of Iowa. "I'm really excited about signing with Lionheart and I am looking forward to representing them in the octagon. This is a great place for me to further my career as a fighter and I really appreciate the opportunity Chad has given me." Also signing with LionHeart this week is Lou Armezzani from Scranton, Pa. Armezzani joins LionHeart with a 2-0 record as an amateur and plans to transition into the professional ranks within the year.

FAIRFAX, Va. -- George Mason wrestling head coach Mark Weader announced today his incoming freshman class for the 2008-09 season. After earning a Top-30 ranking by InterMat for last year's recruiting class, Weader and assistant coach James Torres have put together a talented class of eight student-athletes to bolster a team that earned its most wins since the 1991-92 campaign last season. Since announcing the signing of three-time New York State placewinner Brian Benton in early November, the Patriots have added seven more student-athletes to their incoming class, including two nationally-ranked wrestlers in Maurice Fleming and Kramer Whitelaw. Both Fleming and Whitelaw are local products, hailing from nearby Maryland. "This is a great recruiting class," Weader said. "This group of wrestlers has been extremely successful both on the mat and in the classroom. These student-athletes will make a significant impact on our program." A native of Pasadena, Md., Fleming wrestled at Northeast High School, where he compiled an impeccable 132-11 overall record while winning three state championships. A three-time All-American, Fleming ended the 2007-08 season ranked sixth in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News and 10th by Wrestling International Newsmagazine. He finished in third place at the 2007 NHSCA Junior Nationals and was ranked 60th overall by InterMat in its list of top recruits for 2008-09. Another highly decorated wrestler joining the team is Jake Bohn from Kentwood, Mich. Wrestling for East Kentwood High School, Bohn was the runner-up at the Michigan Division I State Championships this past year at 160 pounds. He improved at the state tournament each year, finishing in fifth place as a junior and seventh as a sophomore. A 2007 Junior National All-American, Bohn was the 2007 Men's Sombo National Champion and finished in second place at the FILA Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman wrestling. Another wrestler joining the team with great promise is Bagna Tovuujav, who wrestled at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J. Tovuujav claimed the National Prep Championship at 171 pounds as a senior, following up third- and sixth-place finishes during his junior and sophomore seasons, respectively. A native of Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia, Tovuujav finished in fourth place at the 2007 Beast of the East Tournament. A graduate of McDonogh School, Whitelaw hails from Sparrows Point, Md. He finished his senior season ranked 23rd in the nation by Wrestling USA at 160 pounds. A 2006 Cadet Greco All-American, Whitelaw earned three top-five National Prep Championships finishes during his career. In 2007, he finished eighth at the highly-competitive Beast of the East Tournament. Completing the class are three state placewinners in Josh Deel, from Brooke Point High School in Stafford, Va.; Peter Deutsch, from Columbia City High School in Columbia City, Ind.; and Hunter Manspile, from Northside High School in Roanoke, Va. Deel finished fifth as a senior and eighth as a junior at 145 pounds at the Virginia AAA State Championships. Also wrestling at 145 pounds, Deutsch finished sixth as a senior and eighth as a junior at the Indiana State Championships. Manspile earned a pair of sixth-place finishes at the heavyweight class at the Virginia AA State Championships during his final two prep seasons.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Mark Ironside and Harley Race. Ironside was a four-time All-American and a two-time NCAA champion for the University of Iowa. During his career with the Hawkeyes he compiled a 127-10 record, ending his career with a 67 match winning streak. Ironside was also the 1998 recipient of the Dan Hodge Trophy, given annually to the nation's most dominant college wrestler. Race is a member of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame located in the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. Known as "Handsome Harley Race" for much of his career, the Missouri native was one of the ring's best brawlers, taking on everyone from coast to coast. A true legend in the professional wrestling business, Race was an eight-time NWA World champion. "On the Mat" is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. This week's broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show. "On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -– The celebration of winning individual national titles continues for J Jaggers and Mike Pucillo, members of the Ohio State wrestling team. Jaggers and Pucillo will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, Friday when Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians host the Cincinnati Reds at 7:05 p.m. Jaggers, an upcoming senior, and Pucillo, a soon-to-be junior, are from Northeast Ohio. An NCAA champion at 141 pounds, Jaggers hails from Northfield and attended St. Peter Chanel High School. Pucillo, the national title winner at 184 pounds, is a native of Strongsville and prepped at Walsh Jesuit High School. Jaggers and Pucillo became the Buckeyes' first national champions since 2004 and it was the first time since 1993 Ohio State had two individual national champions in the same year. The duo helped the Buckeyes cap a historical season in which they were the NCAA runner-up, the best standing in program history.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The schematic design for a new wrestling facility was approved today (June 19) by the University of Michigan Board of Regents. The new building will be built adjacent to the Preston Robert Tisch Tennis and the Donald R. Shephard Women's Gymnastics facilities on South State Street. The $5.5 million, 18,000-gross-square-foot building was designed by Jickling Powell Associates, Inc. of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. "We are very excited about this new facility. I think it is going to take our program to a new level," said Joe McFarland, head wrestling coach. "We really needed more space, and we needed all the elements in place that we felt would make us a national championship team. This is going to help us reach that level." The new facility will include a two-story indoor practice area with three regulation wrestling mats. It also will feature athletic medicine areas, strength and conditioning space, a locker room and storage area. The design reflects Michigan's athletic tradition and will complement surrounding athletic facilities. The building materials will be a combination of brick and metal with the main entrance highlighted by a curved two-story wall of glass. On the south façade of the facility, a series of large windows will face a natural wooded wetland area. A standing seam metal roof will be highlighted by a ribbon window that wraps around the entire structure. Construction is scheduled to be completed in Fall of 2009.

Times are tough. Gas prices are at an all-time high. Home foreclosures are at levels most of us could never have imagined. Unemployment rates are climbing. Each time we go to the supermarket, there are new surprises in store in the form of higher prices on basics like bread, milk, meat and produce. Jack VanBebber tells his story of overcoming overwhelming challenges on and off the mat in this inspiring memoirYet, even as challenging as today's situation may be, it's certainly not as rough as it was during the Great Depression. In the 1930s huge segments of the population were out of work, large sections of the central U.S. were being destroyed by the Dust Bowl, food was oftentimes scarce, banks and businesses failed, and there wasn't the safety net of Social Security, unemployment compensation and other government programs we take for granted today. Jack Francis "Blackjack" VanBebber lived through these tough times of the 1930s as a college student and wrestler at Oklahoma State … and thrived, earning three NCAA titles as a Cowboy, then winning the gold medal in freestyle at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. VanBebber tells his story of overcoming overwhelming challenges on and off the mat in his inspiring memoir titled A Distant Flame: The Inspiring Story of Jack VanBebber's Quest for a World Olympic Title. This 180-page book, written in Jack VanBebber's words "as told to Julia VanBebber" (his wife, a schoolteacher and writer), was published in 1992 by New Forums Press, Inc., of Stillwater, Oklahoma. And, although it chronicles life as it was 75+ years ago, its story of perseverance against very long odds still has powerful meaning today, especially for wrestlers who have "a distant flame" of competing in the Olympics burning bright within them. A young flame nearly extinguished Jack VanBebber was born in 1907 -- the year Oklahoma became a state -- on a farm outside Perry, in the north-central part of the state. (Perry is also the hometown for other wrestling greats, most notably three-time NCAA champ and Olympic silver medalist Dan Hodge.) The VanBebber family was large -- Jack had three older brothers and three older sisters -- but there was plenty of work for all at the Whipple farm. When Jack was six years old, a fun event at school turned tragic. On a beautiful spring day, his teacher had allowed Jack and some of the boys to go for a ride in her wagon. The wagon hit a bump; the young VanBebber was pitched overboard, and run over by one of the wagon wheels. The metal-rimmed wheel pushed young Jack's breastbone back to his spinal column. The family doctor was concerned about damage to the heart and lungs, telling the VanBebbers, "If things go well, Jack will live." Further discussion speculated on what kind of life Jack would have -- at most, he might be able to do light tasks, but, there was the possibility that he could be "a cripple for life." However, with time and prayer, Jack was out of bed by mid-summer, able to play with his dog Houndie and help with some light chores around the house and farm. However, the recovery process was very gradual. During the next seven years, Jack had various health setbacks that caused him to miss nearly two full years of school… but he made it to eighth grade at Perry. Fighting spirit It was in junior high that Jack VanBebber was introduced to combat sports. After getting into a schoolyard fight, Jack and the instigator were sent to the gym, where the wrestling coach Frank Briscoe made the two put on boxing gloves. At the end of the match -- which ended with Jack being knocked out -- the coach was impressed with Jack's attitude, and said, with the right training, he could more than hold his own against bigger, stronger boys. The VanBebber family was large -- Jack had three older brothers and three older sisters -- but there was plenty of work for all at the Whipple farm (Photo/A Distant Flame)That was exactly what the 5'7", 107-pound, sickly youngster needed to hear. At the urging of the coach, Jack started with a walking and exercise program, building up his strength and stamina. It was at this time that he started dreaming about being a Perry Maroon wrestler, reading all he could about amateur wrestling and the Olympics. Jack was also inspired by stories of Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and Jim Thorpe, all men who had wrestled in their youth. When Jack VanBebber got to Perry High School, he went out for the wrestling team, and made the practice squad … but didn't get to wrestle for the team his freshman or sophomore years. He was disappointed, but not undaunted. Jack's junior year, he tried out for the football team (also coached by Frank Briscoe), wearing used shoes he had purchased for five dollars earned from selling his bicycle. In his fourth game, he suffered a severe ankle sprain; that was the end of his gridiron glory that year. However, Jack recovered in time for wrestling season. He went through the elimination matches, and won the starting position as the Perry Maroons' man at 139 pounds. Jack's prep career at Perry As a starter, Jack VanBebber found his comfort zone on the wrestling mat. His junior year, he won all seven of his dual-meet matches. It is also at this point that A Distant Flame becomes truly compelling to wrestlers and fans, as Jack describes some of his matches from eighty years ago with amazing detail. For example, here's the word picture he paints of his state title match with an opponent from Tulsa: The Tulsa matman was even stronger than I thought, but I used every ounce of strength and skill I had and the match right away became a repeated pattern of takedowns, brief rides, escapes and set-ups. When the endings whistle blew, I had time advantage -- but at something less than a minute, it wasn't sufficient to award me the match. After some discussion how to settle the close match, we were told to wrestle an extension, and then the two three-minute bouts ran too close to determine either of us the winner -- so each of us received a gold medal. (Realize, in Jack's era as a wrestler in the late 1920s and early 30s, a regulation high school or college match lasted ten minutes. No points were awarded for takedowns, escapes, etc. as they are today; a match was won outright with a pin, or by what was called "time advantage" -- similar to today's riding time, which had to be at least one minute. If there was no score in regulation, college rules required two three-minute periods. To learn more about amateur wrestling as it once was, click HERE.) Jack's senior year at Perry High was similarly successful; he again compiled a 7-0 dual meet record. He also won the state tournament at Norman, home to the University of Oklahoma. However, there was a second state championship, held a couple weeks later at Oklahoma State in Stillwater. In A Distant Flame, Jack provides a thrilling, you-are-there account of that title match … and its moving conclusion. Off to Oklahoma State! After graduating from Perry High School in 1927, Jack VanBebber and his family found a way for him to attend classes at Oklahoma State (back then, known as Oklahoma A&M, as in Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College). It is at this point of A Distant Flame that the reader fully understands -- and appreciates -- just how tough a life Jack and his family had. Jack VenBebber (Photo/Redskin Yearbook)Life for the VanBebbers had always been demanding, with endless days of backbreaking work with little financial reward. Money had always been tight. However, with the Great Depression hitting just as Jack was in college, the financial challenges of staying in school were even more daunting. There were no full-ride scholarships for Oklahoma State wrestlers back then; no student loan program, either. Imagine one of today's Cowboy starting wrestlers having to hold down three part-time jobs to stay in school. That's exactly what Jack had to do. And these weren't cushy, make-work assignments, either. At various times during Jack's college career at Oklahoma State, he delivered milk to Stillwater homes in the pre-dawn hours, jogged two miles to bring the Daily O'Collegian student paper to readers each morning, washed dishes, served as a waiter in a fraternity, even worked the night shift at a local funeral home (once having to go out to pick up a dead body along a roadside, the victim of a robbery). In addition to these part-time jobs, the remainder of Jack's waking hours in college were consumed by classes, homework, ROTC (Reserve Army Training Corps) drills, and wrestling practice. (At more than one point in A Distant Flame, Jack recites a typical day's itinerary, starting with one of his pre-dawn jobs, and ending with a late-night job, usually washing dishes or cleaning the kitchen in a local restaurant.) The Cowboy way During Jack VanBebber's time as a wrestler at Oklahoma State (1929-1931), the Cowboys were THE college wrestling program in the United States -- both feared and admired. Their leader was the legendary head coach Edward Clark Gallagher, whose name graces the arena where today's Cowboys still wrestle their home meets. Although he never wrestled in school, Gallagher was very much a student of the sport. He had an incredible understanding of leverage, teaching his wrestlers that scientific technique would prevail over brute strength. Jack and his Oklahoma State teammates traveled the country to take on the best college wrestling programs of the era. On these road trips, the Cowboys would put on quite a show, arriving in town wearing bright flame-red flannel shirts, cowboy boots and ten-gallon Stetsons. Sometimes they'd perform rope tricks for the fans in the stands of the host school gym. When it was time to wrestle, the Cowboys put on an equally impressive show. Stripped to the waist, wearing nothing but full-length wool tights or trunks (this was long before today's synthetic-fabric singlets), the matmen of Stillwater dominated their opponents with blazing speed and technical virtuosity. During Jack's three seasons as a varsity wrestler (freshmen were not allowed to compete), Oklahoma State never lost a dual meet. Jack VanBebber (Photo/Redskin Yearbook)Jack VanBebber was an integral part of the Cowboys' success 80 years ago. In his three years usually wrestling at 165 pounds, Jack never lost a match, compiling a perfect 22-0 record … with eight of those wins by pin. In A Distant Flame, Jack puts you right on the mat with him, as he describes a number of his college matches, and the holds he used to achieve victory … including his experience at each of the national collegiate championships. At the 1929 NCAAs hosted by Ohio State, Jack won the 155-pound crown with wins over Ray Parker, University of Michigan's grappler/gridiron stud, and 1929 Big Ten champ Ferdinand Hammer of the University of Wisconsin. The following year, at the 1930 NCAAs at Penn State, the Cowboy from Perry beat conference champ Sam Church of the University of Kansas in the finals to win the 165-pound title. In his last national championships, hosted by Brown University at Providence, Jack pinned two of his three of his opponents at the 1931 NCAAs, including Lehigh's Phil Shanker in the 165-pound title match. By winning three national titles, Jack VanBebber became only the second three-time NCAA champ from any college, behind Cowboy heavyweight teammate Earl McCready (1928-1930), and just ahead of 175-pound teammate Conrad Caldwell (1929-1931). In addition, during his years as a varsity wrestler at Oklahoma State, Jack VanBebber also won three straight Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national titles. The quest to compete at the Olympics As Jack VanBebber continued his undergraduate education at Oklahoma State in 1932, he reset his sights on his lifelong dream of wrestling at the Olympics, to be held that year in Los Angeles. As Jack VanBebber continued his undergraduate education at Oklahoma State in 1932, he reset his sights on his lifelong dream of wrestling at the Olympics (Photo/Cowboys Ride Again)A Distant Flame takes the reader on Jack VanBebber's Olympic odyssey back and forth across the country. At the urging of his Cowboy teammate Conrad Caldwell -- who suggested getting acclimated to the climate of the host city for the 1932 Olympics -� Jack and "Connie" petitioned to be sponsored by the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC), and were accepted. The two set off from Stillwater for California, driving a car for an individual who needed it delivered to Los Angeles, accompanied with only with a few dollars and a basket of oranges to sustain them on the more than 1,000-mile journey. Having to fix a broken spring on the Ford, they rolled into L.A. with just thirty-two cents between them. Once they arrived at the LAAC, their financial situation immediately improved; they both took jobs at a Safeway supermarket warehouse, each earning $80-$100 a month -- a generous income during the Great Depression. After five months in California, Jack and Connie motored cross-country to New York, to compete at the 1932 AAU national championships -- also functioning as a Semifinal Olympic Tryouts -- held outdoors at the Madison Square Garden Bowl on Long Island. After five days of wrestling a total of eight bouts in bright sunshine and rain, VanBebber won the 158-pound national title. But that didn't assure the former Cowboy a place on the U.S. Olympic team; that would be determined in July, at the Olympic Trials held at Ohio State. Jack VanBebber was part of a pool of thirteen wrestlers in Columbus vying for the 158-pound spot on the U.S. Olympic freestyle team. He went up against some familiar foes and dispatched them all… until his next-to-last match, when he lost to Charles Manoli of the Boston YMCA. It was Jack's first loss since becoming a Cowboy starter. All was not lost, however, thanks to the complex Olympic scoring system of the time. Because Manoli lost his next match to University of Michigan middleweight Carl Dougovito, Manoli was eliminated from the competition … forcing a finals match between Jack and Dougovito, a Big Ten and NCAA champ. However, the Cowboy rode the Wolverine to victory. Jack realized his lifelong Olympic dream, along with his friend and Oklahoma State teammate Conrad Caldwell. Dealing with a bully at the Olympics Two weeks before the start of the 1932 Olympics, the U.S. wrestlers arrived in Los Angeles, settling into their Olympic Village housing. (This was the first Summer Games to provide a community to house the athletes … at least the male athletes, that is. Women athletes were put up in a hotel.) Before competition got underway, Jack VanBebber ran into two Olympic legends: his childhood hero Jim Thorpe … and Mildred "Babe" Didrikson, multi-sport athlete who won two gold medals and a silver in various track events at the 1932 Games, and is considered by many to be the greatest female athlete of the 20th century. Freestyle competition in the 158-pound weight class began August 1 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Jack's first opponent was Raul Lopez of Mexico, who he pinned at 2:21. Later that night, he got a decision over Denmark's Borge Jensen. The following day, Jack VanBebber stepped onto the mat to do battle with Daniel MacDonald of Canada, a veteran of the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. "Do battle" is the right phrase, according to Jack's account of the match in A Distant Flame. After some spirited grappling with each man scoring the same number of takedowns and escapes, MacDonald took a swing at the Cowboy, hitting him squarely on the chin. The referee stopped the match, warning the Canadian that if he struck Jack again, the match would be over. Here's how Jack described the rest of the match in his memoir: Disgusted with myself for not displaying pluck by fighting back, I tried to inhale some much-needed air as we went back to wrestling. Again, neither of us managed to gain the advantage. Then it came to me: I knew MacDonald, experienced and clever, wouldn't hit me again and put himself out. So, knowing I wouldn't be eliminated for one blow, I decided to strike him. If he struck back, he'd be out and I'd be the winner. Quickly, I gave him a straight jab; it brought him to his knees. The crowd roared like those at the pro matches. Again, the referee stopped the match. 'Don't make that move again!' he warned. I didn't intend to. Perhaps it turned that round into a show event, but that wasn't my intention. The sport required that one must use his wits as well as his skills to cope with an opponent. As the match continued, both of us struggled for a takedown until the fifteen-minute whistle ended the round. Having gained a time advantage, I decisioned him. A gold-medal scare By beating MacDonald, Jack VanBebber would wrestle Eino Leino of Finland for the gold medal the next day at 6:00 p.m. Or so Jack and his coaches thought. The next afternoon, after a quiet day relaxing, there was a knock on Jack's door: Your match with Leino is in one hour! Will Rogers with 1932 U.S. Olympic Wrestling TeamThere was a schedule change; the match was moved up to 3:00 p.m., which had not been communicated to Jack until just before two o'clock. Jack had less than sixty minutes to get to the Grand Olympic Auditorium. There was no car to take him. He didn't have any money for a bus or taxi. So, donning his Olympic shirt and beret, he started running. Would he make the six-mile journey in time? Suddenly Jack's prayers were answered. A fellow member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club recognized the running wrestler, and stopped to give him a lift. Jack arrived at the arena at four minutes to three. Luckily, the matches were running a bit late, so he had time to catch his breath, weigh in, and get ready to wrestle for the gold medal. According to A Distant Flame, there were 5,000 fans in the stands at the Olympic Auditorium, including his college coach, Ed Gallagher (his Olympic coach was Iowa State coaching great Hugo Otopalik), and, another favorite son from Oklahoma, humorist Will Rogers. Jack VanBebber upset Finnish mat veteran Eino Leino to win the welterweight (158-pound) freestyle gold medal (Photo/A Distant Flame)Facing him across the mat was Eino Leino, who had accumulated three medals -� gold, silver and bronze -- in the three previous Olympics. In his memoir, Jack puts you right in the stands with Gallagher and Rogers and the others, providing you with insights into his match where he won a stunning upset over the Finnish mat veteran to win the welterweight (158-pound) freestyle gold medal. It was an incredible Olympics for the U.S. freestyle wrestling team. Joining Jack VanBebber as medal-winners: fellow Oklahoma State wrestling alum and 1931 NCAA champ Bobby Pearce (gold medal as bantamweight), University of California-Berkeley grad Edgar Nemir (silver medal at featherweight), University of Kansas NCAA All-American matman Pete Mehringer (gold, light-heavyweight), and two-time NCAA heavyweight champ (1931-32), football All-American and recent Northwestern University grad Jack Riley (silver, heavyweight). The rest of the story Jack VanBebber stayed in Los Angeles for a while, continuing to work at the Safeway warehouse to build up some savings to take the five-day car trip home. Upon arriving in Perry, Oklahoma in December 1932, he was given a rousing welcome by the community and his family. After Christmas, he enrolled in Oklahoma State … and earned his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics in July 1933. A week later, he was hired as an instructor and assistant wrestling coach at Texas Tech in Lubbock, and did some professional wrestling. A couple years later, he was offered a job with Phillips Petroleum, where he met his wife Julia. Except for his three-and-a-half years of service in the Army in World War II, Jack spent the rest of his professional career at Phillips, retiring in 1972. He passed away in April, 1986. Before his passing, Jack VanBebber was named one of the ten greatest amateur athletes in the Western Hemisphere for the first half of the 20th century. He also was one of the initial inductees as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma when that facility opened in September, 1976. A Distant Flame provides readers with a first-hand account of the life and accomplishments of Jack VanBebber, one of the greatest amateur wrestlers ever to come out of Oklahoma. It is an inspiring, uplifting story of a man overcoming significant physical and economic odds to achieve greatness on and off the wrestling mat … and is must-reading for any athlete who has the distant flame of competing at the Olympics burning bright within. A Distant Flame, published in 1992, is still available for purchase from a number of sources and can be purchased directly from the publisher by clicking HERE. To see photos of Jack VanBebber, some of his teammates and opponents, visit the "Oklahoma State -- Jack VanBebber" photo album at the Vintage Amateur Wrestling Yahoo group by clicking HERE.

Columbia, Mo. -- The now notorious "Putting the Chin in China" t-shirts adorned by Ben Askren fans at the Olympic Trials are available for sale through www.wrestling-central.com. T-shirts are $19.95 plus shipping and handling, with proceeds going toward Askren's journey to Beijing, China for his first Olympic gold medal. "I'm really thrilled by the response I've gotten about the shirts," Askren said. "We made the ‘Funky' t-shirts when I was college and those were a huge success. I knew I wanted to make another shirt as I began my training for the Olympics, and this just seemed like an appropriate theme." Askren supporters wore the black t-shirts that feature the 74 kg wrestler's recognizable profile throughout the Olympic Trials. "I just want to thank everyone for all of the support they've given me," Askren said. "It's a great feeling knowing that I have so many fans cheering me on as I train for my first Olympic appearance." Askren is one of six wrestlers that will represent Team USA in the Freestyle competition beginning Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the China Agriculture University Gymnasium. A two-time National Champion at Missouri, Askren is the first Tiger graduate to earn an Olympic berth in the sport of wrestling.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association announced a two-year extension with the University of Northern Iowa as the host of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. This move was also approved by the NWCA's Board of Directors. The UNI-Dome will host the event for a fourth consecutive year on Jan. 10-11, 2009. The two-year extension will make the UNI-Dome the host site through the 2010 and 2011 seasons. "The staff at Northern Iowa and the representatives of the local visitors and conventions bureaus do an amazing amount of work and preparation for this event," said NWCA President Ron Mirikitani. "Just finding lodging for 80-something teams is hard enough, but they make it easy choice to continue to come back." The 2008 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals were named Event of the Year by the Cedar Valley Tourism Awards handed out last May. Attendance has grown through each of the first three years the event has been held at UNI. National Duals Attendance Figures: 2006: 13,880 2007: 15,190 2008: 15,818

State College, PA -- LionHeart Professional Management and Promotions, Inc. has signed 2008 NCAA champion and four-time All-American Phil Davis to an exclusive MMA career management contract. Davis' first fight under his new contract will be held on June 21 at The House of Blues in Atlantic City, NJ. Tickets and event details are available at www.newbreedfighters.tv "I'm looking forward to beginning a new phase of my athletic career," said Davis. "Signing with LionHeart allows me to continue training with the intensity and focus I'm used to as a Division 1 athlete. I'll be surrounded with the kind of coaches and management that I'll need to pursue a championship at the professional level." Founder Chad Dubin believes that signing Davis will be a momentum builder for LionHeart. "I think that signing Phil sends a clear message to the MMA athletes, promoters, and professional leagues around the country that LionHeart is on the scene. With management, training facilities, and a full time coaching staff all working from a central site here in State College, we've created something unique, a real destination for mixed martial arts." Davis and Dubin will be available to the media tomorrow, June 19 at a press conference held at 1:00 p.m. at the new LionHeart MMA training complex located at 127 Sowers St. in State College, PA. Fighters and coaches interested in learning more about the opportunities at LionHeart should contact Chad Dubin at (814) 280-1982 or chad@lionheartfighters.com. For further information visit: www.lionheartfighters.com

LAS VEGAS, NV -- University of Iowa Assistant Wrestling Coach Doug Schwab earned a spot on the 2008 United States Olympic Freestyle Wrestling team by winning the 145.5-pound bracket at the Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, NV, last weekend. Schwab defeated former Hawkeye Bill Zadick in the championship match (1-0, 1-0; 1-0, 1-1, 2-1) to earn his first Olympic berth. In all, 10 wrestlers with ties to the University of Iowa competed at the three-day tournament. "There were some tough times," explained Schwab about his development as a wrestler. "I came out for the U.S. Nationals five or six times, and I was fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh. Not until last year did I really have my break through. I always believed in hard work. Now it's just confidence. I can feel it out there. I'm just a more confident wrestler." Iowa strength and conditioning coach Mike Zadick also won the 132-pound tournament bracket, but since the United States did not qualify that weight class for the Olympics he will have to wait for a wild card berth, which could be announced later this week. Zadick defeated Shawn Bunch of Gator Wrestling Club in the finals (3-1, 1-0; 0-3, 0-3; 0-2, 3-0, 1-0). The rest of the freestyle Olympic squad includes Henry Cejudo (121), Ben Askren (163), Andy Hrovat (185), Daniel Cormier (211.5) and former Hawkeye Steve Mocco (264.5). Hawkeye sophomore Brent Metcalf went 2-2 at the tournament, competing at 145.5. Former Hawkeyes Joe Williams (185, 1-2), Joe Johnston (145.5, 0-2), Eric Luedke (163, 0-2) and Lee Fullhart (185, 0-2) all competed in the freestyle tournament. Former Hawkeye David Spangler went 0-2 at 185 in the Greco-Roman competition. The wrestling events for the 29th Olympic Games will be held August 12-21 at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium in Beijing.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Heading into the 2011 Big Ten Championships, the team race was expected to be tight with No. 2 Penn State and No. 3 Iowa battling it out for the team title. As it turned out, the team race couldn't have been much tighter. In the end, it was Penn State edging Iowa, 139-138, for the team title on Sunday. The Nittany Lions went a perfect five for five in the finals and picked up a much-needed bonus point win in a fifth-place match. "We're happy," said Penn State coach Cael Sanderson, who was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. "Yesterday we were down 20-something points. We just said we have to keep fighting, keep hustling. Whoever wants it is going to get it. These guys went out and did it. I'm real proud of them." Winning individual titles for the Nittany Lions were Andrew Long (133), Frank Molinaro (149), David Taylor (157), Ed Ruth (174), and Quentin Wright (184). Long, an NCAA runner-up last at 125 pounds for Iowa State, faced Wisconsin's Tyler Graff in the finals and gave up an early takedown. Long added an escape in each of the first two periods to knot the score at 2-2 heading into the third period. Graff picked up an escape and held a 3-2 lead late into the third period. But Long stayed aggressive and eventually scored a point from a fleeing the mat call to tie the match at 3-3 and send it into sudden victory. Long picked up a takedown just 18 seconds into the sudden victory period and added two nearfall points to win 7-3. "It feels really good," said Long. "Coming from Big 12s it's a little different atmosphere. But still the same goal in mind. It's good to get that first victory and that big title under your belt." It was the second meeting between the two wrestlers this season. Long won the first meeting 12-5 on Feb. 18. Long said Graff used a different tactic the second time around to keep the match closer. "He just stayed away from me," said Long. "He kept running the whole match. You could see that I had to chase him down. They didn't want anything to do with me in the tie-ups or even in the match. It was just cat and mouse for seven minutes." Molinaro earned his title with a 3-0 shutout victory over sixth-seeded Eric Grajales of Michigan. Grajales picked up a takedown in the first period and added an escape while shutting down Grajales' offense. "Overall, I was happy," said Molinaro, who improved to 28-2 this season. "I didn't give up a point the whole tournament. That was one of my goals coming in, to go unscored on. So I've got to be happy with that." It was Molinaro's third victory over Grajales this season. Grajales, a four-time Junior & Cadet National champion in Fargo, has proven to be a big-move wrestler, so Molinaro wanted to stay solid. "I think his game plan, his coaches, want to keep it close, kind of lure me to sleep, and then hit me with a big throw, big move, big momentum swing," said Molinaro. "So I just wanted to stay solid." Taylor, a redshirt freshman, captured his first Big Ten title with an 8-3 victory over another redshirt freshman, Iowa's Derek St. John, 8-3. St. John scored the first takedown to go up 2-0, but Taylor stayed aggressive the entire match, picking up a takedown in each of the three periods to win and improve to 34-0 this season. It was only the second match all season in which Taylor has not picked up bonus points. "I've just got to keep attacking," said Taylor, who was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. "It's just one step towards nationals. Since the beginning of the season guys have been really trying to slow me down and I've tried to continue working more and more on my shots, attacks, putting things together ... two, three setups, two, three shots, which take the good guys down." With Taylor going undefeated and dominating his competition en route to winning a Big Ten title, he has put himself in a position to earn one of the top seeds at 157 pounds at the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia. Two other wrestlers in his weight class, Steve Fittery of American and Adam Hall of Boise State, are also undefeated this season. Both Fittery and Hall are returning All-Americans. The weight class also includes Taylor's former teammate at Penn State, Bubba Jenkins, a 2008 NCAA runner-up who is now at Arizona State. "I think I've got an argument to be No. 1 seed at nationals," said Taylor. "Whatever happens, though, I've got to wrestle whoever I step on the mat against." Taylor wasn't the only freshman on his team to win a Big Ten title. His teammate, Ed Ruth, captured the title at 174 pounds with an 8-5 victory over Ohio State's Nick Heflin. Ruth used a second period cradle, which nearly resulted in a pin, to break the match open. Ruth said seeing his teammates win titles gave him motivation to do the same. "When I see all these guys from my team that are winning, it gives me a real big boost," said Ruth, who improved to 32-1 this season. "When I go out there, I just want to beat my guy and join the rest of the winner's circle." Penn State's fifth Big Ten champion, Quentin Wright, was the surprise of the tournament. Wright entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed at 184 pounds after losing his final three matches of the regular season. He avenged two losses on Saturday by beating the No. 1 and No. 5 seeds. On Sunday, Wright avenged another loss by edging second-seeded Kevin Steinhaus of Minnesota, 4-3. Steinhaus won the first meeting, 10-1, on Feb. 13. "That's what I dreamed about for the past three months," said Wright, who was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. "It didn't look it. It didn't feel like it most of the way through the season. Don't ever give up on your dreams. Don't ever give up on yourself. Make sure the people around you are building you and keep yourself built up and then your dreams will come true." A pair of returning NCAA champions, Matt McDonough of Iowa (125) and Andrew Howe of Wisconsin (165), captured Big Ten titles on Sunday. McDonough won a hard fought match, 3-1, over Northwestern's Brandon Precin. The Hawkeye sophomore trailed 1-0 after two periods, but picked up an escape and takedown off a scramble in the third period to pull out the victory. It was the third meeting between the two wrestlers this season. Precin won the first meeting, but McDonough has now won the last two. It feels good, but it's just one more big match in preparation for the ultimate goal," said McDonough. "It just builds more confidence going into that postseason. Peaking every day. So tomorrow's got to be a better day." Howe, who missed part of January and all of February because of a knee injury, defeated Ohio State's Colt Sponseller, 3-1, in sudden victory in a rematch of last year's Big Ten final at 165 pounds. He was also a big Ten champion two seasons ago as a freshman. Howe scored a takedown with just six seconds remaining in the sudden victory period. "For the most part I had a pretty good tournament after coming back from that injury," said Howe, who became the first Badger since Donny Pritzlaff (1999-2001) to win three Big Ten titles. Howe is expected to be the No. 2 seed at the NCAA Championships behind Nebraska's Jordan Burroughs, the wrestler who defeated him in the finals of the Midlands Championships and snapped his 51-match winning streak. How is looking forward to the possibility of facing Burroughs in Philadelphia. "I've been thinking about it constantly since (Midlands)," said Howe. "It would be great. I would love to even the score. Hopefully we run into each other in Philly." Howe's wasn't the only wrestler to win his third Big Ten title. Michigan's Kellen Russell claimed his third conference title with an 8-4 decision over 2010 Big Ten champion Mike Thorn of Minnesota. It was Russell's third victory over Thorn this season. Five of the nation's top seven 141-pounders, including the top four, are from the Big Ten. Russell feels that having to battle the nation's best on a regular basis will give him an edge over other wrestlers from outside the conference at the NCAA Championships. "There's not a conference out there that has as many tough guys as the Big Ten right now," said Russell, who is undefeated on the season at 33-0. "We're all beating each other up right now. But those guys aren't used to this kind of competition. Hopefully when it gets late in matches like that they're not going to be used to grinding it out like we are." Wisconsin's Trevor Brandvold repeated as Big Ten champion at 197 pounds. He defeated Iowa's Luke Lofthouse, 5-2. The Badgers finished fourth in the team standings, six points behind third-place Minnesota and 35.5 points behind champion Penn State. Wisconsin finished fourth at the NCAA Championships. Brandvold feels the Badgers could do as well or better this season. "As a team, we have a lot of guys that can do some damage, so hopefully we can rack up the team points there," said Brandvold. Blake Rasing of Iowa captured the Big Ten title at heavyweight with a 5-2 victory over Minnesota's Tony Nelson. Rasing used a third period takedown and two nearfall points to pull away for the victory. Team Standings: 1. Penn State 139 2. Iowa 138 3. Minnesota 109.5 4. Wisconsin 103.5 5. Michigan 86.5 6. Illinois 64 7. Northwestern 62 8. Ohio State 57 9. Purdue 51 10. Indiana 50 11. Michigan State 49.5 Finals: 125: No. 1 Matt McDonough (Iowa) dec. No. 2 Brandon Precin (Northwestern), 3-1 133: No. 1 Andrew Long (Penn State) dec. No. 2 Tyler Graff (Wisconsin), 7-3 SV 141: No. 1 Kellen Russell (Michigan) dec. No. 3 Mike Thorn (Minnesota), 8-4 149: No. 1 Frank Molinaro (Penn State) dec. No. 6 Eric Grajales (Michigan), 3-0 157: No. 1 David Taylor (Penn State) dec. No. 2 Derek St. John (Iowa), 8-3 165: No. 1 Andrew Howe (Wisconsin) dec. No. 2 Colt Sponseller (Ohio State), 3-1 SV 174: No. 1 Ed Ruth (Penn State) dec. No. 2 Nick Heflin (Ohio State), 8-5 184: No. 8 Quentin Wright (Penn State) dec. No. 2 Kevin Steinhaus (Minnesota), 4-3 197: No. 1 Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin) dec. No. 2 Luke Lofthouse (Iowa), 5-2 285: No. 3 Blake Rasing (Iowa) def. No. 4 Tony Nelson (Minnesota), 5-2 Not every significant match happened in finals Not every significant match took place in the finals. There were several third-place battles that featured returning All-Americans, upset specialists and unseeded underdogs. At 141 pounds, returning All-American and No. 4 seed Jimmy Kennedy of Illinois got out to a 5-1 lead on No. 2 and returning NCAA runner-up Montell Marion of Iowa thanks to a couple textbook powerful double leg takedowns. A Marion escape early in the third period cut Kennedy's lead to 6-5, but the Illinois senior got a leg on the edge, then switched to a double in the middle of the mat to seal the deal. "I was able to finish a lot of times I got in," Kennedy says. "As long as I could capitalize on his aggressiveness, I knew I'd be OK. Either the championship or the third place match could have been a final. The dual for third place at 149 pounds between No. 2 Andrew Nadir of Northwestern and No. 3 Kurt Kinser of Indiana was choppy thanks to continual blood time for Nadir. Kinser fought off continual Nadir shots until the third period. The relentless front headlocks by Kinser wore down Nadir. In that final frame, Kinser escaped quickly, then In the overtime, Kinser again locked his hands, then spun around behind for a 6-4, come-from-behind overtime decision and a third-place finish. "My style is to grind people out, and that was a grinder victory," Kinser said. "With those front headlocks, you just have to get your on him and then eventually break him. Once you break their base, you just whip behind [your opponent]." The Hoosier's senior now shifts his focus to his fourth straight NCAA Championships, knowing that it will take wrestling a full match in Philly to finally earn All-American status. "The stuff that dogged me in my loss is the same stuff that has dogged me for awhile," Kinser said. "Just wrestling a full seven minute go, not having that mental lag that catches you off guard." Michigan State 197-pounder Tyler Dickenson (22-15), who has dealt with inconsistency all season, was the only unseeded wrestler who finished in the top six. The junior St. John's High grad took down three seeded wrestlers before finally falling in a 6-2 decision to fourth-seeded Matt Powless of Indiana to finish in fourth place and seal a trip to his first NCAAs. "I'm pretty happy with my overall tournament," Dickenson said. "I did a good job of clearing my head and forgetting about the past and [my opponent], and just getting after it." Few third-place finishers had a better tournament than Wisconsin's Eric Bugenhagen. After losing to eventual champion Blake Rasing, the senior bounced back to go 5-1 overall, upsetting second-seeded Ricardo Alcala of Indiana and top-seeded Cameron Wade of Penn State in the process. In the third place match, Bugenhagen took down seventh-seeded Joe Rizqallah of Michigan State twice in the first period and cruised to a 6-1 decision to advance to his first NCAA Tournament. "It was a rough start against Iowa," Bugenhagen says, "but I feel like I wrestled some of my best matches all year at this tournament. I feel like I'm peaking at the right time."

WATERLOO -- The flood of the century has severely damaged the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum but the staff has decided to go ahead with "Super Weekend" scheduled for June 27-28, with a few modifications. The weekend begins with a celebrity golf tournament Friday at Irv Warren Golf Course at noon. A World League Wrestling show, produced by Harley Race, will go on as scheduled. Called "Night of the Legends 2" it will be held at Young Arena, starting at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.). The flood of the century has severely damaged the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum but the staff has decided to go ahead with "Super Weekend"Saturday's schedule includes the only major change. The official inductions into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame will still go on at 11 a.m., but will be held in Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center two blocks away from the museum. The event had been set for the museum, but the severe flooding has virtually ruined the museum. The fourth and final event is the inductions banquet at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center at 7 p.m. (social hour at 6 p.m.). "Even though the museum suffered unimaginable damage, the staff and board of directors felt it was imperative that we go ahead with "Super Weekend," said Mike Chapman, executive director of the museum. "This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and we hope the wrestling community from around the nation will rally to support us. The museum needs all the help it can get." A combination of flooding and sewer back up into the museum has destroyed thousands of dollars of artifacts and memorabilia, and left the physical plant ravaged. A professional clean up crew has been working in the museum for five days, tearing out carpet, polluted walls, battered furniture and office equipment, and some displays. The museum board of directors is resolved to get the museum up and running again, but it is going to take considerable time, effort, patience, and money," said Chapman. "The staff has been working virtually around the clock to clean up the mess and still prepare for "Super Weekend." The six inductees this year are Roddy Piper, Abe Jacobs, Masa Saito, Leo Nomellini, Ray Gunkel, and Stu Hart. Piper, Jacobs, and Saito are attending and Bret Hart, Class of 2006, is accepting his father's award. The daughter of Ray Gunkel is also planning to attend. In addition, Wendi Weaver, the daughter of Penny Banner, will accept the Frank Gotch Award on behalf of her mother who passed away last month. Also being honored are Father Jason Sanderson, with the Lou Thesz Award and writers Greg Oliver and Steven Johnson with the Jim Melby Award. Fans will be able to get autographs of many former hall of famers at the Friday night matches, and also at the Fan Festival following the inductions at 11 a.m. Saturday. Price of admission for the 11 a.m. inductions is $10 per person. Banquet tickets are $60 a person and seating is limited. Banquet tickets must be purchased at 5 p.m. June 24. Tickets to the "Night of Legends II" show are $15 for ringside and $10 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased at Young Arena. The museum lobby will be open Friday, June 27 from noon to 6 p.m. for the pick up of tickets that have already been purchased or for information on the weekend's events. The museum is located at 303 Jefferson St. The phone service for the museum is expected to be up and running soon. The number to call is 319-233-0745. Schedule of Events: Friday, June 27 Noon – Celebrity Golf tournament at Irv Warren Golf Course, Byrnes Park 6 p.m. – Doors open for the World League Wrestling Show at Young Arena Saturday, June 28 10 a.m. – Doors open to Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center for 2008 George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction ceremony 11 a.m. – Official induction ceremony begins Noon – 2 p.m. – Fan Fest following inductions 6 p.m. – Social hour for official induction banquet 7 p.m. – Banquet begins

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Former Oklahoma State wrestlers Daniel Cormier and Steve Mocco will represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after both Cowboys won their respective weight classes at the Olympic Trials in the Thomas and Mack Center Sunday. Cormier is set to compete in his second straight Olympic games after he won his best-of-three championship series over Damion Hahn. Cormier claimed a 6-1, 6-0 win over Hahn in the first match of the best-of-three finals series, then followed it up with a 1-0, 1-0 win over Hahn to punch his ticket to Beijing. Cormier, the 2008 winner of the John Smith Award as the top American freestyle wrestler, won the bronze medal at the 2007 World Championship. He placed fourth at the 2004 Athens Olympics and is now a five-time member of the United States freestyle world team. He did not have to wrestle through the challenge tournament to get to the finals as a result of his past successes. Mocco stormed through the challenge tournament with a first-round bye and followed it up with a 1-0, 1-0 win over Les Sigman to set up his resounding 2-0, 7-0 semifinal win over Scott Steele. Mocco faced previous nemesis Tommy Rowlands in the best two-of-three championship series and handed him a 1-0, 2-0 beating to land a spot on the U.S. Olympic roster. The victory was particularly sweet for Mocco, who lost to Rowlands at the U.S. Nationals in April. By beating Rowlands Sunday, Mocco made the U.S. World Team for the first time in his career after posting runner-up finishes in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He was also the runner-up at the U.S. Nationals in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008. In addition to the victorious Cormier and Mocco, two other former Cowboy wrestlers competed in the Olympic Trials finals, with Tyrone Lewis and Mo Lawal both falling short in their Olympic bids. Lewis lost his best-of-three finals match to Ben Askren by dropping the first match, 2-0, 1-0 and the second match by a 2-6, 2-0, 1-0 score. Lewis' route to the finals started with a first-round bye followed by a 1-1, 1-0, 1-0 win over Keith Gavin in the second round. Lewis' 0-2, 3-0, 7-0 pounding of Ryan Churella put him into the final round, where Askren held him off. A late takedown with only 17 seconds left in his championship match with Andy Hrovat ended up costing Lawal, who lost a 0-1, 1-0, 2-2 decision. Like Cormier, Lawal earned a spot in the championship series by virtue of his past performances. He did not wrestle in the challenge tournament. Not including Cormier and Mocco in 2008, a total of 32 former Oklahoma State Cowboys have wrestled in 38 Olympic Games and Cormier is set to join John Smith, Kendall Cross, Kenny Monday, Gene Davis, Harry Geris and Yojiro Uetake as former Cowboys to wrestle at more than one Olympic games.