InterMat Staff

In the world of college wrestling, plenty of multi-season, business-as-usual rivalries deliver exciting, crowd-pleasing bouts. It didn't matter how many times Lee Fullhart squared off against Tim Hartung or how many times Teague Moore and Shane Valdez went at it, their battles were always anticipated and always stellar. However, as the season approaches and wrestling fans look ahead to upcoming matches, they tend to spend more time pondering meetings that don't have a history in place -- or at least a collegiate, folkstyle one. This wrestling season presents a number of emerging rivalries for a couple of reasons. 1. There's a fairly large group of talented freshmen making their varsity debuts. 2. More than any other time since the one-hour weigh-in rule was adopted -- a great number of wrestlers are going down a weight class from where they wrestled last year. How will these touted frosh deliver? How will these veterans handle weight management all season long? We'll just have to see. Also, while it's difficult not to look ahead to certain match-ups, one has to remember that it's quite possible that they might not happen. Last season, it seemed like the best high school rivalry in the country, Brent Metcalf vs. Dustin Schlatter, was going to continue in college. The rubber match had two potential venues as both Virginia Tech and Minnesota had the Kaufman-Brand Open and the Southern Scuffle on their respective schedules. But the Minnesota coaching staff elected to have Schlatter wrestle in the 20 & Under bracket in Omaha … and Metcalf was disqualified in the second round at Greensboro. Moreover, exciting rivalries sometimes emerge out of nowhere. Unheralded wrestlers step up their game and others are unexpectedly taken off redshirt. But while there is no certainty as to what rivalries will be reflected back upon as the best of 2006-2007, there are definitely plenty that are intriguing on paper before the season begins. 10. Mark Moos (Michigan) vs. Nick Simmons (Michigan State) -- 125 Why it's intriguing: Moos hasn't met Simmons since 2002. Since then, Moos made big strides at 125, winning the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in 2004. But just after that, he went up to 133 where he stayed for a season and a half. He now returns to the lower weight class where he could be a part of the best in-state rivalry this season. Moos will certainly have his hands full with three-time All-American Simmons, but fans of either wrestler better not blink since both have amazing, unorthodox funk. Where they could meet before the postseason: Both schools' schedules include the Eastern Michigan Open (Nov. 4), Michigan State Open (Nov. 12), and the Midlands (Dec. 29-30) … before their Jan. 28 dual meet. 9. C.P. Schlatter (Minnesota) vs. Matt Kocher (Pittsburgh) -- 157 C.P. SchlatterWhy it's intriguing: Kocher comes off his redshirt year with a 36-3 record, competing unattached. Moreover, Kocher surprised Schlatter at the University Freestyle Nationals, 2-0, 3-0. Was the standing Big Ten champ just caught off guard … or is Kocher that good? Probably the latter, but we'll know soon enough. Where they could meet before the postseason: Southern Scuffle (Dec. 29-30). 8. Max Askren (Missouri) vs. Joel Flaggert (Oklahoma) -- 197 Why it's intriguing: One of the biggest wins for Askren during his redshirt year was an 8-3 victory of All American Flaggert at the Central Missouri Open. Flaggert got revenge at the Oklahoma Open, but that only makes the rubber match even more exciting. Where they could meet before the postseason: Missouri Open (Nov. 19). 7. Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan) vs. Josh Glenn (American) -- 197 Why it's intriguing: At last year's NCAA's, Glenn was the No. 1 seed at 184 and Michalak was the No. 1 seed at 197. Neither was crowned champ and both are looking to refocus this year. Where they could meet before the postseason: Northeast Duals (Nov. 25). 6. Derek Moore (Cal Davis) vs. J. Jaggers (Ohio State) -- 141 Derek Moore (Photo/John Sachs)Why it's intriguing: Both Moore and Jaggers saw their seasons end in injury -- Jaggers at the Big Ten's and Moore in the second round of the NCAA's. Moore was looking very impressive before the injury, winning the Pac-10's and dominating Josh Churella in the finals of Vegas before getting pinned. A three-time NCAA qualifier, Moore has never been an All-American … and this year is his last shot. Jaggers looked great last year … and is down a weight class this season. Both wrestlers are very skilled on top, so some great mat wrestling could come about if the match materializes. Where they could meet before the postseason: Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 1-2). 5. Roger Kish (Minnesota) VS. Jake Herbert (Northwestern) -- 184 Why it's intriguing: Both were NCAA runners-up last season, Kish to Shane Webster of Oregon at 184, and Herbert to Rev Wrestler of the Year Ben Askren at 174. Although he is moving up a weight, it's quite certain that the specimen Herbert won't be out-muscled by anyone in the class. Herbert beat Kish at the University Nationals, 4-1, 5-0, and probably should be considered a slight favorite in folkstyle. Both are highly motivated wrestlers with a style that's easy to root for. Where they could meet before the postseason: NWCA All-Star Classic (Nov. 20). 5. Matt Valenti (Penn) vs. Darrell Vasquez (Cal Poly) --133 Why it's intriguing: There is no doubt that Valenti had an amazing NCAA tourney last March. He went through Tom Clum of Wisconsin, Nathan Morgan of Oklahoma State and Chris Fleeger of Purdue to get the title. The question is if he's really that good or was just "on" and peaked at the right time. A recent 1-2 performance at the Sunkist Open doesn't answer the question. Vasquez was almost the opposite last year. He opened the season winning the NWCA All Star Classic against Mack Reiter and then failed to repeat as an All American (he took fourth in 2004). Stylistically, both Valenti and Vasquez are very fast and slick. If the match materializes, it better be caught on tape, because some of the moves are certain to be visible only in slow motion. Where they could meet before the postseason: Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 1-2). 4. J.D. Bergman (Ohio State) vs. Phil Davis (Penn State) -- 197 Why it's intriguing: Davis is a returning NCAA finalist, but Bergman beat Davis in their dual meet two seasons ago before redshirting last year. This looks to be a very exciting Big Ten rivalry. Where they could meet before the postseason: The two are not scheduled to meet until their dual meet on Feb. 26. 3. Cyler Sanderson (Iowa State) vs. Brent Metcalf (Iowa) -- 149 Why it's intriguing: Realistically, all of Cyler Sanderson's early matches will be watched closely. There is endless speculation as to how the younger brother of the only undefeated, four-time NCAA champ will do, especially now that his brother is coaching him. Cyler redshirted last year, but hasn't competed since winning a Junior. Nationals title in freestyle during the summer of 2005, where he suffered an injury ... but won the tourney anyway. At this point, Metcalf is more of a known commodity, having competed unattached for a season already. Even if he's not able to suit up for the Hawkeyes officially, he still should see some serious competition unattached. With new coaching staffs at both schools, it's interesting to note that if this match does happen, there will be no less than three Olympic champs coaching in the corners. Where they could meet before the postseason: Kaufman-Brand Open (Nov. 18). Possibly the winner takes on Dustin Schlatter. 2. Mike Patrovich (Hofstra) vs. Ryan Patrovich (Ohio State) -- 165 Why it's intriguing: With Mike Patrovich coming down a weight class, it appears that it's possible he might have a match against his true-frosh brother. Brothers have been known to forfeit when facing each other, but fans can still hope for a meeting between these two talents. Where they could meet before the postseason: Even if Ryan Patrovich redshirts, it's possible he'll be at the East Stroudsburg Open. It's the only event on Ohio State's schedule for that day, but they do have the Missouri Open scheduled for Nov. 19, so who knows? If Ryan does not redshirt, he could also face his brother at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 1-2). 1. Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma State) vs. Mark Perry (Iowa) -- 165 Mark Perry (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)Why it's intriguing: Although Hendricks swept their three bouts two years ago, there's just too much drama in this rivalry not to put it No. 1. That Perry elected to suit up with the Hawkeyes instead of for his uncles boarders on soap opera material. With the staff changes at Iowa, this rivalry is underscored by the fact that it puts John Smith coaching against Dan Gable for the first time in over eight years. Throw in that a lot of people don't like Hendricks and questing the officiating in his last NCAA title and you've got fans rabid for the upset by the most likely candidate to do so. Where they could meet before the postseason: Both schools have the Kaufman-Brand Open on their schedules for Nov. 18 and Hendricks and Perry have also been invited to the NWCA All Star Classic (Nov. 20) two days later. It's also possible that they could meet at the National Duals on Jan. 13 and 14 before the Iowa vs. Oklahoma State dual meet on Jan. 19.

State College, Pa. -– October 27, 2006 – As the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers prepare for Nov. 12's Wrestle-Offs in Rec Hall, head coach Troy Sunderland's crew now knows who it will meet as the regular season opens. No. 8 Penn State will be taking part in the 2006 Pennsylvania Duals, hosted by Lock Haven University on Sunday, Nov. 19, beginning at 10 a.m. Two other ranked teams will invade Lock Haven as part of the nine-school event. The Nittany Lions will face intra-state foe Clarion to kick off the day's action at 10 a.m. in Thomas Field House. Other 10 a.m. duals include host Lock Haven facing Williams Free School, No. 13 Edinboro facing Millersville and York battling Pitt-Johnstown. Penn State will take on Pitt-Johnstown at 12 p.m. in its second dual of the day. Other noon bouts include Edinboro meeting No. 21 Lehigh, Clarion facing Millersville and Lock Haven meeting York. At 2 p.m., a battle of ranked foes will ensue as the Nittany Lions will tangle with the Fighting Scots. Lehigh will face Clarion, Lock Haven will battle Clarion and York will tangle with Williamson in other action. Two other duals will occur at 4 p.m. with Lock Haven facing Lehigh and Millersville meeting Williamson. Day-long passes cost $15 and can be ordered by calling the LHU Athletics Department at 570-893-2102.

In front of over 600 people, the Wisconsin wrestling team hosted its annual wrestle-offs Thursday night at the UW Field House. Four new starters emerged as the Badgers solidified its starting lineup for the 2006-07 season. After preliminary matches were held on Tuesday, the intra-squad featured the final round at nine different weight classes. "I saw some good things out there, some things that we have been working hard on in practice," said head coach Barry Davis. "Wrestle-offs are hard to talk about because it's your guys wrestling against each other. Now that they are done, and we have the lineup we can work on more things and improve before the season starts." The action started out with a highly anticipated match as junior Collin Cudd (River falls, Wis.) took on freshman Aaron Hart (St. Paris, Ohio). Cudd is a two-time NCAA qualifier at 125 lbs. while Hart came to Wisconsin after a highly decorated high school career. However, Cudd's skill and experience prevailed as the junior earned a 16-2 major decision victory. The departure of two-time All-American Tom Clum left an opening at 133 lbs. Sophomore Zach Tanelli faced Eric Senescu, a redshirt freshman. Tanelli jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first period and never looked back, notching a 19-6 major decision victory. The battle for the starting position at 141 lbs. featured sophomore Jordan Crass (Medford, Wis.) and freshman Kyle Ruschell (Crittendent, Kent.). Both grapplers battled close in the first period, but Ruschell would eventually pull away, winning 11-6 after riding time. At 149 pounds, senior-captain Tyler Turner scored four takedowns in his match against freshman Trevor Bowers to earn a 14-2 major decision victory. Fellow team captain and All-American Craig Henning (Chippew Falls, Wis.) also cruised to victory defeating Mike Metzger (Columbus, Wis.) 9-2 at 157 lbs. The closest match of the night came at 165 lbs. as Jake Donar (Cuba City, Wis.) faced freshman Jeremy Breen (Oak Creek, Wis.). Donar, a NCAA qualifier, found himself trailing 2-1 heading into the third period. With only 10 seconds remaining, Donar earned a three-point near fall to defeat Breen, 5-2 after riding time. Matt Maciag (Sussex, N.J.) dropped to 174 lbs. this season after seeing action last year at 184 lbs. The move proved beneficial as he earned a starting spot after beating Mike Felling (Hutchinson, Minn.) 9-3. The only freshman to break into the lineup this season is Trevor Brandvold at 184 lbs. The River Falls, Wis., native came in as the No. 1 at 189 lbs. by Intermat, The Mat and USA Wrestling. In addition he was named Wisconsin wrestler of the year in 2006. Brandvold edged out sophomore Justin Peterson (Comstock, Wis.) 6-4. At 197 pounds, sophomore Dallas Herbst (Winneconne, Wis.) wrapped up the competition with a pin victory over freshman Eric Buggenhagen (Franklin, Wis.). Herbst led the team in pin victories last season with 12, including two at the NCAA championships.

Joe McFarlandJoe McFarland is entering his eighth season as the University of Michigan's head wrestling coach. Last season, McFarland guided the Wolverines to an undefeated Big Ten dual meet season (8-0), a fourth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships, and a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships. It marked the sixth straight season in which McFarland has led the Wolverines to a top-10 finish at the NCAA Championships. RevWrestling.com recently caught up with McFarland to get his thoughts on Mark Moos moving down to 125 pounds, Josh Churella, Eric Tannenbaum, and Steve Luke all moving up in weight, the controversial Ryan Churella vs. Johny Hendricks NCAA finals match, Joe Warren's mentality, and his outlook on the Wolverines. Mark Moos started his collegiate wrestling career as a 125-pounder, moved up to 133 in January of his sophomore season, and is now moving back down to 125 for his senior season. Why the move back down to 125? McFarland: I don't think he got as big as he thought he probably would. During the summer he didn't get that heavy at all … and 125 was probably more of a suitable weight class for him … and he finally realized that. He wasn't cutting any weight at all to make 133. Is Moos being able to stay on weight all season a concern? McFarland: No, he's already down to where he needs to be. He got his weight down in August. He did a good job of getting it down. Actually, even earlier than that, during our summer camps his weight was down where it needed to be. Yeah, he's been down for a couple months now. Josh Churella has been one of the top wrestlers in the country over the past two seasons, yet he's battled some injuries and has also had some disappointments at the NCAA Championships, placing eighth as a freshman and failing to place last season as a sophomore. What do you think he's learned from his past disappointments? McFarland: Well, I just think he made some mistakes last year at the NCAA Championships. His freshman year, he was just sick as a dog. Last year, he made some mistakes. You can't make mistakes at that tournament. You have to be on top of your game. You have to wrestle mistake free. I think his focus is on putting together great matches. You have obviously spent a lot of time with the Churella family. When comparing Josh Churella to Ryan Churella, is there a bigger difference in their wrestling styles or a bigger difference in the personalities? McFarland: Well, they're a little different in both respects, but they're very similar in a lot of respects, too. Their wrestling styles are definitely a little different. Josh isn't as tall and rangy as Ryan. It's just a different style altogether. They both possess great wrestling skills. I think the thing that the whole Churella family possesses, though, is a great desire to win. Their preparation is always there. Their work ethic is outstanding. Those guys work extremely hard and stay focused on what they need to do to get better. There are some differences in their wrestling, there's no doubt. Eric Tannenbaum and Joe McFarlandTwo seasons ago, Eric Tannenbaum had an impressive freshman campaign, posted a 36-5 mark, and finished fourth at the NCAA Championships. Last season, he started the season with a big victory at the NWCA All-Star Classic over 2005 NCAA champion Zack Esposito, but battled some inconsistency and finished with a 24-11 record en route to a sixth place finish at the NCAA Championships. At least on paper, Tannenbaum was better as a freshman than as a sophomore. What was the biggest difference between his freshman and sophomore seasons? McFarland: Well, I think there are some factors in there. Eric was not as as focused last year because of a number of different things, but I think he's made those adjustments. I see a kid who has moved up and feels a little bit more comfortable in his new weight class. I think you're going to see him having a great season this year. Eric moving up is a good thing … and he's excited about the season coming up. He's really comfortable where he's at now. Describe the difference between the Steve Luke who won the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in December of 2005 and the Steve Luke who went 0-2 at the NCAA Championships in March of 2006. Was weight cutting a factor? McFarland: Yeah, we held him back on some matches to try to keep him fresh. But the bottom line is I just think he's going to be much more comfortable where he's at now. I see him in the practice room and see what he's doing every afternoon. We're looking for an outstanding season from Steve. I think he's going to make an impact this year. Luke is moving up two weight classes (157 to 174). Has he grown into the 174-pound weight class pretty well? McFarland: Yeah, no question about it. Physically, he looks really good. He's going to be able to really concentrate on wrestling, becoming a better wrestler, working on his conditioning, and just really being able to get after it. I think it was tough on him last year. I know he's excited about the upcoming season. Describe the feeling after Ryan Churella's NCAA finals loss to Johny Hendricks? McFarland: Extremely disappointing. How else can you put it? It's something that I still think about. I just think it's a shame what happened. It's disappointing that you see that kind of stuff happen at that level. We still hear about that today. People talk about it. Ryan Churella (Photo/John Sachs)Did the University of Michigan take any action against the NCAA after the match? McFarland: Our athletics director did. We got involved in a few things with the NCAA. I'm hoping that it was the impetus that helped make the changes in regards to the officials of the finals matches. From what I understand, those guys will not be working the NCAA Championships in Auburn Hills. Was that the toughest individual loss of your coaching career? McFarland: No question about it. I sat there in the corner after this thing was unraveling … it was like a bad dream. It really was. Ryan Churella has not competed since the NCAA finals in March. Is his competitive wrestling career over? McFarland: No, he wants to continue to wrestle freestyle. He's going to start up with Real Pro Wrestling. And I'm excited to watch him compete. He just needed a little time off after the NCAA's. Many wrestling fans around the country were shocked when one of your former wrestlers, Andy Hrovat, pinned Mo Lawal at the World Team Trials in Sioux City, Iowa. What was your reaction? McFarland: I wasn't really shocked. I see the things Andy has done in regards to his preparation. I know how dangerous Andy can be. He was really well prepared going into that tournament, there's no question. Even at the World Championships, he had a really tough first round draw. I think if Andy would have gotten by that match, he would have been in a pretty good situation. I think the whole thing of going through the Trials and the World Championships was a great experience for him. He's going to come back that much better and stronger for next year. Joe Warren (Photo/John Sachs)Joe Warren won the gold medal at 60 kg in Greco-Roman at the recent World Championships. You coached Warren at Michigan, describe his mentality and the way he approaches the sport of wrestling. McFarland: He's just a great competitor. He believes that every single time he steps on the mat that he's going to win. He told me before he went over to the World Championships that he was going to win the Worlds. He told me that his weight was where it needed to be, that he felt as good as he's ever felt, his preparation was great, and I think that showed in the kind of results he had at the World Championships. He's a warrior, there's no question about it. He has a lot of confidence in himself. He gets after people. He actually won the gold just by the way he competes. To stay on that guy and win with just a few seconds left, that's Joe Warren's style of wrestling. He loves to get after guys … and he'll stay after guys. How important is it to your program to have both the Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Championships in the state of Michigan this season? McFarland: We're excited to have things close to Ann Arbor. Obviously, the Big Tens are up at East Lansing and the NCAA's are at the Palace in Auburn Hills. For us, it's obviously going to decrease our travel. We're going to be able to stay close to home and have our home fans, so we're hoping it's going to be a boost for us. Joe McFarlandLast season, your program placed seventh as a team at the NCAA Championships. You lost two high All-Americans in Ryan Churella and Greg Wagner. A lot of your wrestlers are shifting weights this season. Is it realistic to think this season's team could be better than last season's team? McFarland: I think so. We have some young guys who can really make an impact this year. I think guys like Tyrel Todd, Casey White, and Steve Luke got a lot of experience last year … and I think those guys are all ready to step up and make an impact this year. I think Mark Moos moving down is going to help us … in addition to having guys like Josh (Churella) and Eric (Tannenbaum) back. Those guys are refocused this year and hungry. And with everything being in our backyard, I think that's only going to help us. The Big Ten has two new head coaches this season, both former Hawkeyes: Tom Brands at Iowa and Tom Ryan at Ohio State. What do those coaching additions do to the conference landscape? McFarland: It just makes it that much tougher. Those guys are going to do a great job with their programs. The Big Ten, as tough as it is now, it's only going to get tougher. I think that's going to be attractive to recruits. You've already seen those guys are stepping up and doing a good job with their respective programs. How much tougher can the Big Ten get? It's just going to continue to grow and develop. I think we have a lot of coaches in the Big Ten who are into it, doing a good job, and also doing it the right way. Do you see Minnesota as the team to beat this season? McFarland: Yeah, no question about it. But I see that Mack Reiter may have torn his ACL, which I'm sure is sort of a shock to their program. J and his staff have done a great job up there. Regardless of whether Mack wrestles this season or not, I still think they're the team to beat.

Cuesta College of San Luis Obispo plays host to the annual North-South All-Star Meet on Saturday. This California Community College event matches up the best wrestlers from each region, and gets underway at 4 pm. Cuesta Head Coach, Joe Dansby, is looking forward the action: "I'm very excited to host this event at Cuesta College. I feel extremely fortunate to host, coach, and have a wrestler in the dual, all in the same year. We are working very hard to make this a successful event for these hard working wrestlers. They deserve some special recognition, given all the demands of the sport." There's more than just regional bragging rights at stake for these athletes. The #1 wrestlers will toe the line determined to validate their ranking and demanding from the challenger the response of a champion. The challengers are anxious to show they have what it takes to be #1. A win here is not an upset, but a preview of things to come at the State Championships in December. . North Coaches: Paul Keysaw, Fresno City College & Dave Pacheco, Sacramento City College South Coaches: Joe Dansby, Cuesta College & Larry Watanabe, Mt. San Antonio College 125: North, #2 Chauncey Phillips, Sierra College vs South, #1 Ivan Sanchez, Santa Ana College. Their only meeting this season was a high scoring finals match at the Santa Ana Tournament with Sanchez winning 13-9. 133: North, #4 Mike Righi, Fresno City College vs South, #3 Gabe Aguilar, Santa Ana College. These two met in the Santa Ana Tournament semi-final in another high scoring affair with Righi taking it 11-10. 141: North, #1 Jordan Keckler, Modesto JC vs South, #3 Jose Serrato, Santa Ana College. These two are getting well acquainted with each other. This will be their 4th meeting in a weight class dominated by Keckler. 149: North, #1 Alfonso Sanchez, Fresno City College vs South, #3 Joe Barajas, Palomar College. Sanchez has won 4 tournaments and will be hard to handle. Barajas is a strong, solid wrestler and may have some success where others have failed. 157: North, #1 JD Thrall, Sacramento City College vs South, #3 Devin Velasquez, Santa Ana College. Thrall has not looked back since wining the prestigious West Valley Tournament, wrestling with skill and confidence. Velasquez had a tough 2OT semi-final loss in the West Valley Tournament, denying him the shot at Thrall that he'll have on Saturday. 165: North, #3 Nick Bardsley, Fresno City College vs South, #1 Glenn Shaw, Palomar College. Shaw has been in control of all of his matches this season and has beaten Bardsley twice 9-6 and 5-2. 174: North, #1 Kyle Griffin, Santa Rosa JC vs South, #2 Michael Williams, Cuesta College. Griffin has been unstoppable this season using quickness and strength to his advantage. Williams has had some big upset victories this season and would love to add Griffin to that list. 184: North, #3 Steven Urquizo, Fresno City College vs South, #1 Tim Hawkins, Mt. San Antonio College. Hawkins, a returning state champion, has easily dispatched all comers. He was the Outstanding Wrestler of the West Valley Tournament. The finals match was a 15-2 beating of Urquizo. 197: North, #1 Jayson Collard, Santa Rosa JC vs South #2 Ryan Silviera, Mt. San Antonio College. These two wrestlers who rely on strength and determination, last met in the West Valley finals. Collard's 3-0 victory included an incredible 5+ minutes of riding time. 285: North, #1 Eric Nye, Sierra College vs South #2 Josh Marquez, Bakersfield College. Nye has had little trouble this season and seems to be getting stronger and quicker as the season wears on. Marquez is a returning state medallist and is more than capable of making this a close match.

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell sophomore Troy Nickerson (Binghamton, N.Y.) and senior Jerry Rinaldi (Lodi, N.J.) have been invited to wrestle at the 41st annual National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic, as presented by the United States Marine Corps. This will be the first appearance for both wrestlers. The All-Star Classic creates an opportunity for two of the top wrestlers in each weight class to compete. This year's Classic will be held on Nov. 20 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. At 125 pounds, Nickerson will take on Oklahoma's Sam Hazewinkel. Nickerson has been ranked first, in front of Hazewinkel, in the rankings from Wrestlingreport.com and W.I.N. Magazine poll. At the NCAA Tournament last year, Nickerson finished in second place while the Sooner took third. As a freshman, Nickerson was named Ivy League Wrestler and Rookie of the Year while also being part of the All-Ivy first team. He won the first 18 matches of his collegiate career taking titles at the Body Bar Invitational, Las Vegas Invitational, and Southern Scuffle. The Big Red sophomore will be looking to avenge his first collegiate loss that came at the hands of Hazewinkel at the National Duals last season. Hazewinkel has won at the All-Star Classic the last two years, a streak that Nickerson will be looking to end. Rinaldi, ranked second by the NWCA, will square off against No. 1 ranked Phil Davis of Penn State at 197 pounds. Rinaldi, who qualified for the NCAA tournament during all three of his years at Cornell, finished fourth at the NCAA tournament last season. He was also named All-Ivy First Team in 2004, 2005, and 2006. As a sophomore, Davis finished second at the 2006 NCAA Championships and is the defending Big Ten Champion. Davis and Rinaldi met at last year's NCAA Championships in the semifinals with Davis winning the bout, 7-4. Head coach Rob Koll sees the All-Star Classic as terrific outlet for his wrestlers to get top notch competition exposure. "This is a great opportunity for Troy and Jerry to wrestle against top guys," Coach Koll said. "This could be the first of many visits for Troy at the All-Star Classic. For Jerry, as a senior, this is a great honor, and he will hopefully come out being the No. 1 ranked wrestler." Nickerson and Rinaldi, along with the rest of the Big Red wrestlers, will kick off their season Nov. 18 by hosting the Body Bar Invitational.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -– Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling head coach Troy Sunderland has announced that veteran wrestlers Aaron Anspach (Columbia, Pa.), Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) and James Yonushonis (Philipsburg, Pa.) have been named team captains for the 2006-07 season. "These three wrestlers are great leaders and team members," Sunderland said. "They each have worked hard for what they have achieved in their careers and we expect great things from each one this year. More importantly, they expect great things from themselves and this team. Their leadership will be a vital key to our success this season." Anspach is a fifth-year senior who went 14-8 last year as a part-time starter for the Lions, splitting time with eventual qualifier Joel Edwards at heavyweight. Anspach has a 21-11 career record and a 3-2 dual match mark. His top performance in 2005-06 was a fifth place showing at the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions. He heads into this year ranked as high as No. 18 in national polls. Davis, a junior, is a two-time All-American who was the 2006 Big Ten Champion at 197. He turned that stellar performance into a spot in the NCAA finals at 197. Davis ended last year with a 25-4 mark. A freshman All-American the year before, Davis has a 62-14 career record, is 12-3 all-time in Big Ten duals and has a 15-1 record in matches decided by a fall. Davis is ranked No. 1 in all three national polls heading into the new campaign. Yonushonis returns for his senior campaign after earning All-American honors in 2005-06. The fifth-year senior placed eighth at 174 last year in Oklahoma City, capping off a break-out season that saw him go 24-9 overall. A three year starter for Penn State, Yonushonis has a 53-44 career record, including 97 career dual points. Yonushonis is ranked as high as No. 3 in the national polls heading into the year. Penn State, ranked No. 8 in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches pre-season poll, will open up the 2006-07 season with the annual Wrestle-Offs on Sunday, November 12 at 1 p.m. in Rec Hall. Admission to Wrestle-Offs is free. Season and single-match tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Penn State ticket office at 814-863-1000 or 800-833-5533 for more information. Fans can also get tickets at GoPSUsports.com. This year's season ticket prices are $24 for adults and $18 for students. Single dual prices are $5 per event for adults and $3 per event for youth.

Stanford wrestling has made a name for itself. This year, the team is determined to break into the ranks of the nation's top wrestling programs and challenge to bring home the school's first conference title. With a two-time Olympian head coach, six returning starters, an All-American, and six promising newcomers, the Cardinal is in position to make it happen. Last year, Kerry McCoy, a former Penn State standout, took the reins of the program and immediately made an impact. The first-year head coach was armed with a wealth of collegiate and international experience and a well-defined goal-- put Stanford on the map of national wrestling powerhouses. Under McCoy's leadership, the team quickly returned to its winning ways, posting an 8-7 dual meet record and improving two places at the Pac-10 Championships. Two Stanford wrestlers advanced to the NCAA Championships, four placed at the Pac-10 Championships and sophomore Tanner Gardner became the 13th Cardinal All-American. In his second year at the helm, McCoy aims to take the program even further. "We've had a lot of very positive things happen with the program this year," says McCoy. "I learned a lot in my first year. As a second year head coach, I have a much better idea of what to expect and that will make it easier to achieve our goals. We are ready to make Stanford the best program in the west and one of the top programs nationally." Stanford will begin its quest for a place at the top with a challenging schedule. The Cardinal begins the season in Edinboro, Pa. on November 4, facing Mercyhurst, Maryland and Edinboro in dual meets. Highlighting the weekend will be the match-up with Edinboro, a program that finished eighth at the NCAA Championships last season and returns two All-Americans. The following weekend, the Cardinal will compete in the Bison Open in Fargo, N.D., an event which includes NCAA runner-up Minnesota. Another highlight of the 2006-07 season will be the first-ever Stanford Duals, held on the Farm on January 5. The four-team field features Lehigh University, a program that has finished in the top-10 five times in the last six years. Conference rival UC Davis and Columbia University will also compete in the inaugural event. Pac-10 competition starts on November 17, when Stanford travels south to take on Cal State Fullerton. The conference season will once again challenge the Cardinal, as four Pac-10 teams finished in the top-25 last season. Stanford will meet three of the Pac-10 powerhouses, Oregon, Boise State and Cal Poly, in early February. No. 6 Arizona State will visit the Farm on February 16. "This year is going to be a really good test for us," says McCoy. "We have a very competitive schedule that will help us prepare for the postseason." Postseason action for the Cardinal will begin at the Pac-10 Championships, where ten Cardinal wrestlers will compete for a conference title and a trip to the NCAA Championships. Coach McCoy is confident that his young squad is up to the challenge. "We have a great group of guys this year," says McCoy. "Even though they are young, they have a lot of wrestling experience. Six of the ten athletes who wrestled at last year's conference tournament were freshmen or sophomores, so our future looks very bright." In addition to a strong base of returners, McCoy has added six talented newcomers to the 2006-07 roster. "I am very excited about our freshman class," he continues. "They did not get a lot of attention by the media, but I believe we have one of the top classes in the nation. Stanford Wrestling is on the rise and these guys are an integral part of the direction we are moving." Here is a look at the 2006-07 Cardinal by weight class: 125 All-American Tanner Gardner returns for his junior season on the Farm after an outstanding sophomore campaign. Last year, Gardner posted a 37-13 overall record and finished eighth at the NCAA Championships. The Berryton, Kans. native aims to return to his starting role at 125 pounds, make another impressive showing at the Pac-10 Championships and improve on his All-American finish. Gardner is the only returning Cardinal wrestler with NCAA experience, and will be looked upon to take a leadership role on the squad this season. Freshman Justin Paulsen, a three-time placewinner at the California State Championships, will add much needed depth to the 125 pound weight class. 133 After a year of training with the team, redshirt freshman Matt Kim is ready
to make an impact in his first season in a Cardinal uniform. The West
Linn, Ore. native wrestled unattached in two collegiate tournaments last
season, and will look to build on his experience to become a consistent
wrestler for the Cardinal. Freshman Cameron Teitelman, a standout from
Calabasas High School in Southern California, will likely battle Kim for
the starting role. 141 Sophomores Eric Minnick and Rafael Chavez are the primary contenders for the starting spot at 141 pounds. Minnick moves up this year from 133 pounds, where he competed in 26 matches as a rookie last year. Minnick is one of six Stanford returners who competed at the Pac-10 Championships in 2006 and brings back valuable experience. Chavez, who redshirted last year, will look to reclaim the starting spot he won in 2004-05. The Rock Springs, Wyo. native posted 12 wins for the Cardinal during his first season on the Farm and took third at the California Open. Sophomore Alex Dao, who walked-on to the squad last year, will also challenge for the starting role at 141 pounds. 149 Sophomore Tyler Parker competed in 20 matches last year at 141 pounds and will move up this year to battle for the starting spot at 149. The Lawrenceville, Ga. native began his Stanford career with a second place finish at the Central Missouri Open and seven wins in his first nine collegiate matches. This season, Parker will look to take on another significant role for the Cardinal and make a name for himself as one of the conference's top wrestlers. Redshirt freshman Kyle Pubols and true freshman Lucas Espericueta will also be contenders for the starting spot. 157 Junior Josh Zupancic, who started at 149 pounds last season, and will move up and look to retain a starting role in 2006-07. Last year, Zupancic was undefeated in conference duals and one of the top wrestlers in the conference overall. With two straight 22-win seasons under his belt, Zupancic is ready to challenge for his first conference title and a place at the NCAA Championships. The Akron, Ohio native is not without a line of challengers, however. Redshirt freshman Peter Miller, a three-time Missouri state champion, is eager to earn a starting role this season. Sophomore Steven Frehn, a walk-on from Highland High School in Palmdale, Calif., will also compete at 157 pounds. 165 With the departure of NCAA qualifier Ray Blake, the 165-pound spot is up for grabs. Pac-10 placewinner Scott Loescher will move up from 157 pounds, looking to fill the vacancy and improve on last year's 21-19 record. Loescher took fourth at the conference championships last season, falling just one place short of his first trip to the NCAA Championships. This year, the junior returns as one of the top Cardinal wrestlers and will be a contender for the conference title. Stanford's lone senior, Brian Perry, will also challenge for the starting role. The Columbia, Mo. native, who placed at the Pac-10 Championships as a freshman, will look to regain his spot as one of the conference's best wrestlers. Sophomore Bobby Pease, who saw limited action last season due to a knee injury, will also return and attempt to win a starting role. Newcomer Anton Scherba, a local standout from Marin Catholic High School, will also compete for the starting job. 174 Sophomore Luke Feist returns at 174 pounds, after a noteworthy freshman campaign. Feist made an immediate impact in his first season of eligibility for the Cardinal, placing fifth at the Pac-10 Championships last year and posting 17 wins. The three-time Idaho state champion was also named the 2005-06 Outstanding Newcomer by his teammates and coaches. He will attempt to regain his starting role this year and is a prime candidate for an NCAA berth. Feist will be challenged by two newcomers, Zack Giesen and Jake Johnson, who may also compete at 184 pounds. 184 The 184 pound slot will likely be filled by a rookie, as freshmen Jake Johnson and Zack Giesen will likely battle each other for the spot. Giesen, hailing from North Valley High School in Grants Pass, Ore., is one of just 13 four-time Oregon state champions and will look to make an immediate impact for the Stanford squad. Johnson, a standout from Prior Lakes, Minn., finished second in 2005 and fifth at the Minnesota State Championships last season and was a two-time team MVP. Both newcomers will be looked upon to play key roles for the Cardinal this year. 197 Sophomore Jared Boyer will move down from the heavyweight class this year to compete at 197 pounds. Boyer gained valuable experience last season, competing for the first time at the collegiate level and facing five top-20 opponents. With 26 collegiate matches under his belt, the Oklahoma City native is ready to battle for the top spot in the conference. Heavyweight In the heavyweight class, Phillip Doerner returns for his junior season, having gained valuable experience in three years of training with the squad. Last year, Doerner saw limited action but picked up a win in his first collegiate dual match. This year, Doerner is ready to take on a starting role and be a significant contributor for the Cardinal.

BUFFALO, NY -- The University at Buffalo wrestling team finalized its 2006-07 schedule Tuesday, providing the necessary components to provide a similar, if not better, Bulls squad that produced three NCAA qualifiers a season ago. "Our goals are always to be great," says head coach Jim Beichner. "We have got a very tough group of guys who can do some damage nationally. As good as we were last year, this team could potentially be ever better." The Bulls, led by senior captain Mark Budd (Orrville, OH/Orrville), get a chance to prove themselves worthy of a coveted starting spot at the fourth annual UB Open on November 5th, where each grappler will tussle through eliminations and determine who the top guy will be at each class. "The UB Open is our first elimination," coach Beichner said. "We are going to see who competes, who does well, who does not, and that will determine who will travel the following week to the Oklahoma Gold Classic. With good competition, somebody will step up and become pretty tough." The following week is the Oklahoma Gold Classic, a meet that provides stiff competition from the likes of perennial powerhouses, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Army. Another Ivy League opponent lingers on November 15th, where the squad will have its first dual meet against Princeton at Alumni Arena. Two tournaments, the Mat Town USA tournament and the Las Vegas Invitational, will again prepare the Bulls for possibly its toughest dual meet of the year with Edinboro on December 9th. Edinboro finished eighth at last year's NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and squeezed out a favorable score of 20-13 against Buffalo last year. A stretch of dual, tri-, and quad-meets set up the team's first Mid-American Conference showdown with Northern Illinois on January 14th at Alumni Arena. Five days later, UB will host the New York State Collegiate Championships, a tournament that pit 17 teams last season against each other. Buffalo scored second in the meet held in Oswego, NY with 134.5 points. The Bulls square off against Ohio on the 27th to end the month, only to get set for back-to-back conference dual meets with Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan starting on February 3rd. Central Michigan, with 102.5 points at the MAC Championships, claimed the regular season and conference crown while placing 26th out of 64 teams in the NCAA Championships. UB ends its regular season at Binghamton on February 17th, giving it ample time to prepare for the MAC Championships on March 3rd. The championships are being held this year at UB' Alumni Arena. "We are capable of doing great things," coach Beichner said. "The guys believe in the coaching staff, the team, and the university, and that's what is going to make us a very solid performer."

"A mew outlook, new blood, and a new philosophy are all going to bring more enthusiasm this season," said first year head coach Steve Costanzo about the upcoming 2006-07 season for the St. Cloud State University wrestling team. After coaching the 2006 NAIA Championship team at Dana College, Costanzo comes to SCSU with high hopes and an enthusiasm for building a program. He states, "Our team is very young, and may be inexperienced at the college level, but we are very talented, competitive and this will work in our favor for the future," Costanzo said. Each weight is heavily competitive this year as thirty-three athletes are out for the team. Battling for the 125-pound slot will be sophomore Nick Wasche and true-freshman Gabriel Suarez. Wasche wrestled at this weight last season, posting an 8-20 record. Suarez, a native of Las Vegas, Nevada, is a three time state finalist and one time state champion, and will come in ranked no.16 nationally by Wrestling USA Magazine. Weighing in at 133 will be Sonny Silva and Brent Johnson. Sophomore Silva, a transfer from Dana College, familiar with Costanzo's philosophy and coaching techniques, won 26 matches as a true-freshman, was the GPAC conference champion, national qualifier and was ranked fourth in the region. Johnson, a junior from Altoona, Wisc., charted five victories last season and placed fifth at the NCAA DII North Region Championships. "Our middle weights are going to be the most competitive. The athletes will have to show their determination and skill to earn a starting position," Coach Costanzo said. The most competitive of the middleweights this season will be 141 pounds where John Denney, Grant Johnson, Bryce Mackey and Tim Whitley will be among the top competitors at this slot. First year athletes Denney and Grant Johnson, and sophomore Mackey are both going to have to stand out against Whitley, a true freshman, who was a four-time Washington state placer and two-time state finalist. Veteran team captain Tom Messerli will be challenged at the 149-pound slot by freshman John Sundgren. Messerli had a 3-10 record last season at 149 pounds, and took sixth at the North Central Region Championships. Freshman Derek Skala will be the first challenger for the 157-pound weight, coming off a state championship season at Owatanna High School. Junior college-transfer and All-American wrestler, Matt Steffenson will also compete at the 165 and 174 weights. Two returnees will battle Steffenson and two first year Huskies for the 165 pound starting position. Sophomore Tom Anderson was 3-11 last season while senior Loren Johnson sat out last season. After taking fourth in the nation, Steffenson will compete against 2005 Minnesota state champion and Dana College transfer Russell Smith for the 174 weight. Hometown wrestler, Neil Russell will also battle for this spot, coming off a 3-8 record at 184 pounds last season. Nicholas Wilkes a transfer from Dana College will compete for the 184 slot. Wilkes is a two-time Junior College All-American in 2004 & 2005, placing sixth overall both years. He charted seventeen wins unattached last season as he red-shirted at Dana. Jairo Sandovall, a junior from Miami, Florida, will challenge him for the slot after wrestling at 197 last year. The two upper weights, 197 and heavyweight, will be competitive as Nicholas Wilkes, Eric Rogness, and Adam Hill will all compete for the 197 weight, and junior Brad Nowak and newcomer Brandon Thiebault will compete for heavyweight. "Our goal this season is to take small steps, to build each week upon our performances," said Coach Costanzo, "If we take it one step at a time, we will improve immensely from last season." Last season was highlighted by two wrestlers placing in the top six at the NCAA DII North Region Championship, Brent Johnson (5th) at 133 pounds and Tom Messerli (6th) at 149 pounds. "We have a very tough region but with our great attitudes and talent we should be competitive," Coach Costanzo said about the region. The Huskies haven't set numerical goals for the new season, bu they work off the motto "Bound for Glory," which reminds them that if they work hard, use their talents and continue to improve that they will remain competitive all season.

The expansion westward was an adventurous time in U.S. history. It needed willing and able bodied young men to help the U.S. forge through the wilderness on toward continued greatness. This weekend, Real Pro Wrestling will personify the words of John Soule in 1851 and will likewise "Go West" with tough and determined pioneering athletes, fans, and staff that will continue to lead the way to make a true professional wrestling league a success. On Saturday, October 28th at the San Jose Convention and Cultural Facility potential RPW athletes will wrestle for the title in seven weight classes in its first of four Regional Qualifiers . Winning the regional title will advance these athletes one step closer to a achieving a spot on an RPW team roster for Season Two. Applications are still being accepted for unfilled weights through Thursday evening. According to Matt Case, president of RPW, the Western Regional will bring great action to San Jose. "We really feel that people are going to enjoy seeing the RPW format up close. The group of athletes that have applied to wrestle in this event are diverse and have great skills." Fans in attendance could be treated to a deep weight class right off the bat at 55 kgs. Erikin Tadzhimetov upset the young star in the making Henry Cejudo at the recent Sunkist Kids International Open. Tadzhimetov has applied to enter the event as has Vic Moreno who defeated Tadzhimetov in the finals for the Sunkist Title. Many fans are hoping that Henry Cejudo will show at the western qualifier since there is space available. According to Dean Morrison of Real Pro Wrestling Cejudo had given a verbal commitment early in September but has not officially applied for the event. The 60 kgs weight class may also have its share of excitement. Chris Fleeger committed to wrestle at the weight class coming off of his Outstanding Wrestler performance at the Sunkist International where he defeated NCAA Champion Nate Gallick in the finals. Angel Cejudo, older brother to Henry, has committed to attend. The two wrestlers with wide open styles are possible favorites to meet in the finals. Surprisingly, 66 kgs is a thinner weight class then most people expected. At the forefront are Jerrod Sanders and CC Fisher, but not to be overlooked is Juan Mora a past California State Champion. The 163 lbs class has a deep field, with local star Matt Gentry carrying the hope of the area. Gentry, a past NCAA Champion recently wrestled in the World Championships in China under the dual citizenship of the Canadian Flag. Gentry coaches at Stanford University and will face off against competition that may include Kirk White, Stryder Davis, Scott Owen and Greco star Keith Sieracki. Shane Webster shocked the crowd in Oklahoma City this past March as he rolled to a NCAA Title for the University of Oregon. Also in the 185 pounds class are two past Nebraska alumni battling in the field. Travis Pascoe and BJ Padden surely faced off in the Husker wrestling room, now the fans in San Jose may see the past All-Americans grapple for the title. Other possible entries include OTC athlete from Indiana Bryce Hasseman, Dave Spangler, and Kenny Johnson. The 96 kgs class has another local favorite in Robby Smith, a former California star and double Junior National Champion. Smith now a Greco-Roman resident athlete in Colorado Springs may find himself wrestling a freestyle resident, Kyle Cerminara, for the title. Mark Munoz is probably the most recognized name at the HWT class being a former NCAA Champion for the powerhouse Oklahoma State program. He may come across the towering Greco-Roman athlete Russ Davie who has applied to wrestle in San Jose. Applications are still being accepted through Thursday evening. Weigh-in, which includes a 3 kgs allowance, take place Friday from 6-9 p.m. at the San Jose Hilton. Fan can attend for just $5, $20 per family, or $30 per team. Attendance includes clinics with recent World Champion Joe Warren, Olympic Silver Medalist and three time NCAA Champion from Fresno State Stephen Abas, World Bronze Medalist and NCAA runner-up Lindsey Durlacher, and All-American Kenny Johnson. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Augsburg College will begin the season as the No. 1-ranked Division III team in the country. The Auggies have nine wrestlers ranked out of the 10 weight classes in the preseason Brute-Adidas National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Rankings. Team Rankings: 1. Augsburg College (MN) 2. Wartburg College (IA) 3. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 4. Luther College (IA) 5. Heidelberg College (IA) 6. Delaware Valley College (PA) 7. State University of New York at Brockport 8. Johnson and Wales University (RI) 9. North Central College (IL) 10. Cortland State University of New York 11. Buena Vista University (IA) 12. Coe College (IA) 13. Olivet College (MI) 14. York College (PA) 15. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 16. Cornell College (IA) 17. Springfield College (MA) 18. Wilkes University (PA) 19. College of New Jersey 20. Lycoming College (PA) 21. Thiel College (PA) 22. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 23. Roger Williams University (RI) 24. Loras College (IA) 25. University of Wisconsin-Platteville 26. Norwich University (VT) 27. John Carroll University (OH) 28. Ithaca College (NY) 29. Augustana College (IL) 30. Ursinus College (PA) Individual Rankings: 125 lbs. 1. Nate Hansen -- Luther College (Sr) 2. Felipe Quiroz -- Wilkes College (So) 3. Chris Heilman -- Cornell College (Jr) 4. Brandon McDonough -- Johnson & Wales University (Jr) 5. Rob Vaccaro -- SUNY Brockport (Sr) 6. Ryan Gadsby -- Cortland State (Jr) 7. Anthony Nicolicchia -- Roger Williams University (Jr) 8. Seth Flodeen -- Augsburg College (So) 133 lbs. 1. Jafier Vanier -- Augsburg College (Jr) 2. Justin Hulegaard -- Buena Vista University (Sr) 3. John Sheets -- Manchester College (Sr) 4. David Morgan -- King's College (So) 5. Adam Johnson -- North Central College (Jr) 6. Sean Cullen -- Lycoming College (Sr) 7. Matt Smith -- Johnson & Wales University (Sr) 8. Brian Zane -- Norwich University (Sr) 141 lbs. 1. Andrew Lacroix -- Roger Williams University (Sr) 2. Paul LeBlanc -- Cortland State (So) 3. Mike Gaeta -- Springfield College (Sr) 4. Zach McKray -- Wartburg College (So) 5. Zach Chambers -- UW Platteville (Sr) 6. Rick Laforge -- Delaware Valley College (Sr) 7. Quincy Osbourne -- Augsburg College (Jr) 8. Mike Conklin -- Norwich University (Sr) 149 lbs. 1. Jacob Naig -- Wartburg College (Sr) 2. Jason Roush -- College of Mount St. Joseph (Sr) 3. Jared Evans -- Augsburg College (Sr) 4. Matt Pyle -- Luther College (Sr) 5. Don Ooton -- SUNY Brockport (Sr) 6. Tim Bohlman -- York College (Sr) 7. Jared Creason -- Coe College (Sr) 8. Ryan Higgins -- UW Platteville (Jr) 157 lbs. 1. Joe Pflug -- Heidelburg College (Jr) 2. Jeremy Anderson -- Augsburg College (Jr) 3. Ross Needham -- UW LaCrosse (Sr) 4. Jacob Malone -- Saint John's University (Sr) 5. Bobby Gingerich -- North Central College (Sr) 6. Shaheim Bradshaw -- SUNY Brockport (Jr) 7. Elliott Spence -- College of Mount St. Joseph (Jr) 8. Joe Galante -- College of New Jersey (Sr) 165 lbs. 1. Steve Martell -- Johnson & Wales University (Jr) 2. Jerry Bowne -- York College (Sr) 3. Tim Maxworthy -- Heidelburg College (Sr) 4. Scott Dorn -- UW La Crosse (Sr) 5. Willie Holst -- Augsburg College (So) 6. Corey Murphy -- Thiel College (Sr) 7. Derrick Ricker -- Messiah College (Sr) 8. Brandon McWhinnie -- Steven's Institute of Technology (Jr) 174 lbs. 1. Stephon Sair -- Cortland State (Sr) 2. Josh Chelf -- UW LaCrosse (Jr) 3. Robbie Gotreau -- Augsburg College (Jr) 4. John Dolan -- Williams College (Sr) 5. Tim Kelly -- College of Mount St. Joseph (Sr) 6. Tim Miller -- North Central College (So) 7. Kyle Vanderhyde -- Olivet College (So) 8. Andrew Winfield -- McDaniel College (So) 184 lbs. 1. Jason Lulloff -- UW LaCrosse (Sr) 2. Ryan Summers -- John Carroll University (Sr) 3. Romeo Djoumessi -- Wartburg College (So) 4. Darin Cruickshank -- Olivet College (Jr) 5. Ben Plowman -- Ohio Northern University (Sr) 6. Trevor LeBlanc -- Cortland State (So) 7. Nicholas Calendrino -- Ithaca College (Sr) 8. Jay Figgens -- Loras College (Jr) 197 lbs. 1. Brandon Kelly -- Wilkes University (Sr) 2. TJ Miller -- Wartburg College (Jr) 3. Matt Loesch -- Muhlenberg College (Sr) 4. Ben Strandberg -- Buena Vista University (Sr) 5. Alex Bonander -- Luther College (So) 6. Jeff Wright -- Olivet College (Sr) 7. Jason Reilly -- King's College (Sr) 8. Wally O'Connor -- Augsburg College (Jr) 285 lbs. 1. Blake Gillis -- Wartburg College (Sr) 2. John Miller -- Luther College (So) 3. Ward Brady -- Elmhurst College (Sr) 4. Trevor Hiffa -- Oneonta State (Jr) 5. Ryan Rozek -- UW Platteville (Sr) 6. Andrew Neuman -- Augsburg College (Sr) 7. Kyle Brown -- Thiel College (Sr) 8. Jake Taylor -- Oswego State (Jr)

On Oct. 14, a mini-tournament was held to decide who would compete in the Red and White Classic. The Red and White Classic is our version of wrestle-offs. It is run fairly similar to the World or Olympic Trials. First, a mini-tournament takes place, where all team members compete (with exception of returning All-Americans). The finals of the mini-tournament counts as Match 1, in a best two out of three series. The second match in this series occurs at the Red and White Classic. This year the Classic was held on October 20. At 125, freshman Ty Costa won the mini-tournament, pitting himself against senior and returning All-American Craig Trampe. In a surprising victory, Costa pulled out a 2-1 victory over the returning All-American. At 133, I wrestled Eric Ghram. The match went in my favor and I was able to earn a starting spot on our roster. Wrestling at 141 was freshman Brian Ghram and returning All-American Terrance Almond. Terrance might be one of the strongest pound-for-pound human beings I have ever wrestled. He displayed this strength while nearside cradling Ghram for a pin. At 149, Clinton Dale was to wrestle the loser of the 141-pound match. Coming back from his earlier loss, freshman Brian Ghram was able to beat Clinton Dale and earn his spot as a starter. Coming off a season ending injury last year, Jason Bilinski earned his spot at 157 by pinning Dan Prey in a far-side cradle. Wrestling at 165 was Bula Tuzon and Jordan Davis. Tuzon spent most of his summer training in Colorado Springs. The off season training paid off, as he beat Davis in a decisive victory. At 174, two freshmen battled their way to the finals. In the end Josh Ghobadpoor from Georgia defeated Nebraska's own Ross Milam. At 184, muscle-bound senior Webster Farris wrestled skinny armed freshmen John Wilborne. Wilborne scrambled well, but in the end Webster's power was too much. In a clinic of tilts and turns, Wade Jordan beat freshman John Schmalz to become our starting wrestler at 197. At the end of the dual, Jesse Boggs defeated Shawn Gach, making him our varsity heavyweight. For the time being, the winners of this dual will be our starters. However, these spots are not final and are subject to change. It was really nice seeing all of our guys in action at the Red and White Classic. Last year, I was unable to wrestle in many duals so I really enjoyed being back in a dual meet setting. I remember watching national duals last year … and wishing I was wrestling. Dual meets are my favorite because there is always so much excitement surrounding the event. With preseason now over, regular season practice has begun. As of right now we are wrestling four days a week, with an alternative work out on Wednesday. Most of our practice time has been devoted to neutral drilling, which has been very beneficial to all of our wrestlers. The guys seem more excited about competing and wrestling than I have seen in years past. Personally, I can't wait for the season to start. My weight is a little low, which is very rare in our sport and definitely new to me. I am curious to see how much this will affect my performance. On one hand, I could be stronger and have more energy by not cutting weight. On the other hand, I could find myself struggling with the size of my opponents. Either way, I will have to find a way to win. On Saturday Oct. 21, Dana College wrestling held a fall wrestling clinic, open to all ages. As our featured clinician, we had World champion Kevin Jackson. His vast knowledge and excitement for the sport inspired everyone including our college wrestlers. During his session the wrestlers were taught how to hand fight and set up neutral shots. I was glad to see most of our Dana wrestlers out trying these techniques as well. The previous day, Coach Fergola had asked me to run a session of the camp. I was very happy that he trusted me enough to teach in front of Jackson and the rest of the camp. I ended up teaching a session on the under-hook series. I always find it beneficial to my own wrestling when I teach. It allows me to pick up some little things that I may not notice when wrestling on my own. My session was followed by Dana assistant coach Jimmy Rollins. Rollins is known for his dominance in the top position. For his session, he taught a leg ride series. During his series, I paid close attention, trying to pick up any tricks that might improve my own riding. At the end of the clinic, we rolled mats, swept the floors, and picked up trash. Burke BarnesHeading into the last week of October, our team will start to transition from strictly drilling to more live wrestling. Here at Dana we like to wrestle 75-minute grind matches, which I feel are very beneficial. These are my favorite practices. I love seeing our guys completely exhausted, but still going at it. 75 minutes of straight wrestling also gives me a chance to release any anger or frustration that may have built up through out the week. Wrestling is great for that. No matter what is going on in your life, you can always come into the wrestling room and forget about it for an hour or two. In the coming weeks we will compete in some open tournaments, including the SDSU Open and the UNO Open. Theses tournaments will be a good indicator of where our team is at. Even though I was able to see our guys wrestle in the Red and White Classic, I am still excited to see them in real competition. The sooner we get out on the mat, the sooner we can begin improving some of our weak spots. I hope to wrestle in every open tournament on our schedule. In the two years I have competed at the college level, I have only been able to rack up around 25 matches. This year I hope to almost double that number and go into nationals ready. Until next time, Burke Barnes Past Entries: Entry 1 (10/11/06)

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Ryan Bertin has been named assistant wrestling coach, head coach Tim Cysewski announced Tuesday. Bertin is a two-time NCAA champion at 157 lbs. and was a four-time NCAA All-American for the University of Michigan. He will assume his coaching responsibilities immediately. "Ryan has everything you search for in a coach," Cysewski said. "He's an outstanding technician, leads by example and understands what it takes to be the very best." Bertin is one of the most successful wrestlers in Wolverine history. He won the NCAA championship at 157 lbs. in 2003 and 2005. He was a four-time NCAA All-American and 2005 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. He ranks fifth on Michigan's all-time wins list with a 142-21 career mark. During his senior season in 2004-05 he posted a 31-1 record with a perfect 18-0 dual mark. He finished second at the Big Ten Championships and won the NCAA title. Bertin is a product of St. Edward high school, one of the top high school programs in the nation and was a high school National Champion. "Our wrestlers are very excited to learn from Ryan, Cysewski said. "They will be able to draw from his competitive experiences in many ways." He was a three-time NWCA All-Academic and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. Bertin, who resides in Chicago, previously served as coach of the Northwestern Wrestling Club and Kyle Bertin, his younger brother, is a freshman for the Wildcats. The Wildcats, ranked top-10 in several preseason polls, begin their season Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Eastern Michigan Open.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern wrestlers Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward) have been invited to participate in the 41st annual NWCA All-Star Classic held in Dallas, Texas. Herbert will make his second appearance while Lang will make his first. The All-Star Classic traditionally pits the No. 1 vs. No. 2 wrestlers in each weight class against each other. Herbert and Lang will enter the 2006-07 season ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes. At 141, Lang will face second-ranked Andy Simmons from Michigan State and Herbert will take on Minnesota's Roger Kish, ranked second at 184 lbs. Herbert defeated Nebraska's Jacob Klein in his first All-Star Classic appearance in 2005. This year marks the first time Northwestern will have two representatives in the same year. "This event recognizes the elite wrestlers in the country," head coach Tim Cysewski said. "It shows the wrestling world that Northwestern is continuing to evolve as a national power. We take the invitations very seriously and we plan to use this meet to set the stage for the 2006-07 season." The 41st annual NWCA All-Star Classic takes place Nov. 20 at the Dallas Convention Center

WEST POINT, N.Y. –- Army wrestling head coach Chuck Barbee and his staff will host the 7th annual Army Wrestling Fall Clinic for both wrestlers and coaches on Saturday Nov. 5. The clinic will take place in the team's new wrestling room, located in Arvin Gymnasium, with registration between 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. The day will consist of five sessions (9:15 and 10:30 a.m., and 1, 2, and 3 p.m.) that focus on technique, peaking, strength, nutrition, mental skills and drilling. The cost of the clinic is $30 per coach or wrestler. Barbee, who enters his seventh season at Army, was a three-time All-American at perennial power Oklahoma State. The Black Knight's mentor has led the program back onto the national scene cracking the NCAA Top 25 polls last season, and will serve as the primary instructor throughout the day. Mike Clayton and Bill Maldonado round out the Army coaching staff, and list of presenters for the day's events. Clayton, a 1995 Navy graduate, has mentored 30 All-Americans and eight NCWA Champions during his coaching career. Maldonado, a 2002 Iowa State, was a NCAA All-American with the Cyclones and holds a master's degree in education. Participants are encouraged to watch Army's Black vs. Gold intra-squad dual meet following the clinic. Admission is free with matches starting at 4 p.m. Any wrestlers or coaches interested in attending any of the day's planned activities can contact Maldonado by phone at 845-938-5028 or by e-mail at william.maldonado@usma.edu.

DES MOINES -- Takedown Radio host Scott Casber announced the addition of Drexel University to the line up of Live events and Live room shows that Takedownradio.com will broadcast between November 6th to November 14th 2006. Coach Jack Childs and his Drexel University Wrestling program are in their 60 th season and we feel that's important enough to do a special broadcast on November 8th from 12 Noon to 2 PM. Then TDR goes back on the road and heads to Bucknell and Coach Dan Wirnsberger for a show that evening at 5:30 PM or so for 2 more hours of Wrestling Talk on Takedownradio.com "This road trip, like others we've done and will do is a huge outreach for us. This sport is important and the wrestlers need to know that the national media cares," said Casber. "It is a real pleasure to visit our coaches and athletes in their own backyards. the pride they have is evident and we are pleased to be able to share that with them." A complete TDR schedule is included below: Date Day Location Time Nov 2nd Thursday Iowa State University 6-8 PM CST Wrestle Offs Ames, Iowa Nov 4th Saturday U of Iowa 9-11 AM CST Wrestle Offs Iowa City, Iowa Nov. 4th Saturday Real Pro Wrestling 12-6 PM CST Cornell College Mt. Vernon, Iowa Nov. 6th Monday East Stroudsburg U 4:30 Eastern East Stroudsburg, PA Room Show Nov. 7th Tuesday Lehigh University 6 Eastern Bethleham, PA Wrestle Offs Nov. 8th (1) Wed Drexel University 12 Noon to 2 East Philadelphia, PA Nov. 8th (2) Wed Bucknell University 5:30-7:30 PM Eastern Lewisburg, PA Nov. 9th Thurs Lock Haven University 5:30 East Lock Haven, PA Room Show Nov. 10th Fri Edinboro University 4 - 6 PM East Edinboro, PA Room Show Nov 11th Saturday Real Pro Wrestling 10-6 PM Eastern Philadelphia, PA Nov. 12th Sunday Penn State University 6 Eastern University Park, PA Wrestle Offs Nov. 13th Monday Rider University 5:30 Eastern Lawrenceville, NJ Room Show Nov. 18 Saturday UNO Open 9:00 AM CST Omaha, NE Nov. 20th Monday NWCA All Star TBA Dallas, Texas Nov. 25th Saturday Journeymen/Brute NE Duals 9:00 AM Eastern Albany, NY Dec. 1-2 Fri-Sat Las Vegas Invitational Las Vegas, NV Fri 10:00 AM Sat-7:00 AM PT Dec. 21st Thurs University of Missouri 6-9 PM Missouri VS. Pitt Columbia, Mo Dec. 29-30 Fri-Sat Midlands Championships Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, Il Fri 10:00 AM Sat-9:00 AM CST East Coast Tour Dates and locations will be announced soon Schools to be included: Davidson, The Citadel, , UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Greensboro, Old Dominion, American, V-Tech, Virginia, VMI, Navy, Army, Maryland, Bucknell, Binghamton Jan. 13-14 Sat-Sun NWCA Nat'l Duals TBA UNI Dome U of Northern, Iowa West Coast Tour Dates and locations will be announced soon Schools to be included: Arizona State, Cal. Poly, Cal. Davis, Cal. Fullerton, Stanford, San Francisco State, Oregon State, U of Oregon Feb. 10th Sat. Wild Rose Casino 9-11 AM CST Emmetsburg, Iowa Special on Location Broadcast Feb. 17th Sat. Des Moines Sportshow 9-11 AM CST Wells Fargo Arena Special on Location Broadcast March 3rd Sat Big 12 Championships 9 AM CST Hearnes Center University of Missouri March 9th Fri Border Brawl 6 PM CST Iowa vs. Nebraska HS March 15-17 Th-Sat NCAA Championships TBA Detroit, Michigan Special Tour dates are presented by: Riddx Inc., Intermatwrestle.com, Asics, Body Bar, Royalty Fight Wear, DanGable.com, Real Pro Wrestling and Champions Wrestling Schools.

Blair, NE -- The 2006 NAIA National Champions completed their annual Red & White Classic on Friday night. The classic marks the final wrestle-offs for varsity positions. While this year's team is young, they have proven that they are extremely talented and were well deserving of the No. 2 Non-Division I recruiting class in the country. At 125, freshman Ty Costa (Turlock, Calif.) claimed a 2-1 victory over senior and returning All-American Craig Trampe (Ord, Neb.). These two will wrestle again in a best two of three series. The 133-pound match lasted only 30 seconds as two-time All-American Burke Barnes (Lake Stevens, Wash.) made quick work of a very talented freshman Eric Graham (Kansas City, Mo.) with a fall. Senior and three-time All-American Terrence Almond (Pelham, Ga.) took 1:30 to pin freshman Brian Graham (Kansas City, Mo. ) at 141. Two former high school teammates from Las Vegas, N.M., had to square-off to see who is going to claim the 149 pound start. Clinton Dale won a close match over Marcos Martinez, 4-2. At 157, two-time NJCAA national qualifier Jason Bilinski (Pittsgrove, N.J.) took care of Dan Pray (St. George, Kan.) with a fall at 1:22. With a major decision, redshirt freshman Ryan "Bula" Tuzon (Wailuku, Hawaii) won big over freshman Jordan Davis (Blaine, Minn.) 16-7 at 165 pounds. At 174, freshman Josh Ghobadpoor (Dahlonega, Ga.) won by decision over junior John Justice (Moreno Valley, Calif.) 11-8. Ghobadpoor will enter the starting line-up at 174 as a freshman after making four state finals appearances in his home state of Georgia. At 184, junior Webster Farris (Nebraska City, Neb.) narrowly defeated freshman Jon Wilbourne (Lake Stevens, Wash.) 5-2. Farris was a 2005 GPAC Champion and national qualifier but suffered a knee injury which sidelined him for the 2006 national championship season. Farris was an Academic All-American in 2006. 197 will be filled by junior Wade Jordan (Coulee City, Wash.). Jordan placed 3rd in the GPAC in 2006 at heavyweight, but will now drop down to 197. Jordan defeated freshman John Schmalz (Kansas City, Mo.) by technical fall 17-1. Heavyweights Jesse Boggs (Deming, N.M.) and Shawn Gach (Omaha, Neb.) hooked it up, with Boggs winning by fall at 4:52. Both Boggs and Gach were redshirts in 2006. In the final match of the evening, freshman Brian Graham, who lost in the opening match to senior Terrence Almond, wrestled Clinton Dale who claimed the 149 victory. Graham came out on top with a 6-5 win. Following the Red & White Classic was the annual Dana College Wrestling Clinic. The clinic was held on Saturday and saw 1992 Olympic Champion Kevin Jackson as the feature clinician. Jackson is also our current U.S. Freestyle Head Coach. About 75 youth wrestlers and coaches attended the clinic to learn techniques and tips from Coach Jackson as well as Dana's All-Americans and coaches. The 2006-07 Vikings will begin their competitive schedule on Nov. 4 at the Daktronics South Dakota State Open in Brookings, S.D. 2006 Red & White Results 125- Ty Costa dec. Craig Trampe 2-1 133- Burke Barnes wbf over Eric Graham :30 141- Terrence Almond wbf over Brian Graham 1:30 149- Clinton Dale dec. Marcos Martinez 4-2 157- Jason Bilinski wbf over Dan Pray 1:22 165- Bula Tuzon major dec. Jordan Davis 16-7 174- Josh Ghobadpoor dec. John Justice 11-8 184- Webster Farris dec. Jon Wilbourne 5-2 197- Wade Jordan wbtf John Schmalz 17-1 285- Jesse Boggs wbf over Shawn Gach 4:52 Exhibition: Brian Graham dec. Clinton Dale 6-5

Cole Williams believes the way to win wrestling matches is the old fashioned way, by being in top physical condition and out working your opponents. When Williams finished his senior season at Delavan-Darien High School in Delavan, WI he wasn't satisified with a conference title, 34-5 record and a trip to the state tournament. The University of Dubuque(IA) was a virtual wrestling graveyard when Williams arrived, not fielding a full team for several years. Williams has helped Coach Jon McGovern resurrect the program into respectability and the Spartans now have over 30 wrestlers from all over the country on their roster. UD competes in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the toughest Division III league in the country. "As far as being a part of rebuilding a program, I think that is what made me tougher. I didn't have any footsteps to follow, I had to learn everything the hard way. Now I am trying to pass down some of the things I have learned to other UD wrestlers". Williams noted. Williams' college training often included three to four work outs per day. His relentless style and extra gear in the closing minutes have become trademarks of his wrestling success. Williams still enjoys running and lifting weights to maintain top condition and is also looking to begin competing in Mixed Martial Arts events. Williams completed his college eligibility last season with his second straight trip to the NCAA Division III National Tournament at 165lbs. Far from a household name, Williams established himself as the leader of the University of Dubuque Spartans over the last four years and now holds school records for season and career wins, 44 and 107 respectively. Williams' other collegiate accolades include: two-time team captain and outstanding wrestler, as well as UD Athlete of the Year. Williams now accepts the challenge of competing in RealProWrestling's Season 2 at the North Regional qualifying tournament on Saturday, November 4 at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA. Williams will wrestle at 163lbs. Williams realizes his collegiate accomplishments are behind him and the RPW competition will be tougher as well. "I think RPW is a great way to promote our sport and having the chance to wrestle in it is a great honor. In high school I never had much talent. I believe that hard work is the key to success..." Williams is easy to find prior to his matches. You'll see him stomping around the arena, getting mentally prepared with his headphones on, blasting Metallica or Linkin Park. Williams is ready to challenge all entrants in a loaded weight class which includes NCAA All-Americans Ryan Churella(MI) and Tyrone Woodley(MO). "I want to wrestle against the best guys." Post collegiate wrestlers from all NCAA divisions as well as NAIA and Junior Colleges will be competing in each of the four regional tournaments starting with San Jose on October 28. The other events will be held November 11 in Philadelphia and November 18 in Tulsa. Regional champions will advance to The Super Challenge on January 7 in San Jose for the right to represent one of the eight teams for the dual meet portion of the season which will be in the Spring of 2007. Mark your calendar, and help support the world's oldest and greatest sport by attending one or more of these events. Applications to compete are still being accepted, contact Dean Morrison at dean@realprowrestling.com.

As part of its North Region qualifying tournament which will be held on Saturday, November 4 in Mount Vernon, IA, RealProWrestling has announced Cornell College will also hold their wrestle-offs at 1:00PM, following the semi-final matches. Second year Cornell coach Mike Duroe is happy to include the wrestle-offs as part of the RPW event which includes Parent's Weekend for the Cornell wrestlers and he is also expecting several recruits to attend. Duroe felt there would be at least eight matches out of the 10 collegiate weight classes. The Rams won a school record 15 dual meets last season and return several starters, including All-American junior Chris Heilman at 125lbs. The International Wrestling Institue and Museum will also be on hand to promote it's move from Newton, IA to Waterloo, IA and the re-dedication of the museum to be named The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institue and Museum. Scott Casber from Takedown Radio will be present as well for the Fan Fest and will be broadcasting live in the afternoon and for the finals at 5:00PM. The Fan Fest will include a clinic with the University of Iowa coaching staff, Olympic Champions Dan Gable and Tom Brands. Also participating in the RPW Fan Fest clinic will be former Iowa standouts Wes Hand and Doug Schwab. Coaches are encouraged to bring their teams and wrestling shoes to come experience a great day of wrestling with a low-cost clinic! The first session is free to the public, including the Cornell wrestle-offs. The afternoon session is only $5 per individual, $20 per family, and $30 per team. This includes admission to the finals. Wrestling fans can watch all of the great action at the tournament and be a part of RPWs Fan Fest. Outstanding former college wrestlers from all NCAA divisions as well as NAIA and Junior Colleges will be represented in Mount Vernon. Wrestlers slated to compete include: Grant Nakamura(121), James Rollins(132), Dylan Long(145), Tyrone Woodley(163), Zac Dominguez(185), Israel Silva(211) and former Iowa Hawkeye football player Scott Pospisil(264). Event Detail: Date: Saturday: Nov. 4th 2006 Location: Cornell College. Indoor Arena. 600 First Street, West. Mt. Vernon, IA 52314 Website: http://www.cornellcollege.edu/athletic_facilities/ http://www.cornellcollege.edu/athletic_facilities/ Map: 600 1st St W Mount Vernon, IA 52314-1006, US Schedule: 8:30 a.m. -- Doors open 9:00 a.m. -- RPW Rules Clinic 10:00 a.m. -- Quarter-Final Round 11:30 a.m. -- Semi-Final Round 1:00 p.m. -- Cornell College Wrestle-offs 2:30 p.m. -- RPW Fan Fest clinic 5:00 p.m. -- Championship Finals 6:30 p.m. -- Awards Ceremony 8:00 p.m. -- After Party -- Third Base, Cedar Rapids

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA and ESPN announced today expanded live television coverage of the 2007 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships March 15-17 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. For the first time, in the 77-year history of the Division I Wrestling Championships, the Saturday morning medal round will be televised. Scheduled for 10 a.m. EST March 17 on ESPNU, the championships medal round determines the 3rd through 8th place finishers who are honored as All-Americans. "This is a great moment for wrestling fans that will now have the opportunity to see the championship medal round on ESPNU, plus extensive coverage of the Division I Wrestling Championships across our networks," said Burke Magnus, vice president and general manager, ESPNU. "The advent of ESPNU has created opportunity for increased coverage of college sports at every level and further demonstrates our commitment to the NCAA and its membership." ESPN's coverage of the Division I Wrestling Championships has vastly expanded over the last five years. In 2001, only the finals aired on ESPN2 tape delay. In 2003, the championships saw its first ever live coverage in Kansas City, Missouri during the semifinals, while in 2004 the package increased with both the semifinals and finals aired live on ESPN2 and in syndication from St. Louis, Missouri. Three years later, the 2007 championships will now have four of the six sessions on live television with the finals in a primetime time slot on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 17. Session three will air at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 16 on ESPNU and session four following at 7 p.m. on ESPNU and in syndication. "I can't begin to express how much NCAA Wrestling's partnership with ESPN has meant to our sport," said Colonel William Walker, chair of the Division I Wrestling Committee, Deputy Director of Athletics/Department Head of Physical Education at the United States Air Force Academy. "It has given us a chance to showcase some of the hardest-working student-athletes in the country during one of the most exciting events in collegiate athletics. The expanded ESPN coverage only adds to that tremendous exposure. We're truly grateful to ESPN for their cooperation in making the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships a prime-time event." The 2007 championships will be held March 15-17 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan (Detroit suburb). The University of Michigan and the Detroit Metro Sports Commission will serve as hosts. Tickets for the 2007 championships are available by visiting http://www.detroitsports.org/wrestling/tickets/index.html.

Mack Reiter, a 133-pound junior for the University of Minnesota of Minnesota, suffered a knee injury on Thursday at practice. However, it's still uncertain whether he tore his ACL or if he'll miss any time on the mat. Reiter is a two-time All-American, placing fourth as a freshman and fourth again last season as a sophomore. He is currently ranked No. 2 in the country by RevWrestling.com at 133 pounds behind defending NCAA champion Matt Valenti of Penn. Mack Reiter (Photo/The Guillotine)"He hurt his knee, but we don't know what's going on yet because we don't have the MRI results," said Minnesota head assistant coach Marty Morgan on Monday morning. The results of the MRI are expected back on Tuesday afternoon. If in fact is Reiter is forced to miss time, Morgan is uncertain who will step in and will the void. "Well, at this point right now, we would probably consider (Travis) Lang, (Jayson) Ness, (Mike) Thorn, or (Jake) Mellmer. It would probably be between the four of those guys," said Morgan. Morgan isn't ready to call Reiter's season over. In fact, he believes there is a possibility that Reiter could wrestle through the injury. "The way we look at it, Owen Elzen took third in the NCAA's with a torn ACL, so we're hoping he can do the same thing," said Morgan. "We'll see how he feels. It just depends if it's torn or just hurt … and sometimes people can wrestle with them. We've had that happen plenty of times. That's our first plan … just plan on wrestling him regardless. Usually it takes two weeks to let it heal up and get the inflammation down. We've had guys in the past where you wouldn't ever even be able to tell. They don't swell up. It just depends. Some people's knees are different than others. We'll kind of play it by ear. First, we'll find out the MRI results … and from there try to figure out what to do."

In the past couple years, Alex Tsirtsis has experienced considerable changes and challenges in his wrestling career. Alex TsirtsisTwo years ago, Alex arrived at the University of Iowa campus as a highly sought-after recruit, having completed an undefeated high school career in Indiana with four state titles. Since coming to Iowa City, Alex has experienced a complete changeover in the coaching staff, an influx of wrestlers from the Virginia Tech program, and his own personal challenges with injuries and surgeries, including surgery on his left knee this summer that was complicated by a staph infection. Yet, despite these changes and challenges, the 141-pound Iowa Hawkeye begins this season as a true junior ranked fifth in his weight class by RevWrestling.com and most other major amateur wrestling Web sites and publications. And he's ready and eager for the 2006-07 season to begin. A career 15 years in the making Twenty-one-year old Alex Tsirtsis got his start in wrestling at age six. "My dad wrestled in high school, and introduced me to the sport by enrolling me in a kids' wrestling club near my house," says Alex. "By age 7, we were traveling around the country, competing in national tournaments." "Participating in all these events required a lot of effort for my dad," Alex continues. "I'm grateful for all he did to launch my career." "Wrestling came naturally to me at an early age," according to Alex. "I've always been a pretty competitive guy. Wrestling has been my lifestyle my whole life." High school highs It was while in high school that Alex Tsirtsis made a national name for himself. By the time he entered Griffith High School in northwest Indiana -- about fifteen miles southeast of the Chicago loop -- Alex had stopped playing organized baseball and focused his athletic abilities solely on wrestling. And that singular pursuit paid off with perfection: Alex compiled a 236-0 record under coach Travis Wells. In addition, Alex joined a very elite club of only a handful of Indiana high school wrestlers who have won four state titles. When asked if he felt mounting pressure to maintain a perfect record while in high school, "I took it one match at a time," Alex replies. "Confidence helped me a lot, too. You've got to go out on the mat with the idea of winning." Alex's fourth and final high school title was made all the sweeter in that he was joined by three other Griffith grapplers as state titlewinners. "These guys were a big help in helping me train for competition," says Alex. During his prep wrestling career, Alex Tsirtsis' accomplishments weren't limited within the borders of the Hoosier state. In his senior year, Alex placed sixth at the 2004 FILA Junior World Freestyle Team Trials in the 145.5-pound weight class. Making the Midlands while still a prep Perhaps just as impressive, Alex was only the third high school wrestler ever to be invited to participate at the Midlands, the prestigious post-Christmas tournament held at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois just outside Chicago. (The other two prep grapplers who've competed during the 40+ years of the Midlands: Jimmy Carr and Cary Kolat, both of Pennsylvania.) In a pre-event article in the Chicago Tribune, Alex mentioned that he had attended the Midlands with his father for years. "It's like a true test before the NCAA tournament," Alex told the Tribune. "I don't know if there's a tougher college tournament besides the NCAA Championships. I just wanted to get a head start and see where I stand." Alex Tsirtsis (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)When the dust settled after the two-day tournament, Alex was 2-2 against some of the toughest college and club competition in the US. He lost his first Midlands match to ninth-seeded Max Meltzer of Harvard, 6-1. In a reversal of fortune, the then-high school senior pinned Eastern Illinois' Bob Fangeron in just less than two minutes … then got a 16-12 decision over University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's Michael Keefe. However, Alex lost his consolation-round match to eleventh-seeded Joe Clarke of West Virginia, 5-2. It would not be Alex Tsirtsis' last Midlands. Now wrestling for the Hawkeyes … With all these achievements in his sport in high school, Alex experienced the rush of being recruited by some of the top college wrestling programs in the country. "The most pressure in making the decision was put there by myself," says Alex. "As I was looking at schools, I always kept in my mind, �Which program best meets my goals?' Iowa meets my goals. They put me in the best position of realizing my goals of winning national titles and, eventually, wrestling at the Olympics." When Alex arrived at the University of Iowa, he did not have the luxury of redshirting his freshman year -- the opportunity to grow accustomed to rigors of college academics and the demands of collegiate wrestling -- but was inserted into the lineup right away at 141 pounds. As a true freshman, Alex got off to a great start, winning the title at the Kaufman-Brand Open. In his first year, Alex compiled a 27-13 overall record, going 22-12 in college competition. In dual meets, Alex built a 9-6 record (4-4 in Big Ten competition), scoring seven major decisions and two pins, and making an immediate contribution for the Hawkeyes by scoring 35 team points in dual competition. In addition, Alex made an impressive return to the Midlands tournament, placing sixth. Alex capped off his freshman year by placing fifth at the Big Ten championships. He also earned the coaches' appreciation team award. As a sophomore, Alex posted 23-10 overall record, securing a 22-10 mark in collegiate competition. He compiled a 12-6 record in dual meets, winning six of eight bouts in Big Ten dual meet competition, and contributing 41 team points. At the 2006 Big Ten Conference Championships at Indiana University, Alex placed third at 141. Two weeks later, at the NCAA Division I Championships at Oklahoma City, Alex earned All-American honors by placing seventh in the 141-pound weight class -- one of three Hawkeyes to claim All-American status. For all these accomplishments in his second year as an Iowa Hawkeye, Alex Tsirtsis earned the team's Mike J. McGivern Most Courageous Wrestler award, and his second athletic letter. The impact of changes in the coaching staff When Alex Tsirtsis made the commitment to head west from Griffith, Indiana on I-80 to wrestle at the University of Iowa, Jim Zalesky was the head coach of Hawkeyes. Not long after the 2006 NCAA's were history, so was Zalesky's association with his alma mater. Another Iowa mat champion, Tom Brands, was hired away from Virginia Tech, bringing along a new coaching staff of his own: Wes Hand, Doug Schwab and Mike Zadick, all products of the Iowa program. Joining the coaching staff is legendary former head coach Dan Gable. When discussing the new coaching situation, Alex says, "It was a challenge. I was close to the previous coaching staff." Then Alex quickly adds, "Both Zalesky and Brands are great coaches, both products of Gable and the Iowa way of wrestling with intensity." A day in the life of a Hawkeye Alex Tsirtsis' college routine changes from day to day. According to Alex, typically there's "lots of lifting and conditioning in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, there's practice sessions with live wrestling … It all adds up to about three hours a day." Alex Tsirtsis (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)During those practice sessions, Alex works out with two coaches who bring considerable accomplishments and experience: NCAA champ Doug Schwab, and Mike Zadick, recent silver medalist at the World Championships in China. As Alex describes this opportunity, "You can learn from anybody, see what works for them, what's made them successful. It should help me move to a higher level." It's not all wrestling for Alex. As an economics major, he has to balance the demands of the classroom with those of being a wrestler at one of the top programs in the country. "To make it all work, you have to be regimented," says Alex. "You have to plan your schedule and make the most efficient use of your time." "I like Iowa City a lot," says Alex. "I bought a house here. It's really a home away from home for me." Looking forward After knee surgery this summer, Alex Tsirtsis "definitely feels ready" for his junior year as the Iowa Hawkeyes' man at 141. He's expecting that there will be more national attention focused on Iowa this year because of the changes in the program. "We've got to stay focused, and not get caught up in the hype," according to Alex. "There are high expectations for us. Attitude and actions are now more important than ever." Alex Tsirtsis (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)Right now, Alex is focused on the upcoming season -- "working hard to make an even greater contribution to the team," says Alex. "I'm concentrating day-by-day on getting better, working towards accomplishing my goals" which ultimately include Big Ten and NCAA titles. Alex ultimately dreams of one day representing the US on the mats at the Olympics. "I plan to get back into freestyle competition at some point, but, right now, I'm concentrating on college," says Alex. As for life beyond wrestling, Alex is not sure about his career goals just yet, but says, "I like the idea of coaching. I see it as a way to give something to the sport."

EVANSTON, Ill -- Northwestern assistant coach Rob Eiter has resigned to accept a coaching position at the University of Pennsylvania, head coach Tim Cysewski announced today. Eiter spent nine seasons on Cysewski's Wildcat coaching staff. "I had a great experience at Northwestern and I owe a lot to Tim and the Northwestern family," Eiter said. "It was a tough decision to make, but one that was in the best interest of my family. Tim is not only a great coach, but also a great friend. I'm going to miss him, Drew (Pariano), the wrestlers and their parents." Eiter came to Northwestern from Clarion University, where served as an assistant from 1993-98. As a wrestler, Eiter was a member of the 1992 and 1996 Olympic freestyle teams and the 1993 and 1995 World Championship teams. He also was a five-time U.S. Open national champion and two-time World Cup silver medalist. Since Eiter's first season on the staff in 1997-98, the Wildcats have sent 34 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships, where they earned nine All-America honors. In addition, three Wildcats won Big Ten titles during his tenure. "Rob is a good friend and a good coach," Cysewski said. "He was a great teacher and has been an asset to our program. He will be missed and we wish him the best of luck." A search for a replacement is underway. The Wildcats, ranked top-10 in several preseason polls, begin their season Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Eastern Michigan Open.

Zachary Fowl isn't a name that many people know across the country in wrestling circles. His name doesn't carry the weight of Eustice, Nakamura, or even Cejudo. Yet Fowl, a 121-pounder from Port Deposit, Maryland, still looks forward to his chance to win a Regional Qualifier knowing that all he wants, is a chance. Fowl sent RPW President Matt Case a thank you note expressing his gratitude for his invitation to the Philadelphia qualifier set for November 11th. " I just wanted to thank Real Pro Wrestling for given me the opportunity to live my childhood dream!! It means the world to me and I am very grateful. I think organizations like RPW make America a better place. Thank you for opening this door." For years wrestlers have toiled in obscurity to continue their wrestling careers, with little chance to eke out a living perfecting a craft that is rarely understood by the mainstream press. Now with the advent of RPW's Season 2 wrestlers across the country are signing up for one of four Regional Qualifiers with sites on both increasing their longevity as an athlete and getting the sport more recognition. Mike Faust an up and coming heavyweight who graduated from Virginia Tech and is now a part of the Iowa Hawkeyes program sees the potential in Real Pro Wrestling. "I think its an exciting and innovative concept that will finally bring wrestling to mainstream America." Matt Morkel didn't have a prominent career in college but he is still enthusiastically pursuing the possibilities that RPW offers. Morkel an American University graduate and former wrestler for Omaha Skutt a powerhouse in Nebraska high school athletics clearly sees that RPW is more than just a wrestling TV show. "I think RPW is great for the sport of wrestling and everybody out there. I love the sport so much and I think the exposure wrestling will get from the league will open up new doors and households. I know if people get a chance to see it, they will appreciate it and all levels of wrestling will excel. I have gained a great deal from wrestling and the more people who can learn about the sport and benefit from it the better we all will be." Mike Faust (Photo/HokieSports.com)With attitudes like Fowl's, Faust's, and Morkel's, Real Pro Wrestling's Season 2 is a success in the making. The more the wrestling community sees the potential for the sport on television and in live events, the more wrestling supporters will want to support the efforts of RPW. Fans of wrestling have four great opportunities to see the Real Pro Wrestling qualifiers with the first event in San Jose, California October 28th, followed by the November 4th event in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. November 11th the Eastern Regional Qualifier in Philadelphia with the last qualifier occurring November 18th in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Applications for all weight classes are still being taken and aspiring wrestlers of all skill levels are encouraged to contact Dean Morrison at dean@realprowrestling.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it to find out how they can be a part of Season 2 with Real Pro Wrestling.