InterMat Staff

AMES, Iowa -- Casey Cunningham, who as assistant head wrestling coach the past seven years at Central Michigan guided 18 Chippewa All-Americans and 35 Mid-American Conference champions, has been named as an assistant coach on the Iowa State wrestling coaching staff head coach Cael Sanderson announced Wednesday. At CMU, Cunningham was a part of a program in which he was the 1999 NCAA 157-pound champion. Cunningham, the 2008 Pan American Games wrestling silver medalist who is retiring from international competition at the end of this season, replaces former ISU assistant coach Tim Hartung. Hartung resigned to accept a job in private business. Cunningham will assume coaching duties Aug. 1. "I've been around Casey as a competitor and he has a tremendous work ethic and understanding of the sport," Sanderson said. "He's coming from a program at Central Michigan that experienced great success. He spent seven years as an assistant coach under (Central Michigan head coach) Tom Borelli. Casey is a great coach and folkstyle wrestler. He trains at a weight class that is an ideal fit for our coaching staff." The Chippewas finished tied for seventh in the team standings of the 2008 NCAA Championship with 69 points. The point total is the most CMU has ever scored at the national tournament. Cunningham worked mainly with the 165-pounders up to the heavyweight wrestlers at CMU, including 2008 NCAA 197-pound runner-up Wynn Michalak. Central Michigan has totally dominated the Mid-American Conference, winning the last 10 regular season championships and the last seven tournament championships. "Iowa State is a team that contends for a national title year in and year out and with the team they have coming back next year, the national championship is the goal," Cunningham said. "There are other good teams coming back, but I believe Iowa State can win the NCAA Championship and that excites me. I am excited to get in the room and work hands on with the guys. With six All-Americans coming back, I want to help the Cyclones in their goal of winning NCAA individual and team titles." Cunningham is anxious to get started. "I'm excited to work alongside Cael and (ISU associate head coach) Cody [Sanderson] and it will be great to get a new perspective, another take and another view [on wrestling]," Cunningham said. "I was at Central Michigan for 13 years as a competitor and coach and am very thankful for that opportunity. Working under Coach Borrelli was a great experience and I think that it will help to bring another approach to the ISU wrestling room as well. I'm looking forward to the new challenge." Cunningham capped off his collegiate career in 1999 by winning the NCAA 157-pound title. He was CMU wrestling's first Division I national champion and only the second individual national champion in any sport in school history. He was named the Chippewas' Most Valuable Wrestler all four years of his career. The 32-year-old Middleton, Mich., native was an All-American as a junior and senior, finishing as the national runner-up in 1998 before winning the NCAA title the next season. He won three MAC championships (1996, 1997, 1999) and was twice named MAC Wrestler of the Year (1998, 1999). Cunningham qualified for four NCAA Championships and twice participated in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Dual. His championship resume also includes two Midlands championships, where he was named Champion of Champions during his senior year. Cunningham also shined in the classroom, where he was CMU wrestling's first three-time Academic All-MAC selection. He earned first-team NWCA Academic All-America honors twice and was an honorable mention pick twice. Cunningham finished his college career with a 134-19 four-year record. He holds several CMU records including career wins (134), career winning percentage (.876) and single-season winning percentage (.971 in 1998-99). He ranks sixth on the career pins list with 31. He received his bachelor's degree in sociology with an emphasis in criminal justice from CMU in 1999. At Fulton (Middleton, Mich.) High School, Cunningham was an All-American who captured two state championships. He earned all-state honors three times and had a career record of 176-15. In 2002, he took second at both the U.S. Freestyle Nationals and World Team Trials wrestling at 163 pounds. He won the Dave Schultz International Open in 2003 along with taking third at the U.S. Freestyle Nationals and the World Team Trials. He finished third at the U.S. Nationals in 2004. Cunningham resumed his international career in 2007, finishing second at 163 pounds at both the U.S. Senior Nationals and World Team Trials. Cunningham married the former Tara Nott in July of 2003. Tara won a gold medal in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The couple has two sons, Hayden William (3) and Asher Michael (2) and a third son due in July. In his free time, Casey enjoys spending time with his family, hunting and playing cards. His younger brother, Ryan, was a three-time All-American for CMU.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -– The 1953 Penn State wrestling team that won the NCAA National Championship will be honored this weekend by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Penn State's 100 year centennial in the sport will be recognized as well. The Hall of Fame's annual weekend of activities will feature a reception on Friday evening in Stillwater, Okla., where the 1953 Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team will be honored for its national championship run in 1953. Penn State had one national champion and five total All-Americans that year in winning the team title. Head coach Charlie Speidel's squad was led during the entire season by captain's Donald Frey and Joe Lemyre. Hud Samson won the individual national title at 191 while Dick Lemyre was second at 130. Jerry Maurey was third at 137, Frey was third at 147 and Joe Lemyre was third at 167. The 1953 season was one of historical success for Penn State. The Nittany Lions went 9-0 in dual meets by a combined score of 206-52. Penn State won the EIWA title at Princeton and then hosted the NCAA Championships in Rec Hall and blazed its way to the team crown. Penn State's performance at nationals that year was amazing. The Nittany Lions, beyond the five All-Americans and one national champ, posted a 21-9 combined record and had five pins. The Nittany Lions also recently celebrated 100 years of wrestling, with head coach Troy Sunderland's team capping a century of success with a third place finish at the 2008 NCAA Championships, claiming four All-Americans and crowning yet another national champion. The annual weekend of activities in Stillwater at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame will take place on Friday and Saturday and features a full slate of activities and events.

Six members of the Augsburg College wrestling team are traveling to central Asia for a 15-day training, mission and service trip. Four Auggie wrestlers, two coaches and four other wrestlers will be in central Asia from May 25 to June 8, training in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Dushnabe, Tajikistan. In addition to training and competing, the wrestlers will do mission and service work, along with visiting historical and cultural sites in the two countries. Two-time All-American and 2008 NCAA Division III 125-pound national champion Seth Flodeen (JR, Cannon Falls, Minn.), 141-pound national runner-up Jason Adams (SO, Coon Rapids, Minn.), 141-pounder Lucas Murray (FY, Anoka, Minn.) and 141-pounder Jake Saatzer (FY, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) will join Augsburg head coach Sam Barber and assistant coach John Peterson (a 1976 Olympic wrestling champion) in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Also on the trip will be Steve Barrett, a three-time All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State (1975-77) who currently works as a representative for Athletes in Action in Russia; Olivet College (Mich.) NCAA Division III All-American wrestlers Jason Brew (second at 157) and Kyle Vanderhyde (fourth at 174); NCAA Division III 165-pound national runner-up Ben Hoover from Maranatha Baptist Bible College (Wis.); and Ravshan Uraimov, a three-time national boxing champion from Kyrgyzstan. This is the third time that Barber has led a wrestling contingent overseas. In 2006, Barber served as head coach of the National Wrestling Coaches Association's Division III Cultural Exchange trip to Ukraine. In 1997, he served as an assistant coach on the NWCA Cultural Exchange trip to England. Barber completed his first season as Augsburg's head coach in the 2007-08 school year, his seventh year as a member of Augsburg's coaching staff. In 2008, Augsburg finished third at the NCAA Division III national championships, marking the 20th straight year that Augsburg has placed the top four in the team standings -- a record currently unmatched by any other NCAA wrestling program in any division. Augsburg claimed five All-Americans, marking the 20th straight season that Augsburg has had five or more All-Americans and 22nd time it has accomplished the feat in its 26 seasons of NCAA Division III competition.

University of Northern Iowa head wrestling coach Brad Penrith today announced his 2008 recruiting class with the addition of 12 wrestlers to the Panther roster for next season. Blayne Beale (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport West HS) secured 66 wins over the past two seasons, which included a pair of top-eight finishes at the state tournament. Beale placed 7th in 2007 and then bettered that with a 4th-place finish in 2008 in the 285-pound weight class. David Bonin (Broussard, La./Comeaux HS) was a three-time state champion in Louisiana in the 160-pound weight class. Bonin was a perfect 59-0 as a senior. He tallied a 56-1 record as a junior and was 57-3 as a sophomore. His four-year prep record was 216-10. Bonin was a four-time state placer after earning third in the state as a freshman. Bonin is ranked No. 27 in the nation at 160 pounds by Wrestling USA. He is also ranked No. 20 in the nation among seniors at 160 pounds by Wrestling USA. Tannor Burke (Cresco, Iowa/Cresco-Crestwood HS) was a state runner-up as a junior in 2007 at 119 pounds. He was a state qualifier as a senior at 130 pounds. Burke posted a record of 69-10 over the past two seasons as a prep wrestler. Cody Delagardelle (Jesup, Iowa/Gilbertville-Don Bosco HS) placed third in the state as junior at 125 pounds, and followed that up with a fourth-place finish as a senior at 130 pounds. Delagardelle tallied a mark of 77-18 over the past two seasons. Steven Fitzgerald (Fresno, Calif./Clovis East HS) was a three-time state qualifier in California. He reached the state tournament as a 103-pounder in 2006, as a 112-pounder in 2007 and as a 125-pounder as a senior in 2008. He placed third at the California Interscholastic Federation tournament as a senior, while compiling a record of 56-4. Fitzgerald is ranked No. 30 in the nation at 125 pounds by Wrestling USA. He is also ranked No. 20 in the nation among seniors at 125 pounds by Wrestling USA. Alec Hoffman (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport North HS) is a four-time state qualifier and a three-time state placer. He was a runner-up in both 2007 (135 lbs.) and 2008 (140 lbs.) and placed fourth in 2006 (130 lbs.). Hoffman has posted a record of 125-11 over the past three seasons, including a 44-1 mark as a junior. Hoffman's brother, Eric, was a wrestler at North Dakota State from 2006-2008. Hoffman is ranked No. 18 in the nation among seniors at 140 pounds by Wrestling USA. Ryan Jauch (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central HS) qualified for the Illinois state tournament on four occasions. He placed fourth in the state as a senior after posting a season mark of 40-3. He had a four-year combined prep record of 145-22. As a freshman, he was a freestyle state champion and runner-up in Greco-Roman. Then as a sophomore, Jauch was a freestyle and Greco state champion. As a junior, he placed fifth in the nation in Fargo, N.D., in the Grego competition. He tallied a fourth-place finish at the Senior Nationals in 2008. Jauch is ranked No. 20 in the nation at 119 pounds by Wrestling USA. He is also ranked No. 9 in the nation among seniors at 119 pounds by Wrestling USA. Mitch Johnson (Truro, Iowa/I-35 HS) became his high school's first four-time state placer after compiling a career mark of 139-23 as a Roadrunner. Johnson placed eighth as a freshman (119 lbs.), fourth as a sophomore (125 lbs.), second as a junior (130 lbs.) and third as a senior (135 lbs.) in the state tournament. He went 39-3 as a senior while serving as team co-captain and was voted Mr. Wrestler & Leader by his prep team. He also was on the honor roll for all four years of high school. Anthony Meza (Vista, Calif./Vista HS) is a three-time state placer and two-time state champion from California. He posted a 47-1 record as a senior. He also placed sixth at the 2006 state tournament. Meza is ranked No. 11 in the nation at 152 pounds by Wrestling USA. Meza will also play baseball for the Panthers. John Simon (Parkersburg, Iowa/Aplington-Parkersburg HS) is a three-time state placer and a four-year starter. He placed sixth as a sophomore at 152 pounds, sixth as a junior at 160 pounds and seventh as a senior at 160 pounds. Simon tallied a career mark of 122-42 and was a two-time all-conference pick. Simon placed fifth as a junior at the Folkstyle Nationals in the UNI-Dome. Grant Sutter (Barneveld, Wis./Dodgeville HS) is a three-time state placer and two-time state champion in Wisconsin. He placed fourth at 103 pounds in 2006 and then won the state title at 103 pounds in 2007 and 112 pounds in 2008. Sutter tallied a 167-20 career prep record, while earning all-conference honors all four seasons. He earned four top-eight finishes in Fargo including a fourth-place finish in Greco and fifth-place finish in freestyle in 2004. He placed sixth in 2005 and seventh in 2007 in the Greco competition. Sutter placed sixth at 112 pounds at the 2008 Senior Nationals. Sutter is ranked No. 7 in the nation among seniors at 112 pounds by Wrestling USA. Terrance Young (Minneapolis, Minn./Roosevelt HS/Iowa Central CC) was a two-time Minnesota state champion and followed that up with a junior college national championship in 2008. He also placed third at the nation at the JC nationals in 2007. 2008 UNI Wrestling Recruits Blayne Beale, 285 lbs. (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport West HS) David Bonin, 165 lbs. (Broussard, La./Comeaux HS) Tannor Burke, 133/141 lbs. (Cresco, Iowa/Cresco-Crestwood HS) Cody Delagardelle, 133/141 lbs. (Jesup, Iowa/Gilbertville-Don Bosco HS) Steven Fitzgerald, 125 lbs. (Fresno, Calif./Clovis East HS) Alec Hoffman, 141/149 lbs. (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport North HS) Ryan Jauch, 133 lbs. (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central HS) Mitch Johnson, 141 lbs. (Truro, Iowa/I-35 HS) Anthony Meza, 157 lbs. (Vista, Calif./Vista HS) John Simon, 165 lbs. (Parkersburg, Iowa/Aplington-Parkersburg HS) Grant Sutter, 125 lbs. (Barneveld, Wis./Dodgeville HS) Terrance Young, 125/133 lbs. (Minneapolis, Minn./Roosevelt HS/Iowa Central CC)

Wes Hand just completed his second season as an assistant coach under Tom Brands at his alma mater, the University of Iowa. Prior to coming to Iowa, Hand spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech (2002-2006). As a competitor for the Hawkeyes, Hand compiled a 102-32 career record at heavyweight. He was runner-up at the 2000 NCAA Championships and a two-time All-American. Wes HandRevWrestling.com recently caught up with Hand and asked him about this past national championship season, the situation at 133 and 141 heading into next season, his experience at Virginia Tech, the similarities between Dan Gable and Tom Brands, whether he has aspirations of becoming a collegiate head coach, how he expects Brock Lesnar to fare in MMA, and much more. You came into this past season ranked anywhere from third to fifth in the preseason, yet you won the team title by 38.5 points and more than doubled your point-total from 2007. Obviously, the expectations were high coming into this season. But did the team exceed even the coaching staff's expectations? Hand: I don't think so. I think it's a big credit to the kids. The guys just came together. I don't know if they really exceeded our expectations. I think we knew that they were all very capable of doing well. I think it's just a credit to them on how they came together. I think by the end of the year, I don't think there was much doubt on our team as far as whether we were going to win or not. You dropped a dual meet on January 5 at home to Oklahoma State. After that loss, you ran the table the rest of the way, won the Big Tens, and the NCAAs. What impact did that loss have on the team? Hand: I think it was probably a wakeup call for our guys. It was an eye opener. We had a big event coming up the next week, the National Duals, and they responded pretty well. To go into a tournament that we hadn't won in 13 or 14 years and win it, that was big. At the beginning of the season, Dan Gable stepped down from his coaching position at Iowa and returned to his role as special assistant to the athletic director. How much was Gable directly involved with the wrestling program this past season? Hand: He's involved with the sport. He's active and involved with the sport. He and Tom have a close relationship. He's as involved as the rules let him be. He's as involved as he can be to give advice and answer any questions when needed. Was he in the room at times? Hand: He comes in and watches every once in a while. But the rules don't allow a lot. Within the rules, he will be around. Wes HandMatt Fields obviously came to Iowa with extremely high expectations. He might not have lived up to the expectations that he had for himself or that others had for him. But how gratifying was it to see him on the All-American podium in his final season? Hand: It's always nice to have somebody who comes into a program leave with some credentials. This was his last chance to do that. I think probably sitting here today with him thinking about how he did, I think he probably feels a little bit of a sense of accomplishment. At the same time, I think he probably realizes that he was probably as good as the other guys, the guys who were in the finals and the eventual champion. So I think in some ways, there is maybe some relief for him. But at the same time, I think he probably realizes that he is a pretty good wrestler himself. Mark Perry capped off a great collegiate career with his second NCAA title. Does he have plans to continue wrestling and competing internationally in freestyle? Hand: I don't know if he will. I think he should. He's obviously pretty good. I don't know what he will do. He's still recovering from his knee injury. He hasn't trained much this spring, so we'll see. He would do very well if he decided to do that. Wes HandLooking ahead to next season, you have a couple weights, specifically 133 and 141, that will be extremely competitive in your room. Some might say it's potential problem because there will be very good wrestlers left out of the lineup. Conversely, some might say it's a great problem to have because competition in the room makes wrestlers better. How do you view those situations? Hand: I think it's a great problem to have. That has been one of the goals of our program since Coach Brands has taken over … to create depth in the room. It will be up to the individuals to see who comes through at those weights. But it's a great problem and we love to have that kind of problem. Explain the process the coaching staff uses to determine the starting lineup at Iowa. Hand: There is no process used by the coaching staff. They will earn it. It's pretty simple. They will compete. They will show where they are at in competition. And that's how they will earn the spot. You came to Virginia Tech before Tom Brands arrived in Blacksburg. What brought you to Virginia Tech? Hand: That was back in 2002. I had been coaching at Iowa for two years in a lower capacity as a volunteer and strength coach. I was ready to make a move up. The coaching position opened up. We had been out there for camps a couple years before that, so I was familiar with the place. It was just a good opportunity for me. Looking back on it, it was one of the best things I have ever done in my life. Just to pick up and leave. It wasn't about money. It wasn't about anything else except being a coach. It was the best thing I've done so far. While you were an assistant at Virginia Tech, the program had a lot of success. The Hokies won the ACC regular season title, set a school record for dual meet wins (16), and had a school-record five wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships. Overall, how would you characterize your experience at Virginia Tech? Hand: A lot of learning. A lot of doing things out of your comfort zone. You come from a program like Iowa and you go out to Virginia Teach … and there are a lot of things that are different. It's an eye opener in a lot of ways as far as finances and fans. To characterize it would be just that it was a learning experience. You realize what else is out there. You go 800 or 900 miles from Iowa City and it's a lot different. Are there still hard feelings about the Virginia Tech transfer situation? Or is that all in the past? Hand: I think it's in the past. I think all parties have moved on. It's over. There is nothing anybody can do about it now. Wes HandYou had an extremely successful career as a wrestler at Iowa. You won over 100 matches and were a two-time All-American, finishing as NCAA runner-up as a senior. You competed in some freestyle events after your collegiate career. What went into your decision to hang up the competitive shoes and move into the coaching arena full time? Hand: I just wanted to coach. My passion is coaching. That's the direction I wanted to take. It's hard to do a couple things well. I wanted to put all my focus into coaching. That was the main thing. My passion wasn't in competing anymore. It was in coaching. As a competitor, you were coached by Dan Gable, who was the head coach, and Tom Brands, who was an assistant. Now, as a coach, you have worked on the same staff as both Brands and Gable. Brands has said that he soaked up and filed away every word Gable said. How much similarity do you see between Gable and Brands as coaches. Hand: I will put it to you like this. Their personalities are different. Their goals are identical. Both of them are very driven. Fanatical. Their approach to the sport is almost identical. They just have two different personalities. Do you personally get more nervous now as a coach or when you were a competitor? Hand: I really don't know. At times, when you're coaching, you just wish you could go out there and do it yourself and wrestle. Other times, you have so much confidence in your athletes, you just kind of sit back and let them do their work. It just kind of depends. It's definitely an interesting feeling when you're sitting in the corner of a big match in wrestling. It's an experience of a lifetime, really. Just to be able to sit there in the national tournament, in a big match, and watch one of your athletes who has trained his butt off to just go out there and win that match, it's a great feeling. You have obviously had a lot of success as an assistant coach. Do you have aspirations of becoming a head coach? And if so, would it have to be at the Division I level? Hand: I think it's just whatever opportunity presents itself to me. Do I have to be a head coach? No. I like my job now. Everything is going well. If an opportunity would present itself to me, I would obviously take a look and see. But I just focus on what I'm dong now and try to do the best job I can. Brock Lesnar (Photo/Sherdog)You faced Brock Lesnar as a collegiate competitor three times. You defeated him once. Lesnar is now fighting in the UFC. As someone who competed against Lesnar, how successful do you think he can be in mixed martial arts (MMA)? Hand: I think he can be real good. I've put my hands on a lot of guys when it comes to wrestling and workouts and he has some things that are going to be real tough for anybody to compete with. I think he probably showed that a little bit in his first UFC fight. It's just that he probably got beat on experience. Once he tightens some of that stuff, I think he's going to be pretty good if that's something he wants to commit to and do well. I would be very surprised if he didn't have a lot of success.

The Stanford wrestling program has announced the ten newcomers who have committed to wrestle for the Cardinal next season. The ten members of the class of 2012 represent six states and come with numerous high school accolades. Hailing from Mountain View High School in Boise, Idaho, 174-pounder Spence Patrick is a two-time Idaho State Champion and three-time state placer. Matt Sencenbaugh, a Washington State Champion and two-time state finalist from Auburn High School in Auburn, Wash., will likely wrestle at 125 pounds for the Cardinal next season. Stanford also brings in a pair of two-time California state placers in Timmy Boone from Poway High School (141 pounds) and Mike Kent from Vacaville High School (149/157 pounds). Additionally 165-pounder Victor Haug (St. Paul School/Concord, NH), 141/149-pounder Juan Jurado (Belmont School/Belmont, NH), 165-pounder Kyler Hasson (Sante Fe Christian High School/San Diego, Calif.), 141-pounder Kevin Bretthauer (Valley Catholic High School/Beaverton, Ore.), 133-pounder Will McLellarn (Tigard High School/Tigard, Ore.) and 174-pounder Alex Profitt (Advanced Technologies Academy/Las Vegas, Nev.) have committed to wrestle for the Cardinal next season.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's Jake Herbert earned a spot on the 2008 U.S. University World Team by winning the 185-pound title at the University World Team Trials held in Colorado Springs last weekend. Herbert will be making his second trip to the World University Championships after capturing bronze in 2006. The World University Championships are set to take place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from July 9-13. Hebert will also compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas from June 13-15. Herbert and other athletes were using this as a tuneup for the Olympic Trials. "I was there (World University Games) in 2006 and got bronze," Herbert said. "I look to go in 2008 and get gold. I have been there once and know what it is about. This is also my early warm up for the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games. It is progressing great. I am ready to go. Now I need to get mentally ready and get my mind and body feeling good." Herbert captured his title by a two-match victory over Phil Keddy of Iowa. He won the first bout, 5-3, 5-1, and then captured the second match, 2-1, 4-0. Herbert was a 2007 NCAA champion for Northwestern and has taken an Olympic redshirt year this season to pursue a spot on the Olympic team.

This week America's Wrestling Radio Talk show comes to you LIVE from the Brute Adidas Studio in Des Moines with Host's Steve Foster, Chris Arns and Jeff Murphy. I'll be making the return journey from the Induction weekend at the Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. This is a stacked show so I invite you to tune in and listen to the boys and their guests from 9:06 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST throughout Iowa on AM 1460 KXNO and Takedownradio.com Scheduled to join TDR this week: 9:05 *Chris Bono- Head Coach of the Mocs at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. The wrestling program ranked 15th nationally in average attendance this season in a poll of NCAA Division I wrestling teams. The figures were compiled InterMat. The Mocs, who wrestle at Maclellan Gym on the UTC campus, averaged 975 fans for six home dates in 2007-08. Chattanooga drew a season-high 1,600 fans for its Dec. 16 matchup with No. 8-ranked Missouri. Wrestlers Steve Hromada and Javier Maldonado were named to the Division I All-Academic Team for the 2007-08 season, the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced. Hromada and Maldonado, both outgoing seniors for the Mocs, were NCAA Championships Qualifiers in March. 9:20 Mike Natvig- Glen Brand Class of 2008 Inductee, Natvig won two NCAA championships for the West Point team, capturing titles at 147 pounds in both 1962 and ‘63. He graduated with an overall record of 47-7-1 and is considered the most successful wrestler in the history of West Point. Though never a state champion in high school, Natvig was a star at Decorah High School, placing second in the 1958 state meet at 138 pounds. He retired from the Army in 1991 as a lieutenant colonel and today lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. 9:35 *Andrew Pariano- Assistant Head Coach of the Wildcats at Northwestern University. NCAA qualifiers Nick Hayes (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Lewis Central), Keith Sulzer (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward) and Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) have earned All-Academic Team honors from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), while NU placed 14th among all schools in cumulative team GPA -- the only program to finish in the top-15 at the 2008 NCAA Championships and in grade point average. For Tamillow, the selection is the second of his career. He is also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient. For Sulzer and Hayes, this marks their first NWCA All-Academic team honor. Hayes is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and Sulzer earned Academic All-Big Ten honors this season -- his first in the starting lineup. Herbert Wins Freestyle Championship at University World Team Trials Herbert earns spot on 2008 U.S. University World Team 10:05 Tom Borrelli- Head Coach of the Chippewa of Central Michigan. Borrelli has announced the signing of Marcel Dubose (Sterling Heights, Mich./Oak Park HS) to a National Letter of Intent. Dubose becomes the fifth member of CMU's 2008 signing class. He also plans to join the CMU football program as a walk-on. "We're obviously very excited that Marcel chose our school," Borrelli said. "I'm excited about the direction that our wrestling and football programs are headed, and I think the attractiveness of both programs made this feel like the right fit for Marcel." Dubose, who is projected as a 197-pounder in college, was a three-time high school state champion. He won a pair of Division 3 state titles at Highland Park High School before winning a Division 1 championship at Oak Park as a senior. Dubose was 37-0 as a senior and finished runner-up to fellow CMU signee Ben Bennett (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) in voting for Michigan's Mr. Wrestling award. He finished his prep career with an overall record of 149-7. Dubose won the 215-pound championship at the National High School Coaches Association Seniors Nationals in March. He was one of three members of CMU's 2008 signing class to win a national championship at the event. Dubose also won a Junior Greco-Roman national championship in 2007. Dubose was named to the michigangrappler.com Dream Team and was ranked as the No. 3 recruit in the state of Michigan by michigangrappler.com. Dubose joins fellow signees Bennett, Scotti Sentes (Fort Myers, Fla./Riverdale HS), Eric Cubberly (Pemberville, Ohio/Eastwood HS) and Ben Sergent (West Milton, Ohio/Troy Christian HS) in the Chippewas' 2008 recruiting class. CMU finished tied for the seventh as a team at the 2008 NCAA Championships with four Chippewas claiming All-America honors. CMU has won 10 consecutive Mid-American Conference titles and seven straight conference tournament championships. 10:20 *Brian Smith- Head Coach of the Tigers of Missouri- Missouri senior Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) and sophomore Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) earned National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Academic All-America honors as announced May 6. This marks the sixth time in seven years that at least one Tiger grappler has received NWCA recognition for work in the classroom. 10:35 Max Askren- MU Tigers 197 wrestler. Missouri 2007 graduate Ben Askren, the Tigers' first-ever two-time NCAA Champion, claimed top honors at the U.S. Freestyle National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., after besting Tyrone Lewis, 3-0, 3-2 in the 74 kg (163-pound) championship finals. Askren won four straight matches to take first in the prestigious national event. Wrestling some of the toughest competition in the nation, Askren earned a win over Scott Owen of the New York Athletic Club by way of injury, followed by an 8-4, 6-0 win over Ramico Blackmon (New York Athletic Club) and 4-0, 5-2 win over Ryan Churella (New York Athletic Club). Askren's final win was by a 3-0, 3-2 decision over Lewis.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Russ Cozart and Harley Race. Cozart has been the head wrestling coach at Brandon High School in Florida for the past 28 seasons, compiling a 384-1 dual meet record. His teams have won 17 Florida State Team Championships and he has coached 65 individual state champions. That one lost was the first for the school in the last 34 years. In that time period Brandon set the longest winning streak in the history of any high school sport of 459 straight wins. This streak was recently documented by ESPN in a two-hour television event entitled "The Streak". Race is a member of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame located in the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. Known as "Handsome Harley Race" for much of his career, the Missouri native was one of the ring's best brawlers, taking on everyone from coast to coast. A true legend in the professional wrestling business, Race was an eight-time NWA World champion. "On the Mat" is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. This week's broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show. "On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

Lincoln -- Nebraska All-America wrestler Jordan Burroughs translated his success for the Huskers to the international level on Saturday as he won the 66 kilogram (145.5 pound) division of the FILA Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo. Burroughs, wrestling in the freestyle division, defeated Michigan's Kellen Russell in two consecutive sets (5-0, 4-0 in the first and 6-0, 4-0 in the second) to win the best-of-three series and claim a spot on the U.S. world team. "This is a good step towards making the 2012 Olympic team," Head Coach Mark Manning said. "[FILA World Championships] is a good opportunity to wrestler some of the best kids in the world at his age level." Burroughs will now travel with the U.S. delegation to the FILA World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, from July 29 to Aug. 3. Manning will also travel with him as a coach for the U.S. team. The Sicklerville, N.J. native qualified for the FILA Junior World Team Trials by winning the FILA Junior National Championships in Las Vegas last month. The national championship automatically qualified him for the finals at the world team trials. Burroughs, a sophomore, claimed his first All-America honors in March with a third-place finish at 149 pounds.

Event: UFC 84: Ill Will Date: May 24, 2008 Venue: MGM Grand (Las Vegas, Nevada) This may be one of the most intriguing UFC cards yet, with three featured events, including the lightweight title fight between BJ Penn and Sean Sherk. Once dominant Wanderlei Silva attempts to halt his three fight losing streak against Keith Jardine, who is coming off a shocking win over Chuck "the Iceman" Liddell. And, Tito Ortiz sings his final UFC swan song against the undefeated Lyota Machida. Let's start with the two other main card events: In a bizarre match-up, an unknown Slovakian, Goran RELJIC (7-0) takes on seasoned UFC veteran, Wilson GOUVEIA (10-4), who has won four in a row in the octagon. But, Reljic's record shows victories over only ONE opponent with winning record! And, he has never fought in the US before, let alone in the octagon. What's up with this match-up? GOUVEIA @ -125 takes this to the mat and wins with a second-round submission armbar. Undefeated Thiago SILVA (12-0) should have little trouble disposing of Antonio MENDES, who is on an 11-fight win streak over almost four years. Silva is a beast who recently destroyed Houston Alexander with a first round KO. His impressive resume includes seven straight victories by KO. Let's add Mendes to the list. SILVA @ -650 KO's Mendes in the first round. Many think that Wanderlei SILVA (31-8-1) is washed up. Three straight losses to Mirko Cro-Cop, Dan Henderson, and the Iceman have others wondering. His opponent tonight is the always overachieving Keith "The Dean of Mean" JARDINE (13-3-1). The former bounty hunter has been on a roll that includes beating Forrest Griffen, as well. But, Wanderlei's been in this game since '96 and he has fought them all. I believe that Silva's Muay Thai style is made to order for a much-needed victory over Jardine. Houston Alexander overwhelmed Jardine. Why can't Wanderlei? Jardine will need rto stay away from Silva in the same manner he avoided Chuck and fired away with some victious leg kicks. Wanderlei won't be a standing target like Liddell. He will be a charging bull like Vitor Belfort. Take SILVA @ �170 to get back on track. Tito ORTIZ hates UFC President Dana White. And vice versa despite what corporately correct things Dana might say. This is the legendary Tito's last UFC fight. He's moving on, mostly to acting in the movies. His wife is a porn star and his garage is full of hot cars. But, the once scary ground-and-pounder has lost his fire, I think. And, Lyoto MACHITA certainly has the patience and skills to exploit that. Machida's style is simple: karate. Karate? Man, that's the most one-dimensional technique out there, chopping boards with leg kicks? Come on. Please … yet Machida wins, and wins, and wins … ask Stephan Bonnar, Rich Franklin, BJ Penn, and Rameau Soukoudjou. Machida is a defensive fighter and Tito will come after him. But Machida will make him miss over and over again. This one will go to the judges decision where MACHIDA @ �185 wins convincingly. And, in the lightweight title fight, two rivals who REALLY don't like each other, will get it on as BJ "The Prodigy" Penn (12-4-1) takes on Sean "The Muscle Shark" SHERK (32-2-1), who is coming off a 6-month suspension for "alleged" steroid use, which he denies, of course. Nobody is less popular than Sean Sherk. BJ owns this crowd. They love him, and he is ready to go. BJ is the better technician, but Sherk is a cardio freak who may wear BJ down with his relentless attacks. Both have lost to Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre. But, that's about it. I see Sherk getting caught in an overzealous move, with the rubber band man grabbing his extended neck and finding a way to almost dislocate his own knee joints in gaining an impressive third-round triangle choke submission over the Muscle Shark. Take BJ @ -260 to take home his Hawaiian bacon. Okay, now let's try to make some money using our fictitious $1000 bankroll. On the main card: Lay $182 to win $70 on BJ Penn over Sherk. Lay $102 to win $60 on Wanderlei Silva over Jardine. Lay $148 to win $80 on Machida over Ortiz. Lay $130 to win $20 with a bridge jump on Thiago Silva over Mendes. Lay $100 to win $80 on Gouveai over Reljic. And, on the undercard: Lay $51 to win $30 on Salaverry over Palihares (second-round submission). Lay $78 to win $30 on Soukoujou over Nakamura (first-round KO). Lay $63 to win $30 on Clementi over Etim (second-round submission). Lay $51 to win $30 on Yoshida over Koppenhaver (decision). Lay $60 to win $20 on Kim over Tan (second-round KO). Lay $34 to win $20 on Carwin over Wellisch (decision). That's $999 at risk to win $470. Plus, a buck tip for the cocktail waitress! We have all favorites with no upsets. I'll have to see that to believe it … Enjoy the fights. I know I will. More later. The UFC Monster

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State University Vice President for Athletics Lisa Love announced Friday that the athletic department is fully reinstating the sport of varsity wrestling, effective immediately, due to financial support from local civic leadership. The reinstatement of wrestling gives ASU 21 sports in its varsity athletic program. "It is with great pleasure that I announce the reinstatement of the varsity sport of wrestling at ASU," says Love. "The wrestling community, both locally and nationally, accepted this as a challenge to do something wonderful for the sport. ASU is forever grateful for that passion and unwavering support. Something special is happening on our campus thanks to civic leadership that cares deeply about ASU wrestling." ASU had announced on May 13, 2008 that it was discontinuing the sport of wrestling due to the rising cost of operating a 22-sport varsity program. It was determined at that time that sponsoring a 20-sport program would better fit ASU¹s athletic financial profile. Love indicated at the time that if the wrestling community were able to raise enough financial support the sport could be reinstated. That commitment is there and the sport will continue at Arizona State. Love said that fundraising for the sport of wrestling will be an ongoing process. The objective is not just to sponsor wrestling as a varsity sport, but to position the sport as one of the top programs in the country. The Sun Devil wrestling team is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference. For more information regarding giving to assist the Sun Devil varsity sports programs, visit www.sundevilclub.com.

St. Cloud, Minn. -- The third annual St. Cloud State University Wrestling Best Ball Classic golf outing will be held on Friday, August 22, at Wapicada Golf Club in Sauk Rapids. Registration for the event will begin at Noon, with a shotgun start for the "best ball" scramble tournament at 1 p.m. The cost for the event is $100 per person, which includes green fees, cart, dinner, tournament gift, door prizes and much more. A post-tournament social in the Wapicada clubhouse will begin at 5 p.m., with the dinner and awards ceremony taking place at 6 p.m. The SCSU Wrestling Best Ball Classic will also offer hole sponsorships for interested individuals and corporations for $125 per hole. The proceeds from this event will benefit the St. Cloud State University wrestling program. SCSU will begin its 58th season of intercollegiate wrestling in 2008-09, as Head Coach Steve Costanzo enters his third season with the Huskies. In 2007-08, the Huskies charted an impressive 13-2 record and placed 12th at the NCAA Division II national championships. This marked the Huskies' most wins in a season since they posted a 14-5 record in 1972-73. SCSU wrestlers earning All-America status in 2007-08 were junior Brad Padgett at 184-pounds, senior Nick Wilkes at 197-pounds and freshman John Sundgren at 157-pounds. To download a registration form, please visit this website: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/ athletics/support/documents/ 2008SCSUWrestlingBestBallClassic.pdf To register for the 2008 SCSU Wrestling Best Ball Classic, please call the SCSU Wrestling Office at 320-308-2996 or e-mail Steve Costanzo at sscostanzo@stcloudstate.edu

FARGO, N.D. -- North Dakota State wrestler Jacob Bryce was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 7 University Division men's at-large team by the College Sports Information Directors of America on Thursday, May 22. Bryce, a 197-pound junior from Glenwood, Minn., has a 3.85 cumulative grade-point average majoring in business administration with minors in agribusiness and ag systems management. He advances to the national ballot for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® at-large team to be announced Tuesday, June 10. Bryce is a two-time NCAA Division I national qualifier and two-time All-Western Wrestling Conference performer. He was 15-12 this year and is 51-31 in his career. He has been selected to the National All-Academic Team by the National Wrestling Coaches Association each of the past two seasons. Twelve student-athletes made the Academic All-District 7 at-large team in the University Division. To be eligible, student-athletes must have a 3.20 or better cumulative GPA on a 4-point scale, have sophomore athletic standing, and be a starter or key reserve for their team. North Dakota State was 11-9 overall and 4-2 in the Western Wrestling Conference this year. The Bison placed fifth in the NCAA West Regional and qualified three wrestlers for the NCAA Division I national championships.

Augustana College wrestling coach Jason Reitmeier announced that Brian Schultz of Belle Fourche, S.D., and Bryan Otto of Inkom, Idaho, have signed national letters of intent to attend Augustana and wrestle for the Vikings. Schultz was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at Belle Fourche High School. A three-time All-Black Hills Conference selection, Schultz was named the Broncs' most valuable wrestler for the final 3 seasons of his career. He posted a 44-3 record as a senior while finishing third at the Class A state tournament. As a junior, he went 41-7 and finished fifth at the state tournament. "Brian will add depth to our upper weights," Reitmeier said. "Brian is a very hard worker and a very determined kid. He has worked over the last couple of years to improve in all areas of wrestling by doing more summer wrestling. Brian will flourish by working with (assistant coach) Tom Meester and our other upper weights." Otto was a four-year starter at Pocatello High School in Pocatello, Idaho. This past season, Otto compiled a 41-4 record that included a district championship and a runner-up finish at the Class 4A state tournament. In addition, he finished sixth at 130 pounds at the 2008 Western Junior Freestyle Regional Championships. As a junior, he registered a 29-12 record and finished fourth at the state tournament. He was fifth at the state meet as a sophomore after putting together a 31-19 overall record. "Bryan will compete for a starting spot at 133 pounds," Reitmeier said. "Bryan is a well-rounded wrestler who competes year round in freestyle and Greco. So Bryan has seen success at the national level. I am very excited to have Bryan coming to Augie and I am looking forward to working with him." Schultz and Otto brings the Vikings 2008 recruiting class to 10 members. They join a class that includes Carl Serck of Hudson, S.D., Luke Heine of Vermillion, S.D., Nate Herda of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Michael Eddington of Hinton, Iowa, Marcus Eddington of Hinton, Iowa, Austin Carmichael of Columbus, Neb., Christopher Meredith of Nebraska City, Neb., and Cody Lensing of Findley, Minn.

FOREST GROVE -- Pacific University Director of Athletics Ken Schumann has announced that Severin Walsh will become the next head coach of the Pacific men's and women's wrestling program. Walsh comes to Pacific after two seasons as the top graduate assistant coach at St. Cloud State University, a NCAA Division II program in St. Cloud, Minn. Walsh replaces Scott Miller, who announced his retirement from coaching in March after six years leading the Boxers. Walsh is the ninth coach in the history of the program. "I am honored that I was chosen to be the next coach," Walsh said. "I would like to thank President (Phil) Creighton and Ken Schumann for hiring me. It means a lot to me that they have the confidence in me to take on the position. Pacific has a storied program and I have known about and the institution for a long time. I have had a lot of respect for the program and I am honored that they have chosen me to carry on that tradition of wrestling at Pacific. I look forward to being a part of the Boxer family." Walsh, a native of Washington state, was selected after a nationwide search that saw finalists chosen from every corner of the United States. "Sev rose to the top as the best fit for our athletic department and our wrestling program," Schumann said. "I am happy to welcome Sev to our team and expect a high level of success over the years to come." Walsh has spent the last two seasons as the top graduate assistant coach at St. Cloud State. During his tenure, Walsh has helped lead eight Huskies' wrestlers to NCAA Division II national tournament berths. During the 2006-07 season, the Huskies finished 12th at the NCAA Division II Championships and set a new school record with 13 dual meet victories. The Huskies also finished 12th at the 2008 championships. As coordinator of St. Cloud State's academic efforts, Walsh saw the Huskies rank as one of the top academic programs at the Division II level. The 2007-08 team finished with a cumulative 3.2 grade point average, eighth best among NCAA Division II wrestling teams, and saw John Sundgren, Westy Hanson and Matt Jackson earn Division II All-Academic honors. Prior to arriving at St. Cloud State, Walsh spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Dana College, a successful NAIA program in Blair, Neb. At Dana, Walsh helped coach the Vikings to a fourth place nationals finish in 2005 and the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NCWA) national dual championship and NAIA national championship in 2006. In addition, Dana's 2006 team boasted the top non-Division I recruiting class in the nation. Walsh began his coaching career at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he helped lead the Statesmen to a pair of NAIA Central Region championships, an 11th place NAIA National Tournament finish in 2003 and a sixth place finish in 2004. Walsh said he is grateful to those in his past who have helped him in the coaching ranks over the years. "(St. Cloud State Coach Steve) Costanzo and (William Penn Coach Gary) Garvis have been great mentors to me," Walsh said. "I cannot thank them enough for their mentorship over the years and their help in becoming the coach at Pacific." A 1995 Washington high school state champion, Walsh wrestled two seasons for Yakima Valley Community College before transferring to William Penn. He was the 2002 NAIA Central Region champion at 285 pounds and competed in the 2002 NAIA National Championships. A native of Coulee City, Wash., Walsh earned his Bachelor's degree in wellness and recreation from William Penn in 2004 and a teaching certification from Dana in 2006. He is currently completing his Master's degree at St. Cloud State in physical education. Walsh and his wife, Annette, are the proud parents of a newborn son, Ezekiel, who was born in March.

Registration for the 2011 InterMat JJ Classic has opened. Below you will find information about the event. Overview The InterMat JJ Classic is an annual preseason high school wrestling tournament open to wrestlers in grades 7 through 12. This year's event takes place on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. The tournament is sponsored by InterMat and organized by 360 Sports and Events Agency. InterMat is a leading national wrestling website that covers all aspects of amateur wrestling, including high school, college, freestyle and Greco-Roman competition, as well as mixed martial arts. 360 Sports and Event Agency is a sports management company that specializes in organizing, coordinating, and operating national sport-themed events, including the All American Bowl and Nike Coach of the Year Clinic. Cause Justin KukowskiThe InterMat JJ Classic is named in honor of Justin Kukowski, an athlete and avid sports fan who lost his long, hard-fought battle with brain cancer days after his 27th birthday in 2007. Proceeds from the event will go toward the Justin Kukowski Center for Spiritual and Physical Healing, a cancer support center that was opened in his memory two years after his passing, and is located in the Minneapolis suburb of Chaska. Wrestler Registration Wrestlers can register online for the 2011 InterMat JJ Classic at http://www.intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic/register. The registration fee is $40 if registered in October, $45 if registered in September, and $50 if registered in October. The event is a USA Wrestling-sanctioned event, so a wrestler must have a USA Wrestling Card to participate. Not a USA Wrestling member? Purchase a USA Wrestling card now. Format Scholastic style (folkstyle) rules will be used. The matches will be four minutes in length with periods of 2-1-1. Headgear is not required. Weight Classes The new high school weight classes approved by the National Federation of State High School Association's rules committee in 2011 will be used. Those weight classes are 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220, and 285. Venue The 2010 InterMat JJ Classic will be held at the UCR Regional Sports Center (Field House) in Rochester, Minn. The UCR Regional Sports Center has hosted many premier wrestling events, including The Clash, Minnesota Christmas Tournament, Northern Quad, Cadet National Duals, and the NJCAA Wrestling Championships. The address for the UCR Regional Sports Center is 851 30th Avenue Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904. Event Hotel The Kahler Grand Hotel is the official event hotel. The address for the Kahler Grand Hotel is 20 SW Second Avenue Rochester, MN 55902. Weigh-Ins Weigh-ins will take place on Friday, Oct. 21, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. CDT at the Kahler Grand Hotel. There will be no weight allowance. Admission/Coaches Pass Admission will be $10 for adults and $7 for students (18 and under). Admission is free for children under 6. A coaches/floor pass may be purchased at the door for an additional $5. Social There will be a social at the Kahler Grand Hotel on Friday, Oct. 21, 8:30 p.m. to midnight CDT. All coaches, parents, volunteers, referees, and media members are invited. Beer, soda, and snacks will be provided. History The first InterMat JJ Classic took place on Oct. 23, 2011, at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. Wrestlers from Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Texas competed in the inaugural event. Tristan Manderfeld of Foley High School (Minn.) was named Outstanding Wrestler of the 2010 InterMat JJ Classic after defeating multiple age group national champions en route to winning the championship at 103 pounds. Awards The top six placewinners in each of the 14 weight classes will receive medals. In addition, each of the 28 finalists will receive a custom, limited edition 2011 InterMat JJ Classic finalist singlet. Exhibitors & Sponsors If you are interested in being an exhibitor or sponsor, please send an email to Terry Sullivan at info@360sportsevents.com. Volunteers The InterMat JJ Classic is seeking volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please send an email to Kathleen Hennessy Rehbein at khenness@co.carver.mn.us. We are looking for volunteers in a variety of areas, including table workers, pairers, hospitality, weigh-ins/registration (Friday), tickets, awards, setup, take down, concessions, merchandise, runners, clock, and tappers. If you have a preference on what position you would like to volunteer for, please specify in the email. Questions/Comments Questions and comments about the event can be directed at InterMat or 360 Sports and Events Agency depending on the nature of the question(s) or comment(s). InterMat General Questions, Rules, Format Email: contact@intermatwrestle.com Phone: 612-460-5824 360 Sports and Events Agency Logistics, Hotel, Facilities, Exhibitors, Sponsors Email: info@360sportsevents.com Phone: 612-356-2880

Columbia, Mo. -- Recent Missouri graduate Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Seven Men's At-Large Team as announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The accolade is the third straight for the Tiger wrester who carried a 3.95 cumulative grade-point average through his senior year. A two-time All-American, McCormick received a degree in business management and was recently awarded one of 29 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. McCormick finished his collegiate wrestling career with a 77-43 record. Wrestling at 133 pounds, McCormick took 2008 Big 12 runner-up honors after knocking off then No. 1 ranked Coleman Scott of Oklahoma State and Oklahoma's Brian Shelton before falling to Iowa State's Nick Fanthorpe in the title match. McCormick is a three-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American, three-time National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-American in Academics and four-year Academic All-Big 12 First-Team honoree. This marks the fifth straight year that at least one Missouri wrestler has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Seven Men's At-Large team. Kenny Burleson, a letterwinner at 157 pounds from 2001-04, was awarded the honor in 2004, with McCormick recognized each year since.

Noted Wrestling Author and Historian Jay Hammond joins Takedown Radio's Scott Casber for coverage of the 2008 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductions. Jay bring's a wealth of knowledge to the broadcast and serves the Hall of Fame as its official historian. Jay's perspective is unique and indepth. This years TDR coverage will include a very casual broadcast of the May 29th Thursday night steak dinner at Freddie Paul's Steak House beginning on Takedownradio.com at approx. 7:30 PM CST. This is a casual 2 hour broadcast giving attendees an opportunity to share some stories and memories. Friday Takedown Radio will record interviews with all inductee's and special guests. These interviews will then be gifted to the Hall of Fame and added to the archives for future enjoyment of wrestling fans worldwide. We're grateful for the opportunity to explore the rich tradition and history of those interviewed and honored and record for their views and memories for posterity.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Jim Gruenwald and Brad Ahearn. Gruenwald made U.S. Greco-Roman Olympic Teams in 2000 and 2004. Gruenwald retired shortly after the 2004 Olympics, but returned to the mat last fall. He won the 2008 U.S. Open at the 132-pound division but was severely injured in his attempt to qualify his weight class for the Olympics. Gruenwald is currently the assistant Greco-Roman coach at the United States Olympic Education Center located on the campus of Northern Michigan University. In 2003 USA Wrestling named Gruenwald Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year. A member of the Army's World Class Athlete Program, Ahearn recently won the U.S. Open in the 185-pound Greco-Roman division. Ahearn – a fourth place finisher at the U.S. Open in 2006 and seventh place finisher in 2007 at 211.5 pounds – defeated 2007 world silver medallist Brad Vering in the finals. "On the Mat" is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. This week's broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show. "On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue head wrestling coach Scott Hinkel was named the 2008 Amateur Wrestling News (AWN) Rookie Coach of the Year on Tuesday. Joining him with first-year honors were freshmen Luke Manuel, Logan Brown and A.J. Kissel, who were all named to the AWN Freshman All-American Team. Scott HinkelHinkel led the Boilermakers to a 10-8 dual record in his inaugural campaign, and the squad placed 30th at the 2008 NCAA Championships. He has been a significant part of Purdue wrestling for the last three decades, wrestling for the Old Gold and Black from 1984-to-1987, serving as an assistant coach in 1989 and 1990, again from 1993-to-2007, and then taking over as the Boilermakers' head coach in 2007. He's just the third coach in school history to post a winning dual record in his rookie season, joining Herb Miller and Don Corrigan, and led Purdue to more Big Ten Dual wins in 2008, than the previous two seasons combined. He also guided the Boilermakers to their first win over archrival Indiana University since 2004, as they topped the 17th-ranked Hoosiers 18-16 on February 8. The Boilermakers took 10th at this year's Big Ten Championships, but scored 51.5 team points, their highest total since the 2004 season and just the fourth time in the last 14 years they've surpassed the 50-point plateau. With four NCAA qualifiers, Hinkel's squad amassed 14.5 points en route to its 30th-place finish, and had a pair of wrestlers reach the Round of 12 in their respective brackets and fall one win shy of NCAA All-America honors. Manuel was one of these two, posting a 3-2 mark at nationals, including an upset win over a seeded opponent. He finished 29-9 at 165 pounds, placing in every tournament he wrestled in over the season. He earned an automatic bid to nationals with a third-place showing at the Big Ten Championships, while winning the Jim Fox Open and the NWCA National Open. He finished second at the Eastern Michigan Open and eighth at the Midlands Championships, while notching a 1-1 mark in Big Ten Duals. Both Brown and Kissel nabbed automatic trips to the NCAA Championships as well as Brown finished fifth at the conference meet, while Kissel nabbed seventh. Brown was 1-2 at nationals and 24-16 on the season, finishing tied for fourth on the team in wins this season. He was second on the squad in takedowns with 63, and scored a 3-5 mark in conference duals over the season. Kissel posted one of the most outstanding freshman seasons in recent memory, shattering the Boilermakers' single season falls record with 19 on the year. His total was tied for second in NCAA Division I, and has already moved him to 12th on Purdue's career list. Kissel finished 25-17 on the season, going 2-6 in Big Ten Duals and 2-2 in the NCAA Tournament with a pin of ninth-seeded Brent Chriswell of Arizona State in the second round. He tied for the team lead in reversals (13), while finishing third on the squad in wins. "This says a lot about the direction of our program," said Hinkel. "To have so much success with such a young group gives us great hope for the future. We're building something great here at Purdue, and we can't wait to be a part of the nationally elite."

The Beat the Streets Wrestling Program will honor New York City school coaches and the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) at a gala fundraiser held at the Bowery Hotel in New York City on Tuesday. Gathering to show their support of the Beat the Streets Program are wrestling legends Dan Gable, U.S.A. Wrestling Hall of Fame and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member and Gannet Co.'s "Wrestler of the Century"; Lee Kemp, 2008 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Coach and three-time World Champion Winner; John Smith, Olympic and World Championship Medal Winner; and Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "Beat the Streets teaches students through wrestling how to meet challenges head-on and encourages a mentality that can help young people achieve greater personal success," said Michael E. Novogratz, the Beat the Streets' Chairman of the Board. "Our honorees have worked hard to positively affect the lives of thousands of New York City school children and we are honored that some of the greatest athletes in United States wrestling history have come to us to help recognize these outstanding individuals." A member of the Wrestling Hall of Fame, Novogratz attributes his business success to the discipline and focus he learned through wrestling. Mr. Novogratz currently serves as President and Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC and helped Beat the Streets raise more than $2 million, the largest contribution to any school sport in the history of New York City's public schools. "Beat the Streets' work to expand wrestling opportunities and teach young boys and girls valuable life lessons is extremely vital in New York City and the country," said Dan Gable. "The sport of wrestling teaches independence. One learns to master disciplines of stamina, strength, and agility as well as focusing on technical and tactical skills. The importance of learning to ‘stand alone' while actually being part of a team develops the total individual." Founded in 2004, Beat the Streets' mission is to expand wrestling in the New York City Metropolitan area from beginner to the Olympic level. Approximately 3,500 boys and girls from the New York City Public, Private and Catholic School systems currently participate in Beat The Streets after-school programs. The organization works closely with a wide range of partners including coaches, school administrators and current and former professional athletes to provide opportunities for children of diverse backgrounds to participate in opportunities beyond its own programs such as wrestling clinics, tournaments and summer camps. 2008 Beat the Streets Award Winners Overview Man of the Year: Eric Goldstein, Chief Executive, Public School Athletic League Goldstein is being honored for his work to vastly expand the opportunities for students to participate in wrestling. He has worked tirelessly to coordinate the involvement of the Department of Education and the Public School Athletic League administration to help facilitate a large number of wrestling programs in New York City schools. College Coach of the Year: Bruce Haberli, Wrestling Coach, New York University, New York, NY Haberli has had an outstanding year, winning the University Athletic Association Championships and finishing 8th in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III with a 13-1 team dual meet record. He has also recruited two middle school programs for Beat the Streets. High School Coach of the Year: Michael Blythe, Coach, Michael J. Petrides School, Staten Island, NY Blythe won the Public School Athletic League City Championship and has built the largest program in the PSAL, with two assistant coaches, an active Booster and Parents Club. He has also hosted several events for Beat the Streets throughout the year. High School Developmental Coach of the Year: Keith Conrade, Coach, Canarsie High School, Brooklyn, NY Conrade was recruited to help take over an existing but floundering high school wrestling program. Under his leadership he helped rally the principal, faculty and student body to support the program and rejuvenate it to resounding success. Middle School Coach of the Year: Corey Luce, Coach, Roosevelt Island Middle School, Roosevelt Island, NY Luce has helped set the standard for Beat the Streets' middle school program with a successful and engaging model. He is currently Assistant Coach at New York University after spending several years as Assistant Coach at Hunter College.

The Arkansas Wrestling Academy is proud to be the host of the 2008 Olympic Hopeful Training Camp. 6-Time World, 2-Time Olympic Champion and arguably the greatest American wrestler ever … Head Coach of Oklahoma State University: JOHN SMITH! May 30-June 7th www.arkansaswrestlingacademy.com 6900 Pinnacle Valley Rd. Little Rock, AR 72223 Contacts: Pat Smith at 501-519-0850 or Greg Hatcher at 501-517-4734

Wrestler. Coach. Athletic director. Innovator. Promoter. Architect. Gary Kurdelmeier's lasting legacy a decade after his death may well be as the architect whose planning and efforts thirty-five years ago helped put Iowa at the top of the collegiate wrestling world in 2008 (Photo/National Wrestling Hall of Fame)Gary Kurdelmeier wore many hats in his life. Although he was a two-time Iowa high school state champ, a Big Ten titlist, an NCAA champ, and coach whose wrestlers won conference and national titles, Kurdelmeier's lasting legacy a decade after his death may well be as the architect whose planning and efforts thirty-five years ago helped put his Iowa Hawkeyes at the top of collegiate wrestling as 2008 NCAA team champions. Long before Tom Brands, or Jim Zalesky, or Dan Gable, Gary Kurdelmeier was the head wrestling coach at the University of Iowa in the early 1970s. In just four seasons (1972-1976), Kurdelmeier's Hawkeyes won their first Big Ten individual and team titles in a decade, and their first-ever NCAA team titles. Kurdelmeier's coaching talent and innovative ideas helped set the foundation for Iowa to win 21 NCAA and 28 Big Ten team titles since 1974. Even history-minded wrestling fans may only know Gary Kurdelmeier as "the man who hired Dan Gable." True, Kurdelmeier brought in the legendary Iowa State wrestler an assistant coach at Iowa in 1972 -- the year Gable won the freestyle gold medal at the Munich Olympics. But his own accomplishments as wrestler, coach and tireless innovator make Gary Kurdelmeier a significant figure in U.S. amateur wrestling in his own right. The Wrestler Growing up in a wrestling hotbed Gary Kurdelmeier was born in 1936 in Cresco, Iowa, a prosperous farming community of approximately 4,000 in the northeastern corner of the state, about a dozen miles south of the Minnesota border. From the 1920s into the early 60s, Cresco was a major force in wrestling in a state where the sport verges on being a religion. Among the famous men who wrestled at Cresco: Future Iowa State head coach Harold Nichols and his brother Don… Tom Peckham, Cyclone star of the mid 1960s … Dale Henson, University of Minnesota's second-ever NCAA champ and World War II hero… and Dr. Norman Borlaug, another Golden Gopher wrestler who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his lifesaving work in agricultural science has fed billions throughout the world. While at Cresco High School, Gary Kurdelmeier was involved in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including sports. According to his biography in the 1954 Spartan yearbook, he was a Film Operator all four years, a class officer his sophomore year, in two plays his junior year, and on the yearbook staff his senior year. All four years he was on the track team, and played baseball and football, earning All-State tackle honors his senior year. But the sport where Gary Kurdelmeier really made a name for himself was wrestling. In 1952, he won a gold medal wrestling at 160 pounds at the YMCA tournament in Waterloo, Iowa. The following year, as a junior, Kurdelmeier won the conference title, then the heavyweight title at the 1953 Iowa high school state tournament, defeating Dave Shakespeare of Cedar Rapids Roosevelt in the finals. His senior year, Kurdelmeier won a second conference crown, followed by a second state championship, this time beating Algona's Joe Funk in the heavyweight title match. He concluded his prep mat career with a perfect 23-0 record. From Spartan to Hawkeye Gary Kurdelmeier graduated from Cresco High in 1954, then headed almost straight south to the University of Iowa at Iowa City on a wrestling scholarship. Back in the 1950s, per NCAA rules, first-year student-athletes were not allowed to compete in varsity sports; freshman year was considered to be a time to adapt to the academic rigors of college coursework, make friends, and get comfortable with being away from home. Gary KurdelmeierIn his sophomore year, Gary Kurdelmeier went out for football, playing tackle for head coach Forest Evashevski. (One of the Cresco native's teammates on the Hawkeye football team: Alex Karras, future NFL star, and familiar face on TV and movie screens.) However, Kurdelmeier injured his knee during that first season, and that was the end of his gridiron career. Back when Kurdelmeier was the Hawkeyes' starter at 177 pounds, the Iowa wrestling program was enjoying a period of success under Dave McCuskey, who, before coming to Iowa City in 1952, had piloted the Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) wrestling program during its glory days in the 1940s, working with mat legends such as Bill Koll, Gerry Leeman, Bill Nelson, and Bill Young. Gary Kurdelmeier's college wrestling teammates were mostly Iowa boys who had made names for themselves in high school; like Gary, many were state champs. At least two of his fellow Hawkeyes eclipsed their prep success in significant ways. Terry McCann, 1952 Illinois state champ who won his title in just 37 seconds, became a two-time NCAA champ at 115 pounds (1954, 1955) who went on to win a freestyle gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome (Click HERE to read a profile on Terry and Fran McCann) … and Simon Roberts of Davenport, Iowa, the Hawkeyes' 147-pounder who was the first African-American to win an Iowa high school state title (1953) … then wrote another chapter of history by being the first black to win a national collegiate wrestling title at the 1957 NCAAs. (To read more about Simon Roberts, click HERE.) In a 2007 interview with RevWrestling.com, Simon Roberts weighed in with his opinions on the Iowa head coach: "Dave McCuskey was a tough guy. He ran you through your paces, but he was a fair guy." "He helped produce a lot of great wrestlers." The stats back up Roberts' statement. From 1954 through 1958 – the years Roberts and Kurdelmeier wrestled for the University of Iowa – Dave McCuskey's Hawkeyes had eight individuals win Big Ten titles, and a total of five Hawkeyes become NCAA champs. Both Kurdelmeier and Roberts belong in both groups. Sophomore season: Big Ten finalist In Gary Kurdelmeier's sophomore year (1955-56) -- his first season as Iowa's primary 177-pounder -- Iowa posted a dual-meet record of six wins and just two losses (losing to the University of Michigan, and the University of Oklahoma, where he moved up to heavyweight, losing to defending champ Gordon Roesler on an end-of-match takedown). At the 1956 Big Ten conference championships at Northwestern University, Kurdelmeier was one of Iowa's finalists. In the 177-pound title match, the Cresco native faced off against Jack Marchello of the University of Michigan. There was a lot of pressure riding on the shoulders of both wrestlers; the winner of this match would determine whether the Hawkeyes or the Wolverines left Evanston, Illinois with the Big Ten team title. Jack Marchello (Photo/University of Michigan Sports Information)Jack Marchello remembers considerable details from the 1956 Big Tens. "In the semifinals, I wrestled Ahmet Senol of Purdue, nicknamed The Turk because he was from Turkey, and considered unbeatable. He had pinned me in 45 seconds in a dual earlier that season." This time, a reversal of fortune: the Wolverine got the win over the Boilermaker from Turkey, setting up the finals match-up vs. Kurdelmeier. "We had never wrestled each other in a dual," discloses Marchello, who was born in East Moline, Illinois but moved to suburban Chicago (Harvey) at age twelve. "At the Iowa/Michigan dual, I went up against someone else, Cal Jenkins, I believe." "(In my Big Ten title bout,) I gave away ten pounds," Marchello continues. "But that was typical. I was more a 167 than 177, so I usually wrestled guys bigger than me." "Gary was tremendously powerful. He had huge shoulders and arms. I knew I wasn't going to out-muscle him. I had to be fast on my feet. Instead of tying up with a guy like Gary, I controlled the legs, worked to keep him off his base. I was an excellent control wrestler." "I remember getting one takedown on him," says Marchello, who, like Kurdelmeier, was a sophomore. "I think I took him by surprise." The final result: Jack Marchello defeated Gary Kurdelmeier by the score of 4-2 for the 1956 Big Ten 177-pound crown. With that win, Michigan claimed the conference team title. "We never wrestled each other again. The following season, I pretty much wrestled 167," according to Marchello, who, at age 72, still designs wrestling headgear for Cliff Keen Athletic, as well as protective gear for the physically challenged for his own company in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A few weeks later, at the 1956 NCAAs -- held at venerable Gallagher Hall at Oklahoma State -- Jack Marchello dropped down to 167 … while Gary Kurdelmeier stayed at 177. The Hawkeye was seeded fourth; the top seed was defending champ Dan Hodge of Oklahoma. Kurdelmeier drew a bye in the opening round … then got a 6-1 victory over Iowa State's Gene Frank. In the quarterfinals, the Iowan defeated University of Toledo's fifth-seeded Dick Bonacci 6-1. However, Kurdelmeier's title dream was derailed in the semifinals by the champ; Dan Hodge pinned the Hawkeye at 4:35, and went on to win his second title. However, Kurdelmeier bounced back in the consolation round, placing third, and earning All-American honors along with teammates Harlan Jenkinson (third at 167), and individual champs Terry McCann at 115, and Ken Leuer at 191. The Hawkeyes placed fourth in the team standings -- their best showing ever. Junior year: Big Ten champ Gary Kurdelmeier's junior year saw the Hawkeyes improve to a 7-2 dual meet record. In the first match of the season, the Iowan went up against the man who had pinned him at the 1956 NCAAs, two-time champ Dan Hodge. In wrestling historian Mike Chapman's 2005 book Wrestling Tough, Kurdelmeier reported that the Sooner's grip was so powerful, he had black-and-blue marks on his arms days afterwards. "When you knew you were wrestling Hodge, you didn't get too many good nights of sleep," the Hawkeye 177-pounder was quoted as saying. It was a typical match for Hodge; the native of Perry, Oklahoma put Kurdelmeier's shoulders to the mat in their January 1957 dual. Bill Wright (Photo/University of Minnesota Sports Information)The 1957 Big Tens were hosted by Ohio State. At St John Arena, Gary Kurdelmeier got a 4-2 win over Michigan's Karl Lutomski, shut out Bob Killian of Indiana 2-0 in the quarterfinals, and, in the semifinals, edged out Illinois' Steve Szabo 4-3. In the finals, the Hawkeye took on Bill Wright of Minnesota … and got the 7-5 decision over the Golden Gopher to win the 1957 Big Ten 177-pound title. Gary Kurdelmeier wasn't the only Big Ten champ from Iowa that year; Ralph Rieks won the 137-pound crown. The Hawkeyes placed third in the conference team standings. Just after the conference championships – and before the NCAAs -- 1957 Big Ten champ Gary Kurdelmeier wrestled at the 1957 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national championships in Ames, Iowa, moving up to the 191-pound weight class. In the finals, he went up against Iowa teammate Gordon Trapp, who had moved down from heavyweight. Kurdelmeier was the fall guy, getting pinned by Trapp at 4:08, and placing second. In late March, Gary Kurdelmeier and the Hawkeyes headed east, to the University of Pittsburgh, to compete at the 1957 NCAAs. The Big Ten 177-pound champ competed at the 191-pound weight class (which wasn't wrestled at Big Ten dual meets or the conference championships), and was seeded fourth. In the first two matches, he held his opponents scoreless. Sadly, the Iowan ran into a roadblock again in the semifinals, losing to the top-seeded, hometown hero (and eventual champ) Ron Schirf of Pitt, 1-0 … then fell to Colorado's Jack Himmelwright on a referee's decision in the consolation round, failing to place. Iowa placed eighth in the team standings, with two All-Americans: Ralph Rieks (3rd at 137), and 147-pound champ Simon Roberts. Senior year: NCAA champ In Gary Kurdelmeier's last season in Iowa City (1957-58), the Hawkeyes boosted their dual-meet record to 10-3. Kurdelmeier could rest somewhat easier, knowing that three-time NCAA 177-pound champ Dan Hodge had graduated from Oklahoma. However, he might have had a sleepless night before his second dual meet of the season. In that January 1958 bout, Kurdelmeier stepped up for his team big time … going up against defending heavyweight champ Bob Norman of the University of Illinois. The Iowan gave up considerable poundage to the Illini big guy, suffering his only dual-meet loss of his senior season. Gary KurdelmeierThe 1958 Big Ten conference championships were held at Huff Hall at the University of Illinois in Champaign in early March. The 1957 Big Ten champ Gary Kurdelmeier successfully wrestled his way through the 177-pound bracket. His 4-0 win over Purdue's Gil Mesic in the semifinals put him in the finals for the third straight year. In the 177-pound title bout, Kurdelmeier went up against Michigan State's Tim Woodin. The strapping Spartan was on a six-match pinning streak, scoring falls over all his opponents at the Big Tens. Unfortunately for Kurdelmeier, the streak continued; Woodin put the hirsute Hawkeye's shoulders to the mat at 8:21 using a half-Nelson and body scissors, according to Amateur Wrestling News. At the end of March, the Hawkeyes traveled west to the 1958 NCAAs, hosted by the University of Wyoming. Gary Kurdelmeier was seeded fourth at 177. The top seed was Iowa State's Frank Powell, 1958 Big Eight champ and undefeated all season… while Big Ten champ Tim Woodin of Michigan State was second. The Spartan continued his pinning ways, getting falls in his first two bouts, and shutting out his semifinals rival 3-0. Kurdelmeier drew a bye in the opening round, then got a 7-4 victory over Colorado State's Ed Rath in the second. In the quarterfinals, he shut out Merv Miller of Cornell College of Iowa, 7-0. In the semifinals, it was the battle of Iowa, with Kurdelmeier facing off against the Cyclones' Frank Powell, who was on a nineteen-match win streak. The top-seeded ISU senior had won his first three bouts rather convincingly, by the scores of 5-0, 8-2, and 9-3. However, all that didn't matter; the Hawkeye scored a 6-4 upset over Powell, the Big Eight champ. Now Gary Kurdelmeier's sights were set on the man who pinned him for the Big Ten title: Tim Woodin. It's not hard to imagine that Gary Kurdelmeier wanted to avenge his Big Ten finals loss when he faced Tim Woodin for the NCAA title. Here's what the Des Moines Register wrote in its post-NCAA report: "Gary Kurdelmeier, badly beaten and pinned by Woodin in the conference test, scored two takedowns and an escape in beating the former National Amateur Athletic Union king, 6-2." In its more colorful and descriptive analysis, Amateur Wrestling News said that the Iowa senior "pulled an upset by out-horsing" his Michigan State rival, who "found it impossible to break Kurdelmeier's leg ride." Gary Kurdelmeier got his revenge against Woodin … but, more importantly, concluded his college mat career with the 177-pound national title. (Iowa's Jim Craig placed third at 191, joining Kurdelmeier as an All-American at the 1958 NCAAs.) Off the mat at Iowa Thumb through the Hawkeye yearbooks covering Gary Kurdelmeier's time at the University of Iowa, and the immediate question is: When did this guy sleep? In addition to being on the Iowa football team one season, and the wrestling team all four years, Kurdelmeier was the very picture of the active, involved student. Among his activities as a junior: he was elected to the nineteen-person Student Council, and was an officer of Hillcrest men's dorm, and sang in the dorm's choir. In his last year at Iowa, Kurdelmeier was elected secretary of the senior class, president of the Lettermen's Club (organization of letter-winning varsity athletes who served as ushers for sporting events and did charity work), president of the Phi Epsilon Kappa professional fraternity for physical education and recreation majors, president of Delta Upsilon men's social fraternity, and involved in ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps). The Coach From Iowa to Iowa Falls … Back to Iowa Gary Kurdelmeier graduated from the University of Iowa in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in physical education from the College of Liberal Arts. As an Iowa Hawkeye wrestler, he compiled an impressive 28-3-1 dual-meet record. Kurdelmeier was a three-time Big Ten finalist, winning the 177-pound title at the 1957 Big Ten championships. He was a two-time NCAA All-American (1956, 1958), capping his wrestling career at Iowa with the 1958 NCAA title at 177. After graduating, Kurdelmeier accepted an ROTC commission, serving six months as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserves. He then launched his coaching career at Iowa Falls High School in the north-central part of the state. From 1960 through 1966, he was the head wrestling coach, as well as assistant football coach… and also served as athletic director. While at Iowa Falls, Kurdelmeier earned his master's degree in physical education from the University of Iowa. For the 1966-1967 school year, Gary Kurdelmeier served as wrestling coach at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High, where his varsity J-Hawks were 10-4-0. In 1967, Gary Kurdelmeier returned to Iowa City. He was hired by his college coach, Dave McCuskey, as an assistant wrestling coach. Five years later, when McCuskey retired, 36-year-old Gary Kurdelmeier took the helm of the Hawkeye wrestling program. Reversal of fortune for the Hawkeyes Wrestling has been a staple at the University of Iowa since 1911. The Hawkeyes have a long, rich history of individual wrestlers winning Big Ten and NCAA titles, going back to Leslie Beers claiming the 158-pound crown at the very first NCAAs in 1928. However, two years before Gary Kurdelmeier became the Hawkeyes' head wrestling coach in 1972, Iowa tied for thirty-second in the NCAA team standings. The program had never won an NCAA team title. It had been a decade since a Hawkeye had won an individual national title; Iowa big man Sherwyn "Thumper" Thorson was the last, winning the NCAA heavyweight title in 1962. That was also the last year Iowa had claimed a Big Ten team title. In the four seasons Gary Kurdelmeier was head coach (1972-1976), Iowa made an amazing turnaround. The Hawkeyes compiled a 51-7-5 record, earning a .850 winning percentage -- second only to Dan Gable among past Iowa coaches. Against Big Ten rivals, Iowa built a 24-3-4 dual-meet record. Under Kurdelmeier, Iowa won three Big Ten and two NCAA team titles … with seven Hawkeyes winning ten Big Ten individual crowns, and five individuals bringing six NCAA titles back to Iowa City. For orchestrating Iowa's incredible reversal, Kurdelmeier was voted Coach of the Year in both 1975 and 1976. A winning plan to put fans in the stands In recent years, the Iowa Hawkeyes have set national home attendance records for dual meets… but it wasn't always so. Steve Hunte, who wrestled for Gary Kurdelmeier at Iowa in the early 1970s, paints a picture of how it once was: "The first wrestling meets when I was a freshman they would only pull out one bleacher because there were only about 75-100 fans in 1973. During those meets, joggers were allowed to continue to run, and other students were still playing pickup basketball." "However, soon, with win after win, suddenly beating big-name teams, the fans started coming to watch the Iowa wrestling team, the underdogs, starting to beat teams no one would have predicted the year before," says Hunte. "The turning point was going to Iowa State my freshman year. Their arena was packed with 12,000 screaming fans. I remember sitting with fellow freshman Chris Campbell at the edge of the mat, saying to each other almost in disbelief, 'We're going to beat Iowa State!' over and over. After that, Iowa fans started coming in greater numbers to see the new phenomenon, underdog, upstart Iowa, beat teams in dual meets that were very exciting and very, very close." "Getting us that match against Iowa State really put us on the map," Hunte adds. "They were one of the top programs of the era. We hadn't wrestled them in years. Then, (Kurdelmeier) got us to wrestle the Cyclones twice a year, once at each school, usually the first dual would be right after New Year's, to get fans excited about the season, and the last match of the season, just before the NCAAs, to give us momentum and publicity for the nationals … It was a great situation for both schools. We'd pack both halls." In a profile Iowa City Press-Citizen wrestling writer Andy Hamilton wrote on Gary Kurdelmeier for the 2006 book The History of Collegiate Wrestling, Minnesota head coach J. Robinson -- a graduate assistant at Iowa in the 1970s -- described what Kurdelmeier achieved: "He became the head coach of a team that was terrible, and two years later, he won the NCAA two years in a row. That's pretty phenomenal when you think about it." From big mats to big money, Iowa's innovator Gary Kurdelmeier also put fans in the stands with innovative promotions. For instance, for the 1975 dual meet vs. Oklahoma, he made a deal with the local McDonald's: If the Hawkeyes held the Sooners to fewer than ten points, each fan in attendance would score a free hamburger. Gary KurdelmeierThe promotion didn't stop there. For that Iowa vs. Oklahoma dual meet, Kurdelmeier had a 74-foot square mat put down on the floor of the Iowa Field House. "The mammoth mat practically covered the entire basketball floor, and the circle extended beyond the basketball foul lines on each end," according to Steve Hunte, Iowa's 134-pounder at the time. "Oklahoma was notorious for playing the edge, hence the huge mat. You should've seen the looks on their faces when they came out into the gym and saw that huge mat for the first time … It really got the Iowa crowd excited." The big mat worked. The dual meet was wrestled in just 56 minutes, with action being stopped only once for going out-of-bounds. The Hawkeyes drubbed the Sooners 34-5. As then-assistant coach J Robinson told Andy Hamilton for The History of Collegiate Wrestling, "It just about broke McDonald's. All of the sudden they had 9,000 people descending on them for a free hamburger." In the "Ask Dan Gable" column at Iowa Public TV's College Wrestling website, the legendary wrestler/coach weighed in on the big mat: "The matches were quick because of very few whistle stops. No edge-of-the-mat controversial calls. Scared our opponents. Their coach said, 'It was like getting caught in an Iowa cornfield and not being able to find your way out.' Had a few meets, then it was outlawed by the wrestling rules committee. Rule based on inequality, that not everyone could afford to have a mat of that size." Another innovation was Gary Kurdelmeier's partnership with Roy Carver, the multi-millionaire wrestling fan from Muscatine, Iowa. Carver's financial backing helped establish and sustain the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, which allowed wrestlers to continue their training after college … and share their knowledge and experience with the young college grapplers in Iowa's wrestling room. This legacy of innovation didn't emerge from thin air in the 1970s. Even in the 1950s, Gary Kurdelmeier impressed his college teammates as a thinker and innovator. In the InterMat Rewind profile of Simon Roberts, the first black NCAA champ spoke with fondness about his Iowa teammates, including his friend from Cresco, who he described as being "an innovator, as a wrestler, coach and college administrator. He was always a step ahead in his thinking about wrestling. He liked to call me to talk about ideas he had." Ken Leuer, 1956 NCAA champ for Iowa at 191, weighed in with his impressions of Kurdelmeier in The History of Collegiate Wrestling: "Gary was always thinking. He always had plans… He always had ideas of how wrestling should be in the nation, how things should happen, and a vision. He brought that to Iowa wrestling. From my perspective, I would say the quarter-century in which Iowa dominated was the result of Gary's planning, organization, and putting things together and getting the right people to execute the plan." Getting Gable In terms of laying the groundwork for the long-term success of the Iowa Hawkeyes, it's easy to consider Gary Kurdelmeier's most significant "innovation" was hiring Iowa State superstar Dan Gable as an assistant coach for the Hawkeyes. In terms of laying the groundwork for the long-term success of the Iowa Hawkeyes, it's easy to consider Gary Kurdelmeier's most significant "innovation" was hiring Iowa State superstar Dan Gable as an assistant coach for the HawkeyesHere's how Andy Hamilton described the recruiting process in his profile on Kurdelmeier for The History of Collegiate Wrestling: Kurdelmeier inherited the Hawkeye program in 1972 and immediately pulled off his biggest recruiting coup when he snatched Gable away from Iowa State and into the Iowa wrestling room. He worked behind the scenes to lure Gable to Iowa City. He respected Gable's wish to focus on training for the Munich Olympics but frequently contacted Gable's friends and family. In March of 1972, Kurdelmeier called Gable again to gauge his interest in coaching at Iowa. He told Gable to take his time with the decision. "The very next day, he calls me back and says, ‘Gable, I want you to know I've had a little change of heart. I'm going to ask you to take the job or leave it,'" Gable recalled. Gable asked for time to consult with his father. He called friends. Everyone seemed to be in agreement that he should accept Kurdelmeier's offer. An hour later, Gable was the cornerstone in Kurdelmeier's blueprint for excellence. A bit later in Hamilton's profile of Kurdelmeier, Gable tells of being called into his boss' office one month into his first season as an Iowa assistant. "I can see right now that you can do a better job training the athletes than me," Kurdelmeier told Gable. "I'm going to turn the wrestling room, practices, training, all that stuff over to you." Wrestling for Kurdelmeier Steve Hunte was a two-time New York state champ from Bellmore Kennedy High School on Long Island who was recruited by a number of colleges. His dad, Ken Hunte, an All-American at Syracuse who was long-time coach at Long Island prep powerhouse Mepham, wanted Steve to wrestle at the U.S. Naval Academy. However, Steve Hunte had competed twice at the Junior Nationals held in Iowa City. "I'd seen that (University of) Iowa had a great recruiting class ahead of mine, and my class was shaping up the same way," recalls Hunte. "Those factors, along with John Marks' recruitment efforts, made me a believer." Among Steve Hunte's highlights as a Hawkeye: he defeated Rick Thompson of Slippery Rock at the 1977 NWCA All-Star event… and he was a two-time Big Ten champ, winning the 134-pound conference title in 1977 and 1978. "Gary Kurdelmeier was very much a man of his word," according to Hunte. "He'd say, 'As long as you work hard and come to the wrestling room every day, you'll have your scholarship here at Iowa.'" When asked to describe his college coach, Hunte said, "More of a traditional coach. Loved wrestling. A workaholic. Smart guy. A real man. Not flashy. Always dressed in jacket and tie for meets." "Unlike some coaches, Coach Kurdelmeier always took a more subdued position in public announcements about other teams. He was never cocky, never bragged." "He was a big, strong guy with powerful arms and a bull neck. He still wrestled with us in practice … (though) Gable was more the technique man, Kurdelmeier the strategist." "He genuinely liked his wrestlers. He never belittled us. Instead, he'd say ‘I know you can do this.' From him, we learned we had so much potential inside us." "We wanted to succeed for him, to earn his respect." "I remember when a couple of us ran off after he had asked us to move some mats. Next day, he called us into his office, and chewed us out. You didn't want to disappoint him." "He had Red Flag Days, where practice would go an extra half-hour," recalls Hunte. "No advance notice. Sprints to the top of the Field House. Shark-bait drills of non-stop wrestling. More sprints. Carrying guys piggyback to the top of the Field House. The grueling intensity was unimaginable. Your lungs would be burning, muscles reacting -- pulling, pushing, grasping, grabbing, slapping, shooting, pounding, smashing, denying, fighting, grinding, tripping, punishing, prying, wrestling in pools of sweat, no break, no rest, giving it 100% as if your life depended on it, for three hours straight." "At the end of a Red Flag Day, a lot of the wrestlers would lie on the mat for a half-hour or so… By the time we walked out onto the mat for a match, we could handle anything because we'd been through all this." After Iowa When Gary Kurdelmeier announced he was officially passing the head coaching job to Dan Gable in 1977, the Iowa Hawkeyes were in good hands. Thanks to the valuable hands-on coaching experience gained right from the start as an assistant, Gable built upon the foundation crafted by the Cresco native. During his incredible 21-year career as Hawkeye head coach, Gable compiled a 355-21-5 record, bringing home 21 Big Ten and 15 NCAA team titles. What lured Gary Kurdelmeier away from coaching duties? A promotion; he was named assistant athletic director at the University of Iowa, a position he held for nine years. While in that job, he was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1978. This facility, located in Kurdelmeier's hometown of Cresco, honors great Iowa-born amateur wrestlers and coaches. In 1985, Kurdelmeier left Iowa City to serve as Executive Director of U.S.A. Wrestling. During his three years at the helm, he helped the sport to expand, and was instrumental in moving the organization's headquarters from Stillwater, Oklahoma to Colorado Springs. After a brief retirement, Gary Kurdelmeier got back into the action all over again, helping set up the wrestling program at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and then serving as head coach from 1991-1995. At that time, he also served as a volunteer leader for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In early October 1998, Gary Kurdelmeier died in Pensacola Beach, Florida at age 62. The cause of death was Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a degenerative fatal brain disorder that's extremely rare, affecting only one person in a million each year, or about 200 individuals in the U.S. annually. Typically, the onset of symptoms occurs at about age 60, with approximately 90 percent of patients dying within one year. Since his passing, Gary Kurdelmeier was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2000 as a Distinguished Member, and, in 2003, was welcomed into the Glen Brand Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute & Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. In addition, his family and friends established a Gary Kurdelmeier Wrestling Scholarship at the University of Iowa. Gary Kurdelmeier's legacy as a wrestler and innovative coach continues to light the way for the Hawkeyes a decade after his passing. "I think of him as the spark that lit the flame that still burns at Iowa," says Steve Hunte. For photos of Gary Kurdelmeier in high school, college and as Iowa's head coach -- along with pics of some of his college teammates and opponents, and the individual NCAA champs during his tenure at Iowa City -- visit the Vintage Amateur Wrestling Yahoo group by clicking HERE DVD copies of the original silent films of the 1958 NCAAs -- the year Gary Kurdelmeier won the national title -- are available for purchase direct from the host school. For contact information for the University of Wyoming archives, email mark@RevWrestling.com

OREM, Utah -- Utah Valley head wrestling coach Greg Williams announced his 2008-2009 signees Wednesday, a list that includes seven accomplished grapplers from Utah and Nevada. With the additions of these top recruits UV will look to be make an impact in the Western Wrestling Conference (WWC) in the 2008-09 season. "We are very excited to have this caliber of young men come into our program," Williams said. "They are all gifted wrestlers, good students, and hard workers. We feel this will be a group that will help Utah Valley get to the next level in competitiveness. In the short history of our program, we have not signed so many talented individuals in one year. To sign this many top recruits is a statement of the growth of the Wolverine wrestling program and the support that we have received from our administration and the Utah wrestling community." Adam Fager: Fager is a two-time Utah State Champion and All-American, having placed fifth at the High School Nationals as a senior and seventh as a junior. He is from Layton High School and is coached by his brother, John Fager. John, as well as Adam, used to compete for Coach Williams when he ran the Elite Wrestling Club. Adam will compete at 197 pounds. Trey Edmunds: is from Damonte Ranch High School in Nevada, Edmunds was a state champion this past season and is a two-time finalist. As a senior he placed seventh in the High School Nationals. Edmunds is very accomplished in freestyle and Greco, winning a National Cadet Championship in Greco-Roman in 2006 and he placed fourth in the FILA Cadet National Freestyle Championships in 2007. Edmunds will compete at 157/165 pounds. Josh Wilson: Wilson, a two-time All-American, signed in the fall and was a two-time state champion from Morgan High School in Utah. He was a National Champion at the High School Nationals as a junior and placed third as a senior. Wilson wrestled for Coach Williams for six years in the Elite Wrestling Club. He went on a mission to England and will be back in August. Wilson will compete at 149 pounds. Paul Johnson: Johnson is a three-time state champion from Lone Peak High School. He will compete at Utah Valley for one-year before serving an LDS mission. He will compete at 133 pounds. Wyatt Ray: Ray is a two-time Utah High School finalist and a State Champion from Roy High School. He is the brother of current Utah Valley wrestler Flint Ray. Wyatt Ray is also a student body officer at Roy. He wrestled for Coach Williams previously in the Elite Wrestling club. He will be going on a mission after his first year at Utah Valley and will compete at 133 pounds. Nicko Paraso: Paraso, a three-time state placer, two-time finalist and a Utah State High School Champion; will compete at 125 pounds for Utah Valley. He was second at state as a sophomore, third as a junior, and won state this year as a senior. Nick Flores: Flores is also a three-time state placer, placing sixth as a sophomore, second as a junior, and third as a senior. He previously wrestled for Coach Williams in the Elite Wrestling Club. He will compete at 125 pounds for the Wolverines.