InterMat Staff

MASON CITY -- The North Iowa Area Community College Trojan wrestling team is celebrating the rebirth of their once prominent wrestling program after 32 years with six home dates and a rigorous schedule that will include competitions with numerous larger four-year institutions, said head coach Richard Fergola. The Trojans will have 15 regularly scheduled dual meets after hosting the Blue & Gold Grapple on October 27, the team's wrestle-offs that will help Fergola name his initial starting lineup. NIACC's first official meet on November 3 will be a special one, the Kaye Young/NIACC Open, named for the coach that guided the Trojans during NIACC's first period of wrestling, 1967-76. The meet will be held at the NIACC Gymnasium. A week later, Fergola's squad heads to Ames for the Harold Nichols Open at Iowa State on November 10, giving the Trojans an opportunity to face competitors from the nationally-rated Division I host school and other top small and large-school programs. NIACC will also compete at the Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha, NE on November 17. The Kaufman-Brand Open is considered the largest, toughest one day college open in the nation. All the top programs from Division I through NAIA will be present. Last year, this open had all five team national champions present. The University of Northern Iowa Open on December 2 and the Dick Walker Invitational at Wartburg College on December 8, all before Christmas break. NIACC will host their home dual meet opener against Ridgewater Community College of Minnesota at 7 p.m. November 14. This will be considered Alumni Night. The Warriors claimed the NJCAA D-III (non-scholarship) national championship in 2005. Continuing dual action will take place December 5th at 7:00 pm when the Trojans travel to Rochester, MN to take on the Yellow Jackets of Rochester CC in regional competition. On December 7th, NIACC will host Neosho County Community College of Kansas at 7:00 p.m. on "Pack the House Night." Neosho County, previously won the 2000 NJCAA wrestling title. Rounding out the month of December will be yet another home dual against in state rival Ellsworth Community College on December 14 at 6:00 pm. This will be "Prep Night" where all kids clubs, Middle School and High School wrestling teams are invited to come and watch the Trojans free of charge. The Trojans return from Christmas break with a stellar test, the Colby Tournament of Champions in Colby, KS, on January 4-5, 2008. The TOC is a junior college invitational only and will invite many of the nation's top junior college programs. NIACC will host Minnesota West from Worthington, MN in a dual meet on January 11th at 7 p.m. and face the 2005 NJCAA Division I (scholarship) national champions, the Labette Community College Cardinals at 6 p.m. on January 14. In between the Minnesota West and Labette duals, the Trojans will travel to Pella, IA for the Central College Open on January 12th. The Trojans will make another trip to Minnesota on January 19th to Grand Rapids, MN for some dual action against Itasca Community College, NAIA Jamestown College and NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead. On January 23 at 7 p.m. the Trojans will travel to Fort Dodge to battle the two-time defending NJCAA Division I (scholarship) national champions, Iowa Central Community College. On Saturday January 26th, Division III St. Olaf College will host the NIACC wrestling program in a dual slated for 2:00 pm. Second year program Pratt Community College in Pratt, KS will mix it up with the Trojans of NIACC in a neutral setting on the campus of Baker University in Baldwin City, KS on Tuesday January 29th at 6:30 pm. The Trojan's inaugural season will end with a meet at perennial NJCAA standout Harper Community College in Palatine, IL on February 2, followed by the NJCAA Region VIII Championships held at Ridgewater Community College in Willmar, MN on February 10th. This is the national qualifying tournament for the 2008 NJCAA National Championships held at Rochester Community College in Rochester, MN on February 22-23. "I am very excited and pleased with our first wrestling schedule," Fergola stated. "We have developed a schedule that will allow our athletes to prepare for our region and national championships. I feel that we are in one of the toughest regions in the NJCAA and for sure in one of the toughest areas of the country for college wrestling competition. "We are fortunate to have some of the nation's best programs right here in the state of Iowa to compete against," Fergola continued. "With the addition of duals against national championship programs like Labette, Iowa Central, Harper, Ridgewater, Neosho County and meets that include NCAA D-I, D-II, D-III and NAIA teams, we will have great schedule strength to prepare us for the national tournament." NIACC's first recruiting class in 32 years includes 35 wrestlers, including numerous high school state champions and three that received All-America mention.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers Director of Athletics Bob Mulcahy announced the hiring of three-time New Jersey "Coach of the Year" Scott Goodale as head coach of the Scarlet Knights' wrestling program today. "I look forward to working for the State University," Goodale said. "I have such a passion for New Jersey wrestling and it's going to be a challenge. I'm up for the challenge and we're going to try and take this team to the next level." Scott GoodaleGoodale will follow in the footsteps of Rutgers winningest coach in wrestling history, John Sacchi. Sacchi retired in May following 17 seasons at the head of the Scarlet Knight program, and 40 years as a wrestling coach. Sacchi compiled a 167-102-5 record at Rutgers. "We certainly want to move the program forward," Goodale said. "We want to place very high in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) and send wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. The ultimate goal is to win a national title. I'd be making a mistake if I was getting into this without having the goal of being a national championship team. It was my goal at Jackson to be the number one team in New Jersey and it took a while, but we did it. Now that I'm at Rutgers, my goal is to win a national title." The Jackson, N.J. native will take over the Rutgers program following an impressive seven-year stint as head coach at his alma mater, Jackson Memorial High School. Over seven seasons, Goodale compiled an overall record of 155-16, leading his squad to the top ranking in the state in 2006 and 2007. "I'm really excited to have Scott join the Rutgers athletics family. We are very impressed with Scott's enthusiasm and dedication to the sport of wrestling, and his desire to ensure the young men in our program will succeed academically and athletically," Mulcahy said. "He is a proven winner as a coach, and is a 'Jersey' guy who is very familiar with the youth and high school programs throughout the state. Scott is the ideal person to lead our wrestling program at this time." Goodale was named the New Jersey State Coach of the Year three times, while also earning District 21 and Region VI Coach of the Year accolades three times during his time with the Jaguars. Goodale has coached four New Jersey State Champions and five New Jersey State runner-ups along with 16 additional state placewinners. In total, he has coached a total of 41 District 21 Champions and 10 Region VI Champions. Goodale led his teams to two Group IV State Championships, as well as four Central Jersey Group IV Sectional titles. Each season Goodale spent with Jackson Memorial, the Jaguars were crowned District 21 Team Champions, as well as winning four Class A-South Shore Conference titles. During the 2005-06 season, the Jaguars finished ranked No. 10 in the country. The following year, Goodale and the Jaguars bettered that performance, finishing the year ranked seventh nationally. In every year Goodale was at Jackson Memorial, he led his team to a top 10 finish in the New Jersey wrestling polls. Prior to being named head coach at Jackson Memorial, Goodale served as a top assistant for the wrestling program, while also working as the offensive coordinator for the football team. During his time with the Jaguars football squad, he was a part of three state championship teams. On a national level, he has spent the last 11 years as the Junior and Cadet State Team Coach for national wrestling tournaments held in Fargo, N.D. Following the 2005-06 season, he served as the head coach for Team New Jersey at the Junior National Duals. Goodale wrestled for Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, earning his bachelor's degree in Health and Physical education in 1995. He then went to New Jersey City University where he earned a certification in Special Education in 1997. As a collegiate wrestler, Goodale made three trips to the NCAA Championships, as well as placing second at the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) tournament twice in his career. During his time with the Bald Eagles, the team was ranked as high as ninth in the country. Goodale finished with 99 wins at Lock Haven. Goodale, and his wife Lisa, are the parents of Shelby and Zachary, and reside in Toms River.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Mike Finn and Ron Finley Finn is currently the editor of Wrestling International Newsmagazine. He was awarded the National Wrestling Media Association's Journalist of the Year for 2006. Finn will be providing a live update of the Junior Nationals, which are being held in Fargo, ND. Finley was the head wrestling coach at the University of Oregon for 27 years before retiring in 1998. As a wrestler he competed on the 1964 Olympic team and was an NCAA runner-up in 1963. University of Oregon Athletic Department announced on July 13 2007, the addition of Varsity Baseball and Competitive Cheerleading program, and the discontinuation of the Wrestling program. Finley is currently the Save Oregon Wrestling Director. "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.

SANTA ANA, CA –- Nine student-athletes from the Santa Ana College wrestling team will continue their academic and athletic careers at four-year universities. Freshmen Ivan Sanchez (125; Santiago HS) and Devin Velasquez (157; Tascosa HS) have both committed to Cal State Fullerton. CSUF competes in the Pac 10 Conference in the NCAA Division I. Sophomore Matt Mungo (165; Mission Viejo HS) has committed to San Francisco State. SFSU competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in NCAA Division II. Sophomores Jose Hernandez (125; Santa Ana HS), Jesse Ruiz (285; Santa Ana Valley HS), and Sabas Cruz (149; Santiago HS) have all committed to Menlo College. Menlo is located in Atherton, Calif., and competes in the West Region in the NAIA. Sophomore Eddie Sanchez (165; Santiago HS) has committed to Cumberland University. Cumberland is located in Lebanon, Tenn., and competes in the East Region in the NAIA. Sophomore Tom Eaton (174; Jefferson HS) has committed to Northwestern College. Northwestern is located in Orange City, Iowa and competes in the Great Plains Athletic Conference in the NAIA. Freshman Nicholas Reale (157; Canyon HS) has committed to Lindenwood University. Lindenwood is located in St. Charles, Mo., and competes in the East Region in the NAIA. The Santa Ana College wrestling team has established one of the highest transfer rates to four-year universities in the nation amongst all community college and junior college wrestling teams with a combined total of 15 Santa Ana College wrestlers who have transferred onto four-year universities over the past two years.

Fargo, ND -- NIACC wrestling recruit DaVaughn Perkins of Omaha, NE brought home the bronze medal at the 2007 Junior Greco National Championships recently held at the Fargodome in Fargo, ND. Perkins competed in the 145 pound weight class against many of the nation's top high school juniors and seniors. Perkins finished in third place defeating Luke Mellmer of North Dakota in the bronze medal match 6-0, 2-3, and 7-0. Perkins lone loss was to eventual national champion Jake Deitchler of Minnesota. The bronze medal was Perkins' third All-American honor in Fargo after claiming a Cadet National Championship in Greco-Roman and sixth place in Cadet Freestyle. Perkins was also a three-time undefeated state champion in Nebraska completing his high school career 86-0. Other NIACC recruits competing in Fargo were T.J. Moen (Saydel, IA) and Albert White (Harvey, IL). Both wrestlers have previously won national championships in Fargo, but fell short of placing in 2007. "I am very excited about all three of these dynamic young men and their abilities," stated Head Coach Richard Fergola. I am very happy for DaVaughn as well as TJ and Albert as they now prepare for doing great things at the college level. NIACC will be starting its first wrestling season since cutting the program in 1976. Coach Fergola's Trojans kick off their competitive schedule at home on November 3 with the Kaye Young/NIACC Open.

Portland- Portland State's head wrestling coach Mike Haluska announced the signing of freshman Alan Dickey and junior Henry Kofa to a national letter of intent for the 2007-08 season. Dickey had an extensive career at Willamina High School under PSU alum and 1993 All-American wrestler Ariah Fasana. Dickey qualified for the Oregon high school state tournament four times. He accumulated two championships and two third-place finishes. Recently, Dickey placed eighth at the 2007 Junior Greco National Tournament. He is the son of Vane and Denise Dickey of Sheridan, Ore. Kofa is coming to PSU as a transfer from Lassen Community College in Susanville, Calif., where he was a two time All-American. Kofa placed fifth as a freshman and second as a sophmore at the national tournament. Kofa graduated from Denver East High School where he won the 2004 Colorado high school state championships and was selected into the Denver East High School's Hall of Fame. He is the son of Rose Dunn and Randy Gallegos of Denver, Colo.

COLUMBUS, Ohio –- Ohio State wrestling assistant coaches and first-time U.S. World Team members Tommy Rowlands and Joe Heskett each won silver medals at the 2007 Pan American Games at the Riocentro Sports Complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Heskett and Rowlands competed in the two-day freestyle event that ran from July 27-28. Up next for the duo is the 2007 World Wrestling Championships Sept. 17-23 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Rowlands competed first Friday at 120 kg/264.5 pounds and defeated Gustavo Gattareo of Argentina, 7-0, 7-0, and Arjan Bhullar of Canada, 1-0, 1-0, to advance to the finals. It was in the championship match Rowlands faced past world champion Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba and dropped a 2-1, 3-0, decision. En route to the finals Saturday, Heskett, the OSU volunteer assistant coach, beat Maximo Blanco of Venezuela, 1-0, 2-0, and Matt Gentry of Canada, 1-3, 3-0, 2-0. In the championship bout, Heskett met Cuba's Ivan Fundora, a 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, and lost, 5-0, 3-1. Overall, the U.S. Wrestling Team finished with 17 medals in both the men and women's freestyle and Greco-Roman competitions. The U.S. medaled in every weight class entered at the Pan American Games.

Perhaps more than any other sport, wrestling seems to be a family affair. Usually when one youngster takes up the sport, the younger siblings follow big brother onto the mat. Terry and Fran McCannThat was the case with Terry and Francis McCann, two brothers whose contributions to wrestling extend far beyond their years as wrestlers in the 1950s and early 60s. The McCanns grew up on the northwest side of Chicago, "very much a working-class background" as Fran McCann describes it. Terry was the oldest of six siblings; Fran was six years younger. "Terry very much set the tone for the family, even later in life," recalls Fran. "We younger ones weren't afraid to ask him for advice. He really seemed to enjoy that." "He was more like a dad than a big brother to me." Terry and Fran were both competitive by nature, but rather small in stature. They both loved to play sports with the neighborhood boys … but found the sport they came to love for the rest of their lives, thanks to a wrestling program conducted on the local playground. Meet Terry McCann In a 2006 interview published in Mike Chapman's "Legends of the Mat", Terry McCann described the moment when he saw a photo in a magazine, and realized that he could excel at wrestling: "I was at a candy store and saw a picture of this little guy, Allie Morrison, getting a gold medal for wrestling. (Morrison won the gold at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.) I was very impressed. I thought he was just a little guy, and that if he could do something so special in sports, so could I. That was the start. I had a vision." Terry McCann realized that vision. He became an Illinois high school state champion, a two-time NCAA champion as a wrestler at the University of Iowa, and won the gold medal in freestyle competition at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Both Terry and Fran went to Carl Schurz High School in Chicago. "They didn't have the greatest coaches, but they always got us great competition," recalls Fran. Allie MorrisonTerry became a three-time Chicago city champion, and qualified for the 1952 Illinois high school state tournament his senior year. According to a story from the book "Little Men of the Mat" by Larry Fox, McCann came out for the 112-pound finals with a huge rip in his wrestling tights. It didn't affect his wrestling ability; Terry McCann pinned Louis Fatta of Maywood Proviso in just 37 seconds -- up to that time, the quickest finals match in Illinois state championship history. "I guess I had to win in a hurry, before my pants ripped any worse," Terry McCann was quoted as saying. Hawkeye hero While wrestling seemed to come easy for Terry McCann in high school, good grades had not. He realized his dream of being accepted to the University of Iowa … however, it was on a probationary basis. Terry worked hard to prove himself worthy academically. In his first year at Iowa City, Terry attacked the books with the same determination as he showed on the mat, and, as a freshman, earned a B average. Back in Terry's time, NCAA rules prohibited freshmen from varsity competition. When McCann became a sophomore, he qualified for the varsity team … and for the right to compete at the 1954 NCAAs in the 115-pound weight class. McCann's title hopes were dashed when he lost to eventual three-time college champ Hugh Peery of Pittsburgh in the semifinals 6-5. All was not lost; McCann earned All-American honors by placing third. According to "Legends of the Mat", it was early in Terry's career at Iowa that he met one of his childhood mat heroes, Bill Koll -- a three-time NCAA champ in the 1940s at what is now Northern Iowa, known for his fierce wrestling style, including punishing body slams. (Iowa coach Dave McCuskey had been Bill Koll's coach in college … one of the reasons Terry became a Hawkeye.) After one of McCann's matches, Koll came right to the point: "Quit dancing around out there. You go all out, attack every second you're on the mat. Attack, attack!" Terry McCann took the advice of the legendary wrestler and coach to heart -- and to the mat. His junior year, he won his first Big Ten title … only to top that achievement a couple weeks later with his first NCAA title, defeating Oklahoma State's Dave Bowlin in the 115-pound finals at the 1955 NCAAs at Cornell University. Senior year, Terry earned another Big Ten title, and his second 115-pound 1956 NCAA championship … this time, beating Bill Hulings of Pittsburgh in the finals. Just as impressive, in his last two years at Iowa, McCann never lost a match. The Midas touch After graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in commerce -- maintaining that B average he built right from the start -- Terry's wife Lucille urged him to realize that Olympic dream first kindled as a kid in a candy store, seeing the magazine photo of Allie Morrison with his gold medal. Because Terry thought the wrestling training opportunities were best in Oklahoma, the McCanns -- who had two children at the time -- moved from Chicago to Tulsa, where Terry took a job in an oil refinery. Terry McCannJust before the 1960 Olympic Trials, Terry injured his knee, and was unable to wrestle at the qualifier event. The Olympic Committee ruled that Terry could have another chance, so he went up against two-time NCAA champ Dave Auble from Cornell University. After winning their first match, Terry had another potential setback before the final match -- he collapsed from the heat, and was hospitalized. He came out of the hospital to win a place on the 1960 US Olympic team. At the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Terry McCann won his first three matches (the third by pin), but, in the fourth round, lost to Finland's Tauno Jaskari. However, the next day, he bounced back to pin Russia's Michail Shakov (who he had tied two years earlier) and got decisions in his last two bouts to win the gold medal in freestyle at 125 pounds. Golden … then, the toughest match yet After the Olympics, Terry McCann enjoyed a golden life. He continued to serve the sport he loved, as a volunteer coach in Chicago and for the Olympics, and as one of the founders of what is now USA Wrestling. In addition, he became an avid surfer and an executive in various organizations in that sport. Terry demonstrated his leadership skills away from the sports world, too. For more than a quarter-century, Terry served as executive director of Toastmasters International, which, under his leadership, experienced tremendous growth in terms of number of clubs and individual members. He and Lucille had a total of seven children and 18 grandchildren, and lived an active life in southern California. Then, in April 2005, Terry McCann was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a lung disease caused by asbestos, which the wrestler was exposed to in that refinery job in Oklahoma while training for the Olympics. He put up a tough fight, even filming a commercial to urge citizens to contact Congress about proposed legislation that would have prevented individuals like him from suing asbestos manufacturers, but passed away on June 7, 2006 at age 72. Lee Roy Smith, executive director for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma, said of Terry McCann, "Although his stature was small, his attitude, confidence, courage and leadership while representing the sport both nationally and internationally was that of a giant." A fellow Olympic wrestler and coach (and a 1950s NCAA champ for the University of Illinois), Werner Holzer, said, "During my 50 years in the sport of wrestling, as an athlete, coach and administrator, I have seen all the great wrestlers … Terry had it all; he was the most complete wrestler, the one who excelled the most in every aspect of the sport." Meet Fran McCann Francis J. McCann may be Terry's younger brother, but his career as wrestler and coach is uniquely rich with many accomplishments of his own. Fran was a four-time qualifier for the Illinois high school state tournament, and a four-time Chicago city wrestling champion. He earned a scholarship to Oklahoma State, the top college wrestling program in the country at the time, crafting his skills under the young-but-already accomplished head coach, Myron Roderick, who Fran describes as "the greatest at teaching technique." While with the Cowboys, Fran placed second in the Big Eight conference tournament. But Stillwater was a long way from Chicago, and, after two years, "I considered dropping out," Fran discloses, "but I decided to transfer to Iowa." Fran McCann, Tom Huff, and Shewyn Thorson in 1962While at the University of Iowa -- his brother Terry's alma mater -- Fran made a name for himself by earning All-American honors at the 1962 NCAAs held at Oklahoma State, placing fourth in the 115-pound weight class. "I gave Gray Simons his toughest match in the tournament," says Fran. (Lock Haven's Simons went on to win his third title.) Fran had thought he'd have two years of eligibility at Iowa, but the NCAA said he had only one year. According to the younger McCann, "At that time, in the Big Ten, you couldn't redshirt … I was really disappointed." Back to the Cowboy way It was at this point that Fran McCann decided to go back to Oklahoma State … not as a wrestler, but as an assistant to coach Myron Roderick. "I learned so much from Roderick," discloses Fran. "His mind was incredible. He was so advanced in his thinking … He wanted you to buy into his philosophy that technique was critically important to a wrestler's success." Fran McCannWhile in Stillwater the second time, Fran worked out with Oklahoma State wrestling sensation Yojiro Uetake -- a three-time NCAA champ for the Cowboys in the mid 1960s originally from Japan -– as he prepared for the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Fran also decided he wanted to be a college wrestling coach, so he soaked up knowledge from Cowboy coach Roderick, and earned his bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State. After graduating, big brother Terry -- by then, the owner of an Olympic gold medal -- suggested that Fran continue his education to fulfill his dream of being a coach. Fran earned his master's degree at St. Cloud State in Minnesota, then, staying in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, was hired by Winona State. Call him Coach McCann Fran McCann spent eight years at Winona State, where he coached wrestling and taught physical education. "It was a tough league -- Mankato, Bemidji, St Cloud," according to Fran. "We experienced a lot of success, despite having no scholarships, a $25 recruiting budget, and a $3,500 budget for the entire wrestling program. But we had men who truly loved the sport." While at the school in southeast Minnesota, Fran coached 25 NAIA All-Americans; his 1969-70 team was undefeated, and another team placed third in the NAIA championships. In 1976, Fran McCann moved up to Division I competition by heading south … to Indiana State University in Terre Haute, a school perhaps best-known as the alma mater of basketball superstar Larry Bird. In his decade as head coach, the McCann-led Sycamores accomplished great things … but the McCann era at ISU might be best known for the wrestling superstar he coached, Bruce Baumgartner, the only US wrestler to earn four Olympic medals. "He never won a New Jersey high school state title," says Fran. "(But) when he came here for his recruitment visit, I said, 'We've got to get this guy.' He was that impressive." Baumgartner did not qualify for the NCAAs his freshman year. McCann describes his heavyweight's sophomore year as being a "great season -- the year his confidence really grew." The Sycamore big man made it into the 1980 NCAA finals, where he met up with Oregon State's Howard Harris, who had pinned every one of his opponents up to the finals. Despite getting a takedown on Harris -- the first scored against him in two years -- Baumgartner was pinned in the third period. (Harris is the last wrestler to pin his way through the NCAAs.) Junior year, Bruce Baumgartner racked up an incredible 42-1 record, but met the same fate at the 1981 NCAA heavyweight finals as the previous year, this time, suffering the fall at the hands of Iowa's Lou Banach. However, under coach McCann's guidance, Baumgartner had a perfect 44-0 senior season, capped off by defeating Oklahoma's Steve "Dr. Death" Williams in the finals to win the 1982 NCAA heavyweight title … the first national wrestling title for Indiana State. Notre Dame years Fran McCann recalls the day when the assistant athletic director from the University of Notre Dame came to Indiana State, asking for recommendations for possible wrestling coaches. After Fran offered some names, the visitor said, "What about you?" Within weeks, the McCann family was moving from Terre Haute up to South Bend. Fran served as head coach of the Notre Dame wrestling team for eight seasons, where the Fighting Irish compiled a 50-53-1 record, taking on the top teams in the country. Fran McCannThen, the shocking news: Notre Dame announced it was eliminating wrestling as a sport. "I went to the AD about another matter, and he told me ‘We're dropping the program,'" remembers Fran. "It was a total surprise, no warning." "I had to tell the wrestlers. I will never forget the shock and hurt on their faces." In a quote from a 1993 article from the "Notre Dame Observer", junior wrestler Emil Soehnien said, "He really didn't have to say much. His tears said about it all." "The person who had endowed the [wrestling] program had died," recalls Fran in an interview for this article. "The school redistributed the funds. The family was very upset -- felt the school had gone against their loved one's wishes." "What made it especially sad was all that had been accomplished – we had placed the highest in Notre Dame's history -- and what was to come … I was fully expecting us to have our best-ever year the following season." At the time of the announcement, Fran McCann was offered -- and accepted -- a teaching position at Notre Dame, where he still teaches physical education to incoming freshmen. He is also a volunteer wrestling coach at a high school in the South Bend area. "There is an effort to revive the program," reports the former Fighting Irish wrestling coach. "There was a big reunion last year, very influential alumni. They're having an alumni outing next week." Looking back on his coaching career, Francis McCann can be proud of the lives he shaped, and the honors awarded. He earned NAIA Wrestling Coach of the Year honors in 1970, and was inducted into the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1986. In April 2007, Fran received a lifetime of service award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame at a dinner hosted by the Minnesota chapter. In September, he will be inducted into the Winona State Athletic Hall of Fame. Memories of Terry Fran McCann has a wide range of powerful memories about his late brother, Terry. Fran and Terry McCann"His quote, 'If you're ever satisfied, you don't progress' reflected the way he lived his life," says Fran. "The gold medal was his life goal. Becoming a CEO was another life goal. He kept reflecting that idea to me –- to keep striving. That's a belief that I still hold." "He was so tenacious. He had to work hard for everything … He had an incredible work ethic." "Pound for pound, probably the strongest guy I ever knew," recalls Fran. "He didn't lift weights but did a lot of rope climbing." "I think he may have been the toughest guy of his era," says Fran. "I've the scars to prove it." And a great story to back up those scars: "When Terry was preparing for the 1960 Olympics, we worked out together at the Tulsa Y. We were the only two in the room. It was the summer, incredibly hot. We were really battling. It was especially intense because we knew each other moves so well, we could anticipate the other guy … At one point, Terry said, 'Go get cleaned up.' I was a bloody, sweaty mess. I looked like I had been beaten up. As we got up to leave the room, we discovered that a father and his two kids had been watching us. They had these shocked looks on their faces." With their involvement in wrestling, both Terry and Fran McCann left so much on the mat … and made the sport much richer for it.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue University wrestling head coach Scott Hinkel announced the hiring of assistant coach Glen Lanham on Monday. Lanham comes to Purdue after four years at the University of North Carolina, where he worked primarily with the middle to upper weight classes and coordinated the Tarheels' recruiting efforts. "Glen brings outstanding credentials and a wealth of coaching experience to our program," said Hinkel. "He fills a great need in the assistance he will bring to our middle weight classes, and we're very excited to have as a part of the Purdue wrestling team." In his time in Chapel Hill, Lanham tutored four Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champions and nine NCAA Championships qualifiers. He also went to great lengths to improve the Tarheels' program, bringing in an Intermat Wrestling Top-25 recruiting class in 2006-07. Prior to UNC, Lanham worked as a high school teacher and wrestling coach in Oklahoma from 1991-2003. He was at Midwest City High School for seven years, where he mentored several state champions and sent them on to prestigious college programs. While at Midwest City, he was also volunteering his time at Oklahoma University with several All-Americans. Lanham served as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State University (OSU) from 1988-1991, helping the Cowboys to a pair of NCAA Championships. As a college competitor, he garnered All-American honors at both OSU and the University of Tennessee, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in human service with an emphasis in juvenile counseling in August of 1988. He competed internationally post-college as a member of the Sunkist Kids team and was freestyle wrestling All-American. "I'm very excited about my opportunities at Purdue," said Lanham. "It will be great to reunite with my former teammate Tom Erikson and work with Scott Hinkel. It's an honor to work within a premier conference like the Big Ten and I'm looking forward to recruiting against the other teams in the region. I'm proud to be a part of the direction that Purdue wrestling is heading." A native of Lindenhurst, New York, Lanham and his wife Melanie will join the Boilermakers in West Lafayette in August.

WEST POINT, N.Y. –- Army wrestling coach Chuck Barbee announced today that Ryan Wilman has been named an assistant coach for the Black Knights. The former West Virginia team captain joins the staff after spending last season as an assistant coach at James Madison in Harrisonburg, Virginia. "I am very excited to have Ryan join the Army wrestling staff," said Barbee. "He is a super motivated coach and is anxious to start making a difference in all facets of our program. His experience competing and coaching will give our upper weight classes a huge boost, while his passion for wrestling and coaching will surely help our young men realize their goals on the mat." Wilman totaled over 80 wins during his four-year career at West Virginia, competing in the 184-lb. weight class his first two years, before moving down to 174 for his junior and senior campaigns. An Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Academic All-American in 2003, he was also a member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll during all four years as a Mountaineer. Wilman was a member of three EWL Championship teams and ranked in the top-20 nationally all four years at WVU. Voted team captain for his final two seasons, he graduated with Bachelor of Arts in history with a minor in communications in 2005. Wilman was also a two-time Georgia State High School Champion, compiling a 172-14 record, while garnering All-America and Academic All-America honors at Harrison H.S. Wilman spent one year as a special education teacher and assistant wrestling coach at McEachern High School in his home town of Powder Springs, Georgia. He guided a trio of Class 5A State Champions, and four more state runners-up on his way to being named the 2005-06 Georgia State High School Athletic Association Assistant Wrestling Coach of the Year. Wilman was named an assistant coach at James Madison in the fall of 2006, shortly before the Dukes announced that 10 sports were to be dropped from the department, including the wrestling program, the following year. Before his departure, he was responsible for helping with all facets of the team including technique sessions, travel coordination, recruiting and scouting Wilman is also a veteran camp clinician, serving as a senior counselor and technician at the WVU Wrestling Camp for four years, while also instructing at the Mike Mason All-America Camp. He additionally served as the social chairperson for the Mountaineer Student Athlete Advisory Committee for two years as well. "It is a great honor to have the opportunity to work at West Point," said Wilman. "From the first day I stepped foot on post, I could feel how special this place was. I am thrilled to be working with such a great coaching staff as well as the cadet-athletes. They possess the same unique character traits that not only produce national champions and All-Americans, but Army officers a well."

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma, thanks in large part to former wrestler Rodney Thornton, is set to launch a $2.4 million project at the McCasland Field House. The bulk of the construction will include a $1.3 million addition to the Port Robertson Wrestling Center. The facility serves as the practice venue for the Sooner wrestling team. Ground will be broken on the project, which will also address the existing structure, later this month. Construction should be concluded in August 2008. The lead gift for the project was made by Thornton, a former Sooner wrestler, who contributed $1 million. The Norman businessman wrestled under Stan Abel and attended OU from 1987-91. "The university is grateful to Rodney Thornton for his generous gift and to others who joined with him to make this improvement possible," said OU President David L. Boren. OU Vice President for Athletics Program and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione appreciates the involvement of a former Sooner athlete. "Few things are more rewarding than those times when former student-athletes involve themselves in our programs the way Rodney Thornton has on this project," he said. "This is a testimony to the tremendous educational and athletic experience at Oklahoma. We are proud of Rodney's accomplishments and are grateful for his support." Current Sooner wrestling coach Jack Spates is thrilled with the addition to his team's practice facility. "The greatness of Sooner wrestling is due to the talents of many wrestlers and the faithful generosity of others," he said. "This gift from Rod Thornton is a demonstration of his incredible success and loyalty to the program he devoted himself to - first as a student-athlete and now as a successful businessman." Plans include an expansion and renovation of the Port Robertson Wrestling Facility. The 9,600 square-foot addition will be built on the north side of the existing facility. It will house three official size practice mats, practice observation area and open area for weight training. There also will be renovation in the existing wrestling facility to provide a new team room, separate club team practice area and team training room for both wrestling and volleyball. The renovation will include minor demolition of existing partitions and finishes, placement of new walls, doors and finishes as well as revised mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems as required. The project will also include renovation of approximately 2,450 gross square feet of existing space in the McCasland Field House. That work includes construction of three visiting team locker rooms and ground floor public restrooms & concessions.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Mike Finn, Jim Gruenwald and Wayne Boyd. Finn is currently the editor of Wrestling International Newsmagazine. He was awarded the National Wrestling Media Association's Journalist of the Year for 2006. Finn will be providing a live update of the Junior Nationals, which are being held in Fargo, ND. A 2004 Olympian, 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. Boyd was an NCAA champion in 1969 for Temple University at 123 pounds. A long-time supporter of wrestling, Boyd produced and starred in his own movie "One More Shot". Boyd recently produced a new wrestling video entitled "Champions of Champions". This video features interviews with 15 wrestling champions including Dan Gable, John Smith, Tom Brands, Bruce Baumgartner, and Kenny Monday. "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 MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "us.f592.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

Brute Adidas is proud to present this weeks Takedown Wrestling Radio on the road as we will be broadcasting 2 big shows on Saturday July 21st LIVE from Oklahoma City, Ok. Show #1: We'll be joined in person by several guests including World of Wrestling Tournament Director Jack Roller, newly signed Team Takedown Member Shane Roller, John Rizzuti of the Rizzuti/Austin marketing Group and Team Takedown Founder Ted Ehrhardt. Joining us on the Live Line will be: Old Dominion Head Coach Steve Martin. Life after Lee Pritts? You bet. The Old Dominion train keeps on a rolling along! Who will take Pritts' place. Tune in and find out. Virginia Cavaliers Head Coach Steve Garland. What's the recruiting news like for this 2nd year Cavaliers Head Coach? Kevin Dresser, Head Coach of Virginia Tech. Now that the dust has settled lets get down to it it with Coach Dresser. His staff is one of the best in the land. Rider University Head Coach Gary Taylor talks about asst. John Hangey and what its like being the winning est active coach in D 1. Show #2: This will be a FREE LIVE broadcast of the Masters of the Cage Professional MMA event scheduled for the evening of the 21st. This broadcast is made possible by a generous grant from Ted Ehrhardt and his family. The event will feature the Professional MMA debut of Team Takedown Members Jake Rosholt (OSU) and Eric Bradley (PSU). This broadcast will start at 7:30 PM and can be heard only at Takedownradio.com. join Scott Casber, John Rizzuti, Ted Ehrhardt and others Saturday night for a special TDR broadcast Live from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

DALLAS -- The National Collegiate Wrestling Association has officially announced the addition of a Women's Collegiate Division for the upcoming 2007-2008 season. This monumental addition will provide the only post high school collegiate style venue for women, thus catering to a deeply underserved wrestling population. "We are excited to lead the way and act as pioneers for women's wrestling" said NCWA Executive Director, Jim Giunta. "Women's wrestling is rapidly growing across the nation on the youth and high school level, but there are very few options for them on the college level." Currently there are just under 5,000 girls wrestling in high school nationwide. Only a total of six colleges offer women's freestyle teams and until this announcement, absolutely zero post high school opportunities to wrestle women's collegiate style wrestling. Going into its 11th year, the NCWA currently has nearly 150 colleges and universities across the nation with successful men's wrestling programs. With a strong core structure already in place, adding a women's division to run along side the men's should allow for a seamless and well received inaugural first year. The NCWA is committed to providing and expanding athletic leadership opportunities through involvement in collegiate style wrestling. With a strong commitment to providing and expanding collegiate style wrestling opportunities, the NCWA's Goal is to have over 300 Universities actively competing intercollegiately by 2012. That's more teams than the NCAA DI, DII and DIII currently have combined. With a bold Goal, so comes a bold Vision. The Vision of having a team at every college…every private, every public, every junior, every community college, every trade school, every secondary institution that wants to grow leaders. Although the men's and women's wrestling divisions will be conducted separately, they will operate under almost identical rules and regulations as set forth by the National Collegiate Wrestling Association and the team's respected institutions. Since 1997, NCWA events have provided over 100,000 additional college matches to over 9,000 student athletes. These graduates would not have been afforded college competition without the expanded opportunities provided by NCWA member institutions' coaches and volunteers. About the National Collegiate Wrestling Association: The National Collegiate Wrestling Association is committed to providing and expanding Athletic Leadership Opportunities through involvement in Collegiate Style Wrestling. The NCWA is designed to be a spawning ground for America's Leaders. NCWA Students not only excel athletically and compete well with their NCAA counterparts, but NCWA Wrestlers take athletics to another level. NCWA Student Athletes learn more than just how to wrestle, they Learn Leadership skills. Through a wrestling team model students not only learn, but get practical applied leadership skills. Some of which include: group organizational management, business budgeting, proposal and presentation planning, fund raising, motivational speaking, winning attitude, transportation coordination, and many other leadership skills necessary to make their team a success both on and off the mat. NCWA Administration is 100% Volunteer. From the Executive Director and Board to the Conference Chairmen and Committees, the NCWA is the only National Wrestling Association that is 100 % Volunteer. That means 100% of any money earned goes to work providing serious opportunities for today's young people.

MMA history will be made this night as Oklahoma State's own three-time NCAA wrestling champion Jake Rosholt and his Team Takedown teammate, Penn State's Eric Bradley, make their professional MMA debuts at Masters Of The Cage XV. When: Saturday, July 21, 8:00 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Where: Coca Cola Bricktown Event Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Tickets: From $20. Available at www.fightpass.com or 888-377-2229 Team Takedown: Jake Rosholt -- Three-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American Eric Bradley -- All-American/National boxing champ Johny Hendricks -- Two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American Shane Roller -- Three-time All-American and Big 12 champion Ted Ehrhardt -- Managing Partner -- TTD www.teamtakedownfighters.com Scott Casber –- Host -- "Takedown Radio" www.takedownradio.com Team Takeodown signs another elite wrestler Shane Roller has joined Team Takedown as elite fighter number four, alongside Jake Rosholt, Johny Hendricks and Eric Bradley. Shane's MMA training will begin with Guy Mezger at Lion's Den in Dallas and continue at world champion Randy Couture's Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas. Listen on the Internet Those Who Can't Make it to MOTC XV can hear it via the Internet, at www.takedownradio.com live, free-of-charge: host Scott Casber will be joined by one of the Southwest's leading MMA fight experts, John "JR" Rizzuti (www.insidetexaswrestling.com) during MOTC XV and for the regular broadcast of "Takedown Wrestling Radio," 9-11 a.m. Saturday.

To: National Wrestling Community Fr: Mike Moyer, Executive Director �- National Wrestling Coaches Association Re: "Call to Action" -- Save University of Oregon Wrestling Date: July 10, 2007 As many of you have probably already heard, the University of Oregon wrestling program is in imminent danger of being dropped to make room for baseball and one or more additional women's sports. There have been numerous newspaper articles written about this possibility although the university administration has remained mostly silent on the issue. We would like to make an urgent request to the entire northwest U.S. wrestling community to voice your concern, via e-mail or faxed letter to the following University of Oregon officials (please do not wait to act on this request): Dr. Dave Frohnmayer Mr. Pat Kilkenny President, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics University of Oregon University of Oregon 110 Johnson Hall 2727 Leo Harris Pkw Eugene, OR 97403-1226 Eugene, OR 97401-8835 Phone: 541-346-3036 Phone: 541-346-5432 Fax: 541-346-3017 Fax: 541-346-5031 pres@uoregon.edu kilkenny@uoregon.edu In your letter/e-mail, please be sure to convey the following speaking points: * Intercollegiate Wrestling fully supports the mission of University of Oregon athletics, PAC10, and the NCAA. Specifically, one of the main objectives stated on the www.goducks.com website is: "To provide educational opportunities for those interested in athletics-related careers, such as coaching, teaching or administration." This is particularly important to note because historically, the University of Oregon wrestling program has played a major role in replenishing the depleted pool of high school and middle school teachers/wrestling coaches in the Northwest. In fact, in the Northwest U.S., there are approximately 33,000 high school wrestlers and only nine NCAA intercollegiate wrestling teams (about 270 college roster spots). * Eliminating the University of Oregon wrestling team could force the entire PAC10 Wrestling Conference to dissolve based on having too few PAC 10 schools sponsoring wrestling. * University of Oregon is virtually guaranteed a nationally competitive wrestling team simply by sponsoring the sport. On average, approximately 80-85% of all D-I schools with a wrestling program will advance at least one wrestler to the NCAA's each year. This is primarily because we have approximately 250,000 high school wrestlers and only 220 NCAA member institutions with wrestling teams. * The elite academic reputation of University of Oregon is very similar to the IVY League schools. Even without scholarships, several IVY League wrestling programs (i.e. Cornell, Pennsylvania, etc) are among our most nationally competitive wrestling programs. * Intercollegiate wrestling is relatively inexpensive to sponsor based on the NCAA's cost per student-athlete estimates. * University of Oregon has a rich wrestling tradition as evidenced by having 2 NCAA Champions, 31 NCAA All Americans, and 6 Olympic team members. Further, University has one distinguished member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. * If it is in the best interest of University of Oregon to have baseball, it doesn't have to be at the expense of wrestling. Let's work together to have both. As you convey your thoughts, please be respectful of the university administration. We want to always take the high road. Make sure the key decision makers know that the regional and national wrestling community stand ready to help the administration develop a plan that ensures the future of their varsity wrestling program. While the grass roots wrestling community conveys the above-mentioned speaking points, the NWCA will be working with prominent University of Oregon alumni, business leaders, and politicians to promote similar messages. In addition, the NWCA is working to host its signature event, the NWCA All Star Classic, in Eugene or a nearby location on November 19, 2007. This will provide us with an opportunity rally the entire wrestling community to take any further steps that might be necessary.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Howie Miller and Wayne Boyd. Miller recently produced and directed the documentary "Veritas". This film is a feature-length documentary about the senior wrestling season of Jon Trenge as he strives to achieve his childhood dream of becoming an NCAA champion for his hometown school of Lehigh University. Miller graduated from the University of Virginia where he was an ACC wrestling champion and a two-time NWCA Academic All-American. He has also worked as a producer on SCIFI Channel, ABC, and FOX's Best Damn Sports Show, Period. Boyd was an NCAA champion in 1969 for Temple University at 123 pounds. A long-time supporter of wrestling, Boyd produced and starred in his own movie "One More Shot". Boyd recently produced a new wrestling video entitled "Champions of Champions". This video features interviews with 15 wrestling champions including Dan Gable, John Smith, Tom Brands, Bruce Baumgartner, and Kenny Monday. "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.

BUFFALO, NY -- Head wrestling coach Jim Beichner has announced the hiring of Paul Bradley as UB's assistant wrestling coach. Bradley brings impressive credentials with him as he spent one season on the coaching staff at Indiana and he was a two-time All-American at the University of Iowa. In his first season at Indiana, Bradley helped lead the Hoosiers to a 10-5 dual-meet record and a fifth place finish at the Big Ten Championships. Ultimately, Indiana finished 14th at the 2007 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Bradley worked with the higher weight classes at Indiana. "I am very excited for the opportunity that was given to me by Coach Beichner," said Bradley. "I am looking forward to recruiting as well as bringing my style of wrestling from Iowa to UB. I was drawn to the position because I know Coach Beichner and I have the same philosophy and that is that we won't settle for anything less than a winner." During his career at Iowa, Bradley wrestled anywhere from 184 pounds to heavyweight. His sophomore and junior seasons saw him garner All-American status at 184 pounds, where he competed for the majority of his career. In 2003-04, Bradley went 26-12, placing second in the Big Ten and finishing fourth at the NCAA Tournament. That year, he recorded five major decisions and six pins for Iowa. In 2004-05, Bradley followed up his first All-American selection with a second, this time finishing fifth in the nation. It capped off a 24-9 season for the junior, who brought home a fourth-place finish in the 184-pound division at the Big Ten Championships. Bradley finished his career with a 16-10 mark as a senior, wrapping up his final Big Ten tourney with a seventh place finish. He advanced to the NCAAs, but was unable to succeed in his quest for a third straight All-American nod. "We are thrilled to bring in somebody with the collegiate wrestling experience of Paul Bradley," said Beichner. "When he wrestled at Iowa he was known as an 'old school' type wrestler. He can get very intense on the mat, but what will make him a good recruiter is his ability to turn off that intensity when he has to. He is a great technician like our current assistant coach, Jeff Catribone, and he will have a positive impact not just on the heavyweight wrestlers, but on the entire team."

When Brent Metcalf steps on the mat for the Iowa Hawkeyes this season at 149 pounds, it will mark one of the most anticipated debuts ever for a collegiate wrestler. As a prep, Metcalf compiled a perfect 228-0 mark and won four state titles for Davison High School in Michigan. He also captured six Junior Nationals titles in Fargo. Brent MetcalfMetcalf redshirted at Virginia Tech during the 2005-06 season before transferring last year to the University of Iowa, after Tom Brands was hired as head coach of the Hawkeyes. Metcalf, though, was ineligible to compete last year because Virginia Tech refused to release him from his scholarship. Metcalf competed unattached last year and compiled a 14-0 record, which included tournament titles at the Kaufman-Brand, Northern Iowa, and Glen Brand Opens. He also tested the waters in numerous senior-level freestyle events such as the Sunkist Kids International Open, Clansmen International, Dave Schultz Memorial, U.S. Nationals, and most recently the U.S. World Team Trials. InterMat recently caught up with Metcalf and asked him if he harbors any hard feels towards Virginia Tech, what makes Tom Brands a great coach, his thoughts on his performance at the U.S. World Team Trials, who he sees as the biggest threat at 149 pounds, and what it's going to take for the Hawkeyes to bring home the title this season. Obviously a lot has been made of the Virginia Tech situation, so I don't want to focus too much on that. But with everything that has happened, do you harbor any hard feeling towards Virginia Tech? Metcalf: No, I don't have any hard feelings. They had the right to do what they did … and that's what they chose to do. Obviously, it didn't work favorably towards me, but it was their right. It was too bad they had to punish us that way, but it is what it is. There are several wrestlers who are very loyal to Tom Brands. Mike Zadick and Doug Schwab quickly come to mind. It's obvious how much Tom Brands means to you and your wrestling career. What makes him such a great coach? Metcalf: Just the type of person he is. It's his intensity and his passion for wrestling. He really gets you excited about the sport. He cares about you. He cares about your family. He cares about your friends. He's just a good guy. All of that put together makes you want to do anything in the world for him. Describe Dan Gable's influence in the Iowa wrestling program. Metcalf: I think Gable just brings back the mystique of Iowa wrestling. He brings it to light. His role in the room right now is to be a positive influence and take us in the direction we want to go. The wrestling room at Iowa has quite a stable of very talented wrestlers around your weight. Who do you typically work out with? Metcalf: There are a lot of guys. Probably the guys I train with the most are Ryan Morningstar, Matt Ballweg, and Mark Perry. Those are probably the main guys I wrestle with the most. Do you work out with assistant coaches Doug Schwab and Mike Zadick much? Metcalf: Oh yeah, and then the coaches … definitely Schwab and Zadick a lot too. How about Tom Brands? Metcalf: I wrestled with him one time at Virginia Tech, but he's getting to be kind of like Gable. He needs about 45 minutes to warm up. He doesn't get at it every day. He's on the mat for sure. He's suited up and ready to go every day. At the U.S. World Team Trials last month, you went 2-2. You defeated Joe Johnston and Kendall Cross, but lost to Jared Frayer and Eric Larkin. How would you characterize your performance? Metcalf: Good, but not good enough. I personally feel like I'm right there with them, but I need to definitely step it up … maturity-wise and smartness on the mat. I'm right in every one of those matches. I just made little mistakes … and those mistakes can't be there. It was a good performance, but not good enough for me to go 2-2. Two seasons ago, while redshirting at Virginia Tech, you watched Dustin Schlatter win the NCAA title as a true freshman. What went through your mind after watching Schlatter win his NCAA title? Metcalf: It confirmed what I knew in my mind, which was that I'm the best in the country. It confirms to me that I can achieve the things that I want to achieve. How hard was it sitting out another collegiate season and watching Gregor Gillespie, a wrestler you defeated at the NHSCA Senior Nationals, win the NCAA title this past March at 149 pounds? Metcalf: It wasn't fun by any means. But at the same time, I'm not going to sit here and dwell on it. The worst part about it was that it was in my hometown. But you know what, it is what it is. By that point, I already accepted it. You were very active competing in freestyle this past season. You competed at the Sunkist Kids International Open in October, Dave Schultz Memorial, U.S. Nationals, U.S. World Team Trials. Did you ever seriously consider taking an Olympic redshirt this coming season? Metcalf: I guess it was a possibility, but I didn't want to do it. I needed to get on the mat. These two years have been tough enough. Even my freshman year, I wanted to wrestle, but Tom wanted me to redshirt for whatever reason. It's been two years where I've been itching to wrestle … and I couldn't. In my mind, it wasn't a possibility. Do you have aspirations of wrestling on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team? Metcalf: Absolutely. Do you favor one style of wrestling, freestyle or folkstyle, over another? Metcalf: I guess that I enjoy freestyle a little bit more. It's more fun. But at the same time, when you break it down it's all the same. A takedown is a takedown. The fundamentals of wrestling are in each of them. To me, they're both the same. You just have to wrestle differently in each one. For wrestling fans that have never seen you compete, how would you describe your wrestling style to them? Tom BrandsMetcalf: Aggressive, relentless, attack. Staying on my opponent, staying in his face. Would it be fair to call your style the throwback Iowa style? Metcalf: I guess that's what I try to do. That's how I was raised. I was raised with videos of Tom and Terry Brands. My coach said, 'If you want to be good wrestlers, you have to exactly what these guys do.' You're never identical those guys. No one will ever be. But that's the attitude I try to carry with my wrestling. Looking ahead to your competition this season at 149 pounds, which wrestler do you see posing the biggest threat to your NCAA title hopes? Metcalf: There are a lot of guys out there. It's one heck of a weight class. It's deep. It's guys that I've competed with in the past. I know where I'm at. I just have to go out and perform. Will anything less than an NCAA title be a disappointing season? Metcalf: Yeah, I guess. I'm going out there to win an NCAA title. Period. I don't really like to use the term 'disappointing season' … it sounds kind of like a downer. I expect to win every time. Your high school teammate at Davison, Jonathan Reader, is expected to be in the lineup for Iowa State this coming season. Do you still stay in touch with him? And what's it like having one of your high school teammates competing for your rival school? Metcalf: You know, I don't stay in touch with him. I try to. I've called him, but I haven't really talked to him much. I think he takes the rivalry a little more seriously than I do. I'm really excited for him. It's really cool that we ended up wrestling in the state. Is it realistic to think the Hawkeyes could win the NCAA team title in 2008? And if so, what is it going to take? Metcalf: I think it's very realistic. But it's going to take a lot of growing up and a lot of good, solid wrestling. It's going to take a lot of guys maturing and performing to their ability. Ability-wise, we have it on our team. We just have to get the guys to go out there and perform like they can.

Mason City, IA -- NIACC Head Wrestling Coach Richard Fergola announced today that former Iowa State University wrestler and one of the most highly decorated high school wrestlers in Iowa, TJ Sebolt has joined his coaching staff. Sebolt, from Centerville, IA, completed his high school career at Centerville with four Iowa state titles and a stellar career record of 207 wins and only one loss. Sebolt's 207 victories is an Iowa high school record. Other records that Sebolt holds is Most Consecutive Wins with 197 and Most Pins with 137. Sebolt also claimed the 2003 Junior National Freestyle Championship in Fargo, ND. At the collegiate level, Sebolt spent the 2006-07 season competing for Cael Sanderson at Iowa State and won the prestigious University of Nebraska-Omaha Kaufman-Brand Open at 141 pounds as a red-shirt, but did not compete after that due to a shoulder injury. Most recently, Sebolt finished in 6th place at the Junior FILA Freestyle Championships in Las Vegas, NV. at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Sebolt's duties will be primarily focusing on the smaller weights at NIACC. "I am very excited to get a young man like TJ on our staff," stated Coach Fergola. He will only add to the competitiveness in our room and will elevate our smaller weights tremendously. We are very lucky to have TJ and he is very excited about coaching." NIACC will be starting their inaugural wrestling season since cutting the program in 1976. Head Coach Richard Fergola has put together a 35 man roster for their first season and they kick off their competitive schedule at home on November 3rd with the Kaye Young/NIACC Open.

Ask a wrestler why he or she took up the sport, and many times the response is, "My dad was a wrestler." One can imagine that there might be considerable pressure on a youngster whose dad was a three-time NCAA champ (winning NCAA tournament Outstanding Wrestler honors twice) and long-time coach at the University of Northern Iowa and at Penn State. Yet Rob Koll -- an NCAA champion himself who has been head coach at Cornell University for more than a decade -- never experienced any arm-twisting from his father, legendary wrestler/coach Bill Koll. Product of a wrestling hotbed Rob Koll grew up in a wrestling environment. He was born and raised in State College, Pennsylvania, which is not only home to major wrestling powerhouse Penn State University, but also situated in the heart of one of the amateur wrestling hotbeds of the U.S. Yet it doesn't necessarily matter where the Kolls lived; it would have been, by nature, a wrestling-intense atmosphere. Rob Koll"I was the baby of the family, with brothers who were wrestlers," says Rob Koll. "It was natural I'd take up wrestling as a form of self-defense." "They beat the tar out of me on a regular basis. Not that I didn't deserve it sometimes. But it served as the best training ground." "My day care was the Penn State wrestling room," continues Rob, whose father Bill was head coach of the Nittany Lions from 1965 until his retirement in 1979. "By being around it, I picked up things by osmosis. I got a 'feel' for it just from being in the room." "My heroes growing up were guys like Rick Lorenzo (1968 EIWA champ and NCAA All-American at 191 pounds; Penn State head coach 1979-1992) and Andy Matter (1971-72 EIWA and NCAA champ at 167 pounds)." Rob's first taste of organized wrestling -- beyond the living room and the PSU wrestling room -- came in the fifth grade, when he entered a Takedown Tournament … and won it. His wrestling career in the Keystone State culminated with winning a Pennsylvania state title while competing at State College Area High School. From Little Lion to Tar Heel "Other than Penn State, North Carolina was the only school actively recruiting me out of high school," says Rob. "By this point, Dad had retired … I thought it would be neat to get out of town." Rob Koll headed south to Chapel Hill, where he made a name for himself on the mats for the University of North Carolina. He became the winningest wrestler in the history of the Tar Heels -- and Atlantic Coast Conference -- compiling a 150-20-1 record. Rob claimed three ACC individual titles, helping the Tar Heels win the conference team title those same three years. In addition, Rob was twice selected to represent UNC at the National Wrestling Coaches Association's All-Star event, winning both times … and traveled with the NWCA All-Star team to Italy. Rob also earned the distinction of being the first UNC wrestler to become a four-time All-American. He placed eighth in the 150-pound weight class at the 1985 NCAAs, and came in third at the 1986 and '87 NCAAs at 158 pounds. The younger Koll capped off his college career by winning the 158-pound title at the 1988 NCAAs at Iowa State; the top-seeded Tar Heel pinned sixth-seeded Joe Pantaleo of the University of Michigan at 1:14 in the finals. Rob KollWhen asked to recall his feelings at the time of being crowned NCAA champ as a senior, Rob Koll said, "After the match, it was more a relief to finally win … My dad was a presenter in my weight class, and I think I had a feeling of 'I better win this and not embarrass the family.'" Rob does have one negative memory from winning the NCAA title: what he terms a "lack of respect" on the part of the community in Chapel Hill. "There wasn't much coverage nor acknowledgement of me winning a national title … It was very much a basketball school." "During the regular season, we'd call up folks and beg them to come to our dual meets. It was strange to wrestle in front of fewer people in college than I did all through high school." "By contrast, the situation here at Cornell is much different. We're blessed with support from the administration, from the fans, and the media." Coming to Cornell Upon graduation from North Carolina with a degree in communication, Rob Koll worked as an assistant wrestling coach at his college alma mater, and competed internationally, winning the title at the 1989 Pan Am Games, placing fifth at the 1991 World Championships, and serving as an alternate on the 1992 U.S. Olympic team. But he was destined for even bigger things. An April 2007 article at Sports Illustrated's "SI On Campus" Web site opens with how Rob Koll found himself on the coaching staff at Cornell: "One day 18 years ago, Rob Koll came home from working at a wrestling clinic in Chapel Hill, NC, and his wife told him she had accepted a job on his behalf as an assistant wrestling coach at Cornell University. "'The week prior to that we were scraping under our mud mats in our car looking for quarters and nickels, anything to buy a Subway sub. And that's a true story,' he remembers. 'I spoke with the head coach (at that time, Jack Spates, now Oklahoma Sooner head coach) and I said, 'Hey, I don't mean to insult you, but is Cornell even any good?' And he said, 'No, but we are going to be good.'" Big Red success Five years after Rachel Koll had said yes to a job for her husband at Cornell, Rob became head coach of the Big Red … and in thirteen seasons, has built a wrestling powerhouse that is respected far beyond its home in upstate New York. Since Koll took the helm, Cornell can claim three individual NCAA champs … twenty-two Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association individual titles, and one EIWA team title … and eight Ivy League titles. During the nearly two decades that Rob Koll has been at the Ithaca, New York school, the Big Red have placed in the top twenty in the team standings at the NCAAs eight times, finishing as high as fourth at the 2005 NCAAs. That year, Koll was named NWCA Division I Coach of the Year, and also earned WIN-Magazine's Dan Gable Coach of the Year honors. The past few years, Cornell has been well-represented at the NCAAs. In 2007, Rob Koll brought eight men to the Palace at Auburn Hills -- the same number of wrestlers that competed at the 2003, 2004 and 2006 NCAAs. At the most recent NCAAs, four Cornell wrestlers earned All-American honors: Troy Nickerson finished in third place at 125 pounds, Jerry Rinaldi came in sixth at 197, and Jordan Leen (149) and Josh Arnone (184) took eighth in their respective weight classes. Rob Koll (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)That may not be enough for Rob Koll. In the Sports Illustrated article, he's quoted as saying, "People are telling us how great we did for the season (and) I feel like General Custer after the last stand. That's how I feel about the national tournament; we had a great year, but I just got scalped. What good does that do me?" However, under Rob Koll's leadership, Cornell has undergone an amazing transformation. "When I came here, there was just one state champ on the roster," says Coach Koll in an interview for this profile. "We had just one wrestling mat." "The program has grown tremendously. We have a beautiful new facility (the Friedman Wrestling Center, the only stand-alone college wrestling facility in the country)… We have incredible alumni and fan support." Dad would be proud of all that his youngest son has accomplished. Meet Bill Koll Bill Koll was arguably THE superstar of college wrestling in the 1940s. A three-time NCAA champ for Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa), Koll never lost a match in college. In his entire college career, Bill was taken down only once -- during the 1946 NCAA finals by Oklahoma State's Edgar Welch. Bill KollYet Bill Koll wasn't always the rough, tough, seemingly invincible mat star. As a high school sophomore in Fort Dodge, Iowa, he weighed only 78 pounds… and lost every one of his dual-meet matches. The following year, he experienced a tremendous growth spurt -- not only gaining almost 50 pounds, but also a ton of experience in the wrestling room and in actual matches -- and placed third at the state tournament at 125. By his senior year, Bill gained a bit more weight -- and even more strength and experience -- and won the Iowa high school state title at 135 pounds. College, interrupted In a profile for the 1981 book "From Gotch to Gable: A History of Wrestling in Iowa", Bill Koll told author Mike Chapman, "Frankly, I never seriously considered college until my senior year in high school… The only school that showed any interest in me was Iowa State Teachers College and (head coach) Dave McCuskey." Bill KollDuring the 1942-43 season, first-year student Bill Koll soaked up experience in the ISTC wrestling room and in open tournaments. (At the time, NCAA rules prohibited freshmen from competing in regular dual meets). But in February 1943, Bill was inducted into the Army, and "never saw a wrestling mat for 34 months," he's quoted as saying in "From Gotch to Gable". "As a combat engineer, I spent 24 months in Europe, where our unit of amphibious engineers landed at Omaha Beach at 6:15 a.m. on June 6." Bill's son Rob picks up the story: "He was one of the first at the Normandy beach invasion on D-Day … He was among those who had to clear the beach of the dead and wounded before the generals arrived. He only started to talk about all this about the time of the fiftieth anniversary of the invasion." "I think from this experience, he was so able to focus on anything, and develop what he called a 'controlled anger' which he used on his opponents," says the younger Koll. "He taught me to focus that way with escaping from the down position. Emotional control -- quick, explosive, 'fight or flight.' A lot of that came from his Army training. It made him more brutal on the mat." Return to wrestling Bill Koll was discharged from the Army in December 1945, and within three days was back at ISTC. The 1945-46 season had limited dual-meet competition, but Bill qualified for the NCAAs, held that year at Gallagher Hall at Oklahoma State. "Not being in top shape, I did not have one of my top tournaments," the elder Koll is quoted as saying in "From Gotch to Gable". "I was taken down in the finals by an Oklahoma Aggie (Edgar Welch of Oklahoma State) for the only time anyone gained a takedown on me, and even though the match was not a difficult one to win, I certainly was not as precise as when I was in good shape." Koll beat Welch 7-2 to win the 145-pound title at the 1946 NCAAs, and the trophy for the most falls. The following season, Bill Koll continued his winning streak, culminating in a 7-2 victory over Roger Snook of Cornell College of Iowa in the 1947 NCAA finals to win his second title at 145 -- one of three champs from ISTC -- and claim Outstanding Wrestler honors. Bill's senior year, the NCAAs were a qualifying event for the 1948 Olympics, using Olympic rules. Despite being new to this style of wrestling, Koll pinned his way through the tournament, winning the 147.5 lb title, and claiming his second straight Outstanding Wrestler award -- the first wrestler to win that honor more than once. By winning the 1948 NCAA title, Bill Koll earned a place on the U.S. Olympic team -- and a trip to London, where he placed fifth in his weight class. While at ISTC, Bill Koll was surrounded by greatness on the wrestling team. His roommate was Bob Siddens -- long-time wrestling official and legendary Waterloo West (Iowa) High School coach who guided many future NCAA champs, perhaps most notably Dan Gable. Among his ISTC teammates who also became NCAA champs: Cecil Mott, Gerald Leeman (who won the silver medal at the 1948 Olympics), Russell Bush, and Bill Nelson. "Dad thought his teammates could've stood up to any top modern program," according to Rob Koll. Slam time Bill Koll was known for his tough wrestling style. But he was revered -- and feared -- for his body-slamming technique that brought opponents crashing to the mat for the pin. Bob Siddens described the situation in Mike Chapman's 2006 book "Legends of the Mat": "Slamming was allowed in (Bill Koll's) era … I remember clear as a bell this one time Bill slammed a foe to the mat so hard, the fellow was nearly unconscious. Bill shook him when he was on top, so it looked like the guy was trying to escape, and the referee called a pin…" "They changed the slam rule after that," says Siddens. "I would slam 'em down if I could," Bill Koll was quoted in a 1985 Des Moines Register story, "The year I graduated, they took the slam out of wrestling … It was one of my favorite moves, a perfectly legal tactic. It wasn't something that was dubious. It was in our repertoire." "Wing locks, double-bar arms, the body slam … those are some of the things we used that are illegal now. They were kind of painful, and helped make a person submit quicker." The transition to coaching After graduating from Iowa State Teachers College, Bill Koll launched a long and successful career as a college wrestling coach. After brief stints at the University of Chicago and Cornell of Iowa, he came back to his college alma mater, where he was head coach for eleven seasons (1953-64), compiling a 71-42-6 record for a .622 winning percentage. While at ISTC, he coached three NCAA champs … and managed to earn his doctorate in education from Oregon State. "He was the key to the great Iowa Teachers teams of the 1940s and 50s," according to Bill Smith, a two-time NCAA champ for ISTC in 1949 and 1950, and 1952 Olympic gold medalist. "He administered beatings to all of us in the room, no matter what weight we were. He manhandled everybody, and made us all tougher … I probably wouldn't have been an Olympic champion without Bill Koll." Bill KollIn 1965, Bill Koll accepted the head coaching job at Penn State, taking the reins from Charlie Speidel, who had coached the Nittany Lions since 1927. During his fourteen seasons, Bill compiled a 127-22-7 record for a .852 winning percentage -- highest in Penn State history. His teams had five seasons without a dual-meet loss, and racked up a 41-match unbeaten streak at PSU's Rec Hall from 1969 through 1976. What's more, Bill led the Nittany Lions to six Top Ten NCAA finishes, with 20 All-Americans and three individual NCAA champions. "I think about how hard my dad had to work," says Rob Koll. "He was a full-time professor of Health and PE, and the head coach of the wrestling program, with just one assistant." Bill Koll retired from coaching at the end of the 1978 season. In addition to being inducted into both the Iowa and Pennsylvania Wrestling Halls of Fame, Bill Koll is a distinguished member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and the Glen Brand Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute & Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. In September 2003, Bill Koll passed away from a stroke at age 80. However, his legacy lives on. In 2007, thanks to the gift of an anonymous donor, the Outstanding Wrestler award at the NCAA Division I tournament was named in Bill Koll's honor … with Derek Moore, 141-pound champ from UC-Davis being first to win the newly-named Koll Award. And, of course, Bill Koll's legacy continues with the lives he touched as a wrestler, coach, and father.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Nikita Koloff, Ted DiBiase, and Steve Williams. Koloff is a former professional wrestler who was the 2006 recipient of the Frank Gotch Award. This award is given to someone who brings prestige and honor to professional wrestling. Known as "The Million Dollar Man", DiBiase is this year's recipient of the Frank Gotch Award. Last year DiBiase's father, Mike, was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Mike wrestled at the University of Nebraska in the late 1940s. Steve Williams was a four-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma from 1979-1982. At the 1982 NCAA tournament Williams reached the finals at heavyweight where he placed second to future two-time Olympic champion Bruce Baumgartner. Known as "Dr. Death", Williams was one of the most colorful figures in college wrestling history. Williams also embarked on a successful professional wrestling career. He will be inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame on July 14 at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. "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.

Columbia, Mo. -- Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis.), Missouri's two-time wrestling National Champion and 2007 graduate, was named Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year as announced today by the conference office. Joining Askren is Nebraska volleyball player Sarah Pavan as Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year. Askren becomes the first Tiger to earn conference Athlete of the Year honors since men's basketball player Anthony Peeler was recognized for his work in the Big Eight Conference during the 1991-92 season. "I feel honored to win such a prestigious award," Askren said. "It encompasses so many great athletes in the Big 12 Conference. This is a great culmination to my athletic career at the University of Missouri." Throughout the course of his senior campaign, the 174-pound grappler continuously pushed himself to excel on the mat and in the classroom. Askren claimed six tournament titles including his third Big 12 medal and fourth All-America honor. In addition, Askren was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and Southern Scuffle as well as being awarded the Gorarrian Award for most pins recorded at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Recording a perfect 42-0 mark as a senior, the Tiger captain set a high standard for future Missouri wrestlers. Now atop the record books with 91 career pins, 29 falls in a season (2006-07) and 153 career victories, Askren also recorded the longest Missouri consecutive win streak at 87, dating back to the start of his junior campaign. As a senior, 23 of Askren's 42 matches were decided in the first period by way of fall. Capping off the 2006-07 campaign by earning his second national title, Askren became Missouri's first four-time wrestling All-American. Askren's dominating style on the mat also helped him earn his second Dan Hodge Trophy, wrestling's equivalent to the Heisman, and second Wade Schalles Award for most falls in the season. On June 25, Askren received his first ESPY nomination in the category of Best Male College Athlete. One of four finalists, the winner will be announced Sunday, July 15, at 8 p.m. (CT) on ESPN. "Ben goal was always to dominate in the sport of college wrestling," Missouri wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith said. "For Ben to receive this award over so many other well qualified athletes is a testament to the amazing performance he gave day-in and day-out this past season." Askren, named Missouri's voluntary assistant coach for the upcoming 2007-08 Tiger wrestling season, becomes the first grappler since Iowa State's Cael Sanderson to earn the title of Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year. Sanderson received the award for his performance during the 2001-02 season.

Brute Adidas brings you America's Wrestling Radio Show each and every Saturday and over 600 hours of additional programming through the year. Join us for shows LIVE at Takedownradio.com from 9 AM to 11 AM each Saturday and archived and now Pod cast too. Who's going to Colorado Springs for the decision between Zadick and Gallick? The times, date and place have been set for the Special Wrestle-Off between Nate Gallick and Mike Zadick. These 2 warriors will meet in a best-of-3 series to determine the final spot on the U.S. World Freestyle Team on Aug. 16 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Gallick holds the advantage in previous meetings. The decision to broadcast this event live to the world rests in the hands of USA Wrestling. We're available and would love to bring this to you LIVE as it happens. We'll keep you posted. This week on Takedown Radio we'll talk a little bit of the UFC event to be held later that night and in wrestling. We're joined by: US Air force Academy's- New Head Coach Joel Sharratt joins us to discuss all that's going on in Colorado Springs. His Coaching staff, his recruits and the national movement of a more successful wrestling community. Mary Jo Madvig joins us to promote her new calendar to raise funds and awareness on Cancer research and breast cancer. Jared Platt (Blairstown, N.J./Blair Academy) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for June 19-25. Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday. Platt won gold medals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling this past weekend at the Pan American Junior Championships in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Platt, a Blair Academy standout and Penn State recruit, captured the Greco-Roman title at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. on June 22 and followed two days later by winning the freestyle title at the Pan American Junior Championships. Platt dominated the field in freestyle, including pins over both silver medalist Luis Olivarez of Venezuela and bronze medalist Bharon Saez of Panama. Platt also rolled to the Greco-Roman title, pinning Saez and scoring a 6-0, 4-1 win over Venezuela's Enyerber Rodriguez Tim O'Brien of the now well known Iowa Games joins us to discuss this upcoming event (July 14th)and wrestling throughout the year. Who said it was a winter sport anyway. Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) has been named TheMat.com/TDR Wrestler of the Week for June 12-18. Durlacher turned in one of the strongest performances of the weekend in winning the U.S. World Team Trials title in Greco-Roman wrestling earlier this month in Las Vegas. Durlacher, a 2006 World bronze medalist, made his third straight U.S. World Team at 55 kg/121 lbs. by sweeping two straight matches from 2006 World University champion Spenser Mango in the final-round series at the World Team Trials. He swept Mango 2-0, 2-0 in the first match and followed with a 2-0, 1-1 win in the second match. Durlacher came back strong at the World Team Trials after finishing second at April's U.S. Nationals. Durlacher, 32, a past All-American for the University of Illinois, is part of a veteran and strong U.S. World Team in Greco-Roman that will take aim at the team title at September's World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. The seven-member U.S. World Team includes two World champions, three World bronze medalists and two fifth-place World finishers. Durlacher turned in a superb performance at the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China. He went 4-1 in China, dropping only a close 5-3, 3-2 semifinal match to eventual champion Hamid Sourian of Iran. He rebounded from that loss to beat Venelin Venkov of Bulgaria 4-0, 2-0 to earn his first World-level medal. Durlacher's strong performance helped the U.S. to a third-place finish in the team race at the 2006 World Championships. Doug Schwab (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC) has been named TheMat.com/TDR Wrestler of the Week for June 5-11. Schwab turned in arguably the best performance of the U.S. World Team Trials by winning the freestyle title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. on Sunday, June 10 in Las Vegas. Schwab had never placed higher than fifth at the World or Olympic Team Trials. He now qualifies for September's World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. Schwab, 29, an assistant coach at the University of Iowa, came into Sunday's Challenge Tournament as the No. 6 seed after placing seventh at April's U.S. Nationals. Schwab started with a win over two-time NCAA champion Teyon Ware before he knocked off No. 3 seed Jared Lawrence, No. 2 seed Zack Esposito and No. 1 seed Jared Frayer to win the Challenge Tournament. Schwab then outlasted U.S. Nationals champion Chris Bono, who had sat out all day after clinching a spot in the finals, in the best-of-3 finals series on Sunday night. Bono beat Schwab 2-1, 3-0 in the first match before Schwab won 2-1, 2-1 in the second match and 0-1, 1-0, 1-1 in the third bout. Schwab, a past NCAA champion for Iowa, trailed 1-0 late in the match with Bono before he scored the winning takedown with 15 seconds left.

Columbia, Mo. -- Missouri wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith has named Lee Pritts and Shawn Charles as assistant coaches while Ben Askren will serve as the Tigers' volunteer assistant for the upcoming 2007-08 campaign. "I lost two very experienced assistant coaches in Bart Horton and Pat McNamara," Smith said. "But, I know that I'm replacing them with three individuals that are as equally talented and up to the challenge of coaching this team to its first National title." Pritts, a former Missouri assistant coach from 1998 through 2004, will fill the roll as assistant in charge of the Tigers' lighter weight classes. A native of Davie, Fla., Pritts left Missouri following the 2003-04 campaign to serve as head assistant at Old Dominion. Over the course of two years, Pritts helped guide the Monarchs to back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) runner-up finishes with three individuals, a program tying record last set in 1995, qualifying each year for the NCAA Championships. In addition, Pritts helped build two top-10 recruiting classes. As a college wrestler at Eastern Michigan Pritts made three NCAA appearances, earning All-America honors at 118 pounds in 1996. "Lee is one of the hardest working assistant coaches in the country," Smith said. "It's nice to have him back on staff. He's a very motivated and driven person and that meshes well with the team's desire to win." Familiar with Big 12 wrestling, Charles enters his first year at Missouri with 13 years of coaching experience to his name. Among the schools he has coached at, Charles served four seasons as top assistant at the University of Nebraska from 2001 through 2005. During his time in Lincoln, Neb., the Cornhuskers were ranked as high as third in the nation and finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships twice. Upon leaving Nebraska, Charles served as head coach at Fresno State, coaching the Bulldogs to a third-place finish in the NCAA Western Regional before the program was cut in 2006. Last season, Charles was an assistant coach at Brown University. In college, Charles wrestled for Arizona State, becoming the school's first four-time All-American while competing at 126 pounds. "Shawn has gained a lot of valuable coaching experience over the past few years," Smith said. "His work at Nebraska combined with his head coaching experience at Fresno State and freestyle experience with SunKist Kids will help take this program to the next level." Recent ESPY nominee Askren will enter his first year as a volunteer assistant coach this coming fall. Missouri's first four-time wrestling All-American and two-time National Champion, Askren is the recipient of two Dan Hodge Trophies and Wade Schalles awards. Missouri's record holder for career falls (91) and season falls (29), Askren also owns Missouri's record for most consecutive wins at 87 and career wins at 131. While serving on the Tiger coaching staff, Askren will continue to prepare for his run at the 2008 Olympics. "Ben has a lot of youthful energy," Smith said. "He wants to continue to learn not only on the mat, but how to be a better coach. His experiences, combined with those of Lee and Shawn are sure to make for a winning combination."