InterMat Staff

Las Vegas, Nev. -- Current Northern Illinois assistant coach Joe Williams and NIU alumnus T.C. Dantzler (90-93) each won their weight class at the World Team Trials held last weekend and have advanced to the World Championships to be held in Antalya, Turkey in September. Williams won the world team title in free-style wrestling at 185-pounds and advanced to the World Championships after defeating Andy Hrovat in the best of three series. Williams lost the first match against Hrovat in overtime then came back to win the final two matches and punched the former Olympian's ticket to his fifth World Championships appearance. Dantzler earned a place on his fifth U.S. World Team by taking down Keith Sieracki in a two-match sweep in Greco-Roman style wrestling at 163-pounds. The victory marks Dantzler's third consecutive U.S. World Team Trials Championship and fifth of the last six years. Williams and Dantzler will next compete in Antalya, Turkey on September 7-9 at the World Wrestling Games hosted by the international wrestling federation (FILA).

University of Northern Iowa senior student-athlete Nick Baima became the first Panther wrestler to ever earn Academic All-America honors. Baima (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West HS) was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men's At-Large University Division third team as selected by CoSIDA and announced by coordinating officials on Tuesday. Baima maintained a 3.65 grade point average in philosophy and humanities. Baima was also been named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association's All-Academic team each of the past three seasons. The men's at-large team includes student-athletes from the sports of crew, gymnastics, skiing, fencing, ice hockey, swimming, water polo, field hockey, lacrosse, tennis, wrestling, golf and rifle. Baima (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) capped his UNI career with a mark of 124-42, which ranks No. 6 on the Panthers' all-time win list. He was named Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Year this past season. Baima, 36-8 overall and 8-0 vs. WWC opponents in 2006-07, captured the 165-pound title at the 2007 West Regional and earned his fourth trip to the NCAA Championships. Baima earned the No. 5 seed at the 2007 NCAA Championships in the 165-pound bracket. He secured 11 wins over national qualifiers including: two over Johnny Galloway (Northern Illinois), Shawn Kitchner (Brown), Jason Kiessling (Maryland), Michael Cannon (American), Max Dean (Indiana), Dustin Noack (UC Davis), Michael Patrovich (Hofstra), Nick Pullano (Old Dominion) and Ryan Meyer (South Dakota State). The Academic All-America® Teams program honors male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America; a 2,000-member organization consisted of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. The University Division includes all Division I schools, the College Division includes Division II, III and NAIA programs. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports. ESPN The Magazine is a provocative and innovative sports publication. Full of insight, analysis, impact and wit, the oversized bi-weekly with a circulation of 1.85 million looks ahead to give fans a unique perspective on the world of sports. For more information about the Academic All-America Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com or e-mail rlipe@bentley.edu.

EDMOND -- NCAA Division II national wrestling champion Central Oklahoma has picked up six recruits for the 2007-08 season, including five in-state products who won a combined nine state championships. Signing with the 15-time national champion Bronchos were high school standouts Trey Branscum of Ponca City, Kelly Henderson of Tahlequah, Shawn Ledford of Pawnee and Randy Tonche of Sallisaw, with UCO also adding a pair of junior college stars in Tommy McCarty of Bristow and Tim Elliott of Wichita, Kan. "I'm certainly excited about this group of young men who will be joining our program," said veteran coach David James, named Division II Coach of the Year after leading UCO to the national title this season. "It's an outstanding class and we certainly expect a lot of big things from each one of them. "They have all experienced a great deal of success in their careers and we're looking forward to having them a part of our UCO family." Branscum enjoyed an amazing career at Class 5A powerhouse Ponca City, winning three straight state championships. He won at 119 pounds as a sophomore, 125 as a junior and 130 as a senior and is expected to be a 133- or 141-pounder at UCO. Henderson was a three-time Class 5A state placer at Tahlequah, winning one title, and earned All-State honors as a senior. He's a projected 157- or 165-pounder for the Bronchos. Ledford compiled an impressive 128-17 career record at Pawnee and was a three-time state finalist in Class 2A, winning back-to-back championships his last two years. Also an All-Stater, he is expected to compete at 141 or 149 pounds at UCO. Tonche was a three-time state finalist at Sallisaw, finishing as runner-up his first two years before capping his career with a Class 3A state title. The All-Stater is a projected 197- or 285-pounder in college. McCarty was a two-time juco All-American at Labette (Kan.) Community College, placing fourth as a freshman and third this season at 174 pounds. He was a three-time Class 3A state finalist at Bristow, winning two crowns, and will compete at 174 next season. Elliott was also a two-time All-American at Labette, earning Outstanding Wrestler honors this season after capturing the 125-pound national championship following a fifth-place finish as a freshman. He won a Kansas high school state title as a senior at Wichita State and will wrestle at 133 next year for the Bronchos. UCO will return four All-Americans from this year's national championship team.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State wrestling assistant coaches Joe Heskett and Tommy Rowlands continued their U.S. Olympic Team bids by earning spots on the U.S. Senior World Team roster after winning their respective weight classes at the 2007 U.S. Senior World Team Trials Saturday and Sunday at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. Heskett defeated Casey Cunningham, 2-1, in the best of three series at 74 kg/163 pounds and Rowlands outlasted Steve Mocco, 2-0, at 120 kg/264.5 pounds. As members of the U.S. Senior World Team, Heskett and Rowlands will compete in the Pan American Games July 13-29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the 2007 World Wrestling Championships Sept. 17-23 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Heskett decisioned Cunningham, 3-0, 3-1, in the first match before Cunningham evened the bout at 1-all with a 1-0, 4-1 decision over the Buckeye coach. After losing the first period, 1-0, in the third and deciding bout, Heskett clinched the final two periods, 3-2 and 1-0, for the victory. Rowlands beat Mocco, 1-1, 1-0, 1-0 in the first match and went on to seal the win with a 2-0, 1-0 decision in the second bout. In April, Heskett and Rowlands won the 2007 U.S. Senior National Championships, automatically qualifying for the U.S. team trials.

Steve Silver of Forney, Texas, who is a leader within wrestling on the Senior and age-group levels, has been named Man of the Year by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States. This award recognizes an outstanding man for his contributions to the sport of wrestling. "I am honored to get the award," said Silver. "I try to do whatever I can to contribute to wrestling. This means I must be contributing, in order to get recognized with this award." Silver served as Team Leader of the 2006 U.S. World Freestyle Team, which competed in Guangzhou, China, and placed third in the team standings with four medalists. Silver does business in China, and used his expertise of the nation and provided support staff to assist the team during the entire time there. He was also the Team Leader for the 2005 U.S. Freestyle World Team, which competed in Budapest, Hungary. He will also serve as Team Leader for the 2007 U.S. Freestyle World Team which will compete in Baku, Azerbaijan. "I don't have anybody in family that competes at the Olympic level. I feel that these athletes need help. The athletes trying to make World and Olympic teams need all the support they can get. I like helping them, and I feel I can assist in many ways. I have gotten to know these guys, and have gotten close to many of them." Silver has been involved in wrestling throughout his life, competing as an athlete and serving as a coach and leader for wrestling on the youth and high school levels. Silver wrestled for Spencerport High School in New York and at the Univ. of Alabama for three years under coach Pat Milkovich before starting his business career. He is a wrestling parent, as six of his seven children have participated, including two of his daughters. Silver founded and coached a youth wrestling club in Forney, Texas. He hired 1988 Olympic champion and 1989 World champion Kenny Monday to coach the club, now called Team Monday. He has supported the wrestling team at Bishop Lynch High School, which has become a nationally recognized program. Bishop Lynch has placed as high as second at the National Prep School Championships. Silver and his father-in-law have given a joint gift of $100,000 to Bishop Lynch High School for its wrestling room. "The reason I am passionate is that I have four boys who wrestled, two girls who wrestled and I wrestled. We are a wrestling family. Before this, I was involved in baseball. Many kids I worked with went into professional baseball. These guys really didn't need the help like the wrestlers did. I ran a wrestling club for two years for my boys, then I got Kenny Monday involved. The kids from Texas and others don't have a path to follow. Even if you have talent, there is not a clear path. Since then, we have had kids on the Dream Team and winning the Dave Schultz High School Excellence award. We think this is a great sport and a great opportunity. If you read about a kid from Texas winning in Fargo at Junior or Cadet Nationals or getting a college scholarship, it is not unbelievable anymore," said Silver. Many of his children are still competing in athletics. Clay Silver wrestles on the team at UT-Arlington, and previously wrestled for the Univ. of Texas-Dallas, school with compete at the NCWA Championships. Sons Luke Silver will be competing for Oklahoma State, and has won the Dave Schultz High School Excellence award. Son Johnny Koepp is a talented high school junior wrestler, and is being recruited by major college programs. Troy Silver is a high school freshman, and was a Prep School High School All-American this year. Daughter Jessie Silver competed in gymnastics at the Univ. of Alabama. Silver has been a team leader on trips to Russia and Mongolia and China with USA Wrestling and Athletes in Action. These tours have provided top youth wrestlers a chance for cultural experiences and challenging international competition. Professionally, Silver owns the Steve Silver Company, an import furniture business in Dallas, Texas. Over the last 20-plus years, the company has grown over $150 million in sales and has 500 employees worldwide in five nations. Silver was recognized and received his award at ceremonies during the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials in Las Vegas last weekend. PAST USA WRESTLING MAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS 2006 – Steve Silver 2005 – Al Bevilacqua 2004 – Jeff Levitetz 2003 - Set Agonian 2002 - Al Kastl 2001 - James Ravannack 2000 - Rulon Gardner 1999 - Duane Morgan 1998 - Scott Beck 1997 - Rick Tucci 1996 - Dave Schultz 1995 - Leroy Evans 1994 - James E. Scherr 1993 - Arthur J. Martori 1992 - Bruce Baumgartner 1990 - Eugene Barone 1989 - John Vaughan 1987 - Dave Rudrud 1986 - Jeff Blatnick 1985 - Dr. Dan Gould 1984 - Gary Thompson 1983 - Don Sondgeroth 1982 - Frank Rader 1981 - John Roberts 1980 - Rick Bay 1979 - Ben Bennett 1978 - Werner Holzer 1977 - Vince Zuaro 1976 - Ken Kraft 1974-75 - Russ Hellickson 1973 - Jack Stanbro 1972 - Melvin Jones 1971 - Bud Linholm 1970 - Rex Peery

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling and Judo, featuring the nation's top Olympic hopefuls in both exciting sports, will begin exactly one year from today in Las Vegas, Nev. The Trials will be held June 13-15, 2008 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The event will feature contests in each of the 18 Olympic wrestling weight classes in the three Olympic styles (men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman, women's freestyle) as well as the 14 Olympic judo weight divisions to be contested at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Tickets for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling and Judo went on sale on June 9, and had a very successful first weekend of sales. All sports fans should order their tickets as soon as possible to guarantee the best seating locations. Tickets are available now by calling 866.388.FANS or online at unlvtickets.com For this event, the Thomas & Mack Center has a seating capacity of 12,500. Tickets have been made available equally to both wrestling as well as judo fans on a first come, first serve basis. It is recommended that judo fans call 866.388.FANS in order to secure seats in the preferred judo areas of the arena. Others can either order by phone or via the internet. All-session tickets are priced $150 for VIP seating, $75 for lower level and $40 for upper level. Competition will be held on four mats simultaneously with wrestling taking place on three mats and judo on the fourth. Wrestling will be contested all three days (June 13-15) and judo will be contested on June 13-14. There will be two sessions each day. On Friday, June 13, the schedule includes seven judo weight classes, four women's freestyle weight classes and two men's Greco-Roman weight classes. On Saturday, June 14, the schedule features seven judo weight classes, three men's freestyle weight classes and three men's Greco-Roman weight classes. On Sunday, June 15, there will be scheduled four men's freestyle weight classes and two men's Greco-Roman weight classes. No judo will be contested on June 15. If there are judo weight divisions that the United States has not been qualified to compete in at the Olympic Games, the division will not be contested at Trials. USA Wrestling expects almost 200 wrestlers to participate in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. "We are very excited about what promises to be an outstanding U.S. Olympic Team Trials. This is the most important event we host in the United States every four years, where we select our Olympic Team, which competes in the most important sports event in the world, the Olympic Games," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "We look forward to holding the competition in Las Vegas, and having a great turnout by the wrestling community to support America's Team." With eight athletes expected to compete in the Trials for each weight division, as many as 112 judo players will be eligible for berths on the U.S. Olympic Team. "These will no doubt be one of the most exciting Olympic Trials in the history of USA Judo. Las Vegas is one of the world's most exciting places to host a sporting event; top that with the fact that we are combining our sport of Judo with a proven popular sport of wrestling that has in the past attracted over 11,000 spectators and some 200 media to previous events," said Jose H. Rodriguez, USA Judo CEO. "Lastly add to this equation the partnership with Las Vegas Events and the United States Olympic Committee and you have the making of a great athlete-oriented and entertaining sport show in the best show town in the world." More information on hotel headquarters will be available soon. For a seating chart for the U.S. Olympic Trials, visit: http://www.themat.com/eventfliers/2008/2008TrialsTickets.pdf

Columbia, Mo. –- Missouri wrestler Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) received his second career ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America award today as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). A two-time third-team university division member of the men's at-large category, McCormick recorded a 3.95 grade-point average in business management while also claiming his second career All-America honor at 133 pounds at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships March 17, in Auburn Hills, Mich. McCormick, now entering his senior year of eligibility, is one of five Big 12 honorees on a list that includes athletes from 10 different sports. A total of 46 men from eight different districts were named to one of three different University Division teams. As a sophomore McCormick earned third team ESPN The Magazine All-America honors in addition to All-District VII first team accolades in both 2006 and 2007.

This spring, much was made about the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson being the first African-American player in Major League Baseball. There were special ceremonies at baseball parks across the country, along with countless articles, TV news stories and commentaries, commemorating Robinson joining the then New York Dodgers in 1947. Simon RobertsThis spring also marked the 50th anniversary of a similar milestone in college wrestling history. In March 1957, University of Iowa wrestler Simon Roberts won the 147-pound title at the NCAA championships at the University of Pittsburgh … becoming the first African-American to claim a national collegiate mat title. Simon Roberts' historical first may not have received all the attention of Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball, but it was commemorated in articles, and his induction into the Glen Brand Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute & Museum in Waterloo, Iowa this April. Then again, that might just be in keeping with the low-key nature of things in Pittsburgh in 1957… and with Simon Roberts' personality. And, perhaps the fact that Roberts had already opened doors three years earlier. As a wrestler at Davenport Central High School -- the largest school in the state at the time -- he became the first high school state champ of color in Iowa in 1954. "I really didn't have much of a chance to think about it [being the first African-American college wrestling champ] at the NCAAs," says Roberts from his home in Los Angeles. "I didn't realize I was first until I saw it in the paper the next day after winning the title." However, considering the climate of change in the U.S. at the time, Roberts' title win can be considered a watershed event. To provide a bit of historical perspective: In addition to being the year that the Soviet Union launched the satellite Sputnik -- beating the United States into space -- 1957 was also key in terms of race relations in the country. In late summer of that year, Little Rock Central High School was the scene of unrest as U.S. National Guard troops were brought in under orders from President Dwight Eisenhower to help integrate the school, three years after the Supreme Court overturned the long-standing practice of "separate but equal" educational facilities -- one set of schools for whites, one for blacks -- in large sections of the country. Other major events in the civil rights movement -- desegregation of the University of Alabama and Ole Miss, sit-ins at lunch counters, Freedom Summer, the march from Selma to Montgomery -- were in the future when Roberts won the collegiate championship. Putting it in terms of black and white It was well into the interview -- after talking about how he entered the sport, his high school and college career, and his teammates -- that the subject of racism came up … and it was the interviewer's doing. When asked if he experienced racism firsthand as a wrestler, Roberts' immediate response was in reference to his time as an Iowa Hawkeye: "I had such a great group of guys around me, I didn't have time to think about it … We never really had a conversation about it." Roberts was unaware of stories about African-American wrestlers being forced to wear uniforms that covered pretty much their entire bodies in an attempt to hide their race from wrestling fans -- this in the era where many wrestlers, including the Hawkeyes, competed in trunks, stripped to the waist. (This was before today's one-piece singlets.) "Wrestling was often discouraged between whites and blacks at the time," says the 1957 NCAA 147-pound champ. "When I was in high school at Davenport, Henry Philmon -- who was just a couple years ahead of me -- had opponents refuse to wrestle him because of his color. However, I was never aware of an opponent withdrawing because of my color." "The only time I can remember any open discrimination was Stillwater [Oklahoma], at the nationals [in 1956]," according to Roberts. "The Iowa team went downtown for our post weigh-in meal. They seated the entire team, about a dozen of us, including me. But the waitress brought glasses of water for everyone but me. Barron Bremner [Iowa heavyweight] seemed to notice it right away, didn't say anything to me, but got up and went over to talk to the waitress. She motioned toward the kitchen, so Barron went through the doors into the kitchen. He was there a few minutes, came out, then the manager or owner motioned to the waitress. They talked a bit, then she brought a glass of water to me. That was the end of it. I was served my meal with the rest of the team without any incident. And we didn't discuss it either." Too short for basketball Simon Roberts was introduced to wrestling when he was cut from the basketball team as a ninth grader. "I was told I was too short," says Roberts. "I was only 5'2" at the time." "A couple of my friends talked to me about wrestling at the time, but I was still intent on making the basketball team. However, when I got cut from the basketball team again as a sophomore, I decided to try out for wrestling, and made the team." Simon RobertsBy the middle of his sophomore year, Roberts was wrestling varsity for head coach Jim Fox. "Our team took second at state that year," remembers Roberts. "I was the only varsity wrestler who didn't qualify for state that year." "I got a lot of great experience in the varsity wrestling room, going up against great talent." Simon Roberts' mat career had a bit of a setback his junior year; he had dislocated his knee playing defensive back for the Davenport Central football team, so wasn't able to wrestle until about halfway through the season. "I managed to qualify for state, but didn't place." Roberts uses the word "fantastic" to describe his senior year. Davenport Central won the team title at the Iowa high school state tournament… and Roberts won the 133-pound individual title. (This was back when Iowa had a single-class state tournament.) In the 133 finals of the 1954 Iowa prep tournament, Roberts came out the winner in his match against three-time state champ Ron Gray of Eagle Grove. With that victory, Roberts helped write history in two ways: as being the first African-American state champ in the Hawkeye state … and in denying Gray his chance to be the first four-time titlewinner in Iowa. Go west … to Iowa City After graduating from Davenport Central with a state title under his belt, it was time for Simon Roberts to choose a college. "Jim Fox was good friends with Dave McCuskey [head coach] at Iowa," says Roberts. "I also visited Iowa State…but felt more comfortable at the University of Iowa." "I made a great choice to go to Iowa … Dave McCuskey was a tough guy. He ran you through your paces, but he was a fair guy," according to Roberts. "He gave me every chance to excel." 1957 Iowa Hawkeyes"He helped produce a lot of great wrestlers." When Simon Roberts was at Iowa City, he was just one of a number of greats. From 1954 through 1958, the University of Iowa had eight individuals win Big Ten titles, and a total of five Hawkeyes become NCAA champs. Roberts' winning ways In his sophomore year -- his first season of NCAA eligibility -- Simon Roberts qualified for the 1956 NCAAs at Oklahoma State. In the 137-pound bracket, the unseeded Hawkeye won his first two matches before being defeated by fifth-seeded John Pepe of Penn State. The following year, Roberts built an overall record of 13-1-1, placed second at the 1957 Big Ten conference championship at 147 pounds … but really made history a couple weeks later at the NCAAs at the University of Pittsburgh. Ron GrayOut of 27 wrestlers in the 147-pound bracket at Pitt's Fitzgerald Fieldhouse, Roberts was seeded sixth. He drew a bye in the opening round, then defeated Oregon State's Larry Wright 8-3. In the quarterfinals, the Hawkeye topped Jack Anderson of Minnesota State 5-3. In the semifinals, Roberts upset second-seeded Dick Heaton of Northern Iowa 3-2 to advance to the finals, where he would face a familiar foe: Ron Gray -- yes, the same guy Roberts wrestled for the 1954 Iowa high school state title! Ron Gray was a man of considerable mat accomplishments. After winning three Iowa state championships, he enrolled at Iowa State. He was the 1957 Big Eight champ at 147. At the NCAAs, the fourth-seeded Cyclone had shut out two opponents and edged 1957 Big Ten champ Werner Holzer of Illinois 10-8 in the quarterfinals. According to the account of the Roberts-Gray 147-pound title match in Jay Hammond's The History of Collegiate Wrestling, the cross-state rivals were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation. In the first overtime period, the Hawkeye rode out the Cyclone, then scored an escape in the second for a 2-0 victory, the 1957 NCAA championship, and a place in the history books. "Ron Gray is a super-nice guy," says Roberts. "We talked after both of our matches, which, by the way, were the only two times we ever wrestled. He was very gracious afterwards, which says a lot about him, since I caused him to miss out on being the first four-time Iowa state champ, and being a three-time college champ." (Gray went on to win the NCAA title in 1958 and 1959. After graduating from Iowa State, Gray started a long coaching career that culminated as head coach at Kent State University in Ohio for twenty-five seasons. Gray led the Golden Flashes to nine Mid-American Conference team titles, and was named MAC Coach of the Year five times.) In his senior year at Iowa, Simon Roberts compiled a 12-0-1 record, claiming the 147-pound title at the 1958 Big Tens by defeating Indiana's Nick Petronka in the finals. As Big Ten champ and defending national titlewinner, Roberts was seeded first at 147. However, in his first match at the 1958 NCAAs at University of Wyoming, the Hawkeye's dream of a second title was ended by Earl Dearing of Oregon in overtime. Teammate memories Roberts completed his college career at the University of Iowa with a Big Ten title, an NCAA title, three varsity letters, a degree in sociology … and a lot of positive memories. Characteristic of Roberts' modesty, before talking about his own accomplishments, he shared warm recollections of some of his Hawkeye teammates. "One of my first experiences in the Iowa wrestling room involved a little guy who came up to me and said, 'Wanna roll around with me?' I took him up on his offer, and he threw me around the room." "The guy was Terry McCann," said Roberts, identifying the tough-as-nails two-time NCAA champ at 115 pounds (1955 and 1956), who eventually brought home a gold medal from the 1960 Rome Olympics. "He took me under his wing." "Terry would get up at 5 a.m. and run 5-6 miles every morning. He'd come knocking at my door, asking if I wanted to join him. I'd fake sleep." "Terry was one of the greatest athletes I've ever known," according to Roberts. Roberts talks with fondness about the other NCAA champs during his days at Iowa. "Dick Govig was the 123-pound champ at the 1954 nationals … Interestingly, we shared the same high school coach, Jim Fox, who was Dick's coach at Britt [Iowa] before coming to Davenport. Dick had been team manager; Fox put him in to wrestle, and he beat a guy from one of the Waterloo high schools. That was the beginning of his wrestling career." Gary KurdelmeierKen Leuer, who won the 191-pound title at the 1956 NCAAs, "was the source of excellent motivation for me," according to Roberts. "He was a good pal." When asked about the late Gary Kurdelmeier, 1958 NCAA champ at 177 pounds who became head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the early 1970s -- and who laid the foundation for the Dan Gable dynasty by hiring the Cyclone champ/Olympic gold medallist as an assistant coach -- the first thing that Roberts said was, "An innovator, as a wrestler, coach and college administrator. He was always a step ahead in his thinking about wrestling. He liked to call me to talk about ideas he had … He was instrumental in getting me involved in the letterwinners' club." Simon Roberts also owes a debt of gratitude to teammates who helped make him the mat champion that he was. "My toughest matches in college were in the Iowa wrestling room," says the Davenport native. Among the guys Roberts mentioned were Iowa Falls native Ralph Rieks, the 137-pounder for Iowa who was the 1957 Big Ten champ, and an NCAA All-American the following year. "I had hellfire matches with Ralph. I had to get past him to wrestle in actual wrestling meets." Del Rossberg was another frequent practice-room opponent, who Roberts describes as "a fantastic wrestler from West Waterloo … Each week, we'd go at it to see who'd wrestle that weekend in competition. Always real close. Truly a great friend." Another Iowa teammate with a Waterloo connection is Gene Luttrell, long-time coach at Waterloo Columbus High, and 137-pound Big Ten Champ in 1958 -- the same year Roberts won the conference crown at 147. "He would ride you, stuck to you like glue," Roberts recalls. "What a super guy." Life after college Simon Roberts' life off the mat was rich and varied. The resume of this father of nine includes six years at the Davenport post office … and six years as commissioner on the Davenport Park Board in the early 70s -- the first African-American elected to political office in the Mississippi River city of approximately 100,000. Roberts also served in education. In the mid 1960s, he became wrestling coach at Alleman Catholic High in Rock Island, Illinois. Among the wrestlers he coached was Mark Johnson, who is now head coach at the University of Illinois. Later, he was director of adult education at Eastern Iowa Community College and at Black Hawk College across the river in Moline. Roberts retired as special assistant to the president at Black Hawk in 1995, relocating to sunny southern California, where his parents and sister lived at the time. He still resides in Los Angeles. For all his accomplishments on and off the mats, Simon Roberts has been honored in a number of ways. In 1992, he was inducted into Davenport Central's Hall of Honor; in addition, he is a member of the Iowa State High School Hall of Fame, the Iowa Foundation Hall of Fame, and the University of Iowa Hall of Fame. Most recently, Simon Roberts was welcomed into the Glen Brand Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute & Museum. The man who introduced him at the induction ceremony was another history-maker: former Iowa State head coach Bobby Douglas, who was the first African-American high school state champ in Ohio (1959), and the first black U.S. Olympic wrestling team member (1964). Simon Roberts was welcomed into the Glen Brand Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute & Museum.In an interview with wrestling writer/historian Mike Chapman, Douglas said, "For me as a youngster, when I heard about Simon Roberts winning the NCAA title, that really motivated me. Back then, I was reading everything I could get my hands on about the sport and to discover there was a black champion meant that I could dream of doing things in the sport, too." "If there is someone you could compare Simon Roberts to -- well, to me, he was the Jackie Robinson of the sport of wrestling. I went into wrestling heart and soul after I found out about him. Simon was definitely a pioneer."

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Steve Fraser and Jeremy McLaughlin. Fraser is the Greco-Roman National Teams coach for USA Wrestling and a former three-time Olympic coach. In 1984 Fraser won a gold medal in the 198-pound weight class at the Olympics. It was the Greco-Roman medal won by an American at the Olympics Games. A regular columnist for W.I.N. magazine, Fraser has authored his own book called "Victory: Being Mentally Tough On and Off the Mat". It includes a biography of his wrestling career and several of his columns from W.I.N. With the World Team Trials complete, Fraser will discuss the upcoming World Championships and the prospects of the latest seven-member Greco-Roman World team. McLaughlin is a junior in college who wrestles for the University of Oregon. At this year's Pac-10 tournament he placed fifth in the 149-pound weight division for the Ducks. McLaughlin has taken a three-month long mission trip to Namibia, Africa to help care for AIDS victims. He also made a trip to Thailand last year after the area was destroyed by a tsunami. McLaughlin has made seven missions trips. This summer McLaughlin hopes to establish the first Namibian wrestling club. "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.

LAS VEGAS -- On Sunday night at the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials at the Convention Center in Las Vegas, five wrestlers earned an automatic berth into the finals through USA Wrestling's qualification criteria. Of those five wrestlers, four came out victorious and earned a spot on the 2007 U.S. World Team that will compete at the World Championships on Sept. 17-23 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The lone wrestler who received an automatic berth into the finals but failed to make the U.S. World Team was Chris Bono at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Bono lost a tight three-match series to rival Doug Schwab, who entered the Challenge Tournament as the No. 5 seed. The other freestyle champions were Henry Cejudo (55 kg/121 lbs), Joe Williams (84 kg/185 lbs), and Tommy Rowlands (120 kg/264.5 lbs). Cejudo and Rowlands became first-time U.S. World Team Trials champions. Cejudo, who became the first high school wrestler ever to win U.S. Nationals in 2006, dropped the opening period of the first match to No. 3 seed Matt Azevedo, but cruised the rest of the way and won in two straight matches. The 26-year-old Rowlands, who won his first U.S. Nationals title in April, took care of longtime rival Steve Mocco in two straight matches. Williams, who moved up this year from 74 kg/163 lbs, made his sixth U.S. World Team with an exciting, three-match victory over 2006 U.S. World Team Trials member Andy Hrovat. On the Greco-Roman side, Joe Warren (60 kg/132 lbs), Harry Lester (66 kg/145.5 lbs), and Justin Ruiz (96 kg/211.5 lbs) repeated as U.S. World Team Trials champions. Warren, a 2006 World champion, completely dominated rising USOEC star Joe Betterman in two straight matches. Warren used his aggressive, attacking style to outscore Betterman 21-3 in the two matches. Lester, like Warren, completely dominated his finals opponent, Jacob Curby. The 23-year-old Lester, who earned a World bronze medal in 2006, registered a first-period pin in the opening match, and then followed it up with a shutout (7-0, 7-0) to take the series and make his third straight U.S. World Team. Ruiz, who won a World bronze medal in 2005, defeated a familiar opponent in Adam Wheeler in two straight matches. Both matches went all three periods, but Ruiz proved to be too much for Wheeler. In the women's competition, Stephanie Murata (48 kg/105.5 lbs), Marcie Van Dusen (55 kg/121 lbs), and Sara McMann (63 kg/138.75 lbs) were crowned champions. Audio Interviews Joe Warren Harry Lester Justin Ruiz Tommy Rowlands Doug Schwab Joe Williams Brackets Day 1 Recap

LAS VEGAS -- On Saturday night at the U.S. World Team Trials at the Las Vegas Convention Center, five of the seven champions crowned in the men's competition were past U.S. World Team members. Those wrestlers were Daniel Cormier in freestyle, and Lindsey Durlacher, TC Dantzler, Brad Vering, and Dremiel Byers in Greco-Roman. In the much-anticipated finals match at 96 kg/211.5 lbs, Cormier won in consecutive matches over Mo Lawal. Cormier, a five-time U.S. Nationals champion, defeated his former Oklahoma State teammate and friend for the second time in two months. The first time occurred in the finals of the U.S. Nationals in April. Cormier was fifth in the 2003 World Championships and fourth in the 2004 Olympic Games. Durlacher, a 2006 World bronze medalist, cruised to an easy two-match victory over 20-year-old rising star Spenser Mango, who upset U.S. Nationals champion Sam Hazewinkel in the Challenge Tournament. Dantzler, who was fifth at the 2006 World Championships, won two straight matches over longtime rival Keith Sieracki at 74 kg/163 lbs to make his fifth U.S. World Team. In a battle of past U.S. World Team members at 84 kg/185 lbs, Vering defeated 2007 World Cup silver medalist Jake Clark in consecutive matches to make his fourth U.S. World Team. Byers, a 2002 World champion, rebounded from a disappointing third-place finish at the U.S. Nationals, to earn a spot once again on the U.S. World Team with two straight victories over U.S. Nationals champion Russ Davie. Joe Heskett was the only first-time U.S. World Team Trials winner crowned on Saturday night in the men's competition. In a rematch of the U.S. Nationals finals, Heskett needed three matches to defeat veteran Casey Cunningham and earn a spot on the U.S. World Team. The lone weight class contested on Saturday in which a 2007 U.S. World Team member has yet to be determined was at 60 kg/132 lbs in freestyle. U.S. Nationals champion Nate Gallick was held out of competition due to injury and will face Challenge Tournament champion Mike Zadick at a later date. Zadick, a 2006 World silver medalist, defeated Zach Roberson in a close and exciting best-of-three series. In the women's competition, Patricia Miranda (51 kg/112.5 lbs), Leigh Jaynes (59 kg/130 lbs), Katie Downing (67 kg/147.5 lbs), and Kristie Marano (72 kg/158.5 lbs) were crowned champions. The U.S. World Team Trials champions crowned this weekend qualify for the World Championships on Sept. 17-23 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Audio Interviews Lindsey Durlacher Brad Vering Daniel Cormier Mike Duroe Dremiel Byers Joe Heskett TC Dantzler Brackets

Zach Sanders (119) of Wabasha (Minn.) Wabasha-Kellogg High, the nation's only five-time state champion this year, and four-time Virginia state champion Cody Gardner (215) of Christiansburg High are repeat selections to the 14-member First Team as the 22nd annual ASICS All-America Wrestling Team was announced today. The ASICS All-America Team, selected by a nationwide panel of wrestling experts, is the only national all-star team for which wrestlers enrolled in all four high-school grades are eligible. ASICS is a title sponsor of the ASICS Vaughan USA Wrestling Fargo Junior National Championships and is a major benefactor of the sport at all levels. "This team represents the best of the best in our schools today," said Neil Duncan of ASICS and TW Promotions, Inc. "We are proud to have these young men, with their talent and work ethic, representing us. They are clearly the World and Olympic champions of the future." Members of the First Team, as well as the ASICS Wrestler of the Year, will be honored prior to the finals of the ASICS Vaughan USA Wrestling Junior National Freestyle Championships in July at Fargo, N.D. The ASICS All-America Team includes eight wrestlers at each of the 14 high school weight classes – the First, Second, and Third Teams and five Honorable Mention selections. Wrestlers are considered at the weight class at which they competed in their state tournament or the National Prep Championships this year. Sanders and Gardner are two of the four First Team members to finish their careers with at least four state titles. Joining them are Illinois standouts Albert White (152) of Chicago St. Rita High and Mike Benefiel (171) of Lombard Montini High, who also ended their careers with four state crowns. Illinois, the only state with more than one selection to the First Team, had three, as sophomore Tony Ramos (112) of Carol Stream Glenbard North High also was selected. Ramos is one of five underclassmen on the squad. He is joined by fellow sophomore David Taylor (103) of St. Paris (Ohio) Graham High and juniors Mario Mason (140) of Blairstown (N.J.) Blair Academy, Alex Meade (145) of Camden Wyoming (Del.) Caesar Rodney High and Jason Welch (160) of Walnut Creek (Calif.) Las Lomas High. The rest of the First Team: Matt Ortega (125) of Rio Rancho (N,M.) High, Tyler Nauman (130) of Middletown (Pa.) High, Corey Jantzen (135) of Shoreham (N.Y.) Shoreham-Wading River High, Clayton Foster (189) of Kamiah (Idaho) High and Dom Bradley (285) of Blue Springs (Mo.) High. Blair Academy led all schools with six wrestlers selected – one to the First Team, two to the Second Team, one to the Third Team and two Honorable Mention selections. Lakewood (Ohio) Edward High had five selections – all Honorable Mention – and Caesar Rodney, Rio Rancho, St. Rita, Dallas (Texas) Bishop Lynch High, Kansas City (Mo.) Oak Park High, Massillon (Ohio) Perry High, Pennsburg (Pa.) Upper Perkiomen High, St. Paris (Ohio) Graham High and Tulsa (Okla.) Union High each had two wrestlers selected. The 14 First Team members combined to post 38 state high school or National Prep championships, along with four Junior National and seven Cadet National titles. The Second and Third Teams are not far behind. The Second Team's record is nearly identical: 32 state titles, including four four-time champions, to go with two Junior National titles and seven Cadet National titles. The Third Team boasts 29 combined titles, three Junior National and four Cadet National crowns. Ohio had the most overall selections, placing 17 wrestlers on the squad. Pennsylvania had 15 selections and New Jersey had 13, including a national-best eight selections on the First, Second and Third Teams. Close behind were Illinois (nine), California (seven) and Delaware and Oregon (five). The 112 wrestlers selected come from 27 states. 2007 ASICS All-America Team First Team 103 - David Taylor, So, Graham HS, St. Paris, OH 112 - Tony Ramos, So, Glenbard North HS, Carol Stream, IL 119 - Zach Sanders, Sr, Wabasha-Kellogg HS, Wabasha, MN 125 - Matt Ortega, Sr, Rio Rancho HS, Rio Rancho, NM 130 - Tyler Nauman, Sr, Middletown HS, Middletown, PA 135 - Corey Jantzen, Sr, Shoreham-Wading River HS, Shoreham, NY 140 - Mario Mason, Jr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ 145 - Alex Meade, Jr, Caesar Rodney HS, Camden Wyoming, DE 152 - Albert White, Sr, St. Rita HS, Chicago, IL 160 - Jason Welch, Jr, Las Lomas HS, Walnut Creek, CA 171 - Mike Benefiel, Sr, Montini HS, Lombard, IL 189 - Clayton Foster, Sr, Kamiah HS , Kamiah, ID 215 - Cody Gardner, Sr, Christiansburg HS, Christiansburg, VA 285 - Dom Bradley, Sr, Blue Springs HS, Blue Springs, MO Second Team 103 - Logan Stieber, Fr, Monroeville HS, Monroeville, OH 112 - Eric Grajales, So, Brandon HS, Brandon, FL 119 - Jordan Oliver, Jr, Easton HS, Easton, PA 125 - Dan White, Jr, The Peddie School, Hightstown, NJ 130 - Kellen Russell, Sr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ 135 - Trevor Melde, Jr, Delbarton HS, Morristown, NJ 140 - Luke Silver, Sr, Bishop Lynch HS, Dallas, TX 145 - Eric Medina, Sr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ 152 - Tim Darling, Sr, Nazareth HS, Nazareth, PA 160 - Colt Sponseller, Sr, West Holmes HS, Millersburg, OH 171 - Kirk Smith, Sr, Centennial HS, Boise, ID 189 - Sonny Yohn, Sr, Alamosa HS, Alamosa, CO 215 - Deron Winn, Sr Liberty HS, Liberty, MO 285 - Zach Rey, Sr, Hopatcong HS, Hopatcong, NJ Third Team 103 - B.J. Futrell, Jr, Mount Carmel HS, Chicago, IL 112 – Eric Olanowski, Sr, Floyd E. Kellam HS, Virginia Beach, VA 119 - Connor McDonald, Sr, Sussex Central HS, Georgetown, DE 125 - Boris Novachkov, Sr, Fremont HS, Fremont, CA 130 - Tyler Graff, Jr Loveland HS, Loveland, CO 135 - Chris Diaz, Sr, Caesar Rodney HS, Camden Wyoming, DE 140 - Jamal Parks, Sr, Tulsa Union HS, Tulsa, OK 145 - Jake Deitchler, Jr, Anoka HS, Anoka, MN 152 - Scott Winston, Jr, Jackson Memorial HS, Jackson, NJ 160 - Michael Chaires, Sr, Christian Bros. Academy, Albany, NY 171 - Justin Danz, Sr, Ponderosa HS, Shingle Springs, CA 189 - Jerome Ward, Sr, St. Rita HS, Chicago, IL 215 - Jared Platt, Sr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ 285 - Jarod Trice, Sr Highland Park HS, Highland Park, MI Honorable Mention (listed in alphabetical order) 103: Jamie Clark, Fr, St. Edward HS, Lakewood, OH; Jon Morrison, So, Carl Sandburg HS, Orland Park, IL; Mark Rappo, Jr, Council Rock South HS, Holland, PA; Sam White, So, Perry HS, Massillon, OH; Shane Young, So, Penn-Trafford HS, Harrison City, PA. 112: Dan Kelly, Sr, Delaware Valley Regional HS, Frenchtown, NJ; Ben Sergent, Jr, Troy Christian HS, Troy, OH; Bo Touris, Sr, Lakota West HS, West Chester, OH; Chris Villalonga, Fr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ; Thomas Williams, Jr, South Hills HS, West Covina, CA. 119: Tyler Clark, Sr, Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, IA; Troy Dolan, Sr, Derry HS, Derry, PA; Matt McDonough, Jr, Linn-Mar HS, Marion, IA; Chris Sheetz, Sr, Upper Perkiomen HS, Pennsburg, PA; Nikko Triggas, Sr, Campolindo HS, Moraga, CA. 125: Nate Moore, Jr, Iowa City West HS, Iowa City, IA; Collin Palmer, So, St. Edward HS, Lakewood, OH; R.J. Pena, So, Sprague HS, Salem, OR; Andy Pokorny, Sr, Bennington HS, Bennington, NE; John Starzyk, Sr, Providence HS, New Lenox, IL. 130: Collin Dozier, Sr, Frank W. Cox HS, Virginia Beach, VA; Kelly Kubec, Sr, Lake Stevens HS, Lake Stevens, WA; Matt Mariacher, Sr, Iroquois HS, Elma, NY; Scott O'Donnell, Sr, Oak Park HS, Kansas City, MO; Norman Richmond, Sr, Thomas Jefferson HS, Portland, OR. 135: Tony Jameson, Jr, Austintown-Fitch HS, Youngstown, OH; Walter Peppelman, Jr, Central Dauphin HS, Harrisburg, PA; Ryan Prater, Sr, Plainfield Central HS, Plainfield, IL; Max Shanaman, Sr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ; Vicente Varela, Sr, Rio Rancho HS, Rio Rancho, NM. 140: Seth Easter, Jr, Nitro HS, Nitro, WV; T.J. Hepburn, Sr, Ledyard HS, Ledyard, CT; Zack Kemmerer, Sr, Upper Perkiomen HS, Pennsburg, PA; Michael Mangrum, Jr, Riverside HS, Auburn, WA; Frank Molinaro, Sr, Southern Regional HS, Manahawkin, NJ. 145: Luke Ashmore, Sr, Bishop Lynch HS, Dallas, TX; Kevin Hardy, Sr, Solon HS, Solon, OH; Jamal Lawrence, Sr, Merrillville HS, Merrillville, IN; Nick Nelson, Sr, Shaler HS, Glenshaw, PA; Seth Vernon, Sr, Tulsa Union HS, Tulsa, OK. 152: Tommy Abbott, Sr, St. Mark's HS, Wilmington, DE; Sean Bilodeau, Sr, The Brooks School, North Andover, MA; Ryan Goodman, Sr, Greater Latrobe HS, Latrobe, PA; Andrew Howe, Jr, Hanover Central HS, Cedar Lake, IN; Thomas Straughn, Sr, Perry HS, Massillon, OH. 160: Chris Bullins, Sr, Dalton L. McMichael HS, Mayodan, NC; Sean Nemec, Sr, St. Edward HS, Lakewood, OH; Paul Paddock, Sr, Warsaw HS, Warsaw, NY; Ryan Smith, Sr, Crook County HS, Prineville, OR; Quentin Wright, Jr, Bald Eagle Area HS, Wingate, PA. 171: Jordan Blanton, Jr, Richmond-Burton HS, Richmond, IL; Hunter Collins, Jr, Gilroy HS, Gilroy, CA; Dustin Kilgore, Sr, Berea HS, Berea, OH; Brian Roddy, Jr, St. Edward HS, Lakewood, OH; Rob Waltko, Sr, North Allegheny HS, Wexford, PA. 189: Scott Cust, Sr, Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake, VA; Ryland Geiger, Jr, Scappoose HS, Scappoose, OR; Chris Honeycutt, Sr, St. Edward HS, Lakewood, OH; Jamelle Jones, Sr, Dover HS, Dover, DE; Jimmy Waters, Sr, Lewis Central HS, Council Bluffs, IA. 215: Ryan Flores, Sr, Buchanan HS, Clovis, CA; Tyrell Fortune, Jr, Parkrose HS, Portland, OR; Kellen Harris, Sr, Sharon HS, Sharon, PA; Pat Mahan, Sr, Owatonna HS, Owatonna, MN; Justin Wieller, Sr, Northampton HS, Northampton, PA. 285: Brendan Barlow, Sr, Westerville Central HS, Westerville, OH; Atticus Disney, Jr, Andover Central HS, Andover, KS; Tucker Lane, Sr, Nucla HS, Nucla, CO; Elijah Madison, Jr, Oak Park HS, Kansas City, MO; Cameron Wade, Sr, St. Peter Chanel HS, Bedford, OH.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -– Head Coach Pat Pecora and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown wrestling program have signed 20 recruits for the 2007-08 season, including 2007 Pennsylvania State Champion Matt Moore (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville H.S.) and 2006 State Champion Nikko Leitzel (Ridgway, Pa./Ridgway H.S.). In addition, Pennsylvania State Runner-Ups Cody Myers (Three Springs, Pa./Southern Huntingdon H.S.) and Nathan Link (Cresson, Pa./Penn Cambria H.S.) Of the 20 incoming recruits, eight are Pennsylvania State Place winners, while five others qualified for the State Tournament and seven others were Regional qualifiers. "This could be one of our best recruiting classes in the 31 years I've been at Pitt Johnstown," Coach Pecora said. "It has both quality and quantity." Heading this year's recruiting class are State Champions Moore and Leitzel. Moore, who represented Pennsylvania in this year's PA vs. USA Dapper Dan Wrestling Tournament, posted a 36-1 record as a senior on his way to winning the 2007 state title at 160 lbs. Moore wrapped up his high school career with a 146-14 overall record. Leitzel, the 2006 PA State Champion at 140 lbs. and a third place finisher in 2007, had a 46-1 record and claimed the title at the North West Regional Tournament en route to his state title. Leitzel finished his high school career with a 156-13 overall record. Pitt Johnstown also signed a pair of State runner-ups in Myers and Link. Myers, a two-time State runner-up at 119 lbs., was 38-2 as a senior, while Link finished second in the state at 130 lbs. with a 45-4 record in 2006-07. In addition, four other 2005 PA State place winners signed with Pitt Johnstown. McGuffey High School's Matt Scherich (West Finley, Pa.) was the AAA Southwest Regional Runner-up and placed fourth at the state tournament at 125 lbs. Scherich recorded a 37-6 record as a senior. Jon Moore (Leechburg, Pa./Kiski Area H.S.), whose brother Jordan is also in this year's recruiting class, placed sixth at the states at 189 lbs. after earning the AAA Southwest Regional title. Scherich was 34-9 in 2006-07 and 73-27 in his career. The Mountain Cats also signed Zach Lungren (Dubois, Pa./Dubois Area H.S.) and Brock Leitzel (Ridgway, Pa./Ridgway H.S.), pair of eighth place finishers. Lungren, who was 36-8 as a senior, was the AAA Northwest Regional Runner-up at 160 lbs., while Leitzel, the cousin of Nikko Leitzel, finished third at the AA Northwest Regional tournament. Leitzel wrapped up the 2006-07 season with a 43-5 record. Coach Pecora also added five PA State Qualifiers. Damian Majocha (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell H.S.), the brother of former Mountain Cat heavyweight Zach Majocha, had a 42-7 record on his way to winning the Southwest Regional title at 171 lbs., Penn Cambria High School's Paul Myers (Cresson, Pa.) placed fourth at the Southwest Regional Tournament at 125 lbs. Myers had a 40-11 record as a senior. Other State Qualifiers include: Jason Kylor (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area H.S.), Phil Slaugh (Hanover, Pa./Hanover H.S.) and Bobby Wolford (Falling Waters, Pa./Mercersburg Academy). Kylor finished third at the Southwest Regional tournament at 189 lbs., while Slaugh placed fourth at the Southeast Regional Tournament at 160 lbs. Wolford was a three-time PA State Prep School Place winner.

In March, Richard Fergola was introduced as the new head wrestling coach at North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) in Mason City, Iowa, a program that was recently reinstated. Richard FergolaFergola has proven time and again that he can recruit the nation's top wrestlers. Before coming to NIACC, Fergola spent three years at Dana College, two years as head assistant and one year as head coach, where he helped the Vikings land the No. 4 and No. 1 non-Division I recruiting classes in the country. Since taking over at NIACC, Fergola has inked several top national recruits, including Albert White, DaVaughn Perkins, TJ Moen, and Cody Hogan. RevWrestling.com recently caught up with Fergola and talked to him about his experience at Dana, how he landed such an outstanding recruiting class, what the timetable is for winning at NIACC, and much more. You spent three years at Dana College, two of those years were as head assistant coach and one year as head coach. When you reflect on the time you spent at Dana, how would you describe that experience? Fergola: It was one of the greatest coaching experiences of my career. I mean, I love Dana College. It was tough leaving there. I had a great group of young men there and a great coaching staff. It was hard to walk away from it. Winning a national championship while we were there, and winning an academic national championship, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Beau Vest will be Dana's third head coach in three seasons. What's going on there? Fergola: Coach Costanzo was there for seven years. We won a national championship. When that happened, I think that kind of vaulted some new opportunities for him. He was a three-time All-American at UNO, so he was presented an opportunity to coach at the Division II level. He felt that winning that national championship opened up an opportunity for him. It was something he couldn't turn down. It was a great deal for him. And it was a great deal for me to take over and be the head coach at Dana. It's weird … in our profession timing sometimes isn't always the best. My wife and I had no plans on leaving Dana. We just bought a home there two years ago, so we weren't going to leave. This came along here at NIACC kind of at weird time … and it was something that I couldn't refuse. For a coach, the opportunity to just coach college wrestling and not do anything extra … I've been teaching high school special education for 11 years now, and I've been teaching it while I've been a wrestling coach. I was presented an opportunity to come to NIACC and just coach college wrestling and just concentrate on that. It was just an all-around great situation for my whole family. We just couldn't say no. So, it's not Dana. Dana is a great place to coach. It has great kids. It's in a great location. Dana wrestling is having great success. It's just unfortunate that other opportunities came available that were just too good to pass up. When did you first hear that North Iowa Area Community College would be reinstating the wrestling program? Fergola: Well, like any other guy, I'm on the Internet, so I saw an article on InterMat that they are reinstating wrestling. I was like, 'Oh, that's cool.' Anytime I see a wrestling program reinstated I think that's great. I didn't think much of it. That was in November, so we were just getting kicking at Dana. And then I got a phone call from the athletic director. He asked me to send my stuff in, so I sent my stuff in. It just kind of went from there. He wanted to meet with me, so it just all kind of happened from that. You brought in an outstanding recruiting class that includes several top national recruits Albert White of Illinois, DaVaughn Perkins of Nebraska, TJ Moen of Iowa, Cody Hogan of Missouri, among others. It's arguably a top five recruiting class regardless of division. How were you able to bring in such an outstanding recruiting class? Fergola: I have always been a firm believer that in college wrestling the name of the game is recruiting. You have to get the top guys if you want to contend. I don't know, just my years of experience, persistence to get the best guys in the country, and selling our program. That's what we had to do at Dana. Recruiting at Dana was sometimes difficult, but we always made it happen. I'm in Iowa, too. NIACC pushed the right button when they started wrestling here because North Iowa is just a hotbed, especially with Cael Sanderson being at Iowa State, Tom Brands at Iowa, Brad Penrith at Northern Iowa. Kids want to come out here and go on and wrestle Division I in those programs. We just went after the best guys. I have a great assistant coach who was huge in that deal. We were just able to get some good kids. Do you expect those wrestlers like Albert White, DaVaughn Perkins, TJ Moen, and Cody Hogan, to wrestle in the lineup two years? Or do you expect them to redshirt a season? Fergola: Well, you know, I think those are things we just play by ear. Generally speaking, from the beginning, most junior college coaches who get blue chip Division I athletes, typically the plan would be to wrestle them one year and then redshirt them the other year so that they can get three years at a Division I level school. That's normally what you would do, but sometimes those things change. You just have to wait until they get here, wait to see how things pan out, and then just go from there. There has been a lot of talk that DaVaughn Perkins has committed to Iowa State. Is that correct? Fergola: Well, you know, people all over the Internet are saying that, but I don't think it's official. I know that's where he wants to go. I know that after he signed with us that he did go there for the spring football game. I know that he told Coach Sanderson that's where he wants to go after NIACC. Obviously that will be in two years. That's where he wants to go. How about any of your other recruits? Can you shed any light on where they might end up after NIACC? Fergola: None of them have made any commitments yet. Albert White originally verbally committed to Illinois, but I don't know what Albert wants to do. TJ Moen was originally planning on going to Tennessee Chattanooga. He may still want to go back there after NIACC. In two years, things can change. If they have a lot of success here, you just never know what's going to happen. As of right now, we don't have anybody really stepping in stone where they're going to go after NIACC. We're just kind of concentrating on trying to win a national title here first, getting their academics going in the right direction, and trying to help them fulfill their dreams. NIACC is situated right in the heart of big time Division I college wrestling with Iowa State, Iowa, Northern Iowa, and Minnesota not too far. How important is for you to build relationships with Division I head coaches in the area like Cael Sanderson, Tom Brands, Brad Penrith, and J Robinson. Where you can say, 'Hey, I've got this great kid who I think could make an impact in your program?' Fergola: Obviously, it's very important. Those are awesome coaches at storied programs. We're definitely going to build a relationship with those coaches. Hopefully guys will start to come out of NIACC, head in those directions, and have success. That's one thing that has been on my to-do list is to work with those guys. The first thing I did when I got hired here was I e-mailed them all … and I know them all personally … just making sure if they have guys they want to send here, that's great. And then we'll definitely have a relationship with them. It's just great being in this area. The college wrestling in this area is just phenomenal. I'm just privileged to be in this area. What's the timetable for success at NIACC? You're taking over a program that hasn't fielded a team since 1976. Is it realistic to think this program could compete for a national title in its first year? Fergola: Well, that's our goal. Any program that I've ever been involved with or been in control of, that's always our goal. Obviously, academics is No. 1 with us. We want our kids doing well in school. That was our goal at Dana and that will be our goal here at NIACC. Those are the first things we're going to get under control. I think potentially on paper with the guys we have right now on our team, I think we have a great shot at doing that. We're going to believe that. That's something that we're definitely going to push for. I think we'll be right there. But like I said, things can change. You always have to deal with injuries and eligibility. Things like that can always come into play. I think on paper right now we have a pretty good squad. How's junior college recruiting different from NAIA recruiting? Fergola: Well, NAIA has a different set of regulations and procedures. It's a little different. Most NAIA schools are private schools. It's pretty expensive to attend most NAIA institutions. Most of them are in the $20,000 to $30,000 range, so that makes it difficult on a coach sometimes, having to put a student-athlete in that position to spend that kind of money. I think that's probably the biggest thing. A lot of people don't understand the NAIA. What they don't understand is that there are a lot of very talented wrestlers at that level. I think that makes it difficult. In comparison to junior college, I think junior college is a little bit easier in the fact that you don't have a lot of academic acceptance standards holding you back. At Dana, kids have to get an 18 or above just to get into school. And I'm not saying that's a good thing, because obviously we want academic standards. That makes it a little bit easier to get certain students into school here and help them achieve what they want to achieve. I think that's probably the biggest thing … that you just don't have a lot of those things holding you back to getting into a JUCO. I would have to say that's the main difference. Richard FergolaPrior to coaching at Dana, you spent some time coaching at the junior college ranks at Neosho County Community College in Kansas. How did that experience prepare you for the opportunity at North Iowa Area Community College? Fergola: When I was at Neosho County, that helped a lot. I got to know a lot of the JUCO coaches. I kind of know how it works. I understand the schedules. I know pretty much all the JUCO coaches across the country, and have relationships with them. I think that really helped to really understand what goes in these ranks. I've coached in the national tournament twice. I think that really helped me a lot. It's definitely a lot better than coming into this level not knowing anything, so it was definitely a big help. You obviously have roots in the state of Kansas, having wrestled and coached there. What's it going to take to get Division I wrestling in Kansas? Do you see that ever happening? Fergola: There are a lot of great people in that state who are huge advocates to get that started there. When I was still living there and coaching there, I tried to be as much a part of that as I could. I think what it's just going to come down to is that the right people see the light and understand how huge it could be. Kind of like how with NIACC starting wrestling here. The right people saw that it could be a huge ordeal here and ran with it. They are going to benefit from starting the program because it's going to do nothing but help promote the school and get more students. Kansas needs Division I wrestling. Whatever school gets it is going to be a powerhouse because there are some great athletes in that state. It's phenomenal because Kansas is pretty well known as a wrestling state too. They've done well on the national level: freestyle, Greco, folkstyle. If you look at some other states that aren't known as wrestling states that have Division I wrestling, and you're just like, 'Why doesn't Kansas have it?' Hopefully it will happen someday. I think it's just going to come down to the right people understanding how important it would be and just making it happen. Maybe this isn't a fair question since you just took over a new program, but do you have aspirations of someday becoming a Division I head coach? Fergola: I think every coach has those aspirations. Right now, I'm concentrating on getting the job done at NIACC. Whatever the future brings, the future brings. Just like athletes, they all have aspirations of wrestling at the Division I level. I like this level. I enjoyed it when I coached it before. We're just going to get the ball rolling, see what we can do at NIACC, and see what happens.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Gary Abbott and J.D. Oliva. Abbott is the Director of Communications and Special Projects for USA Wrestling. He has worked with USA Wrestling since 1988, directing the organization's communications activities. One of amateur wrestling most prolific writers, Abbott was named W.I.N. Magazine's Journalist of the year in 2002. The National Wrestling Media Association named him Publicist of the Year in 1991. Abbott will discuss the upcoming World Team Trials that will be taking place in Las Vegas on June 9-10 as well as the National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductions that took place this past weekend. Oliva was a former University of Illinois wrestler who has recently produced and directed a new wrestling movie called "7 Minutes". He is also the producer of "The Wrestling Recap", a popular wrestling highlight show featuring former Northern Iowa wrestler Jeff Harrison. "7 Minutes" premieres Saturday, June 9, at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois. Showtime is at 7 p.m. There will also be a viewing at the Al Ringling Theater in Baraboo, Wisconsin, on June 19th as well as a special viewing at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum on a date yet to be determined. This movie will be available for purchase later this summer at www.7minutes-movie.com. "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.

If everything goes as planned, NCAA champion Jake Herbert of Northwestern will be taking an Olympic redshirt during the 2007-08 collegiate season as he chases his dream of wrestling on the United States Olympic team. RevWrestling.com recently caught up with the 22-year-old Herbert and talked to him about growing up wrestling in Pennsylvania, why he chose to attend Northwestern, his desire for a rematch last season with Ben Askren, his performance at U.S. Nationals, his expectations for this weekend's World Team Trials, and much more. Jake Herbert (Photo/John Sachs)You came out Pennsylvania as a one-time state champion, yet you've gone on to become one of the top collegiate wrestlers in the country. There are quite a few examples of one and two-time Pennsylvania state champions going on to have a lot of success in Division I college wrestling. What makes high school wrestling so tough in Pennsylvania? Herbert: I just think the heritage of it. There are so many good wrestlers, so many kids working hard. Pennsylvania has that heritage of being one of the top and most elite wrestling states in the nation, year in and year out. When you're banging with the best guys every day in high school, when you get to college it doesn't matter when you face those two or three-time state champions from states like Wyoming and Wisconsin. You chose Northwestern over Michigan, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and many other schools. Why Northwestern, a program that hadn't produced an NCAA champion since 1990. What was so enticing about the program? Herbert: I was just really excited about the recruiting class. I knew Ryan Lang was going there, Nick Hayes, and some others, so it was a pretty good recruiting class. Plus, the school gave me the best combination. I wanted Big Ten wrestling. I knew no matter what school I went to, I was going to get a national title … no matter what happens. Northwestern had the city of Chicago going for it, plus it's one of the best academic schools in the nation. You can't wrestle your entire life. I have to have something to fall back on. And I knew that I wanted Big Ten wrestling, so it basically came down to Michigan and Northestern. Michigan signed the kid I beat in the state finals, Josh Weitzel, pretty early, so that kind of sealed my deal. They chose him over me, so I went to NU. You grew out of the 174-pound weight class and moved up to 184 pounds for your junior season. Was it hard moving away from Ben Askren, knowing that he beat you in the NCAA finals, and wanting to avenge that loss? Or was it a sense of relief to know that you won't have to deal with him at 184 pounds? Herbert: I was hoping that I could wrestle Askren at the National Duals. I was actually trying to see if I could potentially get certified to wrestle at 174 for the dual against Missouri. But there wasn't any physical way that I was getting down there. I got a little too big, too fast. Cutting down to 174 my first two years was tough enough as it was … just trying to make it down there in one big cut was just too much to handle. Compare the 2006 NCAA runner-up Jake Herbert to the 2007 NCAA champion Jake Herbert. How much did you improve between your sophomore and junior seasons? Herbert: I improved tremendously, exponentially every year. I try to get better and better. I can feel the difference. It wasn't like I was a lot stronger because I moved up a weight class. Everybody else got stronger. It was more in the little things. I noticed different positions in practice, maintaining better positioning. The basic stuff. Little kids want to hit the flashy moves. They don't realize that holding great head position and a great stance, how are you going to get taken down and scored on if you're doing that constantly? You defeated Jake Varner of Iowa State to win the NCAA title. He had a victory over you in freestyle at the 2005 FILA Junior World Team Trials. Did that past result play into your psyche as you prepared for your NCAA finals match? Herbert: I wanted to face him all year. I hate it when I face someone who has that last win over me, regardless of the style. I just hate having a guy who has the upper hand, so I was kind of excited when I found out that he beat Kish … and I was actually getting a freshman in the NCAA finals. I knew that he was going to be nervous. It was his first time there. I knew it was all coming together. At the U.S. Nationals in April, you lost in the quarterfinals to Tyrel Todd of Michigan, a wrestler you defeated several times this past collegiate season, and then defaulted out of the competition. How would you characterize your performance out in Las Vegas? Herbert: It wasn't what I expected. I tore my meniscus during that match, but I still finished the match … and still feel like I had it won. It just wasn't smart wrestling. I wasn't ready in the first period. Tyrel got up by a lot of points right away and I couldn't come back. I got him in the second period. I was up 2-1 in the third period and just took a stupid shot and got turned for two, so I lost on criteria. He wrestled a hell of a tournament, way above his seed. He beat (Clint) Wattenberg first match and he beat me. He had a good tournament. I'm hoping at the Trials that I'm going to have a better tournament than he ever had. You're very comfortable in scrambling situations. Is your wrestling style more conducive to folkstyle? Herbert: My style might be more conducive to folkstyle right now, but I definitely favor freestyle over folkstyle. I only have four months left of folkstyle in my career, but I probably have another 10 years left in freestyle wrestling. As I start to switch over, I'll have more time to prepare for freestyle, which is why I feel that I'll do better at the Trials. I'll be wrestling smarter. Jake Herbert (Photo/John Sachs)Are you going into the U.S. World Team Trials expecting to win it? Or do look at it as a gauge to see where you are at this point in your freestyle career? Herbert: I don't go into any tournament expecting not to win it. I feel that I should win every tournament that I enter. Are you definitely taking an Olympic redshirt this coming collegiate season? Herbert: Almost. I still think I have to qualify for it by placing at the Trials. But more than likely I will be. What factors played into your decision? Herbert: One of my coaches, Bill Scherr, was telling me that it's just so hard to juggle school, freestyle wrestling, and folkstyle wrestling all at the same time if you want to make a serious run at the Olympics. Why would I half-ass something? I'm either going to go all in or nothing at all. What do you expect your training situation will be like during your Olympic redshirt season? Herbert: It's going to be great. I get all the time off. I don't have any school. I don't have a job restricting me. It's just a time to train and prepare for each tournament and get ready for the Olympic Trials. Do you plan to train mostly at Northwestern during your Olympic redshirt season? Or do you plan to spend some time training at the Olympic Training Center? Herbert: I'll do both. I'll be living at Northwestern, but I plan to be at the OTC a majority of the time. Northwestern had a great junior class this season with you, Ryan Lang, Dustin Fox, and Mike Tamillow. Will all three of those guys compete next year? Or will they be taking Olympic redshirt seasons as well? Herbert: I can't comment on that because I don't know. It's up to the coaches. Tamillow seemed to make big strides between his sophomore and junior seasons. In April, he won the University Nationals and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler. From seeing him day in and day out, what has been the biggest difference in his wrestling lately? Herbert: He holds his position so much better now than when he was a freshman. That's the biggest thing I've noticed. He's so hard to move and get out of position. It's hard to score on somebody who is always in great position. That's one of the things he's really improved on … and his mindset, he's just a brawler. He came in and didn't have very much technique. He was only a one-time state runner-up in high school. He came in with that desire. He knew that he was better than that. He knew that he wanted to be better than that. And he's already an All-American and University national champion. Arguably the top three college wrestlers from this past season will not be competing next season: You, Ben Askren, and Cole Konrad. I'm going to put you on the spot here. In your opinion, who is the best wrestler competing in college next season? Herbert: Oh, I don't know. There are so many. You have that 149 weight class with Schlatter, Gillespie, Churella. Lang will be back. I feel it's so hard to find one person who will dominate … until the season starts and you see who is doing what. There is just so much talent out there in college wrestling. Jake Herbert (Photo/Stephen J. Carrera)Handicap the 185 pound weight class in freestyle. Who do you see as the top three or four competitors to pose the biggest threat to you making a World and Olympic team? Herbert: The top four that are on the ladder right now … Joe Williams, Lee Fullhart, Clint Wattenburg, Andy Hrovat, and then you have Chris Pendleton. I mean, everybody you get there is tough. In the sport of wrestling, on any given day any non-seeded kid can beat a seeded kid. It's not very hard to do. Northwestern brought in a great recruiting class … a class that includes Mike Benefiel, Robert Kellogg, and Ben Kuhar. What kind of impact do you see them making at Northwestern? Herbert: They'll make a great impact. They are the future of the program. They will hopefully do what my class did … but lead this program to an even better finish, top three, and then hopefully have three national title contenders.

Former Buena Vista wrestler and mixed martial arts expert Jason Black will be making his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut on June 12 in Hollywood, Florida. Black is a 1996 graduate of Buena Vista. The UFC is widely regarded as the world's leading mixed martial arts sports association. Mixed martial arts is an intense and evolving combat sport in which competitors use interdisciplinary forms of fighting that include jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and others to their strategic and tactical advantage in a supervised match. "This upcoming match is important to me because it gives me the opportunity to fight on the biggest mixed martial arts stage," said Black who currently lives in the Quad Cities. Black will be facing Thiago Tavares in a 155 pound match. Black is 22-2-1 since turning professional in 2000. Tavares is 15-0. Black's match is one of nine matches on the card for UFC Fight Night which will be broadcast on Spike TV at 8 p.m. Central Daylight Time. His match will be televised if time permits. Black was a two-time All-American while wrestling for the Beavers. He placed sixth at the NCAA National Championship in 1994 at 158 pounds. The following year, Black moved up to the 167 pound weight class and won the Iowa Conference title and placed third nationally. Black, who has competed nationally and internationally, has fought the majority of his professional career at welterweight. This will be the first time that he dips all the way down to 155 pounds. "Wrestling in college gave me the good mental base I need to cut weight from 185 pounds to 155 pounds," Black commented. "It also taught me to forge ahead when things get rough." Regardless of the outcome of the match on June 12, Black will continue his training as he attempts to move up the UFC ladder.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -– The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team returned from its trip to Pitesti, Romania, with a bevy of individual titles and a number of superb showings during the 2007 FILA Junior World Championships. Head coach Troy Sunderland and assistant coach John Hughes guided 10 different individuals through the event. Bringing home individual titles at the event in Petesti were senior heavyweight Aaron Anspach (Columbia, Pa.), junior Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) and freshman Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.). Anspach went 3-0 and won the title at 120 kg, Davis was 3-0 at 96 kg and won the crown while Jenkins went 4-0 at 66 kg to claim his title. In addition, freshman Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) was runner-up at 74 kg with a 4-1 mark and sophomore David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) was runner-up at 85 kg with a 4-1 record. Other Nittany Lions competing at the event, by weight, were: 60 kg -- Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) (0-2), Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) (0-1); 66 kg -- Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) (0-1); 85 kg – Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) (0-1), Mike Ward (Mayfield, Ohio) (0-1). Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) and Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) also made the trip but did not compete in the event. Shortly thereafter, five Nittany Lions took part in the FILA Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., under the guidance of assistant coach Matt Dernlan. Jenkins continued his hot summer with a first place finish at 66 kg. His title earned him a spot on the world team that will compete in Beijing, China, on August 16-21. Freshman Eric Caschera (South Williamsport, Pa.) was runner-up at 50 kg and Rella was runner-up at 74 kg. Ward competed but did not place at 85 kg and heavyweight Stefan Tighe (Erie, Pa.) competed but did not place at 120 kg. Pataky and heavyweight John Laboranti (Scranton, Pa.) will both be competing in the U.S. Senior World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., on June 9-10. The duo will be coached by Sunderland and assistant Dave Hart. The Nittany Lion wrestlers are wrapping up a superb freestyle season that included the above mentioned events as well as solid tournaments in April. Strayer won the individual title at 63 kg at the 2007 University Freestyle National Championships back in late April. Strayer was one of seven Penn State placers at that event. Davis was third at 96 kg, Erwin was third at 79 kg, McKnight was fourth at 55 kg, Rella was fifth at 74 kg, senior James Yonushonis (Philipsburg, Pa.) was fifth at 84 kg and Laboranti was sixth at 120 kg. Earlier in April, Jenkins and Rella claimed crowns at the 2007 FFILA Junior National Championships. Rella took the crown at 74 kg while Jenkins won the title at 70 kg. Three other Nittany Lions placed as well. Caschera was fourth at 50 kg, Ward was sixth at 79 kg and Tighe was third at 120 kg.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -– Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Aaron Anspach was denied a sixth-year of eligibility by the NCAA, thus ending his hopes at another national title run in 2007-08. Anspach ends his Penn State career as the 2007 National Runner-Up at heavyweight. The native of Columbia, Pa., had two seasons cut short by injuries and wrestled in 85 bouts over the course of five years, an average of only 17 matches per season. Of those 85 bouts, a third (27) was during his true natural red-shirt season in 2002-03. Over the course of his final four years, he missed the bulk of two with injuries and wrestled in 58 bouts, an average of less than 15 per season. Anspach went 22-4 this year and advanced all the way to the national title bout, falling to repeat national champion Cole Konrad of Minnesota in the finals. He was also the 2007 Big Ten runner-up. Three of his four losses were to Konrad. Wrestling one of the toughest individual schedules in the nation, ten of his 26 bouts this year were against nationally ranked opponents. Anspach leaves Penn State with a 43-15 career record and a perfect 12-0 mark in major decisions.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Angel Escobedo of the Indiana wrestling team has been named Wrestler of the Week by TheMat.com, the publication announced on Wednesday. Escobedo earned the honor by garnering a spot on the World Junior Championship Team on Saturday, May 26. Escobedo will wrestle for the chance to become a world champion at the Junior World Championships on Aug. 21-26 in Beijing, China. Escobedo topped a stacked field to earn the 60-kilogram (132-pound) freestyle title at the FILA Junior World Team trials at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. TheMat.com selects an Athlete of the Week each week at any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the senior level. Escobedo was dominant in the Saturday challenge, winning all six periods to take first place at the elite event. He began the event by dropping Oklahoma wrestler Henry Roman 5-0 and 7-0, and then followed that with a strong win over Harvard signee Corey Jantzen, 3-1 and 8-0. In the finals, Escobedo faced the Olympic Training Center's own Pat McCaffrey, and Escobedo topped the two-time Junior World bronze medalist with a pair of 1-0 victories to take first place in the challenge. In the Saturday final, Escobedo squared off with a familiar opponent in Northwestern grappler Brandon Precin. Escobedo defeated Precin in the IU-NU dual meet on Feb. 11 and then followed that with a 14-3 major decision at the Big Ten championships on March 3. In Saturday's final, Escobedo was topped 1-0 in the first period of round one, then took the next two periods, 3-0 and 2-0, to win the round. He then swept round two by scores of 3-0 and 1-0 to win the championship. The Griffith, Ind., native will be joined on the Junior World Team in the freestyle division by David Taylor (50 kg), Tyler Graff (55 kg), Bubba Jenkins (66 kg), Jake Kerr (74 kg), Louis Caputo (84 kg), Taylor Moore (96 kg) and Dom Bradley (120 kg). Escobedo wrapped up his debut season for the Hoosiers by finishing in third place at the Big Ten Championships and in fourth at NCAAs. The Griffith, Ind., native posted a 39-7 record on the year with 14 pins. Those totals rank him in a tie for sixth and seventh, respectively, on the IU wrestling single-season lists all-time. His 39 victories were the most ever by an IU freshman.

The 2007 NCAA champion University of Minnesota wrestling program will hold its 20th Annual Golf Classic on Monday, June 4 at Gopher Hills Golf Course in Miesville, Minn. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., with a shot-gun start scheduled for noon. The cost for the event is $140 per person, which includes golf, dinner, social and a gift, or $50 for just the dinner and social which starts at approximately 5 p.m. The University of Minnesota Wrestling Golf Classic is the primary fundraiser for the Gopher wrestling program and is an integral part of why the program has reached the elite status it enjoys today. Come help support your Golden Gophers and have a great time. 2007 University of Minnesota Wrestling Golf Classic Gopher Hills Golf Course 26155 Nicolai Ave. Cannon Falls, MN 55009 View Flier View Registration Form View View Tee/Green Sponshorship Form For more information, contact Luke Becker at 612-625-9356.

The phrase "heavyweight champ" carries a lot of weight in the world of sports. For example, at one time it held special glamour in the world of professional boxing. And it still has critical importance in college wrestling, where, in a close dual meet or tournament, it's often up to the big man in the final match to determine which team comes out the winner. In the more than 75 years of NCAA wrestling championships, a number of big men have found fame beyond winning at least one heavyweight title. For some, success comes from within the sport -- for example, Olympic medallists Bruce Baumgartner, Lou Banach and Chris Taylor, or coaches Kerry McCoy (Stanford), Kirk Trost (Michigan) and Charles McDaniel (Indiana). Others have become famous beyond the mat: NFL stars Stephen Neal, Carlton Haselrig, Curley Culp, Jim Nance and Jess Lewis … professional wrestlers Kurt Angle, Sylvester Terkay, Dick Hutton, Dale Lewis and Earl McCready … and even a larger-than-life movie star (Tab Thacker of Wildcats and the Police Academy series). As you might expect, the school that has won the most NCAA team titles -- Oklahoma State -- also leads the way in producing the most NCAA heavyweight champs, with ten. However, the school that's second in NCAA heavyweight titlewinners is the University of Minnesota, with five: Tony Nelson (2012 and 2013)... Cole Konrad (2006 and 2007) … Brock Lesnar (2000) … Verne Gagne (1949) … and Leonard Levy (1941). Let's take a look at the accomplishments of each of these Golden Gopher heavyweight champs: Leonard Levy Born and raised in Minneapolis, Leonard "Butch" Levy was a two-sport star at the University of Minnesota, making a name for himself on the football field and on the mat. He was an All-Conference lineman for the Gophers during their undefeated 1941 season, when the team outscored its opponents 186-38 on its way to an NCAA national championship. 1941 was a great season for the Minnesota matmen as well. The team compiled a 6-1-1 record, losing only to perennial powerhouse Oklahoma State, and tying the University of Northern Iowa. In the thirteen-man heavyweight bracket at the 1941 NCAA's held at Lehigh University, Butch Levy was seeded second, behind Oklahoma State's Loyd Arms. On his way to the finals, the 6', 260-pound Gopher defeated John Kearns of Penn State 3-2, then got a 4-2 victory in overtime over Lafayette's John Thomas, the third seed. In the title bout, Levy met up with fourth-seeded Larry Pickett of Yale, who had pinned two of his opponents and shut out the third 7-0. However, the Gopher prevailed over the Yale man 5-2, becoming the first NCAA heavyweight champ from the University of Minnesota, and only the third national titlewinner for the school. Leonard LevySadly, Levy's college mat career was cut short by a broken foot midway during the 1941-42 season, according to the 1942 Gopher yearbook, and he was unable to compete in the Big Tens or the NCAA's. Apparently Levy recovered from the injury; later that year, in the NFL draft, he was selected by the Cleveland Rams. However, he delayed his professional football career until 1945 to serve in the Navy for three years during World War II. At the end of the 1948 NFL season, Levy retired from football and became a professional wrestler in the American Wrestling Association in the Twin Cities. He was an NWA Tag Team titleholder on two occasions with two Minnesota gridiron/grappling alums: first, with Verne Gagne, then later, with Leo Nomellini. Levy passed away in 1999 at age 78. Verne Gagne Born on a Minnesota farm in 1926, Verne Gagne lost his mother at age 14. He moved in with family near Robbinsdale High School, a wrestling dynasty in the 1940s… and a great mat career was launched. Weighing in at 185 pounds, Gagne was a two-time Minnesota high school state champ at heavyweight in 1942 and 1943. Gagne was also an all-state star on the gridiron for Robbinsdale, and was recruited to play football for the University of Minnesota in 1943. However, wrestling quickly became Gagne's main college sport; as a freshman, he won the 1944 Big Ten conference championship at 175 pounds. After that first season, Gagne left campus to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps at El Toro, California for two years during World War II, where he played football and taught hand-to-hand combat. He returned to Minnesota in 1946, and wrote the second chapter of a very successful amateur sports career. In March 1947, Gagne won the Big Ten heavyweight title; then, at the 1947 NCAA's, he lost to eventual champ Dick Hutton of Oklahoma State in the semifinals. The following season, Gagne -- now a junior -- won yet another Big Ten title (this time at 191 pounds), then, a couple weeks later, claimed the title in the same weight class at the 1948 NCAA's at Lehigh. He also was an alternate for the US team at the 1948 London Olympics. Gagne's senior season was the cherry on top of a stellar college career. He was undefeated in regular dual-meet action, and won his fourth Big Ten title -- the first wrestler from any school at any weight to do that. Gagne, now a heavyweight, qualified to compete at the 1949 NCAA's at Colorado State where he was seeded second behind defending champ Dick Hutton. The Cowboy was a big bear of a man, who, at 5'10" and 245 pounds, outweighed the Minnesotan by about thirty pounds. Verne GagneIt was destined that the two would meet in the finals. Gagne pinned Brigham Young's Alvin Dailey in the first round, defeated Iowa's Bob Geigel 5-1 in the quarterfinals, and got a 4-2 victory over Homer Barr of Penn State in the semis. In the heavyweight title match between Gagne and Hutton, the score was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, despite the Cowboy scoring a takedown at the end… but there was a question as to whether Hutton had gained control before the clock ran out. Under the rules of the time, the officials declared Gagne the winner based on a few seconds' advantage in riding time … denying Hutton his third title, and the chance to be the first four-time NCAA champ. (Hutton won his third championship the following year, also on a referee's decision!) After graduating from Minnesota, Gagne played professional football for the Green Bay Packers until a legal dispute made him hang up his helmet and enter the world of professional wrestling, where he enjoyed a career in the American Wrestling Association that spanned four decades and included numerous individual and tag-team titles. He still resides just outside the Twin Cities. Brock Lesnar Brock Lesnar shares some common points with Minnesota's two heavyweight champs before him. Like Verne Gagne, Lesnar grew up as a farm boy. As with Levy and Gagne, Lesnar was a two-sport star, playing football and wrestling in high school at Webster, South Dakota. And, like the other Gopher heavyweight champs before him, Lesnar too became a professional wrestler. However, at 6'4" and 285 pounds -- and with a 20" neck, 52" chest and a physique that Dan Gable declared "turns more heads than Cindy Crawford in a thong" -- Lesnar was quite a bit larger in size than his Minnesota predecessors (and many of his opponents). In fact, it's safe to say that the massive, muscular Minnesotan became the biggest thing to hit college wrestling in years. Lesnar's college career started at Bismarck Junior College in North Dakota, where he dominated the National Junior College Athletic Association competition, racking up an incredible 56-3 record in his two years at BJC, culminating with the 1998 NJCAA heavyweight championship. Brock Lesnar's physique and take-no-prisoners wrestling style turned more than a few heads … including that of J Robinson, University of Minnesota's head coach, who brought the South Dakota native to the Golden Gophers for his junior year where he built up a near-perfect 24-1 regular-season record against Division I competition. Lesnar claimed the 1999 Big Ten heavyweight title by shutting out Illinois' Karl Roesler 7-0. The massive Minnesotan was seeded second at the 1999 NCAA's, where, on his way to the finals, he pinned one opponent in just 22 seconds and held the other three to just four points vs. his 26. However, in the finals, Big Brock met his match in top-seeded Stephen Neal; the defending champ from Cal State Bakersfield defeated Lesnar 3-2. Senior year was pretty much a replay of the previous season, with Lesnar losing only one regular-season bout, to Iowa's Wes Hand. However, two weeks later, in a bit of payback, Lesnar defeated the Hawkeye big guy in the finals of the 2000 Big Tens. It would not be the last time the two rivals would do battle. At the 2000 NCAA's in St. Louis, top-seeded Brock Lesnar pinned three of his four pre-finals opponents to find himself going for the heavyweight title against familiar foe Wes Hand. The Iowan just missed winning the match in regulation, lacking just four seconds of riding time. Instead, in the tiebreaker, Lesnar escaped from Hand in 21 seconds to win the match -- and the 2000 NCAA title -- 3-2 TB. Brock LesnarAfter college, Brock Lesnar considered a career in freestyle wrestling, or the NFL… but chose professional wrestling. After two years in the "minor leagues" Lesnar was introduced to WWE fans as "the next big thing." A few months later, he beat The Rock for the WWE heavyweight championship, the youngest man (age 25) to win a WWE title. In 2004, Lesnar left pro wrestling, and, after trying out for the Minnesota Vikings, then entered mixed-martial arts competition, culminating in the UFC Heavyweight Championship. In 2011, Lesnar retired from the UFC, and has returned to WWE. Cole Konrad Cole Konrad enhances the University of Minnesota's reputation for producing big men of championship caliber, by being the first Golden Gopher to win not one but two NCAA heavyweight titles. (Verne Gagne also won two national collegiate titles; in addition to his 1949 heavyweight title, he claimed the 191-pound crown in 1948.) "King" Cole was born in Wisconsin in 1984. He attended Freedom High School -- the same school as Garrett Lowney, Minnesota's heavyweight prior to Konrad -- where he compiled a 101-15 overall record, with 65 of those wins by pin. Konrad completed his prep career by winning the 2002 Wisconsin high school state title, along with the freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at the 2002 Junior National Championships. Quoting the 2006-2007 Minnesota wrestling media guide, Cole Konrad "came to Minnesota a bit under the radar but had the desire to carry on the tradition of great Gopher heavyweights." Elsewhere in the media guide, the 6'3", 280-pound Konrad is described as "destined to go down as one of the greatest wrestlers in Minnesota history." Now that Cole Konrad has completed his career as a Golden Gopher, his mat accomplishments back up that statement: A 154-13-0 overall record (second greatest number of wins in school history), with 50 of those pins by pin. Undefeated his junior and senior seasons, racking up the longest win streak in school history at 76. A three-time Big Ten heavyweight champ. A four-time NCAA All-American (only the fourth in school history). A three-time NCAA finalist… and two-time NCAA heavyweight champ. At Konrad's first NCAA's in 2004, the fifth-seeded sophomore placed fourth after losing to Oklahoma's Leonce Crump in the semifinals. The following year, Konrad, seeded second, lost a heartbreaker to his main college nemesis, Oklahoma State's Steve Mocco, in the finals 3-1, SV 1. It was after this loss -- the third to Mocco during the 2004-05 season -- that Konrad started to turn things around his Cowboy rival. During the 2005-06 season, Konrad beat Mocco at the All-Stars, and in an end-of-match stunner, pinned him at the National Duals finals. It all culminated in one last showdown in the finals of the 2006 NCAA's. The Golden Gopher got a 5-2 double tiebreaker victory over the Cowboy big man to end Konrad's perfect season on a perfect note. Cole Konrad (Photo/John Johnson)Starting his senior season, there was considerable pressure on Cole Konrad's broad shoulders to maintain perfection … and he did, winning all his matches, including his third Big Ten title. At the 2007 NCAA's at Auburn Hills, Michigan, the defending champ iced his college career by pinning finals rival Aaron Anspach of Penn State (the man Konrad beat two weeks earlier in the Big Ten finals) at 1:53 in the first period. What could make Konrad's senior year any sweeter? He was named University of Minnesota 2007 Male Athlete of the Year. Having graduated from Minnesota with a degree in business and marketing education, Cole Konrad wrestled freestyle for a time, and even accepted an invitation to try out for the NFL New York Jets. In early 2010, Konrad launched his career in MMA, and, later that year, won the Bellator Heavyweight Championship. Tony Nelson At the 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Anthony Nelson became Minnesota's fifth-ever heavyweight titlewinner, defeating the defending champ Zack Rey of Lehigh, 4-1, in the 285-pound finals... then successfully defended his title by beating Big Ten rival Mike McMullan of Northwestern, 6-2, in the title match at the 2013 NCAAs, joining Cole Konrad as a two-time NCAA heavyweight champ. Tony Nelson celebrates after winning the NCAA title (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Nelson joined the elite club of Golden Gopher heavyweight champs as a sophomore, bringing a 31-2 record and the 2012 Big Ten 285 lb. title to the national championships. He also grabbed the heavyweight titles at the Southern Scuffle and Bison Open. For all these accomplishments, Nelson was selected the University of Minnesota's 2012 Male Athlete of the Year, and was in the running for Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year. As a freshman, Nelson earned All-American honors by placing seventh at the 2011 NCAAs. A 2009 grad of Cambridge-Isanti High School north of the Twin Cities, Nelson was a two-time Minnesota state champ, at 197 pounds and at heavyweight. In high school, Nelson compiled an impressive 141-18 overall record, with an incredible 80 pins. He won the 2009 National Wrestling Championship at 215 pounds, and was considered to be the nation's top prospect at that weight. Nelson also earned honors on the gridiron as a defensive end and linebacker, and an Academic All-American for his success in the classroom. Nelson differs from previous Minnesota heavyweight champs in terms of how he's put together. Standing 6'2" and weighing in about 225 pounds, Nelson does not have the sheer heft of a Cole Konrad, nor the carved-from-granite musculature of a Brock Lesnar. Rather, Nelson's background as a lighter-weight wrestler has helped him overcome bulkier opponents with greater agility and endurance. More to come? In terms of producing top-flight big men, the University of Minnesota has had more than its fair share of success over the years, starting with Clifton Gustafson, 1937 Big Ten heavyweight champ and two-time NCAA All-American heavyweight in 1937 and 1938. In the more than 80 years of NCAA championships, of the Minnesota wrestlers who have won at least one NCAA title, more than half weighed in at 175 pounds or more. And, if anything, Minnesota's success in the upper weights seems to have been growing stronger in recent years. Among the Minnesota heavyweights since 1990 to have been All-Americans but did not win an NCAA title: Billy Pierce -- three-time NCAA All-American (1993, 1995 and 1996), 1993 Big Ten heavyweight champ Shelton Benjamin -- two-time All-American (1997 and 1998) Garrett Lowney -- two-time All-American (2001 and 2002), 2001 Big Ten heavyweight champ, two-time Olympian (2000 and 2004, winning the bronze medal in Greco-Roman competition at the 2000 Sydney Games before wrestling his first match as a Golden Gopher). What accounts for this success? Ask the man who was an NCAA champ for Minnesota at 177 in 1991, Marty Morgan. The three-time All-American is now an assistant coach at his alma mater, focusing on working with the big men. In an earlier interview InterMat, when asked why the Golden Gophers seem to have great success with their heavyweight wrestlers, Marty Morgan replied, "When we train heavyweights, we expect them to do everything the lighter-weight guys do. There's no slacking off, no cutback in the amount of running or weight work or practice matches. We want our heavyweights to go the full six minutes without slowing down." The legacy of great Golden Gopher heavyweights started 70 years ago shows no signs of ending anytime soon.

University of Minnesota assistant wrestling coach Joe Russell will be honored with the 2007 Medal of Courage from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Russell will be inducted, along with other special award winners and the class of 2007 Distinguished Members, at the 2007 Honors Weekend Banquet and Induction Ceremony this Saturday, June 2, in Stillwater, Okla. The Medal of Courage is presented annually to a wrestler or former wrestler who has overcome what appeared to be insurmountable challenges, which may be physical, mental or other handicaps that make his or her achievements all the more uplifting. Russell, who has spent the last 11 seasons as an assistant coach under J Robinson, has helped lift the Golden Gopher wrestling program to new heights despite having to deal with severe physical challenges caused by a motorcycle accident just before his senior year in high school. One of the top high school wrestlers in the nation, Russell won two state titles while compiling a 90-1 record through his junior year at Gresham High School in Oregon. He won both the freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at the 1985 Junior Nationals and was an Espoir National Champion and placewinner at the Espoir World Championships. In addition, Russell claimed two World School Boy championships. In 1985, however, Russell's life changed when a horrifying motorcycle accident left him partially paralyzed on the left side of his body. He was riding on the back of a friend's motorcycle when a truck pulled out in front of them and, in an effort to avoid the truck, the cycle flipped and the bike's foot peg jammed three inches into Russell's skull. Russell spent three weeks in a drug-induced coma and the process of recovery was long and grueling, but he did recover and has not let his physical challenges stop him from achieving both on and off the mat ever since. Zach Sanders to Receive National Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award University of Minnesota incoming freshman wrestler Zachary Sanders will be recognized as the national winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award at the 2007 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend Banquet and Induction Ceremony this Saturday, June 2, in Stillwater, Okla. A native of Wabasha, Minn., Sanders was a five-time state champion and compiled a career record of 223-5 at Wabasha-Kellogg High School. He won the Class A 119-pound title in 2007, the 112-pound title as a junior and sophomore, and the 103-pound title as a freshman and eighth grader. Sanders ended his high school career with three undefeated seasons. He had a 3.58 GPA in high school. The Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award is presented annually to a high school senior who has demonstrated outstanding wrestling success, scholastic achievement, character, citizenship and community service. The awards program is named in honor of the late Dave Schultz, an Olympic and world champion, who set an example for excellence both on and off the mat.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Mike Chapman and Mike Allen, two of this year's National Wrestling Hall of Fame award winners. The Honors Weekend Banquet and Induction Ceremony for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame will take place on June 1-2 in Stillwater, Okla. Chapman is currently the executive director of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum and is this year's recipient of the Order of Merit. The Order of Merit is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of wrestling, other than success as an athlete or coach. Chapman, a professional journalist with a passion for wrestling, has been a leader within the sport for decades with a focus on the promotion of the sport. His involvement has been at many levels, including as a publisher, author, historian, publicist and speaker. In 1994, he founded W.I.N. Magazine and was the creator of the Dan Hodge Trophy, which is given annually to the nation's top collegiate wrestler. Mike Allen has been selected to receive the Lifetime Achievement for Officials Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. This award recognizes outstanding service as a wrestling or pairing official or judge. Inductees are honored in the Vince Zuaro Officials Room at the Museum. Having officiated for over 26 years, Allen is considered one of the top college and high school referees in the nation. Allen has been a referee at 15 NCAA Div. I National Wrestling Championships. He has worked many of the other major college wrestling events, including the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and other conferences. "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.

You may not recognize Greg Plitt's name … but you've probably seen plenty of him. After all, the Maryland high school state champ from the mid 1990's is now a fitness model/actor who has appeared in a number of fitness magazines (on the cover and inside) … and is currently featured in a TV commercial with an amateur wrestling theme. Greg PlittGreg Plitt has led an active life. In the years between high school and being featured on TV and in major magazines, Greg Plitt attended the United States Military Academy at West Point … and became an Army Ranger. He's now an aspiring actor, who, in addition to the wrestling-themed commercial, had a part in the Matt Damon movie The Good Shepherd. Greg Plitt is a young man of considerable accomplishments. In conversation, he comes across as eager, enthusiastic and energetic. He obviously takes on life with great zeal, saying that he owes a lot of his attitude to having been a wrestler. Yet, he is incredibly modest and humble about what he has achieved, seemingly with an anyone-can-do-this-if-they-put-their-mind-to-it attitude. The prep wrestler gets back into the (red) zone This spring, Greg Plitt has appeared in TV commercial for Old Spice Red Zone Skin Conditioner, putting his experience as a wrestler to work. In the commercial, Plitt (wearing a red singlet, appropriately, since the product is part of Old Spice Red Zone product line) brings his opponent to the mat and puts him in a pinning predicament. The opponent comments on how soft and supple Plitt's skin is. Referee slaps the mat, blows his whistle and the product appears onscreen. The commercial is only 30 seconds, but it took considerably more time to bring it to life. Here's how Plitt describes the process: "I went to an initial audition, then got two callbacks. They knew I was a wrestler, which may have helped…" Greg Plitt"It took about a month from the audition to the actual filming of the commercial." "It was a SAG -- Screen Actors' Guild -- job, so we were paid the standard day rate of $537 for filming. If the commercial never ran, that would've been all I received. But, I'm paid residuals every time it runs, which is great." When asked if his mat experience came into play in the shooting of the spot, Plitt says, "We were shown storyboards with the script on them. The producers knew they wanted us to start on our feet, and end up on the mat. They let us come up with various options, but it had to look good on screen. We did probably 30-40 takes over the course of seven hours of filming." "It was fun to get back out on the mat and get the blood going again." Trading skates for a singlet Although he loved all sports as a youngster, ice hockey was Greg Plitt's primary passion. He first laced up the skates at age three, following the lead of his granddad and his dad, and, for nearly a decade, it was THE sport for the Baltimore-area native. His parents stressed athletics and academics. "We had a summer supplemental reading list when I was in grade school," Plitt recalls. "Dad would always ask how I was doing, if I was making my way through the list. If he felt I wasn't making enough progress, he'd make me do a workout, starting with 100 laps in the pool, 100 sit-ups, 100 push-ups, etc." "Instead of thinking of the workouts as punishment, I really came to enjoy them. The workouts made me a better player, with more energy. I actually would try to get him to increase what I had to do … I think this is where I got my drive to work out, to take care of myself, that has stayed with me even today." "It also helped me become a better student. I didn't want to fail, and disappoint my folks." Greg PlittThen Plitt describes the life-changing moment when he was forced to take up a new sport: "At age 12, dad had forgotten to pay my hockey league bill, so I couldn't play." "Luckily, as they say, when one door closes, another opens. There were flyers at school announcing the start of wrestling season…" "I won states as a seventh grader. Seniors suddenly seemed to know who I was, which was cool." "I never went back to hockey," adds Plitt. "I went at wrestling all-out." "My dad was really into it, too. He'd get these technique tapes featuring guys like Wade Schalles. We'd watch them together, then practice what we'd seen on tape." Greg Plitt can recall one specific example when one of those living-room lessons came into direct use during an actual match: "Getting ready for states senior year, dad showed me a tape featuring Granby rolls. In the state finals, the score was tied zero-zero with 41 seconds left. I was in the down position; I popped up, and, using the Granby roll, put him on his back, scoring back points, and winning the state title at 189." "I remember dad having tears in his eyes. It was a special moment that we shared together." At the end of his high school wrestling career, Plitt was a Maryland state champ, and a two-time high school prep All-American (placing second in the nation his senior year). In addition, he played football and was on his school's golf team. Like sister, like brother (in his own way) "In high school, I got some offers from college wrestling programs out west," says Plitt. "However, at the time, my sister was at Annapolis (at the United States Naval Academy), and was transformed. I liked what it had done for her. The way she carried herself, with such confidence and integrity." "I was accepted at Annapolis, and ready to go. But there was something nagging at me, that I might be merely following in her footsteps. I had been contacted by the wrestling coaches at West Point after the finals of the high school prep national wrestling tournament. After much thinking and discussion with my family, I decided that would be the direction I'd take." Plitt entered West Point one week after graduating high school as the class of 2000. Upon graduation in May 2000, he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Infantry branch. Greg Plitt"They say West Point is a leadership school, but I think it's a place where leaders become even better leaders," according to Plitt. "It's all about management -- time management, learning how to use limited resources to maximum effect, how to work with others as a team." "There are no parties, no frats. It's all about getting ready for work, and your career in the military … It's like being submerged under water for four straight years, then coming up for air." "Being at West Point helped me focus on the horizon, on long-range goals, rather than just getting through a day… It really helps you find out who you really are. Not just your strengths, but your shortcomings as well, and how to overcome them." From West Point to the Army Rangers After graduation from West Point, Plitt set his sights on being a Ranger, the elite soldier corps of the U.S. Army. He entered the U.S. Army Ranger School, where "I went from being 215 (pounds) down to 165 in 65 days during training." "Everything is designed to test you, to put you through the stress that simulates combat," adds Plitt. "You go out on missions with very little sleep, trying to keep each other motivated, to solve problems … It's incredible leadership training, and a real boost to your self-confidence. You gain a degree of integrity and honor that becomes part of every decision you make and everything you do." Greg PlittIn the "Frequently Asked Questions" section of his Web site (www.gregplitt.com), Plitt says, "Hands down, the best part of the military for me was the awesome responsibility of leading soldiers. Day in and day out, you are constantly burning the midnight oil to improve yourself physically and mentally in order to be the best leader for your soldiers … The job comes with a tremendous amount of sacrifice and hard work, but it is completely outweighed by the degree of job satisfaction you feel. To have soldiers look to you for direction whether on or off the field of battle is extremely humbling and inspiring." Greg Plitt completed his five years of service in May 2005. As he says at his website, "My military experience will forever be one I will keep close to my heart. My time in the service as rewarding as it was demanding. The greatest experience I had in the military was the awesome responsibility of leading soldiers. Never forgotten, but forever missed." Wrestling's role in all this Greg Plitt has achieved great things on -- and off -- the mat. And he gives the sport of wrestling considerable credit for making him the man that he is today. "Wrestling is like no other sport," says Plitt. "It's both a mental game and a physical game. It's also an independent endeavor, and a team sport. But, unlike most team sports, it is just you on the mat. You can't depend on anyone else to bail you out during a match." "Wrestling has helped me through all phases of my life -- West Point, Army Rangers, and now my acting career -- in so many ways. You learn lessons from losing, failing -- not to give up, to try a new approach to try to succeed the next time. This helps me in my present career dealing with rejection. Rather than stay down about it, I think, �OK, what can I do differently next time to make myself better, to help me get that next job?'" "I also gained the satisfaction of dedicating yourself to your goals," adds Plitt. "You remember the journey, not necessarily the end-state, for instance, being on the podium. You appreciate all the hard work and sacrifice you put into getting a title, or whatever your goal. You also realize that when the going gets tough, you don't bail out. You see it as a journey, a long-range thing, not a momentary gratification." "The champions are the ones who go out to run at 5 a.m., even when it's pouring rain. They pass on going to the party that might be fun while it's going on, but will be forgotten the next day." Plitt said that attitude has helped him to build and maintain his physique into a condition that puts him on the covers of major magazines such as Men's Fitness and helped him land the Old Spice commercial. More than just muscle is shaped from this attitude. "I think wrestling can really shape what you're capable of," Plitt adds. "If you're the fourth seed and accept that judgment of you, you'll probably come in fourth. But if you go in with the attitude �I should be first' you'll be more likely to realize your dream." "A young mind is so fragile," concludes Plitt. "It can go either way. I was blessed to have loving, supporting parents. With encouragement, hard work and a focus on long-range goals, anyone can be a champion." Watch Old Spice commercial with Greg Plitt: UPDATE: On Sunday, Jan. 17, 2015, Greg Plitt was hit and killed by the southbound Metrolink Antelope Valley Line commuter train in Burbank, Calif. outside Los Angeles while walking or running between the rails. Some sources state he was filming a video for a commercial or segment for a reality TV series. Plitt was 37.