InterMat Staff

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA Wrestling Committee has selected the Savvis Center in St. Louis as the site for the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, the Qwest Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska as the host site for 2010 and the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia to serve as host in 2011. "The Wrestling Committee thought it said a great deal about the sport and these championships to have the number of quality bids that we had, and that made our job that much more difficult," said Tom Bold, the previous chair of the NCAA Wrestling Committee who presided over the site selections. "We felt the three cities we selected each offer something very unique and exciting, and will offer an outstanding experience to our student-athletes and fans." The University of Missouri, Columbia will co-host the events along with the St. Louis Sports Commission March 20-22, 2008, and March 19-21, 2009. St. Louis has been the host for three previous Division I Wrestling Championships in 2000, 2004 and 2005. In 2000, St. Louis set the all-session attendance record of 96,944 fans, which still stands. "St. Louis has done a tremendous job of hosting the wrestling championships in the past," Bold said. "The wrestling committee has been extremely impressed with the dedication of the staff from Missouri, the Savvis Center and the St. Louis Sports Commission to the championships. In addition, the feedback the committee received from the student-athletes, coaches and fans during the last two years in St. Louis was overwhelmingly positive so we are excited to go back." In 2010, the University of Nebraska, Lincoln will co-host the event along with the Omaha Sports Commission March 18-20. It will mark the first time the championships have ever been held in the state of Nebraska. "We were extremely impressed with the proximity of everything in Omaha," Bold said. "The Qwest Center Omaha, hotels, airport and restaurants are all very close. Also, Omaha is conveniently located with regards to many of our institutions and the fans that have supported this event in the past. With the great partnership the NCAA already has with the city of Omaha through the Men's College World Series, we know that they will to do a tremendous job." The championships will be back in the state of Pennsylvania for the first time since 1999, March 17-19, 2011. Rider University and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will host the event. Overall, the event has been held in the state 10 times before, but this will be the first time it will be held in Philadelphia. Previous Pennsylvania host sites include Bethlehem, Pittsburgh and State College. "The state of Pennsylvania is a wrestling hotbed," Bold said, "and this will give our fans on the East Coast a chance to see wrestling's premier event for the first time in a long while. The Wachovia Center is a state-of-the-art venue, and the city of Philadelphia is a perfect site to showcase the championships." Previously announced, the 2006 championships will be held at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, March 16-18, while the 2007 championships will be held March 15-17, at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan.

Matt Zwaschka, Tony Wright, Nick Karls and Jeff Zastrow have been named assistant wrestling coaches at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, head coach Tim Fader announced. Zwaschka wrestled for Fader at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse from 2000-2003. He earned National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American honors twice. He was UW-L's team captain in 2003, the same year he won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship at 165 pounds and qualified for the NCAA III championship. He went 43-26 in his four seasons at La Crosse, and gained international experience as a member of a Division III all-star team that competed in Bulgaria and Turkey in 2002. He served as an assistant coach at Holmen (WI) High School the last two years. "I am very familiar with Mat and what he brings to the program," Fader said. "He was the ideal candidate for the position in that he can bring a lot of experience to all this duties on campus. He is a great technician and has the work ethic and attitude that will impact all of the UW-W wrestlers." Zwaschka has bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from UW-La Crosse. His duties at UW-W will include lecturing in the department of health, physical education, recreation and coaching, as well as assisting with the strength and conditioning program in intercollegiate athletics. Tony Wright wrestled for the Warhawks for three years (2002-2004), winning the WIAC championship at 157 pounds in 2004 and qualifying for the NCAA III championship. He also qualified for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship as a freshman at Mount Saint Clare College (IA) before transferring to UW-W. Wright earned NCAA III Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar Athlete honors in 2004. "Tony brings his loyalty to this program back for 2005-2006," noted Fader. "He ahs committed to student teaching and coaching, which I think shows his passion for the UW-W program." Wright will graduate from UW-W in December with a bachelor's in fine arts and teaching licensure. He duties at Whitewater will include serving as the head coach of the Warhawk wrestling club. Karls concluded his collegiate wrestling career last season with his name scattered throughout the Warhawk record book. He qualified for the NCAA III championship twice, earning All-American honors in 2003 and 2004. He earned NCAA III Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American recognition in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He was the 2004 WIAC champion at 141 pounds, as well as the league's Max Sparger Scholar Athlete for wrestling. The 38 wins he piled up during the 2003-2004 season is the sixth highest in school history; his 102 career wins is ninth; and his career winning percentage of .803 is tenth best in the record book. "I wish we had another year to put Nick in a singlet," said Fader. "He loves to be in the room, and will have a big impact on the guys around his weight class. He is a pretty serious athlete in that he is training all the time. I'm excited to have him here again this year." Zastrow is another former Warhawk wrestler. He qualified for the NCAA III championship in 2002 and 2004, and earned NCAA III WCA Scholar All-American honors in 2004. He finished second in a state benchpress competition last summer, and competes in ultimate fighting contests. "Jeff is one of the strongest forces behind our program right now," commented Fader. "He is learning a lot about the coaching side of the sport while continuing to compete. I challenge our wrestlers to work harder than "Z" and this coaching staff. If they can, we will be in good shape." Fader is entering his second year at UW-Whitewater. In his first year he directed UW-W to a fourth place finish in the WIAC, had two wrestlers earn NCAA Division III championship berths, and Karls earned his second All-American honors. In a recent compilation of results, UW-W was among the top twenty Division III teams in the country over the thirty year period that that NCAA has offered a Division III championship.

Todd BeckermanCOLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Former Nebraska All-American Todd Beckerman has joined the University of Maryland's coaching staff, head coach Pat Santoro announced today. A native of Crofton, Md., Beckerman spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at the Naval Academy. Last season with the Midshipmen, the team posted its best dual record since 1993, finished 33rd at the NCAA Championships and had a school-record eight wrestlers post 25-win seasons. "We are excited to have someone of Todd's caliber join the program," Santoro said. "He has been involved with very successful programs in Nebraska, Penn State and Navy, and the program will benefit from his experience. Being a local guy, he's a great fit for the program. He will work well with all of our wrestlers, especially the lower-weight guys." "I'm excited to be a part of the Maryland program and to work with Pat Santoro," Beckerman said. "I look forward to working with the athletes and helping the team achieve success in the ACC and nationally." A former four-year letterwinner and two-time All-America at Nebraska, Beckerman came to Navy from Lincoln, Neb., where he spent the 2002-03 season as a volunteer assistant coach for the Huskers. Beckerman coached primarily the lower weight classes and helped coordinate and assist in the Husker recruiting efforts. He also organized and conducted daily teaching and technique sessions. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Beckerman worked during the 2001-02 season as an administrative assistant in the Penn State wrestling office, where he worked one-on-one with student-athletes and played a large role in directing summer camps. Beckerman also created and implemented the Todd Beckerman All-American Wrestling Camp, which was held for six-straight summers at Nebraska beginning in 1997. At the 2000 and 2001 NCAA Championships, Beckerman wrestled to All-America status as well as Academic All-Big 12 honors in both seasons. He was named the 2000-01 Nebraska Male Athlete of the Year, as well as the Husker Power Lifter of the Year. The 2000-01 Nebraska team captain also competed internationally in 1999 and 2000 as a member of the Big 12 All-Star Wrestling Team. Beckerman graduated from Nebraska in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in Human Resources and Family Sciences.

FRESNO, Calif. -- The new coaching staff at Fresno State is teaming with local and nationwide wrestling leaders to provide a day full wrestling action and instruction as the Bulldogs open the 2005 California Coaches Wrestling Clinic. Both coaches and athletes are invited to attend the clinic, which will feature instructional seminars from world-class coaches and clinicians, coaching certification, as well as admission to the Fresno State wrestle-offs that evening. Among the wrestling icons that will be in attendance at the clinic are the new Fresno State coaching staff, led by head coach Shawn Charles, who takes over the program following four years as an assistant at Big 12 powerhouse Nebraska. In addition, long-time Fresno State head coach and local wrestling legend Dennis DeLiddo will provide his leadership. The program has also invited two world-class wrestlers to help provide leadership in Cael Sanderson and Stephen Abas. Sanderson was a four time NCAA champion at Iowa State and recorded a 159-0 record in four years as a Cyclone, the only wrestler ever to remain undefeated through four years of collegiate competition. He is joined by Abas, a three-time national champion for the Bulldogs and a 2004 Oympic Medalist. All attendees will attend two clinics, and the coaches will be able to attend the USA Wrestling seminar and the CIF rules and weight certification clinic with Duane Morgan, which will provide coaches with the required certification for the upcoming year. Any athletes that want to attend will participate in two athlete-only technique sessions, receive a Fresno State wrestling t-shirt and will have dinner provided for them. The 2005 Bulldog wrestling squad will finish off the evening by opening the team’s varsity wrestle-offs for viewing. All coaches and athletes attending the clinic will receive admission to the wrestle-offs, which will determine the varsity squad for Fresno State during the 2005 season. The pre-registration deadline for the 2005 California Coaches Clinic is on October 24. All coaches and athletes interested in attending the clinic can reach the Fresno State wrestling office by email at klake@csufresno.edu or by phone at (559) 278-4804. More information can also be found on the Fresno State Athletics Web site, www.gobulldogs.com.

John SmithSTILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State’s wrestling team will once again boast one of the toughest schedules in the country in 2005-06. The Cowboys open the season at the Kaufman Brand Open in Omaha and they will return home to host the NWCA All-Star duals at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Nov. 21. OSU opens its dual season on the road at Michigan State. The Cowboys will have a tough test for its home opener when Lehigh comes to town on Dec. 2. Bedlam rival Oklahoma will wrestle in Gallagher-Iba a week later on Dec. 9. Oklahoma State will open the new year with home meets against Army and Northern Iowa on Jan. 5. The Cowboys will travel to Iowa to face the Hawkeyes on Jan. 7. They will return to Iowa the following week for the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Fresno State, Cal Poly, Iowa State, Nebraska and Hofstra are all set to make trips to Stillwater late in the season. OSU will wrestle Minnesota at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, before closing out the dual season against Oklahoma in Norman. Iowa State will host the Big 12 Championships at the Hilton Coliseum on March 4, and the Cowboys will wrestle for their 34th national championship at the Ford Center. Nov. 19 Omaha Open Omaha, Neb. All Day Nov. 21 NWCA All-Star Duals Stillwater, Okla. TBA Nov. 27 Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. 1 p.m. Dec. 2 Lehigh Stillwater, Okla. TBA Dec. 9 Oklahoma Stillwater, Okla. 7 p.m. Dec. 18 Reno TOC Reno, Nev. All Day Dec. 20 Boise State Boise, Idaho TBA Jan. 5 Army Stillwater, Okla. 6 p.m. Jan. 5 Northern Iowa Stillwater, Okla. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 Iowa Iowa City, Iowa TBA Jan. 14-15 National Duals Cedar Falls, Iowa All Day Jan. 20 Cal Poly Stillwater, Okla. 6 p.m. Jan. 20 Fresno State Stillwater, Okla. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 Missouri Columbia, Mo. TBA Jan. 29 Iowa State Stillwater, Okla. 2 p.m. Feb. 3 Nebraska Stillwater, Okla. 7 p.m. Feb. 10 Hofstra Stillwater, Okla. 7 p.m. Feb. 12 Minnesota Oklahoma City, Okla. TBA

Chris BonoCHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Chris Bono, a nine-year assistant wrestling coach at national-power Iowa State, has accepted an assistant coaching position at UTC, Head Coach Joey Seay announced Thursday. Bono is expected to coach the Mocs’ middleweight wrestlers. A member of Head Coach Bobby Douglas’ coaching staff since 1997, Bono has held the title of the Cyclones’ head assistant coach for five years. He helped ISU to a 16-4 dual match record in 2004-05, a third-place finish in the Big 12 Conference and a sixth-place showing at the 2005 NCAA Championships. Bono is currently preparing to compete at the 2005 World Championships which will take place Sept. 26 in Budapest, Hungary. At the 2005 World Team Trials, Bono, the number one seed, captured the title at 66 kilograms by defeating Jared Lawrence two matches to none. Seay is the head coach of the United States team. "I am thrilled that he has decided to take this position," Seay said. "He is another quality individual for our program and gives us, in my opinion, the best staff in the country. You have to have the right people in the right places. These guys will make this thing happen and will certainly help in our nationwide recruiting efforts." Bono joins Steve Hamilton, Sammie Henson and Leonce Crump as members of Seay’s first staff at UTC. A native of Gilbert, Iowa, Bono holds many coaching and competitive honors. He was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2002 for his role in ISU’s success that season. The Cyclones compiled a 17-5 dual match record and were NCAA runner-ups with five wrestlers earning All-America status. Bono, who lettered at Iowa State from 1994-97, ranks fifth on the program’s all-time wins list with 130 victories. He won the NCAA 150-pound title as a junior. A four-time NCAA participant, he placed fifth at the Nationals as a sophomore and second as a senior. As a freshman, he placed eighth at the Big Eight Conference Championships. He wrestled to a Big Eight Conference runner-up finish his sophomore year, won the Big Eight title as a junior and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the inaugural Big 12 Conference Championship in 1997. He registered a 41-11 record as a sophomore, went 37-4 as a junior and was 37-2 his senior season. Bono’s wrestling success did not come to a halt upon his graduation from Iowa State. During the summer of 2004 as a freestyle competitor, Bono decisioned Doug Schwab, 5-4, to take third place at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2003, Bono won the 145.5-pound title at the U.S. Senior Freestyle National Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, qualifying for the World Team Trials in Indianapolis, Ind., where he was runner-up at that same weight. He was a U.S. World Cup team member, earning the gold medal at the 2003 World Cup Wrestling Championships in Boise, Idaho, and was a member of the national team at the 2003 Titan Games in San Jose, Calif. Bono's freestyle accomplishments in 2002 led to a No.1 U.S. Senior Freestyle national ranking at 145.5 pounds and a spot on the U.S. World Team. He began the year with a first-place showing at the Dave Schultz Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colo., followed by a fourth-place finish at the Kiev Grand Prix in Kiev, Ukraine. He won a bronze medal at the Pan American Championships in Caracara, Venezuela, and placed third at the U.S. Freestyle National Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, earning a berth to the World Team Trials. At the 2002 World Team Trials, Bono swept through the mini-tournament beating Reggie Wright (Gator WC) of Colorado Springs, Colo., 3-1 and Schwab (Hawkeye WC) of Iowa City, Iowa, 3-2 to advance to the finals. In the 145.5-pound championship, Bono defeated Jamill Kelly (Gator WC) of Stillwater, Okla., 3-1 and 3-0, earning his second consecutive World Team Trials title. In a special wrestle-off for the 145.5-pound spot on the 2002 U.S. World Team, Bono defeated Bill Zadick (Hawkeye WC) of Iowa City, Iowa, two matches to one, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2 OT, to earn his second consecutive trip to the World Championships. The U.S. World Team, however, did not compete at the World Championships in Tehran, Iran. Bono also captured top honors at the 2004 NYAC Invitational with a victory in the finals over 2004 NCAA champion Jesse Jantzen, formerly of Harvard, and also earned a 66 kg. title at the 20th annual Sunkist International Open with a win in the finals over former 2003 NCAA 149-pound champion and current Arizona State assistant coach Eric Larkin. Bono earned his bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Iowa State in 1997. He and his wife, Niki, have two daughters, Josie and Ellie.

The Golden Gopher wrestling team has announced that senior Matt Nagel and junior Cole Konrad have been named captains for the 2005-06 season. Nagel and Konrad will lead a Minnesota team that returns three All-Americans and seven starters from a year ago. Matt NagelNagel became a first-time All-American in 2005 with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He was named the team's most improved wrestler after compiling a 31-15 record. More impressive, 29 of his 46 matches on the year came against wrestlers that qualified for the NCAA Championships. A three-year letterwinner, Nagel finished with a 5-3 record in conference dual meets and placed a career-best third at the Big Ten Championships. Cole KonradKonrad is a two-time All-American heavyweight for the Golden Gophers. Last season as a sophomore, Konrad won a Big Ten title and finished second at the NCAA Championships. Konrad finished the 2005 season with a 41-3 record, the fourth-highest win total in school history. In just two seasons, Konrad has a 79-13 career record. His 79 wins are the most by a Golden Gopher in back-to-back season since Dan Zilverberg's 88 victories from 1978-80. Minnesota begins the season at the Bison Open on Nov. 12. The Golden Gophers open their dual meet season on Dec. 2 at Northern Iowa.

Related Link: The MMA Outsider Podcast Archives Richard and John did not even talk this week, but they were still able to put together a great piece of audio. This episode is kind of like The Postal Service before they got sued by the actual postal service. Richard breaks takes a look at the upcoming UFC event in Sweden, while John chats with Strikeforce veterans Lumumba Sayers and Andreas Spang.

NCAA Division I Championships Brackets

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