InterMat Staff

Hooman "Mo" Tavakolian speaks to a group of kids in a region near the Iran/Afghanistan border Nothing can stop Hooman "Mo" Tavakolian. Not even a deadly global pandemic. In fact, the world's fight against COVID-19 has made Tavakolian more determined than ever with his humanitarian efforts. The successful New York City financial executive and wrestling ambassador has spent much of 2020 doing what he always does. Giving back to those less fortunate. Tavakolian has taken part in numerous projects and initiatives in the United States and in his native Iran to provide opportunities for children in need. He's traveled to Iran multiple times this year to contribute to humanitarian efforts he is directly involved in. "When sports were put on hold earlier this year, I quickly turned my focus to finding other ways where I could help kids and make a positive impact," he said. "When people are in need, I feel like it is my responsibility to try and help them." Tavakolian has stepped up to help people in the United States and beyond to help those fighting the deadly virus. "At the height of the pandemic, we were providing masks, gloves, disinfectants and financial assistance to people who were in need," he said. "We were trying to help them stay safe and help out any way we could. 2020 has been a very challenging year for everyone, and I am doing whatever I can to contribute." Hooman "Mo" Tavakolian with Rasoul KhademTavakolian continues to work closely with Iranian wrestling legend Rasoul Khadem, an Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion, to assist people in need. Two top Iranian wrestlers -- Olympic medalist and world champion Hassan Rahimi and Olympic champion Komeil Ghasemi -- have been involved in the charitable projects with Tavakolian and Khadem. Khadem is giving back to his country as a leader in developing ways to assist his countrymen in need. He and Tavakolian have forged a close relationship through wrestling and with the charitable work they have done. One project Tavakolian and Khadem have teamed up on is the construction of schools for children in the border region of Iran and Afghanistan. These children are at highest risk and need the most help and guidance. "It's along the border of Iran and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan," Tavakolian said. "We are building three elementary schools for kids in villages that were vulnerable to and were victims of ISIS infiltration. ISIS was recruiting a lot of these kids to join their terrorist organizations and we are trying to provide kids with a different path to follow. This area is safer now with a lot of military presence. We are trying to make a difference in helping these kids get an education and stay away from potential risk and harm. I hope in the near future we will be able to open a small wrestling gym as well. "These kids have had it tough and we are trying to help them. They don't have running water or electricity. Rasoul is looking to build homes for some of these underprivileged people. We also are hoping to teach people there how to make rugs and learn skills that can benefit them." Tavakolian has developed a close relationship with Khadem and considers him a mentor. "Rasoul is very selfless," Tavakolian said. "He has a huge charity that he runs in Iran. The whole focus is to help underprivileged people, mostly along the border. It's a code of honor as a champion in Iran to give back to society and help the people. He plays a similar role to what Jordan Burroughs does with the way he helps people as an ambassador for wrestling in the United States." Tavakolian has been closely involved with United World Wrestling, particularly in the U.S. and in Asia. "I have helped kids in poverty by providing them with opportunities in sports," he said. "And now we've tried to help in other ways during the pandemic." During a tumultuous time where people aren't traveling much, especially overseas, Tavakolian has flown twice to Iran in 2020. "You definitely have to be careful," he said. "It is obviously a little risky to travel right now, but it was more than worth it. I took precautions - I did testing and followed all of the protocols. I was very careful. I had to quarantine for two weeks when I returned to the United States. "I traveled during the height of the pandemic in areas to provide help. I feel like if I don't do it, nobody will. I feel obligated to provide hope to these kids." Tavakolian is proud of his Iranian heritage and also takes great pride in being an American citizen. He moved to the United States at a young age, growing up in Long Island. He works as an executive on Wall Street. "I am an Iranian-American," he said. "When I am in Iran, I show people that Americans like me are kind and generous. I hope it changes the perception that they have of what people in the U.S. are really like. I also hope to show my American friends that Iranian people are kind and welcoming." Hooman "Mo" Tavakolian feel like it's his mission is to give backTavakolian has been heavily involved in the sport of wrestling as an ambassador and liaison between the United States and Iran. He has served as a USA Team Leader on numerous overseas trips, including a handful to Iran. He helped rebuild a wrestling facility that was bombed in Afghanistan. He donates shoes, equipment and gear to young athletes around the world so they can follow their dreams in wrestling. The Tavakolian family provides an annual scholarship to a young athlete each year at the Beat the Streets Gala in New York City. He is a board member for the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club and is part of USA Wrestling's International Relations Committee. "It's awesome to be able to assist the young wrestlers," he said, "and give them opportunities to develop in the sport of wrestling." No matter how dire the circumstances or how divided the world may be, Tavakolian continues to fight. And he seemingly never gives up hope. He is planning a return to Iran early next year for the grand opening of the schools he helped build. He also continues to support youths from Beat the Streets in New York. "It's very gratifying to be able to help and give back," Tavakolian said. "I feel like my mission is to give back and try to make a difference. If I can change the direction of one child's life, I feel like I have done my part. I hope others join me and help me make a better tomorrow for the generations to come. I used to be one of these kids."

Davit ModzmanashviliCORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland -- United World Wrestling announced that Davit Modzmanashvili has been banned until October 2, 2026, following the re-analysis of his sample from the 2012 London Olympics. Modzmanashvili, who has competed for Uzbekistan since 2017, tested positive for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (oral turinabol). Modzmanashvili claimed a silver medal in freestyle wrestling at 120kg and his removal re-shuffled the order of medalists at the 2012 London Games. Bilyal MAKHOV (RUS) became the new silver medalist and Daulet SHABANAY (KAZ) the bronze medalist.

WATERLOO, Iowa -- Sixteen NCAA All-Americans, a state championship high school coach and a pair of record-setting NCAA champion wrestling teams will be inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa on June 25, 2021. Dwight Hinson will be inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling HOFLocated inside the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, the Glen Brand Hall of Fame was established in 2002 to honor native-born Iowans and those who wrestled or coached for an Iowa school who have made an impact on wrestling on a national level or who have done extraordinary work in Iowa. The Class of 2021 is Gary Steffensmeier, Mike DeAnna, Megan Black, Dwight Hinson, David Kjeldgaard, and the 1991 and 1992 University of Iowa national champion wrestling teams. The Happel Family will be presented with the Bowlsby Family Legacy Award while Tom Hogan will receive the Bob Siddens High School Coaching Excellence Award and Bill Tate Sr. will be presented with the Russ Smith Community Impact Award. A banquet honoring the Class of 2021 will be held at the Prairie Links Golf Club in Waverly, Iowa, on June 25, 2021. For more information, contact the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum at (319) 233-0745 or dgmstaff@nwhof.org. Gary Steffensmeier, a native of Houghton, Iowa, wrestled at Fort Madison High School for coach Mick Pickford, recognized as a Meritorious Official by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and recipient of the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award from the Iowa Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Steffensmeier was the Bloodhounds first two-time state champion and their first four-time state tournament medalist. Steffensmeier finished fourth and fifth as a freshman and sophomore before winning titles in 1986 at 112 pounds and in 1987 at 119 pounds. He had a perfect 32-0 record as a senior and 103 career wins. Wrestling for Don Briggs at the University of Northern Iowa, Steffensmeier was a three-time Division I All-American with a runner-up and two fourth-place finishes. He had a career record of 115-29-3 and ranks fourth on the Panthers all-time win list. Steffensmeier was also named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic team in 1991 and 1992. Mike DeAnna, a native of Bay Village, Ohio, was a three-time Ohio state high school champion who was 83-0 from 1974 to 1976 and 104-5-1 for his prep career. He earned first-team high school All-America honors and also won two U.S. Wrestling Association National Freestyle titles. DeAnna was a two-time NCAA finalist, a four-time NCAA All-American and a four-time Big Ten Conference champion for the University of Iowa from 1977 to 1981. He won National AAU Freestyle titles in 1983 and 1984 and was the second alternate on the 1984 United States Olympic freestyle team. DeAnna was head wrestling coach at Edinboro University from 1984 to 1990 and led the Fighting Scots to five Top Ten finishes at the NCAA tournament, including each of the first three years after moving up to Division I in 1986-87. He was named NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year in 1986. Megan Black, a native of Batavia, Iowa, wrestled for Eddyville High School and became the first female to win a match at the prestigious Iowa boys high school state wrestling tournament in 2012. After posting another victory to finish eighth, Black made history again as the first female to be a place-winner at the boys state tournament. She was a three-time All-American at the Fargo Nationals tournament, winning the championship in 2012 after finishing third in 2011 and seventh in 2010. Black won a gold medal at the Junior Pan American Games in 2014. After earning All-America honors with seventh-place finish as a freshman at King University, she transferred to McKendree University. Black earned All-America honors three more times, finishing second as a sophomore and junior and third as a senior. She is currently in the United States Army and training as part of its Army World Class Athlete Program in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dwight Hinson, a native of Fort Still, Oklahoma, was a two-time state high school champion for Lawton Eisenhower High School. A three-time Junior Freestyle All-American and Junior Freestyle Nationals champion, Hinson wrestled for Iowa State University from 1994 to 1998. He was a four-time All-American for the Cyclones, finishing third as a freshman, second as a sophomore, fourth as a junior and third as a senior. A three-time Big Eight Conference champion and a Big 12 Conference champion, he ranks fourth on Iowa State's all-time career wins list and was ISU's Male Athlete of the Year in 1998. Hinson was a USA Senior Level All-American and two-time world team qualifier. He was a volunteer coach at his alma mater, serving as a resource for Bobby Douglas and then Cael Sanderson. Hinson has served as an Iowa State University police officer the past two decades while also working with the Central Iowa Wrestling Club and Team Intensity for 20 years. David Kjeldgaard, a native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, wrestled at Louis Central High School for Keith Massey, who received the GBHOF Russ Smith Community Impact Award in 2018. A three-time Iowa state high school champion with a career record of 173-4, Kjeldgaard was the first national winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 1996. He won three Cadet National championships and five Junior National championships and placed seventh at the Junior World Championships in Russia in 1996. As a high school junior at Junior Nationals, he defeated T.J. Williams, a two-time national champion with a career record of 98-1 at the University of Iowa. In his senior year at Junior Nationals, he defeated NCAA champion and four-time Top Three finisher Joe Heskett to reach the finals, where he triumphed over a wrestler from Utah named Cael Sanderson. The eight combined national titles is a record that has been tied, but never broken. A true scholar athlete, Kjeldgaard was valedictorian of his class and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. His career at the University of Oklahoma was hampered and cut short by knee injuries, but he twice qualified for the NCAA tournament and was a Big 12 Conference runner-up in 2000. Coached by wrestling legend Dan Gable, the 1991 and 1992 University of Iowa teams used identical starting lineups to win Big Ten Conference and NCAA championships. The 1991 team had a 21-1 dual meet record and qualified all 10 wrestlers for the national tournament, where nine were All-Americans. The 1992 team had a 16-0 dual meet record and qualified all 10 wrestlers for the national tournament, where nine were All-Americans. The 1991 starting lineup and their NCAA finish are: Chad Zaputil (2nd at 118), Terry Brands (2nd at 126), Tom Brands (1st at 134), Troy Steiner (2nd at 142), Terry Steiner (3rd at 150), Tom Ryan (2nd at 158), Mark Reiland (1st at 167), Bart Chelesvig (3rd at 177), Travis Fiser (6th at 190), and John Oostendorp (275). The 1992 starting lineup and their NCAA finish are: Chad Zaputil (2nd at 118), Terry Brands (1st at 126), Tom Brands (1st at 134), Troy Steiner (1st at 142), Terry Steiner (5th at 150), Tom Ryan (3rd at 158), Mark Reiland (167), Bart Chelesvig (3rd at 177), Travis Fiser (5th at 190), and John Oostendorp (5th at 275). The Happel Family will receive the Bowlsby Family Legacy Award, named in honor of the Bowlsby family from Waterloo. The Happels all wrestled for Lisbon (Iowa) High School, beginning with father Dean, who had a 114-13 career record while winning state high school titles in 1982, 1983 and 1984 and being a member of two state championship teams. Carter Happel, who currently wrestles for the University of Iowa, had a 209-1 career record while winning state titles in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and being a member of a state runner-up team. Cael Happel, who currently wrestles for the University of Northern Iowa, had a career record of 218-5 while winning state titles in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 and being a member of four state championship teams. Carter was a three-time recipient of the Fareway Dan Gable Wrestler of the Year Award while Cael was a two-time recipient. Carter and Cael were both recipients of the GBHOF's Bob Steenlage Iowa High School Wrestler of the Year award. Quincy Happel is currently a high school junior who has qualified for the state tournament twice and been a member of a state championship team. Cade Happel is a seventh grader and a member of the junior high team while Kyler Happel is a sixth grader and a member of the Mat Pack Wrestling Club. John Bowlsby and Bob Bowlsby wrestled for legendary coach Bob Siddens at Waterloo West High School while their parents, Bob and Pat, and sisters, Ann, Sarah and Jane, were instrumental in their careers. Bill Tate Sr. will receive the Russ Smith Community Impact Award, presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional local impact on wrestling in Iowa. A native of Waterloo, he wrestled for East Waterloo High School and placed third in the state high school tournament in 1961. Tate founded the Waterloo Boys Club wrestling program in 1972 and served as the head coach for 10 years, positively impacting the youth in Waterloo and surrounding communities. Tate's assistant coaches were Larry Sallis, Aaron Roberts and Phillip Caldwell. Several wrestlers coached by Tate became Iowa state champions, including West Waterloo High School's John DeGiacoma, Tim Kinghammer, Mike Van Arsdale, Taras Stevenson, and Tony Hanson; East Waterloo High School's Darnell Sallis, Chuck Pearson and Maurice Morehead; Denver High School's Todd Smith; and Central High School's Wayne Love. He also coached Stewart Carter and Mike Van Arsdale, who became NCAA champions for Iowa State. Tom Hogan will receive the Bob Siddens High School Coaching Excellence Award, presented to an active Iowa high school wrestling coach who exemplifies the high standards that Siddens set during his coaching career at Waterloo West. A native of Gilbertville, Iowa, Hogan was a state champion for Don Bosco High School and an NCAA champion and three-time NCAA Division III All-American for Wartburg College. He was twice named Wartburg's Most Valuable Wrestler and was inducted into the Wartburg Hall of Fame in 2012. The head wrestling coach at his high school alma mater since 2012, Hogan has led the Dons to traditional team state championships in 2012, 2019 and 2020 and dual team state championships in 2018 and 2019 while posting five Top Four finishes and coaching four individual state champions. Siddens was inducted into the Glen Brand Hall of Fame in 2003 and was the inaugural recipient of the coaching award that bears his name in 2012. National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum America's shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1976 to honor the sport of wrestling, preserve its history, recognize extraordinary individual achievements, and inspire future generations. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has museums in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo, Iowa. The Stillwater, Oklahoma, location reopened in June 2016 following a $3.8 million renovation while the Waterloo, Iowa, location reopened in March 2019 after undergoing a $1.4 million renovation. Both museums now feature interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks, as well as the opportunity to watch NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to present day. Stillwater also has the John T. Vaughan Hall of Honors where the greatest names in wrestling are recognized, including iconic granite plaques presented to Distinguished Members since the Hall of Fame opened in 1976. The museum has the largest collection of wrestling artifacts and memorabilia in the world, including the most collegiate and Olympic wrestling uniforms. Wrestling truly is for everyone and the diversity and accessibility of the sport continues to be highlighted through exhibits featuring females, African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans. There is also a library featuring historical documents, including NCAA guides and results, as well as books on the sport. For more information about the Hall of Fame, please visit www.NWHOF.org.

Nate Jackson and Bo Nickal battle in the NCAA semifinals in 2016 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Bo Nickal and Nate Jackson have a rivalry that goes back almost five years. In 2016, Jackson, then a junior, gave the redshirt freshman and top-ranked Nickal his first official collegiate loss when he edged him 7-6 in a January dual meet. Nickal came back to avenge the loss two months later in the semifinals of the NCAA Championships, 4-3. On Monday, it was announced that Nickal and Jackson will renew their rivalry at the NLWC on Rokfin event slated for Nov. 24. Nickal was a three-time NCAA champion at Penn State, finishing his career with a record of 120-3. He won a U.S. Open title in 2019 at 92 kilograms and reached Final X. Nickal went on to capture a gold medal at the 2019 U23 World Championships. Nickal notched a win over Alex Dieringer at the first NLWC event on Sept. 19. Nate Jackson (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Jackson finished his career as a two-time All-American at Indiana. He reached the finals at Senior Nationals last month before falling to Gabe Dean. Jackson recently finished third in Flo's 8-Man Challenge at 195 pounds. He has earned medals at several international events, including a silver at the 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International and a gold at the 2019 Medved tournament.

The Iowa Western Athletic Department is deeply saddened to confirm that Reivers sophomore wrestler Max Hughes was tragically killed in a car accident on Thursday morning in Lincoln, Nebraska. Max Hughes"Max was a valued member of the Reivers wrestling family and we are shocked with the news today." Said Head Coach Josh Watts, "Today hurts on many levels and it will take time to recover from our loss. We will grieve, we will miss him, and most importantly we will honor him with our daily effort and our pursuit of our goals. Hughes, 21, a native of Syracuse, Nebraska won three state titles at three different weight divisions as a standout for the Syracuse High School wrestling squad and was readying for the start of the Reivers season in January. Christian Miller, Hughes's friend, and a fellow wrestler was also killed in the accident. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Max Hughes. It is a tragic loss for everyone who knew him. His enthusiasm, passion, and thirst for life will be missed. Max's teammates are deeply mourning his passing and will bond together as a team to honor his memory and embody his strong character and work ethic." Said Reivers Director of Athletics, David Miller, "As well, I would like to express my condolences to the family of Christian Miller and the Husker Wrestling program. The wrestling community is close-knit and will come together to ensure that the memory of these two young men continues." Details on services, condolences and memorials will be provided when they are available.

Zain Retherford gets in on a shot at the 2019 World Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) A battle between two multiple-time U.S. world team members will take place at the NLWC event Nov. 24 on Rokfin. Zain Retherford will face Reece Humphrey.

The Nebraska Athletic Department is deeply saddened to confirm that Husker junior wrestler Christian Miller was tragically killed in a car accident on Thursday morning in Lincoln. Miller, 21, a native of Plainview, Neb., competed for the Husker wrestling program for four seasons. He owned a 15-9 career record as a Husker, including a 12-3 record in 2019-20. Miller started five duals at Nebraska in the past two seasons at 133 and 141 pounds. Miller was a two-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. He was a four-time state champion at Plainview High School and had a 169-2 high school career record for Coach Dean Boyer. Miller was also a two-time state qualifier in cross country at Plainview High. The Athletic Department will provide more information on services, condolences and memorials when they are available. The following are statements from Head Coach Mark Manning and Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos. Statement from Nebraska Wrestling Coach Mark Manning: "This is a tragic and devastating loss for everyone who knew and loved Christian. My thoughts are with his family and I pray for them in their time of grief. Christian was a young man full of energy with a bright future ahead of him. As the father of four myself, I struggle to process someone being taken from us at such a young age. It will take time for us to begin to heal as a wrestling family. We will promise to bond together as a team to honor Christian's memory by living life to its fullest and competing as hard as possible on the mat." Statement from Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos: "Our thoughts, prayers and support are with Christian Miller's family and friends during this difficult time. As an athletic department we will do everything we can to help them through this immeasurable loss. We understand this tragedy will have a deep impact on our wrestling program, including Christian's teammates, Coach Manning and his staff. We will provide any necessary support and resources for the young men in our wrestling program and other student-athletes as they cope with the loss of a friend and teammate."

Tuesday was Election Day and more Americans participated in the democratic process than ever in our nation's history. Even as we face a raging pandemic Americans showed courage and faith by mailing in their ballots, waiting in line, and making sure their voice was being heard. How you feel about the election outcome is dependent on where you live and who you wanted to represent you. Some lost representatives they liked, while others gained some they hope will be their advocates in Congress. The big-ticket prize hasn't been awarded (as of Friday morning), but it looks like the United States will almost certainly have a new president in January. How will that affect wrestling? Nothing is certain, but if there is proper implementation and distribution of a vaccine then we can expect a return to normal life by the end of 2021. That includes schooling, work, dining, and of course wrestling practice and tournaments. Good management by the new president could also mean a vaccine that is distributed worldwide fast enough to ensure a safe Olympic Games in 2021 and allow our sports greatest days to be shared with the world. If the economy improves, we might get some more money in the ecosystem that supports our star athletes. There are a number of ways in which new, clear leadership might help wrestling, but it will always come through the lens of helping the nation at-large. The best we can hope for is that we can come together and accept small sacrifices in the short term to ensure that we have a functioning society to enjoy in 2021 and beyond. To your questions … Q: Did you watch the Flo 8-Man Challenge? If so, any takeaways? -- Mike C. Foley: Sadly, at the time I was only able to read the highlights as I was busy building a small deck for my trashcans, which had been put off for too long. However, I went back and watched them on demand. The takeaway is that AS EXPECTED Keith Gavin is a monster not to be trifled with, but at 35 years old is long in the tooth for a weekend of bashing heads with men in the mid-20's. The other takeaway is that Myles Martin is a threat to disrupt the hierarchy at 86 kilograms for the 2024 cycle. I'm not sure that he's tested his style at the highest level and adapted it towards beating David Taylor, but you can see that his defensive positions from the mat are now offensive, and that from his feet he steers clear of extra exposures. Myles Martin won the Flo 8-Man Challenge at 195 pounds (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) You saw that in the finals with his shot selection in the first period against Taylor Lujan. Rather than get his head out in front of him, or extended in a sprawl on the mat, Martin stayed compact and sought angles. The armpit drag was sharp, but the no-touch, knee pull single with head outside and no extension of his body was brilliant. It reminded me a little of what you see from Aaron Pico and Bajrang, where they can attack but completely limit their exposure to counter attacks. Even the outside single he attempted halfway through the period was done with his head completely up. That is a style meant to cause a scramble-happy Taylor some problems in 12-24 months. So, Martin is the big takeaway. Strong, composed, and always in position. He's going to be a problem at 86 kilograms. Q: What do you make of Kamal Bey's suspension by USADA? He explained it on Twitter. -- Mike C. Foley: Makes sense. There is no completely fair way to apply drug testing to athletes out-of-season and during a pandemic. However, most athletes aren't finding themselves in this mess and there are simple ways to avoid these issues so long as you communicate with USADA and give them the information they require. I've personally never had their attentive eyes following me around the nation so I can only speculate on what that frustration must feel like, but I'm certain that at some point filling out a whereabouts form feels unnecessary and intrusive. Still, those are the rules. This is a terrible development for Bey and I feel bad for him and his loved ones that he won't be at the 2021 Olympic Games. As bummed as we are for him, I think that he has a shorter window to Paris in 2024 and will only grow as a competitor. Wishing him the best of luck. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME McCain Concession Speech Bob Good, who won the Virginia 5th district, had the most on-brand wrestling advert of all-time. I'm very disappointed that I didn't know about this ad during the election. I've failed at my expertise -- the intersection of wrestling and politics. Q: Has COVID been good for U.S. freestyle wrestling? Are the various one-night cards finally forcing wrestling to come up with a non-tournament format that works? Is the dual meet dead given the boxing/MMA style promotions COVID has encouraged? -- @NHoughSnee Foley: The professional leagues will always have room during downtime in the calendar. This COVID-drive dead period prior to the Olympic Games is especially fertile soil by which the various RTCs and other broadcasters can access talent and get positive financial return. The lack of an international event schedule is awesome for the business model. However, that is somewhat short term, as the events will return in 2021 and take more than a few of the top names off the league mats and into the international season. As for a single league? I'm doubtful that concentrating significant investment and risk will attract anyone that the sport wants involved. The localized structure we see emerging where fan bases can execute for their own audience is much more sustainable. It feels a little bit more like what you see out of high school football where there can be a sellout for the right game in Texas, but nobody at a collegiate game up the street. The passion at the local level is key to keeping these events financially viable. The tournaments are not the way forward, unless its super simple to watch, single day, and non-stop action. Way back in 2015 I was at a grappling tournament in Rio and inspired by the single night 8-person event with 4-man round robins on each side. I'd applied it to the thought of an international Grand Prix, but as we've seen there is an appetite for local tournaments with similar structure. Here is that question and answer from 2015. (I've been doing this WAY longer than I remember!) Q: Has anybody ever tried to have a pro wrestling tournament? Make it golf-style results, top X amount of finishers in each weight class get guaranteed money. It seems to me that when companies pick certain wrestlers to wrestle for money or try to create leagues, they come off as too manufactured. Everybody likes a tournament where the underdog can pull upsets and the winner is the actual best of that weight class. If sports like running, sailing, golf, spelling bees, etc. can get air time and sponsors, wrestling should be able to get them easily, in my somewhat unbiased opinion. Start off small and over time increase the money as popularity grows and so will the wrestlers and sponsors. This seems like a more stable platform for pro wrestling than coming up with semi-arbitrary dual meets. Your takedown tournaments would work in this format as well. -- Tom V. Foley: I have the solution: The Weight Class Grand Prix System. You invite the top, most marketable wrestlers in the world for a one-day weight class grand prix. Two groups of five with the top finishers in the group going for a cash prize. Sponsorships, livestreaming and media coverage would be easier than ever to access as the model has already proven effective in other sports, including the Copa Podio in jiu-jitsu. For example, the USA could host the 74 kilos Grand Prix in New Jersey. Get a well-outfitted 4K seat arena with VIP areas, beer sales and some good in-arena effects. Invite Burroughs, Dake, Howe and Taylor who are all guys from the region, throw in Tsargush (Russian from Brighton Beach) and any Iranian you choose (as we've seen, they travel very well). Now make the prize to win $100K and you will have a media frenzy. There would need to be 18 Grand Prix events and some of these would need to be doubled up within a country, but by spreading the wealth and making the event about one weight class, it's likely that the talent will concentrate for the experience, attention and cash. I still believe this is one of the most entraining and sustainable ways to fund professional wrestling in the United States. Q: We are already into November and there still seems to be so much uncertainty about the NCAA wrestling season. When do you think we will start seeing some more concrete plans or a schedule? -- Mike C. Foley: What if I told you that nobody knows the answer to your questions? The NCAA is trying its best, but like United World Wrestling and the IOC there are a number of relationships, contracts, and publicity exposures to consider before green lighting any plans to take to the mats. Not to mention that the NCAA's focus is split three ways: 70-percent to football, 28.5% to basketball, and 1.5% to the rest of the sports. That's not a dig, that's just the reality of running a (non-profit, wink-wink) business with immediate needs and a changing landscape. The outsider opinion is that the season might be reduced to a few tri-meets and a 16-man NCAA tournament. However, given that the first chilly weeks of the year has delivered the largest number of single-day cases and most daily deaths since April, there is a very real possibility that the season might become a victim. The Super 32 and other regional level tournaments are run for-profit and have the approval of the local governments. The NCAA has to make decisions using a much more complex set of considerations. I wouldn't expect a national lockdown or anything of the sort, but I do think that there will be a readjustment made to the amount of exposure to each other most citizens can handle. Who knows? With better mask wearing and some common-sense leadership from the top it could turn around in the new year.

David Taylor (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) World champion David Taylor will meet Senior Nationals champion Gabe Dean, it was announced Thursday. The match is slated for Nov. 24 at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club's event, which will be streamed on Rokfin. Taylor claimed a world championship in 2018 at 86 kilograms, beating Fatih Erdin of Turkey in the finals, 12-2. Earlier in the tournament, he scored a victory over 2016 Olympic champion Hassan Yazdani Charati of Iran. Taylor missed the 2019 World Championships due to injury. In July, Taylor defeated Myles Martin by 11-0 technical superiority at FloWrestling's event. Dean, a two-time NCAA champion for Cornell, won a Senior Nationals title last month at 86 kilograms after not competing since 2017. He topped Nate Jackson in the finals. Last weekend, Dean competed in Flo's 8-Man Challenge and was defeated in his first match by Taylor Lujan.

Ronna Heaton was a runner-up at 2020 Senior Nationals (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) On Wednesday night, the Wisconsin RTC announced the addition of a women's wrestling matchup to its WRTC Underground 1 event on Nov. 24 streamed on Rokfin. Ronna Heaton will face Cameron Guerin in a rematch from the 2018 Junior World Team Trials finals. Heaton won that best-of-three series two matches to one. Heaton, a South Dakota native who trains at the Wisconsin RTC, recently finished as a runner-up at the 2020 Senior Nationals at 53 kilograms. She is a two-time world medalist at the cadet level, winning gold and silver. Heaton is also a three-time junior world team member. Guerin is a two-time junior world team member, placing fifth at the 2017 Junior World Championships as the youngest member of the USA team. She finished third at the 2019 Senior Nationals and qualified for the 2020 Olympic Team Trials. She attends McKendree University.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The NAIA's Council of Presidents Executive Committee met Wednesday and voted not to charge fall and winter student-athletes a season of competition for the 2020-21 academic year. This decision was based on a survey of conferences and reflects the majority feedback. Of the 19 conferences that responded, 12 were in favor of removing the 50% rule, four were in favor of keeping the 50% rule, and three were divided in their position. "Due to the constraints that COVID-19 has imposed on collegiate athletics, most of our conferences believed it was in the best interest of our fall and winter student-athletes to not charge a season of competition this year," said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. "Many factors were taken into account, but the underlying consideration was relieving pressure on both student-athletes, as well as institutions, as they continue to navigate the fall and winter seasons." ABOUT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (NAIA) The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. NAIA members provide more than 77,000 student-athletes with opportunities to play college sports, earn $800 million in scholarships and compete in 27 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA

There will be no high school wrestling in Vermont in 2020-21. The Vermont Principals' Association announced Tuesday that there will be no wrestling or indoor track seasons due to the unique challenges each sport poses. As of now, basketball, ice hockey, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, bowling, gymnastics dance and cheerleading can start practice on Nov. 30 and competition can begin on Jan. 11. "Should data emerge that indicates COVID-19 transmission as a result of sports-related activities, this could result in further delaying or suspending games, practices, meets and competitions," secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources Julie Moore said.

Seth Gross and Bryce Meredith will meet on Nov. 24 (Photos/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Seth Gross and Bryce Meredith faced off in one of the most memorable collegiate wrestling matches of the 2017-18 collegiate wrestling season. Gross was ranked No. 1 at 133 pounds, while Meredith was ranked No. 1 at 141-pounders. In a match billed as a Super Match, Meredith edged Gross 4-2. The two wrestlers will renew their rivalry on Nov. 24 at the WRTC Underground 1. The event will be streamed on Rokfin. Gross was an NCAA champion and three-time All-American at South Dakota State and Wisconsin. He won a gold medal at the Bill Farrell Memorial in 2019 and has qualified for the Olympic Team Trials at 57 kilograms. Meredith was a two-time NCAA finalist at Wyoming. He finished sixth at the 2019 Senior Nationals and claimed a bronze medal at the 2020 Cerro Pelado. Meredith is coming off a victory over Austin DeSanto at the HWC Showdown Open this past Sunday. The card will also feature a Greco-Roman match between Ben Provisor and Tyler Dow. More matchups will be announced soon.

Alex Hedrick is one of the leaders for top-ranked Simon Fraser (Photo/Simon Fraser Athletics) MANHEIM, Pa -- On Monday, the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced the preseason individual and tournament team rankings for the NCAA women. This is the second season that the NWCA has sponsored a poll for the NCAA Women's division. INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS Freshmen are not included in the preseason polls. Of note, many athletes are coming off redshirt years. With NCAA women competing in freestyle competition, it has been determined that results from sanctioned freestyle events such as USA Wrestling's U23 Championships will be factored into the individual rankings throughout the season. NCAA WOMEN | TOURNAMENT TEAM RANKING Ranking Team Total Points 1. Simon Fraser 97 2. McKendree 92 3. Emmanuel 67 4. King 66 5. North Central 49 6. Tiffin 45 7. Colorado Mesa 40 8. Augsburg 39 9. Lindenwood 20 10. Gannon 19 T-11. Presbyterian 16 T-11. Lakeland 16 13. UW-Stevens Point 15 14. Limestone 11 15. East Stroudsburg 7 Ranking Criteria: Teams will be permitted to enter two wrestlers per weight class, but only 15 total. Each team may receive points from only one wrestler per weight class. That point system is as follows: 1st - 16 points, 2nd - 12 points, 3rd - 10 points, 4th - 9 points, 5th - 7 points, 6th - 6 points, 7th - 4 points, 8th - 3 points. Ranking Committee: Cliff Cushard (Adrian College), Link Davis (Emmanuel College), Travis Mercado (Colorado Mesa University), Jason Moorman (King University), Joe Norton (North Central College), Sam Schmitz (McKendree University). NOTE: The NWCA Multi-Division National Dual Championships, will not take place this season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Seth Gross with Wisconsin head wrestling coach Chris Bono (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) On Tuesday, Nov. 24, the Wisconsin Regional Training Center will host the WRTC UNDERGROUND 1 Open. The wrestlers will take the mat for some freestyle and Greco-Roman competition. Seth Gross square off against an Olympic level opponent. The event will start at 5 p.m. CT and be streamed on Rokfin. Matchups: Tyler Dow vs. Ben Provisor (Greco Roman) Seth Gross vs. TBA Additional matchups to be announced at a later date.

Jaydin Eierman after beating Olympic champ Vladimer Khinchegashvili (Photo/Darren Miller/hawkeyesports.com) CORALVILLE, Iowa -- The wrestling community has really stepped up to bring us a number of high-level events during the worldwide pandemic. And the Hawkeye Wrestling Club Showdown Open, held Sunday night at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, continued that trend. The nine-match freestyle main event card featured matchups mostly between current Hawkeyes and top international wrestlers. A pair of women's matches were also included on the card. There were additional freestyle matches held on an undercard Sunday afternoon. The highlights included Nelson Brands scoring a dominant 9-0 win over Abe Assad and Max Murin knocking off Mitch McKee. It was another entertaining day of wrestling and the Hawkeye Wrestling Club came through by putting on a top-notch event that was shown on trackwrestling.com. Kudos to Shane Sparks and Mark Ironside for great work on the broadcast. Here is my breakdown from the evening's matches: Spencer Lee works for a gut wrench against Zach Sanders (Photo/Darren Miller/hawkeyesports.com) 57 kilograms: Spencer Lee vs. Zach Sanders The dynamic Lee kicked off the main card with a battle against veteran Zach Sanders. Lee, a two-time NCAA champion and multiple age-group world champion, shot in immediately on a single-leg attack for a takedown. He followed with back-to-back gut-wrenches to build a quick 6-0 advantage. Lee countered a Sanders shot with a beautiful whip-over maneuver to record the first-period fall as his home fans erupted. Lee looked impressive in his return to action. He will be in the mix to make the Olympic Team in 2021. 50 kilograms: Devyn Gomez vs. Erin Golston Golston, an established wrestler on the Senior level, battled a late replacement in Gomez. World silver medalist Sarah Hildebrandt had to pull out of the event late and Gomez, who wrestles for Life University, stepped in to compete. Golston powered in for an early takedown and then scored a succession of turns before recording a 57-second fall in the women's freestyle match. 65 kilograms: Austin DeSanto vs. Bryce Meredith This was a match fans were really looking forward to between the high-energy DeSanto and the talented Meredith, a past NCAA runner-up. Meredith is an excellent freestyle wrestler and scored a quick takedown on a counter en route to taking an early 4-0 lead. Meredith countered another DeSanto shot to take a 6-0 lead at the break. Meredith then defended another shot to gain a turn and build his lead to 8-0. DeSanto finally broke through on a leg attack and finished for a takedown with just over a minute left. Meredith's defense was just too good and he prevailed 11-3. 67 kilograms: Jaydin Eierman vs. Vladimer Khinchegashvili This was another intriguing matchup between a strong young freestyle wrestler in Eierman against an Olympic and world champion in Khinchegashvili. Eierman powered in on a blast double-leg shot to score a takedown early in the second period. He followed with another shot and finish to go up 4-1. Eierman defended effectively in the closing stages en route to the 4-1 victory. Eierman will be a huge addition to the Iowa Hawkeye lineup during the upcoming season. Pat Lugo topped Matthew Kolodzik (Photo/Darren Miller/hawkeyesports.com) 153 pounds: Pat Lugo vs. Matthew Kolodzik Lugo came out aggressively, scoring on a pair of pushouts en route to leading 3-0 at the break. Lugo shot in on a single and finished for a takedown to lead 5-0 early in the second period. Kolodzik countered with a double-leg takedown to close within 5-2. Lugo then countered a leg attack, using a knee tap to spin behind Kolodzik and lead 7-2. Lugo turned in an impressive showing to prevail 7-2. It's unfortunate he wasn't able to compete at the NCAA tournament this past March. Precious Bell cruised to a 9-0 win over Jordan Nelson (Photo/Darren Miller/hawkeyesports.com) 170 pounds: Precious Bell vs. Jordan Nelson Bell, No. 2 on the U.S. women's freestyle ladder at heavyweight, fired in on a textbook leg attack to score the match's first takedown. Bell followed with another single-leg shot and TD to lead 4-0. Bell added another single to take a 6-0 advantage early in the second period. Nelson kept battling and nearly scored a TD, but Bell came back with another TD to win 9-0. 75 kilograms: Alex Marinelli vs. James Green This was another highly anticipated matchup between a Hawkeye fan favorite in Marinelli and a two-time world medalist in Green. It was a slow-paced first period and Marinelli led 1-0 after Green was put on the shot clock. Green powered in a double-leg shot and drove Marinelli off the mat for exposure early in the second period to take a 4-1 lead. Marinelli came back with a slick duck-under to close within 5-3 with just over a minute left. Green held off Marinelli in the closing seconds to prevail 5-4. 176 pounds: Michael Kemerer vs. Tommy Gantt This was another battle of NCAA All-Americans with the wrestlers each scoring two points early after a Kemerer shot and a Gantt counter. The bout remained 2-2 at the break. Kemerer came out strong in the second period, powering in on the legs and finishing to lead 4-2. Gantt came back with an effective counter, turning Kemerer three times in the same sequence to lead 8-4. Gantt followed by winning a late scramble to score a takedown. Kemerer shot in for a takedown in the closing seconds, but Gantt's defense was the difference as he won 10-6. Nick Gwiazdowski gets in on a shot against Tony Cassioppi (Photo/Darren Miller/hawkeyesports.com) Heavyweight: Tony Cassioppi vs. Nick Gwiazdowski Cassioppi faced a big challenge against Gwiazdowski, a two-time world medalist, in the night's final bout. Gwiz fired in low on a leg attack and finished for a takedown to take a quick 2-0 lead. Cassioppi used strong defense to stay within two points at the break. Gwiz powered in on the legs for a TD early in the second before hitting a succession of leg laces to finish a 10-0 win by technical superiority. Gwiz continues to wrestle at a high level as we move closer to the Olympic Games. Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games, written 10 books and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.

Myles Martin gets in on a double leg against Taylor Lujan in the finals (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) AUSTIN, Texas -- Myles Martin put together a dominant performance at the Flo 8-Man Challenge on Saturday night in Austin, Texas. Martin, a four-time NCAA All-American and 2019 Senior Nationals finalist, rolled through a strong field of eight competitors at 195 pounds. He outscored his three opponents by a combined score of 23-2 en route to capturing the title. In the championship match, Martin met surprise finalist Taylor Lujan, a four-time NCAA qualifier for Northern Iowa. Martin cruised to a 10-0 technical superiority over Lujan on the strength of five takedowns, ending the match just over a minute into the second period. By winning the tournament, Miles earned $20,000, while Lujan left with $10,000. "I felt good," Martin said in his post-match interview with FloWrestling's Mike Malinconico. "My weight was under control. I feel like I can jump more levels. I don't think this was my best performance, but I wrestled really well, so who cares?" Martin's road to the finals included a quarterfinal win over Drew Foster and semifinal victory over Nate Jackson. Martin shut out Foster, a 2019 NCAA champion, 8-0. Martin scored a pair of takedowns in the first period off counter attacks and added two more takedowns in the final period. In the semifinals, Martin controlled Jackson from the opening whistle, picking up a 5-2 victory. Martin scored the only point in the opening period off a step out. In the second period, Martin earned a takedown off a reattack to go up 3-0. He added another takedown midway through the second period to extend his lead to 5-0. Jackson would score a takedown at the buzzer, but it was too little too late. Nate Jackson placed third and claimed $5,000 (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Jackson rebounded from his semifinal loss to place third, beating Pitt head wrestling coach Keith Gavin 6-2. Jackson scored a pair of takedowns off single legs in the opening period to go up 4-0. He added another takedown in the second period. Gavin would add a couple points off a caution and step out. By placing third, Jackson earned $5,000. Jackson looked strong in his opening match, scoring five takedowns, along with a step out, to beat Sammy Brooks by technical superiority, 11-1. Prior to the victory, Jackson was 0-3 against Brooks in freestyle matches. Lujan advanced to the championship match with victories over Gabe Dean and Gavin. Taylor Lujan won by fall over Gabe Dean in the quarterfinals (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Lujan stunned the two-time NCAA champion Dean in the opening round, earning a second-period fall and avenging a 10-0 loss from this year's Senior Nationals. Dean was impressive throughout the match and appeared to be on his way to a technical superiority. The Cornell assistant coach scored an early takedown with a double leg and used two turns to build his lead to 6-0. In the second period, Dean countered an attack from Lujan to go up 8-0. Dean then attempted a gut wrench, but Lujan countered by stepping over and secured the fall. In the semifinals, Lujan cruised to a 9-2 victory over Gavin. Lujan scored an early takedown off a high crotch to go up 2-0. Later in the period, Lujan scored an exposure from a scramble to go up 4-0. In the second period, Lujan came out of a scramble for a takedown and added a point off a failed challenge to extend his lead to 7-0. Gavin would get on the scoreboard with a two-point exposure off a chest wrap to cut the deficit to five. But Lujan would close out the match with another takedown as time expired. Keith Gavin came from behind to defeat Shakur Rasheed in the quarterfinals (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) The 35-year-old Gavin overcame a slow start to beat Shakur Rasheed 9-7 in the quarterfinals. Rasheed, an All-American for Penn State, wrestled well in the first period and took a 5-2 lead into the break. Gavin came out strong in the second period, scoring with an exposure before getting on top and scoring with multiple gut wrenches, which helped pace him to the victory. The event also included a pair of women's wrestling matches. Emily Shilson defeated Stefana Jelacic in the first women's wrestling match (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Emily Shilson, a 2018 Youth Olympic Games gold medalist, topped Desiree Zavalta 7-2 in the first women's wrestling match. Shilson, a Minnesota native, scored a point off the activity clock in the opening period to take a 1-0 lead. She extended her lead to 4-0 in the second period after scoring a step out and takedown. Jelacic, a native of Arizona, inched closer with a takedown to make the score 4-2. But Shilson would add a step out and late exposure to win by five. Macey Kilty locks up a lace in her match against Desiree Zavalta (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) In the second women's wrestling match, Macey Kilty, a five-time age group world medalist, rolled to a 10-0 technical superiority over Desiree Zavalta. Kilty used three takedown and turn off a lace to go up 8-0 at the break. She then closed out the match early in the second period with her fourth takedown of the match. Women's wrestling match results Emily Shilson dec. Stefana Jelacic, 7-2 Macey Kilty tech. Desiree Zavalta, 10-0 3:39 Flo 8-Man Challenge results Quarterfinals: Keith Gavin dec. Shakur Rasheed, 9-7 Taylor Lujan pinned Gabe Dean, 3:53 Nate Jackson tech. Sammy Brooks, 11-1 2:57 Myles Martin dec. Drew Foster, 8-0 Semifinals: Taylor Lujan dec. Keith Gavin, 9-2 Myles Martin dec. Nate Jackson, 5-2 Championships match: Myles Martin tech. Taylor Lujan, 10-0 4:08

Kamal Bey at Senior Nationals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- USADA announced today that Kamal Bey, of Colorado Springs, Colo., an athlete in the sport of wrestling, has accepted a one-year sanction for his failure to properly file and maintain his Whereabouts information. Bey, 22, is a member of the USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP), which consists of a select group of athletes subject to certain Whereabouts requirements in order to be located for out-of-competition testing. Within a 12-month period, Bey accrued three Whereabouts Failures, the first for a Missed Test on September 28, 2019; the second for a Filing Failure on November 13, 2019; and the third for a Missed Test on June 7, 2020. The accumulation of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period constitutes a rule violation under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the United World Wrestling Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code. The period of ineligibility for Whereabouts rule violations ranges from one year to two years depending on the athlete's degree of fault. In this case, USADA determined that a one-year period of ineligibility was appropriate because Bey's fault level was low. Bey's one-year period of ineligibility began on June 7, 2020, the date of his third Whereabouts Failure in a 12-month period. In addition, Bey has been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and subsequent to June 7, 2020, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes. In an effort to aid athletes, as well as support team members such as parents and coaches, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on its website on the testing process and prohibited substances, how to file and update athlete Whereabouts, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements, as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, USADA manages a drug reference hotline, Global Drug Reference Online (www.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as an easy-reference wallet card with examples of prohibited and permitted substances, a supplement guide, a nutrition guide, an athlete handbook, and periodic alerts and advisories. Along with education and testing, robust anti-doping programs enable investigations stemming from tips and whistleblowers. USADA makes available a number of ways to report the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in sport in an effort to protect clean athletes and promote clean competition. Any tip can be reported using the USADA Play Clean Tip Center, by email at playclean@usada.org, by phone at 1-877-Play Clean (1-877-752-9253) or by mail. USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement and is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.

Spencer Lee gets his hand raised after winning in the semifinals of Senior Nationals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) The Nittany Lion Wrestling Club appears to have started the trend of regional training centers hosting their own events. The Hawkeye Wrestling Club will host their own event with the HWC Showdown Open on Sunday. The event, which will air live on Trackwrestling, features some of the top Iowa wrestlers such as Spencer Lee, Michael Kemerer, Alex Marinelli and Jaydin Eierman taking on domestic and international challengers. Spencer Lee vs. Zach Sanders Lee was hoping to win another NCAA title in 2020 and then earn a spot on the Olympic team. While he did not get a chance at the NCAA tournament, he did put together an undefeated 18-0 record on the college mats. Lee also took a hiatus in mid-December to enter to 2019 Senior Nationals where he bested Darian Cruz, Vito Arujau and Nathan Tomasello and took home first place. Before ever setting foot on campus at Iowa, Lee had already won three world championships, two at the junior level and one at the cadet level. Sanders has been out of the collegiate ranks since 2012. That year, he finished his career at Minnesota as the seventh four-time All-American in Golden Gopher history. Later in that same year he brought home a silver medal at the 2012 World University Championships. Sanders would continue to compete on the international circuit for years and brought home gold medals from the 2015 Pan American Championships and the 2018 Cerro Pelado International. He returned to action earlier this year at Rumble on the Rooftop and took part in a wild match against Zane Richards. Both wrestlers hit big moves in the match, but Richards eventually took it 13-11. Lee is a phenomenon, and he might actually be better in freestyle. Sanders struggled to keep Richards off the board in his last fight, and that could mean trouble in this match. If Lee is able to get on top, it could be over very quickly. Prediction: Lee VSU over Sanders Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Erin Golston Hildebrandt won a silver medal at the 2018 World Championships at 53 kilograms, and she appears ready to move down in weight and attempt to bring home an Olympic medal. Hildebrandt qualified the weight through the Pan American Olympic Qualifier. She was also down at the weight for the recent 2020 Senior Nationals, where she won all four of her matches without surrendering a single point. In the finals, Hildebrandt took an 8-0 victory over Amy Fearnside. Golston is a three-time junior world medalist with her last one coming as a silver in 2013. She moved up to the senior level later in the same year and has been there ever since. In 2019 Golston picked up a trio silver medals after placing second at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov Tournament, Pan American Championships and the Bill Farrell Memorial International. This could easily be a preview of the Olympic Team Trials. Hildebrandt seems to have conquered the weight cut down to 50 kilograms, and she has had outstanding results at the new weight. Look for her to set the tone early, and control the match with her ability to score from distance. Prediction: Hildebrandt VPO over Golston Austin DeSanto vs. Bryce Meredith After spending his freshman season at Drexel and finishing in the round of 12, DeSanto transferred to Iowa prior to the 2019 season. As a sophomore he went 23-6 and finished fifth at the NCAA tournament. He returned last season and quickly established himself as a contender for the NCAA title. In his third match, DeSanto upset former NCAA champion Seth Gross in a 6-2 match. As the season continued, DeSanto dropped a pair of rematches against Gross and a two-match series against Penn State's Roman Bravo-Young. Meredith finished his collegiate career in 2018. During his senior season, he went 33-2 and made the NCAA finals. Meredith dropped the championship match against Yianni Diakomihilas, who handed him his only two losses on the year. He finished his time at Wyoming as a three-time All-American and two-time finalist. Meredith finished sixth at the 2019 Senior Nationals with wins over Josh Saunders, Dean Heil and Ethan Lizak. A few weeks ago, he returned to action on the second Nittany Lion Wrestling Club show and scored a 8-6 victory over Beau Bartlett. In a lot of ways, this match would be considered the people's main event. It might not be the last match on the card, but both wrestlers are known for being in exciting and high-paced matches. DeSanto comes forward and persistently works for leg attacks. That might get him into trouble here since Meredith does some of his best work in scrambles. On top of that, DeSanto does not regularly compete in freestyle. Meredith has been full-time in freestyle since 2018, and that should give him an edge. Prediction: Meredith VPO1 over DeSanto Jaydin Eierman vs. Vladimer Khinchegashvili After three years and three All-American seasons at Missouri, Eierman transferred to Iowa before last season. He sat out for an Olympic redshirt season, and he is expected to join the Hawkeye lineup this upcoming year. While Eierman has placed as high as third at the NCAA tournament and picked up key victories over Dom Demas, Yianni Diakomihalis and Nick Lee, he also has accomplishments in the freestyle world. Eierman represented the U.S. at the 2019 U23 World Championships and holds a victory over world silver medalist Beka Lomtadze. Khinchegashvili will certainly be a big challenge for Eierman. He is a two-time Olympic medalist after picking up a silver in 2012 and a gold in 2016. In addition to that, Khinchegashvili also holds three world medals. He failed to place at the 2019 World Championships, but he bounced back with a third-place finish at the Alrosa Cup. Back in September, Khinchegashvili faced off against Diakomihalis in the main event of Beat the Streets. The bout feature several extensive scrambles, but the Georgian won it 4-4 on criteria. Eierman's style has helped him surprise some top international wrestlers, but Khinchegashvili has faced off with several Americans at this point. It is unlikely anything will surprise him in this match. It could easily turn into a wild match with a lot of scrambles, but in the end, that plays into the style of Khinchegashvili. He should be able to hold on for a close victory. Prediction: Khinchegashvili VPO1 over Eierman Pat Lugo vs. Matthew Kolodzik Lugo missed out on his final NCAA tournament due to the cancellation, but he was certainly in a good position to make a run at the 149-pound title. He entered the Big Ten tournament with an 18-1 record. His lone defeat came against Ohio State's Sammy Sasso in a dual meet. After defeating Collin Purinton and Brayton Lee, Lugo earned a rematch against Sasso. This time, he had the superior game plan and strategy and took a 2-1 decision. The former Hawkeye wrestler returned to action against Luke Pletcher at the Rumble on the Rooftop event. Lugo was surprisingly dominant and took home a 5-0 decision. After starting his collegiate career with three straight All-American seasons, the plan was for Kolodzik to use an Olympic redshirt for the 2020 season. However, after the end of the first semester he returned to the line up for one more run at a championship. Kolodzik went 10-0 prior to the EIWA tournament. He entered the bracket and, despite an overtime match against Jared Price, he took home the championship. Kolodzik recently finished sixth at the 2020 Senior Nationals with wins over Sean Fausz, Mitch McKee and Kanen Storr. Lugo and Kolodzik have an interesting history. They met three times in folkstyle starting during the 2018 season. In their first match, Lugo scored a second-period fall. However, the following season, Kolodzik won both of their meetings via the exact same 7-4 score. They also met under freestyle rules at the 2018 U23 Nationals. In that match, Lugo was dominant and won via matching termination with a 14-4 score. While Lugo has had success against Kolodzik the recent matches have been trending the other way. Kolodzik gets into trouble against Lugo who they get into upper body or scramble positions. He seems to have found ways to avoid those positions and to finish his leg attacks clean. If he can duplicate that strategy here, he should be able to pull out the victory. Prediction: Kolodzik VPO1 over Lugo Precious Bell vs. Jordan Nelson Bell is one of the top domestic wrestlers at 76 kilograms. Unfortunately for her, she is behind five-time world champion Adeline Gray. Despite this, Bell had a very strong 2019 season. During the year, she won the U.S. Open, finished second at Final X behind Gray and represented the U.S. at the U23 World Championships. She also closed the year with a victory at the 2019 Senior Nationals. Nelson is currently a senior at Life University. This past collegiate season she placed fifth at the NAIA as well as third at the WCWA Nationals. Her lone loss at the WCWA Nationals came in the semifinals against eventual champion Mariah Harris. She bounced back in the consolation bracket with victory over Alyssa Schrull and Jade Piper to finish third. This will be a big step up in competition for Nelson. Bell has the experience edge, and she has defeated the better competition. She will likely have a physical edge over Nelson as well. Despite this, Nelson is often very competitive against tough opposition, and she might even fight hard enough to make sure this match is closer than expected. Prediction: Bell VSU1 over Nelson Alex Marinelli vs. James Green In his last match of the 2020 season, Marinelli avenged his only defeat of the season. He had previously lost to rival Vincenzo Joseph during the year, and the rematch came in the finals of the Big Ten Tournament. As you might expect considering their history, it was a close match, but in the end, Marinelli took the 3-2 victory. The win pushed his season record to 20-1, and during the year he also defeated the likes of Travis Wittlake, Isaiah White, David McFadden and Evan Wick. Green was a four-time All-American at Nebraska before adding a pair of world medals on the freestyle level. In 2015, he broke through for the first time with a bronze medal in the 70-kilogram division. Green returned to the podium in 2017 with a silver medal in Paris. In 2019, he returned to the World Championships after winning both the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament and Final X. Last December he made the finals of the Alans tournament before coming up short against two-time world medalist Khetik Tsabolov. Weight might be an interesting factor in this match. Even though Green has moved up to 74 kilograms for the Olympic cycle, his best results have come down at 70 kilograms. Marinelli regularly competes at 165 pounds. Marinelli relies on his ability to own the control ties and physically impose on his opponents. That might be tough against Green. The world medalist always seems to do a good job clearly ties and getting to his leg attacks. If he can create enough distance, he should be able to get to legs and finish against Marinelli. Prediction: Green VPO1 over Marinelli Michael Kemerer vs. Tommy Gantt This past year Kemerer returned from an injury layoff and moved up two weight classes. He staked his claim as one of the best wrestlers in the country at 174 pounds. In late January, Kemerer scored an upset victory over Mark Hall to move into the number-one spot at the weight. The two rematched in the Big Ten tournament finale with Hall taking the bout. Kememer and Hall appeared destined for a rematch before the NCAA tournament was cancelled. After receiving honors from NWCA, Kemerer became a three-time All-American. Gantt was an All-American at NC State who exhausted his eligibility in 2015. On the freestyle circuit, he had a very strong 2019. He began the year by winning the Henri Deglane Challenge. Gantt then picked up silver medals at both the Cerro Pelado-Granma and U.S. Open. He finished the year with a bronze medal performance at the 2019 Senior Nationals. Gantt returned to action earlier this year on the debut Wrestling Underground show and dropped a four-point match against David McFadden. Kemerer likes to attack legs early and often in his matches. That offense should go a long way in this match. Gantt has solid defense, but it is hard to see if hold up under a continually onslaught from the Iowa wrestler. Kemerer has been absent from the freestyle scene for some time, but he did win the 2016 Junior Nationals, so it is a world that is certainly not foreign. Prediction: Kemerer VSU1 over Gantt Tony Cassioppi vs. Nick Gwiazdowski After a strong redshirt season, Cassioppi joined the starting lineup last season. He finished the year with a 20-3 record with his only losses coming against Gable Steveson and Mason Parris. During the year, he picked up victories over Trent Hillger, Seth Nevills and Gannon Gremmel. Like many prospects coming out of Illinois, Cassioppi actually had more impressive results on the freestyle side during his high school career. In 2018 he dominated his way to a Fargo title. The following year after his redshirt year, he finished third at the U23 Nationals with a key victory over former Maryland All-American Youssif Hemida in the third-place match. Since the retirement of Tervel Dlganev, Gwiazdowski has held down the heavyweight spot on the domestic freestyle ladder. Not only has he dominated domestically, but he has also brought home a pair of world bronze medals. His first came in 2017 with the other following shortly after in 2018. Gwiazdowski returned to the World Championships in 2019 after beating out Gable Steveson for the spot, but he failed to medal. So far this year, he qualified the weight for the Olympics through the Pan American Qualification Tournament and scoring a match-termination victory over Kyven Gadson in the main event of the debut Wrestling Underground show. There are going to be a lot of young challengers coming through the ranks for Gwiazdowski over the next few years. One of those challengers might be Cassioppi. However, for the time being, the story will likely remain the same. Cassioppi is a dynamic athlete for the heavyweight ranks, who uses that skill to outwork larger heavyweights. That advantage will not really be available against Gwiazdowski. Prediction: Gwiazdowski VSU1 over Cassioppi

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. If you haven't already done so, be sure to vote or drop off your ballot so that your voice can be heard. We are fortunate to have the right to vote for our leaders and this is no time to pass up your responsibility to participate in our democracy. Want to know where or how to vote in your town come Tuesday. Use this website and make a plan. Also, you might want to bring a good book and a lawn chair as this is expected to be the largest voter turnout in American history. To your questions … Q: What are your predictions for the HWC Showdown Open main card? -- Mike C. Foley: Predictions below. Spencer Lee df. Zach Sanders, 11-0 Sarah Hildebrandt df. Erin Golston, 8-2 Austin DeSanto df. Bryce Meredith, 13-11 Vladimer Khinchegashvili df. Jaydin Eierman, 9-3 Pat Lugo df. Matthew Kolodzik, 4-2 Jordan Nelson df. Precious Bell, 3-1 James Green df. Alex Marinelli, 4-3 Michael Kemerer df. Tommy Gantt, 8-0 Nick Gwiazdowski df. Tony Cassioppi, 6-2 Q: Khabib announced his retirement after beating Justin Gaethje. Do you view Khabib as the GOAT? -- Mike C. Foley: I do. After 29 fights he'd never been cut, taken down, or otherwise damaged. He fought at the very highest levels, overcame a number of personal issues, and maintained a level of fighting we've never seen before. Compare his accomplishments to the two names most commonly associated with GOAT in MMA. GSP took losses and a lot of damage throughout his career, including in fights where he won but probably should have been declared the loser. The counterpoint is that GSP was the first true MMA fighter with a long-standing record of accomplishment based on unique training, innovative game plans, and success in his non-specialty areas (e.g. wrestling). Jon Jones has a loss from throwing a bad elbow, but that doesn't really impact the way his career is viewed. Jones took an absolute beating by Alexander Gustafsson and then again with Dominick Reyes (who also probably won the fight). The counterpoint supporting Jones as GOAT is the way he elevated the sport and uses distance and creative striking to create finishing opportunities. However, he's also a proven drug cheat and has been arrested for a variety of reasons over the course of his career, both altering the consistency of his in-cage appearances and making him a somewhat unreliable title holder. Khabib hasn't been cut. Look at the photos of GSP and Jones after fights. They are a mess. To not take damage, while also simultaneously inflicting enough on your opponent to end the fight is the point of MMA and NOBODY has ever done that better than Khabib. Q: In the Oct. 2 mailbag you predicted Gabe Dean to place fifth in the Flo 8-Man Challenge. Dean has won Senior Nationals since then. Have you changed your prediction after seeing Dean win Senior Nationals? -- Mike C. Pitt coach Keith Gavin (right) coaching with Jordan Leen at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Foley: Updated predictions … Keith Gavin df. Shakur Rasheed Gabe Dean df. Taylor Lujan Sammy Brooks df. Nate Jackson Myles Martin df. Drew Foster Keith Gavin df. Gabe Dean Myles Martin df. Sammy Brooks Myles Martin df. Keith Gavin I'm just now grasping that a Division I head wrestling coach, whose team was recently ranked in the top ten, is competing in a legit wrestling competition. Coaches are strapped for time so for Gavin to feel like he can go out there and compete means he has an incredible work ethic and Tim Ferriss-like time management skills. I'm 39 and speeding towards 40. If I abandon Keith and his dream then I can't believe in my dream to run a marathon next year, or cycle 200 miles. I suggest that all former wrestlers and out-of-shape dads with pandemic bods unite in support of our new light of inspiration, Keith Gavin. Q: When will a final determination be made on the 2020 World Championships? What's the process? With COVID cases surging around the world, it seems more and more unlikely. -- Mike C. Foley: The final decision will be made on Nov. 5 or Nov. 6 following the final registration deadline and a meeting of the United World Wrestling executive board. The decision will focus on the number of entries, the nations who choose to enter, and any additional information being presented by health officials prior to the meeting. I can't tell you how that meeting will play out, but I would agree with your assessment that nations around the world have already started shutdowns with more to come in the next few days and weeks. The conclusions should be out by next Friday. Q: The Michigan High School Athletic Association announced that wrestlers must wear masks to practice or compete. I read there was some uproar about this. Do you see it as an issue? -- Mike C. Foley: I'm not sure that a mask will be the most effective at that distance, but I also don't think it will hurt any of the athletes. There will need to be specific guidance on the types of mask and how much air is allowed to pass through, but in the meantime, I think it's nice that they have a solution for wrestling as part of their overall plan. We shouldn't take for granted that we've already seen the worst of this disease. There are STILL more than 900 people dying per day with a huge increase expected in the next two weeks as the rise in cases precedes death tolls. There is a lot of soul searching we all need to do about what risks we can and cannot manage and I would warn that there is a very strong likelihood that if cases continue to spike through the winter we will see a total abandonment of close contact sports like wrestling in the United States. I know that's a tough image to conjure up, but this is a worldwide pandemic and we need to show strength and resilience like generations before have done through war and famine. This is something we know how to beat. We just need to do the right things and follow the advice of medical professionals.

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin wrestling continues to set new standards of success on and off the mat. The Badgers are excited to announce a unique and groundbreaking opportunity to provide wrestling student-athletes with teaching from brand marketing expert and renowned author Jeremy Darlow. Wisconsin will be the first wrestling program in the nation to partner with Darlow. Darlow, who personally selected the Badgers to take his course, "The DARLOW Rules: How to Build an Athlete Brand", will work with UW wrestling student-athletes to educate them on how to develop and grow their personal brand to lay a foundation for post-graduate success in professional careers and beyond. Darlow previously worked with Wisconsin volleyball earlier this fall with great success. "The University of Wisconsin continues to demonstrate dedication to the success of its student athletes outside of sports," Darlow said. "This newly formed partnership with Badger wrestling proves that. I look forward to teaching these young men, and future leaders, how to build plans that set them on a path to landing their dream jobs and building their dream lives." "The Athletes Are Brands Too" author has worked with athletes, including Aaron Rodgers, Kris Bryant, and Lionel Messi; and celebrities such as Kanye West and Snoop Dogg. He helps college athletic programs, coaches, and athletes build and elevate their brands to elite levels. "We are so excited to partner with Jeremy Darlow," said head coach Chris Bono. "We are the only NCAA Division I wrestling team to have a partner like Jeremy to help our student-athletes with branding." "I am a big believer in our student-athletes building their own individual brand that will help them after their UW career is over. This is an exciting time and we cannot wait to begin working with Jeremy." Darlow's course will provide athletes with the fundamentals of brand development and communication. Throughout the course, athletes will learn marketing skills that will culminate in the development of unique personal brand marketing plans. About Jeremy Darlow Jeremy Darlow is a leading brand consultant, former director of marketing for Adidas football, volleyball, and baseball, adjunct marketing professor, and author of the book "Brands Win Championships," a branding guidebook for college sports programs. During and since his role at Adidas, he has worked with some of the most heralded athletes, celebrities, and NCAA programs in and around sports, including Aaron Rodgers, Von Miller, Adrian Peterson, Dak Prescott, Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa, Lionel Messi, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Notre Dame, Michigan, UCLA, Miami, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Texas A&M. His first book has been read and studied by professors at major college sports programs across the United States, including Georgetown University, Gonzaga University, the University of Alabama, the University of Louisville, Oregon State University, and New York University.

The 2020 Powerade will take place at the Monroeville Convention Center To help comply with the health and safety guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and to assist in social distancing we are happy to announce a change in venues for the 2020 Powerade Wrestling Tournament. The tournament will be moved to the spacious Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. The tournament will now be held on Monday & Tuesday, Dec. 28-29, 2020. The Powerade Junior Tournament's (Girls, Boys JV, 15U, 12U & 10U) will be held on Sunday, December 27, 2020 at the same location. The Governor's new gathering limits issued on Oct. 6 has presented us with no choice but to move the 2020 Powerade Wrestling Tournament from Canon-McMillan High School, the longtime home of the tournament. For more information please visit our new website at Powerade Wrestling.

Gabe Dean defeated Taylor Lujan in the quarterfinals of Senior Nationals (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) On Saturday FloWrestling will host the 8-Man Challenge. It will be an eight-competitor tournament at 195 pounds featuring multiple former collegiate stars who have made the transition to freestyle. The winner will receive $20K, with prize money given to the other placewinners. The following is a preview of the first-round matches from the tournament and projects the matches in the following rounds. First Round Shakur Rasheed vs. Keith Gavin Gavin will come out of retirement to enter this tournament. The current head coach at Pittsburgh was also quite the competitor for the Panthers. He won the 2008 NCAA title at 174 pounds and was a two-time All-American. His 120 wins are currently the eighth most in program history. After leaving college, Gavin continued to wrestle on the international circuit. He finished second at both the 2010 and 2014 U.S. World Team Trials and represented the U.S. at the 2013 World Championships. Rasheed recently finished his eligibility at Penn State. He made the All-American podium with a seventh-place finish in 2018. Rasheed then qualified in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons. This past year, he went 8-6 in an injury shortened season and picked up victories over Jordan Pagano and Jacob Warner. Rasheed recently wrestled on the debut Wrestling Underground show. He faced off against fellow tournament competitor Sammy Brooks and dropped an 8-6 match. It will be interesting to see what Gavin looks like after being out of action and focusing on coaching. It is entirely possible that he will be rusty or fade after a strong start. If that is the case, Rasheed should make for an interesting return. Rasheed may have some physical advantages in the match, but he has had his own issues with fading. In the end, look for the veteran's skill and gamesmanship to help him pull out a victory. Prediction: Gavin VPO1 over Rasheed Taylor Lujan vs. Gabe Dean After three straight qualifying seasons, Lujan entered his senior year in 2020 looking to finally become an All-American. He went 28-2 and won the Big 12 title at 184 pounds. Along the way, Lujan picked up signature victories over the likes of Taylor Venz, Hunter Bolen and Johnny Sebastian. Even though there was not an NCAA tournament, the NWCA awarded Lujan with first team All-American honors for the 2020 season. Lujan recently entered the 2020 Senior Nationals where he went 5-2 with wins over Devin Skatzka and Max Dean. Dean was a two-time champion and a four-time All-American for Cornell. He finished his eligibility in 2017 with a 153-7 career record. During his senior year, Dean had an undefeated season going until he was defeated in the NCAA final against Bo Nickal. Dean then finished seventh at the 2017 U.S. Open and took a hiatus from competition. He returned at the recent Senior Nationals and surprisingly won the event. Along the way, he actually scored wins over two of the competitors in this field. One of the wins from Senior Nationals came over Lujan. Despite the extensive layoff, Dean had very little trouble. He scored four takedowns in a gut wrench and terminated the match late in the second period. Lujan might be able to keep in close since a lot of Dean's offense came off of failed leg attacks from the former Northern Iowa star. However, Dean will also be comfortable winning a close match. Prediction: Dean VPO1 over Lujan Nate Jackson vs. Sammy Brooks Jackson was a two-time All-American at Indiana. He finished his career in 2017 with an eighth-place finish at 184 pounds. His overall collegiate record stands at 107-27. Since leaving school, Jackson has been a regular on the freestyle circuit where he has picked up several medals, including a silver at the 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International and a gold at the 2019 Medved tournament. He recently had a very strong performance at the Senior Nationals. Jackson made the finals after defeating Tyler Wilson, Parker Keckeisen, Rocky Elam and Drew Foster. Brooks was a two-time All-American for Iowa. In his senior year, he finished fourth at the NCAA tournament and picked up wins over the likes of Myles Martin, Emery Parker and Dakota Geer. Brooks' fulltime freestyle career got off to a strong start as he won the 2017 U23 World Team Trials. Since then he has gone on to win both the 2018 Poland Open and the 2019 Henri Deglane Challenge. Last year Brooks finished second in the 86-kilogram division at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. Jackson and Brooks have quite the history, but the vast majority of it favors one of them. They met three times in folkstyle during the 2017 season with Jackson winning the first bout 3-1. Brooks then won a pair of wide decisions as he bested the former Indiana wrestler 10-5 and 13-6. The series then moved to freestyle where Brooks continued his dominance. In all three of their freestyle matches, Brooks has forced match termination, although two of the bouts have been extremely high scoring. In a bout at the 2019 U.S. Open, Brooks won 21-10. They wrestled again at that year's Senior nationals. Brooks won again 20-10. Even though Jackson was able to score early and often in these matches, Brooks always seems to come out of top with a mix of competitiveness and gamesmanship. Look for this match to be another high scoring match with Brooks pulling out yet another victory. Prediction: Brooks VPO1 over Jackson Myles Martin vs. Drew Foster Martin won an NCAA title as a freshman, and he finished his career as a four-time All-American. He was a prohibitive favorite to win another title as a senior in 2019. He entered the NCAA tournament with an undefeated 20-0 record, but he suffered an upset against Max Dean and ended up finishing third. Martin had a strong 2019 on the freestyle mats as he picked up silver medals at both the Bill Farrell Memorial International and Senior Nationals. Martin returned to action earlier this year on the undercard of the Kyle Dake vs. Frank Chamizo event and dropped a match against David Taylor. Foster was a somewhat surprising NCAA champion in 2019. Despite previously finishing as an All-American, he entered his final NCAA tournament at 184 pounds as one of the many contenders lining up behind Martin. However, after Martin's upset, Foster defeated Dean in the finals to become champion. After the college season, the former Northern Iowa wrestler moved to freestyle. He recently had his best finish to date as he made the third-place match at the 2020 Senior Nationals before coming up short against Trent Hidlay. At the event, Foster scored signature victories over David McFadden, Andrew Morgan, Taylor Venz and Hunter Bolen. Martin and Foster faced off at the 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, and it was not really much of a match. The former Ohio State representative dominated from start to finish and took home the 10-0 victory early in the second period. Foster will likely keep it closer this time after a strong performance at Senior Nationals, but Martin remains the favorite. Prediction: Martin VPO over Foster Semifinals Keith Gavin vs. Gabe Dean One could easily make the case that Gavin has both the more dynamic offense as well as the sharper freestyle acumen. However, after focusing on coaching for so long, it is hard to imagine Dean's defensive style not carrying him to a victory here. This one will likely be close, but winning close matches looks to be a strength for Dean. Prediction: Dean VPO1 over Gavin Sammy Brooks vs. Myles Martin Martin probably has the better results over the course of his career, but the head-to-head matches against Brooks have not gone his way. They met three times during the 2017 NCAA season. Brooks won all three bouts by a combined 23-7 score. The rivalry continued in freestyle as they met in the best-of-three finals of the 2017 U23 World Team Trials. Brooks swept both matches, winning the first 13-8 and the second 9-5. It has been a long time since they wrestled, but it is hard to not look at the match history and pick someone other than Brooks. Prediction: Brooks VPO1 over Martin Finals Gabe Dean vs. Sammy Brooks Dean and Brooks also have a history that reaches back to their college days and beyond. They met twice during the 2015 season with Dean taking victories in both matches. The first came at the National Duals, and Dean scored a 6-2 decision. Their rematch was at the NCAA tournament. Brooks closed the gap a bit, but Dean still took the 3-2 victory. Neither match was particularly offensive, but that once again will favor Dean. If this prediction holds, he will have returned from hiatus with back-to-back tournament victories. Prediction: Dean VPO1 over Brooks

A day after Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker Illinois Department of Public Health put Illinois high school wrestling on hold, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced that the wrestling season will be moved to the summer season. The IHSA Board of Directors held a board meeting Wednesday and announced plans for winter sports in Illinois. The wrestling season will be held from April 19 to June 26, 2021. Basketball and other winter athletics will be held during the winter months. Illinois has reported 389,095 total COVID-19 cases with 9,619 deaths. New cases of spiked by over 6,000 on Wednesday.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Ken Kraft, a Distinguished Member inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1997 and a longtime leader with USA Wrestling, passed away on Tuesday. Kraft received the Hall of Fame's Order of Merit award in 1995 and received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the Illinois Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2011. Ken Kraft"We are saddened to hear of the loss of one of wrestling's great ambassadors, Ken Kraft, who was honored twice by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his transcendent work on behalf of wrestling," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "On behalf of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors and staff, we extend our most sincere sympathies to his widow, Marjo, his family and friends. "Ken shared his gifts with wrestlers of all ages and advanced our sport as a coach, administrator, broadcaster, and event promoter," he added. "His advocacy helped grow public awareness of the values and benefits of wrestling, not only in the greater Chicago area, but throughout our nation and across the globe." Kraft built Northwestern University wrestling into a viable national program and kept the Wildcats among the elite throughout his 22 years at the helm. He became head coach at Northwestern in 1957, at the age of 22, after a Wildcat wrestling career that included a Big Ten title and his school's Medal of Honor. He remained active as an administrator at Northwestern for many years. In 1960, he coached his brother Art to the NCAA championship, a feat unmatched for 34 years. Art Kraft went on to become one of the nation's outstanding junior college coaches. Ken produced another national champion in Mark Massery and coached 11 conference champs and 14 All-Americans. One of his greatest contributions to wrestling was the founding of the Midlands Championships in 1963. Exasperated with the long drive to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to compete in the only Christmas wrestling tournament, Kraft and a few close associates established the Midlands. The king of the open tournaments, the Midlands brings the very best amateur wrestlers to Illinois each year between Christmas and New Year's. Over more than five decades, it has attracted almost every noteworthy American wrestler and is now the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships. Kraft served on the organizing committee of United States Wrestling Federation, which became USA Wrestling. He served on its board of directors from 1965 to 1980, including two terms as president. In 1976, he presided over the dedication of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and was USA Wrestling Man of the Year. Kraft also helped found the Mayor Daley Youth Foundation wrestling program, now the Wildcat Wrestling Club. In 1970, he directed the NCAA Championships at Northwestern. He was USA team leader to the 1971 World Championships. Kraft was the color commentator for wrestling at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics and spent many years as a wrestling commentator for ABC's Wide World of Sports, ESPN, Sports Channel and Fox Sports. He was instrumental in forming the Illinois Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and served as a member of its board for several years. National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum America's shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1976 to honor the sport of wrestling, preserve its history, recognize extraordinary individual achievements, and inspire future generations. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has museums in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo, Iowa. The Stillwater, Oklahoma, location reopened in June 2016 following a $3.8 million renovation while the Waterloo, Iowa, location reopened in March 2019 after undergoing a $1.4 million renovation. Both museums now feature interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks, as well as the opportunity to watch NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to present day. Stillwater also has the John T. Vaughan Hall of Honors where the greatest names in wrestling are recognized, including iconic granite plaques presented to Distinguished Members since the Hall of Fame opened in 1976. The museum has the largest collection of wrestling artifacts and memorabilia in the world, including the most collegiate and Olympic wrestling uniforms. Wrestling truly is for everyone and the diversity and accessibility of the sport continues to be highlighted through exhibits featuring females, African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans. There is also a library featuring historical documents, including NCAA guides and results, as well as books on the sport. For more information about the Hall of Fame, please visit www.NWHOF.org.