InterMat Staff

With more than 22 million people unemployed in the United States, skyrocketing personal debt, and little hope for immediate relief, the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been immediate and severe. This week the sporting world has started to come to grips with the reality that the economic losses of this pandemic will dramatically impact their community for the next 12-18 months, including a restriction of fans, elimination of seasons, and a general lack of funds. Nowhere are nerves more frayed than with non-revenue sports like wrestling, where funding is tight and the lack of institutional support is commonplace. In a move that may end up being evidence of a coming cull, this week the Group of 5 schools requested a four-year forgiveness from the NCAA on their general enrollment standards, including the minimum number of programs. The G5 schools include Fresno State, Wyoming, and Air Force in the Mountain West; Kent State, Buffalo, Ohio, and Central Michigan in the MAC; Navy in the AAC; and already-dropped Old Dominion in Conference USA. If passed by the NCAA each of these schools (save Navy) will be directly in the line of fire by athletic departments with mandates to curtail costs. The state of college athletics is trending poorly for the wrestling community, but what ideas are out there that can work on the institutional level and which ideas are out there that could preserve wrestling programs specifically? The No. 1 way to ensure that athletic departments remain intact is rational thinking about what things actually cost, where money is being saved, and to be reminded that with the development of a vaccine will come the end of the pandemic. The cost of a scholarship is the "free-market" value as determined by that school's administration. If out-of-state is $63,000 then the athletic department (at big schools) are meant to send a check for $63,000 to the school for the athlete. The real cost is of course much less since the only hard costs are room and board. What if those requirements were reduced or eliminated altogether? For example, the schools could ask for only the in-state amount of tuition from the athletic department or give one-year from paying. If in-state is $25K then a wrestling program could be off-the-hook for $400K. The university at-large is able to absorb these losses of revenue more easily since they have much larger operational budgets and are able to charge for online courses in the fall. The cost savings should go into providing tuition remissions, which is relatively simple to engineer and would provide incredible relief for programs who can then use that money to pay the other costs that aren't transferable or able to be eliminated, like salaries. The second quick fix is for schools to up the pull from their respective endowments from ~5% to 8%. The school draws 5% in years that it makes 10%, so it stands to reason that increasing the pull can in the short term be seen as a loan for the future. Surviving is the object of the game, not thriving. The third quick fix is the reduction of ancillary benefits for athletes, like study programs, specialized meal plans, equipment purchases, et. al. These are likely already happening alongside staff-wide reductions in salary, but it's worth a look especially for benefits provided to the major sports. The next set of options might not be as popular, but they could have a positive effect on the sport, namely reducing the number of scholarships in wrestling from 9.9 to 7.9. That cost savings would show good faith, minimize risk in a financially healthy environment, and would encourage more schools to adopt wrestling programs as they could become more competitive. Again the object is survival. However, the quickest and easiest solution to the funding problem in college athletics is to eliminate 15-20 scholarships from the football team. As with the above wrestling example, it would lighten the load for each school, create a more competitive landscape in their sport, and lessen the impact of a massive economic incident such as COVID-19. There is no real math behind 85 full scholarships on a football team, so why continue with the unsubstantiated inflated numbers? If you all have the same number of scholarships then nothing has really changed. This is a money problem, but it's exposing the larger cultural problem that college athletics has become about making money. There is so much more value in the experience including academic opportunities for those of a lower SES, introduction to classmates with vastly different personal experiences, expert-level insight into, well, being an expert. All these things (and more) have real value in a college community. If the system can't adapt from a one-year economic event, then was it ever really a system that was working for everyone? Or was this always just about sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcast revenue? I hope that the leaders of our sports institutions can see that there is something more to protect, and real actionable ways to achieve them before simply dropping sports. To your questions … Thomas Gilman topped Cuba's Reineri Andreu Ortega at the Pan Am Olympic Qualifier (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: What are your thoughts on Thomas Gilman's move to the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club? He downplayed the Spencer Lee angle, but how much do you think Lee factored into his decision? -- Mike C. Foley: While you have to take Gilman at his word, there is no way to divorce Spencer Lee from the decision to move. One spot, one club, one alumni base, and two athletes. I think that if Spencer Lee never shows up then Gilman stays, but I don't think it means his decision was based on avoiding Lee as much as it was giving himself clarity of mind and focus on his purpose. When you consider that the outcome of their match is uncertain (at least to me) then you also must realize it was a necessary for Gilman to have full and complete trust in the intentions of his coaches. I don't think for a moment that Brands + Co. would want anything but the best for Gilman, but even in steady seas an athlete can question the motives of a teammate or coach. In turbulent times that would likely be compounded. I wouldn't look at the situation as Gilman "running away." We should all be able to agree that he's not the type to be intimidated. He just needed a better environment and that the move for personal and professional reasons makes a lot of sense. Also, be reminded that the NLWC has arguably the best wrestling club outside of Dagestan with an abundance of Olympic and world medalists in the room. I'm a fan of both wrestlers and am glad that we can now have a less-awkward situation around their training and instead just watch a good ol' fashioned scrap. Q: If there is no NCAA football season, or if it's postponed, do you think that could cripple college wrestling? I would imagine most athletic departments will be really hurting and wrestling could be one of the first programs to go. -- Mike C. Foley: After an unprecedented stay-at-home effort, trillions of dollars spent in economic assistance, and more than 30,000 deaths in just eight weeks the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a costly and deadly setback for the world. There is an immense amount of grief, anger, frustration, and boredom. The world wants a distraction. I want a distraction. We all want something to discuss beside Tiger King, and something to do outside of video conference. Sports can fill that void, but we have to think about the cost. Until there is a vaccine no fans will be attending sporting events. There just isn't a way to guarantee they don't create a massive "biological bomb" like was seen in Italy after a Series A match. Packing 105,000 fans into the Big House would lead to a risk profile that is absolutely intolerable for a civilized nation to justify. There is a small chance that with incredible oversight, rigorous testing, and other controls that some sports would be allowed to be played without the presence of fans. Tennis and golf are quick to come to mind as examples of sports that would be first to return due to the natural social distancing. However, contact sports like football and wrestling will be far, far down the list of sports that can be reopened. In short, there will be no NCAA football season in 2020 and I'm doubtful there will be a wrestling season. Now, what will that mean for schools and their athletic funding? As I mentioned before there needs to be a wider discussion over the role of sport, who should take a haircut right now, and why. Without massive interventions by the NCAA to restrict the elimination of programs there will be a 10% reduction in the number of Division I wrestling programs in the next two years. This is a black swan event for which no athletic department was prepared to encounter and for which few have voiced or proposed logical solutions. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Gilman on his move Rivalry: Taha vs. Geno Women's wrestling highlight from Nur-Sultan World Championships Q: Did you see the back-and-forth between Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake? If so, did you think it was authentic? Or manufactured? -- Mike C. Foley: By nature, trash-talk is the choice to use uncommon language and conversational style to create discussion around your idea. The language can be inflammatory, controversial, or even just impolite in its directness. Burroughs has done this in the past with Ben Askren (who hosted the show) and has a knack for exploiting his opponent's sensitivities. Dake, on the other hand, wears trash-talking as well as I wear polka dots. It was awkward. I think that the jawing was mostly good-natured and might prove to be the type of competitive release both needed during the quarantine. We are all trying to learn new schools, explore new hobbies, and it's nice to see that athletes are taking advantage of the dead air to create some sparks. I would note, however, that this is not a sprint. Wrestling won't be back from quite some time and if there needs to be this media-first approach, I can be supportive of some friendly jostling among competitors. Q: A.C. Slater was offered a wrestling scholarship to Iowa in the episode that aired in October of 1992. Had Slater competed for the Hawkeyes (starting in 1993-94), how do you think his career would have gone? Seems like he had a style that could have done well in college. But would he have even cracked the lineup? These are the All-Americans in Slater's first two college years. 1993-94 Lincoln McIlravy (1st, 150) Jeff McGinness (5th, 126) Mike Mena (7th, 118) Joel Sharratt (1st, 190) Daryl Weber (6th, 142) Joe Williams (7th, 158) 1994-95 Ray Brinzer (3rd, 177) Mark Ironside (6th, 134) Jeff McGinness (1st, 126) Lincoln McIlravy (2nd, 150) Mike Mena (3rd, 118) Matt Nerem (6th, 167) Joel Sharratt (2nd, 190) Daryl Weber (6th, 158) Bill Zadick (5th, 142) -- Mike C. Foley: I think Daryl Weber and Bill Zadick need to be grateful that Slater didn't bring those curls to the Midwest and distribute a hearty helping of Hollywood whipass. On a Lighter Note By Ethan S. On a lighter note, Dollamur is currently sold out of home wrestling mats. Personally, I hope many of the kids using home mats are not getting kids to come over/disregarding social distancing, but instead kicking the [crap] out of their fathers who have been offering them armchair and unsolicited advice for years. Time for payback.

Andrew Sparks gets his hand raised after winning a California state title (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Andrew Sparks capped off an outstanding senior season at Calvary Chapel High School in California by claiming a title at the CIF State Wrestling Championships. Sparks defeated Cael Valencia (St. John Bosco), one of the nation's top wrestlers, in the state finals at 160 pounds. Sparks' run to the state title solidified him as one of the nation's top 160-pounders and caught the attention of many of the nation's top college wrestling programs. On April 6, Sparks announced his commitment to the University of Minnesota. InterMat recently caught up with the Gopher commit. What has life been like for you since being in quarantine during this pandemic? Sparks: It's been tough, especially for me because I wasn't able to take any recruiting trips to help me make my decision. Has it been difficult to train? Sparks: Yes it has. I've been doing what I can in my living room with the few weights I have. What was the college recruiting process like for you? Sparks: It was great. I had a lot of interest nearing the end of the season and after the season. It became a little stressful at the end, but I enjoyed it. Ultimately, what made the University of Minnesota the right fit for you? Sparks: I felt like the athletes' and coaches' personalities and character were a good fit for me. Also, I feel I fit right in with their style of wrestling. How would you describe your wrestling style? Sparks: I have an aggressive style. I'm always attacking and looking to score. You competed at 160 pounds this past season. What weight do you expect to wrestle in college? Sparks: I would like to wrestle at either 165 pounds or 174 pounds. Another one of California's top senior wrestlers, Aaron Nagao, signed with the University of Minnesota. What's your relationship like with him and have you two discussed being teammates at Minnesota? Sparks: Since our freshman year, Aaron has always been someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for as a wrestler and a person. Aaron reached out to me during the recruiting process and we got to know each other a little bit better. Although we haven't talked much or developed a close relationship yet, I am excited to be teammates with him and get to know him better. Joshua Holiday is a former wrestler from Calvary Chapel who went on to have a successful career at the University of Minnesota. Have you gotten to know him or talked to him about Minnesota? Sparks: Actually, I haven't talked with him at all. However, it's awesome that one of the great Calvary Chapel wrestlers also wrestled at the same university I will be wrestling for. You started wrestling relatively late, between eighth grade and ninth grade. What drew you to the sport? Sparks: I played soccer before, but I wanted to wrestle because I loved wrestling my brothers as a kid. I have always been a very competitive and aggressive person who loves to do challenging things, so wrestling fits me perfectly. You won a California state championship this year by beating one of the nation's top wrestlers, Cael Valencia. He had beaten you a couple times during the season and once in freestyle. What was the difference in the state finals? Sparks: I had a little different mindset and game plan going into the finals. Instead of cautiously waiting for his attacks so I could counter-attack, I focused on my attacks, my offense and my pace. You were under the radar nationally for most of this past season. Did you feel disrespected? Did it bother you that you were being overlooked by college wrestling coaches during the recruiting process? Sparks: I was very much under the radar up until the Doc B tournament where I placed third and lost to Valencia in the semifinals. Although Coach Dane Valdez has told me from the beginning of the year that I would eventually be noticed by big-time schools, I just trusted the process and believed that I was the best 160-pounder in the country. To answer your question, I didn't feel disrespected because there was nothing I really did before my senior year to get nationally noticed by big universities. You obviously made a big jump in your wrestling from your junior year when you failed to place at the state tournament to winning a state title in your senior year. In what area of your wrestling have you improved upon the most in the last year? Sparks: I would say my biggest improvement has been my mindset going into my matches. Before, I would let the pressures of performing and other things get to my head which affected the way I wrestled. This year I was able to look at each match as another opportunity to have fun, score points, learn, and showcase my skills and the hard work I have put in the wrestling room. When you look ahead to college wrestling, in what area do you think you need to make the biggest gains? Sparks: I need to get better at breaking guys out of position, as well as finishing my shots faster and more efficiently. I also need to work on exploding off the whistle faster with better position and hand control. Have you discussed with the Minnesota coaches whether you will redshirt your first year or compete for a spot in the lineup? Sparks: Yes, I think it would be best if I redshirt and get an extra year to improve. This story also appears in the April 17 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. Subscribe to The Guillotine.

High school wrestler, then coach. Director of the Colorado High School Coaches Association. National Wrestling Hall of Fame honoree. President of the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. All of these accomplishments -- and more -- describe Arnold Torgerson Jr. The man affectionately known as "Tommy", "Coach" and "Torgy" passed away on April 6, 2020 at his home in Fort Collins, Colo. He was 88. Arnold Torgerson Jr.Torgerson's obituary sketches out his nearly nine-decade life in terms of major milestones. Born in Denver on November 20, 1931, Torgerson graduated from South Denver High School (where he was a state runner-up at the Colorado state wrestling tournament), then earned his Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics at the University of Colorado, followed by his Master's at Colorado State. Torgerson then crafted a three-decade-long career as teacher and coach, first at Delta High School from 1950 to 1957, then at Fort Collins High School from 1957 to 1987. He served as Director of the Colorado High School Coaches Association and Director of the Colorado All-State Games from 1987-2003. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003 for Lifetime Achievement, and served as President of the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. All that is the stuff of resumes. Those who knew "Torgy" shared their memories with the Fort Collins Coloradoan. "We lost an icon," friend and former wrestling pupil Dan Gonzales said about the man who was a major figure at the Colorado state wrestling tournament for decades, and still actively involved in a tournament that bears his name during the 2019-2020 season. "He lived and breathed wrestling year 'round," according to current Fort Collins High School wrestling coach Mark Moser. (Even though he couldn't swim, "Torgy" was drafted to launch a swimming program at one school ... and served as the first-ever coach for gymnastics at two other schools.) "He treated everybody so well and everybody respected him so much. He's the type of guy that once you had a connection with him it was for life," said Jim Opperman. "Just a great man. I feel lucky to have had him in my life." As per his wishes, Torgerson will be cremated. A memorial celebration of his life will be scheduled at a future date. In lieu of flowers, a future donation to a proposed Arnold Torgerson memorial scholarship fund would be appreciated. Condolences may be shared at the funeral home website.

OKWU has named Tom Carr to lead the wrestling program following his five-year tenure at Central Christian College. In April 2015, Central Christian College made the decision to add the sport of wrestling and named Tom Carr as the head wrestling coach. In the years since, Carr has laid the foundation for a program that celebrates Christ, both through the athletes' dedication on and off the mat and their dedication to the community the college serves. In the five years Carr has been at the helm for the Tigers, his wrestlers have shown consistent growth in the classroom and on the mat. During his first year as the Tigers' head coach, Carr led Devontae Fitzgerald to become the first Tiger athlete to compete at an NAIA tournament, and he has placed eight athletes at the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament since its inception. Carr has an impressive resume in the 12 years since he graduated from Muskingum. He got his start in the coaching profession at Land O'Lakes High School in Florida. There, he served as head coach of a 35-person team that had three state qualifiers, one state champion, and three AAU All-Americans. From there, he moved on to become an assistant coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa. He spent a year at Central College and then took a position as an administrative assistant with the wrestling program at Michigan State. After two years with the Spartans, Carr became a full-time assistant at NCAA Division I Bucknell University. At Bucknell, Carr guided five nationally ranked wrestlers, three All-American finishers, and six NCAA Division I qualifiers. After a three-year stint with the Bison, he was hired as an assistant coach at Minot State University, a NCAA Division II school in Minot, North Dakota, where he helped start a program from scratch. During his time with the Beavers, Carr earned a spot at the National Wrestling Coaches Association and with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Academy. In 2013, Carr joined the George Mason wrestling staff as an assistant, and coached there for four seasons. While at Mason, Carr coached Four NCAA Qualifiers and was responsible for Heavyweight Jake Kettler. George Mason hosted the NWCA All-Star Classic, won ten matches, and defeated a Big Ten program for the first time in program history. A graduate of Muskingum College, Carr is a native of Tampa, Florida. In his free time, Carr enjoys traveling and reading.

Kurt Angle after winning a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta (Photo/Photo/Michel Lipchitz, AP) Kurt Angle, two-time NCAA heavyweight champ and 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning freestyle wrestler who later became a long-time fixture in professional wrestling, was among those released by the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Wednesday, according to multiple media reports. Here's how ESPN.com opened its news story concerning layoffs: "WWE, one of the few sports organizations still operating during the coronavirus pandemic, announced Wednesday that it was furloughing a portion of its workforce and releasing on-screen talent. Among the more high-profile names let go were former world champion Kurt Angle…" Angle has been retired from in-ring competition since WrestleMania 35 one year ago. He has made sporadic appearances on WWE television programs since. Prior to launching his pro wrestling career, Kurt Steven Angle crafted a highly successful career in amateur wrestling, as a high school, college and international champion. A native of the Pittsburgh area, Angle was a three-time PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) state tournament qualifier, placing third in the state championships as a junior, and winning the state title as a senior in 1987. Angle continued his folkstyle wrestling career in-state at Clarion University, where he was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American, winning heavyweight (285-pound) titles in 1990 and 1992, placing second in 1991. After college, Angle focused on his freestyle wrestling career, winning a gold medal in the 100-kilogram (220-pound) weight class at the 1995 World Championships in Atlanta. One year later, in the same city, Angle earned gold in the same weight class at the 1996 Olympics. Angle was welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. as a Distinguished Member for his amateur wrestling accomplishments in 2001.

Jan Maynard, two-time Ohio state champion wrestler and father of amateur wrestling star and mixed martial arts star Gray Maynard, passed away on March 24 in Las Vegas. He was 74. Jan Maynard with son Gray MaynardBorn October 10, 1945, Jan Maynard made a name for himself in wrestling at Cleveland South High School in the early 1960s. He earned back-to-back Ohio high school state championships, winning the 103-pound title in 1962 ... then, claiming the 112-pound crown in 1963. That same year, Jan Maynard was co-captain of the wrestling team at Cleveland South. In October 2019, Jan Maynard was welcomed as an inaugural member of the Sports Legends of Cleveland Metropolitan School District. He was presented with a certificate reading in part, "It is my pleasure to present this Certificate of Recognition to Mr. Jan Maynard ... for outstanding achievements in Wrestling. I commend Jan Maynard on his induction into the Cleveland Metropolitan School District Hall of Fame ..." That same month on Facebook, Gray Maynard stated his pride of his father and his accomplishments: Gray Maynard accomplished much in his amateur wrestling career and as a professional MMA fighter. He grew up in Las Vegas, then transferred to national mat powerhouse St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio outside Cleveland, where he was a two-time state finalist, winning an Ohio state title in 1998 at 152 pounds. Gray Maynard then headed north to wrestle at Michigan State University, where he was a three-time NCAA All-American, tallying 106 wins. He then launched his MMA career in 2008, compiling a record of 13-7 in a decade-long career.

Cody Hughes, a three-sport athlete in high school who later served as a wrestling coach in two Florida schools, died Monday at age 32. Cause of death was not disclosed. Cody HughesHughes served as head wrestling coach at Sarasota High School, and before that, was an assistant to Andy Gugliemini at Manatee High. Gugliemini told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, "That's terrible news. I'm sad. We always had a good relationship," having been Hughes' teacher at Haile Middle School. "I hired him a few years ago when he was at Manatee. He helped get a ton of kids on the mats, many of whom are still with the program now. He did a great job." "I was sad to see him go to Sarasota." Prior to becoming a coach, Hughes played football, was on the weightlifting team and was on the track and field team for the Lakewood Ranch High School Mustangs. Hughes went on to play football at Western Kentucky University, where he spent time on the Hilltoppers' scout team before earning a spot as the starting center. After graduating from the Bowling Green, Ky. school, Hughes returned to the Sarasota area, coaching football at Saint Stephen's Episcopal, Manatee High and Sarasota High. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

The Virtual NCAA Bracket from the 1980s has been released and Chad Dennis and Jason Laflin will go weight-by-weight to talk about this virtual tournament being run via FloArena and as part of the Legends of NCAA Wrestling Facebook Group and the MatBoss Podcast. The MatBoss Podcast is also sponsored by Barbarian Apparel. About MatBoss: Created by coaches for coaches, MatBoss for iPad® integrates wrestling stats directly into the video you record for each match, completely replacing the need for labor-intensive pencil and paper scoring systems. It's the wrestling stats app our sport has been waiting for. Focus on coaching, not busy work Improve through video analysis Make data an advantage Eliminate scoring errors Increase exposure Become a digital coach For more information, visit MatBossApp.com. Follow MatBoss on Twitter and subscribe to the show @MatBossApp | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Podcasts | RSS

CMU's Tom Borrelli, along with NIU's Ryan Ludwig, were named MAC Co-Coaches of the Year (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference announced today the wrestling postseason awards for the 2020 season. Sharing the honor as MAC Coach of the Year is Central Michigan's Tom Borrelli and NIU's Ryan Ludwig as Co-Coaches of the Year. Central Michigan junior Matt Stencel was named MAC Wrestler of the Year and NIU's Izzak Olejnik was named MAC Freshman of the Year. The awards were voted on by the Conference's 15 head wrestling coaches. In his 29th year at Central Michigan, Borrelli led the Chippewas to a runner-up finish at the MAC Championships and an 8-4 overall, 7-2 MAC, dual-meet record. Three of Borrelli's charges won individual MAC titles, including Dresden Simon at 141 pounds, who was named the MAC Championship Outstanding Wrestler Award. Central Michigan was the only MAC program with more than one MAC Champion. Six Chippewas earned a berth in the NCAA Championships, which ranked second in the MAC among the 15 league teams only behind Missouri's eight selections. Borrelli has amassed a 337-155-7 dual-meet record in 29 years at Central Michigan. His 337 Division I dual-meet victories are second to Oklahoma State's John Smith among active coaches and currently ranks 17th in NCAA history. NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig guided the Huskies to one of their most successful seasons as NIU amassed 13 wins on the season, the most by a Huskie wrestling team since 2004-05. The Huskies saw four of their wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships and had its first MAC champion since 2013, as Brit Wilson defeated Dylan Wisman of Missouri for the 184 pound championship. The eighth-year Huskie head man led NIU to a third-place finish at the 2020 MAC Wrestling Championships, its best since 2009 when the league featured just six wrestling teams. Ludwig is the first Huskie head coach to earn MAC Coach of the Year since his mentor, Dave Grant in 2002. Central Michigan junior Matt Stencel won his third-consecutive MAC title at 285 pounds to cap a 30-4 season. He also qualified for the NCAA Championships for the third-straight year. Stencel finished 11-1 in duals, including 9-0 in MAC duals, and posted victories by pin, tying for second in the nation in that category. A native of Oregon, Ohio, Stencel was ranked fourth nationally, closed the season on a 13-match win streak and won 19 of his final 20 matches of the season. NIU redshirt freshman Izzak Olejnik turned in an impressive campaign wrestling at 165 pounds. Olejnik wrestled to a 19-10 overall record, including a 7-2 ledger in the MAC. He finished second at the 2020 MAC Championships, earning a bid to the NCAA Championships. Olejnik went 3-0 in matches decided by major decision and 3-1 in bouts decided by pin. A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Olejnik's biggest victory of the season came against Buffalo's Tory Keller in the Conference regular season finale, defeating the NCAA qualifier 5-3 in overtime. Olejnik won eight of his last nine matches on the season, with his only loss coming in the rematch with Keller in the MAC Championships.

Dan Dennis defeated Tony Ramos to earn a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlesAreWarriors.com) Olympian Dan Dennis is returning to Iowa City to become the Hawkeye Wrestling Club's head coach. He replaces another former Hawkeye, Mark Perry, who recently left the position. "Dan Dennis ranks high as a coach," Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands said in a press release. "He ranks high as a Hawkeye. And he ranks high in our locker room. He is the best choice for a lot of reasons starting with his popularity among our HWC athletes. There is always excitement with a new hire and there is a little more pizazz with this one. Dan Dennis is coming back to Iowa and we are fired up." Dennis has served as the head coach of RTC South in Chattanooga, Tennessee, since 2018. "To say I am excited to return to Iowa City and train with the best men and women in the world would be an understatement," Dennis said. "The Hawkeye Wrestling Club gave me opportunities I never would have otherwise experienced, and that support is stronger today than it has ever been. The men and women in the room are incredible. I know how they operate professionally, and I can't wait to get to know them personally. I can tell you right now we are all lock-step with what is next. The Olympics are 15 months away and we will be ready to go." Dennis, an Illinois native, represented the United States at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He has been a U.S. Open champion, U.S. World Team Trials finalist, Grand Prix of Germany champion, as well as a two-time NCAA All-American and NCAA finalist for the Hawkeyes. In September, Dennis was a guest on The MatBoss Podcast. Listen to the interview below.

Jordan Burroughs dressed up as the Easter Bunny and helped brighten the day of neighborhood families in this difficult time Gold medalist in men's freestyle, at the 2012 Olympics. Four-time world champion. Two-time NCAA champ. Now Jordan Burroughs can add yet another role to his already impressive accomplishments: Easter Bunny. The legendary 31-year-old New Jersey native traded in his wrestling singlet for the fluffy-furred, floppy-eared seasonal character to surprise and delight his neighbors in Lincoln, Neb., according to KLKN-TV Monday. Burroughs shared his experience on Instagram: When he's not helping the Easter Bunny with his appointed rounds, Burroughs is training in Lincoln with University of Nebraska wrestling coach Mark Manning, hoping to wrestle for the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics next year. As a Husker, Burroughs was a three-time Big 12 conference champ, three-time NCAA All-American and twice an NCAA titlewinner, concluding his collegiate mat career at Nebraska with the Dan Hodge Trophy -- presented each year to the nation's top college wrestler -- in 2011. Burroughs then moved on to international freestyle competition, winning four world championships and the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics at 74 kilograms/163 pounds.

Imagine a 10-year-old being a member of a college wrestling team, working out with teammates twice his age. Meet Samuel Sedelbauer, who just completed his first season with the wrestling program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Despite being a fourth grader, Samuel signed a letter of intent with the Blugold wrestling program in a special ceremony last fall. When he's not in school, he joins his teammates at UW-EC for workouts and dual meets, then returns to his home in Hixson, Wis. where he lives with his parents and older brother William. Is Samuel a wrestling superstar with mat talent well beyond his age? There's more to the story ... Samuel's story Five years ago, Samuel Sedelbauer was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This very rare disease -- which causes muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue -- affects just one in 3,500 male infants. Samuel Sedelbauer at UW-Eau Claire signing ceremony"We noticed his gross motor skills were behind what most kids," Samuel's father, Gary Sedelbauer, told WEAU-TV in Eau Claire, Wis. "We did a simple test when he was five years old, which diagnosed him with Duchenne muscular dystrophy." In seeking information to help them care for their son, the Sedelbauers learned of an organization -- Team IMPACT -- that brings together kids diagnosed with serious medical conditions (like Duchenne muscular dystrophy) ... and college athletic programs. That's how Samuel became a member of the UW-Eau Claire wresting team. "Team IMPACT connects children battling serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes," according to the Massachusetts-based organization's website. The website continues, "Through our program, a child battling illness becomes an official member of a college athletic team, attending practices, games, team dinners and more -- where they serve not only as teammates, but as inspiration." The wrestling coach weighs in ... Tim Fader, head wrestling coach at UW-Eau Claire, shared the story of how the Blugold mat program got involved, starting back in May 2019. "A Team IMPACT case worker came to us and showed examples of kids participating in various sports -- lacrosse, basketball, for instance," Fader told InterMat. Samuel Sedelbauer with his brother William"They had a person in mind in our area -- Samuel. His parents had told us that he and his brother like to tussle at home. We met him in person, and the team immediately took to him." Fader realized that the ultimate decision and the work involved would have to come from his athletes. "If it was going to be successful, it had to be something that the wrestlers thought was important," Fader said in a feature story produced by the university's sports media department. "There was unanimous approval, and we formed the Team IMPACT group of nine wrestlers who would put their energy into making it happen." The Blugold wrestling program made Samuel feel like a Blugold mat star right from the start. "Back in October 2019, we hosted some welcoming activities for Samuel and his family," Fader told InterMat. "We even conducted a 'media day' event, complete with all the elements you'd expect to see at a traditional signing day to welcome a new athlete to the school." Samuel and the Blugolds: a winning match During the past season, Samuel made great contributions to the Blugold program in the wrestling room ... and beyond. "He comes to our meets," according to Fader. "He's our honorary team captain. Offers water and Gatorade to our wrestlers after their matches. Win or lose, he has a great attitude." "He has a humongous smile. It's impossible for our guys to be in a bad mood when Samuel is around." "I'm really proud of our wrestlers and their acceptance," Coach Fader said. "It not only benefits Samuel and his family, but also our program." Regional Team IMPACT case manager Molly Lane concurred with coach Fader's sentiments, saying that the UW-Eau Claire team coordinators came up with a good schedule for interacting with Samuel that seems to be working out well. "Samuel was a little shy at first, but over time has embraced his role on the team," Lane said in a statement about the Blugold wrestling/Team IMPACT partnership. "They have incorporated Samuel into their practices by choosing fun warm-up activities for him to participate in, including playing musical chairs." (Not to mention spirited dodgeball games.) "Samuel's family has fully committed to the team as well, attending practices and as many matches as they can. The family also has welcomed the team as a part of their family, inviting the team to go sledding at their home." Speaking for the Sedelbauers ... Samuel's father Gary offered his opinion of the program: "It's a really neat experience getting to know these guys. They're just the salt of the earth, every one of these guys. And they are like big brothers to Samuel." One of Samuel's "big brothers" is Blugold freshman wrestler Chase Melton, who joined the UW-Eau Claire wrestling program at the same time as Samuel. "He gives you a different perspective I guess on wrestling and life," Melton told WEAU-TV. "He just brings such a positive energy and atmosphere. You could be having a tough day at school or something like that, but then to see Sammy kind of brightens up your day. The smile he has just makes you want to smile and go through practice. I don't know, a lot more joy and enthusiasm." Tim Fader -- who has been at the helm of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling program for five years -- can't say enough good things about the Blugolds' partnership with Team IMPACT. "It benefits Samuel, his family, and our program. I can't recommend this program enough. I hope a lot of other wrestling programs take advantage of this opportunity." The 411 on Team IMPACT Kiernan McGeehan of Team IMPACT told InterMat that the organization works with colleges of all types and sizes, in 49 of 50 states. McGeehan offers a unique perspective on the organization ... now as a case manager with Team IMPACT, and prior to that, as a college student-athlete. "Student-athletes can see the value of the program," McGeehan told InterMat. "I was involved in the Team IMPACT program as a member of the swim team at Xavier University in Cincinnati." "Coach approached me and three other members of the team as seniors. It was an incredible experience for all of us who were involved." "A staff of case managers at Team IMPACT help foster the partnership between the family, the young person, the sports program, and the school," McGeehan continued. "It's a two-year, two-season program that incorporates the high points of a collegiate sports career, from the signing of a letter of intent, to the conclusion of their participation at the school with special activities, such as a team banquet, senior awards ceremony, or a pizza party." McGeehan explained that those who seek to be involved in the program can get the ball rolling, so to speak: Families can apply to participate by contacting Team IMPACT ... or college sports programs can reach out to Team IMPACT to let them know they would like to sponsor a young person in need. In some cases -- such as UW-Eau Claire -- it was a result of separate efforts that came together. For example, in the case of Samuel, his family reached out to Team IMPACT ... while, on another path, the Blugold women's gymnastics program had contacted the organization, seeking to sponsor a youngster. "We were aware that the Sedelbauers had reached out to Team IMPACT," according to McGeehan. "The family lives not very far from Eau Claire. We also knew that the school's gymnastics program was wanting to get involved in the program. In speaking to the gymnastics coach, we shared the Sedelbauers's situation. She thought the wrestling program would be interested. "It's common to have multiple matches at a single college. It's a great way for a college athletic program to demonstrate that it is active within the community." "We all know what it means to feel isolated at some point of our lives," McGeehan said. "Team IMPACT can help young people overcome social isolation that can be a result of battling serious or chronic illnesses, thanks to being involved with a college sports team. For example, the draft day signing ceremony -- a staple element of welcoming individuals to the program -- helps the participants feel a part of something positive. And student-athletes immediately see the value of participating in the program." Check out two-minute video about Samuel and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team. Want to know more ... … about Team IMPACT? Visit their official Team IMPACT website (which includes contact information) … Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?

Nick Piccininni (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Where do Cowboy wrestlers go once their collegiate mat careers have concluded? Apparently into mixed martial arts. Oklahoma State's Nick Piccininni has announced that he has signed with Zinkin MMA and will train at the American Kickboxing Academy, following in the footsteps of fellow former Cowboy mat stars Daniel Cormier, Kyle Crutcher, and

Victor Voinovich (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Junior National freestyle runner-up Victor Voinovich (Brecksville, Ohio) verbally committed to Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon. The No. 14 overall wrestler in the Class of 2021 is also a two-time state placer, having won a state title as a freshman in 2018, and was projected to win a state title last month before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the Ohio State Wrestling Tournament. This past season, Voinovich was a runner-up at the Walsh Ironman and Brecksville Holiday tournaments, along with placing fifth at the Beast of the East. He finished the 2019-20 season ranked eighth nationally at 145 pounds. Voinovich joins Travis Mastrogiovanni (Blair Academy, N.J.) and Kyle Haas (Maize, Kansas) as top 15 overall commits for Oklahoma State in the current junior class. No. 56 Teague Travis (Father Tolton Catholic, Mo.) has also committed to the Cowboys for 2021 recruiting.

Tony Ferguson and Jason Gaethje were supposed to headline UFC 249, which has now been postponed UFC 249 -- featuring a main event featuring two former wrestlers, Tony Ferguson and Jason Gaethje -- has been postponed, the mixed martial arts organization has announced. Here is the text of the announcement at the official MMA website: "While the organization was fully prepared to proceed with UFC 249, ESPN has requested the postponement of the event and subsequent bouts until further notice in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. UFC looks forward to resuming the full live events schedule as soon as possible." The event had originally scheduled as a pay-per-view for ESPN for Saturday, April 18. The location had not been announced. Since the Ferguson-Gaethje headline bout for the interim lightweight (155-pound) title was announced Monday, there's been much speculation as to how the event could take place during the present coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, where sporting events are being canceled or postponed, including the 2020 NCAA wrestling championships, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The UFC was forced to postpone three events, on March 21, March 28 and April 11, because of the coronavirus, according to ESPN.com. "All of my fighters that are under contract with me, I want them to feel safe, take time with your families and enjoy this time," UFC president Dana White said Thursday. "Don't worry about the financial part of this. You're gonna get the fights in your contract, and I'm gonna make things right with the people who were willing to step up and fight next weekend on April 18. "And I'm gonna take care of as many people as I possibly can and do whatever it takes to make these guys all feel comfortable."

Thomas Gilman warming up for the Pan American Olympic Qualifier (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Thomas Gilman has found a new home to chase his Olympic dreams. Gilman, one of the nation's top 57-kilogram freestyle wrestlers, announced Friday on Twitter that he is leaving Iowa City and heading to State College to join the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. Gilman arrived at Iowa in 2012. He went on to become a three-time All-American for the Hawkeyes before embarking on his international wrestling career. After finishing second at the 2017 World Championships in Paris, Gilman placed fifth in the world the following year in Budapest. Last year, Gilman fell short of making the U.S. team when he lost to Daton Fix at Final X. Gilman has had a strong year on the mat. In January, he won gold at the Matteo Pellicone, a United World Wrestling rankings event in Rome, Italy. Two months later, Gilman qualified the United States for the Tokyo Olympics at 57 kilograms by winning the Pan American Qualifier in Ottawa, Canada.

Old Dominion's wrestling room (Photo/Old Dominion Athletics) Old Dominion announced last Thursday night that they would be eliminating wrestling as a varsity sport, effective immediately. Initial justification for the cut was focused on expected budget shortfall due to COVID-19, but later documentation also showed the school had hired consultants who pointed to the sport's "decreasing" national reach as further justification. If you want to follow the daily updates on the elimination, the school's abysmal rollout/response, and insight into what could be done to find reinstatement you should follow Jason Bryant on Twitter. He's a graduate of the school and has long been one of their most vocal cheerleaders. He's prepared to bring the heat. At the macro level there is a lot to discuss about Old Dominion's choice to eliminate wrestling that might instruct what may happen over the next few months. Right now, we know that the economy at-large will be depressed for the next 6-12 months. Total jobless claims are roughly 16.5 million with an expected undercount of several million because of closed offices, backup in open offices, and undocumented workers who cannot file. The effective unemployment is something like 11% and even with a $1200 check and some weekly unemployment boosts it's likely that spending will be down for a while due to fear of the virus. Even if you're bullish on the market whipsawing back into place as testing increases and people return to work, the process will take a while and it will cost a lot of jobs. How does this all affect wrestling? First, there will be less money donated to each individual NCAA program. With salary reductions the amount of disposable income will decrease significantly. Second, the kick-off from endowments will be down significantly, some even returning 0%. Third, there will be less institutional support due to a lack of money from TV deals lost to the virus in March/April, and the likely elimination of football revenue (TV, tickets, merchandise). In all the elimination of the ODU program may prove to be a death knell event for non-revenue NCAA sports at the Division I level. And when you look at wrestling itself, the damage could be multiplied by a decrease in long term interest due to a "proximity bias" likely to evolve from this crisis. Social distancing will become more than a buzzword -- it will absolutely guide everything from the capacity of restaurants to corporations, and the sports world won't be spared. In the new normal, parents are going to be discouraged from allowing their children to wrestle given the higher likelihood of viral transmission between practice partners and competitors. We've all been at tournaments, or on teams, where herpes and impetigo have spread rapidly and uncontrolled. With a virus as deadly as COVID-19 the risk to the athlete (and the parents) will need to be totally mitigated before there is a total elimination of doubt. Even then, I'm doubtful there will be a full and immediate embrace of close contact sports at the scholastic level. There will be more losses at all levels. The growth we've experienced at the Division II, III, NAIA and junior college level will be somewhat insulated since they are enrollment-based schools able to make money off the programs they hire. However, the Division I level will be affected, sometimes in very visible ways like the elimination of programs, some in less visible ways like budget cuts, and finally in obscure ways like when an administration thinking of adding a team has to scuttle that notion because of the pandemic. I want to save Old Dominion and I want to see the at-risk programs preserved. So far my wife and I are still employed and are still scheduled for normal donations, but I'd be lying if I told you that there weren't fears of how this will all end up. Nobody knows. The stock market is all treasury money and speculation, the jobless numbers are awful but could completely rebound, the federal government has stopped supported testing (but states haven't). There is just no clear vision of what tomorrow will bring, much less October and the start of the collegiate season. The best we can do is keep these programs in our mind and dispatch to as many alumni as we can that the time to support is now. The time to write a nice letter to the AD is now. The time to make any gesture you can in support of a collegiate program or at-risk program is now. Also, the time to innovate is now. You might not be able to create a vaccine, but in this time you can come up with solutions to issues in our community around any number of topics regarding the sport's vulnerabilities. Improved approaches to funding, increasing attendance, decreasing liabilities … literally anything and everything. Send me an email or leave a comment below, I think a community brainstorming session can bring out some ideas that have a chance for top-level implementation and a real chance to positively impact the direction of our sport during this crisis. Multimedia Stay Strong, Stay Home Stay Strong, Stay Home 2 An interview with Abdulrashid Sadulaev Awesome throwback match

Frank Molinaro at the 2019 U.S. Open (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State head wrestling coach Zeke Jones announced the addition of former four-time All-American and 2016 Olympian Frank Molinaro to the coaching staff on Thursday. "Frank Molinaro is an outstanding addition to our staff and will now leave his mark by adding to the history and tradition of Sun Devil Wrestling," Head coach Zeke Jones said. "As an NCAA, Pan Am, and World Cup Champion, and one who also represented his country on the 2016 US Olympic team - he has competed at the highest level and will share those experiences. He also has a considerable track record as an assistant coach. We look forward to watching him guide our team." Most recently, Molinaro trained with Oklahoma RTC to prepare for a chance at making it back on Team USA's roster for the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo before the Olympic Committee announced postponement of the games to 2021. Now, he hangs up his wrestling shoes and will make his way back into coaching with the Sun Devils after previously working as an assistant coach with Virginia Tech in 2017-2018. In Rio, he would wrestle his way to the quarterfinals where he would fall to eventual silver medalist Toghrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan. He finished his Olympic run winning five of six matches to claim fifth place at 65 kilograms for Team USA's men's freestyle team. During his collegiate wrestling career at Penn State, he won an NCAA Championship at 149 lbs. in his final season with the Nittany Lions, capping off a perfect 33-0 record. He ended his college wrestling career as a four-time NCAA Division l All-American, a two-time NCAA finalist, and a two-time Big Ten Champion. He became just the fifth four-time All-American in Penn State's history. Molinaro graduated from Penn State with a degree in criminal justice while also minoring in kinesiology and business. He and his wife, Kera have three sons, Kason, Frank Jr., and Weston. Both of his wife's parents graduated from ASU, including her father, Kerry Bolen, who most notably wrestled under Hall of Fame head coach Bobby Douglas. "This has always been my dream job since I was a kid. If someday I can pick a place where I can live and settle down to coach wrestling, it's Arizona State. I'm chomping at the bit to get to work and make some progress."

MANHEIM, Pa. -- The National Wrestling Coaches Association has announced the 2020 Division II All-American teams. Each year the NWCA recognizes the outstanding work of the DII Student-athletes by naming the All-Americans based on their achievements in the national championship, however, this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic the championships were canceled. All-American honors were based on each wrestler's overall body of work through the super-regional tournaments and up to the national championships. Division II All-Americans "With the cancellation of the national tournament the NWCA Division II leadership group thought it was still very appropriate to name All-Americans this year. The leadership group did a great job of weighing different options and polling the membership. We are happy that we can make the most out of an incredibly unfortunate situation. Although this is not the same as having a national tournament, these individuals should be recognized for their amazing season results and super-regional tournaments. Congratulations to the 2020 All-Americans and National Qualifiers. " -- Jason Warthan, NWCA Division II President & University of Indianapolis Head Coach ABOUT THE NWCA  The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, Student-Athlete Welfare, and the Promotion of Wrestling.

A group of women's college wrestling coaches and administrators from two-year universities held a historic meeting with members of the USA Wrestling staff on Wednesday, Feb. 26, to begin planning to launch a Community College Women's Wrestling National Championships in 2021. With the rapid growth of women's college wrestling, as well as the development of specific national tournaments for NCAA and NAIA women's programs, these leaders have agreed to organize a women's national championships in freestyle wrestling for community college teams and athletes next year. They asked USA Wrestling to organize a conference call to being work on this project. The plan which was developed in the meeting is to finalize a date and location for this first national competition, tentatively targeted for February 2021. Teams and individual athletes from any community college will be invited to participate, regardless of what national or regional sports organization oversees their school's sports program. Those teams invited will include community college programs affiliated with the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC), the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA), the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and others, as well as wrestling-related college organizations including the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA). In addition to organized teams, community college women student-athletes who wrestle on a men's college team or club will also be invited to participate and challenge themselves against other community college women wrestlers. The group is committed to hosting this event in freestyle wrestling, which is the style that has been approved and is being contested by the NCAA and the NAIA teams. Freestyle wrestling has been the style used in women's college wrestling since its creation in the 1990's. By competing in the same style as the major four-year colleges conduct their women's wrestling program, this will provide even better opportunities for the community college student-athletes to attend a four-year institution after their career is over at the community college level. The participants in the group would like to see multi-organizational competitions, such as the current WCWA Nationals, continue to provide opportunities for their teams and athletes. However, the creation of a specific community college national tournament is important for the improvement of the current programs, a year-end national competition for them to focus on as well as a way to showcase women's wrestling and encourage other community colleges to start teams. Additional meetings will be scheduled, and others who wish to be part of the organization process are welcome. Any community college administrator, coach or athlete who is interested in participating in this championships or wish more information on creating a community college women's wrestling program can contact Craig Jackson, Director of Athletics at Umpqua CC at craig.jackson@umpqua.edu Media inquiries on this project should come to Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at gabbott@usawrestling.org

With no wrestling, Episode 52 features Chad Dennis and his assistant coaches from Harrison High School in Ohio will chat some wrestling. Join Dennis and Chris Baird and Eric Meyer as they talk all things wrestling in the current climate. About MatBoss: Created by coaches for coaches, MatBoss for iPad® integrates wrestling stats directly into the video you record for each match, completely replacing the need for labor-intensive pencil and paper scoring systems. It's the wrestling stats app our sport has been waiting for. Focus on coaching, not busy work Improve through video analysis Make data an advantage Eliminate scoring errors Increase exposure Become a digital coach For more information, visit MatBossApp.com. Follow MatBoss on Twitter and subscribe to the show @MatBossApp | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Podcasts | RSS

Luke Pletcher wrestling against Northwestern's Alec McKenna on Feb. 9 (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) PITTSBURGH -- University of Pittsburgh head wrestling coach Keith Gavin announced the addition of two-time All-American Luke Pletcher to the staff as the volunteer assistant coach. "We couldn't be more excited about Luke joining our staff," Gavin said. "He is obviously a very skilled and accomplished wrestler, but on top of that, I have always respected him for his approach to the sport, the way he competes and his character. Luke is from Western Pennsylvania and is a great overall fit for us. He will have an immediate impact here." Pletcher will join the staff following his graduation from the Ohio State University this spring. "I'm really excited to join the team and start working with the guys," Pletcher said. "Getting a chance to come back home to chase my Olympic dreams and help the guys on the team attain their goals was something that I couldn't pass up." A native of Latrobe, Pa., Pletcher spent four seasons as a Buckeye, reaching All-American status in 2018 and 2019 and was a four-time NCAA qualifier. The 141-pounder earned his first Big Ten title this season after reaching the finals as a sophomore and junior. Pletcher was hoping to earn All-America status one last time this season, as he would've been the No. 1 seed at 141 pounds at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. He finished his senior campaign with a 26-1 record and leaves Ohio State with a 108-21 career record. During his time at Greater Latrobe High School, Pletcher was a three-time PIAA state champion, consensus top-10 ranked recruit and two-time Super 32 champion. Beyond his role as the volunteer assistant, Pletcher will join the Pittsburgh Wrestling Club Training Center while preparing for Olympic and World goals.

Tom Brands coaching Alex Marinelli in Iowa's dual against Ohio State (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The National Wrestling Coaches Association announced Wednesday that University of Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands has been named 2020 NWCA National Coach of the Year. The NWCA coaching honor is the second of Brands' career. He first won the award in 2008 following Iowa's national championship. The 2020 Hawkeyes were favored to win their fourth NCAA title under Brands. Iowa entered the 2020 NCAA Championships with three top seeds, including Hodge Trophy winner Spencer Lee, nine wrestlers seeded eighth or better, and another seeded 11th. A team title would have been the 24th in program history. The Hawkeyes were ranked at the top of every national poll this season, posting a 13-0 dual record and 9-0 Big Ten Conference record. The Hawkeyes won the 2020 Big Ten Championships, crowing three individual champions and scoring 157.5 points, its highest total since 1995. Brands was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, and Lee was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. The NWCA honor is Brands' second coach of the year award this season. He was also named 2020 InterMat Coach of the Year.

It is with great sadness that the Edinboro University Athletic Department sends its condolences to the family of Shaun Shapert. A former wrestler at Edinboro, Shapert's body was found on a hillside in Shaler Township, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh, on Monday night. He had turned 42 on Jan. 1. Shapert was originally a native of Glenshaw, Pa. and attended Shaler Area High School. He would join the Edinboro wrestling program in 1997 along with twin brother Ryan. Shaun would go on to post a 60-28 career record and was a two-time national qualifier, in 1999 and 2000, while competing at 157 pounds. The highlight of his career came in the 1999-2000 season, as he finished third at the EWL Championships at 157 pounds to earn a berth in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. He went on to earn All-American honors with a seventh-place finish, upsetting third-seeded Bryan Snyder of Nebraska along the way.

Eighteen months after first setting foot at the WWE Performance Training Center in Florida, Denzel Dejournette, 2017 NCAA All-American at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, made his first appearance in the ring at WWE Raw on Monday. Denzel DejournetteIn Dejournatte's WWE Raw debut, Seth Rollins made short work of the former App State heavyweight, in a bout that was over in about a minute-and-a-half. "NXT's Denzel Dejournette certainly has a vibrant future," according to The Union Journal. "However on Raw, he was merely a sacrificial lamb for a livid Seth Rollins, who was fuming after his WrestleMania humiliation [the previous weekend] by the hands of Kevin Owens and certainly seeking to reclaim a few of his messianic mystique within the wake of two WrestleMania losses in a single evening." H "Dejournette, then, was toast earlier than this event started, and Rollins confirmed no mercy towards him, beating Dejournette throughout the ring and dispatching him with the Stomp." The next day, both Dejournette and his college wrestling program offered a mostly upbeat assessment for Monday's WWE Raw match on Twitter. On Tuesday, here's what DeJournette tweeted online: Prior to signing with the WWE in the summer of 2018, Dejournette made a name for himself in amateur wrestling. The native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School where he was a state runner-up as a senior and state fourth-place finisher as a junior. He then enrolled at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. where he tallied a 113-35 collegiate mark. The 6'2", 262-pound Dejournette was a three-time NCAA Division I Championships qualifier for the Mountaineers, placing eighth in the heavyweight bracket at the 2017 NCAAs. DeJournette joins a long list of amateur wrestliers who have entered pro wrestling after college. Some examples: Oklahoma State heavyweight champ of the 1920s, Earl McCready... 1940s NCAA champs Verne Gagne of Minnesota, and Oklahoma State;s Dick Hutton... Dan Hodge, 1950s Oklahoma Sooner superstar... OSU Cowboy champ of the mid 1960s, Jack Brisco… and of course, Olympic gold medalist and NCAA champ for Clarion, Kurt Angle,