InterMat Staff

Joe Colon gets his hand raised after winning a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships (Photo/Larry Slater) AMES, Iowa - The Cyclone Regional Training Center and Director, Kevin Dresser, are excited to announce the addition of an Iowa wrestling legend. Joe Colon has joined up with the C-RTC as a resident athlete in Ames. "It is very exciting for us to add Joe to our program," Dresser said. "He is one of the top lightweights in the entire world right now. He made great improvements these past four years with Coach Steiner at Fresno State, and we are going to try to build off of that moving forward. Joe's got a lot left in his tank, so we will be fortunate to have him in Ames for a good bit." "Joe brings toughness and a professional-athlete attitude with him. It will be great for our younger athletes to experience that on a day to day basis. Joe will relocate to Ames later this month and we are very excited that he is joining the Cyclone RTC." "I'm looking forward to following my Olympic dream in Ames with the Cyclone RTC," Colon said. "I'm excited to be back in my home state! It's where my wrestling journey first began. I want to thank Coach Dresser and the rest of his staff for this opportunity." Colon joins the Cyclone Wrestling program after a four-year coaching stint at Fresno State. He is currently a member of the US National team at 61 kilograms and is ranked No. 20 in the world. In Senior Level competition, Colon is as decorated in accomplishments as they come. In 2018, Colon made the United States World Team and brought home a world bronze medal for the US at 61 kilograms. That year, he also claimed Gold at the Pan-American Championships, the U.S. Open and was a member of the Men's Freestyle World Cup team that brought home the team title. Colon is a Dave Schultz Memorial International and Bill Farrell International Champion, and has won the Pan American Championship on two occasions. Most recently, Colon was the runner-up at Final X (2019) and earned a spot on the U.S. National Team. He took eighth at the 2019 Ivan Yarygin Gran Prix, fifth at the 2019 Dan Kolov International and finished second at the 2020 Matteo Pellicone International. The Clear Lake, Iowa, native compiled a 62-6 overall mark in his two seasons competing for UNI. He went 27-4 as a redshirt sophomore in 2011-12, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships before falling in the blood round. After sitting out the 2012-13 season, Colon came back as a senior in 2013-14 and went 35-2 overall, finishing his career first in Panther program history in career winning percentage (.911). His senior season winning percentage of .946 ranked third-best for a single-season in UNI history. He finished his career a perfect 24-0 in duals. Colon began his collegiate career at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. He won the 2010 NJCAA national championship at 125 pounds. He was named the NJCAA Tournament Outstanding Wrestler as the Tritons won the national championship. Colon was an Iowa prep-star out of Clear Lake. Colon was a three-time Iowa High School State Medalist and won titles in 2007 and 2009.

Ed Ruth defeated Cuba's Reineris Salas Perez at the 2015 World Cup (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) RALEIGH, N.C. -- Three-time NCAA National Champion Ed Ruth will be joining the Wolfpack Wrestling Club and the Wolfpack Regional Training Center (RTC) as an athlete developmental coach. "I'm very excited to be coming to Raleigh," said Ruth. "It's a great area, and a great opportunity to be involved with the Wolfpack RTC and NC State's collegiate program. Wolfpack Wrestling has reached very impressive heights recently, and they always have a huge presence at every tournament their guys go to. "I look forward to working with Coach Popolizio and his whole staff in the development of all the athletes involved with Wolfpack Wrestling." Ruth competed for Penn State Wrestling from 2011-14. While there, he was a three-time NCAA national champion (in 2012 at 174 pounds and in 2013 and 2014 at 184 pounds). He also was the third as a redshirt-freshman at 174 pounds in 2011. Penn State won the national title all four years he competed. He currently ranks first in the Penn State record books in career winning percentage, going 136-3 during his Nittany Lion career, only one loss over his final three seasons. He was a four-time Big Ten Champion. "Ed will be a vital asset to all aspects of our program," said NC State head coach Pat Popolizio. "With his background and the levels of success that he has gotten to already, Ed is bringing to Raleigh experiences that will have a huge impact on every guy associated both with our wrestling team and the Wolfpack RTC." In freestyle action, Ruth finished second at the World Team Trials, and was third at the 2015 U.S. Open. In 2014, he won the World Team Trials at 84 kg, and represented the U.S. at the World Championships in Uzbekistan. He was a member of the University World Freestyle Team in 2013, and was a University Nationals champion (84 kg). Ruth has recently competed in the Middleweight division of Bellator MMA, whom he signed with in May 2015 and made his debut in November 2016. He holds a professional record of 8-3, with six wins coming via knockout. He also holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has a career 9-3 record in submission grappling matches. A native of Harrisburg, Pa., Ruth was a 2009 High School All-American at Blair Academy (N.J.), and the top-ranked recruit in his weight class nationally.

Tyler Berger defeated Sammy Sasso at Flo's Burroughs vs. Zahid event (Photo/Justin Hoch, JHoch.com) After a brief hiatus, Richard Mann (@richardamann) and Clay Sauertieg (@ByCSauertieg) are back on the Matside. This week the duo looks at both the Flo show headlined by Jordan Burroughs vs. Zahid Valencia and the U23 freestyle finals. There was a ton of wrestling this past weekend, and unfortunately Matside could not cover it all. However, there is still a hour of wrestling content ready for consumption. 0:00 - Open 3:03 - Kollin Moore VIN over Kyven Gadson 5:36 - Kayla Miracle VPO over Ana Godinez 7:53 - Tyler Berger VPO1 over Sammy Sasso 11:01 - Alli Ragan VSU over Lauren Louive 14:39 - G'Angelo Hancock VSU over Alan Vera 17:39 - Evan Henderson VPO1 over Anthony Echemendia 22:30 - Jordan Burroughs VPO1 over Zahid Valencia 28:35 - Ramazan Attasuov VFA over Danny Vega 31:30 - Mitch McKee VSU over Michael Colaiocco 34:20 - Brock Mauller VPO1 over Dom Demas 36:25 - Will Lewan VPO1 over Kaleb Young 39:45 - Evan Wick VPO1 over Danny Braunagel 42:00 - David McFadden VPO1 over Nelson Brands 46:42 - Taylor Lujan VSU over Max Lyon 49:35 - Jake Woodley VPO1 over Jacob Warner 53:12 - Tanner Sloan VPO1 over Noah Adams 55:46 - Youssif Hemida VPO1 over Anthony Cassioppi 59:01 - Plugs and Closing

Sarah Hildebrandt and Alyssa Lampe will face off on Nov. 24 (Photos/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) A pair of world medalists in women's wrestling will go head-to-head at WRTC Underground 1. Sarah Hildebrandt, a 2018 world silver medalist, will face two-time world bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe on Nov. 24 in the inaugural event hosted by the Wisconsin RTC. The event will be streamed on Rokfin. Hildebrandt reached the finals of the World Championships in 2018 at 53 kilograms before falling to Japan's Haruna Okuno. In 2019, Hildebrandt won gold medals at several international events, including the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix, Pan American Championships and Pan American Games. She earned a gold medal at the Matteo Pellicone last January. She won the Senior Nationals title at 50 kilograms last month. Lampe earned world bronze medals in 2012 and 2013. The 32-year-old Wisconsin native won a Senior Nationals title in 2019 and placed third this year. She has claimed medals at many senior international events. Lampe also won a pair of bronze medals at the Junior World Championships.

Jasmit Phulka at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) AMES, Iowa -- The Cyclone Regional Training Center has picked up a big commitment. Kevin Dresser announced Monday that Canadian Olympic team member Jasmit Phulka will be joining up with the C-RTC as a resident athlete. "We are very excited to add Jasmit to the Cyclone RTC," Dresser said. "He comes to us as the number one guy in his country at 74 kilograms. He brings a reputation as a tireless worker and a guy who is only getting better. I know he will make all of those around him better. He will join us before the first of the year." "The Cyclone Regional Training Center is a perfect fit for me," Phulka said. "I get great training partners and an awesome coaching staff that will get me to the next level. I cannot wait to book my ticket to Tokyo and represent the C-RTC at the 2021 Olympics." Phulka has cemented himself as a true contender on the world stage at 74 kilograms, regarded by many as the toughest weight class in all of wrestling at the moment. Most recently, Phulka took bronze at the 2020 and 2019 Pan American Games. 2018 proved to be a springboard for Phulka's Senior Level career. Already a Canadian cadet and junior world team member, Phulka won the City of Sassari Tournament, took third at the Mongolia Open and then finished runner-up at the Grand Prix of Spain. All three results came within a six-week span. Phulka has represented the Canadian world team over the past three years at 74 and 79 kilograms. He will be looking to secure the Canadians a spot at 74 kilograms in the 2021 Olympics at the World Last Chance Qualifier in April.

Jake Woodley repeated as U23 freestyle national champion (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) OMAHA, Neb. -- Jake Woodley repeated as U23 freestyle national champion, coming from behind to defeat past cadet world medalist Jacob Warner in the finals at 92 kilograms. Warner, an All-American for Iowa, scored an early takedown and followed it up with a gut wrench to go up 4-0. But Woodley battled back, scoring six unanswered points to claim a 6-4 victory. Woodley was the lone repeat national champion in the U23 freestyle competition. Taylor Lujan was named Outstanding Wrestler of the freestyle competition (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Taylor Lujan, a four-time NCAA qualifier at Northern Iowa, was named Outstanding Wrestler in the freestyle competition after cruising to the title at 86 kilograms. In the finals, Lujan defeated Max Lyon by technical superiority, 10-0. He finished the tournament with three technical superiority victories and one fall. Earlier this month, Lujan reached the finals of Flo's 8-Man Challenge at 195 pounds. Past age group world finalists Mitchell McKee (61 kilograms), Will Lewan (70 kilograms) and Youssif Hemida (125 kilograms) captured titles. McKee, a 2017 junior silver medalist, capped off a dominant run to the title with a 10-0 technical superiority over Michael Colaiocco in the finals at 61 kilograms. The Gopher All-American had four technical superiority victories in five matches and did not give up a single point in from the quarterfinals on. Lewan, a 2017 cadet world champion, avenged a loss from the NCAA season by beating Iowa's Kaleb Young 5-4 to earn the title at 70 kilograms. Youssif Hemida throws Tony Cassioppi early in their finals match at 125 kilograms (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Hemida, a 2018 U23 world silver medalist, edged Iowa Hawkeye big man Tony Cassioppi 8-7 to win the title at 125 kilograms. Hemida raced out to a 4-0 lead on the strength of a four-point throw early in the match. Cassioppi, who compiled a 20-3 record and placed third at the Big Ten Championships as a freshman, came back to take a 7-6 lead with just over two minutes remaining. A short time later, Hemida fired off a single leg and scored a takedown. He then held on for the victory. Ramazan Attasauov turns Danny Vega in the finals at 57 kilograms (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) The most surprising championship run came at 57 kilograms, where Ramazan Attasauov, a wrestler at Iowa State, won the title. Attasauov, a two-time Massachusetts state champion, came from behind in the finals to earn a fall over South Dakota State's Danny Vega. Vega looked strong early, building a 6-0 lead. Attasauov scored a takedown with 50 seconds remaining in the first period to cut the deficit to 6-2. He then showcased his strong par terre game, turning Vega three times to make the score 6-6 before turning him a fourth time and securing a fall. Earlier in the tournament the Russian native defeated NCAA All-Americans Patrick Glory of Princeton and Rayvon Foley of Michigan State. Missouri All-American Brock Mauller won the title at 65 kilograms with a dominant 8-1 victory over Oklahoma All-American Dom Demas. Evan Wick, a multiple-time NCAA All-American for Wisconsin, won the title at 74 kilograms with a 10-4 victory over Danny Braunagel of Illinois. David McFadden, who trains at the NJRTC, won the title at 79 kilograms (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) At 79 kilograms, three-time NCAA All-American David McFadden topped Iowa's Nelson Brands 12-5 to win the title. South Dakota State's Tanner Sloan, a 2019 junior world team member, edged West Virginia's Noah Adams 10-9 to win the title at 97 kilograms. Placement Matches 57 kilograms: 1st: Ramazan Attasauov pinned Danny Vega, 8-6 2:47 3rd: Paul Bianchi tech. Patrick Glory, 13-2 1:23 5th: Rayvon Foley tech. Joseph Manchio, 14-1 3:47 7th: Patrick McKee dec. Ethan Rotondo, 15-11 61 kilograms: 1st: Mitchell McKee tech. Michael Colaiocco, 10-0 0:59 3rd: Ian Parker dec. Austin DeSanto, 6-1 5th: Josh Kramer dec. Micky Phillippi, 8-7 7th: Drew Mattin dec. Collin Gerardi, 9-2 65 kilograms: 1st: Brock Mauller dec. Dom Demas, 8-1 3rd: Max Murin tech. Kizhan Clarke, 10-0 5:28 5th: Parker Filius dec. Clay Carlson, 7-5 7th: Luke Kemerer dec. Carter Happel, 4-2 70 kilograms: 1st: Will Lewan dec. Kaleb Young, 5-4 3rd: Jake Keating tech. Garrett Model, 12-1 1:12 5th: Cory Crooks tech. Jaron Jensen, 11-0 5:43 7th: Parker Kropman tech. Jonathan Millner, 10-0 0:35 74 kilograms: 1st: Evan Wick dec. Danny Braunagel, 10-4 3rd: Quentin Perez tech. Jeremiah Moody, 10-0 4:37 5th: Evan Barczak tech. Jacori Teemer, 12-2 1:50 7th: Joshua Kim tech. Grant Zamin, 10-0 0:53 79 kilograms: 1st: David McFadden dec. Nelson Brands, 12-5 3rd: Muhamed McBryde dec. Jake Allar, 4-3 5th: Demetrius Romero tech. Myles Wilson, 10-0 2:41 7th: Dakota Howard tech. Michael Battista, 19-9 5:23 86 kilograms: 1st: Taylor Lujan tech. Max Lyon, 10-0 2:44 3rd: Cameron Caffey tech. Cade Belshay, 10-0 3:45 5th: Stanley Smeltzer forfeit Gregg Harvey 7th: Keegan Moore tech. Jacob Raschka, 11-0 4:26 92 kilograms: 1st: Jake Woodley dec. Jacob Warner, 6-4 3rd: Nino Bonaccorsi dec. Thomas Penola, 8-2 5th: Kordell Norfleet tech. Jay Aiello, 10-0 3:08 7th: Nathan Traxler tech. Andrew Davison, 12-2 3:42 97 kilograms: 1st: Tanner Sloan dec. Noah Adams, 10-9 3rd: Jacob Boyd tech. Kobe Woods, 10-0 5:06 5th: Duncan Lee forfeit Brandon Whitman 7th: Jackson Schichel forfeit Michael Loyola 125 kilograms: 1st: Youssif Hemida dec. Tony Cassioppi, 8-7 3rd: Gannon Gremmel inj dft. Jordan Wood, 0:02 5th: Ethan Laird dec. Brian Andrews, 11-6 7th: Luke Luffman dec. Aaron Costello, 5-0

Mitchell McKee won the title at 61 kilograms (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Placement Matches 57 kilograms: 1st: Ramazan Attasauov pinned Danny Vega, 8-6 2:47 3rd: Paul Bianchi tech. Patrick Glory, 13-2 1:23 5th: Rayvon Foley tech. Joseph Manchio, 14-1 3:47 7th: Patrick McKee dec. Ethan Rotondo, 15-11 61 kilograms: 1st: Mitchell McKee tech. Michael Colaiocco, 10-0 0:59 3rd: Ian Parker dec. Austin DeSanto, 6-1 5th: Josh Kramer dec. Micky Phillippi, 8-7 7th: Drew Mattin dec. Collin Gerardi, 9-2 65 kilograms: 1st: Brock Mauller dec. Dom Demas, 8-1 3rd: Max Murin tech. Kizhan Clarke, 10-0 5:28 5th: Parker Filius dec. Clay Carlson, 7-5 7th: Luke Kemerer dec. Carter Happel, 4-2 70 kilograms: 1st: Will Lewan dec. Kaleb Young, 5-4 3rd: Jake Keating tech. Garrett Model, 12-1 1:12 5th: Cory Crooks tech. Jaron Jensen, 11-0 5:43 7th: Parker Kropman tech. Jonathan Millner, 10-0 0:35 74 kilograms: 1st: Evan Wick dec. Danny Braunagel, 10-4 3rd: Quentin Perez tech. Jeremiah Moody, 10-0 4:37 5th: Evan Barczak tech. Jacori Teemer, 12-2 1:50 7th: Joshua Kim tech. Grant Zamin, 10-0 0:53 79 kilograms: 1st: David McFadden dec. Nelson Brands, 12-5 3rd: Muhamed McBryde dec. Jake Allar, 4-3 5th: Demetrius Romero tech. Myles Wilson, 10-0 2:41 7th: Dakota Howard tech. Michael Battista, 19-9 5:23 86 kilograms: 1st: Taylor Lujan tech. Max Lyon, 10-0 2:44 3rd: Cameron Caffey tech. Cade Belshay, 10-0 3:45 5th: Stanley Smeltzer forfeit Gregg Harvey 7th: Keegan Moore tech. Jacob Raschka, 11-0 4:26 92 kilograms: 1st: Jake Woodley dec. Jacob Warner, 6-4 3rd: Nino Bonaccorsi dec. Thomas Penola, 8-2 5th: Kordell Norfleet tech. Jay Aiello, 10-0 3:08 7th: Nathan Traxler tech. Andrew Davison, 12-2 3:42 97 kilograms: 1st: Tanner Sloan dec. Noah Adams, 10-9 3rd: Jacob Boyd tech. Kobe Woods, 10-0 5:06 5th: Duncan Lee forfeit Brandon Whitman 7th: Jackson Schichel forfeit Michael Loyola 125 kilograms: 1st: Youssif Hemida dec. Tony Cassioppi, 8-7 3rd: Gannon Gremmel inj dft. Jordan Wood, 0:02 5th: Ethan Laird dec. Brian Andrews, 11-6 7th: Luke Luffman dec. Aaron Costello, 5-0

Keegan O'Toole won the title at 70 kilograms and was named OW (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Placement Matches 57 kilograms: 1st: Dylan Ragusin dec. Angelo Rini, 13-1 3rd Jesse Mendez tech. Brody Teske, 10-0 2:18 5th: Jesse Ybarra pinned Eric Barnett, 2-2 1:18 7th: Chance Lamer dec. Timothy Levine, 6-2 61 kilograms: 1st: Ridge Lovett dec. Cole Matthews, 5-4 3rd: Samuel Hillegas dec. Carter Young, 10-3 5th: Trey Crawford tech. Isaiah Delgado (Brunson UVRTC), 12-1 3:29 7th: Chris Kim tech. Daniel Kimball, 10-0 2:13 65 kilograms: 1st: Joshua Edmond tech. Bryce Andonian (Southeast RTC, Inc), 10-0 1:29 3rd: Anthony Ferrari tech. Legend Lamer, 11-1 2:26 5th: Sammy Alvarez forfeit Cameron Picklo 7th: Victor Voinovich forfeit Cobe Siebrecht 70 kilograms: 1st: Keegan O'Toole pinned Clayton Ulrey, 1:40 3rd: Justin McCoy dec. Fidel Mayora, 8-4 5th: Kasper Mcintosh tech. Lucas Revano, 10-0 3:30 7th: Connor Brady dec. Tyler Badgett, 11-4 74 kilograms: 1st: Bernie Truax dec. Cade Devos, 8-3 3rd: Alex Facundo dec. David Berkovich, 6-4 5th: Isaiah Alford tech. Baylor Fernandes, 15-5 3:23 7th: Cael Valencia tech. Joshua Otto, 10-0 1:12 79 kilograms: 1st: Michael O'Malley pinned Patrick Kennedy, 1:10 3rd: Jared Krattiger dec. Nick Incontrera, 6-0 5th: Sean Harman dec. Cade King, 5-4 7th: Gerrit Nijenhuis tech. Albert Urias, 12-0 1:09 86 kilograms: 1st: Joel Shapiro dec. John Poznanski, 4-2 3rd: Parker Keckeisen tech. Layne Malczewski, 12-1 2:04 5th: Colton Hawks dec. Ethan Hatcher, 15-12 7th: Jack Kilner dec. Jake Hendricks, 4-1 92 kilograms: 1st: A.J. Ferrari dec. Rocky Elam, 6-1 3rd: William Janzer tech. Christopher Smith, 10-0 2:45 5th: Zach Glazier tech. Nicholas Willham, 10-0 5:48 7th: Austin Cooley tech. Gabe Christenson, 10-0 4:44 97 kilograms: 1st: Tyrell Gordon pinned Tyrie Houghton, 4-2 1:34 3rd: Joseph Reimers 4th: Nick Soto Gordon tech. Reimers, 12-2 Houghton tech. Soto, 12-0 Houghton tech. Reimers, 10-0 Gordon tech. Soto, 10-0 Gordon pinned Houghton 1:34 Reimers tech. Soto, 11-0 125 kilograms: 1st: Joshua Heindselman dec. Hunter Catka, 15-6 3rd: Spencer Trenary dec. Matthew Cover, 13-11 5th: Jacob Slinger tech. Josiah Hill, 11-0 3:35 7th: Blake Querio tech. Dakoda Powell, 15-4 5:16

Placement Matches 50 kilograms: 1st: Emily Shilson (TMWC/Twin Cities RTC) tech. Samara Chavez (Spartan Mat Club), 10-0 2:30 3rd: Maria Vidales (Lion Wrestling Club) dec. Aleeah Gould (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 4-0 5th: Nina Pham (Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club) tech. Ashley Gooman (Warrior Wrestling Club), 14-4 4:20 7th: Kasey Baynon (Lion Wrestling Club) tech. Jaclyn McNichols (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:51 53 kilograms: 1st: Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Cheyenne Sisenstein (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 6-1 3rd: Tiare Ikei (TMWC) dec. Felicity Taylor (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 7-0 5th: Alisha Howk (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech. Victoria Smith (Unattached), 16-5 4:48 7th: Alleida Martinez (TMWC) pinned Anja Tschohl (Colorado Mesa WC), 2:14 55 kilograms: 1st: Allison Petix (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) dec. Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa WC), 6-2 3rd: Vayle Baker (Twin Cities RTC) tech. Sophia Mirabella (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:46 5th: Melanie Mendoza (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) pinned Ngao Shoua Whitethorn (Twin Cities RTC), 8-2 4:02 7th: Makayla Welch (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) pinned Rebekah Cordova (Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club), 1:04 57 kilograms: 1st: Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise Wrestling) tech. Abigail Nette (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 12-1 2:35 3rd: Alexia Ward (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club) dec. Lauren Mason (Unattached), 3-2 5th: Amanda Martinez (Cardinal Wrestling Club) dec. Karoline Ortiz (Missouri Baptist Wrestling Club), 9-0 7th: Mia Macaluso (Unattached) pinned Serena Cervantes (Hill Country Wrestling Club), 2:30 59 kilograms: 1st: Desiree Zavala (Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club) tech. Koral Sugiyama (Unattached), 10-0 1:38 3rd: Emily Se (Lion Wrestling Club) pinned Sophia Smith (Unattached), 4:03 5th: Paige Respicio (Warrior Wrestling Club) forfeit over Gracie Figueroa (TMWC) 7th: Jerzie Estrada (Unattached) pinned Sadie Tackett (Lion Wrestling Club), 1:32 62 kilograms: 1st: Macey Kilty (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Academy) tech. Ana Luciano (Unattached), 10-0 3:22 3rd: Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp (Warrior Wrestling Club) pinned Kendall Bostelman(Wyoming Seminary), 2:23 5th: Emmily Patneaud (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club) pinned Phoenix Dubose (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 2:10 7th: Alyssa Aceval (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) tech. Salome Walker (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 11-0 5:21 65 kilograms: 1st: Ashlynn Ortega (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) tech. Viktorya Torres (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 11-0, 5:36 3rd: Amor Tuttle (Twin Cities RTC) tech. Brianna Csontos (TMWC), 11-0 1:51 5th: Skie Rice (Cougar Wrestling Club) forfeit Marisol Nugent (Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club) 7th: Kayla Munoz (Colorado Mesa WC) forfeit Emma Cole MO (Unattached) 68 kilograms: 1st: Skyler Grote (NYAC) 2nd: Samantha Bush (Grand View WC) 3rd: Julia Lhotellier (Lion WC) Bush tech. Lhotellier, 10-0, 3:23 Grote pinned Bush, 0:18 Grote tech. Lhotellier, 10-0, 0:30 72 kilograms: 1st: Kayla Marano (Lion Wrestling Club) tech. Ophelia Lara (Lion Wrestling Club), 11-0, 4:15 3rd: Marlynne Deede (Twin Cities RTC) pinned Caylee Collins (Colorado Mesa WC), 0:47 5th: Destynie Pacheco (Twin Cities RTC) forfeit Gianna Anaya (Lion Wrestling Club) 76 kilograms: 1st: Dymond Guilford (TMWC) pinned Precious Bell (TMWC), 3:25 3rd: Joye Levendusky (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club) dec. Nkechinyere Nwankwo (Unattached), 3-1 5th: Tristan Kelly (Unattached) tech. Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:31 7th: Kamilla Montenegro (Choker Wrestling Club) forfeit Myranda Velazquez (Unattached)

Jordan Burroughs powers through a leg attack on Zahid Valencia (Photo/Justin Hoch, jhoch.com) AUSTIN, Texas -- Jordan Burroughs made his much-anticipated return to competition during another entertaining night of wrestling. FloWrestling put on another high-level wrestling card with a number of intriguing matches taking place on Saturday night in Austin, Texas. Burroughs, an Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion, bumped up in weight to battle Junior world medalist Zahid Valencia. Burroughs rallied for an 8-5 win in an action-packed, high-intensity matchup of two-time NCAA champions at 185 pounds. Here is my breakdown from the evening's matches: 97 kilograms: Kyven Gadson vs Kollin Moore This was a rematch of the recent Senior Nationals match that was won by Moore. Gadson came out firing, shooting in on a single and quickly transferring to a double for a 2-0 lead. Gadson followed by locking up with Moore, but the Iowa State alum was injured just 35 seconds into the bout. Gadson was unable to continue and had to default. 62 kilograms: Kayla Miracle vs Ana Godinez Miracle powered in early with a double on a re-attack to strike first and lead 2-0. Godinez fought off a strong attack by Miracle in the closing seconds of the first period. Miracle countered early in the second period to expose Godinez with a four-point move to lead 6-0. Miracle countered another shot and spun behind to build the edge to 8-0. It was an impressive showing by Miracle against a strong international opponent in women's wrestling. 160 pounds: Sammy Sasso vs Tyler Berger Berger was moving well and was the aggressor from the outset. He struck first after powering in on a low-level leg attack to lead 2-0. Berger followed with another strong attack to lead 4-0 late in the period. Berger hit another textbook low double and finished to lead 6-2 in the second period. Berger looked to have a size advantage and Sasso was unable to generate much offense. Berger powered in on another takedown in the final minute en route to an impressive 8-2 win. 59 kilograms: Alli Ragan vs Lauren Louive Ragan, a two-time world silver medalist, started strong with a superb counter to jump ahead 2-0 early. Ragan countered a leg attack and spun around Louive to lead 4-0. Ragan kept the pressure on, powering in on a double and gaining exposure on a four-point move to lead 8-0. Ragan fired in on another double to prevail 10-0, winning on technical superiority in the first period. Ragan looks primed to land a berth on the U.S. Olympic team. 103 kilograms: G'Angelo Hancock vs Alan Vera The lone Greco-Roman match of the evening promised to be entertaining with two wrestlers capable of lighting up the scoreboard. Hancock wrestles at a higher weight class and it showed early. He snapped Vera down and transferred immediately into a gut-wrench to lead 4-0 in the first 45 seconds. Vera followed by going for a throw near the edge of the mat, but Hancock countered to lead 6-0. Hancock followed with another score to prevail 9-0. He's a wrestler who is still relatively young and has the potential to contend for a medal on the world stage. 65 kilograms: Anthony Echemendia vs Evan Henderson This co-main event was one many people were eager to witness. Henderson came out strong with an effective attack, grabbing a 2-0 advantage. Echemendia, a talented young star, didn't back down but had trouble scoring against a more experienced wrestler. Henderson countered a shot and scored a step out to lead 3-0 late in the first period. Echemendia came back in the second period, firing in on a shot that led to a wild scramble near the edge. The sequence went to a video review with Echemendia awarded two points for a turn and adding a challenge point to close within 4-3. Henderson shot in on a single before hitting a four-point move on the finish to lead 8-3 late in the bout. This was an action-packed bout that was entertaining to watch. Echemendia is going to be fun to watch as he continues to gain experience. Jordan Burroughs came from behind to defeat Zahid Valencia (Photo/Justin Hoch, jhoch.com) 185 pounds: Jordan Burroughs vs. Zahid Valencia The main event saw Valencia come out strong with a pair of takedowns off leg attacks to lead 4-0. Valencia had a noticeable edge in size and Burroughs was unable to convert in the first period. Valencia led 4-0 at the break. Burroughs continued to attack and converted on a double to draw within 4-2 early in the second period. Valencia came right back with a single and a step out to lead 5-2. Burroughs then hit a quick counter to spin behind his opponent, cutting the lead to 5-4 with 1:20 left. Burroughs drove in to score a step out to tie the bout 5-5 with just over a minute to go. Burroughs continued to attack, finishing a double to lead 7-5 with 45 seconds left. He added another step out to lead 8-5. Burroughs was relentless and wore Valencia down in a dominant second period. Burroughs scored eight points in the final three minutes to finish an impressive performance. It was a great match with a high level of intensity between two excellent wrestlers. Burroughs is 32, but he's still very much at the top of his game. He competed at a weight 20 pounds higher than he normally does Saturday, but he still powered through to earn a gritty, hard-fought victory. His conditioning looked excellent. And Burroughs called out world champion David Taylor after the win in hopes of setting up a match between the two American stars. Final word It was another great night for fans to be treated to some top-notch wrestling. It was unfortunate the first bout was cut short. Let's hope Gadson's injury isn't serious. And let's hope many more events like these are shown to provide opportunities for the athletes to compete. Any time Burroughs competes it is fun to watch. Let's hope he wrestles another full Olympic cycle. 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.

Conor Knopick scores with a gut wrench on Billy Sullivan in the finals at 55 kilograms (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Placement Matches 55 kilograms: 1st: Conor Knopick (MWC Wrestling Academy) dec. Billy Sullivan (Legends of Gold Las Vegas), 12-5 3rd: Jacob Cochran (Unattached) dec. Andrew Chambal (Unattached), 6-2 5th: Eric Barnett (Wisconsin RTC) tech. Sam Smith (LaCrosse Area Wrestlers), 10-2 4:23 7th: Carter Stephenson (Black Fox Wrestling Academy) pinned Luc Valdez (Unattached), 5:59 60 kilograms: 1st: Chayse LaJoie (Spartan Combat RTC) tech. David Stepanian (NYAC), 10-2, 5:55 3rd: Keegan Slyter (Unattached) dec. Camden Russell (MWC Wrestling Academy), 8-6 5th: Jordan Hamdan (Unattached) tech. Aizayah Yacapinned (Unattached), 8-0 1:04 7th: Caleb Gross (Jackrabbit WC) dec. Christian Colman (Talents WC), 7-4 63 kilograms: 1st: Payton Jacobson (Ringers WC) dec. Logan Hatch (Greco-Roman Development), 5-3 3rd: Tarrell Wallace, Jr. (Garage Boyz Wrestling) tech. Aidan Lenz (Black Fox Wrestling Academy), 9-0 1:37 5th: Jakob Murillo (Unattached) dec. Austin Keal (Arkansas RTC), 3-1 7th: Evan Reid (Ford Dynasty Wrestling Club) inj dft Riley Palm (Dubuque WC) 67 kilograms: 1st: Dayton Porsch (Beaver WC) pinned Benjamin Peak (Sunkist Kids WC), 0:48 3rd: Aaden Valdez (La Gente WC) tech. Bobby Treshock (Curby 3 Style WC), 9-0 2:11 5th: Ian Sandoz (Unattached) pinned John Teed (Rise Wrestling), 2:43 7th: Payne Carr (Union County WC) forfeit Noah Wachsmuth (COBRA ALL-STARS / Cobra Wrestling Systems LLC) 72 kilograms: 1st: Weston Milnes (Greco-Roman Development) tech fall Robert Perez II (Greco-Roman Development), 8-0, 3:30 3rd: Alaa Elkerm (Talents WC) dec. Jacob Stefanowicz (Pennsylvania RTC), 10-6 5th: Brett Mcintosh (Wyoming Wrestling Reg Training Ctr) dec. Matthew Doyle (Burg Training Center), 8-6 7th: John Richardson (Texas Pride WC) pinned Mckay Foy (Mustang WC), 6-4 2:11 77 kilograms: 1st: Justin McCunn (Viking WC/IA) tech. Jack Ervien, Jr. (Unattached), 16-7, 4:26 3rd: Guillermo Escobedo (Wyoming Wrestling Reg Training Ctr) tech. George Moseley (Cougar WC), 13-2 4:50 5th: Tyler Scheurn (Mustang WC) inj dft Desmond Bowers (Choker Wrestling Club), 1:43 7th: Abraham Michel (Dubuque WC) pinned Jacob Inton (Ford Dynasty Wrestling Club), 5:09 82 kilograms: 1st: Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania RTC) dec. Jacob Anderson (Avalanche Wrestling Association), 7-3 3rd: Josh Mcfarland (Unattached) pinned Kodiak Stephens (Ebbetts Pass Wrestling), 1:37 5th: Dane Harter (Unattached) tech fall Sean Michel (Interior Grappling Academy), 9-0 1:29 7th: William Smith (Unattached) forfeit Floyd Miller (Northwest Iowa WC) 87 kilograms: 1st: Jack Darrah (Xtreme Training) dec. Tyler Hannah (Dubuque WC), 4-3 3rd: Joey Braunagel (Illinois RTC/Illini WC) forfeit Callan Ivy CA (San Leandro Youth: SLY WC) 5th: Zane Davis (Arkansas RTC) dec. Koby Johnson (Unattached), 10-4 7th: Hamzah Alsaudi (Unattached) forfeit Dalton Swayze (Unattached) 97 kilograms: 1st: Isaac Trumble (Wolfpack WC) tech. Denzel Mabry (San Francisco WC), 8-0, 1:31 3rd: Sione Halo (Choker Wrestling Club) dec. Tristen Wilson (Servite High School Wrestling), 12-7 5th: Victor Vargas (Unattached) forfeit Rylan Bonds (Spartan Mat Club) 130 kilograms: 1st: Spencer Trenary (Jackrabbit WC) pinned Josiah Hill (Arkansas RTC), 0:56 3rd: Eli Pannell (Burg Training Center) pinned Justin Ramos (San Francisco WC), 4-0 0:21 5th: Apollo Gothard (Izzy Style Wrestling) dec. James Hustoles (Unattached), 5-2 7th: Caspian Grabowski (Arkansas RTC) pinned Cameron Dubose (Unattached), 8-3 5:48

Macey Kilty claimed the title at 62 kilograms with a win over Kylie Welker (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) Placement Matches 50 kilograms: 1st: Emily Shilson (TMWC/Twin Cities RTC) dec. Salyna Shotwell (Ford Dynasty Wrestling Club), 4-2 3rd: Ava Bayless (Wyoming Seminary) pinned Ashley Gooman (Warrior WC), 1:53 5th: Samara Chavez (Spartan Mat Club) pinned Anja Tschohl (Colorado Mesa WC), 2:03 7th: Sydney Petzinger (Unattached) pinned Emma Cochran (Grand View WC), 5:51 53 kilograms: 1st: Tiare Ikei (TMWC) tech. Felicity Taylor (McKendree Bearcat WC), 12-1, 4:02 3rd: Alleida Martinez (TMWC) dec. Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa WC), 3-2 5th: Alisha Howk (Sunkist Kids WC) dec. Sophia Mirabella (Team Tornado WC), 4-2 7th: Melanie Mendoza (Team Tornado WC) pinned Emalie Olson (Greater Heights Wrestling), 0:39 55 kilograms: 1st: Nanea Estrella (American Falls WC) tech. Vayle Baker (Twin Cities RTC), 11-0, 4:48 3rd: Isabella Amaro (All-Phase WC) tech. Asia Nguyen-Smith (Cardinal WC), 10-0 2:42 5th: Claire Dicugno (Takedown Express WC) pinned Ngao Shoua Whitethorn (Twin Cities RTC), 2:08 7th: Grace Pauls (Unattached) pinned Nanen Aguilar CO (Colorado Mesa WC), 1:18 57 kilograms: 1st: Cameron Guerin (TMWC) dec. Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise RTC), 8-3 3rd: Emily Se (Lion WC) pinned Mia Macaluso (Unattached), 12-6 3:19 5th: Karoline Ortiz (Missouri Baptist WC) dec.Tatum Pine (Choker Wrestling Club), 6-0 7th: Mea Mohler (Spartan Mat Club) tech. Jamae Barnes (Colorado Mesa WC), 10-0 1:05 59 kilograms: 1st: Gracie Figueroa (TMWC) dec. Michaela Beck (Sunkist Kids), 4-2 3rd: Jordan Suarez (Texas Panhandle WC) dec. Tiera Jimerson (Northview High School Wrestling), 5-0 5th: Phoenix Dubose (Team Tornado WC) dec. Paige Respicio (Warrior WC), 3-0 7th: Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp (Warrior WC) tech. Amor Tuttle MN (Twin Cities RTC), 12-1, 3:22 62 kilograms: 1st: Macey Kilty (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Academy) dec. Kylie Welker (Higher Level Wrestling), 8-2 3rd: Chloe Ogden (Lake Highland Prep) dec. Kendall Bostelman (Wyoming Seminary), 13-4 5th: Emmily Patneaud (McKendree Bearcat WC) dec. Liana Souza (Unattached), 11-4 7th: Sara Schmoker (Lions WC) pinned Julia Padilla (Lion WC), 5:07 65 kilograms: 1st: Marisol Nugent (Lehigh Valley WC) tech. Katerina Lange (Twin Cities RTC), 14-3, 2:09 3rd: Brianna Csontos (TMWC) pinned Viktorya Torres (Team Tornado WC), 2:16 5th: Piper Staniford (Wyoming Seminary) tech fall Ellisa Jimenez (TMWC), 11-0 1:33 7th: Emma Cole (Unattached) pinned Madeline Frick (Colorado Mesa WC), 0:46 68 kilograms: 1st: Alexis Gomez (Grand View WC) 2nd: Leilani Hernandez (Texas Pride WC) 3rd: Aaliyah Fisher (Bronco WC) 4th: Julia Lhotellier (Lion WC) 5th: Jacqueline Carreras (Bronco WC) Round robin results Fisher dec. Lhotellier, 6-6 Gomez tech Carreras, 10-0 0:23 Hernandez pinned Fisher, 2:05 Lhotellier pinned Carreras, 1:16 Hernandez pinned Carreras, 0:14 Gomez tech Lhotellier, 10-0, 0:54 Gomez tech. Hernandez, 11-0, 1:35 Fisher tech. Carreras, 10-0, 0:37 Hernandez tech. Lhotellier, 10-0, 1:08 Gomez tech Fisher, 10-0, 1:20 72 kilograms: 1st: Kennedy Blades (Wyoming Seminary) tech. Joye Levendusky (McKendree Bearcat WC), 11-0, 4:21 3rd: Marlynne Deede (Twin Cities RTC) dec. Gianna Anaya (Lion WC), 7-2 5th: Caylee Collins (Colorado Mesa WC) dec. Destynie Pacheco (Twin Cities RTC), 5-2 7th: Jordan Roberts (Missouri Baptist WC) pinned Kennadee Vaughn (Bronco WC), 2:30 76 kilograms: 1st: Tristan Kelly (Colorado Mesa WC) tech. Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal WC), 10-0, 1:42 3rd: Brittyn Corbishley (Spartan Mat Club) pinned Kaylynn Albrecht (Unattached), 1:51 5th: Anastasia Hardin (Unattached) dec. Kamilla Montenegro (Choker Wrestling Club), 10-8

Zachary Grimes defeated Calvin Germinaro in the finals at 67 kilograms (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) Placement Matches 55 kilograms: 1st: Mason Carzino-Hartshorn (Community Youth Center - Concord) tech. Brendon Garcia (Wyoming Wrestling Reg Training Ctr), 9-0, 1:46 3rd: Samuel Braswell IV (Cougar Wrestling Club) tech. Gabriel Gray (Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club), 12-1 5:50 5th: Michael Spangler (Beaver Wrestling Club) tech. Aria Mazroy (San Francisco Wrestling Club), 10-2 3:28 7th: Andrew Willi (Bobcat WC) 60 kilograms: 1st: Taylor Lamont (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Randon Miranda (New York Athletic Club), 3-1 3rd: Corbin Nirschl (MWC Wrestling Academy) 4th: Thomas Hicks (unattached) 5th: Cordney Chairs (unattached) 63 kilograms: 1st: Dylan Gregerson (Brunson UVRTC) tech. Erik Spence (Battle Born Wrestling Club), 9-0, 0:59 3rd: Rylee Molitor (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) tech. Jackson Renicker (Unattached), 8-0 0:36 5th: Clay Carlson (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) tech. Jarod Maes (X-Factor Elite Wrestling), 8-0 2:40 7th: Matt Santos MI (Unattached) forfeit Nicholas Segura TX (Unattached), 67 kilograms: 1st: Peyton Omania (Unattached) won by forfeit over Benjamin Peak (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) 3rd: Lenny Merkin (NYAC/NJRTC) tech. Nolan Baker (New York Athletic Club), 11-0 1:58 5th: Jasiah Williams (CSU Pueblo Wrestling RTC) pinned Thomas Lisher AR (Arkansas Regional Training Center), 1:06 7th: Jake Drexler (CrassTrained: Weigh In Club) dec. Duncan Nelson (Unattached), 7-1 72 kilograms: 1st: Zachary Grimes (Unattached) pinned Calvin Germinaro (Unattached), 4:57 3rd: Dracius Mckee (Spartan Mat Club) tech. Riley Briggs (Community Youth Center - Concord Campus), 14-6 5:55 5th: Seth Vosters (Wisconsin Regional Training Center) dec. Zachary Tolver (Interior Grappling Academy), 8-4 7th: Ryan Ojeda (Unattached) pinned Michael Petersen (Unattached), 4:39 77 kilograms: 1st: Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club) tech. Tyler Dow (Wisconsin Regional Training Center), 11-1, 3:48 3rd: Eddie Smith (Dubuque Wrestling Club) tech. Augustine Garcia (Unattached), 8-0 1:59 5th: Fritz Schierl (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) forfeit Ryan Epps (Unattached) 7th: Jack Ervien, Jr. (unattached) 82 kilograms: 1st: Tommy Brackett (Unattached) dec. Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania RTC), 4-0 3rd: Gabriel Rangel (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)) pinned Kacper Piskorz IL (Unattached), 0:25 5th: DM Hallett (Unattached) tech. William Smith (Unattached), 10-1 0:58 87 kilograms: 1st: Cameron Caffey (Unattached) tech. Guy Patron (Dubuque Wrestling Club), 10-2, 2:52 3rd: George Sikes (New York Athletic Club) dec. Bear Hughes (Unattached), 3-2 5th: Joseph Williams(Shenandoah RTC) dec Chase Mccleish (Team Valley Wrestling Club), 5-1 7th: Chris Droege (Compound Wrestling- Great Lakes Regional Training Center) tech. Brodey Beckman (Hill Country Wrestling Club), 11-0 1:42 97 kilograms: 1st- George Hooker (Unattached) dec. Michael Loyola (Unattached), 6-2 3rd: Timothy Eubanks (Unattached) pinned Brady Vogel IA (Dubuque Wrestling Club), 0:57 5th: Dylan Buschow (MWC Wrestling Academy) forfeit Rylan Bonds TX (Spartan Mat Club) 130 kilograms: 1st: Lee Herrington (Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club) pinned Zach Schrader (Unattached), 1:18 3rd: Trent Ragland (Cougar Wrestling Club) dec. Octavio Alejandre WA (Unattached), 5-2 5th: Cameron Dubose (Unattached) tech. Luke Zaiser MN (Unattached), 10-0 5:05 Semifinals 55 kilograms: Brendon Garcia (Wyoming Wrestling Reg Training Ctr) tech. Michael Spangler (Beaver Wrestling Club), 12-4 4:29 Mason Carzino-Hartshorn (Community Youth Center - Concord) tech. Aria Mazroy (San Francisco Wrestling Club), 8-0 1:02 63 kilograms: Dylan Gregerson (Brunson UVRTC) tech. Jarod Maes (X-Factor Elite Wrestling), 10-0 2:27 Erik Spence (Battle Born Wrestling Club) tech. Rylee Molitor (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club), 8-0 2:03 67 kilograms: Benjamin Peak (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Lenny Merkin (NYAC/NJRTC), 8-5 Peyton Omania (Unattached) tech. Nolan Baker (New York Athletic Club), 9-1 3:36 72 kilograms: Zachary Grimes (Unattached) dec. Riley Briggs (Community Youth Center - Concord Campus), 10-3 Calvin Germinaro (Unattached) dec. Zachary Tolver (Interior Grappling Academy), 13-10 77 kilograms: Tyler Dow (Wisconsin Regional Training Center) pinned Ryan Epps (Unattached), 2:12 Jesse Porter (New York Athletic Club) tech. Fritz Schierl (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)), 11-0 3:25 82 kilograms: Tommy Brackett (Unattached) pinned Kacper Piskorz (Unattached), 0:48 Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania RTC) tech. William Smith VA (Unattached), 8-0 0:35 87 kilograms: Guy Patron (Dubuque Wrestling Club) tech. Bear Hughes (Unattached), 9-0 2:02 Cameron Caffey (Unattached) tech. Chase Mccleish (Team Valley Wrestling Club), 13-2 4:08 97 kilograms: Michael Loyola (Unattached) tech. Brady Vogel (Dubuque Wrestling Club), 9-0 1:25 George Hooker (Unattached) pinned Timothy Eubanks (Unattached), 0:40 130 kilograms: Zach Schrader (Unattached) tech. Cameron Dubose (Unattached), 11-1 3:59 Lee Herrington (Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club) tech. Luke Zaiser(Unattached), 9-0 0:22

The Boxer wrestling program is now in the hands of former Pacific wrestler and former assistant coach Zach Binkerd as he's officially been named interim head men's and women's wrestling coach. Zach BinkerdBinkerd knows first-hand how Pacific and the ability to compete in a sport you love at the college level can make a significant impact in one's life. "I think some of the things that I learned as an athlete helped me in my professional career. The things that I learned in the classroom pushed me above my peers. I truly believe that Pacific University has a great education. I did both my undergrad and graduate work here, and I came out of my graduate program feeling like a professional - like I was ready to attack the world. I owe that a lot to the education that I received at Pacific and the culture that was created through the wrestling program," said Binkerd. Athletic Director Keith Buckley is excited to have Binkerd lead the way for the Boxer wrestling program moving forward. "Coach Binkerd has a tremendous connection to the Boxer wrestling community and is eager to take the necessary steps to move our program positively forward into the future. He is a proud wrestling alum of Pacific University who is excited to lead our current student-athletes through this challenging time," said Buckley. Binkerd's ties to Pacific wrestling run deep. He has served as an assistant coach, competed for four years on the mats for the Boxers, and his father Kevin Binkerd also wrestled for Pacific and was inducted in the Pacific Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. For the past two seasons, Binkerd has served as an assistant coach for the Boxers. During the 2018-19 season, he helped three Boxer men reach the second round of the consolation round of the NCAA Division III West Regional. While in the same season, he helped coach four women in the WCWA Wrestling Championships, while two earned Top four finishes at the Oregon Women's State Championships. Zach competed for the Boxers for four years (2009-2013) after a strong high school career at Hillsboro high school, where he earned three top-eight finishes at State, including a second-place finish in the Oregon 5A State Championship in the 119 lb. weight class. He hopes to use the strong history of Boxer wrestling, which includes over 60 All-Americans in men's wrestling and over 40 All-Americans in women's wrestling, and 17 National Champions between the men and women to help rebuild the program. "We have a strong presence in the wrestling community in Oregon and beyond. There are a lot of Pacific University alums that are still active. If you walk into our wrestling room, you will see a wall that is littered with names of past champions and All-Americans and people who have found a way to attack life beyond; leaders of the wrestling community, leaders of their own communities. It's always had a strong impact on me since I was a kid; I was fortunate enough that my father was an All-American and knew of many of those folks growing up and had such a big impact on my life. It's awesome to be part of a community that is steeped in so much tradition," said Binkerd. He earned both his bachelor's degree and graduate degree from Pacific and has spent the last five years teaching, currently as a third-grade teacher at Fairview Elementary school in Hillsboro. Binkerd hopes to build the program back up and knows it will take work. "Hoping to bolster our position on campus and try and grow our numbers, and really look to be eventually a threat nationally. We know there's a lot of work to get there, but we're excited and ready to put in the work to make the push," said Binkerd.

The United States saw a record number of coronavirus cases this week, including a single-day high of 144,000 new cases reported Thursday. Deaths, which lag by 10-14 days, are also increasing and have reached an average of 1,400 a day. There is plenty to discuss about the United States' horrendous management of the virus and its outcomes. We've become fatigued. Leadership is non-existent. Conspiracy theories distract and misinform. People are dying in record numbers. But the wrestling community is about to feel the impact in a very real and direct way. The number of cases is terrifying because there is an exponential spread. What is 144K today will be 300K in a few weeks without proper mitigation, and given the exhaustion there is unlikely to be new restrictions put into place until it's far too late. There will be new restrictions and they will impact wrestling. Even in the states where rules have been lax there is an inevitable change coming when hospitals become overrun and constituents demand government action. I don't know for certain, but I'd guess that the first sport to be canned in the winter will be wrestling. Even before this recent spike we were seeing states placing limits on competitions. That is certain to expand as cases and deaths increase. Wrestling won't be a priority for any state administrator. I hope that we can accept this as the cost of the virus and not blame the administrators who are being put in this impossible decision. We will wrestle again, but I don't know if it'll be until the Summer of 2021. To your questions … Q: What are your predictions for this weekend's Burroughs-Zahid event on Flo? Aside from JB vs. Zahid, what match on the card are you most excited about? -- Mike C. Foley: Predictions are below. Match 1: Kyven Gadson df Kollin Moore, 4-2 Match 2: Kayla Miracle df. Ana Godinez, 10-0 Match 3: Sammy Sasso df Tyler Berger, 6-1 Match 4: Alli Ragan df Lauren Louive via Fall Match 5: Alan Vera df. G'angelo Hancock, via TF Match 6: Anthony Echemendia df. Evan Henderson, 8-3 Match 7: Jordan Burroughs df Zahid Valencia, 9-2 Jordan is always must-watch TV. He's a superstar who always delivers an entertaining match. The sock pulls, the double legs, the moments of trash talking and posturing. I love it all and won't be missing him compete this weekend. Anthony Echemendia after winning a Fargo title in freestyle (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) I'm intrigued by Anthony Echemendia. He's being touted as the next superstar from the United States and it'll be interesting to see how he handles a veteran like Evan Henderson. From what I've seen of Echemendia it'll be a good test and allow him to showcase his on-the-mat personality rather than just his online persona. This will be a great event. Very interested in how it all plays out. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Always enjoy watching this match. UWW is going through the Top 100 most-watched videos on its YouTube page. Be sure to subscribe! Q: I read the article about UWW's Individual World Cup. What do you expect the field to be like? Will we see several world champions and world medalists? How large do you expect the brackets to be? -- Mike C. Foley: The Individual World Cup is the first event planned by United World Wrestling since the completion of the Pan Am Qualifier in March. To not have a tournament for nine months is an incredible amount of time for an international federation to be idle. While cases are increasing globally the event is being planned for Serbia in December. There will be a number of protocols in place, which I think will be announced in the coming weeks. As for the field, I think we will see the full lineups from Russia, Turkey, Georgia, India, and Iran. That's just a guess as they haven't opened the new entries up, but those nations had shown original interest. I'm hopeful for 40-plus nations and average brackets of more than 16 wrestlers per category and that will almost certainly include a large number of world champions and medalists. I'm hopeful for a good turnout! Q: Jordan Burroughs has used his social media to speak out about police brutality in the past. He tweeted this past weekend that he's proud to be an American and mentioned how the new president will represent the country with class and dignity. Do you wish more of America's top wrestlers would use their platform to speak out on issues? -- Mike C. Foley: I think that a lot of our top athletes and coaches do express their political opinions online, but the vast majority are on the other side of the issues from Jordan Burroughs. That's why when Jordan mentions something "political" online he is attacked in a broader manner than some of the Division I coaches who have more conservative opinions. Jordan has a platform and he knows there will be blowback but takes his responsibility seriously. He's a leader in our community and has always conducted himself with dignity. Can't imagine there is value in tuning him out or shouting down his ideas.

The Ivy League announced Thursday that it has canceled all winter sports, including wrestling, for the 2020-21 season. Six Ivy League schools sponsor wrestling: Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, Penn, Brown and Harvard. Below is the press release announcement from the Ivy League. PRINCETON, N.J. -- Consistent with its commitment to safeguard the health and wellbeing of student-athletes, the greater campus community and general public, the Ivy League Council of Presidents has decided that league schools will not conduct intercollegiate athletics competition in winter sports during the 2020-21 season. In addition, the Ivy League will not conduct competition for fall sports during the upcoming spring semester. Lastly, intercollegiate athletics competition for spring sports is postponed through at least the end of February 2021. The unanimous decisions by the Ivy League Council of Presidents follow extended consideration of options and strategies to mitigate the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, an analysis of current increasing rates of COVID-19 - locally, regionally and nationally - and the resulting need to continue the campus policies related to travel, group size and visitors to campus that safeguard the campus and community. Athletics training opportunities and practices for enrolled student-athletes will be permitted, provided they are structured in accordance with each institution's procedures and applicable state and local regulations. This approach is consistent with the phased approach implemented by the Ivy League for all sports in the fall 2020 term. The Council will continue to closely monitor and evaluate the public health climate and consider changes to policies when warranted in order to return to more normal campus operations, including potential spring intercollegiate athletics competition. Winter and fall sport student-athletes will not lose a season of Ivy League or NCAA eligibility, whether or not they enroll. Students who wish to pursue competition during a fifth-year of undergraduate education at their home institution, if permitted, or as a graduate student elsewhere will need to work with their institutions in accordance with campus policy to determine their options beyond their current anticipated graduation date. The Ivy League Council of Presidents offered the following joint statement: Throughout the last nine months, we have asked our campus communities to make extraordinary adjustments in order to do our part in combating the global pandemic and to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty members, staff and the communities in which they live and work. Regrettably, the current trends regarding transmission of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent protocols that must be put in place are impeding our strong desire to return to intercollegiate athletics competition in a safe manner. Student-athletes, their families and coaches are again being asked to make enormous sacrifices for the good of public health -- and we do not make this decision lightly. While these decisions come with great disappointment and frustration, our commitment to the safety and lasting health of our student-athletes and wider communities must remain our highest priority. We look forward to the day when intercollegiate athletics -- which are such an important part of the fabric of our campus communities -- will safely return in a manner and format we all know and appreciate. Ivy League Council of Presidents Christina Paxson, Brown University Lee Bollinger, Columbia University Martha Pollack, Cornell University Philip Hanlon, Dartmouth College Lawrence Bacow, Harvard University Amy Gutmann, University of Pennsylvania Christopher Eisgruber, Princeton University Peter Salovey, Yale University About the Ivy League The Ivy League stands at the pinnacle of higher education and Division I athletics, rooted in the longstanding, defining principle that intercollegiate athletics competition should be "kept in harmony with the essential educational purposes of the institution." Unrivaled in its legacy, The Ivy League provides the true test of academic and co-curricular rigor - fostering an enduring culture that celebrates a storied-tradition, thrives on shared values and holds paramount the academic and personal growth of students. Consistently ranked as the top academic conference and with more national championships than any other collegiate athletic conference (287 team, 546 individual), The Ivy League showcased 98 nationally-ranked programs in 2018-19 and prides itself on sponsoring 33 sports, the highest number of any NCAA conference, with more than 8,000 student-athletes competing annually. The League's world-renowned schools - Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton and Yale - serve as the standard bearers for inspiring and transforming student-athletes to boldly take on the world's challenges and lead lives of great impact. For more information, please visit IvyLeague.com.

WICHITA, Kan. -- Friends University Director of Athletics Dr. Rob Ramseyer has announced the hiring of Aaron Meister as the head coach of the newly added men's and wrestling programs. Aaron Meister"We feel lucky to attract a coach with the experience of starting and running a successful wrestling program," Ramseyer said. "Aaron brings a great deal of experience to the role and Christian higher education. We are confident he will build a quality program that will be successful in being competitive but also producing students who are engaged and will graduate. We are excited to welcome him and his wife Jill back to Kansas." Meister is indeed familiar with Kansas after attending Holton High School, Labette County Community College and then graduating from Fort Hays State University. He comes to Friends after helping to jumpstart the men's and women's wrestling programs as an assistant coach for four seasons at Wayland Baptist University (WBU) in Plainview, Texas. He then took the reins of the program after head coach legendary head coach Johnny Cobb retired prior to the 2014-15 season. Meister's decorated coaching career includes coaching a World Champion, Tamyra Mensah-Stock, four World medalists, 13 National Champions, 96 All-Americans, and the 2019 NAIA Women's Dual Champions. Among those All-Americans is an Olympic Trials champion, two World Team Trials champions, three U.S. Open champions, a University World runner-up, and 25 of those individuals are either World or Olympic Trials qualifiers. While at WBU, Meister has initiated and endowed two scholarships (Johnny Cobb and& Tamyra Mensah-Stock Wrestling Scholarships). He also created the Panhandle Wrestling Association of which he currently serves as President while also starting the Panhandle Wrestling Club. "I'm honored and grateful to be selected by Dr. Ramseyer and all of the people that were part of the hiring process," Meister said. "Starting a new program is a massive undertaking. A task that requires optimism, wisdom, and patience. Ultimately, I decided to accept the responsibility of building a program because of the long term potential that Wichita offers in wrestling experience, and community support. I have some ideas of how to utilize these resources to move the wrestling program forward, and am excited to share this vision with the community of Wichita. I'm excited to "Build the #Tower,", so Interested prospects are encouraged to complete the Friends University Athletic Questionnaire, so we may learn more about them and share our vision for the program to those who want to make history!" During his standout collegiate career, Meister captured three national championships (2019, 2018, 2014) in the Veterans Division of the U.S. Open. At Fort Hays State University, Meister finished fourth at the 2004 NCAA D-II National Championships, won two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships, and capped his collegiate career in 2006 with a fifth-place finish and First-Team Academic All-American honors. In 2003, he was NJCAA national champion, Academic All-American, and student-athlete of year at Labette Community College (Kan.). In 2017, Meister was inducted to the NJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame. "This is a huge first step in creating a solid wrestling program at Friends University," said Mike Church, Wichita Heights High School Athletic Director who helped with the search. "Coach Meister is 100% the right man to lead this program. He has the pedigree of a champion and a great ability to get the most out of college student-athletes. He will instill everything needed to build a championship, faith-based program. I'm looking forward to watching this program being built into a championship caliber program.". Meister earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training in 2006 and also a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance with an emphasis in Sports Administration in 2009, both from Fort Hays State University.

Jordan Burroughs and Zahid Valencia will face off Saturday night (Photos/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) FloWrestling will host another event this Saturday. In the main event, multiple time world champion Jordan Burroughs will take on a challenge from multiple-time NCAA champion Zahid Valencia. The rest of the card features bouts between top contenders and a few rare interweight matches. The following is a bout-by-bout preview of the card. 97 kilograms: Kyven Gadson vs. Kollin Moore These two recently met in the 97-kilogram final of the 2020 Senior Nationals. In that match, Gadson scored the first takedown of the match as he spun behind off a Moore shot. However, Moore turned it on late to take the victory. He scored eight of the last nine points of the bout and took home a 12-5 victory and the tournament title. On the way to the finals, Moore also defeated Nathan Traxler, Ty Walz and Hayden Zillmer. Earlier in the year, the former Ohio State competitor wrestled for the first time since college on the debut show for Wrestling Underground and scored a 7-0 victory over Deron Winn. Back at Ohio State, Moore was a four-time All-American. During his junior season, he made the NCAA finals before coming up short against Bo Nickal. This past season, he put together an undefeated 27-0 record and appeared to be the clear favorite heading into the NCAA tournament before it was canceled. Gadson also wrestled on the Wrestling Underground show. He had a tough time after moving up in weight against Nick Gwiazdowski and dropped a 10-0 match. However, Gadson got back into form quickly and had a solid showing at Senior Nationals. He knocked off Nino Bonaccorsi and Eric Schultz to make the semifinals. There, he matched up with rival Kyle Snyder. Snyder ultimately bowed out of the match with an injury, but Gadson was leading 5-0 at the time of the stoppage. Gadson showed he can score against Moore in their last meeting. However, in that match, Moore had the staying power and the more diverse ways of scoring. This one might turn into a shootout, but Moore should be the on top of the scoreboard at the end of the night. Prediction: Moore VPO1 over Gadson 62 kilograms: Kayla Miracle vs. Ana Godinez Earlier this year, Miracle secured the U.S. a spot at 62 kilograms in the upcoming Olympics. She bested four opponents to make the finals of the Pan American Olympic Qualifier and earn the berth. Miracle had a busy 2019 as she represented the U.S. at both the Senior World championships as well as the U23 World Championships. While she failed to place on the senior level, Miracle brought home a silver medal from the U23 World Championships. Godinez, who represents Canada on the international scene, also pulled double duty in 2019. She failed to place at the Senior World Championships, but she did break through with a bronze medal performance at the junior level. Earlier this year, Godinez won a WCWC championship for Simon Fraser at 143 pounds. Along the way, she scored three tech falls in four matches. Miracle is one of the brighter young stars on the domestic scene. She should get the opportunity to look good here. It will be a challenge to make the Olympic team, but Miracle will be a regular on the national team ladder going forward. Prediction: Miracle VSU1 over Godinez 160 pounds: Sammy Sasso vs. Tyler Berger As a freshman this past season at Ohio State, Sasso went 24-3 with victories over Pat Lugo, Brayton Lee and Kanen Storr. After his victory over Lugo during the regular season, he entered the Big Ten tournament as the favorite. However, the Iowa wrestler reversed that result in the tournament final setting up a rematch for the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, the event never materialized. During the year, Sasso took a break from folkstyle to enter the 2019 Dave Schultz where he finished fourth at 70 kilograms and defeated David Carr and Anthony Collica. Berger defeated Joey McKenna on the debut Wrestling Underground show. Despite often competing at a higher weight, Berger's ability to continually score on the way to an 8-2 victory was considered somewhat surprising. In 2019, the former Nebraska wrestler entered both the Bill Farrell Memorial and Senior Nationals. Even though he failed to place in either event, Berger did score wins over Carson Kharchla, Dylan Ness and Nick Becker. As a collegiate competitor, he was a three-time NCAA All-American. Berger made the NCAA finals as a senior in 2019 and dropped a major decision against Jason Nolf. Weight might play a factor in this match. Sasso wrestled at 149 pounds this past collegiate season, so this will be quite a move up for him. On top of that, Berger seemed able to apply his weight advantage when he faced off against McKenna this past August. Ignoring those factors, Sasso should be the favorite due to his defense. If he can overcome the physical challenges presented in this match, he should be able to take the victory. Prediction: Sasso VPO1 over Berger 59 kilograms: Alli Ragan vs. Lauren Louive Ragan and Louive were expected to meet in the finals of this past Senior Nationals. However, Ragan, the No. 1 seed, was upset in the semifinals by Xochitl Mota-Pettis and went on to finish third. Louive, on the other hand, took care of business on her side of the bracket and ended up defeating Mota-Pettis in the finals. On her way to the tournament title, Louive also defeated Isabella Gonzalez, Jasmine Davis and Ngao Shoua Whitehorn. In addition to the 2020 Senior Nationals title, Louive also won bronze medals at the 2020 Pan American Championships, 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial and 2019 Klippan Lady Open. Despite the upset at Senior Nationals, Ragan remains one of the top contenders at this weight class domestically. She defeated Louive at Final X last year to make yet another world team. She holds a pair of world silver medals from both the 2016 and 2017. In their two-match series at Final X, Ragan won both matches via 10-0 shutouts. The longer of the two matches was still under two minutes. It will be interesting to see if Louive has made strides and perhaps closes the gap. However, Ragan should be a big favorite heading into this contest. Prediction: Ragan VSU over Louive 103 kilograms: G'Angelo Hancock vs. Alan Vera For the past few cycles, Hancock has been perhaps the strongest competitor for the U.S. on the Greco side of the sport. So far this year, he has medaled at the Matteo Pellicone, Pan American Championships and the Pan American Olympic Qualifier. Hancock has represented the U.S. at multiple world championships and holds an impressive victory over seven-time world/Olympic medalist Artur Aleksanyan. Vera defected from Cuba in 2016, and he has shown himself to be an extremely tough challenge. He recently dominated his way through Senior Nationals on the way to the tournament title. In the finals, he scored a 7-1 victory over Joe Rau in a bout that showed his dominance in all phases of the sport. In 2019, he won both the Dave Schultz Memorial and the Bill Farrell Memorial. In those two events, Vera outscored his opponents by a combined 60-4 score. Vera has appeared to be a polished Greco competitor since coming over from Cuba. However, he may be biting off a bit more than he can chew in this one. Hancock regularly competes at 97 kilograms, while Vera's recent success has come down at 87 kilograms. For those not familiar with the metric system, that is a difference of about 22 pounds. Vera might be able to make a different par terre in this match, but it is hard to see him scoring against such a larger opponent on the feet. Prediction: Hancock VPO1 over Vera 67 kilograms: Anthony Echemendia vs. Evan Henderson After an extensive recruitment process, Echemendia appears to have finally found a home at Ohio State. He arrived from his native Cuba in 2018 and wrestled at the high school level for a single season where he won an Arizona state title. He entered the 2019 USAW Junior Nationals (Fargo) in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. Echemendia won both tournaments and defeated all of his opponents by a combined 139-10 score. This will be Echemendia's first competitive match since defeating Josh Saunders at the 2019 Who's Number One event. Henderson has been competing full time on the freestyle circuit since exhausting his collegiate eligibility in 2016. At North Carolina, he was a two-time All-American after finishing sixth as a sophomore and fourth as a junior. On the freestyle scene, Henderson had a very strong 2019 that saw him pick up medals at the Dave Schultz Memorial, Cerro Pelado-Granma, Continental Cup and Bill Farrell Memorial. He has continued that momentum so far this year as he recently placed second at Senior Nationals. In the tournament, he defeated the likes of Ian Parker and Jaydin Eierman before coming up short against Andrew Alirez in the finals. At this point, the wrestling world has really only seen what Echemendia can do at the high school level. He has appeared to be far and above the competition there. He is taking a big step up here against a wrestler who just finished second at Senior Nationals. With that being said, Alirez really laid out a game plan to beat Henderson in that finals match. Echemendia's ability to score from the outside could easily mimic Alirez's style and drive him to a victory here. With that being said, the experience edge might be too vast here. Prediction: Henderson VPO1 over Echemendia 185 pounds: Jordan Burroughs vs. Zahid Valencia Burroughs is now an eight-time world/Olympic medalist after picking up a bronze medal in 2019. After failing to capture an Olympic medal in 2016, Burroughs was expecting 2020 to be about peaking for the Olympic Trials and eventually the Games. Due to the pandemic that has since been postponed. Burroughs last competed at the 2020 Pan American Championships where he easily won the title. He surrendered only one point in the bracket and scored an 8-1 victory over Franklin Gomez in the finals. Valencia recently exhausted his eligibility at Arizona State. He went 129-5 and won a pair of NCAA titles. Along the way, he scored victories over the likes of Mark Hall, Daniel Lewis, Myles Amine and Bo Jordan. In freestyle, Valencia is a junior world silver medalist from 2017 and has nearly made a pair of world teams. In 2018, he made Final X before coming up short against Kyle Dake. Last year, he made the finals of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament before falling against Alex Dieringer. This is another match on this card where size could play a factor. Valencia has competed on the senior level in freestyle at both 79 and 86 kilograms. On the other hand, Burroughs has been at 74 kilograms for years. With that being said, Burroughs' style has helped him defeat larger opponents in the past. Valencia's length might be the biggest issue for Burroughs, but if he can get through the hands, he should be able to score. Prediction: Burroughs VPO1 over Valencia

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland -- After not reaching the criteria defined by the United World Wrestling Bureau in June to host a 'World Championships, the decision was made Tuesday to organize an "Individual World Cup" as substitute event. National Federations had been given until Thursday, Nov. 5 to confirm their interest in participating at the 2020 World Championships. UWW had set a benchmark requiring that at least 8 of 10 of the top nations from the 2019 World Championships, and 70% of total athletes, participate in 2020. With many nations reinstating travel restrictions in response to COVID-19 the participation hurdles were not met. "We want to see our athletes compete again on the mat. It's important to our organization and we are committed to providing them an opportunity," said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. "There are real challenges to overcome, but we are working together to find a safe and acceptable format where our top athletes can compete in a world class event." The "Individual World Cup" will be held in Belgrade with final confirmation of dates expected in the coming days. The event will include a prize pool of 300,000 CHF spread evenly across the 30 weight categories. The Ordinary Congress and elections have been postponed to 2021, but the World Wrestling End of Year Conference will be organized as a virtual event.

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.