InterMat Staff

USA Wrestling has updated its "Return to the Mat Guidelines" document, which are guidelines and recommendations for the wrestling community as it makes decisions on a local level regarding when and how to safely resume wrestling activity. Link: Updated USA Wrestling Return to the Mat Guidelines The reason for the update is to make the guidelines better align with the ways that state and local governments and public health departments are implementing their requirements concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes appear in the Phase 3 portion of the document (pages 10-14), a period when public health authorities allow small group activities. The changes in Phase 3 reflect the fact that some states are allowing facilities to open, but with restrictions regarding the number of participants. The first version of this document only covered the situation of small group activities when facilities are closed. In addition, the Phase 3 guidelines recommend that in regard to direct or indirect contact between athletes, coaching activities and inside/outside training, that local and state requirements are followed. In this updated document, there could be some coaching activities, as well as direct or indirect contact between athletes, during Phase 3 if state and local requirements do not restrict it. One other change is in the Summary Chart on page 22, reflecting that Phase 3 includes a period when facilities may be either open or closed. The chart also reflects that state and local requirements should be followed concerning decisions regarding coaching, inside/outside training and contact level. USA Wrestling received requests for clarification regarding the application of Phase 3 guidelines in certain local situations, and the changes are designed to provide additional clarity. The original document was posted by USA Wrestling on May 14. The updated document is being released on June 11. As USA Wrestling has suggested since the pandemic began, all individuals should keep themselves updated with the most recent information from their state and local public health department, and follow those local regulations. Club leaders, coaches, parents and individuals must make their own assessments as to the safety of their situations in conjunction with this document. As noted when the guidelines were originally posted, USA Wrestling expects the document may be revised as the pandemic progresses and new or updated information becomes available. The wrestling community is asked to review this document from time to time to assess the guidelines and recommendations

Tanner Hall wrestling in the semifinals of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) SAN FRANCISCO -- Tanner Hall is a 2019-20 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Medal award winner from Arizona State, as announced by the conference on Thursday. The honor is given annually to an outstanding senior male and female student-athlete from each of the conference's 12 institutions for "the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics, and leadership." Hall becomes the sixth Sun Devil wrestler in program history to receive the conference honor and the first since Anthony Robles in 2011. Named the Pac-12's 2020 Scholar-Athlete of the Year in wrestling and a member of ASU's Barrett, The Honors College, Hall completed both his undergraduate (2019/3.60 GPA) and master's (2020/3.60 GPA) degrees in electrical engineering. He was also a two-time NWCA All-Academic selection and a 2020 NWCA Scholar All-American in addition to twice being named to the Pac-12 All-Academic First Team and the 2020 Pac-12 Winter Honor Roll. The graduate senior from Meridian, Idaho, was an important cog to the Sun Devils success since stepping foot on campus back in 2015. He compiled more than 100 wins in an ASU singlet and won a pair of Pac-12 titles at heavyweight. He notched his first All-American honor at the 2017 NCAA Championships with a third-place finish. In April, Hall became the first ASU heavyweight wrestler to clinch two All-American awards since Cain Velasquez (2005, 2006). In 2020, Hall's title helped ASU garner its third Pac-12 title in four seasons while scoring the highest conference tournament point total (141.5) since 1993. Hall's contributions were integral in the team earning a 15-2 dual mark in 2002 (highest win total since 1989-90), including seven wins over Top 25 teams, punctuated by its upset of top-ranked Penn State. During his time at ASU, Hall participated in numerous Sun Devil Caravans and Sparky's Tours which included character presentations at elementary schools and participation in various service projects.

Garrett Berg A GoFundMe page has been set up for Garrett Berg, 17, a junior-class student/wrestler at Farmington High School who died Monday, June 8 while up on a cliff overlooking Lake Byllesby in Goodhue County in Minnesota. The GoFundMe page started by Austin Patterson and Owen Zahn was created June 9 to raise money for Berg's funeral costs. On the first day, over $17,000 was raised. According to multiple news reports, the Goodhoe County Sheriff's Office got a call at 5:25 p.m. that a teen had jumped off the cliffs at Lake Byllesby and hadn't surfaced. A second juvenile reportedly jumped immediately after Berg, landing on the wrestler. Berg never surfaced, the sheriff's office reported. The district said school counselors have made themselves available to the entire community though school is not in session. "He will be greatly missed by his teachers, classmates, teammates, and friends at Farmington High," the district said in a statement. "We encourage our families to reach out to school staff if they have a specific concern regarding their child or would like additional assistance in dealing with this tragic loss," the district said. "Our sincere and deep sympathies are with Garrett's family and friends during this very difficult time." Garrett Berg was an active, athletic young man. In addition to participating on the Farmington High School wrestling team, he was also a member of the school's baseball and football teams. He was also active in 4H for the past 11 years, including as a camp counselor for younger 4Hers. What's more, Garrett was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church LCMS his entire life, where he was baptised as an infant and completed confirmation as a true believer. Garrett Berg is survived by his parents Lori and Steve, his sister Hailey, grandmothers Florence Schafer and Ella Berg, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his cousin Joshua Schafer, and his grandfathers, Elmer Schafer and Dick Berg. A visitation is scheduled for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 12, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minn. Funeral service details for Saturday, June 13 are pending. In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Garrett accepted.

Seth Gross (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin head wrestling coach Chris Bono announced on Thursday that former Badger wrestler and NCAA champion Seth Gross would be joining his coaching staff for the 2020-21 season. "I am very excited to have Seth Gross on staff," said Bono. "He brings a wealth of wrestling knowledge and is well respected throughout the country. He is very familiar with Coach Reader and myself and loves Madison. He is the definition of hustle, effort, and attitude." Gross will begin his coaching career with the Badgers while still training for the 2021 Olympic games. "I am beyond grateful that I get kick of my coaching career at such an amazing university," Gross added. "Coaching is something I have always been passionate about and I am looking forward to helping our guys reach their goals both on and off the wrestling mat." Gross is very familiar with Bono and associate head coach Jon Reader. The duo recruited him to South Dakota State as a transfer in 2015. As a redshirt freshman, Gross went 27-13 and competed at the NCAA championship for the Jackrabbits. Moving onto his sophomore year, Gross was never ranked below seventh in the country at 133 pounds and earned a second-place finish at the 2017 NCAA Championships. Seth Gross Photo Gallery | Seth Gross: My Words In his junior season at South Dakota State, Gross was the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class for the entire season. He took his 29-1 record to the NCAA championship and claimed the 133-pound title over Michigan's Steven Micic. The following year, Bono and Reader left South Dakota State to take over the Wisconsin program while Gross wrestled one match before he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a back injury. Following back surgery, Gross was granted a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA and transferred to Wisconsin. In his time in a Badger singlet, Gross earned Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honors after winning his weight class at the 2019 Midlands Championship and earning Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament in December. Gross never fell below second in the national rankings at 133 pounds with key victories over Penn State's Roman Bravo-Young, Northwestern's Sebastian Rivera, and two victories over Iowa's Austin DeSanto. Gross finished his collegiate wrestling career with a third-place finish at the 2020 Big Ten Championship and qualified for the NCAA championship, which were not held due to COVID19. In freestyle wrestling, Gross won the Bill Farrell Open in November, earning him an automatic spot at the USA Olympic Team Trials and USA Wrestling's Wrestler of the Week honors. Gross will look to compete for a spot on Team USA's 2021 Olympic wrestling team at 57 kilograms.

"Guess what?! I'm goin' to state!" Raising Cane's River CenterFor a high school wrestler, there are no more exciting words to say! Just as long as you know where your state tournament is being held this year. And in 2021, two state wrestling championships will be held in Louisiana, and in West Virginia.in locations with names you might not recognize This week, both the LHSAA (Louisiana High School Athletic Association) and the WVSSAC (West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission) announced new names for the homes for their respective state wrestling championships. Louisiana The Louisiana High School Athletic Association approved a measure that will move the state meet to the Raising Cane's River Center in Baton Rouge after a five-year run at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City. The move puts the meet in closer proximity to the Interstate 10 corridor cities of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette and their surrounding areas, home to many of Louisiana's most successful high school mat programs. West Virginia The West Virginia high school wrestling state tournament is staying in Huntington through at least 2024, according to an announcement from the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. The 2020-21 West Virginia state wrestling championships is scheduled to take place March 4-6 at Mountain Health Arena in Huntington.

Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier have met each other in the Octagon twice ... splitting the difference. Daniel Cormier and Stipe MiocicNow the two former college wrestlers might just settle things for a third and final time this summer at UFC 252 on August 15, 2020 ... at a location to be determined. UFC President Dana White announced the fight on ESPN's first take on Tuesday. Miocic and Cormier have split their first two fights. In their first meeting in the Octagon in 2018 -- at UFC 226 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 7, 2018 -- Cormier came out with the victory and the UFC heavyweight title -- with an opening-round knockout at 4:31 of the first round. In 2019, Miocic avenged his initial loss to Cormier a year earlier with a fourth-round TKO in their second title bout at UFC 241 on August 17, 2019 in Anaheim, California. Miocic has put his heavyweight belt up for contention in a third meeting with Cormier in mid-August in what Cormier claims will be his final fight in his long and successful MMA career. Miocic, 39, brings a 19-3 pro MMA record; Cormier, 41, is 22-2 overall in his pro MMA career. Stipe Miocic was born in August 1982 in Euclid, Ohio in suburban Cleveland. A product of Lafayette, Louisiana, Daniel Cormier was born March 20, 1979. Both Miocic and Cormier bring amateur wrestling backgrounds -- and strong professional MMA records -- to what is expected to be their third and final meeting in the Octagon. Miocic is ranked No. 3 in UFC for pound-for-pound competitor ... while Cormier is No. 5 in the same UFC ranking. Miocic, participated in a number of sports early in his life, including Golden Gloves boxing, and as a wrestler at Eastlake High School outside Cleveland. He also wrestled at Cleveland State University, an NCAA Division I school. Wrestling at Northside High School, Cormier, won three Louisiana state championships. He then headed north to Kansas to study at Colby Community College, where he was a two-time junior college national champion at 197 pounds, in 1998 and 1999, earning a perfect 61-0 record. Cormier then transferred to NCAA Division I Oklahoma State University, where earned NCAA All-American honors, placing second at 184 pounds (losing to Iowa State's Cael Sanderson, earning his fourth title.) Cormier then moved onto freestyle competition, winning a national title each year from 2003-2008, and representing Team USA in world competition each of those years. He was a member of the men's US freestyle team for the 2008 Olympics but was pulled from competition due to kidney issues. The Miocic-Cormier 3/UFC 252 event for August 15 is expected to feature additional matches to be announced in the next two months.

Competitive opportunities just became brighter for young women wrestlers in the Sunshine State, as the board of directors of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) voted to officially sanction girls wrestling as a state championship sport on Tuesday. The vote was unanimous: 13-0. While the move towards sanctioned girls wrestling in Florida seemed to move at lightning speed (first proposed by the FHSAA in late April this year), some student-athletes hoping to be able to wrestle in Florida's first fully-sanctioned girls state championship next spring in 2021, the FHSAA answered concerns from some schools who had already set their budgets for girls' wrestling programs for the next school year, so the executive board approved as one to have the first girls' wrestling season to take place during the 2021-2022 school year. It appeared to be a winning schedule for high school girl wrestlers throughout Florida, whether at brand-new girls-only wrestling programs, or for schools still in the process of setting up new girls-only programs right now, so, in the meantime will have girls compete on existing boys teams. "For the almost 800 girls and 100 plus schools that are already doing this, they are already prepared and they'll do what they have to do, even if they have to wrestle with boys for one more year, they are down to do that." Tallahassee Lincoln wrestling coach Mike Crowder told the Orlando Sentinel. "I assume our numbers will grow astronomically, even this year." To back up Coach Crowder's sentiment ... girls wrestling continues to grow exponentially in recent years, with no signs of letting up. As recently as the beginning of 2018, six states had six separate state championships: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington State. Two-and-a-half-years later, Florida just became the 24th state to fully sanction girls championship wrestling. That means nearly half of all states will now have girls wrestling.

Cody Garbrandt Another weekend, and another successful UFC event. After a significant hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is officially cranking again. As the sporting world at large remains quiet, the world's biggest MMA promotion seems to be finding its footing in terms of holding events in a post-COVID-19 world. This past weekend's UFC 250 pay-per view featured quite a few wrestlers up and down the card. Several of them with impressive resumes. To my knowledge, of the 24 featured fighters on the billing, eight of them wrestled successfully at the high school level or beyond. Of those eight wrestlers, seven were victorious on Saturday night. Here's what we learned about these former matmen. Cody Garbrandt What we learned: After suffering three very rough losses in a row, not only is the former bantamweight champion back, but likely a better, more dangerous fighter than ever before. The former Ohio high school state champ wrestler (two-time state finalist) who also won a freestyle state title and placed fifth at NHSCA Senior Nationals, is at least as explosive as ever, but is now demonstrating a whole new layer to his skill set. A mainstay of Urijah Faber's Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California, Cody "No Love" trained for this most recent fight in New Jersey. Having guys like Frankie Edgar, boxing coach Mark Henry, BJJ coach Ricardo Almeida, and the rest of the Jersey guys at his disposal, Garbrandt became a better fighter in a single training camp. Saturday night against the very savvy, very tough Raphael Assuncao, Garbrandt eschewed his usual raging bull style and implemented a much more complete, much more composed attack. Instead of storming out of the gate ultra-aggressive and highly emotional with a boxing-based offense, he took his time, established range with some very slick low kicks, and let the fight unfold organically. Even when stung by Assuncao's punches, Garbrandt stuck to the script. If Garbrandt can build on this win, he may very well find his way back to the top. With his extreme strength, blinding speed, fantastic striking, and incredible wrestling that we have still seen very little of, things are looking up for Cody Garbrandt. Aljamain Sterling What we learned: The "Funk Master" Aljamain Sterling is absolutely on fire! Now nine years into his pro MMA career, after a few setbacks, the wrestler from Long Island has now entered his combative prime. A dedicated high school wrestler, Sterling pursued success on the mats vigorously. And though a New York state championship eluded him, he did manage a bronze and a silver medal at the 2007 and the 2008 Empire State Games in Greco-Roman wrestling. Sterling wrestled collegiately at the Division III level, ultimately finding success and All-America honors at SUNY Courtland by way of notching fourth and sixth-place finishes in his final two years of college. As a fighter, Sterling has used his wrestling skills magnificently. Not only can he score takedowns almost at will, his funky style blends seamlessly with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling. This was on full display Saturday night, as a confident, determined Sterling completely outclassed his top-five ranked opponent, choking him out inside of two minutes. It was a performance that all but assured the Team Serra-Longo representative next crack at the UFC bantamweight title. Well done, Aljamain! Devin Clark What we learned: Man! Devin Clark is a grinder. A true fighter's fighter. In his 10th UFC fight, Clark pushed through and leveled up as an MMA fighter. Possessing a wrestling resume that includes first and second-place finishes in the South Dakota Class A state tournament, and a junior college national title, Clark no doubt leaned on lessons and skills forged in the wrestling room to carry him through an absolute dogfight on Saturday night. Despite the fact that Clark only successfully converted 1 of 9 takedown attempts and spent much of the fight pressed up against the cage, I still count this fight in the win column for wrestling in mixed martial arts. Clark won on Saturday by way of being the immovable object to opponent Alonzo Menifield's irresistible force. Hit by strikes that surely would've separated most men from their consciousness, Clark may have had takedown attempts stuffed, and he lost some positional clinch battles, but the heart, focus, strategy, fearlessness, and unwavering conditioning of a wrestler carried him to victory and he found ways to make lemons into lemonade. It was his sustained shot attempts more than any one takedown that helped win him the fight. And as he found himself being pressed against the cage, it was his subtle clinch offense consisting of nifty low kicks, knees to the body, and big punches on the break that drained his formidable foe. Clark expressed disappointment in this performance after the fight, but I expect it will give him the confidence and seasoning needed to take things to the next level. Ian Heinisch What we learned: Athletic, big for the weight, energetic, and powerful, Ian Heinisch is dangerous. He may not be the most technical or the smoothest operator in the cage, but the Colorado native has an abundance of physical tools at his disposal and he has the guts to let them fly. Unfazed by a two-fight losing streak going into Saturday (another useful quality), Heinisch headed to Thailand for training camp and emerged with his confidence and his skill solidified. He looked great out there against a more experienced, more polished opponent on Saturday night. Heinisch got Gerald Meerschaert's attention early with some painfully effective low kicks, and then, after dropping levels and faking the shot, he finished him off with a BIG overhand right and follow-up ground-and-pound. Heinisch was a three-time state finalist, two-time champ for Ponderosa High School in Colorado, also becoming a two-time Fargo All-American on the Greco side before briefly wrestling for North Idaho College. It was a very solid performance from the former wrestler. Alex Perez What we learned: This California native may be a wrestler, but the dude sure can crack. Perez once qualified for the California high school state tournament before becoming a placewinner at the California Junior College State Championships -- a very tough tournament that has spawned a ton of top MMA fighters. After college, Perez briefly wrestled in the Olympic styles for Mexico before focusing solely on MMA. Perez is now 6-1 in the UFC and looking fantastic. The man he defeated Saturday was once the top ranked flyweight fighter in all of MMA. Cody Stamann What we learned: Major props to Stamann. The Michigan high school wrestler who then wrestled for the same Grand Valley State wrestling program that produced UFC studs Tony Fergsuon and Kevin Lee, fought and won on Saturday night despite his brother passing away just a couple weeks ago. In doing so he defeated a very game veteran and improved his UFC record to 5-1-1. Herbert Burns What we learned: Brother of UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns, Herbert continues to impress as he fights nothing but dangerous veterans. A BJJ fighter who fell in love with wrestling while training in Singapore under U.S. Olympian Heath Sims, Burns won Singapore's 74-kilo freestyle national title under Sims. Now fighting out of Florida, largely under NCAA legend Greg Jones, the Brazilian prospect ran through UFC veteran Evan Dunham like a hot knife runs through butter.

Mike Roumph (Photo/CSU-Pueblo Athletics) Mike Roumph, assistant wrestling coach for the past dozen seasons at Colorado State University-Pueblo was killed late Friday in a rafting accident in Fremont County in Colorado. Roumph was 53. Sheriff deputies told KKTV that Roumph was rafting on the Royal Gorge portion of the Arkansas River when he flipped out of his raft and landed on rocks. Narrows Rapid in the Royal Gorge section of the Arkansas River about 5 miles west of Canon City. The rapid is a class IV to V rapid, which is considered very difficult to extremely difficult, and the river was running at 2,780 cubic feet per second at the time of the accident. According to Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper, Roumph was on a private raft with friends when the raft hit a river hydraulic known as a hole and threw him from the raft. Roumph, who was wearing both a personal flotation device and a helmet, fell into the water and was pulled from the river downstream. Rescuers started CPR on-site and Roumph was transported by emergency medical service personnel to the hospital where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller said Roumph was taken for autopsy Monday and his cause of death is listed as accidental drowning. Mike Roumph (Photo/CSU-Pueblo Athletics) Authorities have not released any other details about Roumph's death at this time. Roumph's primary duties as assistant coach was to mentor wrestlers within the upper weight classes at CSU-Pueblo, helping to develop one NCAA champion and eight All-Americans during his 12 years on staff. In addition, Roumph ran a business completely separate from his work as a wrestling coach at CSUB-Pueblo. In fact, he was described as a longtime assistant wrestling coach as well as "an influential Pueblo businessman." Mike Roumph (Photo/CSU Pueblo Athletics) Roumph also combined his love of coaching and knowledge of financial management. As vice president and co-founder of Friends of Football, a non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the athletic programs at CSU-Pueblo and in Southern Colorado, he helped raise nearly $14 million to restart football, wrestling and women's track and field in 2008 and the construction of the the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl, considered one of the top Division II football and track facilities in the country, according to the CSU-Pueblo website. Dr. Paul Plinske, CSU-Pueblo Director of Intercollegiate Athletics said, "Our entire Department stands in utter shock and sadness over the sudden and untimely passing of Mike. He lived life to the fullest and gave us all so much. This loss impacts more than wrestling. Mike was a supporter of all things Pack Athletics. He was a special person who touched many lives and will be greatly missed." ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ADDED 6/10/20 Mike Roumph leaves behind his children Connor, Max, Chayse Roumph, and his stepson Josh Moser. As well as his brother Eric Roumph (Aimee), sister Diane Roumph both from Denver. As well as his mother Judy Roumph of Sterling, Colo. He is also survived by his granddaughter Remi Moser, nephews Alec, Sam and Austin and nieces Olivia, and Tessa. In lieu of flowers and gifts, contributions may be made to: Friends of Football CSUP Wrestling Fund 504 Grand Ave Pueblo, CO 81003 No memorial service has been scheduled as of now. However, there is an option to send flowers or plant a memorial tree in Coach Roumph's honor. 855-329-5806; Davis Mortuary - Pueblo; 128 Broadway Avenue; Pueblo, CO 81004

Kerry McCoy (Photo/Maryland Athletics) Kerry McCoy has been named the next head coach and executive director of the California Regional Training Center at Stanford in Palo Alto. It's a homecoming of sorts for the 42-year-old McCoy, who served in his first head wrestling coach position for the Stanford Cardinal from 2005-08. McCoy then helmed the University of Maryland mat program from 2009-19 before announcing his departure from the Terrapins just before the end of the 2018-19 season. Upon being announced to head up the California RTC, McCoy told Andy Hamilton of Trackwrestling.com, "We want to be the premier place. When people think about success in wrestling, we want them to think about Palo Alto and the California Regional Training Center. That's the ultimate goal. We want to create Olympic and World champions at every level. That's my goal -- to have a successful organization that's going to win championships at a high level, but also build strong character and put our athletes and coaches, as we expand, on a path to be successful in life overall." "It's really a 360-degree, full-fledged commitment to excellence at all levels and I'm excited to get moving with it," McCoy continued. "We're going to build a strategic plan to not just have a couple good performances here and there but sustainable excellence over time." McCoy seeks to make that happen ... bringing an impressive and varied career as a coach and wrestler to this new position heading up the California RTC. He was a two-time NCAA heavyweight champ for Penn State, compiling a 150-18 mat record, winning three Big Ten conference crowns, and NCAA individual titles in 1994 and 1997. McCoy concluded his Nittany Lion mat career by receiving the 1997 Dan Hodge Trophy from WIN Magazine as the nation's top collegiate wrestler. After graduating from Penn State, McCoy joined the Nittany Lion coaching staff as an assistant, then was an assistant at Lehigh before taking the helm at Lehigh, then Maryland before retiring one year ago. McCoy also crafted a successful senior international mat career, including appearances at the back-to-back Olympics (fifth place in 2000 Olympics; seventh place at 2004 Games, both in freestyle) ... and a nine-time National Team member.

Twelve bouts. One hour, ten minutes of actual fight action. Five former wrestlers win their matches. Amanda Nunes holds onto her women's featherweight title (in a whole 'nother set of impressive stats). By all these measures, UFC 250 at UFC APEX held Saturday night in Las Vegas was an evening to remember. Nunes still champion In the end-of-the-evening main event, women's featherweight champ Amanda Nunes held onto her UFC title belt vs. Felicia Spencer via in a unanimous-decision, five-round top-of-the-card matchup, (50-44, 50-44, 50-45). By the numbers, there's more to Nunes' performance at UFC 250. Nunes became the first fighter in UFC history to record title defenses in two divisions while simultaneously holding multiple belts. Nunes' eight victories in UFC title fights are tied with Jose Aldo for third most in company history behind Jon Jones (14) and Anderson Silva (11). Nunes' eight victories in women's UFC title fights are most in company history. Nunes' 11-fight UFC winning streak is tied for second longest among active fighters in the company behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (12). What's more, Nunes' 11-fight UFC winning streak in women's competition is the longest in company history. A handful of ex-wrestlers as winners At least five former amateur wrestlers left the Octagon in Las Vegas in victory at UFC 250. Cody Garbrandt: In a bantamweight bout on the main card just prior to the championship Nunes vs. Spencer, Garbrandt faced off against Raphael Assuncao. Garbrandt-- who once wrestled at Claymont High School in eastern Ohio -- scored a second-round knockout over Assuncao at 4:59 in Rd. 2. Aljamain Sterling Aljamain Sterling: Another main-card bantamweight match featured yet another wrestler whose mat career spanned high school and college within the state of New York. Abjamain Sterling first took to wrestling in Uniondale High School, then continued on at Morrisville College before enrolling at Courtland -- SUNY (State University of New York) where he was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American. (It was at Courtland where Sterling really launched his MMA career, having worked out with Jon Jones.) In the first round, Sterling dragged Cory Sandhagen to the floor, putting him in a body triangle. Sandhagen struggled to survive. Sterling applied the triangle choke and Sandhagen struggled to stay awake ... but then tapped out just before passing out at 1:28 of Round 1. (Want to know more about how Abjamain Sterling's wrestling background has helped him find success in MMA? Click here to read this ESPN article.) Earlier in the evening -- in the preliminary set of bouts -- Ian Heinisch faced Gerald Meerschaert in a middleweight match. Prior to launching his pro MMA career, Heinisch wrestled the Rocky Mountain States. He started in Colorado, where he was a state champ and two-time Colorado state All-American. Heinisch then continued his mat career at North Idaho College. At UFC 250, Heinisch faced Meerschaert, knocking him to the floor. Heinisch followed, starting to unleash punches. Meerschaert tried to recover, but Heinisch was unrelenting with the strikes, and this fight was over at 1:14 of Round 1. Alex Perez brought his impressive wrestling resume into the Octagon in Las Vegas ... and demonstrated his dominance with a first-round TKO (leg kicks) in his flyweight bout vs Jussier Formiga. Perez wrestled collegiately at West Hills College, where he was a runner-up at the 2013 CCCAA State Wrestling Championships. And, among the heftiest former wrestlers in the Octagon was Devin Clark, competing at light-heavyweight. Clark brought a multi-dimensional combat sports skills set to his UFC 250 bout to his unanimous decision -- 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 -- vs. Alonzo Menifield. Clark started boxing as a kid, then took on wrestling in high school. Clark made it to the South Dakota State Finals match as a junior (placing second) and as a senior (winning the 189-pound title). Clark attended Minnesota's Rochester Community and Technical College where he was a two-time NJCAA All-American, winning a national title once. Results: Amanda Nunes (c) def. Felicia Spencer via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-45) Cody Garbrandt def. Raphael Assuncao via second-round knockout (punch) Aljamain Sterling def. Cory Sandhagen via first-round submission (rear naked choke) Neil Magny def. Anthony Rocco Martin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Sean O'Malley def. Eddie Wineland via first-round knockout (punch) Alex Caceres def. Chase Hooper via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Ian Heinisch def. Gerald Meerschaert via first-round TKO (punches) Cody Stamann def. Brian Kelleher via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Maki Pitolo def. Charles Byrd via second-round TKO (punches) Alex Perez def. Jussier Formiga via first-round TKO (leg kicks) Devin Clark def. Alonzo Menifield via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Herbert Burns def. Evan Dunham via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)

Willie Miklus rides Iowa's Jacob Warner (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State wrestling head coach Roger Chandler announced the addition of Willie Miklus (Mick-luss) to the Spartans' coaching staff as an assistant coach. "Willie no doubt raises the level of this program in so many ways," Chandler said. "He brings a long line of competitive success from being a four-time NCAA All-American, along with being of a program that earned a trophy at the NCAA Championships, combined with his leadership of being a captain of not just two different programs, but two very successful, nationally competitive programs. We have very high goals as a program, and I know Willie's experiences will translate well here at Michigan State and take Spartan wrestling to the next level." Miklus comes to MSU from Iowa State, where he spent one season as a graduate assistant coach under head coach Kevin Dresser. "I am incredibly excited to be joining the Michigan State staff," Miklus said. "Being a coach has been my dream since I was 15. I think MSU has a great culture and an amazing amount of unity. I couldn't have picked a better place to begin my coaching career! I can't wait to meet the guys and get to work! Go Spartans!" Miklus was a four-time All-American, including three at Missouri (2014-18), before transferring to Iowa State (2018-19) for his senior season. He won the 2018 Mid-American Conference Championship at 197 pounds, finishing eighth at the NCAA Championships. Miklus was sixth at 184 pounds at the 2016 NCAA Championships, before missing a majority of 2016-17 season with an injury. He was also the 2015 MAC Freshman of the Year, before going on to finish seventh at 184 pounds at the NCAAs. While at Iowa State, Miklus won his 100th career match, coming at the Big 12 Championships, while also capturing his 50th career dual match during the season. Miklus finished his career with a 105-28 overall record and 55-9 ledger in dual matches. He was the 2019 Big 12 Runner-Up at 197 pounds, finishing sixth at the NCAA Championships. In the classroom, Miklus was a four-time NWCA All-Academic Team honoree, along with a three-time Academic All-MAC selection and also on the SEC First-Year Honor Roll in 2014. Miklus earned his bachelor's degree from Mizzou in 2017, before his first master's degree in educational and counseling psychology in 2018. Miklus is currently finishing up a second master's degree in family financial planning from Iowa State. A native of Altoona, Iowa, Miklus was a four-time all-state honoree (119 pounds, 145, 171 and 220) at Southeast Polk High School, winning state titles his junior and senior seasons at 171 pounds and 220 pounds, respectively. Miklus posted a perfect senior season, going 47-0 with a total of 368 takedowns on the season. He was also the 2011 Folkstyle Nationals runner-up at 171 pounds, and also took eighth place at 189 pounds at the Junior Freestyle Nationals. Miklus also had a one-year training period at the Olympic Training Center for the year immediately following high school (2011-2012) before joining the Missouri squad. Miklus replaces Wynn Michalak, who left to become an associate head coach at Campbell University.

When it comes to spectacular sporting events, it doesn't get any bigger that the Summer Olympics. Every four years, the event brings together the greatest number of athletes, the largest number of athletic events, and the greatest number of viewers. Those bigger-and-better attributes may not hold true for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics coming in just less than 14 months -- in late July 2021 -- as some recent news features seem to be pointing toward a downsized mega-event. Here's the headline -- and opening sentence -- for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's feature : Postponed Tokyo Olympics could be downsized, simplified The possibility of a reduced Tokyo Olympics is now being floated in Japan by politicians, and in unsourced news stories. The themes include limited seating -- if any fans at all. "The Japanese public is being prepared for the reality of next year's postponed Olympics, where athletes are likely to face quarantines, spectators will be fewer, and the delay will cost taxpayers billions of dollars," according to the cbc.ca preview for the first week of June. "In the last several weeks, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has given selected interviews outside Japan and hinted at empty stadiums, quarantines and virus testing." The preview article goes on to state, "The stark message about a very different, reduced Olympics is now being floated in Japan by politicians, and in unsourced news stories. The themes include the possibility of reduced seating at the Olympics -- if any fans at all -- tests for all athletes, fans and staff, and a quarantine-like situation at the Athletes Village." The article went on to predict next year's Tokyo Olympics will be "downsized," "simplified," or "very different." (Note that 2021 Olympic sports venues have already been completed. In fact, the structure that will host freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling events was originally built as a convention center.) Part of that concern mentioned in these recent preview articles: total Olympic seating capacity could be reduced ... meaning that millions of tickets already sold many simply not be available for fans to witness actual sporting events. "Tickets are going to be a major battleground," according to the Canadian Broadcasting article. "But once again these countermeasures will be discussed in more depth from this autumn onward." Postponing the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 has its costs Hosting an Olympics is an incredibly expensive act even in the best of times ... such as "no coronavirus pandemic." Add in a one-year delay, and Olympic costs have soared even more. In fact, the cost of that delay has been estimated at $2 billion to $6 billion. Neither the IOC nor event organizers have given a figure for the costs to Japan, or who will ultimately pay for them. Other possible ways to trim the overall budget for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics have also been discussed. One idea kicked around that's sure to raise the ire of sports fans from around the world: hosting the Games without fans in the stands. Before the postponement, Olympic organizers said they were spending $12.6 billion to host the Games. However, a government audit last year said the total dollar amount to put on the event would be twice that amount. To put that in perspective: when Tokyo was awarded the games in 2013, back then, the total cost was anticipated to be $7.3 billion. Yet another way to cut costs: possibly combining ceremonies In recent times, the Summer Olympics and Paralympics have been held at about the same time on the calendar … yet as separate events. "Many discussions are ongoing covering various areas, including the ceremonies," Craig Spence, a spokesman for the Paralympic Games, said in an email. "A lots of things are still at a discussion stage and therefore it's not appropriate to provide comment on things until they are finalized." Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto acknowledged costs must be cut, but said safety for athletes could drive them up. "Unless safety and security are ensured, there will be uncertainty for the athletes-first point of view," she said Thursday. "We must study measures including virus testing in order to ensure safety and security." The Opening Ceremonies for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics will take place less than 14 months from now -- July 23, 2021. There are a lot of issues to be determined in the meantime. Stay tuned.

Jordan Burroughs at the 2020 Pan American Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) This week, the wrestling community joined with many citizens to acknowledge the voices of Black America and people of color in acknowledging the ongoing pervasive racial injustices in America. From social media posts to articles, podcasts and television appearances, personalities and politicians of all types have acknowledged that racial inequalities in America have been ignored for far too long and that the damage caused is both real and inter-generational. Wrestling is a simple sport, but a complex community. On one hand we encourage diversity, but many of those in our community work hard to prevent women's wrestling. We celebrate Jordan Burroughs, James Green, Tamyrah Mensah, and more but there are only a handful of black Division I head wrestling coaches. Why the disconnect in career advancement? Mostly it's the privilege of white people to hand jobs to their friends and those in their social circle, rather than forcing themselves to expand their social networks and take chances on more young black professionals, coaches and administrators. But is that something we can blame on anyone? Am I to blame because United World Wrestling doesn't have any full-time media members from the Black community? Yes. I know that we hire freelancers from all communities, but nobody full-time. That's on me to improve. The wrestling community also faces a lack of positive leadership from its most powerful youth coaches. We've dealt with anti-vaccine movement, Sandy Hook deniers, Alex Jones wannabes, and a pervasive culture of general white supremacy and selfishness. Not all of it in-your-face, but all of it strikes the same chord -- I matter, you don't and your failures are OK by me. But they aren't. White Americans hold a tremendous amount of wealth and power and it won't be until we decide to share it with our community members that we will see any positive change. There has been plenty of opportunity to make positive change, but most of it has been squandered. What can we do moving forward? I commend USA Wrestling for having hired black Americans, supporting their black athletes and having absolutely zero tolerance for poor behavior. The statement written this week with the input of several athletes is the standard bearer for how to go about creating positive solutions and acknowledging struggle. There is no perfect solution or magic bullet, but the efforts of their staff to be inclusive was impressive and will have a lasting impact. Black America has been telling America with incredible clarity and consistency that they are being hunted, beaten, and murdered by law enforcement and racist white people. Those with means and those who have privilege need to advocate on their behalf in a meaningful way. I know that there are members of our community who will come out of this with a drive to effect positive change and I include myself in that group. I benefit every single day from the fact I'm white. This is not a neutral treatment by society, but an active display of opportunity and ease in almost all my interactions. I know almost nothing of the black experience in America, but what I have seen through friends and teammates is a world that is far different than the one I passively enjoy each and every day. Like many I've only seen their world through a keyhole -- this moment in American history is jarring because what we see now is something larger, the picture is wider and enhanced by the voices of Black Americans explaining very clearly all the ways in which they are targeted and oppressed. To do nothing now is to willfully neglect our responsibility as American citizens. There is no nationwide healing until we peel back the layers of racism in our society and start indicting those around us for being too selfish to consider the emotions of others. That goes double for the wrestling community. We've lacked the empathy necessary to understand the journeys of our Black athletes and people of color. From cutting dreads to racist language in the locker room, we all know racist sentiments exist in our community and those need to be immediately addressed and corrected. The good news is that the architecture of the racism in the United States will be demolished and replaced. The youth of America are interconnected, motivated and hungry for positive change. The leadership class will expand and strengthen in the black community so long as we remain active. For now, that's enough from the middle-class white guy with a weekly column for ten years. It's probably better if we listen to those who have been directly affected by racism. And read this.

CMU's Drew Hildebrandt earned the Medal of Excellent Award (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Twenty-four Mid-American Conference (MAC) student-athletes - including two who wrestled for MAC mat programs -- were named as Medal of Excellence Award winners for the 2019-20 academic season. Each of the dozen schools within the MAC conference has one male student-athlete honoree and one female student-honoree. The two wrestlers to earn these honors within the conference: Drew Hildebrandt of Central Michigan ... and Tim Rooney of Kent State. Central Michigan wrestler Drew Hildebrandt Hildebrandt, a junior from Granger, Ind., led the Chippewas with 31 victories (against three losses) in 2019-20, winning the MAC conference title at 125 pounds and then earning First Team All-American honors from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. He finished the season ranked eighth nationally and was seeded sixth for the NCAA Championships, which were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. A finance major who carries a 3.64 GPA, Hildebrandt is a three-time Academic All-MAC honoree and was named in 2020 at MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete. In addition to Hildebrandt, Medal of Excellence Award student-athlete honoree for the Central Michigan Chippewas for the 2019-20 school year is female student-athlete Alexandria Robinson, a member of the school's women's track-and-field team. Kent State wrestler Tim Rooney A senior from Columbus, Ohio, Tim Rooney concluded a successful mat career for the Kent State Golden Flashes with the 2020 MAC Championship at 133 pounds ... and was a two-time NCAA Division I championships qualifier. He was the No. 12 seed at 133 at the 2020 NCAAs. He was a four-time Academic All-MAC member. Rooney served three seasons as a SAAC representative. Having completed his education at Kent State (where he was an exercise science major), Rooney now plans on attending Baldwin-Wallace College outside Cleveland for physician's assistant school. In addition to Rooney, Kent State Golden Flash Medal of Excellence Award student-athlete honoree for the 2019-20 school year is female student-athlete Maria Cegledy, who played softball.

Mike Kosoy, a former North Carolina State wrestler earlier in this decade, has been named to the new-look Oregon State wrestling program as a volunteer assistant coach, Beavers head coach Chris Pendleton announced Wednesday. Mike KosoyKosoy joins Pendleton's staff in its first year heading up the wrestling program at Oregon State, joining assistant coaches Nate Engel and Isaiah Martinez. A letterwinner from 2013-17 at NC State, Kosoy has spent the past two seasons at the Regional Training Center at Arizona State. The heavyweight won 79 career matches at NC State, which is tied for 19th all-time. A native of Boca Raton, Fla., he was an NCAA qualifier in 2017. "I'm very pleased to be adding Mike to my staff," Pendleton said upon announcing Kosoy's hiring. "His first year at NC State, as a freshman, he had a brand-new head-coach, Pat Popolizio, come in and restart the program. He has first-hand knowledge of what building a sustainable culture looks like. When I was going through the hiring process here at OSU I would find myself asking him a lot of questions about what that process was like for student-athletes." "Mike has shown that he's invaluable part of a program, and as our relationship has grown over the past couple years at ASU I knew he was exactly what I was looking for in a coaching staff member. I can't wait to watch him grow as a coach."

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Phil Sullivan, Cal Poly's first NCAA Division II national wrestling champion, passed away early Saturday morning, May 24, 2020, in Visalia, Calif. Sullivan was 76. A two-time letterman in wrestling at Tulare Western High School, Sullivan earned a pair of CIF-Central Section titles. There was no state meet at the time Sullivan competed in wrestling. Sullivan graduated from Tulare Western in 1962. He competed on Cal Poly's freshman wrestling team in 1963 and was a redshirt in 1964. As a redshirt sophomore for the 1964-65 season, Sullivan went undefeated en route to the NCAA Division II national championship at 177 pounds. In the finals at Golden, Colo., he won by referee's decision after battling Mel Schmidt of Northern Illinois to a 3-3 draw in regulation and 0-0 in overtime. Named the team's most outstanding varsity wrestler, Sullivan led the Mustangs to a second-place finish, three points behind Mankato State. After leaving Cal Poly, Sullivan worked primarily as a handyman and also served as a wrestling coach for the Hillside Wrestling Club as well as at Wasco High School for many years. Among his inventions was the HIEXS (High-Intensity Exercise System) for training wrestlers and other athletes. Sullivan was born in Arizona on March 31, 1944. Preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette, in 2001, Phil is survived by a son, Phillip Jr. Another son, Andrew, died in an automobile accident. A graveside service will be held Monday, June 29, 2020, at 10 a.m. at North Tulare Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will follow the service. Peers-Lorentzen Funeral Service in Tulare is handling arrangements.

Helen Maroulis and Adeline Gray with their gold medals at the 2015 World Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) It's hard to believe it has been more than three decades since Afsoon Roshanzamir became the first American woman to medal at the World Championships. The early pioneers like Roshanzamir, Marie Ziegler and Tricia Saunders were among the first U.S. women's freestyle wrestlers to excel on the world stage. The sport has made a steady ascent since then and teams from the United States continue to excel at the sport's top level. The U.S. crowned three world champions in 2019 with Adeline Gray, Tamyra Mensah-Stock and Jacarra Winchester all earning gold. This wasn't an easy list to compile with so many top American women having excelled now, but we thought it would be interesting to recognize these deserving athletes. Feel free to agree or disagree with the list that I compiled. Here is my list of the top women's wrestlers in U.S. history: Adeline Gray raises her arms in triumph after winning at Final X (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 1. Adeline Gray Gray captured an American record fifth world championship in 2019. She has excelled in numerous weight classes in her storied career. Gray earned world titles in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019. She also has won two world bronze medals along with winning world titles at the Junior and University levels. The 2016 Olympian is considered the favorite in her weight class to capture an Olympic gold medal next year in Tokyo. 2 (tie). Tricia Saunders The first real star in the American women's freestyle program, Saunders captured four world titles. She won gold in 1992, 1996, 1998 and 1999. She also was a world silver medalist in 1993. Saunders was a coach on the first U.S. Olympic women's team in 2004 and is a member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame. Kristie Davis gets in on a shot against Iris Smith at the 2008 Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 2 (tie). Kristie Davis Known by Kristie Marano for much of her Hall of Fame career, she had a phenomenal run of sustained excellence. Davis won an American record nine World medals during her remarkable career, including two gold, five silver and two bronze. She qualified for a record 10 U.S. World Teams and made a record seven trips to the world finals. She also won a Junior world title and was on the only American women's squad to win a team title at the World Championships. Helen Maroulis gets her hand raised after beating Saori Yoshida in the Olympic finals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 4. Helen Maroulis If there was a Mount Rushmore of the four best women's wrestlers in U.S. history, Maroulis would join Gray, Saunders and Davis in that elite group. Maroulis became the first American woman to capture an Olympic gold medal in wrestling after knocking off three-time Olympic champion Saori Yoshida of Japan in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Maroulis also has captured two world championships along with world silver and bronze medals in her brilliant career. She returned to competition in 2020 and was looking to make a run at the Tokyo Olympics. Sara McMann won an Olympic silver and three world medals during her wrestling career (Photo/Larry Slater) 5. Sara McMann McMann nearly became the first Olympic gold medalist in U.S. women's wrestling history in 2004 before dropping a close bout in the finals to Japan's Kaori Icho, who went on to win four Olympic titles. McMann also won a world silver medal and two world bronze medals in her career. She went on to became highly successful in mixed martial arts. 6. Elena Pirozhkova The 2012 world champion was a fixture on numerous U.S. World Teams during her superb career. She also earned two world silver medals and a bronze medal for the United States while making two Olympic teams. She placed fifth at the 2016 Olympic Games and also won a University World title for Team USA. 7. Patricia Miranda Miranda became the first Olympic medalist in U.S. history, capturing a bronze medal in the first Olympics for women's wrestling in 2004 in Athens, Greece. She also won two world silver medals and a bronze medal during her illustrious career. Clarissa Chun wrestling at the 2012 Olympics (Photo/Larry Slater) 8. Clarissa Chun Chun made a U.S. World Team early in her career before her persistence paid off years later. She advanced to the Olympic semifinals in 2008 before winning a world title later that year in Tokyo, Japan. She came back in 2012 to earn a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in London. She made five U.S. World Teams and had two top-five finishes at the Olympics. She's now on the Team USA coaching staff. 9. Tamyra Mensah-Stock Mensah is a rising star and multi-talented wrestler who captured a world title in 2019 after collecting world bronze the year before. She also has won a University World silver medal. She is one of the favorites to capture Olympic gold in Tokyo. 10. Sandra Bacher Bacher was another one of the first American women's wrestlers who made a significant impact in the sport. She captured gold, silver and bronze medals at the World Championships in the late 1990s. She also had a fourth-place world finish. Bacher also competed in judo for the U.S. at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. 11. Toccara Montgomery Montgomery excelled at the Senior level at a very young age. She collected world silver medals in 2001 and 2003. She made the first U.S. women's Olympic wrestling team in 2004 and placed seventh in Athens, Greece. She was a Junior world silver medalist who competed only a short time on the Senior level, but still made the world finals twice. 12. Afsoon Roshanzamir The first women's wrestling medalist in U.S. history, she won a bronze medal at the 1989 World Championships and followed with a world silver medal a year later. She also finished fifth in the world in 1992 while fighting through many obstacles during the challenging early days of women's wrestling. She made five U.S. World Teams and was an Olympic coach for the American squad in 2016. Honorable mention Iris Smith Smith won a world title in 2005 and made three U.S. World Teams in a long and storied career where she made numerous national teams at heavyweight. She also won gold and bronze medals at the World Military Championships. Shannon Williams Another one of the early pioneers for USA Wrestling, Williams captured four world silver medals as one of the top lightweight wrestlers in the world. She made the world finals four times from 1991-97. Tina George George captured a pair of world silver medals for the United States. She reached the finals of the World Championships in 2002 and 2003. She made two more world teams in 2005 and 2006. Jacarra Winchester Winchester captured a world title in 2019 after placing fifth in the world in 2018. She also won a University World bronze medal. She is considered among the top medal contenders for the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Randi Miller Miller had never made a U.S. World or Olympic Team before delivering by earning a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She is one of just five American women's wrestlers to medal in the Olympics. She came back to make a U.S. World Team in 2014. Alli Ragan Ragan has been a fixture as one of the top American wrestlers for close to a decade. She has reached the finals of the World Championships twice. The two-time world silver medalist also has placed fifth at the World Championships. Marie Ziegler A member of the first U.S. World Team for women's wrestling in 1989, Ziegler captured world silver medals for the United States in 1990 and 1991. She later won a Veteran's world title for the U.S. Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.

Six weeks ago, Kurt Angle -- two-time NCAA heavyweight champ and 1996 Olympic freestyle gold medalist -- was among dozens released from his WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) contract after decades in pro wrestling. Kurt AngleWhat has the former amateur wrestling star been doing since those WWE budget cuts? Paul Davis, who covers pro wrestling for WrestlingNews.co, provided an update to readers Tuesday, "Last week, I exclusively reported that Kurt Angle would be offered a new contract to return to WWE after being released in April during the budget cuts." "During an interview with CBR.com, Angle confirmed that he was offered a deal but it was for a role as Matt Riddle's manager." "Angle said, "WWE has offered me a job to manage him. Unfortunately, I turned it down due to a few different reasons, but I would have loved to manage him. It just wasn't the right time." In other words, Angle may not have found exactly the right assignment within WWE just yet… but does not appear to be about to walk away from the pro wrestling organization that has provided him with fame and fortune for decades. As Paul Davis goes on to state, Angle is under a non-compete until July. Davis added that "some other furloughed producers are expected to be brought back in the next few weeks." Angle has been retired from in-ring competition since WrestleMania 35 one year ago. He has made sporadic appearances on WWE television programs since. Prior to launching his pro wrestling career, Kurt Steven Angle crafted a highly successful career in amateur wrestling, as a high school, college and international champion. A native of the Pittsburgh area, Angle was a three-time PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) state tournament qualifier, placing third in the state championships as a junior, and winning the state title as a senior in 1987. Angle continued his folkstyle wrestling career in-state at Clarion University, where he was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American, winning heavyweight (285-pound) titles in 1990 and 1992, placing second in 1991. After college, Angle focused on his freestyle wrestling career, winning a gold medal in the 100-kilogram (220-pound) weight class at the 1995 World Championships in Atlanta. One year later, in the same city, Angle earned gold in the same weight class at the 1996 Olympics. Angle was welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. as a Distinguished Member for his amateur wrestling accomplishments in 2001.

Tzeno Tzenov Tzeno Tzenov, major figure in international wrestling as a long-time Bureau member and European Council, died at the age of 80, United World Wrestling has confirmed. Born in Markovo Village in 1939, Tzenov graduated from the "Kliment Ohridski" of Sofia University with a Master of Arts in History and Archeology. He experienced a long and varied career sharing his knowledge and experience in wrestling. Tzenov became a member of the European Council in 1978 and was elected President in 1995. The Bulgarian official was first elected to the UWW Bureau in 2002, before being re-elected in 2008 and 2014. Tzenov was named as UWW Bureau vice-president in 2016. "As a long-time serving executive in sports, and as a historian, Mr. Tzenov had a great knowledge of wrestling's culture and heritage, in particular in the European context," Nenad Lalovic, UWW President, said. "Combined with his experience gained in the sport's highest instances in Bulgaria and in the International Federation, he had a pivotal role in leading wrestling towards modernity while safeguarding the core values of our sport. Tzenov served as secretary of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation during the 1980s, and briefly served as vice-president before leading the organization from 1987 to 1989. He was the executive director of the Bulgarian Sport charity foundation since 2004. Tzenov served as secretary general of the Bulgarian Union for Physical Culture and Sport from 1989 to 1993, while he was a member of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee from 1992. "He will be dearly missed by everyone in the wrestling community and our deepest condolences to his wife, friends and colleagues."

Tyron Woodley As the United States (and the rest of the world) soldiers on amidst some extremely tumultuous, unpredictable, unprecedented times, I have to say that it was kind of nice to sit down and watch a solid night of UFC fights on Saturday night. However controversial or even ill-advised as it may be, somehow the Ultimate Fighting Championship continues to deliver even under much-less-than-ideal circumstances. Especially for us wrestling fans who don't have any actual wrestling to watch, a UFC card featuring several high-quality wrestlers may be the next best thing. This most recent card was just that. The takeaways? Tyron Woodley What we learned: The former UFC welterweight champ may have lost "the fire" a bit at this point in his career. Did he look particularly "bad" on Saturday night? No. Did he appear disinterested, bored, and/or uninspired? Perhaps. He was very clearly missing something as he got thoroughly beat up for five rounds in the night's main event. Throughout his MMA career, Woodley has always been a bit reserved in his overall level of aggression and offensive output. Calculated and measured, at times even bordering on timid, his unmatched physical ability and hunger to win picked up the slack and propelled him to the very top. At least one of those attributes was significantly diminished in his most recent outing. Most likely, the latter. Assuming this is the case, what is the cause? It's a very familiar story really. In Woodley we have an extremely talented individual who has worked hard over a lifetime spent competing in combat sports. The man won a Missouri high school state title, became a Big 12 champ and two-time All-American in Division I wrestling, and on top of all that went on the capture and defend the UFC's 170-pound title while earning his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Toss in the fact that he is now a successful gym owner, with a beautiful home, a beautiful family, a growing presence in the entertainment industry, and a good degree of fame and relative fortune. T-Wood is a bonafide success any way you slice it. Once a fighter reaches this level of attainment, it can be quite difficult to find the motivation and hunger to put in the kind of training needed to step into a cage with a young savage like Gilbert Burns and come out victorious. Regardless, it's clear that Woodley still has the physical tools and abilities needed to win at this level. The power in his right hand, his core and hip strength, and his conditioning were all present on Saturday night, but unless coupled with a greater degree of hunger, drive, aggression, etc., it is possible that the former champ's best days are behind him. Tim Elliott What we learned: Tim Elliott is a ton of fun to watch, but his MMA game is still in need of refinement and direction. Skills honed over the course of a successful wrestling career continue to serve as the backbone of his fighting style. The Kansas high school state champ, JUCO national champ, and NCAA Division II national finalist has continuously sought out the best coaching, facilities, and training partners available in pursuit of UFC gold, and now, he is a highly experienced veteran. Yet despite these factors, Elliott's struggle to find consistency continues. Saturday night we saw Elliott employ his usual hyperactive style. Constantly attacking with a varied repertoire of takedowns bolstered by incredible positional awareness, super-funky scrambling ability, and an approach to striking that fits in perfectly with the positional exchanges created by his wrestling. He was aggressive, sharp, and in control for most of the fight, but ultimately Elliott was choked out by a short notice UFC debutant and now has lost four of his last five fights. The problem, as I see it, is that unless he executes flawlessly, Elliott's's attributes can easily become liabilities. If not controlled, hyperactive wrestling and slick scrambling ability turn into reversal and submission opportunities for an opponent. Tim Elliot learned this lesson the hard way on Saturday night. Casey Kenney What we learned: Rebounding nicely after a tough loss, Casey Kenney is definitely a fighter to watch for in the 135-pound division. A two-time All-State high school wrestler who showed real promise at the NCAA Division II level, Kenney left three years of eligibility on the mat at the University of Indianapolis to pursue MMA full-time. The Indiana native now fighting out of Arizona put in a brilliant performance on Saturday night, thoroughly outclassing a more experienced foe before snatching up a nasty guillotine choke in the first round. Not only did he showcase stellar kickboxing and an ability to quickly seize an opportune submission, he showed a real comfort in the cage and made the most of every position and every exchange. Having a three-dimensional skill set, i.e. striking, takedowns, and grappling, can take you very far in MMA, but having a firm grasp on the finer points of the sport is indicative of next-level potential. Vince Morales What we learned: The 2009 Oregon high school state champion wrestler has one heck of a poker face. Ouch! A TKO via low kicks is not exactly a common occurrence in MMA, but when it does happen, it's brutal. Vince Morales became the 10th fighter in UFC history to suffer this fate on Saturday. Having said that, the gritty wrestler never once winced or grimaced and even managed to mount his own offense despite being woefully unable to defend those kicks. The ability to take a beating can be a gift, or a curse for combat athletes. If Morales can sharpen his already solid boxing and use his wrestling to bail him out of bad positions I see definite potential in the up-and-comer. This is the same guy who lost every single match his freshman season of high school wrestling. He's not the type to be easily deterred.

USA Wrestling, the national governing body for the sport of wrestling in the United States, released a statement on social justice. Social injustice is wrong and contrary to the inclusive nature of wrestling. USA Wrestling's mission is to provide quality opportunities for its members to achieve their full athletic and human potential. Recent tragedies in our nation compel us to do more and do it better. We stand with our African American and black communities and all of the diverse people who are part of our sport. We will focus our actions on how we can drive change against unjust treatment, police brutality, and systematic racism that is plaguing our nation and world. We need to come together now and use our voice, platform, and actions to help create the kind of society that reflects our values. By its nature, wrestling can be the most inclusive sport on earth. Anyone can wrestle and everyone is welcome. When we hit the mat, we are all part of one wrestling family.

Mike Dessino BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- With a heavy heart, the Bloomsburg University Department of Athletics was saddened to learn of the passing of former Huskies' wrestling standout and current volunteer assistant coach, Mike Dessino '14. Dessino passed away from injuries sustained during a serious car accident over the weekend. He was 29. "We are devastated by the loss of Mike Dessino," Director of Athletics Dr. Michael McFarland said. "Mike embodied all the great elements of BU Husky Wrestling and has been a true leader for the program. This is a tremendous and tragic loss for his family, his wife Katrina, the BU wrestling family, and everyone who knew this young man of unbelievable character." Dessino wrestled for the Huskies from 2009-14 and served as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2016-17 and 2019-20 season. He was a three-time NCAA Division I national qualifier, a three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) champion, and won the 2011 Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) title at 174 pounds. During his time in the maroon and gold, Dessino posted a 105-43 overall record and ranks second in program history in career pins with 45. His 105 victories are 15th on the school's all-time list, while his three PSAC championships made him one of only ten grapplers in the program's history to accomplish the feat. Mike Dessino The Middlesex, New Jersey, native burst onto the scene as a freshman for the Huskies during the 2009-10 season when he won 20 matches, including seven by fall. He followed that up with a 25-win season in 2010-11, which included the EWL title at 174 pounds. Dessino went on to win 30 matches in each of his final two seasons, with nearly half - 26 of his 60 total victories - coming by fall. He advanced to the NCAA Division I national championships in each of his final three seasons with the Huskies. Following his collegiate career, Dessino went on to have a brief stint as a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. He went 4-0 as an amateur, picking up three of his wins over a six-month span in 2015 and his last victory in September of 2017. Two of his wins came by submission in less than a minute. Before attending Bloomsburg, Dessino was a three-time district champion and a three-time state qualifier at Middlesex High School. He was a two-time state placewinner and finished his high school career with a record of 145-22 with 98 victories by fall. "It was an honor to be able to coach Mike for a year as a student-athlete and an even bigger privilege to coach beside him as he helped mold young men for the future," said Bloomsburg University head wrestling coach, Marcus Gordon. "Mike's passion for family and friends was one of a kind. As a man, friend, teammate, and coach, he was always ready to lend a helping hand. On and off the wrestling mat, his presence was one of great strength, and his loss will leave an unfillable void. Our hearts go out to his family, his wife Katrina, and their unborn son. Mike's wrestling family will miss him greatly." He and his wife, the former Katrina Conrad '13/'15(M), were married in August of 2019. The couple were expecting their first child later this year. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family during this difficult time. If you are able to help, please follow the link below: https://bit.ly/2TWmiWp #TeamDessino

James Green at the Final X press conference (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) BLACKSBURG, Va. -- With two Olympic hopefuls already part of the team in Mekhi Lewis and Ty Walz, the Southeast Regional Training Center bolsters its roster in a big way with the addition of James Green. Green is training for the Tokyo Olympic Games, attempting to represent the U.S. Olympic Team at 74 kilograms. Green's addition as a resident athlete brings another world class wrestler to Blacksburg. James has been competing internationally for the past five years at 70 kilograms, having much success for Team USA. Representing the U.S. for five straight years, he medaled at the 2017 and 2015 Senior World Championships, winning silver and bronze, respectively. Green is also a two-time Final X and Pan-Am Champion, as well as the 2017 U.S. Open champion. Collegiately, Green was a four-time All-American at Nebraska from 2012-2015, finishing third twice and seventh twice wrestling at 157 pounds. The 2014 Big Ten Champion is a member of Nebraska's 100-Win Club and has the fifth-most wins in school history with 129. Green will be moving to the area with his wife, Chandell, and daughter, Glory. The SERTC is a recognized U.S. Olympic Regional Training Center site. With this designation, the SERTC sponsors resident athletes to live and train in the Blacksburg area.

LIBERTY, MO -- William Jewell College is pleased to announce the addition of women's wrestling and the reinstatement of the men's wrestling program beginning in 2021-2022 which will bring Jewell's varsity sports to 24. "It feels great to be bringing wrestling back to The Hill," said Director of Athletics, Tom Eisenhauer. "The sport has a long tradition here and has seen a resurgence across the globe. The commitment and perseverance it takes to be a successful wrestler are the same traits it takes to be successful in the classroom. Wrestling complements our other sport offerings so it a natural fit on our campus. Women's wrestling will come to The Hill for the first time after receiving emerging sport status in January of this year following a vote at the NCAA Convention. Women's wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation with the first collegiate varsity team created in 1993. Jewell will become the third Great Lakes Valley Conference institution to add the sport, joining McKendree and Lindenwood. The Cardinals will also be the seventh collegiate program in the state of Missouri but the first in the Kansas City metro. Additionally, the Missouri High School Activities Association (MSHAA) began offering a state championship in girls wrestling in 2019 with more than 25 local high schools now fielding teams. Kansas has also recently added the sport at the high school level with nearly 150 schools fielding varsity programs. "It's been exciting to witness the tremendous growth of girls wrestling at the high school level, especially here in the Kansas City region, and I'm thrilled that we can provide an opportunity for many of these young women to continue to compete at the NCAA Division II level, said Eisenhauer. The next step for the sport to move to NCAA Championship status will be reaching a minimum of 40 NCAA-affiliated varsity programs. Currently, five women's sports have done so including rowing, bowling, beach volleyball, water polo and ice hockey. Until the sport reaches NCAA Championship status, women will compete in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Women's National Championship. While the women's program will be a welcomed addition, the men's program will be returning after a 27-year hiatus. Men's wrestling was first added at William Jewell in the fall of 1950 and boasted the first national qualifier in 1954. Wrestling became a conference-sponsored sport for the Cardinals in the fall of 1961, as they won the Missouri Collegiate Athletic Union title in 1963. Over the next 30 years, Jewell totaled 14 individual conference champions and 20 national qualifiers. The Cardinal men will compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference which began sponsoring the sport in 2016-2017 and includes full-time members McKendree, Lindenwood, Indianapolis, Maryville and Drury along with associate member Ouachita Baptist. McKendree has won three straight conference titles. Despite only recently adding the sport at the conference level, GLVC schools have a deep history in men's wrestling as 18 athletes from five different schools were named All-America in 2020. "William Jewell is delighted to be one of the first NCAA-II institutions in Missouri to add women's wrestling to our roster of sports and to return to offering men's wrestling, which has a storied history on The Hill," said William Jewell President Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls. "By adding these programs, we are responding to growth trends across the region in both men's and women's wrestling. We are pleased to welcome these student-athletes to our campus beginning in the fall of 2021." Jewell has officially had 19 head coaches in men's wrestling, including hall of famers Fred Flook (1962-1972) and the late Darrel Gourley (1958-61, 1980-81); however, eight of those individuals were also student-athletes at the time. William Jewell plans to hire a head coach this summer before officially beginning competition in the winter of 2021. Individuals interested in applying for the head coaching position should visit here. Applications will be accepted through June 15.