InterMat Staff

Greg Kerkvliet gets his hand raised after winning a title at UWW Cadet Nationals (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) No. 1 senior recruit Greg Kerkvliet (Simley, Minn.), who committed to Oklahoma State in November of 2017, has reopened his recruitment. FloWrestling.com first broke the news on Wednesday. It's the second time Kerkvliet has committed to a college and changed his mind. He initially committed to Minnesota in October of 2016. The four colleges Kerkvliet is considering at this point are Penn State, Ohio State, Nebraska and Oklahoma State. The three-time state champion recently won a second Cadet world medal in freestyle, taking silver at 110 kilograms after earning gold at 100 kilograms in 2017. Kerkvliet will be competing at the Junior World Championships this September in the 100 kilos weight class. He projects as a college heavyweight.

Paden Moore hugs his coach Randy Baker after winning a state championship (Photo/The Guillotine) Randy Baker, one of the most successful and longest-serving high school wrestling coaches in Minnesota, has announced his retirement from Jackson County Central High School, the Jackson County Pilot reported Tuesday. Baker presented a three-page, handwritten letter to the Jackson County Central school board Monday night which opened with a simple-but-direct statement: "I am stepping down as head wrestling coach." Baker began his prep coaching career in 1984 at a succession of schools that eventually became Jackson County Central High -- first at what was then Lakefield High School, which then combined with Heron Lake-Okabena in 1987. Then there was a co-op arrangement with Jackson High from 1994 to 1997 which then led to an official merger, creating what is now Jackson Central County 21 years ago. All those different school names -- each with their own team name -- all with one constant: Randy Baker was head wrestling coach, and incredibly good at it. Since taking the helm of what eventually became the JCCHS mat program in southwestern Minnesota in 1984, coach Baker has racked up some serious statistics. He has coached 39 individual high school champions, which ranks him second on the all-time Minnesota list… with 93 state placers, third in the state. Baker led his teams to seven state championships. And, during his 33 years as coach, he tallied 510 wins. Beyond those stats, Baker also has some impressive honors in his trophy case. He was named Minnesota State High School Coach of the Year in 1993, Minnesota Wrestling Man of the Year in 1997, and 2001 USA Wrestling Development Coach of the Year. InterMat once referred to Baker as being "one of the brightest wrestling minds around." Randy Baker has deep roots in wrestling in the area he's called home pretty much his entire life. For his high school career, he wrestled at what was then Jackson High, where he was a two-time Minnesota state qualifier. He continued his academic and mat careers at nearby Worthington Community College, then headed west on I-90 to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. where he wrestled at the NCAA Division III national championships and served as team captain his senior year before launching his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Augie Vikings. In an in-depth profile in the Daily Globe last year, Randy Baker comes across as the very definition of an old-school wrestling coach. "If Randy Baker seems like more than just a wrestling coach, it's because he's also a father figure to many of the athletes who have gone through the high school system," wrote sportswriter Doug Wolter. "He's brutally honest. He's tough. He knows exactly what it takes for a young man to succeed, and he doesn't mince words." When asked to describe his coaching style, coach Baker said, "I coach real honest. It's hard for me to lie to kids. I'm not one to put up a smokescreen to a kid. And I think a lot of them appreciate it. "It's kind of like when their dad talks to them. When my dad said something to me, I listened to him. Back then, I wasn't so afraid of the school staff as much as when I got home." At Monday night's school board meeting, a softer side of coach Baker came through in his handwritten, from-the-heart resignation letter. "I want to thank all the wrestlers, especially the young men that gave their all while wrestling for me," Baker wrote. "It was a fun time and we went on a lot of great rides. These young men really put us on the map." "I have certainly enjoyed my coaching career and the opportunity to give back to the sport of wrestling," he wrote. "It seems to be so true in wrestling that the more you give wrestling, the more wrestling will give you back! Hopefully I gave enough back to the sport that helped me so much growing up. It taught me a lot and gave me back, especially during the tough times in life." With Randy Baker's retirement, it truly is the end of an era at Jackson County Central High… and for high school wrestling in the state of Minnesota.

LEXINGTON, Va. -- Entering his first season at the helm of the VMI wrestling program, head coach Jim Gibson named Ty Schoffstall as an assistant coach Wednesday morning. Ty SchoffstallSchoffstall comes to the Institute by way of Edinboro University where he was a two-time NCAA Tournament qualifier as a member of the Scots wrestling team from 2015-18. Named a team captain as a senior, he earned runner-up status at 174 pounds at the Eastern Wrestling League Championship in March. As a junior in 2017, Schoffstall earned an individual EWL title at 174 pounds to help his team to the league title. He also earned an individual championship for the weight class at the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference and helped the Scots to the team title that season. "Ty joins us from one of the country's perennial top performing teams in Edinboro," Gibson said. "His maturity and experience competing at a high level will undoubtedly bring the VMI wrestling program to new heights. We have a like-minded approach to the sport and I'm excited to begin our work together." Ty also played an important role at Edinboro wrestling camps, serving as a counselor as he taught high school grapplers various techniques and how to properly train for the sport. He earned a bachelor of arts in health with a focus on physical education from Edinboro in May.

Bubba Jenkins (Photo/Bellator) Bubba Jenkins has made a name for himself in both amateur wrestling and MMA. And in both sports, he's been known to speak his mind. Recently, the former Penn State All-American and Arizona State NCAA champ submitted to an in-depth question-and-answer session with Tony Reid of MyMMANews.com. In the 1,500-word Q&A, Jenkins weighed in on everything from who in MMA he would like to face in the cage ... the best music to get pumped up for a fight ... and which three guests he'd like to take out to dinner. However, there are a couple responses sure to catch the attention of the wrestling community. When asked who outside of MMA he would like to fight, Jenkins mentioned two individuals from his Penn State past. "If you asked me this question a few years ago I would say Cael Sanderson due to all the history we had while I was at Penn State," Jenkins said of his former coach at Penn State who cut him loose, which led the Virginia native to transfer to Arizona State for his senior year. "I would want to show him what MMA is all about. It would be difficult because of his ability to wrestle. In fantasy world I would like to get Cael Sanderson in there and beat the hell out of him." "But since you are asking me today, since I have no grudge against Sanderson like I used to, I would now say Frank Molinaro would be the person I would love to get in the cage with ... I never liked him as a teammate or as an opponent. He's just not a good person. I like guys with character and with personality. He's just not that guy ..." This isn't just new-found MMA bluster. In the past, Jenkins has been open in sharing his feelings about both his coach Cael Sanderson and his teammate Frank Molinaro. Take the press conference immediately after Jenkins won the 157-pound title for Arizona State at the 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships by pinning ex-Penn State teammate, David Taylor. Bubba Jenkins was asked if he harbored any ill feelings toward his opponent. "Not towards David. Definitely towards Cael. He didn't think I was good enough or the right kid to win it at that weight class or any weight class. I wanted to go 149. But he had other ideas. And he got rid of me. And one man's trash is a whole country's treasure." However, a few minutes later, Jenkins talked about defeating the previously unbeaten Taylor. "I didn't have too many toys and too many machines because I always broke them, always messed them up. Anytime my mom was buying machines for me, something electrical, something that was supposed to work or do something, I always found ways to break it. And that's a machine out there. That was the Penn State kid (David Taylor). That was the phenomena toy, I suppose, and I found ways to break it and disassemble it." Frank Molinaro and Bubba Jenkins in a staredownA couple years later, at the Grapple at the Garden 2, an annual early-season amateur wrestling event held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, now MMA fighter Bubba Jenkins was part of a weigh-in scene that looked straight out of a big-time MMA event. Jenkins was originally slated to wrestle Kyle Dake, until the four-time NCAA champ for Cornell University injured his hand. Dake was replaced by ... Frank Molinaro. Jenkins shared his feelings about his former teammate on his Twitter account, with statements such as, "I hate that they put me and Frank the skank in the same sentence. I don't even like 2 see his name next to mine. #karmacoming4yoass." In case you were wondering, Jenkins came out on top of Molinaro in their mat meeting in the Garden. Bubba Jenkins launched his pro MMA career months after "breaking the phenomena toy" David Taylor to win the 2011 NCAA title. He is 12-4 in MMA, with his last fight being nearly one year ago. That said, it's a sure bet that Jenkins' interview with MyMMANews.com won't be the last time the former Nittany Lion-turned-Sun-Devil serves up talking points that'll have wrestling and MMA fans talking. Want to see more from Bubba Jenkins? Check out his post-championship press conference from the 2011 NCAAs.

Cohlton Schultz (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Cohlton Schultz (Ponderosa, Colo.), ranked No. 2 overall in the Class of 2019, verbally commited to Arizona State on Tuesday evening. Last summer he was a Cadet world champion in Greco-Roman at 100 kilograms. Later this summer, Schultz will be competing in his second straight Junior World Championships in Greco-Roman at 120 kilos. During the 2017-18 scholastic season, Schultz was undefeated winning a third straight state title. He won major event titles at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman, Reno Tournament of Champions, and Doc Buchanan Invitational. Schultz finished the season ranked No. 2 nationally at 285 pounds. He is projected to compete collegiately as a 285 pound wrestler, and is the third top 25 commit in the Class of 2019 for Arizona State joining No. 15 Nick Raimo (Hanover Park, N.J.) and No. 23 Julian Chlebove (Northern Lehigh, Pa.).

A GoFundMe page has been established in the memory of Keith Cupp, first national champ in any sport for Tennessee's Cumberland University, who passed away Sunday. He was 35. The online fundraising page, set up this week, has this simple message: "Help is needed for funeral expenses to honor Keith Madison Cupp. Any help is greatly appreciated." Keith CuppCupp won the 174-pound title at the 2005 NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) National Wrestling Championships. As Jarad Swint, head wrestling coach of the Cumberland Phoenix mat program at that time, pointed out on his Facebook page, "He was not only Cumberland University Tennessee's first national wrestling champion, he was the first individual national champion at the school in any sport, and my first as head coach." "Keith was the catalyst for the Cumberland University wrestling program getting on the wrestling map," Swint told InterMat Tuesday. "The year before I started as coach, Cumberland finished last in the NAIA tournament, so we started a 'worst to first' campaign. The second year of that campaign Keith brought the program its first first." "When I was coach at Cumberland when Keith won his national championship, we had no wrestling room. We had to wait for other programs to finish practice before we could practice. After his championship, we acquired a donor that enabled us to build a wrestling room." In April 2007 -- just two years after Cupp's history-making NAIA individual championship -- Cumberland University completed a $154,000, 4,800-square foot wrestling building. "When Keith won his NAIA national title, he gave me a lot of credit for getting him on track mentally. Credit I did not deserve," Swint told InterMat. "It was all him. That was the kind of teammate he was to guys -- he was loyal and gave credit back." "I was blessed to have him on our team." Fred Feeney, long-time wrestling official based in Columbus, Ohio, shared his memories of Keith Cupp. "First time I met him was when he was in middle school," Feeney told InterMat. "I thought he was a great kid from the start, with a ready smile." "He wrestled at three schools in four years while in high school," Feeney continued. "He ended up at Columbus Hamilton Township High." Keith Cupp won back-to-back 152-pound Division II titles for Hamilton Township at the 2000 and 2001 Ohio High School State Wrestling Championships. His wrestling coach at Hamilton Township, Scott Williams, posted this message on Facebook: "I am thankful I could be a part of his life and he part of mine. Thank you, Keith Cupp, for the opportunity of a lifetime to wrestle and coach a state champion on a daily basis and coach in your corner as you became Hamilton Township's first-ever state champion..."

A Fort Myers, Fla. police officer who wrestled in high school in New Jersey, was shot while on duty Saturday night. Adam Jobbers-Miller, 29, was wounded and is in critical but stable condition in a Fort Myers hospital. Adam Jobbers-MillerJobbers-Miller wrestled at Wayne Valley High School in Wayne, N.J. Wayne Valley wrestling coach Todd Schroeder, who was a high school teammate of officer Jobbers-Miller's late brother Matthew Miller, shared his thoughts with the New Jersey News-Press. "We're all praying for Adam and his family," said Schroeder. "Adam comes from a wonderful family, who has done so much for Wayne Valley wrestling and the entire community for many years. Adam's older brother, Matt, and I were very good friends growing up. We both competed in the state tournament. Matt was the man and I think of him often." The coach went on to say the Miller family has been very supportive to the Wayne Valley wrestling program throughout the years, and, in fact, had supported a scholarship in Matt's name. "You won't meet better people than the Millers," said Schroeder. "David Miller, Adam and Matt's dad, was a fire chief in Wayne." Adam Jobbers-Miller had served as a firefighter in Wayne before moving to Florida and becoming a police officer. Jobbers-Miller was wounded while answering a call at a gas station in Fort Myers at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, according to a statement on the Fort Myers Police Department's Facebook page. A fellow officer rushed Jobbers-Miller to a local trauma center where he underwent emergency surgery and is currently listed in critical but stable condition. The statement went on to say a suspect is in custody at this time. "Words cannot express the emotions running through the Fort Myers Police family at this time," said Chief of Police Derrick Diggs. "Our department spent the night in anxious anticipation as our comrade and co-worker underwent lifesaving surgery. We are grateful to the many people and agencies who have expressed their support, to the medical professionals who rushed to save him and to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) for their immediate assistance with this situation," he added. Officer Jobbers-Miller has been a member of the FMPD since September 2015. A GoFundMe page has been established by the Fort Myers Police Department on behalf of Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller to help his family with expenses. "Official Fort Myers Police Department Fund set up for the sole purpose of helping Officer Jobbers-Miller's family with any expenses they may incur," according to a statement on the online fundraising page. "Dispersal of all funds to his family will be overseen by FMPD Memorial Fund."

Josh Lowe, InterMat's high school analyst Matside is back. For the second episode Richard Mann welcomes InterMat high school analyst Josh Lowe to the show to look back at the Fargo freestyle tournament. Discussion topics include Anthony Cassioppi's run at heavyweight and chances as a true freshman at Iowa, Mason Parris' status as a prospect, the state of the Northwestern rebuild with incoming freshmen Jack Jessen and Lucas Davison, Carson Kharchla's surprising run and where he might end up for college, Travis Wittlake's path back from injury, Cullan Schriever as the future for Iowa, the current recruiting environment in Iowa, Jaden Abas storms through the backside, turning recruiting into success at Stanford, and the performance of Ohio State's incoming class. Link: InterMat Podcasts Homepage

Chris Dardanes (right) coaching twin brother Nick at the World Team Trials (Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) South Dakota State University wrestling coach Damion Hahn announced Monday the addition of Chris Dardanes to his inaugural coaching staff as a volunteer assistant. "I am thrilled to add Chris to our staff," Hahn said. "I am confident he will have an immediate impact on our program and will add tremendous value in recruiting and working with our light- and middle-weight student-athletes.." A Chicago native, Dardanes earned All-America honors three times while wrestling collegiately at the University of Minnesota from 2012-15. He placed fourth at 133 pounds in both 2012 and 2015, while earning a sixth-place finish in 2013. Dardanes finished his collegiate career with 101 victories. For the past two years, Dardanes and his twin brother, Nick, have been members of the Hawkeye Wrestling. "I am thrilled and honored to begin my coaching career as part of the Jackrabbit wrestling staff," Dardanes said. "I have to thank coach Hahn and the rest of the support system for putting their trust in me. I am excited to make big things happen in Brookings."

Eli Stickely (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) The car crash that killed University of Wisconsin wrestler Eli Stickley earlier this month was caused by cellphone use, according to an Illinois State Police report made public Thursday. Just before the crash on July 5, Stickley was showing his girlfriend a video on his cellphone while driving. He lost control of the truck on I-74 westbound, about 35 miles southeast of the Quad Cities, according to the police report which was released as part of an open records request. Stickley was driving a 2004 Nissan Titan pickup truck westbound at 8:19 p.m. when he drove off the roadway into the right-side ditch, according to the report. The vehicle turned left to re-enter the road, where it flipped multiple times. Stickley, 21, was pronounced dead at Illini Hospital in the Quad Cities later that night. His passenger, Briana Cleveland, was hospitalized. The Wisconsin State Journal -- a community newspaper in Madison, home to University of Wisconsin -- reported that Cleveland, 22, of Rosemont, Minnesota, was Stickley's girlfriend. She was released from the hospital on July 11. Cleveland is an athletic trainer for the Badgers who graduated from UW in May. Cleveland told state police that Stickley was showing her a video on his phone just before the crash. Both Stickley and Cleveland were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash; however, the airbags did not deploy. Stickley died of blunt-force trauma to the head, according to the Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson. No autopsy was performed; however, toxicology tests indicate that only caffeine was found in Stickley's system. Gustafson said Stickley was a tissue donor, adding, "He saved multiple, multiple lives with his gift of donation." Just before the crash, Stickley and Cleveland were last in a line of three vehicles in a group driving to Iowa City for an engagement party for Stickley's twin sister, Moriah. Stickley's parents were in other vehicles. Elijah D. Stickley of Urbana, Ohio, was about to start his senior year as a Badger, having wrestled at 141 pounds. Prior to coming to Wisconsin, Stickley wrestled at nationally-ranked Graham High School in western Ohio, where he won the 120-pound Division II state title in 2014. Eli Stickley's family has a long history with Badger wrestling. His uncle, Congressman Jim Jordan, won back-to-back NCAA titles in 1985 and 1986 while at Wisconsin. Another uncle, Jeff Jordan, wrestled for UW from 1983 to 1986. Stickley's cousin, Isaac Jordan, competed for UW from 2012 to 2017.

Brent Hamm MOUNT VERNON -- Brent Hamm will maintain his title as Interim Head Coach of Cornell College's wrestling program for the 2018-19 season, it was announced Saturday by Director of Athletics Keith Hackett. Hamm, a 2015 Cornell graduate and two-time NCAA qualifier for the Rams, has been on Cornell's coaching staff the past three seasons. The Iowa City native served as the team's head assistant coach during the 2017-18 season. Hamm takes over Cornell's storied program for legendary coach Mike Duroe, who passed away July 6 after a nine-month battle with cancer. “During the past eight months I have watched Brenton Hamm grow as a leader and coach under challenging circumstances,” Hackett said. “Brenton did an exceptional job of leading our wrestling team when Coach Duroe was going through medical treatments. After all things were considered, my decision was that Brenton had earned the opportunity to continue in this role for the 2018-19 academic year. He is a very capable and committed young coach who will do an outstanding job.” Hamm held an increased role on Cornell's staff in 2017-18, during which the Rams crowned three all-Americans and placed 17th at the NCAA Division III Championships. It was the program's ninth Top 20 national team finish in 12 years. Hamm was a four-year starter for the Hall of Famer Duroe, Cornell's winningest wrestling coach with 144 dual wins over 13 seasons. The Rams landed 47 NCAA qualifiers, 22 all-Americans, five NCAA finalists and one NCAA champion during the Duroe Era. “Brenton certainly learned a great deal from Coach Duroe as a wrestler and assistant,” Hackett said. “I am confident in Brenton and know that the program is in very good hands as we move forward. He has also proven to be a very capable recruiter, bringing in an excellent class of freshmen and transfers this fall.” In Hamm's three seasons as an assistant, Cornell had nine NCAA qualifiers and six all-Americans. Hamm was a two-time team captain for the Rams and recorded 90 victories over his four-year career from 2011-15. He qualified for the NCAA Championships at 174 pounds in 2014 and 2015. A four-time regional placewinner, Hamm captured the Central Region title in 2015. Hamm also excelled in the class room, earning three NWCA Scholar All-America awards as a student-athlete. A member of the Dean's List, Hamm received team Most Dedicated, Most Improved and Most Valuable awards. He earned a bachelor's degree from Cornell in exercise science. Hamm was head coach of Lisbon Matpack Wrestling Club from 2015-17. He was a personal trainer at GRIT Gym in Iowa City for two years (2015-17). Cornell will conduct a national search for its full-time head wrestling coaching position following the 2018-19 season.

FARGO, N.D. -- Anthony Cassioppi matched history on Friday afternoon, becoming only the second wrestler to win two USA Wrestling Triple Crowns in the Junior division, when he rolled to an 11-0 technical fall in the 285-pound Junior Greco-Roman finals of the 2018 U.S. Marine Corps Cadet and Junior National Championships. "It took a whole lot of hard work, a whole lot of practicing," Cassioppi said. "It is just working harder than everybody else. This year, I think the competition was easier than last year. But this year, I was sick the whole tournament, so I had a lot of things going on that I had to deal with that was not on the mat. That made it a lot harder." The Illinois native joins Adam Coon as double Junior Triple Crown winners. Coon accomplished the feat in 2012 and 2013. "Obviously, he is a great wrestler. It feels great to be up there with him. I just hope I can have a career as successful as his," Cassioppi said. Read complete story on TheMat.com ...

Ziad Haddad (Photo/Tom E. Puskar) Ziad Haddad, a Pennsylvania high school state wrestling champ and two-time national collegiate titlewinner, has been picked to launch the brand-new wrestling program at Executive Education Academy Charter School in Allentown, Pa., the Allentown Morning Call reported Friday. The new wrestling program will take to the mat for the first time this fall in the EEACS's 1,600-seat gym now completing construction. Although this will be Haddad's first head coaching assignment, the 29-year-old brings considerable experience as a student-athlete and coach. He served as an assistant coach at Dieruff and Freedom before returning to Kutztown University in 2013 to complete his wrestling career and education. At Kutztown, Haddad went 55-0 during his junior and senior seasons, winning consecutive NCAA Division II titles at heavyweight. After completing his eligibility, Haddad spent three seasons as an assistant coach at his college alma mater. Prior to Kutztown, Haddad won a PIAA state title at Bethlehem Catholic. "The opportunities that Executive Education Academy is offering our students are great," Haddad told the Morning Call. "I like the fact that we're integrating the sports segment. I think it's an integral part of school. "From a wrestling end, it's a unique challenge and a benefit at the same time. You don't have to fight some of the challenges of taking over a program, but you have to instill the values and culture where they haven't existed at all. I'm looking forward to it." Wrestling is one of two inaugural sports at EEACS, joining a new boys' basketball program. In fact, at the same time Haddad was announced as head wrestling coach, the charter school revealed it had hired veteran coach Ray Barbosa for its new basketball program. Opened in 2014, Executive Education Academy has 1,300 students in grades K-12. The school has applied for membership in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The PIAA is scheduled to vote on the school's membership at its board meeting next Wednesday. If approved, EEACS will compete as a Class 2A school in District 11 and PIAA competition.

Cain Velasquez, former UFC heavyweight champ and, before that, accomplished amateur wrestler, may be looking to add WWE to his resume. Cain VelasquezVelasquez, who will be turning 36 next weekend, was seen training at the WWE Performance Center this week, according to CBS Sports. "My experience here has been amazing," Velasquez said about his time at the WWE facility located in Orlando, Fla. "I'm just looking forward to being here and learning as much as I can. I've been a fan of the sport since I was a little kid, and now I get to participate in it." Velasquez won the UFC heavyweight title from another former college star and UFC/WWE veteran with a first-round TKO of Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 in October 2010. He surrendered the belt one year later to Junior dos Santos, only to take it back from dos Santos at UFC 155 in Dec. 2012. Velasquez successfully defended the title twice before losing it to Fabricio Werdem at UFC 188 in June 2015. Velasquez's most recent appearance in the Octagon was two years ago, with a first-round TKO of Travis Browne at UFC 200, for an overall record of 14-2. Prior to launching his pro MMA career in October 2006, Velasquez was a successful amateur wrestler. He was a two-time Arizona high school state champ before heading to Iowa when he won the 2002 NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) heavyweight title for Iowa Central Community College. Velasquez then returned to his home state to wrestle for Arizona State for three seasons, where he was twice an NCAA Division I All-American (2005, 2006).

Nick Simmons coaching at the 2016 Big Ten Championships (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Cliff Keen Wrestling Club has added former U.S. World Team member Nick Simmons to its coaching staff, the club announced Friday (July 20). Simmons, who also brings eight years of collegiate coaching experience, will work with both CKWC senior-level and Michigan RTC athletes. "Nick brings a lot to the table," said University of Michigan head coach Sean Bormet. "He's a former U.S. world team member, so he brings world-class freestyle experience. He has a unique skill set both collegiately and internationally, a strong body of work in coaching, deep Michigan ties, and he loves to train hands on. He is passionate about coaching every age level; he is just as excited to coach cadets and juniors in Fargo as he is coaching senior-level athletes. He loves wrestling and loves coaching, and I appreciate his enthusiasm." "I'm excited to be working with the CKWC," said Simmons. "It's going to be a blast. I love working with and helping their athletes; it's even better with my brother training there. I'm looking forward to working with Sean, Josh, Kellen and Dave. I get along well with all of them and have the same mentality and goals for our athletes. I hope to bring a different kind of excitement around these guys -- and the state of Michigan -- and help get them some world medals and championships." Simmons is the co-founder and owner of the Simmons Academy of Wrestling (SAW), a wrestling gym geared toward youth and high school wrestlers located near Lansing, Michigan. Simmons opened SAW in July 2017 after serving five years as an assistant coach at Indiana (2013-17), including four as associate head coach. Simmons also spent three seasons on staff at Oregon State (2010-12). Among the most decorated wrestlers in Michigan State history, Simmons was a four-time NCAA All-American (2003, '05-07) and three-time Big Ten champion at 125 and 133 pounds. He placed top four at NCAAs in each of his last three seasons. He ranks second in MSU program history with 138 career wins and holds the school's career pins record with 47. A three-time team captain, Simmons was named the 2005 Michigan State Male Athlete of the Year. Simmons was a seven-year U.S. National Freestyle Team member and represented the United States at the 2011 World Championships, where he earned fifth place at 55kg/121 pounds. He was a two-time Olympic alternate, taking runner-up at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and placing third in 2008. He was the 55kg champion at the 2009 U.S. Open and won a Pan-American gold medal in 2005. His freestyle success extended across multiple age levels. He made three University World teams, placing fifth in 2005, and was a three-time Fargo junior champion and four-time finalist.

Kyle Snyder launched his signature "Caliga" shoe this week, offering to sign the first 2016 pairs of the shoe for fans. Reaction to the shoes (and Snyder as a brand ambassador) seemed to be positive as RUDIS' website seemed to crash in response to the demand. The release reminded me of Jordan Burroughs' first pair of gold-colored boots and the interest his brand created within the wrestling community. However, there are some notable and sharp differences between his 2013 release and Snyder's 2018 release. Notably in just five years online purchasing has moved from desktops to mobile and become much easier, safer and convenient. That means more clicks when well-targeted promotional and marketing efforts reach fans. While Snyder is no doubt blowing out his servers, it's interesting to think what Burroughs would have been able to accomplish on his first release should there have been more reliable online purchasing methods and marketing. We will never know, but it's reassuring that the wrestling community has enough breadth and is interested in enough talent to support more than one pair of signature shoe. All the best to Snyder in his newest endeavor. To your questions … Sarah Hildebrandt after winning the U.S. Open (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: Do you think Sarah Hildebrandt could earn a medal at this year's World Championships? -- Mike C. Foley: Oh, absolutely. She's currently the top-ranked woman in the world with only the Poland Open left to compete. That will be in September, but as it stands she has a four-point lead over Yu Miyahara who did not make the team for Japan. Instead that will be Haruna Okuno, who coincidentally beat Hildebrandt in a tight 7-6 match at the Women's World Cup in March. Okuno will be prepared, but it's worth noting that, were her progression a chart, Hildebrandt would be in the middle of her hockey stick phase -- improvement is visible each time she steps on the mat to compete. She has an intensity and confidence that was missing in previous years that I think will continue to grow over the next few months as she prepares for Budapest. Hildebrandt has some losses, notably to Erdenechimeg (Mongolia), but I think that having faced her style she can adapt and avoid the over-under situations and poor shot selection that cost her points in their match at the World Cup. With an ever-improving women's program she'll find ways to improve and I fully expect her to earn a medal and would go so far as to predict she makes the finals. Q: Where do you stand with the new headgear? Feels like early football helmets. -- @ShogunOfSonoma Foley: I commend those responsible for creating the headgear as I'm certain it's doing what they think is best for the sport. However, the widespread adoption of the headgear will only increase the use of the head in competition and drive away parents based on price and the image that the sport is one in which competitors use their head as a battering device. The best way to limit head-to-head contact is to enforce head-slapping penalties and automatically disqualify anything that resembles an intentional head butt. Padding will only worsen the existing problems. Q: With Daton Fix back on the Junior World Team, do you like Team USA's chances to repeat? -- Mike C. Foley: I love Daton's chances to repeat, but I think Team USA is facing a tough time against the Iranians and Russians. Over the last month Iran has been absolutely destroying the competition at the Cadet and Junior levels and I suspect we will see them continue that trend at Junior Worlds. Also, I'm hearing that the Georgians are going to bring a knockout squad to Slovakia. Team USA has a bucket load of studs, but I'll need to see how they compete in Brazil before assigning them a percentage chance for repeat gold. Q: Is high crotch an outdated term? With new families into the sport and the continued growth of women's wrestling, is it an awkward term? "Checking the oil" faded away. I always felt like Hi-C was for wrist-flicking coaches who didn't tie their shoes. Head outside and head inside. -- @r12video Foley: We can all agree that "checking the oil" is best left on the roadside of history. Definitely no need to bring that terminology back into the sport. Hi-crotch really isn't that problematic, but I agree that "head inside" and "head outside" are much better descriptors, if not only for the athletes who are being directed on what to attempt. A few years ago I watched a top-ranked high school program go through practice and was shocked by how effectively they named positions, transitions, and holds. Whereas I grew up with basic names, the coaches used names that related to the athletes. I'm struggling to find an example of what was relevant (and being used) at that time, but imagine someone using a Fortnite or Pokemon reference today and you get the point. Coaching club and high school athletes is about relating to them and understanding how they learn. Overall, I think that our generation's nomenclature will simply be replaced by the terms of today and we won't need to regulate any speech, or feel that it was problematic. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Haruna Okuno Daton Fix's 2017 Junior World final Team USA (Gilman almost cracking a smile!)

Mason Gehloff (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) FARGO, N.D. -- Mason Gehloff of Minnesota won the prestigious USA Wrestling Triple Crown on Thursday, coming back from a late deficit in the last 10 seconds of the 88-pound finals to defeat Kai Owen of Florida at the USMC Cadet and Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D. As he had done in his quarterfinal and semifinal matches, Gehloff grinded out a comeback win, scoring six points in the final 75 seconds, which included two throws. "I don't know [what it is that allows me to come from behind]," Gehloff said. "I just want it more. I just want to get the win, just try one-hundred and ten percent to get it because isn't over until the whistle is blown." Gehloff is the only Cadet to win a 2018 Triple Crown, after claiming the folkstyle national title in April and the freestyle national title earlier this week, where he wrestled at 88 pounds. The Minnesota wrestler was awarded the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler honor for his performance. Read complete story on TheMat.com ...

Daniel Mayo RIVERDALE, N.Y. -- Director of Athletics and Recreation Barima Yeboah announced the hiring of Daniel Mayo on Thursday. Mayo will serve as the College of Mount Saint Vincent's head wrestling coach and will look to further a program that was introduced in 2012. "I was looking to get back into college coaching at any level, whether it was Division I, II or III," Mayo told CMSVAthletics.com. "Once I saw the opening at CMSV, I saw a major challenge and opportunity to help the team and program grow." Coach Mayo has spent numerous years coaching throughout all levels of college wrestling, including a 10-year stint at Rider University working under Gary Taylor, the third winningest coach in Division I history. During his time with the Broncos, Coach Mayo helped produce eight Division I All-Americans while also capturing numerous conference titles. He also spent time coaching at Princeton University and Penn State University for one year apiece. While Coach Mayo is accomplished in teaching the next generation of wrestlers, he had a tremendous career as an athlete himself. During his days at Penn State, Coach Mayo was two-time All-American, NCAA finalist and a third place finisher, as well as helping his team capture the National Dual Meet Championship. Coach Mayo ended his career with 110 wins, three EWL titles and was recently inducted into the EWL Hall of Fame. Following graduation, Coach Mayo became a two-time USA team member and member of Team Foxcatcher. At the high school level, Coach Mayo was a New York State title holder and Junior National Champion. "Throughout my time as a wrestler, I was very fortunate to be coached by the best high school coaches in the country, the best college coaches in the country and the great coaches from Team USA." Coach Mayo knows there is a lot of work to be done with CMSV's wrestling program. But there's no doubt that he's up for the challenge. "As the great coach from the University of Iowa Tom Brands once said, 'the only thing you deserve is what you earn.' This will take some time. But with the support of the administration, I look forward to opening some eyes."

Heath Eslinger (Photo/UTC) University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Mark Wharton announced the resignation of wrestling head coach Heath Eslinger today. Eslinger, who spent nine seasons as head coach of his alma mater, informed Wharton of his decision this morning. "It was always my hope that Heath Eslinger spend the rest of his career leading our wrestling program," stated Wharton. "He is an outstanding coach and an even better human being. We are certainly going to miss him. "As most of us know, he has become a sought-after public speaker and coaching mentor. He has an opportunity to couple that with his faith and follow a new career path. We wish him and his family nothing but the best as they embark on this new journey." Eslinger was hired on July 11, 2009 and went on to win six Southern Conference titles in nine seasons. He has a career record of 101-61 (.623), including an amazing 53-5 (.914) mark in SoCon matches. He was twice named the SoCon Coach of the Year (2011, 2013), and has coached two SoCon Wrestlers of the Year, two SoCon Tournament MVPs and three SoCon Freshmen of the Year. The Mocs have also brought home 25 individual league titles in this tenure. "I can't express my gratitude enough for the University, this department, our alumni and all of our student-athletes and coaches for the privilege of leading this program," stated Eslinger. "I have truly been blessed to be able to lead this team and be around such great people. "I am not leaving one thing, but rather running toward something that has been a passion of mine for several years. I will do everything I can to help move this program forward and position it for success in the future. I believe the best days are ahead for Chattanooga Wrestling and I know our administration is in full support. "My children have grown up here and we are grateful for the friends, colleagues, parents and many others who have made this special for all of us. I look forward to seeing what the future holds here and can't wait to see how God uses my family in the future." The Mocs have been at the forefront of the promotion of collegiate wrestling during Eslinger's tenure with the creation of the "Chattanooga Strong" brand. His aggressive marketing approach helped UTC set attendance records in Maclellan Gym, including a sold out crowd (2,639) for the Iowa match in 2013. ​​​​​​​Eslinger orchestrated the move of the Southern Scuffle to Chattanooga's McKenzie Arena in 2012. The Southern Scuffle has grown into the top in-season collegiate tournament in the nation. There has also been a marked improvement in the classroom under Eslinger's watch. The Mocs have finished in the top-10 in the nation in team grade-point-average among wrestling programs three times and topped a 3.0 GPA as a team for the first time in the fall of 2016. They repeated that feat with another 3.0 semester in the fall of 2017. "Kyle Ruschell will serve as the Interim Head Coach and we will begin a national search for a replacement immediately," added Wharton. "Like all of our positions at Chattanooga, I fully expect to receive interest from highly qualified candidates from across the country. Coach Eslinger carried on the outstanding tradition of Chattanooga Wrestling, and I look forward to finding the next person who is the right fit to lead our program." Update 7/20/18 Multiple media reports indicate that Heath Eslinger is leaving his coaching job at UTC for a position with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he will be involved in coaching development, with a focus on "the parent education side of sports." "I just want to be a change agent for good," Eslinger told the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Thursday. FCA area director Jay Fowler said Eslinger "has been an incredible volunteer for us for decades, and I can't think of anyone better than Heath Eslinger to work with the coaches who work day-to-day with the kids. I know he's going to make a huge impact in our ministry in Chattanooga, in Tennessee and beyond."

Bronson Harmon (left) placed fourth in California's state tournament in 2017 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) A California high school state tournament placer has lost his Cal Poly wrestling scholarship after video of him shown making an obscene gesture and a homophobic slur during a march last month surfaced on social media and was seen by the head wrestling coach of the Mustangs. Bronson Harmon, a former wrestler at Oakdale High School near Modesto, Calif., had signed a National Letter of Intent last November to wrestle at California Polytechnic Institute in San Luis Obispo but the scholarship was withdrawn, Cal Poly Athletic Director Don Oberhelman confirmed to the Modesto Bee on Tuesday. Oberhelman did not comment on the reason Harmon's scholarship was revoked, but the move came just three days after video surfaced of Harmon yelling a homophobic slur and directing an obscene gesture at a participant of the Families Belong Together March in Modesto on June 30. After that moment was captured on video, Harmon was allegedly involved in a follow-up assault that led to a formal complaint being filed with the Modesto Police Department, according to spokeswoman Sharon Bear. Brandon Harmon, who graduated from Oakdale High this spring, can be seen in a video posted online walking with his father Todd Harmon and a friend down a Modesto street carrying a sign that reads "Donald Trump 2016" during the Families Belong Together March. Bronson HarmonAccording to newspaper accounts, the younger Harmon notices he is being recorded, he shows his middle finger to the person recording and says "Fu** you fa**ot." Harmon confirmed to the Modesto paper that he learned the scholarship was being revoked in a July 2 phone call from Cal Poly wrestling coach Jon Sioredas after he had seen the video. Sioredas did not respond to the Modesto Bee's request for comment Tuesday. "I totally regret it," Bronson Harmon told the San Luis Obispo Tribune. "I got caught up in the heat of the moment. I was there to peacefully protest the things that we believe and people were harassing us, spitting on us and calling us Nazis." "Saying what I said is definitely not the right thing. I am supposed to be there to help the community be the best person I can be and represent the college the best way I can," Harmon continued. "But I still feel like my freedom of speech was taken away, and I don't think my scholarship should have been revoked over something like that." Cal Poly AD Oberhelman said the offer of financial aid signed by all student athletes says the university can cancel aid for actions that could cause embarrassment to the school at the discretion of the athletic director. In addition to the video posted on social media which the school cited as being reason for rescinding its scholarship offer, a complaint has been filed against Brandon Harmon for allegedly physically attacking a man at the protest. The wrestler claimed the man was trying to damage a tire of his dad's truck with a screwdriver. That individual -- who filed the complaint with Modesto police -- said he was shoved by the 18-year-old after he tried to pick up his screwdriver which he said he accidently dropped near the elder Harmon's truck. The case has been forwarded to the district attorney's office for review. No charges have been filed and no arrests have been made as of Tuesday. As a junior at Oakdale, Harmon compiled a 35-7 record and placed fourth in the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) state finals at 160 pounds after a first-place finish in the CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet. He did not wrestle for his school in the last part of his senior season after he had a falling out with the coach over which weight class he would wrestle in. Despite having his wrestling scholarship revoked, Branson Harmon still plans to attend Cal Poly this fall, and concentrate on becoming a mixed martial arts fighter. "I got accepted and they said I am welcome still," Harmon told the San Luis Obispo newspaper. "It's just that they can't be bringing all this publicity to athletics so I can't be involved with athletics." This is not the first time a college wrestler has suffered the consequences of a homophobic social media post. In 2014, a Division I starter was suspended for anti-gay comments on Twitter. To learn more about the potential pitfalls of off-the-mat behavior -- including online comments -- check out InterMat's "Matmen Behaving Badly?" in-depth feature.

Ben Stehura (Photo/CSU Athletics) Four months after resigning as head wrestling coach at Cleveland State University, Ben Stehura has been named to head up the wrestling program at West Geauga High School just east of Cleveland, the News-Herald reported Wednesday. Stehura announced his resignation from Cleveland State in late March after ten years at the helm of the Viking mat program. So how did the former coach at a large urban university land a job at an 800-student high school in a rural-trending-suburban area couple dozen miles from downtown Cleveland? "It was such a coincidence how it happened," Stehura told the News-Herald. "They called me for a reference on one of my former athletes. We started talking, and it just went from there." Stehura takes over the program from longtime coach Joe Marino, who stepped down after last season. "I'm excited for the opportunity at West Geauga," Stehura said. Stehura's new boss shares in that excitement. "We're really excited to have a guy who was the head coach at Cleveland State," West Geauga Athletic Director Tim Skoczen said. "He's a phenomenal guy. I am impressed with him. We really lucked out on this one." Stehura brings impressive credentials as a wrestler and coach to West Geauga High. The Ohio native wrestled at Pennsylvania's Lock Haven University before launching his coaching career as head coach at Limestone College. After five years at the South Carolina school, Stehura returned to his home state to Cleveland State. In his ten years as head coach, Stehura guided Viking wrestlers to five Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) titles and nine NCAA Division I Championships berths. West Geauga High School is a four-year public high school located in Chesterland, Ohio just outside the metropolitan Cleveland area.

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Army West Point head wrestling coach Kevin Ward announced that Anthony Abidin has joined the staff as a volunteer assistant. Anthony AbidinAbidin comes to West Point with six years of coaching experience under his belt, including spending the 2017-18 season with Fresno State and its regional training center. "Anthony is a promising young coach who has a passion for the sport of wrestling and a passion for coaching," Ward said. "Anthony's success in college competing for Nebraska speaks for itself, but what really attracted me to Anthony is his passion and energy for helping wrestlers achieve their goals. He has trained alongside, and learned from, some of the best wrestlers and coaches in the country and the knowledge he has gained will greatly benefit our team. He is a guy that can wrestle with our guys on a daily basis and continue to help our program push for All-America honors." In addition to his time at Fresno State, Abidin has helped produce 18 all-country wrestlers in both Nassau and Suffolk county, 12 county champions, nine all-state wrestlers, five New York state champions, eight high school All-Americans, three NCAA Division I wrestlers and one Division I commit. Abidin earned his Bachelor's in Sociology and Social Science from the University of Nebraska in 2016 where he was a three-year starter. He was the recipient of the Tom Osborn Citizenship Award in 2015 which is given to athletes who have provided a vast amount of time in outreach/charity events throughout the city of Lincoln, Neb. Abidin posted a career record of 72-24 at Nebraska while qualifying for the NCAA Championships twice at 141 pounds. He collected 12 career victories over ranked opponents with seven coming against top-10 foes. Abidin placed in eight tournaments as a Cornhusker, including the individual title at the 2014-15 Cowboy Open. He also placed second at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in 2013-14 and third at the 2013-14 Reno Tournament of Champions and 2014-15 Southern Scuffle. His best season came as a junior when Abidin went 33-6 and was a perfect 15-0 in duals. He posted 19 bonus point victories with four falls, two technical falls and 13 major decisions and won eight matches against ranked opponents that season, including two over two-time All-American Anthony Ashnault of Rutgers. Prior to Nebraska, Abidin spent two years at Nassau Community College where he earned his Associate's in Liberal Arts in 2013. He won the NJCAA national title at 133 pounds as a freshman in 2012. Abidin also brings in a wealth of knowledge in freestyle wrestling as a member of the New York Athletic Club. Most recently, he advanced to the round of 12 at the 2017 U.S. Open at 65kg. Abidin also placed third at the 2017 Last Chance Qualifier and the 2018 "Granma E Cero Pelado" in Cuba. Additionally, he earned a fifth-place finish at the 2018 Bill Farrel Invitational. Abidin is a native of Dix Hills, N.Y., and currently resides in Highland Falls. For more information on Army West Point wrestling, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com and follow @ArmyWP_Wres on Twitter.

Austin Gomez is expected to make an impact for Iowa State in 2018-19 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Coaches always preach getting better through hard work and training. While that is always the goal, sometimes coaches simply need to bring in new wrestlers to the lineup. While most teams will likely be chasing Penn State again this year, the following teams did the best job of improving their starting lineup via transfer, recruiting and wrestlers coming off redshirt. 1. Iowa State The Cyclones experienced some growing pains in their first year under head coach Kevin Dresser. While much of the news around the program has centered on departures from the squad, there will be some talented faces in the lineup next year. The team will feature a pair of quality recruits coming off redshirt. Austin Gomez was a top recruit coming out of high school, and he has looked the part so far. He went undefeated during his redshirt season. This spring he won the UWW Junior Nationals in Las Vegas and eventually secured a spot on the Junior World Team. Gomez is expected to hold the spot at 133 pounds over former NJCAA champion Todd Small who transferred in from Iowa Central. Marcus Coleman is also expected to step into the starting lineup after a strong redshirt year. He went 24-2 during his true freshman campaign with his only two losses coming against Big 12 champion Taylor Lujan (Northern Iowa). A surprising addition to the Cyclone lineup is Willie Miklus who transferred in from Missouri after receiving a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. Miklus finished eighth at last year's NCAA tournament to become an All-American for the third time. The Iowa native should step in at 197 pounds. However, it remains to be seen how the lineup will work out. Sammy Colbray held down the weight for the Cyclones last year and had some moments. The Cyclones also added Ethan Anderson as a transfer from Oklahoma State. However, he will likely ride the bench behind Gannon Gremmel at heavyweight. The crown jewel of Dresser's recruiting class was No. 3 recruit David Carr who is expected to redshirt this season. Daton Fix reached Final X before losing to Thomas Gilman (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 2. Oklahoma State The Cowboys have three potential impact wrestlers coming off redshirt. The problem will be trying to find a place in the lineup for all three. Daton Fix recently wrapped up his spot on the Junior World Team after narrowly missing out on the Senior World Team earlier in the summer. He made Final X after defeating veteran Tony Ramos, but he fell against Thomas Gilman in the Final X series. Fix wrestled sparingly during his redshirt campaign. He went 5-0 and won the Reno Tournament of Champions and then suffered an injury at the Southern Scuffle. While he can clearly make 125 pounds, Fix might end up at 133 so the Cowboys can keep Nick Piccininni in the lineup. Kaden Gfeller went 20-4 during his redshirt season with his four losses all coming against All-Americans. The highlight of his season was winning the Southern Scuffle where he pinned Nick Lee (Penn State) in the finals. As it currently stands, it looks like Gfeller is behind Kaid Brock on the depth chart at 141 pounds. However, he might end up starting after a lineup shuffle. Returning to the lineup is Joe Smith. He started at 157 pounds for the Cowboy for his freshman and sophomore season and earned All-American honors in both years. He redshirted last season, and he might end up being the starter at 174 pounds this season. The Cowboys also added Dakota Geer as a transfer from Edinboro. He will likely sit behind senior Jacobe Smith at 184 pounds, but he could end up becoming a wildcard contributor in the winter. Gable Steveson dominated Tanner Hall at the World Team Trials (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) 3. Minnesota The Golden Gophers signed the No. 1 recruit in the country, Gable Steveson, and he is expected to make an impact right away. This past summer, he came pretty close to earning a spot in Final X. He lost on criteria in the finals of the World Team Trials challenge tournament. He should be a contender at heavyweight this upcoming season. In addition to the top recruit, Minnesota will also receive help from a pair of impact transfers. Sean Russell will step in at 125 pounds after coming over from Edinboro. This allows Ethan Lizak to move up to 133. Russell is a three-time NCAA qualifier and earned All-American honors in the 2017 season. Also coming into the program is Devin Skatzka, formerly of Indiana where he was a two-time NCAA qualifier. He is expected to take over at 174 pounds. Another wildcard potential addition to the Minnesota lineup is Jake Allar. He originally committed to Iowa State out of high school but switched to Minnesota after a coaching change. He missed his entire redshirt season due to injury, but he could still make an impact at 165 for the squad. Austin DeSanto gets his hand raised after beating Northwestern's Anthony Rubinetti at the Keystone Classic (Photo/Juan Garcia) 4. Iowa The biggest offseason acquisition for the Hawkeyes was filling the lineup hole at 133 pounds with Austin DeSanto. The Pennsylvania native transferred in after his freshman season at Drexel where he narrowly missed out on All-American status. Iowa will also benefit from three wrestlers coming out of redshirt. Pat Lugo redshirted last season after transferring from Edinboro. He is expected to take over at 149 pounds after the graduation of Brandon Sorensen. At 197, Jacob Warner will step into the lineup after looking downright dominant this summer. He torched his way through the UWW Junior Nationals and World Team Trials fields and will represent the U.S. at the Junior World Championships. Max Murin also has a shot to make the lineup at 141 pounds. He also picked up some signature victories in freestyle earlier this summer including a win over Iowa State to Michigan transfer Kanen Storr. Mekhi Lewis (Photo/HokieSports.com) 5. Virginia Tech The Hokies were able to pick up two starters via transfer from Edinboro. Korbin Myers is a two-time NCAA qualifier who should step into the lineup at 133. Also coming over is Billy Miller who was a three-time NCAA qualifier for Edinboro before transferring. Mekhi Lewis is expected to step in the lineup after coming off redshirt. During his redshirt year, he went 28-2 with his only two losses coming against Chance Marsteller (Lock Haven). At the Junior World Team Trials, Lewis knocked off All-American Alex Marinelli (Iowa) to make the finals, and he eventually earned a spot on the Junior World Team.

John Irving Acclaimed novelist John Irving, former wrestler and coach -- and 1982 National Wrestling Hall of Fame honoree - has been has been presented with a lifetime achievement award honoring writers whose work fosters peace, social justice, and global understanding. Dayton Literary Peace Prize officials named Irving, 76, for the Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award. The award is named for the late U.S. diplomat who brokered the 1995 Bosnia peace accords reached at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Irving, who is being honored for his complete body of work, encompassing 14 novels over 50 years, will be presented with the award at a gala ceremony in Dayton on October 28, 2018. In announcing the recipient of the 2018 award on Tuesday, Sharon Rab, founder and chair of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize organization , said, "John Irving's body of work creates worlds that allow the reader to explore the contradictions of twisted morality, the consequences of suspicions of the other, the absurdities of pride and ignorance, and the tragedy of a lack of sympathy and empathy for our fellow humans: characteristics that make peace unreachable. Through books --especially Irving's books -- readers learn to understand and identify with people who are different from themselves." John Irving was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1942. His first novel, "Setting Free the Bears," was published in 1968, when he was twenty-six. According to his biography at his official website, Irving competed as a wrestler for twenty years, and coached wrestling until he was forty-seven. He has incorporated the sport in his writing, including "The 158-Pound Marriage" which features a wrestling coach as main character, and his popular novel "The World According to Garp" that incorporates the sport ... as well as a detailed profile of Dan Gable titled "Gorgeous Dan" for Esquire magazine. Irving was welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an Outstanding American in 1982. He was the subject of a Mat Talk Podcast "Legends" interview with Jason Bryant. The Dayton Literary Peace Prize award includes a $10,000 prize. Previous winners include Studs Terkel, Taylor Branch, Gloria Steinem, and Elie Wiesel.

Ed Ruth, three-time NCAA wrestling champ for Penn State, is one of nine competitors named to the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix tournament, the MMA promotion announced Tuesday. Ed Ruth (Photo/Bellator)Ten of Bellator's best 170-pounders will be featured in the bracket to determine a welterweight champ for the promotion. In addition to Ed Ruth, others named to the tournament by Bellator president Scott Coker include current champion Rory MacDonald; former champions Douglas Lima and Andrey Koreshkov; undefeated welterweights Michael Page, Neiman Gracie and Yaroslav Amosov; and former UFC standouts Lorenz Larkin and Jon Fitch. A tenth contestant has yet to be named. Once the ten fighters are named, there will be two "play-in" matches to determine the final eight-man bracket. The Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at Bellator 205 in September with a matchup between Lima and Koreshkov. Ruth, who signed with Bellator in May 2015, has crafted a perfect 6-0 record, all competing for Bellator. Late last month, Ruth made his debut as a welterweight at Bellator 201, scoring a second-round stoppage of veteran Andy Murad (who is now 15-3). Prior to Bellator 201, Ruth had previously fought at middleweight (185 pounds). Although Ruth made a name for himself on the wrestling mat, striking has figured into his pro MMA success, having one four bouts by TKO and one by knockout.