InterMat Staff

Joy Davids, first woman to have been welcomed into the Michigan chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, passed away July 12, just days before her 86th birthday. Joy Davids and her husband of nearly 70 years, Lee, were inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Michigan Chapter in a ceremony in East Lansing in Sept. 2011. Born July 18, 1932 in Michigan, Joy and Lee established one of the first youth wrestling clubs in America. She volunteered thousands of hours over many decades organizing and running wrestling tournaments, going so far as to drive young wrestlers all over the country to compete. "Thousands of wrestlers will remember Mrs. Davids as the kind lady that created wall charts and took pictures of them on the award stand at local, state, national and international events," according to the tribute in both the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press. "Dozens of young men and women called her "mom", and her legacy with these young people is unparalleled." The couple also ran Davids Gold Medal Sports, a store for equipment for wrestling and other sports, located in Hazel Park just outside Detroit. In a News-Tribune profile written at the time of their induction into the Hall of Fame, Joy and Lee Davids were described as "an integral part of the fabric of wrestling both locally and nationally for years." "I've met so many nice people over the years," Joy Davids told the newspaper in 2011. "If your kids were with wrestlers, you did not worry about them." Joy and Lee Davids raised five children. In addition to daughter Mary, there were four sons who all wrestled at Hazel Park High School - Mark, a Michigan high school state runner-up who went on to wrestle at Eastern Michigan University; Billy, a state champ, and two-time Big Ten and two-time NCAA All-American for University of Michigan; Johnny, who also wrestled for the Wolverines; and Tommy, a state champ who was the third Davids son to wrestle at the Big Ten school in Ann Arbor. Services for Joy Davids were held Tuesday evening, July 17.

Four former Ohio State University wrestlers have filed a class-action federal lawsuit against the Columbus-based school, claiming administrators were aware of alleged sexual abuse by team doctor Richard Strauss and did nothing about it. The suit, filed Monday in federal district court in Columbus, accuses Ohio State of Title IX and civil rights violations when it failed to prevent repeated sexual assaults, abuse and molestation by Strauss. The four former Buckeye wrestlers in the case have not been identified. The plaintiffs -- listed only as "John Does" in the lawsuit -- seek punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees and other relief as the court deems proper. The suit did not state a specific amount the plaintiffs were seeking. The lawsuit alleges that wrestlers as well as male athletes in 13 other intercollegiate sports were subject to "excessive and medically unnecessary fondling, touching, and groping" during routine medical examinations conducted by Strauss over the course of more than two decades on staff at Ohio State, according to NBC News. The Columbus Dispatch reported the complaint alleges that despite being repeatedly informed of Strauss' "sexual assault, abuse, battery, molestation, and/or harassment, OSU failed to take appropriate action (or, in fact, any action whatsoever) to stop or prevent Dr. Strauss from continuing his rampant sexual misconduct." "Dr. Strauss used his position of trust and confidence to regularly and systematically sexually assault, abuse, batter, molest, and harass male students and student-athletes over the entire course of his career in his capacity as an employee, agent, and/or representative of OSU," according to the Dispatch. To illustrate the span of complaints concerning Strauss' alleged behavior, the suit states that a student-athlete first complained to the university's student health center in 1978 ... while, in the mid-1990s, two wrestlers reported Strauss to Andy Geiger, Ohio State's athletic director at the time, while another reported the same incident to then head wrestling coach Russ Hellickson. The Dispatch reported that the lawsuit states Ohio State held a hearing on the allegations against Strauss in 1997, and he was allegedly allowed to "quietly retire," without facing disciplinary action. Strauss died in 2005. The alleged abuse took place in Larkins Hall, a multi-purpose building on campus which, in addition to housing various varsity and intermural sports, also included a wrestling practice facility as well as locker rooms, shower rooms and a sauna for the Buckeye wrestling program. Larkins Hall has since been torn down. In early April, Ohio State announced it was investigating allegations of sexual abuse involving Buckeye student-athletes. The school set up a reporting procedure for victims to share their stories. In addition, the Ohio attorney general has launched an investigation. Recent news reports indicate that more than 150 individuals have come forward.

Brayton Lee celebrates after winning a Junior freestyle title over Alex Lloyd (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) FARGO, N.D. -- Tuesday afternoon was one to remember for five graduated high school seniors, who got to have one last moment as a scholastic athlete before moving onto the collegiate competitive ranks. These young men all won championships in Junior freestyle on the raised mat. The last match of the program saw No. 18 overall Class of 2018 wrestler Anthony Cassioppi of Illinois earn a repeat Junior National freestyle title at 285 pounds. The Iowa enrollee replicated a 3-1 Junior folkstyle finals victory over Nash Hutmacher of South Dakota, who is ranked No. 14 overall in the Class of 2020. It was augmented with a bit more flair, as the result was a dominant pin in 1:14, as Cassioppi was on his way to a technical fall. For the tournament, Cassioppi earned three technical falls and had three victories by pin. This also included technical falls over the pair of wrestlers that contested the consolation final. With a win in the Greco-Roman tournament, Cassioppi would become a two-time Junior National triple crown winner. It was a worthy Outstanding Wrestler performance. The first of three all-graduated senior showdowns came at 152 pounds, and it was a dandy as No. 11 Brayton Lee of Indiana outlasted No. 35 Alex Lloyd of Minnesota 3-3 via criteria. Lee, the Minnesota enrollee, came into the final winning his six previous matches by shutout technical fall but trailed 3-0 during the second period. A caution-and-one then a takedown yielded the points necessary for Lee to earn gold. At 160 pounds, it was Danny Braunagel of Illinois, who relegated No. 56 Jared Franek of North Dakota to a second consecutive runner-up finish in Junior freestyle. Franek would score the first takedown, but it was 13 consecutive for the Illinois enrollee to earn the technical fall. Earlier in the tournament, Braunagel earned victories over the wrestlers that finished third through fifth, including a 12-8 semifinal victory over returning Junior freestyle runner-up Tyler Dow of Wisconsin. Last of the three came at 182 pounds, as it was the top 50 battle between No. 42 Joel Shapiro of Iowa and No. 46 Jack Jessen of Illinois. Having earned a ninth All-American finish in as many Fargo tournaments, and it being his third freestyle final (Junior runer-up last year, Cadet runner-up in 2015), the Northwestern enrollee Jessen got his elusive title. The 10-0 technical fall over Iowa State enrollee Shapiro was his seventh in as many tournament bouts. Rounding out the graduated senior champions was No. 74 Lucas Davison of Indiana. The fellow Northwestern enrollee also earned a 10-0 technical fall, and it also was his seventh technical fall in as many tournament bouts. His finals opponent was No. 95 overall Class of 2019 wrestler Peter Christensen of Illinois. However, the most impressive performance on Tuesday afternoon arguably was had by 170 pound champion Carson Kharchla of Ohio, who is ranked No. 10 overall in the Class of 2019. The rising senior thumped Dustin Plott of Oklahoma, who is ranked No. 9 overall in the Class of 2020 by 10-0 technical fall in 1:14. Kharchla used a pair of takedown and turn sequences before a third takedown was the match terminator. During the tournament, the only points Kharchla gave up came in a 7-4 semifinal victory over Travis Wittlake of Oregon, who finished as the No. 2 overall Class of 2018 wrestler. In all, he beat wrestlers that finished 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th in the weight class. Two other rising seniors from Ohio joined Kharchla as Junior National freestyle champions. Jordan Decatur, ranked No. 4 overall, won the title at 132 pounds with a 13-8 victory over Ridge Lovett of Idaho in a match that he led for the duration; Lovett is ranked No. 28 overall in the Class of 2019. Bryce Andonian, ranked No. 21 overall, won the title at 145 pounds using a pair of four-point moves to start and finish off Logan Meek of Oregon in a 12-2 technical fall victory. Three additional rising seniors won titles on Tuesday afternoon. The first was No. 53 Eric Barnett of Wisconsin, who earned a pin in 1:32 over No. 59 Aden Reeves of Iowa at 120 pounds; Barnett's run to the final included victories over two additional All-Americans plus another pair of wrestlers that ended 2017-18 weight class ranked. A seventh technical fall in seven bouts saw Michael Colaiocco of New Jersey, who is ranked No. 27 in the Class of 2019, earn gold at 126 pounds; his finals bout was a decisive and quick 10-0 technical fall over Reece Witcraft of Oklahoma. An all-Illinois showdown of Class 2A state champions saw No. 44 Luke Luffman earn a tightly contested 4-2 decision over Jace Punke at 220 pounds. The Illinois verbal commit gave up the opening takedown to Punke, but countered with a takedown of his own before the first period was up. In the second period Luffman was able to score two one-point moves, the first of which was when Punke was put on the shot clock and could not score. Three rising juniors won Junior freestyle titles, including repeat champion Will Guida of New Jersey (though he attends St. Paul's School for Boys in Maryland) at 106 pounds. Guida used a four-point move in each period to upend Anthony King of Illinois 11-3 in the championship bout. In the program's next match, No. 32 overall Class of 2020 wrestlers Cullan Schriever of Iowa rallied back from a 7-0 late first period deficit to defeat Jonathan Prata of California 10-10 via criteria. Schriever responded with a takedown before the first period ended and a feet-to-back four-pointer early in the second period. However, Prata bursted back ahead 10-6 before a four-pointer from Schriever at the edge gave him the criteria lead and ultimate victory. Lastly, at 138 pounds it No. 29 overall Keegan O'Toole of Wisconsin, who upset No. 37 overall rising senior Gabe Tagg of Ohio by 11-6 decision in the 138 pound championship bout. O'Toole jumped out to a 6-0 lead after one period, before a back-and-forth second period never saw Tagg really challenge to go ahead. Rounding out the weight class champions was Joey Fischer of Pennsylvania, who won gold at 100 pounds with a 10-0 technical fall at 100 pounds over Ronan Schuelke of Illinois. Fischer was a state qualifier in his freshman season of high school. All-Americans 100: 1st: Joseph Fischer (Pennsylvania) tech. fall Ronan Schuelke (Illinois), 10-0 3rd: Eli Griffin (Oklahoma) tech. fall Guillermo Juarez (Illinois), 12-1 5th: Christian Tanefeu (North Dakota) tech. fall Colin Noel (Ohio), 10-0 7th: Trent Thompson (Connecticut) tech. fall Kael Brisker (Iowa), 15-4 106: 1st: Wil Guida (New Jersey) dec. Anthony King (Illinois), 11-3 3rd: Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington) dec. Zachary Espalin (Arizona), 12-6 5th: Riley Parker (Virginia) tech. fall Bryce Cockrell (Oklahoma), 10-0 7th: Alexzander Cottey (Indiana) pinned Sawyer Nash (Illinois), 1:00 113: 1st: Cullan Schriever (Iowa) dec. Jonathan Prata (California), 10-10 3rd: Brendon Garcia (Colorado) tech. fall Dustin Norris (Ohio), 14-4 5th: Dominic Chavez (Texas) tech. fall Joseph Thompson (Minnesota), 12-1 7th: Justin Cardani (Illinois) tech. fall Timothy Levine (California), 15-4 120: 1st: Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) pinned Aden Reeves (Iowa), 1:32 3rd: Julian Tagg (Ohio) dec. Kyle Biscoglia (Iowa), 7-5 5th: Corey Gamet (Michigan) by injury def. over Trevor Mastrogiovanni (New Jersey) 7th: Anthony Molton (Illinois) tech. fall Dylan Ragusin (Illinois), 18-7 126: 1st: Michael Colaiocco (New Jersey) tech. fall Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma), 10-0 3rd: Patrick McKee (Minnesota) dec. Kyle Burwick (North Dakota), 8-6 5th: Kai Orine (Missouri) tech. fall Kellyn March (South Dakota), 12-1 7th: Earl Blake (Maryland) tech. fall Ryder Ramsey (Oklahoma), 12-2 132: 1st: Jordan Decatur (Ohio) dec. Ridge Lovett (Idaho), 13-8 3rd: Beau Bartlett (Pennsylvania) by injury def. over Connor Mcgonagle (Pennsylvania) 5th: Jackson Henson (Pennsylvania) dec. Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio), 9-6 7th: Jacob Dado (Illinois) by injury def. over Malyke Hines (Florida) 138: 1st: Keegan O'Toole (Wisconsin) dec. Gabriel Tagg (Ohio), 11-6 3rd: Jaden Abas (California) tech. fall Lucas Revano (New Jersey), 11-0 5th: Edward Scott (Pennsylvania) by injury def. over Jordan Crace (Ohio) 7th: Beau Ohlson (Oregon) tech. fall Nicholas Termini (Illinois), 14-4 145: 1st: Bryce Andonian (Ohio) tech. fall Logan Meek (Oregon), 12-2 3rd: Michael Blockhus (Iowa) tech. fall Daniel Manibog (Texas), 19-8 5th: Drew Scharenbrock (Wisconsin) pinned Colton Yapoujian (Colorado), 5:21 7th: Cade Devos (Iowa) dec. Johnny Levett (Florida), 12-1 152: 1st: Brayton Lee (Indiana) dec. Alex Lloyd (Minnesota), 3-3 3rd: Connor Brady (Ohio) dec. Kendall Coleman (Illinois), 4-0 5th: Jace Luchau (California) by injury def. over Cameron Amine (Michigan) 7th: Daniel Mancini (Pennsylvania) dec. Tyler Eischens (Minnesota), 9-8 160: 1st: Danny Braunagel (Illinois) tech. fall Jared Franek (North Dakota), 13-2 3rd: Nelson Brands (Iowa) tech. fall Robert Kanniard (New Jersey), 11-0 5th: Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) pinned Nevan Snodgrass (Ohio), 2:50 7th: Sean Harman (Oregon) tech. fall Jacob Stefanowicz (Pennsylvania), 12-1 170: 1st: Carson Kharchla (Ohio) tech. fall Dustin Plott (Oklahoma), 10-0 3rd: Parker Keckeisen (Wisconsin) dec. Carter Starocci (Pennsylvania), 9-6 5th: Travis Wittlake Jr. (Oregon) tech. fall Ben Sarasin (Iowa), 10-0 7th: Christopher Foca (New Jersey) by injury def. over Luca Pontone (Massachusetts) 182: 1st: Jack Jessen (Illinois) tech. fall Joel Shapiro (Iowa), 11-0 3rd: Zachary Braunagel (Illinois) dec. Tate Samuelson (Colorado), 10-8 5th: Devin Winston (Missouri) pinned Jackson Turley (Virginia), 4:52 7th: Talon Borror (Oklahoma) pinned Victor Marcelli (Ohio), 2:25 195: 1st: Lucas Davison (Indiana) tech. fall Peter Christensen (Illinois), 10-0 3rd: Wyatt Hendrickson (Kansas) tech. fall Austin Cooley (Massachusetts), 12-2 5th: Beau Yineman (Wisconsin) dec. Tyrell Gordon (Iowa), 5-0 7th: Sergio Villalobos (Illinois) dec. Matthew Cover (Ohio), 8-1 220: 1st: Luke Luffman (Illinois) dec. Jace Punke (Illinois), 4-2 3rd: Boone Mcdermott (Iowa) tech. fall Keaton Fogler (Illinois), 11-0 5th: Joshua Heindselman (Oklahoma) dec. Cole Fibranz (Minnesota), 8-2 7th: Garrett Kappes (Maryland) tech. fall Victor Jaquez Jr. (California), 13-2 285: 1st: Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois) pinned Nash Hutmacher (South Dakota), 1:14 3rd: Mason Parris (Indiana) tech. fall John Mcconkey (Iowa), 10-0 5th: Austin Emerson (Michigan) dec. Aydin Guttridge (Illinois), 2-1 7th: Spencer Trenary (Iowa) dec. Lee Herrington (Nebraska), 8-6

Below is the list of matches for Tuesday afternoon's finals program from Fargo, N.D. 100 pounds: Joseph Fischer (Pennsylvania) vs. Ronan Schuelke (Illinois) 106 pounds: Will Guida (New Jersey/Maryland) vs. Anthony King (Illinois) --Guida is a defending Junior freestyle champion 113 pounds: Cullan Schriever (Iowa) vs. Jonathan Prata (California) --Schriever is ranked No. 32 overall in the Class of 2020, and a 2016 Cadet freestyle champion; while Prata was a 2017 Junior folkstyle champion 120 pounds: Aden Reeves (Iowa) vs. Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) --Reeves is ranked No. 59 overall in the Class of 2019, and is now a four-time Fargo freestyle All-American; Barnett is No. 53 in the Class of 2019, and a Junior folkstyle runner-up 126 pounds: Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma) vs. Michael Colaiocco (New Jersey) --Witcraft is a two-time Cadet Greco-Roman finalist, winning gold last year; now three-time Junior freestyle All-American, Colaiocco is ranked No. 27 overall in the Class of 2019 132 pounds: Jordan Decatur (Ohio) vs. Ridge Lovett (Idaho) --Decatur is ranked No. 4 in the Class of 2019, and a two-time Cadet freestyle champion, also qualifying for Cadet World freestyle last year; while Lovett is ranked No. 28 in the Class of 2019, and a Junior folkstyle champion, along with now being a four-time Fargo freestyle All-American 138 pounds Keegan O'Toole (Wisconsin) vs. Gabriel Tagg (Ohio) --O'Toole is ranked No. 29 in the Class of 2020, and was a two-time Cadet freestyle All-American; Tagg is ranked No. 37 in the Class of 2019, and placed fifth at the UWW Junior Nationals in freestyle this spring 145 pounds: Logan Meek (Oregon) vs. Bryce Andonian (Ohio) --Graduated senior Meek was a three-time state champion, including at 160 pounds this year; he also placed eighth in this Fargo weight last year. Andonian is ranked No. 21 in the Class of 2019, and a two-time state champion 152 pounds: Brayton Lee (Indiana) vs. Alex Lloyd (Minnesota) --No. 11 overall graduated senior Lee was a three-time state champion and is now a three-time top three finisher in Fargo freestyle; while Lloyd finished as the No. 35 overall graduated senior, and is a five-time Fargo freestyle All-American in his first final 160 pounds: Jared Franek (North Dakota) vs. Danny Braunagel (Illinois) -Both wrestlers in this bout are graduated seniors, with Franek finishing ranked No. 56 overall in the class, and in a third straight Fargo freestyle final (2017 Junior runner-up, 2016 Cadet champion). Braunagel won a second state title this scholastic season, while placing at the Super 32 and NHSCA Senior Nationals. 170 pounds: Carson Kharchla (Ohio) vs. Dustin Plott (Oklahoma) --Both wrestlers are ranked in the top ten of their respective grade levels, Kharchla is No. 10 in the Class of 2019 and now a three-time Fargo freestyle All-American; Plott ranked No. 9 in the Class of 2020, and was runner-up at the UWW Junior National freestyle tournament this spring 182 pounds: Jack Jessen (Illinois) vs. Joel Shapiro (Iowa) --Both wrestlers are graduated seniors, Jessen ranked No. 46 overall in the Class of 2018 and Shapiro ranked No. 42. Junior folkstyle champion Jessen is now a nine-time Fargo All-American, and in his third freestyle final (runner-up last year and in 2015); while Shapiro was previously seventh twice in Fargo freestyle 195 pounds: Lucas Davison (Indiana) vs. Peter Christiannsen (Illinois) --Davison was ranked No. 74 in the Class of 2018, and now a three-time top three finisher in Fargo freestyle; while Christiansen is ranked No. 95 the Class of 2019, and a returning Cadet freestyle All-American along with finishing fourth at UWW Cadet Nationals this spring in freestyle 220 pounds: Jace Punke (Illinois) vs. Luke Luffman (Illinois) --This is a battle of rising seniors that won Illinois Class 2A state titles in 2017-18. Punke has twice finished sixth in Cadet freestyle; while No. 44 overall in the Class of 2019 Luffman is now a three-time Fargo freestyle All-American and a three-time UWW Cadet freestyle All-American 285 pounds: Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois) vs. Nash Hutmacher (South Dakota) --Iowa enrollee Cassioppi finished ranked No. 18 overall in the Class of 2018. He was a Junior Triple Crown winner last year, and is seeking the second leg of one on Tuesday afternoon. Returning Cadet freestyle champion Hutmacher is ranked No. 14 overall in the Class of 2020

Mason Gehloff defeated Jore Volk in an all-Minnesota finals match at 88 pounds (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) FARGO, N.D. -- Championship matches were wrestled in the Cadet National freestyle tournament on Monday afternoon, and those emerging victorious in the first three weight classes have now won the first two legs of the Cadet Triple Crown. The remaining leg is the Greco-Roman tournament, which starts on Wednesday and concludes with the finals on Thursday afternoon. In an all-Minnesota showdown that was a rematch of the Cadet folkstyle final, it was Mason Gehloff winning a decisive 8-1 victory over Jore Volk in the opening match of the afternoon program at 88 pounds. Incoming freshman Maxximus Martinez of California would earn gold next, with a 6-2 win over fellow incoming freshman Carter Fousek of Iowa at 94; he made a takedown and two turns from the first period last for his second leg victory. Then at 100 pounds, it was a showdown of top 15 overall incoming freshmen, as Jordan Williams of Oklahoma used a late takedown to break a 4-4 tie on the way to his 6-4 victory over Alex Almeyda of New Jersey. Williams is eligible to win a Cadet Triple Crown later this week to add to his Roller World of Wrestling triple crown from the scholastic season in 2017-18. Yet another match decided late came in the next weight class, at 106 pounds, as a third consecutive incoming freshman earned gold. Nicolar Rivera of Wisconsin used a late four point toss at the edge to win a 12-11 barn-burner over Yusief Lillie of Washington, who is ranked No. 16 overall in the Class of 2021. The next weight saw Jakason Burks of Nebraska cap off a dominating tournament run with yet another win over excellent opposition. The Cadet World team member in Greco-Roman beat No. 6 overall incoming freshman Daniel Cardenas of Colorado by 10-0 technical fall. Said tournament run earned Burks the Outstanding Wrestler honor. There would be a run of five successive technical fall victories in the championship program starting at 138 going through 170. No. 5 overall Class of 2021 wrestler Travis Mastrogiovanni of New Jersey beat incoming freshman Luke Geog of Ohio 10-0 at 138 pounds. The nation's top rising sophomore Carson Manville of Pennsylvania gave up a four-point throw to West Virginia's John Martin Best to open the bout, but went on to win 16-4; a takedown and five successive turns would take a 4-4 tie and end the 145 pound final. Tate Picklo of Oklahoma, ranked No. 44 overall in the Class of 2021, capped off a dominant run through the 152 pound weight class with a 10-0 finals victory over incoming freshman Manuel Rojas of Michigan. Then at 160 pounds, it was No. 47 overall Class of 2021 wrestler Quayin Short of Minnesota beating Connor O'Neil 10-0; while Pennsylvania's Luke Stout won a battle of rising juniors 10-0 over Sam Skillings of Wisconsin. One of the more competitive bouts of the finals program was at 120 pounds, where rising junior Jesse Ybarra of Arizona scored two first period takedowns to take a 4-0 lead, and made that stand in a 4-2 victory over Caleb Rathjen of Iowa; Rathjen is ranked No. 37 in the Class of 2021. The next weight class final at 126 pounds was a rematch of last year's 120 pound semifinal in this tournament. Replicating said outcome was Dominick Serrano of Colorado, who beat fellow rising junior Mick Burnett of Ohio 5-1. That was the lone point of the tournament allowed by the nation's No. 13 overall wrestler in the Class of 2020. The 132 pound final saw Ryan Franco of California, ranked No. 7 in the Class of 2021, relegated to a second straight Cadet freestyle runner-up finish. Michigan's Josh Edmond, ranked No. 49 in the Class of 2020, earned a comprehensive 10-5 victory. Rocky Elam of Missouri was the sixth rising junior to earn a Cadet freestyle title, his coming via a 5-2 victory at 182 pounds over fellow rising junior Nathan Haas of California; Elam used a pair of takedowns in the later part of the second period to separate a 1-1 bout. The next bout was a clash of incoming freshmen, with Noah Pettigrew of Georgia beating No. 20 Kolby Franklin of Pennsylvania 12-7 at 195 pounds. Pettigrew jumped out to an early lead, saw that shrink to one point at mid-match, before separating out the match at the end. The lone pin of the finals program came at 220 pounds, where Nathaniel Deasey of Arizona flipped his Cadet folkstyle finals loss to Chris Island of California. Deasey trailed 2-0 early before using a pair of locks to get the pin. Rounding out the program was rising sophomore Hayden Copass of Illinois, who earned a 10-0 technical fall victory over Pennsylvania's Cody Whitehill, a statemedalist this season in high school. All-Americans 88: 1st: Mason Gehloff (Minnesota) dec. Jore Volk (Minnesota), 8-1 3rd: Tristan Stafford (Arkansas) dec. Brandon O`Brien (Iowa), 7-5 5th: Marlon Yarbrough (Ohio) tech. fall Christopher Martino (Idaho), 12-1, 2:25 7th: Jacob Van Dee (Pennsylvania) tech. fall Kaden Ramos (Idaho), 10-0, 0:46 94: 1st: Maxximus Martinez (California) dec. Carter Fousek (Iowa), 6-2 3rd: Kai Owen (Florida) tech. fall Reid Nelson (Minnesota), 10-0, 1:24 5th: Benjamin Aranda (Illinois) tech. fall Oscar Alvarez (Washington), 14-2, 4:17 7th: Mason Stefanelli (Hawaii) tech. fall Tryon Kaess (Washington), 12-2, 3:28 100: 1st: Jordan Williams (Oklahoma) dec. Alex Almeyda (New Jersey), 6-4 3rd: Stevo Poulin (New York) tech. fall Abraham Hinrichsen (Illinois), 10-0, 2:13 5th: Richard Fedalen (Maryland) dec. Sean Seefeldt (Ohio), 8-0 7th: Trae McDaniel (Tennessee) dec. Casey Swiderski (Michigan), 14-12 106: 1st: Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) dec. Yusief Lillie (Washington), 12-11 3rd: Sheldon Seymour (Pennsylvania) tech. fall Drake Ayala (Iowa), 10-0, 3:17 5th: Max Black (Colorado) tech. fall Kyle Rowan (Ohio), 14-3, 3:00 7th: Jack Maida (New Jersey) dec. Daniel Wask (New Jersey), 15-8 113: 1st: Jakason Burks (Nebraska) tech. fall Daniel Cardenas (Colorado), 10-0, 3:23 3rd: Cooper Flynn (Tennessee) dec. Colton Drousias (Indiana), 9-2 5th: Anthony Noto (New York) tech. fall Zeke Seltzer (Indiana), 12-2, 5:04 7th: Garett Lautzenheiser (Ohio) no match Kal Miller (Missouri) 120: 1st: Jesse Ybarra (Arizona) dec. Caleb Rathjen (Iowa), 4-2 3rd: Teague Travis (Missouri) tech. fall Drew Roberts (Oregon), 10-0, 1:17 5th: Jacob Rundell (Illinois) inj. dft. Brayden Littell (Indiana), 3:52 7th: Ryan Crookham (Pennsylvanaia) dec. Noah Horst (Tennessee), 14-8 132: 1st: Dominick Serrano (Colorado) dec. Michael Burnett (Ohio), 5-1 3rd: Wyatt Henson (Pennsylvania) dec. Reid Ballantyne (Minnesota), 19-10 5th: Cody Chittum (Tennessee) dec. Vance Vombaur (Colorado), 8-7 7th: Cameron Johnson (Illinois) inj dft. Vincent Zerban (Illinois) 32: 1st: Joshua Edmond (Michigan) dec. Ryan Franco (California), 10-5 3rd: Luke Odom (Illinois) tech. fall Jake Niffenegger (Ohio), 11-0, 3:15 5th: Derek Fields (Ohio) tech. fall Jaxon Smith (Georgia), 14-3, 3:52 7th: Fabian Lopez (Illinois) tech fall Noah Villarreal (Illinois), 17-5, 5:56 138: 1st: Travis Mastrogiovanni (New Jersey) tech. fall Luke Geog (Ohio), 10-0, 4:17 3rd: Jackson Dean (New Jersey) tech. fall Bryer Hall (Indiana),10-0, 0:17 5th: Chase Warden (Texas) dec. Jagger Condomitti (Pennsylvania), 10-2 7th: Alex Strashinsky (New Jersey) tech. fall Luke Mechler (Wisconsin), 10-0, 3:20 145: 1st: Carson Manville (Pennsylvania) tech. fall John Martin Best (West Virginia), 16-4, 1:52 3rd: Cael Valencia (California) tech. fall Antonio Petrucelli (Pennsylvania), 10-0, 1:24 5th: Robert Perez III (California) dec. Nicholas Stonecheck (Georgia), 10-7 7th: Joseph Zargo (New Jersey) tech. fall Antonio Segura (Colorado), 10-0, 1:30 152: 1st: Tate Picklo (Oklahoma) tech. fall Manuel Rojas (Michigan), 10-0, 3:24 3rd: Donald Cates (North Carolina) tech. fall Brock Ellis (Indiana), 15-4, 1:24 5th: Keegan Rothrock (Pennsylvania) pin Rylan Rogers (Washington), 2:55 7th: Nicholas Steele (Arizona) inj. dft Noah Ewen (Ohio) 160: 1st: Quayin Short (Minnesota) tech. fall Connor Oneil (New Jersey), 12-2, 4:13 3rd: Brady Spaeth (Wisconsin) tech. fall Jake Null (New York), 15-4, 2:01 5th: Clayton Ulrey (Pennsylvania) inj dft. Duwayne Villapando (Kansas) 7th: Branson Britten (Texas) tech. fall Aiden Warren (Indiana), 10-0, 4:54 170: 1st: Luke Stout (Pennsylvania) tech. fall Sam Skillings (Wisconsin), 12-2, 4:13 3rd: Greyden Penner (Missouri) dec. Wyatt Lidberg (Minnesota), 7-1 5th: Seth Shumate (Ohio) tech. fall Sage Walker (Iowa), 19-8, 2:46 7th: Dj Smith (Minnesota) tech. fall Colin Jagielski (Michigan), 10-0, 1:36 182: 1st: Rocky Elam (Missouri) dec. Nathan Haas (California), 5-2 3rd: Kyle Haas (Kansas) dec. John Poznanski (New Jersey), 6-6 5th: Ethan Hatcher (Ohio) dec. Josh Labarbera (Illinois), 14-7 7th: Samuel Fisher (Virginia) dec. Colton Hawks (Missouri), 6-2 195: 1st: Noah Pettigrew (Georgia) dec. Kolby Franklin (Pennsylvania), 12-7 3rd: Dorian Crosby (Pennsylvania) pin Jace Bradbury (West Virginia), 1:40 5th: Elijah Olson (Colorado) pin Bret Kostka (Wisconsin), 2:15 7th: David Harper (Georgia) tech. fall Brent Paulus (Ohio), 10-0, 3:24 220: 1st: Nathaniel Deasey (Arizona) pin Chris Island (California), 0:57 3rd: Braxton Mikesell (Washington) tech. fall Brandon Hoselton (Illinois), 10-0, 1:29 5th: Dominik Vacura (Minnesota) tech. fall Cruz Partain (Oklahoma), 11-1, 4:36 7th: Riley Ucker (Ohio) tech. fall Gage Cook (Washington), 14-4, 5:18 285: 1st: Hayden Copass (Illinois) tech. fall Colby Whitehill (Pennsylvania), 10-0, 4:46 3rd: Steven Kolcheff (Michigan) tech. fall Alex Coleman (Ohio), 10-0, 3:09 5th: Jalen Stephens (Pennsylvania) dec. Gavin Layton (Minnesota), 7-5 7th: Broderick Reese (Oregon) pin Tony Caldwell (Kansas), 1:00 Outstanding Wrestler: Jakason Burks (Nebraska) Most Falls: Keegan Rothrock (Pennsylvania) Team Standings: 1. Pennsylvania, 72 2. Ohio, 51 3. Minnesota, 47 4. Illinois, 41 5. New Jersey, 40 6 California 39 7 (tie) Colorado and Iowa, 27 9 Wisconsin 25 10 Michigan and Missouri 23 12 Indiana 22 13 Washington 21 14 Oklahoma 19 15 Arizona 18 16 Georgia 16 17 New York 15 18 Tennessee 13 19 West Virginia 12 20 Kansas 10 21 Nebraska 8 22 Oregon 7 23 (tie) Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina and Texas 6 27 (tie) Idaho and Maryland 4 29 (tie) Hawaii and Virginia 2

Tony Hager at the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) Tony Hager, former Simpson College wrestler who has made a name for himself with his involvement in Takedown Wrestling and TheOpenMat.com, came to the rescue of a man and his dog trapped in rising floodwaters late last week. Hager was sitting in his garage, watching the downpour in his neighborhood in Johnston, Iowa just outside Des Moines. As the water was rapidly rising on his street, he noticed a car with a man and his dog trying to make its way through the floodwaters. "You could see him coming down, I'm thinking, dude, don't drive down here, and he just strolls through like it's a Sunday drive," Hager told WeAreIowa.com, the website for the ABC TV affiliate in central Iowa. "He had no idea where the road was at this point." The car stalled in the rapidly rising water, trapping the occupants. "Lightning was coming in and immediately my other neighbor was like, 'we have to help this guy.' And the water from here was literally over my waist," said Hager. At first Hager and his neighbor struggled to free the driver, who was initially tangled in the steering wheel… but each rescuer took an arm of the trapped man and were able to pull him – and his dog – out of the flooded car, and to the safety of Hager's dry garage. "When you're in the moment, your adrenaline's rolling and it just kind of fell in place, I guess," Hager said. Hager said he'd do it again. "When you have the opportunity to help someone, just do it, don't think about the consequences."

Curran Jacobs, a two-time NCAA qualifier for Michigan State and MMA fighter, claimed the title at the 2018 Snake Pit USA Catch Wrestling Association World Championships this weekend in Hamilton, N.J. Curran JacobsA predecessor to today's modern folkstyle and freestyle wrestling, catch wrestling is the product of old-style catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Matches can last up to 20 minutes. For this event, it was "no holds barred"; in fact, catch wrestlers may use joint lock submission holds. Jacobs, 29, came out on top of an eight-man field to win the championships. In the first round, Jacobs defeated Johnny Buck by Rear Naked Choke in overtime. Then, in the semifinals, Jacobs used a Rear Naked Choke on Erik Hammer to advance to the finals. In the title bout, the former Spartan 174-pound matman defeated Brandon Ruiz by Rear Naked Choke in the third overtime round to become champion. Jacobs provided some perspective on the demands of participating in an event with this caliber of competition in a rugged sport. "I was the lightest guy in the entire tournament," Jacobs told InterMat. "So I knew going in I would have to dig deep. I've always said victory starts from the heart, and that's what I used to win these matches against these titans." "I wrestled for a total of an hour and 37 minutes, with just ten minutes to rest between matches," Jacobs continued. "This is the greatest war I've ever been in." Jacobs posted this message on his Facebook page under a photo of his finals rival, Brandon Ruiz: "This is the man I met in the finals. I knew he was going to be an absolute monster and when you look at what he has accomplished, you stand in awe. So much respect to Brandon Ruiz. This match was one for the century." In addition to paying respect to his opponents, Curran Jacobs cited his own team as instrumental in his victory. "I could not have done this without Roger Chandler, head wrestling coach for the Michigan State Spartans," Jacobs said to InterMat. "My submission wrestling coach Andrew Peterson, and my strength training and conditioning coach, Korey Wertz. I had the best team behind me." Jacobs has been competing in major catch wrestling events for a number of years. Exactly one year ago, the Michigan native was crowned champ at the 2017 Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament in Humboldt, Iowa.

After two days of competition, navigating pretty rigorous weight classes, the championship bouts have been set in the Cadet National freestyle tournament. Those matches will take place at 1 p.m. CT on Monday in Fargo, N.D. Below is an overview. 88 pounds: Jore Volk (Minnesota) vs. Mason Gehloff (Minnesota) The all-Gopher State showdown is a rematch of the Cadet folkstyle final from early April in Cedar Falls, Iowa, that bout was won by Gehloff. Volk has advanced to the final with two technical falls to open the tournament before decision wins over returning Cadet freestyle All-American Brandon O'Brien (Iowa) and Cadet folkstyle All-American Tristan Stafford (Arizona); Gehloff started the tournament with two technical falls before an 11-5 semifinal decision victory over Christopher Martino (Idaho) 94 pounds: Maxximus Martinez (California) vs. Carter Fousek (Iowa) Neither of these incoming ninth graders has been tested during the tournament. Martinez, ranked No. 19 overall in the Class of 2022, has yet to give up a point in the tournament; two technical falls, a pin, and then a pair of 5-0 decisions. Fousek has five technical falls from five bouts. 100 pounds: Jordan Williams (Oklahoma) vs. Alex Almeyda (New Jersey) This pair of incoming ninth graders are ranked 14th and 15th overall in the Class of 2022, and have earned medals in Cadet folkstyle and the UWW Cadet National freestyle competitions in the same weight class. Williams was champion at this weight class in Cadet folkstyle, Almeyda finishing third; while Almeyda was fourth at UWW Cadet freestyle in the 99 pound (converted) weight class to Williams taking fourth. Williams has been tested twice in this tournament, winning 6-5 over state champion Zach Espalin (Arizona) and pinning Stevo Poulin (New York) late in the midst of a close match; while Almeyda has five technical falls from five bouts, and has allowed just two points. 106 pounds: Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) vs. Yusief Lillie (Washington) Incoming ninth grader Rivera was runner-up at Cadet folkstyle in this weight class, and has went through a pretty tough path in this tournament with total excellence. He has allowed zero points, and has six technical falls from six bouts; that includes victories over returning Cadet freestyle All-American Sheldon Seymour (Pennsylvania) and returning Cadet freestyle champion Drake Ayala (Iowa) in the last two bouts. Lillie, ranked No. 16 overall in the Class of 2021, was fourth in Cadet freestyle last year at 100 pounds; he has been tested four times in six bouts during the tournament, most notably in a 6-2 semifinal victory over UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up Kyle Rowan (Ohio) and a 6-5 quarterfinal victory over Max Black (Colorado) 113 pounds: Daniel Cardenas (Colorado) vs. Jakason Burks (Nebraska) Ranked No. 6 overall in the Class of 2022, Cardenas has three technical falls in five bouts, along with a pair of quality wins; 13-10 over nationally ranked state medalist Nico Nardone (New Jersey) and 6-5 in the semifinal over two-time state champion Anthony Noto (New York), a Super 32 placer. State champion Burks was a Super 32 placer, and competed in the Cadet Worlds in Greco-Roman just over one week ago. In this tournament, he has three technical falls along with a pair of quality wins; 10-3 over Super 32 placer Nick Babin (New Jersey) and 4-0 over two-time UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Cooper Flynn (Tennessee). 120 pounds: Jesse Ybarra (Arizona) vs. Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) Ybarra has dominated all of his opposition in this tournament, outside of a 5-5 criteria victory over Super 32 champion Ryan Crookham (Pennsylvania) - a two-time UWW Cadet freestyle All-American - in the quarterfinal round; the other matches were four technical falls and a 9-0 decision. Returning Cadet freestyle All-American Rathjen is ranked No. 37 in the Class of 2021, and dominated his way through the first four matches of the tournament; then came a 6-4 decision over state champion Ramon Ramos (Arizona) before yet another technical fall over UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Teague Travis (Missouri) in the semifinal round, who is ranked No. 31 overall in the Class of 2021 126 pounds: Mick Burnett (Ohio) vs. Dominick Serrano (Colorado) This is a rematch of a semifinal from last year in Cadet freestyle, a match won by Serrano at 120 pounds. Burnett has three technical falls along with three narrow decision victories; 3-2 over No. 38 overall Class of 2021 wrestler Zack Witmer (Pennsylvania), 7-6 in the quarterfinal over No. 23 overall Class of 2021 wrestler Vincent Zerban (Illinois), and a 10-7 semifinal victory over No. 23 overall Class of 2022 wrestler Cody Chittum (Tennessee). Ranked No. 13 overall in the Class of 2020, Serrano is a returning Cadet freestyle runner-up, and has yet to give up a point in this tournament. He has six shutout technical falls from six matches in this tournament; including those over No. 17 overall Class of 2021 wrestler Reid Ballantyne (Minnesota), and Wyatt Henson (Pennsylvania), ranked No. 12 in the Class of 2021. 132 pounds: Ryan Franco (California) vs. Josh Edmond (Michigan) The pair of wrestlers in this match are both returning Cadet freestyle All-Americans and were All-Americans in the 132 pound weight class at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament last month. Franco, ranked No. 7 overall in the Class of 2021 was runner-up last year at 126; while Edmond, ranked No. 49 in the Class of 2020 placed eighth in this weight class. Franco started the tournament with three technical falls before being held to decisions in the last two bouts while Edmond has three technical falls from five matches in the tournament. 138 pounds: Travis Mastrogiovanni (New Jersey) vs. Luke Geog (Ohio) Returning Cadet freestyle All-American Mastrogiovanni is ranked No. 5 overall in the Class of 2021. His tournament run started with four technical falls before a quarterfinal pin late in a tight match, and then an 11-9 decision over No. 42 overall Class of 2021 wrestler Jager Condomitti (Pennsylvania). Incoming freshman Geog is outside the top 25 for the Class of 2022 despite a Super 32 junior high title and a Flo Nationals junior high title this year; his tournament run featured technical falls in his first two matches, and decisions in his last three, most recently 8-4 over 2017 Delaware state champion Jackson Dean (New Jersey). 145 pounds: Carson Manville (Pennsylvania) vs. John Martin Best (West Virginia) Manville is the nation's top wrestler in the Class of 2021, and a returning Cadet National double champion; he also was the Cadet World team representative at 143 pounds in freestyle just under two weeks ago. In this tournament, it has been three technical falls followed by a 5-0 decision over No. 13 overall freshman Robert Paul Perez (California) and a 10-4 decision over two-time state champion Nick Stonecheck (Georgia). 2017 state champion Best was a NHSCA Sophomore Nationals runner-up this spring, and has a pair of technical falls plus a pair of pins from six matches in the tournament. 152 pounds: Manuel Rojas (Michigan) vs. Tate Picklo (Oklahoma) Incoming freshman Rojas is not ranked among the top 25 overall in the Class of 2022, for now. He had four technical falls to open the tournament before an 11-10 win in the semifinal round. Ranked No. 44 overall in the Class of 2021, Picklo was state runner-up in high school this past season as a freshman; his tournament featured three technical falls and two falls before an 8-2 decision in the semifinal. 160 pounds: Quayin Short (Minnesota) vs. Connor O'Neill (New Jersey) Ranked No. 47 overall in the Class of 2021, Short was state runner-up this past season in high school and finished third in Cadet folkstyle at this weight class. His tournament started with three technical falls before a 9-0 decision in the quarterfinal round, and then a 5-3 decision over Clayton Ulrey (Pennsylvania), ranked No. 43 overall in the Class of 2020 and a Flo Nationals placer. Two-time state qualifier O'Neill was runner-up to Ulrey at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals this spring; this tournament run includes three technical falls, a pin, and a 13-12 semifinal victory over Cadet folkstyle champion Duwayne Villalpando (Kansas) 170 pounds: Sam Skillings (Wisconsin) vs. Luke Stout (Pennsylvania) Skillings placed fourth in Cadet folkstyle at this weight class, but failed to make state during his sophomore high school season; this tournament run includes two pins, two technical falls, and a 9-2 semifinal decision victory. Fellow Class of 2020 member Stout placed fourth at state this season, his most notable win coming 8-2 in the round of 16 over Greyden Penner (Missouri), who ranks No. 37 overall in the same grade level. Stout's other four matches this tournament were won by technical fall. 182 pounds: Nathan Haas (California) vs. Rocky Elam (Missouri) Haas was a state quarterfinalist this high school season as a sophomore, and dominated his way to the semifinal with four technical fall victories in four bouts. In that semifinal, it was a 3-1 victory over Cadet folkstyle champion Kyle Haas (Kansas), ranked No. 14 overall in the Class of 2021. Returning Cadet freestyle All-American Elam placed third in Cadet folkstyle, losing to Haas along the way. This tournament run includes two technical falls, a pin, an 8-1 decision over two-time state champion Sam Fisher (Virginia), and a 6-2 decision over state placer John Poznanski (New Jersey) 195 pounds: Kolby Franklin (Pennsylvania) vs. Noah Pettigrew (Georgia) This match features a pair of incoming freshmen, Franklin ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2022 with Pettigrew outside the top 25. Franklin has dominated this tournament with four technical falls from five bouts, only tested in a 14-8 decision over Cadet folkstyle runner-up Gavin Carter (Kansas), who also was a state champion this high school season. Pettigrew has two technical falls in four matches, most notably tested in an 11-11 criteria win over state placer Dorian Crosby (Pennsylvania) in the semifinal round. 220 pounds: Chris Island (California) vs. Nathaniel Deasey (Arizona) This is a rematch of the Cadet folkstyle final in this weight class, won by Island. The state qualifier was most likely the residual beneficiary of the unfortunate injury to UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up Hunter Catka (Pennsylvania) in the round of 16 on Saturday night. For this tournament, Island has three technical falls before an 8-4 decision in the semifinal. Fellow state qualifier Deasey also was runner-up at the NHSCA Freshman Nationals this year, and for the tournament has two pins to go with two technical falls, which includes one over state placer Justin Darter (California) in an early round. 285 pounds: Hayden Copass (Illinois) vs. Colby Whitehill (Pennsylvania) Copass qualified for state this season as a freshman. His tournament to date includes a pin, a technical fall, and two decisions; while state placer Whitehill is a returning Cadet double All-American, and his tournament run includes three technical falls before a 13-8 semifinal victory.

Competition for the Cadet National freestyle tournament started on Saturday in Fargo, N.D. In the championship bracket, the quarterfinals have been set, those wrestlers need one win to earn All-American honors. In the consolation bracket, the field has been waned down to 16 additional wrestlers, who need three wins to earn All-American honors. Below are the quarterfinal pairings. 88 pounds: Brandon O'Brien (Iowa) vs. Jore Volk (Minnesota) Kaden Ramos (Iowa) vs. Tristan Stafford (Arizona) Mason Gelhoff (Minnesota) vs. Marlon Yarbrough (Ohio) Jacob Van Dee (Pennsylvania) vs. Christopher Martino (Idaho) 94 pounds: Maxximus Martinez (California) vs. Zack Mattin (Ohio) Kai Owen (Florida) vs. Oscar Alvarez (Washington) Carter Fousek (Iowa) vs. Guy Clevenger (Oklahoma) Tryon Kaess (Washington) vs. Reid Nelson (Minnesota) 100 pounds: Stevo Poulin (New York) vs. Sean Seefeldt (Ohio) Rocco Welsh (Pennsylvania) vs. Jordan Williams (Oklahoma) Abraham Hinrichsen (Illinois) vs. Kenneth Crosby (Colorado) Jackson Arrington (Pennsylvania) vs. Alex Almeyda (New Jersey) 106 pounds: Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs. Jack Maida (New Jersey) Sheldon Seymour (Pennsylvania) vs. Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) Kyle Rowan (Ohio) vs. Daniel Wask (New Jersey) Max Black (Colorado) vs. Yusief Lillie (Washington) 113 pounds: Anthony Noto (New York) vs. Zeke Seltzer (Indiana) Garrett Lautzenheiser (Ohio) vs. Daniel Cardenas (Colorado) Jakason Burks (Nebraska) vs. Colton Drousias (Indiana) Kurtis Phipps (Pennsylvania) vs. Cooper Flynn (Tennessee/Maryland) 120 pounds: Ryan Crookham (Pennsylvania) vs. Jesse Ybarra (Arizona) Drew Roberts (Oregon) vs. Breyden Littell (Indiana) Teague Travis (Missouri) vs. Michael Kilic (Georgia) Ramon Ramos (Arizona) vs. Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) 126 pounds: Joey Olivieri (New Jersey) vs. Cody Chittum (Tennessee) Mick Burnett (Ohio) vs. Vincent Zerban (Illinois/Missouri) Wyatt Henson (Pennsylvania) vs. Caleb Henson (Georgia) Reid Ballantyne (Minnesota) vs. Dominick Serrano (Colorado) 132 pounds: Ryan Franco (California) vs. Jaxon Smith (Georgia) Preston Decker (Texas) vs. Derek Fields (Ohio) Jake Niffenegger (Ohio) vs. Noah Villarreal (Illinois) Nick Vafiadis (Virginia) vs. Josh Edmond (Michigan) 138 pounds: Travis Mastrogiovanni (New Jersey) vs. Chase Warden (Texas) Douglas Terry (Ohio) vs. Jager Condomitti (Pennsylvania) Luke Geog (Ohio) vs. Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) Jackson Dean (New Jersey/Delaware) vs. Brayden Roberts (West Virginia) 145 pounds: Carson Manville (Pennsylvania) vs. Robert Paul Perez (California) Nick Stonecheck (Georgia) vs. Antonio Segura (Colorado) Cougar Andersen (Oklahoma) vs. Cael Valencia (California) Caden Rogers (Pennsylvania) vs. John Martin Best (West Virginia) 152 pounds: Nicholas Steele (Arizona) vs. Donald Cates (North Carolina) Manuel Rojas (Michigan) vs. Noah Inboden (Ohio) Dane Donabedian (Michigan) vs. Brock Ellis (Indiana) Tate Picklo (Oklahoma) vs. Noah Ewen (Ohio) 160 pounds: Branson Britten (Texas) vs. Quayin Short (Minnesota) Brady Spaeth (Wisconsin) vs. Clayton Ulrey (Pennsylvania) Duwayne Villalpando (Kansas) vs. Luke Rasmussen (Illinois) Aiden Warren (Indiana) vs. Connor O'Neil (New Jersey) 170 pounds: Shaeden Scheidt (South Dakota) vs. Sam Skillings (Wisconsin) Matthew Rogers (New York) vs. Sage Walker (Iowa) Zane Hake (California) vs. Seth Shumate (Ohio) Wyatt Lidberg (Minnesota) vs. Luke Stout (Pennsylvania) 182 pounds: Michael Tal-Shahar (Florida) vs. Nathan Haas (California) Kyle Haas (Kansas) vs. Colton Hawks (Missouri) Ethan Hatcher (Ohio) vs. John Poznanski (New Jersey) Sam Fisher (Virginia) vs. Rocky Elam (Missouri) 195 pounds: Gavin Carter (Kansas) vs. Kolby Franklin (Pennsylvania) Elijah Olson (Colorado) vs. Bret Kostka (Wisconsin) David Harper (Georgia) vs. Dorian Crosby (Pennsylvania) Peter Ming (California) vs. Noah Pettigrew (Georgia) 220 pounds: Hunter Catka (Pennsylvania) vs. Cruz Partain (Oklahoma) Chris Island (California) vs. Dominik Vacura (Minnesota) Daniel Goodrich (Texas) vs. Nathaniel Deasey (Arizona) Danny Striggow (Minnesota) vs. Braxton Mikesell (Washington) 285 pounds: Hayden Copass (Illinois) vs. Josiah Hill (California) Gavin Layton (Minnesota) vs. Steven Kolcheff (Michigan) Jalen Stephens (Pennsylvania) vs. John Wiese (Oklahoma) Steven Culberson (Oklahoma) vs. Colby Whitehill (Pennsylvania)

A GoFundMe page has been established for Christopher Vassar, a former Gardner-Webb University wrestler who suffered serious injuries -- including brain trauma -- in a car crash last month. The fundraising page has been established to help the family of the wrestler originally from central Pennsylvania with health care expenses. In June 2018 Vassar was involved in a single-vehicle crash that split the car in half. "He has had several surgeries, a rod was placed in his hip, he has a broken clavicle, he had bleeding on the on the brain in two spots, (and) he was comatose," Vassar's aunt Shirley -- creator of the GoFundMe page -- wrote. "It was heartbreaking to see my 22-year-old nephew lying in a bed with wires, a machine breathing for him." "We have been told that he will need extensive rehabilitation he has been transferred to Penn State Rehabilitation Center for brain trauma," she continued. "We need a lot of support emotionally and financially. We would appreciate any sort of help you may be able to offer and we thank you for it from the bottom of our heart." Chris Vassar wrestled at Gardner-Webb from 2013-2016. In 2016, he qualified for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at 149 pounds as a redshirt junior. Prior to arriving at GWU in Boiling Springs, N.C., Vassar wrestled at Cedar Cliff High School in Camp Hill, Pa. where he was a two-time PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) state championships medalist, placing second in Class AAA at 145 in 2012, and fourth in 2010. In addition, Vassar placed sixth overall at the 2011 Reno Tournament of Champions. In addition to success on the mat, Vassar was a winner in the classroom, as a member of the Distinguished Honor Roll.

Chris Honeycutt (Photo/Bellator) For two former Edinboro wrestlers at Bellator 202 at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. Friday night, it was a night of mixed results, as two-time NCAA All-American Chris Honeycutt scored a unanimous-decision victory, while Ernest James, 2012 NCAA heavyweight qualifier for the Fighting Scots, was the victim of a TKO. Here's how MMAJunkie.com described the dominance of the former Edinboro mat stud and Ohio high school state champ in the middleweight (185 pound) main event: "Honeycutt beat Leo Leite from post to post and bell to bell." "Relentless in striking and in grappling, Honeycutt left Leite with a massive hematoma and bloody face, and he also picked up a blowout unanimous decision." CagesidePress.com wrote, "With steady pressure throughout, Honeycutt was far and away the winner, taking 30-25 scores on all three scorecards." There was more than a decade difference in the ages of the two fighters, as Honeycutt, 29, dominated the 40-year-old Brazilian the entire 15 minutes of their bout. Honeycutt is now 7-2 in Bellator, and 11-2 in his professional MMA career, while, Leite drops to 0-2 in his brief history in Bellator, and 10-2 overall. Relative newcomer Ernest James had a rougher night, suffering his first defeat in his young pro MMA career at the hands of Russia's Valentin Moldavsky in their heavyweight main event. "Moldavsky smashed James with right hands before sending him to the mat with a final flurry at the 4:03 mark of the second round," according to MMAJunkie.com. Moldavsky moves up to 8-1 in his MMA career, and 2-0 in Bellator, while James is now 1-1 in his young career, with the same mark in Bellator competition.

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Army West Point head wrestling coach Kevin Ward has announced the addition of head assistant coach Ned Shuck to his staff. Ned ShuckShuck spent the last four years at the helm of Wisconsin-Whitewater, guiding the Warhawks to a 47-17 record in duals and finished in the top-25 each year at the NCAA Division III Championships. Additionally, UW-Whitewater collected two WIAC titles in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, as well as the Upper Midwest Regional crown in 2014-15. The 2015-16 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Coach of the Year trained 11 All-Americans, including two-time national champion and d3wrestle.com's 2018 National Wrestler of the Year Jordan Newman, as well as 17 WIAC individual champions and seven regional champs. Eleven Warhawks earned National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-America honors, including five Chancellor's Scholar-Athletes. "I couldn't be more excited to have Coach Shuck join our staff," Ward said. "To build a successful program you have to have the right people, and Ned is one of the best people in the sport of wrestling. His reputation as a proven leader, a man of strong character and integrity, and his unique background as an athlete and a coach will greatly benefit our program. Coach Shuck brings a wealth of experience, maturity, and leadership to our program, and I am excited about the impact he will have on the lives of our cadet-athletes." In addition to his coaching duties, Shuck was an instructor for UW-Whitewater's Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Coaching department. Prior to UW-Whitewater, Shuck spent three years as the head coach at Division III Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. During his tenure at Heidelberg, Shuck led the Student Princes to back-to-back Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) championships in 2012-13 and 2013-14 and mentored 22 All-OAC selections, four academic all-conference honorees, seven National Wrestling Coaches Association Academic All-Americans and six individual NCAA qualifiers, including one All-American. He was selected OAC Coach of the Year following the 2013-14 campaign. During his career, Shuck has also served as an assistant coach at perennial national power Augsburg (Minn.) from 2009-11 where he helped lead the Auggies to the 2010 NCAA Division III championship and a runner-up performance at the 2011 national championships. Shuck helped coach 13 All-Americans, four national finalists and one national champion during his time at Augsburg. He was also an assistant coach with the Ohio Cadet/Junior National Team (2012-14) and as head coach for the Minnesota Storm Freestyle Cadet team (2009-11). He was a full scholarship recipient for the NWCA Leadership Academy in 2011. Shuck wrestled at the University of Iowa from 2000-05, earning a degree in elementary education. He was a four-time letter winner and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection for the Hawkeyes.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Head Citadel wrestling coach Rob Hjerling has announced the hiring of Cody Cleveland as the Bulldogs' new assistant coach. Cleveland comes to Charleston after spending the last three seasons at the United States Naval Academy. Cody Cleveland (right) during his time as an assistant at Navy"We are fortunate to have Cody join our staff this year and look forward to his combination of youth and experience to take us to the next level," says Hjerling. "We will see him use his experience teaching, recruiting and mentoring to further Citadel Wrestling." "I'm thankful for the opportunity and am excited to join Citadel Wrestling and the Citadel community. My experience as a member of the SoCon as both a coach and athlete, allows me to be very aware of the Citadel and what it means, "says Cleveland. "I am ready to be on campus and get to know the Cadet-Athletes. Coach Hjerling has a vision that I truly believe in and the future looks bright for Citadel wrestling." Cleveland spent three seasons with the Midshipmen and helped guide the team to three consecutive fifth place finishes in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA). Cleveland also aided in qualifying 13 student-athletes for the NCAA Regionals, posting one All-American honoree, Matthew Miller. Prior to his time at the Naval Academy, Cleveland coached at Tullahoma High School in Tennessee and spent three years at McCallie School in Chattanooga. Under his direction, Tullahoma produced four place winners, the most in school history. At McCallie School he served as assistant varsity wrestling coach, head junior varsity wrestling coach, assistant middle school wrestling coach, assistant middle school track & field coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach. Cleveland was named the 2014-15 National Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year for the state of Tennessee. In addition to fulfilling his coaching responsibilities, Cleveland was also a teacher at both institutions. A 2009 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Cleveland garnered All-America honors in 2008 after placing eighth at the NCAA Championship. He was crowned the 141-pound Southern Conference Champion in 2008, '09 and '11, was named the Southern Conference Tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2008 and '09 and the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Year in 2009. Cleveland resides in Charleston with his wife, Bethany Cleveland and their miniature Australian Shepard, Charlie.

READING, Pa. -- Alvernia University Director of Athletics Bill Stiles announced on Thursday the hiring of Seth Ecker as the inaugural wrestling head coach. Seth EckerEcker joins Alvernia following a year as the assistant wrestling coach at the University of Maryland, where he coached the programs first NCAA Division I All-American and Academic All-American in four years. "I'm elated to have someone of Seth's pedigree leading our wrestling program," said Stiles. "Not only was he a two-time national champion as a student-athlete, but he's been on the coaching staffs at some of the nation's strongest wrestling programs and conferences, including the Big Ten – arguably the best wrestling conference in Division I. And, as a Pottstown native, he has the contacts and network necessary to attract some of the top high school wrestlers in the region and beyond." Prior to his time at the University of Maryland, Ecker was the head assistant wrestling coach at Ithaca College for two seasons. Under his guidance, Ithaca produced six Division III All-Americans and a national finalist. Ecker is a graduate of Ithaca College, where he earned a degree in Business Finance and Corporate Accounting. Ecker was a standout four-year member of the Bomber's wrestling program. He was the first wrestler in Ithaca's history to be a two-time national champion at 133 pounds. He finished his career with a 108-20 overall record. Ecker was a three-time NCAA Division III All-American, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, and a three-time Scholar All-American. He was also named the 2012 Capital One At-Large Division III Academic All-American of the Year. "First, I would like to thank Bill Stiles, Alvernia Athletics, and members of the search committee for believing in my vision to lead this program," said Ecker. "I was blown away on my visit with the quality of staff, coaches, campus community, growing athletics department and facility upgrades." "I am honored for the opportunity to become a part of this department. Starting a new team will be a challenge and I am eager to bring my best every day to build a reputable wrestling program. I am thrilled to return to my hometown area and am excited to work with the members of Alvernia University as we usher in Alvernia Wrestling." Wrestling will be Alvernia's 28th varsity sport, and will begin competition in the 2019-20 season. Alvernia will be the sixth member of the Middle Atlantic Conference to sponsor varsity wrestling. Messiah College earned the 2018 MAC Championship followed by Delaware Valley, Wilkes, Lycoming, and King's.

The U.S. Marine Corps Junior and Cadet National Championships, known colloquially by the name of its longtime host city, Fargo, gets underway Saturday with Cadet freestylers taking the mat at 9 a.m. The event, which has included wrestlers from 50 states and lasts seven days could see as many as 3,500 total entries, with 1,000 signed up for Cadet freestyle and another 1,200 signed up for Junior freestyle. Numbers aside, Fargo is a great proving ground for many of the nation's wrestlers who otherwise have limited opportunity to compete against more established powerhouse athletes. This reach means that upsetting top-ranked competitors isn't just a measure of personal pride, it's also a way to accelerate scholarship opportunities, or even just link up with fellow wrestlers who can provide more insight on training opportunities, camps and overseas trips. The networking and potential scholarship money driven out of the Fargo experience has kept the tournament relevant for several decades, but in a media-driven world the tournament can also provide (and help create) long-term media exposure for the stars of tomorrow. For example, while fans may have to rely on photos and grainy footage of Logan Stieber competing at the Fargodome, it's now possible for future megawatt all-stars to have the full extent of their amateur and professional journey captured by camera. Just look at video of Hayden Hidlay and Zahid Valencia meeting in the Fargo finals in 2013. As discussed in this space before, media attention has its own drawbacks, but for a sport that often fails to excite those outside its closed ranks extending storylines lends storytelling among a larger variety of media outlets. From documentaries, to simple photo essays and interviews the access to the athletes from an earlier age, and in one location, can improve the visibility of the athlete and sport. Yet, there is one complication to wider distribution: location. Fargo is synonymous with the wrestling experience in America, but maybe a change of cities could pump up more interest? USA Wrestling would not willingly move to a more populous or well-trafficked city for the abstract idea of more butts in the seat, but if they could strike the same deal, get more entries and lower the transportation costs for member states it might be appealing. No matter how media beneficial, a move of venues is unlikely, and at the very least a threat of moving could be continued leverage to keep terms amendable. As of now, the system isn't broken (entries are growing), but when looking forward 5-10 years placing the nation's most attended tournament in a more centralized and visible location could create more revenue and eyeballs. The only way to protect ourselves is to keep focused on growth and capturing more attention. To your questions … Q: Are you surprised Nico Megaludis left Penn State to train? What do you suspect contributed to the decision? -- Mike C. Foley: According to his interview with Pittsburgh Sports, it was a combination of professional, personal and wrestling. Megaludis has his business in Pittsburgh, has a close relationship with his father and family, and wanted to make a change in training environments. In the article he seems to be describing a situation in which he could get more attention at Pitt and also live a more balanced lifestyle. That's a mature outlook, and probably a necessary one in a sport that can take everything away from you with one ill-timed injury, or bad performance. Also, there is the issue of an emergent Nahshon Garrett … Nahshon Garrett (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: I was super impressed with Nahshon Garrett at Final X. Obviously, the world stage is completely different. Do you think Garrett has a chance to medal in Budapest? -- Mike C. Foley: More than anything else Garrett needs some overseas matches and training camps. While he runs a risk (low in my estimation) of being scouted, he will learn to both tighten up his scrambles and more effectively choose his scoring opportunities. The actual skillset won't improve much over the next 12 weeks, but with proper training and exposure his tactics and mat intelligence can skyrocket. I think 61 kilograms is one of the more competitive weight classes in the world and though there are winnable matches I have trouble predicting Garrett would outperform Beka Lomtadze (Georgia), Ghazimurad Rashidov (Russia) or Vladimir Dubov (Bulgaria) and whichever Japanese wrestler shows up in Budapest. Possible, but less than 50 percent likely. Q: Final X. Any improvements you'd make? -- @ShogunofSonoma Foley: New cities, tighter schedule (as possible), and maybe a TV broadcast. Each has their upside, but overall I think that USA Wrestling and Flo did a great job with the new format. Q: Who was the most impressive Cadet freestyle wrestler across all countries at the World Championships? Did you see any future superstars? -- Mike C. Foley: The Japanese women's team. Good grief, the level of talent throughout their program is phenomenal. The Iranian men's freestyle and Greco-Roman team also performed well in winning their titles but nothing as dominant as Japan taking home six of 10 gold medals in women's wrestling. If I had to guess, your next superstar would be in that group of Japanese women. However, Amir Zare (Iran), who beat Greg Kerkvliet, is on pace to be a monster at 125 kilograms come Paris 2024, or maybe sooner. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Cadet Word Championships at 110 kg: Amir Zare (Iran) vs. Greg Kerkvliet (USA) It's entertaining, and Cormier will get PAID. Q: Who wins: Brock or Cormier? -- Joe E. Foley: First, let us recognize that Daniel Cormier is an undefeated two-division UFC champion. His "losses" to Jon Jones were both erased after Jones was found to have been on steroids. Like someone on Twitter wrote, you don't think less of Carl Lewis because he lost to a 'roided Ben Johnson at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Daniel Cormier is the greatest fighter to have ever stepped in the Octagon. He's faced all opponents and come away with two belts. What else could he do? As for Brock, I know that he is very much limited in his skill set when compared to Cormier, but you can't discount his size. Cormier was OK coming up against Stipe Miocic, but Brock has a type of strength that could give Cormier real issues in cage positioning. Also, he'll need to expend a tremendous amount of energy for any takedown efforts. I still think Cormier wins by KO, but for that to happen Brock still needs to face his fiercest opponent yet: WADA. Q: What is the current state of UWW officiating? -- @smcfee1961 Foley: In total there are something like 3,000 officials with United World Wrestling licenses. The vast majority of these referees never attend an international tournament as they have yet to rank high enough internally, or with UWW, to take the mats. Those who do are typically rated 1 or 1s, which is the highest of the ratings given to the referees. In fact, referees must be 1s to be considered for the Olympic Games. Recently a lot of work has been put into the grassroots education of referees with introductory courses being launched around the world, including India, China and North Korea. That development and the movement of the referee oversight away from the political arm of the organization has already shown a lot of positive outcomes. There seems to be new blood in the mix, fewer of whom feel as beholden to their national federations. Exceptions occur, but in large part the on-the-mat calls have seemed fair in 2018. There are A LOT of matches in wrestling. The Cadet World Championships alone had close to 800 matches. There will be mistakes, oversights and bad referees, but it shouldn't distract from the larger intention to clean up the body and make it a dependable unit come Budapest and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo,. Q: What do you think of Sarah Hirshland becoming the new CEO of the USOC? -- Kevin M. Foley: While news of Sarah Hirshland's hire will focus on her becoming the first woman to be the permanent CEO of the USOC, the focus will shift quickly to the work she has in front of her, including a gymnastics body under siege and an Olympic Games in 2028. Hirshland comes from the United States Golf Association where she was the chief commercial officer in charge of global rights, communications and a number of other high-level departments and interests. Prior to serving at the USGA Hirshland was at the Wasserman Agency in LA where she worked with Olympic kingmaker and NBC-connect Casey Wasserman -- an association that no doubt aided her campaign for the USOC's top job. The next 18-24 months will be crucial for Hirshland and the USOC. Preparation for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo will include red-hot media attention on the gymnastics and swimming federations -- each dealing with controversies far outside their normal level. How she leads the organization through this period and what steps she takes to prevent future crisis situations will indicate the strength of the USOC and the Olympic movement at-large.

Matt Storniolo (Photo/Northwestern Athletics) EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern wrestling head coach Matt Storniolo has signed a multi-year contract extension, Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips announced on Wednesday. "We have one of the best young coaches in all of collegiate wrestling, and we're thrilled to keep him in Evanston," said Phillips. "He has shown the ability to lead his team to athletic and academic success and has also proven to be an elite recruiter that will keep Northwestern wrestling on its successful trajectory. Matt, alongside one of the finest coaching staffs in the nation, will certainly continue to develop world-class student-athletes in the classroom, the community, and in competition." "I want to thank Dr. Phillips and President Schapiro for the opportunity to continue what we started -- building Northwestern wrestling into one of the NCAA's premier programs, both on and off the mat," said Storniolo. "We have seen tremendous growth in all areas these last two seasons and I look forward to building on that success. Northwestern attracts student-athletes and coaches of the highest caliber, and it is an honor to work with them as we take Wildcat wrestling to new heights. I could not be more excited!" Including his one season as NU's interim head coach, Storniolo enters his fourth season at the helm of the wrestling squad. In the 2017-18 campaign, the 'Cats finished with an 11-4 dual record, including five Big Ten wins - surpassing NU's total in conference wins from the previous three campaigns combined. Northwestern also had five NCAA qualifiers at the 2018 Championships, its most since 2015. The year was capped off by first-year Sebastian Rivera's All-America honors after finishing in sixth place at the NCAA Championships. Off the mat, Storniolo has led his squad to a myriad of accolades. In March, the team accumulated a program-record 14 Academic All-Big Ten honors and, in April, the team was named an NWCA Division-I All-Academic Team, with the team's highest-ever GPA in the award's history. Additionally, NU's six-member Class of 2022 was lauded by Intermat as the 17th-best in the nation. Prior to Storniolo's elevation to interim head coach, he spent six years as an assistant coach for the Wildcats. A two-time All-American wrestler, Storniolo was a Big 12 Champion his senior year at Oklahoma.

Josh Harris with Penn coach Roger Reina Did you hear about the owner of an NBA team who was once a wrestler? Put aside the jokes about the perfect covering for a basketball floor is a wrestling mat. The owner of Philadelphia 76ers basketball team has made a $1 million gift to the University of Pennsylvania wrestling program where he wrestled three decades ago. Josh Harris, a 1986 graduate of the Wharton School of Business at Penn, and his wife Marjorie are giving the seven-figure gift to the Quaker wrestling program through the Harris Family Charitable Foundation which they established. "The gift, which will be distributed over five years, includes $500,000 of which the university will use to create the Joshua J. Harris Wrestling Assistant Coach Endowment," according to the official announcement made by Penn wrestling Wednesday. "An additional $500,000 will be applied to team travel, recruiting, nutrition, equipment and salaries, along with planned facility renovations." Harris wrestled for Penn in the early 1980s at 118 pounds -- "40 pounds ago" as he told the Philadelphia Inquirer -- where he took on the likes of Bobby Weaver of Lehigh, compiling a record of about .500 as a Quaker. Harris first took up the sport at age 10, growing up in Chevy Chase, Md., where he placed third in a Maryland state freestyle tournament. Harris, who also owns the New Jersey Devils, said that wrestling helped him focus on academics. "It really helped me in life." "From an early age, wrestling taught me the virtues of hard work, grit and tenacity," Harris said. It's an honor and a privilege to be able to support Penn Wrestling as it strives for excellence. I hope that the team will achieve national prominence under Coach Roger Reina's guidance, and that more importantly, these young athletes will learn valuable life lessons through their commitment to the sport, which will ultimately enable them to lead better lives." When asked by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Mike Jensen about where the gift would rank in the scheme of things -- no big deal, or very big deal -- Reina responded, "More than a very big deal. In addition to the strategic elements to support the program, it's also an inspiration to our student-athletes; it's an inspiration to our staff, to our alumni and recruits." In the official announcement of the gift from the Quaker wrestling website, Reina said, "The Harris Family Charitable Foundation's support of the University of Pennsylvania wrestling team is remarkable and will provide us the valuable resources at an ideal time to accelerate the growth of our program. Josh has long referenced how he's applied the invaluable lessons he learned as a wrestler to his incredibly impressive professional career. We are profoundly grateful that he is giving back in such an impactful way. Our program will be enhanced for years to come thanks to the powerful financial commitment Josh and his foundation have made." University of Pennsylvania's Director of Athletes, Dr. M. Grace Calhoun, expressed her appreciation for the sizable gift. "We are extremely grateful for the support of Penn alum Josh Harris and the Harris Family Charitable Foundation as we aim big to create an unrivaled experience for our wrestling student-athletes," said Calhoun. "As we launch into our Game Onward fundraising campaign over the next several years, this gift will help enable us to obtain competitive excellence, a world-class student-athlete experience and engage our campus like never before." First established in 1900, the University of Pennsylvania wrestling program ranks as among the nation's very first intercollegiate wrestling programs. In its 115-year history, the Quaker mat program can claim among its alumni an Olympic gold medalist, five NCAA champions, 28 All-Americans, and 64 EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) champions.

Anthony Artalona (Photo/Jim Thrall) The 2018 edition of Fargo -- officially named the U.S. Marine Corps Junior and Cadet National Championships -- commences this Saturday and will conclude next Friday. This is the second year of the restructured format for the event, which seems the freestyle competition for the Cadet and Junior levels wrestled first with the Greco-Roman competition wrestled at the conclusion of the week. In years prior to 2017, it was Greco that went first and then freestyle. There has already been a schedule change made from last year, as the second Saturday of the event has been eliminated, with the Greco-Roman competitions being contained in two days instead of medal matches being held on a third day. It will be interesting to see if they maintain the freestyle then Greco after this year, or switch it back to Greco then freestyle, which is how it should be in my opinion. Tournament Schedule The following is the schedule of events for all the tournaments during the "Fargo Week" (all times Eastern): Cadet Freestyle Friday 7/13 -- weigh-in at 5 p.m. Saturday 7/14 -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday 7/15 -- second weigh-in 8 a.m., (quarterfinal round) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., (semifinal round) 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday 7/16 -- (consi semis, if necessary) 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., (medal matches) 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Cadet Women Friday 7/13 -- weigh-in at 5:30 p.m. Saturday 7/14 -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., (quarters and semis) 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday 7/15 -- (consi semis, if necessary) 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., (medal matches) 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Junior Freestyle Saturday 7/14 -- weigh-in at 8:15 p.m. Sunday 7/15 -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday 7/16 -- second weigh-in 8 a.m., (round of 16 and quarterfinals) 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., (semifinal round) 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday 7/17 -- (consi semis, if necessary) 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., (medal matches) 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Junior Women Monday 7/16 -- weigh-in at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday 7/17 -- 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday 7/18 --10 a.m. to 1 p.m., (medal matches) 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cadet Greco-Roman Tuesday 7/17 -- weigh-in at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday 7/18 -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., (round of 16 and quarterfinals) 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday 7/19 -- (semifinal round) 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., (medal matches) 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Junior Greco-Roman Wednesday 7/18 -- weigh-in at 5 p.m. Thursday 7/19 -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., (round of 16 and quarterfinals) 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday 7/20 -- (semifinals) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., (medal matches) 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cadet and Junior World Championships participants Moving on to the potential participants, a chunk of Fargo-eligible wrestlers were and/or will be on the United States' Cadet and Junior world teams in freestyle and Greco-Roman this summer. The Cadet-level events were already held last week in Croatia, while the Junior-level events will be held in Slovakia in mid-December. With the Cadet events already concluded, and the Junior events more than two months away, there may be a chance for more of these athletes than normal to compete in Fargo. Below is a list of those that qualified for the world championships this summer. Benjamin Peak (Wisconsin) -- 132 pounds, Junior Greco-Roman* Alston Nutter (Wisconsin) -- 138 pounds, Junior Greco-Roman* Peyton Omania (California) -- 147 pounds, Junior Greco-Roman Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) -- 158 pounds, Junior Greco-Roman Aaron Brooks (Maryland) -- 174 pounds, Junior freestyle Daniel Kerkvliet (Minnesota) -- 213 pounds, Junior freestyle (also 242 pounds, Cadet freestyle) Gable Steveson (Minnesota) -- 275 pounds, Junior freestyle Cohlton Schultz (Colorado) -- 286 pounds, Junior Greco-Roman *Peak and Nutter were Class of 2018 athletes, but spend the past year at the Northern Michigan program for Greco-Roman Chance Lamer (Oregon) -- 99 pounds, Cadet freestyle Cale Anderson (Wisconsin) -- 99 pounds, Cadet Greco-Roman Richard Figueroa (California) -- 106 pounds, Cadet freestyle Brenden Chaowanapibool -- 106 pounds, Cadet Greco-Roman** Matthew Ramos (Illinois) -- 112 pounds, Cadet freestyle** Jakason Burks (Nebraska) -- 112 pounds, Cadet Greco-Roman Robert Howard (New Jersey) -- 121 pounds, Cadet freestyle Hunter Lewis (Wisconsin) -- 121 pounds, Cadet Greco-Roman** Joshua Saunders (Missouri) -- 132 pounds, Cadet freestyle** Phillip Moomey (Nebraska) -- 132 pounds, Cadet Greco-Roman** Carson Manville (Pennsylvania) -- 143 pounds, Cadet freestyle Dominic Damon (Washington) -- 143 pounds, Cadet Greco-Roman** Alex Facundo (Michigan) -- 156 pounds, Cadet freestyle James Burks (Nebrasa) -- 156 pounds, Cadet Greco-Roman** Abe Assad (Illinois) -- 176 pounds, Cadet freestyle** Jonathon Fagen (Idaho) -- 176 pounds, Cadet Greco-Roman** A.J. Ferrari (Texas) -- 203 pounds, Cadet freestyle** Jacob Kaminski (Illinois) -- 203 pounds, Cadet Greco-Roman** Luke Luffman (Illinois) -- 242 pounds, Cadet Greco-Roman** **Only Junior eligible for Fargo, not Cadet eligible (UWW Cadet eligibility extends to the 2001 birth year, USA Wrestling eligibility for Cadet classification is the 2002 and 2003 birth years) In terms of the Cadet World championships, these were the medalists plus those that lost in a bronze medal bout: Gold -- Ramos Silver -- Figueroa, Kerkvliet Bronze -- Facundo, Assad, Ferrari, Kaminski Fifth place -- Lamer Returning champions Many wrestlers that won weight class titles in last year's Junior and Cadet Nationals can return for this year's event, though the vast majority of the Cadet champions will be moving up to the Junior level in next week's competitions. As a result, the Cadet National tournaments become a breeding ground for emerging stars and names to watch for in the upcoming seasons of scholastic wrestling. Cadet champions who can repeat at the Cadet level this coming year (listed by weight class in which they won their title last year): Drake Ayala (Iowa) -- 88 pounds, freestyle Chance Lamer (Oregon) -- 88 pounds, Greco-Roman Jett Strickenberger (Colorado) -- 94 pounds, freestyle Carter Young (Oklahoma) -- 94 pounds, Greco-Roman Yusief Lillie (Washington) -- 100 pounds, Greco-Roman Zeke Escalera (Kentucky/Pennsylvania) -- 106 pounds, freestyle Ryan Sokol (Minnesota) -- 120 pounds, freestyle Carson Manville (Pennsylvania) -- 132 pounds, freestyle and Greco-Roman Alex Facundo (Michigan) -- 145 pounds, freestyle Cadet champions that move up to the Junior level: Dylan Ragusin (Illinois) -- 100 pounds, freestyle; 106 pounds, Greco-Roman Noah Surtin (Illinois) -- 113 pounds, freestyle Hunter Lewis (Wisconsin) -- 113 pounds, Greco-Roman Phillip Moomey (Nebraska) -- 120 pounds, Greco-Roman Josh Saunders (Missouri) -- 126 pounds, freestyle Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma) -- 126 pounds, Greco-Roman Fidel Mayora (Illinois) -- 138 pounds, freestyle Kevon Davenport (Michigan) -- 138 pounds, Greco-Roman Michael Weber (Montana) -- 145 pounds, Greco-Roman Carter Starocci (Pennsylvania) -- 152 pounds, freestyle; 160 pounds, Greco-Roman McKay Foy (Utah) -- 152 pounds, Greco-Roman Robert Kanniard (New Jersey) -- 160 pounds, freestyle A.J. Ferrari (Texas) -- 170 pounds, freestyle Abe Assad (Illinois) -- 170 pounds, Greco-Roman Devin Winston (Missouri) -- 182 pounds, freestyle Jonathon Fagen (Idaho) -- 182 pounds, Greco-Roman Ashton Sharp (Missouri) -- 195 pounds, freestyle and Greco-Roman Braxton Amos (West Virginia) -- 220 pounds, freestyle and Greco-Roman Nash Hutmacher (South Dakota) -- 285 pounds, freestyle Eli Pokorney (Indiana) -- 285 pounds, Greco-Roman Junior champions eligible to compete again: Will Guida (New Jersey) -- 100 pounds, freestyle Anthony King (Illinois) -- 100 pounds, Greco-Roman Sam Latona (Alabama) -- 106 pounds, freestyle Brendon Garcia (Colorado) -- 106 pounds, Greco-Roman*** Ty Smith (Nevada) -- 113 pounds, freestyle Brandon Kaylor (Washington) -- 113 pounds, Greco-Roman Patrick McKee (Minnesota) -- 120 pounds, freestyle Alex Thomsen (Iowa) -- 126 pounds, Greco-Roman Atilano Escobar (Arizona) -- 132 pounds, freestyle Mason Phillips (Washington) -- 138 pounds, Greco-Roman Anthony Artalona (Florida) -- 145 pounds, freestyle*** Will Lewan (Illinois) -- 152 pounds, freestyle Peyton Robb (Minnesota) -- 152 pounds, Greco-Roman David Carr (Ohio) -- 160 pounds, freestyle Aaron Brooks (Maryland) -- 170 pounds, freestyle Jack Jessen (Illinois) -- 182 pounds, Greco-Roman Zach Elam (Missouri) -- 220 pounds, freestyle Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois) -- 285 pounds, freestyle and Greco-Roman ***seeks third consecutive Junior National title in the style 2017 champions by the numbers … trend for 2018? At the Junior level, here was the breakdown of champions in terms of grade level from the 2017 tournament. Freestyle: graduating senior 4, rising senior 9, other 2 Greco-Roman: graduating senior 7, rising senior 7, other 1 At the Cadet level, here was the breakdown of champions in terms of grade level from the 2017 tournament. Freestyle: rising freshman 6, rising sophomore 7, rising junior 4 Greco-Roman: rising freshman 4, rising sophomore 3, rising junior 10 Rising freshmen to watch in Cadet Nationals As mentioned earlier in this article, the Cadet Nationals serve as proving ground for many an emerging star. Yes, that does include incoming ninth graders. Last summer, nine wrestlers combined to win ten "stop signs" at the Cadet Nationals before stepping on the high school mats. Among the top Class of 2022 wrestlers, some of the more likely to capture (or at minimum contend for) a stop sign include: No. 1 Ryan Crookham (Pennsylvania) -- The top wrestler in this grade has already demonstrated freestyle prowess in earning a pair of All-American honors at the UWW Cadet Nationals in Akron. Furthermore his talent level showed clear and obvious when winning the high school division of the Super 32 Challenge at 113 pounds this past fall. No. 2 Nick Bouzakis (Florida) -- Already a two-time state champion in high school varsity competition, he earned the first leg of the Cadet Triple Crown this spring at the UNI Dome by winning gold at 120 pounds in Cadet folkstyle. No. 3 Anthony Ferrari (Texas) -- He was runner-up at last month's UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle at 112 pounds, only losing two narrow matches in the championship series to eventual world gold medalist Matthew Ramos. No. 4 Jesse Mendez (Indiana) -- He was runner-up to Bouzakis in Cadet folkstyle three months ago, and was one match from All-American honors at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle last month; included in that tournament was a victory over 2017 Cadet National freestyle champion Noah Surtin. Mendez also placed third in the Flo Nationals high school division at 113 pounds this spring. No. 13 Robert Paul Perez (California) -- He was champion in Cadet folkstyle this spring at 145 pounds No. 14 Jordan Williams (Oklahoma) -- The Roller World of Wrestling triple crown winner was also champion in Cadet folkstyle this spring at 100 pounds. He placed fifth at 99 pounds in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. No. 15 Alex Almeyda (New Jersey) -- He placed fourth at 99 pounds, ahead of Williams, at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. Included in that tournament was a 6-6 criteria loss to Cadet World team member Chance Lamer; Almeyda was third in Cadet folkstyle at 100 pounds, finishing behind Williams.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Western New England University Director of Athletics Matthew LaBranche has appointed Mike Sugermeyer to the position of full-time head wrestling coach. Sugermeyer had previously held the position in a part-time capactity. "Over the past three years, Mike has truly re-energized the Golden Bear wrestling program," LaBranche said. "We feel extremely fortunate to be able to make a full-time commitment to a program that has such a rich history on our campus and to keep a talented coach like Mike in the fold." The Western New England wrestling program has seen a resurgence with Sugermeyer leading the Golden Bears over the past three seasons, culminating in sophomore John Boyle earning All-America honors at the NCAA Division III Championships in Cleveland this past March. Three other Golden Bears earned NCAA Tournament All-Northeast Region accolades for Western New England, which posted top-10 finishes at both the NCAA Northeast Regional and the New England Dual Meet Championships in 2017-18. "Mike has proven himself to be a dynamic recruiter and a tremendous role model for our student-athletes," LaBranche continued. "He is truly committed to his student-athletes' development on and off the mat, and our entire department will benefit from his daily presence." The Hampden, Mass. native has guided the Golden Bears to 28 dual meet wins during his three seasons at the helm of the program, more than the previous six seasons combined. A 2013 graduate of Rhode Island College, Sugermeyer served as an assistant coach at Western New England for two seasons before assuming the head role leading into the 2015-16 campaign. In addition to Western New England's success on the mat, Sugermeyer has placed a strong emphasis on academic achievement. In 2016-17, the Golden Bears were recognized by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) after posting a 3.20 team grade point average, which ranked 22nd among over 100 Division III programs. At the conclusion of this season, six student-athletes were named to the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) All-Academic Team, including three that received NWCA Scholar All-America recognition. "It has been an honor to serve as the head wrestling coach at Western New England University for the past three seasons," Sugermeyer said. "I want to thank President Caprio, Dr. Walker, Matt LaBranche and the rest of the Western New England University administration for elevating the position of head wrestling coach to a full-time role." Sugermeyer has strong ties to the University and its wrestling program. His father, Steve Sugermeyer '78, was inducted into the Downes Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014, and played a significant role in the growth and development of the sport at Western New England. He currently serves as a professor of accounting and as a faculty fellow for the wrestling program. Outside of his duties on campus, Sugermeyer is active within the sport on the national and regional levels. He serves on the NWCA Executive Committee as Treasurer, and as the NEWA Hall of Fame Coordinator. "I look forward to the opportunities that this will bring for our program as we continue to work towards accomplishing our goals," Sugermeyer added. "Thank you to the Western New England University community, our alumni and everyone that is part of our Golden Bear family for all of your continued support!"

Ryan Bader, former Arizona State All-American wrestler, will face Matt Mitrione in a top-of-the-card event at Bellator 205 in October. The bout, announced this week, is a semifinals match for the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix to take place at Mohegan Sun Arena at Uncasville, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 12. Mitrione vs. Bader is the first fight in the semifinals round of Bellator's 2018 Heavyweight World Grand Prix, which will crown a new Bellator World Heavyweight Champion. On the opposite side of the bracket, Fedor Emelianenko (37-5, 1 NC) is set to square off with Chael Sonnen (31-15-1) at a date to be announced. Bader, already Bellator light-heavyweight champ, seeks to add a new title to his MMA resume. He earned his place in the semifinals with a 15-second TKO of “King Mo” Lawal in the first round of the Grand Prix at Bellator 199. Mitrione qualified for the semis with a majority decision over Roy Nelson in his first-round Grand Prix bout at Bellator 194. Tickets for Bellator: Mitrione vs. Bader go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 13 at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, or the Mohegan Sun box office. Prior to launching his pro MMA career, the 25-5 “Darth” Bader made a name for himself in amateur wrestling. He was a two-time Nevada high school state champ who continued his mat career at Arizona State, where he was a three-time Pac-10 conference champ and a two-time NCAA Division I All-American. Mitrione -- with a 13-5 MMA record -- played defensive end at Purdue University, then continued his football career in the NFL, playing for the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings for a total of six seasons.

Kevin Emily You can never have too much of a good thing. You could say that about "Pathfinder Vol. 2: The Journey Continues" by Kevin Emily. It's his follow-up to his original "Pathfinder: The Journey of the African-American Wrestler" that told the stories of pioneering African-American wrestlers who paved the way for thousands of athletes in subsequent decades, from Harold Henson (first black to wrestle at NCAA championships, 1949) to Simon Roberts (first African-American NCAA champ, 1959), six-time NCAA champ Carlton Haselrig to Toccara Montgomery, groundbreaking women's wrestler. "Pathfinder Vol. 2" carries on the legacy of Emily's first book by sharing the stories of more recent black wrestling stars -- including Marcus LeVesseur, Greg Jones, Tab Thacker, Bobby Douglas, Jordan Burroughs, J'den Cox and more -- in a very informative yet conversational style. That may well be in large part to the fact that Emily interviews the individuals in his book directly (when possible) rather than rely on articles or the opinions of others as source material. Meet the author Kevin Emily is head wrestling coach and special education teacher at Midland Valley High School in Graniteville, S.C. (one of seven wrestling programs in one school district in Aiken County, all started from scratch a couple years ago). Although born in South Carolina, Emily grew up in Waterloo, Iowa -- yep, the hotbed of amateur wrestling that gave the world Dan Gable among others -- where he wrestled at Waterloo Central High. Emily then headed south to wrestle at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, then returned to Waterloo to coach at Gable's high school alma mater, Waterloo West. In his varied career, Kevin Emily has coached 13 state place winners, five state champions, four NHSCA (National High School Coaches Association) All-Americans, one NHSCA National Champion, and one USA Wrestling All-American. One of Kevin Emily's strongest passions is sharing his knowledge about the oldest and greatest sport with others -- whether it's as a coach for young athletes in his wrestling room, or as an author, sharing with the wrestling community at large the stories about highly accomplished wrestlers who happen to be black. "When someone does something worthy, their stories need to be told," Emily told InterMat in an interview this summer. How "Pathfinder Vol. 2" came together How does a full-time classroom instructor and high school wrestling coach find time to write a book such as "Pathfinder Vol. 2"? "Whatever you want to do, you can do it if you put your mind to it," according to Kevin Emily. "Having the first book published helps," said Emily. "As I start the process, I reach out to people. Facebook really helps me get in touch with the individual I want to write about, or at least a friend or family member." "It also helps that some of my subjects are people I already know because they've participated in some of my wrestling camps," Emily continued. "Everyone I have contacted has said yes." Kevin Emily interviews his subjects directly, either in person or over the phone. Unless they are deceased. For instance, to write about the late Tab Thacker -- the heftiest NCAA heavyweight champ who went on to a career in movies before passing away in 2007 -- Emily read Thacker's obituary, then reached out to his widow and surviving brother. It's also a matter of incredible time management. Emily does the bulk of his information-gathering and writing during the time he's not teaching and coaching. "I was in training with the first book," Emily disclosed. "For the second, I grinded it out. Any second I had free, I worked on it. Kept myself on a timeline." "This time, I really wanted to emphasize stories where the subjects of my book were overcoming tough challenges -- for example, J'den Cox defeating depression, or Tab Thacker's many health battles." Stories that need to be told ... for all ages One of the driving forces behind both editions of "Pathfinder" was to share the stories of great wrestlers who may not have had their stories told ... until now. "These guys need to have their stories told," said Kevin Emily. "The participants in the first book made a point of thanking me for writing it." "There's some education that needs to take place. These are accomplished athletes, many who have not had their stories told, until now." "I'm in it to bring recognition to the sport and to some of its greats." "I wrote from the heart." Kevin Emily lets his interview subjects pretty much tell their own stories in their own words ... all with an eye to sharing with the widest audience possible. "I wanted something my kids in special ed class would want to read," said Emily. "It's easy enough for students age 10 and up. In fact, one mom read it, gave it to her son, and had him write a paper on each wrestler." "Pathfinder Vol. 2" was written with passion and love ... by a long-time student of the sport, Kevin Emily, whose involvement in wrestling going back decades, and has inspired his wanting to know more about great African-American wrestlers -- some from the past, some still involved in the sport -- and sharing what he discovered in talking to these pathfinder athletes. Readers can read the new "Pathfinder Vol. 2" without having read the first edition ... but, whichever book they read first, they will undoubtedly enjoy the other just as much. To order the new "Pathfinder Vol. 2: The Journey Continues" or the original "Pathfinder: The Journey of the African-American Wrestler" -- or both -- visit Kevin Emily's official website. More to come ... Kevin Emily has plenty more stories to share. Right now, he's working on "The Giant Killer," a biography on Carlton Haselrig, wrestler at University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown who won three NCAA Division II heavyweight titles, then three Division I championships (back when Div. II and III champs could compete for titles at the Division I championships) ... then went on to a career with the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers. The Haselrig bio is expected to be released in late fall 2018. Then next up: "King of the Mat" which will tell the stories of a number of legendary high school wrestling coaches. Emily plans to have that book published this winter.

David Bolyard ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan wrestling head coach Sean Bormet announced Monday (July 9) the addition of former Eastern Michigan head coach David Bolyard to the Wolverines' coaching staff. Bolyard, the 2017-18 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, will serve as U-M's volunteer coach and on staff with the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club. "Our staff is incredibly excited about Dave," said Bormet. "He immediately brings a wealth of experience and wide range of skill sets to our program. I value his passion for wrestling and commitment to develop student-athletes. We are fortunate to have him joining us at Michigan." "I am grateful to Sean Bormet for giving me the opportunity to continue my coaching career at such a prestigious university," said Bolyard. "The University of Michigan attracts some of the best student-athletes in the country, and I am looking forward to working with Sean and his staff to help them achieve their goals." Bolyard served four years at the helm of the Eastern Michigan program and, in 2017-18, coached the Eagles to one of the most successful seasons in school history before the program was cut three days after the NCAA Championships. EMU claimed third place at the 2018 MAC Championships, sending four wrestlers to their respective finals and tying a program record with five NCAA qualifiers. Sa'Derian Perry became the fifth NCAA All-American in program history and first since 1999. Bolyard's teams were also successful in the classroom, placing 11th or better in the NWCA All-Academic standings in each of his four seasons, including a first-place finish in 2015. The Eagles boasted 24 Academic All-MAC team members while six earned NWCA All-Academic honors over his tenure. Before ascending to EMU's head coaching position, Bolyard spent seven seasons as the Eagles' top assistant and two as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Central Michigan. During a standout collegiate career at CMU (2002-05), Bolyard claimed NCAA All-America honors in 2004 after placing sixth at 165 pounds and was a four-time NCAA qualifier. A 2005 MAC individual champion, he posted a 109-38 career record, including a then-record 21 straight wins as a senior, and still ranks 10th among CMU's all-time wins leaders. Bolyard, a native of Akron, Ohio, earned a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship from Central Michigan in 2005 and a master's degree in athletic administration in 2008. He and his wife, Amanda, have two children, Maddox and Scarlett, and live in Saline, Michigan.

It's the biggest wrestling tournament in the world. It's also one of the toughest. And it features some of the best domestic competition you will ever see when USA Wrestling's annual Cadet and Junior Nationals are contested in Fargo, N.D. It's a huge mid-summer extravaganza that features 20-plus mats, thousands of top high school wrestlers and hundreds of elite-level matches. There will be plenty of future stars descending on eastern North Dakota when the 2018 Cadet and Junior Nationals kicks off this week. Looking back on the decade I spent covering the event for USA Wrestling, you can see just how important this mammoth tournament has been in the development of American wrestlers in the international styles of freestyle and Greco-Roman. Very few people knew it at the time, but the stacked Cadet 98-pound weight bracket 12 years ago in Fargo featured a pair of wrestlers who would go on to become superstars. Those wrestlers were David Taylor and Kyle Dake. The first year I covered the Fargo event in 2006, Taylor won the Cadet Nationals championship in both styles at 98 pounds. Dake was third in freestyle and Greco. Dake later gained the upper hand over Taylor in college and internationally. Taylor and Dake, as most wrestling observers know, went on to combine for six NCAA titles and three Hodge Trophy awards. Now they're both on the powerful U.S. Senior world team in freestyle this year with both considered serious contenders to win world titles. The 2006 Cadet Nationals also featured a pair of champions who went on to excel internationally. Competing one weight class above Taylor and Dake, Logan Stieber captured the Cadet freestyle title at 105 pounds. Stieber went on to win four NCAA titles before winning a world title in 2016. Ben Provisor won a Cadet Greco title in 2006 before going on to make two Olympic teams. Winning Cadet freestyle titles at 112 and 119 pounds that year in Fargo were Jordan Oliver and Matt McDonough, who each went on to win two NCAA titles. The wrestler who placed fifth in Oliver's 2006 bracket was Tony Ramos, who went on to win an NCAA title before making two world teams on the Senior level. Competing on a huge stage like Fargo provides excellent preparation for these top wrestlers as they progress toward their ultimate goals of winning world and Olympic titles. They wrestle a large number of matches and gain a ton of valuable mat time during an important phase of their development as athletes. J'den Cox holds up a stop sign after winning a Junior National freestyle title in 2012 (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Believe it or not, it was just six years ago when J'den Cox won the loaded 220-pound Junior Nationals freestyle weight class. A guy named Kyle Snyder placed third. Snyder did win the Junior Greco title that year with Cox taking third. Three years later, Snyder became the youngest American to win a world freestyle title on the Senior level before becoming the youngest U.S. wrestler to win the Olympics in 2016. He followed that with his second world title to lift the United States to a dramatic team title at the 2017 World Championships. Cox hasn't been too shabby himself. He won Olympic and world bronze the past two years. Snyder and Cox, who earned three NCAA titles apiece, look like contenders to win world titles for the U.S. this year. Another future star was a double Junior champion in Fargo in 2012. That was heavyweight Adam Coon, who made his first Senior world team in Greco this year. Coon paid his dues as he developed while coming up through the USA Wrestling ranks. He captured a Cadet world title before becoming a Junior world medalist. 2017 world silver medalist Thomas Gilman was another wrestler whose development was accelerated under the spotlight on the elevated mat in the Fargo Dome. Gilman won Junior and Cadet Nationals in freestyle before going on to a standout career at Iowa. One of the wrestlers he beat en route to winning Junior Nationals was Cory Clark, who later won Junior Nationals titles in freestyle and Greco before winning an NCAA title for the Hawkeyes. My last year of covering Fargo was in 2015, and there were plenty of talented wrestlers who made an impact that year. Daton Fix and Gable Steveson were two champions who really caught my attention that summer. Fix and Steveson each still have four years of college eligibility remaining and are extremely advanced for their ages. They have tremendous upsides at the collegiate and international levels. They've benefited from competing in Fargo and taking advantage of opportunities to face top foreign competitors overseas. Fix won a Junior world title in 2017 after being a Junior and Cadet world bronze medalist. Fix is now ranked No. 2 on the Senior level after falling to Gilman in the Final X last month in Lincoln. Steveson, a multi-talented heavyweight, has been on an incredible roll. He won back-to-back Cadet world titles in 2015 and 2016 before capturing a Junior world title last year. He has also excelled on the Senior level this year. It is going to be enjoyable to track his progress in the next four years and beyond. The best American women's freestyle wrestlers also have followed a road to success that has traveled through North Dakota. The 2007 Junior women's tournament featured a top-flight field that included champions Helen Maroulis, Adeline Gray and Tatiana Padilla. Maroulis became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling in 2016 before capturing her second world title last year. Gray is a three-time world champion and five-time world medalist. Padilla won two world medals and is currently excelling in the Ultimate Fighting Championships. No doubt, the experience these athletes gained in Fargo helped propel them to the high level of success they've enjoyed on the world level. There is a reason why so many college coaches journey to Fargo each July to recruit. There is an abundance of top-level talent. And it gives them a chance to see how these athletes perform in a pressure-packed and highly competitive environment. The Cadet and Junior Nationals remains one of the biggest and best events on the wrestling calendar. And when you consider all of the current Senior-level stars who have wrestled and thrived in that event, it is easy to see why. Who will be the next future star who competes in Fargo? Keep a close eye on what happens at this year's event. You may just see the next great American wrestler. 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.

In a battle featuring two big men with amateur wrestling backgrounds at UFC 226 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, it all came down to a knockout ... with a third former collegiate mat star entering the Octagon to challenge the winner. UFC light-heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier -- a two-time Olympian and NCAA All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State -- knocked out UFC heavyweight titleholder -- and former Cleveland State matman -- Stipe Miocic at 4:33 of the first round of their top-of-the-card bout. Daniel CormierImmediately after becoming a two-division UFC champ, Cormier was challenged by former UFC, WWE and collegiate champ Brock Lesnar, who as MMAjunkie.com put it, "returned to the heel role he enjoyed in the octagon during his UFC championship fight against rival Frank Mir, berating Miocic and Cormier." MMAJunkie.com continued, "The WWE heavyweight champ then entered the octagon and immediately shoved the new UFC champ. The two then engaged in a shoving and shouting match that more closely resembled a pre-fabricated pro-wrestling angle than a legitimate faceoff between combatants." The new holder of both the heavyweight and light-heavyweight titles responded after Lesnar got physical, saying, "Push me now, you go to sleep later." The 2000 NCAA heavyweight champ for the University of Minnesota also dished out some trash talk. "Miocic is a piece of (expletive) ... " Lesnar shouted. "D.C, I'm coming for you, (expletive)." The Cormier-Miocic headliner featured more than a war of words. "For the first few minutes of Daniel Cormier's heavyweight superfight with Stipe Miocic, size appeared to matter as the two locked up against the fence," according to USA Today's reporting, hinting at the height and weight difference between the two. "But when Cormier got free, his power evened the score with a short right hook that knocked out Miocic (18-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) and made him the second simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history (joining Conor McGregor)." The two former wrestlers incorporated their boxing skills throughout the less-than-five-minute bout. "In the latter part of the first round, it was Cormier who was landing more punches and getting clinches," MMA website BloodyElbow.com reported. "Eventually, he found a home for one of his punches at close range, as a hard right hook landed on Miocic, dropping him instantly. Cormier followed up with a few more punches until referee Marc Goddard stepped in to stop the action." With the win, Cormier not only gained a second UFC title belt but enhanced his record to (21-1 overall in his MMA career going back to September 2009, and 10-1 in UFC ... while Miocic gives up his heavyweight title he had held for just over two years, dropping to 18-3 overall, and 12-3 in UFC competition. What's next? Perhaps Cormier and Lesnar will actually battle for the UFC heavyweight title. A trio of accomplished amateur wrestlers As stated earlier, Cormier, Miocic and Lesnar all sport real wrestling credentials. Cormier, a native of Lafayette, La., won three Louisiana state wrestling titles for Northside High School. He then headed off to Colby Community College, where he won back-to-back NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) titles at 189 pounds in 1998 and 1999. Cormier then moved on to Oklahoma State for two years, where he earned NCAA All-American honors as a senior by making it to the 184-pound finals, losing to Iowa State's Cael Sanderson in the title match. Miocic grew up in the Cleveland area, placing second at 215 pounds at the Ohio high school state championships. He stayed close to home, continuing his education at Cleveland State, where he ultimately qualified for the 2003 NCAA Division I championships, but lost his first two matches and failed to place. Lesnar was raised in rural South Dakota, attending Webster High School (alma mater for fellow Minnesota grad -- and emerging MMA star -- Logan Storley). Big Brock continued his on-the-mat career at Bismarck State College in North Dakota, where he won a NJCAA heavyweight title in 2008. Lesnar was discovered at the Bison Open by J Robinson, then head wrestling coach at University of Minnesota, which propelled the Gopher big man into the consciousness of the national wrestling community ... and not just for his muscular physique. In his two years at Minnesota, Lesnar was a two-time Big Ten heavyweight champ, and a two-time NCAA All-American, as a runner-up at the 1999 NCAA championships then as national champ (defeating Iowa's Wes Hand) in 2000.

Dan Hodge, legendary amateur wrestling champ of the 1950s who was the subject of a silver alert as a critical missing person Saturday evening, has been found OK, according to his granddaughter. Stacy Ewy Wilson posted the following message on her Facebook page overnight: Dan Hodge"Praise God!! Thank you! Thank you!! We appreciate all of your help and prayers!! Grandpa, Danny Hodge, has been located in Tulsa!!! On our way to pick him up! Very blessed to have so many who love him and our family!!" Tulsa is approximately 90 miles from Hodge's hometown of Perry, Okla. Hodge was found uninjured and returned safely to his home. Hodge, 86, had been reported missing by Perry Police and the Noble County Sheriff's Office at approximately 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Authorities put out a silver alert with a description of his car because of concerns Hodge would not be able to find his way home. According to authorities, Hodge suffers from dementia, and was in "imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death." A 1951 Oklahoma state wrestling champ for Perry High School, Daniel Allen Hodge went on to serve in the U.S. Navy before enrolling at University of Oklahoma in the mid-1950s. He was a three-time NCAA champ (1955-1957) for the Sooners at 177 pounds, compiling a perfect 46-0 record, with 36 of those wins by fall for one of the highest pinning percentages of all time in college wrestling. In addition, Hodge was a twice a member of the U.S. men's freestyle wrestling team for the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, bringing home the silver medal from the 1956 Melbourne Games. Hodge owns the distinction of being the only amateur wrestler to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as an amateur wrestler in the magazine's 65-year history. Hodge remains a popular figure within amateur wrestling. His name graces the Hodge Award, presented each year to the nation's top college wrestler by WIN Magazine and Culture House publishing.