InterMat Staff

Jordan Burroughs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- 2012 Olympic champion and four-time World champion Jordan Burroughs, who won two NCAA titles for Nebraska, two-time World medalist James Green, a four-time All-American for Nebraska, and 2017 World silver medalist Thomas Gilman, who was a high school star from Omaha, Neb., are among the headline athletes who have qualified to compete in Final X in Lincoln. With the conclusion of the U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nev. on April 28, half of the field for Final X in Lincoln has been determined. The event will be hosted at the Bob Devaney Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, starting at 6 p.m. CST on Saturday, June 9, with exclusive live and on-demand coverage on FloWrestling.com, as well as on the FloSports apps on iOS, Roku and Apple TV 4. Tickets remain available for Final X in Lincoln. Fans can order tickets for Final X in Lincoln, and all three Final X events, by visiting FinalX.tv Final X will determine the 2018 U.S. Senior World Teams in men's and women's freestyle. FloWrestling will provide exclusive coverage of all three Final X events. The two other Final X events will be held in State College, Pa. on June 16 and Bethlehem, Pa. on June 23. There are seven weight classes assigned to Final X in Lincoln: men's freestyle (57 kg, 70 kg, 74 kg, 97 kg) and women's freestyle (55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg). Six of the seven wrestlers who have already qualified for Final X in Lincoln have won World medals, with the other qualifier being a past World Team member. There is a strong Nebraska connection with three of the qualifiers, as Burroughs and Green currently live and train in Lincoln, after completing their college careers at the University of Nebraska. Gilman was a four-time state champion for Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha. Burroughs boasts an Olympic gold medal from the 2012 Olympics in London, England. He claimed World gold medals in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017, and added a 2014 World bronze medal. He was also a 2016 Olympian. Burroughs has won six World Cup gold medals and has claimed two Pan American Games titles (2011 and 2015). Burroughs won two NCAA titles (2009, 2011) and three All-American honors for the University of Nebraska. He was the 2011 Dan Hodge Trophy winner as the nation's best college wrestler. Burroughs was a 2006 New Jersey state champion for Winslow Township High School. Green won a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France and a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas, Nev. He was a 2016 World Cup champion. Green also captured a silver medal at the 2014 University World Championships. He won the 2017 U.S. Open. In college, Green was a four-time All-American for Nebraska, placing third at the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Championships, and seventh at the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Championships. Green won a 2011 New Jersey state title for Willingboro High School. Gilman won a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France, competing on his first Senior World Team. He also competed on three age-group World Teams for the United States, including winning a 2014 Junior World bronze medal. He was a 2017 Grand Prix of Spain champion. Gilman was a three-time All-American for Iowa, placing second at the 2016 NCAA Championships, third at the 2017 NCAA Championships and fourth at the 2014 NCAA Championships. Olympic champion and two-time World champion Kyle Snyder will compete in Final X at Lincoln. Snyder won his Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016. He added World titles in Las Vegas in 2015 and in Paris in 2017. Snyder also boasts Junior World gold and Junior World bronze medals. Snyder won three NCAA titles and was a four-time finalist for Ohio State. He was a three-time National Prep School champion for Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Maryland, then graduated from Coronado High School in Colorado as a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete during his senior year. Two 2017 World medalists in women's wrestling have accepted their automatic qualification for Final X in Lincoln, both with roots from the American heartland. Two-time World silver medalist Alli Ragan hails from Carbondale, Ill. and currently trains in Iowa City, Iowa. Ragan won silver medals at the 2016 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary and the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France. A five-time U.S. Senior World Team member, she was also fifth at the 2014 World Championships. Ragan was second in the 2013 World University Games and is a two-time Junior World bronze medalist. She was a 2013 and 2014 WCWA national champion for King University, and a four-time WCWA finalist. 2017 World bronze medalist Becka Leathers is a native of Choctaw, Okla. In her first Senior World Championships, Leathers won a World bronze medal at 55 kg in Paris, France. She won gold medals at the 2017 Pan American Championships and the 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial. Leathers recently won the 2018 U23 World Team Trials. She was a 2015 Junior World bronze medalist, competed in two Junior World Championships and one Cadet World Championships. She was a WCWA national champion for Oklahoma City Univ. in 2016. Also qualifying for Final X in Lincoln is 2017 World Team member Tamyra Stock, who previously competed under her maiden name Mensah. Stock is a native of Katy, Texas. She competed for Wayland Baptist in college, winning two WCWA women's college national titles and four All-American honors. Stock qualified for Final X by winning the 2018 U.S. Open, her second career Open title. She was the first American to win back-to-back gold medals at the respected Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix in Russia. The Final X field will be finalized at the Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament for men's and women's freestyle, set for Rochester, Minn., May 18-20, where the champions will advance to Final X. The Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament will air live and on-demand only on FloWrestling. For Final X in Lincoln, ticket prices are available in these pricing levels: VIP seating for $75.00, Reserved seating (online option for early buyers) for $50.00 and General Admission seating (first come, first serve) for $30.00. Age 2 and under are free. To order tickets, please visit FinalX.tv For more information, visit FinalX.tv, FloWrestling.com or TheMat.com. FINAL X IN LINCOLN, JUNE 9 Qualifiers as of April 30 Men's freestyle 57 kg 2017 World silver medalist - Thomas Gilman, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC) 2018 WTT Challenge Tournament champion - Men's freestyle 70 kg 2017 World silver medalist - James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC) 2018 WTT Challenge Tournament champion - Men's freestyle 74 kg 2017 World champion - Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC) 2018 WTT Challenge Tournament champion - Men's freestyle 97 kg 2017 World champion - Kyle Snyder, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) 2018 WTT Challenge Tournament champion - Women's freestyle 55 kg 2017 World bronze medalist - Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC) 2018 WTT Challenge Tournament champion - Women's freestyle 59 kg 2017 World silver medalist - Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 2018 WTT Challenge Tournament champion - Women's freestyle 68 kg 2018 U.S. Open champion - Tamyra Stock, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) 2018 WTT Challenge Tournament champion - About FloSports FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, partners with event rights holders and governing bodies to unlock a world of sports coverage that true fans have been waiting for. Through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, and weekly studio shows, FloSports is growing the sports, the events, the athletes and the fans. Current verticals under the FloSports header are Basketball, MMA, Football, Wrestling, Track, Gymnastics and more. About USA Wrestling USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the sport of wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. USA Wrestling has more than 232,000 members, including athletes, coaches, officials, parents, fans and others who are actively involved in the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender.

Tom Sleigh BLACKSBURG -- Head coach Tony Robie announced Monday the addition of Tom Sleigh, a 197-pound graduate transfer from Bucknell, to the Virginia Tech wrestling program. Sleigh was a three-time NCAA qualifier and three-time EIWA place winner who racked up 89 wins in three seasons with the Bison. The DuBois, Pa., native will have one year of eligibility remaining and is eligible to compete for the upcoming 2018-19 season. As a true freshman, Sleigh went 30-18 at 184 pounds and earned an automatic berth to nationals with a fifth-place finish at the EIWA Championships. After going to 2-2 at NCAAs as a sophomore, Sleigh bumped up to 197 pounds as a junior in 2016-17 where he earned a second-place finish at EIWAs and qualified for the national tournament for the third time. Sleigh was able to retain his final year of eligibility after suffering an injury in the first dual of the 2017-18 season. The two-time EIWA All-Academic selection received his undergraduate degree in environmental studies.

GAFFNEY, S.C. -- Limestone College officials have announced the addition of women's wrestling as a varsity sport, with 2019-20 expected to serve as the inaugural season. The addition of women's wrestling comes on the heels of Limestone announcing earlier this year that it is adding an Acrobatics & Tumbling squad that will begin competition in February of 2019. Limestone Athletics now fields 25 intercollegiate sports at the NCAA Division II level. "The addition of women's wrestling will be a tremendous asset to the College and this region," said Limestone President Dr. Darrell Parker. "We have wonderful facilities already in place. We are proud to be among the pioneers who are offering collegiate women's wrestling in South Carolina, and we believe this will encourage other schools in the area to add the sport as well. The addition of women's wrestling enables Limestone to continue to be a leader in higher education and Division II athletics." A timeline for the development of the women's wrestling program is being finalized, with an anticipated start during the '19-'20 academic year. "We are excited for the opportunity to support a growing sport and provide an opportunity for women to continue to compete at the collegiate level," noted Mike Cerino, Limestone's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "We will become an even more sought-after wrestling program by diversifying and offering a female team that provides access and opportunities to young women that few other colleges do at this time." During its recent regularly scheduled spring meeting, at the recommendation of its Athletics Committee, the Limestone Board of Trustees officially voted to move forward with adding women's wrestling. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the College were officially notified of the new sport on Monday, April 30, before the news was released to the general public. The addition of wrestling and acrobatics & tumbling will provide 13 female-sponsored sports for Limestone, not including competitive cheer and dance. It will also dramatically increase the total number of female student-athletes enrolled at the College. The average squad size for acrobatics & tumbling is 26, while the majority of women's wrestling programs across the country boast an average squad size of over 30 student-athletes. The Saints will compete in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) and are expected to become members of the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA). Women's wrestling is considered one of the fastest growing sports at the scholastic and collegiate levels. Since 1994, the number of females who wrestle in high school has grown from 804 to over 11,000. Women's wrestling has been recognized as an Olympic sport since 2004. Under the direction of head coach Kaelyn Cowan, Limestone has already started the process of recruiting acrobatics & tumbling student-athletes for the 2018-19 season. Limestone Trustees also opted recently, at the recommendation of its Athletics Committee, to discontinue its men's and women's swim teams.

Austin DeSanto wrestling Michigan's Stevan Micic at the NCAAs (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) A former Drexel Dragon will become an Iowa Hawkeye. Weeks after Austin DeSanto was granted a release by Drexel University reportedly seeking "a tougher room" (according to his high school coach), the 133-pounder who just completed his freshman season will be wrestling next season at the University of Iowa. "I thought about it for a while," DeSanto told Andy Hamilton of Trackwrestling.com Sunday night. "This whole week I thought about what I'm about and this opportunity and what I want to do with them and how hard they wrestle and how hard they train. That's what I'm about. That's what I want to become and I think they can get me to the point where I can become a national champ. That's why I chose them." DeSanto will be reunited with former high school rival Spencer Lee, who won the 125-pound title for the Hawkeyes at the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in March. One year earlier, wrestling for Exeter High School in Reading, Pennsylvania, DeSanto upset Lee, who was going for his fourth consecutive PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) individual title and an unbeaten career at Franklin Regional High. After the match it was revealed that Lee had been wrestling with a torn ACL. "In my mind it's awesome because I get a really, really good training partner to work with and so many other training partners who are going to make me better," DeSanto told Andy Hamilton. "They have a lot of lightweight workout partners. It's going to be awesome." Trackwrestling.com reported that DeSanto had visited the Iowa campus the first week of April, during the 2018 World Cup held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. A number of schools had been mentioned as possible new homes for DeSanto in addition to Iowa, including Penn State and Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey… all Big Ten schools. NJ.com -- a website for a number of newspapers in New Jersey -- reported Sunday that DeSanto had visited the Rutgers campus two weeks ago; sportswriter James Kratch said, "there was mutual interest" in DeSanto, who was expected to move up to 141 pounds if he were to wrestle for the Scarlet Knights. Kratch went on to report that speculation is that Rutgers placed second in the battle for DeSanto's services. Austin DeSanto could be a difference-maker for Iowa, possibly helping to propel the Hawkeyes beyond their third-place team finish at the 2018 NCAAs. "Iowa certainly has a knack for developing and fielding extraordinary talent at 125 and 133, so the fit seems natural," according to Jordan Hansen of the Iowa fan website Black Heart Gold Pants. "The Hawkeyes had issue filling the 133-pound spot all year, as senior Philip Laux went 9-4 and sophomore Paul Glynn went 8-11." "This was a spot Iowa desperately needed some help and to get a guy who went 30-7 last year is pretty great," Hansen continued. "DeSanto made it all the way to the round of 12 at the NCAA tournament last year, so I feel safe to say he's probably for real." Prior to launching his collegiate career at Drexel in Philadelphia, DeSanto was a three-time Pennsylvania state championship medalist, having lost to Spencer Lee in the 2016 PIAA finals. A year later, DeSanto avenged that defeat by handing Lee his first high school career loss in the 126-pound title bout, which some have labeled as the greatest upset in PIAA championships history. That upset vaulted DeSanto into the national spotlight. Sadly, an incident at the 2018 NCAAs may have done some damage to DeSanto's reputation. Towards the end of a quarterfinal bout with Michigan's Steven Micic -- a match DeSanto was losing -- it appeared the Drexel freshman had applied a dangerous arm bar on his opponent before an official stepped in to break the hold. The seemingly unsportsmanlike incident stirred up much discussion among college wrestling fans in online discussion groups and in social media, much of it directed against DeSanto. Micic eventually placed second at 133.

Zeke Moisey (Photo/WVU Athletics) Two-time All-American and 2015 NCAA runner-up Zeke Moisey will join the Nebraska wrestling program as a graduate transfer, NU Head Coach Mark Manning announced Monday. Moisey will be immediately eligible to wrestle for the Huskers as a redshirt senior in 2018-19. He is expected to graduate from West Virginia this August with a bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies. "We're extremely excited to have Zeke join our program," Manning said. "He comes to Nebraska as a two-time All-American and a national runner-up. Zeke can be very instrumental in our team's success next year and will provide leadership in the lighter weight classes." A native of Northampton, Pa., Moisey has a career record of 84-37 in three seasons competing for the Mountaineers, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in each of his three years in the lineup. He took a medical redshirt in 2016-17 and did not compete that season. Moisey earned his second All-America honor in March, as he finished eighth at 125 pounds at the 2018 NCAA Championships. He went 26-11 on the season, including 9-3 in duals, with five pins, three technical falls and two major decisions. He placed second at the 2018 Big 12 Championships. He qualified for the 2016 NCAA Championships, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. He posted a 26-11 record on the year, and participated in the 2015 NWCA All-Star Classic prior to the season. Moisey broke through on the national stage as a freshman in 2014-15, as he was the NCAA runner-up at 125 pounds at the 2015 NCAA Championships. Unseeded entering the tournament, Moisey knocked off four seeded wrestlers, including a decision over second-seeded Nahshon Garrett of Cornell in the second round and a pin over sixth-seeded Thomas Gilman of Iowa in the semifinals. He was the first unseeded wrestler to make the NCAA finals since 2003, and he became WVU's first All-American since 2007. He finished the season with a 32-14 record overall, including 16 wins by bonus points. He was also the runner-up at the Big 12 Championships in 2015. Moisey prepped at wrestling powerhouse Bethlehem Catholic High School in Bethlehem, Pa. He won the 2014 PIAA Class AA state title at 126 pounds, and he finished in the top five at the state tournament in all four seasons.

Bret Maughan coaching at the NCAAs (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) It's a homecoming of sorts for Bret Maughan, who has been named head wrestling coach at Fargo North High, the school where he earned four North Dakota state championship titles in the early 1980s. Maughan replaces Sean Ritchie and Graelin Garlington as the Spartans' head coach. Bret Maughan's long career as a successful wrestler and coach took root at Fargo North. He was a six-year starter for the Spartans. After placing sixth at the state tournament as an eighth grader at 98 pounds, Maughan never lost another match ... adding up 126 consecutive wins, including four straight state titles. He was selected to wrestle for Team USA at the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic in Pittsburgh. After graduating from Fargo North, Maughan wrestled for North Dakota State University from 1986-91. He was a three-year letterman and back-to-back NCAA Division II All-American for the NDSU (1990, 1991) in the era when the Bison wrestled in Division II. Those same years, Maughan was also a two-time Division I national qualifier back when D2 All-Americans automatically earned an invitation to wrestle at the Division I championships. Maughan's coaching career spans more than two decades, first at Bismarck State College in North Dakota from 1993-95, then at Moorhead (Minn.) High School from 1995-2000. He then returned to his college alma mater North Dakota State where he served as an assistant coach from 2001-14, most of those years under head coach Bucky Maughan, his father, who was a 1963 NCAA Division I champ for Minnesota State Moorhead. Bret Maughan has already earned a place of honor at his new place of employment, having been welcomed as a distinguished member of the Fargo North Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Fargo North High School Hall of Fame as an athlete. In addition, Bret Maugham has been inducted into the North Dakota High School Wrestling Hall of Fame and the NDSU Bison Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1988 national championship team. "Bret brings a wealth of experience to the position," Fargo North activities coordinator Travis Christensen told Forum Communications. "Bret cares deeply about using the sport of wrestling to help young people grow and learn."

A wild, wacky and entertaining week of wrestling at the U.S. Open proved something most wrestling observers already know. Making a U.S. world team this year will be no easy feat. The first step of qualifying for the 2018 world team certainly demonstrated that when a total of 30 champions -- 10 in each style -- were crowned this past weekend in Las Vegas. There was no shortage of top-notch competition as wrestlers gained momentum heading into the final qualifiers that will determine this year's world team. Here are 10 takeaways from the U.S. Open: Isaiah Martinez cruised to a U.S. Open title, beating Dan Vallimont in the finals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 10. Martinez impressive as his focus turns to freestyle Two-time NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez didn't finish his college career the way he wanted after suffering a second straight NCAA finals loss. But Martinez certainly has plenty of competitive fire left. That was evident when he powered to the Open title at 74 kilograms. Martinez steamrolled veteran Dan Vallimont with a 10-0 win by technical superiority in the finals. He scored three takedowns and two turns to make quick work of Vallimont. It will be interesting to see how Martinez matches up in a potential Final X matchup with Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion Jordan Burroughs. 9. Greco Olympians still chasing medals The U.S. has struggled in Greco-Roman wrestling over the past decade, but this could be the year the Americans turn their fortunes around. Two-time Olympian Ben Provisor, along with Olympians Robby Smith and Ellis Coleman, looked strong in earning championships in Vegas. They now take aim at qualifying for Budapest at the Greco World Team Trials in Tulsa, Okla. All of those wrestlers are still competing at a high level and are capable of winning world medals. Sarah Hildebrandt won her U.S. Open title by defeating Olympian Haley Augello (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 8. Hildebrandt knocks off Olympian Sarah Hildebrandt earned Outstanding Wrestler in women's freestyle after downing 2016 Olympian and 2017 World Team member Haley Augello in the Open finals at 53 kilograms. Hildebrandt, a 2016 world team member, scored a pair of takedowns in the first period and another in the second period to win her first U.S. Open title. This may be the year Hildebrandt lands a spot on the world podium. She's a talented and aggressive wrestler who is capable of that type of performance. 7. Ramos outlasts young stud Fix Tony Ramos has cut back down to 57 kilograms and he had his hands full in winning the U.S. Open. Ramos scored a second-period takedown late in the match to edge 2017 Junior world champion Daton Fix 2-2 on criteria in the finals. Kudos to Ramos for looking to bounce back after falling to eventual world silver medalist Thomas Gilman in last year's world team trials. They could meet again for this year's world team spot. And kudos to Fix, who still has four years of college eligibility left, for turning in a strong showing in a top-level Senior event. 6. Conder hits jackpot by downing Anthony Three-time world team member Whitney Conder may have found a home at the new weight class of 50 kilograms. Conder won her fifth U.S. Open title by downing past world fifth-place finisher Victoria Anthony 7-3 in the finals. Conder controlled the match on her feet while enjoying a size advantage in the bout. Conder previously wrestled at 53 kilograms and Anthony was in the former 48-kilogram class. Conder could be a force internationally in this women's freestyle division. 5. Colon, Garrett light up scoreboard with combined 33 points In a match filled with big moves and huge momentum swings, Joe Colon emerged with a wild 20-13 win over Nahshon Garrett in the finals at 61 kilograms. Colon, a past All-American for Northern Iowa, actually trailed after the first period before executing a succession of turns to take control in the second period. Colon won a loaded class that included the last four NCAA champions at 133 pounds. He was named Outstanding Wrestler in men's freestyle. Kamal Bey won his second straight U.S. Open title (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 4. Don't turn away when watching Bey The maturation and progression of talented young Greco star Kamal Bey continues. And that's bad news for his opponents. The Junior world champion continues to turn in sparkling performances and he put on another show in winning his second straight U.S. Open. The explosive Bey scored back-to-back spectacular four-point throws in cruising past Peyton Walsh in the finals at 77 kilograms. He celebrated his win Friday night with a backflip. Don't be surprised if you see him doing that same move again in a few months at the worlds. 3. Gray returning to championship form Three-time World champion Adeline Gray has stormed back onto the women's freestyle scene this year, finishing ahead of the reigning Olympic and world champions this season. As expected, Gray dominated the field at 76 kilograms in prevailing in Las Vegas. The women's wrestling legend, a five-time world medalist and 2016 Olympian, is going to be very tough to beat by anyone on the planet this year. Once Gray scores a takedown, the match is virtually over because she is so lethal at turning her opponents. She has bounced back in a big way after missing last season with a shoulder injury. 2. Dake holds off Dieringer in classic finale There was a reason the finals match between four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake and three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer was the last bout of the tournament. The battle at 79 kilograms lived up to its billing as Dake, coming off wins over two world silver medalists at the World Cup, earned a hard-fought victory. A wild scramble late in the match resulted in two points apiece for both wrestlers and Dake won on criteria after the match ended in a 5-5 deadlock. It would've been fun to see an overtime decide this match instead of criteria. Dake landed a spot in the Final X event which will determine the world team spot. Dieringer is a top freestyle prospect who is a past Junior world silver medalist. Adam Coon defeated Jake Varner in the U.S. Open freestyle finals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 1. Coon nearly strikes it rich twice in Vegas Most wrestlers go their entire career without defeating an Olympic gold medalist. Adam Coon has now done it twice in the same year. Coon capped a phenomenal weekend by downing 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner 3-1 to win the U.S. Open freestyle title at heavyweight. Coon enjoyed a big size advantage over Varner, who previously competed at a weight class below. That win came a night after Coon placed second to Olympian Robby Smith in the Greco-Roman tournament. Coon knocked off 2016 Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder during the college season before Snyder came back to edge Coon twice in the postseason. The massive 6-foot-6 Coon, a past Cadet world champion and Junior world medalist, could be a force in both international styles for years to come. 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.

Zhan Beleniuk at the 2015 World Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Zhan Beleniuk, Greco-Roman silver medalist at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, said he had been prohibited from going to Russia for the 2018 European Wrestling Championship which starts next week, the Russian news agency TASS reported Saturday. The 85 kilogram/187-pound Beleniuk revealed his situation on his Instagram account. "I would rather not go into details, but want to say that we fought until the very end for the right to go," Beleniuk said. "Everything will change in the future, including the political environment, just like it was many times before, however, no one will be able to give back athletes their youth and chances for high achievements, while they are young and strong," the 27-year-old wrestler added. Beleniuk has wrestled at the European Championship in the past, earning gold in 2014 and 2016, as well as the bronze medal at the 2012 European Championship in Belgrade. In addition, Beleniuk was a gold medalist at the 2015 World Championships, and received bronze at the Worlds the year before. In mid-March, Ukrainian Sports Minister Igor Zhdanov issued an official directive banning national athletes from participating in all sports competitions held on the territory of Russia. A document signed by Ukrainian Sport Minister Zhdanov on March 14 stated that athletes of Ukrainian national sports teams had been banned not only from participating in Russia-hosted competitions, but travelling to Russia for training camps as well. At the time of that announcement, Nenad lalovic, President of United World Wrestling (UWW), said Ukraine's possible boycott of the 2018 European Wrestling Championship in Russia would split the wrestling family and such decisions were inadmissible. This month, the Ukrainian Sports Ministry stated that it withdrew the direct order for national athletes to stay away from all international competitions hosted by Russia. In fact, on April 17, the press service of the Ukrainian Wrestling Association stated that the national freestyle wrestling team planned to take part in the European Wrestling Championship this year in Russia. The issue of whether Ukraine would send wrestlers to the European Championship in Russia has a political dimension going back at least a handful of years, made worse when Russia launched an invasion of neighboring Ukraine in August 2014.

Chris Bono What does an experienced head coach of a major NCAA Division I wrestling program get? It's been a subject of speculation wherever wrestling fans gather -- in online wrestling forums, on social media and at watering holes across the country. It's pretty rare for the wrestling community to be made aware of the details of an employment contract, other than the length of the employment term, as evidenced by recent announcements concerning contract extensions for head wrestling coaches at North Carolina State and University of Northern Iowa which did not disclose salary. Here's an exception: we know the terms of the University of Wisconsin's contract for Chris Bono to be the new head coach of the Badger wrestling program -- including annual salary -- thanks to Madison.com. The news organization sought a copy of the contract Bono signed with Wisconsin on March 24 under an open records request ... and received the document on Friday. Bono, 44, who had been coaching at South Dakota State University for the past six seasons until accepting the new job with the Badgers last month, will be making an annual salary of $250,000 during the length of the three-year contract ... nearly twice what he made coaching the Jackrabbits mat program. What's more, as Madison.com points out, Bono's new salary is more than double the final salary of Barry Davis, who announced his retirement at the end of the season after 25 years at Wisconsin. Davis was making $107,467, according to his most recently available contract. Doug Tiedt, senior associate athletic director who is responsible for the UW wrestling program, said the Badgers tried to match what coaches are paid at top programs. "To be competitive, we felt the salary was something that we needed to be competitive with the other programs in the country," Tiedt said. To provide some perspective, Tom Brands, who heads up the University of Iowa wrestling program, received a base salary of $177,000 -- and total compensation of $359,033 -- in the 2016 fiscal year, according to the Des Moines Register. The same newspaper reported that Iowa State's Kevin Dresser had a base salary of $300,000 in 2017-18. As head coach of the SDSU Jackrabbits, Bono made $130,000 in the 2017-18 school year, according to the South Dakota Board of Regents. Bono's salary was due to increase to $140,000 in 2018-19 and $150,000 in 2019-20. Tiedt disclosed that there were approximately 100 applications for the head wrestling coach position at Wisconsin. "As I talked to contacts around the country, people said this was the premier job that was going to be open," Tiedt said. "It's in the best wrestling conference in the country (the Big Ten). And I think people often called Wisconsin a sleeping giant in terms of the talent and the potential for the program." Beyond salary: some of the fine print of Bono's contract The employment contract Chris Bono signed one month ago to become Wisconsin's head wrestling coach is eleven pages long. It extends for three years -- from April 2, 2018 through May 31, 2021. There are provisions to extend the contract, and it is subject to annual review. Bono's annual salary of $250,000 is for an eleven-month year; he is scheduled to have the entire month of June off each year. The contract also says the new coach is entitled to "vacation, sick leave and other benefits available to limited appointees of the University." What's more, the salary also includes payment for "all required TV, radio or other media appearances on behalf of the University." As for potential ventures on the side ... according to the contract, the coach must receive prior annual, written approval from the Director of Athletics for, among other things, "sports camps, TV and radio programs, commercial endorsements and consulting with athletic shoe, apparel or equipment manufacturers or sellers." What about relocating Coach Bono and his family from Brookings, South Dakota to Madison, Wisconsin? According to the contract, "the University will contribute to moving expenses, subject to University and state rules." Note: if the coach were to resign or be dismissed within 12 months of being hired, he would be responsible for repaying Wisconsin the full amount. If he were to leave sometime between 12-24 months, the coach would owe half the moving expenses.

Jeff Karam at the Walsh Ironman (Photo/Sam Janicki) Jeff Karam is stepping down as head wrestling coach at Bethlehem Catholic High School, the northeastern Pennsylvania school announced Friday. Karam has been at the helm of the program, ranked No. 17 in the nation in InterMat's Fab 50 high school rankings, for a decade. In his last season as coach, Karam's Golden Hawks were 16-1, earning a Class 3A team title -- with five individual champs -- at the 2018 PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) state wrestling championships. The wrestling program at Becahi won a total of six team titles during Karam's ten-year tenure, including four consecutive Class 2A championships from 2011-14, and compiled an overall record of 159-20. Prior to coming to Bethlehem Catholic, Karam coached 16 seasons at Freedom High School, and one season at Delaware Valley in New Jersey. Before becoming a coach, Karam wrestled at Easton High School, then at Lock Haven University. Why is Jeff Karam leaving one of the nation's top prep powerhouses? The 50-year-old coach decided it was time to spend more time with his family. Karam and his wife Deborah have twin sons -- Luke, who just completed his first season wrestling at Lehigh University (where he was an NCAA championships qualifier), and Cole, who is considering a return to the sport after stepping away for a time. "I missed Luke's first college pin," Jeff Karam told the Allentown Morning Call. "I missed something I can't get back." "I just felt it was the right time to do it," Karam said. "My family always comes first in my life. I don't want miss those moments if I don't have to." In announcing the departure of its successful wrestling coach, Bethlehem Catholic athletic director Chris Domyan said, "Jeff Karam has achieved tremendous accomplishments as a wrestling coach here at Becahi, but all of his accolades pale in comparison to his character, faith, and leadership. In just 10 years, he has led countless young men on a path of excellence in the sport of wrestling, all because of his unwavering dedication and commitment. I can think of no greater compliment than to say, that if I had a son, I would be blessed to have him coached by Jeff Karam. He will truly be missed by the Bethlehem Catholic community and we wish him all the best in the future." "It has been an honor to coach at Bethlehem Catholic," Karam said in the news release. "The families, staff, student body, and the administration, have been very supportive. The relationships and memories are something that I will cherish for years to come. I was so blessed to be part of these athletes' lives and I look forward to seeing their growth and success in the future. I also just want to thank all of my coaches, especially Randy Cruz, who is one of the best coaches I have been around. Lastly, I want to thank my wife and sons for their support in allowing me to do something that I love."

Kyle Dake won the U.S. Open title at 79 kilograms, beating Alex Dieringer (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) LAS VEGAS -- The fans had a fantastic show, as 10 men's freestyle national champions were crowned on Saturday afternoon at the Marine Corps U.S. Open at the South Point Arena. Five of the winners advanced directly to the Final X series, which sets the 2018 U.S. World team, while five of the winners advanced to the finals series at the preliminary qualifier for Final X, the Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Rochester, Minn. In the final bout on the card, four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake of the Titan Mercury WC beat three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer of the Titan Mercury WC by criteria, 5-5 at 79 kg. Dake led 2-0 at the break, but Dieringer scored a takedown to tie it at 2-2 which Dake challenged and lost, making it 3-2 Dieringer. Dake forced a pushout to make it 3-3. On a scramble started by a Dake crotchlift, and challenged by Dieringer, officials gave both wrestlers two points. Criteria went to Dake, giving him his second career U.S. Open title and a berth in Final X. Read complete story on TheMat.com … 57 kg: 1st: Tony Ramos dec. Daton Fix, 2-2 3rd: Zach Sanders dec. Frank Perrelli, 4-3 5th: David Terao tech. fall Brent Fleetwood, 10-0 7th: Eddie Klimara tech. fall Skyler Petry, 10-0 61 kg: 1st: Joe Colon dec. Nahshon Garrett, 20-13 3rd: Nico Megaludis tech. fall Tyler Graff, 10-0 5th: Brandon Wright by injury default over Seth Gross 7th: Darrius Little dec. Jens Lantz, 5-4 65 kg: 1st: Joseph McKenna dec. Jaydin Eierman, 7-3 3rd: Logan Stieber tech. fall Nicholas Dardanes, 13-2 5th: Jayson Ness tech. fall Evan Henderson, 10-0 7th: Andy Simmons tech. fall Robbie Mathers, 10-0 70 kg: 1st: Jason Chamberlain dec. Hayden Hidlay, 4-1 3rd: Alec Pantaleo dec. Dylan Ness, 8-2 5th: Ryan Deakin by injury default over Frank Molinaro 7th: Griffin Parriott dec. Josh Reyes, 2-1 74 kg: 1st: Isaiah Martinez tech. fall Dan Vallimont, 10-0 3rd: Jake Sueflohn tech. fall Quinton Godley, 11-0 5th: Evan Wick tech. fall Carson Brolsma, 10-0 7th: Taleb Rahmani tech. fall Nicholas Bonomo, 13-2 79 kg: 1st: Kyle Dake dec. Alex Dieringer, 5-5 3rd: Josh Asper dec. Mike Evans, 6-1 5th: Nate Jackson tech. fall Ben Harvey, 10-0 7th: Stacey Davis tech. fall Michael Thelen, 11-0 86 kg: 1st: David Taylor dec. Richard Perry, 8-0 3rd: Nick Reenan tech. fall Timothy Dudley, 10-0 5th: Austin Coburn by injury default over Ryan McWatters 7th: Pat Downey tech. fall Brandon Supernaw, 10-0 92 kg: 1st: J'den Cox dec. Hayden Zillmer, 2-0 3rd: Enock Francois pin Deron Winn, 1:32 5th: Nikko Reyes by injury default over Timmy McCall 7th: Cody Walters tech. fall Jeremiah Imonode, 10-0 97 kg: 1st: Austin Schafer dec. Ty Walz, 14-7 3rd: Kyven Gadson dec. Nathan Burak, 3-2 5th: Ben Honis dec. Ross Larson, 13-11 7th: Braden Atwood by injury default over Blaize Cabell 125 kg: 1st: Adam Coon dec. Jake Varner, 3-1 3rd: Dom Bradley dec. Gable Steveson, 2-2 5th: Tony Nelson dec. Tanner Hall, 6-4 7th: Michael Kosoy tech. fall Shawn Streck, 10-0 Outstanding Wrestler - Joe Colon (Titan Mercury WC), 61 kg Div. I champion: Titan Mercury WC, 147 Div. I runner-up: Sunkist Kids, 54 Div. II champion: New York AC, 34 RTC Cup champion: New York AC RTC RTC Cup runner-up: Nittany Lion WC

Daniel Kerkvliet (Photo/Larry Slater)LAS VEGAS -- 2017 Cadet World champions Aaron Brooks and Daniel Kerkvliet won UWW Junior freestyle national titles on Saturday morning at the 2018 Marines Corps U.S. Open to earned automatic bids to the Junior Freestyle World Team Trials, which will be held May 18-20 in Rochester, Minn. Both World champs teched their opponents in their final bouts as Brooks put up a 14-3 win over Michael Labriola at 79 kilograms, and Kerkvliet earned a quick 10-0 victory over Zach Elam at 97 kg. Of his five matches, Brooks, who will take a year to train at the OTC next year, won four of them with technical falls. Oklahoma State commit Kerkvliet was perfect this weekend, not giving up a single point to outscore his opponents, 41-0, collectively. Read complete story on TheMat.com … 57 kg: 1st: Brandon Courtney dec. Malik Heinselman, 10-3 3rd: Paul Bianchi tech. fall Gavin Teasdale, 17-6 5th: Sidney Flores pinned Ty Smith, 1:51 7th: Rayvon Foley tech. fall Gage Curry, 23-12 61 kg: 1st: Austin Gomez tech. fall Jordan Decatur, 14-4 3rd: Joshua Saunders dec. Vitali Arujau, 10-8 5th: Mcgwire Midkiff by injury default over Gabriel Tagg 7th: Derek Spann pinned Jack Skudlarczyk, 3:31 65 kg: 1st: Dominick Demas dec. Max Murin, 10-3 3rd: Andrew Alirez pinned Kaden Gfeller, 2:41 5th: Kanen Storr pinned Kendall Coleman, 1:51 7th: Yahya Thomas dec. Michael Blockhus, 7-0 70 kg: 1st: Austin O'Connor dec. Brady Berge, 2-2 3rd: Jacori Teemer tech. fall David Carr, 12-2 5th: Brayton Lee tech. fall Jaden Van maanen, 16-5 7th: Brock Mauller dec. AJ Jaffe, 6-2 74 kg: 1st: Jeremiah Moody dec. Dustin Plott, 8-6 3rd: Jarrett Jacques by forfeit over Kaleb Romero 5th: Mehki Lewis dec. Tyler Dow, 15-8 7th: Andrew Merola tech fall Hayden Hastings, 13-2 79 kg: 1st: Aaron Brooks tech. fall Michael Labriola, 14-3 3rd: Beau Breske tech fall Matthew Finesilver, 10-0 5th: Travis Stefanik dec. Trent Hidlay, 6-3 7th: Travis Wittlake dec. Ethan Smith, 8-8 86 kg: 1st: Lou Deprez tech. fall Nino Bonaccorsi, 12-2 3rd: Jelani Embree by injury default over Kordell Norfleet 5th: Max Lyon tech. fall Cameron Caffey, 10-0 7th: Michael Beard tech. fall Myles Wilson, 10-0 92 kg: 1st: Jacob Warner tech. fall John Borst, 10-0 3rd: Jakob Woodley tech. fall Jacob Raschka, 12-3 5th: Alex Hopkins dec. Danny Salas, 8-8 7th: Lucas Davison pinned Cade Belshay, 2:46 97 kg: 1st: Daniel Kerkvliet tech. fall Zach Elam, 10-0 3rd: Quinn Miller by injury default over Matthew Correnti 5th: Hunter Dejong by injury default over Jake Boyd 7th: Cale Davidson tech. fall Owen Trephan, 10-0 125 kg: 1st: Gannon Gremmel dec. Brandon Metz, 16-8 3rd: Trent Hillger dec. Seth Nevills, 8-3 5th: Kayne Hutchison tech. fall Robert Winters, 14-4 7th: Bobby Heald dec. Christian Rebottaro, 10-4

Robby Smith won his third U.S. Open Greco-Roman title (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) LAS VEGAS - Friday night's U.S. Open Senior Greco-Roman finals saw high-flying action inside the South Point Arena as 10 wrestlers punched their tickets to the World Team Trials best-of-three finals in June. A rematch of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials finals, the 130-kilogram gold-medal match was one of the night's most anticipated bouts as Olympian Robby Smith (New York AC) took on 2016 Olympic Team Trials runner-up and 2016 US Open champion Adam Coon (New York AC/MWC) for the 130-kilogram title. Smith dominated the match, shutting down Coon, who had an impressive run to the finals. Smith, a four-time Senior World Team member, picked up four points in the first period, bullying Coon out of bounds twice and scoring a takedown. Only one more point was scored in the second period, which gave Smith a 5-0 win and his third U.S. Open championship. Smith owns titles from the 2013 and 2014 U.S. Opens. Read complete story on TheMat.com … Finals results: 55 kg: Max Nowry dec. Sam Hazewinkel, 10-3 60 kg: Dalton Roberts dec. Mike Fuenffinger, 9-8 63 kg: Ryan Mango dec. Sammy Jones, 6-3 67 kg: Ellis Coleman tech. fall Jessy Williams, 10-0 72 kg: RaVaughn Perkins tech. fall Pat Smith, 9-0 77 kg: Kamal Bey tech. fall Peyton Walsh, 8-0 82 kg: Geordan Speiller tech. fall Barrett Stanghill, 8-0 87 kg: Ben Provisor dec. Joe Rau, 14-10 97 kg: Dan Miller dec. Micah Burak, 5-3 130 kg: Robby Smith dec. Adam Coon, 5-0

Sarah Hildebrandt defeated Olympian Haley Augello in the finals (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) LAS VEGAS -- The women's freestyle finals of the Marine Corps U.S. Open had a mix of veteran champions and young new talents at the South Point Arena on Friday night. One of the most anticipated finals, 2016 World Team member Sarah Hildebrandt of the New York AC defeated 2016 Olympian and 2017 World Team member Haley Augello of the New York AC, 6-1. Hildebrandt scored two takedowns in the first period and another in the second period to win her first U.S. Open title. Hildebrandt was named Outstanding Wrestler in the women's division. Kayla Miracle of the Sunkist Kids won her second straight U.S. Open title, defeating 2017 World Team member Mallory Velte of the Titan Mercury WC, 3-0 in another showcase final. Miracle, who has won Cadet and Junior World medals for the USA, scored her first point when Velte was hit with a shot clock violation, and added a takedown for her other two points. Miracle finished her college career at Campbellsville this year as a four-time WCWA champion. Read complete story on TheMat.com … Finals results: 50 kg: Whitney Conder dec. Victoria Anthony, 7-3 53 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt dec. Haley Augello, 6-1 55 kg: Jacarra Winchester dec. Dominique Parrish, 5-3 57 kg: Alex Hedrick pinned Michaela Beck, 2:41 59 kg: Kelsey Campbell dec. Lauren Louive, 4-2 62 kg: Kayla Miracle dec. Mallory Velte, 3-0 65 kg: Julia Salata dec. Forrest Molinari, 5-0 68 kg: Tamyra Stock tech. fall Randyll Beltz, 10-0 72 kg: Erin Clodgo dec. Rachel Watters, 6-5 76 kg: Adeline Gray tech. fall Leilani Camrgo-Noane, 10-0 Outstanding Wrestler: Sarah Hildebrandt, New York AC Div. I team champions: Titan Mercury WC, 91 points Div. I team runner-up: New York AC, 84 points.

Nahshon Garrett advanced to the finals with a win over Seth Gross at 61 kilograms (Photo/Larry Slater) Semifinal results 57 kilograms: Tony Ramos dec. Zach Sanders, 8-4 Daton Fix tech. fall David Terao, 10-0 61 kilograms: Joe Colon dec. Brandon Wright, 7-5 Nahshon Garrett dec. Seth Gross, 18-13 65 kilograms: Jaydin Eierman tech. fall Nick Dardanes, 10-0 Joey McKenna tech. fall Evan Henderson, 10-0 70 kilograms: Jason Chamberlain dec. Frank Molinaro, 4-2 Hayden Hidlay dec. Alec Pantaleo, 7-5 74 kilograms: Isaiah Martinez tech. fall Jake Sueflohn, 11-0 Dan Vallimont dec. Quinton Godley, 6-3 79 kilograms: Kyle Dake tech. fall Joshua Asper, 11-0 Alex Dieringer tech. fall Mike Evans, 11-0 86 kilograms: David Taylor tech. fall T.J. Dudley, 12-2 Richard Perry tech. fall Ryan McWatters, 13-1 92 kilograms: J'den Cox dec. Deron Winn, 3-0 Hayden Zillmer tech. fall Enock Francois, 14-2 97 kilograms: Austin Schafer dec. Kyven Gadson, 4-3 Ty Walz dec. Nathan Burak, 4-3 125 kilograms: Adam Coon dec. Dom Bradley, 3-3 Jake Varner dec. Tanner Hall, 2-0 Finals matchups 57: Tony Ramos vs. Daton Fix 61: Joe Colon vs. Nahshon Garrett 65: Jaydin Eierman vs. Joey McKenna 70: Jason Chamberlain vs. Hayden Hidlay 74: Isaiah Martinez vs. Dan Vallimont 79: Kyle Dake vs. Alex Dieringer 86: David Taylor vs. Richard Perry 92: J'den Cox vs. Hayden Zillmer 97: Austin Schafer vs. Ty Walz 125: Adam Coon vs. Jake Varner

Cornell's Yianni Diakomihalis (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Amateur Wrestling News has named Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell University as its 2018 Rookie Wrestler of the Year, and University of Pittsburgh's Keith Gavin as its 2018 Rookie Coach of the Year, the magazine announced in its May 15, 2018 issue made available to subscribers online this week. The Big Red's Rookie Wrestler of the Year In announcing its choice for top first-year college wrestler for the just-concluded season, AWN began by pointing out the prep accomplishments of its honoree: "Our 2018 Rookie of the Year Yianni Diakomihalis was in high school just ten months ago. The Cornell true freshman was one of just seven wrestlers ever to win four New York high school state titles ..." adding that the wrestler they selected compiled a 243-3 record in high school. For AWN, Diakomihalis' selection isn't just about impressive high school accomplishments. The iconic magazine labels the 141-pound champ's weight class as "one of the toughest at the NCAAs" -- citing Diakomihalis defeat of a pair of Cowboys -- two-time defending champ Dean Heil of Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals, and topping of two-time NCAA runner-up Bryce Meredith of Wyoming in the title match. Amateur Wrestling News also cites the Big Red rookie's 34-1 college record as reason why the oldest national wrestling publication selected Diakomihalis as 2018 Rookie Wrestler of the Year instead of Iowa's Spencer Lee, who just last month received the magazine's Hammer Award "presented to that wrestler who wins what our selection panel feels was the deepest, most competitive weight class at the NCAA tournament." The Panthers' Rookie Coach of the Year Keith Gavin was named head coach of the Pitt Panther wrestling program in mid-April 2017, the eleventh in school history. It was a homecoming of sorts for Gavin, who was a two-time EWL (Eastern Wrestling League) champ and twice named EWL Wrestler of the Year for Pittsburgh. After graduation, Gavin gained valuable coaching experience at University of Oklahoma and University of Virginia before returning to take the helm at his college alma mater. Amateur Wrestling News described Gavin's efforts to turn the Pitt program around in his first year. "The Panthers had concluded 2016-17 with an 11-5 record while falling in the rankings all season. In rebuilding mode this season with five underclassmen, Pitt went 2-3 against ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) rivals but rallied to win the final two (duals) vs. Virginia and Duke. They placed third at the ACCs, highlighted by three individual champs, Pitt's most since the 2014-15 season." AWN's announcement of Diakomihalis and Gavin as 2018 Rookie Wrestler and Coach of the Year, respectively, came as part of a six-page feature highlighting the magazine's 2018 All-Rookie Team. The May 15 issue includes a list of magazine's selections for the top three first-year college wrestlers in each weight class for this past season ... along with its all-time Rookie Wrestler of the Year honorees going back to 1974, and Rookie Coach of the Year award-winners since 1962.

David Taylor advanced to the semifinals at 86 kilograms (Photo/Larry Slater) Quarterfinal results 57 kilograms: Tony Ramos dec. Joshua Rodriguez, 2-1 Zach Sanders dec. Darian Cruz, 4-1 David Terao dec. Skyler Petry 12-8 Daton Fix dec. Daniel Deshazer, 4-0 61 kilograms: Joe Colon dec. Nico Megaludis, 5-2 Brandon Wright dec. Darrius Little, 5-1 Nahshon Garrett dec. Tyler Graff, 5-3 Seth Gross dec. Jon Morrison, 7-6 65 kilograms: Jaydin Eierman dec. Logan Stieber, 6-5 Nick Dardanes dec. Andy Simmons, 9-0 Evan Henderson dec. Anthony Abidin, 9-8 Joey Mckenna tech. fall Robbie Mathers, 11-0 70 kilograms: Frank Molinaro dec. Ryan Deakin, 10-4 Jason Chamberlain tech. fall Hunter Stieber, 15-4 Alec Pantaleo tech. fall Dylan Ness, 11-1 Hayden Hidlay dec. Chase Pami, 5-0 74 kilograms: Isaiah Martinez tech. fall Jacen Petersen, 10-0 Jake Sueflohn tech. fall Carson Brolsma, 12-2 Quinton Godley tech. fall Nicholas Bonomo, 11-0 Dan Vallimont tech. fall Alexander Smythe, 12-2 79 kilograms: Kyle Dake tech. fall Stacey Davis, 10-0 Joshua Asper tech. fall Aaron Trygstad, 10-0 Michael Evans tech. fall Michael Thelen, 10-0 Alex Dieringer tech. fall Nathan Jackson, 10-0 86 kilograms: David Taylor pinned Noe Garcia, 0:33 Timothy Dudley tech. fall Bryan Battisto, 10-0 Ryan Mcwatters tech. fall Dominic Ducharme, 13-2 1:32 Richard Perry pinned Reed South, 0:24 92 kilograms: J'den Cox tech. fall Tanner Orndorff, 10-0 Deron Winn tech. fall Matt Williams, 11-0 Enock Francois dec. Morgan Smith, 9-0 Hayden Zillmer tech. fall Nikko Reyes, 10-0 97 kilograms: Kyven Gadson dec. Ben Honis, 4-1 Austin Schafer tech. fall Blaize Cabell, 10-0 Nathan Burak pinned Joshua Roetman, 1:22 Ty Walz dec. Braden Atwood, 11-6 125 kilograms: Dom Bradley dec. Michael Kosoy, 7-0 Adam Coon tech. fall Gable Steveson, 11-0 Jake Varner dec. Tony Nelson, 5-1 Tanner Hall dec. Zack Rey, 3-2 Semifinal matchups 57 kilograms: Tony Ramos vs. Zach Sanders Daton Fix vs. David Terao 61 kilograms: Joe Colon vs. Brandon Wright Nahshon Garrett vs. Seth Gross 65 kilograms: Nick Dardanes vs. Jaydin Eierman Joey McKenna vs. Evan Henderson 70 kilograms: Frank Molinaro vs. Jason Chamberlain Alec Pantaleo vs. Hayden Hidlay 74 kilograms: Isaiah Martinez vs. Jake Sueflohn Dan Vallimont vs. Quinton Godley 79 kilograms: Kyle Dake vs. Joshua Asper Alex Dieringer vs. Mike Evans 86 kilograms: David Taylor vs. T.J. Dudley Richard Perry vs. Ryan McWatters 92 kilograms: J'den Cox vs. Deron Winn Hayden Zillmer vs. Enock Francois 97 kilograms: Kyven Gadson vs. Austin Schafer Ty Walz vs. Nathan Burak 125 kilograms: Dom Bradley vs. Adam Coon Jake Varner vs. Tanner Hall

Former Secretary of State and noted sports fan Condoleezza Rice concluded her Commission on College Basketball this week by delivering a news conference in which she warned that the "time was ticking" for the sport. While she only outlined the commission's findings as it related to basketball, she echoed the ideas promulgated by the NCAA, such as HARSHER penalties on any and all violations of amateurism statutes. The former Stanford professor also went so far as to say playing in the NCAA should not be "undervalued or underestimated." I don't care about basketball, college or professional. The appeal of the same action occurring again and again and again and again for that much time simply doesn't entrance me the way that it does many other people. (I do love to play to basketball.) However, I do care about wrestling and have at least a passing interest in what it means to be part of a sports culture that profits off the amateurism of young, mostly minority, athletes. Wrestling doesn't have this exact problem at the moment but has seen a variation with the consequences of college student Kyle Snyder winning a world and then Olympic gold medal while still in college. Due to current NCAA athletic eligibility requirements Snyder was unable to capitalize on what some have estimated to be upwards of $500,000 in potential sponsorship opportunities. Snyder's decision was made (in part) to support his teammates at Ohio State, but also to receive his degree. Snyder was forced into that decision by the NCAA's rules against athletes accepting money for their image. While there is plenty of talk of what it would mean to directly pay athletes to play NCAA sports -- and while salaried workers should be discussed as the central issue for NCAA schools -- it's allowing players to earn money from sponsors that has the NCAA on edge. Why? If college athletes were permitted to sign sponsorship deals, universities would see an immediate and massive decrease in sponsorship dollars for their programs. Starting a few years ago brands realized they got more traction in sponsoring athletes with direct reach to their fans (those who buy stuff) than they did in funding the associations that sponsored their sport. Professional sports teams suffered a little, but international sports federations like FIFA were quick to see massive reductions in sponsorship dollars since brands were going straight to the cow. Some, like wrestling, are combating that loss with improved social media outreach, but many federations too slow to adapt are losing dollars to their athletes. The NCAA knows that sponsor loss would reduce the amount of money being pulled in by member institutions. In no way would that affect the play on the field, but it would reduce services to athletes. That's not an altruistic position by the NCAA, those are well-paying, cushy, mostly bureaucratic jobs on college campuses. Should the ASICS money disappear it would be these deep state-like employees first out the door. Athletes should be paid. Consequences come as they must, restricting the earning potential of an adult based on outdated norms is more akin to indentured servitude than it is to any ideals of a free market. To your questions ... Jordan Oliver won a U.S. Open title last year (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: Jordan Oliver's suspension is up April 29, which is obviously after the U.S. Open. Can JO get some sort of wild card to compete in the World Team Trials? Should he be able to compete? -- Mike C. Foley: As I understand it Oliver's positive test was always more about a paperwork flub than intentional disobedience of the anti-doping regulations. With that in mind I think it would be a little silly to keep him off the mats for the discrepancy of what would be two days. However those are the rules. Uncool, but the rules. Time off is a strange thing. While it might imply rust, it can also open new perspectives and give wrestlers time to work on new techniques and strategies. I can't wait to see how the time off from competition has affected Oliver. Q: Do you think that, with the right backing, that college wrestling could get to be as big as college basketball? -- @ChurroSolider Foley: No. Too complicated and no team aspect. Wrestling can be a more popular sport, but American folkstyle can only grow so much. Any popularized version would need to be consumable for the masses. Q: What potential U.S. Open matchup in men's freestyle are you most excited about? -- Mike C. Kyle Dake has multiple wins over Alex Dieringer, including one at last year's Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Foley: Kyle Dake has been exceptional this year. He's healthy, aggressive on his feet and entertaining fans around the globe with monster lifts. His matchup with Alex Dieringer is compelling because unlike the Azerbaijani or Japanese opponents Dake has faced, Dieringer knows Dake's strategy and has competed against him on the stage. I'm favoring Dake, but the matchup intrigues me because I'd love to see where Dieringer is at in his development, but also how Dake adapts to a wrestler who knows some of his core strengths. This will be a real time chess match. The 61-kilogram and 65-kilogram weight classes will be must watch. I don't think they have Team USA's top talent, but it does include all the best competitors at those weights (save Kendric Maple and Zain Retherford). For the USA to contend for the 2018 World Championship in Budapest they'll need to see more productivity out of these weights. I'm a believer in what Logan Stieber can do at 65 kilograms, so I'll be keeping an eye on his progress throughout the tournament. Q: Any rumblings on the head coaching openings in Division I? Edinboro? Cleveland State? Arkansas Little Rock? -- Mike C. Foley: Cleveland State would be best served to keep Josh Moore as the head coach. Should they have the right package and support I think that his leadership would translate to an energized program. Also, Moore's already on staff and the startup energy for the administration would be significantly reduced given his knowledge of the institution. That said, David Bolyard is also in search of work and would be a strong candidate. For Edinboro it could be any number of candidates. Missouri assistant coach Alex Clemsen would be a natural fit given his extensive resume and attachment to the school, but I've heard he's not interested in this move. Alumni A.J. Schopp (Purdue) and Matt Hill (Kent State) are top contenders given their recent stints. Again, Josh Moore would be in the running, but that could make family dinner a little difficult given that Scott is at Lock Haven. Little Rock … not a clue, but I think that it'll take an applicant with patience and the type of CEO mindset we know wrestling now needs. Q: What's your opinion on the NAIA recognizing women's wrestling as an official sport? It also seems like the NAIA in general adds wrestling teams each year in states where wrestling may be growing i.e. Georgia, Florida, and California, how do you see the addition of teams this affecting the growth of wrestling at the high school level in particular the states mentioned? -- Marcus R. Foley: If the NAIA can complete the emerging sport status I think that the recent growth could kickstart similar moves by more Division I programs. The growth at the smaller schools has a lot to do with increasing enrollment and in places with a lot of competition for bodies these niche programs are a good way to draw in paying students. Q: Coach Kevin Roberts was fired by Oregon State last August after a situation with a former Oregon State wrestler. After reading the Portland Tribune story, it seems to be that Roberts may have gotten a raw deal. Obviously, there are two sides to the story. What are your thoughts? -- Mike C. Foley: The article is long, but I think it does a decent job of fleshing out the conflict between athlete and coach. From my reading between the lines (and the actual lines) it would seem that the wrestler had a well-documented temper and was sensitive to ethnic-based jokes that others in his community thought nascent. I'm of a zero tolerance mindset when it comes to teasing ethnic minorities, but that also doesn't excuse any and all retaliatory behavior when slighted. All that aside, the coach obviously crossed a few lines in the eyes of the athlete. That's not to say he's racist or said racist things, but it's believable that he might have uttered something that was less than culturally correct. Given the tenuous and combustible nature of the relationship with the athlete the normal corrective measures (meeting, course-taking) were outpaced by emotion on all three sides: athlete, coach and athletic department. The other thing to remember when judging college hires and fires is that the administration almost always falls on the side of least resistance. These are very political jobs and the athletic directors will do whatever is necessary to reduce their risk of exposure to scandal. If the Roberts case was brewing into some type of back-and-forth he-said-he-said cultural complaint, it's easy to see why Oregon State leadership shooed it away as efficiently as possible. What's the story behind Martin Floreani being forced out of FloSports? -- Scott M. Foley: Investor concerns? Ongoing lawsuit? Unclear since there have been no detailed public comments, but this article does bring some of the recent court proceedings into focus.

Logan Stieber is the top seed at 65 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) LAS VEGAS -- The seeds have been finalized for the men's freestyle competition at the U.S. Senior Open, which begins on Friday at the South Point Arena. 57 kg 1. Tony Ramos (Sunkist Kids) 2. Daton Fix (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Frank Perrelli (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Zach Sanders (Minnesota Storm) 5. Darian Cruz (New York AC/Lehigh Valley WC) 6. Tim Lambert (Sunkist Kids) 7. Daniel DeShazer (Minnesota Storm) 8. Zane Richards (Titan Mercury WC) 9. Josh Rodriguez (Nittany Lion WC) 10. Eddie Klimara (Titan Mercury WC) 11. David Terao (DCAC) 61 kg 1. Joe Colon (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Jon Morrison (New York AC) 3. Nahshon Garrett (Sunkist Kids) 4. Brandon Wright (New York AC) 5. Cody Brewer (Titan Mercury WC) 6. Tyler Graff (Titan Mercury WC) 7. Seth Gross (Sunkist Kids) 8. Nico Megaludis (Titan Mercury WC) 9. Cory Clark (Titan Mercury WC) 10. Chris Dardanes (Titan Mercury WC) 11. Alan Waters (Titan Mercury WC) 12. Darrius Little (New York AC) 65 kg 1. Logan Stieber (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Joey McKenna (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Evan Henderson (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Josh Kindig (Sunkist Kids) 5. John Simmons (New York AC) 6. Nick Dardanes (Titan Mercury WC) 7. Anthony Abidin (New York AC) 8. Joey Lazor (Panther WC) 9. Jaydin Eierman (Missouri Wrestling RTC) 10. Jayson Ness (Minnesota Storm) 11. Robbie Matthers (Sunkist Kids) 70 kg 1. Frank Molinaro (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Chase Pami (Sunkist Kids) 3. Alec Pantaleo 4. Jason Chamberlain (Titan Mercury WC) 5. Hunter Stieber (Titan Mercury WC) 6. Dylan Ness (Minnesota Storm) 7. Hayden Hidlay (Wolfpack WC) 8. Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) 9. Matthew Kolodzik (Princeton WC) 74 kg 1. Isaiah Martinez (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Dan Vallimont (New York AC) 3. Quinton Godley (Wolfpack WC) 4. Evan Wick (Titan Mercury WC) 79 kg 1. Kyle Dake (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Alex Dieringer (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Michael Evans (Buies Creek RTC) 4. Josh Asper (Navy-Marine Corps) 86 kg 1. David Taylor (Nittany Lions WC) 2. Richard Perry (New York AC) 3. Pat Downey (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Tim Dudley (Sunkist Kids) 92 kg 1. J'den Cox (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Hayden Zillmer (Minnesota Storm) 3. Enock Francois (New York AC) 4. Deron Winn (Titan Mercury WC) 5. Kenny Courts (Titan Mercury WC) 6. Josh Manu (Navy-Marines Corp) 7. Nikko Reyes (Valley RTC) 97 kg 1. Kyven Gadson (Sunkist Kids) 2. Ty Walz (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Nathan Burak (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Austin Schafer (New York AC) 5. Blaize Cabell (Valley RTC) 125 kg 1. Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids) 2. Zach Rey (New York AC) 3. Jake Varner (Nittany Lion WC) 4. Adam Coon (New York AC) 5. Gable Steveson (Minnesota Storm) 6. Tony Nelson (Minnesota Storm) 7. Tanner Hall (Arizona State) 8. Michael Kosoy (Titan Mercury WC) 9. Johnathan Gingrich (New York AC)

BUFFALO, NY -- Sean Boyle has been hired as assistant wrestling coach at the University at Buffalo, head coach John Stutzman announced on Wednesday. Boyle comes to Buffalo from Cal State Bakersfield where he spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach. Sean BoyleBoyle served as the Roadrunners assistant coach from 2016 to 2018. He helped lead CSU Bakersfield to third place finishes in the Pac-12 Conference in 2017 and 2018. The Roadrunners had five NCAA qualifiers in each of his two seasons with the team and Sean Nickell was the 2017 Pac-12 champion at 125 lbs. "We are extremely excited to add Sean to our staff," Stutzman said. "Having competed in the Big Ten at the University of Michigan as well as UTC in the Southern Conference, Sean brings a wealth of wrestling knowledge to our program. We are excited to get him back east and we look forward to him hitting the ground running." Prior to CSU Bakersfield, Boyle served as a graduate assistant at Tennessee-Chattanooga from 2015 to 2016. Boyle, a NHSCA Senior National Champion for national powerhouse Blair Academy, began his collegiate wrestling career at the University of Michigan. Boyle wrestled for Michigan from 2009-14 where he was a two-time NCAA Division I qualifier and a two-time Big 10 place winner. He was awarded Michigan's Jeff Reese Most Improved Award (2011) and Michigan's Steve Fraser Mental Toughness Award (2013) during his time in Ann Arbor. After graduating and earning his undergraduate degree from Michigan in 2014. Boyle transferred to Chattanooga prior to the start of the 2014-15 season and was granted a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. Boyle won the 2015 Southern Conference Championship at 125 pounds and was 2015 Southern Conference Wrestler of the Year. He qualified for his third NCAA Tournament and ended the season with a 32-7 record. Boyle's combined collegiate wrestling record was 121-60. Boyle completed graduate school at UTC in 2016, earning a master's in secondary education.

Doug Schwab (right) coaching at the NCAAs (Photo/UNI Sports Information) University of Northern Iowa head wrestling coach Doug Schwab has signed a three-year contract extension, the Cedar Falls-based school announced Thursday morning. With the latest addition to his contract on top of a seven-year contract extension inked back in May 2014, Schwab will remain at the helm of the Panther mat program through the end of March 2024. Details of the contract extension -- including financial terms and salary -- were not revealed. Schwab just completed his eighth season at UNI, where he has compiled an overall dual-meet record of 71-47, with a total of 41 NCAA qualifiers and nine NCAA All-Americans. This past season, Schwab guided his wrestlers to a second-place finish in their first-ever Big 12 conference championships, with two Panthers -- Taylor Lujan and Drew Foster -- winning conference crowns at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. As for the 2018-19 season, Schwab can expect the return of seven NCAA qualifiers and three NCAA All-Americans. "Doug has done a tremendous job with the UNI Panther wrestling program," said UNI Director of Athletics David Harris. "His passion for Panther wrestling is unmatched. He cares deeply about each student-athlete in the wrestling room. We look forward to the continued success of the program on so many levels -- in the classroom, in citizenship and on the competition mat." "I love coaching at the University of Northern Iowa," Schwab said. "My family and I couldn't be more excited to know that for at least the next six years it will be spent in the Cedar Valley. I know that the type of support we get from our administration, alumni and fans is special. We want them to know we are truly grateful for what they do for the program and these men that represent it on and off the mat. I have such an incredible group of coaches and student-athletes to work with. They challenge me and demand the best of me every day and I thank them for that. I cannot wait to lead this program and group of men into the future." Prior to taking the reins of the storied UNI wrestling program, Schwab was a three-time NCAA champ for the University of Iowa as well as a freestyle competitor who wrestled for the U.S. at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After graduation, the Osage, Iowa native headed east to Virginia Tech, where he served as an assistant to then-head coach Tom Brands ... then returned to his college alma mater to join the coaching staff until accepting the head coaching job at UNI in 2010.

Adeline Gray is the top seed at 76 kilograms in women's wrestling (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) LAS VEGAS -- The seeds have been released for the Greco-Roman and women's wrestling competition for the U.S. Senior Open, which begins on Thursday at the South Point Arena. Greco-Roman seeds 55 kg 1. Max Nowry (Army WCAP) 2. Randon Miranda (New York AC) 3. Sam Hazewinkel (Sunkist Kids) 4. Kyndall Rutz (NMU-OTS) 5. James Hicks (Army WCAP) 60 kg 1. Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP) 2. Taylor LaMont (Sunkist Kids) 3. Dalton Roberts (New York AC) 4. Mike Fuenffinger (Army WCAP) 63 kg 1. Hayden Tuma (Army WCAP) 2. Jesse Thielke (New York AC/Legends of Gold) 3. Ryan Mango (Army WCAP) 4. Xavier Johnson (Marines) 5. Sam Jones (New York AC) 6. Colton Rasche (Marines) 7. Lilshawn Greedy (Army WCAP) 8. Travis Rice (NMU-OTS) 9. Wesley Dawkins (Nebraska Golden Eagles) 67 kg 1. Ellis Coleman (Army WCAP) 2. Raymond Bunker (Marines) 3. Jessy Williams (New York AC) 4. Austin Morrow (New York) 5. Chase Nelson (Bison WC) 6. Jamel Johnson (Marines) 7. Anthonie Linares (NMU-OTS) 8. Dante Rodriguez (Papi Trained) 9. Payton Omania (CYC) 72 kg 1. RaVaughn Perkins (New York AC) 2. Pat Smith (Minnesota Storm) 3. Alex Sancho (New York AC) 4. Chris Gonzalez (New York AC) 5. Colin Schubert (New York AC) 6. Alex Mossing (Air Force RTC) 7. Isaac Dukes (Army WCAP) 77 kg 1. Kamal Bey (Sunkist Kids) 2. Jesse Porter (New York AC) 3. Kendrick Sanders (New York AC) 4. Jon Jay Chavez (New York AC) 5. Michael Hooker (Army WCAP) 6. Peyton Walsh (Marines) 7. Alec Ortiz (Minnesota Storm) 8. Curt Calovecchi (NMU-OTS) 9. Xavier Johnson (CYC) 10. Cody Pack (New York AC/Legends of Gold) 82 kg 1. Jon Stefanowicz (Marines) 2. Geordan Speiller (Florida Jets) 3. Courtney Myers (Army WCAP) 4. Barrett Stanghill (Minnesota Storm) 5. Vlad Dombrovskiy (Army WCAP) 6. Richard Carlson (Minnesota Storm) 7. Terrence Zaleski (Marines) 87 kg 1. Ben Provisor (New York AC) 2. Cheney Haight (New York AC) 3. Joe Rau (Minnesota Storm) 4. Khymba Johnson (New York AC) 5. Kevin Radford (Sunkist Kids) 6. Jacob Fisher (Curby 3 Style WC) 7. Easton Hargrave (Olympia WC) 97 kg 1. Lucas Sheridan (Army WCAP) 2. Enock Francois (New York AC) 3. Dan Miller (Marines) 4. Micah Burak (Titan Mercury WC) 5. Dan Olsen (Unattached) 6. Blake Smith (OTC-Colorado) 7. Pete Gounaridis (Army) 130 kg 1. Robby Smith (New York AC) 2. Adam Coon (New York AC) 3. Donny Longendyke (Minnestoa Storm) 4. Trent Osnes (Marines) 5. Alton Meeks (Florida Jets) 6. Malcolm Allen (Minnesota Storm) 7. Orry Elor (CYC) Women's wrestling seeds 50 kg 1. Victoria Anthony (Sunkist Kids) 2. Whitney Conder (U.S. Army WCAP) 3. Amy Fearnside (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Erin Golston (New York AC) 53 kg 1. Haley Augello (New York AC) 2. Sarah Hildebrandt (New York AC) 3. Cody Pfau (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Dajan Treder (unattached) 5. Gabriellle Weyhrich (McKendree Bearcat WC) 6. Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids) 55 kg 1. Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Dominique Parrish (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Cameron Guerin (Team Takedown) 4. Tayler Resuriz (McKendree Bearcat WC) 57 kg 1. Megan Black (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Breanna Delgado (Aires WC) 3. Alexandra Hedrick (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Koral Sugiyama (Campbellsville) 5. Michaela Beck (New York AC) 59 kg 1. Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids) 2. Lauren Louive (New York AC) 3. Abigail Nette (Lions WC/Emmanuel) 4. Allison Petix (King University) 5. Brenda Reyna (McKendree Bearcat WC) 62 kg 1. Mallory Velte (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids) 3. Jenna Burkert (U.S. Army WCAP) 4. Amanda Hendey (Titan Mercury WC) 65 kg 1. Forrest Molinari (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Julia Salata (New York AC) 3. Jaydin Laurent (Musky WC) 4. Alexis Porter (New York AC) 5. Kayla Marano (Lions WC/Emmanuel) 6. Katerina Lobsinger (U.S. Army WCAP) 68 kg 1. Tamyra Stock (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Alexandria Glaude (McKendree Bearcat WC) 3. Randyll Beltz (U.S. Army WCAP) 4. Jasmine Bailey (McKendree Bearcat WC) 72 kg 1. Erin Clodgo (Sunkist Kids) 2. Rachel Watters (New York AC) 3. Alyvia Fiske (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Evonne Evien (unattached) 5. Hannah Gladden (Lions WC/Emmanuel) 6. Anastasia Lobsinger (U.S. Army WCAP) 76 kg 1. Adeline Gray (New York AC) 2. Korianahe Bullock (McKendree Bearcat WC) 3. Leilani Camargo-Naone (MWC Wrestling Academy) 4. Janelle Fuamatu (McKendree Bearcat WC) 5. Mariah Harris (Campbellsville)

Kyle Snyder defeated Adam Coon of Michigan twice this past season (Photo/Richard Immel) Kyle Snyder just added yet another honor to his wrestling resume. The three-time NCAA heavyweight champ and 2016 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling has been named one of two Ohio State athletes to earn the 2018 Medal of Honor award for Big Ten athletes. Snyder, along with former Buckeye women's basketball star Kelsey Mitchell, were named recipients of the honor at Ohio State's Scarlet and Graymies awards Tuesday evening. Each year, the Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded to one male athlete and one female athlete from the graduating class of each of the 14 universities in the conference to recognize both athletic and academic excellence. The award dates back to 1915. Snyder concluded his collegiate mat career last month at the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Cleveland by becoming only the fifth three-time NCAA heavyweight champ in the nearly 90-year history of the tournament. In addition, the Maryland native won three consecutive Big Ten heavyweight titles (2016-2018). Snyder's 75-5 overall college record helped the Buckeyes win three Big Ten conference crowns as well as the 2015 NCAA team title. In addition to these collegiate mat accomplishments, Snyder also made a name for himself in the international freestyle wrestling, winning a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and two World championships, all while enrolled at Ohio State. In fact, Snyder is the only wrestler to have won Olympic gold then follow up with an NCAA title. Snyder's athletic prowess is accompanied by excellence in the classroom. While at Ohio State, he was also a three-time NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) Academic All-American, and recently became just the fourth wrestler to ever win the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Sullivan Award, presented each year since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Snyder is not the only wrestler to have earned a 2018 Medal of Honor from the Big Ten. University of Illinois wrestling champ Isaiah Martinez was also presented with the award this week.

Isaiah Martinez (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Isaiah Martinez may have to build a bigger trophy case. Martinez, who is concluding his career at the University of Illinois, is one of two student-athletes from the school to receive the 2018 Medal of Honor from the Big Ten. Martinez was presented with the award, along with track & field and cross-country star Nicole Choquette, at the annual Fighting Illini Oskee Awards ceremony held at State Farm Center in Champaign Monday night. One of the most prestigious conference awards in college athletics, the Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student-athlete from the graduating class of each university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work." Isaiah Martinez is arguably the most accomplished wrestler in more than a century of the sport at University of Illinois. The California native racked up the honors -- two-time NCAA champion, four-time NCAA finalist, four-time Big Ten Champion, four-time All-American – along with an impressive career record of 116-3. The wrestler affectionately known as "Imar" has also made a positive impression in freestyle wrestling, having placed fifth at the 2017 U23 World Championship, and is a member of the 2018 USA Freestyle World Cup Team. If that weren't enough, Martinez has demonstrated leadership in other ways. He is a three-time team captain, a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is involved with many youth wrestling groups. He's on track to earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Illinois and plans to continue his wrestling career while training in Champaign-Urbana. "Isaiah is an incredible representative of our program and University," said Illinois head wrestling coach Jim Heffernan. "He has fantastic work habits, great character, is unbelievably loyal and his will to win is like nothing I have ever been around. He is the most self-critical athlete I have coached, evaluating every second of every match to find something to improve on. He'll even talk to the coaches about ways his teammates can improve. Isaiah is incredibly visible in the wrestling world and is unbelievably accommodating toward people that want some of his time. He is the most impressive kid I have ever coached." Martinez weighed in on what the 2018 Big Ten award meant to him on Twitter: "Winning this Medal of Honor was 5x harder for me than winning any tournament. Trying to get good grades and pay attention in class for 4+ years is like torture for an ADHD kid like me." Martinez is not the only Big Ten mat champ to have received a 2018 Big Ten Medal of Honor this week. Ohio State heavyweight Kyle Snyder was named his school's male recipient of the conference award.

Helen Maroulis gets her hand raised after winning a world title in Paris (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) NEW YORK -- Helen Maroulis, who captured America's heart by winning gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, two-time World silver medalist Alli Ragan and U.S. World Team member Tamyra Stock will compete for Team USA against Team Nigeria at the annual Beat the Streets Benefit, May 17 at Pier 17/Seaport District in lower Manhattan. Maroulis, who will be making her sixth straight Beat the Streets (www.btsny.org) appearance, has a perfect 5-0 record in BTS competition and recently joined the staff as a Student-Athlete Mentor and Coach Educator. Her gold medal match victory came at 53kg against Japanese superstar Saori Yoshida, as Maroulis became the first American to win a gold medal in women's wrestling. A Rockville, Md., native, Maroulis is also a two-time World champion and now lives and trains in New York. Ragan, who has made five straight U.S. Senior World Teams, placed second in the Worlds the past two years while also winning the Pan American Championships in 2017. She is also a two-time U.S Open. Champion, a two-time Junior World medalist and two-time WCWA women's college national champion at King University. The Carbondale, Ill., native now lives in Colorado Springs, Colo. and Iowa City, Iowa. Stock, the reigning 2017 U.S. World Team Trials champion, also won the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials but did not compete in Rio because the U.S. did not qualify at her weight. She became the first American athlete to win back-to-back golds in the prestigious Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia. She won two WCWA titles for Wayland Baptist University. The Katy, Texas, native (nee Mensah) now resides in Colorado Springs, Colo. "There is no greater American champion than Helen Maroulis, and we're excited that she is making yet another appearance at Beat the Streets Annual Benefit," said Brendan Buckley, Executive Director, Beat the Streets Inc. "Combined with her new, formal role with BTS New York, Helen is making a difference in the lives of young wrestlers, and this event will be another opportunity for fans to see her in action on the mat." Nigeria is the first African nation to compete at a Beat the Streets Benefit. The opponents from Nigeria for the U.S. trio will be as follows: 57 kg - Helen Maroulis vs. Odunayo Adekuoroye 59 kg - Alli Ragan vs. Bisola Makanjuola 68 kg - Tamyra Stock vs. Blessing Oborududu Maroulis faces one of the most successful and popular athletes on Team Nigeria. Adekuoroye was a 2017 World silver medalist and 2015 World bronze medalist. She competed in the 2016 Olympic Games, and is coming off a gold-medal effort at the Commonwealth Games. Ragan's opponent is a rising young talent for Team Nigeria. Makanjuola was a 2018 African champion and won a silver medal at the 2017 African Championships. Stock faces a veteran star in Oborududu, who competed in both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. She is an eight-time African Champion, and has also won the All-Africa Games. Like Adekuoroye, Oburududu is fresh off a victory at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Team USA men and their international opponents will be announced soon. This year will mark the first time that Beat the Streets has held its annual event at Pier 17/South Street District. In 2013, the event dubbed "The Rumble on the Rails," was hosted in historic Grand Central Terminal and featured dual meets between Team USA, Russia and Iran. Playing an important role in the international Keep Olympic Wrestling effort, this historic wrestling event gained international media coverage and helped wrestling retain its status on the Olympic Games program. Coverage will be available live and on-demand exclusively on FloWrestling.com. To access live and on-demand coverage of the Beat the Streets New York City Annual Benefit, visit FloWrestling.com and become a PRO subscriber. A subscription unlocks access to premium content across the entire FloSports network, as well as the matches from the Beat the Streets program starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on May 17. Watch the event across all screens by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Roku or Apple TV 4. This will be the ninth straight year in which a major international-style wrestling competition will be hosted as part of the Beat the Streets Benefit activities. In 2010, an all-star challenge featuring top U.S. wrestlers was held on the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier docked on the west side of Manhattan. Times Square has been the venue for the 2011, 2012 and 2014-2017 events. This year, top Beat the Streets youth wrestlers will take the mat showcasing their skills in exhibition matches beginning at 2:30 p.m. to kick off the NYC Benefit. For the third straight year, the Benefit will feature the PSAL Girls Freestyle Dual Meet Championships finals, showcasing the two top New York City girl's freestyle wrestling high school teams from the spring girl's freestyle season. Then it's Team USA vs. an international squad at 6:00 p.m. and super match between Jordan Burroughs and Italy's Frank Chamizo with video highlights and special guest appearances followed by the Beat the Streets Benefit Celebration. Tickets are required for entry and can be purchased by visiting www.btsny.org, calling 212-777-5702 or emailing Joe DelConte at jdelconte@btsny.org. The Benefit Celebration at Pier 17 will follow the wrestling competition. This unique and electrifying annual event helps Beat the Streets raise significant funds to further its mission. Whether it's providing a safe, constructive outlet for our urban youth, fighting childhood obesity, empowering women, or uniting entire nations, wrestling teaches persistence, dedication, and the value of working hard to achieve one's goals and creates opportunities for personal and universal growth. BTS currently serve over 3,000 student-athletes every year. 2018 Beat the Streets Wrestling Schedule The Seaport District/Pier 17, New York City, May 17, 2018 2:30 p.m. - Beat the Streets Youth Exhibition Matches 4:45 p.m. - New York City Girls Freestyle Dual Meet Championships Finals 6:00 p.m. - World Class Wrestling to include: • Team USA vs. Nigeria in women's freestyle 57 kg - Helen Maroulis (USA) vs. Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigeria) 59 kg - Alli Ragan (USA) vs. Bisola Makanjuola (Nigeria) 68 kg - Tamyra Stock (USA) vs. Blessing Oborududu (Nigeria) • Team USA vs. TBA in men's freestyle • Super Match - Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs. Frank Chamizo (ITA) Followed by Annual Benefit Celebration, Pier 17 About Beat the Streets The mission of Beat the Streets is to develop the full potential of the urban youth and to strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTS works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to bring the life changing sport of wrestling to over 3,000 New York City student-athletes to help them achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTS and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life lessons of grit, personal responsibility and teamwork, physical fitness and nutrition, and life-long learning. The goal of fostering strong, well-rounded student-athletes is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, life skills workshops, and summer camps. More information can be found at www.btsny.org. About USA Wrestling USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. It has over 220,000 members across the nation, boys and girls, men and women of all ages, representing all levels of the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender. More information can be found at TheMat.com