InterMat Staff

Matt Ciampa coaching in Fargo Matt Ciampa, head coach of Eclipse Wrestling Club (N.J.), has been a wildly successful club coach for nearly three decades. Ciampa has coached numerous All-Americans and national champions, as well as age group world medalists. Ciampa joins The MatBoss Podcast to talk coaching philosophy, regional training centers, current state of the sport and much more. Follow Matt on Twitter at @eclipsegut. About MatBoss: Created by coaches for coaches, MatBoss for iPad® integrates wrestling stats directly into the video you record for each match, completely replacing the need for labor-intensive pencil and paper scoring systems. It's the wrestling stats app our sport has been waiting for. Focus on coaching, not busy work Improve through video analysis Make data an advantage Eliminate scoring errors Increase exposure Become a digital coach For more information, visit MatBossApp.com. Follow MatBoss on Twitter and subscribe to the show @MatBossApp | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Play Music | RSS

Wrestlers from the Lehigh Valley will compete at "Grapple on the Gridiron" this Friday in the second annual event. Hosted by the Salisbury High School wrestling team, matches will take place before the Salisbury vs. Saucon Valley football game, as well as at halftime. There are at least nine matches scheduled, capped by a halftime match between Salisbury's Jonah Niesenbaum facing Faith Christian Academy senior Dylan DeWitt. Gates are set to open at 4:30 p.m. with the wrestling starting at 4:45 p.m. Pregame matchups: 70 pounds: Colton Alder (Salisbury) vs. Jarrod Blunt (Salisbury) 85 pounds: Colby Townley (Salisbury) vs. Dominic Sumpolec (Northwestern Lehigh) 95 pounds: Kyle Lash (Salisbury) vs. Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian) 105 pounds: Braden Alder (Salisbury) vs. AJ Stayton (Faith Christian) 110 pounds: Alex Garcia (Southern Lehigh) vs. AJ Lowe (Faith Christian) 120 pounds: John Sarny (Salisbury) vs. Eric Alderfer (Faith Christian) or Cody Witzer (Faith Christian) Halftime matchups: 135 pounds: Nate Natel (Salisbury) vs. Jake Jones (Saucon Valley) 145 pounds: Nick Colasurdo (Southern Lehigh) vs. TJ Alderfer (Faith Christian) 220 pounds: Jonah Niesenbaum (Salisbury) vs. Dylan DeWitt (Faith Christian)

Weigh-ins for the 2018 InterMat Classic will take place on Friday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event is set for Saturday, Oct. 20, in Edina, Minn. There are two weigh-in locations in Minnesota (Edina and Rochester), as well as one in South Dakota (Beresford). Wrestlers can weigh in at any of the three weigh-in locations. There is a three-pound allowance. Wrestlers may change weight classes after registering by sending an email to contact@intermatwrestle.com. Wrestlers will be moved up a weight class if they do not make the weight listed on their weigh-in slip. See weigh-in locations below. Minnesota Edina High School 6754 Valley View Road Edina, MN 55439 Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Marion Road Storehouse Office Bldg. 4020 29th SE Rochester, MN 55904 Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. South Dakota Legends of Gold 47256 Highway 46 Beresford, SD 57004 Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the InterMat Classic, visit the event website.

Kansas has carved out a reputation on the national landscape that has college coaches making the state a priority in their search for elite talent. Following up on a state-record 11 Division I signees in 2017, last year's class produced an additional eight Division I wrestlers. Wyatt Hendrickson1. Wyatt Hendrickson (Newton) Projected high school weight class: 195 Projected college weight class: 197/285 Analysis: Wyatt's career high school record of 84-26 is deceiving. After a stellar youth career, he entered high school in a deep pool of upperclassmen in a heavy weight class. Many in Kansas took their eyes off him until his sophomore season when he beat the No. 1 wrestler. The switch was turned on and he has never looked back. Wyatt is a four-time Fargo All-American and a USAW folkstyle finalist in 2018. He went 15-0 at Junior Duals after going 34-1 in his state title run as a junior. Above his mat hardware, this young man has a quality of character that makes him stand out from a crowd in any setting. If there was ever a "sure thing" NCAA placer, it's Wyatt Hendrickson. Words from the corner: "Wyatt is a great leader in and out of the room. He is a positive and energetic young man that is driven to be successful on the mat and in the classroom. His skill and body style make him the perfect fit for success on any college team." -- Head coach Tommy Edgmon 2. Troy Fisher (Goddard) Projected high school weight class: 170 Projected college weight class: 165 Analysis: This young man is a phenom! He is a three-time folkstyle All-American with a career record of 118-8. Troy is coming off a 45-0 junior year and has recently committed to Northwestern University. There are few in Kansas history with such a storied kids and high school career. Words from the corner: "Troy Fisher will be a huge asset to Northwestern. Troy is one of the hardest workers and most dedicated young man on the mat and in the classroom, that I have ever had the pleasure to be around. In addition, his knowledge of the sport and the technical aspects of wrestling are way beyond his years. Troy has become a great leader and mentor for our program that we will miss greatly when he moves on to bigger and better things at Northwestern." -- Head coach Brett Means 3. Dayton Porsch (Hoxie) Projected high school weight class: 160 Projected college weight class: 157 Analysis: With a career record of 104-1, Dayton has the chance to become the 34th wrestler in Kansas history to win four titles. Hoxie has a rich history of producing tenacious hard-working kids with an attitude to succeed. Words from the corner: "Dayton has had a huge impact on our program, not only has he been a hammer on the mat, but his leadership since his freshman year on has put us back in contention for team state titles. His exciting style of wrestling, relentlessly scoring points and pushing the pace has brought wrestling back to the forefront for Hoxie fans to cheer about. He leads by example and has shown younger guys in the program along with the young kids in the town the right way to go about business both on and off the mat." -- Head coach Mike Porsch 4. Cade Lindsey (Derby) Projected high school weight class: 170 Projected college weight class: 165 Analysis: Cade is a three-time state placer with a career record of 112-19. He was a Fargo All-American in Cadet Greco and is a two-time USAW folkstyle All-American. He has anchored many of our National Duals teams and was a 2016 Kansas Triple Crown winner. Cade's work in the classroom and his top-shelf character is going to make him the perfect fit for any college program. Words from the corner: "Cade Lindsey is a great leader for the Derby Panthers. Cade's passion and desire to be a champion is contagious and has positive effects on all the guys around him. He also has a great mat sense about him and he is very technically sound. His leadership qualities will certainly be missed when he moves on to the next level." -- Head coach Billy Ross 5. Braden Morgan (El Dorado) Projected high school weight class: 220 Projected college weight class: 197 Analysis: With a career record of 99-23, Braden had a stellar junior season, finishing on top of the podium with a 40-1 record. His athleticism and physicality make him a crowd favorite and I won't soon forget his finals match at Rocky Mountain Nationals against our own Wyatt Hendrickson. Great character and loves the sport! Words from the corner: "Braden is obsessed with wrestling and does all he can to seek out and wrestle the best kids around. You cannot keep this kid out of the gym. It's exciting as a coach to see a kid that only won one match at state his freshmen year, turn into the favorite his senior year and have a chance to be a two-time state champ tells a lot about how hard he works and how far he has come in just four years of high school." -- Head coach Wes Reynolds 6. Triston Wills (Derby) Projected high school weight class: 160 Projected college weight class: 157 Analysis: Triston is a three-time state placer and a 2018 state champion with a career record of 83-17. As a USAW folkstyle All-American in eighth grade, Kansans knew they had a good one in Derby. Words from the corner: "Triston has been a great leader for our team the past three years. He leads not only by his words but by example. The most impressive thing about Triston is that he doesn't concentrate on winning. His focus is more on getting better. Does he love winning? Of course, but he is more focused on wrestling the best competition possible and his focus is to get better every day. His goal is to be the best wrestler he can be to prepare himself for the college level." -- Head coach Billy Ross 7. Caleb Willis (Bonner Springs) Projected high school weight class: 220 Projected college weight class: 197 Analysis: Caleb has been turning heads across the country since his freshman season. His physical presence and elite athleticism have earned him a 112-14 record and a state title in 2017, going 80-3 his last two seasons. Words from the corner: "Caleb has a passion for wrestling, competing in all three styles. He has been a consistent member of Kansas national teams for many years, with multiple wins over nationally ranked opponents. He competes in the weight room as well, holding many school records. He can compete at an extremely high level and will be an asset to any college program." -- Head coach Brandon Jobe 8. Bubba Wilson (Manhattan) Projected high school weight class: 152 Projected college weight class: 149/157 Analysis: Bubba capped off a stellar junior season, landing atop the podium in dramatic fashion, finishing 44-4 after making the finals as a sophomore. He made a huge splash on the national scene this year by finishing third at the UWW Cadet Greco Nationals. He wrestled with amazing heart in a deep weight class at the Junior Duals. Words from the corner: "Bubba Wilson finished his junior season with a 44-4 record and a 6A state championship at 152 pounds. The senior to be is a second-year team captain and will lead the Indians in 2018-19. Bubba has earned this position with the Tribe due to his work ethic and his ability to instill in his teammates that same desire and passion. He exemplifies what we want in out student-athletes and his love for the sport of wrestling is second to none. In my 42 years of high school coaching, I can say that Clayton Bubba Wilson possesses the most humble character I've seen and his leadership ability is heartwarming." -- Head coach Robert Gonzales, 2017 National High School Wrestling Coach of the Year 9. Korbin Riedel (Tonganoxie) Projected high school weight class: 145 Projected college weight class: 141/149 Analysis: Korbin has a career record of 122-21, placing all three years at state. His speed and pace on the mat make him a crowd favorite. One thing that stands out about Korbin is, he flat out loves to compete. He has always left it on the mat for our national dual teams and is a relentless attacker. Any college coach is going to love this kid! Words from the corner: "Korbin has been working very hard all summer, competing in several freestyle and greco tournaments including Northern Plains and Fargo. Korbin is very determined, pushing himself and others around him to be the best that they can be and has a never quit attitude. He leads by example on and off the mat. He sets high goals for himself and pushes himself every day to achieve them. We are looking forward to him leading our team this season and showing underclassman what it takes to be a great wrestler and person." -- Head coach Ross Starcher 10. Taylon Peters (Salina Central) Projected high school weight class: 182 Projected college weight class: 174/184 Analysis: Taylon has a career record of 112-21 with many victories over top ranked wrestlers. His 40-5 junior season carried him to the state finals in a stacked 182-pound bracket. Coming from a solid family and tradition rich program, this young man will have plenty of choices in his future. Words from the corner: "Taylon has established himself as one of the top wrestlers in the nation. He knows how to close out matches and he has tremendous power and explosiveness as a wrestler. He has proven to be a leader in all aspects of his academic and athletic endeavors. Taylon is one of those athletes that has the right work ethic and the dedication that allows him to develop into something special. He has aspirations to either continue playing football or wrestle at the next level after his high school career." -- Head coach Shannon Peters Honorable Mention: Kendall Beitz (Eureka) Kolby Beitz (Eureka) Gabe Buckbee (Arkansas City) Aidan Campbell (Maize) Luke Richard (Riley County) Montez Robinson (Arkansas City)

A GoFundMe page has been established for Kione Gill, a two-time Washington State wrestling champ, who had taken his life Sunday, according to the King County Medical Examiner's Office. Kione GillThe fundraising page was established by friends to help the Gill family with funeral expenses. "Kione was an amazing soul who touched the lives of those he encountered," according to the text on the GoFundMe page. "His contagious smile and laughter filled any room -- except when he was under the light and on the mat -- the only place he was all business but the smirk never left his face." Gill won back-to-back Class 4A state wrestling titles at Tahoma High School in suburban Seattle as a senior (220 pounds) in 2018 and junior (195) in 2017. While in high school, Gill built a 128-8 record, with a perfect 42-0 record as a senior. Prior to enrolling at Tahoma, Gill attended Enumclaw High School for two seasons, where he placed second at the state tournament as a sophomore, and fourth as a freshman, both years at 182 pounds. Gill had graduated from Tahoma this spring, and had committed to wrestle at Clackamas Community College in Oregon this fall. The Tahoma wrestling program first reported Gill's death late Sunday evening on its Twitter account, posting a short message and a photo of the former standout athlete standing beneath a spotlight in his singlet. "Some things happen, that we just don't understand," the post reads. Tahoma wrestling coach Chris Feist described Gill as "an incredible young man that had a huge heart." "He was a very special person, and there are a lot of people hurting right now all over the state that had really positive experiences with him," Feist told the News Tribune. "He was a dedicated friend and a great teammate, and as much as he was quick to joke, laugh and play, he was always there for his teammates when they needed him," Feist said. "It was about making sure the people around him had what they needed, and that's another reason why they loved him." Feist told the News Tribune that he spoke to Tahoma's wrestlers Monday about honoring Gill by continuing to attend classes and practices, working hard, and finding ways to talk about personal hardship. "We're going to keep (Kione) in our heart, but we're going to keep talking about this," Feist said. "We have to find ways to talk about the things that are bothering us, and that's hard to do for young men." Seeking someone to talk to? Contact the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Greg Kerkvliet gets his hand raised after winning a title at UWW Cadet Nationals (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) No. 1 overall Class of 2019 wrestler Greg Kerkvliet (Simley, Minn.) has switched his verbal commitment from Oklahoma State to Ohio State, which has finished runner-up at the NCAAs each of the previous two seasons. He committed to the Cowboys in November 2017 after an earlier verbal to the University of Minnesota. The three-time state champion won a second Cadet World medal in freestyle about two months ago, taking silver at 110 kilograms after earning gold at 100 kilograms in 2017. Kerkvliet was slated to compete at the Junior World championships next week in the 100 kilo weight class, but has pulled out of the event due to injury. He projects to compete collegiately at 285 pounds. Ohio State's recruiting class in 2018 was ranked No. 2 overall. Kerkvliet is the fourth top 100 commit for the Buckeyes in 2019 recruiting, joining a trio of in-state stars in Jordan and Jacob Decatur (CVCA) as well as Dylan D'Emilio (Genoa).

Greg Kerkvliet (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Greg Kerkvliet, a 2017 Cadet world champion and the nation's No. 1 senior recruit, will miss the 2018 Junior World Championships after sustaining a recent injury, according to USA Wrestling. A year after winning a Cadet world title, Kerkvliet claimed a silver medal at the Cadet World Championships this summer in Zagreb, Croatia. He was slated to compete at the Junior World Championships at 97 kilograms. Kerkvliet will be replaced by Univesity of Missouri freshman Zach Elam, a runner-up at the UWW Junior Nationals in April. The Junior World Championships will take place Sept. 17-22 in Trnava, Slovakia.

Frank Andersson Frank Andersson, Greco-Roman wrestler from Sweden who won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics and medaled at five World championships before embarking on a pro wrestling career, died Sunday after complications from heart surgery. He was 62. Born in Trollhatten, Sweden in May 1956, Andersson had an amateur wrestling career that spanned the world and two decades. The 6' 1" Swede usually competed in Greco-Roman as a light-heavyweight at 90 kilograms/198 pounds. Andersson wrestled for Sweden at three Olympics at 90 kilograms. At the 1976 Montreal Games, the then-20-year-old Andersson placed fifth in Greco, and seventh in freestyle competition. Four years later at the Moscow Olympics, Andersson placed fourth in Greco. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Andersson placed third, earning a bronze medal at age 28. Andersson earned his first world titles at the Junior World Championships in 1973 and 1975. He then won a total of three gold medals at the World Championships in 1977, 1979, and 1982, and two silver medals at the Worlds in 1978 and 1981. Anderson also earned a total of seven medals at the European Championships, bringing home gold medals in 1976, 1978, 1979, and 1981, and silver medals in 1977, 1980, and 1982. Andersson was welcomed into the World Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006, according to the United World Wrestling official website. In the early 1990s, Andersson launched a career in professional wrestling. Trained by Brad Rheingans, a U.S. Greco-Roman Olympian who also became a pro wrestler, Andersson made his pro debut in 1991 in Japan with the New Japan Pro Wrestling organization. From 1993-1995, Andersson was seen in the squared circle on a regular basis on Atlanta-based WCW (World Championship Wrestling). Nearly twenty year after announcing his retirement from pro wrestling, Andersson climbed into the ring yet again, this time in his native Sweden, from 2014-2015.

Tyron Woodley at the post-fight press conference Tyron Woodley, a two-time NCAA All-American for University of Missouri, successfully held onto his UFC welterweight (170-pound) title, while two-time world bronze medalist Tatiana Suarez Padilla got a TKO towards the end of Round 3 at UFC 228 at American Airlines Arena in Dallas on Saturday night. The former Tiger brings down the Gorilla Despite giving up three inches in height -- and being a decade older than his opponent -- Tyron Woodley retains the UFC welterweight belt by submitting challenger Darren Till in the second round of their scheduled five-round title bout. "Tyron Woodley has been vocal about the lack of respect he's been given over the years, even after he became the Ultimate Fighting Championship's welterweight champion," is how Sherdog.com opened its reporting of the UFC 228 top-of-the-card event. "After Saturday night, 'The Chosen One' might have finally silenced his critics." "The champ dropped the Englishman with a short right hand to the jaw early on in the second and from there, he utilized a punishing ground-and-pound assault until he finished him," Sherdog.com continued. "Woodley slammed down dozens of elbows and punches onto Till's head, opening up multiple cuts along the way." The 6-foot tall, 25-year-old Liverpool fighter nicknamed "The Gorilla" suffered his first loss when "Woodley locked on a textbook brabo choke" (according to Sherdog) or "a d'arce choke" (to quote CBS) and eventually forced the tap at 4:19 of the third round. It was Woodley's fourth successful title defense since winning the championship from Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 in July 2016 ... and the former Mizzou Tiger's first fight in more than a year because of injuries. Woodley said of Till, "He's a tough kid. He's a long, rangy opponent. Me trying to punch with him was extremely difficult. I had to let him come in. I saw he wasn't going anywhere, I had to take my time. "He didn't recognize (the choke). At that point I knew I was going to get him." Till responded, "I knew he was powerful. I knew he had power punches. My strategy was to feel him out in the first and to come forward. I left my hands down and the shot he clipped me with it was a great shot." Woodley -- who was also a 2003 Big Ten champ for Missouri -- is now 19-3-1 in his pro career stretching back nearly a decade ... while Till -- who has been fighting as a professional since Feb. 2013 -- is now 17-1-1. Past world medalist Suarez defeats Esparza In a preliminary bout featuring two women with amateur wrestling credentials, Tatiana Suarez Padilla, a two-time world bronze medalist, earned a TKO towards the end of the third round versus Carla Esparza, a two-time women's All-American wrestler at California's Menlo College. "Tatiana Suarez looked like a future star as she pounded Carla Esparza into smithereens for nearly three rounds in the UFC 228 featured preliminary bout," wrote Mike Sloan of Sherdog.com. "Suarez took 'Cookie Monster' down virtually whenever she wanted and dished out a frightening beating with elbows, punches and hammerfists," Sherdog's Sloan continued. "Esparza never quit, but when Suarez moved to full mount late in the third, referee Kerry Hatley had no choice but to pull Suarez off when she rained down a storm of punishment via punches and elbows." The end came at 4:33 of the third round. Suarez, who has been fighting as a professional for just over four years, remains perfect, with a 7-0 record ... while Esparza, who launched her pro career 8.5 years ago, is now 14-6.

Bergen Catholic coach David Bell coaching at the Doc Buchanan Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Nearly six months after a former Bergen Catholic High School wrestler sued head coach David Bell of the nationally-ranked program over alleged sexual and verbal harassment -- and one month after a judge dismissed the most explosive charges of that lawsuit -- coach Bell filed an answer and cross-claim Friday against his accuser. In an 11-page complaint, Bell accuses former Bergen Catholic wrestler Anthony Asatrian, now 18, of negligence, false complaint of unprofessional conduct, intentional infliction of emotional distress and other acts, NorthJersey.com reported Friday. Asatrian -- a two-time district champion for the program ranked No. 2 in the nation by InterMat last season -- had alleged in his lawsuit back in April that he was sexually abused, sexually assaulted, and sexually harassed during his nearly three years as a wrestler at Bergen Catholic. However, local Bergen County prosecutors found no evidence to file criminal charges against coach Bell ... and, just last month, a judge had dropped all but the least serious allegations from Asatrian's lawsuit against the long-time coach. Another New Jersey media outlet -- NJ.com -- provided some details on the wrestler's father and his involvement with his son Anthony's wrestling career. "Over the course of the 57-page document, obtained by NJ Advance Media, Bell's claim paints Asatrian's father, Harry, as an overzealous sports parent who at times acted aggressively toward the coach, threatened to transfer his son to a rival high school and made anti-Semitic and racially charged comments in front of wrestlers and coaches." "The claim also alleges Harry Asatrian meddled to the point that he had been caught 'sneaking in the locker room to switch and manipulate the scales' in an effort to help his son make weight for a wrestle-off against a teammate with a spot in the starting lineup at stake." In an August interview with NorthJersey.com, Anthony Asatrian -- slated to wrestle this fall as a senior at Paramus High School -- said Bell never actually molested him but at times had expressed how much he "loved him" and sometimes asked to wrestle with him, hug him and touch his hair. "Bell is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential wrestling coaches in the United States," according to NJ.com. The media website for the Newark Star-Ledger and other newspapers in the Garden State pointed out that, with Bell at the helm, Bergen Catholic won its seventh straight NJSIAA team title during the 2017-18 season and defeated five teams ranked in the top 10 nationally.

What happens when you take a guy who's equally passionate about beermaking -- and wrestling? You end up with a beer named in honor of the legendary wrestler/coach Dan Gable ... and you designate that part of the profits go to support the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. Dave Morgan, owner of SingleSpeed Brewery in downtown Waterloo, Iowa -- within sight of the Gable Museum -- describes himself as a Gable fanatic who won the Class 2A 135-pound title at the 1993 Iowa state wrestling championships for New Hampton. The actual name of SingleSpeed's beer is Munich Helles Lager -- also known as Gable's Gold -- which is named to honor Waterloo native Dan the Man winning a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. So, how did Morgan come up with Gable's Gold? Each year, the eastern Iowa brewmaster attends the Craft Brewers Conference for inspiration and ideas. As Morgan told Jim Nelson, sports columnist for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, "Usually during these conferences, I have at least one good idea," Morgan told Jim Nelson, sportswriter for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. "It happens because you get out of the day-to-day routine and start thinking outside of the box a little bit." On the flight back to Iowa after the 2016 conference in Philadelphia, Morgan let his mind wander ... and the thought occurred to him: Why doesn't SingleSpeed make a beer honoring Waterloo's Dan Gable? Dave Morgan ran the idea by Dan Gable, who had just one stipulation: "It had to be good, and it had to be gold." Last year, SingleSpeed introduced Munich Helles Lager -- aka Gable's Gold, or just "Gable" -- as a seasonal beer, and it became the tap room's biggest seller. It is now offered year 'round as one of SingleSpeed's five core beers (after all, wrestling season is pretty much year 'round) ... with $1 of each sale benefiting SingleSpeed's neighbor, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. Then, just last week, cans of "Gable" started appearing on the shelves at Hy-Vee grocery stores across the state of Iowa in the form of six-packs, with a percentage of those sales also going to the Wrestling Museum. Fittingly, the cans are black and gold ... and carry this message: "Gable. One word can say so much. In our city, few words, if any, resonate with the force Gable does. In commemoration of his Olympic triumph (Munich in 1972) we've crafted a beer much more approachable than any adversaries found Dan to be on the mat. Clean, crisp and Gold. We can't think of a more fitting tribute." Dave Morgan weighed in on the significance of that message on each can of "Gable" beer. "One of the cool things about (the can) is on the back there is a story about Gable in Munich," Dave told WEEK-TV, the NBC affiliate in Peoria, Ill. "There's no a lot of room on the can to tell a story we try to do it as quickly as we can to get the point across. It's nice anyone running into this can of beer -- if they happen to live in a world where they did not know about Gable in Munich they might know about it after a can of beer." To learn more about the beer and its brewery, visit the visit the official website for SingleSpeed.

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. -- University of Mount Olive will add men's wrestling to the 20 NCAA Division II varsity sports currently being offered by the university, announced Vice President for Athletics Jeff Eisen. The program will begin competition in the 2019-2020 academic year. UMO is a member of Conference Carolinas for its current sport offerings and will participate in wrestling under the umbrella of Conference Carolinas. Conference Carolinas and the South Atlantic Conference have joined forces to sponsor wrestling, with Conference Carolinas administering the championship. UMO will be the eighth school in the conference to participate in wrestling. The other schools are Belmont Abbey, Emmanuel, King, and Limestone from Conference Carolinas and Coker, Newberry, and Queens from the South Atlantic Conference. There are 62 schools nationally competing in wrestling at the NCAA Division II level. Plans are underway to hire a head coach as soon as possible, with a full-time assistant coach to be hired prior to the start of the season. The University will provide a site near campus for training and conditioning. Home competitions will be held in Kornegay Arena. "Wrestling is a conference sport with ready-made competition and the ability to compete for a championship. North Carolina ranks in the top 10 nationally in terms of the number of high school participants in wrestling and there is a void in opportunities to compete on the collegiate level in the Southeast. We want to help fill that void," said Eisen. "I want to thank the National Wrestling Coaches Association for its assistance in the planning process," added Eisen. According to the NWCA, there are over 8,000 high school wrestlers in North Carolina; more than 28,000 in North Carolina and bordering states; and more than 240,00 nationally. UMO last added new sports in the 2012-13 academic year, when men and women's lacrosse began competition.

The worldwide wrestling community was shocked Wednesday when suicide bombers attacked a wrestling competition in Kabul. The meet, in a largely Shiite minority community, was sanctioned by the Afghanistan Wrestling Federation, part of the larger international wrestling community. There were two blasts, with the initial smaller explosion meant to maim and to draw in rescue workers and journalists. The second, much larger, blast came once those professionals were on site. There is plenty of violence in the world, but in reading this story and the seeing the gruesome images of life in a country in-conflict should remind us all to be thankful for the security we enjoy at home, but still take account of the shootings that have disrupted learning and security in schools around the country. Please join the international wrestling community in sending your thoughts to those young wrestlers and their families affected by this incident. To your questions … Michigan's Logan Massa at the NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: Is it seemed like Logan Massa took a step back last season. Placed third as a freshman and went 1-2 at the NCAAs last season. Was it injury related? Sophomore slump? Do you consider him one of the contenders to win the NCAA title at 165 pounds this season? -- Mike C. Foley: I'm a big believer in the sophomore slump as it happens in almost every sport and victimizes plenty of wrestlers. Not sure what it is about the sophomore season, and it's sure to vary by individual, but my best guess is that wrestlers who have success as a freshman have trouble determining whether that success came from talent or hard work. When wrestlers tend to think it's talent there is less hard work. Another factor might be over confidence, or the nerves of living up to the expectation that they keep improving on performance in each successive season. In a sport already rife with pressure that additional weight can be too much for some young wrestlers. Massa will be totally fine. He's a monster and with Sergei Beloglazov in Ann Arbor and one of the toughest lineups in the country to practice with every day I think he'll find his stride again in 2019. Q: Who are you most interested in watching at the World Championships for pure stylistic enjoyment? -- @HalfAgain Foley: In Greco-Roman, Frank Staebler is an absolute machine. He wrestles Greco-Roman the way it was intended. He plows forward in an always-aggressive style and opens up exhausted opponents. He's can't-miss wrestling. Second place would be Elmurat Tasmuradov of Uzbekistan. He famously cartwheeled out of a two on one at the 2015 Asian Championships in Doha. In women's wrestling, Yui Susaki of Japan has a star power that's difficult to define. She's of the Japanese system, but outside of the Coach Sakae lineage, which has given her a more aggressive approach on the mat. She attacks in every moment and while that costs her points, she has that winner's edge that appeals to the competitor in me. Next would be Helen Maroulis, because right now she's the baddest woman on the planet and can hit moves that few, if any, other woman can imitate. I'll show up to watch any of the Russian lightweight and middleweight wrestlers compete in freestyle. When they take the mat and are in their groove it's difficult to compete with their athleticism and mat savvy. I prefer Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder and pull for them to win, but in terms of aesthetic and what I can learn there are few wrestlers who can compare. The other is Frank Chamizo. Nobody misses a Chamizo match. Yui Susaki with her gold medal from the World Championships in Paris (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: Who is the a non-American to keep an eye on at the Junior World Championships? -- Mike C. Foley: Senior level world champion Yui Susaki (Japan) and senior world bronze medalist Koumba Larrouque (France) are schedule to compete. European champions like Arif Oezen (Turkey) at 86 kilograms and Arsen Harutyunyan (Armenia) at 57 kilograms are sure to be big hits. Also keep any eye out for the entire Iranian lineup. They had a wonderful outing at Asians and have been wrestling much better since Rasoul Khadem returned to the corner full-time. There is a good preview of entries on the UWW site here. Q: What do you know about Denver hosting the NWCA All-Star Classic? -- Kevin M. Foley: According to Jim Fallis the idea is to bring the event back across the Mississippi River and link up with some of their Wrestlers in Business Network chapters who otherwise wouldn't receive as much engagement. When you start adding up all the travel and organizational costs for an event of this size and prestige, it's obvious that partnerships are the key to moving forward. Princeton was able to pull this off last year and this year it'll be Denver's chapter, who partnered with NUWAY and the Rocky Mountain Nationals, to get this done. I love this location. There is a good wrestling culture in the state of Colorado and Denver is a major metropolitan city that can attract good media attention. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Gobsmacked. How … ?? That Cartwheel Fascinating look at a map of the United States. No people live in the green areas. Zero. Q: What do you think about the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club hiring six-time world champion Sergei Beloglazov as its head coach? -- Mike C. Foley: Can't hate it. Sergei is a traveler, having served as a coach for Team USA, Kazakhstan and several other nations and clubs since he retired in the 90's. I think that his wealth of knowledge (arguably the biggest repertoire of moves from any coach in the world) could help the full-time freestylers in Michigan make big jumps. Also, his knowledge and training style will impact the collegiate squad and provide them another level of expertise that could help the Wolverines find a team trophy in 2019 and 2020. Q: Thoughts on Jack Mueller redshirting? Mike C. Foley: I spoke with Coach Garland today and he verified what was in the school's release. Mueller is excited about the U23 World Championships and wants to train for that as he would the NCAA title. Coming back for the second semester, switching styles and likely having to bump up didn't appeal to his vision of the year. Also, he was intending to redshirt his freshman season, but without any other 125-pound wrestler at the time he stepped into the lineup. Athletes halfway through college and with accomplishments under their belt (and big challenges to attend to, a la U23 Worlds) can really benefit from time away from the college scene. For Mueller I think it'll give him the space to challenge himself and grow into a bonafide No. 1 wrestler at 133 pounds. Q: The Big Ten rotates schools on and off each other's schedule. Two years on, one year off in groups with a single permanent team. Ohio State and Penn State are paired permanently as is Iowa and Minnesota so obviously for Iowa and Penn State to wrestle annually there needs to be a collaborative effort between the two programs to make certain that every third year gets scheduled. Back in 2012-13, Cael and Coach Brands did some tweeting back and forth announcing a Big Ten matchup between the two premier programs and they promoted the match. Cael took his defending national champs to Iowa City to wrestle the Hawks and before a packed house and BTN audience the Hawks wrestled their hearts out, got a pin from Tony Ramos and won a toss-up or two to upset the Nittany Lions. It seems that something so successful and something that due to Big Ten scheduling you know is coming every third year would be rather easy to get together and make certain it happens every third year. However, in 2015-16 -- despite Cael and Coach Brands agreeing to the match -- they could not agree on location, State College or Iowa City, so it never got scheduled. First year without a PSU Iowa dual since 81- 82. Here we are three years later and again despite a mutual desire to schedule the dual, location seemed to be the stumbling block. Since this off-schedule dual has been scheduled once, and Penn State traveled for it does it not seem to make sense Coach Brands owes Penn State a reciprocal visit. So my question is this. Do you have any idea why Coach Brands seems to be reluctant to bring his squad to State College for the non-Big Ten dual? Some Penn State fans believe Coach Brands knows his Hawk squad is a bit out gunned and traveling to State College probably costs the Hawks an undefeated dual season, probable multiple seeding hits and if not likely to be competitive why bother. Just wondering if you knew of any reasons why the Hawks seem to be so reluctant to reciprocate the travel to make this match an annual happening? -- Nitilion Foley: You make your case in the way you frame the question! I don't know the details on their interactions and what was holding up the commitment, but I'm sure it was about much more than the Law of Reciprocity ticking back to three seasons ago. Coach Brands isn't one to shy away from any opponent, but I do think he's wise enough to not force a scheduled dual meet in State College unless he can get favorable terms on date and time. Traveling across the country for a single meet is expensive and requires some logistics. The team is already pressed to travel across the Midwest for duals and another weekend on the road for pride, or for the sake of fans, might not be in the best interest of the Hawkeyes. While I would favor Penn State in a dual meet, I think it's foolish to underestimate Iowa's firepower in 2018-2019. This could be a team to challenge Penn State, even as they return multiple NCAA champions and All-Americans.

Chad Walsh and Ryan Wolfe LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Former Rider Wrestling All-Americans Chad Walsh and Ryan Wolfe are returning to serve as assistant coaches, head coach John Hangey has announced. "We are very excited to announce the addition of Ryan Wolfe and Chad Walsh as assistant coaches to the wrestling program," said Hangey. "Both Ryan and Chad represented Rider University at the highest level during their athletic careers having earned All American status. They bring a wealth of experience and success to the staff and will provide a genuine passion for our University and wrestling program. This will be beneficial to our younger student-athletes and will be extremely helpful in the overall development of our team." Walsh is one of only two, two-time All-Americans in Rider history, joining John Carvalheira. He was a four-time NCAA qualifier and is Rider's all-time leader in wins by fall with 39, having surpassed Tim Morrison's record of 29 that stood for nearly 35 years. He was a three-time EWL Champion and a two-time EWL Wrestler of the Year and Rider Male Athlete of the Year. Walsh was named to the 2015 Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Team and was a four-time NWCA All-Academic Team honoree. Wolfe returns to Rider following a year as an assistant coach at Lock Haven. Along with All-American honors, Wolfe was a three-time NCAA DI tournament qualifier and three-time EWL Champion. He was a four-time EWL finalist, a two-time place-winner at the Midlands Tournament and he was also a freestyle All-American.

Jacob Kasper after pinning Iowa's Sam Stoll at the NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University wrestling head coach Glen Lanham has announced the addition of former Blue Devil standout Jacob Kasper to the coaching staff. Kasper will serve as an assistant coach and will work closely with the upper weights as well recruiting for the program. "I'm excited to have him join our staff," said Lanham. "I think this is the first time in the program's history we've had someone as decorated as him coming back to be a part of the coaching staff. He's going to add a youth and an excitement to our program. Whatever Kasper does, he's passionate about and that will spill over into coaching. He's already had some great ideas. I'm excited to see him as a coach." A two-time All-American at heavyweight and the Duke single-season wins record holder, Kasper joins the staff after one of the most decorated careers in Blue Devil wrestling history. The Ohio native graduated in May after finishing a career-best fourth at the NCAA Championships to earn his second consecutive All-America honor. "To say I am excited to be coaching my former teammates as well as the freshmen would be an understatement," said Kasper. "I owe so much of who I am to the Duke wrestling team and staff and I hope I can impart many of those lessons I learned to the current team. I truly believe Duke wrestling is on the cusp of a huge breakthrough and will have more record-breaking moments this year and every year after and I'm thrilled to be a small piece of it." A native of Lexington, Ohio, Kasper competed at 184 pounds his first two seasons, qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a sophomore. With one year of starting under his belt, Kasper took home runner-up honors at the ACC Championships in his second season and finished with a 24-12 overall record. After taking a redshirt season in 2015-16, Kasper worked tirelessly on putting on weight to bump up to heavyweight where he excelled. His work ethic and will to succeed was unmatched as he marched his way onto the national wrestling scene in January 2017 when he became the first wrestler in Duke history to win the Southern Scuffle title, which he would do again in 2018. As a redshirt junior, Kasper posted a 30-6 overall record and earned his first All-America award with a sixth-place showing at the NCAA Championships. Five of his six losses came against top 20 foes as he became one of 13 Blue Devils in program history to amass 30 wins in a season. The two-year captain saved his best year for last, repeating as Southern Scuffle Champion, winning his first ACC title and taking fourth at the NCAA Championships just miles from his hometown in Ohio. Along the way, he eclipsed the Duke single-season wins mark with a 38-4 overall record. For his career, Kasper posted a 107-38 overall record and is the lone Duke wrestler to win a Southern Scuffle crown. Kasper resides in Durham and also will remain a member of the Wolfpack RTC where he trains with some of the best wrestlers in the country.

The 2019 NAIA Women's Wrestling Invitational will be held at Harold Newman Arena KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jamestown will host the 2019 NAIA Women's Wrestling Invitational, the national office announced on Wednesday. The invitational will be held on March 15-16, 2019. The NAIA added women's wrestling as an invitational sport beginning the 2018-2019 academic year after the National Administrative Council (NAC) unanimously approved the motion at the NAIA National Convention in Kansas City, Mo., in April 2018. The NAIA is the first intercollegiate athletics association to officially recognize women's wrestling. "The NAIA is thrilled to have the University of Jamestown host the 2019 Women's Wrestling National Invitational," said Jim Carr, NAIA president and CEO. "This is a milestone event for women's wrestling and we are confident that Jamestown will deliver an exceptional experience for student-athletes, coaches, and fans." "The University of Jamestown looks forward to hosting this tournament," University of Jamestown President Dr. Polly Peterson said. "We have been committed to women's wrestling for a decade and are pleased that it is now an NAIA sport. The University and the Jamestown community look forward to welcoming the athletes and their fans. The University is appreciative of the support and participation that it received from the community as we moved through the site selection process." Harold Newman Arena will be the site for the event. The $16 million building opened September 29, 2017, and has already been the host to a college conference basketball championship tournament, high school regional basketball game, and many state, local and regional events. The 61,000 square foot facility features a private meeting room overlooking the floor, which combined with the lobby, can seat 350 people. There are 8 locker rooms, two concession stands, a game day athletic training room and conference room. "We are proud to host the first NAIA Women's Wrestling National Invitational," Jamestown Director of Athletics Sean Johnson said. "It's a terrific opportunity to showcase Harold Newman Arena, our community and our state. This is the sixth NAIA wrestling national championship we've hosted here in Jamestown and one of the big reasons is our strong wrestling community. By hosting this event, we hope to grow women's wrestling in our state and region." Harold Newman Arena is connected by a hallway to a brand new, state of the art athletic training center and the school's 6,000 square foot wrestling room, recently renovated 5,500 square foot weight training center with adjacent locker room space. Twenty-five NAIA institutions - including Jamestown -- are anticipated to field women's wrestling teams during the 2018-2019 season, up from 19 the year prior. Women's wrestling will be eligible for championship status after two years of competition as an invitational sport, and 40 institutions sponsor a varsity women's wrestling team. Quick Facts: Host: University of Jamestown (N.D.) Event: NAIA Women's Wrestling National Invitational Dates: March 15-16, 2019 Facility: Harold Newman Arena City: Jamestown, N.D. About the University of Jamestown: Established in 1883 as Jamestown College, University of Jamestown is a private, liberal arts university granting bachelor of arts and science in nursing degrees, as well as master's degrees in education and leadership, and a Fargo-based doctor of physical therapy degree. University of Jamestown offers more than 30 areas of study. With the Journey to Success, emphasis is placed not only on preparing students academically in their chosen areas of study, but also on preparing students through an experience that is student-centered and integrates the liberal arts with sound professional programs. The Journey includes a four-year graduation guarantee and a guaranteed internship.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. -- Women's wrestling is coming to Delaware Valley University. The school announced today that women's wrestling and fencing have been added to the school's offerings and will begin competition in 2019-20. "We are very excited about our intention to add both women's wrestling and fencing to our ever-growing list of athletic opportunities here at DelVal," director of athletics Steve Cantrell said. "Both sports have grown by leaps and bounds and it further shows the commitment by the University to our entire athletic department as well as meeting the interests of our students." Forty-eight colleges now sponsor a varsity women's wrestling team, according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

Lonnie Morris coaching at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships Johnson & Wales head wrestling coach Lonnie Morris joins The MatBoss Podcast for Episode 4. Host Chad Dennis talks to Morris about building his program, evolving as a coach, recruiting, growing his team's fan base through events and promotions, competing against Rutgers, team expectations and more. About MatBoss: Created by coaches for coaches, MatBoss for iPad® integrates wrestling stats directly into the video you record for each match, completely replacing the need for labor-intensive pencil and paper scoring systems. It's the wrestling stats app our sport has been waiting for. Focus on coaching, not busy work Improve through video analysis Make data an advantage Eliminate scoring errors Increase exposure Become a digital coach For more information, visit MatBossApp.com. Follow MatBoss on Twitter and subscribe to the show @MatBossApp | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Play Music | RSS

"The King of Ohio high school wrestling died Monday at age 96." Mike Milkovich with son Tom MilkovichThat's how Pat Galbincea, long-time Cleveland Plain Dealer sportswriter who is arguably the dean of amateur wrestling writers in the Buckeye state, opened his tribute to Mike Milkovich, coach of the legendary Maple Heights High School mat program for nearly three decades and head of a household of wrestling greats. "Big Mike" passed away Labor Day Monday from what doctors said were complications from pneumonia and advanced age. He was 96. Michael Milkovich was one of eight kids of Paul and Dragica Milkovich, who came to Ohio from Croatia immediately after World War I. The Milkovich family settled into a working-class suburb of Cleveland, where Mike was a 145-pound state champion for Garfield Heights High in 1941, and was a key ingredient in the Bulldogs winning the Ohio state team title that year. He also earned NCAA All-American honors as a wrestler at Kent State University. However, "Big Mike" is best known -- and most respected -- for a stellar high school coaching career. By any measure, Milkovich's wrestling coaching resume was loaded with mind-blowing stats and incredible honors. From 1949 to 1977, Milkovich coached the Maple Heights Mustangs of suburban Cleveland to 16 undefeated seasons, 10 state championships, nine state runner-up finishes and 37 individual state titles. His teams' overall record in dual meets was 262-25-2 (a .912 winning percentage). All were state records at the time he retired forty-one years ago. Milkovich also guided the Mustangs to a record 103 consecutive dual meet victories from 1963-72 (still a record). As for honors… Milkovich was a charter member of the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame, welcomed into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 1978, and one of just three high school coaches elected to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. as a Distinguished Member in 1983. "When people are interested in exploring the development and culture of youth wrestling in the United States, they need to look no further than legendary coach Mike Milkovich Sr. and the dynasty that he built and sustained at Maple Heights High School during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "But there is much more to the man than his phenomenal coaching career, including his innovative promotion of the sport. "On behalf of our Board of Governors and the Hall of Fame, we extend our sincere sympathies to Big Mike's family, friends, former wrestlers, students and those who were fortunate enough to have gone fishing with him in the Florida Keys." Milkovich also owns the rare distinction of being the subject of a book, "Mustang" written by Jim Kalin, Amateur Wrestling News writer and Dellinger Award honoree as 2009 wrestling writer of the year, who grew up in the Cleveland area and wrestled for a rival high school. "Mike Milkovich and Maple Heights changed Cleveland wrestling at a time when Ohio really didn't figure into the national scene," Kalin told this writer -- a Cleveland area resident himself for two years - in a 2016 InterMat interview about "Mustang." "He and his wrestlers forced Ohio to become better. Now Ohio ranks among the top two or three states for wrestling in the nation." "He helped other coaches up their game." The National Hall of Fame cited a couple other elements of Mike Milkovich's coaching career that set him apart. "Complementing his record on the mat was his flair for promotion of the sport," according to the Hall's Distinguished Member write-up for Milkovich. "He attracted attention to his program with the use of mat maids, cheerleaders, pep clubs, booster clubs, junior high and junior varsity matches and the "radical" innovation of holding the meets at night." "Milkovich never limited his horizons to Maple Heights," the Hall continued. "An educator of coaches and wrestlers, he conducted clinics across the country. He developed and published a practice plan for both high school and college coaches. His book on how to teach wrestling sold thousands of copies. A video tape series on wrestling techniques received nationwide acclaim." Coach Mike and Barbara Milkovich raised two daughters - Cathy and Beth - and four sons: Tom, an undefeated three-time state champ and NCAA champ at Michigan State; Mike Jr., a state champ and All-American at Kent State; Dan, who placed third in the state; and youngest son Pat, while not a state champ, was a two-time national champ and four-time NCAA finalist at Michigan State. Mike Milkovich was preceded in death by his wife Barbara. Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.

Matt Ramos won a Cadet world title this summer (Photo/Martin Gabor, United World Wrestling) Cadet world freestyle champion Matt Ramos (Lockport, Ill.) verbally committed to the University of Minnesota on Tuesday evening. He made his announcement on Twitter. The No. 59 overall prospect is a two-time state placer, yet to make a state final, finishing fifth and third the last two seasons. Additional notable success for Ramos comes in a Preseason Nationals title last fall and a NHSCA Junior Nationals title this spring in folkstyle, along with Cadet National runner-up finishes in both styles last summer. He projects to compete collegiately as a 125-pound wrestler.

Jordan Burroughs is -263 to medal at the World Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Betting odds for USA freestyle wrestlers at the World Championships have been released by BetDSI. The World Championships are set for Oct. 20-28 in Budapest, Hungary. To register for an online account and bet online, visit BetDSI.com. How betting works: If betting on a wrestler listed with a minus (-) sign, you must risk that number amount to profit $100 (and get your stake back). For example, risking $263 on Jordan Burroughs (-263) to medal would profit $100. If betting on a wrestler listed with a plus (+) sign, for every $100 you risk, you profit that amount. For example, risking $100 on David Taylor (+115) to win a gold medal would profit $115. Note: Betting odds are subject to change.

Jack Mueller won the U23 World Team Trials (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Jack Mueller, an All-American at 125 pounds as a true freshman in 2016-17, will wrestle again for Virginia, but it won't be until the 2019-20 season. Mueller, who competed at 133 pounds for the Cavaliers as a sophomore, will redshirt this season. He's focused on preparing for the Under-23 world freestyle championships, to be held in November in Bucharest, Romania. In June, at USA Wrestling's U23 trials in Akron, Ohio, Mueller went 7-0 to win the 57-kilogram (125.7-pound) class. Mid-career redshirts are not uncommon in college wrestling, and for "the past two years, he and his family have been thinking about it and talking about it," UVA head coach Steve Garland said, "and Jack and I have been talking about it. "That's the way you want to make a decision that's this big. You want to do it with a well-thought-out, well-analyzed, well-vetted process." At one point, Mueller considered redshirting in 2019-20 to try to make the U.S. freestyle team for the 2020 Olympics, but "something was tugging on his heart to do it sooner," Garland said, "and frankly when he made the world [U23] team, it actually made the decision more clear for everybody." Freestyle wrestling differs significantly from folkstyle wrestling, which is used at the high school and college levels in the United States. (Folkstyle is also known as scholastic or collegiate.) Switching from one style to another during a college season is challenging, said Garland, who's an assistant coach on the U.S.'s U23 freestyle team and will be with Mueller in Romania. Mueller, a graduate of Trinity Christian Academy in the Dallas suburb of Addison, Texas, said folkstyle "is more of a grind and a mental-toughness check. Freestyle, it's more skilled-based and finesse." As a sophomore, Mueller dealt with a series of injuries and finished 24-7 after losing in the round of 12 at the NCAA championships in Cleveland. He expects to return to college competition a better wrestler after his redshirt year. "After last season kind of being a letdown and then making the world team," Mueller said, "I think it's a really good season for me to get my eyes back on the prize and work as hard as I can every day and hopefully make some gains in my wrestling that I haven't made yet." Not only did injuries hinder Mueller last season, his adjustment to a new weight class was not as smooth as he'd hoped. "I just didn't think that my stuff on top was working as well as it was when I was at 125," he said. When he dropped back down to 125 for the U23 freestyle trials in Ohio, he found it easier to hit his favorite moves, "because I could just overpower a lot of people," Mueller said. After he returns from the world championships, Mueller will wrestle unattached at several college tournaments, Garland said, probably at 133 pounds. "I feel good about it," Garland said of Mueller's decision to redshirt. "The downside is that, wow, we just knocked an All-American out of our lineup. But it would be a bigger deal if we didn't have amazing guys" to fill that spot. Candidates to replace Mueller at 133 pounds are redshirt freshman Brian Courtney, sophomores Sam Book and Scott Kiyono, and true freshman Ben Kamali. Courtney, wrestling unattached at 141 pounds last season, posted a 21-9 record. He's probably a "more natural fit" at 133, Garland said. "Going forward, I think he's going to put muscle on, I think he's going to grow, I think God will take over and change his body. But right now, where he's at physically, it actually works out great. He's a total stud. He's an amazing kid. He's one of my favorite guys I've ever coached already." Courtney is "going to shock a lot of people, for sure," Mueller said. "He's more than capable." Garland stressed that Courtney "will be pushed every step of the way to make the starting lineup. Guys like Scotty Kiyono and Sam Book are tough and getting better as well, and they are hungry to compete and be the guy there too, and when you factor in a freshman like Kamali, who's fantastic, we will have competition that will make them all better to see who'll be the guy ultimately at that weight." The Cavaliers' roster includes only two seniors, 184-pounders Will Schany and Chance McClure. Each is in his fifth year in the program. "We potentially could have four to six freshman or sophomore starters," Garland said. "That's as young as it gets. So we're still going to have some growing pains." Garland is heading into his 13th season as head coach at his alma mater. His projected lineup for 2018-19: * 125 pounds: Redshirt sophomore Louie Hayes, an NCAA tournament qualifier at this weight last season. Like Mueller, Hayes lost in the round of 12. * 133 pounds: Courtney, Book, Kiyono or Kamali. Book posted a 16-11 record last season. * 141 pounds: Redshirt junior Sam Krivus, a two-time NCAA tournament qualifier at 149. Krivus went 2-2 at NCAAs last season. * 149 pounds: Sophomore Jake Keating or redshirt sophomore Sam Martino. Keating went 25-15 last season. * 157 pounds: Redshirt freshman Cam Coy, redshirt sophomore Michael Murphy or true freshman Justin McCoy. Coy, wrestling unattached last season, went 14-9. * 165 pounds: Coy, Murphy or McCoy. * 174 pounds: True freshman Robert Patrick or sophomore Michael Battista. * 184 pounds: Schany or McClure. Schany was an NCAA tournament qualifier at 174 last season. * 197 pounds: Redshirt junior Tyler Love or redshirt sophomore Jay Aiello. Love competed at heavyweight at the NCAA championships last season. * 285 pounds: Redshirt freshman Quinn Miller or sophomore Brian Kennerly. In all, 12 wrestlers from UVA competed at the U23 freestyle trials in Ohio. Standouts, in addition to Mueller, included Hayes, Courtney, Krivus, Keating and Love. "I'm dead serious when I say this: We're going to be really, really good in a year or two," Mueller said. "We're so young right now, and there's just a lot of talent." Garland agreed. "God willing, if we're healthy, that's going to be character-wise, talent-wise, culture-wise the best group of kids I've ever had, collectively," he said.

While most of us were preparing for the three-day Labor Day holiday weekend, efforts to overturn Eastern Michigan University's decision to eliminate its wrestling program and three other sports last spring were dismissed on Friday, Aug. 31. The lawsuit -- brought by EMU alums Douglas and Mary Willer in May -- sought to negate the university's elimination of women's tennis, softball, men's wrestling and swimming and diving, claiming the move was made in violation of the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Michigan Court of Claims Judge Stephen Borrello ruled that even if there was a violation of the OMA, the court would not invalidate the Board of Regents' decision to eliminate the sports. "On the allegations made in plaintiffs' complaint, the decision to eliminate the four varsity sports, even if made in a secret meeting and in a manner that was contrary to the OMA, was re-approved at a public meeting in April 2018," Borrello wrote. As InterMat reported back in May, the lawsuit had been filed by the Willers, both EMU graduates. Douglas Willer was a two-time All-American wrestler and member of the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame. Eastern Michigan had announced its decision to cut wrestling and the three other sports back in March, immediately after the conclusion of the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

Registration is now open for the 2018 InterMat Classic high school wrestling tournament. The ninth edition of this popular preseason event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 20, at Edina High School, 6754 Valley View Road, in Edina, Minn. The 2018 InterMat Classic is open to wrestlers in grades 7-12. It will offer competition in 15 weight classes -- the 14 standard NHSF (National High School Foundation) weights, plus an additional 100-pound weight class. New name, new location Founded in 2010 as the InterMat JJ Classic, the 2018 edition of this fall tournament for junior high and high school wrestlers now sports a new name -- InterMat Classic -- and a new location, having relocated from Rochester, Minn. to Edina in the suburban Twin Cities, with easy access via major Interstate highways as well as from major airlines via Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. "Rochester was a great home for our first eight years, but ultimately we wanted to move the event to the Twin Cities," said event chairman -- and InterMat website co-owner -- Andrew Hipps. "We believe Edina is a perfect fit for the InterMat Classic. Not only is it in a great location that is easy for people to get to and from, but Edina has very nice facilities. We are very excited about partnering with Edina and bringing the event to the Twin Cities." A history of great competition Now in its ninth year, the 2018 InterMat Classic has provided junior and senior high wrestlers with an unbeatable opportunity to test themselves against the best wrestlers from the Midwest ... and beyond, with past champions from all over the U.S., including California and Texas. Mark Hall celebrates after a win in the NCAA semifinals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Only one wrestler can claim five InterMat Classic titles: Mark Hall, 2017 NCAA champ for Penn State, tallied five straight InterMat Classic crowns as a wrestler at Minnesota's Apple Valley High School from 2011 through 2015. In 2017, Alex Lloyd of Shakopee, Minn. -- now as freshman at South Dakota State -- became a four-time InterMat Classic champion. Seth Gross after winning the NCAA title at 133 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Other great wrestlers who have participated in the InterMat Classic in the past include: Gable Steveson, Junior/Cadet world champ in freestyle and nation's No. 1 recruit in 2018 Seth Gross, NCAA champ for South Dakota State Michael Kroells, NCAA All-American for Minnesota Tommy Thorn, NCAA All-American for Minnesota Mitchell McKee, Junior world silver medalist in freestyle Sam Stoll, NCAA All-American for Iowa Jake Waste, NCAA Division II champ for Cal Baptist Lucas Jeske, NCAA Division III champ for Augsburg Mason Manville, Cadet world champ in freestyle Great wrestling ... for a great cause Justin KukowskiEven though this tournament has a new name and a new location, one thing remains the same. As in the past, proceeds from the 2018 InterMat Classic will go to the Justin Kukowski Foundation, a foundation whose mission is to fund research, development, to provide complementary alternative therapies and psychological support for cancer patients. In addition, it provides scholarships to cancer patients in need. The Foundation is named in honor of Justin "JJ" Kukowski, an avid sports fan who passed away from cancer in 2007. "Justin was an amazing person who touched a lot of lives in the 27 years he was alive," according to Andrew Hipps. "We wanted to honor Justin through this event and raise money for an important cause." Register early and save Registration for the 2018 InterMat Classic opened on Saturday, Sept. 1 ... and extends right up until weigh-ins. However, there is a money-saving, early-bird registration special. The cost is $40 if you register during the month of September, and $50 if you register in October. For more information and to register, visit www.intermatwrestle.com/intermatclassic.

Vern Jones, wrestling champ at Stanford University and in high school who went on to use his fortune gained from his drilling business to support the sport he loved, passed away last Sunday, Aug. 25 at his home near Sacramento, Calif. after suffering a stroke earlier that week. He was 93. Vern JonesAccording to the Stanford wrestling Facebook page, "from 1946-49, Vern posted an undefeated 4-year career for the Cardinals, winning three conference championships and acting as student-coach during his final two seasons." Despite being long associated with Stanford and the state of California, Vernon Jones was born on May 1, 1925, in Minneapolis and grew up in the Midwest. It was there that Jones was introduced to wrestling, first at Proviso High School in suburban Chicago, then at Woodruff High in Peoria, where he won the 125-pound title at the 1942 Illinois state wrestling championships, becoming that school's first state mat champ. After graduating from high school, Jones wrestled while serving as a naval aviator during World War II. In 1945, Jones enrolled in Stanford University on the G.I. bill, studying petroleum geology and competing on the school's wrestling team. In the four years he wrestled as a Cardinal, he was undefeated, winning the Pacific Coast Conference Championship three times, according to the Sacramento Bee. "Jones was known in the drilling industry as a trailblazer in mud logging, the science of recording and analyzing rock cuttings in drilling mud during the exploration process," the Sacramento newspaper continued. "He is remembered by friends and family for his generosity, donating liberally to organizations across California." A few years after graduating from Stanford, Jones and a classmate launched the Exploration Logging Co., a geologic logging services firm that functioned as a consultant to well owners and producers. He developed the company into the largest organization of its kind, until his retirement in 1980. "I think his early wrestling career proved his toughness," said Vern Jones' son Derek. "And he really carried that on into business." Jones used his experience -- and fortune gained from his business venture -- to help support his college alma mater and the sport he loved. "A generous philanthropist, he later provided financial stability for the program in years that it needed it most and eventually established the Vern Jones Wrestling Program Endowment in 2003," according to the Stanford wrestling Facebook page. Here's what the Pac-12 conference said of Jones' generous gift 15 years ago. "The establishment of the operating endowment will enable the Cardinal wrestling program to travel to the most competitive events in the country, in addition to expanding its recruiting efforts and capabilities." "'When your program becomes financially self-sufficient, the coach and his staff can turn their focus to coaching, recruiting, marketing and developing a better product for everyone,' Chris Horpel, who served as Stanford wrestling head coach from 1980-2001, said. 'Coach Steve Buddie and his staff are doing an excellent job in every aspect and I am glad to have been part of this program for so many years.'" "'For Vern Jones, wrestling has played a largely important role in his life,' Stanford head wrestling coach Steve Buddie said. 'He truly appreciated every aspect of his collegiate wrestling experience. His generous gift has now opened the door of opportunity to many young wrestlers who hope to have that same positive experience at Stanford. His gift has also lent instant credibility to this aggressive and highly important endowment campaign. We are forever grateful for Vern Jones' lifelong relationship with Stanford Wrestling.'" That was not the extent of Vern Jones' involvement in wrestling long after he had stepped off the mat. In 1999, Jones became the first-ever wrestler inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, according to the Stanford wrestling Facebook page. Jones is survived by his wife, Gloria, and two children, Derek and Sandra.