InterMat Staff

The pipeline between collegiate wrestling and MMA is not as direct as it is in other sports. Obviously, the two entities are in fact different sports, and there is nothing approaching a formal draft process. However, year in and year out some of the best fighters cut their teeth in the NCAA Division I ranks. The following looks back on some of the top five graduating classes as if there had been a draft. In order to be considered, the competitor must have gained All-American status at the Division I level. This of course leaves out several top fighters such as Frankie Edgar, T.J. Dillashaw and Urijah Faber, but there are always undrafted players who go on to greatness in other sports too. 1. 2007: Chris Weidman, Ben Askren, Johny Hendricks and Cole Konrad The 2007 class was able to get it done on the wrestling mats and keep that momentum going in MMA. Chris Weidman (Hofstra), Ben Askren (Missouri), Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma State) and Cole Konrad (Minnesota) combined for 14 All-American seasons and six NCAA titles. In 2013, Weidman challenged Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title. He came into the bout as a sizable underdog but managed to finish the fight in the second round. Weidman followed that up with three straight victories over former UFC champions. After losing three in a row, he recently got back on track with a third-round submission over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC on Fox 25. Askren currently holds the One Championship welterweight title. He has announced that he will retire from MMA after his next title defense against former Dream and One lightweight champion Shinya Aoki. Askren was never given a chance in the UFC, but he was still a top ten fighter. He holds signature wins over former Bellator champion Andrey Koreshkov and current Bellator champion Douglas Lima. In 2014, Hendricks defeated Robbie Lawler to claim the UFC welterweight title. He had previously fought then-champion Georges St. Pierre for the belt. Hendricks dropped a dubious decision and St. Pierre subsequently retired from the sport. Since losing the title in a rematch with Lawler, Hendricks has won only two of his last six bouts. However, he still reached the pinnacle of the sport and defeated the likes of Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck and Carlos Condit. In only his seventh professional MMA bout, Konrad defeated Neil Grove to become the inaugural Bellator heavyweight champion. He retired and became a commodities broker following two more wins over Paul Buentello and Eric Prindle. Despite only having a less than three-year career, Konrad was able to win a major promotion title. Mark Munoz and Daniel Cormier as teammates at Oklahoma State 2. 2001: Daniel Cormier, Mark Munoz and Chael Sonnen The 2001 class produced Daniel Cormier, Mark Munoz and Chael Sonnen. In terms of college wrestling, Munoz was the most accomplished. During his time at Oklahoma State, he was a two-time All-American and won the 2001 NCAA title at 197 pounds. Cormier, a two-time junior college national champion, finished as the NCAA runner-up at 184 pounds his senior year. Sonnen reached All-American status in 1998 and never got back on the podium again, but he excelled in Greco Roman on the University level. Cormier ended up spending his senior season in the same weight class as the only four-time undefeated Division I champion, Cael Sanderson. After finishing second to Cael in college, Cormier spent the better part of the decade representing the U.S. freestyle team at 96 kilograms. In 2009, he made his MMA debut. Three years later, he won the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix after entering as an alternate. In 2015, Cormier defeated Anthony Johnson for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship. He defended the belt twice before losing to former champion Jon Jones at UFC 214. Cormier was awarded the title once against after Jones tested positive for a banned substance. After only three professional fights, Munoz signed with WEC, and he spent the rest of his career under the Zuffa banner. He was never able to win the middleweight title, but he scored signature wins over fellow wrestling veterans Aaron Simpson and C.B. Dollaway as well as Demian Maia. Munoz also holds the distinction of fighting in the first five-round non-title fight in UFC history. There is not enough space in this article to fully cover the contributions of Sonnen from a notoriety perspective. After an extensive MMA career, Sonnen fought Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title in 2010. After dominating the fight with his wrestling, he fell victim to a triangle choke. Since then, he has continued to compete with limited success. Darrion Caldwell and Bubba Jenkins wrestled in the 2008 NCAA semifinals at 149 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 3. 2011: Bubba Jenkins, Colby Covington, Darrion Caldwell and Justin Gaethje In time this draft class might turn out to be the best in MMA history. Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State), Colby Covington (Oregon State), Darrion Caldwell (NC State) and Justin Gaethje (Northern Colorado) left school in 2011 with a combined two NCAA titles and six All-American finishes. After winning an NCAA title in dramatic fashion during his senior season, Jenkins made his MMA debut in December 2011. He won his first three bouts before signing with Bellator the following year. He went 8-3 in the promotion but left the company following a second loss against Georgi Karakhanyan in 2016 over a contract dispute. Since leaving Bellator, Jenkins has split a pair of bouts under the ACB banner. The least accomplished wrestler in this class might turn out to be the first one to fight for UFC gold. Gaethje lorded over the World Series of Fighting lightweight division from 2014 to 2016 before signing with the UFC earlier this year. In his Octagon debut, he put on a "fight of the year" contender with Michael Johnson and finished the bout in the second round. In December, he will return to action against Eddie Alvarez. With a victory, the former Northern Colorado wrestler might earn a title shot. Covington flew all the way to Macau for his UFC debut. On that night, he ended up defeating Anying Wang in the first round. He holds a 7-1 record in the company. In his last fight, the former Oregon State wrestler scored a decision over veteran Dong Hyun Kim to inch closer towards the title picture. He is scheduled to fight Demian Maia on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 119. In his last fight, Caldwell scored the biggest win of his career. He defeated Eduardo Dantas to claim the Bellator bantamweight title. Since turning professional in 2012, the former NC State wrestler has won 11 of 12 fights. His only loss came via flukish submission against Joe Taimanglo last year. Less than six months after the defeat, Caldwell avenged it with a one-sided decision victory. 4. 2008: Chad Mendes and Phil Davis What the 2008 class lacks in depth, it makes up for with high-end talent. Chad Mendes (Cal Poly) was a two-time All-American and one-time runner up. The other member of this class, Phil Davis (Penn State), was a four-time All-American and finished up with a national title his senior season. After leaving the UFC in 2015, Davis won the Bellator light heavyweight title in his fourth fight for the promotion. To claim the belt, he took a dominant decision over former champion Liam McGeary. Unfortunately for Davis, he lost the title to fellow wrestler Ryan Bader in his first title defense. However, he has still earned high ranking in the light heavyweight division, and he holds victories over the likes of Muhammed Lawal, Glover Teixeira and Lyoto Machida. Davis will return to action against grappler Leo Leite. The bout will be part of Bellator 186, which takes place Nov. 3 at the Bryce Jordan Center the campus of Penn State. For a multiple-year period, Mendes was considered the second-best featherweight in the world behind only UFC champion Jose Aldo. From 2008 to 2015, the former Cal Poly wrestler went 17-2 and picked up wins over Cub Swanson, Ricardo Lamas and Clay Guida. In 2015, he earned a last-minute shot at Conor McGregor for the interim featherweight title. Mendes looked solid with his wrestling early and then faded. Following the loss, he only fought once and tested positive for a banned substance. 5. 2006: Shawn Bunch, Muzzaffar Abdurakhmanov, C.B. Dollaway, Eric Bradley, Jake Rosholt, Ryan Bader, Steve Mocco, Cain Velasquez and Paul Bradley Unlike the 2008 class, the 2006 edition makes the top five due its astonishing depth. The 2006 graduating class ended up producing nine MMA fighters. Of the nine fighters, two have gone on to be major promotion champions. In 2010, former Arizona State wrestler Cain Velasquez captured the UFC heavyweight title for the first time. His fellow Sun Devil, Ryan Bader recently won the Bellator light heavyweight title with a decision over Davis.

Late, legendary wrestler-coach Bill Nelson who passed away last month at age 90 will be the focus of the entire On the Mat broadcast this Wednesday, Oct. 25. Bill NelsonNelson was a three-time NCAA wrestling champion for Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) in 1947, 1949 and 1950, and was a member of the Panther wrestling squad that won the 1950 NCAA team title in its home gym. Nelson also was a 1948 U.S. Olympic team member who went on to coach at the high school and collegiate level. He died Sept. 23 in Arizona. Guests include: Bruce Nelson, Bill's youngest son John Bardis, Assistant Secretary for Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a former wrestler at the University of Arizona when Nelson was head wrestling coach Bill Smith, 1952 Olympic gold medalist and a teammate of Nelson's at Northern Iowa "On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday at 5 p.m. Central on AM 1650, The Fan. A podcast of the show is available on mattalkonline.com. Email dgmstaff@nwhof.org with questions or comments.

Brent Harvey, tireless supporter of girls wrestling as a coach and event organizer -- as well as the coach who launched the wrestling program at Whitmore Lake High School just last fall -- was killed in a motorcycle accident Friday night in Michigan. He was 46. Brent HarveyHis wife Jennifer posted this message on Facebook Saturday: "It is with heavy heart that I need to inform everyone that last night I lost the love of my life, Brent Harvey. He was killed on his motorcycle on his way to the Whitmore Lake High School football game ... I am beyond heartbroken, not only for myself and our girls Brittany and Brook and his mother Linda but also for 1000s of kids, both boys and girls, whom he has impacted over the years with his passion for wrestling. The world sure has lost a good one tonight …" Harvey's LinkedIn page made clear his commitment to women's and girls' wrestling that spanned nearly two decades. In 1999, Harvey organized the first non-profit, all-girls wrestling program in the state of Michigan. In June 2011, he became involved in Michigan USA Wrestling. The following year, Harvey became USA Wrestling Central Women's Director, as a board member for the women's age-group committee. In 2013, Harvey was named USA Wrestling National Women's Age-Group Coach of the Year. In addition, Harvey established and continued to run the War of the Roses tournament series for girls, including this coming weekend's USA Girls Preseason Nationals -- the Folkstyle Nationals on Oct. 28, and the K-12 National Duals on Oct. 29 -- in New Palestine, Ind. In an in-depth June 2017 article about the state of women's wrestling in Michigan in the Detroit Metro News, Brent Harvey was featured prominently. "At least some of that success can be credited to Brent Harvey. Like (Cliff) Cushard and (Dominic) Adams, he's a former school wrestler who got his start in girls' wrestling watching his daughters compete," according to the Metro News. "These days he lives in Whitmore Lake, where he's head coach at the high school, helping to restart the school's wrestling program after a 33-year hiatus. He runs their youth club as well, where he's got a few girls on his team. In addition to that, he runs Michigan Women's Wrestling, a girls-only U.S.A. wrestling club that feeds up into the national Olympics program. It keeps him traveling all over promoting his War of the Roses competitions. If anybody around the country wants him to come in and run a girls-only tournament, he does his best to make it happen." Harvey first took up wrestling at age 8, according to Metro News, and continued through high school and college. He passed on that passion for the sport to his two daughters, "watching how wrestling electrified his daughters. What had been a fatherly interest now became a guiding passion." "Wrestling has lost a great friend, advocate, and ambassador far too soon," said Terry Steiner, USA Wrestling Women's National Coach. "Brent Harvey will be missed by many who crossed his path. Brent opened many doors for those fighting to be a part of this great sport. USA Wrestling Women's Athletes, Staff, and Program send our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Harvey family. Be proud to know that your father, husband and friend has led many to a better life because of his passion to help others. RIP Brent Harvey!" Brent Harvey with wife JenniferMike Houston, administrator for the popular Wrestling Insider Facebook group, wrote this about his long-time friend, Brent Harvey: "He started supporting women's wrestling many years ago when his daughters were young, and showed an interest in wrestling. Brent helped grow Michigan Girls Wrestling by managing the National Team and putting together trips for any girl wrestling to travel to the USAW Folkstyle Nationals, Body Bar, Fargo or any other distant event. Brent also helped grow girls wrestling across the nation through his War of the Roses wrestling tournaments." Ryan Lancaster, who was a board member of the Michigan chapter of USA Wrestling with Harvey, shared these insights on his long-time friend with InterMat. "Brent as many who knew and loved him, was the busiest man on the planet. I would complain about my own schedule (busy in its own right) to him and half way through would I realized my concerns were falling on deaf ears. If I worked on wrestling until 10 p.m., Brent would text me at 10:30 p.m. still working. His work ethic was something out of Greek mythology. The man could not and would not stop working." "And to me, this made him the quintessential American: a man who had passions, followed them, and rolled up his sleeves and worked tirelessly to build a world he wished to see," Lancaster continued. "He was a trailblazer, building America's greatest girls wrestling league and created opportunities fueled by Olympic dreams for countless women. A father, a mentor, and, above all, a friend." Friends, family and those in the wrestling community will have multiple opportunities to pay respects and honor the memory of Brent Allen Harvey. A visitation will take place Friday, Oct. 27 from 2-8 p.m. at Borek-Jennings Hamburg Chapel, 7425 E. M-36, P.O. Box 735, Hamburg, Mich. A second visitation opportunity is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10-11 a.m. at Shalom Lutheran Church, 1740 East M-36, Pickney, Mich., with a community farewell service starting at 11 a.m. at the church. Condolences may be left at the funeral home's website, www.borekjennings.com or by phone 1-877-231-7900.

Kyle Snyder celebrates after beating Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Kyle Snyder is one of five finalists for the U.S. Male Olympic Athlete of the Year award, and with one week remaining in the open voting competition, the Buckeye heavyweight owns a substantial lead with 38 percent of the votes as of Oct. 23 at 9:30 a.m. ET. A pair of fellow American Olympians (Lowell Bailey, biathlon; Caleb Dressel, swimming) are next at 17 percent apiece. VOTE HERE In a bout that was dubbed "The Match of the Century," Snyder defeated Olympic and two-time world champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia, 6-5, to win the 97-kilogram gold medal and clinch Team USA's first men's freestyle world team title in 22 years at the 2017 World Wrestling Championships. This coming one year after capturing Olympic gold in Rio.

Kevin Roberts coaching at the Pac-12 Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Kevin Roberts, an assistant wrestling coach at Oregon State for 11 years, is suing his former employer over accusations regarding his firing in August. Roberts filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Eugene, contending that Oregon State breached his contract in violation of his civil rights, The Oregonian -- the daily newspaper of Portland -- reported Sunday. Roberts, who was promoted to associate head wrestling coach in 2016 after having joined the coaching staff ten years earlier, contends he was falsely accused of allowing or participating in derogatory remarks made by members of the wrestling team towards one of their teammates, according to the suit. In spring 2016, one of the wrestlers complained to university administrators that he was offended by the statements allegedly made by Roberts, interpreted to be "derogatory towards his race and/or religion,'' the suit said. The university concluded that Roberts had either participated in the offensive banter among the students or neglected his supervisory role, and terminated his contract. Roberts claimed the university's investigation was "cursory and inadequate.'' In July -- one month before his dismissal -- he had signed an employment agreement to remain as assistant coach through June 30, 2018, earning an annual salary of $108,000. He was notified of firing on Aug. 8, effective Aug. 23. In his lawsuit, Roberts claimed he was not allowed to contest the firing, and had been allowed to work for Oregon State -- including actively recruiting potential wrestlers for the program -- right up to his dismissal. Roberts is seeking damages for economic loss, estimating $18,000 in lost wages with a $9,000 per month accrual. A native of Spokane, Wash., Roberts had wrestled for the now-defunct mat program at University of Oregon in the mid-1990s, where he was a two-time NCAA All-American and three-time Pac 10 conference championships finalist at 118 pounds. He was team captain as a senior, and had earned academic honors. Prior to joining the coaching staff at Oregon State in 2006, Roberts had served as an assistant wrestling coach at North Idaho College and University of Wyoming, then had been strength and conditioning coach at University of Minnesota.

The much-anticipated wrestling dual meet between Rutgers and Maryland -- along with a football game featuring the two eastern Big Ten schools -- scheduled for New York's Yankee Stadium on Nov. 4 has been relocated to the New Jersey school's campus. The decision to move the wrestling/football event to High Point Solutions Stadium at Piscataway, N.J. was announced Friday, when the Yankees still had a possibility of making it into the 2017 World Series. (On Saturday night the New York team lost to the Houston Astros in the seventh and deciding game of the American League Championship Series.) "We were looking forward to staging this historic event at Yankee Stadium," Rutgers Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs said in a statement at the school's official sports website. "With two weeks until the date, it was important for us to finalize details that help ensure our fans and our student-athletes have a one-of-a-kind experience. "As a result of the Yankees' amazing postseason run, there were operational concerns that called for us to make a decision at this time. It was agreed that moving the game to High Point Solutions Stadium was the best option under the circumstances." Hobbs went on to say that Rutgers values its continuing partnership with the N.Y. Yankees. Rutgers also gets a full refund of its $750,000 stadium rental fee and is not obligated to move a future game to the Bronx, NJ Advance Media reported Friday. A start time for the Rutgers-Maryland wrestling/football event has yet to be announced. The "Battle in the Bronx" had been anticipated to generate positive media attention for both the wrestling and football sports programs at the two participating schools. In recent years, a number of college wrestling programs have staged dual meets in unusual settings such as at the school's football stadium, all with an eye to generating larger-than-average attendance and greater media coverage. One of the most successful events of this type took place two years ago at the University of Iowa, when the Hawkeyes hosted a dual meet with Oklahoma State prior to their football game at Kinnick Stadium.

A high school head wrestling coach who had been promoted to the position one month ago after having served as an assistant for 2.5 years, is now out of a job after being arrested for public intoxication earlier this month. The contract for Andy Hackenmueller, who was hired as head coach at Minnesota's Albert Lea High School in September, was rescinded this week after his arrest at a casino on Oct. 8. "As the result of a recent investigation, Albert Lea Area (Schools) has withdrawn its offer to Andy Hackenmueller to be Albert Lea High School's head wrestling coach," said Superintendent Mike Funk Wednesday afternoon in an email. "Mr. Hackenmueller will not be associated with the program in any manner." Hackenmueller was arrested after a Worth County deputy was dispatched Oct. 8 to Diamond Jo Casino for three intoxicated people who were kicked out from the casino and were going to drive. Surveillance video reportedly showed Hackenmueller drinking out of a can in the parking lot. The deputy described the coach as having "bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and an odor of an alcoholic beverage." Hackenmueller reportedly had a .152 blood-alcohol level -- more than twice the legal limit -- and was arrested for public consumption. The Albert Lea Tribune reported Thursday that the district had offered the head coaching job to math teacher and baseball coach Paul Durbahn. "We expect that coach Durbahn will uphold the high standards we have come to expect in our historically successful ALHS wrestling program," Funk said. Hackenmueller had been named head wrestling coach to replace Larry Goodnature, who announced his retirement during the offseason after 25 years at the helm of the Albert Lea High School Tigers. Thirty months ago, Goodnature had hired Hackenmueller -- who had been a head coach at Rush City for two seasons -- as an assistant coach, with the idea that Hackenmueller would eventually take the reins of the Albert Lea mat program. Prior to coming to Albert Lea, Hackenmueller had served as an assistant coach at La Crosse (Wis.) Central High School, then was head coach at Rush City in Minnesota for two years. As a wrestler, Hackenmueller competed at the successful St. Michael-Albertville High School - where he was a three-time qualifier for the Minnesota state championships for the Class AA team title-winning program -- then at North Dakota State University where he continued his wrestling career. As an individual wrestler, Hackenmueller qualified for the individual state wrestling tournament three times (2004-2006) before wrestling collegiately at North Dakota State University. As a wrestler, Hackenmueller understands the performance part -- but he's learned a lot about what it takes to be a great coach away from the mat from Goodnature. Hackenmueller was slated to take over an Albert Lea wrestling program with a long, strong tradition. In the 25 seasons Goodnature was head coach, the ALHS Tigers 519-161 in dual-meet competition, but had not won a state title since 1981. Albert Lea High School is an 8-12 grade school located in the city of Albert Lea in south-central Minnesota, about 90 miles south of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The school has an enrollment of approximately 1,300 students.

Sammy Sasso (Photo/Juan Garcia) Two-time FloNationals champion Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.), who was undefeated during the 2016-17 scholastic season verbally committed to Ohio State on Sunday afternoon. In addition to a state championship season in which he won titles at the Walsh Ironman and Beast of the East, Sasso also won the preseason Super 32 Challenge and post-season Flo Nationals. It was a season in which he ended up as the No. 2 wrestler nationally at 138 pounds. Sasso is currently ranked No. 12 in the Class of 2018 after earning a UWW Cadet National freestyle runner-up finish and Junior National freestyle All-American status this summer in Fargo. It was a second straight year as a UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up to an eventual world medalist, and the freestyle All-American honor in Fargo was his fifth overall in Fargo and third in freestyle (Cadet title in 2015). Sasso projects collegiately as a 157 pound wrestler, and is the fifth top 40 commit for the Buckeyes in their recruiting class this year joining No. 14 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.), No. 18 Jaden Mattox (Grove City Central Crossing, Ohio), No. 36 Rocky Jordan (St. Paris Graham, Ohio), and No. 40 Malik Heinselman (Castle View, Colo.)

Ryan Ripplinger claimed his title by defeating returning InterMat Classic champion Reid Ballantyne in the finals (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Ryan Ripplinger, a two-time state champion, came to Rochester with unfinished business. Last year he failed to reach the finals of the finals of the InterMat Classic in Rochester, losing in the semifinals by a point and placing third. Two months later, he dropped two matches at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament to place fifth. This year at the InterMat Classic he left no doubt, cruising to the title at 126 pounds on Saturday. After picking up two technical falls and a fall to reach the quarterfinals, Ripplinger shut out two-time undefeated state champion Hunter Burnett (Pipestone, Minn.) 6-0 in the semifinals. He carried the momentum to his finals match, pinning Reid Ballantyne (Stillwater, Minn.), a returning InterMat Classic champion and undefeated state champion. Ripplinger was named Outstanding Wrestler of the event. Headlining the tournament was Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.), the nation's No. 23 senior, and now a four-time InterMat Classic champion. Yet again he won the 145-pound weight class, and this time it was five dominant victories; three pins, a 19-9 major decision, and then a pin at the 3:23 mark against two-time state finalist Drew Steidler (Bismarck St. Mary's, N.D.). Lloyd becomes the second wrestler ever to win four or more InterMat Classic title, joining Mark Hall, who won five. At 170 pounds, state runner-up Zach Glazier (Albert Lea, Minn.) stunned Peyton Robb (Owatonna, Minn.) 3-1 in overtime in the championship match. Robb, ranked No. 26 overall in the Class of 2018, is expected to compete at 160 pounds this season and moved up to face Glazier. Glazier, a Fargo freestyle All-American, also defeated returning state runner-up Jeremiah Colon (Lake Crystal, Minn.) 10-1 in the semifinals. One of the event's premier matches came at 132 pounds where three-time state champion Sam Stuhl (Ellsworth, Wis.) upended Fargo (Cadet) freestyle runner-up Aidan Medora (Brookfield Academy, Wis.) 10-6. Stuhl reached the final with three pins from three matches, including a win by fall in 1:06 during the semifinal round against two-time state placer Dylan Droegemueller (Anoka, Minn.). Medora reached the final with a pin, 16-0 technical fall, and an 11-6 decision over two-time state champion Charlie Pickell (Mankato West, Minn.) in a battle of Cadet freestyle All-Americans. Paxton Creese was one of two champions for Shakopee (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) Two pairs of teammates were champions at this year's InterMat Classic. Shakopee's Paxton Creese at 106 pounds joined Lloyd in winning his weight class. His finals victory came 4-2 in overtime over Ryan Henningson (Winona, Minn.). The other pair to win titles came from Arrowhead, Wis. Dominic Dentino beat Max Crowe (Shakopee, Minn.) 1-0 in the 120-pound final, a match in which both wrestlers were state medalists; while state medalist Joshua Otto won the 152-pound final by 9-3 decision over Gage Zieske (Osakis, Minn.). A pair of state champions were dominant winners of the last two weight classes, Cole Fibranz (Sartell-St. Stephen, Minn.) and the nation's No. 27 overall senior Anthony Cassioppi (Hononegah, Ill.). Fibranz pinned all three opponents he faced at 220 pounds, while Cassioppi had a pair of pins in a combined 65 seconds for his title at 285 in a three-person round-robin. Logan Vaughan claimed the title at 100 pounds (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) Rounding out the weight class champions were Logan Vaughan (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) at 100 pounds, Joey Thompson (Maple Grove, Minn.) at 113, Tate Torgerson (Cambridge-Isanti, Minn.) at 138, Tanner Wiese (Forest Lake, Minn.) at 160, Michael Nelson (Dover-Eyota, Minn.) at 182, and Beau Yineman (Neenah, Wis.) at 195. Finals Results: 100: Logan Vaughan (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) maj. dec. Brendan Howes (Anoka, Minn.), 12-1 106: Paxton Creese (Shakopee, Minn.) dec. Ryan Henningson (Winona, Minn.), 4-2 SV 113: Joey Thompson (Maple Grove, Minn.) dec. Derrick Cardinal (Forest Lake, Minn.), 13-6 120: Dominic Dentino (Arrowhead, Wis.) dec. Maxwell Crowe (Shakopee, Minn.), 1-0 126: Ryan Ripplinger (Bismarck, N.D.) pinned Reid Ballantyne (Stillwater, Minn.), 3:30 132: Sam Stuhl (Ellsworth, Wis.) dec. Aidan Medora (Brookfield Academy, Wis.), 10-6 138: Tate Torgerson (Cambridge-Isanti, Minn.) dec. Sebas Swiggum (Apple Valley, Minn.), 5-1 145: Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.) pinned Devin Steidler (Bismarck, N.D.), 3:23 152: Josh Otto (Arrowhead, Wis.) dec. Gage Zieske (Osakis, Minn.), 9-3 160: Tanner Wiese (Forest Lake, Minn.) maj. dec. Ben Schmalz (Mound-Westonka, Minn.), 13-3 170: Zach Glazier (Albert Lea, Minn.) dec. Peyton Robb (Owatonna, Minn.), 3-1 SV 182: Michael Nelson (Dover Eyota, Minn.) dec. Andrew Johnson (Tartan, Minn.), 7-0 195: Beau Yineman (Neenah, Wis.) by injury default over DJ Smith (Shakopee, Minn.) 220: Cole Fibranz (Sartell, Minn.) pinned Jacob Somlai (Brookfield, Wis.), 3:43 285: Anthony Cassioppi (Honenegah, Ill.) pinned Ezayah Oropeza (Rosemount, Minn.), 0:48

Two-time state champion Emille Shannon (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) verbally committed to West Virginia on Saturday night. The No. 37 overall wrestler in the Class of 2018 also placed third at state as a freshman, and was runner-up at the Super 32 Challenge last fall, along with being a Cadet freestyle All-American in 2015. Shannon ended the 2016-17 season ranked No. 7 nationally at 160 pounds, and projects collegiately as a 174/184.

Beat the Streets Los Angeles will host their annual benefit next weekend in Los Angeles, and to promote their cause BTS-LA has brought out the women's wrestling team from Japan to face off against a talented Team USA that includes Victoria Anthony, Alli Ragan and three-time world champion Adeline Gray. As most wrestling fans recognize, Beat the Streets has been the single most successful wrestling charity in the history of the United States. They have helped thousands of young boys and girls pursue wrestling, and not only as means of escaping circumstances, but as a way to cultivate self-confidence and encourage them to pursue their academic and athletic goals. The 2017 event in Los Angeles is also important as it is yet another signal into the power of women's wrestling to attract fans and create buzz. There is increasing name identification among wrestling fans worldwide, which means that this event has significance based on their achievements. For a program that started stateside in 1994 the recent growth has been nothing short of inspiring. The BTS-LA all-star meet is a powerful moment in the sport's history. I encourage you to watch on Facebook, Livestream and Twitter, but also consider donating to BTS-LA in the ramp up to their gala. These are incredible women helping to represent one of the best wrestling charities on the planet. If you can find $10 or more, please consider donating to this year's gala. You can find the link here. Wrestling is the world's oldest and toughest sport. Help our community recognize and celebrate its power to promote positive lifestyle choices and upward social mobility. To your questions … Q: Iowa State got a commitment from top recruit David Carr on Wednesday. Do they have a shot at the NCAA title by 2022? -- Harold T. Foley: Kevin Dresser needed seven years to get Virginia Tech onto the team podium. He had little national name ID, was rebuilding a program which saw many of its top stars transfer and operating in a conference that not many high school wrestlers considered a top contender. Today, he leads a program which has won a team title and is based in a state which considers wrestling a top-tier sport. Dresser has hired three of the best coaches in the nation, has a building base of support among alumni, and is adored by fans and the media. On top of this he is natural leader and an extraordinary coach. Can they win it in all in 2022? Yes. Will they? I couldn't bet against the current powerhouses, but make no mistake that Dresser's hiring will signal a significant change to the power structure within NCAA wrestling. Win or lose in 2022, Iowa State being a college wrestling powerhouse again is in the works. Rob Koll with assistant Mike Grey coaching at the NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: I saw InterMat's Division I rankings came out this week. I noticed Cornell is not ranked in the top 25 in the tournament rankings. Crazy to think about considering Cornell was a national championship contender a few years ago. I know they have some very talented wrestlers like true freshman Yianni Diakomihalis (ranked 12th at 141). Cornell has finished in the top 12 every year at the NCAAs since 2002. Where do you see the Big Red finishing in March? -- Mike C. Foley: The fact that Cornell won't have a top 25 team to start the season, or may not make top 12 as they have for 15 straight seasons, is certainly surprising but it also offers the opportunity to sit back and admire what they have accomplished. Before Cornell's success in the early 2000's there wasn't much to indicate that an Ivy League school could compete at the national level year-in, year-out. They did. There wasn't a lot of recent history indicating that an Ivy League school could produce a single national champion, much less multiple-time national champions and All-Americans. Cornell made both these ideas commonplace. Rob Koll, who has been at Cornell for almost 30 years, coached Kyle Dake to four NCAA titles while simultaneously finding the energy to endow each of the coaching positions on his staff. Oh, and he was the first to have a stand-alone wrestling facility on campus! Koll and Cornell have innovated and succeeded for decades. I suspect that despite a slow start to the season, we will be seeing Cornell well within the national top 25 by the end of the season. Q: In your opinion, who will be the next four-time NCAA champion? -- Gregg Y. Foley: Mark Hall is the top pick for wrestler most likely to win four NCAA titles next. He's won his first NCAA title and is heading into the most difficult season as a favorite to repeat. While his opponents are certainly on the mat, Hall's Junior world championship is the type of offseason credential that indicates his considerable offseason improvement. It's tough to discount Zahid Valencia or Bo Jordan, but I like Hall's chances of making it through the difficult year. By comparison, I think that Vincenzo Joseph will have a much tougher time converting in his second year on campus with a revenge-focused Imar in the wings. Q: Will we see another matchup between Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev anytime soon? -- Don D. Foley: As of now Sadualev is scheduled to compete at the 2018 Ivan Yarygin in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. From his Twitter comments it would also seem that Snyder will be in attendance. What will actually happen on the mats is anyone's guess, but Snyderlaev II is something that may actually occur. Let us just hope that we can get the stream out of Siberia! MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Old USA Wrestler magazines up for the taking! Q: What percentage chance do you give each of the top-ranked wrestlers to win the NCAA title in March? -- Mike C. Foley: See percentages below. 125: Nathan Tomasello (30 percent). With Darian Cruz and Nick Suriano lingering it's a three-man race for the title. If Daton Fix decides to wrestle that percentage could drop. 133: Seth Gross (70 percent): Tough, capable and in a relatively open weight, Gross should find Bono's first NCAA champion at South Dakota State. 141: Dean Heil (85 percent): No reason to think he can't better the competition he's been topping for two seasons. 149: Zain Retherford (99 percent): Barring injury he's your NCAA champion. 157: Jason Nolf (99 percent): Repeat. 165: Vincenzo Joseph (40 percent): Imar is still here and after a disappointing finals performance I'm guessing the Illini star will be coming with new attacks and renewed sense of urgency in 2018. Also, Logan Massa is out there biding his time and could make this a tight three-man race. 174: Mark Hall (60 percent): Zahid Valencia. Bo Jordan. Tough road and it's still a bit better than a 50/50 chance he repeats. 184: Bo Nickal (65 percent): 2016 NCAA champion Myles Martin will look to regain his crown and that is a big hurdle. 197: Kollin Moore (80 percent): Jared Haught and Willie Miklus will have a certain amount of pushback, but Moore has the best training partner on the planet. 285: Kyle Snyder (100 percent): Only a nuclear winter could prevent a third title for Snyder. Q: Is it is better to redshirt your freshman year or wrestle right away? -- Gregg Y. Foley: There are all types of 18-year-old wrestlers entering their first year on a college campus. Some are primed for the big time, with wide eyes and bad-ass intentions. Others are overwhelmed by the classes, the independence and the rigor of the mat and professorial demands. No matter where a first-year wrestler finds himself the solution for a productive career may be different. The stud may need to sit and the scared, young one may need to start. The options and reasoning are as varied as anything. The one wrestler who definitely needs to redshirt is the one with subpar technical skills. The one who can't quite wrestle at that level, but nonetheless finds themselves in a room filled with stellar collegiate talents. I was absolutely one of these kids and while my redshirt journey isn't straightforward I know that the first year on the mats lead to a lot of development on and off the mat. Give those less talented the opportunity to grow and those that have the talent the option to face their college career as the coach, parents and student see fit. Q: All the national championship talk has centered around Penn State and Ohio State. Does Michigan have a real shot to win the title? The Wolverines have tons of talent! -- Mike C. Foley: No. I don't see a path to the NCAA title for the Wolverines, but I think that with six-plus All-Americans they have every chance to be third place, or potentially a spoiler for the runner-up spot. The biggest issue the Wolverines face in accumulating enough points is sure-fire finalists and bonus points. While their AA total could rival that of Ohio State and Penn State, there doesn't seem to be a guy on the roster who will be a certain finalist, or a certain bonus-point machine. However, if third place seems like a downgrade, it's not. Penn State and Ohio State are loaded. Oklahoma State and Iowa have competitive teams with national finalists on the roster. Michigan is in the conversation and that seems like the type of progress programs can use to recruit that next batch of top-level talent.

Bryce Meredith and Kevin Jack split matches at last year's NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) MANHEIM, Pa. -- As freshmen at North Carolina State University, Kevin Jack and Bryce Meredith were teammates. A year later and a Meredith transfer to Wyoming, the two were foes at the NCAA Championships. Meredith won the first bout and ever since, it's been a fierce battle. The pair will meet once again at the 52nd annual NWCA All-Star Classic set for Princeton University's Jadwin Gym on Sunday, November 5. The NWCA All-Star Classic is hosted by Wrestlers in Business Network and sponsored by Princeton Brain and Spine and Northwestern Mutual Life. Joining Jack and Meredith in the event will be Campbellsville's Kayla Miracle and Menlo's Solin Piearcy as those two women will meet at 136 pounds. Meredith and Jack reacquainted themselves with one another in 2017 in the postseason as again Meredith prevented the higher-ranked Jack from reaching the NCAA semifinals. Jack rebounded to score a fall over Meredith in the third-place bout, but Meredith still leads the all-time series 2-1, at least in matches contested outside of the wrestling room. Jack, a two-time All-American and Danbury, Connecticut native went 35-2 last season and returned to the podium after missing out in 2016, part of that due to Meredith. Each of the last two seasons, Meredith, a Cheyenne, Wyoming native, has been a low seed entering the championships and twice he's finished on the podium. Meredith became the first 14 seed to make the finals in 2016, while Jack finished fifth as an unseeded true freshman in 2015. Meredith makes Wyoming's eighth appearance in the All-Star Classic with Cowboy wrestlers 2-5 overall. The last win came from Joe LeBlanc in 2012 when he defeated Central Michigan's Ben Bennett. Jack joins teammate Pete Renda (184) in the event marking the first time in school history two Wolfpack wrestlers have competed in the same year. Pack wrestlers are 5-6 all-time. Campbellsville's Miracle, the third Tiger wrestler slated to compete in the event, is looking to join an exclusive club of wrestlers who have claimed four WCWA national championships. The Indiana native has owned the 136-pound weight class the last three seasons and will look to join Victoria Anthony (Simon Fraser), Helen Maroulis (Missouri Baptist/Simon Fraser) and Emily Webster (Oklahoma City) as four-time WCWA champions. Miracle is also fresh off a championship at the U23 World Team Trials in Rochester, Minnesota earlier this month. She'll compete at the U23 World Championships in Poland later in November. Piearcy's participation will mark Menlo's first appearance in the event on either the men's or women's side. The San Jose, California native comes into her sophomore year as a returning All-American, finishing fifth at 136 pounds. The pair met during the semifinals of the WCWA championships last year, with Miracle earning a 10-0 technical superiority victory. WHAT: 52nd NWCA All-Star Classic hosted by Wrestlers in Business Network WHEN: Sunday, November 5, 3 p.m. WHERE: Jadwin Gym, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. TICKETS: $20 (group discounts available) SOCIAL MEDIA: #ComeBackToJadwin #allstarclassic2017 #wrestleback WATCH: www.trackwrestling.com INFO: www.goallstarclassic.com ANNOUNCED MATCHUPS Men 125: Darian Cruz, Sr. (Lehigh) vs. Nick Piccininni, So. (Oklahoma State) 133: Seth Gross, Jr. (South Dakota State) vs. Stevan Micic, So. (Michigan) 141: Kevin Jack, Sr. (NC State) vs. Bryce Meredith, Sr. (Wyoming) 149: 157: 165: 174: Mark Hall, So. (Penn State) vs. Zahid Valencia, So. (Arizona State) 184: Pete Renda, Sr. (NC State) vs. Drew Foster, Jr. (Northern Iowa) 197: Kollin Moore, So. (Ohio State) vs. Jared Haught, Sr. (Virginia Tech) 285: Women 101: 109: 116: Fayth Woodward (Emmanuel) vs. Makayla Bourbon, Sr. (U. of the Cumberlands) 123: Dom Parrish, Jr. (Simon Fraser) vs. Andribeth Rivera, So. (Campbellsville) 130: Megan Black, Sr. (McKendree) vs. Shelby Hall, Sr. (Campbellsville) 136: Kayla Miracle, Sr. (Campbellsville) vs. Solin Piearcy, So. (Menlo) 143: Mallory Velte, Sr. (Simon Fraser) vs. Desiree Zavala, So. (Grays Harbor) 155: 170: Jessika Rottier, Jr. (U. of the Cumberlands) vs. Brandy Lowe, Sr. (McKendree) 191: Note: Women's college wrestling competes under international freestyle rules.

Put a challenge in front of a wrestling program and its fans, and odds are, they'll meet it. Rutgers wrestling has sold 2,000 season tickets for the 2017-18 season, resulting in a $100,000 donation to the program from a supporter to honor Sam Cali, Scarlet Knights wrestler who was killed in a one-car accident in New Jersey in June 2016, the Big Ten school announced Wednesday. An anonymous donor had pledged the amount if Rutgers University met a goal of 2,000 season tickets sold this year. Now that the goal has been achieved, the donor will provide $100,000 to the New Jersey-based wrestling program towards the naming of an assistant coach's office at the new RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center in Cali's honor. "Achieving this goal means the world to us and the Cali family," said head coach Scott Goodale. "We love Sam and keep him in our thoughts. We want him and his family to know that he is still a part of this program every day. "Reaching 2,000 season tickets sold shows just how much this state cares about the sport of wrestling and our program," Goodale continued. "I want to thank our administration, donors and the fans for their continued support. We're excited to wrestle in front of our fans for what we are hoping is a historic season right here in New Jersey." To put this achievement in perspective ... last season, Rutgers wrestling had sold 1,200 season tickets, NJAdvanceMedia.com reported Wednesday. This is the third straight season where the Scarlet Knights had sold at least 1,000 season tickets in a year. Season ticketholders can expect an action-packed 2017-18 season. The Scarlet Knights will welcome Big Ten rivals - and perennial top programs -- Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State and defending team title winners Penn State to the Rutgers Athletic Center. In addition, fans will see Nick Suriano in action, as the four-time New Jersey high school state champion returned to his home state from Penn State this fall to wrestle for Rutgers.

Now that college wrestling practice sessions are underway, Takedown TV is covering the collegiate mat scene in a big way. This week's episode, now available for viewing, features ... Tom Ryan and the Ohio State Buckeyes media day ... plus a one-on-one feature with three-time All-American and 2015 NCAA champ Nathan Tomasello Missouri Tigers training with U.S. Marine Corps Arizona State hosts outdoor practice One-on-one with Princeton head wrestling coach Chris Ayers who is hosting the 2017 All-Star Classic One-on-one with two-time All-American Seth Gross Watch online or on these cable networks/channels: Cablevision: Sundays at 4 p.m. Charter Cable: Thursday at 6:30 p.m., Friday 11:30 p.m. and Monday 2:30 p.m. Comcast Cable: Friday at 5 p.m. Cox Cable: Sunday 9:30 a.m. Fight Network HD: Sundays at 4 p.m. KCWI 23: Saturday 4 p.m. KWEM Stillwater, Oklahoma: Tuesday 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Long Lines Cable: daily at 5:30 p.m. Mediacom Cable: Sundays at 10:30 a.m. MidCo Sports Network: Saturday 10 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. SECV8: Friday at 5 p.m. Suddenlink Cable: Check your local listings. Multiple air times. Time Warner Cable Sports: Saturday at 12 p.m. Western Reserve Cable: Tuesday at 11 p.m., Friday at 5:30 p.m., Saturday at 10 p.m.

The 2017 InterMat JJ Classic takes place on Saturday at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. The preseason high school wrestling event will be streamed live on Trackcast. Action begins at 10 a.m. CT. Registration is open until Friday at 5 p.m. CT. The JJ Classic Clinic will be held on Saturday morning prior to the start of the event, with Mark Hall and Brady Berge serving as counselors. Below are five storylines to watch at this year's JJ Classic. Alex Lloyd celebrates after beating Peyton Robb to win his second state title (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) Lloyd goes for No. 4 Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.), the nation's No. 23 overall senior, will be looking to capture his fourth straight JJ Classic title. He is competing at 145 pounds. Only one other wrestler, Mark Hall, has won four or more JJ Classic titles. (Hall won five.) Lloyd was named the Outstanding Wrestler at last year's event, picking up two technical falls and two pins to reach the finals. In the finals, Lloyd cruised to a 12-4 major decision over a state champion. He is a two-time state champion and two-time Junior National folkstyle champion. Lloyd has committed to South Dakota State. Israel Navarro, a state runner-up to Patrick McKee, will attempt to win his third JJ Classic title (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) Navarro attempts three-peat Israel Navarro (Willmar, Minn.) will attempt to become the fifth wrestler to win three or more JJ Classic titles, joining Hall, Lloyd, Justin Portillo and Bobby Steveson. Last year, Navarro survived three one-point matches en route to claiming the JJ Classic title at 120 pounds. His finals victory came over Colby Njos 4-3 in tiebreaker. Navarro was a state runner-up last season, losing in the state finals at 120 pounds to nationally ranked Patrick McKee. He is competing in this year's JJ Classic at 132 pounds, one of the tournament's toughest weight classes (see below). Sam Stuhl defeated Brent Jones to claim a title at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament (Photo/David Peterson) 132 pounds loaded with talent The 132-pound weight class is one to keep an eye on this weekend as it is loaded with talent. In addition to the two-time JJ Classic champion Navarro, the weight class includes multiple-time state champions Sam Stuhl (Ellsworth, Wis.) and Charlie Pickell (Mankato West, Minn.), as well as Fargo freestyle finalist Aidan Medora (Brookfield Academy, Wis.). Stuhl is a three-time state champion. Last season he won titles at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament and Bi-State Classic, and was a runner-up at the JJ Classic. Stuhl, like Lloyd, committed to South Dakota State. Pickell will be looking to win his first JJ Classic title after finishing third in the event in 2015 and runner-up a year ago. The two-time defending state champion is up three weight classes from last season. He has won state titles at 106 pounds and 113 pounds. Medora, one of the nation's top sophomore wrestlers, reached the finals of the Cadet freestyle competition in Fargo this past summer before losing to Carson Manville, a 2015 JJ Classic runner-up and the nation's No. 1 freshman wrestler. He was a state runner-up as a freshman, finishing the season with a record of 38-4. Medora was also a runner-up at last year's JJ Classic. He defeated Pickel by fall earlier this year in freestyle at the Northern Plains Regional, which was held in the same venue as the JJ Classic. Another wrestler who could challenge in this weight class is Dylan Droegemueller (Anoka, Minn.), a fourth-place finisher in the Junior National folkstyle competition earlier this year. Others to watch in this weight class include state third-place finishers Tanner Kroells (Delano, Minn.), Mike Smith (Amery, Wis.) and Colby Mennis (Madison, S.D.), as well as state placerwinner Cade Lundeen (Thief River Falls, Minn.). Reid Ballantyne won a state title as an eighth-grader, finishing the season undefeated (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) Ballantyne looks to go 2-for-2 Last year, Reid Ballantyne (Stillwater, Minn.) became the second eighth-grader ever to win a JJ Classic title, joining Mark Hall, who accomplished the feat in 2011. Ballantyne is one of the young, rising stars in the sport. He was an undefeated state champion last season and is ranked among the top 20 freshmen in the nation by InterMat. Ballantyne has moved up three weight classes from last season and is now competing at 126 pounds, a weight class that includes multiple-time state champions Ryan Ripplinger (Bismark, N.D.), Hunter Burnett (Pipestone Area, Minn.) and Brody Armstrong (Minot, N.D.). Ripplinger was third at last year's JJ Classic, losing to Navarro in the semifinals. Burnett is a two-time state champion who has yet to suffer a loss as a high school wrestler in Minnesota. Armstrong has won state titles at 120 pounds and 126 pounds. Anthony Cassioppi won Junior National titles in all three styles (Photo/Jim Thrall) Cassioppi returns Anthony Cassioppi (Hononegah, Ill.), one of the nation's top high school heavyweights, is returning to the JJ Classic. The future Iowa Hawkeye last competed in the event two years ago, winning a title by defeating Andrew Piehl, who now wrestles for Navy. Cassioppi won Junior National titles this year in all three styles of wrestling, folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman, becoming just the eighth wrestler ever to win a Junior National Triple Crown and the first since 2014. Prior to Fargo, Cassioppi became a Pan American Junior champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman in Lima, Peru, going a combined 7-0, which included four falls and three technical falls. He was awarded the "Golden Boot" as the Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman. Cassioppi claimed a state title as a junior, finishing the season with a perfect 50-0 record. He is ranked as the nation's No. 27 overall senior by InterMat. For more information on the JJ Classic, visit intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic.

David Carr won a Junior freestyle title in Fargo (Photo/Jim Thrall) Four-time state champion David Carr (Massillon Perry, Ohio) verbally committed to Iowa State on Wednesday afternoon. He announced his decision on Flowrestling.com. His father Nate was a three-time NCAA champion for the Cyclones, and his brother Nate Jr. was a two-year starter at Iowa State. The No. 7 overall wrestler in the Class of 2018 won a state title in Kentucky as an eighth-grader before winning state titles in Ohio each of the last three seasons, the first at Dayton Christian with the two most recently coming as a Perry Panther. Carr ended the 2016-17 season ranked No. 3 nationally at 152 pounds, and was a Junior National freestyle champion this past summer in that weight class. Additionally, in the summer of 2016 he was a Cadet World bronze medalist in freestyle at 69 kilograms. He chose Iowa State over Ohio State and Oklahoma State.

MANHEIM, Pa. -- Simon Fraser University's entry into the NCAA in 2011 made it the first school outside of the U.S. to be part of the organization. Campbellsville University's international recruitment has been unique in women's wrestling circles. Those two factions will combine to create a unique matchup at the 52nd annual NWCA All-Star Classic set for Princeton University's Jadwin Gym on Sunday, November 5. The NWCA All-Star Classic is hosted by Wrestlers in Business Network and sponsored by Princeton Brain and Spine and Northwestern Mutual Life. Simon Fraser, located in Burnaby, British Columbia, will send out California native Dominque "Dom" Parrish for one of the most anticipated women's bouts of the evening. Parrish will face Puerto Rico native Andribeth Rivera of Campbellsville at 123 pounds, the second Tiger wrestler announced to participate in the event. Rivera topped Parrish in a wild 10-10 criteria decision in the 2017 WCWA national championship finals at 123 pounds. Rivera was a three-time age-group medalist at the USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota from 2004-2016. Parrish also had age-group success, placing twice in Fargo and winning the 2014 Junior women's freestyle championship. Rivera finished 14th at the 2017 UWW Junior World Championships this past August and has won bronze medals at both the junior and senior level at the Pan American Championships. Parrish went north of the border after finishing her high school career at Scotts Valley High School, just north of Santa Cruz. Parrish was third at the WCWA championships as a freshman and is a two-time All-American. She recently won the UWW U23 World Team Trials in Rochester, Minnesota and will represent the United States in Poland at the U23 World Championships in late February. On the men's side, a couple of low seeds who broke through with solid NCAA performances will get the nod at 184 pounds. NC State's Pete Renda, fresh off a redshirt season, will give the Wolfpack a wrestler in the event for the fourth consecutive year. Max Roshkopf won back-to-back appearances in 2016 and 2017, while Nick Gwiazdowski participated in 2015 in Philadelphia. A native or Topton, Pennsylvania, Renda went 26-8 as a junior after moving up from 174 pounds. Entering as the No. 13 seed, he finished third in 2016. In 2016-17, he redshirted, going 13-2 in open competition, but one of those wins was over 2016 NCAA Division I champion Myles Martin of Ohio State. Renda is a three-time NCAA qualifier. UNI's Drew Foster placed seventh at the NCAAs at 184 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Drew Foster started his career at Northern Iowa at 157 pounds, but a not-so-graduate shift in weight classes proved to benefit the Burlington, Iowa native. Placing seventh in a loaded weight class as the No. 12 seed at the 2017 NCAA Division I Championships, Foster went from 15-18 in 2015-16 to 26-6 in 2016-17. It was one of the most notable improvements in all of college wrestling. Foster's participation will mark the 15th appearance by a Northern Iowa wrestler in the event and will end a 13-year drought. The last UNI wrestler to compete was in 2004 when Sean Stender fell to eventual Dan Hodge Trophy winner Emmett Willson of Montana State-Northern in the event hosted at the University of Delaware. UNI is 3-10-1 all-time in the event. Renda will make NC State's 12th appearance. Overall, Wolfpack wrestlers are 5-6 overall. Renda and Foster have not met in in-season college competition, but the two schools have met one previous time in the event -- a 3-0 win by NC State's Tab Thacker over John Kriebs in 1984 at what was then the unlimited weight class. WHAT: 52nd NWCA All-Star Classic hosted by Wrestlers in Business Network WHEN: Sunday, November 5, 3 p.m. WHERE: Jadwin Gym, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. TICKETS: $20 (group discounts available) SOCIAL MEDIA: #ComeBackToJadwin #allstarclassic2017 #wrestleback WATCH: www.trackwrestling.com INFO: www.goallstarclassic.com ANNOUNCED MATCHUPS Men 125: Darian Cruz, Sr. (Lehigh) vs. Nick Piccininni, So. (Oklahoma State) 133: Seth Gross, Jr. (South Dakota State) vs. Stevan Micic, So. (Michigan) 141: 149: 157: 165: 174: Mark Hall, So. (Penn State) vs. Zahid Valencia, So. (Arizona State) 184: Pete Renda, Sr. (NC State) vs. Drew Foster, Jr. (Northern Iowa) 197: Kollin Moore, So. (Ohio State) vs. Jared Haught, Sr. (Virginia Tech) 285: Women 101: 109: 116: Fayth Woodward (Emmanuel) vs. Makayla Bourbon, Sr. (U. of the Cumberlands) 123: Dom Parrish, Jr. (Simon Fraser) vs. Andribeth Rivera, So. (Campbellsville) 130: Megan Black, Sr. (McKendree) vs. Shelby Hall, Sr. (Campbellsville) 136: 143: Mallory Velte, Sr. (Simon Fraser) vs. Desiree Zavala, So. (Grays Harbor) 155: 170: Jessika Rottier, Jr. (U. of the Cumberlands) vs. Brandy Lowe, Sr. (McKendree) 191: Note: Women's college wrestling competes under international freestyle rules.

Can't make it to Rochester, Minnesota, this Saturday for the JJ Classic? You can catch all the action online. InterMat is not only providing live video streams of all the mats from the JJ Classic, but also recording every match and posting them live on the brackets via Trackcast. Catch some of the nation's top high school wrestlers in action this Saturday. The tournament begins at 10 a.m. CT. Visit the

Anthony Cassioppi after winning a Fargo title in freestyle (Photo/Jim Thrall) Anthony Cassioppi (Hononegah, Ill.), one of the nation's top heavyweights, registered for the JJ Classic on Monday night. Cassioppi won Junior National titles this year in all three styles of wrestling, folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman, becoming just the eighth wrestler ever to win a Junior National Triple Crown and the first since 2014. Prior to Fargo, Cassioppi became a Pan American Junior champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman in Lima, Peru, going a combined 7-0, which included four falls and three technical falls. He was awarded the "Golden Boot" as the Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman Cassioppi claimed a state title as a junior, finishing the season with a perfect 50-0 record. He was a JJ Classic champion in 2015. Cassioppi is ranked as the nation's No. 27 overall senior by InterMat. He committed to the University of Iowa. The InterMat JJ Classic takes place on Saturday in Rochester, Minn. For more information on the JJ Classic, visit intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic.

Think you know Dan Gable? If you're involved in amateur wrestling as an athlete, coach, official or fan, you undoubtedly know the Gable basics. Incredible 181-1 record in high school (Waterloo West, Iowa) and college (Iowa State). Olympic gold medalist at the 1972 Munich Games. Built a dynasty as head coach at the University of Iowa, with 15 NCAA team titles. Goodwill ambassador for wrestling around the world. However, there's so much more to know about Dan Mack Gable, as readers will discover in the brand-new book, Dan Gable: A Wrestling Life 2, the follow-up to the best-selling A Wrestling Life: The Inspirational Stories of Dan Gable, both published by the University of Iowa Press. The 411 on A Wrestling Life books The front inside flap of the just-published A Wrestling Life 2 provides a perspective on the book ... and its subject: "When people think of the celebrated greatness that is Coach Dan Gable, they think of an almost mythic intensity toward wrestling. Gable breathes and bleeds the sport, and faithfully applies lessons learned from both on and off the mat. Expanding upon Gable's first collection of stories, A Wrestling Life 2 goes deeper into the Gable Principles and life events that have shaped the man, the wrestler and the coach." Two years ago, A Wrestling Life: The Inspirational Stories of Dan Gable, created a sensation not just in the wrestling community, but in the world of sports. That first edition was a unique memoir of the wrestler/coach's life, with each individual chapter addressing a significant element of the Gable story. A Wrestling Life, written by Dan Gable with Scott Schulte, spent two months on The New York Times sports bestseller list. As they say, you can't have too much of a good thing. Hence the follow-up book, Dan Gable: A Wrestling Life 2. This new edition, written by Dan Gable along with Kyle Klingman, incorporates a similar format that made the first book so popular: the great Gable sharing stories as if he were sitting right beside you. Klingman comes aboard Kyle Klingman and Dan GableYou might recognize the name Kyle Klingman. He's a wrestling writer and columnist for WIN (Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine) ... and director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum located in Gable's hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. How did A Wrestling Life 2 come about? "The University of Iowa Press decided to create a second edition after positive reaction to the first book and because people wanted more Dan Gable stories after the great response to the first set of stories," Klingman told InterMat. "While the first book was most about his family and his upbringing, readers wanted depth about Dan's athletic and coaching career. Hopefully this book accomplished that." "Scott Schulte, the first author, was unable to continue work on the second book so the University of Iowa Press needed someone to fill the gap," Klingman continued. "I happened to be at a book signing with Dan Gable in Osage, Iowa, and met Susan Hill Newton of the University of Iowa Press at the book signing. We began a dialogue and she approached me several weeks later about finishing the second book with Dan. She approached Dan about the idea and he was agreeable to bring me on board." "I am grateful to Susan for providing me this opportunity." New insights from Dan the Man Reading A Wrestling Life 2 is like reading a journal that was penned by Dan Gable himself. As with the initial A Wrestling Life book from two years ago, the follow-up book is also written in first-person, as if the legendary coach were speaking (or writing) directly to you, the reader. While it's safe to say that readers who enjoyed the original A Wrestling Life book will find more to love in A Wrestling Life 2, the new book covers unique ground. The first book provided a you-are-there perspective on Gable's athletic and coaching career, along with a presentation of the major milestones in his childhood and teenage years -- including the murder of his only sibling, Diane, in the Gable home while he and his parents were away on a fishing trip. The new book seems to place greater emphasis on Gable's career in wrestling -- first, as a wrestler, from as a youngster who excelled at multiple sports but found his calling on the mat, to phenomenal success at Waterloo West (wrestling for Bob Siddens), then at Iowa State (being mentored by yet another coaching giant, Harold Nichols), and on to further success in freestyle, culminating with a gold medal at the Munich Olympics 45 years ago ... then as head wrestling coach at the University of Iowa who took the Hawkeyes to new heights. Klingman has continued the "Gable voice" presentation in A Wrestling Life 2. This writer was curious as to how this came about so seamlessly. It turns out that the Gable-Klingman collaboration took a number of different forms. "My role in the book was a mix of many things," Klingman disclosed. "Dan wrote much of the book by hand. Some of the chapters were finished and I filled out the chapter with additional historical content and quotes from his athletes. Some of the chapters I wrote from scratch and Dan would read and make changes to ensure it was similar to his dialect. There were other times when we worked on a chapter together and I would type as Dan spoke." Dan Gable: A Wrestling Life 2 is so compelling, some fans will devour it in a single reading (akin to binge-watching a favorite TV series) ... yet it incorporates a concise-chapter format that allows readers to pick up the book, read a chapter or two, then return to the book for more tales from the Great Gable. (The chapter construction makes this book especially appealing to young readers who may usually have a short attention span.) Readers of all ages will recognize the wrestling and coaching greats that are the subjects of Dan Gable's storytelling and marvel at the unique insights shared by this giant in the sport. If you enjoyed the first Gable memoir A Wrestling Life, you'll want to read the follow-up Dan Gable: A Wrestling Life 2. If you haven't read either book, you owe it to yourself to spend some quality time with the compelling stories of Dan Gable contained within both A Wrestling Life (2015) and A Wrestling Life 2 (2017). Dan Gable: A Wrestling Life 2 -- and its predecessor, A Wrestling Life: The Stories of Dan Gable -- are both available for purchase from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. Want to know more about Dan Gable? Check out these InterMat features on the 1970 NCAA finals match between Gable and Larry Owings ... Iowa Icons: Dan Gable documentary DVD ... and Nolan Zavoral's Season on the Mat book which chronicles Gable's last season as Iowa head coach.

Alex Lloyd was Outstanding Wrestler at the 2016 JJ ClassicTwo-time state champion Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.) has registered for the JJ Classic at 145 pounds. Lloyd will be looking to win his fourth JJ Classic title. Last fall he was named Outstanding Wrestler at the JJ Classic. In April, Lloyd won his second straight Junior National folkstyle title. He placed fourth in the Junior freestyle competition in Fargo this past summer. Lloyd was a Junior double All-American in Fargo in 2016, and won a Cadet National Greco-Roman title in 2015. He is a four-time state placewinner, finishing fifth as a seventh-grader, third as an eighth-grader, before winning state titles as a sophomore and junior. Lloyd is ranked as the nation's No. 23 senior recruit by InterMat. He has committed to South Dakota State University. The InterMat JJ Classic takes place on Saturday in Rochester, Minn. For more information on the JJ Classic, visit intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic.

More than a decade after becoming the first All-American in program history, Jason McLean is returning to Muhlenberg as head wrestling coach. A 2001 graduate of Muhlenberg, McLean earned All-America honors by finishing eighth at 141 pounds at the NCAA Championships as a senior. He also won the Centennial Conference championship that year, finishing with a record of 34-11 -- the second-most wins in a season in program history. Jason McLeanMcLean also went 28-10 and was the CC runner-up at 126 in 1998. He ended his career with a 71-31 record. "This opportunity to step in at the helm at Muhlenberg means the world to me," said McLean upon his hiring. "I am beyond appreciative of Corey Goff [director of athletics] and the Muhlenberg faithful for giving me this opportunity and look forward to the journey ahead." "The plan is to lead with the same vigor, drive and persistence that helped make me Muhlenberg College's first All-American and to fill the wall with more. I never took my last year of eligibility and chance at giving Muhlenberg a two-time All-American then; I plan on making up for it now." Since 2003, McLean has served the New Brunswick (N.J.) School District in a variety of roles, including head wrestling coach, assistant football coach, assistant track & field coach and assistant athletic director. He also has coached football at The Pingry School (N.J.). In 2006, McLean re-established the defunct New Brunswick High School wrestling program after a 25-year absence. Starting from scratch and forced to practice in hallways and other area schools at the beginning of his tenure, McLean built a program whose roster numbered in the 40s. The program now fields a youth program and a competitive middle school team as well. He was also one of the co-founders of the New Jersey Urban Wrestling League. McLean was named Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division coach of the year in 2016 after leading the Zebras to a 21-8 record. New Brunswick qualified for team sectionals last year and have had a winning record five years running as well as qualifying a handful of wrestlers for the regional tournament.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga announced the field for the 2018 Southern Scuffle, presented by Compound Clothing today. The return of NCAA champion Penn State, along with a host of other top programs, continue the tradition of excellence at the Jan. 1-2 event. Representatives from nine teams who finished in the top 25 at last year's NCAA Tournament are making their way to Chattanooga for the New Year's event. The Nitnany Lions lead this group that includes Ohio State (2), Oklahoma State (3), Michigan (10), Lehigh (12), Virginia (15), N.C. State (17), Northern Iowa (18) and Stanford (24). The Buckeyes, Cowboys, Wolverines and Wolfpack are all sending partial teams to this year's Scuffle. Individually, there could be as many as seven individual NCAA Champions on the mat. Over 70 of the competitors qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament, while 21 were All-Americans. "This is going to be another great year for the Scuffle," stated UTC head coach Heath Eslinger. "Once again, we are really excited about the field and the quality of competition we are bringing to Chattanooga. "Our partnerships with Compound Clothing, the Chattanooga Sports Committee and FloWrestling have all helped make this the best in-season wrestling tournament in the country, and we are working to make sure we continue that with this year's event." Flowrestling will live stream every match of the tournament for the sixth year in a row. The Scuffle is also utilizing FloArena software for the second year. FloArena is the most complete and turnkey event management software in the market, allowing wrestling tournament and dual meet organizers to offer real-time scoring updates across multiple mats simultaneously. FloArena archives every match instantly and links those matches to the brackets. Tickets for the 2018 Southern Scuffle go on sale Nov. 1. However, you can get the best seats today by purchasing a season ticket for UTC wrestling. Those include the home duals against Virginia Tech, Ohio, SIUE, Appalachian State and Gardner-Webb in Maclellan Gym. Daily admission is $35 for reserved seats, $20 for general admission and $10 for youth general admission. All-session passes are $60 for reserved, $35 for general admission and $15 for youth. Tickets can be purchased online on GoMocs.com or by calling the UTC Ticket Office at (423) 266-MOCS (6627). Group rates are also available by contacting Barry Kamen at (423) 425-5740. 2018 Southern Scuffle Participants Team Finish at the 2017 NCAA Tournament Penn State 1 Ohio State* 2 Oklahoma State* 3 Michigan* 10 Lehigh 12 Virginia 15 N.C. State* 17 Northern Iowa 18 Stanford 24 Appalachian State 26 Navy 31 Duke 32 Cleveland State 44 Lock Haven 44 Gardner-Webb 47 Northern Colorado 47 Cal State Bakersfield 53 Drexel 53 Utah Valley 53 George Mason 62 The Citadel 66 Chattanooga 69 Air Force Hofstra

Wrestling is returning to New Jersey's St. Joseph High School next fall after being eliminated nearly a quarter-century ago, MyCentralJersey.com reported Sunday. The school revealed its decision to reinstate the sport -- eliminated after the 1992-93 season -- at an open house event on Sunday. The program will return to the mats during the 2018-19 school year. Back in the early 1990s, St. Joseph axed the wrestling program because of low participation numbers, especially in the upper weight classes, according to the school's last head wrestling coach, Don Bryner, who has taught English at the school for 36 years. "At that point I wish we had football because I could always feed off of that," said Bryner, who noted that St. Joseph had since added football to its sports roster, making it easier to recruit multi-sport athletes to participate in wrestling. "We were a small team. I mean that literally and figuratively," Bryner explained. "We were heavier in the lighter weights. We did what we could do with what we had." Ron Mazzola, longtime chair of the GMC Wrestling Tournament seeding committee and Region V ranking chairman, said he recalls St. Joseph fielding competitive teams on the mats in the mid to late 1980s before the school's participation numbers in the sport began to decline. "I knew St. Joe's wrestling when they were really strong and I know that in the early 1990s they canceled the program," Mazzola said. Now that a successful football program is in place the time appears to be right for wrestling's return to St. Joseph. "We've been toying with the idea and it's kind of been coming down the road," St. Joseph athletics director Mike Murray said, noting students have expressed an interest in participating in the sport. "There's definitely a percentage of kids in the building who would certainly be willing to pick it up or are interested in picking it up. We want to make sure we are providing everything our kids want to be competing in." One individual who's eager to see the reinstatement of the wrestling program at St. Joseph is none other than Scott Goodale, head wrestling coach at nearby Rutgers University. "Any time you can bring wrestling into the curriculum at the high school level, it's a really big deal," Goodale said. "I'm assuming they (the Falcons) are bringing it back because there's interest. It's a great sport -- obviously I'm biased -- for so many reasons including the discipline and character that are built. Everybody, at some point in their lives, should partake in wrestling." Goodale speaks from experience, having coached both wrestling and football at Jackson Memorial High before moving into the college coaching ranks. "Football and wrestling go hand-in-hand," according to the Scarlet Knights head wrestling coach. "I'm speaking from experience. When I was at Jackson, that's the way it was. There's no coincidence we had really successful programs (in both sports) because of it." Wrestling's return to St. Joseph bucks a trend that has seen fewer individuals participate in the sport at the high school level over the past four years, both at the national and statewide levels. St. Joseph High School is a Roman Catholic, all-boys school located in Metuchen, N.J., between New York City and New Brunswick, N.J. Founded in 1961, St. Joseph has an enrollment of approximately 700 students.

Gary Quintana, former Fresno State wrestler who had coached wrestling in the area where he grew up for more than a decade, died from an apparent heart attack Thursday. He was 45. Prior to his passing, Quintana had been working out with his nephew and youth wrestlers at the Selma Youth Wrestling Club. "It's a big loss for the wrestling community," former longtime Fresno State coach Dennis DeLiddo -- Quintana's college coach -- told the Fresno Bee. "He probably didn't have an enemy in the world." "Nobody disliked Gary. He always had a smile on his face." The Fresno State Bulldog wrestling program -- which will return to the mats this fall for the first time in over a decade -- posted the following message on its Facebook page: "The Fresno State wrestling family lost a great man yesterday. Gary Quintana you will be missed. Thank your dedication to the Valley." Quintana made his mark on wrestling in the Fresno area over the course of two decades. As a wrestler at Selma High School, Quintana was a California state champ at 133 pounds as a senior and three-time state medalist. After graduating in 1991, Quintana continued with his mat career at Fresno State under DeLiddo, where he was a two-time NCAA championships qualifier and conference champion. Quintana then launched a coaching career in wrestling in California that lasted until his death. He coached at a trio of local high schools, first as an assistant coach at Clovis West and Bullard, then as head coach at Clovis North. Most recently he was the coach at Granite Ridge Middle School. Quintana was welcomed into the Selma (High School) Hall of Fame in 2013. "Wrestling has helped mold me into the person I am today," Quintana told his hometown paper, the Selma Enterprise, at the time of his induction into his alma mater's hall of fame. "The successes I've had are all due to the place where I'm from and the people I was around. I wouldn't take anything back for the world. I would do it all again."