InterMat Staff

Defiance College in northwest Ohio is seeking a head coach for a wrestling program to take to the mats for the first time in the 2018-19 season, the website d3wrestle.com reported Tuesday. Established in 1850, Defiance College is a private, liberal arts school with approximately 1,000 students. The school is located in the town of Defiance, in the northwest corner of Ohio near the Indiana border, about an hour southwest of Toledo. The Yellow Jackets wrestling program will compete in NCAA Division III and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Schools within the HCAC which already feature intercollegiate wrestling programs include Mount Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati, and Manchester University in Manchester, Ind. According to the job description posted at d3wrestle.com, responsibilities for the head coaching position at Defiance College include “all duties normally associated with being the head coach of an intercollegiate wrestling program including, but not limited to, recruiting, coaching, budget management, organization of training, practices and competitions, academic monitoring and other duties as assigned.” “Candidates must demonstrate significant knowledge of wrestling, proven success in coaching wrestling at the collegiate or high school level, the ability to recruit, develop and motivate Division III student-athletes, a strong commitment to the academic success of student-athletes, knowledge of and commitment to all NCAA, HCAC and institutional rules and regulations, good communication skills, and strong leadership. A bachelor's degree (master's preferred) and valid driver's license are required. Review of applications for this full-time, 10-month August 1-May 31 position (with an immediate start date this first year) will begin immediately and continue until position is filled.” Candidates are encouraged to send a complete resume with cover letter, along with contact information of four references, via email to mcall@defiance.edu. Defiance becomes the third NCAA Division III college in the state of Ohio to announce new wrestling programs this year, joining Wilmington College and Ohio Wesleyan. In addition, just last month, Urbana University, a Division II school in western Ohio, announced it was hiring a head coach for a new wrestling program.

John Harmon, a National Wrestling Hall of Fame Governors Associate who received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014, passed away on Tuesday, at the age of 80 years old. "On behalf of our Board of Governors and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, we extend our sincere sympathies to John's wife, Elaine, their daughters, Debbie and Wendy, and his family and friends," said Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. "John was a significant member of our board for nearly two decades, and generously blessed our organization and the sport with his time, talents and treasure. He will always be remembered and loved by the Hall of Fame for his wisdom, philanthropy and concern for preserving our sport's heritage." John HarmonHarmon, who was a member of the Board of Governors from 1996-2013, was one of the original contributors to an endowment fund created for the Hall of Fame in 2007, making a $500,000 pledge. He was also instrumental in helping the Hall of Fame get funding in 2009 for its "Glory Beyond the Sport: Wrestling and the Military" book and exhibit at the museum, and was co-founder and treasurer of the New Jersey Chapter. "The Hall of Fame is our heritage and it needs to be preserved," said Harmon at the time. "Everybody knows who the national champions were last year, but what about 40 or 50 years ago. The Hall of Fame is the repository for that information." Harmon became a wrestling fan while attending Lehigh University, where he received his bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1959. He founded and published the EIWA Newsletter, which was recognized as Wrestling Publication of the Year in 2001 by the National Wrestling Media Association, from 1990-2013, and was co-author of the History of Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. He received the Bob Dellinger Wrestling Writer of the Year award in 2012, presented annually to the nation's top wrestling journalist. He was director of sports information for the EIWA while also serving on the EIWA Hall of Fame Board of Directors and as a liaison between the NCAA and working media at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships from 1998-2006. "John Harmon never stepped on the mat as a wrestler, but the impact he had on our sport and will continue to have on our sport through his endowment to the Hall of Fame is immeasurable," said Terry Shockley, Chairman of the Board of Governors. "John loved wrestling, and he understood the importance of preserving its history. He was also someone who was willing to do whatever was necessary for wrestling, particularly to help it grow." He and his wife, Elaine, funded the renovation of Grace Hall, the notorious wrestling venue at Lehigh known at the Snake Pit, and they were also instrumental in helping to fund the Caruso Wrestling Complex, named in honor of Mike Caruso, who was inducted as a Distinguished Member by the Hall of Fame in 1991. The Harmons also supported the head wrestling coach endowment and the John J. Harmon '59 Wrestling Scholarship as well as the building of Goodman Stadium and the Oberkotter Memorial Endowment Fund. He worked throughout his life as a programmer and systems analyst for various Fortune 500 companies, including Mutual Life, New York Central Railroad, Schenley Industries, Olivetti Corporation and Iowa Pacific Holdings, where he was a member of its Board of Directors. He was a member of the National Railroad Historical Society and a representative to TEFS Limited, a group that organizes tours for the study of operating steam power railways. Harmon also served on the Lawrence Township Board of Education and served as president of the Mercer County School Board Association. Update 9/28/17 There will be a memorial service on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 2:30 p.m., at Poulson & Van Hise, 650 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, 08648. There will be a reception immediately following at Mountain View Golf Club, 850 Bear Tavern Road, Ewing, New Jersey, 08628. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Clyde F Barker Transplant House at http://ow.ly/2NUY30ftDvU

Women's wrestling will become Tiffin University's 26th NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sport beginning in the 2018-19 season. Women's wrestling will be TU's 13th women's sport. The women's wrestling team, which will host matches in the Gillmor Student Center, will compete as an emerging sport in the NCAA. Men's wrestling head coach Joey Simcoe has been named Director of Wrestling Operations. He will be actively involved as Tiffin University opens a nationwide search for a women's wrestling head coach. Tiffin University will compete in the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association. The WCWA serves as the governing body for women's college wrestling as it grows as an emerging NCAA sport. There are 30 college teams that are current members. The league follows International Freestyle Rules. "We are thankful to President Lillian Schumacher and Athletic Director Lonny Allen for having the foresight to see the possibilities," said Simcoe. "It shows how much the school believes in wrestling not just in this area but also nationally and what it can mean for the area and the student-athletes. We are excited to be the first collegiate women's wresting program in Ohio and look forward to continued growth with other schools in our sport." "We are excited to add women's wrestling as our 26th varsity sport," said Lonny Allen, Athletic Director. "Women's wrestling is rapidly growing across the nation on the youth and high school levels, and there are still limited opportunities for competing at the college level. We believe we are well situated to take advantage of that growth. We believe this addition provides these student-athletes with the chance to continue their athletic pursuits while obtaining a top notch education at Tiffin University."

Bill Nelson -- three-time NCAA wrestling champ, 1948 Olympian and wrestling coach who passed away Saturday in Arizona at age 90 -- will be honored with two services, including a memorial service in Arizona, and a traditional funeral in Iowa. Bill Nelson The memorial service in the state which Nelson called home will take place Friday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. at the Christ Church United Methodist on Craycroft in Tucson, Ariz. A funeral for William J. Nelson will be held Monday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. Central in his hometown of Eagle Grove, Iowa at the United Methodist Church, 421 West Broadway Street. Cards and letters of condolence may be sent to Bill Nelson's family at 10334 West Willowbrook, Sun City, Ariz. 85373. Nelson was a highly accomplished amateur wrestler. Wrestling for Eagle Grove High, he won an Iowa state title in 1945 (along with his late brother Dale). He continued his academic and athletic career at was then Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa), where he won three individual NCAA championships: the 165-pound title in 1947 as a freshman, then back-to-back titles at 155 in 1949 and 1950. (As a sophomore, Nelson suffered an injury at the 1948 NCAAs and withdrew from competition, thus missing out on the opportunity to possibly become the first four-time NCAA wrestling champ, a distinction earned by Oklahoma State's Pat Smith four decades later.) Nelson earned a place on the U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team for the 1948 London Games, but sustained an injury and was unable to take to the mats. (In his place, alternate Leland Merrill of Michigan State won the bronze medal for the U.S. at 73 kilograms/160.5 pounds.) After concluding his on-the-mat career in 1950, Nelson launched a coaching career that spanned more than three decades, first at high schools in the Midwest, then taking the helm of the wrestling program at University of Arizona. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame paid tribute to Bill Nelson who was welcomed into the Stillwater, Okla. Hall as a Distinguished Member in 1980. "On behalf of our Board of Governors and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, we extend our sincere sympathies to Bill's wife, Violet, and his family, friends, former wrestlers and students," said Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. "Bill was a trailblazing hero to those who watched him compete at Iowa Teachers College and in freestyle. He was equally admired for trying to grow the sport throughout the United States as a high school and college coach."

Award-winning wrestling journalists Andy Hamilton and Mike Finn will go On The Mat on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Andy Hamilton and Mike FinnTrackwrestling.com's Hamilton, and Finn, editor of WIN (Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine), will offer a preview of the upcoming wrestling season for the mat programs at University of Iowa, Iowa State, and University of 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 this Wednesday at 5 p.m. Central on AM 1650, The Fan. A podcast of the show is available on mattalkonline.com E-mail dgmstaff@nwhof.org with any questions or comments.

Kika Kagata headlines the Japan women's team at Beat the Streets (Photo/Richard Immel) LOS ANGELES -- International women's wrestling power Japan will bring a young, dynamic team to compete against the United States at the Beat the Streets Los Angeles 4th Annual Benefit being held at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center on October 29. The friendly exhibition will feature 10 bouts between the top two women's wrestling programs in the world. The newly established weight categories, as announced last month by United World Wrestling, will be utilized for the competition. Five of the 10 Japanese women expected to compete in Los Angeles have won a gold medal at either the Cadet or Junior World Championships. Three others have won a World-level medal in the Cadet or Junior division. Headlining for Japan is reigning Junior World champion Kika Kagata at 50 kg/110 lbs. Kagata went unchallenged at the Junior World Championships held in Tampere, Finland, last month, downing all of her competitors by either technical fall or pin. She is a three-time Cadet World champion and two-time Junior Asian champion. Two-time Junior World champion and Cadet World champion Rino Abo will represent Japan at 76 kg/167 lbs. Abo has not competed internationally in 2017, but does own a silver medal from the 2016 Asian Championships. Three of Japan's middleweights have a Cadet World title on their resume. 55 kg/121 lbs. entrant Andoria Hanako Sawa and 62 kg/136 lbs. combatant Atena Kodama secured gold at the 2016 Cadet Worlds in Tbilisi, Georgia. Yoshimi Kayama, who will compete at 57 kg/125 lbs., was a 2012 Cadet World champion and 2015 Junior World silver medalist. Kayama also won a silver medal at the 2015 Asian Championships. Kiwa Sakae, a 2015 World Team member for Japan, will take the mat at 59 kg/130 lbs. She was a Junior World bronze medalist three years ago. A pair of past Cadet World runners-up are slated to compete for Japan at 65 kg/143 lbs. and 72 kg/158 lbs. Miwa Morikawa won Cadet World silver in 2016 and was a Cadet Asian champion in 2015. Mei Shindo doubled as a Cadet World silver medalist, making the finals in 2013 and 2015. Rounding out the list of Japanese competitors are Mai Hayakawa at 68 kg/150 lbs. and Yuri Yonamine at 53 kg/116 lbs. Both women have represented Japan at the Junior World Championships, but were unable to grab a medal. Hayakawa did earn a bronze medal at this year's Junior Asian Championships. The U.S. lineup for the Beat the Streets Los Angeles 4th Annual Benefit will be announced in the coming weeks. The competition serves not only as an excellent opportunity to highlight women's wrestling, but also to showcase Los Angeles as host of the 2028 Olympics. Furthermore, BTSLA will honor Anita DeFrantz, Olympic athlete and International Olympic Committee member, with its inaugural Leaders in Sport Award. All proceeds of the 4th Annual Benefit Weekend will be directed to BTSLA's programming efforts. The nonprofit's signature program features wrestling events alongside leadership-building activities and personal mentoring in 24 schools and neighborhood training centers. In addition, BTSLA operates a summer Futures Camp and Downtown Los Angeles Wrestling Academy. Over 650 boys and girls annually benefit from these offerings. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.btsla.org. BEAT THE STREETS LOS ANGELES 4TH ANNUAL BENEFIT At Los Angeles, October 29 Event Schedule 3 p.m. - Japan vs. United States at Japanese American Cultural & Community Center 5:30 p.m. - Benefit celebration at Japanese American National Museum Japan Roster 50 kg/110 lbs. - Kika Kagata 53 kg/116 lbs. - Yuri Yonamine 55 kg/121 lbs. - Andoria Hanako Sawa 57 kg/125 lbs. - Yoshimi Kayama 59 kg/130 lbs. - Kiwa Sakae 62 kg/136 lbs. - Atena Kodama 65 kg/143 lbs. - Miwa Morikawa 68 kg/150 lbs. - Mai Hayakawa 72 kg/158 lbs. - Mei Shindo 76 kg/167 lbs. - Rino Abo Team Leader and Head Coach - Toshihiro Naritomi Assistant Coach - Kazuhide Tomida Assistant Coach - Yayoi Odagaki About Beat the Streets Los Angeles Beat the Streets Los Angeles (BTSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that cultivates sports-based youth development in underserved neighborhoods throughout the greater Los Angeles area. The only organization in Los Angeles of its kind, Beat the Streets' mission is to empower and transform the lives of youth through the sport of wrestling. About USA Wrestling USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. It has over 220,000 members across the nation, boys and girls, men and women of all ages, representing all levels of the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender. More information can be found at TheMat.com.

Bill Nelson presented with National Wrestling Hall of Fame plaque (Photo/NWHOF) Bill Nelson, three-time NCAA wrestling champion for Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) and 1948 U.S. Olympic team member who went on to coach at the high school and collegiate level, passed away Saturday, Sept. 23 in Sun City, Ariz. He was one month shy of his 91st birthday. Bill NelsonWilliam J. Nelson was born on Oct. 24, 1926 in Jewell, Iowa, the son of Harry and Fern Nelson. He wrestled at Eagle Grove High School in north-central Iowa, where he was a three-time placer at the Iowa state wrestling championships, winning the heavyweight title at the 1945 tournament. After graduating from high school, Nelson headed east to ISTC/UNI to wrestle for head coach Dave McCuskey, joining a team which included, among others, Bill Koll (three-time NCAA champ and future UNI/Penn State coach) and Bob Siddens (future Waterloo West (Iowa Iowa coach who mentored Dan Gable). It was at Northern Iowa where Nelson won three NCAA individual championships: the 165-pound title in 1947 as a freshman, then back-to-back titles at 155 in 1949 and 1950. While wrestling for the Panthers, Nelson was undefeated in dual competition. A national magazine named Nelson the nation's outstanding amateur wrestler in 1950, his senior year. Bill Nelson was a key component in Northern Iowa winning the team title at the 1950 NCAAs held on the school's Cedar Falls campus. Five Panthers made it to the finals; Nelson was one of three home team heroes to win individual titles at the Men's Gymnasium (now West Gym), joined by Keith Young at 145 pounds, and Bill Smith at 165. Nelson won National AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) freestyle titles his last two years at Northern Iowa. Bill Nelson's college alma mater paid tribute to one of the school's all-time great athletes on social media. "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Panther great Bill Nelson, 3x NCAA wrestling champion for #PantherTrain," University of Northern Iowa Wrestling posted on its Facebook page Sunday. "Mr. Nelson died Sept. 23 at the age of 90." Bill Nelson on a ship on his way to the 1948 London Olympics (Photo/NWHOF)While an injury during the 1948 NCAAs denied Nelson the chance for a national title that year, he was able to wrestle at the U.S. Olympic Trials, winning the title and earning a place on the 1948 Olympic freestyle team. However, injury got in the way of Nelson competing in London; alternate Olympian Leland Merrill of Michigan State won the bronze medal for the U.S. at 73 kilograms/160.5 pounds at the 1948 London Games. After graduating from what is now UNI, Nelson launched a coaching career in both high school and college that spanned three decades. He started at Brighton High School in Colorado (1953-55); Osage High School in Iowa (1955-57); and Michigan's Kalamazoo Central High School (1957-63). A decade of coaching at the high school level prepared Nelson to take the step up to the collegiate ranks. He served as head wrestling coach of the now-defunct mat program at the University of Arizona from 1963-1983. While at the Tucson-based school, Nelson coached six NCAA All-Americans, leading the Wildcats to seven NCAA top 20 finishes. He was also instrumental in getting the NCAAs to hold their 1976 championships at Arizona, the first time the Nationals had been held in the southwest U.S. A dozen years after leaving Arizona, Nelson returned to coaching, working as a volunteer assistant at Bondurant-Farrar High School in Iowa in the 1990s. "More than that, I think over the period of 30 years of coaching I influenced a lot of kids, helped a lot of kids," Nelson told the Des Moines Register upon being welcomed into the newspaper's Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. "To me that's more important than anything else. I remember taking kids that were discipline problems, getting them out for wrestling and they became good citizens." Bill Nelson's brother Don shared these thoughts with InterMat: "My brother Bill was an outstanding wrestler and human being, he will be truly missed by his family and friends. He was a wrestling hero to me and to the young men he coached during his coaching tenure." For all his accomplishments as a wrestler and coach, Nelson was welcomed into a number of halls of fame, including the Helms National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1963, the Arizona Wrestling Hall of Fame (1977), the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame (both in 1980), and the University of Northern Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. In addition to his brother Don, Bill Nelson is survived by his wife of 70 years, Violet; two sons (William D. and Bruce); two daughters (Leanne and Lori); and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother Dale -- like Bill, a 1945 Iowa state champ -- who was killed in a car crash in 1946.

Junior National freestyle All-American Justin McCoy (Chestnut Ridge, Pa.), also a state champion during the past high school season, verbally committed to the University of Virginia on Sunday evening. The No. 49 overall wrestler in the 2018 class is also a three-time state placer, along with placing third at the NHSCA Junior Nationals and fifth at the Flo Nationals this past spring. McCoy joins No. 74 Joey Baughman (Wadsworth, Ohio) as a top 100 commit for the Cavaliers, and projects to compete collegiately as a 157/165.

Garrett College will add intercollegiate wrestling to its sports lineup in the 2018-19 academic year, the school in western Maryland announced this week. With this news, Garrett will be the first wrestling program in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference, offering high school wrestlers seeking a two-year school the opportunity to continue their on-the-mat careers in the state. Garrett College offers other advantages, including on-campus housing, as well as proposed sports management and exercise science degrees for student-athletes seeking those career options as a way to stay connected with sports long after graduation. The school is making a significant investment in the new wrestling program, with plans to hire a head coach who will have full-time responsibilities within the athletic department as well as a second athletic trainer. The college's target date for having a coach in place is no later than November 1st so that the coach can spend the 2017-18 high school wrestling season recruiting for next year's squad. "We intend to commit the resources necessary to run a successful wrestling program and ensure we have the athletic training resources to cover three winter sports," said Garrett College president Dr. Richard Midcap. "The only way I was interested in expanding athletics was if we did it the right way. In addition, our financial projections indicate the program actually begins to generate a profit with 14 additional full-time students enrolled -- and we expect to enroll at least 20 wrestlers who would not otherwise have attended GC." According to the official announcement, Garrett plans to recruit from Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The new wrestling program at Garrett College will join existing teams in men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball, women's volleyball, and golf. "Garrett College has a rich tradition of athletic success," said Gibson. "We expect to write another chapter in that success story with the addition of wrestling." Garrett College is a two-year, state college located in the town of McHenry in western Maryland. Founded in 1967 as Garrett Community College, GC has an enrollment of approximately 4,500. The new Lakers wrestling program will compete in the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association).

James Cox, psychiatrist who wrestled at Ursinus College in the 1940s -- and was the father of current Ursinus assistant coach Lee Cox -- passed away Sept. 12. He was 90. Cox, who led the staff of the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia and founded the University City Swim Club, died last week at Bryn Mawr Hospital from complications caused by diabetes. James CoxJames Lee Dolan Cox was born June 16, 1927, in New York City, but moved as a child to Philadelphia, where his family traces its roots back to the mid-1600s. He was raised in Philadelphia and later in Ocean City, N.J. With an older brother serving in the military during World War II, Cox entered Valley Forge Military Academy, Class of 1944, with the idea of receiving an appointment to West Point. Unable to do so, he went instead to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., arriving in 1945 as the war ended. Three years later, he transferred to Ursinus College in Collegetown, Pa. -- about 30 miles west of Philadelphia -- to prepare for medical school. At Ursinus, Cox was captain of the 1949 wrestling team. That year, he was the 142-pound titlewinner at the Mid-Atlantic Conference championships and was named the conference's Outstanding Wrestler. Cox crafted an undefeated record at Ursinus. He later competed at the Olympic wrestling trials. Cox was later inducted into the Ursinus College Hall of Fame in 2002. In 1949, Cox graduated from Ursinus and became a medical student at what today is the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. While there he met his future wife Nancy Christie. The two married in 1953, the year he graduated. Cox spent many years as chief of staff and president of the staff at the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital. One of his sons, Lee, now an assistant wrestling coach at Ursinus, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that his father chose to work with some of the hardest-to-reach patients, especially juveniles diagnosed with schizophrenia, paranoia, or depression. In addition to his medical work, James Cox was a driving force in getting the University City Swim Club -- an integrated facility -- built in Philadelphia in the mid-1960s, and was ardent supporter of BalletX, a venture launched by his daughter Christine. In addition to his son Lee and daughter Christine, Cox is survived by daughters Linda and Barbara; son Eric; a brother; a sister; and eight grandchildren. Services were held Saturday, Sept 22. Contributions may be made in memory of Dr. James L.D. Cox to BalletX, 265 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 or submitted online at balletx.org/donate.

It was a split outcome for former amateur wrestlers at Bellator 183 at SAP Center in San Jose Saturday night, as one-time prep wrestling phenom Aaron Pico celebrated his 21st birthday with a brutal first-round knockout, redeeming himself from suffering a similar fate in his professional mixed martial arts debut this summer ... while past collegiate mat star Benson Henderson lost on a split decision in the main event. Pico makes up for debut loss ... Aaron PicoAaron Pico, who passed on a promising collegiate wrestling career by signing with Bellator at age 18, had a disastrous pro MMA debut back in June, submitted with a guillotine choke in just 24 seconds by veteran Zack Freeman in New York City. Pico's second Bellator fight went much better than his first. He redeemed himself at Bellator 183, picking up "a highlight-reel knockout in the opening round," to quote MMAJunkie.com. Pico -- a high school state wrestling champ who made it to the finals of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials -- knocked Justin Linn out cold with "a picture-perfect left hook" at 3:45 of Round 1, for the 21-year-old's first victory of his MMA career. Another wrestler-turned-emerging MMA star, Penn State three-time NCAA champ Ed Ruth, weighed in on Pico's performance, tweeting, "With a nasty left hook, Aaron Pico has a stun gun in his knuckles. Congrats on the win!!!" That knockout blow is no surprise, given that Pico also has an amateur boxing background, having won a National Junior Golden Gloves title in 2009. With the win, Pico is now 1-1 in his young MMA career ... while Linn drops to 7-4 overall, and 0-1 in Bellator competition. ... while Henderson comes up short Benson Henderson, former UFC lightweight champ and two-time NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) All-American wrestler for Nebraska's Dana College, fell to Patricky "Pitbull" Freire in his second straight split-decision loss. The three judges scored the three-round bout 29-28, 29-26, and 30-28 for Freire. (The official scoring mirrors that of Sherdog.com's three MMA experts, who, in their live coverage, scored the fight 30-27 Friere, 30-27 Henderson, and 30-28 Fiere.) To reinforce the idea that the Henderson-Friere bout was close, MMAJunkie.com used the phrase "chess match" in the headline for its coverage of the Bellator 183 main event ... and, in the text of the article, said it was "a fight that frequently dipped into a tactical stalemate." Sherdog.com reported, "Neither man did much to warrant the judges' favor." "Freire had a tough time getting inside to land punches on the southpaw Henderson, who proved an elusive target as he sniped to the body with kicks," according to MMAJunkie.com. "Takedown attempts from Henderson in the second and third rounds ate up a sizable chunk of time as Freire wrestled to stay upright." With the win, Freire improves to 18-8-0, while Henderson, 33, who has fought professionally since 2006, drops to 24-8-0 overall, and 1-3 since moving from UFC to Bellator.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois wrestling coach Jim Heffernan announced the addition of redshirt senior Brock Ervin as a student volunteer coach. The addition comes on the heels of back-to-back season-ending injuries for the Morganfield, Illinois native. Brock ErvinAfter tallying 21 wins while redshirting in 2014-15, Ervin started for the Illini during each of the next two seasons. In 2015-16, Ervin finished with an 8-5 record, highlighted by a 14-12 upset of No. 12 Steve Bleise at Northern Illinois. After an injury cut the end of his season short, Ervin bounced back in 2016-17 with a 13-3 record to start the season only to see his season again ended due to injury. Overall, Ervin finished his Illini career with a 21-8 record with five of the victories coming by fall. Off the mat, Ervin excelled in the classroom. A two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Ervin was also named an Academic All-American by the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 2015-16. A product of Union Country High School in Morganfield, Kentucky, Ervin won five state titles, going undefeated against opponents from the state of Kentucky. He was a part of two Union County High School state championship teams and was named the team's Most Outstanding Wrestler as a senior. For complete coverage of Fighting Illini wrestling, go to FIGHTINILLINI.com and follow @IlliniWrestling on Twitter and Instagram.

MEQUON, Wis. -- Concordia University Wisconsin Director of Athletics Dr. Rob Barnhill has announced the hiring of Kevin Koch, as head coach for the wrestling program. "I am very excited to announce the hiring of Kevin Koch as our new wrestling coach and welcome he and his wife home," Barnhill stated. "Kevin was an accomplished student-athlete at CUW and has had an impressive professional career as the head wrestling coach at Edgar High School. He has boundless enthusiasm and love for the wrestling program here and the university and its mission. The future of CUW wrestling is going to be very bright with this new appointment. Kevin and I agree on the philosophical principles of building our team and his intended direction and leadership were evident during the interview process." Kevin KochKoch, one the greatest wrestlers in program history, returns to his alma mater a decade after ending his career as a national qualifier. The Edgar, Wis., native completed his career with 119 career victories, which ranks second all-time. Koch won over 30 matches in a season twice, including an outstanding 36-10 record during his senior campaign that culminated in a trip to the NCAA Division III Championship. He was also named the CUW Male Athlete of the Year and to the NWCA Scholar All-America Team. "I am blessed to be given this opportunity to coach at my alma mater," Koch expressed. "CUW has been a special place for me and I look forward to being able to foster that experience for other wrestlers coming through our program." A highly successful high school coach at Edgar High School for the past 10 years, also his alma mater, he coached a program that was a perennial WIAA state contender. He coached seven individual WIAA state champions, 10 individual WIAA state placers, and 33 individual WIAA state qualifiers. Koch also guided the Wildcats to nine-consecutive Marawood Conference titles, to go along with a 120-38 dual meet record. During his time as a Falcon; he posted a 33-11 record during his rookie season, 22-9 mark as a sophomore, 28-13 as a junior and had his most successful season as a senior with a 36-10 record. His overall four-year record was 119-43 while wrestling at 141 pounds. The three-time MVP and team captain was inducted into the school's William C. Ackman Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. He earned 14 top-5 finishes, won titles at the Wisconsin Private College Tournament and Lake Michigan Conference Tournament twice, while also placing third at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region twice. While in high school, Koch won two WIAA state individual championship at Edgar (1998, 2000). He received his Bachelor's Degree in Education in 2006 and his Master's Degree in Education in 2012, both from CUW. He is married to Kaitlin and the two have a daughter, Grace.

Dan DiColo, NCAA Division III All-American wrestler at the College of New Jersey, has been named head wrestling coach at Wayne Hills High School in New Jersey, NorthJersey.com reported Friday. Dan DiColoDiColo succeeds Brian Basile, who resigned from Wayne Hills following the 2016-17 season. As a TCNJ wrestler, DiColo placed sixth in the 157-pound bracket at the 2009 NCAA D3 Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, competing for one of the all-time great Division III mat coaches, Dave Icenhower, who passed away nearly three years ago at age 66 after a long battle with cancer. The College of New Jersey alum will be both an instructor and coach at Wayne Hills, much as he was at Franklin Township High School in Somerset, N.J. for the past eight years. "It really worked out well," said DiColo of the hiring process for his new job. "I'm very excited about coming to Wayne Hills. I live pretty close to the school. I can't wait to start working with the kids." "I know the reputation that they're hard-working kids," DiColo added. "There are some talented younger kids on the team and a good group of seniors, as well. I'm excited about working with the recreation program, too." Prior to launching his teaching/coaching career, DiColo wrestled at Mount Olive High School ... then at TCNJ for Icenhower, who, as head coach, compiled one of the most impressive won-loss records in all of Division III wrestling -- 535-80-4 overall -- before his death in October 2014. "Coach Icenhower taught me so much, not only about wrestling, but the importance of academics," said DiColo. "He was an amazing coach and mentor." Wayne Hills High School is a comprehensive, four-year public school located in Wayne, N.J. in Passaic County. The school -- one of two high schools in the district -- has an enrollment of approximately 1,400 students.

Lavion Mayes CLARION, Pa. -- Clarion wrestling coach Keith Ferraro announced today that Lavion Mayes, a three-time All-American and 2017 national runner-up at 149 pounds, is joining the Golden Eagle staff as a volunteer assistant coach. "Lavion had an incredible college career and is going to be a tremendous addition to our staff," Ferraro said. "He brings an expectation of success into our practice room every day. He entered Mizzou as a walk-on and climbed his way to the national finals, and that's the kind of progress we want our guys to believe is possible." A 2017 graduate of Missouri, Mayes was just the fifth Tiger in program history to earn three All-American honors during his career. He reached the national final at 149 pounds at the most recent NCAA Championships in St. Louis, one year after taking third place in the 2016 Championships in New York City. He also earned All-America honors at 141 pounds in 2015, and qualified for the NCAA Championships at that same weight in 2014. Overall, Mayes finished his collegiate career with a record of 122-24, including a 53-6 record in dual matches and a 25-4 record against Mid-American Conference (MAC) foes. He claimed 29 major decisions, seven technical falls and seven wins by fall through his career. Mayes became the 25th member of the 100-win club at Mizzou on Nov. 13, 2016 with a 9-4 win over Old Dominion's Michael Hayes. His overall wins total ranks ninth in Mizzou history, his major decisions total fourth, and his overall winning percentage seventh.

Tom Brands (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors) IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands has received a three-year contract extension, and the UI Athletics Department announced Friday it will begin exploring possibilities for a new wrestling training center. Both announcements were made by University of Iowa Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta. Brands, who has won three NCAA team titles and coached 10 national champions since taking over the program in 2006, is now under contract through 2022-23. "Tom embraces the challenges and responsibilities associated with leading the Iowa wrestling program," Barta said. "He is committed to our philosophy of 'Win, Graduate, Do It Right.' There is tremendous momentum behind our wrestling program and I'm excited about the future." "I'm fortunate to be a part of an institution that is committed to providing a world-class experience to its student-athletes," Brands said. "We have tremendous leadership and I thank Gary Barta, Barbara Burke, President Bruce Harreld, and the entire campus community for their continued support of the Iowa wrestling program." Barta also announced that the department will conduct a facility feasibility study that could lead the Hawkeyes to training grounds outside of their traditional second floor space at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where they have trained since the building opened in 1983. "As part of our on-going commitment to student-athletes, the department will begin a feasibility study for the potential development of a wrestling practice facility," Barta said. "The study will allow us to evaluate our options for the continued enhancement of Iowa wrestling." "There is a great deal of momentum behind this project and that's a testament to the support and vision of our fans and leadership," Brands said. "We expect to be the best. There is no question. There is no starting point. There is no end. It's a continuous process and this is the next step in that process." The Iowa wrestling program has led the NCAA in attendance in each of Brands' 11 seasons, setting the dual meet attendance record in 2015 when 42,287 watched the "Grapple on the Gridiron" inside Kinnick Stadium. Carver-Hawkeye Arena also hosted the United States Olympic Wrestling Team Trials in 2012 and 2016 (setting an attendance record in 2012), and will host the United World Wrestling World Cup in April, 2018. The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championship that features the top eight men's freestyle wrestling teams in the world. In 2016, The United States Olympic Committee named Iowa City one of seven "Olympic Hometowns in America." "Wrestling at Iowa is a lifestyle," Brands said. "It's practiced every day in the classroom, in the household, in the community, and on the mat. Our administration knows it. Our fans expect it. And we love it."

What determines a great athlete? Is it muscular strength? Endurance? The ability to jump, run quickly and stay coordinated? Opinions are as numerous as the physical activities that qualify athletes for consideration. This week, Sports Illustrated attempted to tackle the question by rating their top 50 fittest athletes. Overall the sporting news stalwart fared well, including a few outlandish and dubious selections, but mostly choosing the greats within sports to be their poster men and poster women. The most laudable of their decisions was to include five-time world (or Olympic) titlist Jordan Burroughs among their top ten athletes. The consideration was decent mainstream publicity for a sport that often gets overlooked during print listicles, but they did the world a favor and chose Jordan Burroughs to be included in their top 50 fittest men. While the WWE "Charlotte" did make the list, USA Wrestling's three-time defending title holder Helen Maroulis was left off. The UFC saw a few of its fighters creep on, as did water polo and a half dozen track and field athletes. When breaking into the mainstream, wrestling -- especially women's wrestling -- faces a number of biases. For starters, despite the increased media coverage of our athletes and their athletic prowess, disengaged sports fans mostly associate wrestling success with extreme mental toughness and hay-bailing strength. To the commoner, wrestling is still a collection of rapid weight loss techniques, pre-dawn sprint workouts and singlets. The overall athleticism of the sport is minimized by the myopic, tough-guy façade promoted over the last several decades. Helen and women wrestlers of her success are still being punished for that failure to properly promote the athletic and healthy nature of the sport. The Skirt Bias, which implies that male administrators (like those in the NCAA) are unwilling to promote women in combat sports, is limiting the sport's sphere of influence in the mainstream. While Helen's Olympic accomplishment was one of the most-watched moments of the Olympic Games, not enough of the story focused on her incredible strength-to-flexibility ratios and technical acumen. Wrestling fans and former wrestlers can do something about this stereotype. When peers ask about the sport, or start in with the antiquated assertion about the sport, point them to something positive. Tell them about the techniques required to be successful, or forward them a video of wrestlers like Frank Chamizo performing acrobatics on the mat that are usually reserved for Cirque du Soleil. Go to the United World Wrestling Instagram page and find any number of photos or highlight videos that show our athletes performing stunts in real time that most other athletes would need weeks to rehearse. We are the best press agents for our sport and we are the ones who can reverse the biases that have kept us from the mainstream for generations. Show the sport. To your questions … Jordan Burroughs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) and Buvaisar Saitiev Q: Jordan Burroughs vs. Buvaisar Saitiev in his prime, who would you pick? Does Saitiev make your list of the five greatest freestyle wrestlers of all time? Does JB make the list? -- Andrew F. Foley: Burroughs. Saitiev wouldn't be able to handle the level change to a double and would find difficulty in the new rules set keeping his scrambles in bounds. JB's second shot ankle pick and the angles he creates in snatching ankles would give Saitiev absolute fits. My top five freestyle wrestlers of all-time: Buvaisar Saitiev, John Smith, Aleksandr Medved, Sergei Beloglazov, Jordan Burroughs. Q: It's pretty obvious to me that Jon Jones has been cheating/using steroids for much/most of his MMA career. UFC cracked down on performance-enhancing drugs when USADA was implemented in 2015. Because of that, I consider Daniel Cormier to be undefeated in his career, since his only losses have come to the cheater Jones. Do you look at DC as one of the best MMA fighters ever? -- Mike C. Foley: Jon Jones deserves to be told the truth. So far it seems few have delivered the message. He is not the greatest fighter to have ever lived. He is not special. He is not a hero or a villain. Jon Jones is nothing. He has accomplished nothing in his career and any honor he had in risking himself to the cage was so obviously mitigated by his consumption of steroids that it proves almost non-existent. Steroids are moving out of MMA and for those that fight clean it means a sport that rewards intelligent training and mental toughness. Jones was doing neither. He only knew how to press harder on the gas, to undermine his future by indulging at full throttle in the temptations of the present. That's not the discipline of a champion, or a hero. That's sociopathic behavior best reserved for outside the octagon. Jon Jones is nobody. He's no longer a fighter and he was never a true champion. Jones now has a chance to become someone else, someone new. But Jones has yet to fulfill the idea of success through hard work or satisfaction through delayed gratification. Jones is the hustler playing Three-card Monte on the corner, in search of a quick dollar even as it costs him a lifetime. Q: Do you think the United States will have any world champions in U23 this year? If so, who could you see winning a world title? -- Mike C. Foley: We will have to wait and see who comes out of the World Team Trials next month in Rochester, Minnesota. It would seem likely that some of our college talent may contend for the team, but given the time of the year I don't know which wrestlers will be entering, or who might come out in the end. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME The family of Aaron Hernandez announced their intention to sue the NFL for damages after it was shown that the former tight end suffered from severe CTE. He only played 38 games in the NFL. Link: 110 NFL Brains Q: What percent chance do you give the Gophers of winning the NCAA team title? They seem pretty strong in the lower weight classes. -- @tommyselenski Foley: 0.1 percent chance. Penn State and Ohio State are running way too hot for a third team to be considered. Ohio State has seven All-Americans and three national champions. Penn State has five national champions returning and the ability to put up buckets of bonus points. While Minnesota will be in good shape to potentially finish with a trophy, they would need help and for their lightweights to outperform expectations. Joey McKenna (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: Gun to your head, which transfer do you see having the highest 2018 NCAA finish of these three, Nick Suriano (Rutgers), Joey McKenna (Ohio State) or Pat Downey (Iowa)? -- Mike C. Foley: Joey McKenna has had the least amount of publicity and is entering a team filled with winning wrestlers and a coach who knows how to motivate his athletes. McKenna has always been uniquely talented and if his training situation and personal happiness have been improved by transferring into Tom Ryan's room, I see little reason to think he won't finish in the top three. Downey has the potential, but seems he spends a lot of time on the Internet, which can be a massive distraction come the stress of the season. I wish him the best balancing the online world and the heavy hitters of the Big Ten. Suriano should place. I just think it might not be as high as McKenna. Q: Do you think Iran will be at the 2018 World Cup in Iowa City? -- @Stealy_Phil Foley: No. The only way that they will be in attendance is if Cuba can't afford to make the trip, but they almost always have made the commitment to attend. I would like to see Iran in the mix, but without them does allow for a year of new nation vs. nation storylines, which can be a positive thing for the sport. Q: Aaron Pico has his second pro MMA fight this weekend at Bellator 183. There is significantly less hype now than he had in his debut. He fights Justin Linn (7-3). Do you expect Pico to dominate Linn? Or could we see a competitive fight? -- Mike C. Foley: I thought we'd see Pico dominate in his first fight and was proven (very) wrong. Pico's standup is something he'll need in the ring, but to win this fight it would be best for him to settle down and try to find an identity as a fighter. With about a minute of in-cage experience the worst thing Pico can do is rush his game plan like he did at MSG. The key for Pico will be to soften up his opponent from a distance, cut off the cage, find a clinch against the cage and take the fight to the ground. If he can cycle through that series and feel the various aspects of a live fight I think that he will not only beat Linn, but create the momentum necessary to build a solid career as a fighter. Kevin Dresser (Photo/Cyclones.com) Q: Of the new coaching hires, which one do you find the most interesting? -- @Half Again Foley: Kevin Dresser to Iowa State feels like a lifetime ago, but I think his successes and failures will be the most documented and commented on this season. I'm interested to see how the mixture of assistants and young guys come together for big matches. Given his track record, I'm sure that Dresser and his crew will manage the disappointments and encourage the youngsters to stay the course. Jason Welch at San Francisco State is also an interesting development. We won't hear much from him or his team for a few years, but if he's able to create a winning formula I think that his personality will be a nice fit should he move up to the Division I level. The Paulson brothers at Virginia should also be very interesting to see how they help develop my alma mater! Q: Why is everyone under the Titan Mercury banner, along with their own clubs? -- @Jagger712 Foley: They are only wrestling for the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. However, they may also be repping their Regional Training Center.

Anthony Artalona (Photo/Jim Thrall) Two-time Junior National freestyle champion Anthony Artalona (Tampa Prep, Fla.) committed to the University of Pennsylvania on Thursday afternoon. The No. 20 overall wrestler in the Class of 2018 is also a three-time state champion and four-time state finalist during the scholastic season. Artalona ended the 2016-17 season ranked No. 10 nationally at 152 pounds. He chose Penn over Columbia, Purdue and North Carolina State.

James Mohney, two-time Pennsylvania state wrestling champ for Clearfield High believed to be the oldest prep titlewinner in the Keystone State, died Tuesday at his home. He was 92. James MohneyMohney went on to win a conference title for Penn State, and later crafted a long teaching and coaching career in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. James D. Mohney was born March 1, 1925 in Clearfield, Pa. It was there he launched his decades-long career in wrestling as a competitor and coach. At Clearfield High School in north-central Pennsylvania, Mohney wrestled for legendary head coach Art Weiss, where he was a two-time District champion and twice a state champ, winning the 85-pound crown at the 1941 and 1942 PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) state finals. In an interview four years ago with WeAreCentralPa.com, the then-88-year-old Mohney recounted his come-from-behind victory to grab his first state title. "I had nine seconds to go and I was two points behind," Mohney recalled. "And I got my favorite takedown. And we went into overtime. I just was able to dominate those two periods." Mohney compiled a 31-3 record as a Bison. He graduated from Clearfield in 1942. During World War II, Mohney served with the US Army Air Corps, completing 35 combat missions in the South Pacific as an Engineer Gunner. At the end of the war, Mohney then enrolled at Penn State. As a Nittany Lion, he won an EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) conference title in 1947, and qualified for the 1947 NCAA championships. He also wrestled at numerous AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) and YMCA events. Mohney graduated from Penn State in 1950. Mohney began his teaching career in Pennsylvania at Tyrone High School where he also served as the wrestling coach. After nine years, he moved to Long Branch, NJ where he taught for 19 years. At Long Branch, he started the wrestling program and was admitted to the NJ Shore Conference Coaching Hall of Fame. Mohney then moved back to Clearfield and was a teacher and became Vice Principal at Clearfield High School until his retirement in 1987. Throughout his coaching career, Mohney also served as a wrestling official for twenty-five years on both the high school and collegiate levels. Mohney has been welcomed into a number of Halls of Fame. He was admitted to the Clearfield Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame along with being a member of the Pa. Coaching Hall of Fame, Pa. District 9 Coaching Hall of Fame, Tyrone Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Penn State University Hall of Fame. Mohney is survived by his wife of nearly 67 years, Betty Lou; four children; eleven grandchildren; and fifteen great grandchildren, as well as a brother and a sister. Visitation will take place at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home in Clearfield on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. with the funeral service taking place at 3 p.m. with Mr. Gary V. Mohney, son, officiating. Interment will be in the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde at a later date, to be determined by the immediate family. Military honors will be accorded at the funeral home by the Honor Guard detail from Andrews Air Force Base. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Clearfield Wrestling Club, PO Box 30, Clearfield, PA 16830. To sign the on-line guest book go to www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com.

Seton Hill University wrestlers practiced more than takedowns and escapes in the wrestling room Tuesday. They put life-saving skills into practice when one of their coaches had a heart attack. Mark MarshallVolunteer assistant coach Mark Marshall collapsed while wrestling with a student… and the wrestlers of the NCAA Division II school in Greensburg, Pa. quickly sprang into action. "When I looked over, I saw Marshall on his side," Seton Hill freshman wrestler Joseph Miller told KDKA-TV, the CBS affiliate in Pittsburgh. "And I had this feeling. They teach us to recognize, react and respond." Although wrestling is an individual sport, Seton Hill wrestlers and coaches came together as a team to aid coach Marshall. Miller and head coach Brian Tucker, both certified in CPR, immediately started taking turns doing chest compressions, while student assistants Ty Lydic and Tanner Druck relayed information between the 911 dispatcher and those performing CPR. "We were all just communicating together. It was really just a team effort," Miller said. In the meantime, assistant coach Brett Smith took the other wrestlers out of the building and put them to work outside by helping to direct traffic to make it easier for athletic trainer Jordan Blair to the wrestling room to help coach Miller. Blair used a defibrillator to help restore Miller's heart function before paramedics took over. "At that point too, Coach Marshall was coming back through and responding and talking," according to head coach Tucker. The Seton Hill coaching staff and wrestlers had saved the life of Mark Marshall, 54, a veteran world champion wrestler who team members described as being "in phenomenal shape" but had been diagnosed in 2012 with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm, according to a 2014 story at the official Seton Hill wrestling website. Marshall, who wrestled at the now-defunct NCAA Division I wrestling program at Indiana State -- college alma mater to world champion Bruce Baumgartner -- has served as a volunteer coach for the Seton Hill Griffins since the program was launched in 2006. Marshall is scheduled for triple bypass surgery Thursday. Seton Hill University is a private, Catholic 4-year school located just outside Pittsburgh in Greensburg, Pa. It had been a women-only school until men were admitted in 2002. Seton Hill has an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students. The Griffins wrestling program competes in NCAA Division II.

With the 2017 InterMat JJ Classic a month away, the 132-pound weight class is shaping up to be a weight class you won't want to miss. It already includes a pair of multiple-time state champions and a Fargo freestyle finalist. Sam Stuhl, a three-time state champion, was a runner-up at last year's JJ Classic (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) Sam Stuhl (Ellsworth, Wis.) is back in the JJ Classic after finishing as a runner-up last year in the same weight class. Stuhl, who committed to South Dakota State, is a three-time state champion. He won titles at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament and Bi-State Classic last season. Two-time state champion Charlie Pickell earned All-American honors in Fargo (Photo/David Peterson, MN/USA Wrestling) Another multiple-time state champion, Charlie Pickell (Mankato West, Minn.), will be looking to get on top after finishing as a runner-up last year at the JJ Classic. The two-time defending state champion is up three weight classes from last season. Pickell finished third at the 2015 JJ Classic at 106 pounds, and followed it up with a runner-up finish in 2016 at 113 pounds. He has won state titles at 106 pounds and 113 pounds. Aidan Medora was a runner-up to Carson Manville in Fargo (Photo/David Peterson, MN/USA Wrestling) Aidan Medora (Brookfield Academy, Wis.), one of the nation's top sophomore wrestlers, is also entered at 132 pounds. Medora reached the finals of the Cadet freestyle competition in Fargo before losing to Carson Manville. He was a state runner-up as a freshman, finishing the season with a record of 38-4. For more information on the JJ Classic, visit intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic. To register to compete in the JJ Classic, visit intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic/register.

College coaches are the focus of this week's episode of Takedown TV, now available for viewing: One-on-one Oklahoma State University head coach John Smith Takedown Radio archives with four-time All-American Mike McMullan (now an assistant coach at his alma mater, Northwestern) and Drexel head coach Matt Azevedo One-on-one with Frank Beasley, newly hired George Mason University head coach, and Maryland head coach Kerry McCoy 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 JJ Classic Clinic is set for Saturday, Oct. 21, in Rochester, Minn. The clinic will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the UCR Regional Sports Center before the JJ Classic, which begins at 10 a.m. The JJ Classic Clinic is open to wrestlers ages 5-18 who attend the JJ Classic ($7 admission) or compete in the event. There is no pre-registration. Doors open at 8 a.m. Counselors Mark Hall (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) Mark Hall Two-time Junior world champion Cadet world champion NCAA champion Six-time state champion Five-time JJ Classic champion Nation's No. 1 recruit in Class of 2016 Brady Berge (Photo/Mary Christen, The Guillotine) Brady Berge Four-time state champion Nation's No. 1-ranked 160-pounder in 2016-17 Nation's No. 8 recruit in Class of 2017 Junior World Team Trials challenge tournament finalist Freshman at Penn State Note: Mark Hall and Brady Berge will be signing autographs following the clinic. For more information on the JJ Classic, visit intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic. To register to compete in the JJ Classic, visit intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic/register.

A third weigh-in location for the 2017 InterMat JJ Classic was announced on Wednesday. It will be held in Hartland, Wisconsin, at Askren Wrestling Academy Lake Country, on Friday, Oct. 20, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT. Two other JJ Classic weigh-in locations will be held in Minnesota at the same time. The 2017 InterMat JJ Classic takes place on Saturday, Oct. 21, at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. It is open to wrestlers in grades 7 through 12. For more information on the event, visit intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic. To register for the JJ Classic, visit intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic/register. Below is a look at the three weigh-in locations for the JJ Classic. Rochester, Minnesota Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Address: UCR Regional Sports Center 851 30th Ave. Southeast Rochester, MN 55904 Minneapolis, Minnesota Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Address: Kennedy Center (Augsburg College) 731 23rd Ave. S Minneapolis, MN 55454 Hartland, Wisconsin Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Address: Askren Wrestling Academy Lake Country 596 North Shore Dr. Hartland WI 53029

2016 state champion Joe Manchio (Seneca, N.J.) verbally committed to Columbia on Tuesday afternoon. The No. 88 overall recruit in the Class of 2018 also placed at state this past season after qualifying for state as a freshman in 2015. He projects to compete as a 125 pound wrestler in college.