InterMat Staff

The Adidas Battle the Bus National Wrestling Tour -- now crossing the United States -- will be making a stop this Saturday on Takedown Radio. Coaches, athletes and parents taking part in the national tour will join Scott Casber, Tony Hager and Brad Johnson Saturday from 9 to 11:00 A.M. (CT) on the iHeartRadio App (Search KXNO 1460), KXNO.com, TakedownWrestle.com or on AM Radio 1460. The tour started in Michigan July 24. The 21-day, ten-state journey will visit some of the best wrestling clubs, colleges and clinicians across the country, concluding in Spokane, Wash., the city where the iconic 1980 wrestling movie "Vision Quest" was filmed. To learn more about the Adidas Battle the Bus National Wrestling Tour, visit their website www.battlethebus.com or use the hashtag #battlethebus on all social media.

Kyle Crutchmer battles PSU's Mark Hall (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) Four months after wrestling at the 2017 NCAA Division I championships -- and a bit more than a month after the USA Wrestling World Team Trials -- Oklahoma State's Kyle Crutchmer is already in training for his new career as a professional mixed martial arts fighter. And he's doing it with the help of a couple fellow former Cowboys. Crutchmer -- a two-time NCAA All-American for the Cowboys -- has taken the first steps towards an MMA career. He's signed with an agent (though he has yet to ink a deal with an MMA promotion). What's more, the Tulsa native recently relocated to California full-time to join the American Kickbocking Academy in San Jose -- the same gym where Daniel Cormier, current UFC Light Heavyweight champ, and former Cowboy and Olympic wrestler -- spends countless hours in training. "I always knew I wanted to try (MMA) since I was wrestling in high school," Crutchmer told the Stillwater (Okla.) News-Press . "Wrestling at OSU, you are so tied up that you don't have much to think about other than school or wrestling, so I didn't start thinking about it again until April after I got done competing in college. "I wanted to wrestle in the summer just to say that I did it in the highest level of wrestling. But I always kind of knew that I was going to make the transition to MMA. It was just a matter of time." Last week, Crutchmer had his first boxing lesson at AKA. But he's not abandoning his wrestling roots ... thanks to yet another Oklahoma State mat alum. Jamill Kelly, associate head wrestling coach at Stanford who was a two-year starter for the Cowboys -- and a silver medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics -- asked Crutchmer to help work out with the Cardinal wrestling program. "He found out that I was going to be out in this area and asked if I would come by and wrestle his guys three times a week," Crutchmer said. "And in MMA, you still have to have good wrestling, so I see it as another avenue to learn from another one of the best guys to wrestle at Oklahoma State." Crutchmer has no allusions about finding instant fame and fortune in MMA ... but is eager to start competing. "Whenever they feel I'm ready, that's when I'll be ready to compete," Crutchmer said. "So far, I've been a fast learner. I'd like to fight before the year's over."

Matt Hughes, former UFC middleweight champ and wrestling All-American who was seriously injured in a truck-train collision in June, continues to make progress and is no longer in a coma, said fellow UFC Hall of Fame member -- and good friend -- Pat Miletich. Matt Hughes"He is surprising the doctors," Miletich said in an interview Monday. "He's making great leaps and he's no longer in a coma, and he's improving. It's going to be a long road. Any type of head trauma at that level, there's going to be some rehab." Miletich said he hasn't been able to visit Hughes, who has been hospitalized in Springfield, Ill., since the accident on June 16. "Nobody is allowed to visit him besides family," Miletich said. "That's it right now. They don't want to overload him, they want his energy to go to healing and not to anything else." There have been no updates on the Facebook page of family member Beth Hughes Ulrici since early July, who at the time reported that Matt Hughes had been removed from a ventilator and was showing "small signs of improvement." Miletich and Hughes share a long friendship ... and impressive wrestling and MMA backgrounds. Miletich, who wrestled at Bettendorf High School and at a community college in Iowa, was the UFC's first 170-pound champion who shared his knowledge with fellow Midwesterner Hughes, who later became what many consider to be one of the greatest 170-pound fighters of all time. Prior to entering MMA, Hughes was a two-time Illinois high school state wrestling champ who went on to become a two-time NCAA Division I All-American at Eastern Illinois University.

Cael Sanderson (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Despite the hopes of a number of competing wrestling programs, Cael Sanderson isn't leaving Penn State anytime soon. Sanderson and the university have agreed to a new, long-term contract to replace the agreement that had expired June 30, said Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago Tuesday. Terms of the contract have not been made public. Penn State is obligated to release contract details of only four athletic department jobs: athletic director and the head coach of football, men's basketball and women's basketball, according to The Daily Collegian. Despite concerns and speculation from some in the wrestling community about whether Sanderson would depart Happy Valley, Barbour said the coach's future at Penn State was never in doubt. "What Cael and our wrestling program has done is absolutely spectacular, but there was never an issue," Barbour said Tuesday. "It was never a concern. It was a matter of getting to the right place." Since arriving at Penn State from Iowa State in 2009, Cael Norman Sanderson, 38, has guided the Nittany Lions to new levels of success. In eight seasons, Sanderson has compiled a 112-14-2 overall record, with six Big Ten team conference crowns, six NCAA team titles, 16 individual national champs and 21 Big Ten champions.

College wrestling coaches Brett Robbins and Jim Miller will be guests on the “On The Mat” broadcast this Wednesday, July 26. Brett Robbins is an assistant coach at the University of Northern Iowa. As head wrestling coach at Wartburg, Jim Miller brought home ten NCAA Division III team titles. Jeff Bradley will serve as host for this week's edition. “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 Thursday at 5 p.m. Central on AM 1650, The Fan. A podcast of the show is available on mattalkonline.com

Why wrestle? Those involved in the sport -- athletes, coaches, fans -- can offer various reasons to participate. The opinions can range from the very specific -- "It gives you skills that help you succeed in football and other sports" -- to the more philosophical, as in this statement from Dan Gable, Olympic gold medalist and long-time successful coach at University of Iowa: "Once you've wrestled, everything else is easy." Noah Kaufman could write a book about all that he's gained in 25 years as a wrestler and coach. In fact, he has. It's titled "Lessons from the Mat: Life Lessons from a Quarter Century of Coaching and Competing." As the title suggests, "Lessons from the Mat" provides various life lessons from wrestling -- including perseverance, confidence, dedication, gratitude, and overcoming adversity -- from stories from numerous wrestlers, as well as from other real-life stories. Meet Noah Kaufman Noah Kaufman brings a wealth of wrestling experience to his new book. He was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. Kaufman wrestled at Mt. Vernon High School ... then headed south to University of Virginia, where he continued his academic and athletic career, wrestling all four years for the Cavaliers. Noah KaufmanOnce he hung up the headgear, Kaufman continued in the sport as a coach for 17 years, including a decade at George C. Marshall High in Falls Church, Va. Kaufman isn't just about wrestling. He has a minor in Religious Studies from UVA, and an MBA from University of Maryland. Kaufman has earned various professional designations as a CPA, CGFM, and CGMA. He has taught at various institutions, including for the Becker CPA review ... and has worked at various consulting/auditing firms as well as at federal agencies. Oh, and he's professionally published as a photographer. Kaufman's unique resume provides him with the ability to share a multi-dimensional look at wrestling and how it can help shape individuals of any age and experience level. When asked to provide a quick description of his book, Kaufman responded, "It's all about the lessons I've learned from a quarter-century in the sport, and how you can apply wrestling's lessons to guide your own life." How the book came together For starters, both Noah Kaufman and his wife have written books in the past. "My wife has written a couple books," said Kaufman, who has also penned a couple titles himself, including a book about Jewish business ethics. "I thought my experience in wrestling would have elements that would be worth sharing with others." "I was driven to get the book done before my son was born. He's now 13 months old." "I had a general outline prepared before I actually started writing," Kaufman said. "My experience in putting together other books was helpful in how to do research, organize information, edit, etc." "These are my experiences. I'm lucky to have coached a long time, and see how different coaches work. Their strengths, how they handle challenges." Compact ... yet packed with practical guidance "Lessons from the Wrestling Mat" chapters are organized into sections -- Warm Up, Main Event, and Post-Match Interviews. Each chapter addresses issues of significant importance to wrestlers, such as not underestimating -- or overestimating -- your opponent, leadership, celebrating success, showing appreciation, and saying the right thing at the right time. Each chapter incorporates Noah Kaufman's own experiences and observations, sprinkled with stories from others in wrestling ... all applicable for those involved in the oldest and greatest sport. "The book is written for a variety of people -- wrestlers, their parents, coaches," said Kaufman. "It's a chance to communicate unique lessons to be gained from wrestling, to others." "These lessons can be used in life beyond wrestling," Kaufman continued. "In your career, life at home, in regular life." "Lessons from the Wrestling Mat" provides guidance from the oldest and greatest sport that's applicable to life beyond the mat. The book serves up a good variety of practicable lessons covering multiple subjects, including perseverance, confidence, dedication, gratitude, and overcoming adversity, in an engaging presentation built on concise, easy-to-read chapters. To order Noah Kaufman's "Lessons from the Wrestling Mat: Life Lessons from a Quarter Century of Coaching and Competing," visit Amazon.com.

Two-time state champion Joey Melendez (Montini Catholic, Ill.) verbally committed to the University of North Carolina on Monday afternoon. He ended the 2016-17 season ranked No. 7 nationally at 113 pounds, and entered the Fargo week as the No. 67 overall wrestler in the Class of 2018. Melendez had an excellent Fargo finishing as the Junior National freestyle runner-up at 120 pounds. An additional notable accomplishment in the last 12 months for the projected 125/133 is a championship at the Preseason Nationals last fall. He joins No. 21 Brandon Whitman (Dundee, Mich.) as a Tar Heels verbal commitment in the Class of 2018.

Former University of Missouri wrestling champ Ben Askren will defend his ONE Championships MMA welterweight title this September in China. The MMA website MMAUNO.com reports that the 16-0 Askren will face Sweden's Zebaztian Kadestam, with a 9-3 record, at Shanghai Oriental Sports Stadium in Shanghai, China on Sept. 2. Askren posted the following message on his Facebook page last week: "Oh baby, it is go time!" In an interview with TheFightNetwork, Askren said, "I'm pumped to fight in Shanghai and pumped to be fighting again so soon." It will be Askren's third title defense, the last one just two months ago. In May 2017, the Wisconsin native got a first-round submission of Agilan Thani with an arm-triangle choke. It was at that same event that Kadestam made his ONE Championship debut, stopping former welterweight challenger Luis Santos, snapping the Brazilian's five-year, ten-fight undefeated streak. Prior to launching his pro MMA career in 2009, the 33-year-old Askren was a highly accomplished amateur wrestler. He was a four-time NCAA finalist for Missouri, winning titles in 2006 and 2007. Askren earned a place on the U.S. men's freestyle team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

GOLDEN, Colo. -- Colorado School of Mines dedicated the Jack Hancock Wrestling Center on July 20, honoring the long-time Mines coach with plans announced to renovate the complex's locker room area. Nearly 150 alumni, friends, family, and current Mines wrestlers gathered in honor of Hancock, coinciding with the announcement of the final piece of the center - the locker room - that will complete the facility and make it the best in NCAA Division II. "I'm overwhelmed by the number of people here for this special occasion," Hancock said at the dedication, with dozens of his former wrestlers in attendance. "You have no idea what your presence here today means to myself and my family." Hancock, a member of the Mines, RMAC, Northern Colorado, and NCAA Wrestling Halls of Fame, served in numerous roles over 37 years including the head wrestling and tennis coach, assistant football coach, and head athletic trainer. He was the head wrestling coach during his entirety at Mines, coaching the team to second-place finishes at the 1961 and 1964 NAIA National Championships. He coached tennis from 1955-66 and 1979-92, and led the Orediggers to 1974 and 1978 RMAC titles. During his time, Hancock produced 33 All-Americans. "Coach led me through many, many stages of life, first as a coach and teacher, and then as I got a little older as a mentor and confidant and close friend. But most importantly, I can still call him coach," said Mines Hall of Famer Marv Kay, who wrestled for Hancock before going to a distinguished career as an Oredigger coach and athletic director. The first piece of the Hancock Wrestling Center was completed in 2010, when the former pool space within Volk Gymnasium was decked over to create a dedicated practice facility for the program. However, the team has used the same locker room since the opening of Volk in 1959. With the roster more than doubling in size since the 1950s, the team has far outgrown the space it needs, and a new addition with modernized lockers, bathrooms, and a study lounge will be built in space occupied by the current wrestling and former men's soccer locker rooms. To learn more about the project that will shape the future of Mines Wrestling, visit giving.mines.edu/wrestlingrenovation.

Chris Weidman defeated Kelvin Gastelum Former NCAA Division I All-American wrestlers Chris Weidman and Patrick Cummins both came out on top in top-of-the-card bouts at the UFC on FOX 25 event at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. Saturday night. Weidman, a former middleweight champion, broke a three-fight losing streak at the Long Island event by submitting Kelvin Gastelum in the third round ... while, in a heavyweight match, Cummins earned a split decision over Gian Villante having "snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat with pure heart and tenacity," according to Yahoo! Sports. Weidman: Hometown Pride Weidman, a Long Island native who was an All-American at Nassau Community College before earning All-American honors as a Hofstra University Pride wrestler, made the hometown crowd proud with his first win in two years ... and his first victory by submission since 2011. Weidman used an arm-triangle choke on the eighth-ranked Gastelum at 3:45 in the third round of the bout scheduled for three. Weidman had won the first two rounds according to the live play-by-play reports at Yahoo Sports and Sherdog ... with one exception: towards the end of Round One, Gastelum stepped in with a straight left hand that sent Weidman crashing to the canvas. Following the win, Weidman said, "If you're going through something, believe in yourself. Screw what people's opinions are." Then turning his attention to 185-pound champion Michael Bisping, Weidman said, "That British bum crying in his house right now, I'm back baby! I'm back! What's up. I'm the champ and everybody knows it." With the win, Weidman, 33, is now 14-3 in his professional MMA career, while Gastelum falls to 13-3. Cummins comes through Despite looking worse for wear -- including two swollen eyes -- after three rounds of action, Patrick Cummins came through with split decision win over Gian Villante at UFC on FOX 25. Two judges scored it 29-28 for the former Penn State heavyweight NCAA All-American ... while the third gave the same score to Villante. "Cummins overcame near-disaster and outworked Villante, who faded badly as the fight went into deep waters," according to Yahoo Sports. "After nearly putting Cummins out with a punch and hammerfists in the first, Villante's technique went out the door as he was consistently beaten to the punch." Cummins now has two straight wins to compile an overall record of 10-4, while Villante drops to 15-9.

Aaron Pico was defeated by Zach Freeman in his MMA debut (Photo/Juan Garcia) One month after making his disastrous debut at Bellator NYC, Aaron Pico has committed to return to MMA. The 20-year-old former amateur wrestling phenom will climb back into the cage at Bellator 183 in San Jose's SAP Center on Sept. 23, Bellator CEO Scott Coker told ESPN Friday. Pico's lightweight bout will be a main-card feature, shown on Spike TV. An opponent has yet to be named. Also slated to appear at Bellator 183: a lightweight headline fight between Benson Henderson and Patricky Freire, and the promotional debut of heavyweight Roy Nelson who will face Javy Ayala. Pico, who passed on a promising collegiate wrestling career by signing with Bellator at age 18, had been the focus of one of the most-anticipated, most-hyped pro MMA debuts in years last month in New York City. However, it was a colossal fail for Pico, as he was submitted with a guillotine choke in just 24 seconds by veteran Zack Freeman in New York City on June 23. A high school state wrestling champion at 132 pounds, Pico made it to the finals at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, falling to former Penn State NCAA champ Frank Molinaro. In addition to his wrestling credentials, Pico brings an amateur boxing background to MMA, having won a National Junior Golden Gloves title in 2009.

Lou Rosselli (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors) A number of top college wrestling coaches will be among the guests to be featured on the Takedown Radio broadcast this Saturday, July 22. Join Scott Casber, Tony Hager and Brad Johnson for the two-hour broadcast from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Central available on KXNO 1460 AM radio and online at www.KXNO.iHeart.com or TakedownWrestle.com Here's this Saturday's guest list: 9 a.m. Roger Chandler, head wrestling coach at Michigan State 9:20 a.m. John Hangey, Rider head wrestling coach 9:25 a.m. Ryan Freeman, Pure and Clean Sports 10 a.m. Joey Roberts, Muay Thai up-and-comer 10:15 a.m. Scott Goodale, Rutgers head wrestling coach 10:35 a.m. Lou Rosselli, head wrestling coach at University of Oklahoma

Isaac Salas was a Cadet folkstyle champ, but fell short of becoming an All-American in freestyle (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) As was the case with the Junior National freestyle tournament, the Cadet level tournament had star-studded field across the weight classes. Even though some of the talent may be less known nationally, as it's younger, there were still some/many productive and capable wrestlers that fell short of becoming an All-American. Below is a listing of eight notable wrestlers in each weight class, based on performance in this tournament and/or previous credential, who fell short of All-America honors. Wrestlers are listed in alphabetical order. 88 and 285: These weight classes had less than 32 participants. 94: Alex Almeyda (New Jersey) -- UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Alex Cottey (Indiana) Danny Curran (Illinois) *rising freshman* Christian Decatur-Luker (North Carolina) Kelly Dunnigan (New Jersey) *rising freshman* Alec Freeman (Indiana) *rising freshman* Guillermo Juarez (Illinois) Blake Noonan (Michigan) -- UWW Cadet freestyle All-American 100: Riley Bettich (Michigan) -- state runner-up Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington) -- state champ, 2016 Junior National freestyle All-American Parker Decker (Texas) -- state placer Eli Griffin (Oklahoma) -- Cadet folkstyle champ Matthew Lewis (Iowa) *rising freshman* Angelo Lozado (Colorado) *rising freshman* Jake Manley (Ohio) -- state qualifier Korbin Shepherd (Missouri) *rising freshman* 106: Christian Cabuag (California) *rising freshman* C.J. Composto (New Jersey) -- state qualifier Preston Decker (Texas) -- state placer Colton Drousias (Indiana) -- Cadet folkstyle champion Noah Gochberg (Texas) *rising freshman* Kaden Kuenzi (Oregon) -- state champ, returning Cadet freestyle All-American Caden McCrary (Georgia) -- returning Cadet freestyle All-American, 2016 UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Brock McMillen (Pennsylvania) -- No. 23 Class of 2021 113: Adam Allard (Iowa) -- state champ Khyler Brewer (Missouri) -- state placer Haiden Drury (Washington) -- state runner-up Hunter Lewis (Wisconsin) -- state runner-up, UWW Cadet freestyle All-American T.J. Long (Oklahoma) -- state placer Zach Redding (New York) -- No. 27 Class of 2020, No. 15 at 106 (EOY) Jaxon Smith (Georgia) *rising freshman* Jesse Ybarra (Arizona) -- state champ 120: Terrell Barraclough (Utah) -- two-time state champ Connor McCrone (Ohio) -- two-time state placer Bret Minor (Kansas) -- state champ Luke Odom (Illinois) -- state placer Isaac Salas (California) -- No. 6 Class of 2021 Noah Villarreal (Illinois) -- state runner-up Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma) -- two-time state placer Dominic Zaccone (Illinoi) -- two-time state placer 126: Sincere Bailey (Illinois) *rising freshman* Bryce Hepner (Ohio) -- state runner-up Jose Fernandez (California) -- state qualifier Josh Jones (Pennsylvania) -- state placer Fabian Lopez (Illinois) -- No. 21 Class of 2020 Ed Scott (Pennsylvania) -- state placer Mark Shaeffer (Michigan) -- Cadet folkstyle champ Alec Viduya (Indiana) -- state champ 132: Eddie Bolivar (IIlinois) -- state qualifier Nick Dunagan (Minnesota) -- two-time state qualifier Matt Lee (Indiana) -- state placer Stockton O'Brien (Utah) -- state champ Lucas Revano (New Jersey) -- two-time state placer Dawson Sihavong (California) -- state placer, Cadet folkstyle champ A.J. Tamburrino (Pennsylvania) -- NHSCA Freshman Nationals champ Ryan Wheeler (Washington) -- state placer 138: Manzona Bryant IV (Indiana) -- No. 31 Class of 2020 Jacob Dado (Illinois) -- state placer, returning Cadet freestyle All-American Jackson Dean (New Jersey) -- Delaware state champ Lucas DeSilva (Georgia) -- state runner-up Robert Garcia (New Jersey) -- state placer Hayden Lieb (Alaska) -- state champ Alfonso Martinez (Arizona) -- No. 40 Class of 2020 Colby Njos (Minnesota) -- two-time state placer 145: Frankie Almaguer (Washington) -- two-time state champ Benny Baker (Pennsylvania) -- two-time National Prep placer Eric Bauer (Wisconsin) -- two-time state placer Hudson Hightower (Ohio) -- No. 22 Class of 2021 Sheldon Cole (Arizona) -- state placer Cole Rees (Pennsylvania) -- No. 20 Class of 2021 Justus Scott (Nevada) -- state placer Bubba Wilson (Kansas) -- state runner-up 152: McKay Foy (Utah) -- two-time state champ Angel Garcia (Pennsylvania) Colton Hawks (Missouri) -- state placer Jax Leonard (Ohio) -- state placer Cade Lindsey (Kansas) -- two-time state placer (2016 state champ) Jace Rhodes (Montana) -- state champ Daniel Snediker (Washington) -- state placer Donnell Washington (Illinois) -- 2016 state runner-up 160: Cole Hivnor (Ohio) *rising freshman* Gage Hockett (Oklahoma) -- state placer Marcos Jimenez (California) Devin Neal (Washington) -- state placer Jonovan Smith (California) -- state qualifier Dominic Solis (Maryland) Dustin Solomon (Michigan) -- state placer Caden Wright (Pennsylvania) 170: Julian Broderson (Iowa) -- state champ Brian Boyd (Missouri) -- state placer Sam Fisher (Virginia) -- state champ Troy Fisher (Kansas) -- two-time state runner-up Luke Johnson (Kansas) *rising freshman* Jacob Lagoa (Ohio) -- No. 35 Class of 2020 Gabriel Lee (Georgia) -- two-time state runner-up Luke Nichter (Pennsylvania) -- No. 42 Class of 2020 182: Gabe Christenson (Iowa) -- No. 49 Class of 2020 Donovan Corn (Arizona) -- state placer Nicholas Florschutz (Pennsylvania) -- two-time National Prep placer Jaden Glauser (Illinois) -- state placer Isaac Gomez (Washington) -- state champ Cade Lautt (Kansas) -- state placer Trevor Swier (Illinois) -- state qualifier 195: Max Gomez (Illinois) Troy Klein (Wisconsin) -- state qualifier Nik Koch (New York) Mason McCready (Pennsylvania) Colton Quantz (Ohio) Brennan Rutt (Minnesota) Terren Swartz (Wyoming) -- state runner-up Dominik Vacura (Minnesota) -- state placer 220: Kade Carlson (Utah) -- state placer Tyler Deloof (Michigan) Cabe Dickerson (Oklahoma) -- state runner-up, returning Cadet freestyle All-American Josh Heindselman (Oklahoma) -- state runner-up Thomas Mukai (Virginia) -- state champ Erich Osteen (California) -- state qualifier Rowan Udell (Iowa) Micah Walker (Oklahoma)

Nash Hutmacher of South Dakota and Louden Haga of Ohio battle in the Cadet freestyle finals at 285 (Photo/Jim Thrall) The Junior & Cadet Nationals event in Fargo concludes this weekend and after a jam-packed week of competition there was once again a familiar chorus being chirped by Twitter: "Wrestling NEEDS Stars!" Wrestling does need stars, and in fact has them: Kyle Snyder, Hassan Yazdani, Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Helen Maroulis, Risako Kawai, Jordan Burroughs, Mijain Lopez and others. These are professional athletes who have achieved stardom on the world stage, signed promotional contracts with companies and have large/loyal social media following. By most measures they are stars. The wrestlers in Fargo? Not stars. These are student-athletes -- who like their classmates on the baseball diamond, tennis courts and football fields -- stand little chance of making a living in their sport. What they do stand a chance to do is acquire life skills through sport. These are kids that still need to learn the values of hard work, modesty, an enjoyment of craft -- not how to placate a for-profit company's far-off appeal of "stardom." Marketing of wrestling is important, but it should not be done on the backs of 16-year-old kids, but for the benefit of all kids. The most irritating incident from Fargo was the inane and totally harmless Mutombo finger wag by an athlete during the Cadet freestyle finals in Fargo. Half think it's great because it builds interest and gives something for non-wrestlers to attach themselves to, while the other half -- the get-off-my-lawn types -- find it unnecessary. I'm in the latter half, but not because I think kids today are more disrespectful than the last generation, but because there is no growing wrestling through promoting types of adversarial moments, especially at the youth level. We, the media and the fans (an indistinguishable grouping of Twitter faces), shouldn't be in the work of leveraging the behavior of some athletes for the benefit of "stardom?" Viewership? The profit of a few business owners? Take a minute to think about who is driving viewership and why? At the international level the goal of the media team is to create a greater interest in the sport so that more individuals around the world can engage in the product. There is a premium on that content in the USA, but the organization runs as a non-profit -- any money made is reinvested into new programs, training facilities, mats for developing nations, scholarships, expansion of opportunities and more. Of course the system isn't perfect and as with any organization there are areas for improvement, but the main goal is to promote the sport through showing the qualities it has instilled in the athletes. Even with the older athletes there is no cause to make the sport about something it's not. Wrestling is beautiful because it doesn't require the excess to be enjoyed, and changing that dynamic won't fatten participation roles, only the pockets of a few. I see the value in promoting events with youth wrestlers, but it makes me feel uncomfortable to ask the individuals to work at becoming marketable stars through questionable behavior. Scholastic wrestling should be first and foremost a learning opportunity about values and the core principles that contribute to good citizens. Getting caught up in the finger-wagging is a boost of sugar for those addicted to the rush, but like any sweet there are side effects. Let's not lose sight of why we want our kids to wrestle. To your questions … Eric Guerrero coaching at the Freestyle World Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: Thoughts on Eric Guerrero leaving Oklahoma State to coach the Oklahoma RTC? He had been in Stillwater forever. Did something happen at Oklahoma State for him to move? Or any idea why he left? -- Mike C. Foley: The rumbling was that he didn't see a way to the head coaching position and wanted to advance his career. This move keeps him local, gives him a new career opportunity and brings attention to his coaching ability. Regardless of whether it works, I think 25 years at the same place hints to most that some change could help accelerate a stalled career. Q: I was wondering what you thought about this. An Eastern Oregon school, Hermiston High School, has no other schools its size close by. It would have to travel five hours each way for competition. Somehow the Portland area schools have said they will not travel east. So Hermiston would have to go west for every event. They said they wouldn't do that, and petitioned to join up with WIAA, where there are schools about 45 minutes away just over the Columbia River. WIAA has allowed them to join, with OSAA permission. I'm on a message board for Washington wrestling. Many people are upset that someone from out of state can win a state championship. And possibly the whole team. Hermiston has had a strong tradition of strong athletes, specifically in wresting. So there is a valid concern. I feel this is what's best for the students, which ultimately should be the concern. But some people are worried their child will be left off the podium. What are your thoughts on this, and other out-of-state schools being allowed to compete with closer schools and conferences? -- Spokris Foley: State boundaries tend to be lines of demarcation established by the federal government to distinguish tax bases and afford more local control. In this case the Columbia River was the (mostly) arbitrary line set out by these 19th Century bureaucrats. Today, the population base and HSA travel restrictions (local decision) have forced an Oregonian school to apply for and receive membership in Washington. While unorthodox, it might be one of the most reasonable responses to a bureaucratic mixup I've read about in years! The parents only have a valid concern if their entire identity is really wrapped into the idea of being a Washingtonian. The truth is that a single exemption for practical purposes serves only as a precedent for rational governance, not taking away opportunities from the hardworking kids of Washington state. Q: Are these Hassan Yazdani to WWE rumors true? If he does go to pro wrestling, when would it happen? -- Mike C. Foley: No. Just someone trolling after the Iranian WWE wrestler gave him a shout out after a match. Yazdani is shy -- almost painfully shy. Nothing about our interactions has even hinted that he'd go out into the world of acting. Q: During the 2016 Olympics, the IOC fielded ten athletes that are refugees. Six in track & field, two in judo, and two in swimming. These athletes were able to compete under the Olympic flag. Is there a chance the UWW will host a refugee team or a team comprised of stateless wrestlers this summer at the World Championships? -- Broccoli Ears Foley: No. The 2017 World Championships will not feature a refugee team. The idea to include them in the 2016 Games was timely and relevant given that many of the athletes had been displaced and were looking for new homes. The most memorable might have even been the Iranian Taekwondo fighter from Iran who fought without her hijab and was forced to move to Belgium, a very serious move with serious consequences. Wrestling does currently enjoy one of the most active Olympic Solidarity programs in international sports, reaching out to wrestlers from disadvantaged backgrounds and providing them the opportunity to train and compete via financial funding from the Olympic Games. Additionally, United World Wrestling hosts camps and clinics for underserved communities around the world which helps instill wrestling technique and Olympic values. I'm in Asia now preparing for the program (More than Medals) which will start Sunday after the Asian Cadet Championships in Thailand and run for one week. The access to great wrestlers and workshops on learning things we might take for granted will certainly leave a positive impact on these young athletes. Q: USA Wrestling has a partnership with Nike that prohibits companies like Rudis from selling merchandise inside the Fargodome. What did you make of Rudis setting up a large tent/booth at the Burger King parking lot near the Fargodome? I thought it was clever. -- Mike C. Foley: Of course it was clever! Though I understand Nike's frustration and USA Wrestling's support, the fact remains they didn't do anything illegal. It was an objectively business savvy move. What I want to see is how all parties respond in the coming weeks and months. Will Fargo actually try to lock down competing sponsors around the city? I can't imagine that would happen.

Bruce Cridge, Pennsylvania state wrestling champ who went on to wrestle at Edinboro University, died Tuesday. "Bruce passed away, at the age of 40, peacefully at home under the care of Family Hospice," according to his obituary in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. As a wrestler at Canon-McMillan High School, Cridge won the 152-pound title at the 1996 PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) Class AAA Championships, winning a 5-2 decision over Robby Waller of Mt. Pleasant. The third time was the charm, as Cridge placed the previous two times at the state championships. After completing his high school career with a 99-13 record, Cridge earned a wrestling scholarship to Edinboro University, competing for the Fighting Scots from 1996 to 1998. A career-ending neck injury cut ended his time on the mat. After graduating from Edinboro, Cridge returned to Canon-McMillan, where he joined the wrestling coaching staff. "He was gifted on the mat, teaching and breaking down the sport," C-M retired head wrestling coach Chris Mary told the Observer-Reporter. "He loved to give back and he loved to teach. He enjoyed working with the kids and made it fun for them. He was one of the best to wear a Canon-McMillan uniform." A Celebration of Life to honor Bruce Cridge will be held at the Stone Pavilion at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Park on July 30 from 1-7 p.m.

Trackwrestling is partnering with Titan Mercury Wrestling Club to deliver live streams and broad coverage of the Senior, Junior and Cadet World Championships. Fans can watch live and archived video of American greats and top wrestlers from around the globe by purchasing single World Championship pay-per-views for a special promotional price of $9.99 per tournament by going to www.trackwrestling.com/UWW. "This is amongst the most exciting teams that the United States has ever sent to the World Championships," Titan Mercury co-founder and executive director Andy Barth said. "These dedicated young men and women representing our country deserve our support. Titan Mercury is proud to be a sponsor and partner with Trackwrestling to bring this to the amazing wrestling fans of this country at a reasonable price." The United States will take the mats in Finland, France and Greece during the next two months with a collection of stars headlined by Olympic gold medalists Jordan Burroughs, Helen Maroulis and Kyle Snyder, Rio bronze medalist J'den Cox, World champions Logan Stieber, Mark Hall, Gable Steveson and Kurt McHenry and a talented cast of others. "Carrying the World Championships is a milestone in the history of Trackwrestling," Trackwrestling founder and general manager Justin Tritz said. "We're thrilled to be delivering the streams and coverage in conjunction with the most dominant Senior-level club in the United States." The championship coverage will kick off Aug. 1-6 with the Junior World Championships in Tampere, Finland, followed by the Senior World Championships (Aug. 21-26 in Paris) and the Cadet World Championships (Sept. 4-10 in Athens, Greece). "It's an honor to be involved in the sport of wrestling and with wrestlers who represent the United States," Titan Mercury co-founder and director of development Wayne Boyd said. "All of America and the world should rise to this great opportunity of seeing our men and women perform in Paris and our young people in Finland and Greece. These live streams can be some of the highly watched wrestling events if every fan and wrestling supporter signs on. Support wrestling. Support our wrestlers. Support the United States and the world of wrestling." Junior World Championships (Aug. 1-6 in Tampere, Finland) Qualification round action begins each day at 3 a.m. ET, followed by the medal rounds at 1:30 p.m. ET. Aug. 1 MFS 50 kg -- Malik Heinselman MFS 60 kg -- Mitch McKee MFS 74 kg -- Mark Hall MFS 96 kg -- Kollin Moore Aug. 2 MFS 55 kg -- Daton Fix MFS 66 kg -- Ryan Deakin MFS 84 kg -- Zahid Valencia MFS 120 kg -- Gable Steveson Aug. 3 WFS 44 kg -- Asia Ray WFS 51 kg -- Cameron Guerin WFS 59 kg -- Gracie Figueroa WFS 67 kg -- Alexandria Glaude Aug. 4 WFS 48 kg -- Mckayla Campbell WFS 55 kg -- Ronna Heaton WFS 63 kg -- Maya Nelson WFS 72 kg -- Rachel Watters Aug. 5 GR 50 kg -- Cevion Severado GR 60 kg -- Taylor LaMont GR 74 kg -- Kamal Bey GR 96 kg -- G'Angelo Hancock Aug. 6 GR 55 kg -- Randon Miranda GR 66 kg -- Dominick Demas GR 84 kg -- Wyatt Koelling GR 120 kg -- Cohlton Schultz Senior World Championships (Aug. 21-26 in Paris, France) Qualification round action begins each day at 4 a.m. ET, followed by the medal round at 1 p.m. ET. Aug. 21 GR 71 kg -- Pat Smith GR 75 kg -- Mason Manville GR 85 kg -- Ben Provisor GR 98 kg -- G'Angelo Hancock Aug. 22 GR 59 kg -- Ildar Hafizov GR 66 kg -- Ellis Coleman GR 80 kg -- Cheney Haight GR 130 kg -- Robby Smith Aug. 23 WFS 55 kg -- Becka Leathers WFS 58 kg -- Helen Maroulis WFS 63 kg -- Mallory Velte WFS 75 kg -- Victoria Francis Aug. 24 WFS 48 kg -- Victoria Anthony WFS 53 kg -- Haley Augello WFS 60 kg -- Alli Ragan WFS 69 kg -- Tamyra Mensah Aug. 25 MFS 57 kg -- Thomas Gilman MFS 61 kg -- Logan Stieber MFS 86 kg -- J'den Cox MFS 125 kg -- Nick Gwiazdowski Aug. 26 MFS 65 kg -- Zain Retherford MFS 70 kg -- James Green MFS 74 kg -- Jordan Burroughs MFS 97 kg -- Kyle Snyder Cadet World Championships (Sept. 4-10 in Athens, Greece) On the first six days of the tournament, qualification round action begins at 3 a.m. ET, followed semifinal action at 11:30 a.m. ET. Medal contenders will return the day after their qualification matches for repechage action at 3 a.m ET and medal matches begin at noon ET. The tournament's final day features repechage at 8:30 a.m. ET followed by medal matches at 10 a.m. ET. Sept. 4-5 GR 50 kg -- Lucas Byrd GR 54 kg -- Ridge Lovett GR 58 kg -- Malik Johnson GR 63 kg -- Mason Phillips GR 100 kg -- Cohlton Schultz Sept. 5-6 GR 42 kg -- Kase Mauger GR 46 kg -- Dylan Ragusin GR 69 kg -- Will Lewan GR 76 kg -- Jake Hendricks GR 85 kg -- Ashton Sharp Sept. 6-7 WFS 43 kg -- Emily Shilson WFS 49 kg -- Vayle Baker WFS 56 kg -- Gracie Figueroa WFS 65 kg -- Alara Boyd Sept. 7-8 WFS 40 kg -- Caitlyn Walker WFS 46 kg -- Olivia Shore WFS 52 kg -- Alisha Howk WFS 60 kg -- Alexandria Liles WFS 70 kg -- Kelani Corbett Sept. 8-9 MFS 42 kg -- Cole Skinner MFS 50 kg -- Julian Tagg MFS 58 kg -- Jordan Decatur MFS 69 kg -- Will Lewan MFS 85 kg -- Gavin Hoffman Sept. 9-10 MFS 46 kg -- Kurt McHenry MFS 54 kg -- Robert Howard MFS 63 kg -- Jacori Teemer MFS 76 kg -- Travis Wittlake MFS 100 kg -- Daniel Kerkvliet

AMES, Iowa -- The Cyclone Regional Training Center made two additions to its camp yesterday. Two-time All American Earl Hall and former Cyclone Wrestling Club athlete Ben Durbin have both signed on to the C-RTC. Earl Hall"I'm excited to be part of the CRTC and work hard under the direction of accomplished coaches who have only the highest expectations of me and all others in the room," Durbin said of his opportunity to continue wrestling. Hall, a two-time All American and 100-match winner while wrestling for the Cardinal and Gold, was a household freestyle name before joining the Cyclones. Prior to his ISU tenure, Hall spent a year wrestling at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Since coming to Ames, Hall has grown as a freestyle wrestler. He claimed a 2015 University Nationals Freestyle title and took fourth-place at this year's University Nationals held in Akron, Ohio. "He's a super talented individual," Kevin Dresser said about Hall. "I think the sky is the limit with Earl as he buys into our coaching staff. I think Zadick, St. John and Metcalf can really take this guy to another level. I'm excited to see how far he can go. He had a great (University Nationals) for us in just a short period of time with us as a staff." Durbin, a former Iowa State football player turned wrestler, has been competing for the Cyclone Wrestling Club the past two years. He's churned out solid performances at the annual Bill Farrell International, Dave Schultz Memorial International and the U.S. Open, where he finished eighth this April. "He took a non-traditional approach to senior-level wrestling in being a college football player and then deciding he wanted to wrestle," Dresser said of Durbin. "The progress he's made since giving up football to becoming a top-8 guy at the senior level is pretty impressive. He brings the work ethic and the toughness that we love as a staff." Hall and Durbin are the next two building blocks of the C-RTC that already includes World Team Trials runner-up, Kyven Gadson. For more information on the Cyclone Regional Training Center, visit cyclonertc.org.

Kevin Schiltz (Photo/Tommy O'Laughlin) COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. -- Kevin Schiltz, a 16-year assistant wrestling coach at Saint John's University, has been named head coach of the Johnnies' program, athletic director Bob Alpers '82 announced on Thursday, July 20. Schiltz replaces Tony Willaert '11, who was named head wrestling coach at Augustana College (Ill.) June 22. Schiltz will continue to serve as the SJU athletic department's equipment manager. "I am thankful for this opportunity to be the head wrestling coach at Saint John's University," Schiltz said. "I believe that I have a strong foundation here to build a program that everyone can be proud of." Schiltz's tenure as an assistant coach at SJU covered three different head coaches: John Elton '80 (2000-04), Brandon Novak '01 (2004-14) and Willaert (2014-16). In total, the program produced 18 All-Americans, including national champions Novak and Minga Batsukh '11 (three-time), and 53 national qualifiers in those 16 seasons. "We are thrilled that Kevin has accepted our head coaching position," SJU athletic director Bob Alpers '82 said. "We had some outstanding candidate for the position, but Kevin's combination of experience, both as a decorated wrestler and assistant coach, proves that he is the right person to lead this program. Our commitment to wrestling is strong and we are excited for the future of the program." A native of Albert Lea, Minn., and the 1988 Minnesota state high school champion at 185 pounds, Schiltz was a three-time High School All-American in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. He graduated from Augsburg in 1993 and was a member of two NCAA Division III national-championship teams with the Auggies (1991 and 1993). He was also a two-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Auggies' football team. Individually, Schiltz compiled a 150-28 record and was a rare four-time Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion and national qualifier, of which he earned All-America honors three times (third nationally at 190 pounds in 1989, fifth at 190 in 1990 and sixth at heavyweight in 1993). He finished fifth at the 1989 collegiate freestyle national championships and was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2016. Following graduation, Schiltz competed as an amateur on the national stage, finishing seventh at the 1997 U.S. Men's Open (freestyle). He started his coaching career as an assistant for two seasons (1996-98) at Division I Virginia and returned to Minnesota to serve as an assistant for one season at Division II St. Cloud State in 1999 before joining SJU. "I have spent the last 33 years living in the wrestling community. I have had experience coaching at the Division I, II and III levels as an assistant under many head coaches," Schiltz said. "I have seen what it takes to build a great program. I am going to work diligently with the current wrestlers and I look forward to recruit young men that will thrive in this community." Schiltz is the first non-SJU graduate to lead the wrestling program since Jim Lind, who coached the Johnnies for two seasons from 1979-81. Lind later served as an assistant football coach with the Green Bay Packers from 1992-98, and later the Seattle Seahawks from 2000-08.

Sen. John McCain has been diagnosed with brain cancer, his office revealed Wednesday. John McCainThe former high school and U.S. Naval Academy wrestler has a "primary brain tumor known as a glioblastoma" according to the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, where he had a blood clot above his left eye removed one week ago. "The Senator and his family are reviewing further treatment options with his Mayo Clinic care team," said the hospital in a statement. "Treatment options may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation." McCain posted this message on his Twitter account: "I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support - unfortunately for my sparring partners in Congress, I'll be back soon, so stand-by!". The senior Republican senator from Arizona was a presidential candidate in 2000 and 2008. Prior to entering politics, McCann was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. In the 1950s, McCain was multi-sport athlete during his educational career. At Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. near Washington, D.C., McCain earned two letters as a wrestler. He also participated in football and tennis. In 1954, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. where he wrestled and was on the Navy boxing team.

Every year the Fargo week plays a major role in shaping perceptions about scholastic wrestlers heading into the next season. The most obvious reason for this being the case is the mass assemblage of talent at the event. This year's edition has and will continue to serve as no exception. With the Cadet and Junior freestyle competitions concluded, let's take a look at some of those wrestlers who enhanced their resumes, i.e. boosted their stock with wrestling analysts and collegiate wrestling coaches across the country. Featured are five Cadet level wrestlers and five Junior level wrestlers listed in alphabetical order. Lucas Davison (Chesterton, Ind.) Ranked outside the top 100 of the Class of 2018, this 2016 Cadet freestyle runner-up and 2017 UWW Cadet freestyle fourth place finisher had a solid tournament to earn third in Junior freestyle at 182 pounds. State runner-up this high school season at 182 pounds, Davison had three key wins against wrestlers that would be considered relative peers. The first came in the quarterfinal, as he pinned two-time state placer Victor Marcelli (Ohio), also a Flo Nationals placer and returning All-American in Junior Greco-Roman; in the consolation semifinal it was a pin over Iowa enrollee Myles Wilson (Colorado), who ended the high school season ranked at 182 pounds; and in the medal match, it was a 23-12 technical fall over state champion Cameron Caffey (Illinois), a Michigan State enrollee. The lone loss for Davison came 12-4 against eventual champion Max Lyon (Iowa) in the semifinal round. Earlier front-side wins for Davison came by technical fall over state runner-up Trey Rogers (Minnesota) and two additional shutout technical falls. Zach Elam (Staley, Mo.) While the No. 69 overall Class of 2018 prospect was in some ways the joint favorite for the title in this weight class, his level of dominance throughout the tournament was extremely impressive. The two-time state champion, three-time state finalist was runner-up at the Junior folkstyle national tournament this spring. His tournament opened with a shutout technical fall and then a pin over a Kansas state champion. A much anticipated round of 16 bout against fellow state champion Tyler Curd (Missouri), champion in Cadet Greco-Roman last summer and a returning Cadet freestyle All-American was anything but; Elam won by shutout technical fall. The quarterfinal against two-time state champion Chase Trussell (Utah), fourth in both styles at Cadet Nationals last year, was another shutout technical fall. Elam upended the other joint favorite, No. 66 overall rising senior Francis Duggan (Iowa), with an 8-5 victory over the returning Junior freestyle third place finisher. His tournament was capped off with a 14-4 technical fall over Stanford enrollee Haydn Maley (Oregon), a four-time state champion and returning Junior Greco-Roman champion. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Elam, who certainly has the frame and athletic ability to play as a tight end in college. That being said, many colleges will also view him as the prototype for the modern 285 pound wrestler in Division I. Zeke Escalera (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) Though Escalera is already a known commodity given his success to date, his Cadet National freestyle title at 106 pounds is something that bolsters an already sterling resume. Prior accomplishments included going undefeated to win a high school state title this past year while competing for Union County in Kentucky as an eighth grader, as well as runner-up finishes in the middle school division at the Super 32 Challenge and in the 15U division at the Tulsa Kickoff Classic. Ranked No. 21 overall among rising freshmen entering Fargo, Escalera advanced to the quarterfinal round with three technical falls and a pin. In that quarterfinal match, it was an 18-13 victory over fellow rising freshman Vincent Zerban (Illinois), who is ranked No. 11 in that grade level. The semifinal saw Escalera upend returning Cadet freestyle champion Cullan Schriever (Iowa) by a 9-7 score; while the championship match was an 11-0 technical fall over Matthew Ramos (Illinois), Ramos was a Cadet National and UWW Cadet freestyle All-American in 2016. He will be attending Wyoming Seminary, Pa. in the fall as a high school freshman. Atilano Escobar (Liberty, Ariz.) Even with some solid productivity and credentials, the rising senior Escobar entered the Junior freestyle 132 pound weight class as a relative afterthought. After winning a state title in 2016, he lost in the final this past year. He was a Cadet double All-American in 2015, a Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up in 2016, but failed to earn All-American honors last year in Cadet freestyle. Escobar also was a double All-American at the UWW Cadet Nationals this spring at 58 kilos. His path to the quarterfinal involved a 15-9 win over a Wisconsin state runner-up, a shutout technical fall, a technical fall over an Oregon state champion, and a shutout technical fall over two-time state placer Dylan Droegemueller (Minnesota). That quarterfinal came against pre-tournament favorite Andrew Alirez (Colorado), the No. 9 overall Class of 2019 wrestler, a two-time Cadet freestyle All-American and a placer at the UWW Junior freestyle tournament this spring; Escobar won by first period fall in a match that was tied at said point. Subsequent matches somewhat reflected the overall nature of the weight class, which was a combination of being "thin" and a "broken bracket" with some bigger names suffering early losses. The semifinal was a pin over three-time state placer Chase Zollmann (California) and then finals victory was a shutout technical fall over Alexander Cruz (Washington), a three-time state champion and 2016 Cadet freestyle All-American; Cruz had eliminated Escobar from last year's Cadet freestyle tournament via a shutout technical fall. Albert Ferrari of Texas defeated Patrick Kennedy of Minnesota on the way to the title (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) Albert Ferrari (Allen, Texas) Admittedly it's kind of absurd to say a wrestler that is already ranked No. 3 overall among rising sophomores can have a "stock up" performance in Cadet freestyle. However, let the case be made that his Fargo debut, which ended in a championship at 170 pounds, should be viewed as such. In advancing to the quarterfinal round, two of his first three victories were by shutout technical fall, including one over state champion Sam Fisher (Virginia) in the round of 16; the exception came in an 8-2 round of 32 win over two-time state runner-up Troy Fisher (Kansas), who also was a runner-up at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals this spring. In the quarterfinal match, Ferrari arguably won the match of the whole Cadet freestyle tournament, a 5-4 decision over Patrick Kennedy (Minnesota), the No. 5 overall ranked wrestler in the Class of 2020; Kennedy had finished third at UWW Cadets while competing in the 76 kilos competition. It was followed by an 8-3 victory in the semifinal against Gerrit Nijenhuis (Pennsylvania), who is ranked No. 11 overall in the Class of 2020. The championship match was an 11-3 victory over now two-time Cadet freestyle All-American Abe Assad (Illinois), also now a two-time Fargo finalist. Nash Hutmacher (Chamberlain, S.D.) Though he was an undefeated state champion as a freshman, and was undefeated in freestyle at last month's Junior Duals (against admittedly lesser teams), Hutmacher was a virtual unknown to the general wrestling public. That is no longer the case after a dominant Cadet freestyle title at 285 pounds. It was four shutout technical falls from four matches to reach the final, including those against state medalists Logan Zschernitz (Wisconsin) and Eli Pokorney (Indiana); Pokorny was a returning Cadet freestyle All-American at 195 pounds and the UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up this spring at 100 kilos. In that championship match, Hutmacher earned a 19-8 technical fall over two-time West Virginia state runner-up Louden Haga (Ohio). Jeremiah Kent (Hickman, Mo.) This is a wrestler who failed to place at the state tournament this winter competing at 160 pounds. Last summer he was eighth in Cadet freestyle at 160 pounds, and last month he was fourth at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle at 76 kilos. Kent's fifth place finish in the Junior freestyle 170 pound weight class shows that the UWW Cadet performance was "real", and it shows a continued level of improvement for the rising senior. Kent advanced to the round of 16 with a pin and a pair of shutout technical falls, where in that said round he upended two-time state placer and 2015 Cadet freestyle All-American Ben Sarasin (Iowa) 10-6. The quarterfinal bout was a narrow 8-6 loss to eventual champion Aaron Brooks (Maryland), while All-American status was then confirmed with a technical fall victory over Braeden Redlin (Texas), who is ranked No. 75 overall in the Class of 2018. The next two matches in consolation were a technical fall victory over Leo Tarantino (New Jersey) and a technical fall loss to Zach Braunagel (Illinois), before concluding his tournament with a 7-6 victory over Cornell enrollee Andrew Berreyesa (Nevada). Minnesota's Patrick McKee won his first Junior freestyle title in Fargo (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) Patrick McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) Third place had been a very popular position in national-level competitons for the two-time state champion McKee, a Minnesota verbal commit ranked No. 53 overall in the Class of 2018. He was third at the Super 32 Challenge this past October, third at the folkstyle nationals in both 2016 (Junior) and 2015 (Cadet), as well as double third place in Fargo in both 2016 (Junior) and 2015 (Cadet). The trend would change in this tournament, as there were some moments of high scoring, some moments of dominance, and some moments of escapism against even mostly higher-quality opponents. It started with a narrow 14-13 win over an Arizona state runner-up, continued with a technical fall over state champion Van Schmidt (Nebraska), and then a pin in the round of 32. Next was a 14-6 round of 16 victory over Joseph Heilmann (New Jersey), a UWW Cadet freestyle All-American this spring and a 2016 Cadet freestyle All-American. Then came the three big showdowns. First was a 16-14 quarterfinal victory over now two-time Junior freestyle All-American Tommy Hoskins (Ohio), ranked No. 46 among rising seniors prior to Fargo. Then it was a 19-17 over Rayvon Foley (Michigan) in the semifinals, a wrestler that advanced to Fargo freestyle finals the prior two years (2016 Junior, 2015 Cadet). Finally, there was the pin over Joey Melendez (Illinois), who was on fire with a litany of quality wins prior to the final, and the No. 67 overall rising senior. Aidan Medora (Brookfield Academy, Wis.) Medora finished as a state runner-up during his freshman season of high school competing at 126 pounds, and did not have a ranking within the top 50 overall among wrestlers in the Class of 2020 entering the Cadet freestyle tournament. Earlier this spring, Medora was fifth in Cadet folkstyle at 132 pounds losing to a pair of wrestlers that did not earn All-American finishes in the Cadet freestyle 132 pound weight class (Dawson Sihavong of California and Stockton O'Brien of Utah); he also missed an All-American finish at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle by one match at the 63 kilos weight class. His run to the championship match at 132 pounds, where he lost to No. 1 overall rising freshman Carson Manville by technical fall, was most impressive. It started with a pair of technical falls, and was followed by a 10-6 victory over state medalist Trevor Chumbley (Illinois) in the round of 32. In the round of 16, he upended Flo Nationals placer Victor Voinovich (Ohio), who is also ranked No. 7 in the Class of 2021, by a 3-0 score. To confirm an All-American finish, Medora won by shutout technical fall in the quarterfinal, and he confirmed a spot in the championship match with a 12-1 technical fall over Frankie Tal-Shahar (Florida) in the semifinal; Tal-Shahar entered Fargo as the No. 25 ranked Class of 2020 wrestler. Aizayah Yacapin (Curtis, Wash.) To but a few on the west coast, this Class of 2020 wrestler was rather unknown. During the high school season Yacapin placed third in his own state tournament at 106 pounds. Last month, he went 3-4 while competing at 113 pounds in the Cadet freestyle Duals. However his Cadet National freestyle tournament, in which Yacapin placed third at 106 pounds, serves as a clear breakthrough. Yacapin started the tournament with three shutout technical fall victories prior to a pin over returning Cadet freestyle All-American Caden McCrary (Georgia) in the round of 16. He would confirm an All-American finish with a pin over Ryan Miller (Pennsylvania), who was runner-up at the NHSCA Freshman Nationals this spring, in the quarterfinal round. The lone loss came in the form of a pin by Matthew Ramos (Illinois) in the semifinal. Yacapin would cement a third place finish with wins by 14-1 technical fall over Vincent Zerban (Illinois) and yet another win over Miller, this one by 10-0 technical fall.

Tanner Asper, a two-time qualifier for the Kansas state wrestling tournament, was killed in a single-vehicle accident one week ago. He was 16. Asper, a rising junior at Chaparral High School, was a passenger in a pickup truck that rolled over late Sunday night, July 9 about 15 miles southeast of Anthony, Kan., one hour south of Wichita, near the Kansas-Oklahoma border. Asper was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. No charges were filed against the driver, who was not injured. Harper County undersheriff Tom Burns described the crash as "just a tragic accident." Asper wrestled at 145 pounds for Chaparral. He compiled a 34-12 record this past season. In addition, Asper played football and baseball. "Dedicated, hard- working and driven are all words that describe how passionate Tanner was about anything he did,” according to the obituary for Tanner Andrew Asper Angle in the Anthony Republican-News. "He was involved in wrestling, football, and baseball. His dream was to go to OSU [Oklahoma State] for D1 wrestling and become a national champion. He was proud to be a state qualifier for Kids Club 6 years in a row. While in high school he earned a trip to state both his freshman and sophomore year. He was loved by all of his coaches and teammates and always jumped, screamed and yelled for his teammates to do their best. No other wrestler could run the spladel and banana split like Tanner could. Most wrestlers knew that it was coming. Tanner was working very hard this summer to get his weight up to 165 pounds and was ready to pound someone on the field this week at camp." "He left an impact because he was so good to so many kids," head football coach Justin Burke told Wichita's KAKE-TV. "He was just a good kid to pick people up around him." Funeral services have already been held. Memorials may be given in Tanner's memory to the Tanner Asper Memorial Fund and mailed to Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 602 E. Main, Anthony, KS 67003.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced that it is accepting nominations for the Class of 2018, which will be inducted during the annual Honors Weekend on June 1-2, 2018 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Nominations are being accepted for Distinguished Member, Meritorious Official, Order of Merit, Outstanding American and Medal of Courage. Distinguished Member and Meritorious Official nominations are due Sept. 1 while Order of Merit, Outstanding American and Medal of Courage are due Sept. 15. Nomination forms are available by clicking here. Distinguished Members can be a wrestler who has achieved extraordinary success in national and/or international competition; a coach who has demonstrated great leadership in the profession and who has compiled an outstanding record; or a contributor whose long-term activities have substantially enhanced the development and advancement of the sport. Nominees who are 60 years and older are screened by the Veterans Committee. The Distinguished Member Screening Committee will pare the list to at least 12 nominees for the final ballot. Comprised of past honorees and individuals knowledgeable about the sport, the Distinguished Member Selection Committee and the Veterans Committee rank nominees in order of preference. Ballots are submitted to the Hall of Fame and sent to the Honorary Chair to be verified by a certified accounting firm. The confirmed selection of inductees is then returned to the Hall of Fame. The Outstanding American award recognizes individuals who have used the disciplines of the sport to launch notable careers after concluding their wrestling career. Past recipients have included individuals who have excelled in science, technology, business, industry, government, military, and arts and humanities. The Hall of Fame Executive Committee prioritizes and submits a list of nominees in rank order to the Hall of Fame Executive Director, who contacts nominees in order until one confirms acceptance of award. The Medal of Courage recipient is a wrestler or former wrestler who has overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges, providing inspiration to others. Nominations are screened by the Hall of Fame Executive Committee and placed on a ballot that is voted on by the Board of Governors. The Order of Merit is presented to an individual that has made a significant contribution to the sport of wrestling, other than success as an athlete or coach. Nominations are submitted by Distinguished Members and placed on a ballot. Distinguished Members voting ballots are submitted to the Hall of Fame for tabulation. The Meritorious Official award recognizes outstanding service as a referee, judge or pairing official. Nominations are screened, placed on a ballot and voted on by the Meritorious Official Selection Committee, which is a combination of honorees and individuals knowledgeable about the sport. Ballots are returned to the Hall of Fame for tabulation. National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum America's shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1976 to honor the sport of wrestling, preserve its history, recognize extraordinary individual achievements, and inspire future generations. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has museums in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo, Iowa. The Stillwater, Oklahoma, location reopened in June 2016 following a $3.8 million renovation and now features interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks, as well as the opportunity to watch NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to present day. It also has the John T. Vaughan Hall of Honors where the greatest names in wrestling are recognized, including iconic granite plaques presented to Distinguished Members since the Hall of Fame opened in 1976. The museum has the largest collection of wrestling artifacts and memorabilia in the world, including the most collegiate and Olympic wrestling uniforms. Wrestling truly is for everyone and the diversity and accessibility of the sport continues to be highlighted through exhibits featuring females, African Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans. There is also a library featuring historical documents, including NCAA guides and results, as well as books on the sport. For more information about the Hall of Fame, please visit www.NWHOF.org.

Lucas Malmberg (Photo/Messiah College Sports Information) DUBUQUE, Iowa -- The University of Dubuque Athletic Director Dan Runkle has announced the appointment Lucas Malmberg as assistant wrestling coach. Malmberg joins the Spartans after finishing his collegiate wrestling career at the top. He capped off his senior year with his second consecutive national wrestling title for Messiah College. He won the 125 lbs. weight class (2016, 2017) and was a four-time NCAA Division III Finalist and three-time NWCA Scholar All-American for the Falcons. He is one two wrestlers in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) history to ever to qualify for four national finals. "I am extremely excited and honored with the opportunity to not only be part of the UD family, but to have a chance to impact the wrestling program," commented Malmberg. "I plan on bringing high levels of intensity, focus, and commitment as we prepare for the season ahead. Ultimately my aim is to help each student-athlete pursue excellence and character in all areas of their life." Head Coach Jon McGovern said, "Lucas is known as much for his character and faith as his NCAA championship titles. Lucas will be actively involved the holistic development of our student-athletes and help our individuals and team compete for Iowa Conference and NCAA titles. Lucas treats the sport of wrestling with great respect and is an amazing student of the sport. He will be a fantastic coach because of the positivity he brings to the mat and his dedication to helping our program reach its full potential." The Marathon, N.Y., native finished the 2016-17 season with a 44-3 record and a career record of 174-13. He is the all-time wins leader in wrestling at Messiah. During college he travelled the world on mission trips to South Korea, Prarguay (South America), and Uganda (Africa). He is a 2017 graduate of Messiah College, earning a degree in cross-cultural Christian ministries and has been a youth leader at New Hope Brethren in Christ Church since November 2014.

California's Jaden Abas is the No. 11 overall junior, but failed to place in Fargo (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) The Junior National freestyle tournament traditionally has an absolutely loaded field. Eight wrestlers in each weight class earn All-America honors. Here is a list of eight wrestlers for each weight class that failed to earn All-America honors, but entered the event highly credentialed and/or had very impressive performances in the tournament despite missing out on a top-eight finish. There is a litany of nationally ranked wrestlers in both the grade level and their 2016-17 end of season weight class. In addition, lots of state champions come to Fargo and fall short of becoming All-Americans. 100 and 106: The weight classes featured less than 32 wrestlers. 113: Eric Barnett (Hortonville, Wis.) -- No. 7 at 106 (EOY) Kyle Biscoglia (Waukee, Iowa) -- No. 16 at 113 (EOY) Matthew Cardello (CVCA, Ohio) -- Super 32 placer Cory Gamet (Parma Western, Mich.) -- did not make weight 2nd day; two-time state champ, 2016 Cadet freestyle champ Clayton Singh (Kearney, Mo.) -- three-time state champ, returning Junior freestyle All-American Destin Summers (Snake River, Idaho) -- two-time state champ, Junior folk runner-up Riley Weir (Sand Springs, Okla.) -- state champ, two-time Fargo freestyle All-American (2016 Juniors) Doug Zapf (Downington West, Pa.) -- state champ 120: Mike Madara (Blair Academy, N.J./Pennsylvania) -- two-time National Prep placer, returning Junior freestyle All-American Joe Heilmann (South Plainfield, N.J.) -- two-time state placer, 2016 Cadet freestyle All-American, 2017 UWW Cadet freestyle placer Gabriel Tagg (Brecksville, Ohio) -- No. 39 Class of 2019, No. 15 at 113 (EOY) Dylan D'Emilio (Genoa, Ohio) -- No. 28 Class of 2019, No. 11 at 113 (EOY) Antonio Mininno (Gateway Woodbury, N.J.) -- No. 56 Class of 2018, No. 3 at 113 (EOY) Dominic LaJoie (Gaylord, Mich.) -- three-time state champ, two-time returning Junior freestyle All-American Connor Brown (Oak Grove, Mo.) -- No. 70 Class of 2017, No. 6 at 120 (EOY) Kyle Burwick (Hettinger, N.D.) -- three-time state champ, 2016 Cadet freestyle All-American 126: Jake Gliva (Simley, Minn.) -- No. 84 Class of 2018 Jack Huffman (Millard West, Neb.) -- 2016 state champion Brady Kyner (Southeast Warren, Iowa) -- two-time state runner-up Jevon Parrish (Olathe North, Kansas) -- state champ Robbie Precin (Andrew, Ill.) -- No. 18 at 120 (EOY) Jet Taylor (Sallisaw, Okla.) -- multi-time state champ, returning Junior freestyle All-American Trae Vasquez (Flathead, Mont.) -- two-time former state champion Bryce West (Solon, Iowa) -- No. 81 Class of 2017, No. 9 at 120 (EOY) 132: Colin Gerardi (Powhatan, Va.) -- three-time state champ Kyle Gorant (The Hill School, Pa.) -- two-time National Prep placer Riley Gurr (Frenchtown, Mont.) -- two-time state champ Jackson Henson (University, W.Va./OTC) -- No. 72 Class of 2018 Legend Lamer (Crescent Valley, Ore.) -- two-time state champ Rylee Molitor (Sartell-St. Stephen, Minn.) -- 2015 state champ Billy Simpson (Cushing, Okla.) -- state placer, two-time Cadet freestyle All-American (2015 runner-up) Dalton Young (Lakeside, Wash.) -- four-time state champ 138: Jaden Abas (Rancho Bernardo, Calif.) -- No. 11 Class of 2019, No. 9 at 126 (EOY) Sammy Eckhart (Fruitland, Idaho) -- four-time state champ Jacob Greenwood (Poudre, Colo.) -- three-time state champ Holden Heller (Deerfield, Ill.) -- two-time state medalist, 2015 Cadet freestyle All-American Nate Keim (Collinsville, Okla.) -- two-time state champ Brandon Ramos (Lockport, Ill.) -- three-time state qualifier Drew Scharenbock (Sun Prairie, Wis.) -- state champ Conner Ward (Shawnee-Mill Valley, Kansas) -- three-time state runner-up 145: Zach Barnes (Southeast Polk, Iowa) -- state champ, Junior folkstyle champ, returning Junior freestyle All-American Jake Benner (Ocean Township, N.J.) -- state champ Kendall Coleman (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) -- two-time state placer Brik Filippo (Tutle, Okla.) -- No. 78 Class of 2017, No. 10 at 145 (EOY) Logan Jensen (Herriman, Utah) -- state champ, 2015 Cadet freestyle All-American Brock Mauller (Father Tolton Catholic, Mo.) -- No. 49 Class of 2018, No. 16 at 145 (EOY) Kasper McIntosh (Portage, Ind.) -- No. 98 Class of 2018 Denton Spencer (Camden County, Ga.) -- No. 85 Class of 2017, No. 145 at 145 (EOY) 152: Michael Abeyta (McMinville, Ore.) -- two-time state runner-up Zach Axmear (North English, Iowa) -- state champ Alex Crowe (Shakopee, Minn.) -- state champ Baylor Fernandes (Lockport, Ill.) -- state placer, 2016 Cadet freestyle All-American Mason Kauffman (Stratford, Wis.) -- two-time state champ Ryan Leisure (Clear Lake, Iowa) -- No. 94 Class of 2017, No. 15 at 145 (EOY) Brian Meyer (Phillipsburg, N.J.) -- state placer, 2016 Cadet freestyle All-American McCoy Tekautz (Mound Westonka, Minn.) -- state placer 160: Noah Blake (Del Oro, Calif.) -- No. 50 Class of 2019 Austin Brenner (St. Cloud Tech, Minn.) -- three-time state placer Alex Cramer (Grayslake Central, Ill.) -- two-time state qualifier Jaryn Curry (Choctaw, Okla.) -- No. 92 Class of 2018 James Noel (Pulaski Academy, Ark.) -- three-time state champ, 2015 Cadet freestyle All-American Kenny O'Neil (Prior Lake, Minn.) -- state champ Edmond Ruth (Susquehanna Township, Pa.) -- state champ Austin Yant (Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa) -- four-time state placer, Junior folkstyle champ 170: Hayden Hastings (Sheridan, Wyo.) -- did not make weight 2nd day; No. 16 at 170 (EOY) Jackson Hemauer (Deforest, Wis.) -- No. 16 at 182 (EOY) Billy Higgins (Skutt Catholic, Neb.) -- No. 85 Class of 2018 Braeden Redlin (Allen, Texas) -- No. 75 Class of 2018 Tate Samuelson (Castle View, Colo.) -- state champ Ben Sarasin (Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Iowa) -- two-time state placer, 2015 Cadet freestyle All-American Jesse Shearer (West Fargo, N.D.) -- four-time state champ Brit Wilson (Mexico, Mo.) -- No. 14 at 170 (EOY) 182: Tyler Barnes (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) -- No. 86 Class of 2018 Hunter DeJong (Sibley-Ocheyedan, Iowa) -- state placer, 2016 Cadet freestyle All-American, 2017 UWW Cadet freestyle placer Alex Kauffman (Vinita, Okla.) -- two-time state champ Anthony Montalvo (Buchanan, Calif.) -- No. 40 Class of 2018, No. 17 at 182 (EOY) Trey Rogers (Hastings, Minn.) -- state runner-up Anthony Sherry (Glenwood, Iowa) -- state runner-up, two-time Cadet freestyle All-American Mac Southard (Lewis Central, Iowa) -- state runner-up Caden Steffen (Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Minn.) -- state champ 195: Kendall Elfstrum (Monroe-Woodbury, N.Y.) -- state champ Anthony Gaona (St. Thomas Aquinas, Kansas) -- state placer Samuel Grove (Morehead, Minn./North Dakota) -- state champ, returning Junior freestyle All-American Bear Hughes (Coweta, Okla.) -- two-time state champ Logan Schumacher (Martensdale-St. Mary's, Iowa) -- three-time state placer, 2016 Cadet freestyle All-American Riley Vanik (Kaneland, Ill.) -- two-time state placer Sergio Villalobos (Downers Grove South, Ill.) -- state placer, 2016 Cadet freestyle runner-up Colton Wolfe (Columbus, Neb.) -- No. 79 Class of 2017, No. 19 at 195 (EOY) 220: Daniel Conley (Chaminade, Mo.) -- state champ Cole Fibranz (Sartell-St. Stephen, Minn.) -- state champ, 2016 Cadet freestyle All-American Chris Kober (Haverford Prep, Pa.) -- National Prep placer, NHSCA Senior Nationals runner-up Mason Lancaster (Putnam City, Okla.) -- state placer Darrell Mason (Chicago Dunbar, Ill.) -- state placer Saylor Schmit (Foley, Minn.) -- two-time state runner-up Chase Trussell (Morgan, Utah) -- two-time state champ, 2016 Cadet freestyle All-American Caleb Willis (Bonner Springs, Kansas) -- state champ 285: Brian Barnes (McMinville, Ore.) -- three-time state champ, 2013 Cadet freestyle All-American Aaron Costello (Western Dubuque, Iowa) -- No. 75 Class of 2017, No. 7 at 285 (EOY) Jordan Earnest (Wadsworth, Ohio) -- state placer, 2017 UWW Cadet freestyle champion Keaton Kluever (Kaukauna, Wis.) -- state champ Jake Levengood (Vacaville, Calif.) -- two-time state placer John McConkey (Atlantic, Iowa) -- state runner-up Montana Phillips (McArthur, Okla.) -- state champ, 2016 Cadet freestyle champ Spencer Trenary (Clarion-Goldfield, Iowa) -- No. 49 Class of 2019

David Carr (Photo/Jim Thrall)FARGO, N.D. -- Last month David Carr lost in the semifinals of UWW Junior Nationals. That loss, according to Carr, humbled him and prepared him to compete in Fargo. On Tuesday, Carr capped off a dominant run through the Junior National freestyle competition in Fargo with a 13-3 technical fall in the finals at 160 pounds over Wisconsin's Tyler Dow. Carr was named Outstanding Wrestler of the competition after finishing the tournament with five technical falls in six matches. The lone match in which he didn't record a technical fall was an 8-6 win in the semifinals over Indiana's Joe Lee Carr, the son of 1988 Olympic bronze medalist Nate Carr, is the nation's No. 7 overall senior recruit. He is the highest ranked wrestler in the Class of 2018 who remains uncommitted to a college. Florida's Anthony Artalona was the lone repeat champion in the Junior freestyle competition. He came from behind to defeat four-time undefeated state champion Kaden Gfeller of Oklahoma 6-4 in the finals at 145 pounds. Gfeller jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Artalona turned it up and scored six points in the opening period, which was enough to take the victory. Illinois ran away with the Junior freestyle team title, scoring 82 points and crowning three champions. Winning titles for Illinois were Will Lewan (152), Jacob Warner (195) and Anthony Cassioppi (285). Lewan, a member of this year's Cadet World Team in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, topped North Dakota's Jared Franek 6-2 in the finals at 152 pounds. Franek led 2-1 with under a minute remaining in the match, but Franek used a step out to take the lead on criteria and added a late takedown and turn to seal the victory. Warner, a Cadet world bronze medalist last year, was unchallenged throughout the tournament, recording six technical falls in six matches. In the finals he blanked Miles Lee of Pennsylvania 11-0. Warner was the nation's No. 7 senior recruit in the Class of 2017 and will be a freshman at the University of Iowa. Cassioppi, who recently committed to Iowa, defeated local favorite Brandon Metz of North Dakota 4-1 in the finals at 285 pounds. Metz held a criteria lead with a minute left before Cassioppi picked up a takedown on the edge of the mat. Metz would get a late point off a step out, but Cassioppi held on for the narrow victory. Patrick McKee with his coach Brandon Paulson (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) Patrick McKee of Minnesota grabbed his first Junior freestyle title with a second-period fall over Joey Melendez of Illinois. McKee raced out to a 4-0 lead, but Melendez battled back to make the score 4-4 after the opening period. McKee came out strong in the second period, scoring off an exposure and then securing the fall. Maryland's Aaron Brooks turned in an impressive performance in the finals as he claimed a 13-3 technical fall victory over Trent Hidlay of Pennsylvania. Two graduated seniors headed to the University of Michigan won titles: Drew Mattin of Ohio (126) and Ben Freeman of Michigan (138). Drew Mattin and Ben Freeman with Michigan assistant coaches Sean Bormet and Josh ChurellaMattin topped Indiana's Paul Konrath 8-1 to capture the title at 126 pounds. Mattin, a three-time Ohio state champion, led 1-0 at the break after a step out, and then pulled away in the second period. Freeman shut out Wisconsin's Jeremy Schoenherr 10-0 in the finals at 138 poounds. Freeman, the nation's No. 37 senior recruit in the Class of 2017, had five technical falls in six matches in Fargo. Will Guida of New Jersey kicked off the finals in grand fashion with a first-period fall over Jackson Cockrell (Oklahoma) at 100 pounds. Guida trailed 1-0 two minutes into the match before getting a takedown and stepping over to pick up the fall. Sam Latona became Alabama's first-ever Junior National champion with a 12-2 technical fall over Christopher Trelli of Connecticut. Nevada's Ty Smith overcame a 6-0 deficit, scoring 17 unanswered points, to defeat Washington's Brandon Kaylor 17-6. Smith becomes only the second Nevada wrestler ever to win a Junior National freestyle title, and the first since 1988. Atilano Escobar of Arizona was dominant in picking up a 10-0 first-period technical fall over Alexander Cruz of Washington at 132 pounds. Max Lyon of Iowa earned the title at 182 pounds with a 10-3 win over Jack Jesson of Illinois. Lyon, who is headed to Purdue, won a Junior National folkstyle title in the spring. Missouri's Zach Elam, a two-time state champion, captured the title at 220 pounds with a 14-4 technical fall victory in the finals over Haydn Maley of Oregon. Results: 100: Wil Guida (New Jersey) pinned Jackson Cockrell (Oklahoma), 2:13 106: Samuel Latona (Alabama) tech. fall Christopher Trelli (Connecticut), 12-2 113: Ty Smith (Nevada) tech. fall Brandon Kaylor (Washington), 17-6 120: Patrick McKee (Minnesota) pinned Joey Melendez (Illinois), 3:59 126: Drew Mattin (Ohio) dec. Paul Konrath (Indiana), 8-1 132: Atilano Escobar (Arizona) tech. fall Alexander Cruz (Washington), 10-0 138: Ben Freeman (Michigan) tech. fall Jeremy Schoenherr (Wisconsin), 10-0 145: Anthony Artalona (Florida) dec. Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma), 6-4 152: Will Lewan (Illinois) dec. Jared Franek (North Dakota), 6-2 160: David Carr (Ohio) tech. fall Tyler Dow (Wisconsin), 13-3 170: Aaron Brooks (Maryland) tech. fall Trent Hidlay (Pennsylvania), 13-3 182: Max Lyon (Iowa) dec. Jack Jessen (Illinois), 10-3 195: Jacob Warner (Illinois) tech. fall Miles Lee (Pennsylvania), 11-0 220: Zach Elam (Missouri) tech. fall Haydn Maley (Oregon), 14-4 285: Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois) dec. Brandon Metz (North Dakota), 4-1