InterMat Staff

Funeral services have been announced for Jim "Bongo" Bayly, long-time wrestling coach, broadcaster and all-around supporter of the sport, who lost his battle with cancer on June 1. Jim "Bongo" Bayly Visitation will take place Tuesday, June 6 starting at 4 p.m. at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church at 1723 South 17th Street in Omaha, followed by a vigil at 7 p.m. at the church. The funeral will be at St. Joseph's on Wednesday, June 7 at 11 a.m. with a luncheon to follow. Bayly led a life devoted to wrestling. He wrestled at Omaha South High School for Iowa State mat alum Beau Haizlip and assistant coach at the time, Mike Denney. It was Denney who encouraged Bayly to continue his athletic and academic career at Southern Utah State University, where Denney's former college coach, Joe Lopour, headed up the program. After graduating with a degree in Physical Education, Bayly started his coaching career at SUU as an assistant. Bayly returned to his native Nebraska to take on coaching assignments at Boys Town outside Omaha, where he coached for 31 years. He also worked with Denney to establish the Kaufman/Brand Open, which grew to become the largest wrestling tournament in the nation. More recently, Bayly had worked for the Omaha Public Schools. Jim Bayly demonstrated talents beyond teaching, coaching and school administration. He served as an announcer for a number of major wrestling events, including the Nebraska State High School Wrestling Tournament and the State Dual Meet Tournament. In addition, he was instrumental in putting together the award-winning wrestling yearbooks for the University of Nebraska-Omaha and at Maryville University in St. Louis. Here's how Mike Denney, best known as the legendary wrestling coach first at the now-defunct NCAA Division II championship program at UNO, then at Maryville, paid tribute to Bayly, his friend of nearly a half-century, on Facebook: "It was a privilege, pleasure and honor for Bonnie and me to spend time with my friend, my side kick, my running mate, my pal, my partner for 48 years Jim "Bongo" Bayly and his family, his wife Joyce, sons Jimmy and Jeremy, and daughters Sheila and Stacy. Many other family members and friends were there also. He is battling cancer. Coach Jim 'Bongo' Bayly has been a loyal and dedicated friend to me, Bonnie, our family, our Wrestling Families at the "other university" and Maryville University. He has been a coach, mentor and friend to hundreds of athletes, coaches and anyone else who knew him He has been a gift to his family, our family, to our wrestling family, and to me. When you can never repay someone for their loyalty, dedication and commitment sometimes the best you can do is say, 'thank you, thank you, thank you.' Coach Jim 'Bongo' Bayly, you have found the good fight. You have finished the race. You have kept the faith. Well done, good and faithful servant. We love you." Kelley Jordan, who first came to know Bayly in 1974, wrote the following on Facebook: "(Bayly) loved coaching wrestling and mentoring struggling youth with his sage advice and counsel. Like two other sport greats, George Steinbrenner and Al Davis, Bongo was born on the Fourth of July. He had so many friends and his smile would light up a room. We both married up and both ended up with four children. "Bongo believed in service. He believed in sharing, and that was the word that seemed to get the emphasis, the sharing that had characterized this man as he reached out to so many others in so many ways. Bongo will best be remembered as a teacher. He was always teaching. He taught by example, he taught by coaching and he taught by individual counsel." Jim Bayly has been enshrined in a number of sports halls of fame, including the Maryville Kaufman/Brand Hall of Fame, the Maverick Wrestling Hall of Fame, Omaha South High School Hall of Fame, and the Nebraska Wrestling Hall of Fame.

AKRON, Ohio -- Sunkist Kids wrestler Robbie Mathers lit up the Stile Athletic Field House on Sunday morning, taking down three of the NCAA's toughest competitors in less than three hours to win the 2017 University Nationals title at 65 kg/143 lbs. as well as the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler award. To start his morning, Mathers secured a quick technical fall over two-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State and No. 1 seed Dean Heil (Brunswick, Ohio/Cowboy WC), 11-0. With the momentum, Mathers notched a first-period tech fall against two-time All-American for Iowa State Earl Hall (Ames, Iowa/Cyclone RTC) to earn a spot in the finals. There, he faced University of Minnesota's Tommy Thorn (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm). Mathers controlled the match, scoring within the first 20 seconds. From that point, he held onto the lead and won the bout, 13-4, just shy of a tech fall. Read complete story on TheMat.com ... Finals results 57 kg/125 lbs. - Luke Welch (Newburgh, Ind./Boilermaker RTC) dec. David Terao (Washington, DC/DCAC), 8-4 61 kg/134 lbs. - John Erneste (Kansas City, Mo./Missouri Wrestling Foundation) dec. Taylor LaMont (Mapleton, Utah/Sunkist Kids WC), 2-1 65 kg/143 lbs. - Robbie Mathers (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunkist Kids WC) dec. Tommy Thorn (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm), 13-4 70 kg/156 lbs. - Brandon Sorensen (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Univ. of Iowa) dec. Grant LaMont (Mapleton, Utah/Wolverine WC), 4-0 74 kg/163 lbs. - Chance Marsteller (Fawn Grove, Pa./Mat Town USA) tech. fall Connor Flynn (Dardenne Prairie, Mo./Missouri Wrestling Foundation), 10-0 80 kg/176 lbs. - Jordan Kutler (Sparta, N.J./Lehigh WC) dec. Jacobe Smith (Muskogee, Okla./Cowboy WC/Titan Mercury WC), 10-5 86 kg/189 lbs. - Myles Martin (Penns Grove, N.J./Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) dec. Pete Renda (Raleigh, N.C./Wolfpack WC), 4-2 97 kg/213 lbs. - Jeric Kasunic (Washington, DC/DCAC) dec. Danny Chaid (Raleigh, N.C./Tar Heel WC), 8-7 125 kg/275 lbs. - Garrett Ryan (Phoenix, Ariz./NYRTC) tech. fall Michael Hughes (Hempstead, N.Y./Blue and Gold RTC), 14-4 Medal matches 57 kg/125 lbs. 3rd – Gary Harding, Stillwater, OK (OKST/Cowboy Wrestling Club) tech. fall Sean Russell, Edinboro, PA (Edinboro Regional Training Center), 15-5 5th – Ethan Lizak Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm) won by forfeit Skyler Petry Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm) 7th – Austin Miller, Lock Haven, PA (Mat Town USA) dec. Kyle Norstrem, Blacksburg, VA (SERTC-VT), 12-8 61 kg/134 lbs. 3rd – Markus Simmons, Ames, IA (C-RTC) dec. Jake Rubio, Norman, OK (Sooner Wrestling Club), 5-5 5th – Ian Parker Ames, IA (C-RTC) won by forfeit Johnni Dijulius (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) 7th – Nathan Boston, Buies Creek, NC (Campbell) won by forfeit Daniel Deshazer, Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm) 65 kg/143 lbs. 3rd – Brock Zacherl, Mayport, PA (Clarion RTC) tech. fall Earl Hall, Ames, IA (C-RTC), 10-0 5th – Collin Purinton, Lincoln, NE (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) tech. fall Nicholas Zanetta (Pittsborgh WC), 14-4 7th – Matt Findlay, Orem, UT (Wolverine Wrestling Club) tech fall Chad Red, Lincoln, NE (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center), 12-1 70 kg/154 lbs. 3rd – Mitch Finesilver, Englewood, CO (Blue Blood Wrestling Club) dec. Troy Heilmann, Chapel Hill, NC (Tar Heel Wrestling Club), 8-5 5th – Max Thomsen, Cedar Falls, IA (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) tech fall Cole Erickson (Coe College), 10-0 7th – Paul Fox, Stanford, CA (Stanford - California RTC) tech fall Jason Tsirtsis, Tempe, AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 10-1 74 kg/163 lbs. 3rd – Joseph Lavallee, Columbia, MO (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) dec. Ian Brown, (Lehigh Valley WC), 12-5 5th – Josh Shields, Tempe, AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by forfeit Cole Walter (Lehigh Valley WC) 7th – Markus Scheidel (NYC RTC) won by forfeit Jacen Petersen, Tempe, AZ (ASU Wrestling) 80 kg/176 lbs. 3rd – Daniel Lewis, Columbia, MO (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) tech. fall Devin Skatzka, Bloomington, IN (Hoosier Wrestling Club), 13-2 5th – Kimball Bastian, Orem, UT (Wolverine Wrestling Club) NC Nick Becker (Grizzly WC) 7th – Chad Walsh (Broncs Wrestling Club) won by forfeit Kaleb Young, Iowa City, IA (University of Iowa) 86 kg/189 lbs. 3rd – Ryan Preisch (Lehigh Valley WC) tech. fall Keegan Moore (CWC/TMWC), 16-6 5th – Ricky Robertson, Madison, WI (University of Wisconsin) tech fall Dakota Geer, Edinboro, PA (Edinboro Regional Training Center), 10-0 7th – Alexander Deciantis, Mars, PA (Drexel) dec. Jacob Holschlag, Cedar Falls, IA (Panther Wrestling Club RTC), 10-2 97 kg/213 lbs. 3rd – Benjamin Darmstadt, Ithaca, NY (New York RTC) fall Morgan Smith, Lynnwood, WA (Pin City), 1:23 5th – Bobby Steveson, Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm) dec. Anthony Mclaughlin (USAF Academy), 2-1 7th – Tom Sleigh, DuBois, PA (Buffalo Valley RTC) dec. Jonathan Aiello (UVA), 6-4 125 kg/275 lbs. 3rd – Tanner Hall, Tempe, AZ (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Cory Daniels, Chapel Hill, NC (Tar Heel Wrestling Club), 10-2 5th – Malik Mcdonald, Raleigh, NC (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) fall Michael Boykin, Raleigh, NC (Wolfpack Wrestling Club), 2:06 7th – Rylee Streifel, Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Storm) tech fall Andrew Dunn, Blacksburg, VA (SERTC-VT), 10-0

AKRON, Ohio -- World team spots were earned at the UWW Cadet Freestyle Nationals on Sunday morning. Ten of the nation's elite wrestlers won their respective weight classes in the tournament held on the campus of the University of Akron. Contestants in this tournament range from those still finishing junior high to those graduating in the Class of 2018. Athletes born in 2000, 2001, and 2002 are age eligible. Champions in this tournament qualify for the Cadet World Tournament to be held from September 4-10 in Athens, Greece. Both wrestlers who won Cadet World freestyle last year, and competed in this year's event, again earned spots on the team. Kurt McHenry (St. Paul's, Md.), a gold medalist last year at 42 kilos, dominated his way to the title at 46 kilos with six technical falls from six bouts. All his matches ended in the first period, with only Dylan Ragusin (Montini Catholic, Ill.) even able to score points during a 13-2 semifinal victory. Ranked No. 13 overall in the Class of 2019, McHenry had a rematch of last year's championship series that went to a third match against Jeremiah Reno (Liberty, Mo.), a Cadet National freestyle champion at 94 pounds last year and ranked No. 16 overall in the Class of 2020. This year's championship series was a pair of technical falls that lasted a combined 1:55. Key in each match was the ability to transition from a takedown into multiple gut-wrenches. Travis Wittlake (Marshfield, Ore.), ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2018, will get the chance to improve upon last year's bronze medal finish at 76 kilos. However, the path was not easy, nor were most of the matches along the way. After a pair of shutout technical falls in a combined 89 seconds, Wittlake needed a takedown with about 30 seconds left in the bout to upend Julian Ramirez (Blair Academy, N.J.) in a quarterfinal bout that went back-and-forth; Ramirez is ranked as the No. 6 overall wrestler in the Class of 2019. The semifinal against Patrick Kennedy (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) was no easier, as Wittlake came away with a 4-3 victory against the No. 8 overall wrestler in the Class of 2020. The championship series for Wittlake was a pair of matches against fellow Cadet Nationals double champion Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown, Md.), who is ranked No. 49 in the Class of 2018. The first match was a 4-2 victory for Wittlake, in which he scored a takedown during each period. Then, in the last match, Wittlake showed his true colors steamrolling to a 10-0 technical fall in 1:18; an opening takedown with a pair of gut-wrenches was followed by two more takedowns. However, the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler award went to Jacori Teemer (Long Beach, N.Y.), the No. 27 overall Class of 2018 wrestler. Teemer absolutely dominated fellow Cadet National freestyle champion Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.) in the 63 kilos championship series, Sasso being ranked No. 7 among 2018 wrestlers. It was comprehensive in all positions and aspects, a 12-2 technical fall in 2:13 followed by a 12-1 technical fall in 2:55. Those matches were the fifth and sixth technical fall victory for Teemer in the tournament. Two other Class of 2018 wrestlers earned their way onto the Cadet World Team on Sunday morning, No. 26 Will Lewan (Montini Catholic, Ill.) at 69 kilos and No. 17 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.) at 85 kilos. It was double titles for Lewan, as he won the championship on Friday afternoon in Greco-Roman in this weight class as well. Lewan was a decisive winner in both matches against Peyton Robb (Owatonna, Minn.), the No. 43 overall wrestler in the 2018 class, coming home with 9-5 and 9-4 victories. He also had wins over wrestlers finishing fourth and fifth place in this tournament, 5-0 in the semifinal over Jared Franek (West Fargo, N.D.) and 8-6 over Carter Starocci (Erie Cathedral Prep, Pa.); there also was a 12-2 quarterfinal victory over No. 36 overall Class of 2019 wrestler Sam Dover (St. Edward, Ohio). Hoffman was decisive in his championship series matches over two-time Cadet National freestyle champion Ryan Karoly (Malvern Prep, Pa.), the No. 25 overall wrestler in the Class of 2018. The key sequence in the opening match came with Hoffman leading 2-1. What was originally called a takedown Karoly and reversal Hoffman to level the match at 3-3, was reversed via replay challenge to takedown only Hoffman; a subsequent takedown and push out would make it 7-1 after one period, with a second period push out making it an 8-1 final score. The second match was tight through one period with Hoffman leading just 1-0 on a pushout. A takedown, two pushouts, and another takedown in the second period for Hoffman yielded the 7-0 final score. The other three matches for Hoffman in the tournament were decided by technical fall; the semifinal match by 13-2 score over No. 45 overall Class of 2019 wrestler Devin Winston (Park Hill, Mo.), and the quarterfinal by 11-0 score over last year's Cadet National double runner-up Tyler Barnes (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) Another pair of champions came from the Class of 2019, No. 10 Jordan Decatur (CVCA, Ohio) at 58 kilos and No. 4 Daniel Kerkvliet (Simley, Minn.) at 100 kilos. Decatur was runner-up in this tournament last year at 54 kilos, and also won Cadet National freestyle titles the last two summers in Fargo. His championship series was a pair of competitive - but dominant - victories over Carson Manville (Shakopee, Minn.), the nation's top junior high wrestler. Decatur led 4-1 after one period in the opening bout, then while leading 6-2 scored a takedown to really open up the bout, where two subsequent gut wrenches ended the match in 3:40 by a 12-2 technical fall. The second bout was 6-2 Decatur after a period, with Manville having shrunk the gap to 6-4 halfway through the second period. Then, Decatur shot in a double that ended in a launch situation that led to a pin coming at the 3:20 mark. Manville had advanced to the final with wins over two-time Cadet National double champion Nick Raimo (Hanover Park, N.J.), the nation's No. 2 Class of 2019 wrestler; and Josh Saunders (Christian Brothers College, Mo.), the nation's No. 4 Class of 2020 prospect. Decatur's path to the final involved five technical falls from five bouts, the most notable being against Andrew Alirez (Greeley Central, Colo.), 12-2 in the quarterfinal against the No. 9 Class of 2019 wrestler. Kerkvliet blew his way through the competition with four technical falls on the way to the final, only yielding two points, those coming in his opening match. The championship series was a pair of 10-0 technical fall victories over Jace Punke (Washington, Ill.), each of those coming midway through the second period. Another pair of champions came from elite wrestlers in the Class of 2020. No. 9 Julian Tagg (Brecksville, Ohio) won the 50 kilos title, while No. 6 Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) was champion at 54 kilos. Tagg, a Cadet National freestyle champion last summer, started his tournament with a trio of 10-0 technical fall victories. In his quarterfinal match against Trevor Mastrogiovanni (Blair Academy, N.J.), it was the No. 10 overall Class of 2020 wrestler Mastrogiovanni jumping out to a 7-0 lead before Tagg would rally back with a takedown, a takedown and turn, and then a last takedown to get an 8-7 lead late in the bout that would stand up. The semifinal against Jacob Cardani (Champaign Central, Ill.) was a tighter than expected 8-7 victory. Then, the championship series came against Isaac Salas (St. John Bosco, Calif.), the No. 9 overall junior high wrestler. While the scoreline will show a pair of decisive victories, the matches were more tightly contested. The first of which was a 7-0 victory, the second of which came by a 10-2 score, a match in which Salas scored the first takedown before Tagg countered with five takedowns in turn. Howard had the least dominant tournament of any champion, though it started with a 10-0 technical fall. His next match was a 3-0 round of 16 victory over eventual eighth place finisher Kyle Gollhofer (Woodland, Ga.). The quarterfinal was an absolute barn-burner against Brody Teske (Fort Dodge, Iowa), the No. 30 overall Class of 2018 wrestler and a Cadet freestyle runner-up last year. Howard took a 6-0 lead early, then it was Teske rallying for an 8-7 lead lead before Howard got the last second takedown to earn a 9-8 victory. Howard then beat last year's 50 kilos world team member Aaron Cashman (Shakopee, Minn.), the No. 46 overall Class of 2018 wrestler, by a 6-0 decision in the semifinal. The championship series came against Chris Cannon (Blair Academy, N.J.), the No. 15 overall wrestler in the Class of 2019. The opening match of the series was an 8-3 victory, which was aided by a sequence in the second period that was scored 4-1 in favor of Howard when it could have went another way. The second match was a 6-4 victory for Howard decided by a key four-point throw midway through the second period, Cannon had a potential throw at the end of the match to win it, but time was out. Rounding out this year's Cadet World Team is Cole Skinner (Ohio), the No. 14 overall junior high wrestler, who beat out No. 10 junior high wrestler Chance Lamer (Oregon) for the 42 kilos spot. Skinner won by 10-0 technical fall in 3:57 and then 7-2. The last of the tournament's champions was state placer Jordan Earnest (Wadsworth, Ohio), who won the 125 kilos weight class, one that is not contested at Cadet Worlds. Final Results 42 kg/92 lbs. Cole Skinner (G2 World WA) tech. fall Chance Lamer (Orange Crush WC), 10-0 Cole Skinner (G2 World WA) dec. Chance Lamer (Orange Crush WC), 7-2 Skinner wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 3rd - Jett Strickenberger (Sons of Thunder) tech. fall Alex Almeyda (Edge), 10-0 5th - Drake Ayala (Sebolt WA) tech. fall Blake Noonan (Team Donahoe), 12-2 7th - Laz Maldonado (Sons of Thunder) tech. fall Tommy Curran (Gomez WA), 10-0 46 kg/101 lbs. Kurt McHenry (Ranger WC) tech. fall Jeremiah Reno (Victory), 11-0 Kurt McHenry (Ranger WC) tech. fall Jeremiah Reno (Victory), 10-0 McHenry wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 3rd - Dylan Ragusin (Izzy Style) dec. Cullan Schriever (Sebolt WA), 6-0 5th - Yusief Little (Team Aggression) forfeit Ryan Crookham (Weaver Elite) 7th - Richard Figueroa (Team Selma) tech. fall Cooper Flynn (Holland Trained), 12-1 50 kg/110 lbs. Julian Tagg (Seasons) dec. Isaac Salas (Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage), 7-0 Julian Tagg (Seasons) dec. Isaac Salas (Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage), 10-2 Tagg wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 3rd - Trevor Mastrogiovanni (Blairstown WC) dec. Greg Diakomihalis (FLWC), 3-2 5th - Justin Cardani (Centennial) forfeit Noah Surtin (Quest) 7th - Hunter Lewis (Wisconsin) fall Steele Dias (Nevada), 3:33 54 kg/119 lbs. Robert Howard (Bitetto Trained) dec. Chris Cannon (Blairstown WC), 8-3 Robert Howard (Bitetto Trained) dec. Chris Cannon (Blairstown WC), 6-4 Howard wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 3rd - Brody Teske (Team Valley) dec. Jakob Camacho (Iowa Style WC), 10-4 5th - Gabriel Tagg (Seasons) forfeit Aaron Cashman (Pinnacle) 7th - Joseph Heilmann (South Plainfield) dec. Kyle Gollhofer (Georgia), 6-2 58 kg/127 lbs. Jordan Decatur (Seasons) tech. fall Carson Manville (Shakopee Mat Club), 12-2 Jordan Decatur (Seasons) fall Carson Manville (Shakopee Mat Club), 3:40 Decatur wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 3rd - Jesse Vasquez (Sunkist Kids) dec. Joshua Saunders (Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage), 8-2 5th - Atilano Escobar (Olympus/LWC) forfeit Nicholas Raimo (Apex) 7th - Beau Bartlett (Sunkist Kids/Monster Garage) dec. Ryan Moore (ETC), 10-2 63 kg/138 lbs. Jacori Teemer (Long Beach) tech. fall Sammy Sasso (Dark Knights), 12-2 Jacori Teemer (Long Beach) tech. fall Sammy Sasso (Dark Knights), 12-1 Teemer wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 3rd - Jason Kraisser (Maryland) dec. Kevon Davenport (Shamrock Select), 5-3 5th - Kasper Mcintosh (Portage WC) dec. Cade Devos (Iron Rams), 6-0 7th - Fidel Mayora (Izzy Style) tech. fall Padriac Gallacher (TWFOC), 10-0 69 kg/152 lbs. Will Lewan (Izzy Style) dec. Peyton Robb (Pinnacle), 9-5 Will Lewan (Izzy Style) dec. Peyton Robb (Pinnacle), 9-4 Lewan wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 3rd - Connor Brady (Ohio RTC) dec. Jared Franek (West Fargo), 11-3 5th - Carter Starocci (Bad Karma) dec. Tyler Dow (Wisconsin), 4-1 7th - Justin Mccoy (Young Guns) dec. Nevan Snodgrass (Ohio), 13-8 76 kg/167 lbs. Travis Wittlake Jr. (Team Bucs) dec. Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown), 4-2 Travis Wittlake Jr. (Team Bucs) tech. fall Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown), 10-0 Wittlake Jr. wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 3rd - Patrick Kennedy (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Jeremiah Kent (MOWesst), 10-0 5th - Michael O'Malley (Apex) fall Carson Kharchla (Team Miron), 1:15 7th - Julian Ramirez (Blairstown WC) forfeit Grant Cuomo (Iowa Style WC) 85 kg/187 lbs. Gavin Hoffman (Bison Legend) dec. Ryan Karoly (Malvern WC), 8-1 Gavin Hoffman (Bison Legend) dec. Ryan Karoly (Malvern WC), 7-0 Hoffman wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 3rd - Joel Shapiro (Ubasa WA) dec. Lucas Davidson (Chesterton WC), 8-0 5th - Devin Winston (Greater Heights) tech. fall Tyler Barnes (Journeymen), 12-2 7th - Hunter Dejong (MWCWA) fall Cristian Knop (Ironclad WC), 0:42 100 kg/220 lbs. Daniel Kerkvliet (Pinnacle) tech. fall Jace Punke (OS/WN), 10-0 Daniel Kerkvliet (Pinnacle) tech. fall Jace Punke (OS/WN), 10-0 Kerkvliet wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 3rd - Luke Luffman (OS/WN) dec. Tyler Curd (MOWest), 8-0 5th - Tyler Stein (Ohio) forfeit Kyle Lightner (Fortify WC) 7th - Jacob Somali (Askren WA) fall Jake Cook (Journeymen), 1:35 125 kg/275 lbs. 1st - Jordan Earnest (Wadsworth) dec. Jack Delgarbino (Green Machine WC), 8-1 3rd - Eli Pokorney (Chesterton WC) fall Guy Snow (Eastern Iowa WC), 2:49 5th - Jayvon Davidson (Eclipse) fall Enutifa Gamia (Easter Iowa WC), 0:33

AKRON, Ohio -- Greco-Roman prodigies Cohlton Schultz and Malik Johnson are heading back to the Cadet World Championships after knockout performances at the UWW Cadet Nationals held at the Louis and Freda Stile Athletic Field House on the campus of the University of Akron on Friday. Schultz made quick work of his 100 kg/220 lbs. finals opponent Tyler Curd, in what was the most-anticipated championship series of the afternoon. Schultz, a two-time USAW Cadet Nationals champion, punished Curd from the top position, piling on the turns to win the best-of-three series in two-straight bouts by scores of 9-0 and 8-0. The Colorado native Schultz qualified for his second-straight Cadet World Team in the Greco-Roman style. Moreover, Schultz will also represent the U.S. at the Junior World Championships, also in Greco-Roman. "As soon as I get on top I know I can finish matches from there, so that's what I did," said Schultz. "I've just been focusing on my positioning and open up my offense a little bit more…There's room for improvement everywhere, but I'm slowly getting there." Read complete story on TheMat.com … Championship Series Results 42 kg/92 lbs. Kase Mauger (Delchev Trained Academy) tech. fall Joseph Manno (Apex), 10-2 Kase Mauger (Delchev Trained Academy) tech. fall Joseph Manno (Apex), 8-0 Mauger wins series 2-0 46 kg/101 lbs. Parker Decker (Mile High WC) dec. Dylan Ragusin (Izzy Style), 8-4 Dylan Ragusin (Izzy Style) dec. Parker Decker (Mile High WC), 4-2 Dylan Ragusin (Izzy Style) tech. fall Parker Decker (Mile High WC), 8-0 Ragusin wins series 2-1 50 kg/110 lbs. Anthony Molton (Colt Wrestling) fall Lucas Byrd (Ohio), 1:43 Lucas Byrd (Ohio) dec. Anthony Molton (Colt Wrestling), 8-1 Lucas Byrd (Ohio) dec. Anthony Molton (Colt Wrestling), 9-1 54 kg/119 lbs. Ridge Lovett (Team Real Life) tech. fall King Sandoval (Maryland), 12-4 Ridge Lovett (Team Real Life) dec. King Sandoval (Maryland), 6-5 Lovett wins series 2-0 58 kg/127 lbs. Malik Johnson (Team Punishment) dec. Jevon Parrish (KCTC), 10-5 Malik Johnson (Team Punishment) dec. Jevon Parrish (KCTC), 6-5 Johnson wins series 2-0 63 kg/138 lbs. Mason Phillips (Top Notch Training WC) tech. fall Trevor Mansfield (Caveman Wrestling), 10-1 Mason Phillips (Top Notch Training WC) dec. Trevor Mansfield (Caveman Wrestling), 7-2 Phillips wins series 2-0 69 kg/152 lbs. Will Lewan (Izzy Style) tech. fall Mason Reiniche (Baylor), 8-0 Will Lewan (Izzy Style) tech. fall Mason Reiniche (Baylor), 9-1 Lewan wins series 2-0 76 kg/167 lbs. Christopher Foca (RedNose Wrestling School) dec. Jake Hendricks (X Calibur), 15-8 Jake Hendricks (X Calibur) tech. fall Christopher Foca (RedNose Wrestling School), 10-2 Jake Hendricks (X Calibur) fall Christopher Foca (RedNose Wrestling School), 1:17 Hendricks wins series 2-1 85 kg/187 lbs. Peter Christensen (Izzy Style) dec. Ashton Sharp (Greater Heights Wrestling), 7-4 Ashton Sharp (Greater Heights Wrestling) dec. Peter Christensen (Izzy Style), 8-5 Ashton Sharp (Greater Heights Wrestling) dec. Peter Christensen (Izzy Style), 8-4 Sharp wins series 2-1 100 kg/220 lbs. Cohlton Schultz (New York AC) tech. fall Tyler Curd (MOWest), 9-0 Cohlton Schultz (New York AC) tech. fall Tyler Curd (MOWest), 8-0 Schultz wins series 2-0 Placement Matches 42 kg/92 lbs. 3rd - Tommy Curran (Gomez WA) tech. fall Laz Maldonado (Sons of Thunder), 12-3 5th - Nathan Rubio (MWC Wrestling Academy) fall Blaine Brenner (Wisconsin), 0:24 46 kg/101 lbs. 3rd - Sam Latona (Warrior WC) dec. Paxton Creese (Pinnacle), 4-0 5th - Brenden Chaowanapibool (Team Aggression) tech. fall Angelo Lozado (Sons of Thunder), 9-0 7th - Christian Goin (OS/WN) dec. Brody Norman (OS/WN), 5-0 50 kg/110 lbs. 3rd - Hunter Lewis (Wisconsin) tech. fall David Stepanian (Titan WC), 8-0 5th - Darrick Stacey (East Idaho Elite) dec. Blake Boarman (Maurer Coughlin WC) 7th - Caden Mccrary (Compound Wrestling) dec. Jakason Burks (MWC Wrestling Academy), 2-1 54 kg/119 lbs. 3rd - Delon Kanari (LCWC) dec. Vicente Loiaza (Arizona), 6-4 5th - Ezra Elliott (Patton Trained WC) tech. fall Trent Svingala (Journeymen), 8-0 7th - Aidan Nutter (Wisconsin) dec. Benyamin Kamali (Shamrock Select), 8-5 58 kg/127 lbs. 3rd - Carson Manville (Shakopee Mat Club) tech. fall Phillip Moomey (Nebraska Golden Eagles), 8-0 5th - Braeden Dickinson (Delchev Trained Academy) forfeit Nicholas Raimo (Apex) 7th - Joseph Otero (Team Little Chris/TWC) dec. Joe Klock (BTWC), 15-13 63 kg/138 lbs. 3rd - Kevon Davenport (Shamrock Select) tech. fall Anthony Ulaszek (Colorado), 12-1 5th - Jared Thieler (Gator WC) tech. fall Carter Tuttle (X Calibur), 8-0 7th - Fidel Mayora (Izzy Style) forfeit Colton Yapoujian (Mile High WC) 69 kg/152 lbs. 3rd - Peyton Robb (Pinnacle) tech. fall Desmond Bowers (Nevada), 8-0 5th - Farouq Muhammed (Ohio) dec. Michael Weber (Nebraska WTC), 11-4 7th - Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) forfeit Deshawn Herbert (New York AC) 76 kg/167 lbs. 3rd - Zachary Braunagel (Quest) fall Edmond Ruth (Iron Eagle), 3:16 5th - Josh Stillings (LVWC) forfeit Michael O'Malley (Apex) 7th - Isaiah Alford (MWC Wrestling Academy) tech. fall Lucas Roland (Iowa), 15-6 85 kg/187 lbs. 3rd - Joseph Miller (Nevada) dec. Jonathon Fagen (Suples WC), 8-1 5th - Hunter Dejong (MWC Wrestling Academy) fall Charlie Cadell (USWA), 2:29 7th - Julian Gorring (Bad Karma) dec. Austin Cooley (X Calibur), 4-1 100 kg/220 lbs. 3rd - Jace Punke (OS/WN) tech. fall Luke Luffman (OS/WN), 8-0 5th - Kaleb Reeves (Eastern Iowa) fall Bradley Smith (Beaver Creek), 0:13 7th - Ronald Meinhard (Team Thrill) fall Nick Shepard (Samurai WC), 0:38 125 kg/275 lbs. 1st Place - Jake DelGarbino (Green Machine WC) 2nd Place - Jayvon Davidson (Eclipse) 3rd Place - Guy Snow (Eastern Iowa WC) 4th Place - Enutifa Gamia (Eastern Iowa WC) R1 - Jayvon Davidson (Eclipse) dec. Guy Snow (Eastern Iowa WC), 12-8 R1 - Jake DelGarbino (Green Machine WC) tech. fall Enutifa Gamia (Eastern Iowa WC), 10-2 R2 - Guy Snow (Eastern Iowa WC) fall Enutifa Gamia (Eastern Iowa WC), 0:43 R2 - Jake DelGarbino (Green Machine WC) fall Jayvon Davidson (Eclipse), 0:50 R3 - Jake DelGarbino (Green Machine WC) tech. fall Guy Snow (Eastern Iowa WC), 8-0 R3 - Jayvon Davidson (Eclipse) fall Enutifa Gamia (Eastern Iowa WC), 1:31

AKRON, Ohio -- In a stunner, Zach Merrill (Norman, Okla./NYRTC) defeated 2017 Junior and Senior World Team member G'Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/Sunkist Kids) with a 10-0 technical fall in the 98 kg/216 lbs. finals of the 2017 Greco-Roman University Nationals on Friday afternoon in Akron, Ohio. The bizarre finals match started with an early takedown from Merrill, capitalizing on an errant arm spin by Hancock. While down in par terre, Hancock was hit with a caution and two for a leg foul that got the whole arena buzzing. On the par terre restart, both wrestlers were warned for early starts. A second quick start for Hancock resulted in another caution and two to put Merrill up 6-0 on the Junior World bronze medalist. Less than 30 seconds later, Merrill hit an arm spin for four points to end the match in a 10-0 tech fall. "I love it," Merrill said. "I just kept good position. I knew he was going to come in tough and banging so I just had to use strategy. I just had to attack, attack, attack until he was so tired. That's the way we train. That's how we do things at the New York RTC." Read complete story on TheMat.com … University Greco-Roman Finals Results 59 kg: Dalton Roberts (Fowlerville, Mich./New York AC) dec. Mike Fuenffinger (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), 7-0 63 kg: Wesley Dawkins (Ashland, Neb./Nebraska Golden Eagles) tech. fall Ty Pelot (Manitowoc, Wisc./X-Factor Elite), 10-0 66 kg: Raymond Bunker (Villa Park, Ill./US Marines) tech. fall Dante Rodriguez (Kearney, Neb./Cyclone RTC), 10-2 71 kg: Alex Mossing (Toledo, Ohio/Foxfire WC) tech. fall Anthonie Linares (San Jose, Calif./New York AC), 13-5 75 kg: Curt Calovecchi (Brussels, Wisc./NMU-OTS) dec. Colin Schubert (Brussels, Wisc./New York AC), 4-1 80 kg: Geordan Speiller (Oviedo, Fla./Florida Jets) dec. Jon Jay Chavez (Boise, N.Y./NYRTC), 3-1 85 kg: Barrett Stanghill (Philipsburg, Mont./Minnesota Storm) dec. Richard Carlson (Arden Hills, Minn./Minnesota Storm), 5-2 98 kg: Zach Merrill (Norman, Okla./NYRTC) tech. fall G'Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/Sunkist Kids), 10-0 130 kg: Donald Longendyke (Vadnais Heights, Minn./Minnesota Storm) dec. Malcolm Allen (Mankato, Minn./Minnesota Storm), 5-4 Medal matches 59 kg/130 lbs. 3rd: Randon Miranda, Marquette, MI (NYAC) dec. Lawson Ludwin, Colorado Springs, CO (Tiger Wrestling Club), 8-3 5th: Nelson Baker, La Crosse, WI (LAW) fall Jared Brickley, Lansing, MI (Olivet Wrestling Club), 1:06 7th: Kyndall Rutz, Marquette, MI (NMU-OTS) tech. fall Devon Jackson (3 Style Wrestling), 8-0 63 kg/139 lbs. 3rd: Taylor Zippe, Camp Lejeune, NC (Marines) tech. fall Justus Griffith, Orlando, FL (Florida jets), 10-2 5th: Jordan Auen, San Jose, CA (NMU-OTS) fall Quinton Tucker Fairfax, VA (George Mason), 1:01 7th: Brady Meals (Modern Day Gladiators) fall Trevor Mello, Fairfax, VA (George Mason), 1:25 66 kg/145 lbs. 3rd: Sam Jones, Marquette, MI (NYAC) tech. fall Chase Call, Orem, UT (Wolverine Wrestling Club), 8-0 5th: Grant Lamont, Mapleton, UT (Wolverine Wrestling Club) fall Colton Rasche, Emerald Isle, NC (Marines), 2:46 7th: Evan Cheek, Cleveland, OH (NEORTC) fall Hunter Kelley, Ray City, GA (NMU-OTS), 2:40 71 kg/156 lbs. 3rd: Isaac Dukes, Colorado Springs, CO (U.S. Army) tech. fall Joshua Russo, Camp Lejeune, NC (Marines), 8-0 5th: Austin Morrow, Marquette, MI (NYAC) dec. Logan Kass, Webster, MN (NMU-OTS), 7-2 7th: Ali Khan, Elk Grove, CA (NMU-OTS) win by medical forfeit Clay Frost, Orem, UT (Charger Wrestling Club) 75 kg/165 lbs. 3rd: Jayshon Wilson, NC (Marines) dec. Fritz Schierl, Stevens Point, WI (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club/Ohio Regional Training Center), 8-7 5th: Corey Fitzgerald, Uniontown, OH (NMU-OTS) fall Broc Clark, Camp Lejeune, NC (Marines), 2:55 7th: Josh Mossing, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO (Foxfire Wrestling Club) tech. fall Alec Donovan, Brick, NJ (Centenary University), 8-0 80 kg/176 lbs. 3rd: Jesse Porter, Marquette, MI (NYAC) dec. Kimball Bastian, Orem, UT (Wolverine Wrestling Club), 6-0 5th: Trace Engelkes, Winnebago, IL (Alpha wrestling Academy) win by medical forfeit over Vladyslav Dombrovskiy Colorado Springs, CO (U.S. Army) 7th: Spencer Woods, College Park, MD (Terrapin Wrestling Club) tech fall Josh Anderson, Omaha, NE (NMU-OTS), 14-6 85 kg/187 lbs. 3rd: Ricky Robertson, Madison, WI (University of Wisconsin) tech. fall Jordan Newman, Whitewater, WI (Askren Wrestling), 10-1 5th: Adrian Salas, Ithaca, NY (New York RTC) dec. Austin Chaon, Hayward, WI (NMU-OTS), 4-0 7th: Canaan Bethea (Patriot Eilte Wrestling Club) tech fall Austin Harrison, Fairfax, VA (George Mason), 8-0 98 kg/216 lbs. 3rd: Daniel Miller, Berlin, MD (Marines) tech. fall Jacob Kasper, Mansfield, OH (Blue Blood Wrestling Club), 9-0 5th: Austin Schafer, Edmond, OK (bronchos wrestling club) fall Khymba Johnson, Marquette, MI (NYAC), 3:14 7th: Dan Olsen, Algonquin, IL (Unattached) tech. fall Anthony Riopelle, Monroe, MI (NMU-OTS), 9-1 130 kg/285 lbs. 3rd: Eric Fader, Sanford, MI (Marines) fall Parker Betts (Minnesota Storm), 0:34 5th: Jordan Karst, Orem, UT (Wolverine Wrestling Club) dec. Michael Rogers (Bison Legend), 6-2 7th: Matt Voss, Fairfax, VA (George Mason) dec. Justin Karkula, Eau Claire, WI (Unattached), 16-10

University of Northern Iowa wrestling is expected to join the Big 12 conference as an affiliate member, IAwrestle.com reported Friday. "IAwrestle has learned from multiple sources that the University of Northern Iowa will likely join the Big 12 Conference as an affiliate in wrestling," according to a news story by Nic Ryder at the website devoted to covering wrestling in the state of Iowa. "The decision is not finalized yet, and still needs to be voted on by the conference athletic directors, however the sources that we talked to are confident that the Panthers will be moving conferences." Ryder goes on point out that if UNI moves to the Big 12, it would put the mat Panthers in the same conference as in-state rival Iowa State. Right now, in addition to Iowa State, other Big 12 schools with wrestling programs include University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia ... along with affiliate members Air Force, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Utah Valley, and Wyoming, former UNI wrestling rivals in the Western Wrestling Conference. Speculation on a possible new conference home for UNI wrestling comes hot on the heels of news that Southern Illinois University Edwardsville wrestling would be joining the Mid-American Conference as an affiliate member starting in the 2018-19 season.

The wrestling program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will be joining the Mid-American Conference as an affiliate member beginning in the 2018-19 season, it was announced Friday. For the upcoming season, the SIUE wrestlers will remain in the Southern Conference, where the Cougars have competed since 2013. With this change, the MAC will consist of nine wrestling programs. Six are from full MAC membership schools: Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Northern Illinois and Ohio ... while three are affiliate members: Missouri, Old Dominion, and now, SIUE. The SIUE men's soccer program is also being welcomed as an affiliate member of the MAC, effective in 2018-19. MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher discussed how SIU Edwardsville came to receive an invitation to join the conference. "After significant study and discussion by our member institution's coaches and administrators the Mid-American Conference has made a move to strengthen the Conference with the addition of SIU Edwardsville as an affiliate member in both men's soccer and wrestling," said Steinbrecher. "Both programs will add quality and depth to the Conference. I am pleased to welcome SIU Edwardsville, their student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans to the Mid-American Conference." SIUE Director of Athletics Dr. Brad Hewitt also weighed in with what this new affiliation will mean to wrestling and soccer at the school located on the Illinois side of the greater St. Louis area. "Joining the Mid-American Conference as an affiliate member in these two sports is not only a compliment but also a recognition and validation of each program's recent success," Hewitt said. "We are thankful for the opportunities granted and support given by the Missouri Valley Conference in men's soccer and the Southern Conference in wrestling. "Conference affiliations are always evolving, and institutions are constantly pursuing the best academic, social and competitive opportunities for their student-athletes," Hewitt continued. "Our decision to accept the MAC's invitation is based on many factors, including increased national branding, cost containment, augmentation of existing rivalries, the development of new regional rivalries and SIUE's general student recruitment focus in major metropolitan areas. Our coaches, student-athletes and fans are going to be excited for these new challenges." SIUE wrestling, a long-standing program with a rich tradition, just completed one of its best seasons since the move to NCAA Division I. Three SIUE wrestlers won their respective weight classes at the Southern Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA championships in St. Louis. Senior Jake Residori finished in eighth place, becoming SIUE's first All-American in 30 years. SIUE wrestling Head Coach Jeremy Spates said. "The MAC is an extremely strong conference across all sports, and in wrestling it's one of the top three or four conferences. "You have some big-time teams like Missouri and Central Michigan, and teams that are placing and bringing home All-Americans every year. It's great for us because it is so centrally located." The MAC made its presence felt at the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, sending 45 wrestlers to the Nationals in St. Louis ... putting the MAC third in terms of numbers of conference participants at the event. Eight MAC wrestlers earned All-American honors, with University of Missouri senior J'den Cox becoming the 12th MAC wrestling national champion in conference history. Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was founded in 1957. Located 20 miles northeast of downtown St. Louis, SIUE has an enrollment of approximately 14,000 students.

PITTSBURGH -- First-year head wrestling coach Keith Gavin has completed his staff with the addition of two-time All-American Conor Youtsey. The 2017 University of Michigan graduate will serve as the volunteer assistant coach. Conor Youtsey“We are very excited to have Conor join our staff,” Gavin said. “As a wrestler, Conor was known for his competitive spirit and I know he will look to pass on that mentality to our student-athletes here at Pitt. He has exciting plans for this program and will be a great asset in numerous ways.” Youtsey, a native of Parma, Mich., spent five years with the Wolverines developing an impressive resumé as he qualified for the NCAA Championships four years in a row. The 125-pounder reached All-America status in back-to-back years as a redshirt sophomore and redshirt junior. “I am beyond thrilled and very thankful for the opportunity to help develop the young men on this team and create a culture of excellence at Pitt,” Youtsey said. “There isn't a place I would rather be right now. The energy coach Gavin and the rest of the staff share will catapult this program to new heights. It's an exciting time for Pitt wrestling.” As a fifth-year senior, Youtsey had initially stepped away from the wrestling mat to work a full-time job with Cliff Keen while finishing his undergraduate degree. However, in mid-January of 2017, Youtsey was called back into the lineup at 125 pounds after Michigan's starter and backup went down. Youtsey helped the Wolverines get back on track as the squad secured four dual wins before heading to championship season. After shaking off the rust, Youtsey continued to shine in postseason as he placed fifth at the Big Ten Championships, punching his ticket to the NCAA Championships for the fourth and final time.

Wrestling historian Mike Chapman, W.I.N. magazine's Mike Finn, and a preview of the upcoming World Team Trials will be featured on the Takedown Radio broadcast this Saturday, June 3. Join 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 Here's this Saturday's guest list: 9 a.m. Mike Chapman, author and wrestling historian 9:40 a.m. Mike Finn, W.I.N. magazine editor 10 a.m. Tom Baranoski, Bloodround Wrestling Podcast, with a preview of the 2017 World Team Trials

After ten days in Cuba I arrived back in the United States on Tuesday cheerful to zip around the Internet, take in hours of late-night Netflix and devour pleasant chow. After 70-plus countries over four years and more than half a million miles in the air, I'm still always eager to come home, share stories and keep my eyes on the next big story. No matter what I've seen there are moments, usually once a year, where I have a mild awakening to the power and reach of our sport. Cuba was this year's moment. The Cuban culture, the wrestlers I met and the matters they discussed opened my eyes to how our sport connects to people and how much further we can take it. From Cuban National Team training sessions to a 12-hour day with the family of Mijain Lopez, our team's experience in Cuba was unique, informative and potentially can have an impact on how we all see the sport in the future. The projects will roll out over the next several months (sorry to tease), but know that we left with thousands of photos, hours of original video and reams of notes. I look forward to sharing those with wrestling fans here, at United World Wrestling and in future long form projects. As always, thanks for reading. To your questions … Action at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: What's the deal with international wrestling mats? They look like a plastic tarp. Why are these used instead of the mats used in the United States? What type of cushioning is underneath? How is the covering kept in place? Are they harder to shoot on? Are they mandatory for international competition? -- Rob G. Foley: Yes, the mats are mandatory for international competitions. The mats are actually really nice! The tarp and padding system allows for much easier transportation than the large Resilite mats you're used to seeing in American folkstyle wrestling. Those mats only work here because they are shipped in big trucks and stored at schools with plenty of extra room. Imagine trying to fly that into Romania? But the interlocking mat system with tarp can be boxed up and shipped anywhere in the world and stored with relative ease. Overall the cushion and the surface in general are not much different than Resilite. Q: Building off your opening in your last mailbag, what do we do to attract in-season wrestlers? The club guys aren't about to quit putting in more time and effort than the casual guys. If they have goals and aspirations, they know that the clubs will help them to attain them. Also, it's not just kids, but coaches too. How do you get the great club coaches to coach a high school or middle school team? When they coach a club, they have a room full of dedicated kids; they don't have to deal with novices. They get less grief from parents and school boards. They basically have less of the responsibilities and can make just as much or more money doing it, especially if they don't have to rent a facility. -- Anton K. Foley: The American model for sporting success is directly tied to academics. Whether the wrestler must compete on the high school team to get noticed for college, or needs time in college to make themselves noticeable to national freestyle coaches, 99 percent of wrestlers must pass through academic institutions during their career. What if there was a system in place at the college level which limited the amount of wrestling a high school athlete could compete in during the calendar year? Essentially a match cap (not unlike 16 scheduled dates in the NCAA season) could be instituted, which would ensure that no wrestler was getting more than X number of matches per style. Additionally, non-wrestling events which have skills to help wrestlers develop could supplement athletic time. American Ninja Warrior-type races could replace Disney Duals. That's more active for more wrestlers, less head-to-head contact, less cutting weight and ... wait for it ... more fun. The wrestlers could increase their athleticism and potential while not burning out. Money is great. I get that parents invest a ton of income into the children's future on the mat, but if we could limit the amount that they can spend, or MUST spend to get noticed, then it might be possible to create a more productive atmosphere for wrestlers to enter the sport, and STAY in the sport. Q: RTC's and their impact on collegiate and international landscape. See a double-edged sword. Thoughts? -- @adamtirapelle Foley: I wrote about this a little bit in a previous mailbag, but discussed more about the dynasty effect rather than just the RTC. Overall, I think most college coaches see there is a disparity in equality of opportunity when some schools can afford and RTC and others can't. One top college coach told me that he had to adjust their expectations the past few years due to the powerhouse building that has been going on at places like Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan. These schools are not to blame. The system is having a positive effect on the freestyle program and the quality of wrestling across America. I do think that there should be much more relaxed rules on allowing non-college athletes to come into the room and practice with the team. If coaches around the country saw the rule relaxed they could benefit on alumni knowledge and local talent to help build their program rather than the funding and international expertise of megawatt wrestlers and coaches. Of those, there are only a few and most have been gobbled up. Joey McKenna wrestling at the Pac-12 Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: There are rumors of Joey McKenna transferring out of Stanford. Are you surprised? If he does transfer out, where do you think he ends up? -- Mike C. Foley: I hadn't heard that rumor and would only be speculating on where he ends up. The only place he might go is back to the Lehigh Valley where he could be coached by Jeff Buxton, but I'm suspect that he would give up the Stanford degree for what he thought was better coaching. I guess we will see. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Jeff Marsh's role as "The Wresting Coach" is informative, entertaining and is taking our sport in the right direction! Link: Facebook Page The Road to Paris: Wrestling Action from May's Wrestling Month Q: I know we are still a few months out from the World Championships in Paris, but do you have an early prediction on a potential meeting between Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Kyle Snyder? -- Mike C. Foley: I'm not 100 percent certain we will see Sadualev at the World Championships. However, if we do I think Snyder wins by at least four points. Conditioning always suffers when wrestlers change weight classes. It will take another year at 97 kilograms for Sadulaev's body to properly cope with the additional muscle. For now he'll be burning lactic acid quicker and suffering through muscle failure earlier than ever before. Add in that this is a 25-pound weight increase and the strength advantage he enjoyed at 86 kilograms becomes nullified. I also think Snyder is just the better all-around wrestler. Q: With Joe Russell leaving George Mason, I saw that assistant coach Mark Weader was named interim head coach. Will George Mason do a national search for a head coach? Or will Weader have his interim tag removed? Who do you see as a nice fit for a program like George Mason? -- Mike C. Foley: I imagine that Mark Weader would once again take over the program. He knows the challenges better than anyone else and is able to navigate the community to optimize results. A national search probably wouldn't turn up any of the bigger names since Mason faces funding issues. Q: What about going back to allowing NAIA, D3, & D2 kids back into the March Matness? This would bring in more fans to the tournament and with programs recruiting better now than in the years past, it would create some great excitement. -- Nick M. Foley: I love the idea of these champions competing against the NCAA Division I champions, but think that the NCAA has, as an institution, moved past allowing these types of formats. Hey, you could always host your own tournament and invite all the champs to compete! Q: We hear and see about all of these enrollment-based schools adding wrestling and they are enjoying a nice addition to the enrollment numbers. Why hasn't an HBC school added wrestling? There are several of the HBCs that once had wrestling and were quite competitive as well. -- Nick M. Foley: The Historic Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) did have programs as recently as 20 years ago, but many were decimated by Title IX since their enrollments are largely female. There was simply no way to balance out a 65/35 enrollments advantage for women while also sponsoring football and basketball, which many of the schools chose to retain. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be a matter of building interest, but of increasing male enrollment at the individual HBCUs. Q: Thoughts on Virginia hiring both Paulson twins? -- Mike C. Foley: Can't argue with that! Wahoowa!! THOUGHT OF THE WEEK I read your comment about dynasties being good for college wrestling and I respectfully have a very different take. Dynasties are only a good thing when they aren't constant. The Yankees might be good for baseball but the reason why is that even the Yankees don't win it all every year. Other teams still have a reasonable chance at glory. Gable's dynasty at Iowa was interesting for a time because it was a change in the status quo. Winning nine in a row had never been done before. But once Iowa wrestling became the status quo it ceased to be news to the public at large. Just because it is easy for (lazy) journalists to follow which team is the best at college wrestling, it doesn't logically follow that it results in wider mainstream acceptance of the sport. The number of D1 programs has been shrinking for decades for various reasons and there is no evidence I'm aware of that having serial dynasties among a tiny group of schools has mitigated this trend or increased the popularity of the sport overall. Your assertion that a dynasty emerging challenges programs to cough up more money and resources to compete is belied by decades of evidence that it doesn't affect the outcome of the team race, at least for the title. The NCAA wrestling championships have been held 88 times and just five programs have won 79 of those national titles. Where is the "competition at the AD level" if the outcome almost never changes? To use the example you brought up, Iowa State hasn't won a NCAA wrestling team title since 1987. If it were simply a matter of support by the AD one would think they would have won more than a single team title in the last 40 years. Programs are pumping substantial money into amazing wrestling facilities and other parts of their programs these days but to date it has had no discernible effect on which team takes home the tallest trophy in March. It's still the same few teams at the top of the heap. A rational sports business minded AD could be excused for looking at this state of affairs and wondering why they should bother worrying about wrestling if supplying extra resources never results in titles. The NCAA tournament is a great event but the team title is almost always a foregone conclusion. This is a structural issue with the sport, not a lack of competitive spirit or big disparity in tangible resources. The tiny number of teams winning team titles happens because the rules of the sport are organized in such a way that such an outcome is near inevitable. I don't see any objective evidence that lack of parity is good for the sport of wrestling. As always I enjoy the column and keep up the good work.

Thomas Williams Thomas Williams, American University wrestling alum, is stepping down as head coach at Benedictine College, the Kansas-based school announced Wednesday. The press statement said that Williams left to pursue a career away from coaching. Williams joined the staff at Benedictine as a graduate assistant in fall 2012, but was quickly elevated to Interim head coach after the departure of Cy Wainwright in November of that year. Williams was named the second head coach for Benedictine Wrestling in February of 2013. "Thomas took over the wrestling program under difficult circumstances," said Benedictine Athletic Director Charlie Gartenmayer. "We thank him for his efforts in during that transition and for building a solid foundation for the Benedictine wrestling program." With Williams at the helm, the Ravens placed within the top 25 in the team standings at the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) wrestling championships three times. In addition, Benedictine had four wrestlers earn a total of NAIA All-American honors at Nationals. Williams' wrestlers also found success in the classroom. Five Ravens earned eight total Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors during Williams' tenure… while the Benedictine program was recognized by the National Wrestling Coaches Association in April of 2016 after earning a 3.3068 team GPA to finish second among NAIA programs that season in team GPA. Prior to becoming a coach, Williams made a name for himself as a wrestler at NCAA Div. I American University for Mark Cody and Teague Moore. Williams was a four-year starter at 125 pounds, placing twice at the EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) conference championships. In addition, Williams was a two-time NCWA (National Collegiate Wrestling Association) Academic All-American. Williams was appreciative of the opportunity to lead the Raven wrestling program. "I would like to thank Charlie Gartenmayer and President Stephen Minnis for giving me the opportunity to coach the Benedictine College wrestling team," Williams said. "When I took over the program I wanted to build a team of champions in the classroom and on the mat. "I believe that we accomplished that during my time coaching here, and I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work at such an amazing institution. Go Ravens!" Benedictine, a four-year, private college located in Atchison, Kansas, is already conducting a nationwide search to find Williams' replacement.

Former Crimson Wave wrestler Dan Bedoy is returning to the place where he concluded his collegiate mat career by being named head wrestling coach at Calumet College of St. Joseph, the northwest Indiana school announced Wednesday. Bedoy replaces Ryan Rivera, who resigned at the end of the 2016-17 season. Dan BedoyA native of Hammond, Ind., Bedoy wrestled his senior year at CCSJ after first wrestling at Purdue University, where he was a 2006 NCAA qualifier for the Boilermakers at 165 pounds. Prior to college, Bedoy wrestled at Bishop Noll High School, where he was a three-time letterwinner, and Indiana state wrestling championships finalist. Bedoy launched his coaching career as an assistant at Munster (Ind.) High School in 2008, helping the Mustangs to place three wrestlers on the podium at the state tournament. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach for Purdue wrestling, and, more recently, for the Boiler Elite Wrestling Club, which is a Regional Training Site for USA Wrestling that has earned Indiana State Wrestling Association Club of the Year honors in the past. "I look back at Daniel Bedoy in his years as a high school wrestler -- he was tough -- so tough that he qualified for the State Finals Tournament, was runner-up and he accomplished this with a fracture in his arm as well as a torn medial collateral ligament," said CCSJ Athletic Director Rick Torres said. "This is the type of toughness Danny brings to the wrestling program and this is the type of toughness that he will demand from his athletes. More importantly, Danny will bring a balanced attitude as he completed his degree at Purdue University, and will be equally demanding on his athletes to be successful in their academics so that they complete their degree and have good futures." "We have established a great tradition with Coach Rivera where we have had a string of eight years where we qualified a wrestler for the [NAIA] National Championships, and we are confident that Danny will be able to build on that," Torres continued. "We are very fortunate to get coach of Danny's caliber, and we look forward to continue to build on the recent success we have had." Dan Bedoy is eager to return to the Crimson Wave wrestling room, this time as head coach. "I'm really honored to get the opportunity to lead the team here at CCSJ," Bedoy said. "Coach Ryan Rivera has done a great job during his tenure here and I am really looking to expand upon the foundation he has built. "The opportunity to coach under the leadership of Athletic Director Torres is exciting as well, because he is widely-known and a proven coach in the area. I have no doubt that the success he has had on the track will continue to translate to his new role to lead CCSJ to one of the top NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) athletic programs in the country; and to be a part of that is exciting." "My vision for the direction of this team is to empower young men with the belief and life skills it takes to be successful in any endeavor -- challenge them to be examples of that through the sport of wrestling for their peers, families and communities," Bedoy said. Founded in 1951, Calumet College of St. Joseph is a private, four-year school associated with the Roman Catholic church. Located in Whiting, Ind., CCSJ has approximately 1,300 students. The school's wrestling program and other intercollegiate sports compete in the NAIA.

Isaiah White, the 2017 NCAA Division II national champion at 165 pounds, has joined the Nebraska wrestling team as a transfer, head coach Mark Manning announced Thursday. White will be eligible to compete for the Huskers in 2017-18. Isaiah White"We're extremely excited to have Isaiah White join our program," Manning said. "We feel Isaiah will add to the culture of our team, and he has high expectations for himself on and off the mat. Isaiah is a talented young man that will excel in our program." White went 28-2 as a freshman for Notre Dame College (Ohio) in 2016-17, helping the Falcons to the NCAA Division II team championship. He was named the NCAA Division II East Regional Wrestler of the Year by the NCAA-II Wrestling Coaches Association. White posted a pair of major decisions at the NCAA Championships, and defeated Brock Wingbermuehle of McKendree by a 10-3 decision in the championship match. The Oak Park, Ill., native was the top-ranked wrestler at 152 pounds in the class of 2016 by FloWrestling. He was a three-time Illinois state champion for Oak Park and River Forest High School, where he was a high school teammate of Jason Renteria, who will be a freshman for the Huskers in 2017-18.

Corey Keener Corey Keener, who just completed his senior year at Central Michigan, is planning to transfer to Penn State, according to a website that covers Nittany Lion sports, as well as social media comments from the wrestler himself. "133-pound graduate transfer Corey Keener will attend Penn State this season and is expected to be in contention to start for the Nittany Lions," RoarLionsRoar.com -- which describes itself as an independent website covering all Penn State sports -- reported Wednesday. Keener, co-captain of the CMU Chippewa wrestling team as a senior, shared the news on Twitter and Facebook. Here's his post on his Facebook account: "Proud to announce that I will be furthering my education and wrestling career at Penn State University next year! #WeAre" RoarLionsRoar.com's Rob Dougherty goes to state, "The reason Keener is expected to be in contention to start is last season's 133-pound starter, Jered Cortez, is expected to be moving up to 141 pounds, although this has not yet been confirmed by Cortez or Cael Sanderson. Keener's transfer to Penn State also makes it more likely that promising incoming freshman, Nick Lee, could be redshirting next season, as Cortez will be the favorite to start at 141 for Penn State when the season opens in November." As a CMU Chippewa, Keener crafted a 60-42 overall record. He was a three-time NCAA championships qualifier and a MAC (Mid-American Conference) championships runner-up. In addition, Keener was both an Academic All-American and MAC All-Academic honoree. With his graduate transfer to Penn State, Keener will be returning to his home state to continue his athletic and academic career. At Blue Mountain High School, Keener won back-to-back Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association AAA state championships, claiming the 126-pound title as a senior and 119-pound crown as a junior. In addition, he finished runner-up at 112 pounds a sophomore and was fifth as a freshman, making him the only student-athlete in high school's history to place four times at state championships. Keener also owns the Pennsylvania District 11 career win record with 190 victories.

HASTINGS, Neb. -- Monroe, Washington-native Tyson Springer has been named head coach for the Hastings College wrestling program. Springer recently finished his second season as assistant wrestling coach of North Idaho Junior College and prior to that spent two years at Doane where he restarted the wrestling program back in 2013. Tyson Springer"Tyson becomes just the third head coach of a program that is making great strides both on the mat and in the classroom," said Patty Sitorius, the Athletic Director at Hastings College. "He has shown the ability to build a program from scratch as he was able to get the Doane program into the top 20 in its first year back in the 2013-14 season. He brings a mentality that is very similar to former Head Coach Mike Schadwinkel that will help the program continue the climb in building a tradition of excellence for Bronco Wrestling. "I am honored and privileged to be named as the new head wrestling coach of the Hastings College Broncos," said Springer. "I cannot thank Athletic Director Sitorius and Hastings College enough for the opportunity to take over a program that has a great foundation to do great things in both the GPAC and the NAIA." "I am looking forward to taking over a very talented group of wrestlers while also hoping to keep the current recruiting class intact," Springer continued. "This is an amazing opportunity for me as I am really looking forward to seeing how far this program can climb in the GPAC and at the national level. I look forward to working with the current and future student-athletes that will represent Hastings College to the highest standard both on the mat, in the classroom and in the community." In just two years at Doane, Springer was able to get the program started from the ground up and in its second year, Springer helped provide Doane its first All-American. Coach Springer is also big on community involvement as his program was named NAIA Champions of Character in 2015. The wrestling program helped in the clean up efforts of the Crete community and raising funds to buy school supplies for families in need and delivering those supplies. Springer was also an outstanding wrestler during his time at Dickinson State. While competing for the Blue Hawks, Springer claimed the NAIA national title at 165 pounds in 2005 and runner-up honors in 2006. Hastings College is a private, four-year institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. With more than 60 majors and 15 pre-professional programs, Hastings College has been named among "Great Schools, Great Prices" by U.S. News & World Report and a "Best in the Midwest" by The Princeton Review. For more, go to hastings.edu.

Alex Morang has been named the first-ever wrestling coach of the brand-new wrestling program at St. Clair County Community College, the Port Huron Times-Herald reported Wednesday. Alex MorangThe two-year college which refers to itself as SC4 announced the hire on its Facebook page Wednesday: "Please welcome our new (and first) wrestling coach: Alex Morang!" Morang is a 2011 graduate of nearby Richmond High School, then later served as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater from 2013-15. He was on three state championship teams (2010-12) during his time with the program. "We are thrilled to have Alex join our team," said SC4 athletic director Dale Vos. "He brings excitement and enthusiasm for SC4 and for wrestling. As a state champion and a college wrestler, his experience with Richmond wrestling, Olivet College wrestling and Grand Valley wrestling will help the SC4 program get off to a great start." Morang's high school coach also weighed in. "Alex Morang will do a great job at SC4," Richmond coach Brandon Day said. "He has extremely high character and outstanding work ethic. He is a student of the sport and has great passion for helping kids. "SC4 and the parents of future recruits will find that Alex is more than just another coach that loves wrestling and winning, but rather a mentor that loves helping student-athletes reach their potential in life." Morang himself is eager to start building the new wrestling program at St. Clair County Community College. "I feel like I'm about to wrestle in the state finals right now," Morang said. "I'm really excited to have an impact on some people's lives and give people in this area a chance to wrestle collegiately that they haven't had before. "We have so much good talent in this area that hasn't had a chance to go anywhere and this is going to give those guys an opportunity to really change their lives. I'm honored to be the guy that is taking the task of getting these guys to where they want to be." The new wrestling program at SC4, which was announced in April, will take to the mats for the first time this fall. St. Clair County Community College is located in Port Huron, just northeast of the Detroit metropolitan area in the Blue Water region of Michigan. The school, founded in 1923, has an enrollment of approximately 8,8

Amante Young Just three months after being crowned his school's first-ever state wrestling champ, Amante Young died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a car crash ten days earlier. He was 16. Young won the 125-pound Division 3 title as a junior at the 2017 MHSAA (Michigan High School Athletics Association) wrestling championships on March 4, becoming Clare High School's first state mat champ. Young had been hospitalized since Sunday, May 21, when the vehicle he was a passenger in ran off the road, struck an embankment and rolled over in Midland County, Michigan. The three occupants were transported to a local hospital. Young sustained serious injuries to his lungs and spinal cord, and was transferred to Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor where he underwent multiple surgeries. The other two were treated locally for non-life-threatening injuries. "Early (Wednesday) morning Principal Ed Hubel and liaison officer Brian David met with the student body to let them know," Clare Superintendent Jim Walter told The Morning Sun. "Right now, we're trying to help our student body get through the day and the week. We have counselors and social workers here to assist the students if they need to talk to someone." Young had come to Clare High School from his native Indiana after his freshman year to live with another wrestler, Kyle Schaaf, who he had befriended as he competed in wrestling events. Young's family could not afford to send their son to wrestling camps or national competitions. "We were always together at national meets and different places," Young told MLive.com after winning the state championship. "We became friends. We knew each other. When he found out that I wouldn't be able to afford going to a lot of the different meets, his family offered to take me in and pay for my wrestling." Young had placed third at 103 at last year's Michigan state championships. Although having lived in Clare for only two years, Amante Young had become popular with his wrestling teammates, classmates, teachers and administrators. A GoFundMe.com page to help to help Young's family with medical expenses exceeded initial goals and has been closed. Clare High School issued the following statement on its Facebook page Wednesday. "Please keep the Young and Schaaf families in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the students, teachers and coaches touched by his life. There is nothing more difficult than death. "It's a good policy to be honest with our kids, and it sends the message that together we can handle this. Our young people often take their cues from us, and thus allowing ourselves to cry, talk about our sadness, and do healthy things to move on with our lives raises the odds that they will do the same. Be a great listener today ... we can't take away the pain our kids feel, but listening and allowing our kids to share grief helps us all get through it more healthy and quickly."

Trent Paulson CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Virginia head wrestling coach Steve Garland announced the hiring of NCAA champion and three-time All-American Trent Paulson as an assistant coach on Wednesday (May 31). Paulson, who most recently served as an assistant coach at Iowa State over the past three seasons, joins his brother Travis on the Virginia coaching staff. Travis Paulson was announced as an assistant coach on May 2. "I'm excited for our student-athletes to learn and work with Trent," Garland said. "He has a passion for teaching and a heart for impacting those he mentors. Perhaps the biggest plus is that he and I share the same foundational beliefs. This is going to be huge for us moving forward personally and professionally. Trent has high goals and big dreams for this program, so that's exciting. I could not be happier that he chose to come to Virginia." "I have never heard a single person say anything negative about Coach Garland," Paulson said. "The first time we hung out, we clicked personality wise. Instantly I knew we could feed off each other. Steve is a man of character, wants to win the right way and is serious about developing champions on and off the mat. How could you not want to help a man like that build a dynasty? I could not be more excited to get to work." Paulson helped coach the middleweights at Iowa State over the past three seasons. During his time on the Cyclone staff, Iowa State produced four All-Americans and an NCAA champion at 197 pounds in Kyven Gadson. In addition to working with the middleweights, he also assisted in recruiting, helping secure the third-ranked recruiting class in 2016 and the second-ranked recruiting class in 2017. In addition to his coaching and recruiting responsibilities, Trent Paulson also served as a fundraiser and the head coach of the Cyclone Wrestling Club. He served on the staff of the Cyclone Wrestling Club beginning in 2009 before taking over head coaching responsibilities for the club in 2012. Prior returning to Iowa State in 2009, Trent Paulson served as a volunteer assistant coach at Nebraska. In that season, the Huskers produced four All-Americans, including NCAA champion Jordan Burroughs at 157 pounds. "Trent's resume and accomplishments as a competitor are incredible," Garland said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge to our program in terms of technique and development for our student-athletes, and frankly, for me as well. I'm excited to mentor him as well, because after 17 years in this profession I feel I have some things I can help him with also." A successful wrestler himself, Trent Paulson claimed the NCAA Championship at 157 pounds in 2007. He earned All-America honors three times in his career (2005-07) and he twice claimed the Big 12 championship, placing first in 2006 and 2007. Paulson also earned Academic All-America honors twice. Following his collegiate wrestling career, Trent Paulson continued to wrestle. He was a four-time National Team member (2008-2012) and a World Team member in 2009. He was a US Open National Champion in 2009 and was a Pan American Champion in 2012.

Check out this week's Takedown TV, featuring … Joe Russell -- former head coach at George Mason University, now manager of Freestyle Programs at USA Wrestling -- goes one-on-one with Scott Casber Joe Rau joins Takedown TV to discuss the Last Chance Qualifier for the upcoming World Team Trials Three-time Iowa high school state champion Alex Thomsen discusses his commitment to the Nebraska Cornhuskers Todd Beckerman and Sal Mastriani on the future of Brown University wrestling Nick Brascetta talks about his new coaching position at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga Spencer Lee documentary by PA Power Wrestling and Adriene Wagner Films Bellator MMA's Aaron Pico interview One-on-one with Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lou Rosselli 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.

A rendering of the Covelli Center New details -- including color renderings and floor plans -- have been revealed for Ohio State's proposed new wrestling facility and 3,700-seat arena that will serve as the venue where Buckeye wrestlers will compete, according to ElevenWarriors.com and Columbus-based school's website for the new sports facilities. One of the most significant differences in the latest version of the new planned facilities -- and the original proposal that was the subject of an August 2015 InterMat article -- is that the proposed Jennings Wrestling Facility and the Covelli Multi-Sport Arena will now be one structure. What's more, this new facility will now be located in what Ohio State is referring to as its Athletics District.just north of Schottenstein Center and the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on Fred Taylor Drive. The Covelli Arena and wrestling facility had been originally proposed to be built near the present location of St. John Arena, the current home for Ohio State wrestling constructed in 1956, across Lane Avenue from Ohio Stadium. What drove these changes in the design and location of these new facilities? In a word, cost. The Covelli Multi-Sport Arena was $10 million over budget before construction even began, causing Ohio State trustees to take another look at the proposed facility, the Columbus Business Journal reported. The Covelli Arena, which will house sports currently being played at St. John Arena -- including wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics and fencing -- was originally budgeted in 2012 at $30 million at the time Sam and Caryn Covelli, owners of the nation's largest Panera Bread franchise, gave $10 million to Ohio State for the proposed arena. In subsequent years since that initial gift, Ohio State also had announced plans to build a new wrestling training facility as well as the Schumaker Student-Athlete Development Complex to provide nutritional, physical, and psychological development for student-athletes on 33 Ohio State teams. Last fall, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith had told Cleveland.com that the three facilities -- the arena, wrestling facility, and the athlete development complex -- would have a total cost of $67 million if they were constructed as separate buildings. Now, the combined arena/wrestling facility will cost $49.7 million, resulting in a cost saving of $10 million compared to constructing those two facilities as separate structures as originally planned. A number of factors pushed up the price of the facilities, according to the Columbus Business Journal. Administrators said construction costs increased since the project was first proposed. The growth of Olympic sports and their fan base required the Covelli Arena to be expanded from its original vision. What's more, the initial design -- which emphasized steel -- had to be revised to accommodate university design standards, and now features glass and brick construction. The combination of the arena and wrestling training facility saves space and eliminates duplication of separate locker rooms, storage and offices, which saves money. Here's a quick overview of each facility: Jennings Wrestling Facility The new Jennings Wrestling Facility, the first such facility dedicated solely to wrestling training at Ohio State in years, will replace the Steelwood Athletic Training Facility west of campus on Kenny Road, which is now also used by the school's men's and women's gymnastics, and fencing teams. According to floorplans at the Ohio State website, the new wrestling facility occupies two levels. The main level features a practice area with five full-size wrestling mats, along with workout equipment ... while the upper level includes coaches' offices, meeting room, and alumni lounge. Ohio State head wrestling coach Tom Ryan sees the value of the new wrestling facility for current wrestlers as a recruiting tool for would-be Buckeyes. "When you have a facility to the standard that this one is going to be, it screams value; it screams importance; it screams that when you come here, you are going to be treated in a first-class way," said Ryan. Covelli Multi-Sport Arena This new 3,700-seat arena for wrestling and other Olympic sports will provide a more intimate venue for fans. The two-level design provides a closer-to-the-action perspective than the present St. John Arena which has a seating capacity of approximately 12,000. The Covelli Arena will also feature concession stands, restrooms and other common spectator amenities within the public areas ... along with locker rooms, and maintenance, storage and mechanical spaces, according to Board of Trustees meeting notes. Ohio State isn't the only Big Ten school to be constructing new arenas for their wrestling programs. This spring, Indiana University announced it would be building a new arena for wrestling and volleyball near Memorial Stadium and the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, IU's main arena which hosted the 2017 Big Ten conference wrestling championships. The new IU wrestling/volleyball facility is expected to have a seating capacity of 2,500-3,000.

Kurt McHenry won a gold medal at the Cadet World Championships last September (Photo/Gerhard Remus) This weekend's UWW Cadet National freestyle tournament is at its core a world team trials event for the Cadet World Championships, which will be held this September in Athens, Greece. Competition will be on Saturday and Sunday on the campus of the University of Akron in Ohio; the Greco-Roman event will be held on Friday. Last year's Cadet World Team for the United States was superlative, earning medals in seven out of the 10 weight classes contested at the World Championships, including a trio of gold medals. Kurt McHenry (St. Paul's, Md.) and Gable Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) are age eligible to defend their titles. However, Steveson has outgrown the tournament's biggest weight class, 100 kilograms, while he is also the favorite to represent the United States at the Junior World Championships in the 120 kilo competition. McHenry is one of three other team members from last year age eligible to compete in this event again, with bronze medalist Travis Wittlake (Marshfield, Ore.) and Aaron Cashman (Shakopee, Minn.) being the others. McHenry, last year's champion at 42 kilograms, is slated to compete up a weight class at 46 kilograms; Wittlake is expected to compete again at 76 kilograms; while Cashman is also slated to move up one weight class, going from 50 to 54 kilograms. In addition to serving as the team trials for the Cadet World Championships, it serves as a very rigorous event for 15-to-17 year old wrestlers (this year those with birthdates in 2000 to 2002). Merely placing within the top eight of a weight class in this event is truly an accomplishment, as virtually every weight class is deep with national caliber talent. Below is an overview of each weight class based on contestants pre-registered for the event on FloArena. It should be noted that there is the opportunity for in-person registration on Friday night during the check-in/weigh-in process. 42 kilograms (92.6 pounds): A pair of wrestlers ranked among the top 15 Junior High wrestlers in the country anchor this weight class, No. 10 Chance Lamer (Oregon) and Cole Skinner (Ohio); Lamer was a Cadet folkstyle champion this spring at 88 pounds, while Skinner placed fourth in Cadet freestyle last summer at 88 pounds. Others to watch include Kase Mauger (Twin Falls, Idaho), runner-up in Cadet folkstyle this spring at 94; and incoming freshman Jett Strickenberger (Colorado), a runner-up at the Tulsa Nationals this winter with a win over Skinner along the way. 46 kilograms (101.4): McHenry is ranked No. 13 overall in the Class of 2019 and was a Cadet world champion down one weight class last year, also out-placing any number of wrestlers in this field at the national tournament last year. Most notable of those would be Cadet National freestyle champions (in Fargo) Cullan Schriever (Mason City, Iowa) and Jeremiah Reno (Liberty, Mo.); Reno is ranked No. 16 overall in the Class of 2020 and was runner-up to McHenry in Akron last year. Joining Reno as returning UWW Cadet freestyle All-Americans are Andrew Chambal (Davison, Mich.) and Dylan Ragusin (Montini Catholic, Ill.) Other impact contenders include a pair of nationally ranked Junior High wrestlers, No. 2 Richard Figueroa (California) and No. 11 Ryan Crookham (Pennsylvania); another pair of notable incoming freshmen in Cooper Flynn (Tennessee) and Carter Young (Oklahoma); Junior National freestyle All-American Brenden Choawanapibool (Bonney Lake, Wash.); and 2016 state lacer Jacob Moran (Portage, Ind.) 50 kilograms (110.2): Cadet National freestyle champion Julian Tagg (Brecksville, Ohio), ranked No. 9 overall in the Class of 2020, would be the slightest of favorites in this weight class. Among the challengers include a pair of fellow ranked Class of 2020 wrestlers in No. 10 Trevor Mastrogiovanni (Blair Academy, N.J.), a Cadet freestyle All-American at 113 pounds last summer, and No. 23 Anthony Clark (Delbarton, N.J.). Another pair of contenders are nationally ranked Junior High wrestlers in No. 9 Isaac Salas (California), a Cadet folkstyle champion this spring, and No. 12 Dean Peterson (New Jersey). Others to watch include Junior folkstyle champion Jonathan Prata (Downey, Calif.), Cadet folkstyle champion Noah Surtin (Edwardsville, Ill.), Cadet freestyle All-American Matthew Ramos (Lockport, Ill.), Cadet Nationals double finalist Sam Latona (Thompson, Ala.), and returning UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Lucas Byrd (LaSalle, Ohio). 54 kilograms (119): Cashman is ranked No. 46 overall in the Class of 2018, and has the experience of being last year's Cadet World team member down a weight class. The most talented wrestler in this weight class is Brody Teske (Fort Dodge, Iowa); the No. 30 overall Class of 2018 is more of a folkstyle fiend with his career undefeated record in high school, but even so was a Cadet freestyle runner-up in Fargo at 120 last summer. A pair of nationally ranked Class of 2019 wrestlers in No. 15 Chris Cannon (Blair Academy, N.J.) and No. 39 Gabriel Tagg (Brecksville, Ohio) populate this weight class, as do a pair of ranked wrestlers from the Class of 2020 in No. 6 Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) and No. 17 Dominick Serrano (Windsor, Colo.) Other contenders include returning Cadet freestyle All-Americans in Eric Barnett (Hortonville, Wis.), Joe Heilmann (South Plainfield, N.J.), Ben Kamali (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.), two-time runner-up Ridge Lovett (Post Falls, Idaho), and Angelo Rini (St. Edward, Ohio). Additional impact wrestlers include high school state champions Kyle Gollhoffer (Woodland, Ga.), Gabe Hixenbaugh (Thompson, Ala.), Alec Viduya (Roncalli, Ind.), and Jakob Camacho (Danbury, Ct.) 58 kilograms (128.85): This is the tournament's highest profile weight class. A pair of grade level number one ranked wrestlers are present, Carson Manville (Minnesota) from the Junior High group and Beau Bartlett (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) from the Class of 2020; Bartlett was an All-American in this weight class last year in Akron, while Manville has been machine-like through three Cadet regional tournaments this year. Also here is two-time Cadet National double champion in Fargo, Nick Raimo (Hanover Park, N.J.), who is ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2019; Joshua Saunders (Christian Brothers College, Mo.), ranked No. 4 in the Class of 2020; Jesse Vasquez (St. John Bosco, Calif.), ranked No. 7 in the Class of 2020, an All-American in this event down two weight classes last year; and Andrew Alirez (Greeley Central, Colo.), ranked No. 9 in the Class of 2019, an All-American in this event down a weight class last year and a two-time Cadet freestyle All-American in Fargo. Others include returning Cadet National freestyle All-Americans in Ryan Moore (Walton Verona, Ky.) and Job Greenwood (Poudre, Colo.); along with state runner-up Noah Villarreal (Aurora Christian, Ill.) and state champion Jevon Parrish (Olathe North, Kansas). 63 kilograms (138.9): Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.), runner-up last year down a weight class to eventual world silver medalist Vitali Arujau, is the favorite in this weight class. Sasso is ranked No. 7 in the Class of 2018 and has added a Cadet freestyle runner-up finish along with Super 32, Walsh Ironman, state tournament, and Flo Nationals titles since last year's event in Akron. An additional ranked Class of 2018 wrestler in this weight class is No. 42 Malcolm Robinson (Blair Academy, N.J.); No. 40 Coltan Yapoujian (Pomona, Colo.) and No. 42 Jason Kraisser (Centennial, Md.) are ranked from the Class of 2019; No. 13 Fidel Mayora (Montini Catholic, Ill.) is ranked from the Class of 2020; while No. 5 Padraic Gallagher (Ohio), No. 7 Alex Facundo (Michigan), and No. 8 Victor Voinovich (Ohio) are ranked Junior High wrestlers. Other contenders include three-time state placer and 2016 Cadet folkstyle runner-up Kasper McIntosh (Portage, Ind.), Cadet National double finalist Mason Phillips (Stanwood, Wash.), Cadet folkstyle third place finisher Luka Wick (California), state runner-up Frankie Talshahar (American Heritage, Fla.), and returning Cadet freestyle All-American Andy Garr (Aurora, Ohio). 69 kilograms (152.1): This is the tournament's deepest weight class with eleven grade-level ranked wrestlers, all of whom competed in high school last season. The tournament's joint favorites would be Connor Brady (Olentangy Liberty) and Will Lewan (Montini Catholic, Ill.). Brady is ranked No. 5 in the Class of 2019 and steamrolled through the Central Junior regional, but does not have much in the way of national level freestyle experience; while Lewan is ranked No. 26 in the Class of 2018 and has twice placed third in Cadet freestyle in Fargo to go with a fifth place finish down a weight class in this tournament last year. Also ranked in the Class of 2018 is No. 43 Peyton Robb (Owatonna, Minn.), another returning Cadet freestyle All-American from Fargo. Others ranked in the Class of 2019 include No. 19 Michael Weber (Forsyth, Mont.), No. 32 Cater Starocci (Erie Cathedral Prep, Pa.), No. 33 Cameron Amine (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.), No. 35 Mason Reiniche (Baylor School, Tenn.), and No. 36 Sam Dover (St. Edward, Ohio); Weber was champion in Cadet folkstyle this spring, while Amine and Reiniche were All-Americans in Cadet freestyle last summer. Ranked from the Class of 2020 are No. 18 Greyden Penner (Liberty, Mo.), No. 19 Dustin Plott (Tuttle, Okla.), and No. 21 Nevan Snodgrass (Kettering Fairmont, Ohio); Plott was third in Cadet freestyle last summer. Other contenders in this weight class include two-time Cadet double All-American Tyler Dow (Stoughton, Wis.), also a double All-American at this event last year; 2016 Cadet freestyle and folkstyle champion Jared Franek (West Fargo, N.D.); Cadet freestyle All-Americans Danny Braunagel (Althoff Catholic, Ill.), Justin McCoy (Chestnut Ridge, Pa.), Rodrick Mosley (Heritage Hall, Okla.), and Baylor Fernandes (Lockport, Ill.); two-time state runner-up Matthew Grippi (Fox Lane, N.Y.); and Junior folkstyle runner-up Harlan Steffensmeier (Fort Madison, Iowa). 76 kilograms (167.5): Wittlake is ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2018 and a returning Cadet World bronze medalist in this weight class. He was one absolute shock loss in the quarterfinals of Cadet freestyle back in 2015 away from winning a pair of Cadet Triple crowns. It would be an absolute shock if the Penn State commit did not earn the chance to repeat as a world medalist from this coming weekend's tournament. Six other grade level ranked wrestlers stand in his way. From the Class of 2018 it is fellow Cadet double champion Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown, Md.), ranked No. 49 overall; No. 6 Julian Ramirez (Blair Academy, N.J.), No. 22 Chris Foca (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), and No. 45 Devin Winston (Park Hill, Mo.) are among the best of the Class of 2019; while No. 8 Patrick Kennedy (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) and No. 11 Gerritt Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) are ranked from the Class of 2020. Other contenders include three-time state placer Michael O'Malley (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.), a two-time Cadet double All-American; state champions Zac Braunagel (Althoff Catholic, Ill.) and Edmond Ruth (Susquehanna Township, Pa.); as well as returning Cadet National double All-Americans Josh Stillings (Pennridge, Pa.) and Jake Hendricks (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) 85 kilograms (187.4): A pair of top 25 rising seniors anchor this weight class, No. 17 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.) and No. 25 Ryan Karoly (Malvern Prep, Pa.). The Ohio State commit Hoffman is a two-time Cadet freestyle All-American, placing second at 220 last year, while augmenting that on the folkstyle side with a Super 32 runner-up finish sandwiched around two state titles, to go with NHSCA Junior and Flo Nationals titles this spring. The Northwestern commit Karoly is a two-time National Prep champion and a four-time Fargo finalist as a Cadet, winning a pair of Cadet freestyle titles. Others to watch in this weight class include Cadet freestyle runners-up in Tyler Barnes (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) and Lucas Davison (Chesterton, Ind.), along with returning Cadet freestyle All-Americans in Joel Shapiro (West Des Moines Valley, Iowa) and Austin Cooley (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.); Barnes and Shapiro were state champions in high school this season. 100 kilograms (220.5): The clear favorite in what is the shallowest of the ten contested weight classes for world team trials purposes is Daniel Kerkvliet (Simley, Minn.), who is ranked No. 4 overall in the Class of 2019. The two-time state champion placed third in Cadet freestyle last summer, fourth at the Super 32 in the fall, and was a Cadet folkstyle champion this spring. Others to watch include state champions Luke Luffman (Urbana, Ill.) and Kyle Lightner (Delaware Valley, N.J.), Luffman was also a Cadet freestyle All-American last summer and runner-up to Kerkvliet in folkstyle this spring; along with two-time state placers Kaleb Reeves (Sigourney-Keota, Iowa) and Jace Punke (Washington, Ill.), both Cadet double All-Americans last summer. 120 kilograms (264.5): This weight class is contested at the national tournament, but is not contested at the world championships. The two most notable in the field at present are Eli Pokorney (Chesterton, Ind.) and Jordan Earnest (Wadsworth, Ohio), each of whom took fourth at their state tournament this high school season; Pokorney was a Cadet freestyle All-American last summer.

Chuck Yagla and George Kosturos will be guests on the “On The Mat” broadcast this Thursday, June 1. Yagla was a three-time All-American, a two-time national champion and the Outstanding Wrestler at the 1976 NCAA Championships for the University of Iowa. He was an alternate on the 1976 Olympic team and earned a spot on the 1980 team but did not compete when the United States boycotted the Olympics in Moscow. He will be welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's 41st Annual Honors Weekend on June 2-3, 2017 in Stillwater, Okla. Kosturos is the star of the film “American Wrestler: The Wizard” about a California high school wrestler originally from Iran who had to deal with bigotry at the time of the Iranian Hostage Crisis. The film, which also stars Jon Voight and William Fichtner, is now available for viewing on DVD, Blu-ray and via streaming. “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

John Smith coaching at the NCAAs in St. Louis (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) STILLWATER -- Oklahoma State wrestling head coach John Smith achieved a first in his storied career earlier this month as the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (DASNR) released a new wheat variety in his name called Smith's Gold. Smith's Gold is one of two hard red winter wheat varieties released by OSU in May, with the university also unleashing a variety called Spirit Rider. "It's a great honor to be honored by the Oklahoma Agriculture Experiment Station, which is such a great part of Oklahoma State has done some amazing things over the years," Smith said. "To be associated with (Coach Edward C. Gallagher) by having a variety of wheat named after me is an honor. I hope that Smith's Gold is very successful." During Smith's wrestling career, the Cowboy legend was no stranger to the color gold, as he racked up six consecutive world championships, including gold medals at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. His success has carried over into his coaching career, having lead the Cowboys to five national championships during his tenure. According to the OSU DASNR website, Smith's Gold features excellent yield potential with strong greenbug and Hessian fly resistance as well as protection against stripe rust earlier in the spring and after flowering in the adult-plant stages. Its parentage includes Gallagher, a popular variety also developed by OSU. "The name Smith's Gold was chosen to remind wheat producers this new variety carries forward the strong tradition of Gallagher, just as our current wrestling program has carried forward the strong tradition established by Coach Edward C. Gallagher," said Brett Carver, lead researcher for the OSU Wheat Improvement Team. More than 10,000 bushels of foundation seed for Smith's Gold are expected to be available to current members of Oklahoma Genetics, Inc., a nonprofit that distributes pedigreed seed to producers in Oklahoma and surrounding states. Wheat is Oklahoma's largest cash crop, with more than 5 million acres of winter wheat sown annually. Additionally, depending on market conditions, 30 to 50 percent of the state's wheat acres will be grazed by stocker cattle over the winter months. For more information about Spirit Rider, Smith's Gold and other wheat varieties developed by OSU, visit wheat.okstate.edu or contact Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks or OGI.

J'den Cox vs. David Taylor is one of the most anticipated matchups in Lincoln (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) You won't have to look far to find Olympic and world medalists when the nation's best freestyle wrestlers take the mat for the United States World Team Trials. Look no further than Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion Jordan Burroughs along with world bronze medalist James Green. Burroughs and Green are two of the local favorites for the Trials, set for June 9-10 on the University of Nebraska campus in Lincoln. Burroughs won two NCAA titles for the Huskers while Green was a four-time All-American for the Big Red. Both wrestlers continue to train at NU under the watchful eyes of coaches Mark Manning and Bryan Snyder. Olympic and world champion Kyle Snyder, and world champion Logan Stieber are among the other top stars who will compete in this prestigious event. The eight champions at the World Team Trials advance to August's World Championships in Paris, France. This event typically doesn't draw huge crowds, but it should. This is an elite field of high-caliber wrestlers with the stakes very high. The U.S. has a legitimate chance to make a run at its first world team title since 1995. This event is definitely worth the price of admission if you decide to check it out. Here is my weight-by-weight breakdown, along with my fearless predictions, for what fans can look forward to in Lincoln: 57 kilograms/125.5 pounds Tony Ramos has developed a knack for pulling out close matches. That is what the 2014 and 2015 World Team member did in winning the U.S. Open a few weeks ago. Ramos has a bye into the best-of-3 finals series since he won the Open, which gives him a considerable edge. But he still needs to beat the challenge tournament winner twice to earn a ticket to France. This weight class has a number of athletes with the potential to win it, including U.S. Open runner-up and past NCAA champion Nahshon Garrett. Ramos rallied to beat Garrett in the Open finals. NCAA champions Nico Megaludis and Nathan Tomasello also are capable of being the guy here. 2016 Olympian Daniel Dennis would be in the mix as well, if he chooses to compete. Veteran Tyler Graff is another athlete to watch in this class. Past Junior world medalist Thomas Gilman also has qualified for the Trials. Gilman has beaten Tomasello and Garrett during his career. Sesker's pick: Garrett Defending world champion Logan Stieber is the favorite at 61 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 61 kilograms/134 pounds Logan Stieber's biggest problem in recent years was trying to find a weight class that is the best fit for him on the international level. Stieber was very good at 65 kilograms, but was a bit undersized. The drop down to 61 kilograms suited him very well last year when he broke through and won his first world title. Stieber has been excelling at this level since high school, but he finally fulfilled some of the promise he generated by winning a Junior world silver medal and four NCAA titles for Ohio State. Stieber will be heavily favored to win here. He is very big and strong for this division, and he is an aggressive wrestler who typically lights up the scoreboard like a pinball machine. Stieber clinched a finals berth at the Trials by virtue of winning a world medal in 2016. The top challengers in this division are NCAA champions Kendric Maple and Cody Brewer along with Brandon Wright, Josh Kindig, Seth Gross and Joe Colon. The challenge tournament will be interesting to watch. Past NCAA champion Jayson Ness is another wrestler to keep an eye on at 61 kilos. Sesker's pick: Stieber Zain Retherford will look to make his first World Team on the senior level (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 65 kilograms/143 pounds Jordan Oliver is in prime position to make his first World team. The past Junior world medalist and two-time NCAA champion is long overdue to make a world-level team on the senior level. Oliver is as talented as any American wrestler. Oliver won the U.S. Open to land a finals berth at the Trials. He will meet the winner of what promises to be a rugged and hard-fought mini-tournament in this always deep division. 2016 Olympian Frank Molinaro and past Cadet world champion Zain Retherford, NCAA champions for Penn State, are the leading contenders to knock off Oliver. Molinaro nearly won an Olympic medal last year in Rio before finishing fifth. Retherford still has a year of college left, but he's primed to make his first World Team on the Senior level. He has a huge upside. Past World Teamer Jimmy Kennedy is another tough athlete in this class. Sesker's pick: Retherford 70 kilograms/154 pounds James Green is the favorite here, and he won the U.S. Open to punch his ticket to the finals of the Trials. Even though he is wrestling at home, Green will have to earn his trip to Paris. NCAA champion Jason Nolf is among the top challengers here, along with past Division III standout Nazar Kulchytskyy. Chase Pami and Jason Chamberlain are veterans to keep an eye on. Green continues to grow and develop, and look for him to put on a show for the Cornhusker faithful. Green's former college rival Dylan Ness also has qualified in this class. The dangerous Ness pinned the top-seeded Green in the quarterfinals of the 2014 NCAA tournament. A Green-Ness matchup certainly would be entertaining for the fans to watch. Sesker's pick: Green 74 kilograms/163 pounds Jordan Burroughs is the favorite here, but he will definitely be tested again by Kyle Dake, a four-time NCAA champion and a very tough freestyler. Burroughs beat Dake 2-2 on criteria in the U.S. Open finals in a match where neither guy scored a takedown. Burroughs is already in the finals because he won the Open, but Dake isn't expected to have much trouble breezing through the challenge tournament earlier in the day. One obstacle for Dake could be two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist Isaiah Martinez, a talented young stud with a promising future ahead in freestyle. Burroughs is wrestling at home, and that may be the difference in what promises to be a great finals series against Dake. Can't wait to see what happens. Wish the U.S. could enter both guys in Paris. This is the seventh straight year Burroughs has clinched a spot in the best-of-3 finals at a U.S. Trials before the tournament begins. In the previous six years, he made four World teams and two Olympic teams. If they do meet again, my only hope is that Burroughs and Dake open up and wrestle a little more. They could put on a tremendous show if they do. I think this series will go the full three matches in Lincoln. Sesker's pick: Burroughs 86 kilograms/189 pounds J'den Cox was a surprise winner of the Olympic Trials last year. Then he went overseas to qualify the weight class for the Olympics before earning a bronze medal in Rio. If not for some confusion, Cox very well could have been in the gold-medal match at the Olympics. Cox hasn't competed since capping his college career with a third NCAA title for Missouri in March, but he's proven that he's a tough competitor who doesn't become rattled in big matches. Cox does have an advantage in Lincoln as he's already in the finals by virtue of his Olympic medal. Cox will have his hands full in a much-anticipated finals series against David Taylor, who has had an outstanding season. Taylor dominated at the World Cup, where he pinned Olympic gold medalist Hassan Yazdani of Iran in Iran. Cox is bigger and more physical than Taylor, but Taylor has filled out and grown more into this weight class in the last year. Taylor never stops wrestling, and if you can't keep up you may be in big trouble. Whoever wins here will definitely be a medal contender in Paris. As a fan of great wrestling, I would love to see Cox-Taylor go the full three matches. This one is very tough to call. Past Greco-Roman World Team member Joe Rau also qualified in this class. It will be interesting to see how Rau, who is big for this weight class, fares during the freestyle competition in Lincoln. Sesker's pick: Taylor Olympic champion Kyle Snyder will look to add another world title his resume in 2017 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 97 kilograms/213 pounds What more can you say about the remarkable Kyle Snyder? He's already the youngest Olympic and world champion in U.S. history, and he's only 21 years old. The two-time NCAA champion just keeps getting better and better. The biggest challenge facing USA Wrestling is to keep him on the mat and out of the UFC cage, at least for a few more years. Snyder also has a bye to the finals in Lincoln after striking Olympic gold last year. U.S. Open champion Kyven Gadson, who pinned Snyder in the 2015 NCAA finals, will be the favorite to win the mini-tourney at the Trials. Snyder and Gadson have not met in competition since that NCAA match. Gadson has showed promise in freestyle as well. Unfortunately, he's in a weight class with a guy who is on course to become one of the greatest American wrestlers of all-time. Veterans Dustin Kilgore and Micah Burak could contend in the challenge tourney. Sesker's pick: Snyder 125 kilograms/275.5 pounds With the retirement of two-time Olympian and two-time world medalist Tervel Dlagnev, the heavyweight class becomes fairly wide open. Two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski has the inside track after winning the U.S. Open. He sits out until the finals of the Trials, keeping him fresh while the rest of the big boys slug it out in the challenge tournament. There are a handful of challengers hungry for an opportunity to battle Gwiazdowski. That list includes Zack Rey, the U.S. Open runner-up who represented the U.S. at the 2015 Worlds with Dlagnev out with an injury. Veterans Dom Bradley, Bobby Telford and Tony Nelson also will have a say in who earns a shot at Gwiazdowski in the finals. Sesker's pick: Gwiazdowski

A golf tournament and dinner honoring the late Master Sergeant Corey Hood, who had a member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team until his death two years ago, will take place this August, practically within sight of the high school where Hood wrestled and played football. The second annual Hoody Memorial Golf Tournament and Dinner -- incorporating Corey Hood's nickname -- will take place Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Beckett Ridge Country Club in West Chester, Ohio in north-suburban Cincinnati, only a couple miles from Lakota West High School where Hood was a student-athlete. Hood, who served in the U.S. Army for 14 years, was killed in a parachute accident during an air show in Chicago in August 2015. He had just turned 32. The all-day event will raise funds for college scholarships for graduating seniors at Lakota East and Lakota West high schools. The day begins at 11 a.m. with golf registration, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. At 12:45 p.m., there will be a special ceremony celebrating MSG Corey Hood, including a performance that is open to those not participating in the golf event. Immediately following the golf tournament at approximately 6 p.m., there will be a dinner and party at the Beckett Ridge Clubhouse. During dinner, winners of the golf event will be announced. There will also be a raffle, split-the-pot drawing, and silent auction. The day honoring MSG Corey Hood ends with a fireworks display put on by nationally-renowned Rozzi Family Fireworks, beginning at 9 p.m. There will also be a live band featuring dueling pianos to play audience requests. The dinner and post-dinner entertainment are kid-friendly events, so families are encouraged to participate. For more information -- and to register for the golf tournament and/or the dinner -- visit the Hoody Memorial website. "This event is unlike any other golf outing or fundraising dinner," said Nick Enger, long-time friend of Corey Hood and one of the organizers of the event. "For those of you lucky enough to know Corey, you know he loved a good party and loved surprises. Last year was a good warm up. This year will be off the charts." "Last year, we had bagpipers and flag bearers at the beginning of the golf tournament," said Enger. "Then skydivers carrying a large American flag came in, landing within 50 yards of the participants." "Members of the Golden Knights honored Corey by playing golf and coming to the dinner." Remembering Corey Hood Carrie Mills, Corey Hood's mother, is a native of the West Chester area about 25 miles north of downtown Cincinnati, who now lives in Virginia. She is a graduate of the original Lakota High School which was replaced about 20 years ago by two new schools, Lakota East and Lakota West, Corey's alma mater. Corey Hood"Corey signed up for the Army prior to graduation in 2001," Mills told InterMat. "His first day in the Army was June 14, his birthday." "He always wanted to be in the Army. I was all for him going. My dad, who was a Marine, encouraged Corey to go into the Army." "He wanted to be a spy, to go after bad guys." "Corey was a sports fanatic," Mills continued. "He was small. He had to prove he could do something." "He played some football at (Lakota) West. But wrestling is where he found himself. Wrestling is an individual sport. That worked for him. "Wrestling helped him work off stress from at home." Carrie Mills then shared how her husband at the time took out his frustrations on Corey. "I came from a broken home myself. I told my kids that school is a safe haven." "Corey looked forward to school to be a part of things." "Wrestling is why he went to school ... He loved Scott Fetzer (Lakota West wrestling coach)." "Wrestling helps you deal with challenges." "Corey knew how to surround himself with great people," according to his mom. "When the accident happened, 60 of his friends from Lakota came up to Chicago. There's a strong bond that exists to this day." One of those friends is Nick Enger, who still lives and works in the West Chester area. "We met in seventh grade. I was one of his best friends. Then again, Corey had lots of best friends. He was the connection between various groups." "He had an amazing ability to bring together individuals from different groups. He made people feel as if they were all friends." Nearly 60 of those friends found their way to Chicago two years ago when Corey Hood was involved in a deadly skydiving accident at the Chicago Air & Water Show in August 2015. Jumping for the Army Golden Knights, Hood was injured on Saturday morning, August 15 when he collided with a Navy Leap Frog parachute team member while performing a stunt known as a "bomb burst" at the annual two-day event. While the Navy skydiver was able to land on a Lake Michigan beach with a broken leg, Hood apparently clipped the top of a building on Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood of high-rise apartment buildings along the lake, then fell, according to eyewitness accounts. Hood died Sunday afternoon from his injuries at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Corey Hood crafted an impressive career in his fourteen years in the Army, serving as a team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant and Airborne Instructor. According to his mother, when Hood went through Airborne training then Jump School, it was somewhat ironic, as "Corey was afraid of heights but loved skydiving." Hood had been jumping since 2010, logging more than 200 free fall jumps and 75 military static line jumps. Before he became a parachutist, Hood served multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He had been awarded two Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service Medals, five Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge and the Combat Action Badge. Lakota West wrestling coach Scott Fetzer recalled a story that Hood told during a visit to his high school alma mater in 2006 about being trapped in a foxhole for two days during crossfire in Afghanistan. "Corey told our team what kept him going in that foxhole is if I can make it through wrestling practice, I can survive this," Fetzer told Cincinnati ABC affiliate WCPO-TV at the time of Hood's death. "Now I'll tell you this: after he told our kids that story, it was probably the greatest practice my team has ever had." "He took that mental toughness and he lived it." Fetzer went on to describe Hood as "a national hero" with "a lot of grit and a lot of determination." In a November 2014 profile of Hood for a Lakota West publication, coach Fetzer said, "Wrestling helps build mental and physical toughness and Corey has always displayed these characteristics. I'm so proud and honored to say, 'Corey Hood ... once a Lakota West Wrestling Hammer, always a Lakota West Wrestling Hammer!'" Honoring a hero with the Hoody Memorial After Corey Hood's death, a number of his friends wanted to honor his memory in a lasting way. That was the birth of the Hoody Memorial Golf Tournament and Dinner last summer. "We came up with the idea while we were out drinking one night," said Nick Enger. "We expected to raise maybe $3,000, and have 40-50 participants, tops." "We put out word in June. We quickly maxed out in terms of number of golf participants with 144 golfers, and 150 guests for the dinner." "We raised over $40,000 at that first event," Enger told InterMat. "We gave a $7,500 scholarship to Jenson Quinn [brother of Mason Quinn, one of the wrestlers featured in InterMat's feature on three athletes who have found their place in wrestling]." "We did all this in eight weeks." Here's how the organization's official website describes the scholarship: "The Hoody Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a Lakota student who possesses the same positive qualities that Hood exhibited throughout his life -- a strong will, a desire to succeed, and 'a little bit of grit.'" This year's event promises to be bigger and better. The golf event will be open to a greater number of participants than last year's; the dinner will offer more guests the opportunity to join in ... all with the idea of not only honoring an American hero and former wrestler, Corey Hood, but also to help students at his high school alma mater as well as the community he called home. To learn more about the 2017 Hoody Memorial Golf Tournament and Dinner, please visit the Hoody Memorial website. It has information about the event, along with the ability to register online to participate in the golf event, or dinner, or both. In addition, there's information on sponsorship opportunities and donating items for the fundraising auction. What's more, there's an application for next year's student scholarship.