InterMat Staff

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Championship matches were wrestled at the NHSCA grade level nationals on Sunday afternoon in Virginia Beach, Va. Among the grade-level national champions were five top 100 seniors, four top 50 juniors, four top 50 sophomores, and two top 25 freshmen. Below are the results from the finals for each tournament. Senior: 113: P.J. Ogunsanya (Oak Par River Forest, Ill.) dec. Jake Ferri (Shawseen Valley Tech, Mass.), 7-1 120: No. 18 (at 126) Drew Mattin (Delta, Ohio) dec. Taylor Kreith (Francis Howell, Mo.), 5-0 126: Clayton Currier (Colstrip, Mont.) pinned Bjorn Schroeder (Bozeman, Mont.), 5:55 132: Franco Valdes (Miami Southwest, Fla.) dec. Bradley Beaulieu (Marshwood, Maine), 3-2 138: No. 5 (at 132) Zack Donathan (Mason, Ohio) dec. No. 19 (at 145) Denton Spencer (Camden County, Ga.), 5-4 145: Brandon Konecny (Corona del Sol, Ariz.) dec. Ryan Monteiro (Minnechaug, Mass.), 3-2 152: No. 10 Hunter Willits (Pueblo County, Colo.) dec. No. 10 (at 160) Jake Brindley (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), 3-2 160: No. 4 (at 152) Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook, N.J.) tech. fall Kyle Jasenski (Albany Academy, N.Y.), 24-9, 5:37 170: No. 6 (at 182) Bryce Rogers (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) dec. No. 14 (at 182) Caleb Little (Jefferson, Ga.), 3-1 182: No. 17 Casey Randles (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) dec. Michael Battista (Broad Run, Va.), 9-2 195: Eddie Smith (Belton-Honea Path, S.C.) dec. Jake Lowell (New Trier, Ill.), 7-6 220: No. 10 Chei Hill (South Dade, Fla.) dec. Chris Kober (Haverford Prep, Pa.), 7-4 285: Gavin Nye (Corning, Calif.) pinned No. 11 Sammy Evans (Alcoa, Tenn.), 4:53 Junior: 106: No. 15 Dylan Ryder (Half Hollow Hills West, N.Y.) dec. No. 8 Jonathan Prata (Downey, Calif.), 11-4 113: Jace Koelzer (Olathe South, Kansas) dec. No. 10 Nico Aguilar (Gilroy, Calif.), 3-2 120: Chris Wright (Central Dauphin, Pa.) dec. Orion Anderson (Schuylerville, N.Y.), 3-2, tiebreaker 126: Elijah Palacio (Calvary Chapel, Calif.) pinned Weston DiBlasi (Park Hill, Mo.), 5:20 132: No. 4 Joey Silva (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) dec. Alex Felix (Gilroy, Calif.), 3-1 138: No. 9 (at 132) Jacori Teemer (Long Beach, N.Y.) dec. No. 11 Cole Matthews (Reynolds, Pa.), 7-5 145: No. 11 (at 152) Anthony Artalona (Tampa Prep, Fla.) maj. dec. Kasper McIntosh (Portage, Ind.), 12-3 152: No. 15 (at 160) Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown, Md.) dec. Robert Patrick (Ligonier Valley, Pa.), 7-3 160: Erich Byelick (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) dec. Billy Higgins (Skutt Catholic, Neb.), 3-1, overtime 170: Tyler Barnes (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) maj. dec. Luke McGonigal (Clearfield, Pa.), 14-4 182: Caden Steffen (Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Minn.) dec. Blake Barrick (Big Spring, Pa.), 5-3 195: No. 6 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.) dec. Tony Andrade (Gilroy, Calif.), 6-4 220: Peter Acciardi (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.) dec. Ben Goldin (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), 2-1 285: Terrese Aaron (Mexico, Mo.) dec. Deonte Wilson (Amityville, N.Y.), 3-1 Sophomore: 106: Sam Latona (Thompson, Ala.) dec. Jacob Moran (Crown Point, Ind.), 7-5, overtime 113: Josh Blatt (North Henderson, N.C.) dec. Marcus Branford (Wilson, Pa.), 10-6 120: Gabe Hixenbaugh (Thompson, Ala.) dec. James McClain (Franklin, Texas), 3-1 126: Coltan Yapoujian (Pomona, Colo.) dec. Garrett Kloeppel (Parkway South, Mo.), 5-1 132: Gabe Miller (Pequea Valley, Pa.) pinned Connor McGonagle (Timberlane, N.H.), 2:50 138: Michael Weber (Forsyth, Mont.) dec. Devin Schwartzkopf (Francis Howell Central, Mo.), 2-1 145: No. 20 Brevin Balmeceda (South Dade, Fla.) dec. Ryan Vulakh (Pope John II, Pa.), 6-0 152: Mason Reiniche (Baylor School, Tenn.) dec. Ross McFarland (Phoenix, N.Y.), 2-1 160: Edmund Ruth (Susquehanna Township, Pa.) dec. Jackson Turley (St. Christopher's, Va.), 8-7 170: Jacob Cardenas (Queen of Peace, N.J.) dec. Troy Fisher (Goddard, Kansas), 4-1 182: Jack Parr (St. Paul's, Md.) dec. Cole Urbas (State College, Pa.), 9-2 195: Ryan Reyes (Clovis West, Calif.) dec. Zach Marcheselli (Broken Arrow, Okla.), 5-4 220: Owen Trephan (Ashley Ridge, S.C.) dec. Jordan Pryor (Oakdale, Md.), 5-1 285: Michael Kramer (Wilson Central, Tenn.) pinned Jervey Sistrunk (Bound Brook, N.J.), 4:20 Freshman: 106: Dylan Cedeno (Fair Lawn, N.J.) pinned Ryan Miller (Blair Academy, N.J.), 2:16 113: No. 16 (at 106) Zach Redding (Eastport-South Manor, N.Y.) dec. Justin McDougald (Niagara Wheatfield, N.Y.), 6-1 120: Peyton Hall (Oak Glen, W.Va) dec. Chase Saldate (Gilroy, Calif.), 5-0 126: Joshua Saunders (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) dec. Ethan Basile (Tampa Jesuit, Fla.), 3-2 132: A.J. Tamburino (William Tennent, Pa.) dec. Kolby Allred (Great Bridge, Va.), 6-2 138: Gage McClenahan (Bald Eagle Area, Pa.) over Alan Kovacs (Danbury, Ct.) by injury default 145: Kai Bele (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) dec. Domonic Mata (Poway, Calif.), 6-5, ultimate tiebreaker 152: Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa.) dec. Colton Hawks (Holt, Mo.), 3-2 160: Micah Ervin (Union County, Ky.) maj. dec. Andy Aldridge (Lee-Davis, Va.), 9-0 170: Nicholas Villarreal (Gilroy, Calif.) maj. dec. Jacob Lagoa (Ashtabula St. John, Ohio), 12-2 182: Jack Wimmer (McDonogh, Md.) maj. dec. Samuel McNulty (Sandusky Perkins, Ohio), 12-3 195: Hunter Catka (Sun Valley, Pa.) dec. Daniel Miranda (Somerset Academy, Fla.), 7-1 220: Cody Williams (McDonogh, Md.) dec. Jeffrey Worster (Oxford Hills, Maine), 10-3 285: D.J. Lundy (Irwin County, Ga.) maj. dec. Curtis Ruff (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), 14-3

Funeral services have been announced for Michigan high school wrestler Dante Latora who was killed in a car crash Wednesday night on his way to this weekend's NHSCA (National High School Wrestling Coaches Association) National Wrestling Championships at Virginia Beach. He was 17. Dante LatoraVisitation for the Portage Central High School senior will take place at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1150 W. Centre Avenue, Portage, Mich. on Tuesday, March 28, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, March 29 at noon with visitation from 11 a.m.-noon. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund is being established in Dante's name. Details will be available at the visitation. Friends and family may leave condolences at the funeral home website. Latora was driving the 800-mile trip from western Michigan to Virginia Beach when his car veered off the road, hit a sign, then a tree at about midnight Wednesday, according to Virginia State Police. Bob Ferraro, the CEO of the NHSCA, issued the following statement: "The news of Dante's death has broken out hearts. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and close friends. We will be honoring Dante at this year's national wrestling championships with a moment of silence." Before school Friday, hundreds of Portage Central students came together in the cafeteria, to sing and say a prayer. Many chose to wear blue and yellow in his honor. "You know it was really beautiful to see such a natural outpouring of love for Dante," said youth pastor Jeff Fernandez of The Bridge Church, one of a half-dozen area pastors who reached out to the school to offer support. The pastors joined grief counselors at the school, helping dozens of students through the difficult week. Dante Vincenzo Latora was born August 9, 1999 in Middletown, Ohio, the son of Anthony (Tony) and Kim (Justus) Latora. His here described the student-athlete as "an exceptionally gifted student, excelling academically and on the national wrestling level. He was a kid that had a zest for life, which shown through in his artistry and his friends. Anyone who knows wrestling knows the legacy he represented so well and to the highest level." Dante is survived by his parents, Kim and Tony of Portage and his older brothers Angelo of Ann Arbor and Dominic of Portage. (His father and brother Angelo both wrestled at the University of Michigan.) He also leaves behind his maternal grandparents, Diane and Jim Schelb, of Galesburg, Mich.; his paternal grandparents Carl and Dian Latora of Mattawan and Margaret Latora of Portage and numerous other relatives.

Wrestling at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic took place early Saturday evening at Fitzgerald Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. In the main event, two of the three "one versus two" matchups saw the number one wrestler fall to defeat. In the evening's second bout, Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) beat Kaleb Romero (Mechanicsburg, Ohio) 3-2 on a takedown with about 30 seconds left in the third period at 170 pounds. The evening's last bout saw Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford, Pa.) win a scramble late in the third period to score a 3-1 victory over Quentin Hovis (Poway, Calif.) at 152. The lone victory in those three bouts for a top ranked wrestler came in the third bout of the evening, as Louie DePrez (Hilton, N.Y.) scored a takedown in each period to score a 7-1 victory over Travis Stefanik (Nazareth, Pa.) at 182. From the four other bouts with a number one ranked wrestler in the match, three were won by a top ranked wrestler. Among the victories was at 132, where Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) - the nation's top ranked 138 pound wrestler - scored a 12-2 major decision over No. 7 Brian Courtney (Athens, Pa.); Arujau was named Oustanding Wrestler for the United States The victory over a number one ranked wrestler came at 145 pounds, the second to last bout of the evening's program. With the Uited States hanging on to a 22-17 lead, No. 6 (at 152) Austin O'Connor (St. Rita, Ill.) earned a second period pin from the neutral position against Jarod Verkleeren (Hempfield Area, Pa.) at the 2:54 mark. The bout was tied 5-5 as O'Connor shot in on Verkleeren, Verkleeren sought to fend off the score but was trapped on his back. That match was the "turning point" of the dual meet, as it clinched a sixth successive dual meet victory for the United States in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic. One final statement came in the 126 pound bout, where No. 4 Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township, Pa.) built upon the momentum of his 6-5 victory over three-time state champion and at the time career undefeated Spencer Lee to earn a comprehensive 18-5 beat-down of No. 3 Justin Mejia (Clovis, Calif.). The four-time California state champion was never in the bout. DeSanto scored a takedown early and late in the first period to take a 4-1 lead. It was extended by three takedowns int he second period to 10-4. In the third period, DeSanto added a reversal, near falls, and a late takedown to earn a standing ovation at bout's end. He was the Outstanding Wrestler for the Pennsylvania squad. Team USA 28 Pennsylvania 17 160: No. 7 (at 170) Jacob Oliver (Huntingdon) dec. No. 4 (at 170) Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) 16-11 170: No. 2 Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic) dec. No. 1 Kaleb Romero (Mechanicsburg, Ohio) 3-2 182: No. 1 Louie DePrez (Hilton, N.Y.) dec. No. 2 Travis Stefanik (Nazareth) 7-1 195: No. 1 Jacob Warner (Washington, Ill.) dec. No. 3 Jake Woodley (North Allegheny) 5-3 220: No. 1 Chase Singletary (Blair Academy, N.J.) dec. No. 12 Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt) 7-3 285: No. 3 Trent Hillger (Lake Fenton, Mich.) dec. No. 16 Brendan Furman (Canon-McMillan) 3-0 120: Gavin Park (Brookville) dec. No. 5 (at 126) Brandon Courtney (Desert Edge, Ariz.) 10-5 126: No. 4 Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township) major dec. No. 3 Justin Mejia (Clovis, Calif.) 18-5 132: No. 1 (at 138) Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) major dec. No. 7 Brian Courtney (Athens) 12-2 138: No. 7 Tanner Litterell (Tuttle, Okla.) pin No. 5 Max Murin (Central Cambria) 2:47 182: No. 3 Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park) major dec. Jacob Hart (Independence, W.Va.) 12-2 145: No. 6 (at 152) Austin O'Connor (St. Rita, Ill.) pin No. 1 Jarod Verkleeren (Hempfield Area) 2:54 152: No. 2 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford) dec. No. 1 Quentin Hovis (Poway, Calif.) 3-1 Outstanding Wrester USA - Vitali Arujau Outstanding Wrestler PA - Austin DeSanto Turning Point Award - Austin O'Connor As expected, the WPIAL earned a decisive victory in the undercard, winning eight of the 13 bouts over a team from Georgia. With the dual meet tied at 6-6, 2015 state placer Joey Blumer (Kiski Area) scored a 16-1 technical fall against state chamion Ethan Phillips (Chattahoochee, Ga.). That result at 138 pounds gave the WPIAL an 11-6 lead through five bouts, one that held through the duration of the evening's program. The Outstanding Wrestler for the WPIAL came from the 152 pound match, where three-time state placer Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny) rallied back from a 5-0 end of first period deficit to beat state champion Will Britain (Cambridge, Ga.) 10-8 in overtime. Hinkson was fighting off a pin for the last half of the first period, and then rallied with four second period takedowns in the 2:30 stanza to force the overtime. He then scored a relatively easy takedown in sudden victory. The most notable victory of the evening came from a Georgia wrestler, as three-time state champion Owen Brown (Commerce) upset No. 8 Eric Hong (North Allegheny) 2-0 in overtime at 160 pounds. Brown did have the majority of the attacks in the bout, and was able to finish one off in the sudden victory period. However, Georgia's Outstanding Wrestler was No. 6 Quinn Miller (Archer), who got a pin in 1:50 at 220 pounds off his second takedown of the bout against state placer Billy Korber (Belle Vernon Area). WPIAL 29 Georgia 18 113: Koby Milner (Pickens County, Ga.) dec. Jacob Dunlop (Belle Vernon Area) 2-0 120: Vincent DiStefanis (Hempfield Area) dec. Bryce Davis (Creekview, Ga.) 4-2 126: Tyler Alberts (Ellwood City) dec. Vinnie Rosati (Woodland, Ga.) 7-0 132: Davion Fairley (Union Grove, Ga.) dec. Hunter Baxter (Pine Richland) 5-3 138: Joey Blumer (Kiski Area) technical fall Ethan Phillips (Chattahoochee, Ga.) 16-1, 3:12 145: Kody Komara (Freedom) major dec. Jake Brewer (Commerce, Ga.) 14-5 152: Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny) dec. Will Britain (Cambridge) 10-8, overtime 160: Owen Brown (Commerce, Ga.) dec. No. 8 Eric Hong (North Allegheny) 2-0, overtime 170: Alec Shaw (Greensburg Salem) dec. Jack Marsh (St. Pius X, Ga.) 4-2 182: No. 12 Matthew Waddell (Gilmer, Ga.) dec. Matt McGillick (Penn Trafford) 2-1 195: Colin McCracken (Waynesburg) dec. Constantine Graves (Dunwoody, Ga.) 7-0 220: No. 6 Quinn Miller (Archer, Ga.) pin Billy Korber (Belle Vernon Area) 1:50 285: Roman Macek (Montour) technical fall Alexander Robles (Northwest Whitfield, Ga.) 19-4, 5:00 Outstanding Wrestler WPIAL - Jake Hinkson Outstanding Wrestler Georgia - Quinn Miller

Wrestling on Friday at the NHSCA Freshman Nationals narrowed the field to the championship quarterfinal round. Those wrestlers are one win from All-American (top eight placement) status, whether that win is in the quarterfinals or the following consolation match. No consolation matches were wrestled on Friday, so all wrestlers move onto Saturday in contention for placement. Below are the quarterfinal bouts. 106 pounds: Drew Munch (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) vs. Ryan Miller (Blair Academy, N.J.) Wyatt Yapoujian (Pomona, Colo.) vs. Anthony Sissom (Spanish Springs, Nev.) Kurtis Phipps (Norwin, Pa.) vs. Andrew Fallon (LaSalle Academy, R.I.) Ryan Jack (Danbury, Ct.) vs. Dylan Cedeno (Fair Lawn, N.J.) 113: Justin McDougald (Niagara Wheatfield, N.Y.) vs. Will Carl (Middletown, Del.) Leif Schroeder (Bozeman, Mont.) vs. Jimmy Carmany (Wadsworth, Ohio) No. 16 (at 106) Zach Redding (Eastport-South Manor, N.Y.) vs. J.J. White (Wyoming Valley West, Pa.) Jimmy Ramirez (Jefferson, Colo.) vs. Nick Masters (Woodward Academy, Ga.) 120: Garrett Bowers (Cleveland, Tenn.) vs. Scott Richter (St. Edward, Ohio) Chase Saldate (Gilroy, Calif.) vs. Sammy Heywood (Wasatch, Utah) Bryce Hepner (St. Edward, Ohio) vs. Joey Miller (Musselman, W.Va.) Ethan Oakley (Providence Grove, N.C.) vs. Peyton Hall (Oak Glen, W.Va.) 126: Noah Castillo (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. John Martin Best (Parkersburg, W.Va.) Joshua Saunders (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) vs. Nick Stonecheck (Buford, Ga.) Stockton O'Brien (Wasatch, Utah) vs. Tyler Sung (New Canaan, Ct.) Ethan Basile (Tampa Jesuit, Fla.) vs. Jonathan Miers (Easton, Pa.) 132: Jackson Dean (Caesar Rodney, Del.) vs. A.J. Tamburrino (William Tennent, Pa.) A.J. Caba (The Hotchkiss School, Ct.) vs. Parker Seeley (Moorcroft, Wyo.) Joshua Stokes (Huntingtown, Md.) vs. Kolby Allred (Great Bridge, Va.) Hayden Lieb (Bethel Regional, Alaska) vs. William McDougald (Niagara-Wheatfield, N.Y.) 138: Gage McClenahan (Bald Eagle Area, Pa.) vs. Francis Morrissey (Veterans, Ga.) Markeith Drakeford (Lugoff-Elgin, S.C.) vs. Gabe Onorato (Collingswood, N.J.) Ryan Stencel (Lancaster, N.Y.) vs. Levi Stone (Colonial Forge, Va.) Cooper Voorhees (Rapid City Stevens, S.D.) vs. Alan Kovacs (Danbury, Ct.) 145: Kai Bele (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. Tanner Mendoza (Corona del Sol, Ariz.) Graham Calhoun (Plymouth, Ind.) vs. Charlie Darracott (Buford, Ga.) John Poznanski (Colonia, N.J.) vs. Chance Downs (Maquoketa Valley, Iowa) Domonic Mata (Poway, Calif.) vs. Gavin Kane (Cambridge, Ga.) 152: Colton Hawks (Holt, Mo.) vs. Marcos Gamez (Ariz.) Richie Lee (Owasso, Okla.) vs. Caden Wright (Emmaus, Pa.) Jaziah Whaley, Jr. (Valley, Colo.) vs. Cade Linn (Southern Columbia, Pa.) Angel Garcia (Marianna Bracetti Academy, Pa.) vs. Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa.) 160: Mason Christiansen (Bingham, Utah) vs. Andy Aldridge (Lee-Davis, Va.) Ethan Hatcher (Brecksville, Ohio) vs. Gage Hockett (Cushing, Okla.) Micah Ervin (Union County, Ky.) vs. Cole Foor (Watkins Memorial, Ohio) Dominic Solis (McDonogh, Md.) vs. David Cumberledge (Ashtabula St. John, Ohio) 170: Jacob Lagoa (Ashtabula St. John, Ohio) vs. Matthias Ervin (Union County, Ky.) Dustin Radford (Archbishop Spalding, Md.) vs. Nathan Dunaway (Helena, Ala.) Nicholas Villarreal (Gilroy, Calif.) vs. Logan Hawthorne (North Hall, Ga.) Braydyn Lugardo (Saucon Valley, Pa.) vs. Chase Stegall (Northwest Cedar Hill, Mo.) 182: Jack Wimmer (McDonogh, Md.) vs. Hamilton Cooper (Madison County, Ga.) Jackson Filipowicz (Blessed Trinity, Ga.) vs. Max Marrero (Freedom, Pa.) Samuel McNulty (Sandusky Perkins, Ohio) vs. Seth Carlton (North Hall, Ga.) Logan Conner (Mercer, Pa.) vs. Reed Davis (Cass, Ga.) 195: Shamique Bryant (St. Edward, Ohio) vs. Daniel Miranda (Somerset Academy, Fla.) Bo Thompson (A.C. Reynolds, N.C.) vs. Dylan Nirk (Bloomington Prairie, Minn.) Ben Lambert (Hampshire, W.Va.) vs. Adam Wilmore (Lancaster, Va.) Haakon Van Beynen (Carmel, Ind.) vs. Hunter Catka (Sun Valley, Pa.) 220: Cody Williams (McDonogh, Md.) vs. Cody Fleming (Ninety Six, S.C.) Marquon Journey (Southmoore, Okla.) vs. Carlos Esquivel (Matoaca, Va.) Bowie Eisenberg (North Hall, Ga.) vs. Aaron Sharp (Lakota East, Ohio) Alexander Legg (Southmoore, Okla.) vs. Jeffrey Worster (Oxford Hills, Maine) 285: Rodriguez Nunnally (Social Circle, Ga.) vs. Curtis Ruff (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) Jacob Edwards (Freedom, Va.) vs. Weston Wallace (Gatewood, Ga.) Isaac Righter (Colonel Magruder, Md.) vs. D.J. Lundy (Irwin County, Ga.) Craig Orlando (Verndale, Minn.) vs. Austin Chapman (Riverside, W.Va.)

Wrestling at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals on Friday pared the field down to the championship quarterfinals. There was no consolation wrestling, which means all wrestlers remain in contention for an All-American (top eight placement) finish. Those winning in the quarterfinal are guaranteed a top six finish, while those that lose need a win in their next match to finish on the podium. Below are the quarterfinals as the competition resumes on Saturday morning. 106 pounds: Sam Latona (Thompson, Ala.) vs. Dillon Murphy (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) Chase Tebbets (Mead, Wash.) vs. John Worthing (Tioga Central, N.Y.) Logan Ashton (Buford, Ga.) vs. Liam Logue (Father Judge, Pa.) Isaiah Calderon (Cypress Falls, Texas) vs. Jacob Moran (Portage, Ind.) 113: Trey Lane (Brandon, Fla.) vs. Ryan Garlitz (St. John's Prep, Mass.) Josh Blatt (North Henderson, N.C.) vs. Brandon Wittenberg (Battlefield, Va.) Marcus Branford (Wilson, Pa.) vs. Brock Peele (Portage, Ind.) Hunter Gregoris (Big Spring, Pa.) vs. Jack Darling (Masconomet, Mass.) 120: Luciano Arroyo (Calvary Chapel, Calif.) vs. Cam Enriquez (Stroudsburg, Pa.) Gabe Hixenbaugh (Thompson, Ala.) vs. Malyke Hines (Osceola, Fla.) Kyle Gollhofer (Woodland, Ga.) vs. Paul Truntich (Archbishop Spalding, Md.) Cahal Donovan (Phoenix, N.Y.) vs. James McClain (Franklin, Texas) 126: Paul Watkins (North Forsyth, Ga.) vs. Ray Kable (McDonogh, Md.) Reece Witcraft (Coweta, Okla.) vs. Garrett Kloeppel (Parkway South, Mo.) Coltan Yapoujian (Pomona, Colo.) vs. Jeffrey Boyd (Erie McDowell, Pa.) Kyle Fields (Danbury, Ct.) vs. Bryce Andonian (St. Edward, Ohio) 132: Connor McGonagle (Timberlane, N.H.) vs. Sam Glassco (Mason, Ohio) Warren McDougald (Niagara-Wheatfield, N.Y.) vs. Zak Kohler (Wasatch, Utah) Gabe Miller (Pequea Valley, Pa.) vs. Gage McLaughlin (Mt. Anthony, Vt.) Silas Shaw (Mooresville, N.C.) vs. Ben Pasiuk (Carrollton, Ohio) 138: Devin Schwartzkopf (Francis Howell Central, Mo.) vs. Alex Winant (Mendham, N.J.) Luca Frinzi (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) vs. Nathan Conley (Avon, Ind.) Caesar Fountain (Father Judge, Pa.) vs. Tristen Cabinta (Salem, N.H.) K.J. Kearns (Coronado, Colo.) vs. Michael Weber (Forsyth, Mont.) 145: Ryan Vulakh (Pope John II, Pa.) vs. Ian Carlos (North Salem, Ore.) Zane Brown (Louisville Male, Ky.) vs. Wyatt McCarthy (Newton, N.J.) Sam Dover (St. Edward, Ohio) vs. Ricky Cabanillas (DePaul Catholic, N.J.) Chris Fasano (Pueblo County, Colo.) vs. No. 20 Brevin Balmeceda (South Dade, Fla.) 152: Mason Reiniche (Baylor School, Tenn.) vs. Kolton Clark (Scottsboro, Ala.) Jacob Nolan (Saranac, N.Y.) vs. Anthony Hinson (Spring Grove, Pa.) Owen Davis (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) vs. Adrian St. Germain (Vashon Island, Wash.) Zane Lanham (Huntington, W.Va.) vs. Ross McFarland (Phoenix, N.Y.) 160: Edmond Ruth (Susquehanna Township, Pa.) vs. Samuel Mora (Amarillo Tascosa, Texas) Vincent Baker (Blessed Trinity, Ga.) vs. Alex Cramer (Grayslake, Ill.) Jackson Turley (St. Christopher's, Va.) vs. Zac Russell (Whitfield, Mo.) Trey Sizemore (Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio) vs. Carson Kharchla (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio) 170: Jared McGill (Chestnut Ridge, Pa.) vs. Manuel Elizondo (Friendswood, Texas) Michael Baker (Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio) vs. Jacob Cardenas (Queen of Peace, N.J.) Troy Fisher (Goddard, Kansas) vs. Scott Joll (Belle Vernon Area, Pa.) Gabriel Lee (Brookwood, Ga.) vs. Christian Rodriguez (Selma, Calif.) 182: Cole Urbas (State College, Pa.) vs. Zach Brown (Eastern View, Va.) Jonathan Fagen (Fruitland, Idaho) vs. Drake Barbee (Stilwell, Okla.) Christian Knop (Alexandria, Ala.) vs. Jacob Bennett (Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Minn.) Noah Evans (Alcoa, Tenn.) vs. Jack Parr (St. Paul's, Md.) 195: Zach Marcheselli (Broken Arrow, Okla.) vs. Antonio Skipper (Lake City, S.C.) Kevin Makosy (Urbana, Md.) vs. Lewis Fernandes (Voorhees, N.J.) Hunter Jump (Grandview Hts., Ohio) vs. Terren Swartz (Campbell County, Wyo.) Dustin Swisher (Hampshire, W.Va.) vs. Ryan Reyes (Clovis West, Calif.) 220: Josh Heindselman (Piedmont, Okla.) vs. Nathan Hoaglund (Mount Lebanon, Pa.) Kyle Cornwell (Elwood, Ind.) vs. Jordan Pryor (Oakdale, Md.) Yaraslau Slavikovski (Northfield Mt. Hermon, Mass.) vs. Tomari Fox (Collins Hill, Ga.) Caleb Allison (Weaver, Ala.) vs. Owen Trephan (Ashley Ridge, S.C.) 285: Paul Liseno (Keansburg, N.J.) vs. Michael Kramer (Wilson Central, Tenn.) Darius Wilkins (Wakulla, Fla.) vs. John High (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.) Jervey Sistrunk (Bound Brook, N.J.) vs. Brandon Moran (Martinsburg, W.Va.) Christian Sanchez (Miami Southwest, Fla.) vs. Kevin Cerruti (Long Branch, N.J.)

Competition in Virginia Beach, Va. on Friday pared down the NHSCA Junior Nationals field to the quarterfinals of the championship bracket. No consolation wrestling took place, so all wrestlers remain in contention for a top eight placement (All-American) finish. Those winning quarterfinals are guaranteed a finish in the top six, while quarterfinal losers need one more win to place. Below are the quarterfinal pairings as wrestling resumes on Saturday morning. 106 pounds: No. 8 Jonathan Prata (Downey, Calif.) vs. Devin Sweeney (Potomac Senior, Va.) Jon Charles (Central Valley Academy, N.Y.) vs. Kyle Kaiser (Paramus, N.J.) Drew Schafer (Palmyra-Macedon, N.Y.) vs. Jack Wrocklage (Seckman, Mo.) John Consorti (Wilson, Pa.) vs. No. 15 Dylan Ryder (Half Hollow Hills West, N.Y.) 113: No. 10 Nico Aguilar (Gilroy, Calif.) vs. Cole Laya (East Fairmont, W.Va.) Anthony Sciotto (Rocky Point, N.Y.) vs. Josh Nira (Greeley Central, Colo.) Jace Koezler (Olathe South, Kansas) vs. Josiah Nava (Pueblo County, Colo.) Dilan Ajtun (Downey, Calif.) vs. Enrique Sanchez (Queen of Peace, N.J.0 120: Chris Wright (Central Dauphin, Pa.) vs. Jack Huffman (Millard West, Neb.) Colin Poynter (Portage, Ind.) vs. Decklan Fischer (Snow Hill, Md.) Graham Shore (Miami East, Ohio) vs. Cameron Fusco (Seckman, Mo.) No. 17 Drew Bennett (Fort Dodge, Iowa) vs. Orion Anderson (Schuylerville, N.Y.) 126: Matt Kazimir (St. Edward, Ohio) vs. Elijah Palacio (Calvary Chapel, Calif.) Melquis Ortiz (New Milford, Ct.) vs. Collin Gerardi (Powhatan, Va.) Micah Visuwan (Malvern Prep, Pa.) vs. Ryan Moore (Walton Verona, Ky.) Nathaniel White (DeMatha, Md.) vs. Weston DiBlasi (Park Hill, Mo.) 132: No. 4 Joey Silva (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. Gavin Smith (Archer, Ga.) Aaron Diaz (Canyon Springs, Calif.) vs. Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin, Pa.) Alex Felix (Gilroy, Calif.) vs. Dawson Bates (Jefferson, Ga.) Jacob Butler (Elgin, Okla.) vs. Michael Millage (New Hampton, Iowa) 138: No. 11 Cole Matthews (Reynolds, Pa.) vs. Larry Johnson (Lakeland, Idaho) No. 17 (at 126) Jack Davis (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) vs. Tony Mendoza (Selma, Calif.) No. 9 (at 132) Jacori Teemer (Long Beach, N.Y.) vs. Trent Johnson (John Hardin, Ky.) Devin Rivet (Bishop Hendricken, R.I.) vs. Mason Eaglin (Graham-Kapowsin, Wash.) 145: No. 11 (at 152) Anthony Artalona (Tampa Prep, Fla.) vs. Ryan Luth (Foran, Ct.) Josh Laubach (Archbishop Curley, Md.) vs. Justin McCoy (Chestnut Ridge, Pa.) No. 13 (at 138) Jake Silverstein (Hauppauge, N.Y.) vs. John-Carl Petretti (Shoreham-Wading River, N.Y.) Peter Enos (Faith Lutheran, Nev.) vs. Kasper McIntosh (Portage, Ind.) 152: No. 15 (at 160) Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown, Md.) vs. John Manning (Villanova School, Ont./Utah) Brady Chrisman (Medina, Ohio) vs. Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon Area, Pa.) Robert Morales (Central-Phoenix City, Ala.) vs. Riley Smucker (Smithville, Ohio) Oscar Diaz (Selma, Calif.) vs. Robert Patrick (Ligonier Valley, Pa.) 160: Erich Byelick (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. Ryan Devivo (Xavier, Ct.) Colt Yinger (Mechanicsburg, Ohio) vs. Cade Wilson (Nazareth, Pa.) Jared Lough (Colonial Forge, Va.) vs. Jonathan Loew (Wantagh, N.Y.) Michael Petite (Piscataway, N.J.) vs. Billy Higgins (Skutt Catholic, Neb.) 170: Tyler Barnes (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) vs. Billy Christie (Hilton Head, S.C.) Tate Samuelson (Castle View, Colo.) vs. Dalton Group (Susquenita, Pa.) Jayden Woodruff (Ponderosa, Colo.) vs. Chase Forrester (Commerce, Ga.) Matthew Ceparano (Southern Alamance, N.C.) vs. Luke McGonigal (Clearfield, Pa.) 182: Gerardo Hernandez (Capistrano Valley, Calif.) vs. Jacob Henderson (Armuchee, Ga.) Blake Barrick (Big Spring, Pa.) vs. Jake Thompson (Cincinnati Moeller, Ohio) Caden Steffen (Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Minn.) vs. Justin Johnson (Owasso, Okla.) Thomas Penola (Zionsville, Ind.) vs. Jack Flynn (Francis Howell, Mo.) 195: No. 6 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.) vs. Joey Miller (McQueen, Nev.) Tony Wuest (Smyrna, Del.) vs. Cody Howard (St. Edward, Ohio) Kyle Lightner (Delaware Valley, N.J.) vs. Tony Andrade (Gilroy, Calif.) Garrett Joles (Boyceville, Wis.) vs. No. 14 Zach Elam (Staley, Mo.) 220: Ben Goldin (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. Brian Wallace (Clarke County, Va.) Bryce de Maille (Oakdale, Md.) vs. Daniel Conley (Chaminade, Mo.) Javier Salvador (Heritage, Tenn.) vs. Mateo Pena (Wagoner, Okla.) Qumari Jackson (Fort Dorchester, S.C.) vs. Peter Acciardi (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.) 285: Logan Church (Delta, Colo.) vs. Terrese Aaron (Mexico, Mo.) Michael Burchell (Daniel Hand, Ct.) vs. Paul Robinson (Bremen, Ga.) Cade Ridley (Commerce, Ga.) vs. Deonte Wilson (Amityville, N.Y.) Alex Leasure (Alliance, Ohio) vs. Adrian Hitchcock (Neosho, Mo.)

Competition on Friday in Virginia Beach, Va. pared down the NHSCA Senior Nationals field to the quarterfinal round. No consolation matches were wrestled, which means all wrestlers remain in the hunt for a top eight placing (All-American) finish. Quarterfinal winners will earn a top six placement finish, while those losing in the quarters will need one more win to finish top eight. Wrestling resumes on Saturday morning. Below are the quarterfinal matchups in each weight class. 113 pounds: Jake Ferri (Shawseen Valey Tech, Mass.) vs. Nick Arborio (Berlin, Ct.) Nick Daggett (Chatham Central, N.C.) vs. Anthony Pacheco (Sanger, Calif.) Melvin Rubio (Enka, N.C.) vs. Robert Hartling (E.O. Smith, Ct.) P.J. Ogunsanya (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) vs. Nathan Rankin (Plano East, Texas) 120: No. 18 (at 126) Drew Mattin (Delta, Ohio) vs. Jacob Smith (Southside-Gadsden, Ala.) Jonathan Andreatta (John Mall, Colo.) vs. Dallas Wilson (Wichita South, Kansas) Esco Walker (Hopewell, N.C.) vs. Tyler Kreith (Francis Howell, Mo.) Noah Gilbert (East Burke, N.C.) vs. Dylan Pelland (Pratt, Kansas) 126: Charles Schultz, Jr. (New Milford, Ct.) vs. Clayton Currier (Colstrip, Mont.) Joey Sandoval (Fort Lupton, Colo.) vs. C.J. Walz (Central Valley Academy, N.Y.) Tanner Cole (Deer Creek, Okla.) vs. Bjorn Schroeder (Bozeman, Mont.) Tramone Jenkins (Beaufort, S.C.) vs. Adam Velasquez (Pittman, Calif.) 132: No. 11 Breyden Bailey (Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.) vs. Jose Tapia (Capital, N.M.) Dante Immediato (Middletown, Del.) vs. Franco Valdes (Miami Southwest, Fla.) No. 17 K.J. Fenstermacher (Northampton, Pa.) vs. Bradley Beaulieu (Marshwood, Maine) Christian Miller (Plainview, Neb.) vs. No. 13 Grant Willits (Pueblo County, Colo.) 138: No. 2 (at 145) Navonte Demison (Bakersfield, Calif.) vs. Josh Wyland (Benedictine Prep, Va.) Danny Bertoni (Middletown, Md.) vs. No. 19 (at 145) Denton Spencer (Camden County, Ga.) No. 17 Jaden Enriquez (Mission Oak, Calif.) vs. David Salazar (Sunnyside, Ariz.) Mohammed Taylor (Marian Catholic, Ill.) vs. No. 5 (at 132) Zack Donathan (Mason, Ohio) 145: Brandon Konecny (Corona del Sol, Ariz.) vs. Braedon Orrino (Central Valley, Wash.) Phil Spadafora (Half Hollow Hills East, N.Y.) vs. Will Kaldes (Cumberland Valley, Pa.) Corbin Smith (Wasatch, Utah) vs. J.J. Figueroa (Bakersfield, Calif.) Chase Archangelo (Smyrna, Del.) vs. Ryan Monteiro (Minnechaug, Mass.) 152: No. 10 (at 160) Jake Brindley (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. Diavante Reddick (Benjamin Smith, N.C.) Shane Gantz (Waukesha West, Wis.) vs. Dillon Cravens (Bakersfield, Calif.) Michael Ross (Foran, Ct.) vs. Vincent Dolce (Corona del Sol, Ariz.) No. 10 Hunter Willits (Pueblo County, Colo.) vs. No. 19 Peter Pappas (Plainview JFK, N.Y.) 160: No. 4 (at 152) Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook, N.J.) vs. Angel Delcueto (Miami Southwest, Fla.) Isaiah Johnson (A.L. Brown, N.C.) vs. Shawn Mosca (Carle Place-Wheatley, N.Y.) Evan Barczak (Monroe Woodbury, N.Y.) vs. Bailee O'Reilly (Goodhue, Minn.) Kyle Jasenski (Albany Academy, N.Y.) vs. Jakob Discher (Wasatch, Utah) 170: No. 6 (at 182) Bryce Rogers (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. Kade Sanders (New Kent, Va.) No. 14 (at 160) Georgio Poullas (Canfield, Ohio) vs. No. 11 Casey Cornett (Simon Kenton, Ky.) No. 14 (at 182) Caleb Little (Jefferson, Ga.) vs. No. 15 Hayden Hastings (Sheridan, Wyo.) No. 16 Brit Wilson (Mexico, Mo.) vs. No. 9 Andrew Berreyesa (Reno, Nev.) 182: No. 17 Casey Randles (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) vs. Connor Williams (LaCrosse Central, Wis.) Alec McDowell (Maquoketa Valley, Iowa) vs. Antonio Stewart (Camden County, Ga.) Kendall Elfstrum (Monroe Woodbury, N.Y.) vs. Daniel Surich (Mahwah, N.J.) Gino Sita (Huntingtown, Md.) vs. Michael Battista (Broad Run, Va.) 195: Travis Race (Fulton, N.Y.) vs. Jake Lowell (New Trier, Ill.) Ezequiel Silva (Cherokee Trail, Colo.) vs. Timmy Abee (Jimmy C. Draughn, N.C.) Pete Abraham (Padua, Ohio) vs. Eddie Smith (Belton-Honea Path, S.C.) Carlos Martinez (First Flight, N.C.) vs. Sam Schuyler (Kings Park, N.Y.) 220: No. 10 Chei Hill (South Dade, Fla.) vs. Sam Aguilar (Sultana, Calif.) Benton Whitley (Minnechaug, Mass.) vs. Victor Lacombe (Hunterdon Central, N.J.) Chris Kober (Haverford Prep, Pa.) vs. Zach Knighton-Ward (Uniondale, N.Y.) Freddie Green (Spanaway Lake, Wash.) vs. Joe Marcano (Brandon, Fla.) 285: No. 11 Sammy Evans (Alcoa, Tenn.) vs. Andrew Tanner (Adirondack, N.Y.) Sammy deSerier (Mullen, Colo.) vs. Brian Barnes (McMinnville, Ore.) Laith Alsous (Lewiston-Porter, N.Y.) vs. Gavin Nye (Corning, Calif.) Jon Spaulding (Lakota East, Ohio) vs. No. 19 Kyron Taylor (South Dade, Fla.)

Mack Beggs Mack Beggs, a 17-year-old transgender wrestler transitioning from female to male who won the Texas Class 6A 110-pound girls' state championship one month ago, must wrestle boys at USA Wrestling events, the Dallas Morning News reported. The USA Wrestling policy, enacted earlier this month, states that any wrestler who has yet to reach puberty can choose to wrestle as the gender he or she identified with. However, those who have undergone puberty and are transitioning from female to male, like Beggs, are required to wrestle in the boys' division if they self-identify as male. For those transitioning from male to female, to wrestle as a female the person must self-identify as a female and keep testosterone levels under a certain threshold, which may be monitored by testing. This is the first transgender policy from USA Wrestling, according to a spokesman for the organization which governs freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling -- but not high school or collegiate wrestling -- in the U.S. Beggs, a junior, plans to wrestle in USA Wrestling's Greco-Roman competition this spring. Nancy Beggs, Mack's grandmother, said USA Wrestling contacted the family, and has been working with them to make sure Mack is following the rules. "We didn't call them, they called us and said, 'We need to make sure Mack is compliant. Having watched everything we realize how important this is to Mack,'" Nancy Beggs said. The USA Wrestling decision would not have an impact on Beggs' senior season at Euless Trinity High School outside Dallas-Fort Worth, meaning that Beggs will return to wrestling girls next season. High school (and college) wrestling in the state of Texas is governed by the University-Interscholastic League, which last year passed a rule requiring transgender wrestlers to compete against opponents of the same sex as on the transgender individual's birth certificate. Texas is one of seven states to have separate high school wrestling competitions for boys and for girls. It appears unlikely that the UIL will change its rules regarding transgender wrestlers such as Mack Beggs. Last August, the organization put what has become known as the "birth certificate rule" to a vote of school district superintendents across the state. It overwhelmingly passed 586-32. The UIL's decision went opposite of the NCAA, which in 2011 set transgender policy as requiring a trans male athlete who is receiving testosterone treatment, such as Beggs, to compete on a men's team, while prohibiting the athlete from competing on a women's team, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

The ten individual champs crowned at the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships -- along with the 2017 NCAA Coach of the Year -- will be featured on this Saturday's Takedown Radio broadcast. Join Scott Casber, Tony Hager, Steve Foster and Brad Johnson for this special three-hour broadcast from 9:00 a.m. to noon Central available on KXNO 1460 AM radio and online at www.KXNO.iHeart.com Here's this Saturday's championship guest list: 9 a.m. Darian Cruz, Lehigh University, 125-pound champ 9:20 a.m. Corey Clark, University of Iowa, 133 9:35 a.m. Oklahoma State's Dean Heil, 141 champ 10 a.m. Zain Retheford, Penn State, 149 titlewinner 10:10 a.m. Penn State's Jason Nolf, 157 champ 10:20 a.m. Vincenzo Joseph, 165 pound champ from Penn State 10:40 a.m. Penn State's Mark Hall, 174 champ 10:50 a.m. Bo Nickal, 184 titlewinner for Penn State 11 a.m. J'den Cox, 197 pound champ from University of Missouri 11:15 a.m. Kyle Snyder, Ohio State heavyweight champ 11:30 a.m. University of Missouri head coach Brian Smith, 2017 NCAA Coach of the Year

Asia DeWeese has been hired as the head coach of the new women's wrestling program at Umpqua Community College, the two-year Oregon school announced Thursday. DeWeese is a women's wrestling pioneer who happens to be from the area that Umpqua serves. She wrestled at Sutherlin High School in the mid-to-late 1980s and was a pioneering member of USA Wrestling's first women's team that competed in the 1989 World Championships in Switzerland. DeWeese earned a silver medal at the event. According to UCC, DeWeese was also the only woman in the University of Oregon's now-defunct collegiate wrestling program. DeWeese brings impressive coaching experience with local roots. Since 2011, DeWeese has worked with the Roseburg Mat Club in UCC's hometown of Roseburg, Ore., coaching both collegiate and freestyle. She has also coached with the Oregon Women's Wrestling Program Fargo team and coaches and mentors girls in the local junior high wrestling programs. "A huge promotor of women's wresting and women's sports, Asia believes that wrestling can be a transformational experience for young women," according to UCC's hiring announcement. "Wrestling profoundly influenced her life, and she wants to share that experience with others. She is excited to help athletes develop their wrestling skills and prepare them to move on to a four-year program as well as national and international competition." "Asia is well known and very well respected in the wrestling community," UCC Director of Athletics Craig Jackson said. "We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to add such an accomplished coach and athlete to lead our new program. She has a passion for what she does and provides immediate value to our entire athletic department and campus." The UCC women's program will begin competition in the 2017-18 academic year. The Riverhawks will compete as members of the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association. In early January, InterMat reported that men's and women's wrestling -- along with men's and women's cross country, and men's and women's obstacle course racing -- would be joining the roster of sports offered by Umpqua Community College starting this fall. The women's program is a completely new sport for UCC, while men's wrestling was offered by the school until the early 1980s. Located in Roseburg in southwest Oregon, Umpqua Community College was founded in 1964. The two-year public school has an enrollment of 3,300 full-time and approximately 16,000 part-time students.

The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships wrapped up Saturday night in St. Louis and once again Penn State left with the title. The Nittany Lions are in the midst of a dynasty and we are all witness to what is likely a shift in the approach to college wrestling. Gone now are the days of head-butting, chest-thumping brutality and mat-sprinting tantrums that felt synonymous with the sport. Cael Sanderson's coaching style seems to promote a fun-filled action-packed type of wrestling that fans across the country are beginning to favor. Congrats to Penn State for another title and thanks for Making Wrestling Fun Again. To your (many) questions … Q: What was your favorite moment from the NCAAs? -- Mike C. George DiCamillo celebrates after winning his semifinal match at the NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Foley: As a former wrestler and alumnus of the tournament the action on the mat (and my reaction) is always strongest when I see my alma mater competing. Watching George DiCamillo make his way into the finals was the most animated I've been watching a sports event this year. Jack Mueller finding a way to beat his nemesis Joey Dance with a busted up ankle ranks second. The NCAA wrestling tournament is a fan-first experience for most, including me. Q: During the telecast of the NCAAs, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder and David Taylor said the NCAA tournament was the most exciting event in all of wrestling. Is that true? Have you attended or are you aware of any other wrestling events with that level of size, production value and energy? -- Bryan R. Foley: Regional wrestling competitions always have more oomph and spirit than those that are international collaborations. If you go to the Makhachkala Kids Open you're bound to see quite a bit of passion on display by fans and wrestlers. What you won't get is the production value. When looking on the global scale you can argue that the NCAA tournament is a localized wrestling tournament. State rivalries can extend centuries and school colors are the modern tribe affiliation, lending an impassioned backdrop to an event fans have become familiar with since they first stepped on the mat. Memories, rivalries and the sound of 18,000-plus screaming fans is enough to make even the most even-keeled 18-22 year old wrestler feel overwhelmed with emotion. Add in a massive TV production piping the feed to millions across the United States and you end up with a spectacle nearly impossible to mimic. Q: Who do you see as the frontrunner for the head coaching position at Pitt? Do you think Pat Santoro would leave Lehigh for it? Is Cary Kolat going to Pitt a possibility? -- Mike C. Foley: Cary Kolat recently raised money for a new wrestling facility and seems content with his job and life at Campbell. He would be an amazing fit, but those recent announcements make me think he's staying put. Pat Santoro is alumnus and obvious choice. I'd look for him to be the top candidate followed by Jody Strittmatter, Donny Pritzlaff and Damion Hahn (though I doubt he's ever leaving Cornell). Q: Did you see the fifth-place match at 285 pounds between Nick Nevills of Penn State and Jacob Kasper of Duke? In the first overtime Kasper got poked in the eye and needed to take injury time. This happened at the very beginning of the overtime period. Since Kasper took injury time, Nevills had choice when wrestling resumed. Nevills took the bottom position and he just had to escape within a minute to win, which he did. So basically because Kasper got poked in the eye, Nevills won the match. This seems like a very cheap way to win a match. I think there should be a rule that allows a wrestler reasonable amount of recovery time from an obvious accidental eye poke or groin shot without being charged for injury time and giving the opponent choice. MMA allows fighters recovery time for those two reasons, so should the NCAA. Do you agree? -- Dave Foley: I don't think Nevills intentionally poked Kasper in the eye. However, I do think that in this circumstance the rule should allow for recovery time. It's self-evident that a wrestler shouldn't be given a disadvantage after an accidental eye poke. Is there nothing else they can call that to avoid it becoming an injury time? Twisted ankles, knees and ribs are subjective injuries, but is there some epidemic of injury time that is more disastrous than a one-eyed kid attempting to finish a match in order to avoid injury time? Q: Michigan should be really tough next season. Adam Coon, Domenic Abounader and Alec Pantaleo all redshirted, and they still finished 10th with three All-Americans. It seems unrealistic that any team can challenge Penn State next year, but do you see Michigan as a potential runner-up in 2018? -- Mike C. Foley: Michigan has a massive lineup returning. A runner-up finish is a possibility, but it'll take bonus points and some intervention by a higher power to knock off Penn State in 2018 or 2019. Q: What did you make of Nick Suriano being a scratch 24 hours before the start of the NCAAs? -- Mike C. Foley: Nick Suriano deserved the opportunity to test his strength up until the start of the NCAA tournament. If he was even a 10 percent chance to wrestle then he and the staff were well within their right to make an attempt. However, when there is a late scratch, or a wrestler leaves the conference tournament on medical default, then the NCAA should accommodate the trip for a backup wrestler. No need to waste the opportunity for someone to pursue their dreams on the mat when there are plenty of wrestlers willing to make weight and travel for even a Hail Mary shot of getting on the mats. Q: Who wins between Jason Nolf and Zain Retherford in an imaginary 153-pound weight class? This was a hot topic of debate for my brother and me during the NCAA finals. I'm taking the Zain Train every day of the week and twice on Sunday. -- Jake M. Foley: I love the question, but lack your confidence in finding an answer. It would likely depend on when they weighed in and who was refereeing. You'd have to imagine that Nolf has figured a way out from underneath Zain, but would that be enough for Nolf to win? How to stop that lil' monster from attacking you, non-stop? I'm not choosing. I'm leaving this in Cael's hands. HE MUST MAKE THIS HAPPEN! Q: So it will be Penn State again for 2018!!!! Will anyone challenge them? Also, does it make sense to bump everyone up from 125 for Oklahoma State to make room for Daton Fix? or do you think he will redshirt? -- Raed K. Foley: Yes it will be. I think you redshirt Fix and give yourself a year to prepare for the outside shot of taking on Penn State in 2019. Then again, maybe the best idea is to attack when they are at their most confident. Q: I'm sure everyone is going to ask some version of this, but I'll ask my version anyway. Do you think PSU's "have fun and wrestle free" philosophy will spread through the sport the same way that Gable's "grind them into dust" style did? Don't you think coaches and high-end recruits will prefer that style to pushing, shoving and scrambling to one-point wins? -- Bryan R. Foley: I hope so. Q: Of the past Division I teams to have five national champs in one year, have any ever done it without a senior being one of those five? Is PSU the first? On a side note, how much does the PSU wrestlers' mentality coming off the mat during interviews help recruiting? It seems like all those guys mention having fun and staying mentally loose. That's a very different mentality than is seen from Iowa and some other top-tier schools. -- Ryan P. Foley: PSU is the first to win five without a senior. The on-the-mat theatrics help more, but I think that hearing the wrestlers express their physical actions certainly supports the idea that they are wrestling with a different set of motivating factors, and a training regimen that seems to create likable, well-rounded and well-spoken young men. If you're a parent of a top recruit how do you not want your kids in that environment? Q: After the Darian Cruz-Thomas Gilman match a question immediately came to my attention. What is your list of the best five wrestlers to never win a championship? I haven't been around the sport long enough, but some of the great competitors I can think of include Tyler Caldwell, Mike McMullan, Ryan Churella and Thomas Gilman. It's unfortunate we may have to add Adam Coon to this list, wrong place at the wrong time considering the Snyder era. -- Nick F. Foley: In recent years … Mike McMullan (Northwestern) Hudson Taylor (Maryland) Ryan Churella (Michigan) Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov (American) Josh Lambrecht (Oklahoma) Q: Iowa State scored one point at the NCAAs after going 1-12 in dual meets! It's incredible the program has fallen so far. What are realistic expectations for Kevin Dresser in his first season in Ames? -- Mike C. Foley: Two points? I expect to see immediate turnaround in conditioning, resolve and technique. There are no miracles to be had, but I think that at least a handful of his wrestlers are talented and driven enough to immediately respond to his coaching and find themselves with respectable seasons, maybe even an All-American finish. Q: I'd like to know your thoughts on the Spencer Lee loss, and what seems to be an excuse by 50 percent of the fan base for his loss. I'm sure he wasn't wearing that knee brace for style points, but of course no doctor in his right mind would clear a teenager to participate in a brutal sport such as wrestling with a shredded ACL. Many athletes compete with tears and walk around for years with them. I would suspect this injury wasn't as horrific as reported. Each time he loses (which is barely ever) there's some type of "reason." Daton Fix: too big, Luke Pletcher: spider bite. I've always seen Lee's greatest asset as his belief and mindset which resembles that of a mongoose. In the Austin DeSanto loss, I don't believe it was the injury that was the primary factor, but his mind that caved in to the relentless attack he hasn't seen in a very long time. Is this type of denial the one thing (besides injuries) that can keep him from excelling at the next level? It's not the respectful, humble, attitude of our proven champions like Kyle Snyder, Jordan Burroughs, John Smith, or Cael Sanderson. -- Dave J. Foley: Whoa! Shots fired. I didn't delve too far into the Sencer Lee injury controversy, but I can say that plenty of wrestlers have tried to compete with torn ACL's. There is no doctor approval needed for competition at the high school level unless elevated to that position by the coach. In college the school can retire you for the season against your will since everything is run through their athletics program. In high school it's on the parents. Spencer Lee is not one to make excuses and he seems to own up to the loss. I can tell you as someone who (MRI pending) recently tore his ACL that grappling is much more difficult. Sometimes I feel confident in my motion and then out of nowhere a sharp pain or instability when posting. Every injury is different, but no question that an ACL would severely impact on performance. But as you also wrote, kudos to Austin DeSanto. He wanted the challenge all season, kept up the pressure during the match, and ended up making history. Q: Cory Clark is a great wrestler, NCAA champ, three-time finalist, four-time All-American. At the end of his match, it appeared that Terry Brands was telling Cory to throw him. Cory shook his head "no" but Brands persisted and Cory gave in. After the throw, Clark's expression was one of dismissiveness. Can't say I blame him. Biggest win of his career and his coach forces him to do a contrived stunt. Contrast that with most of the other coaches who shared the spontaneous and genuine joy of their wrestlers. On the positive side though, perhaps Brands is starting to realize that acting angry does not mean you are tough or successful. -- Russ T. Foley: That last part miiiiight be a reach. You're right. The throw was inauthentic, which is kind of cringe-worthy since it implies that Terry was asking for attention to be on him rather than Cory Clark. Also, Clark's shoulder was pretty banged up. If he couldn't shoot it was certainly a reach to ask him to hit a lateral drop. ANNUAL BASKETBALL RANT By Frustrated Wrestling Fan The NCAA needs to change the scheduling of the wrestling season by one week. After last weekend I realized that I hate basketball. Well, I probably wouldn't mind it so much if March Madness didn't start the same weekend as my beloved NCAA wrestling tournament, but this past weekend I tried to watch at a giant sports bar in Chicago with what seemed like over 80 TVs. You would think with so many TVs the bar manager would be willing to change just ONE to wrestling, being that the national championships were on, right? Wrong. They absolutely refused. They looked at me like I was asking to watch C-SPAN reruns for 36 hours straight. I had to run down the street to literally bribe a bartender at a dive bar to change it from basketball to wrestling for five minutes … only to get booed and groans from the crowd. The bartender, clearly annoyed by the boos, switched it back to basketball (despite 8-9 other TVs already playing basketball in that bar) after only four minutes, and the crowd cheered! They freaking cheered! Honestly, the same game was on multiple other TVs already! This indicated to me that the sport was absolutely hated when people couldn't turn their heads three degrees to watch basketball on a different screen. It is a travesty that the marquee tournament of the sport of wrestling has to compete head-to-head with the blind loyalty of the masses to the March basketball tournament. It is ridiculously timed scheduling by the NCAA and it hurts the sport immensely. Move it back one week so that people will actually tune in and maybe gain a few fans! Competing with the bizarre monster that has become college basketball is a losing proposition. REF, HE'S STALLING! By Erik B. I hate to beat a dead horse but stalling continues to be an issue. This past weekend my father-in-law stopped by while I was watching the consolation rounds. He's not a big wrestling guy, but has seen his fair share of matches over the years. Within the first minute of watching, he pointed out, "They sure don't call stalling like they used to." At first I tried to argue that it wasn't stalling in this case, that yes they do still call stalling, and even explained the current out of bounds rules. He didn't press the issue any further, but I couldn't help but dwell on his observation. He was right, and even though I enjoyed most of the product I couldn't help but notice stalling over and over. Something has to give. Call stalling more, add in the international out of bounds rules, let the bottom man out if they go out of bounds on their feet. All of it. Some of it. Something. On a side note I'm pumped about the new rules and weight classes at the international level. Great news.

Aaron Pico was a runner-up at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com Amateur wrestling phenom Aaron Pico will make his highly-anticipated professional mixed martial arts debut at Bellator 180 on June 24 in New York, ESPN.com reported Thursday evening. Pico, 20, will make his first pro MMA appearance competing at lightweight (155-pound) against an opponent to be determined. The Whittier, Calif. native will be part of the card headlined by past University of Oregon All-American Chael Sonnen taking on Wanderlei Silva in the main event to be held at Madison Square Garden, the first time a Bellator event has been held in New York City. Pico signed with Bellator in November 2014 as an 18-year-old while he was still focused on wrestling. He has numerous national and international freestyle wrestling titles, but decided to forego a collegiate career. In addition to his mat background, Pico is a former Golden Gloves amateur boxing champion. In a previous interview, Bellator MMA President Scott Coker said, "Simply put, Aaron has all the makings of MMA's next great superstar, and to have him here at Bellator MMA is something special. Like many of us in the MMA community, Aaron is someone we've been watching closely over the last few years, and after sitting down with Bob Cook and his team, getting a chance to meet Aaron, and hearing his long-term aspirations, the fit became very obvious."

Jim Koch, retired wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, died Thursday from injuries sustained when he was struck by a car last Friday while in St. Louis for the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, the Kenosha-based school announced Thursday. Koch was 69. Koch was out for a morning jog Friday morning, March 17 when he was hit by a car. He reportedly suffered injuries to his head and back as a result of the impact, and was rushed to Saint Louis University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, according to the Racine Journal-Times. Jim KochIn 1970 Koch was the first wrestling coach at UW-Parkside. He guided Ranger wrestlers to team and individual championships for 41 years, retiring in 2011. During his four decades as the Rangers' head coach, Koch's wrestlers earned 128 All-America honors and 80 Academic All-America honors. Fourteen of his wrestlers won individual national championships. Under his tutelage, Ranger Athletics emerged as one of the top programs in NCAA Division II competition, as his teams finished with a Top 10 national ranking in 23 seasons. "Jim was a tireless worker," said UW-Parkside Athletics Director Tamie Falk-Day. "He exemplified and lived the spirit of Ranger Athletics: commitment to the student athlete, commitment to the community, and commitment to sportsmanship and the competitive spirit." UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford said Koch was a mentor and guide for coaches and student-athletes far beyond the sport of wrestling. "Jim Koch will be missed," Ford said. "It is up to us to ensure that his competitive spirit and his dedication to the success of our students live on in Ranger Athletics and throughout the university." "This is a very sad day," said Parkside wrestling coach Gregg Lewis. "This program was built upon Coach Koch's back. A person doesn't receive all the honors and recognition he received without having a great career and having the respect of the wrestling community. "I would be hard pressed to think there is a coach at any level that has had more of an impact on student-athletes, a university or a community than Coach Koch." Born in 1947, Jim Koch began his wrestling career in South Dakota in 1963 as a high school junior after his mother convinced the local school board to start a wrestling program, according to his biography at the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was the captain and most valuable wrestler during both his junior and senior seasons and was the first wrestler from Milbank High School to earn a medal in the state meet after going 23-1-1 as a senior. Koch was recruited for both football and wrestling at South Dakota State University, awarded SDSU's prestigious Stephen F. Briggs academic scholarship. He played one season of football as a center at SDSU but decided to concentrate on wrestling, where he was a member of the SDSU wrestling team for four years. After an undefeated freshman season, Koch was the varsity 160 pounder for the Jackrabbits for three years. As a junior he helped his team to a third-place finish in the NCAA College Division National Championships. As a senior, he was a team co-captain. Koch reached the finals of the North Central Conference Championships all three years. After graduating with honors from SDSU in 1969, Koch launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant at SDSU while working on his master's degree in physical education. One year later, at age 23, Koch moved to Kenosha, Wis. to accept the University of Wisconsin-Parkside head wrestling coach position. Over his long, successful career at the helm of the UW-Parkside wrestling program, Koch received numerous honors. In addition to being welcomed into the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006, Koch was inducted into the UW-Parkside Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. He also is enshrined in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame, the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Wrestling Hall of Fame, the District 14 NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the George Martin Wisconsin Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2003, Koch received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Funeral services are pending.

Darian Cruz defeated NC State's Sean Fausz in the NCAA quarterfinals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Less than a week after claiming Lehigh wrestling's 28th individual NCAA championship, junior Darian Cruz has been named the EIWA Wrestler of the Year, following a vote of the league's head coaches. Cruz won his final 21 bouts in the 2016-17 season, culminating with a 5-0 run through the 125 pound bracket at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis. As the No. 4 seed at 125, Cruz won his first three bouts at NCAAs to earn his second career All-America honor. In the semifinals, Cruz scored two takedowns, one in the final 10 seconds of regulation and one in overtime, to knock off previously unbeaten Thomas Gilman of Iowa 4-2, in sudden victory. In last Saturday's NCAA finals, the Allentown product and Bethlehem Catholic graduate avenged his most recent loss, racking up three takedowns in a 6-3 decision over fellow Lehigh Valley native Ethan Lizak of Parkland. Cruz finished his junior campaign with a 31-2 record that included six falls and 15 bonus point wins. He won his second consecutive individual EIWA title and also finished third at the Southern Scuffle in early January. Cruz enters his senior season with a 90-18 career record, 13 falls and 43 bonus point wins. Twenty-two Lehigh wrestlers have now won a total of 28 NCAA Championships. With Cruz's title and sophomore Scott Parker's eighth place finish at 133, Lehigh wrestlers have now won 147 All-America medals. Cruz is the fourth Lehigh grappler to earn EIWA Wrestler of the Year honors, joining Dave Esposito (2001), Rob Rohn (2002) and the Mountain Hawks' most recent national champion Zach Rey (2011). He was the only NCAA Champion from the EIWA and one of two finalists from the EIWA. The EIWA Wrestler of the Year award was instituted in 1998. The EIWA's other major postseason award, the Freshman of the Year award, went to Princeton All-American Matthew Kolodzik. Lehigh finished 12th at the NCAA Championships. Since the 2010-11 season, Lehigh has now produced two national champions, seven NCAA finalists and 19 All-Americans.

Thomas Gilman was the nation's No. 10 recruit in 2012 (Photos/Dave Jedlicka, Tony Rotundo) The 2016-17 collegiate wrestling season came to its conclusion this past weekend with the completion of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis. The seniors competing in that tournament were mostly fifth-year seniors, so that means in most cases they graduated high school in 2012. An interesting discussion to have is one about the overall careers of the graduated wrestlers. Another perpetual question is if those that come into college as the best prospects perform the best in college. There's also the conversation about those that grow, develop, and thrive through their college careers from both highly touted prep prospects and being lesser touted entering college. Below are the top 25 NCAA Division I collegiate careers for wrestlers that graduated from high school in 2012. 1. Gabe Dean (Cornell) Rank in 2012: Weight class only Accomplishments: Four-time All-American, three-time finalist, 2015 & 2016 NCAA champion 2. Cory Clark (Iowa) Rank in 2012: No. 15 Accomplishments: Four-time All-American, three-time finalist, 2017 NCAA champion 3. Isaac Jordan (Wisconsin) Rank in 2012: No. 19 Accomplishments: Four-time All-American, 2016 NCAA runner-up 4. Thomas Gilman (Iowa) Rank in 2012: No. 10 Accomplishments: Three-time All-American, 2016 NCAA runner-up 5. Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern/Arizona State) Rank in 2012: No. 1 Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American, 2014 NCAA champion; has one year eligibility remaining, will be at Arizona State 6. T.J. Dudley (Nebraska) Rank in 2012: 17th Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time All-American, 2016 NCAA runner-up 7. Lavion Mayes (Missouri) Rank in 2012: None Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time All-American, 2017 NCAA runner-up 8. Brian Realbuto (Cornell) Rank in 2012: No. 18 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time All-American, 2015 NCAA runner-up 9. Ty Walz (Virginia Tech) Rank in 2012: Weight class only Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time All-American 10. Michael Kroells (Minnesota) Rank in 2012: No. 41 Accomplishments: Three-time All-American 11. Brett Pfarr (Minnesota) Rank in 2012: None Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American, 2017 NCAA runner-up 12. Dylan Palacio (Cornell) Rank in 2012: No. 64 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American (also twice consolation round of 12) 13. Eric Montoya (Campbell/Nebraska) Rank in 2012: None Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American (includes one consolation round of 12 appearance, remaining qualification as true freshman) 14. Zane Richards (Illinois) Rank in 2012: No. 21 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American 15. Nolan Boyd (Oklahoma State) Rank in 2012: No. 100 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American 16. Dylan Peters (Northern Iowa) Rank in 2012: No. 65 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American 17. Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State) Rank in 2012: No. 22 Accomplishments: Two-time All-American 18. Mitch Minotti (Lehigh) Rank in 2012: No. 31 Accomplishments: Two-time All-American 19. Willie Miklus (Missouri) Rank in 2012: No. 27 Accomplishments: Two-time All-American, has one season eligibility remaining 20. George DiCamillo (Virginia) Rank in 2012: No. 20 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2017 NCAA runner-up (other three appearances were consolation round of 12, including in 2013 as true freshman) 21. Sammy Brooks (Iowa) Rank in 2012: No. 14 Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American 22. Nathan Jackson (Indiana) Rank in 2012: None Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American 23. Eddie Klimara (Oklahoma State) Rank in 2012: No. 35 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier (all without a redshirt), 2015 All-American (seventh place) 24. Rossi Bruno (Michigan) Rank in 2012: No. 13 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier (all without a redshirt), 2015 All-American (eighth place), also has additional consolation round of 12 appearance 25. Jimmy Gulibon (Penn State) Rank in 2012: No. 3 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2015 All-American (fifth place), also has additional consolation round of 12 appearance Honorable Mention Zach Brunson (Illinois) Rank in 2012: No. 47 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2017 All-American (sixth place) Randy Cruz (Lehigh) Rank in 2012: No. 37 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2016 All-American (eighth place), also has additional consolation round of 12 appearance, qualified as true freshman in 2013 Nathan Kraisser (North Carolina/Campbell) Rank in 2012: No. 42 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2017 All-American (8th place), qualified as true freshman and sophomore in 2013 (round of 12) and 2014 at North Carolina prior to transfer Tim Lambert (Nebraska) Rank in 2012: No. 52 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, consolation round of 12 in 2017 Ross Larson (Oklahoma) Rank in 2012: No. 61 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier Aaron Studebaker (Nebraska) Rank in 2012: None Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, 2017 All-American (5th place), consolation round of 12 in other two appearances Ryan Taylor (Wisconsin) Rank in 2012: No. 44 Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, 2015 All-American (seventh place) Joey Ward (North Carolina) Rank in 2012: No. 33 Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2016 All-American (seventh place), qualified as true freshman in 2013 Lelund Weatherspoon (Iowa State) Rank in 2012: None Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2016 All-American (sixth place) Jim Wilson (Stanford) Rank in 2012: No. 87 Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, 2015 All-American (eighth place) Below are some notable collegiate wrestling careers for top 100 Class of 2011 student-athletes that competed outside of Division I (alphabetical order): Dakota Bauer (Maryville) Rank in 2012: No. 99 Accomplishments: Two-time Division II All-American (fourth in 2015, fifth in 2016) Joey Davis (Notre Dame College) Rank in 2012: No. 7 Accomplishments: Four-time Division II NCAA champion from 2013-2016, without a redshirt Dylan D'Urso (Mercyhurst College) Rank in 2012: No. 83 Accomplishments: 2014 Division II All-American (third place) Huston Evans (Newberry College) Rank in 2012: No. 30 Accomplishments: Two-time Division II All-American (runner-up in 2015, seventh in 2016) Austin Goergen (St. Cloud State) Rank in 2012: No. 70 Accomplishments: Four-time Division II All-American (sixth in 2014, runner-up in 2015, third in 2016, third in 2017) Devin Peterson (Wartburg) Rank in 2012: No. 11 Accomplishments: Division III NCAA runner-up in 2015 Nick Roberts (Pitt-Johnstown) Rank in 2012: No. 39 Accomplishments: 2016 Division II NCAA champion, also qualified for the 2014 Division I national tournament at Ohio State Ben Stroh (Montana State-Northern) Rank in 2012: No. 48 Accomplishments: 2017 NAIA national champion, also qualified for the 2014 and 2015 Division I national tournaments at Wyoming Below are some notable career performances outside of collegiate wrestling, for top 100 Class of 2012 student-athletes (alphabetical order): Max Schneider Rank in 2012: No. 16 Accomplishments: Third in the 2016 United States senior nationals for judo at 66 kilograms Geordan Speiller Rank in 2012: No. 38 Accomplishments: Runner-up in the 2016 Olympic Team Trials at 75 kilogams in Greco-Roman Greg Kuhar Rank in 2012: No. 73 Accomplishments: Four-year letter-winner on the defensive line at Northwestern University Jared Brooks Rank in 2012: No. 98 Accomplishments: 12-0 starting his MMA career, about to emerge as a UFC level fighter at the 125 pound weight class For reference purposes, below were the final top 100 Class of 2012 wrestler rankings: 1. Jason Tsirtsis (Crown Point, Indiana) 2. Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Michigan) 3. Jimmy Gulbion (Derry, Pennsylvania) 4. Jordan Rogers (Mead, Washington) 5. Mark Grey (Blair Academy, New Jersey) 6. John Meeks (Des Moines Roosevelt, Iowa) 7. Joey Davis (Santa Fe, California) 8. Nate Skonieczny (Walsh Jesuit, Ohio) 9 Alex Cisneros (Selma, California) 10. Thomas Gilman (Skutt Catholic, Nebraska) 11. Devin Peterson (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin) 12. Doug Vollaro (Pine Castle Christian, Florida) 13. Rossi Bruno (Brandon, Florida) 14. Sam Brooks (Oak Park River Forest, Illinois) 15. Cory Clark (Southeast Polk, Iowa) 16. Max Schneider (Chicago Lane, Illinois) 17. Tim Dudley (Irmo, South Carolina) 18. Brian Realbuto (Somers, New York) 19. Isaac Jordan (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) 20. George DiCamillo (St. Ignatius, Ohio) 21. Zane Richards (Carbondale, Illinois) 22. Kyle Crutchmer (Tulsa Union, Oklahoma) 23. Brandon Griffin (Sprague, Oregon) 24. Nikko Reyes (Clovis West, California) 25. Steve Congenie (Villa Park, Illinois) 26. Chaz Gresham (Goshen, Ohio) 27. Willie Miklus (Southeast Polk, Iowa) 28. Jordan Thomas (Greenville, Michigan) 29. Gabriel Moreno (Urbandale, Iowa) 30. Huston Evans (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) 31. Mitch Minotti (Easton, Pennsylvania) 32. Dominick Malone (Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania) 33 Joey Ward (Moeller, Ohio) 34. Quinton Murphy (Holley Central, New York) 35. Eddie Klimara (Providence Catholic, Illinois) 36. Devon Gobbo (Delbarton, New Jersey) 37. Randy Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, Pennsylvania) 38. Geordan Speiller (Oviedo Florida 170 OTC 39. Nick Roberts (North Star, Pennsylvania) 40. Mark Martin (St. Edward, Ohio) 41. Michael Kroells (Scott West, Minnesota) 42. Nathan Kraisser (Centennial, Maryland) 43. Clark Glass (Brandon, Florida) 44. Ryan Taylor (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) 45. Brian Brill (Central Mountain, Pennsylvania) 46. John Rizzo (Richland, Pennsylvania) 47. Zac Brunson (Churchill, Oregon) 48. Ben Stroh (Chinook, Montana) 49. Alex Meyer (Southeast Polk, Iowa) 50. Josh Marchok (Schaumburg, Illinois) 51. Steve Spearman (Erie McDowell, Pennsylvania) 52. Tim Lambert (Forest Hills Eastern, Michigan) 53. Cooper Moore (Jackson County Central, Minnesota) 54. Brad Johnson (Lockport, Illinois) 55. Micah Barnes (Simley, Minnesota) 56. Matt Cimato (LaSalle, Pennsylvania) 57. Todd Preston (Blair Academy, New Jersey) 58. Sam Brancale (Eden Prairie, Minnesota) 59. Gage Harrah (Crystal Lake Central, Illinois) 60. Ben Morgan (Forest Lake, Minnesota) 61. Ross Larson (Ankeney, Iowa) 62. Brandon Kingsley (Apple Valley, Minnesota) 63. Hunter Weber (Marshall, Wisconsin) 64. Dylan Palacio (Long Beach, New York) 65. Dylan Peters (Denver-Tripoli, Iowa) 66. Matt Reed (Wichita Heights, Kansas) 67. Jack Hathaway (Iowa City West, Iowa) 68. Zach Nevills (Clovis, California) 69. Kyle Ayersman (Lake Central, Indiana) 70. Austin Goergen (Caledonia/Houston, Minnesota) 71. Tyler Liberatore (Wharton, Florida) 72. Elliott Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic, Pennsylvania) 73. Greg Kuhar (St. Edward, Ohio) 74. Victor Pereira (Newark Memorial, California) 75. Jared McKinley (Perry Meridian, Indiana) 76. Zach Witte (Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa) 77. Chase Ferman (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma) 78. Roland Dunlap (Muskego, Wisconsin) 79. Case Garrison St. Paris Graham, Ohio) 80. Dylan Reel (Washington, Illinois) 81. John Dreggors (Springstead, Florida) 82. Jimmy Kloc (Iriquois, New York) 83. Dylan D'Urso (Reynolds, Pennsylvania) 84. Jordan Gruettner (Muskego, Wisconsin) 85. Anthony Lock (Pioneer, New York) 86. Zack Dailey (Massillon Perry, Ohio) 87. James Wilson (McNair, California) 88. Dakota Trom (Apple Valley, Minnesota) 89. Jacob Crawford (Millbrook, Virginia) 90. Joe Munos (South St. Paul, Minnesota) 91. A.J. Vizcarrando (Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania) 92. Rylan Lubeck (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin) 93. Paul Petrov (Hanover Central, Indiana) 94. Kyle Garcia (Choctaw, Oklahoma) 95. Max Hvolbek (Blair Academy, New Jersey) 96. Shaun'Qae McMurtry (Lockport, Illinois) 97. Corey Keener (Blue Mountain, Pennsylvania) 98. Jarred Brooks (Warsaw, Indiana) 99. Dakota Bauer (Iowa City West, Iowa) 100. Nolan Boyd (Deer Creek, Oklahoma)

Sosuke Takatani is a two-time Olympian NEW YORK -- World wrestling power Japan will compete in the Beat the Streets Benefit event for the first time, it was announced today by Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc. and USA Wrestling. The Japanese team brings a squad of eight Senior men's freestyle wrestlers and three Senior women's freestyle wrestlers. This year's event will take place in Times Square's Duffy Square (between 46th and 47th streets) on Wednesday, May 17 in the seventh annual wrestling celebration. Competitors for Team USA, which will include members of the 2016 Olympic team as well as other elite stars, will be announced in April. It is a young and talented Japanese squad, with considerable international achievements. The men's team is led by 2014 World silver medalist and two-time Olympian Sosuke Takatani at 74 kg/163 lbs. Takatani placed seventh at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and also competed in the 2012 London Olympic Games. He has been on three Japanese Senior World Teams. Two-time age-group World medalist Daichi Takatani will wrestle men's freestyle at 65 kg/143 lbs. Takatani was a 2011 Cadet World bronze medalist and a 2014 Junior World bronze medalist. He also placed seventh in the 2014 Senior World Championships. Nobuyoshi Takojima was fifth at the 2015 Senior World Championships at 70 kg/154 lbs.. Shinjo Arimoto, who wrestles at 61 kg/134 lbs., was also a member of Japan's 2016 Senior World Championship team. Rinya Nakamura, who will compete at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., was a 2011 Cadet World medalist for Japan. All three of the women wrestling for Japan have won medals at the World level at either the Senior or age-group levels. 2014 Senior World champion Chiho Hamada leads the women's delegation at 58 kg/128 lbs. Hamada also boasts gold medals from the 2014 University World Championships and the 2012 Junior World Championships. She won a silver medal at the 2016 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia. Yuki Irie, who wrestles at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., won both a Junior World title and a University World title in 2012. Most recently, she was a 2016 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix champion in Russia and a 2015 Senior Asian champion. Young Miwa Morikawa was a 2016 Cadet World silver medalist, and will wrestle at 69 kg/152 lbs. in women's freestyle. The Japanese delegation will be led by very accomplished wrestlers who are now in leadership positions. The Team Leader is 1992 Olympic silver medalist Kosei Akaishi, who competed in three Olympic Games. The women's coach is Shinichi Yumoto, who was a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist. Coaching the men's team is 1984 Junior World champion Ryo Kanehama. Japan joins a growing list of wrestling powers who have participated in past Beat the Streets events, with previous teams including Iran, Russia, Cuba and Canada. In 2014, a World All-Star team competed against the USA, with athletes from Russia, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Canada, Spain, Venezuela, and Ukraine in the lineup. This has truly become a highlight event on the annual international wrestling schedule. The decision on who will compete for Team USA will be influenced by the results from the U.S. Open in men's freestyle and World Team Trials in women's freestyle, set for Las Vegas, Nev., April 25-29. 2017 BEAT THE STREETS BENEFIT At New York, May 17 Team Japan roster Men's freestyle 57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Rinya Nakamura 61 kg/134 lbs. - Shingo Arimoto 65 kg/143 lbs. - Daichi Takatani 70 kg/154 lbs. - Nobuyoshi Takojima 74 kg/163 lbs. - Sosuke Takatani 86 kg/189 lbs. - Takahiro Murayama 97 kg/213 lbs. - Koki Yamamoto 125 kg/275 lbs. - Katsutoshi Kanazawa Women's freestyle 48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Yuki Irie 58 kg/128 lbs. - Chiho Hamada 69 kg/152 lbs. - Miwa Morikawa Team Leader - Kosei Akaishi Freestyle Coach - Shinichi Yumoto Women's Coach - Ryo Kanehama The world-class competition has been hosted in Times Square five previous times. In 2011, the United States defeated World Champion Russia, 5-2, the first sports event ever held in historic Times Square. In 2012, another U.S. vs. Russia dual meet was held in Times Square, along with the U.S. Olympic Team Wrestle-off for the 60 kg/132 lbs. position on the U.S. Olympic Team in men's freestyle. In 2014, Team USA defeated a World All-Star Team in Times Square, 8-3. In 2015, "Salsa in the Square" featured a meeting between Team USA and Team Cuba in the three Olympic styles, held shortly after the historic change in USA and Cuban political relations. Last year the US met Iran in a dual meet in Times Square as a preview to the 2016 Olympic Games. This will be the eighth straight year in which a major international-style wrestling competition will be hosted as part of the Beat the Streets Benefit activities. In 2010, an all-star challenge featuring top U.S. wrestlers was held on the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier docked on the west side of Manhattan. Top Beat the Streets youth wrestlers will take the mat showcasing their skills in exhibition matches beginning at 3:00 p.m. to kick off the NYC Benefit. For the second straight year, the Benefit will feature the PSAL Girls Freestyle Dual Meet Championships finals, showcasing the two top New York City girl's freestyle wrestling high school teams from the spring girl's freestyle season. Then it's Team USA vs. Japan at 6:00 p.m. with video highlights and special guest appearances followed by the Beat the Streets Benefit Celebration. Tickets are required for entry and can be purchased at www.btsny.org or 212.245.6570 or by emailing beatthestreets@eventassociatesinc.com. Standing room available for non-ticket holders on first come first serve basis. A ticket is required for the Benefit Celebration at the Marriott Marquis. More details are available at http://www.btsny.org/gala. The Benefit Celebration will follow the wrestling competition. This unique and electrifying annual event helps Beat the Streets (BTS) raise significant funds to further its mission. Whether it's providing a safe, constructive outlet for our urban youth, fighting childhood obesity, empowering women, or uniting entire nations, wrestling teaches persistence, dedication, and the value of working hard to achieve one's goals and creates opportunities for personal and universal growth. BTS currently serve over 3,000 student-athletes every year. Beat the Streets Wrestling Schedule In New York City, May 17, 2017 3:00 p.m. - Beat the Streets Youth Exhibition Matches between 46th and 47th Streets 4:45 p.m. - New York City Girl's Freestyle Dual Meet Championships Finals between 46th and 47th Streets 6:00 p.m. - World Class Wrestling: Team USA vs. Team Japan between 46th and 47th Streets Followed by Benefit Celebration About Beat the Streets The mission of Beat the Streets is to develop the full potential of the urban youth and to strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTS works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to bring the life changing sport of wrestling to over 3,000 New York City student-athletes to help them achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTS and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life lessons of grit, personal responsibility and teamwork, physical fitness and nutrition, and life-long learning. The goal of fostering strong, well-rounded student-athletes is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, life skills workshops, and summer camps. More information can be found at www.btsny.org. About USA Wrestling USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. It has over 220,000 members across the nation, boys and girls, men and women of all ages, representing all levels of the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender. More information can be found at TheMat.com

No. 1 Quentin Hovis won a California state title, and is currently No. 1 at 152 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) The 43rd annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic (formerly known as the Dapper Dan) will be held this Saturday on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at the Fitzgerald Fieldhouse. Annually this event attracts the best senior wrestlers from across the United States to compete against the top seniors from the Keystone State. In addition, there is an undercard bout held featuring seniors from the WPIAL (the athletic association governing southwest Pennsylvania) against those from another state or entity; this year it will be against a group from Georgia. This will be the first appearance for Georgia in the undercard event of the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic. The main event starts at 6 p.m. ET with the matches listed below in the order that they will be contested. The dual meet includes three matchups of the No. 1 wrestler facing the No. 2 wrestler, while an additional four other matches also feature a wrestler ranked first in the country. 160: No. 4 (at 170) Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) vs. No. 7 (at 170) Jacob Oliver (Huntingdon) Allar is a two-time state champion, two-time Super 32 Challenge placer (runner-up this year), and was a Junior National freestyle champion this past summer. Oliver is a two-time state champion and four-time state placer. 170: No. 1 Kaleb Romero (Mechanicsburg, Ohio) vs. No. 2 Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic) Romero is a four-time state champion and undefeated since mid-December of his sophomore year of high school, while also being first-team all-state at quarterback the last two years in football. Labriola is a two-time state champion, four-time state placer, and completely dominated the field at both the Walsh Ironman and Beast of the East this season. 182: No. 1 Louie Deprez (Hilton, N.Y.) vs. No. 2 Travis Stefanik (Nazareth) Deprez is a three-time state champion and two-time Super 32 Challenge finalist, including winning the title this season, while also placing twice at the FloNationals. Stefanik won state this season and was third last year; last off-season he was a FloNationals champion and NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up; he was an excellent quarterback in his own right during the fall months. 195: No. 1 Jacob Warner (Washington, Ill.) vs. No. 3 Jake Woodley (North Allegheny) Warner is a three-time state champion and was a Cadet World bronze medalist in freestyle this past summer at 86 kilograms; he also won a UWW Cadet National title in Greco-Roman. Woodley is a two-time state champion, Super 32 Challenge placer, FloNationals placer, and Junior National freestyle All-American. 220: No. 1 Chase Singletary (Blair Academy, N.J.) vs. No. 12 Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt) Singletary is a two-time National Prep champion, three-time finalist, while also earning UWW Junior National All-American honors in freestyle along with being a two-time Walsh Ironman champion. Nye is a two-time state champion, two-time Super 32 Challenge placer, and a 2015 Junior National freestyle All-American. 285: No. 3 Trent Hillger (Lake Fenton, Mich.) vs. No. 16 Brendan Furman (Canon-McMillan) Hillger is a three-time state champion, while Furman won a state title and a Super 32 Challenge title this season. 120: No. 5 (at 126) Brandon Courtney (Desert Edge, Ariz.) vs. Gavin Park (Brookville) Courtney is a three-time state champion and two-time Junior National freestyle All-American, including the title he won in the summer of 2015. Park won state this season, while placing seventh last year. 126: No. 3 Justin Mejia (Clovis, Calif.) vs. No. 4 Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township) Mejia is just the second wrestler in the history of the California state tournament to win four state titles, while DeSanto upset an obviously injured national No. 1 Spencer Lee to win state gold two weeks ago, which denied Lee the status of being a four-time undefeated state champion; DeSanto is also a two-time Super 32 Challenge runner-up. 132: No. 1 (at 138) Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) vs. No. 7 Brian Courtney (Athens) Arujau is a four-time state champion, a Cadet World silver medalist, and was champion of the Super32 Challenge this fall. Courtney is a two-time state champion, was third in Arujau's weight class at the Super 32, and is a FloNationals champion (also three-time placer). 138: No. 7 Tanner Litterell (Tuttle, Okla.) vs. No. 5 Max Murin (Central Cambria) Litterell is a four-time state champion and was a NHSCA Junior Nationals placer last year, while Murin is a two-time state champion and four-time placer. Murin also is a three-time Fargo freestyle All-American, including third last summer at the Junior level, and a two-time UWW Cadet freestyle All-American. 182: Jacob Hart (Independence, W.Va.) vs. No. 3 Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park) Hart is a four-time state champion placing seventh last year at the FloNationals, while Bonaccorsi is a three-time state placer, twice finishing runner-up. In addition Bonaccorsi is a two-time placer at both the Super 32 Challenge (runner-up this past fall) and FloNationals (champion last spring). 145: No. 6 (at 152) Austin O'Connor (St. Rita, Ill.) vs. No. 1 Jarod Verkleeren (Hempfield Area) O'Connor is a four-time state champion and two-time Super 32 Challenge placer (runner-up in the fall of 2015), along with being a Junior Greco-Roman runner-up in the summer of 2015. Verkleeren won state this season after placing fourth as a sophomore. He also was a 2015 Cadet World gold medalist in freestyle at 63 kilograms, along with qualifying for the 2014 team at the same weight class. In addition, Verkleeren won the Super 32 Challenge this year at this weight class. 152: No. 1 Quentin Hovis (Poway, Calif.) vs. No. 2 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford) Hovis was state champion this year in California after winning the previous three years in Arizona. He is a two-time Super 32 Challenge placer, runner-up this year, and was champion at the Walsh Ironman in December. In addition Hovis was champion at the NHSCA Junior Nationals and a Junior National freestyle All-American this past off-season. Coy is a three-time state champion and four-time state finalist, who also earned Outstanding Wrestler honors at last summer's AAU Scholastic (aka Disney) Duals. Pennsylvania coach: Dave Crowell (Nazareth) Pennsylvania captain: Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional), ranked No. 1 nationally at 126 pounds Team USA honorary coach: John Hanrahan, from the Atlanta (Ga.) Wrestlers in Business Network chapter The undercard dual meet will start at 4 p.m. with the following matches taking place. The format of the undercard dual meet is two periods of 2.5 minutes in length, both starting in the neutral position. 113: Koby Milner (Pickens, Ga.) vs. Jacob Dunlop (Belle Vernon Area, Pa.) Milner is a three-time state champion, including this year at 120 pounds; Dunlop placed eighth at state this season, and is a two-time Walsh Ironman placer. 120: Bryce Davis (Creekview, Ga.) vs. Vincent DiStefanis (Hempfield Area, Pa.) Davis is a three-time state champion, while DiStefanis has twice placed eighth at the state tournament. 126: Vinnie Rosati (Woodland, Ga.) vs. Tyler Alberts (Ellwood City, Pa.) Rosati finished as a state runner-up this season, while Alberts placed seventh at state in the 132 pound weight class. 132: Davion Fairley (Union Grove, Ga.) vs. Hunter Baxter (Pine-Richland, Pa.) Fairley was a state champion this season, while also placing sixth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals last year; Baxter qualified for state this season, but placed fourth and eighth at the state tournament the previous two years. 138: Ethan Phillips (Chattahoochee, Ga.) vs. Joe Blumer (Kiski Area, Pa.) Phillips was a state champion this year, while Blumer placed seventh at the Super 32 Challenge in the 145 pound weight class this fall; the last two seasons Blumer qualified for state but failed to place, including this year at 145, but he did placed seventh at state as a sophomore. 145: Jacob Brewer (Commerce, Ga.) vs. Kody Komara (Freedom, Pa.) Brewer is a three-time state champion, while Komara is a three-time state placer, including third each of the last two years. 152: Will Britain (Cambridge, Ga.) vs. Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny, Pa.) Britain was a state champion this season at 160 pounds, while Hinkson is a three-time state placer, including fourth this season at 145 pounds; Hinkson is also a two-time FloNationals placer. 160: Owen Brown (Commerce, Ga.) vs. No. 8 Eric Hong (North Allegheny, Pa.) Brown is a three-time state champion, while Hong placed third at state this season and was previously a two-time National Prep finalist; in addition Hong has twice placed at the Super 32 Challenge and was a Junior National double All-American last summer. 170: Jack Marsh (St. Pius X, Ga.) vs. Alec Shaw (Greensburg Salem, Pa.) Marsh was a state champion this season, while Shaw placed sixth at the state tournament. 182: No. 12 Matthew Waddell (Gilmer, Ga.) vs. Matt McGillick (Penn Trafford, Pa.) Waddell is a three-time state champion, and placed at the Super 32 Challenge in the fall prior to this season. In addition he was a NHSCA Junior Nationals placer last spring and a Junior National double All-American last summer. McGillick placed sixth at state int his weight class. 195: Constantine Gavalas (Dunwoody, Ga.) vs. Colin McCracken (Waynesburg, Pa.) Gavalas was a state champion in this weight class, while McCracken is a two-time state placer, including a third place finish this season. 220: No. 6 Quinn Miller (Archer, Ga.) vs. Billy Korber (Belle Vernon Area, Pa.) Miller is a two-time state placer and four-time state finalist, also finishing as runner-up at the NHSCA Junior Nationals last spring, while Korber placed fourth at state this season. 285: Michael Robles (Northwest Whitfield, Ga.) vs. Roman Macek (Montour, Pa.) Robles finished as state runner-up this season, while Macek was third at state. WPIAL coaches: Chris Heater (Kiski Area), Josh Shields (Burrell) WPIAL captain: Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional), ranked No. 1 nationally at 126 pounds Georgia coaches: Don St. James (Cambridge), Ed Paladino (Chatahoochee), John Hanrahan (Atlanta, Ga. Wrestlers in Business Network), Robert Horton (Team Georgia USA Wrestling, state chairman)

PSU's Zain Retherford was the nation's most dominant wrestler in Division I (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA awarded the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Awards at the respective Division I, II and III Wrestling Championships over the last two weekends. The inaugural NCAA Wrestling Awards were presented at the 2012 wrestling championships. The three awards, given in each division, honor the Most Dominant Wrestler as well as the student-athletes that have accumulated the most falls and the most technical falls throughout the course of the regular and postseasons. For falls and tech falls to be counted they must come against opponents in the same division. Ties in the two categories are broken based on the aggregate time. In Division I, Penn State 149-pounder Zain Retherford marched to his second consecutive national championship with four tech falls and a fall in the semifinals to wrap up the Most Dominant Wrestler Award with an average of 5.56 team points per match. Teammate Jason Nolf finished second after winning the national championship at 157 pounds as the Nittany Lions won their sixth team national championship in the last seven years. Heavyweight Austin Goergen of St. Cloud State scored three consecutive falls on his way to a third-place finish at the Division II Wrestling Championships to wrap up the Most Dominant Wrestler award with an average of 4.83 team points per match. Riley Lefever of Wabash made history by becoming only the second Division III wrestler to win four national championships by marching through the 197-pound bracket with three falls and a major decision to claim his second consecutive Most Dominant Wrestler Award with 5.79 team points per match. The Most Dominant Wrestler standings are calculated by adding the total number of points awarded through match results and dividing that number by the total number of matches wrestled. Points per match are awarded as follows. * Fall, forfeit, injury default or DQ = 6 points (-6 points for a loss) * Tech falls = 5 points (-5 points for a loss) * Major decision = 4 points (-4 points for a loss) * Decision = 3 points (-3 points for a loss) The final Most Dominant Wrestler standings are calculated with a 17-match minimum against wrestlers from the same division. Cornell 184-pounder Gabe Dean earned the award for most falls in Division I with 17 this season. He finished in a three-way tie with Retherford and Penn State 184-pounder Bo Nickal, but won the tiebreaker by compiling his falls in 40:20, 14 minutes faster than Nickal. Tiffin heavyweight Garrett Gray scored three falls on his way to the national championship, including beating Kameron Teacher of Notre Dame (Ohio) in 1:23 in the final, to win the award in Division II with 19 falls. Hunter Harris of Messiah won the Division III award for most falls with 30, which led all divisions and was four more than heavyweight All-American Jake Evans of Waynesburg in second. Virginia 125-pounder Jack Mueller picked up a tech fall in his opening match of the Division I Wrestling Championships on his way to an All-American finish to earn the award for most tech falls this season with 12, one more than Wisconsin's Connor Medbery and Michigan's Logan Massa. Nic Goebel of Findlay earned All-America honors at 149 pounds with a third-place finish at the national championships and takes home the award for most tech falls with 11 this season in Division II. Stephen Jarrell of Johnson & Wales (Rhode Island) was the national runner-up at 165 pounds at the Division III Wrestling Championships and claimed the award for most tech falls this season with 18, five more than anyone else in Division III.

All-American Myles Amine was one of four Michigan wrestlers recognized by the Big Ten (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Big Ten Conference released its Academic All-Conference Team on Wednesday, and the team includes 121 wrestlers. To be eligible, students must be letterwinners who are in at least their second academic year at and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. Wrestlers on Big Ten Academic All-Conference Team Illinois: Eric Barone (Illinois) Jr. Accontancy Zac Brunson (Illinois) Gr. Recreation, Sport And Tourism Brock Ervin (Illinois) Jr. Communication Nick Gasbarro (Illinois) So. Sociology Brandon Gilligan (Illinois) Jr. Political Science Carver James (Illinois) So. Business Andre Lee (Illinois) Jr. Community Health Tim McCarthy (Illinois) So. Business Emery Parker (Illinois) Jr. Finance Isaac Reinemann (Illinois) Jr. Finance Luke Blanton (Indiana) Sr. Economics & Mathematic Indiana: Luke Blanton (Indiana) Sr. Economics & Mathematics Jake Danishek (Indiana) Jr. Marketing Wyatt Wilson (Indiana) Sr. Communications & Culture/Liberal Arts Management Iowa: Stephen Alvarez (Iowa) So. English & Creative Writing Michael Kemerer (Iowa) So. Business Phillip Laux (Iowa) Sr. Management Logan McQuillen (Iowa) Sr. Health & Human Physiology/ And Biology Aaron Meyer (Iowa) So. Health & Human Physiology Alex Meyer (Iowa) Sr. Biology Keegan Shaw (Iowa) So. Business Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) Sr. Sport & Recreation Management And Enterprise Lead Vincent Turk (Iowa) So. Communications Studies Maryland: Michael Beck (Maryland) Jr. Computer Science Youssif Hemida (Maryland) So. Kinesiology Jahi Jones (Maryland) So. Accounting & Supply Chain Management Matt Pente (Maryland) Jr. Criminology And Criminal Justice Billy Rappo (Maryland) Sr. Economics Jakob Restrepo (Maryland) So. Letters And Sciences Michigan: Myles Amine (Michigan) So. Business Administration Kostya Golobokov (Michigan) So. Computer Science Stevan Micic (Michigan) So. Sociology Sal Profaci (Michigan) So. LSA Undeclared Michigan State Drew Barnes (Michigan State) Sr. Communication Mark Bozzo (Michigan State) Jr. Marketing Dillon Ellsworth (Michigan State) So. Chemical Engineering Mitch Rogaliner (Michigan State) Sr. Kinesiology Jimmy Russell (Michigan State) Jr. Packaging Nick Trimble (Michigan State) Sr. Packaging Minnesota: James Berg (Minnesota) So. Applied Economics Carson Brolsma (Minnesota) So. Undeclared Michael Kroells (Minnesota) Sr. Aerospace Engineering Ethan Lizak (Minnesota) Jr. Kinesiology Brett Pfarr (Minnesota) Sr. Agricultural And Food Business Management Chris Pfarr (Minnesota) Sr. Agricultural And Food Business Management Gannon Volk (Minnesota) Jr. Kinesiology Nick Wanzek (Minnesota) Sr. Applied Economics Nebraska: Justin Arthur (Nebraska) Sr. Criminology & Criminal Justice Tyler Berger (Nebraska) Jr. Psychology Eric Coufal (Nebraska) Sr. Agricultural Economics Eric Engler (Nebraska) Sr. Architectural Studies David Jensen (Nebraska) Jr. Nutrition Science Tim Lambert (Nebraska) Sr. Fisheries & Wildlife Mitchell Maginnis (Nebraska) Sr. Nutrition Science Eric Montoya (Nebraska) Sr. Management Brian Peska (Nebraska) Jr. Social Science Education Jordan Shearer (Nebraska) Jr. Nutrition Science Aris Shino (Nebraska) Jr. Nutrition Science Aaron Studebaker (Nebraska) Sr. Animal Science Northwestern: Jacob Berkowitz (Northwestern) Sr. Post Baccalaureate Bryce Brill (Northwestern) Jr. Learning & Organizational Change Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) So. Learning & Organizational Change Braxton Cody (Northwestern) So. Mechanical Engineering Ian Cramer (Northwestern) So. Undeclared Regis Durbin (Northwestern) Jr. Economics Jason Ipsarides (Northwestern) So. Undeclared Alec McKenna (Northwestern) So. Undeclared Anthony Rubinetti (Northwestern) So. Learning & Organizational Change Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern) Jr. Learning & Organizational Change Mitch Sliga (Northwestern) Sr. Economics Ohio State: Matthew Davis (Ohio State) Sr. Biomedical Science Joshua Fox (Ohio State) Sr. Biology Ryan Harris (Ohio State) Jr. Sport Industry Ke-Shawn Hayes (Ohio State) So. Biology Mike Hozan (Ohio State) Sr. Operations Management Bo Jordan (Ohio State) Sr. Athletic Training Micah Jordan (Ohio State) Jr. Sport Industry Blake Riley-Hawkins (Ohio State) Sr. Construction Systems Mgmt Jack Rozema (Ohio State) Sr. Wyoming, Mich. Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) Jr. Woodbine, Md. Nick Tavanello (Ohio State) Sr. Wadsworth, Ohio Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State) Sr. Parma, Ohio Penn State: Francisco Bisono (Penn State) So. Biobehavioral Health Brian Brill (Penn State) Sr. Hospitality Management George Carpenter (Penn State) Jr. Kinesiology Dominic Giannangeli (Penn State) So. Engineering Patrick Higgins (Penn State) So. Division Of Undergraduate Studies Caleb Livingston (Penn State) Sr. Finance/MBA Matthew McCutcheon (Penn State) Sr. Kinesiology Geno Morelli (Penn State) Sr. Business/Finance Kade Moss (Penn State) Sr. Risk Management Jason Nolf (Penn State) Jr. Kinesiology Zain Retherford (Penn State) Sr. Finance Scott Stossel (Penn State) Jr. Chemical Engineering Kellan Stout (Penn State) So. Division Of Undergraduate Studies Devon Van Cura (Penn State) Jr. Chemistry Kenneth Yanovich (Penn State) Jr. Mathematics Purdue: Jacob Aven (Purdue) So. Social Studies Education Jeremy Golding (Purdue) Sr. Religious Studies Nate Limmex (Purdue) So. Chemical Engineering Tanner Lynde (Purdue) Sr. Selling & Sales Management Jacob Morrissey (Purdue) Jr. Law & Society Cody Pae (Purdue) Jr. Mechanical Engineering Blake Reid (Purdue) So. Biochemistry Ben Thornton (Purdue) So. Movement & Sport Sciences Cole Wysocki (Purdue) So. Engineering Rutgers: Nicholas Gravina (Rutgers) Sr. Psychology Marc McDonald (Rutgers) So. Pre-Business Anthony Pafumi (Rutgers) Sr. Communication Jordan Pagano (Rutgers) So. Pre-Business Dylan Painton (Rutgers) Sr. Information Technology And Informatics Josh Patrick (Rutgers) Sr. Criminal Justice, Psychology Ken Theobold (Rutgers) Sr. Labor Studies And Employment Relations John Van Brill (Rutgers) Jr. Human Resource Management Wisconsin: Andrew Crone (Wisconsin) Jr. Business Cole Martin (Wisconsin) So. Kinesiology Connor Medbery (Wisconsin) Sr. Kinesiology Eric Peissig (Wisconsin) Sr. Biological Systems Engineering Mason Reinhardt (Wisconsin) So. Pre-nursing TJ Ruschell (Wisconsin) Sr. Education Leadership And Policy Analysis Eli Stickley (Wisconsin) So. Agricultural And Life Sciences Ben Stone (Wisconsin) So. Agricultural And Life Sciences

Darian Cruz talks with ESPN's Quint Kessenich (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) ESPN's three-day, six-session presentation of the NCAA Wrestling Championships (March 16-18) reached 8.6 million people on television, a healthy 6% increase over last year's similar presentation. Championship Finals Draw More Than 750,000 Viewers The NCAA Wrestling Championships Finals (March 18 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN) delivered an average total live audience (TV + streaming) of 753,000 viewers, up 12% from last year's Championship Finals (March 19, 2016). The 2017 Championship Finals audience is the largest for the sport's final night in the last four years and is the fourth most-watched on record. Three-Day, Six-Session Championships Experience Year-Over-Year Growth ESPN's entire presentation of the NCAA Wrestling Championship -- six sessions across the three days -- averaged a total live audience of 314,000 viewers, up 24% from last year. Similar to the Championship Finals, the 314,000 viewers, on average for each session, is ESPN's best in the last four years. Additional NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Highlights: Every Mat, Every Match Audience Grows: ESPN3's every mat, every match coverage continues to grow in popularity, as ESPN's streaming audience increased in each of the individual six sessions for both average minute audience and total minutes watched compared to last year's event. This is best demonstrated by Saturday night's Championship Finals, which experienced a 21% increase in streaming average minute audience year-over-year. Additionally, fans streamed more than 3,700,000 minutes of action during the Championship Finals, also an increase of 21% over last year. Local Markets: Columbus was the top-rated market, drawing a 1.6 local rating. Pittsburgh (1.4), Philadelphia (1.0), Oklahoma City (1.0), and St. Louis (0.9) round out the top 5 local markets. Streaming audience is both WatchESPN simulcast of television coverage + ESPN3 individual feeds.

SDSU head wrestling coach Chris Bono with assistant coach A.J. Schopp (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) IRVING, Texas -- South Dakota State's Chris Bono was honored Wednesday as the Big 12 Wrestling Coach of the Year after leading the Jackrabbits to their most successful season at the Division I level. During the recently completed 2016-17 season, the Jackrabbits compiled a 14-5 dual record, including an 8-1 mark against Big 12 Conference foes. SDSU finished third at the Big 12 Conference Wrestling Championship in early March and placed second among conference schools - and 16th overall - at the 2017 NCAA Championships with 133-pound national runner-up Seth Gross and 149-pounder Alex Kocer becoming the program's first All-Americans in the Division I era. SDSU was nationally ranked for all but the first week of the season, attaining its highest ranking of 16th in the USA Today/NWCA poll in mid-February. In five seasons at SDSU, Bono has compiled a 50-39 dual record, including a 14-3 mark in Big 12 competition. The Jackrabbits have sent 17 wrestlers to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships since Bono took over the program at the start of the 2012-13 campaign, including five wrestlers each of the past two seasons. Oklahoma State's Dean Heil, who capped an undefeated season with his second consecutive NCAA title at 141 pounds, was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Year.

Many wrestlers are faced with a choice when their collegiate career ends. Oklahoma State All-American Kyle Crutchmer perhaps said it best on Twitter, "Fight … Wrestle … Coach?" From 1979 to 2015 at least one NCAA Division I All-American has tried their hand at MMA. Some decided it was not for them, while others have become some of the best fighters in the history of the sport. The following is a look at eight senior All-Americans would could excel if they decided to transition to MMA. Thomas Gilman (Iowa) Gilman finished his Iowa career as a three-time All-American. However, after putting together an undefeated regular season, he is likely unhappy with his third-place finish. Unfulfilled goals in wrestling have been the driving force behind several top MMA fighters such as UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, who often brings up the fact that he never won an NCAA title. Off the mat, Gilman's brash persona would obviously fit in within the fighting world. During the tournament, he said "I'm not soft. If you can't beat me on the mat, let's go to the parking lot. I'm not above, or below it." From a technical standpoint, his height and reach would be a valuable asset in the 125-pound division. Kyle Crutchmer battles PSU's Mark Hall (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State) As previously stated, Crutchmer seems open to at least exploring a possible career in MMA. He would not be the first Oklahoma State wrestler to do so as some of the best fighters ever came out of the Cowboy program. Crutchmer has even helped Johny Hendricks prepare for some of his UFC fights. He finished his career as a two-time All-American after placing seventh at this year's tournament. Lavion Mayes (Missouri) Despite losing in the 149-pound final to Zain Retherford, Mayes showed something in the first few minutes that should intrigue any MMA agent or promoter. In MMA, fighters need to be able to score takedowns from the outside without much of a traditional wrestling set up. Mayes was able to do just that against Retherford with a blast double in the first period of their finals match. Missouri has produced several top MMA fighters in the past including Bellator champion Michael Chandler, UFC champion Tyron Woodley and One champion Ben Askren. When Chandler tweeted about training with Mayes last year, he made sure to tag Bellator in the post. Ty Walz gets his hand raised after a victory at NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Ty Walz (Virginia Tech) Given the state of heavyweight MMA, any and all heavyweight All-American wrestlers should give the sport a try. Walz came to Virginia Tech after wrestling at 215 pounds in high school. He has since grown and lifted himself into a full heavyweight body. He ended his career as a three-time All-American after finishing fourth at the NCAA tournament for the second straight year. There will likely be a backlog of high level wrestlers on the heavyweight world team ladder, while MMA is dying for heavyweight talent. Denzel Dejournette (Appalachian State) Staying in the heavyweight division, Dejournette finished eighth at the NCAA tournament to become an All-American for the first time. Over the course of his career, Dejournette showed continued improvements before breaking through as a senior. He joined the Appalachian State program as an unranked member of the 2012 class, and then built himself into an All-American. That type of development is usually a good sign for conversion into MMA. J'den Cox (Missouri) With an Olympic bronze medal already on his resume, Cox finished his collegiate career with his third NCAA title and fourth All-American season. Last September, he talked openly about joining the Missouri football team following his senior year, so he appears to be open to at least trying new things. If that football career does not work out, he will always be welcome at an MMA gym. His ability to quickly transition to freestyle and medal in his first world-level competition shows that he can adapt to a new rule set. Ken Theobold (Rutgers) Theobold finished his Rutgers career with a fall in the seventh-place bout over Alex Kocer (South Dakota State) and took home his first All-American honors. Theobold is known for putting up a lot of points. In one stretch during his senior season, he outscored his opponents 56 to 2. One of the close followers of his success is fellow Toms River native and former UFC champion Frankie Edgar who has worked with several members of the Rutgers program in the past. T.J. Dudley celebrates after pinning Iowa's Sammy Brooks for third place (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) T.J. Dudley (Nebraska) Dudley has not really said anything about transitioning to MMA, but he could certainly be successful. He finished his Husker career with a fall in the third-place match over Iowa's Sammy Brooks. It was his third All-American finish in four years at Nebraska. Dudley is an interesting wrestler since he has good upper-body throws, but he can also scramble and funk on the ground. Both would serve him well if he transitioned into MMA. Plus, he is a long and lanky guy for the light heavyweight division much in the mold of former UFC champion Jon Jones.

Jim Koch retired from coaching in 2011 Jim Koch, long-time head wrestling coach at University of Wisconsin-Parkside until his retirement in 2011, remains in critical condition at a St. Louis hospital after being struck by a car while jogging Friday morning, Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV reported Monday. Koch was in St. Louis to attend the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. UW-Parkside Athletic Director Tamie Falk-Day told WTMJ the driver involved stayed on scene. The accident occurred while Koch was on his morning run. He reportedly suffered injuries to his head and back as a result of the impact, and was rushed to Saint Louis University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, according to the Racine Journal-Times. Koch, who took over Parkside's NCAA Division II wrestling program at the age of 23 in the fall of 1970, retired from Parkside in 2011 after 41 years as a coach. UPDATE 3/23/17: Sadly, Jim Koch passed away Thursday, March 23 from his injuries. To learn more: http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/18029

A Celebration of Life service will be held for Luverne "Coach" Klar, who wrestled in high school and college in Iowa, then coached in Minnesota. Klar died Saturday, March 11 in Mankato, Minn. at age 92. Luverne "Coach" KlarThe Celebration service will be held April 22 from 5-8 p.m. at the Loose Moose Saloon and Convention Center at 119 S. Front Street in downtown Mankato. "Everyone is invited to participate in Coach Klar's final practice," according to Klar's obituary, which offered an invitation for attendees to share stories and memories. Friends and family wishing to make memorial gifts are encouraged to honor Klar with contributions to the Coach Klar Memorial Fund. A private family service for Klar has already been held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mankato, followed by burial with military honors at Woodland Hills Memorial Park in Mankato. Born in Osage, Iowa in June 1922, Luverne Klar was introduced to the sport that became a long-time element of his life at Osage High School. He had an outstanding high school wrestling career under "Mitch" Mitchell, his high school coach, who guided Osage to undefeated seasons during Klar's four years as a member of the team. Klar, an Iowa high school state champ at 118 pounds as a senior in 1941, was a key member of the team that won the state team title in 1940 and state team runner-up in 1941. After serving in Japan during World War II, Klar enrolled at what was then called Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls in 1947. Wrestling for head coach Dave McCuskey, Klar counted some legendary wrestlers among his Panther teammates, including Keith Young, Bill Smith, Bill Nelson, Gerry Leeman, Russ Bush, and Bob Siddens (long-time Waterloo West High wrestling coach who can count among his wrestlers Dan Gable in the mid-1960s). The Panthers placed finished second in the 1949 NCAA tournament and were team champions in 1950. Klar was a two-time NCAA All-American, placing third at 136 pounds at the 1949 NCAAs, and fourth at 120 at the 1950 NCAAs held at the West Gym on the UNI campus. Upon graduation with a teaching degree in 1950, Klar first taught and coached wrestling at the Northern Iowa Campus School for one year, then headed north to Mankato to accept a teaching position at Mankato High School, coach the baseball team, and launch a wrestling program. During his 36 years at Mankato High -- later renamed Mankato West -- Klar coached the Scarlet to 359 dual meet wins, 158 losses, and 11 ties for a .690 winning percentage. His Mankato teams won a Minnesota state title in 1964, was runner-up six times, and placed among the top four teams a number of years at the state championships. In addition, Klar coached fifteen individual state champions. When he wasn't coaching, Klar taught Health, Physical Education, and Driver's Ed. In 1996, Klar was welcomed into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Cresco, Iowa which honors wrestlers, coaches and others involved in the sport who have roots in the state of Iowa. In addition, Klar is enshrined in the National Wresting Hall of Fame, and the Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Mankato West Hall of Fame in 2015.

Brandon Whitman (Photo/Sam Janicki) Three-time state champion Brandon Whitman (Dundee, Mich.) verbally committed to the University of North Carolina early Wednesday afternoon. He is ranked No. 9 nationally at 195 pounds, and No. 22 overall in the Class of 2018. The projected 197 pound wrestler in college place at the Super 32 Challenge this past fall and was a Junior National freestyle All-American during the summer of 2016, both of those coming at 195 pounds. He also represented the United States at 86 kilos in Greco-Roman at the UWW Cadet World Championships this past fall.