InterMat Staff

Can't make it to Rochester, Minnesota, this Saturday for the 2016 InterMat JJ Classic? You can catch all the action online. InterMat is not only providing live video streams of all the mats from the JJ Classic, but also recording every match and posting them live on the brackets via Trackcast. There will be a full production for the finals, which will include interviews with the 15 champions. Catch some of the nation's top high school wrestlers in action this Saturday. The tournament begins at 9 a.m. CT. Visit the

Q: When does 12 equal 10? A: When the Big 12 conference continues to have ten member schools ... rejecting the idea of expanding its membership after nearly three months of speculation. The idea of expanding the conference was introduced in July -- with the idea of adding two new members to return to a roster of 12 schools, or perhaps adding four members to increase to 14 -- and it ended Monday night at a press conference featuring Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby and University of Oklahoma president David Boren at the conclusion of all-day talks Monday. Big 12 conference officials held interviews in September with Air Force and Colorado State from the Mountain West; Central Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Houston, South Florida, SMU (Southern Methodist University) and Tulane from the American Athletic Conference; and BYU (Brigham Young University), which is a football independent with its other sports in the West Coast Conference. While the issue of adding new schools was driven by football, the Big 12 has a long legacy of success in wrestling going back decades (with conference member Oklahoma State No. 1 in the latest InterMat pre-season NCAA Division I rankings) ... with the possibility that a newly-expanded Big 12 might have had a positive impact on growing the sport at major universities that don't have intercollegiate wrestling programs. In fact, of the ten candidate schools interviewed, only Air Force currently has a Division I wrestling program ... and the Falcon wrestling program is already an affiliate member of the Big 12. In March 2016, Air Force competed in the Big 12 conference wrestling championships for the first time, along with fellow affiliate members North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Utah Valley, and Wyoming. These six wrestling programs that are new affiliate members of the Big 12 join the four full-fledged members of the conference that offer intercollegiate wrestling -- Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia -- for a total of ten wrestling programs competing at the Big 12 conference wrestling championships. With only four fully-affiliated Big 12 schools offering intercollegiate wrestling, that means six members of the conference do not offer intercollegiate wrestling: Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, TCU (Texas Christian), Texas and Texas Tech. Some of these schools -- including Kansas, Kansas State, and Texas -- once had Division I mat programs but have not offered intercollegiate wrestling in decades. Through much of the history of the NCAA Division I wrestling championships, Big 12 schools took home a large percentage of NCAA team trophies. From the first championships in 1928 through the mid-1970s, three Big 12 schools -- Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and Iowa State -- took home the lion's share of NCAA team titles. However, in the past 40 years or so, most NCAA team titles have been won by Big Ten schools, including Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, and Ohio State. The last Big 12 program to be crowned NCAA team champs: Oklahoma State, in 2006.

Brady Berge was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Super 32 Challenge (Photo/Rob Preston) The 2016 edition of the Super 32 Challenge happened this past Saturday and Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. Yet again the field was smattered with elite wrestlers at the top, along with a high quality and quantity of depth throughout the field. The gauntlet of competition that wrestlers have to navigate in order to win and place in this tournament is extremely impressive; heck, just making it to the second day is a genuine battle. Furthermore, it is impressive to see how well run and efficient the event is. Here are a few points of highlight and discussion from the weekend that was. Most Outstanding Wrestler Award The tournament selected an Outstanding Wrestler for a fourth year. In previous years, the high school division Most Outstanding Wrestler went to Spencer Lee (2013), Yianni Diakomihalis (2014), and Nick Suriano (2015). With that being said, the selected wrestler should be among the best in the country and one who had multiple quality wins during the course of the tournament. This year's OW was Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), champion of the 152-pound weight class. Berge is ranked No. 9 overall in the Class of 2017, the second highest ranked senior wrestler that competed in the tournament this year. In addition, his path to the title included a pair of wins over fellow top 50 ranked seniors: 10-6 over No. 43 Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook, N.J.) in the semifinal and 5-3 over No. 20 Quentin Hovis (Poway, Calif.) in the championship bout. Two other wins of note were a 10-3 win in the quarterfinal over Cadet National double champion Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown, Md.) and a 9-4 round of 16 win over National Prep placer Bailey Thomas (Good Counsel, Md.) That being said, there were a litany of other champions that impressed over the course of the weekend. Repeat champions A pair of wrestlers won weight class titles in the high school division for a second straight year. Adam Busiello (Eastport-South Manor, N.Y.) won the title at 113 pounds, while Joey Silva (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) won the title at 126. It is a fifth straight Super 32 title for Busiello, as the No. 8 overall wrestler in the Class of 2019, also won middle school division titles from 2012-2014. For Silva, ranked No. 21 in the Class of 2018, he beat Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township, Pa.) in the championship bout for a second straight year; on this occasion he beat the No. 37 overall senior 7-2. During the course of the tournament, Busiello had the following wins over credentialed opposition: pin in 3:09 over state champion Trey Lane (Brandon, Fla.), 11-2 major decision over Cadet freestyle All-American Dylan Shawver (Elyria, Ohio), 16-1 technical fall over two-time state champion Joe Thomas (South Carroll, Md.), 10-2 major decision over state champion and Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Joseph Harrison (Omaha Burke, Neb.) in the semifinal, and then a 5-2 finals victory over No. 12 overall freshman Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) In addition to his victory in the championship bout noted above, Silva had the following wins over credentialed opposition: pin in 2:26 over state medalist Ethan Smiley (Beech Grove, Ind.), pin in 4:56 over two-time state medalist Weston DiBlasi (Park Hill, Mo.), 11-6 quarterfinal decision over Junior freestyle All-American and three-time state medalist Dan Moran (Northampton, Pa.), along with a 14-7 semifinal decision over two-time state medalist Isaiah Perez (Dinuba, Calif.) The flagship wrestler Probably the most talented wrestler in the whole tournament was Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.), the No. 3 overall senior and a Cadet World freestyle silver medalist last month. He was the basically unchallenged champion of the 132-pound weight class. The most notable win being an 11-4 domination of now three-time Super 32 Challenge placer Mitch Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) in the championship match; Moore is ranked as the No. 12 overall junior. Other wins of note included a 13-4 major decision over two-time state runner-up Cal Hansen (Deerfield, Wis.); a 14-0 major decision over state champion Kevon Davenport (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.), a Cadet freestyle All-American ranked No. 37 overall in the sophomore class; 3-0 in the quarterfinal over two-time state placer Zack Donathan (Mason, Ohio), also a placer at the FloNationals; and a 12-4 major decision over three-time state third place finisher Breyden Bailey (Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.) in the semifinal. The most dominant wrestler If there was an award for the tournament's most dominant wrestler, there would be zero debate. It would go to 138-pound champion Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.), who won all seven of his bouts by bonus point margins. It included two technical falls to open the tournament, three major decisions (including the quarterfinal and final), along with pins in the round of 16 and semifinal. Last year, Sasso placed third in this tournament at 132 pounds, losing just to Yianni Diakomihalis (you might have heard of him!) in the semifinal round. Since then, he was champion at the FloNationals (his third placement in that event), runner-up to Arujau at the UWW Cadet National freestyle tournament, and a Cadet National freestyle runner-up (which made him a two-time Cadet National double All-American). Sasso is currently ranked No. 9 overall in the Class of 2018. All three major decisions came against state champions: 18-6 over Alex Rivera (Smithville, Mo.) in the round of 32; 11-3 over Nate Keim (Collinsville, Okla.) in the state final, though three-time state placer Keim won his title in 2015; and 15-1 over Jake Bergeland (Centennial, Minn.). The pair of pins came against wrestlers that placed third in the big-school division of power state tournaments last season; Luke Kemerer (Hempfield Area, Pa.) and Corey Shie (LaSalle, Ohio). Stock up: ran the gauntlet If one was to assess the champions based solely on the credentials of the opposition they faced, the championship journey through the 195-pound weight class by John Borst (Sherando, Va.) would have to be the most impressive. On Sunday, Borst beat a trio of elite wrestlers to earn the belt. In the quarterfinal it was a 7-2 decision over Andrew Davison (Chesterton, Mich.), who is ranked No. 61 overall in the senior class; Davison is also a Junior National double All-American from Fargo and a Junior folkstyle national champion. In the semifinal it was a 14-9 decision over Jacob Raschka (Pewaukee, Wis.), who is ranked No. 53 overall in the senior class; Raschka was state champion this past season, a FloNationals placer, and a 2015 Cadet National freestyle champion. The championship bout was a 4-3 victory over state champion and FloNationals placer Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.), ranked No. 26 overall in the Class of 2018.

The 2016 edition of the Super 32 Challenge came to a conclusion on Sunday evening. Here were the results for all of the medal matches. 106 pounds 1st: Antonio Lorenzo (Del Oro, Calif.) decision Greg Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) 1-0 3rd: Brandon Kaylor (Bonney Lake, Wash.) decision Lucas Byrd (LaSalle, Ohio) 6-1 5th: Ryan Chauvin (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) decision Elijah Varona (South Dade, Fla.) 5-3 7th: Logan Agin (Lancaster, Ohio) decision Cody Craig (Skowhegan, Maine) 7-6 113 pounds 1st: Adam Busiello (Eastport-South Manor, N.Y.) decision Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) 5-2 3rd: Patrick McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) decision Antonio Mininno (Gateway Regional, N.J.) 4-3 5th: Logan Macri (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) over Joseph Harrison (Omaha Burke, Neb.) by forfeit 7th: Ben Kamali (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) decision Matthew Cardello (CVCA, Ohio) 5-3 120 pounds 1st: Patrick Glory (Delbarton, N.J.) decision Andrew Alirez (Greeley Central, Colo.) 4-2 3rd: Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa.) decision Jakob Camacho (Danbury, Ct.) 4-2, overtime 5th: Joshua Saunders (Christian Brothers, Mo.) decision Killan Cardinale (Patriot, Va.) 3-1 7th: Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) over Connor McGonagle (Timberlane, N.H.) by fofeit 126 pounds 1st: Joey Silva (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) decision Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township, Pa.) 7-2 3rd: Jacori Teemer (Long Beach, N.Y.) decision Isaiah Perez (Dinuba, Calif.) 5-3, tiebreaker 5th: Alex Thomsen (Underwood, Iowa) decision Rylee Molitor (Sartell-St. Stephen, Minn.) 9-4 7th: K.J. Fenstermacher (Northampton, Pa.) over Weston DiBlasi (Park Hill, Mo.) by forfeit 132 pounds 1st: Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) decision Mitch Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) 11-4 3rd: Brandon Courtney (Athens, Pa.) decision Breyden Bailey (Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.) 4-2 5th: Devin Schwartzkopf (Francis Howell Central, Mo.) over Zach Trampe (Council Rock South, Pa.) by disqualification 7th: Grant Willits (Pueblo County, Colo.) decision Francisco Valdes (Miami Southwest, Fla.) 6-2 138 pounds 1st: Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.) major decision Jake Bergeland (Centennial, Minn.) 15-1 3rd: Corey Shie (LaSalle, Ohio) pin Grant Aronoff (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fla.) 0:29 5th: Ryan Vulakh (North Penn, Pa.) decision Colin Cronin (Upper Darby, Pa.) 3-2 7th: Jake Silverstein (Hauppauge, N.Y.) decision Jake Martinez (Licking Valley, Ohio) 3-1 145 pounds 1st: Jarod Verkleeren (Hempfield Area, Pa.) decision Josiah Rider (Grand Junction, Colo.) 5-2 3rd: Brayton Lee (Brownsburg, Ind.) decision Justin Ruffin (Union Grove, Ga.) 5-1 5th: Connor Brady (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio) major decision Joe Lee (Evansville Mater Dei, Ind.) 11-3 7th: Joe Blumer (Kiski Area, Pa.) decision Peter Pappas (Plainview JFK, N.Y.) 7-6 152 pounds 1st: Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) decision Quentin Hovis (Poway, Calif.) 5-3 3rd: Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook, N.J.) decision Jaden Mattox (Grove City Central Crossing, Ohio) 8-5 5th: Austin O'Connor (St. Rita, Ill.) decision Hunter Willits (Pueblo County, Colo.) 3-2 7th: Erich Byelick (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) decision Nathan Atienza (Livonia Franklin, Mich.) 4-1 160 pounds 1st: Kyle Cochran (Paramus, N.J.) decision Emille Shannon (Christian Brothers, Mo.) 2-2, tiebreaker rideout 3rd: Trent Hidlay (Miffin County, Pa.) decision Brad Loughlin (Yorktown, Pa.) 3-1, overtime 5th: Chris Foca (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) pin Mekhi Lewis (Bound Brook, N.J.) 1:00 7th: Tristan Brady (Elyria, Ohio) decision Skitch Light (Central Dauphin, Pa.) 1-0 170 pounds 1st: Bryce Rogers (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) decision Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) 7-3 3rd: Ethan Smith (Sparrows Point, Md.) decision Bryce McLaughlin (Woodbridge, N.J.) 6-4, overtime 5th: Myles Wilson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) over Anthony Mantanona (Palm Desert, Calif.) by forfeit 7th: Emil Soehnlen (Massillon Perry, Ohio) pin George Walton (Bound Brook, N.J.) 4:14 182 pounds 1st: Louie Deprez (Hilton, N.Y.) decision Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park, Pa.) 6-0 3rd: Drew Peck (Chambersburg, Pa.) decision Jelani Embree (Warren Lincoln, Mich.) 2-1 5th: Khamari Whimper (Baylor School, Tenn.) decision Matthew Waddell (Gilmer, Ga.) 5-2 7th: Kendall Elfstrum (Monroe Woodbury, N.Y.) decision Clifton Wang (Edgemont, N.Y.) 4-3 195 pounds 1st: John Borst (Sherando, Va.) decision Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.) 4-3 3rd: Andrew Davison (Chesterton, Ind.) decision Daniel Kerkvleit (Simley, Minn.) 6-2 5th: Brandon Whitman (Dundee, Mich.) pin Jacob Rashcka (Pewaukee, Wis.) 3:21 7th: Jake Woodley (North Allegheny, Pa.) major decision Joe Doyle (Council Rock South, Pa.) 11-2 220 pounds 1st: Brian Kennerly (Upper Darby, Pa.) decision Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt, Pa.) 5-4, tiebreaker 3rd: Ryan Vasbinder (Byron Center, Mich.) decision Peter Acciardi (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.) 6-0 5th: Eric Keosseian (Howell, N.J.) decision Joe Soreco (DePaul Catholic, N.J.) 3-1 7th: Diata Drayton (Marist, Ill.) decision Jeffrey Allen (Amherst County, Va.) 7-3 285 pounds 1st: Brendan Furman (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) decision Sammy deSeriere (Mullen, Colo.) 3-1 3rd: Zach Muller (Downers Grove South, Ill.) pin Mansur Abdul-Malik (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) 2:52 5th: Keaton Kluever (Kaukauna, Wis.) decision Michael Kramer (Wilson Central, Tenn.) 6-2 7th: Blake Zalapi (Hononegah, Ill.) pin Paul Robinson (Bremen, Ga.) 1:53 Outstanding Wrestler: Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), 152 pound champion

Junior National freestyle runner-up Anthony Cassioppi (Hononegah, Ill.) verbally committed to Northwestern University late on Tuesday afternoon for the Class of 2018. The No. 35 overall junior nationally placed third at state as a sophomore at 285 pounds, and has been on fire since then. Going in order of events, he won by styles at the UWW Cadet Nationals, he was undefeated at the AAU Scholastic Duals, he was undefeated in freestyle at the Junior National Duals, and was also third place in Junior Greco-Roman prior to the Junior freestyle runner-up finish. Cassioppi was also third in both styles competing at the Cadet level at 285 pounds during the summer of 2015. In addition, he plays both ways on the varsity of his high school football team, and is a high-level boxer and kickboxer for his age group. He projects to compete at 285 pounds in college.

Spencer Trenary claimed a Cadet National Greco-Roman title in Fargo (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) Spencer Trenary (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Iowa), a Cadet National Greco-Roman champion, has registered for the InterMat JJ Classic at heavyweight. Trenary was a top-three finisher in all three styles at Cadet Nationals this year. He was a runner-up in the Cadet National folkstyle competition in April, and then earned double All-American honors in Fargo, claiming the Greco-Roman title and finishing third in freestyle. Trenary was a state placewinner as a freshman heavyweight in Iowa's Class 2A. He was also a state champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman this year. The 2016 InterMat JJ Classic takes place on Saturday, Oct. 22, in Rochester, Minnesota. For more information on the InterMat JJ Classic and to register, visit the event website.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sun Devil wrestling alum ('65) and long-time program supporter Art Martori will receive the 2016 Alumni Service Award as part of annual homecoming festivities. His contributions to the sport, especially at Arizona State, span over five decades. Art Martori"Art's vision and impact have made a large impact on the sport of wrestling. His knowledge, broad perspectives, and personal standards have been invaluable for Sun Devil wrestling and for student-athletes," says head coach Zeke Jones. Martori previously served as President of USA Wrestling (1992-94) during which the team won its first World team title in freestyle wrestling and U.S. Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team Leader. As a student-athlete, he won the Western Athletic Conference title in 1965. He is a member of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and was awarded the Gold Star by FILA, the international governing body of wrestling. In order to give back to up-and-coming young wrestlers, Martori started Sunkist Kids in 1976 to give opportunities, resources, and funding for U.S. Olympic hopefuls. "Sun Devil wrestling is privileged to count Art Martori among our friends, and we are proud to count him among our alumni. He helps to provide well-prepared student-athletes and to inspire competitors of character. Art sets the bar high and motivates others to reach higher still," Jones continues. The Alumni Service Award recognizes distinguished, exemplary, and extraordinary service to Arizona State University and the Alumni Association by an alumnus/alumna. The award will be presented during halftime at ASU's Homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 22 vs. Washington State at 7 p.m.

Eric Akin competed in Real Pro Wrestling (Photo/Danielle Hobeika) Eric Akin will be the exclusive guest on this week's edition of the On the Mat wrestling broadcast on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Akin was a four-time NCAA All-American for Iowa State who is now the owner of East Kansas Wrestling Club. On the Mat is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday at 5 p.m. Central on AM 1650, The Fan. A podcast of the show is available on mattalkonline.com.

Max Rohskopf defeated Nebraska's Austin Wilson in a dual meet last season (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) MANHEIM, Pa. -- With the nation's top wrestlers on display, there will be plenty for Ohio wrestling fans to cheer about at the 51st annual NWCA All-Star Classic on November 5 at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center. NC State's Max Rohskopf becomes the fourth wrestler with Ohio ties set to participate. The Wolfpack senior moves down to a new weight class this year and he'll tangle with 2015 All-American Brian Murphy of Michigan. The event, presented by The Brewer-Garrett Company and hosted by the Wrestlers in Business Network, has served as the major kick-off event for the wrestling season since becoming and early-season event. In 2012, the event moved to the first weekend of the major college wrestling calendar and has been a fixture ever since. This is Rohskopf's second straight appearance in the event. He topped Oklahoma's Clark Glass 9-2 in last year's event in Atlanta. "You've got two very dynamic wrestlers here," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "Rohskopf's got length and leverage while Murphy's an outstanding athlete. We know the Ohio fans will like to see another native in the event, although I don't think it would matter much in terms of who to root for because Murphy's from 'that state up north'." Both wrestlers missed placing at the 2016 NCAA Division I championships. Rohskopf, a big part of NC State's stellar 2015-16 season, entered as the No. 5 seed at 165 pounds but was upset early and bounced from the tournament and finished 1-2. Murphy, who was saddled with injuries for much of the season, reached the NCAA quarterfinals before falling to Kent State's Ian Miller. In the consolations, Murphy's bid to repeat at 157 pounds as an All-American was ended by Rohskopf's teammate, Tommy Gantt. A native of Killbuck, Ohio, Rohskopf went 16-4 last season and enters the All-Star Classic with a 49-33 overall record. He's a two-time NCAA qualifier. Murphy is a three-time NCAA qualifier. He placed seventh as a sophomore and enters the event with a 59-30 career record. Murphy hails from Carol Stream, Illinois and wrestled at national powerhouse Glenbard North. A four-time state placewinner and three-time finalist, he was also a four-time All-American in Fargo, winning the Cadet freestyle national championship in 2010. The two have not met in college. Rohskopf's latest appearance will be the 11th all-time at the All-Star Classic by Wolfpack wrestlers and they hold a 4-6 all-time record. Murphy will make Michigan's 37th appearance. Wolverine wrestlers are 15-18-3 all-time and have never lost a match by more than a decision. 2016 NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by The Brewer-Garrett Company Hosted by the Wrestlers in Business Network November 5, 2016 - Wolstein Center, Cleveland State University Time: Showcase Matches 6 p.m.; Main Event 7 p.m. Tickets: $15 GA, $100 Preferred Seating/Social. Group options available. Tickets available at www.goallstarclassic.com or Wolstein Center Box Office ( 844-407-2279) or Northeast Ohio Discount Drug Marts. Streaming: Trackwrestling.com Officially Announced Matchups 125: 133: Zane Richards, Sr. (Illinois) vs. Eric Montoya, Sr. (Nebraska) 141: 149: 157: Brian Murphy, Sr. (Michigan) vs. Max Rohskopf, Sr. (NC State) 165: Isaac Jordan, Sr. (Wisconsin) vs. Daniel Lewis, So. (Missouri) 174: 184: Gabe Dean, Sr. (Cornell) vs. Myles Martin, So. (Ohio State) 197: Brett Pfarr, Sr. (Minnesota) vs. Brett Harner, Sr. (Princeton) 285: Ty Walz, Sr. (Virginia Tech) vs. Connor Medbery, Sr. (Wisconsin) About the National Wrestling Coaches Association The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: coaching development, student-athlete welfare, and the promotion of wrestling. About Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN) Wrestlers in Business Network is a registered 501 C-3 that strives to unite the thousands of wrestlers that have graduated from the sport and are now in their respective careers. Our mission is to build a community that serves as a platform to connect our members and facilitate business and job opportunities across the nation by leveraging a talent rich pipeline of wrestling alumni, with the ultimate byproduct of increasing reinvestment back to the sport. http://www.wrestlersinbusiness.org

Graham Wrestling Training Center Say "wrestling room" and many will immediately picture a dark, dank room deep in the basement of a gym ... a cramped, tight space with so little actual wrestling practice area, athletes spend more time fighting for workout space than actually working out. The new wrestling training facility at Bucknell University -- officially dedicated this week -- is none of those things. It's spacious, bright and airy, with huge windows letting in natural light ... and advanced features and plenty of space for the mat Bison to maintain top condition. It features a 50-foot-by-100-foot mat room providing enough space for 36 wrestlers to grapple simultaneously in 18 circles, as well as a fitness area with weight benches and exercise equipment. Next to the mat room are a weigh-in area, coaches' offices, team room and a glass-walled trainer's office with hydrotherapy and ice baths, which allows coaches to keep an eye on recuperating wrestlers. Bison head wrestling coach Dan Wirnsberger said it's "the best wrestling-specific training facility in the country." Assistant coach Kevin LeValley described the new room as "state of the art." One of the facility's most intriguing, high-tech features: a camera system mounted in the ceiling above the mats, which provides instant-replay capability via monitors along the walls, allowing wrestlers to observe and adjust their technique in near-real time. "The cameras in the wrestling room are going to be awesome," said Victor Lopez, captain of the Bison wrestling team. "It's easier to learn by watching yourself than by having someone else tell you what to do." In addition, the new wrestling center also features coaches' offices, team study area ... and, for the first time, specially designated locker rooms for the Bucknell wrestlers. (No more having to share with users of the campus fitness facility.) These impressive new facilities that comprise the new Graham Wrestling Center are located, appropriately enough, on the second floor of the brand-new Graham Building on the Bucknell campus in Lewisburg, Pa. Named in honor of lead donor and former Bison wrestler William "Bill" A. Graham IV, Chairman and CEO of The Graham Company, and 1962 Bucknell graduate, the new building is intended to serve as a resource to the entire campus. The first floor is the new home for Bucknell Student Health, the Counseling and Student Development Center, Bucknell Nutrition, Physical Therapy, and the Be Well Program. The entire 36,000 square foot structure was built at a cost of $12 million. Most of the facilities were opened in August. However, the official dedication of the Graham Building took place this past week. In addition to Bill Graham and his wife Frances, other dignitaries at the dedication included 1972 Olympic gold medalist and retired University of Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable, retired Bucknell coach Bob Ferraro, and Michael Moyer, chief of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. "Bucknell helped me develop into the person I am, and I think it's important to try to pay back a small part of what you've gotten from an institution," said Graham, a four-year wrestler who was captain of the Bucknell mat squad in 1961. "I think it's important to give back after all I've taken away, and I think more people should do that." Graham was also instrumental in bringing wrestling back after Bucknell dropped the program in 2001, and the new wrestling and wellness complex is his second major gift in just over a decade. A prior gift of approximately $8 million led to the installation of Graham Field for field hockey and women's lacrosse, created an endowment to support women's varsity sports -- primarily women's crew -- and allowed the wrestling program to regain varsity status in 2006-07. Graham's latest gift for the new building named in his honor totals more than $7 million. Bucknell University is a private liberal arts school located in central Pennsylvania. Founded in 1846, the school has a total enrollment of approximately 3,600 students. The Bison wrestling program and other Bucknell sports teams compete in NCAA Division I. Video

Cornell College will open its wrestling season in the great outdoors, as Iowa-based school will host cross-state rival Simpson College on its football field early next month. Ash Park StadiumThe dual meet will be held under the lights at Ash Park Stadium on Cornell's Mt. Vernon campus on Thursday, Nov. 3 starting at 6:30 p.m. "We wanted to do something a little different and create more fan interest for our wrestling program," Cornell Coach Mike Duroe said. "We want to put our guys on a big stage that will attract some attention. From my perspective, we have a great product to promote and our guys deserve an opportunity to wrestle in front of a big crowd." The wrestling mat will be centered on the 50-yard line of the south side of the football field, closest to the home grandstands. In case of precipitation or cold temperatures, the meet will be moved into the Small Multi-Sport Center on the Cornell campus. The Cornell-Simpson outdoor dual follows in the footsteps of other college wrestling events held outside a gym or arena, including last November's Iowa vs. Oklahoma State's Grapple on the Gridiron held outside at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City a few miles south of the Cornell campus which shattered the dual-meet attendance record. Other schools have conducted dual meets on the stage of on-campus theaters. In fact, Cornell has participated in at least two of these events hosted by Simpson and Illinois' Millikin University. "Ever since I've been here, we've talked about hosting a meet in (Cornell's) King Chapel. But we just don't have enough space," Duroe said. "We decided to move the meet outdoors under the lights." To encourage fans to pack the stands, Cornell will offer free admission to eastern Iowa wrestling programs. Cornell College is a private, four-year school located about a half-hour from Iowa City and Cedar Rapids in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. The school owns a place in the history books as the smallest school to ever win an NCAA wrestling team title (at the 1947 NCAAs), with an enrollment at the time of approximately 700 students, before today's three-division system was established. Simpson is known as the alma mater of Nick Ackerman, a double-leg amputee who won the 2001 NCAA Division III title at 197 pounds, and was named co-winner of the Hodge Trophy (along with Iowa State's Cael Sanderson) presented each year to the nation's top collegiate wrestler. Both schools' wrestling programs now compete in NCAA Division III.

Adam Busiello defeated Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) in the Super 32 Challenge finals (Photo/Rob Preston) GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The nation's best scholastic age folkstyle tournament came to its conclusion on Sunday afternoon from Greensboro, N.C. A pair of wrestlers repeated as champions at the Super 32 Challenge. Adam Busiello (Eastport-South Manor, N.Y.) won at 113 pounds, while Joey Silva (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) earned a championship at 126 pounds. Busiello, who won this event last year as a freshman at 106 pounds, was also champion in the middle school tournament from 2012-2014. He opened the tournament with a pair of pins before earning an 11-2 major decision over Cadet freestyle All-American Dylan Shawver (Elyria, Ohio) in the round of 32. It was a technical fall and a pin before his 10-2 major decision victory over Joey Harrison (Omaha Burke, Neb.), a Junior Greco-Roman runner-up last summer, in the semifinal. Busiello upended freshman phenom Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), who is ranked No. 12 overall in the Class of 2020, by 5-2 decision in the final. The two-time champion had a takedown in the first period and near fall in the second, before a garbage time takedown by Howard shrunk the final margin. Silva, last year's 120 pound champion, advanced to Sunday's quarterfinal round with a technical fall in the opening round and then a trio of pins. In the quarterfinal, it was an 11-6 victory over Junior National freestyle All-American Dan Moran (Northampton, Pa.). The semifinal match was a 14-7 victory over two-time state placer Isaiah Perez (Dinuba, Calif.). As a result, it led to a finals rematch for the No. 21 overall Class of 2018 prospect against Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township, Pa.). This year's bout was much less competitive, as Silva totally dominated the No. 37 overall Class of 2017 prospect by a 7-2 score. Silva scored three takedowns, one in the first period and then a pair in the third period. Even with those two underclassmen being the shining stars, it was still a senior dominated championship round. Nine of the fourteen weight classes were won by seniors, including six by top 100 wrestlers from the Class of 2017. Three of these nine beat a pair of top 100 seniors on the way to their championships: Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), who is ranked No. 9 in the Class of 2017, won the title at 152 pounds; Bryce Rogers (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), ranked No. 64, won the title at 170; while John Borst (Sherando, Va.) won the 195 title. Though all but one of Berge's seven wins came by decision, he was not truly challenged in any of them. The three victories on Sunday were rather notable. In the quarterfinal, he beat Cadet National double champion Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown, Md.) 10-3; then he beat Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook, N.J.), the No. 43 overall senior, by 10-6 decision in the semifinal. This set up a finals match against No. 20 overall senior Quentin Hovis (Poway, Calif.), after Hovis upset No. 11 overall Austin O'Connor (St. Rita, Ill.) by 5-3 decision in the other semifinal. Berge beat Hovis 5-3 in the championship match, with single takedowns in the second and third periods being the determining factor. Rogers needed a late takedown to beat state champion Myles Wilson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 4-3 in the quarterfinal round. However, he was absolutely on fire in a 10-3 semifinal victory over returning Super 32 placer Anthony Mantanona (Palm Desert, Calif.); Mantanona is ranked No. 32 overall in the Class of 2017. This would lead to a finals showdown against Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.), the nation's No. 30 overall senior, and also a returning Super 32 placer; Allar rallied to beat fellow returning Super 32 placer Ethan Smith (Sparrows Point, Md.), the No. 73 overall senior, 7-5 in overtime in his semifinal. The championship match at 170 had a scoreless first period. However, Rogers would use a late second period takedown to take a 2-1 advantage. Then an escape followed by a pair of third period takedowns gave the Brown commit a 7-3 championship victory. Junior National freestyle runner-up Borst, also a two-time state champion and NHSCA Junior champion, used two pins sandwiched by a major decision to reach the Sunday morning quarterfinal round. The Virginia Tech commit would advance to the final with a pair of wins over top 100 seniors: 7-2 over No. 61 Andrew Davison (Chesterton, Ind.) in the quarterfinal, before a 14-9 victory over No. 53 Jacob Raschka (Pewaukee, Wis.) in the semifinal. The championship match was an absolute barn-burner against returning Super 32 placer and Flo Nationals placer Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.), the nation's No. 26 overall junior. Borst would score the match's only two takedowns, one each in the first and second period. In what was a match with many scrambles and exchanges, the last exchange saw Hoffman have a takedown that was subsequently waved off right before time was up. Borst won the bout 4-3. Four additional top 100 seniors won championships on Sunday afternoon. No. 3 Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) at 132 pounds, No. 24 Jarod Verkleeren (Hempfield Area, Pa.) at 145, No. 56 Kyle Cochran (Paramus, N.J.) at 160, and No. 18 Louie Deprez (Hilton, N.Y.) at 182. Arujau beat Mitch Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) by 11-4 decision in the championship bout. It was a third Super 32 Challenge placement for Moore, who is ranked No. 12 overall in the Class of 2018. Arujau, a Cadet World freestyle silver medalist last month, scored takedowns in each period to propel himself to the victory. Verkleeren beat Josiah Rider (Grand Junction, Colo.) by 5-2 decision in his championship bout. For Rider, it was a second Super 32 Challenge placement for the No. 40 overall junior. Verkleeren, a Cadet World freestyle champion last year, scored takedowns in the second and third period to earn his victory. Cochran beat Emille Shannon (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) by a 2-2 score with a rideout in the tiebreaker for his championship final. Shannon beat another New Jersey state champion Mekhi Lewis (Bound Brook) by a 3-2 score with an escape in the tiebreak period during the semifinal. Cochran won state two weights above Lewis last year, and was also a NHSCA Junior National champion. In this match, he had no takedowns but used two escapes and a second period rideout to tie the bout. Despite the lack of scoring, it wasn't for the lack of offense and opportunities. Deprez upended Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park, Pa.) 6-0 in a rematch of last year's semifinal bout down a weight at 170 pounds, Deprez earned a 1-0 victory on that occasion. In this finals match, it was a takedown and a turn in the first period that were the decisive points to beat the No. 21 overall senior - and Flo Nationals champion - Bonaccorsi. Other seniors to win weight class titles at the Super 32 were Brian Kennerly (Upper Darby, Pa.) at 220 pounds and Brendan Furman (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) at 285. Kennerly was a total Cinderella in this tournament, having only a state qualification on the resume. His big victory was a 4-3 upset over Junior National double All-American Jeffrey Allen (Amherst County, Va.) in the quarterfinal. For his championship match, it was a 5-4 victory over returning Super 32 placer Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt, Pa.) in the tiebreaker. Furman, yet to make the state tournament in his high school career dominated returning Super 32 placer Mansur Abdul-Malik (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) 10-3 in the semifinal. Then it was a 3-1 victory over state champion Sammy de Seriere Mullen, Colo.) on a very late takedown in the championship bout. Rounding out the weight class champions were Antonio Lorenzo (Del Oro, Calif.) at 106 pounds, Patrick Glory (Delbarton, N.J.) at 120, and Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.) at 138. Lorenzo, who placed seventh in California at 106 pounds last year as a freshman, beat Greg Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) 1-0 in the finals bout. He rode out Diakomihalis in the second period, then scored an escape in the third period; Diakomihalis was a high school state champion at 99 pounds last year as an eighth grader, and also a Cadet freestyle All-American. Glory, ranked No. 49 in the Class of 2018, was runner-up in this tournament last year and is a two-time state runner-up. He started the Super 32 with four pins before a 6-2 decision over state champion Cameron Valdiviez (Rockhurst, Mo.) in the round of 16. He started today's run with a 7-4 quarterfinal victory over Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa.), a state champion and the No. 5 overall wrestler in the Class of 2019. In the championship match, Glory upended Andrew Alirez (Greeley Central, Colo.) by a 4-2 decision. Alirez, ranked No. 17 in the Class of 2019, scored the match opening takedown and had a 2-1 lead after one period. With the match tied 2-2 to start the third period, Alirez chose the neutral position. Glory scored a very early takedown in the third period, and rode Alirez for the duration. Sasso, ranked No. 9 overall in the Class of 2018, was in total beast mode throughout this tournament. Saturday started with a pair of technical falls before a pair of major decisions, those coming against state champion Alex Rivera (Smithville, Mo.) and fellow state third place finisher Luke Kemerer (Hempfield Area, Pa.) Sunday started with an 11-3 major decision over 2015 state champion Nate Keim (Collinsville, Okla.) in the quarterfinal before a pin in 1:31 over two-time state medalist and returning Super 32 placer Corey Shie (LaSalle, Ohio) to advance to the final. The championship match was total domination, a 15-1 major decision over state champion Jake Bergeland (Centennial, Minn.), who otherwise had a terrific tournament.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The quarterfinals at the Super 32 Challenge start on Sunday at 8 a.m. ET. Winners of these matches are in the semis and guaranteed top six placement, while those who lose need to win their subsequent match in consolation to place top eight. Below are the pairings. 106 pounds: Cody Craig (Skowhegan, Maine) vs. Greg Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) Ryan Chauvin (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. Brendan Kaylor (Bonney Lake, Wash.) Lucas Byrd (LaSalle, Ohio) vs. Elijah Varona (South Dade, Fla.) Antonio Lorenzo (Del Oro, Calif.) vs. Sammy Alvarez (St. Joseph Montvale, N.J.) 113 pounds: Adam Busiello (Eastport-South Manor, N.Y.) vs. Adam Mininno (Gateway, N.J.) Matthew Cardello (CVCA, Ohio) vs. Joseph Harrison (Omaha Burke, Neb.) Logan Macri (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) vs. Ben Kamali (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) vs. Coltan Yapoujian (Pomona, Colo.) 120 pounds: Jakob Camacho (Danbury, Ct.) vs. Joshua Saunders (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) Andrew Alirez (Greeley Central, Colo.) vs. Connor McGonagle (Timberlane, N.H.) Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa.) vs. Patrick Glory (Delbarton, N.J.) Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) vs. Killan Cardinale (Patriot, Va.) 126 pounds: Jake Silva (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. Dan Moran (Northampton, Pa.) Colin Valdiviez (Rockhurst, Mo.) vs. Isaiah Perez (Dinuba, Calif.) Jacori Teemer (Long Beach, N.Y.) vs. Shane Metzler (West Morris Central, N.J.) Elan Heard (LaSalle, Ohio) vs. Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township, Pa.) 132 pounds: Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) vs. Zack Donathan (Mason, Ohio) John Burger (New Milford, N.J.) vs. Breyden Bailey (Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.) Brian Courtney (Athens Area, Pa.) vs. Francisco Valdes (Miami Southwest, Fla.) Zach Trampe (Council Rock South, Pa.) vs. Mitch Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) 138 pounds: Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.) vs. Nate Keim (Collinsville, Okla.) Robert Cleary (Bound Brook, N.J.) vs. Corey Shie (LaSalle, Ohio) Josh Humphreys (St. Alban's, W.Va.) vs. Colin Cronin (Upper Darby, Pa.) Jake Bergeland (Centennial, Minn.) vs. Chris Sandoval (Windsor, Colo.) 145 pounds: Joe Lee (Evansville Mater Dei, Ind.) vs. Connor Brady (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio) Peter Pappas (Plainview JFK, N.Y.) vs. Josiah Rider (Grand Junction, Colo.) Brayton Lee (Brownsburg, Ind.) vs. Denton Spencer (Camden County, Ga.) Ryan Leisure (Clear Lake, Iowa) vs. Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area, Pa.) 152 pounds: Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) vs. Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown, Md.) Jaden Mattox (Grove City Central Crossing, Ohio) vs. Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook, N.J.) Quentin Hovis (Poway, Calif.) vs. Matthew Grippi (Fox Lane, N.Y.) Hunter Willits (Pueblo County, Colo.) vs. Austin O'Connor (St. Rita, Ill.) 160 pounds: Mekhi Lewis (Bound Brook, N.J.) vs. Isaiah Johnson (A.L. Brown, N.C.) Emille Shannon (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) vs. Sammy Cokeley (St. James Academy, Kansas) Trent Hidlay (Mifflin County, Pa.) vs. Brad Loughlin (Yorktown, Ind.) Dale Tiongson (St. Paul's, Md.) vs. Kyle Cochran (Paramus, N.J.) 170 pounds: Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) vs. Ashton Eyler (Claymont, Ohio) Zach Ancewicz (John Glenn, N.Y.) vs. Ethan Smith (Sparrows Point, Md.) Bryce Rogers (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. Myles Wilson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) George Walton (Bound Brook, N.J.) vs. Anthony Mantanona (Palm Desert, Calif.) 182 pounds: Louie Deprez (Hilton, N.Y.) vs. Kaden Russell (St. Ignatius, Ohio) Drew Peck (Chambersburg, Pa.) vs. Matthew Waddell (Gilmer, Ga.) Jelani Embree (Warren Lincoln, Mich.) vs. Lucas Davison (Chesterton, Ind.) Khamari Whimper (Baylor School, Tenn.) vs. Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park, Pa.) 195 pounds: Brandon Whitman (Dundee, Mich.) vs. Daniel Kerkvleit (Simley, Minn.) Jake Woodley (North Allgeheny, Pa.) vs. Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.) Andrew Davison (Chesterton, Ind.) vs. John Borst (Sherando, Va.) Noah Bushman (Cave Spring, Va.) vs. Jacob Raschka (Pewaukee, Wis.) 220 pounds: Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt, Pa.) vs. Max Darrah (Whitfield, Mo.) Joe Soreco (DePaul Catholic, N.J.) vs. Diata Drayton (Marist, Ill.) Ryan Vasbinder (Byron Center, Mich.) vs. Colin Lawler (Kinkaid School, Texas) Brian Kennerly (Upper Darby, Pa.) vs. Jeffrey Allen (Amherst County, Va.) 285 pounds: Evan Ellis (Eastern, Ind.) vs. Michael Kramer (Wilson Central, Tenn.) Will Hare (The Hill School, Pa.) vs. Sammy deSeriere (Mullen, Colo.) Zach Muller (Downers Grove South, Ill.) vs. Brandan Furman (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) Evan Surgeon (Southeast Guilford, N.C.) vs. Mansur Abdul-Malik (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) Here are the consolation pairings. These wrestlers need too more wins in a row to finish within the top eight. 106 pounds: Dylan Ryder (Half Hollow Hills West, N.Y.) vs. Cevion Severado (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) Eric Barnett (Hortonville, Wis.) vs. Jacob Moran (Portage, Ind.) Logan Agin (Lancaster, Ohio) vs. Nic Bouzakis (Florida - 8th grade) Riley Weir (Sand Springs, Okla.) vs. Doug Zapf (Downington West, Pa.) 113 pounds: Nico Aguilar (Gilroy Calif.) vs. Jake Ferri (Shawseen Valley Tech, Mass.) Joey Thomas (South Carroll, Md.) vs. Patrick McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) Caleb Tanner (Collinsville, Okla.) vs. Kyle Golhoffer (Woodland, Ga.) E.J. Walker (Hopewell, N.C.) vs. Colt Newton (Choctaw, Okla.) 120 pounds: Luke Werner (Bethlehem Liberty, Pa.) vs. Kyle Cisneros (Jefferson, Colo.) Sam Hillegas (North Hills, Pa.) vs. Sidney Flores (Bishop Amat, Calif.) Zurich Storm (New Oxford, Pa.) vs. Chris Wright (Central Dauphin, Pa.) Connor O'Neill (DePaul Catholic, N.J.) vs. Korbin Meink (Skutt Catholic, Neb.) 126 pounds: Jakob Campbell (Boyertown, Pa.) vs. Alex Thomsen (Underwood, Iowa) Weston DiBlasi (Park Hill, Mo.) vs. Jet Taylor (Sallisaw, Okla.) Rylee Molitor (Sartell-St. Stephen, Minn.) vs. Matt Siszka (Kiski Area, Pa.) Colin Gerardi (Powhatan, Va.) vs. K.J. Fenstermacher (Northampton, Pa.) 132 pounds: Kris Rumph (Portage, Ind.) vs. Alex Felix (Gilroy, Calif.) Kevon Davenport (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) vs. Peyton Robb (Owatonna, Minn.) Zach Van Alst (Montgomery Catholic, Ala.) vs. Devin Schwartzkopf (Francis Howell Central, Mo.) Grant Willits (Pueblo County, Colo.) vs. Jose Tapia (Capital, N.M.) 138 pounds: A.J. Leitten (Rock Hill, S.C.) vs. Ryan Vulakh (North Penn, Pa.) Jake Martinez (Licking Valley, Ohio) vs. Danny Bertoni (Middletown, Md.) Jake Silverstein (Hauppauge, N.Y.) vs. Cameron Amine (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) Grant Aronoff (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fla.) vs. Zander Silva (Alta Loma, Calif.) 145 pounds: David Johnson (Walsh Jesuit, Ohio) vs. Nick Santos (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.) Brik Filippo (Tuttle, Okla.) vs. Ryan Monteiro (Minnechaug, Mass.) Joe Blumer (Kiski Area, Pa.) vs. John Pipa (Bishop McDevitt, Pa.) Joseph Koontz (Massillon Perry, Ohio) vs. Justin Ruffin (Union Grove, Wis.) 152 pounds: Jordan Robison (Frisco Liberty, Texas) vs. Isaiah Luellen (Rossville, Kansas) Nathan Atienza (Livonia Franklin, Mich.) vs. Mason Reiniche (Baylor School, Tenn.) Bailey Thomas (Good Counsel, Md.) vs. Nicholas Palumbo (Lenape Valley, N.J.) Joshua Kim (Santiago Corona, Calif.) vs. Erich Byelick (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) 160 pounds: Chris Foca (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) vs. Michael Vernagallo (Jack Britt, N.C.) Skitch Light (Central Dauphin, Pa.) vs. Jared Lough (Colonial Forge, Va.) Grant Cuomo (Brewster, N.Y.) vs. Tristan Brady (Elyria, Ohio) Quentin Milliken (Cumberland Valley, Pa.) vs. Josh Stillings (Pennridge, Pa.) 170 pounds: Michael Battista (Broad Run, Va.) vs. Bryan McLaughlin (Woodbridge, N.J.) Joe Accousti (Newtown, Ct.) vs. Emil Soehnlen (Massillon Perry, Ohio) Joseph Eiden (Sachem East, N.Y.) vs. Ty Bagoly (Exeter Township, Pa.) Bumni Smith (Camden County, Ga.) vs. Benjamin Root (Solanco, Pa.0 182 pounds: Garrett Niel (Pine Creek, Colo.) vs. Kendall Elfstrum (Monroe Woodbury, N.Y.) Cody Mulligan (Saegertown, Pa.) vs. Miles Lee (South Philadelphia, Pa.) Clifton Wang (Edgemont, N.Y.) vs. Michael Lopouchanski (Cardinal Gibbons, Fla.) Nic Casperson (Beresford, S.D.) vs. Jared Ball (Hilliard Darby, Ohio) 195 pounds: Miles Nuessle (Liberty, Ariz.) vs. Chris Williams (Cardinal Gibbons, Fla.) Daniel Conley (Chaminade, Mo.) vs. Joe Doyle (Council Rock South, Pa.) John Kelbly (Smithville, Ohio) vs. Tony Wuest (Smyrna, Del.) Jackson Rheault (Somers, Ct.) vs. Kyle Lightner (Delaware Valley, N.J.) 220 pounds: Johnny Shafer (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) vs. Nathan Feyrer (Parkland, Pa.) Nico Manzonelli (Allen, Texas) vs. Jaret Lester (Akron SVSM, Ohio) Eric Keosseian (Howell, N.J.) vs. Tyler Cook (Brookville, Pa.) Billy Korber (Belle Vernon Area, Pa.) vs. Ron D'Amico (Shaler Area, Pa.) 285 pounds: Oscar Daniels (Exeter Township, Pa.) vs. Paul Robinson (Bremen, Ga.) Calvin Hayford (Mt. Anthony, Vt.) vs. Keaton Kluever (Kaukauna, Wis.) Ryan Stewart (Warwick, Pa.) vs. Blake Zalapi (Hononegah, Ill.) Donnie Tice (Strawberry Crest, Fla.) vs. Kobe Hicks (Hillgrove, Ga.)

Zane Richards (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) MANHEIM, Pa. -- A pair of returning All-Americans from Big Ten programs have agreed to meet in Cleveland to reacquaint themselves with one another. Illinois' Zane Richards and Nebraska's Eric Montoya is the latest bout released by the NWCA as the pair will face off with one another at 133 pounds at 51st annual NWCA All-Star Classic on November 5 at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center. The event, presented by The Brewer-Garrett Company and hosted by the Wrestlers in Business Network, has served as the major kick-off event for the wrestling season since becoming and early-season event. In 2012, the event moved to the first weekend of the major college wrestling calendar and has been a fixture ever since. Richards entered the 2016 NCAA championships as the third seed. He finished fourth, ending his season with a 27-3 mark and his first All-American honor. Montoya went 29-10 and placed fifth after entering the tournament as the No. 7 seed. "These two have a good familiarity with one another," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "Sometimes that can lead to tighter matches, but since neither has anything to lose here, I would expect them to get after it and put on a show." Richards, a three-time NCAA qualifier, hails from Carbondale, Illinois where he was a two-time Illinois state champion. In Fargo at the age-group levels, Richards placed eight times during his high school career and won four USA Wrestling national titles, three in Greco-Roman and the 2011 Junior freestyle crown. Collegiately, Richards comes into the bout with an 82-20 career record. Montoya started his career at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C., where he was an NCAA qualifier in 2013 at 125 pounds. Montoya transferred to Nebraska and redshirted and has qualified for the NCAA championships each of the last two seasons. Montoya, a four-time high school state champion from Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, N.M., enters the bout with an 83-42 career record. This will be the fifth meeting between the two wrestlers. Richards holds a 3-1 mark in the series including winning the most recent meeting, a 5-1 decision at the 2016 Big Ten semifinals last March. Montoya earned a 10-1 major decision at the 2015 NCAA championships, while Richards won a pair of bouts earlier in 2015, 3-2 in the dual meet and 10-3 at the 2015 Big Ten Championships. Richards will be making Illinois' 20th all-time appearance in the event. Illini wrestlers hold a 10-8 record in the dual with one no contest. The last time Illini wrestlers were represented came in 2013 when Jesse Delgado (125), B.J. Futrell (141) and Jordan Blanton (174) all competed in November of 2012 at American University in Washington, D.C. Montoya will be the 24th appearance for the University of Nebraska. Husker wrestlers hold a 13-10 all-time record in the dual with the most recent wins coming from James Green at 157 pounds and Robert Kokesh at 174 pounds in November of 2014 at the Palestra in Philadelphia. 2016 NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by The Brewer-Garrett Company Hosted by the Wrestlers in Business Network November 5, 2016 - Wolstein Center, Cleveland State University Time: Showcase Matches 6 p.m.; Main Event 7 p.m. Tickets: $15 GA, $100 Preferred Seating/Social. Group options available. Tickets available at www.goallstarclassic.com or Wolstein Center Box Office ( 844-407-2279) or Northeast Ohio Discount Drug Marts. Streaming: Trackwrestling.com Officially Announced Matchups 125: 133: Zane Richards, Sr. (Illinois) vs. Eric Montoya, Sr. (Nebraska) 141: 149: 157: 165: Isaac Jordan, Sr. (Wisconsin) vs. Daniel Lewis, So. (Missouri) 174: 184: Gabe Dean, Sr. (Cornell) vs. Myles Martin, So. (Ohio State) 197: Brett Pfarr, Sr. (Minnesota) vs. Brett Harner, Sr. (Princeton) 285: Ty Walz, Sr. (Virginia Tech) vs. Connor Medbery, Sr. (Wisconsin) About the National Wrestling Coaches Association The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: coaching development, student-athlete welfare, and the promotion of wrestling. About Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN) Wrestlers in Business Network is a registered 501 C-3 that strives to unite the thousands of wrestlers that have graduated from the sport and are now in their respective careers. Our mission is to build a community that serves as a platform to connect our members and facilitate business and job opportunities across the nation by leveraging a talent rich pipeline of wrestling alumni, with the ultimate byproduct of increasing reinvestment back to the sport. WrestlersInBusiness.org

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia University wrestling coach Sammie Henson made a pair of changes to his prospective lineup this week, announcing on Friday that Zeke Moisey will sit out the 2016-17 season, while senior Dylan Cottrell will compete at 165 pounds. Moisey, who enters his third year with the Mountaineers, will redshirt the season after competing at 125 pounds in his first two seasons. Most notably, the native of Northampton, Pennsylvania, upset four seeded opponents on his way to a runner-up finish at the 2015 NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Missouri. Moisey earned an at-large bid to the 2016 NCAA Championships, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. “With a solid line up at the lower weights, including senior Cory Stainbrook and the addition of Mathew Schmitt, we are fortunate enough to redshirt Zeke and give him another year to improve,” said Henson, who enters his third season at the helm of the Mountaineers. Cottrell will make the jump from 157 pounds to 165 pounds in his final campaign with the Mountaineers. After starting his career at 149 pounds at Appalachian State, the Spencer, West Virginia, native finished third at 157 pounds at the 2016 Big 12 Championship to earn a bid to the 2016 NCAA Championships. Cottrell narrowly missed earning All-America honors in New York, bouncing back from a first-round loss to defeat Neal Richards of VMI, Richie Lewis of Rutgers and No. 16 Markus Scheidel of Columbia before dropping a 5-3 match in the blood round to No. 6 seed Joe Smith of Oklahoma State. “After a full summer of lifting and training, Dylan looks to be a solid 165 pounder,” said Henson. “We expect him to contend for All-American status.” West Virginia will open the 2016-17 season at home when the Mountaineers host Campbell, Pitt and Ohio in the Mountaineer Quad at the WVU Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 6.

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY -- United World Wrestling has announced that the 2018 and 2019 wrestling world championships will be scheduled for the month of October. The premier wrestling event of the season, the world championships have traditionally been held in late August or early September. The change comes as part of the recently approved 2018 and 2019 competition calendars, which saw a smattering of adjustments meant to optimize viewership and increase participation. The calendar also sought to accommodate quadrennial Games such as the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2019 Pan-Am Games. "We are looking forward to the 2018 and 2019 seasons and think the calendar gives our wrestlers and fans many options to get involved with the sport," said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. "We must always stay aware of our partners' needs and any potential scheduling conflict with other sports." As part of the shift, the Wrestling World Cup -- wrestling's annual team-based competitions -- will be held after the world championships, near the end of the calendar year. The 2018 Cadet continental championships were also moved to earlier in the year to ensure athletes could qualify from their respective regions in time for the Youth Olympic Games. In 2014 the wrestling federation held a separate qualifying tournament for competitors. The full 2018 and 2019 calendar can be found on the United World Wrestling website, here.

The first day of NCAA-approved wrestling practices started this week, and with the malaise following a less-than-successful final day of wrestling at the Olympic Games, many in the wrestling community (me!) are looking forward to the new season. Like all larger organizations the NCAA is deeply flawed, but for the past few years the wrestling action has been improving. I'm hopeful that the 2016-2017 season will see a more aggressive style brought to the mat and that the competition stays intense from wire-to-wire. Our fans are the best in the world and I'm sure everyone is looking forward to supporting their teams. I know that I am. Happy wrestling season, folks! Go 'Hoos! To your questions … Q: Adeline Gray's signature shoe was recently released. Do you expect Helen Maroulis to get her own shoe since she was the first American to win a gold medal in women's wrestling? -- Mike C. Foley: Given the release date, Adeline's shoe was in the pipeline prior to the Olympic Games. Like most of us it would seem ASICS saw Adeline as a lock to win the Olympics and with her massive social media following and mainstream media appearances she was a slam dunk. Also interesting to consider that Helen Maroulis was competing to win her Olympic title facing Japanese legend Saori Yoshida. ASICS, I'll remind you, is a Japanese company. Taylor Massa gets in on a shot against Utah Valley's Ethan Smith at the 2015 NCAAs (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) Q: Taylor Massa's name does not appear on the 2016-2017 University of Michigan wrestling team roster. Any news on him? -- Jim Foley: Taylor has retired from competition after a series of injuries left him sidelined for good. He's still enrolled at Michigan and helping out at Davison High School. Wrestling is an incredibly grueling sport and Taylor Massa racked several hundred, if not more than 1000, matches in his prep career. That kind of wear and tear can't be endured forever, and unfortunately for Taylor it seems that his clock ticked to an end in Ann Arbor. Best of luck to the young man as he pursues a coaching career! Q: 165 pounds looks super loaded to me. I didn't realize Logan Massa, Anthony Valencia and Vincenzo Joseph are all projected in this weight class, along with Brian Realbuto going down to it from 174 pounds. Who do you think poses the biggest threat to Imar? What percentage would you put it at that Imar will not win the title this year? -- Ross B. Foley: The idea that there is a deeper field certainly increases the chances that Imar could drop a match, but I don't think any of those individuals reaches his level of talent or is better than a one win out of ten matches. Collectively it feels like he's more likely to face a roadblock given the names, but one-to-one he's still unmatched. Look back at last year and review the match Imar lost. It was a dual meet with one hour weigh-ins. Give that kid more time and a few extra pounds each day and he seems to increase the likelihood of his winning any individual match. Now he's got an extra eight pounds! Buckle up. Realbuto can threaten most top-level opponents with his mixture of offense and creative scrambling, but both are areas where Imar is already more established. Also, Realbuto seems deficient in whatever gene Imar has coursing through his DNA which allows for scoring early and/or late. Also, while you cite Logan Massa, I think we need to see him on the mats in the Michigan singlet before we draw too many conclusions. He's certainly got the firepower to be an All-American on his first trip to NCAAs, but I'm never willing to put a lot of stock in national championship potential unless the wrestler has worn the uniform. I think Imar is better than 90 percent to win the NCAA title at 165 pounds. Q: I'm old school, two piece wool top/long pants combo…. I don't have any great preferences … the rash guard tops seems an improvement, and it does NOT appear that the looseness of the top resulted in any inadvertent snags or illegal grabs requiring penalty, but the shorts are a non-starter. I attended the Flo Who's Number One meet again this year, and again this year the majority of the participants either sewed or rolled up the shorts to get them out of the way. Too long, they covered the knees when in neutral position, and too loose, they caught while in the down position. Perhaps a work in progress? -- Mike M. Foley: One size does not fit all. Imagining that they were given the uniforms that day it's easy to see that they would adjust them a touch. I wear a long sleeve rash guard and shorts for every no-gi jiu-jitsu practice and can think of almost no time my feet (or exposed toes) were caught in my opponent's shoes. From where I sit there doesn't seem to be a functional issue, though I agree the wrestler's may *think that they disagree. A work in progress indeed. The human body varies significantly and there will need to be a way to cut the cloth to allow for a better fit. Likewise a moderate amount of stretch may help. Lucky for wrestling there is money to be made in these uniforms which means that those invested in creating competition clothes might look to innovate. On that note … MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Nebraska will now allow fight shorts and moisture wicking as a suitable alternative to the singlet! Q: Is Andy Bisek done competing? I haven't seen anything come out after Rio. -- Mike C. Foley: There hasn't been much for the Greco-Roman team to enter since Rio. Also, the stress of the Olympics wears people down. If he's like Jordan Burroughs, Adeline Gray, or any number of top-level wrestlers, Bisek is trying to spend time with family and get his circuit boards cleared up for the next step in life. I'd like to think that Bisek would continue to wrestle. With the rules changing to no forced par-terre I think that the Americans are going to see a significant increase in their winning percentage. We aren't the most technical bunch, but the Americans are certainly in shape come match time, and few more so than Bisek. If you do want to watch some wrestling this weekend the freestyle team will be in Khasavyurt. Check out Wrestdag and Wrestrus for links. Q: These are my picks in order of likelihood to win the NCAA title this season: Hwt: Kyle Snyder 197: J'den Cox 149: Zain Retherford 157: Jason Nolf 165: Isaiah Martinez 125: Thomas Gilman 133: Nathan Tomasello 174: Bo Jordan 141: Joey McKenna 184: Zahid Valencia Thoughts? Obviously, Zahid Valencia is a risky pick in what looks to be the most loaded weight class and has Gabe Dean in it, but I like him as an upset pick. -- Ross B. Foley: C'mon, man! Gabe Dean is looking for his third NCAA title. You can certainly make the argument he doesn't light up the scoreboard, but he's consistent in March. Not loving that you sleep on Dean or that you chose Valencia to emerge as a freshman atop the podium. Also, the McKenna pick is a touch risky. Heil gets the job done. Q: Dana White just announced that Ronda Rousey is returning to the UFC and fighting Amanda Nunes on Dec. 30. How do you see that fight playing out? -- Mike C. Foley: The UFC would love to see Ronda Rousey return to her pre-Holly Holm form, but Amanda Nunes poses a mighty difficult obstacle for MMA's queen. Nunes is without question a better striker than Rousey and her grappling IQ is equal. Rousey certainly has an advantage in earning the takedown, but she won't be as equipped to find a quick submission from top. Ground and pound? Maybe. Rousey's coaching staff is abysmal. Should she find the heart to leave them before her fight then she has a chance to create a nuanced and successful fight plan. If she stays with Edmund she's destined to fight from HEART and, I see Nunes having an immense tactical advantage. It should be noted that Rousey opened as a 2-1 favorite when the fight was announced on Thursday. Q: Do Iowa Hawkeye fans tailgate before wrestling meets? I've never been to Carver-Hawkeye Arena and always wondered that. -- Mike C. Foley: I've never been to Carver-Hawkeye Arena and not certain I'd be welcome. In an ideal world I'd dress up as Dan Gable and slug Bud Lights in the parking lot with Brent Metcalf. Road trip, anyone?

Trent Hillger Two-time state champion Trent Hillger (Lake Fenton, Mich.) verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin on Thursday evening. The projected 285-pound wrestler is ranked No. 16 overall in the Class of 2017, and finished the 2015-16 as the sixth-ranked wrestler at 285 pounds in the nation. Hillger joins No. 40 Paul Konrath (Connections Academy, Ind.) and No. 69 Devin Bahr (West Salem, Wis.) as commits to the Badgers. Hillger enters his senior season on a 123 match winning streak, with his last loss being in the consolation final at state his freshman year. In addition, he is a two-way and multi-position star on the football field.

This week's Takedown TV covers all levels of amateur wrestling. Among this week's features: 2016 Grapple at the Garden -- the dual-meet event, now in its fifth season, that kicks off the college wrestling season, featuring 20 teams at Madison Square Garden NWCA All-Star Classic competitor interviews with Isaac Jordan, Conor Medbery, Myles Martin and Ty Walz "Coaches Corner" with Minnesota interim head wrestling coach Brandon Eggum Cody Brewer talks Who's Number One, Northwestern and Non-Olympic World Team Trials Watch this week's episode here ... or at the Takedown Wrestling's YouTube Channel. In addition, Takedown Wrestling TV is aired on these television networks. All air times are Central. Cablevision: Sundays at 4 p.m. Charter Cable: Thursday at 6:30 p.m., Friday 11:30 p.m. and Monday 2:30 p.m. Comcast Cable: Friday at 5:00 p.m. Cox Cable: Sunday 9:30 a.m. Fight Network HD: Sundays at 4:00 p.m. KWEM, Stillwater, Oklahoma: Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Long Lines Cable: Daily at 5:30 p.m. Mediacom Cable: Sundays at 10:30 a.m. MidCo Sports Network: Saturday 10:00 a.m. and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. SECV8: Friday at 5:00 p.m. Suddenlink Cable- Check your local listings. Multiple air times. Time Warner Cable Sports- Saturday at 12:00 p.m. Western Reserve Cable- Tuesday at 11:00 p.m., Friday at 5:30 p.m., Saturday at 10:00 p.m. The Lead Producer for the show is Brad Johnson of Takedown Wrestling Media. Feedback is encouraged, and should be sent to brad.takedown@gmail.comWebsites interested in adding Takedown Wrestling should contact Tony Hager of Takedown Media at hagertakedown@gmail.com.

Brandon Paulson coaching in Fargo (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) Twenty years ago Brandon Paulson captured a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling. He represented Team USA at the World Championships in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and earned a world silver medal in 2001. He won 16 national titles in Greco-Roman between the cadet and senior levels. Today Paulson is one of the nation's top wrestling club coaches. He's co-owner of PINnacle Wrestling School in Shoreview, Minnesota, with Jared Lawrence. Paulson has won multiple national coach of the year honors and has been inducted into numerous hall of fames. InterMat recently caught up with Paulson. The 2016 Olympic Games took place a couple months ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Do Olympic years take you back to your Olympic experience in Atlanta? Paulson: Always, especially since it was the 20-year anniversary this year. I have always been a big Olympic fan since I was 10 years old. Every four years I'm always excited for the Olympics. This year I actually got the chance to go visit Atlanta with my family. That was pretty cool. We did that in August. The Olympics are always special. Every four years it comes up, and that's what our family does, watch the Olympics and cheer on Team USA. When you reflect back on the 1996 Olympics, what stands out the most in your mind? Paulson: I still have a ton of memories. Running out onto the mat, I just remember being so pumped up and ready to get after it. It's hard to explain how loud it was. It felt like the place was shaking. So that was awesome. For the opening ceremonies we had to walk up a ramp and you could see the whole stadium. That was unbelievable. I stayed for two weeks after the Olympics and got to go to a bunch of events and meet a bunch of different people. The whole experience was unbelievable for me. Brandon Paulson was inducted into the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions in 2013 (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) I have heard you say that watching Steve Fraser win an Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles inspired you and gave you your Olympic dream. LA is one of the finalists to host the 2024 Olympics. How much would you like to see LA get that bid? Paulson: I would love it. It would be great to have the Olympics back in the States. Some people were like, 'It's kind of a bummer that [1996 Olympics] was in the States and that you didn't get to go overseas. For me, home country was awesome. As you said, LA was my inspiration. If the USA could get it back that would be exciting. You came back to college wrestling after winning an Olympic silver medal and became an NCAA All-American at the University of Minnesota. Was it difficult transitioning back to folkstyle after wrestling Greco-Roman at the highest level? Paulson: Yeah, but I liked the college atmosphere. Folkstyle had never been my favorite. I grew up wrestling freestyle and Greco. I didn't really start wrestling folkstyle until seventh grade. I actually was wrestling very well when I came back. Unfortunately, I had ankle surgery in January, and that really put my spirits down. It was kind of a downer. But I still am glad that I wrestled folkstyle. I met a lot of people. I'm glad I went to the University of Minnesota and had that whole experience. Wrestling-wise, it might not have been the best for me. For my life experience, it was the best decision for me. You retired after the 2004 Olympic Team Trials at the age of 30. Were there ever times where you seriously contemplated coming out of retirement for one last run? Paulson: No. If you remember my last match [against Dennis Hall], I figured that would have been a good one to end on. In previous years there had been a lot of times where I would be like, 'I'm done. I don't know if I can do this anymore.' I had a family. That hunger always came back. I would take six months off and then it would be like, 'I still want it.' After 2004 I never really got that hunger back where I thought I could make a run. My wife even said, 'Maybe you should try it out.' I was like, 'No, no, I'm good.' Brandon Paulson and Jake Deitchler hug at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Photo/The Guillotine) Four years after retiring from competition you coached Jake Deitchler to the Olympic Games in 2008. What traits did Deitchler possess that allowed him to get to such a high level at such a young age? Paulson: He was so coachable. He did whatever I asked of him. He was a great athlete. He would run through a wall for you. That kind of kid doesn't come along often. Coaching now, I still have great kids and a lot of them listen and are coachable, but he worked his tail off. He just had an amazing motor for how hard he could wrestle. Guys just could not stay with him for the amount of time he wrestled. He was a competitor as well. That's why he was coachable. He was going to do whatever it took to get to the top. It was amazing to watch. It still blows my mind that he did what he did. To know how hard it is to make the Olympic team, and he did it when he was 18. It would have been great to see him continue and not have the concussion problems, but he accomplished a lot in the time that he had. Team USA fell short of an Olympic medal in Greco-Roman for the second straight Olympics. No wrestler finished higher than ninth. What's the biggest hurdle or challenge for the Greco-Roman wrestling program in the United States? Paulson: To me, there are two big challenges. One, of course, is talent, getting the best guys to wrestle Greco. It doesn't even have to be the best. You don't need to get Jordan Burroughs. But to get some of those guys who actually love the sport, and you've got to love it. It's hard to convince somebody to love it. You have to get them when they're young. For me, it was when I was in ninth grade. Same with Dennis Hall. We trained more Greco in high school than any other style. So I think getting the best wrestlers to wrestle Greco is important. The other thing is I think our style of wrestling right now is not really playing with what we have learned as kids. Americans should have a different style of wrestling Greco-Roman than other countries. I think we have in the past. I don't think we do now. We could be attacking more, getting to the body more as that is what our roots are in. We have been taking shots since fifth, sixth grade. Although shots are different, we should be attacking. There's no reason we need to be wrestling an Eastern European style. The Koreans don't wrestle that way. The Iranians don't wrestle that way. Why are we trying to wrestle that way? I think we need to use our base better than we are right now. Brandon Paulson, along with Mike Houk, coaching Pat Smith at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) United World Wrestling recently announced a major rule change in Greco-Roman on the senior level. Forced par terre has been removed. What are your thoughts on that rule change? Paulson: Mixed. I would have liked it when I wrestled. I worry that guys are not going to be able to score points, and the refs aren't going to call the correct wrestlers for passivity. If you look at what they've recently been calling for passivity, it's whoever is controlling the center and controlling a tie, which doesn't necessarily mean they're trying to score points. To me, these officials should be looking at who is trying to score, and then when somebody isn't they're passive. We'll see how they call it. I hope that the guys are attacking and trying to score points. I worry a little bit that it's going to come down to a referee's decision. We never want to see that. It's good for the United States. We should do better. We have spent most of our lives wrestling on our feet. I think in the past we have lost in par terre. There's no country that should beat us on the feet in wrestling. That was my attitude when I wrestled, and the guys I wrestled with. It was like, 'We've got to beat these guys on the feet. We've got to score. We're better on the feet.' So hopefully they can take that attitude now as well. You competed at the highest level as an athlete. Now you're coaching athletes of all ages. What do you enjoy most about coaching? Paulson: Just seeing kids accomplish their goals, and that's not always being a national champion or an Olympian. Sometimes it's making the varsity team or making the state tournament. Every kid is different. But to watch a kid that worked his tail off and improved and accomplished one of his goals, and how excited he gets, that's what it's all about for me. Make a kid great basically. Every kid has a different sense of that depending on his or her dedication and talent level. To see them accomplish their goals is awesome. In your opinion, when should winning become important in wrestling? Paulson: For us, we're all about development, but we still want the kids to enjoy success because they have more fun and it teaches confidence. We don't want them to win at a younger level with stuff that won't win at a higher level. We're about development for our kids. When you get to Cadet Nationals, that's kind of our turning point where it's like, 'OK, we're going to try to win here.' Fargo is a big tournament for us. That's kind of what we train for a lot in the spring. At that age it's still about development, but we want to win a national title as well. It's not the most important thing at that level, but it's a goal for a lot of wrestlers. You coached Griffin Parriott to double titles in Fargo this past summer. He's now at Purdue. What kind of impact do you think he can make in college and potentially beyond? Paulson: He's very talented and he's a competitor. He's coachable. Mentally, he needs to be stronger. If he can do that, he has unlimited potential. He can be an NCAA champion and Olympian. He's talented. He's strong and athletic enough. So it's about his drive, which I think he has. I'm going to try to keep him a little bit in the loop for Greco because he likes Greco and try to have him wrestle a little bit his redshirt year. Right now he's wrestling in college. Hopefully everything is going well. I haven't heard from him in a couple weeks, but before that it was going well. Purdue has a good thing going. Brandon Paulson with Mitchell McKee in Fargo (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) Mitchell McKee, now a freshman at the University of Minnesota, is another wrestler you have coached to multiple national titles. Is he someone that is ready for Division I wrestling competition right now? Paulson: Absolutely. He has the physical strength for it. He has wrestled his whole life and competed a ton, so it's not like he's short of matches. I think he could wrestle right away. It's just a matter of weight to me. I think Tommy Thorn is still at 141. Is Mitchell too big for 133? I'm not sure. We'll have to see. He would be a big 133-pounder. For him to wrestle right away, I think that's the weight he would have to go. J Robinson was fired as Minnesota's head wrestling coach in September. As someone who wrestled for J at Minnesota, what was it like for you seeing that whole situation play out? Paulson: It was painful … not just for J, but the program. It put a shadow over the program. I never like to see that. Specifically for J, he did a lot for Minnesota wrestling. From when he came in, if you looked at our program before that and looked at it now, he did a lot. I'm sorry to see he went out that way. Looking at the coaching staff now, I'm excited that Eggum is a head coach. I actually really like where they are at with coaches. I just wish J didn't go out that way and could have retired on his own terms. This story also appears in the Oct. 14 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. Subscribe to The Guillotine.

Drew Bennett battles Israel Navarro in the finals of the 2015 InterMat JJ Classic (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) The second annual Night of Conflict will be coming to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday, with the matches starting at 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by IAwrestle.com and is one evening before the Conflict at Carver tournament in that same facility on the University of Iowa campus sponsored by the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. There will be 13 bouts contested on Friday evening between some of the nation's best wrestlers -- many are from Iowa or the immediately surrounding states. Matches will be contested in the scholastic style with the adaptation of a pushout rule, which will be scored as a one-point penalty. In essence, it will be construed as a technical violation for fleeing the mat. Here are the bouts: Connor Brown (Oak Grove, Mo.) vs. Aden Reeves (Albia, Iowa) Brown is a three-time state champion, who placed third in junior folkstyle this spring; Reeves placed third at state as a freshman, and is a two-time Cadet freestyle All-American. Reeves is also ranked No. 35 overall in the Class of 2019. Michael Millage (New Hampton, Iowa) vs. Jason Renteria (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) Millage is already a two-time state finalist, winning state as a freshman before finishing runner-up this past season; he also was runner-up at the Flo Nationals this spring. Renteria is a three-time state finalist, winning his first title this past season. The Nebraska commit is a 2015 Cadet National double All-American, and ranked No. 39 overall in the Class of 2017. Nikolas Chavez (Willard, Mo.) vs. Triston Lara (Fort Dodge, Iowa) Chavez is a three-time state placer, who won state this past season (4th/6th/1st), and was a UWW Cadet National freestyle All-American this spring. Lara is a three-time state placer, two-time finalist, who won state this past season. He reached the finals of the InterMat JJ Classic a year ago. J.J. Figueroa (Bakesfield, Calif.) vs. Zach Barnes (Southeast Polk, Iowa) Figueroa placed fourth at state as a sophomore, but missed out this past season due to injury. The 2015 Cadet folkstyle runner-up is ranked No. 86 overall in the Class of 2017. Barnes is a two-time state placer, three-time qualifier, placing third this past season; in addition he was a Junior National freestyle All-American this summer, placing eighth at 145 pounds. Kaden Gfeller (Heritage Hall, Okla.) vs. Jamie Hernandez (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) This is with minimal argument the headline bout on the card Friday night. Ranked No. 10 overall in the Class of 2017, Gfeller is a three-time state champion, 2015 Super 32 Challenge placer, and three-time Fargo freestyle All-American (including third at the Junior level in 2015). Two-time state placer Hernandez is ranked No. 47 overall in the Class of 2017, a three-time Fargo freestyle All-American (including eighth at the Junior level this summer), and was runner-up in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals this spring. Gfeller is committed to Oklahoma State, while Hernandez has verballed to North Carolina. Joel Shapiro (West Des Moines Valley, Iowa) vs. Danny Braunagel (Althoff Catholic, Ill.) The junior Shapiro placed seventh in Cadet freestyle this summer, and is a two-time state medalist; while fellow junior Braunagel was a state runner-up this past season and placed fifth in Cadet freestyle. Max Lyon (Western Dubuque, Iowa) vs. A.J. Pedro (Phillips Exeter, N.H.) This is another battle of top 100 wrestlers from the Class of 2017. Three-time state placer Lyon is ranked No. 88 overall in the senior class, coming off his first state title and second finals appearance (4th/2nd/1st); the Purdue commit is also a two-time Junior National folkstyle runner-up. Pedro, ranked No. 66 overall in the senior class, placed third at National Preps as both a freshman and sophomore before injury caused him to miss out last season; while he returned to the mats this summer with a sixth place finish in Junior freestyle at 182 pounds. Aaron Costello (Western Dubuque, Iowa) vs. Sammy Evans (Alcoa, Tenn.) Costello finished as a state runner-up this past high school season, and since then was runner-up in Junior folkstyle, went undefeated at the Disney Duals, and earned All-American honors in Junior Greco-Roman. The Chattanooga commit Evans is a three-time state champion, also placing fifth at the Flo Nationals and third at the NHSCA Junior Nationals last spring. Colton Schultz (Ponderosa, Colo.) vs. Jared Campbell (St. Edward, Ohio) This is the "big ticket" bout involving upper-weight wrestlers, each ended the 2015-16 season ranked inside the top ten overall at 220 pounds. Schultz is ranked No. 1 overall in the Class of 2019 and represented the United States at the UWW Cadet World Championships in Greco-Roman last month; he is also a two-time Cadet National champion in Fargo (2015 Greco-Roman and 2016 freestyle) and four-time All-American. Two-time state runner-up Campbell is ranked No. 48 overall in the Class of 2017, and the Missouri commit was also champion at both the Flo Nationals and NHSCA Junior Nationals this spring. Women's wrestling match: Alanah Vetterick (Iowa) vs. Ronna Heaton (South Dakota) Vetterick was a Women's Junior National freestyle All-American this summer, while Heaton was a Cadet World champion in freestyle back in 2015. Kyran Hagan (Eureka, Mo.) vs. Anthony Madrigal (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) Three-time state placer Hagan, an Ohio University commit, is ranked No. 54 overall in the Class of 2017. The 2015 state champion (2nd/1st/3rd) was runner-up at the NHSCA Junior Nationals and fourth in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals this off-season after a Cadet National double All-American finish in the summer of 2015. Ranked No. 32 overall in the Class of 2018, Madrigal finished as state runner-up this past high school season after a pair of Cadet freestyle All-American finishes, including a runner-up finish in the summer of 2015. Dylan D'Emilio (Genoa, Ohio) vs. Drew Bennett (Fort Dodge, Iowa) Ranked No. 12 overall in the Class of 2019, D'Emilio was state champion this past high school season. In addition, he was runner-up this off-season in freestyle at both the Junior Nationals and UWW Cadet Nationals after winning a Cadet National freestyle title and UWW Cadet National freestyle title the previous summer. The junior Bennett was third at state as a sophomore, placed fourth at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals, and was an InterMat JJ Classic runner-up last fall. Noah Fye (New Hampton, Iowa) vs. Carter Cox (Atlantic, Iowa) Two-time state medalist (3rd/5th) Fye also placed last fall at the Super 32 Challenge, while Cox was state runner-up this past high school season.

Haislan Garcia (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) TEMPE, Ariz. -- Head coach Zeke Jones announces the addition of Haislan Garcia to the Arizona State wrestling staff as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2016-17 season. Garcia is a three-time Canadian Olympian, most recently competing in Rio this year, also competing in 2008 and 2012. He also won a bronze medal at both the 2014 Golden Grand Prix and the 2015 Pan American Games. The nine-time Canadian National Champion also placed fifth at the 2010 World Championships and is a multiple-time Pan-American championship medalist. The team looks forward to wrestling an exciting schedule in 2016-17 with the regular season opener set for Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. vs. nationally-ranked Ohio State.

Doug Schwab will be the exclusive guest on this week's edition of the On the Mat wrestling broadcast on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Schwab, an NCAA and Big Ten champ for the University of Iowa, wrestled for Team USA in men's freestyle at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He has been head wrestling coach at University of Northern Iowa since 2010. On the Mat is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday at 5 p.m. Central on AM 1650, The Fan. A podcast of the show is available on mattalkonline.com.

IRVINE, Calif. -- ASICS America Corporation and ASICS elite athlete Adeline Gray today unveiled a female inspired signature wrestling shoe, the AGGRESSOR® 3 L.E. AG, designed and motivated by the three-time world champion and Olympian. The AGGRESSOR 3 L.E. AG model brings to market a female signature wrestling shoe created with the rapidly growing female wrestling community in mind. "ASICS has been incredible throughout this process, they gave me free range to let my imagination run in designing the colors of the shoe." said Gray. "With the number of female wrestlers growing every year, I hope to encourage more young women to step foot on the mat, and I believe having a shoe that speaks to the female consumer is a great starting point to get them excited about the sport." The new AGGRESSOR 3 L.E. AG. model provides female wrestlers with an 80s inspired, color way and feminine design. This shoe is one of the most durable and best fitting female wrestling shoe on the market. Gray chose ASICS' classic AGRESSOR shoe, as a nod to the shoe she prefers to compete in. After serious thought and countless color combinations, Gray decided to incorporate hues of black, onyx, and pink glow to capture a youthful look with the goal of appealing to up and coming female wrestling athletes whom idolizes female wrestlers, like Adeline. To top off her signature shoe, Gray had her signature embroidered on the side.

Nate Parker as Nat Turner, center, in a scene from "The Birth of a Nation" (Photo/Jahi Chikwendiu/Fox Searchlight) For Nate Parker, it's been the best of times ... and the worst of times. In January, the former Penn State and University of Oklahoma wrestler's film "The Birth of a Nation" debuted at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the audience award and grand jury prize. Then the film Parker wrote, directed and starred in was the subject of a bidding war for distribution rights, with Fox Searchlight Pictures coming out on top with its $17.5 million bid, a Sundance record. Positive early movie reviews generated Oscar buzz. Parker was nominated to become a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization responsible for the Oscar awards. In recent months, however, the news hasn't all been good for the 36-year-old Parker and "The Birth of a Nation." New details about a 1999 incident at Penn State have come back to haunt Parker. The movie has been the subject of numerous articles and columns beyond Hollywood/entertainment publications -- and was the subject of a number of feature segments on TV and radio, including a Anderson Cooper piece on CBS' 60 Minutes the first weekend of October -- with some individuals urging a boycott of the film just as it opened in theaters nationwide on Friday, Oct. 7. Nate Parker, the wrestler Long before "The Birth of a Nation", Nate Parker made a name for himself on the wrestling mat. Born in November 1979 in Norfolk, Va., Parker was introduced to wrestling as a high school sophomore. At national wrestling powerhouse Great Bridge High School, Parker claimed the 125-pound Division AAA title at the 1998 Virginia state championships, and an eighth place finish at the Junior Nationals. Parker earned a scholarship to wrestle at Penn State, and became a starter. However, Parker left the school for reasons to be discussed in-depth later. Parker transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he earned All-American honors by placing fifth in the 141-pound bracket at the 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships as a junior. However, Parker's college wrestling career at Oklahoma ended with some controversy during his senior season, according to a recent article in the Tulsa World. He was knocked out of his starting position in his weight class by a freshman teammate. The newspaper went on to report that the Virginia native began posting more losses than wins at another weight, and was off the team two weeks later. Jack Spates, Sooner head wrestling coach at the time, told The Oklahoman in a Jan. 15, 2003, story, "Nate Parker, by mutual agreement, is no longer with the University of Oklahoma wrestling program. ... We lost the Arizona State dual because Nate head-butted his opponent and was disqualified. We have no interest in commenting on the situation." Parker graduated from Oklahoma with a degree in management science and information systems. Parker's film career started when he was discovered at a modeling convention in Dallas which he attended with a friend. That led to a commercial ... then to acting roles in TV and movies. As an actor, Parker's films include Denzel Washington's "The Great Debaters", "Secret Life of Bees", and "Beyond the Lights". The film Nate Parker's "The Birth of a Nation" is based on the story of Nat Turner, a Virginia slave who led a violent slave revolt in 1831. Parker played Turner, as well as wrote the script (along with former Penn State teammate Jean Celestin), and made his directorial debut. The birth of the idea for Parker's "The Birth of a Nation" was an African-American Studies class that Nate Parker took at Penn State. "Imagine my dismay," Parker told The Hollywood Reporter in January before his film premiered, "in learning (in class) that one of the greatest men to walk the soil in this country was a man who grew up and lived and breathed and fought less than 100 miles from where I grew up." In addition to Nate Parker, other actors in "The Birth of a Nation" include Armie Hammer, Mark Boone Jr., Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Aja Naomi King, Esther Scott, Roger Guenveur Smith, Gabrielle Union, Penelope Ann Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Tony Espinosa, Jayson Warner Smith, and Jason Stuart. The film cost $10 million to produce; Parker himself contributed approximately $100,000 of his own money to help finance it. When Parker's film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January, the timing could not have been better. Right about the same time, nominations for the Oscar awards for films released in 2015 had been revealed. None of the actors or actresses nominated for Best Actor/Actress or Supporting Actor/Actress were of color, which generated much discussion and media coverage at the time. The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite became widely used. Before his "The Birth of a Nation" premiered at Sundance, Nate Parker told the audience, "I made this film for one reason: creating change agents." The former Nittany Lion-turned-Sooner wrestler added that getting the film made was "extremely difficult for many reasons ... the first was our subject matter: anytime we are dealing with history, specifically slavery, I found that desperately sanitized. There's a resistance, I'll say, to dealing with this material." In accepting his awards on stage at Sundance after the showing of "The Birth of a Nation", Parker said, "An issue film succeeds when it touches people. I've seen that people are open to change." Even if you have not been following the developments regarding Nate Parker's movie over the past year, the title may sound vaguely familiar. Just to be clear ... Parker's new film is NOT a remake -- nor related in any way -- to a 1915 epic also titled "The Birth of a Nation" -- the first feature-length (nearly three-hour) silent film in the U.S., which was written and directed by D.W. Griffith. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Griffith's 1915 silent film "focuses on two white families during the Civil War and the Ku Klux Klan's rise during Reconstruction. Much of what was portrayed in the first feature-length U.S. movie is repugnantly racist, but it changed the film business forever." Popular national film critic Leonard Maltin, who gave the original "Birth of a Nation" four stars (out of four), included this disclaimer in his capsule review of the movie: "Sometimes the drama survives intact; other times, one must watch in a more historical perspective. Griffith's portrayal of Ku Klux Klan in heroic role has kept this film at the center of controversy to the present time." The past comes back to haunt Parker Through the first half of 2016, most coverage about Parker's "The Birth of a Nation" was positive. After its triumphant debut at the Sundance Film Festival, it was slated to be featured at a number of film festivals, including the American Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival. However, an alleged incident from Parker's past became news all over again this past summer. In 1999, while Parker was a student and wrestler at Penn State, and his roommate Jean Celestin (the co-writer of "The Birth of a Nation") were charged with raping a fellow student -- an 18-year old female -- in their apartment after a night of drinking. The woman claimed she was unconscious at the time, while Parker and Celestin maintained that the encounter was consensual. She later said that she was stalked and harassed by Parker and Celestin after she reported the incident. Both men were suspended from the Nittany Lions wrestling team; Parker transferred to University of Oklahoma. In a 2001 trial, a jury acquitted Parker of the charges, in part because of testimony that he had consensual sex with the victim prior to the incident. Celestin was found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced to six months of prison. Celestin appealed the verdict and was granted a new trial in 2005, but the case never made it back to court after the victim decided not to testify again. Most in the media and entertainment industry -- and the general public -- were not aware of these allegations until entertainment business publication Variety reported in mid-August 2016 of the 2012 death of the woman who had accused Nate Parker and Jean Celestin of rape back at Penn State seventeen years earlier. The woman's older brother, Johnny (no last name was given, to honor is sister's wishes to remain anonymous), told Variety that she committed suicide and overdosed on sleeping pills four years ago. "She became detached from reality," said Johnny. "The progression was very quick and she took her life." "(Parker) may have litigated out of any kind of situation," Johnny said. "My position is he got off on a technicality." Other family members reached by Variety declined to comment publicly. There's no evidence that the woman's death was directly linked to the trial. She died at a drug rehabilitation facility, where she was found unresponsive by staff with two 100-count pill bottles of an over-the-counter sleep aid with ingredients similar to Benadryl by her side. "It's just a horrible life's progression," the coroner told Variety. "She was a young woman." In court, she testified that she had attempted to kill herself twice after the reported rape. Her brother said that she suffered from depression after the incident. Her death certificate, obtained by Variety, stated that she suffered from "major depressive disorder with psychotic features, PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome] due to physical and sexual abuse, polysubstance abuse ...." "If I were to look back at her very short life and point to one moment where I think she changed as a person, it was obviously that point," Johnny said to Variety. "The trial was pretty tough for her." The brother told Variety that if the trial had been held today, there would have been a different verdict. "I think by today's legal standards, a lot has changed with regards to universities and the laws in sexual assault," he said. "I feel certain if this were to happen in 2016, the outcome would be different than it was. Courts are a lot stricter about this kind of thing. You don't touch someone who is so intoxicated -- period." After the trial, the victim left college before graduating, and received a $17,500 settlement from Penn State. In the Variety interview, Johnny said, "It's hard seeing my sister's life slowly crumble while these men are by all accounts relatively successful and thriving." "It's been 17 years," he added. "We certainly as a family forgive them. I don't know that [the victim] would forgive them. I don't think that she would." Johnny shared his story to Variety days after Nate Parker had conducted interviews with that publication and another where he addressed the 1999 rape allegations. "His character should be under a microscope because of this incident," Johnny told Variety. "If you removed these two people, the project is commendable. But there's a moral and ethical stance you would expect from someone with regard to this movie." When the Variety reporter asked Johnny if "The Birth of a Nation" should be released, he responded: "I think that's up to the people. I don't think a rapist should be celebrated. It's really a cultural decision we're making as a society to go to the theater and speak with our dollars and reward a sexual predator." Another family member was in agreement with her brother Johnny. "I know what she would've said," a sister named Sharon told the New York Times, "and that would be, 'I fought long and hard, it overcame me. All I can ask is any other victims to come forward, and not let this kind of tolerance to go on anymore.'" She added that her sister had believed there were other victims and had been broken by the 1999 case and its aftermath. "These guys sucked the soul and life out of her." Apparently not all family members agree. In a statement to The New York Times, the woman's family said: "We appreciate that after all this time, these men are being held accountable for their actions. However, we are dubious of the underlying motivations that bring this to present light after 17 years, and we will not take part in stoking its coals. While we cannot protect the victim from this media storm, we can do our best to protect her son. For that reason, we ask for privacy for our family and do not wish to comment further." Prior to the news that Johnny's sister had died four years ago, here's how Parker addressed the Penn State situation with Variety. "Seventeen years ago, I experienced a very painful moment in my life," Parker told Variety. "It resulted in it being litigated. I was cleared of it. That's that. Seventeen years later, I'm a filmmaker. I have a family. I have five beautiful daughters. I have a lovely wife. I get it. The reality is I can't relive 17 years ago. All I can do is be the best man I can be now." After Variety published the interview with the alleged victim's brother Johnny, the entertainment industry publication followed up with comments from Nate Parker. "Over the last several days, a part of my past -- my arrest, trial and acquittal on charges of sexual assault -- has become a focal point for media coverage, social media speculation and industry conversation," according to Parker. "I understand why so many are concerned and rightfully have questions. These issues of a women's right to be safe and of men and women engaging in healthy relationships are extremely important to talk about, however difficult. And more personally, as a father, a husband, a brother and man of deep faith, I understand how much confusion and pain this incident has had on so many, most importantly the young woman who was involved." In an interview with The New York Times after Johnny's revelations to Variety, Nate Parker said, "I talked about it publicly and I never sought to hide it. It was the most painful thing I have ever had to experience. I can imagine it was painful for a lot of people." "It's a serious issue. I get it," he said. "The reality is there is a problem on campuses in America, and violence against women is not taken seriously enough. And the dialogue and the discourse isn't loud enough. I think there's even more that can be done to educate university students, men and women. Being a father of daughters, it's important to say if something happened, to lift your voice." He later said: "They say the oppressor is anyone who's not on the side of the oppressed. I stand firmly on the side of the oppressed." Asked if justice had been served in the case, he replied: "I was cleared of all charges. We're talking 17 years later. We're discussing a case which was thoroughly litigated. I was cleared of everything. At some point I have to ask myself, 'How often am I willing to relive it?'" Reactions to Parker's situation from classmates ... Reactions to Nate Parker making "The Birth of a Nation" -- and to the news of what may have happened in 1999, and how he may have handled himself back then, and when revelations about what may have happened back at Penn State 17 years ago -- have been powerful ... and divergent. Four Penn State alumni, who were classmates of actor and director Nate Parker, wrote an open letter in August, stating that they believe in his innocence with regards to a rape he was charged with 17 years ago, and believe that it is unfair that allegations are resurfacing just months before the release of "The Birth of a Nation." "We are both dismayed and disappointed at the gross and blatant misinformation campaign regarding the events that took place during that time period," the group's statement said. "We feel compelled to speak truth to this situation as the media has cherry-picked the most salacious elements while ignoring the actual record." ... and reaction from Hollywood and beyond Actress Gabrielle Union, whose character is raped in "The Birth of a Nation", said in late August, "As important and ground-breaking as this film is, I cannot take these allegations lightly." Union was raped at gunpoint 24 years ago while at work in a shoe store. "My compassion for victims of sexual violence is something that I cannot control. It spills out of me like an instinct rather than a choice. It pushes me to speak when I want to run away from the platform. When I am scared. Confused. Ashamed. I remember this part of myself and must reach out to anyone who will listen -- other survivors, or even potential perpetrators," said Union. Actor and long-time activist Harry Belafonte, 89, weighed in on the controversy, saying, "It's interesting because it's coming out the same time the film's coming out. Of all the stories you can tell, why are you telling this story?" the actor asked. "And if he was somebody who had committed a crime and got away with it, but he faced the justice system." "The fact that [the system] may have screwed up, the fact that it didn't really take care of justice, the fact that he should have been punished or whatever, is history," Belafonte said. "The fact is that he was confronted and then he did go through the process. Why are you bringing this up now? What has he done that requires this kind of animus?" Belafonte continued: "How do I put it in a perspective that helps me with greater clarity understand why this is the consequence of something he's done by getting this high-profile, 'cause this film is touching a lot of consciousness. Why isn't that the story?" Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette is someone who has spoken out on issues of gender equality. When asked by TheWrap.com about Nate Parker, she responded, "It's very hard because the film tells a very important story and it needs to be told." She added that Parker's situation was "a very sad story and a horrible story," she said. "I really just wish something good could come of this. How do we talk to young people going to college, how do we really deal with this in a healing way? I don't mean the specific situation [with Parker]. This situation [of rape] plays out all the time. How are we going to stop it?" Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said that the personal history of Nate Parker should not dissuade people from seeing "The Birth of a Nation." "The important thing is for people to see it and enjoy the film, be impressed by the film," she said. "People need to see this movie ... Just by the conversation that has gone on at Sundance, it's clearly a movie that filmgoers should go and see." Not everyone in Hollywood agrees with Boone Isaacs. Los Angeles street artist Sabo has produced posters reminiscent of those promoting "The Birth of a Nation" which feature Nate Parker's face with the word "Rapist?" in the same typeface used on the actual movie posters. "I wouldn't normally do something like this but [Parker] pissed me off right off the bat with the trailer and the poster," Sabo told TheWrap.com, explaining his motivation to create and post his provocative poster. The original movie poster features an image of Parker as Nat Turner, with a noose around his neck made of the American flag. "I find it very offensive someone is using the flag as a noose," said Sabo, a Texas-born artist who has been associated with right-leaning politics. He recently produced artwork to promote Dinesh D'Souza's anti-Clinton documentary "Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party." Others outside of Hollywood have announced they will not be seeing the film. Among them is Roxane Gray, a Purdue University professor, who wrote the following in The New York Times in late August: "I cannot separate the art and the artist, just as I cannot separate my blackness and my continuing desire for more representation of the black experience in film from my womanhood, my feminism, my own history of sexual violence, my humanity. "'The Birth of a Nation' is being billed as an important movie -- something we must see, a story that demands to be heard. I have not yet seen the movie, and now I won't. Just as I cannot compartmentalize the various markers of my identity, I cannot value a movie, no matter how good or 'important' it might be, over the dignity of a woman whose story should be seen as just as important, a woman who is no longer alive to speak for herself, or benefit from any measure of justice. No amount of empathy could make that possible." Some film critics weigh in Justin Chang, film critic for Variety, opened his review of "The Birth of a Nation" with this paragraph: "It speaks to his ambition that the writer, director, producer and actor Nate Parker chose to title his slavery drama "The Birth of a Nation" though the film would be a significant achievement by any name. Arriving more than a century after D.W. Griffith's epic lit up the screen with racist images forever destined to rankle and provoke, this powerfully confrontational account of Nat Turner's life and the slave rebellion he led in 1831 seeks to purify and reclaim a motion-picture medium that has only just begun to treat America's "peculiar institution" with anything like the honesty it deserves. If "12 Years a Slave" felt like a breakthrough on that score, then Parker's more conventionally told but still searingly impressive debut feature pushes the conversation further still: A biographical drama steeped equally in grace and horror, it builds to a brutal finale that will stir deep emotion and inevitable unease. But the film is perhaps even more accomplished as a theological provocation, one that grapples fearlessly with the intense spiritual convictions that drove Turner to do what he had previously considered unthinkable. Brian Truitt of USA Today served up a glowing review: "(Nat Turner) has his story told in brutal, unrelenting yet masterful fashion by director/star Nate Parker in "The Birth of a Nation" (four stars out of four), which chronicles a violent uprising of slaves in 1831 Virginia. While it has been overshadowed off-screen by past rape allegations surrounding Parker, the drama isn't an easy watch, either from the standpoint of tortured blacks or in their white owners' climactic comeuppance. Still, Parker crafts the narrative in a way that immerses audiences in the heartbreaking though redemptive emotional journey of the conflicted main character." The website Digg.com -- an aggregator for movie reviews -- provided a variety of film critics' comments on "The Birth of a Nation". The critic for TheVerge.com wrote, "'Birth of a Nation' is built around Parker's tremendous performance: his careful navigation of his household's specific racial boundaries, the love and joy that marks his personal life, and his gradual awakening to the larger realities of the slave existence. The film is at its most powerful when it's relying primarily on Parker's charisma and presence." "And despite its efforts to simplify and italicize the story, it's admirably difficult, raising thorny questions about ends and means, justice and mercy, and the legacy of racism that lies at the root of our national identity," according to The New York Times. The Seattle Times wrote, "It's part of the strength of Parker's film that the current controversy doesn't entirely overshadow its impact -- and that "Birth of a Nation" immediately becomes part of another crucial conversation, about race." The Los Angeles Times' film critic was not as positive. "This lack of subtlety is most evident in the characterizations, especially those of the film's almost invariably clichéd and morally bankrupt white people. Even if these overwhelmingly sadistic, perfidious folks are historically accurate, they do not make for dramatically effective characters." Opening weekend box office performance "The Birth of a Nation", which opened in 2,105 theaters nationwide on Friday, October 7, generated ticket sales of $7.1 million in its first weekend. The movie placed sixth in terms of box office, behind another new release, "The Woman on the Train" (which debuted at No. 1), and some films which had already been in theaters. "The Birth of a Nation" performed best in theaters in New York City, Atlanta, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Some Hollywood business experts think that Hurricane Matthew may have had a negative impact on ticket sales in the southeastern U.S. Moviegoers and film critics nationwide generally provided favorable feedback. The movie review aggregator website RottenTomatoes.com tallied 79% of reviews which offered positive reviews for "The Birth of a Nation." In addition, the film received an "A" CinemaScore from audiences. Some stats about the audience: 60% of filmgoers were older than age 25, with 50% of the audience being African-American while 40% the audience was white. When "The Birth of a Nation" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in January 2016, some attendees declared the film to be an early Oscar contender. Subsequent revelations may have an impact on potential award nominations ... as well as the film's financial success. Only time will tell.