InterMat Staff

STANFORD, Calif. -- Former Illinois standout Steven Rodrigues will join the Stanford wrestling staff as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2016-17 season, head coach Jason Borrelli announced today. Steven Rodrigues wrestles Nebraska's Austin Wilson at the Big Ten Championships (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)"We are thrilled that Steven will be joining our program as the volunteer assistant," said Borrelli, who begins his ninth season at the helm of the program this fall. "As we searched the country for the right person to fill that role, it was critical that we found someone that shares our Cardinal Caliber values. Steven is that guy! "He is an example of what you can accomplish through hard work, sacrifice, passion, positive attitude, and integrity. He is the perfect addition to the Stanford wrestling family and will definitely have a positive impact on the entire program." Rodrigues will assist the staff in all areas of the program, focusing on the middle weights. Illinois' starter at 165 pounds in 2015-16, Rodrigues secured All-America honors by placing fifth at the NCAA Championships in New York City. He took third at the Big Ten Championships as a senior, boasting a 30-5 record. He also won the Reno Tournament of Champions, while leading the Fighting Illini in major decision on the year (11). Rodrigues, who is a native of Mount Kisco, New York, was a sports management major at Illinois. He is a three-time Big Ten All-Academic selection.

The Olympics are 70 days away and with no more qualifying events the only thing left to consider is who each country is going to send as their representative. With such a massive event on the horizon you would think spots had been earned and teams named, but in two prominent freestyle stories those answers are amiss. The most compelling drama belongs to two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar's court action against the Indian Wrestling Federation. Though he's been absent from competition for much of the last four years, he's requesting a special wrestle-off against Narsingh Yadav, the 2015 World bronze medalist for India at 74 kilos. While Kumar is unquestionably the best wrestler in Indian history, his absence from the sport and bumping up of weights can't be ignored. For their part the IWF has been stalwart in their repelling of Kumar's attempts at securing the wrestle-off, saying that since Yadav qualified the spot he should go to the Olympics. A fair assessment, since allowing Kumar an opportunity to wrestle off would open a Pandora's box of challengers across all weight categories. Yadav will likely retain the spot, but the entire drama has been fun to watch and is worth the read. The other drama is going on now with the Russian National tournament in Yakutsk. Earlier today the match Dagestan's Muskaev started a fistfight and prompted the entire Dagetani contingency to boycott wrestling after a bad call gave Yakutia's hometown hero Viktor Lebedev a controversial win. Be sure to watch and see how the rest of the tournament unfolds! To your questions … Q: Why are our top guys competing in Beat the Streets and the World Cup? What if they get hurt? Seem a bit much to have folks going full out live within 60 days of the Olympics, no? -- Bryan R. Foley: The Beat the Streets event was up in weight and against opponents who either offered a great learning opportunity (Kim Hyeon-woo of Korea) or who offered little real threat of winning (see: entire freestyle opposition). As for the World Cup I think it's a perfect time to tune the engines. There will be a nice weight cut, some good match experience (again, against lower accredited opponents) and a warm-up to the atmosphere expectant in Rio. The rest of the world is actually choosing to wrestle 60 days out as well. I'm currently in Tokyo for a documentary on Yoshida and Icho and learned that Icho is headed to Poland for a tournament in two weeks. Along the same lines Frank Staebler is also headed to Poland to compete, as is most of the Mongolian women's national team. Overall, I think 60 days is a nice time to get in one last tune-up tournament, or at least a few matches. Morgan McIntosh battles J'den Cox in the NCAA finals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Q: About 14 months ago Morgan McIntosh beat both Kyle Snyder (4-1) and J'den Cox (3-1). Granted, these were folkstyle matches. But do you think McIntosh has a chance to make a World team in the next Olympic cycle? -- Ronald M. Foley: After Frank Molinaro made the U.S. Olympic Team, it's safe to say that everyone has a chance. McIntosh's best chance would be if Snyder moved into heavyweight at some point and allowed for some room in the lineup. Otherwise, he may need to move up on his own and see how he fairs. Important to note as well that freestyle and folkstyle are dramatically different. Would need to see more of Morgan before I could endorse him with an upset victory over two very promising young Olympians, with one of them being the defending World champion. Q: What are your thoughts on the Minnesota state of affairs? J Robinson handled a Xanax case in house? -- Todd S. Foley: This is a shorter mailbag so let me leave you with my initial reaction. J Robinson did what he thought was best by his team and the individuals involved. There was nothing nefarious about his actions and it was never (in my opinion) his job to turn the athletes into the police. So far no cover up seems afoot, so it's really just a concerned father figure looking to help his athletes make better decisions. And for anyone who thinks that pills aren't on every campus and being sold by damn near everyone with a prescription, you're fooling yourself. Abuse of prescribed medications like Xanax and Oxycontin is an epidemic and like all good American scandals someone is getting rich off it … and it's not the Minnesota wrestling team. For J I imagine that the real rub is that the drugs were being sold by his team and to his team. While there were pills being sold outside of his program, he knew that correcting their behavior would benefit everyone. Whether pills or marijuana or other recreational drugs the impulse to punish those involved is too high (pun not intended). Should they be forced into jail, or clog the justice system because they helped others consume a drug to help them relax? This argument isn't for the wrestlers, but a broader issue we face in determining what the right course of action is for this behavior. On the scale of just punishments J Rob's was much more in line with a sensible solution than that of a random judge adjudicating the process. And again, I feel this way about most recreational non-habit-forming drug users and sellers. Q: Will J Robinson survive this drug scandal at Minnesota? Or is too early to know? -- Mike C. Foley: Dealing strictly with J Rob's job security -- not the above mentioned analysis of right/wrong -- I'll guess that he resigns rather than is made to suffer some ongoing investigation. These things have legs because they find clicks and reaffirm the belief that college athletics is dirty business. Basically he'll go because there will be pressure by the media, for the sake of the media. In my opinion, J's career is far too distinguished for him to be bogged down in this type of mess. My hope is that he stays this year and resigns at the end of next season, handing off to someone like Damion Hahn whose name recognition and coaching pedigree are fantastic and appropriate. Overall, probably too early to know, but in my experience these stories -- especially on college campuses -- don't just disappear. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Panda-monium Water Bottle Flip is the best Internet video … Ever? Q: With Mike Mendoza leaving CSU Bakersfield for Boise State, any thoughts on who might take over at CSU Baskersfield? -- Mike C. Foley: I haven't the faintest. There are a lot of challenges to that job. Bring back Joe Seay? Q: I know this is very subjective, but if Spencer Lee keeps winning like he has been, do you put him as the greatest high school wrestler of all time? What he has done the last few years on the high school, national, and international stages is mind blowing. -- Joe F. Foley: Yes, but I think he needs to make a senior team or log some type of senior level victory to be on the same level as Cary Kolat. That and he needs to win out the rest of his matches until graduation on both stages and do so in dominant fashion. I think that the amount of attention he receives (InterMat, Flo, etc.) will help further the argument that he's as good, or maybe better, than Kolat. Q: Who wins American Wrestling Idol between Olympians Kerry McCoy (2000, 2004) playing the cello (pre-YouTube, apparently) and J'den Cox (2016) playing the guitar and singing? -- Irv O. Foley: J'den is undefeated on the mat. Imagine that will remain when he steps on stage since in addition to playing an instrument the guy also can belt a note.

Four Americans -- Dave Schultz, Rick Tucci, Bill Farrell, and Joe Scalzo -- are among the 15 former wrestlers, coaches, officials and community members to be welcomed into the Class of 2016 of the Hall of Fame for United World Wrestling, the international governing body for the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced Wednesday. Dave SchultzThe class will be presented on August 12 at the start of wrestling competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dave Schultz is among the honorees in the men's freestyle wrestling category. Among Schultz's accomplishments: Olympic Champion 1984; World Champion 1983; World Silver medalist 1985, 1987, and 1993; World Bronze medalist 1982 and 1986. Schultz was welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997, one year after being murdered by John du Pont at the multi-millionaire's Foxcatcher Farm training facility outside Philadelphia. Rick Tucci is an honoree in the Officials category. Among Tucci's achievements: Officiated eight Olympic Games; International Instructor from 1990-2012; officiated 75 World Championships at the Senior, Junior, and Cadet levels; presented with FILA Golden Whistle in 1988; awarded two FILA Gold Stars; President of USA Wrestling Officials Association since 1986. Tucci was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 2001 and received the Meritorious Official award in 1994. William "Bill" Farrell is being inducted posthumously into the Coaching category. Among Farrell's accomplishments: New York Athletic Club President and Coach; Coach of 1972 USA Freestyle Olympic Team and medalists Dan Gable, Wayne Wells, and Ben Peterson; coached 13-time World and Olympic medalist Bruce Baumgartner. Farrell was welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1987. He passed away in June 2012. Being welcomed posthumously into the Leadership category is Joe Scalzo. Among his career achievements: Vice President. Founder and Organizer of FILA World Cup in 1973 and hosted the first 13 World Cups in the USA; organizer of 1962 and 1966 World Championships. Scalzo died in June 1986; he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1987. The Hall of Fame class will include one Order of Merit recipient, two Leadership recipients, one Officials recipient, two Coaching recipients, two Female freestyle recipients, three Men's freestyle recipients, and four Greco-Roman recipients. Wrestlers from 11 countries are represented in the class with a total of seven individual Olympic gold medals and 17 individual World Championship titles included in their combined accomplishments. "I want to thank our Hall of Fame Commission and wrestling vice president Stan Dziedzic for their work in selecting the honorees for the Hall of Fame Class of 2016," said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. "This is the 13th anniversary of the Hall of Fame and this class pays special tribute to individuals in our sport with legacies of excellence which are worthy of recognition and preservation." "This year's ceremony is special for me," said Dziedzic, who was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1996. "Bill Farrell was my coach at the NYAC and I was the USA National Coach when Dave Schultz won his 1983 World title and 1984 Olympic Gold Medal." For a complete list of honorees, click here.

Daniel Cormier, a two-time Olympian in men's freestyle wrestling and current UFC light heavyweight champion, will serve as the Honorary Chairman of the 2016 World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling, set for The Forum in Los Angeles, June 11-12. Cormier will be supporting the promotional efforts for the World Cup and encouraging the public to come out to see the action, which will feature the top eight men's freestyle nations in action. The U.S. World Cup team will include all six of the 2016 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestlers. Many of the other nations will also include their 2016 Olympic athletes on their rosters. "It is a great opportunity. You get to see guys in the final stages of their preparation. During off-Olympic years, you may get to see guys who are not peaked. This is in the phase of when they are peaking for the Olympic Games, two months before the competition. The foreign wrestlers will also be in peak condition. Not only will you get to see our guys at their best, but you get to see them competing against some of the best wrestlers in the world at their peak. It is very rare that we get that kind of opportunity here in the United States," said Cormier. This is the third straight year which the World Cup has been held in Los Angeles and hosted at The Forum. Cormier joins two other former wrestlers and major public figures who have served as Honorary Chairman of the World Cup. In 2014, award-winning actor Billy Baldwin was the Honorary Chairman. In 2015, Stephen Neal, a World champion wrestler and three-time Super Bowl champion with the NFL New England Patriots, served as the Honorary Chairman. Cormier had a successful career in international freestyle wrestling. He was a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team, which competed in Athens, Greece, as well as the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, which competed in Beijing, China. Cormier placed fourth at the 2004 Olympic Games. He was a 2007 World bronze medalist and placed fifth in the 2003 World Championships. He wrestled on six straight U.S. World or Olympic Teams, and won six straight U.S. Open national titles. Cormier, who follows international wrestling closely in spite of his busy schedule as a UFC athlete and a television commentator, is excited about the U.S. team which will compete at the World Cup and at the Olympic Games. "We have an amazing team this year. A chance to see them live is something you can't get back after it's gone. We have one of the better Olympic teams that we have had in a long time," said Cormier. A native of Lafayette, La., Cormier was a two-time NJCAA Junior College national champion for Colby CC in Kansas. He went on to Oklahoma State, where he placed second in the 2001 NCAA Div. I Championships, competing for two-time Olympic champion John Smith. The 37-year-old Cormier trains at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose alongside fellow UFC standouts such as Cain Velasquez and Luke Rockhold. Since moving to California, he has been impressed by the quality of the wrestling and the culture of the sport in the state. "Wrestling in California is huge. The state championships draws massive numbers. I have a youth wrestling club, and every weekend, we wrestle in massive tournaments. The kids get to wrestle five, six times a weekend. In the LA area, this is a big deal, for people to be able to see wrestling at such a high level. The last time I was at the World Cup at the Forum, it was amazing. You can feel the history of the building. The team went out and had a fantastic performance. It will be a big crowd. People should not miss this opportunity to see the best in the world," said Cormier. Cormier won a silver medal at the 2005 World Cup which was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. "It is the history of the event that make it special. It dates back as far as I can remember. Some of the greatest American wrestlers have won the World Cup. It is a very prestigious event. The World Cup is different than other international events. It brings you back to your days in high school wrestling and college wrestling when you wrestle in dual meets. Your result directly affects the team and its ability to win. I only wrestled in one World Cup, with six years on the World Team and eight years on the national team. It was a great experience," said Cormier. He is excited that wrestling, his favorite sport, will be showcased once again in Los Angeles, the U.S. bid city for the 2024 Olympic Games. Having been on two Olympic teams (2004 in Athens and 2008 in Beijing), Cormier would to see the Olympics hosted in the United States once again. "LA right now is a great sports city. The World Cup will show that Olympic sports can draw people. We have not had an Olympics in LA since 1984. If the Olympics go back to LA, it will be great. LA is a huge city, a sports city. The people in LA would love it. This is a chance to show that the city can host an Olympic-level competition and be successful. Los Angeles is so diverse. You have everybody in Los Angeles. You have a ton of different cultures in the LA area," said Cormier. Cormier has excelled in his Mixed Martial Arts career, compiling an impressive 17-1 record while competing at heavyweight and light heavyweight. Cormier will not be able to attend the World Cup this year due to training. Cormier is currently preparing for the UFC light heavyweight title fight against Jon "Bones" Jones at UFC 200, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nev. on July 9. This is a huge fight, as both of these former wrestlers have held the UFC title belt during their careers. Jones beat Cormier in their only previous battle by decision, a title match during UFC 182 on January 3, 2015. "Preparation is going great. I have had Ed Ruth in training camp to wrestle, Deron Winn in training camp to wrestle. I've got a kid from Iowa State coming in to wrestle also. I am wrestling with the best guys I can find to emulate Jon Jones. (Khadjimurad) Gatsalov of Russia was the best wrestler I ever wrestled, but he didn't have the type of style and the funky ability of Jones. Ed Ruth is a wiry, tricky wrestler. I am bringing in guys who can give me that feel. I was outwrestled the last fight. He pushed me against the fence and took me down two or three times. That is not happening again," said Cormier. Cormier has helped with the World Cup in Los Angeles in the past, serving as the Honorary U.S. Team Captain in 2014, sitting with the team mat side and providing support to the athletes and coaches. The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, as the eight best men's freestyle teams will compete against each other. At the 2016 World Cup, the United States will be joined by (alphabetically): Azerbaijan, Georgia, India, Iran, Mongolia, Russia and Turkey. Lineups for the other seven teams in the World Cup will be announced shortly. The United States is slated to face Iran, Azerbaijan and India in Group B competition. Russia headlines a tough Group A pool that also includes Georgia, Turkey and Mongolia. Attendees can purchase tickets for the popular international competition through Ticketmaster. FREESTYLE WRESTLING WORLD CUP SCHEDULE Saturday, June 11 Session I - Round 1 & 2 of Pools (3 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) Sunday, June 12 Session II - Round 3 of Pools, 5th & 7th Place Matches (11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) Session III - 3rd Place Match, followed by 1st Place Match (5 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) General admission for both the Saturday and Sunday sessions are just $60 total or $35 for individual days. Preferred seating options are available for $85 for both Saturday and Sunday, or $55 individually.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City University has chosen Matt Stevens as head women's wrestling coach. Stevens had spent the past two seasons as assistant coach on OCU's coaching staff. During that time, OCU produced six national champions, 26 all-Americans and a 59-17 dual record. In 2015-16, OCU finished runner-up in the Women's College Wrestling Association Championships with three national champions and nine all-Americans. The Stars went 16-5 with a runner-up showing in the NWCA National Duals. OCU owns WCWA championships won in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Stars had three all-Americans to finish 13th in the NAIA Championships last season. OCU won the NAIA Central Qualifying Group Tournament title while going 16-4 in duals. "Women's wrestling is an important program on our campus, and I'm happy to have Matt as our head coach," OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. "Matt is committed to building the program academically, socially, and competitively. I have every reason to believe that he will continue the program's tradition of success under Matt's direction." Stevens' other coaching experience has been at Tulsa Union High School, Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City and Moore West Junior High. In 2013-14 with Stevens' aid, Union had three state placers, including Chance Wenglewski, the runner-up at 195 pounds, in the Class 6A state tournament. Union finished sixth place in the team standings and reached the semifinals of the dual state tournament. At Westmoore, Stevens helped produce a state champion and multiple state placers. Stevens guided 10 state champions and a team state champ at Moore West. On Team Oklahoma, Stevens has been serving as team director, leading the team to the freestyle national championship in the Junior National Duals in June at Abe Lemons Arena. Stevens represents Oklahoma in the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Stevens earned his bachelor of arts degree in communications from Fort Hays State (Kan.). Stevens wrestled on the collegiate level for three years at Fort Hays. As a high school wrestler, he posted a 107-13 record, became a state champion and all-stater while placing multiple times in the state tournament at Junction City, Kan. Stars pick Campbell as men's wrestling coach Oklahoma City University has named C.J. Campbell as head men's wrestling coach. Campbell had spent the past two seasons as assistant coach on OCU's coaching staff. During that time, OCU produced six national champions, 26 all-Americans and a 59-17 dual record. In 2015-16, the Stars had three all-Americans to finish 13th in the NAIA Championships. OCU won the NAIA Central Qualifying Group Tournament title while going 16-4 in duals. OCU finished runner-up in the Women's College Wrestling Association Championships with three national champions and nine all-Americans. The Stars went 16-5 with a runner-up showing in the NWCA National Duals. OCU owns WCWA championships won in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. "We are excited to have C.J. leading our men's wrestling program," OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. "C.J. brings a wealth of experience, including collegiate head-coaching experience, and has proven his capabilities in the time that he has been on campus." Campbell said, "I am honored for the opportunity to lead the men's wrestling program at Oklahoma City University. We have a talented group of wrestlers returning next season, along with a great recruiting class. Our goal is to win a national championship, and I believe that is on the horizon. More importantly, we are looking to shape and mold young men into champions in life by upholding a culture of strong moral values and a commitment to excellence in every aspect of life." Prior to coming to OCU, Campbell spent three seasons as Jamestown (N.D.) head coach and one as assistant for the Jimmies. Campbell mentored two NAIA all-Americans, two qualifying group champions and 16 national qualifiers with the Jimmies. The Jimmies also achieved in the classroom with three NAIA scholar-athlete award winners and a CoSIDA academic all-American during Campbell's tenure. Campbell's previous head-coaching experience came at Shelley High School in Shelley, Idaho, where he produced six state qualifiers and three state placers. Campbell has experience guiding Olympic athletes, helping the Chinese train for the 2008 Olympics as strength and conditioning coach for the Guong Dong Institute of Sports in 2007. As a wrestler, Campbell became a two-time NAIA all-American, national finalist, and regional champion for Lindenwood University (Mo.). He was a two-time NJCAA all-American at Southwestern Oregon Community College. As a prep wrestler, Campbell was a state champion, two-time state finalist, four-time state placer and a two-time district champion.

Four University of Minnesota wrestlers are being investigated for selling the prescription drug Xanax and ten others are suspected of using the anti-anxiety drug, while head coach J Robinson is being investigated for how he may have tried to handle the situation internally, according to a news report from KMSP-TV Fox 9, the Fox affiliate in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Tuesday. The KMSP-TV Fox 9 Investigators story also alleged that an informant told University of Minnesota Police the wrestlers were selling what they called "Zanny" for $5 a pill to individuals who used the drug with caffeinated sports energy drinks to get high. In addition, Fox 9 reported that campus police are investigating a series of post-season team meetings in March, where long-time head wrestling coach J Robinson allegedly ordered mandatory urine testing, telling his wrestlers if they wrote a one-page personal essay about what they had done, they'd be "granted amnesty." Minnesota coach J Robinson coaching at the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)In April, Robinson allegedly sent a text to his wrestlers, saying, in part, "remember that paper is due on my desk by tomorrow evening. #1 What emotions you're feeling by getting caught? #2 What did you learn from this? #3 What are you going to do different, your plan, so it doesn't happen again." KMSP-TV stated that university police interviewed Robinson at his office on campus in April. The coach reportedly told them he was aware of narcotics use on the team, and he had fully taken care of the issues. He would not provide the essays or the names of those involved to police, unless they were granted immunity. When KMSP-TV contacted Robinson by phone last week, he didn't deny an investigation, but said "it's all data practices," referring to Minnesota's open public records law. KSTP-TV, the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities, reported Wednesday that the alleged drug-related incidents took place between January and March, 2016. Late Wednesday night, the Star-Tribune reported that an unidentified Minnesota wrestler told the paper that Robinson collected about 1,400 Xanax pills that members of his team were ready to sell, yet did not report the drug issue to police. The wrestler, who spoke to the Star-Tribune on the condition of anonymity, said he talked to police about Robinson's handling of the team's Xanax issue. "It was $5 a pill for anyone on the team and $8 for anyone else," said the source, who estimates that 10 to 12 members of the team were abusing Xanax. He said wrestlers also sold pills to athletes from other Gophers sports. While efforts to reach Robinson have been unsuccessful, the school's press department has issued statements. "The University takes allegations of this nature seriously, and upon receiving information the University provided it to UMPD (University of Minnesota Police Department)," spokesperson Evan Lapiska wrote in a statement to the Star-Tribune. "In consultation with UMPD, the University is allowing for the legal investigation to conclude before conducting its own internal investigation. As it remains part of an active investigation, we do not have anything additional to share at this time." Lapiska said that Robinson remains an active employee of the university. The spokesman added that incoming athletic director Mark Coyle is aware of the investigation and is monitoring it. Lapiska also made clear that any information on student discipline would remain private, in compliance with FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law which prohibits colleges and universities from releasing personally identifiable information derived from education records, including information regarding student disciplinary matters, even in cases of nationally-recognized student-athletes. Xanax is a brand name for alprazolam, a prescription drug which is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression, according to Drugs.com. First introduced in 1969 by Upjohn (now Pfizer), Xanax is the 12th most widely prescribed medication in the U.S. Xanax is not considered to be a performance enhancer. Nor is it a banned substance according to the NCAA. Therefore, any alleged use of Xanax on the part of student-athletes may not violate NCAA rules. Wrestling has been on the roster at University of Minnesota since 1919. During that time, the Golden Gophers have won three NCAA team titles: 2001, 2002 and 2007. J Robinson was named head coach in 1986, making him the second-longest serving in Minnesota mat history (behind Wally Johnson, who was at the helm for 34 seasons immediately before J Rob). In his 30 seasons as head coach, Robinson has guided the Gophers to an overall record of 440-145-4, for a .747 winning percentage, the highest of any wrestling coach at the school.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- USA Wrestling has announced its lineup for the 2016 Men's Freestyle Wrestling World Cup at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., June 11-12. The team will be led by the six members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team in freestyle wrestling, including 2012 Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs at 74 kg/163 lbs. and 2012 Olympian Tervel Dlagnev at 125 kg/275 lbs. Burroughs is also a three-time World champion (2011, 2013, 2015) and a 2014 World bronze medalist. He has an amazing 124-2 career international record, which includes gold medals at the Pan American Games, the World Cup and many other major international events. He was a two-time NCAA champion for the Univ. of Nebraska, and won the Hodge Trophy as the nation's top college wrestler. Dlagnev was a 2009 and 2014 World bronze medalist, and placed fifth at the 2012 Olympic Games. He was also fifth at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships. He won two NCAA Div. II national titles for Nebraska-Kearney. Burroughs and Dlagnev will be joined by first-time Olympians Daniel Dennis at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., Frank Molinaro at 65 kg/145.5 lbs., J'den Cox at 86 kg/189 lbs. and Kyle Snyder at 97 kg/213 lbs. Snyder became the youngest U.S. Senior World champion when he won the 2015 World title in Las Vegas at the age of 19. These four Olympians all have strong college backgrounds. Cox and Snyder are still college student-athletes, with Cox a two-time NCAA champion for Missouri and Snyder an NCAA champion for Ohio State. Molinaro was an NCAA champion for Penn State, while Dennis was an NCAA runner-up for Iowa. Each team will have athletes in the six Olympic weight classes and two non-Olympic weight classes, and can have as many as two wrestlers per weight class. The United States is expected to bring 12 athletes to World Cup, with two in every weight. There will be a seventh Olympian on the roster, 2012 Olympic champion and 2011 World bronze medalist Jake Varner at 97 kg/213 lbs. Varner is one of two California natives on the U.S. team. He was a a two-time state champion for Bakersfield High School, before going to Iowa State, where he won two NCAA titles. The other Californian is Nahshon Garrett at 61 kg/134 lbs., who was a two-time state champion for Chico High School, before going to Cornell, where he was a 2016 NCAA champion. It was previously announced that LA-area native Aaron Pico would compete at 70 kg/154 lbs. but he had to withdraw for medical reasons. That spot on the U.S. team is currently not filled. The team will feature two other members of the 2015 U.S. World Team, World bronze medalist James Green at 70 kg/154 lbs., as well as Zach Rey at 125 kg/275 lbs. Rey was an NCAA champion for Lehigh, and Green a four-time All-American for Nebraska. Other past NCAA champions on the U.S. roster include three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer from Oklahoma State at 74 kg/163 lbs., two-time NCAA champion David Taylor from Penn State at 86 kg/189 lbs., plus NCAA champions Tony Ramos from Iowa at 61 kg/134 lbs. and Zain Retherford from Penn State. Ramos was also a member of the 2014 and 2015 U.S. World Teams. Dieringer and Taylor have won Hodge Trophies as the nation's top college wrestlers. Also on the USA lineup is Missouri All-American Alan Waters at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. Combined, the 2016 U.S. Freestyle World Cup Team has won two Olympic gold medals, four World titles, 10 World medals, 19 NCAA titles and three Dan Hodge Trophies. The U.S. team will train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. prior to coming to Los Angeles for the competition. The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, as the eight best men's freestyle teams will compete against each other. At the 2016 World Cup, the United States will be joined by (alphabetically): Azerbaijan, Georgia, India, Iran, Mongolia, Russia and Turkey. Lineups for the other seven teams in the World Cup will be announced shortly. The United States is slated to face Iran, Azerbaijan and India in Group B competition. Russia headlines a tough Group A pool that also includes Georgia, Turkey and Mongolia. This is the last chance for fans to see the U.S. Olympic Team, plus other Olympians and world-class athletes in action one more time before the Summer Olympics. Attendees can purchase tickets for the popular international competition through Ticketmaster. FREESTYLE WORLD CUP At The Forum, Inglewood, Calif., June 11-12 United States roster 57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC) 57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Alan Waters, Columbia, Mo. (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) 61 kg/134 lbs. - Tony Ramos, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC) 61 kg/134 lbs. - Nahshon Garrett, Chico, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes WC) 65 kg/145.5 lbs. - Frank Molinaro, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 65 kg/145.5 lbs. - Zain Retherford, Benton, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 70 kg/154 lbs. - James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC) 70 kg 154 lbs. - TBA 74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC) 74 kg/163 lbs. - Alex Dieringer, Port Washington, Wis. (Cowboy WC) 86 kg/189 lbs. - J'Den Cox, Columbia, Mo. (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) 86 kg/189 lbs. - David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 97 kg/213 lbs. - Kyle Snyder, Woodbine, Md. (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC) 97 kg/213 lbs. - Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) 125 kg/275 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC) 125 kg/275 lbs. - Zach Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley WC) Team Leader - Andy Barth, San Marino, Calif. National Freestyle Coach - Bruce Burnett, Colorado Springs, Colo. Assistant National Freestyle Coach - Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo. Assistant National Freestyle Coach - Brandon Slay, Colorado Springs, Colo. FREESTYLE WRESTLING WORLD CUP SCHEDULE Saturday, June 11: Session I - Round 1 & 2 of Pools (3 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) Sunday, June 12: Session II - Round 3 of Pools, 5th & 7th Place Matches (11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) Session III - 3rd Place Match, followed by 1st Place Match (5 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) General admission for both the Saturday and Sunday sessions are just $60 total or $35 for individual days. Preferred seating options are available for $85 for both Saturday and Sunday, or $55 individually.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- New Cal Poly wrestling head coach Jon Sioredas has completed his coaching staff by announcing the additions of Todd Schavrien and Mike Hatcher. Schavrien was an NCAA All-American wrestler at Missouri while Hatcher was a part of four national championship teams at Iowa. “We are thrilled to announce that Schavrien and Hatcher are officially on board to help lead the future of Mustang Wrestling,” said Sioredas, hired April 5 after spending the last two seasons as head coach at Grand Canyon. “Coach Schavrien will be our head assistant and will oversee both recruiting and operations while Coach Hatcher will be our director of development, taking on the primary role in the wrestling room,” Sioredas added. “Both have strong wrestling backgrounds, but more importantly they understand the mission here at Cal Poly and what it takes to be successful both on and off the mat,” Sioredas said. “I have known both of these guys for a long time and I am more than excited to get them on campus to help continue the strong wrestling tradition here at Cal Poly.” Hatcher has already assumed his new duties at Cal Poly while Schavrien begins June 1. Schavrien has served coaching stints at Appalachian State, Missouri, and Drexel. He was the head assistant at Appalachian State last season and helped guide the Mountaineers into the Top 25, being ranked as high as No. 18 in the country. The Mountaineers also topped Indiana in the NWCA National Duals Championship Series last season. Schavrien also spent three years on the coaching staff at Missouri, where he was the Director of Operations for two years and promoted to the Volunteer Assistant Coach for the No. 1-ranked Tigers in 2015. He also coached at Drexel University after a successful wrestling career at Missouri. Schavrien has coached two NCAA National Champions, 12 All-Americans and three of his teams finished in the Top 15 at the NCAA Championship. He was also instrumental in recruiting three top-10 recruiting classes. A three-time NCAA qualifier himself, Schavrien capped his wrestling career with the Tigers by winning the Big 12 Championship and placing sixth in the country, earning All-America honors at 141 pounds, in 2011. Schavrien finished his career with an 86-44 record in three years with Mizzou after spending his first two seasons at Arizona State. He served as Mizzou's team captain during the 2010-11 campaign and won the team's Hap Whitney Coach's Award at the end of that season. The award is given to the wrestler who displays dedication, commitment, sacrifice and selflessness to the team on a consistent basis. Schavrien, a product of powerhouse Poway High School in San Diego County, was a 2006 California high school state champion and a two-time prep All-American. He also captured an FILA Junior National Championship at 60kg in 2007. Schavrien earned his bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies from Missouri in 2011 and a master's degree in business administration from William Woods University in 2016. “Coach Schavrien has been an integral part of one of the best-run programs in the country at the University of Missouri as both a student-athlete and a coach,” said Sioredas. “He also brings coaching experience at the mid-major level, having spent time at App State and Drexel.” Hatcher comes to Cal Poly after coaching roles at Grand Canyon and Tennessee at Chattanooga. Hatcher also has extensive experience training senior-level athletes, having coached multiple World Team members and multiple athletes on the World/Olympic ladder. Hatcher wrestled for the legendary Dan Gable at Iowa from 1993-96 and also succeeded in the classroom at Iowa, making the dean's list in his senior campaign. Hatcher was on staff at Chattanooga for four years, capturing three Southern Conference team championships and producing 14 individual conference champions and 17 NCAA qualifiers. UTC was also in the top 15 twice in team GPA during Hatcher's tenure. While on the Chattanooga staff, Hatcher was also the director of the Chattanooga Wrestling Club. The CWC produced 30 state champions, 60 state place winners and 10 All-Americans in that time. Hatcher has also spent five years as the Director of Olympic Regional Training Centers in both Tennessee and Arizona. In his time as director, he has coached multiple University All-Americans and FILA Junior All-Americans at the collegiate level. His high school-level Regional Training Center members have placed in Fargo, FILA Cadets and numerous other national level events. Hatcher was a high school physical education/health teacher for 10 years. He spent four years at Durant High School (Iowa), four years at Martin County High School (Fla.) and one year each at Krop High School (Fla.) and Coral Glades High School (Fla.). Hatcher earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Iowa. He is also an active member of USA Wrestling, the national governing body for the sport, having held positions on both the board of directors and as the state chairman. “Having been on four national championship teams at Iowa while wrestling for legendary coach Dan Gable, the experience Hatcher brings to the table goes without saying,” said Sioredas. “He has also coached at the highest level of our sport, having trained several senior level guys that have made world teams and been on the Olympic ladder.”

The NHSCA National Duals take place this weekend in Virginia Beach. In this event's 17th edition, there are now divisions for high school, junior high, and elementary school-aged competitors. The high school division features over 160 teams, with many of the nation's elite talent present. The Young Guns Black entry is the defending champions in the high school division. The squad is anchored by five state champions, four from Pennsylvania and Iowa's Bryce West (Highland Riverside). Champions from Pennsylvania include Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford), Kaleb Young (Punxsatawney), Jacob Robb (Armstrong), and Jake Besitel (Southmoreland). Also on the squad are nationally notable wrestlers Drew West (Highland Riverside, Iowa), Cole Manley (Altoona, Pa.), Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area, Pa.), and Drew Phipps (Norwin, Pa.). Iowa State signee Kanen Storr is expected to be a key contributor for Team Kong United at this weekend's NHSCA National Duals (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)However, this year's favorite is Team Kong United, which is a mixed entry of stars from across the United States and wrestlers from New York. This group was runners-up last year, and is in prime position to ascend a step higher on the podium this year. Anchoring the squad is the possibility of nine starting weight classes with wrestlers that ended the season nationally ranked by InterMat: Malik Heinselman (Castle View, Colo.), Adam Busiello (Eastport-South Manor, N.Y.), Jacori Teemer (Long Beach, N.Y.), Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) or Alex Felix (Gilroy, Calif.), Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.), Dominick Demas (Dublin Coffman, Ohio), Tucker Leavitt (Highland, Idaho), Cohlton Schultz (Ponderosa, Colo.), and Gannon Gremmel (Dubuque Hempstead, Iowa). Additional entries to watch include Team Nauman Goofy, Bad Karma Silver, Illinois Outsiders, Indiana High Rollers Black, Bison Legend Orange, and Shore Thing CFWA. Additional notable wrestlers in the field include the following top 100 graduating seniors: No. 13 Hayden Hidlay (Bison Legend Orange), No. 15 Luke Karam (Renegade Elite), No. 30 Dakota Geer (Team Nauman Goofy), No. 32 Drew Hughes (Indiana High Rollers Black), No. 33 Jake Wentzel (Team Nauman Goofy), No. 46 Tyshawn White (Diesel), No. 53 Brent Moore (Team Stomp Blue), No. 60 Sebastian Rivera (Elite Wrestling NJ Gold), No. 67 Austin Bell (Team Nauman Goofy), No. 68 Elijah Cleary (Shore Thing CFWA), No. 75 Tariq Wilson (Ohio Raptors), No. 80 John Jakobsen (Renegade Elite), No. 90 Dan Perry (Wrestling Addix Bad Boys), and No. 95 Ryan Deakin (Ragin Raisins Pink). Also present are the following otherwise not listed top 50 rising seniors: No. 10 Austin O'Connor (Illinois Outsiders), No. 12 Michael Labriola (Renegade Elite), No. 14 Austin Gomez (Illinois Outsiders), No. 17 Trent Hillger (Money Team), No. 21 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pit Bull), No. 25 Jelani Embree (Michigan Gold Pitbulls), No. 29 Eric Hong (Pit Bull), No. 39 Jared Campbell (Team Nauman Goofy), No. 42 Stephan Glasgow (Bad Karma Silver), No. 45 Travis Stefanik (Dark Knights), No. 48 Paul Konrath (Indiana High Rollers Black), and No. 50 Mekhi Lewis (Bad Karma Silver). Other rising seniors to watch include: Noah Adams (Team Indy), Zane Black (Iron Eagle), Jake Brindley (Shore Thing CFWA), K.J. Fenstermacher (Dark Knights), James Handwerk (Ohio Raptors), Allan Hart (Team Nauman Goofy), Gunnar Larson (Indiana High Rollers Black), Max Lyon (Team Kong United), Drew Marten (Money Team), Georgio Poullas (Bad Karma Silver), Bryce Rogers (Shore Thing CFWA), Corey Shie (Ohio Raptors), Denton Spencer (Powerhouse Virginia), Kyron Taylor (South Florida Lightning), Zach Trampe (SEPA Blue), and Jake Woodley (Pit Bull). Top 50 Class of 2018 prospects -- otherwise not listed -- in the field include: No. 6 Michael Beard (Malvern WC), No. 9 Sammy Sasso (Dark Knights), No. 11 Mitch Moore (Team Stomp Blue), No. 21 Mason Parris (Indiana High Rollers Black), No. 31 Trent Hidlay (Bison Legend Orange), No. 32 Grant Aronoff (South Florida Lightning), No. 34 Gavin Hoffman (Bison Legend Orange), No. 35 Quinn Kinner (Seagull Wrestling Club), No. 37 Francis Duggan (Pit Bull), No. 38 Cody Matthews (Bad Karma Silver), No. 48 Joe Manchio (Elite Wrestling NJ Gold), and No. 49 Anthony Walters (Young Guns Black). Also in the field are the following additional top 25 Class of 2019 wrestlers: No. 4 Julian Chlebove (Dark Knights), No. 6 Jordan Decatur (Bad Karma Silver), No. 8 JoJo Aragona (SIR Wrestling), No. 12 Travis Ford-Melton (Illinois Outsiders), No. 13 Connor McGonagle (Team Nauman Goofy), No. 19 Sam Dover (Battlezone). Other notable rising sophomores include: Ryan Anderson (Renegade Elite), Zach DelVecchio (Shore Thing CFWA), and Edmund Ruth (Iron Eagle). Impact rising freshmen in the event include: No. 10 Andrew Cerniglia (PA Slam).

The next four to six weeks are going to be rather busy when it comes to high school-aged wrestling. There are many different types of events going on across all three styles (folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman). Some of the events are major, while others are less than major. All provide opportunity for scholastic-aged wrestlers to showcase their skills, as well as to grow and develop as wrestlers and young people. In addition to the NHSCA National Duals, which take place this weekend in Virginia Beach, other events over the Memorial Day holiday weekend include USA Wrestling's Southeast Regional in Atlanta to be held on Friday through Sunday. This is an all level event, kids through Juniors and will have tournaments in all three styles. Also to be conducted will the NUWAY America's Cup tournament on Saturday and Sunday in Post Falls, Idaho. The "big ticket" event for the first weekend of June is the UWW Cadet and University Nationals in Akron, Ohio. The Greco-Roman tournament at each level will be on Friday (6/3) with freestyle slated for Saturday (6/4) and Sunday (6/5). Fields in this tournament will be loaded, and there is qualification for a World Championship on the line in each event across levels and style. Also to be held is the Southern Plains Regional on Saturday and Sunday in Dodge City, Kansas. The second week of June is anchored by the Schoolboy National Duals to be held at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. Greco-Roman competition is slated for Thursday (6/9) and Friday (6/10) with freestyle to be held on Saturday (6/11) and Sunday (6/12). Also on that weekend is the UWW Freestyle World Cup in Los Angeles, though that is clearly not a scholastic-aged event. The AAU Scholastic Duals (aka Disney Duals) take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which is within the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando. Competition in the District divisions (all-star and developmental) take place from Sunday (6/12) through Wednesday (6/15), while the Community divisions (D1 and D2) take place Tuesday (6/14) through Friday (6/17). The list of committed teams is rather strong, and should yet again yield excellent competition. Being held somewhat concurrent to the Disney Duals this year is the Cadet National Duals, which are in York (Pa.) during the third week of June. Greco-Roman competition is slated for Wednesday (6/15) and Thursday (6/16), with freestyle competition taking place on Friday (6/17) and Saturday (6/18). Father's Day is that next day, Sunday, June 19. Team Oklahoma celebrates after defeating Team Illinois to win the Junior National Duals freestyle title in Tulsa, Oklahoma (Photo/Austin Bernard)That following week will be the Junior National Duals in Tulsa, Okla. Greco-Roman is slated for Wednesday (6/22) and Thursday (6/23) with freestyle set for Friday (6/24) and Saturday (6/25). At the conclusion of this stretch of wrestling, InterMat will unveil the initial grade rankings to reflect the 2016-17 period. Top 100 rising seniors (Class of 2017), top 50 Class of 2018, the extension to a top 50 for the Class of 2019, the initial top 25 for the Class of 2020, and the top 15 Junior High wrestlers (Class of 2021+). Within the month of July, the ASICS Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships will be held July 6 through 8 in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Greco-Roman will be on Thurday (7/7) with freestyle the following day, Friday 7/8. Rounding it out will be the annual Fargo event, the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet National Championships from July 16 through July 23.

Created by coaches for coaches, MatBoss for iPad® integrates wrestling stats directly into the video you record for each match, completely replacing the need for labor-intensive pencil and paper scoring systems. It's the wrestling stats app our sport has been waiting for. MatBoss is looking to hire commission based Sales Representatives in the following states: Iowa Michigan Pennsylvania New York New Jersey California Texas Florida MatBoss Sales Representative responsibilities include: Identify potential collegiate, high school and youth MatBoss wrestling customers in territory Obtain orders and establish new accounts by planning and organizing daily work schedule to call on existing or potential sales targets within sales territory Work with MatBoss marketing resources to adjust content of sales presentations to match local sales messages Provide MatBoss demonstrations as required Inform MatBoss customer service managers of potential user training or other service related issues Keep MatBoss sales management informed by submitting activity and results reports Recommend changes in products, service, and policy by evaluating results and competitive developments Desired Skills and Qualifications: Wrestling coaching experience (strongly desired) Strong understanding of area wrestling teams and opportunities (required) Ability to conduct MatBoss product demonstrations (as needed) Prior sales and/or marketing experience (desired) Ownership of and experience utilizing an iPad Compensation: This is a commission based opportunity with incentives for sales of new accounts and renewal of existing accounts Please send resumes and questions to John Peterson (john@matbossapp.com). MatBoss is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is owned and operated by RevWrestling/InterMatWrestle.com and JP Chaos, LLC. To learn more about MatBoss, visit our website at www.MatBossApp.com. .

IRVING, Texas -- The final four members of the 2016 U.S. Junior World Freestyle Team were determined, as the UWW Junior World Team Trials concluded on Sunday at the Irving Conventional Center. A best-of-three Championships Series was held in each weight class, with the 2016 UWW Junior Nationals champion advancing directly to the finals, where he faced the winner of Sunday morning's Challenge Tournament. Three of the UWW Junior National champions won their series on Sunday. Two members of the 2015 U.S. Junior World Team earned repeat trips to the Junior World Championships, Mark Hall of the Minnesota Storm at 74 kilos/163 pounds and Zahid Valencia of the Sunkist Kids at 84 kilos/185 pounds. Hall, also a 2014 Cadet World champion defeated Penn State All-American Jason Nolf of the Nittany Lion WC in the finals series at 74 kilos/163 pounds in two straight matches. Read complete story … UWW JUNIOR FREESTYLE JUNIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS At Irving, Texas, May 22, 2016 Best-of-three Championship Series 55 kilos: Daton Fix (Team BIG) defeated Austin Gomez (Gomez Wrestling Academy), 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Fix tech. fall Gomez, 10-0 Match 2: Fix tech. fall Gomez, 10-0 60 kilos: Seth Gross (Jackrabbit WC) defeated Mitchell McKee (Minnesota Storm), 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Gross dec. McKee, 8-5 Match 2: McKee dec. Gross, 10-6 Match 3: Gross dec. McKee, 16-12 74 kilos: Mark Hall (Minnesota Storm) defeated Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion WC), 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Hall tech. fall Nolf, 10-0 Match 2: Hall dec. Nolf, 10-6 84 kilos: Zahid Valencia (Sunkist Kids) defeated Bo Nickal (Nittany Lion WC), 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Valencia dec. Nickal, 8-2 Match 2: Valencia dec. Nickal, 2-1 Challenge Tournament results 55 kilos: 1st Place Match: Austin Gomez (gomez wrestling academy) tech. fall Austin Assad (Michigan: RTC), 10-0 3rd Place Match: Nick Piccininni (st.james) tech. fall Gavin Teasdale (Young Guns/OTC), 12-2 60 kilos: 1st Place Match: Seth Gross (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) tech. fall Nick Lee (MCWC/Miron), 12-2 3rd Place Match: Taylor Lamont (Champions Wrestling Club) dec. Joshua Terao (DCAC), 8-7 74 kilos: 1st Place Match: Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) dec. Vincenzo Joseph (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 5-2 3rd Place Match: Logan Massa (Michigan: RTC) dec. Jordan Kutler (Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club), 7-0 84 kilos: 1st Place Match: Bo Nickal (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) tech. fall Bobby Steveson (Minnesota Storm), 12-2 3rd Place Match: Emery Parker (Illinois Regional Training Cen) tech. fall Hunter Ritter (Badger Wrestling Club), 10-0 True Third for National Team 55 kilos: Nick Piccininni (St.James) dec. Austin Assad (Michigan: RTC), 11-7 74 kilos: Logan Massa (Michigan: RTC) pinned Vincenzo Joseph (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 5:50 84 kilos: Emery Parker (Illinois Regional Training Cen) tech. fall Bobby Steveson (Minnesota Storm), 14-3

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Led by individual champions Joey McKenna (65 kg) and Keaton Subjeck (80 kg), Stanford took home the inaugural University Freestyle Dual title, Saturday, at George Mason University Field House. The Cardinal won its pool with a 5-4 decision over Hofstra and a 7-2 outing against Clarion to advance to the quarterfinals. Stanford gutted out 5-4 victories over Columbia, Pittsburgh and NC State to win the championship. McKenna (5-0), Subjeck (5-0) and Josh Marchok (4-0, 97 kg) were undefeated on the day for Stanford. Peter Galli (74 kg) and Nathan Butler (125 kg) went 4-1 and 3-1, respectively. Stanford 5, Hofstra 4 57 kg Eric Cramer (S) won by forfeit FF 61 kg Brandon James (H) def. Peter Russo (S) 10-10 on criteria 65 kg Joey McKenna (S) tech. fall Kyle Krasavage (H) 12-1 70 kg Tommy Pawelski (S) def. Ryan Burket (H) 8-8 on criteria 74 kg Peter Galli (S) tech. fall Jake Kaminsky (H) 10-0 80 kg Keaton Subjeck (S) tech. fall Bobby Fehr (H) 12-2 86 kg Cory Damaina (H) def. Zach Nevills (S) MFF 97 kg Mike Oxley (H) dec. Cody Maly (S) 2-1 125 kg Mike Hughes (H) dec. Nathan Butler (S) 2-1 Stanford 7, Clarion 2 57 kg Patrick Dewitt (C) tech. fall Eric Cramer (S) 12-1 61 kg Roshaun Cooley (C) def. Peter Russo (S) 14-4 65 kg Joey McKenna (S) tech. fall Matthew Liggett (C) 10-0 70 kg Tommy Pawelski (S) tech. fall Jake Keller (C) 11-0 74 kg Peter Galli (S) fall Evan Delong (C) 4:10 80 kg Keaton Subjeck (S) fall Dominic Rigous (C) 5:06 86 kg Austin Flores (S) tech. fall Nicholas Shawley (C) 13-0 97 kg Josh Marchok (S) dec. Dustin Conti (C) 11-8 125 kg Nathan Butler (S) dec. Zachery Deluca 4-2 Stanford 5, Columbia 4 57 kg Eric Cramer (S) dec. Vince Pallone (C) 9-2 61 kg Peter Russo (S) tech. fall Britain Carter (C) 10-0 65 kg Joey McKenna (S) fall JP Ascolese (C) 0:23 70 kg Danny Reed (C) tech. fall Tommy Pawelski (S) 10-0 74 kg Markus Scheidel (C) dec. Peter Galli (S) 7-3 80 kg Keaton Subjeck (S) fall Tyrel White (C) 0:30 86 kg Nicky Hall (C) dec. Zach Nevills (S) 8-0 97 kg Josh Marchok (S) won by forfeit FF 125 kg Garrett Ryan (C) tech. fall Trevor Rasmussen (S) 10-0 Stanford 5, Pittsburgh 4 57 kg Li Bentley (P) tech. fall Eric Cramer (S) 11-0 61 kg Dom Forys (P) tech. fall Peter Russo (S) 20-10 65 kg Joey McKenna (S) tech. fall Robert Lee (P) 10-0 70 kg Joe Trovato (P) dec. Tommy Pawelski (S) 4-0 74 kg Peter Galli (S) dec. Cam Jacobson (P) 10-5 80 kg Keaton Subjeck (S) tech. fall Donovan McAfee (P) 10-0 86 kg Tyler Wilps (P) tech. fall Austin Flores (S) 10-0 97 kg Josh Marchok (S) dec. John Rizzo (P) 3-0 125 kg Nathan Butler (S) dec. Ryan Solomon (P) 7-3 Stanford 5, NC State 4 57 kg David Treao (N) tech. fall Eric Cramer (S) 12-0 61 kg Jamel Morris (N) fall Peter Russo (S) 1:24 65 kg Joey McKenna (S) tech. fall Robbie Rizzolino (N) 10-0 70 kg Kevin Jack (N) tech. fall Tommy Pawelski (S) 10-0 74 kg Peter Galli (S) fall Chad Pyke (N) 2:54 80 kg Keaton Subjeck (S) fall Brian Hamann (N) 0:49 86 kg Pete Rend (N) tech. fall Austin Flores (S) 12-0 97 kg Josh Marchok (S) tech. fall Michael Macchiavello (N) 10-0 125 kg Nathan Butler (S) dec. Mike Kosoy (N) 7-1

IRVING, Texas -- With victories in the best-of-three Championships Series, four talented freestyle wrestlers earned spots on the 2016 UWW Junior World Team for the United States on Saturday. 2015 Junior World champion Spencer Lee of Young Guns, from Pennsylvania, was dominant, winning both of his finals matches with first-period technical falls over 2015 Cadet Triple Crown winner Mosha Schwartz of SOT from Colorado at 50 kilos/110 pounds. Lee had two takedowns and three two-point turns for a 10-0 technical fall in match one. In the second round, a takedown and two ankle laces were followed by a four-point takedown for another 10-0 technical fall. Read complete story … UWW JUNIOR FREESTYLE WORLD TEAM TRIALS At Irving, Texas, May 21, 2016 Championship series results 50 kilos: Spencer Lee (Titan Mercury WC) defeated Mosha Schwartz (SOT), 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Lee tech. fall Schwartz, 10-0 Match 2: Lee tech. fall Schwartz, 10-0 66 kilos: Alec Pantaleo (Michigan - RTC) defeated Matthew Kolodzik (Princeton AWS), 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Pantaleo dec. Kolodzik, 10-2 Match 2: Pantaleo dec. Kolodzik, 6-0 96 kilos: Kollin Moore (Ohio RTC-Titan Mercury WC) defeated Jacob Seely (Northern Colorado RTC), 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Moore tech. fall Seely, 11-1 Match 2: Moore dec. Seely, 9-7 120 kilos: Jordan Wood (Lehigh Valley WC) defeated Rylee Streifel (Minnesota Storm), 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Wood dec. Streifel, 5-0 Match 2: Wood tech. fall Streifel, 11-0 Challenge Tournament results 66 kilos: 1st: Matthew Kolodzik (Princeton Amateur Wrestling So) tech. fall Jaydin Eierman (Missouri Wrestling Foundation), 22-11 3rd: Austin O'Connor (St Rita) tech. fall Tristen Moran (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club), 10-0 96 kilos: 1st: Kollin Moore (Iowa State University) dec. Chase Singletary (Blair Wrestling Club), 13-10 3rd: Malik McDonald (Wolfpack Wrestling RTC) dec. Andre Lee (Illinois Regional Training Cen), 5-4 120 kilos: 1st: Jordan Wood (Lehigh Valley Athletic Club) dec. Jake Gunning (Buffalo RTC), 5-4 3rd: Joseph Goodhart (Drexel) dec. Youssif Hemida (Terrapin Wrestling Club), 4-3 True Third for National Team 96 kilos: Malik McDonald (Wolfpack Wrestling RTC) tech. fall Chase Singletary (Blair Wrestling Club), 15-5 120 kilos: Joseph Goodhart (Drexel) by forfeit over Jake Gunning (Buffalo RTC)

BOISE, Idaho -- Mike Mendoza has been named head coach of the Boise State wrestling program, Director of Athletics Curt Apsey announced Friday. Mike MendozaMendoza, just the third Boise State wrestling head coach in the last 44 years, had spent the previous six seasons as head coach at CSU Bakersfield. “This wrestling program has a long history of success,” Apsey said. “In going through the search process for a new head coach, it became increasingly evident that Mike Mendoza had the energy and tenacity to get this program back to where we know it can be – competing in the upper echelon of collegiate wrestling. “His guys have performed on the mat and in the classroom, and he's shown a great ability to connect his program with the community, all things that are very important to us.” A 1999 graduate of CSU Bakersfield, Mendoza became head coach at his alma mater in 2010-11 after spending eight years (2002-10) as the head assistant coach for the Roadrunners. Mendoza guided a program that went 3-7 in his debut season to the top 25 of the USA Today/National Wrestling Coaches Association Division I Coaches Poll in 2015-16, the school's first ranking in 15 years. “I am honored to be a Bronco,” Mendoza said. “I look forward to bringing my family into such a wonderful community, and getting to know the individuals that put their blood, sweat and tears into building Bronco wrestling. This program's tradition and prestigious history is part of what drew me to the job. “Boise State is capable of great things on the mat, as evidenced by what has been accomplished in the past. I'm excited to get in the room with the guys on this roster and getting to work in order to achieve what they all came here to be a part of.” This past season the Roadrunners went 11-4 on the season, including a league-best 4-1 mark in Pac-12 duals. CSU Bakersfield also sent five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships this past season, including Bryce Hammond (174 pounds), who became one of only five individuals in school history to claim three individual Pac-12 titles, winning his third in 2016. Hammond also earned All-America honors for the Roadrunners in 2014. During his six years as head coach, Mendoza produced 17 qualifiers to the NCAA Championships and four individual Pac-12 champions. Under his watch, CSU Bakersfield also excelled in the classroom, finishing three seasons ranked in the NWCA Division I All-Academic Top 30. Two of his wrestlers, Dalton Kelley in 2014 and Ian Nickell in 2016, were named Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Kelley was also named second-team Academic All-America in 2014, the first Roadrunner student-athlete to earn the accolade since the program joined Division I. Additionally, 23 of his student-athletes garnered Pac-12 All-Academic accolades and nine were named NWCA All-Academic, and his teams recorded perfect single-year scores of 1,000 in each of the last two releases of the Academic Progress Rate. During his time as head assistant coach, CSU Bakersfield produced five All-Americans, six Pac-12 champions and 38 qualifiers to the NCAA Championships. A four-year starter while wrestling for CSU Bakersfield during his collegiate career, Mendoza, who was team captain and a member of the Pac-12 All-Academic Team in 1999, qualified to the NCAA Championships three times (1996, 1998-99), one of only 14 wrestlers in school history to accomplish the feat. He was a member of a pair of league-championship teams (1996 and 1999), and his 1996 squad finished third at the NCAA Championships. Prior to rejoining his alma mater, Mendoza worked as a graduate assistant at Adams State in Alamosa, Colo. He helped produce four Division II All-Americans and a national champion during his two seasons with the Grizzlies (1999-2001). In addition to his bachelor's in public administration, Mendoza also earned a master's in health, physical education and recreation from Adams State in 2001. He and his wife Lori have two children, son Isaac (6) and daughter Alexa (4).

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State two-time All-American wrestler Earl Hall has been granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA, the Iowa State Athletics Department announced today. Earl Hall gets ready for his quarterfinal match at the NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Hall has wrestled three years for the Cyclones, earning All-America status in 2014 and 2016. Hall competed at the Olympic Training Center in his first season out of high school in 2012-13. Hall enrolled at Iowa State in 2013-14 as a sophomore. The NCAA waived its initial decision and will allow Hall to compete in his fourth and final year as a Cyclone in 2016-17. "He's back," Iowa State head coach Kevin Jackson said. "Having three returning All-Americans on your team is a good thing. We are thrilled for Earl and we expect him to capitalize on this opportunity." Hall is a three-time NCAA qualifier and was the Big 12 runner-up at 133 pounds in 2015. He finished eighth at 125 pounds and seventh at 133 pounds at the 2014 and 2016 NCAA Championships, respectively. With the return of Hall, the Cyclones will boast three All-Americans in the wrestling room. Senior Lelund Weatherspoon (174 pounds) and junior Patrick Downey (197 pounds) both earned All-America honors at the 2016 NCAA Championship.

Nerf the world. While I'd typically land on the side of administrators when it comes to protecting wrestlers on the mat, the latest rule clarification from the National Federation of State High School Associations is a little bit of an overreach. The rule states that an arm-trapped body lock from the rear position should be considered potentially dangerous and monitored closely by referees. The impetus for the ruling seems to be the assumption that a defensive wrestler may be injured without finding an arm to post out in defense. However, the rule already in existence which states that a wrestler must return a wrestler to the mat safely already exists. Why the extra clarification for this position? That's unclear, but with a multitude of referees around the country with varying level of expertise, the results will be predictable. My guess is that coaches on the losing side of the exchange will appeal each trapped-arm maneuver, including chest-to-chest throws. Referees, with only limited training, are going to overcall the holds, which could eventually work to see it eliminated by coaches unwilling to take the risk. The time spent on this clarification may have been better spent on a multitude of other areas. Banging of the head with the back of the hands has a much more detrimental effect on the athlete and the sport than a once-a-dual-meet type of situation. There are clarifications that may also be made to pulling on ankles from funk defense or where hands can be positioned in a front headlock. Certainly the NFHS meant the best in recommending this latest rule adjustment, but this one clearly misses the mark. To your questions … Q: Why was Frank Molinaro selected instead of Dave Habat for the Olympic spot, when both won bronze at the 2nd World Olympic Games Qualifier? Was it because Molinaro lost to the eventual champion (who won by default in the finals)? Assuming that this is the case, any chance UWW sees the potential problem here (i.e., Garcia doesn't want to potentially wrestle Habat again, so he defaults in the finals), and move to true third (or for that matter, true second) place finishes in future qualifying tournaments? -- Irvonian Foley: The adjustments were made well after the event and to your point, Boris Novachkov qualified in Mongolia two weeks earlier, not by his top placement in Turkey. While I see where the qualification system was weak to these types of doping citations, I don't know that there was any established protocol that would have elevated Habat to the OG qualification spot given the circumstances. True second and true third place finishers have been discussed for years, but they leave a lot to be desired for many reasons, not the least of which is concern for injury in what would 99.9 percent of the time be a meaningless match. Remember: MANY fans were wondering aloud online why ANYONE would wrestle in the repechage of a tournament. Well, now we see, but that isn't always the case. Frank Molinaro battles Aaron Pico in the finals of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Q: I am also a bit dismayed at the way the wrestling fan base has turned on Frank Molinaro. He simply did what every wrestler should aspire to do: wrestle his heart out and leave everything on that mat. That he may not be our best wrestler at 65 kilos has nothing to do with his abilities and everything to do with how our qualifying system is constructed. As a wrestling coach, I can certainly say that the way Mr. Molinaro continued to compete after he realized (thought) he wouldn't be going to Rio is a testament to his character and serves as a fantastic example for my kids after disappointing losses. He picked himself up and continued to compete. In the end, he deserves his opportunity because he did everything he could to achieve that opportunity. What could be a better example to a young competitor? -- Steve T. Foley: Frank's story isn't done. He should be the type of athlete that coaches point to as an example of never giving up on a dream. Not only did he continue competing after placing sixth at the U.S. Open in December, he kept competing at the tournament in Turkey and took third, which is what cemented his trip to Rio. Q: Any insight into why Carl Fronhofer resigned as Columbia's head wrestling coach? What's next for him? -- Mike C. Foley: Carl is the man. I ran into him this week at the Beat the Streets New York event and was told that he's leaving coaching to move closer to family in California and take an exciting new job. We see this happen in wrestling all the time, but in addition to long hours and stress related to the Division I job, he was battling the costs of raising a family in NYC. There are pre-schools in NYC that cost $30k and have a two-year waiting list, according to my sister-in-law. Life on the West Coast seems like the logical choice. Excited for him and hoping for a great hire in my alma mater at Columbia. Do you see any resemblance between Wade Wilson and Cael Sanderson? Is Deadpool Cael's doppelgänger? -- Dave D. Foley: I have not seen the movie, but doesn't the character of Wade Wilson have a terrible burn on his face? If so, then I disagree. If you mean Ryan Reynolds with his correct skin, then maaaybe. As a note, I don't watch movies at home or in the theaters. With the Olympic Games coming up I've been traveling every weekend (Tokyo tomorrow) and keep these unwatched movies as a way to pass the time in flight. I'm telling you it's really something when you start tearing up to Frozen crammed between two large Turkish men on your way to Istanbul. (My claim is the airplane was "dusty.") How good is Logan Storley as an MMA fighter? Do you see him being in the UFC or another organization? Will he be as successful as other wrestlers turned MMA fighters? -- Gregg Y. Foley: I like the idea of Logan Storley making it in MMA. There are a few fights online and though he's not very good at jiu-jitsu and still exhibits the grind-em-out style we've seen from too many wrestlers, he has one hell of a killer instinct. Remember that what makes these wrestlers effective is their ability to execute a new skill set and then use their wrestling as their best defense. For example, what makes Aaron Pico so interesting to fight fans is that he can box so effectively as a stand-alone skill. Also, when adding that to a VERY MMA-ready wrestling style there is no real attack that fighters can quickly find to make Pico vulnerable. Can't strike with a guy like that and you can't take him down. What's the next best option, a head kick? MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Logan Storley in the cage Q: Sparked from the 65-kilo weight class, it looks like TWO people with U.S. citizenship will be competing in Rio with Boris and Tank. Since there are TWO wrestlers who failed the doping test in Magomedmurad Gadzhiev of Poland and Andriy Kvyatkovskyy of Ukraine, could Dave Habat be the next in line to fill the void? Then it would be THREE wrestlers in that weight ckass with U.S. citizenship. Who are the notable competitors in the Olympics who can claim more than one country? Names that come to mind are the aforementioned, plus Haislan Garcia from Canada (by way of Cuba), Bekzod Abdurakhmonov and Tervel Dlagnev. -- Dan C. Foley: There are pretty strict citizenship rules when it comes to international athletic competition. Yes, there has been a dramatic increase in wrestlers competing for other countries, but those you mentioned I think are all wrestling for their home or adoptive countries. From my understanding, athletes must spend 180 days a year in the country for which they compete. I could be wrong, but I'm not sure Boris is an American citizen. Same with Bekzod. Tervel is, which is why he competes for the USA. Habat is a dual holder since his mother was born in Slovenia. Garcia (I believe) is a Canadian citizen, post-defection. Q: Which weight class (any of the styles) intrigues you the most in the Olympic Games? -- Mike C. Foley: Women's freestyle at 53 kilos is incredibly intriguing! On the top of the heap you have three-time Olympic champion Saori Yoshida -- untouchable, unbeaten in major tournaments and a total killer. Next, you have Sofia Mattsson, the Swedish superstar who has lost two close matches to Yoshida the last two years, but who is closing the gap and fast. Then you have Helen Maroulis, a talented, multi-dimensional wrestler who won the World championship at 55 kilos. But the most compelling wrestler is Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria who took bronze at last year's World Championship at 53 kilos. She had an incredible India Professional League tournament, was 6-6 with Helen Maroulis at the Golden Grand Prix … and has only been wrestling FOUR YEARS! Do not miss this weight. Do not, do not, DO NOT blink. Inspirational stuff. Rant of the Week! By Irvonian Why is wrestling so insecure that every time we find a minor celebrity (Ray Lewis, Billy Baldwin, Mario Lopez) with any sort of tangential relationship to wrestling, we want to bring him front and center? Does the community really think that mainstream media are going to start paying attention to BTS because we're trotting out Ray Lewis? OK, rant over. But really, Ray Lewis? Now look, I went to Penn State, so I understand that anytime you try to honor somebody, even someone with a lifetime of good works, there could be huge skeletons hiding in the closet. (Hastert is another example of this.) But with Ray Lewis, the skeletons are already public knowledge. And anyway, what are his "lifetime achievements" that we want to celebrate? Playing a professional sport (that isn't even wrestling)? I'd imagine that with a 60-second Google search you could find a dozen former high school wrestlers who have achieved things over their lifetimes that actually benefited society (and didn't just enrich themselves while entertaining others). So I guess the rant wasn't actually over before, but it is now. "Thrown to the Wolves" Submission of the Week By Jacob R. Lee Greenwood's anthem "God Bless the USA" (also known as "I'm Proud to Be an American") has a special place in my brain housing group. It was not too long ago in 2002 that I found myself coaching some kids at a freestyle tournament in Lowell, Michigan, when as usual before the beginning of the competition a voice on the sound system asked that everyone in attendance in the gymnasium stand and remove their hats for the national anthem. For all of my life this was simply standard operating procedure for any wrestling event that I had attended, but something different occurred. Instead of hearing a subpar recording or the brilliant rendition of Whitney Houston singing the "Star Spangled Banner" from Super Bowl XXV the aforementioned song by Mr. Greenwood was played. In retrospect I am not too shocked that song was played. Considering the overt sense of nationalism that was abundant in the country just under a year after 9/11 it makes perfect sense. But, at the time I was baffled. Nearly, fourteen years have passed since this event which have allowed me to observe and critique the phenomena of national pride and nationalism that are displayed within not only our political spheres, but also within the minutia of our daily lives and from the scope of things sports and in particular wrestling events are a rather minute detail of our lives here in the U.S. So, where is this little rant taking me you might ask (or maybe not?)? With regards to wrestling in the United States or what many fans refer to as the "wrestling community" (personally the term "wrestling community" inhibits an air of masculine hegemony.... for more on this I'll refer you to Blake 2013 and Walton & Helstien 2008) there appears to be an abundance of persons -- coaches, wrestlers and fans -- that adhere to what I consider antiquated ideologies based on concepts such as colorblindness, meritocracy, rugged individualism, masculine hegemony, christian hegemony etc. Considering this I am not too shocked that comments submitted by readers from your mailbag last week were riddled with criticism of your comment on Trump. Walton & Helstien 2008 discuss the need to do away with communities of identification (e.g. the wrestling community) and instead move towards communities of articulation. I second that and challenge you and your readers to engage in this paradigm shift with regards to your discourse revolving around your views of the sport (both the political and the minute aspects).

NEW YORK -- A mix of USA Wrestling's biggest stars and up-and-coming stars shined on Thursday in New York. U.S. wrestlers won seven of nine matches against international stars from Iran, Korea and Canada in the Beat the Streets "United in the Square" event held in Times Square. The event consisted of one Greco-Roman match, two women's freestyle matches, four UWW Junior freestyle matches and two men's freestyle matches. Returning World champions Jordan Burroughs, Helen Maroulis and Adeline Gray dominated their competition. Burroughs, an Olympic champion and three-time World champion, crushed Iran's Pehman Yarahmadi 11-2 in the final match of the evening. The match was competitive early in the second period after Yarahmadi scored a takedown to cut the deficit to 3-2. But it was all Burroughs the rest of the way. He used his trademark blast double leg to score four points and take a 7-2 lead. A step out-point and takedown for Burroughs made the score 10-2. He added another late step-out point for a nine-point victory. It was Burroughs' sixth victory in six appearances at Beat the Streets events. "It's always fun to be here," Burroughs said of wrestling in Times Square. "I never get more pumped than when everything is on the line. And although you guys might see it as an exhibition, I see it as a legacy builder. A lot of people out here are seeing me for the first time, maybe for the last time. I want to give them something to talk about." Maroulis, a returning World champion and three-time World medalist pinned Samantha Stewart of Canada at 2:41. She scored four first-period takedowns to go up 8-0 and then secured the pin early in the second period. "Sam is a great competitor," said Maroulis. "The Canadians ... It's awesome that they came down to battle us. We've had a lot of tough bouts with them before." Gray, a three-time World champion, hammered Canada's Justina Di Stasio 11-0. She had trouble getting to her offense early in the match, and led just 2-0 at the break. Gray turned it up in the second period, though, scoring first off the shot clock before earning a takedown. She then transitioned to a leg lace, which she used to score four more points and go up 9-0. Gray then scored a takedown with two seconds left on the clock to secure the technical fall. "It was a fabulous time," said Gray. "The energy here is unbelievable." Olympian J'den Cox was impressive in beating Iran's Meisam Mostafa Joukar 10-5 at 86 kilos. The first period ended 1-1 after the wrestlers traded step outs. The action picked up significantly in the second period. Cox jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two takedowns. Joukar cut the deficit to 5-3 after scoring two more points off step outs. Cox responded with takedown and then picked up a point off a step out to go up 8-3. Joukar scored a takedown with just over a minute left, but still trailed 8-5. A late takedown by Cox put him up five points, which is how the match would end. Olympic champion Kim Hyeon-Woo of Korea battles two-time World bronze medalist Andy Bisek of USA in the opening match of the Beat the Streets event in Times Square (Photo/T.R. Foley)The event opened with Olympic champion Kim Hyeon-Woo of Korea blanking two-time World bronze medalist Andy Bisek 3-0 in a Greco-Roman match at 75 kilos. Kim used an arm spin to go up 2-0 in the first period, and then added a step-out point in the second period. The U.S. won three of four UWW Junior freestyle matches At 60 kilos, Daton Fix, the nation's No. 4 wrestler in the class of 2017, claimed a second-period technical fall, 14-3, over Iran's Kheyrollah Ghahramani in a battle of Cadet World medalists. Fix started quickly, scoring a takedown off a slide-by and adding a trapped-arm gut wrench to lead 4-0. Ghahramani inched closer with a late first-period takedown. In the second period, after Ghahramani scored a point off a step out, Fix picked up a takedown and locked up a trapped-arm gut wrench and rolled it three times to open up the scoring and take a commanding 12-3 lead. He then put the match away with another takedown off a slide-by. Mitchell McKee, a University of Minnesota signee, won a wild back-and-forth match on criteria, 8-8, over Iran's Peiman Biabani. The Iranian led 4-2 after the opening period, but McKee battled back, scoring a four-point move off a head pinch to go up 6-4. McKee extended his lead to 7-4 after a step-out point. Biabani cut the lead to 7-6 after a takedown off a duck under, and quickly added a gut wrench to take a one-point lead. McKee, though, was able to earn a reversal late to make the score 8-8 and give him the criteria victory. Mark Hall, the nation's No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2016, picked up an 8-5 win over Iran's Ahmad Bazrighaleh in an action-filled match at 74 kilos. Bazrighaleh scored first with a takedown to go up 2-0. Hall was able to score a reversal and make the score 2-2 at the break. In the second period Hall scored a takedown to go up 4-2, and then added a two-point exposure from neutral to lead 6-2. Bazrighaleh used a reversal to cut the deficit to 6-4. A late exchange saw Hall get another two-point exposure, while Bazrighaleh was awarded a point. The U.S. dropped its only UWW Junior freestyle match at 84 kilos where Junior World champion Mojtaba Goleij of Iran handled Zahid Valencia 10-1. Valencia, who attends Arizona State, scored the first point of the match off a step out, but Goleij dominated the rest of the way. Fix, McKee, Hall and Valencia will compete in this weekend's UWW Junior World Team Trials in Irving, Texas. Results: Greco-Roman 75 kilos: Kim Hyeon-Woo (Korea) dec. Andy Bisek (USA), 3-0 Women's 53 kilos: Helen Maroulis (USA) pinned Samantha Stewart (Canada), 2:41 Women's 75 kilos: Adeline Gray (USA) tech. fall Justina Di Stasio (Canada), 11-0 Junior men's freestyle 55 kilos: Daton Fix (USA) tech. fall Kheyrollah Ghahramani (Iran), 14-3 Junior men's freestyle 60 kilos: Mitchell McKee (USA) dec. Peiman Biabani (Iran), 8-8 Junior men's freestyle 74 kilos: Mark Hall (USA) dec. Ahmad Bazrighaleh (Iran), 8-5 Junior men's freestyle 84 kilos: Mojtaba Goleij (Iran) dec. Zahid Valencia (USA), 10-1 Men's freestyle 86 kilos: J'den Cox (USA) dec. Meisam Mostafa Joukar (Iran), 10-5 Men's freestyle 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Pehman Yarahmadi (Iran), 11-2

After winning two NCAA titles in two seasons at 157 pounds, Isaiah Martinez is moving up a weight class for his junior season. Isaiah Martinez after winning his second NCAA title at 157 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Martinez announced his decision to move up to 165 pounds next season on Twitter. Martinez, a native of Lemoore, California, was an undefeated freshman NCAA champion in 2014-15. He was InterMat Freshman of the Year and a Dan Hodge Trophy finalist that season. This past season Martinez finished 32-1 en route to winning his second NCAA title. He has gone 67-1 over his first seasons in the Illini lineup. Martinez has earned bonus points in 47 of his 67 wins in his college wrestling career. He started his college wrestling career on a 54-match winning streak before it was snapped on Jan. 23, 2016, when he was pinned by Penn State's Jason Nolf. Martinez came back to defeat Nolf in the Big Ten finals and NCAA finals.

The annual Beat the Streets event is back. Wrestlers will take over Times Square today. Several of the country's best wrestlers will be in action against competitors from Iran, Canada and South Korea. The following is a match-by-match preview of the event. Greco-Roman 75 kilos: Andy Bisek (USA) vs. Kim Hyeon-Woo (Korea) Bisek will represent the U.S. in the upcoming 2016 Olympic Games at 75 kilos. He is coming off back-to-back bronze medals at the UWW World Championships. As a returning medalist, he automatically reached the finals of the Olympic Team Trials where he defeated Geordan Speiller in a two-match sweep. In 2012, Kim took the gold medal at the Olympic Games in the 66-kilo weight class. In the semifinals, he defeated returning gold medalist Steeve Guenot (France) before besting Tamás Lőrincz (Hungary) in the finals. Since failing to medal at the 2015 World Championships, Kim has won both the Golden Grand Prix and the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Women's freestyle 53 kilos: Helen Maroulis (USA) vs. Samantha Stewart (Canada) After winning silver and bronze medals, Maroulis finally broke through last year and won her first World championship. At the U.S. Olympic Trials she defeated Whitney Conder in the best-of-three series to make the team. Maroulis then qualified the weight class for the Olympics with a dominant first-place performance at the World Qualifying Tournament. In her four matches, she scored two technical falls and a pin. Stewart has continued to build on her bronze-medal performance at the 2014 University World Championships. This year she won the Pan American Championships at a non-Olympic weight. Women's freestyle 75 kilos: Adeline Gray (USA) vs. Justina Di Stasio (Canada) Gray is a three-time World champion and five-time medalist. In the past two years alone, she has won the Pan American Games, World Championships, UWW Test Tournament and the U.S. Olympic Trials. Di Stasio is a two-time gold medalist at the Pan American Championships. Last November she placed third at the Bill Farrell Memorial International. Junior freestyle 55 kilos: Daton Fix (USA) vs. Kheyrolla Ghahramani (Iran) Fix is a two-time member of the U.S. Cadet World Team. At last year's Cadet World championships he picked up a bronze medal in the 54-kilo division. He earned his spot at this event by winning the UWW Junior Nationals. During his run there, Fix scored victories over the likes of Austin Gomez and Gavin Teasdale. Ghahramani had his most success at the Cadet level. In 2012, he won a silver medal at the Cadet Asian Championship. The following year, he took bronze at 46 kilos at the Cadet Worlds. On the senior level he has failed to place at the 2015 Takhti Cup and 2016 Dan Kolov & Nikola Petrov tournament. Junior freestyle 60 kilos: Mitchell McKee (USA) vs. Peiman Biabani (Iran) After finishing as a runner-up last year, McKee claimed the UWW Junior Nationals title this year. In the finals he defeated fellow Minnesotan Seth Gross of South Dakota State who was one match away from All-American status at this past year's NCAA tournament. Biabani represented Iran at the 2015 Junior Asian Championship and captured gold. He won his four matches by a combined score of 25-7. Later in the year, Biabani ended up one match away from making Iran's Junior World Team. He lost a special wrestle off to Iman Sadeghikoukandeh who went on to win his second Junior World title. Junior Freestyle 74 kilos: Mark Hall (USA) vs. Ahmad Bazrighaleh (Iran) After winning gold at the Cadet World Championship in 2014, Hall moved up to the Junior level last year. He won a spot on the Junior World Team but ended up finishing ninth. Hall appears determined to improve upon that result this year. In the last two months alone, he has won Junior Nationals and the U.S. Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier. He posted a 2-2 record at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. In 2014, Bazrighaleh held the 69-kilo spot at the Cadet level for the Asian and World Championships. He scored a bronze medal at the Asian Championships and did not medal at Worlds. Junior freestyle 84 kilos: Zahid Valencia (USA) vs. Majtaba Goleij (Iran) Valencia was a member of the 2015 Junior World Team. In the finals of this year's Junior Nationals, he defeated reigning NCAA champion Myles Martin (Ohio State). Valencia will come off redshirt and make his debut for Arizona State next winter. Goleij is the reigning Junior World champion at this weight class. He did not meet Valencia in the tournament, but Goleij did defeat Musalaliev Arsen (Russia), which knocked Valencia out of a shot in the repechage. Earlier this year, he won a bronze medal at the Takhti Cup on the senior level falling only to Olympic medalist Ehsan Lashgari (Iran). Men's freestyle 86 kilos: J'den Cox (USA) vs. Meisam Mostafajoukar (Iran) Cox's entry into the Olympic Team Trials shortly after he won his second NCAA title had a lot of people excited. It turned out to be entirely justified. At the Trials, the Missouri wrestler scored signature victories over Clayton Foster, Keith Gavin and World silver medalist Jake Herbert to reach the finals. There, he edged four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake in the best-of-three series. Cox went on to qualify the weight for the Olympic Games at the First World Qualifying Tournament. Mostafajoukar, mostly known as Jokar, is a three-time medalist and one-time champion at the Asian Championships. Last year, he dominated his way through the World Cup. During his run in Los Angeles, he scored tech fall victories over Aleksandr Gostiyev (Azerbaijan), Serdar Boke (Turkey) and Clayton Foster. Jordan Burroughs is all smiles at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)Men's freestyle: Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs. Peyman Yarahmadi (Iran) At this point, everyone in the wrestling world knows about Burroughs. He is a three-time World champion and one-time Olympic champion. His combined record at the world team trials, Pan American Championships and World/Olympic Championships is 50-1. Yarahmadi was a Cadet and Junior World bronze medalist. In 2013, he eliminated Northwestern's Jason Tsirtsis from the Junior bracket. Since moving up to the senior level, he has been a part of two World Cup gold medal winning teams and won the Asian Championships. Schedule: 3:45 p.m. Beat the Streets Youth Exhibition Matches between 42nd and 43rd Streets 4:45 p.m. New York City Girl's Freestyle Dual Meet Championships Finals between 42nd and 43rd Streets 6:30 p.m. World Class Wrestling: Team USA vs. Team Iran, Team Canada and Team Korea between 42nd and 43rd Streets Followed by Gala Celebration Richard Mann currently runs the data-driven MMA blog StrikeScoreMMA.com.

Andrew Howe is returning to the Big Ten Conference. Andrew Howe gets in on a shot at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)Howe, who began his college wrestling career in the Big Ten at Wisconsin, will be joining the Northwestern coaching staff after serving as an assistant at Oklahoma since July of 2014. Takedown Wrestling first reported the news. Howe finished runner-up to Jordan Burroughs at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 74 kilos. He was also runner-up to Burroughs at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. As a collegiate competitor at Wisconsin and Oklahoma, Howe was a four-time All-American, finishing in the top three at the NCAAs in all four appearances. Howe claimed an NCAA title as a sophomore in 2010. He was an NCAA runner-up in 2009 and 2014, and third in 2011.

No. 18 junior Justin Mejia has already committed to the University of Iowa (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-fall.com)The college recruiting process is ever accelerating. It's not even the 20th of May yet in the junior year for the Class of 2017, and more than 40 percent of the current top 50 prospects have verbally committed to the school of their choice. Furthermore, that includes five of the nation's top seven, and half (13) of the top 26. In terms of early recruiting, the University of Iowa is off to an excellent start. The Hawkeyes have a verbal commitment from the top overall recruit in this class, Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.), along with three other top 50 prospects: No. 18 Justin Mejia (Clovis, Calif.), No. 32 Jason Renteria (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.), and No. 44 Luke Troy (Martin Luther King, Calif.). Something to watch for is if all of the commitments in this class stick: Lee, Mejia, and Renteria are likely to project as either 125 or 133-pound wrestlers. Also off to an excellent start is Cornell, who has verbal commitments from the No. 2 and No. 3 overall recruits in this class: Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) and Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.). Two other schools have verbal commitments from a pair of top 50 recruits: Navy with No. 22 Quentin Hovis (Seton Catholic, Ariz.) and No. 38 Gus Solomon (Franklin Regional, Pa.), Wisconsin with No. 33 Kyle Lawson (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio) and No. 48 Paul Konrath (Connections Academy, Ind.) Summary of notable early recruiting hauls: Iowa: No. 1 Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.), No. 18 Justin Mejia (Clovis, Calif.), No. 32 Jason Renteria (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.), No. 44 Luke Troy (Martin Luther King, Calif.) Cornell: No. 2 Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.), No. 3 Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.), Andrew Berreyesa (Reno, Nev.) Navy: No. 22 Quentin Hovis (Seton Catholic, Ariz.), No. 38 Gus Solomon (Franklin Regional, Pa.), Ian Timmins (Wooster, Nev.) Wisconsin: No. 33 Kyle Lawson (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio), No. 48 Paul Konrath (Connections Academy, Ind.), Jackson Hemauer (DeForest, Wis.) Michigan: No. 43 Ben Freeman (Walled Lake Central, Mich.), Andrew Davison (Chesterton, Ind.), Drew Mattin (Delta, Ohio)

Darrion Caldwell, 2009 NCAA champion wrestler for North Carolina State who has competed for Bellator MMA since March 2014, signed a seven-fight contract extension with the mixed martial arts organization Monday. Darrion Caldwell choked out Joe Warren (Photo/Bellator)"Bellator MMA is proud to announce the contract extension of undefeated bantamweight superstar Darrion "The Wolf" Caldwell (9-0) to an exclusive multi-year, multi-fight contract," according to the announcement posted at the official Bellator website. "Darrion is a fighter who I really think has that x-factor," said Scott Coker, Bellator's president. "After his last fight, I looked at our matchmaker and I just said, 'Wow, this is kid is exploding with talent.' I'm very happy we were able to get this deal done and I look forward to seeing this star rise for years to come." The former Wolfpack mat champ expressed his appreciation for Bellator's commitment to his undefeated MMA career. "Just believing in what they had in mind and their plan for me, that's the biggest thing," Caldwell said. "It's bigger than me. I know they have a vision. Even though I have a vision as well -- my vision is to be the world champ -- they have a vision on how to put me in a position to make sure I maximize everything outside of the cage. And so, I feel like we touched on a lot of subjects there. I think we've got a star in the making." Caldwell made his pro MMA debut in 2012. In his most recent fight -- his sixth for Bellator -- the 28-year-old Caldwell defeated former two-division Bellator champion, and Greco-Roman world champion wrestler Joe Warren back in March. Prior to entering MMA competition, Caldwell was a two-time NCAA Division I All-American at N.C. State, winning the 149-pound title at the 2009 NCAAs by upsetting defending champ Brent Metcalf of Iowa in the finals, in what the late amateur wrestling historian Jay Hammond considered to be one of the three biggest upsets in NCAA finals history. Caldwell was named Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament.

A former Old Dominion wrestler claims was knocked out three times in practice over a six-week period, but despite exhibiting concussion symptoms, coaches failed to refer him for medical treatment, so he has filed a lawsuit seeking $4 million, the Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday. Jordan Marshall, who wrestled at 157 pounds for ODU, said in the suit that in his freshman season of 2014, he suffered three concussions in May and June, and that head coach Steve Martin and assistants Mike Dixon, Alex Dolly and Kyle Hutter were negligent in not referring him for diagnosis and treatment and encouraging him not to complain about his injuries or seek medical attention. The suit also alleges that coaches "encouraged and directed" Marshall, originally from Bradford, Ohio and wrestled at Troy Christian High School, to return to practice while he still suffered from symptoms that included headaches, confusion and trouble concentrating. It wasn't until Marshall had suffered three concussions and later began to "convulse, vomit and spit up blood" at a wrestling camp at Virginia's Hampden-Sydney College that coaches referred him to ODU's athletic trainer, according to the lawsuit filed in Norfolk Circuit Court. As a result, Marshall sustained "serious and permanent injury in the form of traumatic brain injury, and concussion and brain injury syndrome and symptoms, and other physical and psychological injuries," the suit alleges. Marshall's lawyer, Edward F. Halloran, did not immediately respond to a message left at his office on Tuesday, the Virginian-Pilot reported. ODU senior associate athletic director Debbie White said coaches could not comment on the suit, in keeping with school policy. The Norfolk newspaper went on to say ODU has had concussion protocols in place for all sports for a number of years. According to a 2014 story in the Virginian-Pilot, the school has done baseline testing of all athletes for more than a decade. Athletes who suffer concussions must pass a series of tests before being allowed to return. A legendary figure in Virginia wrestling, Old Dominion head coach Steve Martin just completed his 12th season at the helm. Volunteer assistant Kyle Hutter has been on staff for five years, while former Northern Iowa wrestler Alex Dolly joined the coaching staff in May 2012. Founded in 1930, Old Dominion University is a four-year public university located in Norfolk, Virginia. The ODU Monarchs wrestling program competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Want to know more about concussions and wrestling? Check out this April 2016 InterMat article about proposed NCAA rules regarding concussions.