InterMat Staff

Pat Downey, a Junior World medalist and NJCAA champion, has had a well-traveled wrestling career. His next stop: Iowa State. Pat Downey (Photo/Mark Lundy)The 22-year-old announced his verbal commitment to the Cyclones on Twitter. Downey, a Maryland native, spent time at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs after high school. He started his collegiate wrestling career at Nebraska in 2012. He then transferred to Iowa Central Community College, and this past season won an NJCAA title at 197 pounds. Downey is an accomplished freestyle wrestler. He captured a Junior World silver medal in 2012. This past weekend he finished fourth in the University Nationals freestyle competition. He picked up wins over 2015 NCAA Division I qualifiers Sam Brooks (Iowa), Lorenzo Thomas (Penn) and Aaron Studebaker (Nebraska). He projects at 184 pounds for the Cyclones.

OREM, Utah -- Following the recent completion of the 2014-15 school year, the Western Wrestling Conference has announced its All-Academic Team and Coaches' Honor Roll for the past season. This year's academic awards honor 71 student-athletes from the six conference schools for their work in the classroom. The All-Academic Team features 31 wrestlers who balanced schoolwork and time on the mat to meet the ninth-year league's highest standards. North Dakota State and South Dakota State led the way with seven grapplers apiece on the All-Academic squad. Individually, NDSU's Clay Ream posted the highest cumulative grade point average with a perfect 4.0 clip in biochemistry and molecular biology while his teammate Mitchell Friedman was next with a 3.90 GPA in sport management. Additionally, 40 student-athletes were named to the Coaches' Honor Roll for their dedication to academics. Utah Valley posted the most wrestlers on that list with 13. UVU also combined to put up the most grapplers on the two teams with 18, while SDSU was next with 15. To qualify for the All-Academic team, student-athletes had to secure a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average as well as be a starter or key reserve. The Coaches' Honor Roll recognizes all student-athletes who have maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The Jackrabbits and Bison were also recognized for their academics by the NWCA a couple of weeks ago as SDSU had the 23rd best team GPA in the nation with a 3.090 GPA and NDSU was 24th with a 3.078. Individually, Air Force's Jesse Stafford, NDSU's Evan Knutson, Ream and Hayden Zillmer, Northern Colorado's Brian Macchione, SDSU's J.J. Everard, Nate Rotert, Brance Simms and Luke Zilverburg, and Wyoming's Tanner Harms were all named to the NWCA Individual All-Academic Team. The Western Wrestling Conference is comprised of six schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming. 2014-15 Western Wrestling Conference All-Academic Team: Parker Hines (AF), 184, So., 3.74 GPA, Civil Engineering Zen Ikehara (AF), 184, Fr., 3.24 GPA, Undeclared Adam Jackson (AF), 165, So., 3.84 GPA, Biology Marcus Malecek (AF), 285, Jr., 3.58 GPA, Systems Engineering Anthony McHugh (AF), 141/149, So., 3.43 GPA, Economics Jesse Stafford (AF), 165, Sr., 3.54 GPA, Civil Engineering Mitchell Friedman (NDSU), 149/157, RFr. 3.90 GPA, Sport Management Kyle Gliva (NDSU), 133, RFr., 3.41 GPA, Electrical Engineering Evan Knutson (NDSU), 285, Sr., 3.70 GPA, Animal Science Clay Ream (NDSU), 149, RFr., 4.00, GPA, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Nate Rykerd (NDSU), 149, RFr., 3.42 GPA, Natural Resource Management Tom Walton (NDSU), 133/141, RFr., 3.42 GPA, Physical Education/Health Education Hayden Zillmer (NDSU), 184, Jr., 3.23 GPA, Physical Education/Health Education Brian Macchione (UNC), 285, Sr., 3.46 GPA, Criminal Justice Benjamin Polkowske (UNC), 141, So., 3.27 GPA, Business Administration - Marketing Joshua VanTine (UNC), 174, Sr., 3.24 GPA, Sport & Exercise Science J.J. Everard (SDSU), 285, Jr., 3.27, Physical Education/Teacher Education Ben Gillette (SDSU), 133, Jr., 3.71, Biology/Pre-Medicine David Kocer (SDSU), 174, Fr., 3.47, Agriculture Science Nate Rotert (SDSU), 197, RFr., 3.36, Early Childhood Education Ben Schwery (SDSU), 174, So., 3.51, Wildlife and Fisheries Brance Simms (SDSU), 133, Jr., 3.31, Construction Management Luke Zilverberg (SDSU), 141, RFr., 3.51, Wildlife and Fisheries Abel Gomez (UVU), 184, So., 3.69 GPA, Exercise Science Koleton Hardy (UVU), 157, RFr., 3.44 GPA, Chemistry - Biochemistry Dalton Harmon (UVU), 165, Fr., 3.60 GPA, Business Management - General Business Matthew Ontiveros (UVU), 141, Fr., 3.42 GPA, Community Health Education - Health Services Admin. Ross Taylor (UVU), 184, RJr., 3.66 GPA, Exercise Science Tanner Harms (WYO), 285, Jr., 3.75 GPA, Mechanical Engineering Luke Paine (WYO), 184, RFr., 3.67 GPA, Physiology Leland Pfeifer (WYO), 285, Sr., 3.52 GPA, Graduate Student (MBA) 2014-15 Western Wrestling Conference Coaches' Honor Roll Connor Hedash (AF), 157, So., 3.08 GPA, Economics Noah Irons (AF), 157, Fr., 3.14 GPA, Undeclared Sam Kreimier (AF), 157, Fr., 3.09 GPA, Undeclared Garrett Wells (AF), 174, Sr., 3.03 GPA, Legal Studies Konner Witt (AF), 174, Jr., 3.03 GPA, Economics Jerrad Nieland (NDSU), 285, RFr., 3.00 GPA, Exercise Science Nick O'Brien (NDSU), 133, Fr., 3.17 GPA, Industrial Engineering and Management Justin Scherkenbach (NDSU), 133, So., 3.14 GPA, Sports Management Cole Sladek (NDSU), 157, RFr., 3.10 GPA, Finance Hunter Weber (NDSU), 133, So., 3.02 GPA, University Studies Nickolas Alspaugh (UNC), 149, Sr., 3.48 GPA, Communications Abraham Fox (UNC), 133, Jr., 3.01 GPA, Political Science Dylan Gabel (UNC), 184, Fr., 3.34 GPA, Business Administration - General Joseph Grable (UNC), 149, Fr., 3.67 GPA, Sport & Exercise Science - PE K12 Teaching Josh Casperson (SDSU), 184, Fr., 3.27, Pre-Nursing Spencer Derifield (SDSU), 165, Fr., 3.41, Exercise Science Colin Holler (SDSU), 149, RFr., 3.08, Physical Education/Teacher Education Alex Macki (SDSU), 285, RFr., 3.32, Wildlife and Fisheries John Nething II (SDSU), 174, Sr., 3.09, Consumer Affairs Tyler Pieper (SDSU), 141, Fr., 3.74, Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary Medicine Quinn Smith (SDSU), 133, Fr., 3.60, Exploratory Studies Kyle White (SDSU), 133, RFr., 3.57, Pre-Nursing Logan Addis (UVU), 157, Jr., 3.03 GPA, English - Literary Studies Aryton Almberg (UVU), 197, RFr., 3.01 GPA, Communications - Public Relations DJ Argyle (UVU), 149, Fr., 3.78 GPA, Personal Financial Planning Logan Blackwood (UVU), 197, Fr., 3.48 GPA, Business Management - General Business Jesse Christensen (UVU), 165, Fr., 3.80 GPA, Undeclared Dustin Dennison (UVU), 285, So., 3.01 GPA, Communications - Public Relations Adam Fager (UVU), 285, Sr., 3.13 GPA, Behavioral Science - Psychology Raider Lofthouse (UVU), 157 Fr., 3.56 GPA, Behavioral Science - Psychology Jarod Maynes (UVU), 133, So., 4.0 GPA, Accounting - General Accounting Jed Mellen (UVU), 133, RFr., 3.16 GPA, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Bracken Nipko (UVU), 141, So., 3.62 GPA, Business Management - General Business Josh Temple (UVU), 125, Fr., 3.49 GPA, Accounting - General Accounting Derek Thomas (UVU), 197, Jr., 3.18 GPA, Business Management - General Business Kyle Pope (WYO), 157/165, RFr., 3.39 GPA, Communications Brandon Richardson (WYO), 157, Sr., 3.24 GPA, Graduate Student (Kinesiology & Health Promotion) Benjamin Stroh (WYO), 184, So., 3.13 GPA, Business Administration Robert Stroh (WYO), 157, Sr., 3.09 GPA, Business Administration Brandon Tribble (WYO), 197, Jr., 3.20 GPA, Communications

STILLWATER, Okla. -- The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum will unveil its newest exhibit, Nine for Nine, in conjunction with Honors Weekend festivities on June 5. Nine for Nine commemorates one of wrestling's greatest family achievements in the 87-year NCAA history of the sport, the unprecedented nine national titles won by the Peery family. Rex Peery started the family legacy, winning NCAA titles in 1933, 1934 and 1935 at 118 pounds for Oklahoma A&M University. As head wrestling coach at the University of Pittsburgh, he then guided his two sons to three individual titles each. Hugh Peery won NCAA titles in 1952, 1953 and 1954 at 115 pounds. His brother Ed continued that tradition, winning the 123-pound championship in 1955, 1956 and 1957 for the Panthers. Because of NCAA regulations, none of the three, Rex, Hugh or Ed, were allowed to compete as collegiate freshmen, meaning that they won every NCAA tournament that they entered. “There have been a lot of successful families in the sport of wrestling,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the Hall of Fame. “But what these three men accomplished has stood the test of time among the greatest achievements in collegiate wrestling ever.” The plaques commemorating both Rex and Ed Peery's championships have long been housed at the Hall of Fame. With the passing of Hugh Peery in January of this year, his family gifted his three individual NCAA plaques to the Hall of Fame where, united with the family's six other plaques, they will form the Nine for Nine display. “We are honored and excited that the family has entrusted us with all nine of these championship plaques so that they can inspire young wrestlers for generations to come,” Smith said. The Nine for Nine exhibit will be unveiled during a public reception at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame that begins at 6 p.m. on Friday and kicks off Honors Weekend 2015. The weekend culminates with the annual induction reception and banquet on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom at Oklahoma State University. For more information on Nine for Nine or the Honors Weekend activities, please call the Hall of Fame at 405-377-5243 or visit www.nwhof.org.

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Hofstra Head Wrestling Coach Dennis Papadatos today announced the appointment of two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship qualifier Joe DeAngelo as the Pride's new volunteer assistant wrestling coach. "I am extremely excited to bring Joe on my staff here at Hofstra," Papadatos said. "He brings in so many things to complete our staff including being a light weight coach. His passion, energy, and willingness to work are what stood out the most to me. He wrestled for a very good friend and former co-worker in Pat Popolizio. I have crossed paths with him many times over the last few years and I feel confident that he is the perfect fit for Hofstra Wrestling. When you couple that with the fact that he was an All-American at Nassau Community College, I know he feels at home in Long Island. I look forward to getting started to work with him on our staff." A 2015 graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in religious studies, DeAngelo earned NCAA Wrestling Championship bids in 2013 and 2015 for the Wolfpack. He placed fifth in the 2013 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships to earn an automatic berth and then placed fourth in the 2015 ACC Championship to receive an at-large bid. DeAngelo, who was selected the Wolfpack's team captain in 2014-15, was named the North Carolina State Most Valuable Wrestler after joining the team at mid-season in 2013, the Wolfpack's Redshirt of the Year in 2014 after recording a 27-4 and placing no lower than third in all seven open tournaments, and was selected ACC Wrestler of the Week in February, 2015 after posting two victories over nationally-ranked opponents. He also earned University National Freestyle All-American honors by placing fourth and was a finalist at the National Collegiate Open in 2014. DeAngelo, who earned an associate's degree at Nassau Community College in Garden City, NY, earned All-American honors by placing seventh at the National Junior College Athletic Association Wrestling Championships in 2012. He also earned NJCAA Academic All-American honors that year as well. Active on the club and camp circuits, DeAngelo has coached in the Pop and Flo Nationals and the Wake Forest Wrestling Club since 2014 and the Vougar Hall of Fame Wrestling Club and the Nassau Kettlebell Program in 2011-12. He also has extensive camp experience having worked at the Journeyman Wrestling Camp, Bob Guzzo's World Class Wrestling Camp, the Havelock Wrestling Camp, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Wrestling Camp and the North Carolina State Wrestling Camp. DeAngelo has also been doing personalized coaching since 2010 which has resulted in three All-American performers and three state championship finishes along with numerous state place-winners.

Oklahoma State's Alex Dieringer finished his junior season with a perfect 33-0 record and claimed his second straight NCAA title. Of Dieringer's 33 wins this past season, 27 came with bonus points. He was second in the voting for both the Dan Hodge Trophy and InterMat Wrestler of the Year. InterMat caught up with Dieringer and talked to him about his recent match against Joey Davis, Olympic aspirations, Oklahoma State's title chances in 2016 and much more. Alex Dieringer finished his junior season with a 33-0 record (Photo/Rob Preston)You recently wrestled in the Beat the Streets event in Times Square against Joey Davis, an undefeated three-time NCAA Division II champion. You came close to a technical fall. How would you assess your performance against Davis? Dieringer: I knew I was going to have to feel him out a little bit because his style and my style are kind of different. I like to tie up. He likes to stay in space. So I kind of had to get position and inch my way forward towards him, and eventually get my ties and score. I ended up getting a score in the second period, so I kind of started slow, but eventually I got where I needed to be. Was he bigger than you? Dieringer: Oh yeah. He was definitely bigger than me. I was weighing light recently. I'm usually like 187 or something like that, but I've been weighing like 178, 180, so I weighed two pounds under at the weigh-in, and he was cutting a little bit. How do you think Davis would fare if he was a Division I wrestler? Dieringer: I think he would be successful. He's good. He's technical. He's a really smart wrestler. Obviously, he probably wouldn't be undefeated or have three national titles. But I think he would definitely fare well, and have at least a couple All-American statuses. Alex Dieringer defeated Taylor Walsh to claim his second straight NCAA title (Photo/Josh Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)You seemed to separate yourself from your competition between your sophomore and junior seasons. This past season you were an undefeated NCAA champion and didn't really have any close matches. What allowed you to make that jump in your wrestling from your sophomore season to your junior season? Dieringer: I would definitely have to say the mental aspect. Once you reach the top it can either make you or break you. You can either let people catch up to you or not have the mindset. I used my first championship to widen my gaps and just get better and better ... not only mentally, but physically too. Once I won my first one I realized that I should be able to widen the gaps and win by a bigger margin to help the team more. You had more pins this past season than Logan Stieber and more bonus-point victories than any of the Dan Hodge Trophy finalists. Did you feel at all slighted by not winning the Dan Hodge Trophy? Dieringer: It goes over the year, not over career performance. I could see how they could have given it to me. We were close. We were about even in everything. He had more tech. falls than me. I don't know. He smashed the voting, but I would say we're pretty close overall. You can't take anything away from him. Alex Dieringer hugs coaches John Smith and Eric Guerrero after winning the title (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)You been a Junior World medalist in freestyle and have talked about wanting to wrestle the top wrestlers in the U.S. at 74 kilos. What went into your decision not to compete on the senior level this year? Dieringer: I sat down and talked to Coach. He really didn't harp on it this year. I wouldn't have minded doing it, but I've got one more year of college. I just kind of want to get that over with and then really, really focus on my international career. I'm going to go as long as I can with that ... at least until 2020, and then if my body and is still holding up and I'm strong, I'll go until 2024. That's my goal. With 2016 being an Olympic year, did you contemplate taking an Olympic redshirt season in 2015-16? Dieringer: No. People have asked me about it before, but I never thought about that. We have a good chance of winning it as a team. But I'm just going to go straight into it and finish my college career first, and then worry about my international career. In 2016, I'm going to be ready because I'm going to go through a college season, take a week off, and then get back to it. I'll already be in better shape than I would have been after an international season. Do you see yourself better suited for freestyle or folkstyle? Dieringer: I would say I'm better at freestyle. I have a better feel for it. I've always liked freestyle more. I took second at Junior Worlds. I'm really big into freestyle. I love it. Right now do you think you're on the level of the top U.S. freestyle wrestlers at 74 kilos, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Dake, David Taylor and Andrew Howe? Dieringer: Yeah, I'm fifth on the ladder right now, and I have a feeling I can beat those guys. That's just my self-belief. You have to be positive and think that way in order to do it. I definitely think I can wrestle with those guys and beat them. Alex Dieringer gets his hand raised after defeating Jackson Morse of Illinois in the quarterfinals of the 2015 NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Where do you feel that you need to improve in freestyle be in a position to be contending for a spot on the 2016 Olympic Team? Dieringer: Attacking more. Sometimes I get cautious against the top guys. I think I just need to stick with my style and keep attacking. Oklahoma State returns eight of nine NCAA qualifiers, plus other talented wrestlers who will be vying for spots in the lineup. Will anything less than an NCAA team title be a disappointment in 2016? Dieringer: No doubt. I've never seen Coach so confident. He has never talked like this before. I'm really confident just because he's so confident. He's a realist. He's very honest about everything. He actually said we are going to win a national title next year. That makes us more confident. This past weekend Anthony Collica had an impressive run through the University Nationals freestyle competition, beating the two highest returning NCAA placers at 149 pounds. This year he wrestled 157 pounds. Do you see him better suited for 149 pounds? Dieringer: I have a feeling he's going to win it at 149, to be honest. He's a force. I wrestle with him. He's really, really tough. He's hard to score on. He's going to be two weights lower than me, so I can imagine he's going to do some damage there. Chance Marsteller has talked about you have helped him tremendously in his progression as a wrestler. How is he progressing? Dieringer: It's mostly mental. He has always had the talent, but didn't have it mentally. I think I really helped him there. I talked to him a lot about it. I think that was the biggest thing because he always had the talent. He was a four-time undefeated PA state champ. More than just that, he accomplished a lot of other things. So I think his biggest problem was his mental game, and I think he's worked on that. You can see it in the practice room. Marsteller started the season at 157 pounds and moved up to 165 pounds. What weight will he wrestle this coming season? Dieringer: He's going 157 as of right now. Oklahoma State wrestlers have found a lot of success in MMA. Daniel Cormier is the UFC light heavyweight champion. Johny Hendricks was previously the UFC welterweight champion. Steve Mocco is competing in World Series of Fighting. Is MMA something you would ever consider perusing? Dieringer: No. I think I'm going to stick with wrestling. That's what I do best. I think I could transition over pretty well, and there's a lot of money there. But I want to help the sport of wrestling more than anything. It's what made me who I am today, so I'm going to give everything back to this sport.

Jeff Bradley will host a special edition of "On the Mat" is this Wednesday, June 3. His featured guests are Northern Iowa wrestling All-Americans Joe Colon and Joey Lazor. "On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday at 5 p.m. Central on AM 1650, The Fan. Colon was a third place finisher at the 2014 NCAA tournament at 133 pounds while Lazor placed sixth at 141 pounds. Both compete for the Panther Wrestling Club and both are competing at the World Team Trials in Madison, Wisc., on June 12-14. A podcast of the show is available on mattalkonline.com. E-mail dgmstaff@nwhof.org with any questions or comments.

WASHINGTON -- Clint Musser has been hired as the top assistant for the American University wrestling program, as announced by head coach Teague Moore. Clint MusserA two-time All-American at Penn State, Musser comes to AU after spending the last season as an assistant coach at Cleveland State. He also served as a volunteer assistant at Kent State from 2012-14. "Clint brings a calculated experience to the program," said Moore. "His Big Ten wrestling experience will be extremely valuable at American. He trained to beat the best, and he did, becoming an NCAA and Big Ten finalist." While at Penn State, Musser was an NCAA runner-up at 157 pounds as a senior in 1999. He was a three-time NCAA qualifier, placing in the top three at the Big Ten tournament in three straight seasons. He also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and was selected to the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team. "Clint also has experience at Kent State and Cleveland State, programs similarly sized to AU," said Moore. "He's seen the recruiting challenges, and most importantly, he's developed the young men under his direction to excel in their environment. Clint also values the commitment of an administration that wants to see wrestling succeed. "His upbringing in Cleveland, which is a recruiting hotbed, will also help us identify more potential AU wrestlers." An Ohio native, Musser was a three-time state champion and four-time state finalist while attending Walsh Jesuit High School. He later served as an assistant coach at both Massillon Perry and Walsh Jesuit High Schools, helping guide nine wrestlers to individual state championships and four wrestlers to high school national titles. He also helped lead his teams to top five finishes at the state tournament in all seven of his seasons as an assistant coach. Musser was a seven-time freestyle All-American throughout high school and college. He went on to have international success, qualifying for the University World Championships and winning a silver medal at the 2004 Pan Am Games. He continued his athletic career, transitioning to mixed martial arts, winning a national amateur lightweight championship in 2010 before turning pro in 2011. "What drew me most to Clint are his life experiences, how much he values the individuals around him and how he gives thanks for what he has been able to accomplish," said Moore. "His wife, Melissa, and their two children are going to fit right into the AU wrestling family."

AKRON, Ohio -- The United States will be sending three wrestlers to the UWW Cadet World Freestyle Championships in late August in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina that competed in the event last year. However, returning World champion Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) and returning World silver medalist Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.) aren't among that trio. Lee, who won his World title last year down at 50 kilos, entered the tournament as the nation's top-ranked wrestler in the Class of 2017. This year, he moved up to 54 kilos, a weight class that featured three other wrestlers with Cadet World freestyle experience. 2013 World Team member Austin Gomez (Glenbard North, Ill.) beat 2014 World Team member at 46 kilos Cade Olivas (St. John Bosco, Calif.) 4-4 on last point scored criteria in the quarterfinals. In the semifinal, Lee earned a 10-0 technical fall over Gomez, which was his fourth technical fall victory in four matches of the event. Daton Fix won the title at 54 kilos and was named Outstanding Wrestler (Photo/Tyler Gonzales)All that set up a much anticipated final with Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.), who was the incumbent World Team representative at this weight class, and earned a second such World Team spot in the weight class on Sunday. Earlier this month, Fix competed at the UWW Junior Nationals in Las Vegas at 55 kilos, earning a dominant and somewhat unexpected championship. This included technical fall victories over a pair of NCAA qualifiers in Ronnie Bresser and Ethan Likzak, along with a technical fall over the highly accomplished redshirting freshman Stevan Micic. "Going to (UWW) Junior Nationals in Vegas, and dominating as I did, created further confidence," said Fix about believing he could beat returning World champion Lee. Lee beat Fix by 10-0 technical fall in the 2013 final at 50 kilos. Both matches of the best-of-three final followed a similar script. Lee jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one period in each bout with a pair of takedowns. In the first bout, Lee would add a push out early in the second period to make it a 5-0 advantage. Fix then responded with a counter-exposure and a push out to cut the deficit to 5-3, which set up the last thirty second sequence of the match. Lee would initiate a shot, Fix would counter it for a takedown to tie the score 5-5. While in par terre defense, Lee ended up behind Fix for what could be best described as a folkstyle reversal. However, Lee would have to get his opponent down to his knees before time was up to score the two points. That did not happen by a number of inches, and Fix had the win on criteria. The second match had a more decisive turn-around for Fix from his 4-0 end of first period deficit. This time Fix would rally back more crisply and promptly. It started with a push out to cut the deficit to 4-1, continuing with a four point feet-to-back takedown followed up by a pair of turns right off the takedown to make it a 9-4 advantage. Lee would shrink the deficit with a late takedown, but could not get a turn in his par terre offense. Fix won the match 9-6, and the series in two bouts. "No matter what the score is, I'm going to wrestle to the end," said Fix. "There's always time to score." Last year at the World tournament, Fix won his opening match, before losing to the eventual bronze medalist. He finished in 10th place with a 1-1 record, and seeks an improved finish this year. "I think I can win it all. Spencer (Lee) dominated the tournament last year, and I intend to dominate this year." Returning World silver medalist Wood was derailed at 100 kilos in the semifinal round by Gable Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.), who is the nation's second-ranked Class of 2018 prospect. One day before his 15th birthday, Steveson knocked off Wood by an 8-1 decision. "I looked (Wood) up on YouTube, figured out what he was going to do," said Steveson. "He did what I saw on video, and I had counter-attacks for them." Then on Sunday, the day of his 15th birthday, Steveson upended Kobe Woods (Penn, Ind.) with a pair of technical fall victories; 11-1 and 10-0, both coming in the first minute of the second period. Before enrolling at Apple Valley in eighth grade, Steveson lived in northwest Indiana (older brother Bobby placed fifth as a freshman and won a state title for Merrillville). "I had not faced (Kobe) in a relevant match setting before," said Steveson about facing fellow South Bend area native Woods. "However, we have practiced together before." Fix is joined in repeating as a UWW Cadet World Team member by Pittsburgh area natives Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson Morgan) and Jared Verkleeren (Belle Vernon). Teasdale moved up two weight classes to 50 kilos this year, while it is a second World Team bid for Verkleeren at 63 kilos. The quarterfinal, semifinal, and both finals matches for Teasdale were all decisions. In fact each match was within a two-point margin or less with less than 30 second remaining. This was in direct contrast to last year's tournament, which featured five technical falls prior to the final, and a very one-sided decision in the final. The championship matches for Teasdale were 4-1 and 4-2 decision victories over now three-time UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Drew Mattin (Delta, Ohio). "The opponents were a lot tougher than last year," Teasdale said. "I had to work a lot harder for the points." He added that the trip to Slovakia last year was a great experience, and preparation for this year in Bosnia. "Now I know how the wrestlers are, the Russians and the Iranians. This year I hope to win." Verkleeren shut out the four opponents he faced on the way to the final. It was three 10-0 technical fall victories, prior to a 6-0 decision victory in the semifinal. The first match of the championship series against Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.) started out in a one-sided fashion. A takedown and three lace turns off of that created an 8-0 advantage. Storr then hit a cement mixer type turn two times to cut the deficit to 8-4 before the first period was done. The move was so tight that it choked out Verkleeren and momentarily disoriented him. After finding himself, somewhat, the match continued and the wrestlers traded second period push outs in a 9-5 Verkleeren win. The second match was a decisive 11-0 technical fall for Verkleeren at the 2:30 mark. It started with a takedown and two lace turns for a 6-0 lead. A push out made it 7-0 before the end of the first period, while a takedown and a turn in the second period ended the bout. "To give up no points other than that one sequence was great," Verkleeren said. "That extra year of experience (from last year) helps, and will for sure at Worlds." The lone championship series to go to a third match occurred at 85 kilos, where Owen Webster (Shakopee) upset top ten Class of 2016 prospect Keegan Moore (Jackson County Central) in an all-Minnesota matchup. Moore won the first bout 7-5 with a pair of second period takedowns to rally back from a 4-3 deficit (all on a late four-point counter-exposure throw from Webster) at the break. The second match saw Moore open up to a 6-1 advantage after one period. However, Webster rallied back to tie it at 6-6 within a minute. A late takedown would give him an 8-6 win and force the third match. In that match, Webster would score the opening four-point move on a headlock toss. Moore countered with a takedown and a pushout before the first period was done. With a 4-3 deficit, Moore could only muster a pushout during the second period. Unable to score again, Webster won by a 4-4 criteria decision, and earned the World Team spot; on Friday, Webster was third in the Greco-Roman tournament down a weight class at 76 kilos. Three others from the Class of 2017 join No. 4 Fix and No. 6 Verkleeren on the World Team: No. 5 Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) at 58 kilos, No. 3 Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) at 69 kilos, and No. 27 Jelani Embree (Warren Lincoln, Mich.) at 76 kilos. Diakomihalis, who was just a runner-up at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo last summer, dominated his way to the championship series on Saturday. It was four shutout technical falls followed by an 11-5 decision in the semifinal round. This created a championship match on Sunday against very good friend Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.), who like Diakomihalis is a Class of 2017 commit to Cornell. "There was some tension," said Diakomihalis about the potential of facing Arujau during the tournament. "We weren't going to let it interfere with the friendship. The mentality was that somebody has got to win, and we'll see who is better." The first match of the series was certainly an opening salvo from Diakomihalis. An opening takedown finished into a cradle for the pin at the 1:14 mark. Arujau did open the second match with a takedown. However, four points off a Diakomihalis inside trip, and a caution-and-two against Arujau in the subsequent sequence created a 6-2 lead after one period. Even though Arujau got a takedown in the second period, Diakomihalis won 6-4 to earn the World spot. "Last year I was pretty new to freestyle," said Diakomihalis. "This year, I wanted to make the Cadet World Team, and see what I could do in that platform. Pretty much since Flo Nationals was done, I've been doing everything I could (freestyle-wise) to prepare." Berge showed his superiority at 69 kilos, against a rather formidable finals opponent in top ten Class of 2018 prospect David Carr (Dayton Christian, Ohio). Berge won the series in two matches, 5-2 and 8-4 decisions. Embree did the same at 76 kilos, scoring a 13-2 technical fall at 3:09 over Joe Grello (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) in the first match, with the second match ending in a 7-1 victory. Rounding out the UWW Cadet World freestyle team are Malik Heinselman (Castle View, Colo.) at 42 kilos and Dylan D'Emilio (Genoa, Ohio) at 46 kilos. Heinselman, who won a Cadet freestyle title last summer at 88 pounds in Fargo, beat fellow Colorado native Mosha Schwartz in both matches of the championship series. Those wins came by 8-2 and 9-6 decisions respectively. D'Emilio, a Cadet freestyle runner-up last summer at 94 pounds in Fargo, entered the event ranked fourth overall among Junior High wrestlers (Class of 2019 and younger). His championship victories over Rhett Golowenski (Tuttle, Okla.) were decisive; 8-2 in the first match, and a 10-0 technical fall in 2:44 during the second match. Last of the champions on Sunday was Kevin Vough (Elyria, Ohio) in the 125-kilo weight class, one that is not contested at the World Championships in Bosnia. Vough, runner-up last year in this competition, won both of his matches by technical fall on Sunday afternoon; 17-7 in 3:34 and 10-0 in 3:20 over Christian Rebottaro (Monta Vista Christian, Calif.). 42 kilos: Malik Heinselman (Colorado) def. Mosha Schwartz (Colorado), 2 matches to 0 Heinselman dec. Schwartz, 8-2 Heinselman dec. Schwartz, 9-8 46 kilos: Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio) def. Rhett Golowenski (Oklahoma), 2 matches to 0 D'Emilio dec. Golowenski, 8-2 D'Emilio won by tech. fall over Golowenski, 10-0 50 kilos: Gavin Teasdale (Pennsylvania) def. Drew Mattin (Ohio), 2 matches to 0 Teasdale dec. Mattin, 4-1 Teasdale dec. Mattin, 4-2 54 kilos: Daton Fix (Oklahoma) def. Spencer Lee (Pennsylvania), 2 matches to 0 Fix dec. Lee, 5-5 criteria Fix dec. Lee, 9-6 58 kilos: Yianni Diakomihalis (New York) def. Vito Arvjav (New York), 2 matches to 0 Diakomihalis pinned Arvjav, 1:15 Diakomihalis dec. Arjav, 8-4 63 kilos: Jarod Verkleeren (Pennsylvania) def. Kanen Storr (Michigan), 2 matches to 0 Verkleeren dec. Storr, 9-6 Verkleeren won by tech. fall over Storr, 11-0 69 kilos: Brady Berge (Minnesota) def. David Carr (Ohio), 2 matches to 0 Berge dec. Carr, 5-2 Berge dec. Carr, 8-4 76 kilos: Jelani Embree (Michigan) def. Joseph Grello (New Jersey), 2 matches to 0 Embree won by tech. fall over Grello, 13-0 Embree dec. Grello, 7-1 85 kilos: Owen Webster (Minnesota) def. Keegan Moore (Minnesota), 2 matches to 1 Moore dec. Webster, 7-5 Webster dec. Moore, 8-6 Webster dec. Moore, 4-4 100 kilos: Gable Steveson (Minnesota) def. Kobe Woods (Indiana), 2 matches to 0 Steveson won by tech. fall over Woods, 11-1 Steveson won by tech. fall over Woods, 10-0 125 kilos: Kevin Vough (Ohio) def. Christian Rebottaro (California), 2 matches to 0 Vough won by tech. fall over Rebottaro, 17-7 Vough won by tech. fall over Rebottaro, 10-0

AKRON, Ohio -- On Sunday, Anthony Collica showed that he will be a force to be reckoned with next season at 149 pounds. After coming up a round short of earning All-American honors at Oklahoma State wrestling up a weight class at 157 pounds, Collica came through to win the University Nationals freestyle title at 70 kilos, beating the two highest returning 149-pound All-Americans in the process. Collica earned a 5-3 victory over NCAA fourth-place finisher Brandon Sorenson of Iowa in the semifinals before topping NCAA third-place finisher and 2014 NCAA champion Jason Tsirtsis 6-1 in the finals. "It's big," Collica told USA Wrestling's Craig Sesker. "It gives me a lot of confidence." With 2014 NCAA runner-up Josh Kindig graduating, Collica says he expects to move down to his more natural weight of 149 pounds. Kindig is the lone NCAA qualifier graduating from an Oklahoma State team that qualified nine wrestlers to the NCAAs and placed seventh. "Our team's going to be really good," Collica said. "I think it could be our year. We've got to get the right guys at each weight, but for right now it looks like we're going to be in contention for a title." Tyler Graff, a four-time All-American at Wisconsin, did not surrender a point in winning the title at 57 kilos. In the finals he earned a 10-0 technical fall over 2014 All-American Darian Cruz. Graff was named Outstanding Wrestler of the competition. Adam Coon picked up five technical falls and one fall en route to winning the title at 125 kilos. Coon was a Junior World bronze medalist in both freestyle and Greco-Roman last year. He will compete in the U.S. World Team Trials in freestyle on the senior level after earning a wildcard at 125 kilos. The University of North Carolina had a pair of champions in Evan Henderson (65 kilos) and Ethan Ramos (74 kilos). Henderson, a 2014 All-American who redshirted this past season, was dominant throughout the competition, earning technical falls in all six of his matches, including the finals where he blanked Anthony Abidin 10-0. Ramos, an All-American as a freshman this past season, claimed his title by pinning returning University Nationals champion Ian Miller in the second period in a match that saw 15 points scored in the opening period. Earl Hall with the Paulson twinsIowa State's Earl Hall captured the title at 61 kilos by shutting out Michigan All-American Rossi Bruno 7-0 in the finals. Hall, who has one more season of eligibility remaining at ISU, outscored his opposition 58-2 over six matches. Zac Brunson came through to win the title at 80 kilos, beating Stanford All-American Jim Wilson 11-1 in the finals. Brunson was dominant in the par terre position throughout the event and earned a technical fall over all six opponents he faced in Akron. "I go out not just to win but to dominate," Brunson told Sesker. "So if I can get on the mat and put points on the board I'm going to have fun. My scores will demonstrate that." Hayden Zillmer defeated a Junior World medalist and three All-Americans en route to claiming the title at 86 kilos. In the finals he won 12-5 over Ethen Lotfhouse, a two-time All-American at Iowa. Nathan Burak, a two-time All-American at Iowa, was untested in winning the title 97 kilos. In six matches, Burak had five technical fall shutout victories. In the finals he won 12-1 over Austin Schafer. Finals Results: 57 kilos: Tyler Graff tech. fall Darian Cruz, 10-0 61 kilos: Earl Hall dec. Rossi Bruno, 7-0 65 kilos: Evan Henderson tech. fall Anthony Abidin, 10-0 70 kilos: Anthony Collica dec. Jason Tsirtsis, 6-1 74 kilos: Ethan Ramos pinned Ian Miller, 4:11 80 kilos: Zac Brunson tech. fall Jim Wilson, 11-1 86 kilos: Hayden Zillmer dec. Ethen Lofthouse, 12-5 97 kilos: Nathan Burak tech. fall Austin Schafer, 12-1 125 kilos: Adam Coon tech. fall Chad Johnson, 10-0

With NCAA champion Kyven Gadson and two-time All-American Mike Moreno graduating, Iowa State will have some voids to fill in their lineup for the 2015-16 season. But according to Iowa State coach Kevin Jackson, there will be "contenders up and down the lineup" and a downward shift. Tanner Weatherman (Photo/Rob Preston)Three-time NCAA qualifier Tanner Weatherman will be moving down to 165 pounds from 174 pounds, and two-time NCAA qualifier Lelund Weatherspoon will slide down to 174 pounds from 184 pounds. Marcus Harrington, Nathan Boston and Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer could be new faces in the ISU lineup. "We've got some good wrestlers," Jackson said on this week's episode of On the Mat. "We lost some point-getters with Mike Moreno and Kyven Gadson, but we're filling the holes, with Marcus Harrington, who is going to step in and he's going to open some eyes right away. Tanner Weatherman is going down to 165, which gives him a great chance to become an All-American and be in the hunt. Lelund Weatherspoon down to 174, which allows him to wrestle his true weight class." Iowa State is coming off a 14th-place finish at the NCAAs. The Cyclones finished the season with a dual meet record of 11-2 and a No. 9 dual meet ranking by InterMat. "Look for Iowa State to stay in the hunt," said Jackson. "We're looking to do some special things."

FIFA's executive committee will vote today on whether or not to retain Sepp Blatter as that body's president. Prior to this week's bombshell allegations of $150 million in accepted bribes from a dozen or so officials, that vote was almost certainly going to be won by Blatter. After the allegations? Blatter will still win his fifth term. For all the drama surrounding wrestling's Olympic missteps culminating in the 2013 removal from the Olympic Games, at least the president was fired. However, to give some idea of how tough it is to remove a president of an international federation, that decision was made by one vote -- a fact I still find incredible. Most anyone with a pair of eyes and a rational brain can rightly assume that Blatter was on the take as well. How entrenched and for how much is the only question remaining, but with Russia and Qatar winning consecutive World Cup bids, you can be certain his patronage didn't come cheap. Wrestling made changes and most agree they have been for the better. Soccer, like wrestling, is a worldwide sport that can lift individuals from poverty and provide a better life to those willing to put in the work to excel. Let's hope that at some point in the future FIFA follows wrestling's lead and makes positive changes for the betterment of the organization, but also the larger sporting world. To your questions ... Casey Cunningham coaches Matt Brown at the NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Q: Why isn't Casey Cunningham a head coach? -- @Eagle_Fan Foley: For this year, see below. As for years past I'd assume that he applied for the Arizona State job when it opened, but maybe not. Cunningham is an extraordinary coach who seems to have a very positive impact on the lives of his athletes, but that doesn't mean he's jonesing to lead his own program. There is honor and skill in being the second, especially to a coach as talented as Cael. Casey might just be happy as is, and if that's the case then I applaud the outlook. If not, then I'd advocate for him to be considered for a job big enough to capture his wealth of talent. Q: It's almost June and still no Division I head coaching changes. Do you think that means we are going to see none this offseason? Is this the first time you can recall that happening? -- Mike C. Foley: I don't think it has happened, at least not since I've been following college wrestling. There is no way I can manage all that data, but I know that every year the carousel spins, but this year there is no oil in the gears. Wrestling needs change every year. This sport drains the energy from coaches and if you analyze the entire Division I program structure as one company then at least one of the (roughly) 80 employees is probably in need of replacement. How many companies retain the exact same 80 executives year-to-year? Not many. There still might come a time for change, but with graduation past and the summer starting it would be the latest start I'd ever seen, too. Maybe there is one AD out there still looking for the oil? Q: Has there been any update or dialogue about uniform change and if so will it be applied in Rio? -- @jamill_kelly Foley: The outfits will almost certainly NOT change before the 2016 Olympics. Obviously, the federation doesn't want to spring new uniforms on athletes without plenty of testing. From what I understand there is development and due diligence still to be done. 2017? Yes. Q: I thought overall the U.S. wrestled well against Cuba. Which U.S. wrestler had the most impressive performance at the Beat the Streets event in NYC? -- Mike C. Foley: David Taylor. Wow. That he beat a World and Olympic medalist is a real thing, even when you factor in the home court advantage and the fact that the Cubans were not on their best performances. Still, Taylor looked sharp and I was absolutely impressed by his aggression and ability to score in bunches. Jordan Oliver finished runner-up to Brent Metcalf at the U.S. Open (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Q: Do you buy the notion that Jordan Oliver will have more success internationally than Brent Metcalf if he can get past him? -- @Eagle_Fan Foley: No. He's only won the Dave Schultz Memorial and placed third at Yasar Dogu, and that was at 70 kilos. There is nothing to keep him from going overseas more often to prove he's better than Metcalf, but that hasn't happened. Meanwhile, Metcalf finished runner-up at Yarygin and was third at the Paris Grand Prix. He also went undefeated at the World Cup and won last year's Golden Grand Prix. Oliver is certainly talented, but he's not anywhere close to as accomplished as Metcalf, nor as much of a threat to medal at the World Championships or Olympics. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME The new UFC light heavyweight champion is super charming. Watch as he reacts to WWE's Seth Rollins' win at WrestleMania Q: Who do you think will be Iran's rep at 86 kilos in Rio next year? Very, very competitive weight class right now. -- @DefGrappler Foley: World No. 2 Meisam Mostafa Joukar won the Takhti Cup and could be the guy come Vegas. To get there he has to get past World No. 4 Mohammad Hossein Mohammadian, who took bronze at last year's World Championships. The Iranians pick their team at the national tournament. With the exception of an injury to a World medalist, they go down the line (now) and take the best guy. If it comes down to a heads up battle I'll take Joukar, but not by a lot and with almost no confidence. Q: Is Logan Stieber too small for 65 kilos right now? If there was a 61-kilo weight class at the Olympics, would he be down there? -- @Eagle_Fan Foley: I don't know that he would be down at 61 kilos. That's pretty svelte for the 141-pound NCAA champion to hit. Besides, this really isn't a conversation since that weight class won't make it into the Games anytime soon. However, I don't think he's too small for 65 kilos. I just think he needs more time to train freestyle and dedicate himself to the gamesmanship necessary to compete at the international level. He's got the talent and the results are sure to be coming soon. How awesome is 65 kilos for the USA? Q: Zahid Valencia just won a gold medal in Turkey and earned a technical fall over a wrestler who dominated Bo Nickal in the same event. Who do you see having a more successful collegiate wrestling career, Zahid Valencia at Arizona State or Bo Nickal at Penn State? -- Mike C. Foley: Freestyle results can be tricky. Right now I'm torn. I think you have to look at that result and the Valencia bros.' recent performances and say that the latter would have the advantage. Still, I think all three are NCAA champions by the time they put on the cap and gown for their respective schools. Q: Should freestyle change its rules to more closely resemble folkstyle? 1. More fans. 2. They'd then understand the convoluted scoring. -- @jammenjammenz Foley: No. Freestyle is much more exciting and American collegiate wrestling does NOT translate well overseas. Scoring is pretty straightforward in freestyle!

There will be no home mat advantage at next year's Big 12 Wrestling Championships. On Thursday, the Big 12 announced that the 2016 Big 12 Wrestling Championships will take place March 5-6 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Big 12 has consisted of only four wrestling programs: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Iowa State and West Virginia. However, it was recently announced that the Big 12 is merging with the Western Wrestling Conference (WWC), which will bring the conference total to 10 wrestling programs. The new additions to the Big 12 include South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Wyoming, Utah Valley, Northern Colorado and Air Force.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa All-Americans Nathan Burak and Brandon Sorensen lead a group of 17 Hawkeyes to Akron, Ohio, this weekend to compete at the 2015 University Nationals. Competition begins Friday at the Louis and Freda Stile Athletic Field House on the campus of the University of Akron. Sorensen, a fourth-place finisher at 149 pounds at the 2015 NCAA Championships, is competing at 70 kilos/154 pounds Burak, a two-time All-American at 197 pounds, is competing at 97 kilos/213 pounds They are two of 15 Hawkeyes competing in the freestyle tournament. Preliminary rounds begin Saturday at 8 a.m. (CT), and the finals begin Sunday at 8 a.m. Freshmen Sam Stoll (130 kilos/286 pounds) and Burke Paddock (75 kilos/165 pounds) are competing in the Greco-Roman tournament. Stoll won Greco-Roman bronze at the 2013 Junior World Championships. Paddock is a two-time Junior Greco World Duals Champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler (2012-13). The entire Greco-Roman tournament is contested Friday beginning at 8 a.m. Alex Meyer (80kilos/176 pounds), Phillip Laux (57 kilos/125 pounds), and Kris Klapprodt (97 kilos/213 pounds) return to the freestyle tournament field after placing fourth, fifth, and eighth, respectively, in 2014. Other University of Iowa representatives include Mitch Bowman (86 kilos/189 pounds), Sammy Brooks (86 kilos/189 pounds), Topher Carton (65 kilos/143 pounds), Edwin Cooper, Jr. (70 kilos/154 pounds), Jake Kadel (70 kilos/154 pounds), Logan McQuillen (74 kilos/163 pounds), Patrick Rhoads (74 kilos/163 pounds), Skyler St. John (74 kilos/ 163 pounds), Tagen Lambotte (70 kilos/154 pounds), and Logan Thomsen (70 kilos/154 pounds). Flowrestling is providing a live stream of the event live beginning Friday, May 29 at 8 a.m. Flowrestling is providing a live stream of the event live beginning Friday, May 29 at 8 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Pennsylvania wrestling team announced the addition of Mike McMullan as an assistant coach today as announced by head coach Alex Tirapelle. McMullan, a four-time NCAA All-American and 2013 NCAA finalist while competing at Northwestern, will officially begin his tenure with the Quakers on June 22. "I'm happy to announce that Mike McMullan will be joining our staff," said Tirapelle. "Mike's competitive career is nothing short of amazing. Combine his wrestling accomplishments with his academic performance and one arrives at an exemplary model for our student-athletes at Penn. His character and work ethic are representative of Penn Wrestling's core values, and the quiet confidence that he projects makes him a natural leader of young men. Current and future Penn wrestlers are extremely fortunate to have Mike as a resource to assist with the program's development." An Easton, Pa. native who wrestled for Wyoming Seminary in high school, McMullan is no stranger to the Pennsylvania wrestling scene. The opportunity to return to his home commonwealth and coach at a prestigious academic and wrestling institution helped guide McMullan to choosing Penn as his first coaching position. "I am thankful to Alex Tirapelle and the administration at Penn - including Dr. Grace Calhoun and Alanna Shanahan - for the opportunity to coach at the University of Pennsylvania," said McMullan. "Penn is one of the finest academic institutions in the world with over 110 years of wrestling tradition featuring success not just inside the Ivy League and EIWA but on the national level. I am excited to be able to return to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania where I first fell in love with the sport and help the Quakers in this new era of Penn Wrestling." McMullan capped his collegiate career with his fourth All-American finish in March at the NCAA Championships where he finished third at heavyweight. In four trips to the national tournament at Northwestern, McMullan finished on the podium each time - never finishing lower than third. In 2013, McMullan was runner-up at heavyweight after entering the tournament as the No. 5 seed. McMullan graduated from Northwestern as just the third Wildcat to earn All-American status four times during his career. In 2015, McMullan claimed his first Big Ten championship with a win over Iowa's Bobby Telford. McMullan placed no lower than fifth at Big Tens during his career, adding a second place finish in 2013. Overall, McMullan compiled a 103-23 record while at Northwestern, and his .817 winning percentage is ninth all-time at Northwestern. McMullan was selected to compete in the NWCA All-Star Classic three times during his career, including an 8-4 win over N.C. State's Nick Gwiazdowski in the 2014 All-Star Classic held at The Palestra. Off the mat, McMullan was named NWCA All-Academic and Academic All-Big Ten at the conclusion of the 2014-15 season. He also served as a member of Northwestern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In addition to his assistant coaching duties, McMullan has also been accepted into the Master of Science in Criminology program at the University of Pennsylvania. What They're Saying About Mike McMullan "Mike McMullan is a true student of the sport. He was a very successful wrestler on the mat. All of us in the Northwestern Wrestling family wish him well as he embarks on this new adventure, one that will bring him close to his family in the Eastern Pennsylvania area." -- Drew Pariano, Northwestern Head Coach

MANHEIM, Pa. -- Israel Martinez of Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, Illinois, and Mike Clapier of Skyline High School in Salt Lake City, Utah have been named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholastic Coaches of the Year, the association announced on Wednesday. Martinez, the NWCA's High School Coach of the Year, has led the Broncos of Montini Catholic as its head coach for the past five seasons. Prior to taking over the program, he was an assistant coach for five seasons and he's either assisted or led the team to eight straight Class 2A state team titles. During that timeframe, Martinez has led the Broncos to a 118-15 dual meet record against some of the toughest competition in Illinois and nationally. The Montini Catholic program has produced 20 individual state championships since Martinez took over the program and 45 state medalists. "What we've seen from Israel Martinez is really the development of a coach," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "We know about how accomplished he was as a high school wrestler, but he's taken his almost innate knowledge of the sport and been able to harness it with a fantastic high school program and a marvelous kids club. It's a testament to how much the sport of wrestling can help people when you see how well coach Martinez has done in leading Montini's program the last five years." Clapier recently retired after spending 25 years as an assistant coach at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City. Clapier, known to many as an adopted father of many wrestlers throughout his years of the program, helped produce numerous state champions and state placewinners. Clapier was also instrumental in helping bring Division I wrestling back to the state of Utah with Utah Valley's program, which started in 2004 as the school was transitioning from a two-year college to a four-year Division I institution. Clapier also serves as the voice for Utah Valley wrestling home dual meets. "The lifelong dedication to wrestling is something that makes our coaches great," said Moyer. "Coach Clapier has time and again put himself in a position to not only coach wrestlers, but educate student-athletes about the benefits of the sport and a good education. Regional Winners Region 1 Head Coach of the Year: Kevin Gallagher, Minisink Valley H.S., Slate Hill, N.Y. Assistant Coach of the Year: Brian Coon, Mt. Anthony Union H.S., Bennington, Vt. Region 2 Head Coach of the Year: Eric Mausser, Franklin Regional H.S., Murrysville, Pa. Assistant Coach of the Year: Dave Cline, Lake H.S., Uniontown, Ohio Region 3 Head Coach of the Year: John DeWeese, Jack Britt H.S., Fayetteville, N.C. Assistant Coach of the Year: Walt Monroe, Gilmer H.S., Ellijay, Ga. Region 4 Head Coach of the Year: Israel Martinez, Montini Catholic H.S., Lombard, Ill. Assistant Coach of the Year: Mike Powell, Oak Park and River Forest H.S., Oak Park, Ill. Region 5 Head Coach of the Year: Jeremy Phillips, Neosho H.S., Neosho, Mo. Assistant Coach of the Year: Paul Lappin, Garden City H.S., Garden City, Kan. Region 6 Head Coach of the Year: Richard Martinez, Robertson H.S., Las Vegas, N.M. Assistant Coach of the Year: John Pfeiderer, Platte Valley H.S., Kersey, Colo. Region 7 Head Coach of the Year: Greg Varela, Gilroy H.S., Gilroy, Calif. Assistant Coach of the Year: Mike Clapier, Skyline H.S., Salt Lake City, Utah Region 8 Head Coach of the Year: Mark Lane, Kotzebue H.S., Kotzebue, Alaska Assistant Coach of the Year: Ron Beck, Sentinel, H.S. Missoula, Mont.

Over 300 of the nation's best wrestlers with birthdays in 1998, 1999, or 2000 will convene on the campus of the University of Akron this weekend of the UWW (formerly FILA) Cadet National Freestyle Championships. Concurrent to that event, more than 600 university wrestlers will be competing for a UWW University National freestyle title. Those events are slated for Saturday and Sunday, with the Greco-Roman competition at each level set for Friday. In past years, at the Cadet level, this event has been vertically paired (i.e. two pools in a hybrid round-robin/double elimination format); while the University level was conducted in a line bracket format. Cadets placed six, while University placed eight. However, at present, Track Wrestling is suggesting that the Cadet level is going to have a line bracket format that places eight. Given the inconsistency of event formats for USA Wrestling events in the high school ages, check back this weekend for the format. Six of the ten wrestlers that won this tournament last year at the Cadet level, and went on to compete at the World Championships last August, return this weekend in hopes of making a repeat appearance at the World level. This year, the event will be held in Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina) during late August. Included among the returnees are two of the four Americans that medaled at last year's tournament, Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) and Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.). Here is what to watch this weekend at UWW Cadet Nationals: Cadet World Team members Lee, Fix, Olivas entered at 54 kilos Spencer Lee earned a techncial fall victory over Balazs Egyed of Hungary at the 2014 Cadet World Championships (Photo/Martin Gabor)Spencer Lee is the nation's No. 1 wrestler in the Class of 2017, and has represented the United States the last two years at the UWW (formerly FILA) Cadet World Championships in freestyle. This includes a gold medal last summer at 50 kilos (110 pounds), after qualifying in that same weight class the year before. Even with Lee moving up a weight class to 54 kilos (119 pounds), to say that he is the favorite would be stating the obvious, even with three other wrestlers that also have Cadet World freestyle experience registered in this field. Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.) competed last year for the United States in this weight class, but failed to medal. The previous year, he was runner-up to Lee at the FILA Cadet Nationals in the 50 kilogram weight class. Presently ranked fourth overall in the Class of 2017, Fix is riding the momentum of a dominant run to the UWW Junior National title at 55 kilos earlier this month in which he beat a pair of NCAA Division I qualifiers as well as the highly accomplished Stevan Micic. Much has been bantered about a potential Lee vs. Fix final to say the least. Also in this weight class is Cade Olivas (St. John Bosco, Calif.), who is ranked No. 1 overall in the Class of 2018, and represented the United States last summer at 46 kilos (101 pounds) at the Cadet World freestyle tournament. Olivas ended the 2014-15 high school season ranked No. 1 at 106 pounds (Lee was No. 1 at 120 pounds). The other wrestler that has competed at Cadet Worlds in freestyle is Austin Gomez (Glenbard North, Ill.), who was the United States' representative at 42 kilos (92.5 pounds) in 2013. Gomez ended this most recent high school season ranked No. 1 nationally at 113 pounds, and is ranked No. 13 overall in the Class of 2017. Among others to note in this extremely deep weight class include returning UWW/FILA Cadet freestyle All-American Bryce West (Highland Riverside, Iowa), returning FILA Cadet World representative in Greco-Roman Drew West (Highland Riversie, Iowa), two-time FILA Cadet freestyle All-American Ian Parker (St. Johns, Mich.), Cadet National folkstyle champion Jason Renteria (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.), 2014 Cadet National freestyle champion Paul Konrath (Mount Vernon, Ind.), and No. 3 overall junior high prospect Nick Raimo (Hanover Park, N.J.). Can the three other returning champions from the Keystone State repeat? Joining Spencer Lee as Pennsylvania natives to win UWW/FILA Cadet National freestyle titles last spring were Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson Morgan), Jared Verkleeren (Belle Vernon), and Jordan Wood (Boyertown). Teasdale, ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2018, was last year's representative at 42 kilos (92 pounds) and is competing this weekend at 50 kilos; Verkleeren, ranked No. 6 in the Class of 2018, seeks a repeat berth at 63 kilos (138 pounds); while returning world silver medalist Wood, ranked No. 4 overall in the Class of 2016, seeks to repeat at 100 kilos (220 pounds). The primary challenge for Teasdale is likely to come from fellow elite Class of 2018 prospect, Roman Bravo-Young (Sunnyside, Ariz.), who is ranked No. 15 overall in that grade level. Bravo-Young earned true second place in last year's event at 46 kilos (101 pounds), and was a Cadet National double champion at 100 pounds in Fargo last summer. Among the other notables include two-time FILA Cadet freestyle All-American Drew Mattin (Delta, Ohio) and 2014 Cadet National double finalist Ian Timmins (Wooster, Nev.). Five wrestlers ranked in their grade levels are among the challengers to Verkleeren at 63 kilos. Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.) is No. 39 overall in the Class of 2016; Quentin Hovis (Seton Catholic, Ariz.) and Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook, N.J.) are ranked No. 30 and No. 44 respectively in the Class of 2017; while Alex Felix (Gilroy, Calif.) and Joe Lee (Evansville Mater Dei, Ind.) are No. 21 and No. 23 in the Class of 2018. Another key player in this weight class will be returning FILA Cadet freestyle All-American Corey Shie (Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio). Among the primary challengers to Wood are two wrestlers ranked second overall in their respective grade levels, Class of 2018 prospect Gable Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Junior High athlete Cohlton Schultz (Colorado). Two other contenders at 100 kilos are returning Cadet National freestyle runners-up Kobe Woods (Penn, Ind.) and Lucas Ready (Brighton, Mich.). Nick Lee tries to avoid "Buffalo Bills syndrome" Nick Lee (Evansville Mater Dei, Ind.) is currently ranked No. 2 overall in the Class of 2017, and has lost championship bouts the last two years at the FILA Cadet National freestyle championships in the 58 kilogram (127 pounds) weight class. In each of the last two years at this event, Lee went 7-1 with five wins coming by technical fall. Last summer, he was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Cadet National Freestyle Championships in Fargo, N.D. This weekend, Lee seeks to earn an elusive berth to the UWW Cadet freestyle World Championships. He is the favorite, though it will not be an easy road. Eight others in the field are also ranked in their respective grade levels. From the class of 2016, it is No. 37 Taylor LaMont (Maple Mountain, Utah) and No. 43 Dylan Duncan (Montini Catholic, Ill.); 2017 wrestlers include No. 5 Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.), No. 20 Jaden Enriquez (Mission Oak, Calif.), No. 21 Ben Freeman (Walled Lake Central, Mich.), No. 31 Kaden Gfeller (Heritage Hall, Okla.), and No. 39 Navonte Demison (Bakersfield, Calif.); while Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.) is ranked no. 19 in the Class of 2018. A showcase for megastars Looking at the Class of 2017, the top six overall wrestlers in that grade level are all registered to compete in this event; as are 14 of the top 25, and 23 of the top 50. For the Class of 2016, seven from the top 50 are present; with many of the ranked wrestlers having 1997 birthdays, which makes them ineligible to compete. From the class of 2018, 13 of the top 25 are registered to compete, while it is a trio of the top 15 Junior High wrestlers (each is from the Class of 2019) entered in the field. The following is a summary list of the top ten wrestlers in a grade level slated to compete: 2016: No. 4 Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.) at 100 kilos (220 pounds), No. 9 Beau Breske (Hartford Union, Wis.) at 76 kilos (167 pounds), and No. 10 Keegan Moore (Jackson County Central, Minn.) at 85 kilos (187 pounds) 2017: No. 1 Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) at 54 kilos (119 pounds), No. 2 Nick Lee (Evansville Mater Dei, Ind.) at 58 kilos (127 pounds), No. 3 Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) at 69 kilos (152 pounds), No. 4 Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.) at 54 kilos (119 pounds), No. 5 Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) at 58 kilos (127 pounds), and No. 6 Jared Verkleeren (Belle Vernon, Pa.) at 63 kilos (138 pounds) 2018: No. 1 Cade Olivas (St. John Bosco, Calif.) at 54 kilos (119 pounds), No. 2 Gable Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) at 100 kilos (220 pounds), No. 3 Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson Morgan, Pa.) at 50 kilos (110 pounds), No. 6 Frankie Gissendanner (Penfield, N.Y.) at 69 kilos (152 pounds), and No. 8 Brandon Whitman (Dundee, Mich.) at 85 kilos (187 pounds) 2019: No. 2 Cohlton Schultz (Colorado) at 100 kilos (220 pounds) and No. 3 Nick Raimo (New Jersey) at 54 kilos (119 pounds) Predicting championship matchups The following are projected championship matchups, presuming the pair of wrestlers in question are on opposite halves of the brackets (or in opposite pools). 42 kilos: Malik Heinselman (Castle View, Colo.) over Mosha Schwartz (Colorado) 46 kilos: Nicolas Aguilar (Gilroy, Calif.) over Travis Ford-Melton (Illinois) 50 kilos: Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson Morgan, Pa.) over Roman Bravo-Young (Sunnyside, Ariz.) 54 kilos: Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) over Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.) 58 kilos: Nick Lee (Evansville Mater Dei, Ind.) over Taylor LaMont (Maple Mountain, Utah) 63 kilos: Jared Verkleeren (Belle Vernon, Pa.) over Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.) 69 kilos: Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) over Layne van Anrooy (Roseburg, Ore.) 76 kilos: Beau Breske (Hartford Union, Wis.) over Brandon Dallavia (Blair Academy, N.J.) 85 kilos: Keegan Moore (Jackson County Central, Minn.) over Wyatt Koelling (Davis, Utah) 100 kilos: Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.) over Gable Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) *125 kilos: Kevin Vough (Elyria, Ohio) over Jacob Lill (Archer, Ga.) *This weight class is not contested at the UWW World Championships

CONCORD, Calif. -- Hungary captured the team title at the 2015 Junior Greco-Roman World Duals, which concluded on Sunday in Concord, California. Hungary won the title (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Hungary finished the competition with a 7-0 record, which included a dominating 41-8 victory over runner-up Scandinavia. Coming in third was a team from Sweden. A USA All-Star team finished fourth in the competition, followed by American teams from Oregon (fifth), CYC (sixth), Roseburg, Oregon (seventh) and California (eighth). U.S. wrestlers G'Angelo "Tracy" Hancock (98.5 kilos) and Layne VanAnrooy (70 kilos) earned the Outstanding Wrestler awards. Three Americans claimed gold medals: Hancock, VanAnrooy, and Liam Cronin (49 kilos). Team Standings 1. Hungary 2. Scandinavia 3. Sweden 4. USA 5. Oregon 6. CYC 7. Roseburg 8. California 49 kilos: Gold: Liam Cronin (USA) Silver: Istvan Vancza (Hungary) Bronze: Chase Zollman (California) 52.5 kilos: Gold: Vilmos Varga (Hungary) Silver: Mason Hartshorn (California) Bronze: Timmy Skiold (Sweden) 56 kilos: Gold: Erik Torba (Hungary) Silver: Dalton Roberts (USA) Bronze: Anton Rosen (Scandinavia) 59 kilos: Gold: Robin Vilenius (Sweden) Silver: Andrew Ibera (USA) Bronze: Donovin Guerrero (CYC) 63 kilos: Gold: Tam�s Levai (Hungary) Silver: Alexander Bica (Scandinavia) Bronze: Abdul Aziz (Sweden) 66 kilos: Gold: Tamas Lakatos (Hungary) Silver: Elias Petersson (Sweden) Bronze: Albin Olofsson (Scandinavia) 70 kilos: Gold: Layne VanAnrooy (Roseburg) Silver: Balazs Szel (Hungary) Bronze: Avto Gigolashvilli (Sweden) 74.5 kilos: Gold: Zoltan Levai (Hungary) Silver: Riley Jaramillo (Oregon) Bronze: Zaurbek Nuriev (Sweden) 79 kilos: Gold: Emil Johansson (Scandinavia) Silver: Jakob Lofg�rd (Sweden) Bronze: Aaron Cash (USA) 86.5 kilos: Gold: Oskar Meggerle (Scandinavia) Silver: Haden Maley (Oregon) Bronze: Davit Stepanyan (USA) 98.5 kilos: Gold: G'Angelo "Tracy" Hancock (USA) Silver: Ferenc Almasi (Hungary) Bronze: Kristian Nielsen (Sweden) 125 kilos: Gold: Johan Gustavs.son (Scandinavia) Silver: Mihaly Nagy (Hungary) Bronze: Jacob Yruegas (Oregon) Best Match: 63 kilos: Alexander Bica (Scandinavia) VS Tamas LEVAI (Hungary) Outstanding Wrestlers: 70 kilos: Layne VanAnrooy (Roseburg) 98.5 kilos: G'Angelo "Tracy" Hancock (USA) Best Technicians: 56 kilos: Erik TORBA (Hungary) 74.5 kilos: Zoltan L�VAI (Hungary) Dual Results Round 1: California vs. USA (7-46) Scandinavia vs. Oregon (31-23) Sweden (Sweden) vs. Roseburg,Oregon (46-10) Hungary vs. CYC (42-6) Round 2: CYC vs. Roseburg (39-17) California vs. Scandinavia (14-39) Oregon vs. USA (22-31) Hungary vs. Sweden (44-13) Round 3: Hungary vs. Roseburg (46-16) CYC vs. Oregon (27-29) California vs. Sweden (11-39) Scandinavia vs. USA (30-26) Round 4: Oregon vs. California (49-3) USA vs. Roseburg (47-8) Sweden vs. CYC (43-5) Scandinavia vs. Hungary (8-41) Round 5: USA vs. Sweden (22-30) Scandinavia vs. CYC (34-13) Oregon vs. Hungary (15-39) Roseburg vs. California (39-16) Round 6: Sweden vs. Scandinavia (25-30) Roseburg vs. Oregon (13-41) California vs. Hungary (10-49) USA vs. CYC (35-19) Round 7: CYC vs. California (45-12) Roseburg vs. Scandinavia (20-38) Sweden vs. Oregon (25-31) USA vs. Hungary (19-33)

DALLAS -- The National Collegiate Wrestling Association, in conjunction with the national coaches association, honored 107 wrestlers as its top student-athletes for the 2014-15 season. This season's NCWA All-Academic Team contains scholars from 44 schools from the NCWA's combined Division I and Division II ranks. The women's division honored eight student-athletes. The coaches association sponsors the NCWA's academic awards as well as those for the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA. In order to be nominated to the NCWA All-Academic Team, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher, be a full-time student who has completed at least two full semesters, and must have competed at their conference championship tournament. "It's wonderful at the end of our season that we get to recognize our top student-athletes," NCWA executive director Jim Giunta said. "We congratulate this year's All-Academic Team for their fine work. As our association continues to grow, so too does the quality of students that stay involved in wrestling through the NCWA, be it as competitors, student coaches, or administrators. The NCWA has a very high regard for those who achieve in the classroom as well as in competition. These are our future leaders." The Apprentice School led the association with nine members on the All-Academic Team, more than twice the total of any other program. Alfred State, Grand Valley State, MIT, Central Florida, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan and North Texas had four apiece. The complete list of honorees is below, listed in alphabetical order by their school. NCWA School Name, Class Akron -- Al Caserta, Sr.; Frank Shaffer, Jr. Alfred State -- Bradley Haggerty, Jr.; Austin Keough, So.; Codie Nichols, So.; Kevin Thayer, So. Amherst -- Theo Agbi, Sr. Apprentice School -- Daniel Henson, So.; Ian Jones, Sr.; Chris Kennedy, Jr.; Kenny Lowry, Jr.; Kyle Lowry, Sr.; Jacob Michael, Jr.; Philip Porto, Jr.; Joshua Rodriguez, Jr.; Tyrell Watkins, So. Bowling Green -- Zach Goodman, Jr. BYU -- Kyle Lane, Sr. Central Florida -- Max Becks, Sr.; Christian Grillo, Sr.; Michael Seymour, Jr.; Tyrell Walker, Sr. Central Washington -- Zack McCarley, Gr. Colorado -- Eric Yamaguchi, So. Concordia Univ. -- Timothy Grimm, Sr. Davenport Univ. -- Connor Hughes, Jr.; Brant Schafer, So. Dixie State -- Brian Curtis, Sr.; Pierce Stowman, Jr. East Carolina -- Jared Nicholson, So. Florida -- Giovanni Santoro, Jr.; Trace Thome, So.; Jacob Wasserman, So.; Joshua Weinberg, Sr. Georgia -- John Cook, Jr.; Jake Jensen, Jr.; Travis Scott, Jr.; Jacob Tripp, Jr. Georgia Southern -- Najee Banks, So.; Josh Gaspard, So. Glendale CC (Ariz.) -- Quentin Grill, So. Grand Valley State -- Eric Dietz, Jr.; Joey Montney, Jr.; Bruce Rau, Jr.; Gabe Stepanovich, Jr. James Madison -- Stefan Haas, Sr. Lafayette -- Alex Amador, Sr. Maine -- Neal Harrison-Billiat, Jr. Maryland-Baltimore County -- Thomas Hsu, Gr. Massachusetts -- Cassian Corey, Jr.; Sean O'Connor, Jr.; Max Jacobs, Sr. MIT -- Andrew Esquivel, So.; Grant Genzman, Gr.; Joseph Lowman, So.; Jose Velarde, So. Memphis -- Jordan Greene, So. Mercer -- Jamal Reynolds, Jr.; Derek Wojcik, Sr. Miami (Fla.) -- Thien Tran, So. Michigan -- Humphrey Akujobi, Jr.; Patrick Basset, So.; Dustin Funk, So.; Zachary Vatalare, So. Middle Tennessee -- Eric Feuerbacher, Jr.; Jonathan Roberts, Sr. Mott CC (Mich.) -- Pellumb Kurtega, So.; Joe Roehl, So. New Hampshire -- Nic DiPierro, Jr. North Florida -- Stuart Maddox, Sr. North Texas -- Adam Gonsoulin, Jr.; Ashton Harris, Jr.; Mark Snow, Sr.; William Sterling, Gr. Northeastern -- Alex Vanarthos, So. Penn State -- John Novak, Sr.; Paul Schoenberg, So. Penn State-DuBois -- Andrew Bigley, So. Penn State-Mont Alto -- Clay Kocsis, So. RPI -- Omar Abdoun, Jr.; Will Bonagura, Sr. Rowan -- John Chillem, Gr.; Charlie Grab, Jr. South Florida -- Josh Jefferies, Sr.; Rory Roderick, So. Temple -- Marcus Newsom, Jr.; Michael Walsh, So. Texas -- Mitchell Lax, Jr.; Jonathan Malazinsky, Jr. Texas-Arlington -- Geovanny Alzate, Jr. UCLA -- Youssef Aref, So.; Freddie Hsiao, So. USC -- Nick Cegelski, Jr.; Armand Farrokh, Jr. VMI -- Daniel Bowman, So. Washington State -- Jerdon Helgeson, So.; Brandon Todd, Jr. Wayne State -- Matthew DeGarmo, Jr. NCWWA Name, School Massachusetts -- Natalie Solorio, Sr. Middle Tennessee -- Clarissa Ceffalo, So. Ottawa Univ. -- Marisol Arredondo, Jr. Southwestern Oregon CC -- Mikeyla Pico, So.; Franchesca Yberra, Jr. Springfield (Mass.) Tech -- Anna Ernst, So.; Rose Heurtelou, So. UC Merced -- Coral Quirino, Sr.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Logan Stieber's path to the Olympics Trials will go through Columbus. The four-time NCAA national champion, who just two weeks ago graduated from Ohio State, will remain in the Buckeye State as he's signed with Columbus-based Ohio Regional Training Center (Ohio RTC). The nation's elite training center is coached by Buckeye associate head coach Lou Rosselli and utilizes Ohio State's Steelwood Athletic Training Facility. "I am excited to continue my wrestling career at the Ohio Regional Training Center," said Stieber, who hopes to remain in Columbus through 2020. "Staying here to train will help me pursue my dream of becoming an Olympic champion." Stieber joins a list of former Buckeye greats who currently train the organization, Reece Humphrey, a two-time All-American and the 2009 national runner-up at 133 lbs., JD Bergman, who three times earned All-America honors for the Scarlet and Gray, Division II national champion Tervel Dlagnev and Cashe Quiroga, a former Purdue Boilermaker. Humphrey, Bergman and Dlagnev are all currently members of Team USA. Humphrey and Kyle Snyder are US Open champions while Bergman has a third-place finish on his resume. "Logan is a perfect match for The Ohio Regional training Center," said Rosselli. "He is an extremely hard worker with the right pedigree to be an Olympic champion. We are thrilled to have him be a part of our elite freestyle program." In addition to Rosselli, Ohio RTC coaches include Buckeyes' head coach Ryan and Ohio State assistants J Jaggers and Ross Thatcher. Also on staff is All-American Nick Heflin, the 2014 NCAA runner-up at 197 lbs., and 2002 Ohio State graduate Dustin Myers. "Logan was the catalyst to the Buckeyes winning their first ever team title," said Ohio State head coach Tom Ryan. "He's a homegrown Buckeye. As he chases Olympic Gold training in Columbus, he will continue to share his knowledge with the current Buckeye team." Stieber capped his record-breaking career last March by becoming just the fourth wrestler in NCAA history to win four national titles. In the process, he also helped the Buckeye earn their first team title in the 94-year history of the sport in Columbus. A list of his accomplishments includes: The first wrestler in the history of the Big Ten conference to win four national titles. First Buckeye in history to win the Dan Hodge Trophy, given to the nation's top wrestler and considered to be the Heisman Trophy of the sport. With a 16-1 tech fall win over Iowa's Josh Dziewa in the finals, became the first Ohio State wrestler to ever win four Big Ten titles. Finished his career on a 50-match winning streak dating back to December, 2013. Fastest Buckeye to ever reach the 100-win milestone (103 matches). Winning percentage ranks first in Ohio State history (.975). NCAA's Most Dominant Wrestler, NWCA Most Outstanding Wrestler and AWN Pound For Pound Award winner.

Rob Koll has led Cornell to top-five finishes in six of the last seven seasons. This past season Gabe Dean won the NCAA title at 184 pounds and was one of four All-Americans on a Big Red team that finished fifth at the NCAAs. Koll talked to Takedown about his late father Bill Koll, Greco-Roman, MMA and more.

U.S. delegation poses with champ Zahid Valencia ANTALYA, Turkey -- Zahid Valencia (Pico Rivera, Calif./Sunkist Kids) won a bronze medal today at 84 kilos/185 pounds in men's freestyle on the final day of the respected Mithat Bayrak and Ismet Atli Junior International. Valencia, a 2015 UWW Junior Nationals champion, won four matches on the way to the gold medal. He defeated Zharuel Shapiev of Russia in the championship finals in a 2-2 criteria decision He scored three 10-0 technical fall victories over Grzegos Sadovik of Poland, Enes Altun of Turkey and Iliskehan Cihilayev of Kazakhstan on the way to the finals. "I was very proud of the way Zahid battled the entire day. He had three 10-0 technical fall wins on the way to the final and beat a salty Russian 2-2 to earn the gold. This was Zahid's very first international tournament, so for him to win is very impressive and points to a bright future," said Assistant National Freestyle Coach Brandon Slay. Read full story ...

MANHEIM, Pa. -- There's a new king at the top of the National Wrestling Coaches Association's All-Academic teams and individuals on Friday. Eastern Michigan's wrestling team checked in with a team grade-point average of 3.382, edging second-place Harvard, which checked in with a 3.372. It's the first time Eastern Michigan has claimed top honors, while Harvard was the top team each of the past two years. Link: NWCA All-Academic Top 30 Teams Link: NWCA All-Academic Individuals Awarded annually, the NWCA All-Academic Team contains 118 student-athletes and of those, 28 were All-Americans. This year's list also includes half of the Division I champions and eight of the 20 wrestlers who competed in the finals in St. Louis back in March. "What's extremely promising about the All-Academic standings for the teams and the individuals is there is a lot of competition for the top spots in these rankings," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "As you might expect, some of our nation's finest academic institutions, like the Ivy League schools for example, are represented very well, but when you see schools like Eastern Michigan, SIU-Edwardsville and South Dakota State, it goes to show the nation that great educations and great educational resources can be found everywhere. These schools know they have top-notch academics and we're glad to be able to have our student-athletes showcase it through wrestling." The team grade-point average was determined using a system that includes 12 student-athletes from each program. A total of 10 of these came from the wrestlers that were entries in the NCAA tournament conference qualifier. American University (3.358) Gardner-Webb (3.352) and Brown (3.328) rounded out the top five teams. It's the second straight year Harvard, Gardner-Webb and Brown have landed in the top five. Duke, Bucknell, Stanford, SIU-Edwardsville, and Minnesota rounded out the top 10. Eastern Michigan was 30th least year. The Eagles are represented individually by graduate student Brandon Zeerip. The Michigan native and 157-pounder is pursuing his Master's Degree in Business Administration with a 3.88 GPA. Harvard's top individual was 197-pound senior James Fox. The Psychology major has a 3.803 GPA. SIU-Edwardsville broke into the Top 10 for the first time. Coach Jeremy Spates' team came in ninth with a 3.242 GPA. The Cougars had two individuals on the All-Academic Team, Jake Residori and Jake Tindle. Individually, NCAA champions Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State), Matt Brown (Penn State), Gabe Dean (Cornell), Kyven Gadson (Iowa State) and Nick Gwiazdowski (N.C. State) were all on the All-Academic Team. Three other finalists -- Brian Realbuto (Cornell), Tyler Wilps (Pittsburgh), and Adam Coon (Michigan) -- were on the team as well. Two schools -- Missouri and Stanford -- each had five wrestlers on the All-Academic team while Duke, Lehigh, Nebraska, Old Dominion, Penn State, Penn and South Dakota State had four each. Of note, Penn State's Brown earned an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, while Old Dominion's Tristan Warner ended his career as a two-time recipient of the NCAA's Elite 89 Award. NCAA team champion Ohio State had two wrestlers on the All-Academic Team -- Tomasello and All-American Bo Jordan. Ninety-six wrestlers on the team qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships, which is an increase of 19 wrestlers compared to the 2013-14 team. Of the 77 Division I wrestling programs, 56 teams had at least one representative on the All-Academic Team. "The NWCA All-Academic Team and Individual Team is one of the best acknowledgements that we can give to our coaches and athletes at the end of a physically grueling season" said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "These young men have proved that they are not only talented competitors but are leaders in the classroom as well. The NWCA Board of Directors and staff look forward to watching these student-athletes continue their success at the collegiate level and eventually as the leaders of the future once they earn their college degrees." About National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: coaching development, student-athlete welfare, and the promotion of wrestling.

BLACKSBURG -- Coming off three consecutive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, Virginia Tech wrestling coach Kevin Dresser has released the team's 2015-16 schedule, one that will test the Hokies once again as they continue to build upon the team's recent success. Highlighted in the schedule are home matches with perennial national powers Penn State, Iowa State and West Virginia, as well as two matches at the Moss Arts Center. "I am excited about next year's team and next year's schedule," Dresser said. "I feel it is one of the most challenging schedules we have put together. I also feel we have a few breaks to rest and heal up throughout this season if need be. It's going to be a fun season with what could be a very good team." The Hokies will open the season on Nov. 6, playing host to Iowa State in a dual match inside Cassell Coliseum. Two days later, Tech will hold its annual Hokie Open tournament in Rector Field House in Blacksburg. The tournament has grown into one of the top early-season events in the region and attracts competitors from all over the country. The Nittany Lions of Penn State, a team many forecast to be the best in the country this upcoming season, roll into town on Sunday, Nov. 15 for a big dual meet in Cassell Coliseum, as the program looks to break the attendance record in the venue. Tech then hits the road for two months, traveling to South Dakota State and North Dakota State for duals, and will then participate in the Las Vegas Invitational to wrap up the calendar year. The Hokies open 2016 with a dual match at George Mason on Jan. 3 and will then look to defend their Virginia Duals title Jan. 8-9 in Hampton. After the arousing success of last year's events, the program will once again hold two matches in the Moss Arts Center on campus. On Friday, Jan. 15, the Hokies will play host to Northern Iowa and then a day later, the Hokies will take on North Carolina in the venue. Tech's last home match will come on Friday, Jan. 29 as it plays hosts to West Virginia in Cassell Coliseum. "Getting big names like Penn State, West Virginia and Iowa State to all come to Cassell next year is big," Dresser said. "It's a great home schedule for the fans. And of course, the opportunity to go back to the Moss Arts Center for back-to-back dual meets with UNI and UNC in mid January will be great thing for my guys and the Hokie Nation to look forward to this season. Our experience with wrestling in the Moss Arts Center was super exciting. What an electric venue!" All five teams venturing to Blacksburg finished in the top 34 of the 2015 NCAA Wrestling Championships: Penn State (6th; won four of last five national team titles), Iowa State (14th), West Virginia (20th), North Carolina (24th), and Northern Iowa (34th). Tech wraps up the season with a match at defending ACC champion Virginia (Jan. 31), and then concludes with road trips to Pitt (Jan. 5), Edinboro (Feb. 7), NC State (Feb. 12), Duke (Feb. 13) and the National Duals (Feb. 20). The 2016 ACC Championships are scheduled for Saturday, March 5, in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the NCAA Championships will be held March 17-19 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. All dates, times and even locations are tentative until the ACC releases the men's and women's basketball schedules later this summer. The full schedule can be found here.