InterMat Staff

Robert Lee (Kaukauna, Wis.), a three-time state champion and four-time state finalist, verbally committed to Pittsburgh. The projected 133/141-pound wrestler is currently ranked No. 14 nationally at 138 pounds. He placed eighth in the Super 32 Challenge at 145 pounds this fall, and was runner-up at 132 pounds in the FloNationals one year ago. Lee will join Eli Seipel (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) as a nationally ranked wrestler to commit to the Panthers in their 2015 recruiting class.

Bruce Burnett after World Cup ... Jake Varner after winning against Iran ... Brent Metcalf after winning against Iran ... Jordan Burroughs after winning against Iran ... Tervel Dlganev after winning against Mongolia ... Tony Ramos after winning against Mongolia ... Brent Metcalf after winning against Mongolia ...

Related: Day 1 Interviews | Day 2 Interviews | Day 1 Recap Jordan Burroughs won by tech. fall over Morteza Rezaei Ghaleh (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- For the second year in a row, Team USA fell to Iran in World Cup action by a score of 5-3. This year it was for the gold medal, while last year it happened in pool competition. The meet was filled with drama and wasn't decided until the final period of the heavyweight match. At 57 kilos, American Tony Ramos faced 2013 World champion Hassan Rahimi, an opponent who had defeated him 9-1 last November. Down 2-1 in the second period, Ramos countered a Rahimi shot which resulted in a wild scramble that was scored 2-2. USA protested the scoring sequence and lost the protest. The remainder of the period was filled with action and emotion and saw Rahimi win 6-5. At 61 kilos, Coleman Scott opened the match with fireworks against Behnam Ehsanpoor, hitting a four-point throw and then holding Ehsanpoor on his back to earn and extra point. He took a 7-2 lead into the second period, but Ehsanpoor's conditioning became a factor allowing him to rally for a 9-7 win. The match was eerily similar to the 61 kilos World Cup match between the same countries a year ago when Reece Humphrey lost a big lead against Masmoud Esmailpour. Esmailpour returned to the Iranian World Cup lineup again this year, only at 65 kilos. In the USA match, he faced Brent Metcalf, who got USA on the board with a solid 3-1 win. "I know I can score more points than that," Metcalf said. "Good. I won, but I've got to be able to get to their legs. I feel the high crotch I hit was a pretty darn good one." USA narrowed the gap to 3-2 with a dazzling 10-0 win by Jordan Burroughs over Peyman Yarahmadi. After the match, Burroughs elaborated on the ease of his victory. "He's a lefty. And anyone who has followed my career knows that our assistant coach at Nebraska, Bryan Snyder, is a lefty. I've wrestled with him a ton. I know how to finish on lefty high crotches, lefty singles. And I'm like 'Man, this is awesome.'" Filling in for an injured Ed Ruth at 86 kilos, Clayton Foster opened up the scoring on Meysam Jokar to take a 2-0 lead, but Jokar was able to find his groove and scored two four point moves and ultimately earn a technical fall. With the match score then at 4 for Iran and 2 for USA, the final two American athletes had to both win in order for any possibility of winning on criteria. While one of the more anticipated matchups of the weekend was 2012 Olympic Champ Jake Varner taking on 2013 World Champ Reza Yazdani, Yazdani suffered a 9-1 loss to Sharif Sharifov of Azerbaijan and looked very winded in the second period. The Iran coaching staff decided to go with Mohammad Hossei Askari Mohammadian, a 2013 bronze medalist at 86 kilos who had since moved up in weight. Mohammadian scored a takedown in the second period and held a 3-1 lead late in the match. However, Varner found a takedown and a turn late in the match to find a way to win and keep Team USA's hopes alive. "I don't feel like I wrestled to my best potential," Varner said. "But I left it all out there. I got taken down. That happens, but I know how to score." Despite two 10-0 technical fall wins in two matches this weekend, Tervel Dlagnev, who is still recovering from injury, was not given the nod to face his longtime rival Komeil Ghasemi in the gold-medal match. Zack Rey filled in admirably and held a 1-0 lead going into the final period, but Ghasemi tied the score and then earned a takedown with twenty second left to win the match and give Iran the victory. Results: 57 kilos: Hassan Rahimi (Iran) dec. Tony Ramos (USA), 6-5 61 kilos: Behnam Ehsanpoor (Iran) dec. Coleman Scott (USA), 9-7 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Masmoud Esmailpour (Iran), 3-1 70 kilos: Hassan Yazdani Charati (Iran) dec. Nick Marable (USA), 3-1 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs (USA) tech. fall Morteza Rezaei Ghaleh (Iran) 10-0 86 kilos: Meisam Mostafa Joukar (Iran) tech. fall Clayton Foster (USA) 12-2 97 kilos: Jake Varner (USA) dec. Mohammad Hossien Mohammadian (Iran) 3-3 125 kilos: Komeil Ghasemi (Iran) dec. Zack Rey (USA) 3-1 USA shuts out Mongolia in pool competition Team USA looked impressive in its first dual meet on the second day of the World Cup by shutting out a strong team from Mongolia to advance to the gold-medal match. The marquee bout came at 65 kilos where Brent Metcalf squared off against Mandakhnaran Ganzorig, a 2014 bronze medalist. Metcalf opened up the scoring by exposing Ganzorig off a front headlock and lead the entire match to win 7-2. "He's a really slimy wrestler in terms of the things he's good at. I feel like I left some points out there from my point of view, but I also feel like a wrestled smart." Two matches were tied on the scoreboard but won on criteria by U.S. athletes. Tony Ramos at 57 kilos and Clayton Foster at 86 kilos. Ramos's match featured many wild scrambles that resulted in no points. Although the scoreboard was tied 1-1, Ramos was declared the winner by virtue of scoring last. Ramos was a bit upset that his opponent was not Bekhbayar Erdenebat, who was listed on the roster but did not make the trip. Erdenebat and Ramos met in the 2014 World Championships, with Erdenbat winning 7-4. "Yeah, he didn't make the trip, but this guy was ranked 10thin the world and took fifth at Yarygin." Clayton Foster was given the nod to start against Mongolia as Ed Ruth incurred a minor shoulder injury. Ruth warmed up for the meet and the meet was sewn up by the time 86 kilos came up. Down 2-0, Foster scored a takedown in the second period to tie the match on the scoreboard, but go ahead on criteria. Coleman Scott appeared much sharper during the second day of World Cup action and picked up a 6-2 victory over Nemekhbayar Batsaikhan. Immediately following the USA's win over Mongolia, Iran dominated Azerbaijan to set up the gold-medal final match. Results: 57 kilos: Tony Ramos (USA) dec. Tsogtbaatar Damdinbazar (Mongolia), 1-1 61 kilos: Coleman Scott (USA) dec. Memekhbayar Batsaikhan (Mongolia), 8-5 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Mandakhnaran Ganzorig (Mongolia), 8-2 70 kilos: Nick Marable (USA) dec. Ankhbayar Batchuluun (Mongolia), 4-1 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Unurbat Purevjav (Mongolia), 6-0 86 kilos: Clayton Foster (USA) dec. Usukhbaatar Purevee (Mongolia), 2-2 97 kilos: Jake Varner (USA) dec. Khuderbulga Dorjkhand (Mongolia), 3-0 125 kilos: Tervel Dlagnev (USA) tech. fall Chuluunbat Jargal Saikhan (Mongolia), 10-0

Tervel Dlganev after winning against Russia ... Jordan Burroughs after winning against Russia ... Brent Metcalf after winning against Russia ... Tony Ramos after winning against Russia ... Brandon Slay after Day 1 ... Bruce Burnett after Day 1 ... Nick Marable after winning against Cuba ... Jake Varner after winning against Cuba ...

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa -- Despite two big upset wins in the evening's last two matches by home-state wrestlers over Pennsylvania natives ranked in the top two nationally, those from Team USA won eight of 15 matches in a 30-22 dual meet victory at the Dream Team Classic. Results: 170: No. 11 Jacob Holschlag (Union) dec. Luke Entzel (Missoula Big Sky, Mont.), 1-0 182: No. 6 Kollin Moore (Norwayne, Ohio) maj. dec. No. 18 Evan Hansen (Exira), 15-6 195: No. 9 Cash Wilcke (OA-BCIG) dec. Tyler Johnson (Lockport, Ill.), 3-2 195: No. 2 Bobby Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) dec. No. 10 Steven Holloway (Mediapolis), 8-6 220: No. 5 Ryan Parmely (Maquoketa Valley) maj. dec. Jay Nino (Genoa, Ohio), 10-2 285: No. 6 Tate Orndorff (University, Wash.) dec. Mario Pena (Hampton Dumont), 6-3 113: Brennen Doebel (Clear Lake) dec. Arik Furseth (Janesville Craig, Wis.), 5-2 120: No. 20 Jacob Schwarm (Bettendorf) dec. No. 7 (at 113) Garrett Pepple (East Noble, Ind.), 6-0 126: No. 14 Eli Seipel (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) dec. No. 17 Nolan Hellickson (Southeast Polk), 10-4 132: No. 1 Kaid Brock (Stillwater, Okla.) maj. dec. Paul Glynn (Bettendorf), 17-4 138: No. 2 Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area, Pa.) dec. Josh Wenger (Cedar Rapids Prairie), 7-2 145: Tristan Moran (Stillwater, Okla.) tech. fall Aaron Meyer (Southeast Polk), 18-3 152: No. 2 Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Pa.) tech. fall Chase Straw (Independence), 25-10 160: No. 4 Bryce Steiert (Waverly-Shell Rock) dec. No. 2 Josh Shields (Franklin Regional, Pa.), 4-2 145: No. 2 Max Thomsen (Union) dec. No. 1 Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.), 6-4

Tervel Dlagnev defeated Russia's Arslanbek Aliev (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Tervel Dlagnev knew that a tech fall was necessary in order for Team USA to win on criteria over Russia at the 2015 World Cup, but he only found out that his opponent, Arslanbek Aliev, had to also be shut out. Russia held a 4-3 individual match lead going into 125 kilos, and led 16-13 in classification points. A regular decision gives the winning wrestler three classification points. If the loser also scores in the match, he gets one classification point. A technical fall gives the winter four classification points, but the loser also gets a classification point if he scores during the match. Dlagnev's 10-0 technical fall gave USA four classification points and Russia no classification points and therefore a 17-16 criteria victory. Had Aliev scored, the classification points would have been tied 17-17 and then the winner would be determined by the next criteria, which is most number of falls. At 86 kilos, Dauren Kurugliev pinned USA's Ed Ruth and that would have made the difference. The seven matches leading up to 125 kilos were wild and filled with action. At 57 kilos, USA's Tony Ramos rebounded from a loss in Session 1 with an exciting 4-2 win over Omak Syuruun, scoring a takedown late in the second period to secure the win. At 65 kilos, Brent Metcalf gave up the opening takedown and then rallied to win 13-3 over Akhmed Chakaev. "When you feel a guy letting up, you take him to the house," Metcalf said in regards to scoring off of multiple gut wrenches. 70 kilos saw two USA challenges in Nick Marable's match with Israil Kasumov. USA won the first protest, but the final, match-deciding scramble was ruled in Kasumov's favor, giving him the 6-4 victory. Jordan Burrough's 12-0 technical fall over Iakubail Shikhdzhamalov seemed to put USA in the driver's seat, but after Ed Ruth got pinned and 2012 Olympic champ Jake Varner lost 4-0 at 97 kilos, Russia was in the driver's seat. But Dlagnev's dominance that has kept USA's World Cup championship hopes alive heading into Sunday. USA 4, Russia 4 (USA wins on criteria of 17 classification points to 16) 57 kilos: Tony Ramos (USA) dec. Omak Syuruun (Russia), 4-2 61 kilos: Murshid Mutalimov (Russia) dec. Coleman Scott (USA), 10-1 65 kilos Brent Metcalf (USA) tech. fall Akhmed Chakaev (Russia), 13-3 70 kilos Israil Kasumov (Russia) dec. Nick Marable (USA), 6-4 74 kilos Jordan Burroughs (USA) tech. fall Iakubali Shikhdzhamalov (Russia), 12-0 86 kilos Dauren Kurguliev (Russia) pinned Ed Ruth (USA) 97 kilos Yury Belonovskiy (Russia) dec. Jake Varner (USA), 4-0 125 kilos Tervel Dlagnev (USA) tech. fall Arslanbek Aliev (Russia), 10-0 Team USA overcomes slow start to defeat Cuba After dropping the first two bouts, victory seemed far from certain for Team USA in the opening meet of the Freestyle World Cup against a strong team from Cuba, which featured 6 world medalists. But USA rallied and won the next six weights to dominate 6-2. Both Tony Ramos at 57 kilos and Coleman Scott at 61 kilos held 1-0 leads after the first period. But 2014 bronze medalist Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez opened up the scoring and the second period and won by fall over Ramos. Moikel Aontonio Perez Gonzalez followed with an 9-1 win over Scott. In the third bout, the trend almost looked like it would continue as Brent Metcalf also held a 1-0 lead when Franklin Maren Castillo got in deep in what looked like it would be a scoring takedown. But Metcalf scrambled out of it, pressed the attack and secured a solid 7-2 win. After that moment, it was all Team USA. Nick Marable won at 70 kilos with a 10-0 technical fall win over Andy Yoan Moreno Gonzalez. One year ago at the 2014 World Cup, Marable made 70 kilos for the first time. After a year at the weight he said "I feel so much better now. I don't feel drained. My legs felt better in the second period than in the first." Without a doubt, the highlight of the meet was at 86 kilos, where former Penn State standout Ed Ruth met the 2013 and 2014 World Silver Medalist, Reineris Salas Perez. In a wild back and forth bout that saw three lead changes, Ruth wound up winning 22-13. Early in the second period, it was 13-8 Perez, but Ruth seemed to figure him out and went on a 14 point run. "Adapting during a match is something I'm working on right now every time I wrestle someone different. We don't see these guys all year long, so that's something every wrestler has to deal with." The win was cemented when California native and 2012 Olympic Champion Jake Varner won 3-0 over Javier Cortina Lacerra. Although Lacerra earned a bronze medal in 2014 while Varner did not place in the world championships, Varner was confident. "I've wrestled him before and won. In 2012 before the Olympics." USA 6, Cuba 2 57 kilos: Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (Cuba) pinned Tony Ramos (USA) 61 kilos: Moikel Antonio Perez Gonzalez (Cuba) dec. Coleman Scott (USA), 9-1 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Franklin Maren Castillo (Cuba), 7-2 70 kilos: Nick Marable (USA) tech. fall Andy Yoan Moreno Gonzalez (Cuba), 10-0 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs (USA) dec. Livan Lopez Azcuy (Cuba), 6-2 86 kilos: Ed Ruth (USA) dec. Reineris Salas Perez (Cuba), 22-13 97 kilos: Jake Varner (USA) dec. Javier Cortina Lacerra (Cuba), 3-0 125 kilos: Zach Rey (USA) dec. Eduardo Mesa Rabi (Cuba), 3-0

With the NCAA Wrestling Championships done many wrestlers and fans are shifting their attention to the upcoming freestyle and Greco-Roman seasons. This weekend is almost a launch event for the upcoming season at home, with the World Cup for men's freestyle being hosted by USA Wrestling at The Forum in Los Angeles. Present at the World Cup will be perennial players Russia and Iran, countries where the Olympic styles are practiced en masse by the nation's top athletes. While there are traditional styles in both these countries, neither consumes anywhere close to the time and energy that collegiate style does in America. Most are relegated to summertime festivals held in the fields rather than large gymnasiums and year-round competitions. The World Cup will offer viewers (you can go to UnitedWorldWrestling.org for the free live stream) an incredible showcase of talent from these Olympic-focused nation's best wrestlers. The Iranians have brought what will likely become their world team, while Russia has sat their first (and second) teams in the hopes of giving more wrestlers a chance to compete against the best in foreign competition. But as was learned at the Women's World Cup in St. Petersburg when the Japanese third team took team gold, a dominant nation like Russia can win it all even with backups. Why the disparity? Well, consider that for fans of collegiate wrestling the talent level and athleticism of the freestyle wrestlers will seem other-worldly. There will be flips, splits, leaps and contortion on a circus-like scale. These athletes, their strategies and their coaching having always been focused at success in the art of freestyle wrestling and that focus had bred incredible success up and down the ranks. The Americans will likely be successful on the mat and earn bronze or better as a team, but be sure to take note of the body types, the match management, and the focus on aggression over technique and if/when it affects outcomes. The American style may never change, but when analyzing the long-term success of the USA program it's important to consider the impact a life of collegiate style wrestling has had on America's 20-something first-team athletes. Should collegiate wrestling be dropped in favor of freestyle? Maybe not, but this weekend does provide America's new freestyle fans a peek into what a life of year-round training in freestyle looks like. To your questions ... Q: This year we had four undefeated national champs (Logan Stieber, Isaiah Martinez, Alex Dieringer and Nick Gwiazdowski), with three returning next year. Last year there was only one (David Taylor). How does this number stack up against previous years? What is the highest number of undefeated champs in a season? Was it 2013 with six (Logan Stieber, Jordan Oliver, Kendric Maple, Kyle Dake, Ed Ruth, Quentin Wright)? Of the three returning, who has the best shot at repeating? -- Sean M. Foley: I looked back and didn't see any recent NCAAs with more undefeated wrestlers than the 2013 season. We've developed a nice number of readers who are incredible at statistics of this kind, and if our "research" is incorrect I'm sure they will correct our years and numbers. Should AD and Imar stay at separate weight classes they are the clear favorites to stay undefeated another year, as they are simply much better than their competition. Gwiz will likely repeat, but wrestling heavyweight is tricky business and with Adam Coon on his tail it's plausible that Gwiz may drop one or two on his way to the March championships. Remember he did lose to Mike McMullan at the NWCA All-Star Classic this past season. Kevin Jackson at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Q: What do you make of Iowa State extending KJ through 2018? The Cyclones are coming off a 14th-place finish and haven't been in the top 10 in five seasons. Seems like the program could benefit from a new coach leading the program. Thoughts? -- Mike C. Foley: Kevin Jackson has a lot of loyal supporters among his former wrestlers, and having an NCAA champion in the parity-filled NCAA tournament of 2015 was no small task. While I can see that a top-10 finish is desirable, I don't think KJ has done anything but improve the Iowa State wrestling program over the past few seasons. I'd argue that a two-year extension is about the correct length. Should he keep improving the team's performance and creating individual champions then he can stay longer. If not, then maybe he doesn't continue. Overall, I think this was a fair and just extension for both coach and university. Q: Hey, do you have any idea why Campbell University did not wrestle in their conference tournament? Do you think Cary Kolat has any chance of improving this team? -- Joe C. Foley: Unfortunately, the Campbell program was ineligible to compete in the postseason due to a low APR rating by the NCAA. Buffalo also suffered the same fate in 2015 and was held out of the conference and NCAA championships. Both programs are looking to become eligible for the postseason in 2016. As for Campbell I find it difficult to believe that Kolat won't improve that program significantly over the next several seasons. There is talent in the program and talent on the way. Two-time NCAA qualifier Nathan Kraisser transferred from UNC to Campbell. Nathan's younger brother Austin (ranked No. 40 in the Class of 2016) also committed to Campbell. Q: Do you think wrestling, collegiate or international, is going down a slippery slope chasing mainstream acceptance and the elusive TV dollar? -- Matt C. Foley: Chasing might be an issue, but the profitability of a well-produced live sporting event is unquestionable. Men aged 18-35 tune in to watch live sports. Because they are forming lifelong brand loyalties, sponsors love to target them heavily. Wrestling, by getting on TV, adds itself to the offering and should get a small, but proportionally sizable, chunk of revenue. Also, the Olympics is launching a cable channel within the next year, which means even more exposure and competition for sports like wrestling. From a purity standpoint, however, I can agree that fans might be worried that the product will become too professionalized, though in the end I don't know if that fear will be realized. Olympic and NCAA wrestling will almost certainly remain a sport, not a spectacle. Q: I have heard Nico Megaludis might take an Olympic redshirt season in 2015-16, which would allow All-American Jordan Conaway to finish out his career in the PSU lineup. Have you heard anything about PSU's plans with Megaludis? -- Mike C. Foley: I have not. However, if we are assuming that Megaludis does sit out I don't think he is any less likely to make the team at 57 kilos than Ramos was to make it in 2014. There will be all sorts of characters in the lineup (new and old) and I think Megaludis' style is favorable to most in terms of international wrestling success. He's impossible to take down, savvy and well coached. I'd say go for it. From PSU's perspective it's also a nice move since you'd still have Jimmy Gulibon at 133 pounds and Zain Retherford at 141 pounds. But I'm certainly not paid to coach. I think we should leave this one to Cael ... MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Greatest image of all-time: Bobcat catches and eats a shark Q: I understand in principle why it's important that Mike Pucillo is out. But as a person who has been to the WCWA tournament and observed women's wrestling for years, many women have been out for a while and it doesn't seem to bother the women athletes at all or their coaches (which are mostly male and very conservative) at all. It's never bothered me as a coach. My question why is does appear to be a bigger story when male athletes come out vs. female? Athletes like Martina Navratilova, Brittney Grine, Sheryl Swoopes and Megan Rapinoe have been out for years, but not as much attention is given to their sexuality as men. There are plenty of women who currently wrestle or who have wrestled that are out and I haven't heard of an adverse reaction by the wrestling community. As member of the media please explain this to me because from an outsider it appears to be a display of sexism by both media and male members of the LGBT community. I totally understand if you don't answer the question in your mailbag, but it's a question I've asked for a while but it became more amplified when Michael Sam came out. Believe me I am not trying to be inflammatory at all. I just really want to know why there appears to be a double standard when it comes to covering male athletes who are openly gay? -- Marcus R. Foley: Media begets media. There is a cycle of coverage that surrounds male coverage that is not present for female athletes. Many, and this isn't to say it's correct, almost expect elite female athletes to be lesbians, whereas men are presumed to by hypermasculine. From a media perspective there is the adage that "dog bites man" is not as powerful a storyline as "man bites dog" and in the coverage of homosexual athletes that almost certainly seems to be the case. Whether that tendency is actual sexism, I'll leave up to individual assessment. For wrestling, Pucillo's story is powerful because the sport is very entrenched in conservative beliefs. Like women wrestling with men, the future of gay men in wrestling has yet to be written. Pucillo's courage will likely become the first chapter in the first draft of that book of change. Q: My friend Paul Diefenbach of Okemos, Michigan, did some research and found that this happened once before -- Slippery Rock in 1984 also scored -0.5 points. I'll bet Slippery Rock never thought their record would me matched. It is a very rough time to be a Michigan State wrestling enthusiast, but it is apparent that a successful wrestling program is not of any interest. Perhaps they should just drop the sport altogether. -- Jim C. Foley: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's not go overboard. They can fire the coach well before they are forced to cut the program. Cancellation of the program is the nuclear option! GOOD IDEA OF THE WEEK By John K. As a long time wrestler, wrestling coach, and special ed teacher I have written this before, but not really gotten much headway from people. I don't understand why on a national level we do not use the federal law to protect wrestling as one the few sports that allows people with disabilities to compete at the NCAA level. We applaud and cheer Anthony Robles (and many others) for competing at the highest levels. But let's take it further and use anti-discrimination legislation to keep wrestling. As a sport, we have blind, deaf, and other disabilities competing where they cannot compete on almost any other sport. Title IX used it to make the gains women's sports did. Let's do the same. I am sure we have enough knowledgeable people to make this case. Just a thought.

Worst. UFC card. Ever. It may only be on Fight Pass, but combine a weak group of local prospects (apparently KSW and Bellator are better at scoping out the Eastern European fight scene) and a heavyweight main event between a middle tier former title challenger and a legend well into has been territory, and you have all the makings of a snoozer. So don't be surprised when Gonzaga beats Cro Cop again. Also don't be surprised into thinking the fight means much. Luckily, to keep things entertaining, Bellator and WSOF have solid main event offerings that Richard and John preview to avoid acknowledging the existence of a Sheldon Westcott main card bout. Do you want to listen to a past episode? Access archives.

This weekend (Saturday and Sunday) will see eight of the top wrestling teams on the planet face off in dual meet competition at the World Cup held at The Forum in Los Angeles. The field will be divided up into two pools of four. Pool A: USA, Cuba, Russia, Mongolia Pool B: Iran, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Turkey Each team will compete in three dual meets against the other teams in their pool. The final team placement will be determined by teams with the same placement within their pool competing against each other. This is the second year that The Forum has hosted the World Cup. Iran won the event handily last year with the aid of not only two standing World champions but a huge and vocal crowd supporting them. Iran will again be the favorite, but many teams are loaded: both with established and newer talent. Iran has two World champions in its lineup: Hassan Rahimih (57 kilos) and Reza Yazdani (97 kilos), but two standing Junior World champions are also capable of making noise, Iman Sadeghikoukandeh (61 kilos) and Alireza Karimimachiani (86 kilos). Russia will continue its tradition of not sending its top wrestlers to this event. Given Russia's history of dominating at the World Championships, including an amazing performance in Tashkent, Uzbekistan this past year (with five gold medalists), it's difficult to question this strategy. Russia will most certainly have some of their stars of tomorrow in Los Angeles, even if they haven't fully developed yet. Last year at the World Cup, Russia's Khetag Tsabolov at 70 kilos didn't look like a world-beater, but cruised to the gold medal in Tashkent. This year, watch out for Israel Kasumov (also at 70 kilos), who won the 2014 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix. Cuba, a team that didn't compete in the 2014 World Cup, is coming off a strong sixth-place finish at the 2014 World Championships. Shockingly, they did so competing in only four of the eight weight classes. All four athletes won medals in Tashkent but for the World Cup, Cuba will send a full lineup (though they are the only team with no alternates listed on their roster). USA will send a team with all eight of its No. 1-ranked athletes. This includes Olympic gold medalists Jordan Burroughs (74 kilos) and Jake Varner (97 kilos). Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott (61 kilos) has returned as the No. 1 wrestler at this weight and looks sharp. Two-time bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (125 kilos) has been remarkably consistent and is capable of sweeping a talented field this weekend. There will be a high percentage of quality matches throughout all four sessions. The following are some to watch with special interest as the whistle blows: Session I 86 kilos: Ed Ruth (USA) vs. Reineris Salas Perez (Cuba) Three-time NCAA champ Ruth had moments of greatness in his first World Championships last year, but was unable to medal. He faces the two-time World silver medalist (2013, 2014) Perez in his opening match, which will be a considerable test for him. 97 kilos: Jake Varner (USA) vs. Javier Cortina Lacerra (Cuba) One would think that the standing Olympic Champ would be a clear favorite in this match, but Lacerra managed a bronze at the last World Championships, while Varner went 1-1 (although Lacerra lost the bronze-medal match, his opponent had his medal sstripped after failing a doping test.) 61 kilos: Iman Sadeghikoukandeh (Iran) vs. Georgi Kaliev (Belarus) Sadeghikoukandeh looked great in the finals of the 2014 Junior Worlds against American Joey McKenna in a dominating win. Sadeghikoukandeh is a real pushout artist and it will be interesting to see what he is able to do at the senior level this weekend. 125 kilos: Komeil Ghasemi (Iran) vs. Alexi Shemarov (Belarus) In a deep heavyweight field, a World champ and a two-time medalist will go at it in the opening session. Session II 70 kilos: Nick Marable (USA) vs. Israel Kasumov (Russia) Marable looked solid at the World Championships last year, making the quarterfinals. The young Kasumov should give him a good test this year. 57 kilos: Hassan Rahimi (Iran) vs. Sezer Akguel (Turkey) Rahimi was in the best match of the World Cup last year where he lost in the final seconds to Viktor Lebedev of Russia in a battle of World champions. Rahimi is slick and has amazing counter-offense. He will have his hands full with Akguel, a two-time World medalist. 57 kilos: Yowlys Bonne Rodrigues (Cuba) vs. Erdenebat Bekhbayar (Mongolia) Rodrigues was a World bronze medalist in 2014, but up a weight at 61 kilos. It will be interesting to see how successful he is making the cut down to 57 kilos. Erdenebat Bekhbayar of Mongolia defeated Tony Ramos at the 2014 World Championships (Photo/Larry Slater)Session III 57 kilos: Tony Ramos (USA) vs. Erdenebat Bekhbayar (Mongolia) This will be a rematch from the first round of the World Championships last year, won by Erdenbat 7-4. The bout had a number of exciting scrambles and it will be interesting to see what adjustments Ramos has made. 65 kilos: Brent Metcalf (USA) vs. Ganzorig Mandakhnaran (Mongolia) Metcalf has looked solid in the senior freestyle world circuit, but got injured in the second round of the World Championships last year. He finished undefeated in the World Cup last year, but beat no world medalists. The field at 65 kilos this year will give him a chance to change that. 65 kilos: Haji Aliev (Azerbaijan) or Magomed Muslimov vs. Masoud Esmailpourjouyzbari (Iran) or Sayed Ahmad Mohammadi Aliev beat Esmailpourjouybari for the gold medal of the 2014 World Championships, but down a weight class at at 61 kilos. However, it's no guarantee that either will be the starter this weekend. Mohammadi is also a World silver medalist, but at the same weight class. Muslimov won the Paris Grand Prix earlier this year, finishing ahead of Esmailpourjouybari, Aliev and Brent Metcalf. 70 kilos: Togrul Asgarov (Azerbaijan) vs. Peyman Yarahmadi (Iran) Considered one of the best, pound-for-pound wrestlers in the world after winning his Olympic gold medal over the late, great Besik Kudukhov, Togrul Asgarov has competed sporadically with varying success and shot up two weight classes. If he's truly grown into the weight and still fully motivated, he'll be tough to beat. Yarahmadi will punish him if he's not. Session IV Jordan Burroughs will certainly provide a lot of entertaining wrestling, but if he's close to one-hundred percent, it's tough to see him having close matches. It's impossible to predict any Session IV matchups, but if a USA-Iran dual meet were to occur, just about the entire dual meet would have bouts to get excited about.

ABERDEEN, S.D. -- After receiving an outpouring of support from wrestling fans across the country, Northern State University has decided to reinstate its wrestling program, effectively immediately, according to NSU Director of Athletics Josh Moon. "The commitments of financial support and efforts of (National Wrestling Coaches Association Executive Director) Mike Moyer and others has been overwhelming," said Moon. "We have received pledges for more than the targeted $70,000 per year for five years, which will go directly into the wrestling program to support scholarships, operating budget and the hiring of an assistant coach." In February, NSU Head Wrestling Coach Pat Timm announced his resignation. Two weeks later, in early March, NSU announced the suspension of the wrestling program and the start of a comprehensive review to fix what is described as a broken model. Faced with the prospect of attempting to attract a new wrestling coach and recruit a new batch of wrestlers to a program with questionable financial health that had floated at or near the bottom of the NSIC for seven years, Moon said the choice was made to suspend the program in order to leave open the option of reinstating it. "This has been a challenging time for all of us," said Moon, "especially for the athletes who have poured their heart into NSU wrestling. We realize how emotional this has been. We did not want to end the program, but we clearly needed to explore some new options in order to keep it going." Todd Jordre, president of the NSU Foundation, said the Foundation has received pledges for the next five years that will help elevate the program to a competitive level in the NSIC and NCAA Division II. "We want to thank everyone who stepped up to support NSU wrestling," Jordre said. "We feel confident that these pledges will be fulfilled, and based on those commitments, many of which are from new donors, we're able to move forward." The NSU Foundation is responsible for receiving and processing payments. Pledges for the first year of pledge commitments need to be received by May 1, 2015, and will help ensure that budget commitments can be met and efforts to relaunch NSU wrestling can begin immediately. Moon said Mike Moyer had several possible candidates in mind for the vacant head wrestling coach position. "We will start that search for a new head coach immediately," said Moon. "We hope to have a new leader of NSU wrestling in place by the end of April." In a letter to the NSU Athletic Department regarding NSU's decision to reinstate the program immediately, Mike Moyer wrote: "The NWCA wants to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Northern State University administration, its wrestling alumni, and the Aberdeen wrestling community for working together to develop a viable strategy that insures a bright and prosperous future for its intercollegiate wrestling program. "As a small token of appreciation, the NWCA is committed to providing full scholarships for NSU's newly hired head and assistant wrestling coaches to attend our comprehensive CEO Leadership Academy. Each scholarship is valued at $4,800 and the curriculum is designed to insure that all coaches have the necessary CEO and entrepreneurial skills to be solid stewards of the program going forward. This leadership program is also intended to make sure the intercollegiate wrestling program is closely aligned with NSU's educational values." Moon said he especially wanted to thank Northern's wrestling student-athletes for their patience during this very difficult time. "Wrestlers are known for their grit and toughness," Moon said. "They've demonstrated that through this time. And we believe that as a result of all that we're doing and the support they've received, that the quality of their experience will be elevated significantly." Moon added, "We expect big things from this program moving forward. We hope all of our returning wrestling student-athletes will remain at Northern and continue to pursue their academic and athletic goals." NSU will also be establishing a "Corporate Advisory Team" around the wrestling program to assist with continued development, accountability and growth of the program. According to Moyer, "This advisory team is uniquely designed to help the newly hired coaching staff develop a strategic plan and then assist with drawing of resources to execute the plan. This advisory team is typically comprised of community business leaders and university administrators who have expertise in fundraising, marketing/promotions, revenue generating event, eligibility/retention, business continuity plans, strategic planning, etc.," wrote Moyer. Moyer added, "It is our intention to position the NSU wrestling program to be "The New Gold Standard" in our sport and, undoubtedly, this will set the standard for many other collegiate teams to emulate." Jordre said that the NSU Foundation will begin working with the wrestling program to put in place efforts to build a wrestling endowment, which will enable a long-term, sustainable funding model. "A $1 million endowment would guarantee the long-term health of this program," Jordre said. "With that, we can increase the number of scholarships we're able to offer, recruit more competitively and provide our athletes with greater opportunities to succeed at what they love." "There are several more barriers for us to cross," Moon said. "But with the helpful support of the wrestling community, we feel we're in a much better position to cross those than we were six weeks ago." Fans, friends, and alumni of NSU who still wish to contribute to support NSU wrestling can do so at the NSU Foundation Giving Page (select wrestling in the "My funds should be designated for" menu) or contact the NSU Foundation at wolvesclub@northern.edu or (605) 626-2550.

The Freestyle Wrestling World Cup, set for the Forum in Los Angeles, Calif., April 11-12, is a team dual meet tournament. However, it is also one of the most impressive displays of individual talent within the sport. The field includes three Olympic champions, Jordan Burroughs of the USA at 74 kg, Jake Varner of the USA at 97 kg and Toghrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan at 70 kg) There are five World champions in the field, including two-time World champions Burroughs and Reza Yazdani of Iran at 97 kg. One-time World champions include Alexei Shemarov of Belarus at 125 kg, Hassan Rahimi of Iran at 57 kg and Haji Aliev of Azerbaijan at 65 kg This loaded field also includes three more Olympic medalists, 17 more World medalists, eight Junior World champions, six University World champions and two Military World champion. There are dozens of other medalists in the event on the continental and age-group levels. The other Olympic medalists are Coleman Scott of the USA at 61 kg, Komiel Ghasemi of Iran at 125 kg and Livan Lopez Azcuy of Cuba at 74 kg. The quality of the individual talents is impressive. However, at heart, this is a team dual meet event, and these individual stars are seeking to do their part in helping their nation win dual meets and take home the Freestyle World Cup trophy. Of the teams entered in the 2015 Freestyle World Cup, the United States has won 13 team titles, with Russia winning six, Iran claiming five and Cuba winning two. The nation with the most World Cup titles is the former Soviet Union with 15 titles. The World Cup has been held annually since 1973, when it was founded in Toledo, Ohio. All-Session tickets are available, as well as Single-Day tickets. Fans can purchase All-Session tickets for $60 for General Admission and $85 for Preferred Seating. Single-Day tickets, on either Saturday or Sunday, are $35 for General Admission and $55 for Preferred Seating. Fees apply for tickets purchased through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com A group discount offer for clubs is also available. There is a 20% discount for all USA Wrestling members. Both offers can also be found at www.wrestlingworldcup.com There will be two sessions of wrestling action each day of the Freestyle World Cup. On Saturday, April 11, there will be sessions held at 3:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. On Sunday, April 12, the first session is at 11:00 a.m., with the First Place and Third Place Championship Duals set for 4:15 p.m. For more information on the Freestyle World Cup, visit www.wrestlingworldcup.com 2015 FREESTYLE WORLD CUP At Los Angeles, Calif., April 11-12 OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (3) Jordan Burroughs (USA/74 kg) - 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner (USA/97 kg) -- 2012 Olympic champion Togrul Asgarov (Azerbaijan/70 kg) -- 2012 Olympic champion OTHER OLYMPIC MEDALISTS (3) Coleman Scott (USA/61 kg) -- 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Komeil Ghasemi (Iran/125 kg) -- 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Livan López Azcuy (Cuba/74 kg) -- 2012 Olympic bronze medalist WORLD CHAMPIONS (5) Jordan Burroughs (USA/74 kg) - 2011 and 2013 World champion, 2014 World bronze medalist Reza Yazdani (Iran/97 kg) - 2011 and 2013 World champion, 2006 and 2007 World bronze medalist Hassan Rahimi (Iran/57 kg) - 2013 World champion, 2011 and 2014 World bronze medalist Alexei Shemarov (Belarus/125 kg) -- 2011 World champion Haji Aliev (Azerbaijan/65 kg) -- 2014 World champion OTHER WORLD MEDALISTS (17) Reineris Salas Perez (Cuba, 86 kg) -- 2013 and 2014 World silver medalist, 2010 World bronze medalist Livan López Azcuy (Cuba/74 kg) -- 2013 World silver medalist, 2011 and 2014 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (USA/125 kg) -- 2009 and 2014 World bronze medalist Ali Shabanov (Belarus/74 kg) -- 2013 and 2014 World bronze medalist Sezer Akguel (Turkey/57 kg) -- 2009 World silver medalist, 2013 World bronze medalist Jabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan/74 kg) -- 2010 and 2011 World bronze medalist Ganzorig Mandakhnaran (Mongolia/65 kg) - 2013 and 2014 World bronze medalist Jake Varner (USA/97 kg) -- 2011 World bronze medalist Vladislav Andreev (Belarus/57 kg) -- 2014 World bronze medalist Togrul Asgarov (Azerbaijan/70 kg) -- 2010 World silver medalist Ashraf Aliev (Azerbaijan/74 kg) -- 2011 World bronze medalist Jamaladdin Magomedov (Azerbaijan/125 kg) -- 2011 World bronze medalist Nyam-Ochir Enkhsaikhan (Mongolia/61 kg) -- 2014 World bronze medalist Mohammad Hosein Mohammadian Askari (Iran/97 kg) -- 2014 World bronze medalist Sayed Ahmad Mohammadi (Iran/65 kg) -- 2014 World bronze medalist Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (Cuba/57 kg) -- 2014 World bronze medalist Javier Cortina Lacerra (Cuba/97 kg) -- 2014 World bronze medalist JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONS (8) Hassan Rahimi (Iran/57 kg) - 2009 Junior World champion Togrul Asgarov (Azerbaijan/70 kg) -- 2011 Junior World champion Erdenebat Bekhbayar (Mongolia/57 kg) - 2012 Junior World champion Younes Sarmastdzaji (Iran/57 kg) -- 2013 Junior World champion Behnam Ehsanpoor (Iran/61 kg) -- 2012 Junior World champion Iman Sadeghikoukandeh (Iran/61 kg) -- 2014 Junior World champion Hassan Yazdani Charati (Iran/70 kg) -- 2014 Junior World champion Alireza Karimimachiani (Iran/86 kg) -- 2014 Junior World champion UNIVERSITY WORLD CHAMPIONS (6) Tervel Dlagnev (USA/125 kg) -- 2008 World University champion Mustafa Kaya (Turkey/70 kg) -- 2012 World University champion Batzorig Buyanjav (Mongolia/70 kg) -- 2006 World University champion Lkhagvadorj Dugarsuren (Mongolia/74 kg) -- 2006 World University champion Meisam Mostafa Joukar (Iran/86 kg) -- 2014 World University champion Yuri Belonovski (Russia/97 kg) -- 2010 World University champion WORLD MILITARY CHAMPIONS (2) Ganzorig Mandakhnaran (Mongolia/65 kg) -2014 World Military Champion Hassan Rahimi (Iran/57 kg) -- 2012 World Military Champion

Logan Storley celebrates after beating Oklahoma State's Kyle Crutchmer (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) Logan Storley closed one chapter of his life last month when he finished his collegiate wrestling career as a four-time NCAA Division I All-American at the University of Minnesota. His next chapter: MMA. Storley announced his decision to enter MMA Wednesday on Twitter and Instagram. Storley, a native of Roslyn, South Dakota, compiled a record of 119-27 as a college competitor with four top six finishes. He placed sixth as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore, third as a junior and fourth as a senior. In high school he was a five-time state champion and Junior National freestyle titlist.

Michael Kemerer defeated Max Thomsen in the finals of the Super 32 Challenge (Photo/Rob Preston) The Wrestling USA/Cliff Keen Athletic Dream Team Classic will be hosted by Independence High School in Iowa this coming Saturday at 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET). In the 19-year history of this event, the host team has won just once, when Oklahoma was able to win the event in 2009. The most recent time Iowa hosted the event, it was held at Iowa City West during the weekend of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Two notes related to originally slated matchups: At 120 pounds, No. 20 (at 126) Doyle Trout (Centennial, Neb.) was involved in a major car accident over the weekend, and is in the hospital facing a steep recovery from his injuries. He is obviously not going to wrestle on Saturday night, as he was slated to face No. 20 Jacob Schwarm (Bettendorf). No replacement has been indicated publicly. At 145 pounds, No. 3 Fredy Stroker (Bettendorf) was slated to face Tristan Moran (Stillwater, Okla.). The University of Minnesota signee Stroker suffered an injury in his match against Michael Kemerer at Agon V, which will keep him out of the event on Saturday, though no indication has been made as to who will replace him. One possible candidate would be state champion Blake Meyer (Sumner-Fredericksburg), though that is totally speculative. As for those matchups still on the docket, here is a breakdown. 113: Brennen Doebel (Clear Lake) vs. No. 4 Devin Brown (Franklin Regional, Pa.) Doebel was a state champion this past year, finishing 48-1, after placing fourth the previous year. He was fourth at 120 pounds in the Junior National folkstyle tournament this past weekend. Brown has committed to West Virginia, and is a three-time Pennsylvania state champion. Most recently, he beat two-time Illinois state champion Jabari Moody at the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic. Brown is the obvious favorite in this matchup. 126: No. 17 Nolan Hellickson (Southeast Polk) vs. No. 14 Eli Seipel (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) Hellickson was an undefeated state champion with a 43-0 record this past season, earning that elusive title after finishing third the previous two seasons. Seipel earned a second state title this year to add to the one from two years ago, and is a four-time state placer. The Pittsburgh commit was also champion at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman this December. Though Seipel is ranked higher, Hellickson does have a head-on win over L.J. Bentley from early January, an opponent who beat Seipel two weekends later. 132: Paul Glynn (Bettendorf) vs. No. 1 Kaid Brock (Stillwater, Okla.) This matchup reflects a tall order for two-time state runner-up Glynn, who is headed to Iowa in the fall. Brock, a three-time state champion headed to Oklahoma State, won the Kansas City Wrestling Classic this past December, an event in which Glynn placed ninth. During that tournament, Brock beat the wrestler that beat Glynn in the quarterfinal by technical fall in the championship match. 138: Josh Wenger (Cedar Rapids Prairie) vs. No. 2 Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area, Pa.) Having finished fourth his previous three high school seasons, Wenger finally ascended the top step of the state podium finishing 45-1 this season. This fall, Wenger will be headed to Grand View, the perennial NAIA champions. His opponent in this match is the Virginia-bound Krivus, a three-time champion at both the Super 32 Challenge and Flo Nationals, who has placed four times in Pennsylvania, including state titles during his sophomore and senior seasons. It’ll be a tall order for Wenger, who failed to make the second day (one round away from being among the 16 who did) in a Super 32 bracket that Krivus won. 145: No. 2 Max Thomsen (Union) vs. No. 1 Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.) These two wrestlers have battled twice this scholastic season, with Kemerer winning on both occasions, the Super 32 Challenge final and the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic. While neither match was a total blowout, the outcome of neither was truly in doubt. Thomsen, a four-time state champion, is headed to Northern Iowa; while the Iowa-bound Kemerer won an elusive state title this past year after placing second the previous three seasons. 152: Chase Straw (Independence) vs. No. 2 Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Pa.) The Iowa State bound Straw finished 46-1 this season to win a state title after finishing third the previous two seasons. Just last weekend, he was a Junior National folkstyle runner-up, and last summer was a Junior Greco-Roman All-American. Facing Joseph will be a steep challenge, as the Penn State bound wrestler is a two-time state champion (four-time placer), and finished runner-up in Junior freestyle this summer (a second straight Junior freestyle All-American finish for him) 160: No. 4 Bryce Steiert (Waverly-Shell Rock) vs. No. 2 Josh Shields (Franklin Regional, Pa.) This should be one of the evening’s better matches, with both wrestlers being four-time state placers, and earning All-American honors in Junior freestyle this past summer. The Northern Iowa bound Steiert has won state titles in each of his last two campaigns, and was also a Preseason Nationals champion this fall; while the Arizona State bound Shields won his first state title last month. 170: No. 11 Jacob Holschlag (Union) vs. Luke Entzel (Missoula Big Sky, Mont.) This is one of few matches where the home state wrestler is favored, with the two-time state champion Holschlag facing an unranked opponent. The Northern Iowa commit was a Preseason Nationals champion this fall, while his opponent Entzel is also a multi-time state champion 182: No. 18 Evan Hansen (Exira) vs. No. 6 Kollin Moore (Norwayne, Ohio) Hansen, bound for NAIA power Grand View in the fall, went an undefeated 57-0 this season to win his second state title. However, it’s going to be a challenge against the Ohio State bound Moore, who was also undefeated this season on the way to his first state title, having finished runner-up in each of the last two years. Moore did not give up an offensive point this high school season, including a dominant win by fall over fellow top ten wrestler Ben Darmstadt – an opponent who beat Hansen at the Super 32 Challenge this fall. 195: No. 9 Cash Wilcke (OA-BCIG) vs. No. 2 Bobby Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) Like Hansen, Wilcke went undefeated this past season for a second state title, his coming back-to-back go with a pair of fourth place finishes in the freshman and sophomore seasons. Wilcke was sixth in Junior freestyle this past summer at 182 pounds. Steveson counters with three consecutive state titles, and was a Junior National freestyle champion at 195 this past summer. This is a matchup between Iowa and Minnesota commits. 195: No. 10 Steven Holloway (Mediapolis) vs. Tyler Johnson (Lockport, Ill.) Holloway went 52-1 this past season to win a second straight title in what was a third straight state finals appearance, while Johnson earned his second state placement of his career finishing fourth. Johnson, a North Carolina State commit, was a FILA Cadet freestyle All-American last spring. 220: No. 5 Ryan Parmely (Maquoketa Valley) vs. Jay Nino (Genoa, Ohio) Both contestants in this match will be matriculating to Division II colleges, Parmely going to Upper Iowa for a football/wrestling combination opportunity, while Nino is headed to Notre Dame College. Each wrestler in this bout is also a two-time state champion; however, Parmely is also a four-time state placer (finishing third and fourth the two years prior) and went an undefeated 56-0 during his senior season with multiple wins over nationally ranked opponents. 285: No. 3 Jacob Marnin (Southeast Polk) vs. No. 6 Tate Orndorff (University, Wash.) This should be an excellent showdown between a pair of wrestlers that are more than familiar with each other. Orndorff won consolation finals matches against Marnin in both styles this past summer in Fargo at the Junior Nationals, and also won the FILA Cadet Greco-Roman final last spring. However, Marnin did taste victory over Orndorff in the Cadet freestyle final going back to the summer of 2013. Marnin, a state champion this year and two-time state finalist, is headed to Southern Illinois for FCS football; while two-time state champion Orndorff is headed to Oregon State for wrestling.

South Dakota State University wrestler Cody Pack has been granted a sixth year of eligibility, NCAA officials announced Monday. South Dakota State's Cody Pack battles Virginia's Andrew Atkinson at the NCAAs (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)A three-time qualifier for the NCAA Division I Championships in the 157-pound weight class, Pack posted a 37-6 record during the 2014-15 season and finished one win away from becoming the first Jackrabbit wrestler to earn All-America honors in the Division I era. A native of Quincy, California, Pack has won two Western Wrestling Conference individual titles and has compiled an 80-30 record over the past three seasons. "I am extremely happy for Cody and his family," SDSU head coach Chris Bono said. "He really deserves this and I cannot wait to see him take advantage of this opportunity." Pack received the eligibility extension after being sidelined by injuries during his first two seasons (2010-11, 2011-12) as a member of the Jackrabbit wrestling program.

Saturday, March 21, 2015: For the Ohio State wrestling program and its fans, it's a red letter -- make that a scarlet and gray -- day, doubly historic for it is the capstone of a season that not only saw the Buckeyes win their first national wrestling team title at the 2015 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships ... but also saw Logan Stieber conclude his collegiate mat career by becoming only the fourth wrestler in the 85-year history of the NCAA championships to have won four individual Division I titles. That Saturday -- the final day of three days of competition at the 2015 NCAAs in St. Louis -- capped a season where the Buckeye wrestlers, coaches and supporters experienced historic highs ... and a devastating loss: the tragic suicide of Kosta Karageorge, former Ohio State heavyweight and, at the time, reserve defensive lineman for the team that went on to win the first-ever National College Football playoff title. The first-ever team title Logan Stieber and the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after winning the 2015 national championship in St. Louis (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)For Ohio State, it was an interesting journey to the 2015 NCAA title. Before the start of the season, the only thing that wrestling journalists and fans might have agreed on regarding "who will win the team crown?" was -- "it could be just about anyone's." The word "parity" was one that was frequently heard even more than usual, with the idea that there were a number of programs that would be contending, other than defending team titlist Penn State, who had won four straight NCAA championships, but was expected to be in a rebuilding year, with the graduations of superstars Ed Ruth and David Taylor. As the season progressed, two teams that garnered much of that team title speculation: the Iowa Hawkeyes, no stranger to NCAA championships ... and the Missouri Tigers, who were having a Cinderella season. As for Ohio State, they compiled a 14-4 dual-meet record in 2014-15, with losses to Virginia Tech, Missouri, Iowa, and, to Lehigh at the National Duals. However, the postseason was the time for the Buckeyes to shine when the lights were the brightest. Ohio State played host to the 2015 Big Ten Wrestling Championships at venerable St. John Arena, a nearly 60-year-old facility across Lane Avenue from famed Ohio Stadium. At the end of the two-day tournament, the hosts found themselves sharing the team title with Iowa ... the first time there have been conference co-team champions since 1932, and only the sixth time in the long history of the organization once known as the Midwest Conference. There were other factors that made the 2015 Big Tens one for the history books. While it was the 35th conference crown for the Hawkeyes (who last won the Big Ten mat title in 2010), it was the first for the Buckeye wrestling program since 1951. Ohio State could claim its first four-time conference champ -- yep, Logan Stieber, who became only the 14th in Big Ten history. It was also the first time since 1994 that the host school won the Big Ten title. Tom Ryan was named Coach of the Year by the NWCA and InterMat (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Immediately after his program was crowned one of the 2015 Big Ten team champs -- and he was named conference wrestling coach of the year -- Ohio State head coach Tom Ryan was not only excited about what his team had done, but what he thought they'd do two weeks later in St. Louis: "The bottom line is I'm really proud of our team. We ended a 65-year drought. The drought's over. Ohio State wrestling is here to stay. Now it's on to nationals. And this team has a goal of being national champions." The Buckeyes sent ten wrestlers to the NCAAs ... and, as a whole, the team acquitted itself well right from the start. At the end of the second day of competition Friday, the Buckeyes found themselves in first place in the team title race, with a 13.5-point lead over Iowa. Ohio State was sending three wrestlers into the finals: Nathan Tomasello at 125 pounds, Kyle Snyder at 197, and 141-pounder Stieber. By contrast, the Hawkeyes had only one finalist -- Cory Clark at 133. Unlike in recent years where the team championship was decided during the finals -- and the margin of victory was less than a handful of points -- Ohio State clinched the team title at the 2015 NCAAs during Saturday morning's medal round matches to determine third through eighth place, hours before the first wrestlers took to the mat at the finals that evening. At the end of competition, the Buckeyes had racked up 102 team points, a comfortable lead over second-place Iowa with 84 points. Of the three Ohio State finalists, two left Scottrade Center with national titles: Tomasello and Stieber. A total of five Buckeyes earned All-American honors, with Bo Jordan and Kenny Counts joining their teammates who were in the finals. The Twitterverse was abuzz about the win. The official Ohio State wrestling Twitter account posted the following: Ohio State's 1921 wrestling teamBy winning the 2015 NCAA team title, Ohio State joined an incredibly rare club of Division I wrestling programs that have won a national mat championship. Since the first NCAA wrestling championships in 1928, only a dozen programs have claimed a team title (official or unofficial; for a time in the 1930s, no official team champ was crowned). Ohio State joins Indiana, Cornell College of Iowa, Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa), Michigan State and Arizona State who have one NCAA team title. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, and Penn State each have more than one national mat championship. Although Ohio State is a newcomer to winning an NCAA team title, it maintained a more recent trend where a Big Ten school has claimed the national mat championship nine out the last ten years. The four-time champ "The greatest day in the history of Ohio State wrestling ended with the university's most successful wrestler ever capping his glorious career in the grand fashion he long craved." That's how the Columbus Dispatch described that Saturday -- March 21, 2015 -- when the Buckeyes won their team title ... and Logan Stieber won his fourth NCAA individual championship, only the fourth wrestler to achieve that feat in nearly nine decades of the tournament. As coach Ryan put it so elegantly at the post-finals press conference, "More people have been on the moon than have won four national titles." The four-timers club includes Oklahoma State's Pat Smith (who won his fourth title in 1994), current Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson, who earned his fourth title for Iowa State in 2002, and, just two years ago, Kyle Dake for Cornell University, the only one of the four to win each of his titles in a different weight class. Logan Stieber defeated Edinboro's Mitchell Port to win his fourth title (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Stieber claimed his fourth and final national title with an 11-5 decision over second-seeded senior Mitchell Port of Edinboro University. It was Stieber's second title at 141, having earned a 10-1 major decision over No. 4 seed Devin Carter of Virginia Tech in the 2014 NCAA finals. Stieber's first two titles were both at 133 pounds. At the 2012 NCAAs, the then-freshman unseated defending champ Jordan Oliver of Oklahoma State, 4-3, in the finals. The following year, Stieber beat Iowa's Tony Ramos, 7-4, to win his second championship. Stieber's fourth title match happened to be his 50th consecutive victory. The Buckeye completed his college career with a 119-3 record, translating into Ohio State's best all-time winning percentage (.975). Prior to coming to Columbus, Stieber had crafted a near-perfect 184-1 overall record -- including a 179-match win streak -- on his way to capturing four Ohio state titles for Monroeville High, located in north-central Ohio, almost exactly halfway between Cleveland and Toledo. Logan Stieber celebrates his championship with his parents (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)In the post-finals press conference, Stieber was asked what it meant to him personally to win his fourth title. "It's all the hard work I've done. All the sacrifices I've made and complete my dreams, complete one part of my dreams. And I can't thank my teammates, my coaches and my family enough. It's been an incredible journey." "To think that this little kid from a small farm town in Monroeville, Ohio, did what he did, is pretty awesome, pretty amazing," Ryan said. "I'm so happy for him and his family, and they believed early on in the process of us getting to the point we are. And now he can pass the torch to the other guys." In terms of the team title, Stieber said, "It means so much. It's just hard to put into words. It's something we've wanted so bad. Our coaches, they've been sick. They're so anxious, so nervous, they want to win so bad. Everyone wants to win so bad. I'm happy to be a part of this team." By contrast, the guy from tiny Monroeville was pretty much calm, cool and collected at the NCAAs -- at least in terms of himself. "This has been so much fun. I haven't been nervous at all. I was nervous for Kyle Snyder, I was nervous for Nathan Tomasello," said Stieber. "In my match, if I have an inch of nervousness, I push it out right away. And this is fun. It's like wrestling in the practice room. I really, really enjoy it. And it's a little bit of relief to be done and be able to, I guess, celebrate with my family and friends." In addition to winning his fourth title -- and a place in the history books -- Stieber earned two major individual awards at the 2015 NCAAs: the NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler, and the Most Outstanding Wrestler award from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. In the days since, Stieber was named winner of the 2015 Hodge Trophy, presented by WIN magazine to the best college wrestler in the nation, as well as 2015 InterMat Wrestler of the Year honors. What's next for Stieber? Right now he hopes to qualify for the 2015 World Championships, then the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The singular loss of a teammate It's difficult to disagree that Kosta Karageorge was a figure that loomed large over the Ohio State wrestling program throughout much of the 2014-15 season ... even though the 6' 3", 285-pound 22-year-old from suburban Columbus had completed his wrestling eligibility the previous season, and was now a member of the Buckeye football practice squad. The day before Thanksgiving 2014 -- Wednesday at approximately 2 a.m. -- Karageorge went for a walk from the apartment near campus that he shared with some Ohio State wrestlers to reportedly "clear his head." He failed to show up for a Wednesday 6 a.m. football practice to prepare for that Saturday's game with Ohio State's archrival Michigan. His mother Susan Karageorge filed a missing person's report. On Thanksgiving morning, the story went nationwide; ABC News reported "His family fears he may have done something rash after suffering one too many concussions." On Sunday, November 30, Karageorge's body was found in a dumpster near his home by a woman collecting cans for recycling. Later the county coroner ruled his death a suicide by self-inflicted gunshot wound; he was holding a gun in his hand. Just last month, the pathologist who examined Karageorge's brain said the athlete did not have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease sometimes found in athletes and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma. Kosta KarageorgeThe death of Kosta Karageorge left the Ohio State wrestling program devastated. In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch soon after Karageorge's body was found, coach Ryan painted a picture of a gentle giant who had matured in his three seasons as an Ohio State wrestler. "He grew a lot as a person through the challenges of wrestling. For as big as he was -- heck, he could have put a knot on my head whenever he wanted -- he was so respectful and embraced everything the program really stood for ... He was loved. He cared about others. He grew a lot as a person. He brought a lot of good to a lot of people." Although a backup to heavyweight starter Nick Tavanello, Karageorge won titles at a number of tournaments during the 2013-14 season, racking up 35 wins. As Ryan put it, "He was the backup to the guy who's starting now, but the matches were very close. Kosta was considered the best backup heavyweight for any team in the country last year." The team attended Kosta Karageorge's funeral in Columbus together. They wore a "KK" tag on the left shoulder strap on their singlets. What's more, his memory was invoked in interviews with Ohio State wrestlers during their successful team title chase ... so his spirit has lived on as the team made its historic title run.

EDMOND, Okla. -- A storybook season resulted in another huge honor for Chris Watson Monday, though the Central Oklahoma 165-pounder's selection as the 2014-15 NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year pales in comparison to his recent winning battle against a life-threatening injury. Chris WatsonWatson put together a dominating 42-0 season with a school-record 30 bonus-point wins en route to capturing the national championship and earning the Wrestler of the Year award as determined by the Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association. But national titles and post-season accolades meant nothing on March 24 when Watson was diagnosed with a massive blood clot in his right arm and shoulder. Two surgeries in a three-day span were required to remove eight inches of total blockage in the area and both delicate procedures were a total success, with Watson receiving 100 percent clearance from his doctors just last Friday. "As unfortunate as the circumstances were, a lot of things happened that allowed me to be alive today," Watson said. "By the grace of God, a lot of things went right for me when they could have gone so bad." The clot actually existed during the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships March 13-14 in St. Louis, Mo., having started to form after Watson took a knee to the shoulder during practice two weeks earlier. Arm weakness hampered the senior standout throughout the tournament, though he didn't know why. "At nationals it wasn't painful, but I'd get a leg or be riding somebody and it was like my muscles didn't have any urgency to go," Watson said. "I didn't feel like I had that same energy, that same attack I had all season. It was hard for me to hold onto stuff for a prolonged period or to grip anything for a long time." Watson would have obviously been sidelined for the national tournament had the potentially fatal blood clot been diagnosed earlier. "They (doctors) would have shut me down before nationals if we had known about it," said Watson, who turned 24 the day after the national tournament. "There was a risk of the blood clot traveling to the brain, the heart or the lungs if it had broken loose. It's not that I can say I was heroic because I didn't know about it and just thought it was the wear and tear of the season. "I didn't lose my life and was able to get a national title and win this great award so it ended up working out, but I'm more than fortunate that it did." A native of Andover, Kan., Watson captured four regular season tournaments and then outscored eight opponents a combined 54-8 in winning the regional and national titles, earning Outstanding Wrestler honors at the national meet. He was a three-time All-American for the Bronchos and finished with a 130-28 career record to rank sixth on the UCO's all-time win list, including a school-record 36 major decisions. Watson is the eighth recipient of the NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year award that was voted on by the Division II head coaches. He collected 22 of the 47 first-place votes cast and ended with 138 points, nine ahead of Kutztown heavyweight Ziad Haddad. Central Missouri 149-pounder Frank Cagnina and North Carolina-Pembroke 141-pounder Daniel Ownbey were the other two finalists. Previous winners of the award were Nebraska-Kearney heavyweight Tervel Dlagnev (2008), Nebraska-Omaha 157-pounder Todd Meneely (2009), Pittsburgh-Johnstown 133-pounder Shane Valko (2010), Western State 197-pounder Donovan McMahill (2011), Upper Iowa 133-pounder Trevor Franklin (2012), Grand Canyon heavyweight Tyrell Fortune (2013) and Kutztown heavyweight Ziad Haddad (2014).

LOS ANGELES -- NFL pro football star and World champion wrestler Stephen Neal has been named honorary chair of the 2015 Freestyle Wrestling World Cup. Neal will be on hand for this two-day event, which will be held April 11 and 12 at the Forum, presented by Chase, in Inglewood, Calif. Stephen Neal (far right) with Tom Arnold, Randy Couture, Billy Baldwin, and Stephen Neal on the red carpet at the United 4 Wrestling event in LA (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The 2014 Freestyle World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships in Olympic wrestling, and features the eight best wrestling teams in the world. The United States, Iran, Russia and Cuba are among the top nations entered in this year's event. Neal knows that the dual meet format will be very exciting for fans. "Dual meets are awesome. You line up the teams. It is not the normal tournament style. You don't have to wait for a few hours to see the wrestlers you want to watch. You watch the matches, back-to-back-to-back. You get to see the whole USA team, the Iranian team, the Russian team. You have the lineups and know what key matches to watch for. It is a different experience and very exciting," said Neal. Neal is a native Californian, who placed fourth in the California State Wrestling Championships for San Diego High School, and won a Junior National freestyle title for Team California. He went on to compete for Cal-State Bakersfield, where he was a two-time NCAA champion, three time NCAA finalist and four-time NCAA All-American, competing at heavyweight. Neal understands the pride that California takes in its wrestling, something he would like to see on display at the Forum both days of the World Cup. "We have a lot of pride within California wrestling. We are one of the better wrestling states in the nation. We have had great champions come from California. We need to show our support for this event so we can keep bringing back the best wrestling to our state. We need to show our California pride by showing up in a big way," said Neal. In 1999, Neal won a gold medal for the United States in freestyle wrestling at the World Championships, held in Ankara, Turkey. He was also a 1999 Pan American Games champion in Winnipeg, Canada. He was also a U.S. Nationals champion, a runner-up at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and winner of a number of medals in foreign tournaments. Neal has been inducted as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "It is a tremendous honor to be on the American team. There is no higher honor than to represent your country. Our military fights for what we stand for as a nation. As athletes, we also compete for what our nation stands for. It is truly an honor to have the American flag on your singlet and uniform," said Neal. After completing his wrestling career, Neal pursued a career in professional football, even though he did not play college football. Neal played 10 years as a guard for the NFL New England Patriots before retiring in 2011. Neal was part of three Super Bowl winning teams in 2002, 2004, and 2005 and has three Super Bowl rings. He earned his first career start in his second NFL game on Oct. 13, 2002 vs. Green Bay. After missing the 2003 season due to injury, Neal returned in 2004 to wrestle away a starting position at right guard. Neal started 81 of the 86 career regular-season games in which he appeared. He also started in each of the 12 postseason games in which he played with the Patriots. It was his job to protect quarterback Tom Brady and open holes for many New England Patriot running backs, something he did with excellence. Neal credits his wrestling background for allowing him to develop into a successful pro football player with a long career. "There are two different skill sets, physical and mental. It was the mental skills which let me stay longer in the NFL. As a wrestler, I understand the concept of hard work and toughness. I had to use my physical skills, including balance and leverage. But the mental skills made a big difference. I did not want to get beaten in my position. Once I got the technique, it was my mental skills that helped me to stick around," said Neal. Neal truly enjoys the new rules of international wrestling which are more exciting to watch. "The rule changes have made it an exciting style. The score can change in a heartbeat. Points are being scored like never before. A big lead can disappear just like that. Throw in the dual meet format, and it is even more exciting," said Neal. He looks forward to spending some time with the American team, and meeting the wrestlers who have followed in his footsteps on Team USA. "I feel tremendously honored to be around the guys. I've known (Olympic champion) Jake Varner since he was a little kid. I have met (Olympic champion) Jordan Burroughs, and see his has a kid of his own. It will be great to meet the new U.S. wrestlers competing for us now and in the future. Little Aaron Pico, he is a beast. It is fun to reflect back to my time as a wrestler, and will be fun to see them all compete," said Neal. Neal has issued a challenge to all California wrestlers to come out to see the World Cup and to support not only Team USA but all of the nations there. "This is a tremendous honor and opportunity to see the very best in the world. They are not only the best wrestlers, they are also among the best athletes on the planet. Californians will be able to watch them in their own backyard. Wrestlers need to take every opportunity to see the different styles and techniques of all the different nations," he said. All-Session tickets are available, as well as Single-Day tickets through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com A group discount offer for clubs is also available. There is a 20% discount for all USA Wrestling members. Both offers can also be found at www.wrestlingworldcup.com There will be two sessions of wrestling action each day of the Freestyle World Cup. On Saturday, April 11, there will be sessions held at 3:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. On Sunday, April 12, the first session is at 11:00 a.m., with the First Place and Third Place Championship Duals set for 4:15 p.m. For more information on the Freestyle World Cup, visit www.wrestlingworldcup.com.

Tom Ryan, who took his Ohio State wrestlers to their first Big Ten conference crown in more than six decades, and their first-ever NCAA team title with two individual champs, has been named 2015 InterMat Coach of the Year, the amateur wrestling website announced on Monday morning. Tom Ryan led Ohio State to the program's first national championship in wrestling (Photo/Rob Preston)Presented each year since 2006 to the best college coach in all divisions, the award is based solely on the balloting of writers and executives at InterMat. Each staff member is asked to select five coaches and rank them from first to fifth. Point values are assigned to each placement, ranging from one point for a coach listed fifth on a voter's ballot, up to nine points for a first-place choice. Ryan received seven of the ten first-place ballots, for a total of 76 votes. Coming in second place was Tim Flynn, head coach at Pennsylvania's Edinboro University, who received 57 votes; one InterMat staff member had Flynn on their first-place ballot. Jim Moulsoff, who guided Augsburg to the 2015 NCAA Division III team title in his first year at the helm as interim head coach, placed third in the overall balloting with 42 points, with two first-place votes. This is the third time Ryan has been named InterMat Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach to be so honored with three such awards. He previously earned the honor in 2008 and 2009. 2015 InterMat Coach of the Year 1st-5th-Place Votes: 9-7-5-3-1 Total Votes/(First-Place Votes) 1. Tom Ryan, Ohio State 76 (7) 2. Tim Flynn, Edinboro 57 (1) 3. Jim Moulsoff, Augsburg 42 (2) 4. Brian Smith, Missouri 30 5. Steve Costanzo, SCSU 18 6. Rob Koll, Cornell 8 7. Kevin Dresser, Va. Tech 5 7. John Smith, Oklahoma St. 5 9. Sammie Henson, WVU 4 10. Tom Brands, Iowa 3 11. Barry Davis, Wisconsin 1 11. Tim Fader (formerly Whitewater) 1Ryan, an NCAA All-American wrestler for the University of Iowa, came to Columbus nine seasons ago from Hofstra University, with the expectation of improving the fortunes of the Ohio State wrestling program. This past season, all the elements aligned: a 9-3 dual-meet season, the program's first conference title since 1951 (tied with Iowa), and its first national title in the 94-year history of wrestling at Ohio State. Three Buckeyes made it into the finals at the 2015 NCAAs, with two -- Nathan Tomasello and Logan Stieber -- leaving St. Louis with individual titles, and Stieber making history as only the fourth four-time NCAA Division I champ in 85 years of the event. "If there is one word that characterizes Tom Ryan in regards to the Ohio State wrestling teams' run at the NCAA title, it would have to be 'belief,'" said InterMat staff writer Tom Franck. "The mastermind of the Buckeye program had been publicly vocal for the past two years that he believed with every fiber of his being that his team could win the national championship in 2015. Making that a reality was in no small part due to Coach Ryan's ability to sell that belief to all around him. InterMat Coach of the Year Winners 2014: Tim Flynn, Edinboro/J Robinson, Minnesota 2013: John Smith, Oklahoma St. 2012: Cael Sanderson, Penn St. 2011: Mike Denney, UNO 2010: Rob Koll, Cornell 2009: Tom Ryan, Ohio St. 2008: Tom Ryan, Ohio St. 2007: Cael Sanderson, Iowa St. 2006: John Smith, Oklahoma St."One distinction of Tom Ryan as a coach is the frequency with which he compliments the specific talents of wrestlers on other teams," added Franck. "While this may seem to be counter-intuitive on a motivational level, it suggests the extreme level of strategical preparation he is able to provide to his athletes for crucial matchups against top competition. Throughout the year he possessed a seemingly uncanny ability as a coach to maximize adversity." Last week, InterMat announced that Logan Stieber of Ohio State had been named 2015 InterMat Wrestler of the Year, while Isaiah Martinez of Illinois picked up 2015 InterMat Freshman of the Year honors.

Brent Metcal and Aaron Pico battled in the main event at Agon 5 (Photo/Nic Ryder) CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- At Agon V: Iowa Against the World professional amateur wrestling event at U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids Friday night, it was Iowa 3, World 2, with former University of Iowa mat champs Brent Metcalf, Tony Ramos and Matt McDonough coming out on top against top wrestlers from outside the state. In one of the co-main event matches sponsored by Agon Wrestling Championships, Metcalf, 28, a two-time NCAA champ for the Hawkeyes, got a 4-1 win over 18-year-old freestyle phenom Aaron Pico ... while, in the other, 2014 NCAA titlist Tony Ramos earned a 12-8 come-from-behind win over 2008 US Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo. Tony Ramos has Henry Cejudo's leg up in the air at Agon 5 (Photo/Nic Ryder)Both top-of-the-card matches ended with a bit of fireworks. In the case of Ramos-Cejedo, the Iowa alum rallied from an 8-4 deficit in the last 45 seconds to score a takedown, exposure points, then another takedown before putting the Olympian-turned-MMA fighter in a cradle in the final seconds which had some observers declaring Ramos had scored a fall. Metcalf's fireworks came off the mat. After concluding the last match of the evening, the three-time NCAA finalist took to the microphone to declare that he was the more aggressive scorer, but later said that he was not disrespecting Pico. On Saturday morning, Metcalf tweeted an apology: "In honor of Easter Weekend ... I told myself I wouldn't push anyone off the stage or make some big scene ..." with the hashtags #Fail #KeepItClassyMetcalf Scoring the third team win for Team Iowa in a battle of 125-pound NCAA champs was Matt McDonough, 2012 NCAA titlewinner for the Hawkeyes, getting a 6-2 victory over Angel Escobedo, 2008 NCAA titlist for Indiana University who last summer joined the coaching staff at Iowa State. McDonough was never behind at any point of his match vs. his former Big Ten rival. The evening did not start off so great for former Iowa Hawkeye wrestlers. Deron Winn, a national junior college champ who now competes for the Cyclone Wrestling Club at Iowa State, got a 6-3 win over Hawkeye All-American Phil Keddy. In a rematch of the 2013 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships' 157-pound finals, Jason Welch of Northwestern avenged that loss by beating Derek St. John, 12-10. Austin Gomez topped Justin Mejia 15-8 in one of three high school matches at Agon 5 (Photo/Nic Ryder)In addition to matches featuring post-collegiate wrestlers, Agon V also included three bouts with the next generation of potential college mat stars. Austin Gomez, a national champ from Glenbard North High School in Illinois, defeated Justin Mejia, a California high school sophomore who has made a verbal commitment to wrestle for the Hawkeyes, 15-8. Two other high school stars committed to wrestle at Iowa were more successful. Alex Marinelli, a two-time Ohio state champ from St. Paris Graham High School, got a 9-4 win over Pennsylvania's John Shields ... while Mike Kemerer, who won a Pennsylvania state title as a senior this year after being a three-time PIAA finalist, defeated future University of Minnesota wrestler Fredy Stroker of Bettendorf, Iowa, 5-4. Attendance figures were not released for Agon V. K.J. Pilcher, wrestling writer for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, estimated the crowd to be between 3,500-4,000; another individual posted on Twitter that the U.S. Cellular Center, which has a reported seating capacity for sporting events of 6,900, was "about half-full." Friday night's event in Cedar Rapids was Agon Wrestling Championships' fifth event. The organization's inaugural event was held in Las Vegas in late October 2013. "Agon" comes from Greek word describing a one-on-one, no-holds-barred contest where human nature was tested to the limits. "Agon" is the root of English words "antagonist" and "agony." Results: Brent Metcalf dec. Aaron Pico, 4-1 Matt McDonough dec. Angel Escobedo, 6-2 Tony Ramos dec. Henry Cejudo, 12-8 Jason Welch dec. Derek St. John, 12-10 Deron Winn dec. Phil Keddy, 6-3 Michael Kemerer dec. Fredy Stroker, 5-4 Austin Gomez dec. Justin Mejia, 15-8 Alex Marinelli dec. John Shields, 9-4

In case you missed it, last week Mike Pucillo announced to the world that he's gay. Pucillo, who won the 2008 national title as a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes, became the first former champion to broadcast his preference of men. To come out in any sport is a bold proclamation, but the revelation from within the sport of a wrestling -- one drenched in the verbiage and imagery of masculinity -- is almost unparalleled. While Pucillo's sexual preference is of little concern to most individuals, it's unique in that it comes from within a highly closeted combat sports community, which tends to entertain less-than-progressive views on what happens in the bedroom. Ohio State's Mike Pucillo defeated Iowa State's Jake Varner to win the NCAA title in 2008 (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)Still, from Pucillo's recent comments since the announcement it appears as though the wrestling community rallied around the former champion and flooded him with love and support. While the online community can be wretched and narrow-minded, it's now evident that the wrestling community at large has protected and promoted Pucillo's courage. My hope is that Pucillo's leadership will prompt more young men to face anti-gay discrimination on and off the mats. Sexual preference has nothing to do with physical toughness and that you happen to be gay should in no way affect teammates. It certainly doesn't affect the athlete. Mike Pucillo is one of the baddest men on the planet. Period. Congrats to Mike Pucillo on the announcement. We are all looking forward to witnessing the positive changes he will no doubt inspire in our community. To your questions ... Q: I thought the announcers during the Division I tournament were circumspect and somewhat reticent about criticizing the NCAA in the aftermath of the 157-quarterfinal bout. Are announcers asked or contracted not to be critical? I can imagine such might be the case, since it is an NCAA-hosted event. -- Charles W. Foley: I was hired this year to work on ESPN's "Off the Mat" program and at no time was asked to avoid the Ian Miller-Brian Realbuto controversy. In fact, the talking heads discussed the situation before the broadcast and wondered aloud to each other if it had been overdone by the earlier coverage. Everyone agreed that if it came up in any way we'd talk about it as long as necessary. As I recall we were critical of the NCAA for not having better procedures in place, but we didn't want to distract from the action and the incredible performance of Isaiah Martinez. Censorship isn't a non-issue. There are certainly ties between broadcast networks and the companies with which they have distribution agreements. As you might recall, ESPN killed "Playmakers," a show about the dark home lives of NFL football players after the league quietly threatened their contracts. When asked directly about pulling the show then-president of ESPN George Bodenheimer said that they must respect the wishes of their partners. He also said, "We don't do anything if it doesn't make money. If wrestling is on TV more it's because we are making money." That was 2008. The sport is doing well for ESPN and the NCAA. Q: Do you think the fact that California only has one class hurts the sport of wrestling? I think wrestling is missing out on a huge possible fan base. California is the biggest market in the country with 38.8 million people. Yet the attendance at the 2014 CIF state tournament was only 18,887. Nebraska has only has 1.8 million people but had a three-day attendance of over 50,000. There are 896 kids that make it to the Nebraska state tournament. Those 896 kids are followed by family and friends who create a huge buzz, which attracts the media. These family and friends also bring a lot of money to Omaha. It's a huge moneymaker for the NSAA and the City of Omaha. Universities and businesses look at the attendance and financial numbers at the Nebraska state tournament and they see opportunity to gain more students and more customers. Because of this Nebraska has a total eight four-year institutions that offer wrestling to California's seven. I think if you have 2-3 classes in California the sport's popularity would grow there by leaps and bounds. Just think what kind of buzz having a 2-3 class tournament at the Staples Center would create. -- Mark B. Foley: I'd always assumed that having one state championship made the tournament more spectacular and the winner all that much more unique. However, I think you changed my mind. For just a moment let's put aside the attendance and the media buzz of three California state tournaments and look at the theory of grade inflation. Duke University famously inflates grades as part of their desire to look prestigious. For whatever reason when someone looks at a resume that includes a good school they likewise want to see a good GPA. It reinforces the idea of the school being exemplary. For example, all other things being equal, what is more attractive, the Princeton grad with a 3.5 or the Duke grad with a 3.9? California is respected as one of the top wrestling states in the country. If they can produce 28 more state champions that will mean 28 more kids being recruited from California as state champions. No, not all will be equal, but given the opportunity to make the march to the highest tournament, I don't think there would be a significant drop off in talent between divisions, but there would be an increase in recruited athletes. #MoreCaliChamps Q: With Michigan State ending up with negative team points at the NCAAs, has that happened before? I just don't remember that happening. -- Jim R. Foley: Michigan State is the first Big Ten wrestling program to ever finish with negative points at the NCAA tournament. Nothing more profound can be written than simply seeing that score at the end of three days. Not good for the old guard at Michigan State. Q: You were correct! It's pretty simple. If you don't give Ian Miller an escape, you can't give Brian Realbuto a takedown. Argue all you want about the one point ... doesn't matter! The argument should be over the two-point takedown! (You can't get back points without first getting control, one follows the other.) You cannot award a takedown if you don't award an escape first! Miller wins 9-7 (without escape) or 10-9 (with escape). This is not debatable. No escape given, then you can't give a takedown! Terrible situation but the NCAA had given themselves a way to make it right! They didn't! I don't get it! -- Dana B. Foley: Your frustration is understandable. This doesn't make sense because it can't make sense. Numbers are numbers, and for an organization so hell bent on the objectivity of numbers in the seeding process, you'd think they'd honor the objectivity of numbers when used in scoring. But, then you'd be wrong? Q: What were your thoughts on finals at 174 pounds? I have two issues. First, while I agree with the shot clock, it appeared to me that Tyler Wilps was attempting to work up and did back around the waist both times he was called for stalling. With the abundance of non-action, fleeing the mat and general backing up that goes uncalled, I get a little upset when calls like that are made, just because the refs feel they have to. Secondly, I would never want to win a match on a penalty point like that. If it is called it's called but to challenge to get it seems cheap. Especially considering it was a flurry of action and Matt Brown came to his feet then was brought back down. The slow motion replay shows locked hands with one second left. Isn't he allowed any reaction time? When you watch it full speed he barely has his hands locked before time expires and Brown has both feet under him at the two-second mark. I think Brown would have won in overtime, but to get those last two points the way he did seems cheap. While I would love to win a national title, I don't think I would be showing that highlight reel to my friends. -- Nick K. Foley: Fair enough point. Matt Brown's highlight film might not have made for a personal highlight reel, but it did make the front page of Deadspin, though mostly because of the lunacy you mentioned. Brown can't really be blamed for the calls and I disagree that they shouldn't have been called. Wilps was stalling and had he not he would have given up the escape point. That's clear. I wish there was a cleaner finish to the match, but once the challenge was called the referees had no choice but to make the correct call. Unlike the NCAA, they can't just engineer outcomes for PR purposes. Q: With Cleveland State announcing they are no longer funding wrestling, how many schools do you think need to drop the sport before the NCAA has to adjust the 330 individuals making the tournament? At some point you can't take everyone, can you? Eliminating the pigtails should be the first to go. And just an observation, on the cover of the bout sheet this year it still shows Boston as having wrestling, I love the attention to detail. -- Jim R. Foley: They should adjust the tournament this year. Pigtails serve no purpose. Q: Last year I asked a question that you addressed in your April 4 mailbag, which I will ask again this year. Less than week after the 2015 NCAAs have wrapped up, who are your 2015 NCAA finalists at each weight class and your top five team finishers? -- Nick M. Foley: 125: Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State) vs. Thomas Gilman (Iowa) 133: Cody Brewer (Oklahoma) vs. Cory Clark (Iowa) 141: Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) vs. Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) 149: Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern) vs. Hunter Stieber (Ohio State) 157: Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) vs. Ian Miller (Kent State) 165: Alex Dieringer (Oklahoma State) vs. Bo Jordan (Ohio State) 174: Taylor Massa (Michigan) vs. Zach Epperly (Virginia Tech) 184: Gabe Dean (Cornell) vs. Blake Stauffer (Arizona State) 197: J'den Cox (Missouri) vs. Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) 285: Nick Gwiazdowski (North Carolina State) vs. Adam Coon (Michigan) Top five teams: 1. Iowa 2. Ohio State 3. Ohlahoma State 4. Penn State 5. Cornell Q: Was NCAAs in Philadelphia considered a success? What are the chances it returns? -- @HezekiahWilcox?ack Foley: Tough to know what the overall financial success might have been, but from a fan's perspective there were some big positives in terms of transportation, hotels and nightlife. Overall, I think it's unlikely that the NCAA will continue to float the tournament around the USA. The next bidding cycle will likely be for a ten-year chunk or more now that gate revenues have stabilized. If that is the case, I don't see Philly being as attractive as St. Louis. Q: I know it's early, but looking ahead, Cael has a passel of redshirt freshmen coming in, plus Nico Megaludis and Zain Retherford coming back after redshirt seasons. Looks like one year of laying low has PSU poised to move back up, especially in those weight classes where top Big Ten competition graduates. What are your thoughts? -- FoxWit99 Foley: I'm not sure what will happen with his class of studs. There is a bevy of talent in State College, but very little of it has been proven on the mat. Should the recruits and redshirts pan out -- and I tend to think a higher-than-normal percentage will -- then the NCAA title could head back to Pennsylvania. The larger issue at play is just how talented Iowa and Ohio State will be at those same lower weights. Other schools will have incredible lineups as well. Cael is the best coach in the nation, but even he will have a lot of work to do if he's to recapture the NCAA title in 2016. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Link: Cleveland State AD John Parry talks to Jason Bryant Q: What did you think of the FloWrestling Radio Live Episode 18 with Jason Borrelli explaining the seeding process? The Flo guys also said coaches panel rankings don't matter and shouldn't even exist, and basically someone from Flo should be on the seeding committee because they are plunged into the national landscape. Your thoughts? -- Frank C. Foley: Well, of course nobody from Flo should be on the seeding committee since they are broadcast partners with the NCAA. That would be a major conflict of interest. However, they are correct that some outside minds, those that aren't marching lock-step to the beat of Oz, need to be part of the process. While every outlet would claim that theirs are the best rankings, I think that taking a look over the past several years you would find the InterMat's rankings are the most accurate in depicting the week-to-week landscape. They never seem tilted toward anything wildly subjective, largely because they are done by committee, but also because there is a long institutional memory of how to rank wrestlers. That's the issue the NCAA faces -- a lack of know-how about the sport which directly affects their outcomes. If we can stymie that, or limit the bleed of incompetence with someone entrenched in the sport itself, then we have chance to avoid the disaster that was the 2015 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Q: In the course of checking the Dapper Dan's website I came across an interesting note on Carlton Haselrig. Apparently he is the only six-time (yes, six-time) NCAA champion (three in Division II) and a two-time PA state champ but with no regular season record. How are these feats even possible? Why is he not a bigger deal in college wrestling history? Side note: tons of awesome matchups if you browse the yearly results on that website. Think they'd ever be able to do an alumni-style dual meet? Some of those matches would make for great post-college rematches -- Ryan P. Foley: Wrestling is hard! We once had an alumni match at the University of Virginia and one of the alumni tore his patella tendon. Old and fat does not always make for fun, or safe, matchups! Q: How much money did Ohio State's athletic director make when Logan Stieber won his fourth national title? -- Nick Foley: Yes! I looked for this answer but came up bupkis. Comments section?! Q: Is there some unwritten rule in Iowa, Oklahoma and Minnesota that says that high school wrestlers in those states are never to wrestle at Pennsylvania colleges and universities? Pennsylvania kids do their college wrestling in every state you can imagine, but I can't think of any kids from the aforementioned states who attend and wrestle at any Pennsylvania colleges. Do high school coaches in those states intentionally discourage their kids from attending PA colleges? -- Brian J. Foley: The in-state competition to make it onto one of those collegiate programs is so intense that there leaves little room to recruit out-of-state student-athletes. Tuition prices in state affect the wrestling programs. Money is money, so to pay $35k in full scholarship to a kid from Oklahoma is instead spent on a couple of $15k scholarships. Also, because Pennsylvania does produce so many of the nation's best wrestlers it keeps recruiting cost at bay to keep your eyes in state. Less coaches travel and less chance that your favorite blue chipper misses Mom's casserole and banks the plane left to make it home in time for supper, forever. Q: After watching the NCAAs, it would appear that St. Paris Graham produces wrestlers that are most likely to be successful in college. They had a number of All-Americans and by my observations, way more than any other high school (even Blair, whose kids continually seem to disappoint.) Is SPG's success a trend or just something whacky that happened this year? And why does this happen? -- Tyler H. Foley: It's tough to nail down exactly what leads one high school's alumni to do better at the NCAA level than another high school's alumni, but I imagine a lot has to do with the success of Ohio State and the talent of the Jordans and the leadership they showed in their prep days. All are factors, but at the core, yes, Jeff Jordan is an exceptional coach who creates All-American-caliber wrestlers at St. Paris Graham. Re: Cleveland State By Ronald M. I'm as disappointed as everyone else about the Cleveland State decision. But let's not be too hard on the AD. He's on the record: Parry said lacrosse would be part of a plan to attract "particularly more students from suburban, private schools that CSU doesn't normally have access to," he said. He's doing it for the same reason so many other schools are doing it: universities need affluent "full pay" students to enroll. These students are so interested in being able to say (for the rest of their lives) "I was an NCAA athlete," that they'll pay more to go to a lower quality school, just for the opportunity to play their desired sport. And most of the previous talk has been about liberal arts schools using this strategy. Do you think that Cleveland State has seen increases in its state appropriations? You need to understand that adding lacrosse is potentially a NET REVENUE POSITIVE proposal for Cleveland State. Now, this doesn't mean that wrestling has to be dropped, if they could add a women's sport to offset the men's lacrosse increase. But it's just consistent with the overall craziness of having our 18-22 year-old athletes trained through universities. And my (unsolicited) suggestion to the wrestling community would be to start thinking about options outside of the NCAA/universities, along the lines of your "club" suggestion a few months ago. ARGUMENT OF THE WEEK By JM I found that I was at a disappointing disadvantage attending the NCAAs in person when it came to knowing what was going on. In particular, the people in the stands were given no information from the PA announcers at all about the HUGE controversy regarding the Realbuto-Miller match. Only those people who had access to external communications were made aware of the situation during the quarterfinal round. Was this because the announcers in the arena were not aware of the situation? Or were not compelled to voice their knowledge of the situation? Or were forbidden by the NCAA to inform the live audience? Most of the attending fans were unaware of the controversy until leaving the arena and only later found out by talking with the few people 'in the know.' Surely, not a fan-friendly environment. Similarly, the fans in the stands have to sit on their hands and wait to find out the results of video reviews of certain contested portions of matches. Why not show the replay on the mega-screen to all in attendance? Is this another NCAA regulated attempt to keep the paying customers in the dark? I believe the wrestling powers-that-are need to re-examine the fan-friendliness of the NCAAs and make the necessary improvements that 21st century ticket-buyers are expecting. NEW IDEA OF THE WEEK By Mike T. The NCAA wrestling tournament is the greatest thing in the world. It seems that the current college wrestling format puts all the emphasis on this tournament. If we are going to keep it that way, why not go all in? All 10 starters on every Division I wrestling team compete at the NCAA tournament. Possible benefits: 1. Boost attendance at NCAAs 2. Increase TV viewership at NCAAs 3. More teams scoring points -- less teams with 0 or 1 point 4. More pins at NCAAs, fans love action and the first round would be a bloodbath (in a good way) 5. Another session at nationals means more TV time, more revenue for host/NCAA. 6. Shorten/rearrange the season -- conference no longer needs to be the last tournament of the season 7. With conference no longer at the end of the season, National Duals now has a better chance of being successful 8. Incentivize schools to add wrestling -- No matter how small the schools market, they get 10 athletes at the big show with a chance to get on TV and brand their school 9. Better chance for Cinderella story at NCAAs 10. Less athletes in redshirt -- coaches fear pulling redshirt if wrestler can't make nationals and contribute to final team score, this is no longer a risk

The two best featherweights in the world not named Jose Aldo (no, not Conor McGregor ... stop it) are squaring off this Saturday in Fairfax, Virginia. But because of the Final Four, the prelims start at 10 a.m. and the main card at 1 p.m. So break out the pancakes and mimosas for a special weekend brunch edition of the podcast. Do you want to listen to a past episode? Access archives.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- All-Americans were determined at the Cadet and Junior National Folkstyle Championships on Thursday in Cedar Falls, Iowa. On the front side of the draw, wrestling is down to the championship semifinals, while it is consolation quarterfinals on the back side. The following are semifinal pairings for both the Junior and Cadet levels. Junior 100 (best two-of-three): First match: Colton Eden (Syracuse, Utah) pin Marcus Santillanes (Volcano Vista, N.M.) 4:47 106: No. 6 Randon Miranda (Quartz Hill, Calif.) vs. Arturo Duran (Grafton, Wis.) Nico Aguilar (Gilroy, Calif.) vs. Kory Cavanagh (Penn, Ind.) 113: No. 5 Danny Vega (Sunnyside, Ariz.) vs. Brandon Courtney (Desert Edge, Ariz.) Arik Furseth (Janesville Craig, Wis.) vs. Colton Cummings (Lowell, Ind.) 120: Brennen Doebel (Clear Lake, Iowa) vs. Josh Portillo (Clarion-Goldfield, Iowa) Santi Bent (Bishop Gorman, Nev.) vs. Michael Volyanyuk (Farmington Hills Harrison, Mich.) 126: Richard Casillas (Northview, Calif.) vs. Chris Deloza (Clovis North, Calif.) Ted Rico (Combs, Ariz.) vs. Navonte Demison (Bakersfield, Calif.) 132: No. 4 (at 126) Mitchell McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) vs. Joe Fischenich Zak Hensley (St. James Academy, Kans.) vs. Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.) 138: Hunter Marko (Amery, Wis.) vs. Julian Flores (San Marino, Calif.) Collin Purinton (Banks, Ore.) vs. Hunter Washburn (Alburnett, Iowa) 145: No. 2 Max Thomsen (Union, Iowa) vs. Cole Martin (Lancaster, Wis.) Kevin Kissane (Maize South, Kans.) vs. No. 18 Zander Wick (San Marino, Calif.) 152: Chase Straw (Independence, Iowa) vs. Daniel Filipek (Warrenton, Mo.) Luke Troy (San Marino, Calif.) vs. Anthony Mantanona (Palm Desert, Calif.) 160: No. 16 Drew Hughes (Lowell, Ind.) vs. Jacob Thalin (Santa Theresa, Calif.) Kasey Klapprodt (Rapid City Stevens, S.D.) vs. No. 19 Paden Moore (Jackson County Central, Minn.) 170: Oscar Ramos (Kenosha Bradford, Wis.) vs. Luke Norland (Jackson County Central, Minn.) Ben Harvey (Indianpolis Cathedral, Ind.) vs. No. 11 Jacob Holschlag (Union, Iowa) 182: John Frisco (Aberdeen Central, S.D.) vs. Guy Patron, Jr. (Jesuit, La.) Brayden Kuntz (South Border, N.D.) vs. Max Lyon (Western Dubuque, Iowa) 195: Daniel Chadd (Lancaster, Wis.) vs. No. 9 Cash Wilcke (OA-BCIG, Iowa) No. 18 Eric Schultz (Tinley Park, Ill.) vs. No. 3 (at 182) Keegan Moore (Jackson County Central, Minn.) 220: Carter Isley (Albia, Iowa) vs. Jeremy Rodman (Anoka, Minn.) No. 9 Ethan Andersen (Southeast Polk, Iowa) vs. Kendrick Jones (Hahnville, La.) 285: Michael Kelly (Oakes, N.D.) vs. Aaron Costello (Western Dubuque, Iowa) Quelton Toliver (McCluer North, Mo.) vs. Caleb Gossett (Francis Howell Central, Mo.) Cadet 88: Mosha Schwartz (Colorado - 8th) vs. Daniel Kimball (Iowa - 8th) Keegan Padgett (Indiana - 8th) vs. Zach Miller (Minnesota - 8th) 94: Eric Faught (Iowa - 8th) vs. Eric Barnett (Wisconsin - 8th) Steele Dias (Nevada - 8th) vs. Adrian Marquez (Colorado - 8th) 100: Cody Phippen (Basheor-Linwood, Kans.) vs. Riley Gurr (Kamaikin, Wis.) Kyle Biscoglia (Waukee, Iowa) vs. Curtis Lemair (Prior Lake, Minn.) 106: Kyle Burwick (Hettinger, N.D.) vs. Aaron Cashman (Mound Westonka, Minn.) Andrew Lucero (Pueblo East, Colo.) vs. Izaak Olejnik (Bakersfield, Calif.) 113: Rylee Molitor (Sartell-St. Stephen, Minn.) vs. Peyton Robb (Owatonna, Minn.) Jake Gliva (Simley, Minn.) vs. Drake Doolittle (Iowa - 8th) 120: Lucas Busse (McHenry, Ill.) vs. Tyler Eischens (Anoka, Minn.) Devin Schwartzkopf (Missouri - 8th) vs. No. 3 (at 113) Jason Renteria (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) 126: Zander Silva (San Marino, Calif.) vs. Brett Villarreal (Redwood, Calif.) Brayden Stevens (Utah - 8th) vs. Lawrence Saenz (Vacaville, Calif.) 132: Jon Trowbridge (Basheor-Linwood, Kans.) vs. Scott Cook (New London, Wis.) Brock Hardy (Box Elder, Utah) vs. J.J. Figueroa (Bakersfield, Calif.) 138: Kameron Frame (Goodard, Kans.) vs. Kendon Kayser (Louisiana) Nathan Moore (Washington - 8th) vs. Kendall Frame (Goddard, Kans.) 145: Nathan Atienza (Livonia Franklin, Mich.) vs. Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) Kenny O'Neil (Prior Lake, Minn.) vs. Kameron Bush (Grandville, Mich.) 152: Travis Wittlake (Marshfield, Ore.) vs. Alex Ward (Dubuque Hempstead, Iowa) Logan Coyle (Indiana - 8th) vs. Tristan Zamilpa (Selma, Calif.) 160: Jared Krattiger (Waterford, Wis.) vs. Marcus Coleman (Ames, Iowa) Lucas Davison (Chesterton, Ind.) vs. Jake Gille (Pulaski, Wis.) 170: Jack Jessen (Willowbrook, Ill.) vs. Isaac Bartel (Mason City, Iowa) Tanner Vermaas (Woodward-Granger, Iowa) vs. Jacob Gray (Delta, Ind.) 182: Jacob Raschka (Pewaukee, Wis.) vs. Zach Elam (Staley, Mo.) Andrew Davison (Chesterton, Ind.) vs. Dylan Servis (Dodge City, Kans.) 195: Lucas Rinehart (Evansville/Albany, Wis.) vs. Dylan Prince (Pittsburg, Kans.) Bryce Esmoil (West Liberty, Iowa) vs. Sergio Vilalobos (Illinois) 220: Hunter Halverson (Del Oro, Calif.) vs. Max Darrah (Whitfield, Mo.) Jake Levengood (Vacaville, Calif.) vs. Christopher Middlebrooks (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) 285: Pablo Miller (Del Oro, Calif.) vs. Sammy de Seriere (Colorado) Cooper Lawson (Webster City, Iowa) vs. Zach Muller (Downers Grove South, Ill.)

INDIANA, Pa. -- Thursday's competition at the FloNationals on the campus of Indiana University in Pennsylvania narrowed down the field to the quarterfinals on the front side, and the consolation round of 16 on the back side. Wrestlers in consolation need two wins to place in the top eight, while those in the championship quarterfinals need just one win. Wrestling resumes on Friday morning at 9 a.m. ET, with the finals slated for 4:45 p.m. 106: Paul Konrath (Mount Vernon, Ind.) vs. Jaxon Cole (North Summit, Utah) No. 18 Quinn Kinner (Kingsway Regional, N.J.) vs. Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa. - 8th) Shane Metzler (West Morris Central, N.J.) vs. Brandon Parker (Wasatch, Utah) No. 17 Louie Hayes (Carl Sandburg, Ill.) vs. Sidney Oliver (Holt, Mo.) 113: No. 19 (at 120) Devin Schroder (Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Mich.) vs. Gage Curry (North Hills, Pa.) Brian Courtney (Athens, Pa.) vs. Dalton Duffield (Southmoore, Okla.) Kaden Gfeller (Heritage Hall, Okla.) vs. Bryce West (Highland Riverside, Iowa) Ian Parker (St. Johns, Mich.) vs. No. 9 Ian Timmins (Wooster, Nev.) 120: No. 4 Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) vs. Tariq Wilson (Steubenville, Ohio) No. 20 (at 126) Doyle Trout (Centennial, Neb.) vs. No. 8 (at 113) Mitch Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) No. 12 (at 126) Taylor LaMont (Maple Mountain, Utah) vs. Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.) Ryan Friedman (St. Paul's, Md.) vs. No. 3 Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.) 126: No. 5 (at 132) Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) vs. Justin Patrick (The Kiski School, Pa.) Josh Heil (Brunswick, Ohio) vs. Colby Smith (Holt, Mo.) No. 20 (at 132) Dylan Duncan (Montini Catholic, Ill.) vs. No. 17 (at 132) Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.) Zack Trampe (Council Rock South, Pa.) vs. No. 2 Chad Red (New Palestine, Ind.) 132: Keegan Moore (Putnam City, Okla.) vs. Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny, Pa.) Will Clark (Cary, N.C.) vs. Angel Velasquez (Pittman, Calif.) Tommy Cash (Lawrence North, Ind.) vs. Mike Van Brill (Clearview, N.J.) Ryan Hansen (Maple Mountain, Utah) vs. No. 10 (at 145) Jaydin Clayton (Father Tolton Catholic, Mo.) 138: No. 2 Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area, Pa.) vs. Dylan Chatterton (Central York, Pa.) Frankie Gissendanner (Penfield, N.Y.) vs. No. 14 Jonathan Furnas (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio) No. 8 Will Roark (Seneca, Mo.) vs. Kent Lane (Southern Columbia, Pa.) Shae Bloom (Curwensville, Pa.) vs. Brent Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) 145: No. 5 Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County, Pa.) vs. Jesse Porter (Shenendehowa, N.Y.) No. 10 (at 152) Kyle Lawson (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) vs. No. 13 (at 152) Jakob Restrepo (Sachem East, N.Y.) No. 9 Austin Kraisser (Centennial, Md.) vs. Jimmy Saylor (Easton, Pa.) Isaiah Hokit (Clovis, Calif.) vs. No. 20 Zachary Moore (Putnam City, Okla.) 152: Mason Manville (Virginia) vs. Adam Martz (Mountain Ridge, Md.) No. 15 Kaleb Young (Punxsatawney, Pa.) vs. No. 20 (at 160) Connor Flynn (Francis Howell, Mo.) No. 16 Wyatt Sheets (Stilwell, Okla.) vs. No. 15 (at 160) Corbin Allen (Hanover, Va.) Louie DePrez (Hilton, N.Y.) vs. No. 5 Jake Wentzel (South Park, Pa.) 160: No. 8 (at 182) Xavier Montalvo (Montini Catholic, Ill.) vs. Gabe Koontz (Edgewood, Ind.) Elijah Cleary (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) vs. Jake Woodley (North Allegheny, Pa.) No. 11 Cole Watler (Mifflinburg, Pa.) vs. Tucker Leavitt (Highland, Idaho) Sam Rowell (Mt. St. Joseph, Md.) vs. No. 12 Devin Skatzka (Richmond, Ind.) 170: No. 7 Nick Reenan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) vs. Josh Hokit (Clovis, Calif.) Austin Bell (Belle Vernon Area, Pa.) vs. Brandon Whitman (Dundee, Mich.) Kyle Gentile (Pennridge, Pa.) vs. Jake Shaffer (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) Trevor Allard (Mexico, N.Y.) vs. No. 15 (at 182) Jacob Armstrong (Salem Hills, Utah) 182: No. 10 Dylan Wisman (Millbrook, Va.) vs. Antonio Agee (Hayfield, Va.) Jay Aiello (Westfield, Va.) vs. Triston Engle (Dolgeville, N.Y.) Corey Hazel (Penns Valley, Pa.) vs. Casey Cornett (Simon Kenton, Ky.) Marcus Fogle (South County, Va.) vs. No. 19 Dakota Geer (Franklin, Pa.) 195: No. 6 Blake Rypel (Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.) vs. Austin Hansen (Howell, Mich.) Austin Flores (Clovis North, Calif.) vs. No. 20 Wyatt Koelling (Davis, Utah) No. 8 Chance Cooper (Timberland, Mo.) vs. Tyler Love (Centreville, Va.) Isaiah Margheim (Lorain, Ohio) vs. No. 7 Tyree Sutton (Keansburg, N.J.) 220: No. 3 Austin Myers (Campbell County, Ky.) vs. Cohlton Schultz (Mountain Vista, Colo. 8th) Jacob Robb (Kittanning, Pa.) vs. Eric Conquest (Brighton, Mich.) Kevin Koenig (Laingsburg, Mich.) vs. Andrew Gunning (Bethlehem Liberty, Pa.) Cole Nye (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) vs. Lucas Ready (Brighton, Mich.) 285: No. 5 Kevin Vough (Elyria, Ohio) vs. Damian Trujillo (Roy, Utah) Nick Coe (Asheboro, N.C.) vs. No. 15 (at 220) Vincent Feola (Walt Whitman, N.Y.) Jake Beistel (Southmoreland, Pa.) vs. Nick O'Brien (Willoughby South, Ohio) Eric Chakonis (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.) vs. Dan Perry (Lapeer East, Mich.)

Dan Henderson, a two-time Olympian in Greco-Roman wrestling and a mixed martial arts (MMA) star with the UFC, will serve as the Honorary Captain of the 2015 U.S. Freestyle World Cup Team. Dan HendersonUnder the guidance of Team Leader Andy Barth, Henderson will captain the U.S. team at the Freestyle Wrestling World Cup, at the Forum, presented by Chase, April 11-12 in Inglewood, Calif. The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, and will feature the top eight men's freestyle wrestling teams in the world. Henderson competed on the 1992 and 1996 U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team, including a 10th place finish at the 1992 Barcelona Games. He was also seventh in the 1997 World Championships. He was a top Greco-Roman wrestler on the national and international level for more than a decade, winning three U.S. Open national titles and numerous medals at international events. Competing at the Olympics for the United States was a highlight of his athletic career. "I would not change that for anything. It was an honor for me and a proud moment for me to represent the United States at the Olympic Games. I wouldn't trade it for anything I've done in MMA," said Henderson. Henderson won a silver medal at the 1996 Greco-Roman World Cup, and enjoyed the exciting format of the dual meet competition. "It was a different type of tournament, and a little more fun to compete in. You were able to watch the rest of your teammates compete and support them as a team. You also were able to interact more with the other teams than at other events," said Henderson. National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett is pleased that Henderson will be in Los Angeles as part of the American World Cup team. "I was on the Greco-Roman coaching staff at the 1992 Olympics when Dan Henderson was on that Olympic team. I have always had a lot of respect for Dan and his competitiveness. More importantly, his toughness and love of the sport is tremendous. He has been around wrestling a long time and has influenced a lot of people. I couldn't be happier to have a guy like Dan around our team at the World Cup," said National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett. Henderson has a strong connection to wrestling in California. He was a California state wrestling runner-up and two-time placewinner for Victor Valley High School, and won the Junior Nationals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. He started his college career at Cal-State Fullerton, before focusing full-time on Greco-Roman wrestling. He is currently living in Temecula, Calif. Henderson brings enthusiasm to his role as World Cup Honorary Team Captain. "Wrestling is something I have missed. I am so involved and busy in MMA. I have missed wrestling. I will be great to get involved again, to get around the athletes and encourage and motivate them to do well," said Henderson Henderson has also excelled in his MMA career with a 30-13 professional record. He currently competes in the UFC, with his next fight against Tim Boetsch scheduled for UFC FIGHT NIGHT: CORMIER vs. BADER in New Orleans, La. on Saturday, June 6 and broadcast on FOX Sports 1. He is a former PRIDE Middleweight and Welterweight Champion, and the first fighter in history to hold both belts simultaneously. During his career, he has fought 10 current or former UFC champions. Henderson credits wrestling with giving him the tools to achieve great things in MMA. "I don't think I'd have accomplished half of what I have in MMA if I didn't wrestle. It is the best foundation for MMA. When I first started fighting, nobody knew everything. I learned and evolved with the sport as it got more rounded. Along the way, I was a wrestler and because of that, I was able to learn more quickly," said Henderson. Henderson trains in Temecula, where he runs Team Quest and the Dan Henderson Athletic Fitness Center. His stable of fighters includes MMA stars Sam Alvey and Tarec Saffiedine, along with many professional fighters affiliated with various organizations. He is also the founder of Clinch Gear, which produces athletic gear, and remains involved with the company. The top eight teams in the world will compete in the Freestyle World Cup. This year's field includes Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Mongolia, Russia, Turkey and the United States. The U.S. placed third at the 2014 Freestyle World Cup, also held in Los Angeles, with Iran winning the team title and Russia placing second. All-Session tickets are available, as well as Single-Day tickets. Fans can purchase All-Session tickets for $60 for General Admission and $85 for Preferred Seating. Single-Day tickets, on either Saturday or Sunday, are $35 for General Admission and $55 for Preferred Seating. Fees apply for tickets purchased through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com A group discount offer for clubs is also available. There is a 20% discount for all USA Wrestling members. Both offers can also be found at www.wrestlingworldcup.com FREESTYLE WRESTLING WORLD CUP SCHEDULE (all times Pacific Time) Saturday, April 11 3:00 p.m. Session I Pool Competition 6:15 p.m. Session II Opening Ceremonies and Pool Competition Sunday, April 12 11:00 a.m. Session III Pool Competition, Fifth and Seventh Place Dual Meets 4:15 p.m. Session IV First and Third Place Dual Meets

Isaiah Martinez defeated Cornell's Brian Realbuto of Cornell in the NCAA finals (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) Isaiah Martinez has launched his wrestling career at the University of Illinois is off to a perfect start, with a unbeaten record, the 157-pound title at the 2015 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and now, being named 2015 InterMat Freshman of the Year. 2015 InterMat Freshman of the Year 1st-5th-Place Votes: 9-7-5-3-1 Total Votes/(First-Place Votes) 1. Isaiah Martinez, Illinois 90 (10) 2. Nathan Tomasello, Ohio State 64 3. Kyle Snyder, Ohio State 37 4. Bo Jordan, Ohio State 34 5. Zeke Moisey, West Virginia 14 6. Brandon Sorensen, Iowa 7 7. Kevin Jack, North Carolina State 4The amateur wrestling website announced the award, presented each year since 2006 to the best college freshman wrestler in all divisions, on Thursday morning. As with other InterMat college wrestling honors, the Freshman of the Year award is based exclusively on the balloting of writers and executives at InterMat. Each staff member is asked to select five freshman wrestlers and rank them from first to fifth. Point values are assigned to each placement, ranging from one point for a wrestler listed fifth on a voter's ballot, up to nine points for a first-place choice. Martinez, a three-time California state champ at the powerhouse Lemoore High School with 205-7 high school record, left the Central Valley to east-central Illinois to wrestle for the Fighting Illini. This past season, Martinez compiled a perfect 35-0 record, with 24 of those wins generating bonus points, on his way to winning the 157-pound title at the 2015 NCAAs. With that flawless freshman season, Martinez becomes only the third Illinois wrestler to have an undefeated year, joining Matt Lackey and Eric Siebert who did it in 2003 and 1998, respectively ... and the first undefeated freshman to win a national championship since Iowa State's Cael Sanderson in 1999. Freshman of the Year Winners 2015: Isaiah Martinez, Illinois 2014: Jason Tsirtsis, Northwestern 2013: Alex Dieringer, Oklahoma State 2012: Logan Stieber, Ohio State 2011: David Taylor, Penn State 2010: Kyle Dake, Cornell 2009: Andrew Howe, Wisconsin 2008: Mike Grey, Cornell 2007: Jake Varner, Iowa State 2006: Dustin Schlatter, Minnesota"He's got a lot of natural ability and toughness," Illinois head coach Jim Heffernan said of Martinez in late January. "It's the way he practices, too. He works hard in the weight room, does extra workouts on his own. He gets more excited every chance he gets to wrestle someone. Motivation is not an issue with him." "Isaiah Martinez had the single greatest freshman wrestling year in the history of NCAA wrestling," said InterMat senior writer T.R. Foley. "We're all witnesses."