InterMat Staff

Two-time National Prep finalist Eric Hong (Kiski Prep, Pa.), champion of that event in 2015, verbally committed to the University of Pennsylvania on Thursday afternoon. The projected 157/165 is currently ranked No. 29 overall in the Class of 2017, and ended the 2015-16 season ranked No. 11 nationally at 145 pounds. He is also a two-time Super 32 Challenge placer, including a third place finish at 145 this past fall.

ROCHESTER, NY -- RIT Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Lou Spiotti Jr., announced the appointment of Jason Bovenzi as head wrestling coach on Wednesday, April 13. Jason BovenziBovenzi spent the last three seasons as assistant wrestling coach at RIT. In 2014-15, Bovenzi played an integral role in helping RIT develop the program and guide Brad Mayville (Marion, NY/Wayne) and Tory Cain (Ontario, NY/Wayne) to All-American honors. Bovenzi replaces Scott Stever, who served as head coach at RIT for the last 18 seasons. "Jason has all the tools and the drive to bring our program to new competitive heights," said Spiotti. "He has an outstanding background as an elite wrestler at the collegiate level and as a coach." Bovenzi was a standout collegiate wrestler both at St. Lawrence University and Ithaca College, advancing to the NCAA Championship four times. He was a three-time All-American and two-time National Champion in 1993 and 1995. In his final season at Ithaca in 1994-95, Bovenzi won his second straight national title at 190 lbs., finishing with an undefeated record. "It is a privilege to be named head coach of the RIT wrestling program," said Bovenzi. "RIT is one of the most inspiring campuses I have been associated with. I am humbled and grateful that Lou Spiotti has entrusted me with the wrestling program at RIT. It is my intention to raise awareness in the wrestling community to the great academic and athletic opportunities that RIT offers." In March 2015, Bovenzi was inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his incredible collegiate career. Originally from the suburb of Greece in Rochester, Bovenzi was also a standout on the mats at Greece Athena High School. He is a member of the Greece Athena and Section V Wrestling Halls of Fame. For 17 seasons, Bovenzi served as the head varsity wrestling coach at East Rochester (1996-2002) and Pittsford (2002-2013) High Schools in the Greater Rochester Area. Bovenzi developed both fledgling programs into New York State ranked teams while coaching 36 class champions, 19 State Qualifiers, and a New York State champion. He coached the Panthers to a 159-58 record with 10 straight winning seasons and six state ranked teams. In 2000, Bovenzi founded the Apex Wrestling Club, which has been one of the largest wrestling clubs in the state. Apex Wrestling Camps have brought in Division I, II, and III All Americans, National Champions, and legendary coaches during that time frame to assist in the development of local area wrestlers. Bovenzi earned his bachelor's degree in sports and leisure studies from St. Lawrence University in 1994, health education concentration degree from Ithaca College in 1995, and his master's degree in liberal studies from The College at Brockport in 2000. "Our student athletes will benefit greatly from Jason's many years of experience as a teacher and a coach," said Spiotti. "We look forward to working with him and the team to continue the rich tradition of RIT wrestling."

This past weekend, a number of U.S. wrestlers qualified for the 2016 Olympics ... but a critical question some experts are asking is: Is host city Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ready for them? Rio de JaneiroWrestlers take to the mat at the 2016 Summer Games in about four months (starting August 14). The good news for grapplers is that the venue for wrestling -- Olympic Hall 2 -- is reportedly already in a position to welcome approximately 350 freestyle and Greco-Roman competitors from around the world. However, the 2016 Olympics as a whole -- along with their host city, and country -- face incredible obstacles that already have made news well beyond South America. Most of us whose attention has been focused on high school and college wrestling seasons -- and Olympic qualifying events -- may be only vaguely aware of some of these issues impacting the Rio Games, such as the Zika virus that has grabbed attention worldwide. Other questions -- such as "Will everything be ready on time?" -- are not uncommon of any host city, but they escalate especially in an Olympic year, and Rio is no exception. Why does this all matter? In addition to approximately 10,000 athletes -- and a like number of media representatives -- an estimated half-million visitors will descend on Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics from August 5-21. Of those, 200,000 are expected to come from the U.S ... including wrestlers, coaches, their families, and fans. Zika virus It's almost impossible to avoid hearing about the Zika virus. The virus is disease that is spread to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has issued travel alerts for a number of nations in the Americas, including Brazil, because of the Zika virus. While the disease can have symptoms much like the flu with no lasting effect for most infected individuals, the CDC states that the Zika virus infection in pregnant women is linked to serious medical conditions -- including microcephaly, a serious birth defect of the brain -- as well as miscarriages and other birth defects. The CDC has issued special recommendations for pregnant women (or women planning to become pregnant) traveling to the Olympics in Brazil, as well as their male partners. Crime and safety Brazil is statistically one of the world's most violent nations. The firearm-related death rate in Brazil ranks eighth in the world, with 18.79 homicides per 100,000 individuals. (By comparison, the U.S. has a gun-homicide rate of 3.43 deaths per 100,000.) Major slums with almost daily gun battles are adjacent to the Rio de Janeiro's international airport and the stadium hosting the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Coupled with heightened concerns about terrorism in light of attacks in Brussels and Paris -- and the realization that the Olympics could be a potential target for similar attacks -- and some potential attendees of the Rio Games might decide it's simply safer to stay home and follow the action on TV or online. Adding to a feeling of unease was the abrupt resignation last week of the national public security chief. In its Brazil Crime and Safety Report for the Rio de Janeiro area, the U.S. State Department has given the host city for the 2016 Olympics a "Critical" crime rating. "Street crime is a problem especially in the evenings and late at night," said the report. "In Rio, robbery, assault, burglary and theft are concerns for foreigners and Brazilians alike. Criminals are determined and sophisticated, which requires visitors to be alert to their surroundings. Violent crimes (murder, kidnapping, carjacking, armed assault, and burglary) occur regularly. The consolidation of power among a few large criminal gangs has led to a decrease in gang-on-gang violence; however, this has resulted in an increased focus on civilian targets. Many criminals use weapons and often gratuitous violence." To deal with these challenges, more than 85,000 police, soldiers and other personnel are being deployed in Rio for the two weeks of the Games. That's twice as many as were needed for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, according to Associated Press. Brazil's economic and political crises When the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2016 Games to Rio de Janeiro over fellow finalist Madrid, Spain in 2009, Brazil was enjoying a booming economy and political stability. Seven years later, the country is deep in recession, with various political scandals that could have a negative impact on this summer's Olympics and their attendees. Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff faces impeachment; in fact, she may be forced out of office before the Olympics get underway. Adding to that uncertainty is what some economists consider the nation's most damaging recession in 85 years, which has forced deep cuts to the Olympic budget. From security to the opening ceremony and even facilities for athletes in the Olympic Village there is less to spend. Specific to athlete and fan safety, the head of Rio de Janeiro's Public Safety Department told state legislators in late March that his department's budget has been cut 32 percent. That means there's not enough money to expand police "pacification" units in the violent slums near Rio's international airport. The units were to have been completed before the start of the Olympics. Ready for the world? Some past Olympics -- most notably, the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games -- incorporated existing facilities in an attempt to keep costs down and ensure that all venues would be competition-ready in time for the Opening Ceremonies. However, most of the facilities for the 2016 Rio Games were specifically designed and built new for this event. In any massive, multi-billion-dollar undertaking for a new-from-the-ground-up Olympics such as those in Rio, there are bound to be design and construction delays. While reports indicate that construction on the 10,000-seat wrestling venue has been completed and the facility will be ready for action in August, other sports facilities are not yet finished. Venues for track and field, swimming, and cycling -- as well as an international media center --remained incomplete as of late February, according to USA Today. It is unclear whether a major public transit system upgrade designed to ease Rio de Janeiro's notorious traffic congestion will be ready for Olympic visitors. Political scandals have had an impact on completion of Olympics construction projects and related infrastructure improvements, the website for Global Risk Insights reported. Companies involved in Olympics construction projects found themselves blocked from receiving bank loans and credit lines during the ongoing investigation of the current administration's scandal involving the government-owned oil company. This has forced Rio de Janeiro's city government to act as a bank and lend companies money to prevent an inevitable slowdown in construction. Despite their efforts, projects for the Olympics already have been delayed and sometimes halted; essential repairs on sewers in the city are going uncompleted. Ticket sales With the issues surrounding the 2016 Rio Games already mentioned, it's not hard to imagine that ticket sales have been far short of expectations. Only 50 percent of tickets to the Olympics have sold so far, Rio 2016 Organizing Committee spokesman Phil Wilkinson revealed last Saturday. For the Paralympics which are being held in Rio immediately after the traditional Olympics, the figure is far worse: just 12 percent of available tickets have been sold. Ricardo Leyser, just hired as Brazil's minister of sport, said plans are already in the works to boost ticket sales among Brazilians, adding, "There is a perception that the Brazilian population has not yet woken up for the Games. We are going to work energetically on this because it's still not in people's heads. We need to sound an alert so that people remember this event and go and buy tickets." Stop me if you've heard this story before ... Questions about Rio's readiness aren't a last-minute phenomenon. In May 2014, some British newspapers were reporting that the International Olympic Committee was seriously thinking of moving the 2016 Olympics from Rio to London, host of the 2012 Summer Games, after an IOC vice-president declared Rio's preparations to be "worst ever" the month before. The IOC was quick to deny and dismiss the rumors. "This is simply a non-starter -- totally without foundation and totally unfeasible. Not a shred of truth," said an IOC spokeswoman in response to those media reports from two years ago. Another IOC source said the story was "total rubbish". Some perspective Putting on a party as huge as the Olympics is a costly, complex, time-consuming undertaking under any circumstances. Right now, Brazil is facing a host of challenges that make hosting the 2016 Games that much harder. That said, other host Olympic cities have dealt with problems of their own ... and the Games went on. Just two years ago, media reports coming out of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia were focused on cost overruns, venues and accommodations that had not been completed on time, transportation snafus, and uncooperative weather. Similar stories have sprung from coverage of past Olympic events. There were reports from the 2004 Athens Games of workers doing last-minute painting and seat installation in the wrestling venue on the first day of competition. Despite various challenges, Rio de Janeiro has considerable experience with mega-events -- and welcoming guests from around the world with gracious hospitality -- over the years. The city has successfully hosted New Year's celebrations and Carnival -- each attracting upwards of one-and-a-half million participants -- for decades. We can only hope that the Rio Games will continue that colorful, fun-filled spirit in welcoming the world's athletes and their fans this August.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The National Wrestling Media Association announced its annual journalism and media awards at a social and meeting in Iowa City on April 8. Founded in 1989 as a professional membership organization for wrestling-based journalists, broadcasters, photographers and sports information directors, the NWMA has expanded its reach in recent years to include online media professionals, bloggers and social media specialists. The NWMA presents annual awards in eight individual categories as well as the Jay Hammond Special Recognition Award, named in honor of the late Jay Hammond, a past president of the NWMA. Mark Lundy of Lutte-Lens was named Photographer of the Year by the National Wrestling Media Association (Photo/NWMA)Winners were nominated by current NWMA membership and selected by the NWMA officers. "This year's field of winners is impressive," said NWMA President Jason Bryant. "It seems each and every year the bar gets raised by our media professionals. We're seeing new blood come into the sport and provide outstanding content, stories and photography that makes our sport more visible to the masses and also satisfying the need for content by the rabid wrestling fanbase." "The field of potential winners is expanding every year and that makes these awards so difficult to select, because there are so many deserving people who dedicate their lives and careers to the sport," said Bryant. Here are this year's award recipients: Broadcaster of the Year: Eric Olanowski, MichiganGrappler.com A native of Virginia Beach, Va., and an alum of Michigan State University, Olanowski has become a credible and consistent voice with numerous Big Ten Network broadcasts as well as ESPN3. Olanowski has also been part of the ESPN3 online broadcast team for the NCAA Division I Championships. Olanowski's strengths as a color commentator lend knowledge and experience to any wrestling broadcast. Journalist of the Year: Andy Hamilton, Des Moines Register A native of Williams, Iowa and a graduate of the University of Iowa, Hamilton has been one of the finest wrestling journalists for well over a decade. A previous winner in 2003-04 while at the Iowa Press Citizen, Hamilton's beat included all levels of college wrestling and the competitive high school wrestling scene in Iowa. Hamilton also covers auto racing and high school football. Photographer of the Year: Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com A resident of Lee's Summit, Mo., and a western Iowa native, Lundy has been active in shooting major high school, college and international events. Lundy began shooting more actively when his son started wrestling in middle school over 10 years ago. The foray into online coverage began in 2003 and now with his website, Lutte-Lens.com, Lundy has traveled the world and has emerged as one of the top wrestling photographers in the world. Publication of the Year: Colorado Springs Gazette The sports section of the Colorado Springs Gazette has always done a tremendous job covering international wrestling and events focusing on athletes based in Colorado Springs, with the Army's World Class Athlete Program and resident athletes at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. It's one of the few daily newspapers in the country with a dedicated focus to Olympic sports. Website of the Year: IndianaMat.com Founded in 2008 by Joe Caprino, Chad Hollenbaugh and Eric McGill, IndianaMat has become one of the country's most robust wrestling resources, focusing on high school and college wrestling in the Hoosier State. Focusing on features, accurate rankings, individual bios, full results and an active forum, IndianaMat has been a leader in how a state-based site should be and covers wrestling at all levels. The site features numerous contributors with Mike Reiser joining Caprino and Hollenbaugh with a big part of the site's content. New Media Specialist: Geoffrey Riccio, Riccio Productions A graduate and wrestler at Rhode Island College, Riccio has been a notable force in photography, design and video production since starting Riccio Productions in 2008. Ricco has worked with major colleges, senior-level athletes along with national and international wrestling organizations providing top-level, professional content. Two of Riccio's productions have won awards through the Elite Level Sports Marketing's Best of Brand competition with the NWCA. Riccio also spends countless hours working with wrestling programs in the northeast and is an ardent supporter of Division III wrestling. Division I SID of the Year: Chris Brewer, University of Iowa With one of the toughest assignments in college sports, Brewer, the Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, handles the media relations duties for the University of Iowa's wrestling program. In 2015-16, Brewer's duties also included managing the massive Grapple on the Gridiron, an outdoor wrestling dual with Iowa and Oklahoma State that drew a record 42,000 fans in November, the Big Ten Championships and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Brewer is an Iowa City native and a 2004 graduate of the University of Iowa. He joined the Athletic Communications team in 2009 and added wrestling to his responsibilities in 2011. Small College SID of the Year: Josh Manck, Newberry College A native of Gilmer, Texas, Manck has handled the primary communications for Newberry's 19 sports since coming to Newberry 10 years ago. Previously a sports reporter at the Times-Review in Cleburn, Texas, Manck has gone from a wrestling notice to one of the vital cogs in Division II wrestling information. In addition to serving numerous roles within CoSIDA, he was the sports information operations coordinator at the 2013 NCAA Division II Championships in Birmingham, Ala., and has also been the primary content provider for D2wrestle.com, which also involves the ranking coordination for the NCAA Division II wrestling rankings. Jay Hammond Memorial Special Recognition Award: Martin Floreani, FloSports Along with his brother Mark, Floreani launched FloSports in 2006 as an online video medium aimed at expanding the reach and promotion through one of the charter Flo sites - Flowrestling. A native of Chicago and a graduate of Cal Poly. Floreani's launch of Flowrestling, it's become one of the top destinations in the world for wrestling content. Recently, Flowrestling has amped up its live streaming and film-making game, providing professional documentaries highlighting the sport's legends and the events that go with it. Floreani and his team have "changed the game" when it comes to wrestling promotion, distribution and online viewing. FloSports has blossomed into a company with numerous sports under its banner. Jay Hammond Memorial Special Recognition Award: Jason Bryant, Mat Talk Online The current President of the NWMA, the Poquoson, Va., native and graduate of Old Dominion University, Bryant has forged a career in wrestling media and promotion spanning over 20 years. Starting as a writer at the Newport News (Va.) Daily Press, Bryant has also held positions with the National Wrestling Coaches Association, USA Wrestling and Amateur Wrestling News. His current outfit, Mat Talk Online, provides on-demand audio content to a diverse group of schools, state associations and wrestling organizations. He's also been a consistent voice at national and international wrestling events as a journalist, broadcaster and PA announcer. About the NWMA The National Wrestling Media Association (NWMA) is the national professional organizations for journalists who cover the sport of amateur wrestling. This includes reporters, editors, publishers, webmasters, photographers, broadcasters, sports information directors and other media professionals who share an interest and involvement in the sport. Dues are $25 annually, which can be sent to the National Wrestling Media Association, P.O. Box 120889, New Brighton, MN 55112.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Pac-12 Conference has announced the 2016 Pac-12 Wrestling awards. OREGON STATE's Amarveer Dhesi was voted Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year, while STANFORD's Joey McKenna was named Pac-12 Wrestling Freshman/Newcomer of the Year. OREGON STATE's Jim Zalesky was selected Pac-12 Wrestling Coach of the Year for the fifth-straight season, becoming just the second head coach all-time to achieve the feat. PAC-12 WRESTLER OF THE YEAR - Amarveer Dhesi, Oregon State - Dhesi placed fifth at NCAA Championships and earned All-America honors for the Beavers. He boasted a 32-5 record, improving his OSU career mark to 59-15. The redshirt sophomore was the Pac-12 Champion in the heavyweight class and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet at the Pac-12 Championships. He posted a 16-1 record in duals and scored a team-leading 69 team points. On the year, Dhesi had a team-best 12 pins and had winning streaks of 15 and 14 matches. Dhesi also took second place at the Canadian Olympic Trials. Dhesi's honor is the seventh all-time for Oregon State and he the first Beaver since Les Gutches in 1996 to garner the recognition. PAC-12 FRESHMAN/NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - Joey McKenna, Stanford - McKenna posted a 27-3 overall record and an 11-1 mark in duals as Stanford's starter at 141 pounds. He became just the fifth freshman in school history to win a Pac-12 title and is the first Cardinal to ever win a Conference title at 141 pounds. McKenna is the first freshman in program history to earn All-America honors and he is the first Cardinal wrestler to finish third in the national tournament. This is Stanford's second Freshman/Newcomer of the Year honor in the last three years and the fourth all-time. PAC-12 WRESTLING COACH OF THE YEAR - Jim Zalesky, Oregon State - Zalesky earns his fifth-consecutive Pac-12 Wrestling Coach of the Year honor and sixth in the past seven seasons as the Beavers claimed their fifth-straight Pac-12 title. The win marked the seventh Conference title in Zalesky's 10 seasons at the helm. Under Zalesky's direction, Dhesi was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet, claiming the Beavers' only individual crown. Zalesky helped the Beavers place four wrestlers in championship bouts. Oregon State also had six wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships, where the Beavers finished 21st overall, their highest finish since they took eighth place in 2013.

There's a mantra in real estate: location, location, location. That raises the question: does the location of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships have a direct impact on issues such as attendance and media coverage? These issues are worth exploring three weeks after the conclusion of arguably one of the most exciting, best-attended NCAAs in recent memory. It all comes to mind as the latest issues of the national wrestling magazines covering the latest Nationals arrived in my mailbox this past week. These magazines were chock-full of statistics and analysis of the 2016 NCAAs that went beyond the action on the mat. The 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in New York welcomed 110,184 fans over the course of six sessions in three days, ranking third in overall attendance over the 86-year history of the event (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The 2016 NCAAs -- held for the first time at storied Madison Square Garden in New York City -- welcomed 110,184 fans over the course of six sessions in three days, ranking third in overall attendance over the 86-year history of the national wrestling championships (behind the 2015 and 2012 NCAAs held at Scottrade Center in St. Louis). The Saturday night finals were witnessed by 19,270 fans, which also ranked third for total attendance. Much has been made of the location of the 2016 NCAAs. Most members of the wrestling media gave the venue and the event high marks (other than lack of accessibility for some writers located in the rafters to conduct timely interviews with athletes on the arena floor). There were some negative comments about tiny New York hotel rooms and high prices for beer and food and other basics, something that those who visit The City That Never Sleeps on a regular basis for business or fun already knew. On a less judgmental note, more than one journalist pointed out that the crowd largely appeared to be from Eastern schools, while fan attendance from Midwestern schools appeared to be down. This may have been a product of convenience; if you live in Iowa or Oklahoma, it's no big deal to drive to St. Louis for the NCAAs. To get to New York from the heartland is a major road trip ... or involves flying. The midtown Manhattan location of Madison Square Garden also precluded driving the Winnebago and camping out nearby. Those who had hoped having the NCAAs in the heart of THE media center of the world must have been disappointed in the lack of traditional media coverage coming out of the 2016 NCAAs. From a distance, I observed preview coverage from Newsday ... an article from the business magazine Forbes ... and a photo-feature of battered and bruised wrestler faces from The New Yorker. There was daily coverage from NJ.com (website for the Newark Star-Ledger and a number of other New Jersey newspapers) but I didn't see anything from the New York dailies. (I may have missed something; however, I am not alone in this observation, having seen reports from journalists who were at The Garden complaining about the lack of local coverage.) In the latest issue of WIN (Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine), columnist and historian Mike Chapman again protested the "lack of respect" shown by USA Today's lack of NCAA wrestling coverage, as he has in past years. Unless I missed something, the same could be said for ESPN: The Magazine and Sports Illustrated. So ... if the hope/expectation was "let's hold the NCAAs in NYC and we'll get tons of media coverage", well, in terms of local and national reporting, it didn't seem to work. (By contrast, lack of media coverage hasn't been as much of an issue when the NCAAs have been held in heartland cities such as St. Louis, Oklahoma City and Des Moines ... and shouldn't be an issue when the Nationals return to Cleveland, a traditional hotbed for high school wrestling.) Lack of coverage as well as fan convenience and costs all get down to a fundamental issue: the future of the NCAA Wrestling Championships. As I wrote in a May 2015 feature for InterMat, the audience attending the NCAAs is getting older. According to a survey conducted by the NCAA at the 2014 NCAAs in Oklahoma City, the average age of attendees was 42 ... with more than one-third of fans being age 50 or better. The NCAA must do what it can to attract new generations of fans to its top collegiate wrestling event ... while making it still attractive to long-time fans who have been attending year after year. There are also discussions of considering host cities that aren't known as wrestling hotbeds, but might attract new fans and new media coverage. (Atlanta is being mentioned as a future NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships site; Louisville and its YUM! Brands Arena -- one of the nation's largest arenas in terms of seating capacity -- put in an attractive proposal during the last round of bidding, despite being located in a state without having any NCAA D1 mat programs.) That said NCAA attendance shows no sign of diminishing. The top ten NCAAs in terms of attendance have all taken place in the new millennium. In fact, getting a ticket to March Matness seems to be getting harder and harder. One possible solution mentioned by Mike Finn in an article in the April 8 issue of WIN: the possibility of having future NCAA mat championships in a domed stadium, a la the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four. (The UNI-Dome at University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls was the site of the 1999 NCAAs.) A domed mega-facility with greater seating capacity would certainly open up the event to more fans ... but with the possibility of a diminished experience for those in the stands, especially for fans whose home venue is an intimate gym that puts them close to the action. The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships have grown in attendance over the years, especially in the past two decades, when the event has (for the most part) been held in big-city arenas with a seating capacity of at least 19,000. (For some historical perspective: 8,800 fans packed what is now Welsh-Ryan Arena at Northwestern University to see arguably the greatest upset in NCAA finals history, Iowa State's Dan Gable falling to Larry Owings of the University of Washington, at the 1970 Nationals.) There may well be pressure to continue to grow attendance for college wrestling's premier event by having it at a domed stadium. There are two other issues that have been raised in post-mortems of the 2016 NCAA championships: the concept of a permanent location ... and scheduling. Having a designated site for the NCAAs year-after-year has been discussed for years; WIN editor Mike Finn concluded his column in the April 8 issue with a proposal to make St. Louis the site for all future NCAAs. It's not an off-the-wall idea; Omaha has hosted the NCAA Baseball Championships for a number of years, with success. Then there's the issue of having the biggest event in college wrestling take place during March Madness, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Again, this is an idea that has been discussed for many years. (One of the early proponents of moving the wrestling championships to a later date is University of Minnesota's J Robinson, one of the most promotion-minded head wrestling coaches in the country.) More recently, advocates for this shift in scheduling have tied this idea to making college wrestling a single-semester sport with a season that would basically span January- April. Again, this schedule might work to boost attendance and media coverage. It's certainly worth examining. By most measures, the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships were a success. As with the top collegiate wrestlers, however, it's never enough to be merely satisfied with the most recent performance. The NCAA and member programs must continue to strive to make the event even better for athletes, coaches and fans -- as well as wrestling and general media.

Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert was back in the news this week, as his attorneys sought probation for their client ... while the Chicago Tribune revealed that at least four individuals have said that Hastert sexually abused them when he was a high school wrestling coach and teacher decades ago, and a sports columnist and a victims' rights group both called for Hastert to be removed from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Hastert, who wrestled at Wheaton College in suburban Chicago in the 1960s before becoming an educator, then politician, pleaded guilty in late October 2015 to evading federal banking rules in an apparent scheme to pay hush money to an unidentified individual. In accordance with a plea deal reached last year, Hastert, 74, pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to withdrawing funds from several bank accounts in increments less than $10,000 to evade bank reporting rules. The money -- approximately $1.7 million -- was paid to someone from his Hastert's hometown of Yorkville, Ill., identified in federal documents only as "Individual A" but widely reported to be a former student at Yorkville High School. The school, located about 50 miles southwest of Chicago, is where Hastert taught history and coached wrestling from 1965 to 1981 before entering politics. Hastert was originally slated to be sentenced February 29 but that was delayed when attorneys revealed their client had been hospitalized since suffering a stroke last fall. That sentencing hearing is now scheduled for April 27. Lawyers seek leniency On Wednesday, Hastert's attorneys asked a federal judge to sentence their client to a term of probation -- with no jail time -- saying he was in poor health and already thoroughly shamed by the criminal case against him, the Washington Post reported. "Mr. Hastert's fall from grace has been swift and devastating," Hastert's attorneys wrote. "Neither we as his lawyers, nor Mr. Hastert, have the present insight to understand and reconcile the unfortunate and harmful incidents he caused decades ago with the enduring achievements, leadership, and generosity that earned him extraordinary affection and respect throughout this country during his many years of public service." Four victims come forward The next day, the Chicago Tribune published an in-depth, 2700-word investigative piece which stated that Hastert had sexually abused four male students at Yorkville High in the 1960s and 70s. They are identified in federal court documents as Individuals A, B, C and D. The Tribune made contact with three of the reported victims, sharing their accounts of what allegedly happened to them long before Hastert served in the Illinois legislature, then in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Congressman, then as Speaker of the House from 1999-2007, the longest tenure for a Republican in that position. The statute of limitations on cases involving inappropriate sexual contact with a minor have long expired, according to the Tribune, so federal prosecutors pursued allegations that Hastert had illegally structured payments to one former student -- Individual A -- essentially as hush money. At least one victim -- identified as Individual D -- has said he may offer a statement in court during the sentencing hearing scheduled for later this month on what Hastert did to him, after the former coach's lawyers had contacted a family member of Individual D, seeking a letter supporting leniency in sentencing. Prosecutors have recommended a sentence for Hastert ranging from probation to up to six months in prison, the lowest possible sentence under federal guidelines for anyone convicted of a felony. U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin has noted that he is free to sentence Hastert to as long as five years in prison. Calls to remove Hastert from Wrestling Hall This week, an Oklahoma sportswriter and an organization dedicated to the rights of child-abuse victims both came out in seeking Hastert's removal from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Berry Tramel, long-time sports columnist for The Oklahoman -- the daily newspaper for Oklahoma City -- wrote Friday that Hastert no longer deserves his place as an Outstanding American at the Stillwater, Oklahoma-based Hall of Fame because of his behavior as a teacher and wrestling coach. Tramel mentioned that the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is also seeking that the Wrestling Hall of Fame "remove all references to and all honors of" Hastert, according to director David Clohessy. "Continuing to treat Hastert as a role model or even a celebrity hurts victims of sexual violence and deters them from reporting predators," Clohessy said. "And this week, he's minimizing his wrong-doing with a vague and self-serving ‘apology' while refusing to come clean about how widespread and long-standing his crimes." Tramel contacted Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the Hall, who said the facility's board of governors has sent a review to the organization's ethics committee. The board will be meeting in June. "I'm sure we'll take some action," Smith told Tramel. Hastert's life and career Born not far from Yorkville in Plano, Ill. in 1942, Hastert was a member of the wrestling team at Wheaton College, a private, four-year school in the western suburbs of Chicago, in the early 1960s. He then taught government and history at Yorkville High, and coached wrestling, taking his team to an Illinois state championship in 1976. His coaching record also included three runners-up and a third place finish, according to his National Wrestling Hall of Fame biography, where he was inducted as an Outstanding American in 2000. Four years earlier, Hastert was honored for his efforts and contributions to wrestling as the recipient of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Order of Merit. Hastert had served three terms in the Illinois General Assembly before being elected to the House of Representatives in 1986. In 1999, the six-term congressman was elected Speaker of the House after the incumbent Speaker Newt Gingrich stepped down, and his intended replacement, Bob Livingston of Louisiana, gave up the position before he ever assumed it after admitting to having conducted adulterous affairs. Hastert left Congress in 2007.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Helen Maroulis didn't want to return to Iowa City. Helen Maroulis gets her hand raised after winning in the finals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Four years ago she entered the Olympic Team Trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as the favorite to represent her weight class for the United States at the London Games, but was upset by Kelsey Campbell. Her only memory of Iowa was tears of sadness. On Sunday, Maroulis exercised demons from four years ago by winning the Olympic Team Trials in dominant fashion at 53 kilos. She finished the tournament with five technical falls in five matches. In the finals Maroulis did not surrender a point in two matches against Whitney Conder. "It feels great," Maroulis said of winning the Olympic Team Trials. "To be honest, I thought it was going to be more tears and everything, but I think all the tears happened over the past three weeks just leading up to this. It was so emotional. Now it's just about enjoying it." Her weight class is not yet qualified for the Olympic Games, but Maroulis will be a heavy favorite to qualify the weight class when she competes in Mongolia in two weeks. Maroulis was one of four returning World champions to win titles on Sunday in Iowa City. The other three World champions, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder and Adeline Gray, punched their tickets to Rio. Jordan Burroughs with his son Beacon after winning the Olympic Team Trials title (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)Burroughs, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, put on a show in the finals, outscoring Andrew Howe 19-3 in two matches at 74 kilos. In the final match he scored an early takedown, transitioned to a leg lace and rolled to a 10-0 technical fall. "This is just really a stepping stone," said Burroughs. "Making the team for a lot of guys is an amazing feat, but for me it's customary. I expected to make this team, and that's what we trained to do. So now we go back to the drawing board. We reset, reevaluate our goals and try to improve upon the little things." Snyder, three weeks after winning an NCAA title, made his first Olympic team at 97 kilos. After dropping the first match to Olympic champion Jake Varner, Snyder battled back to win the finals two matches by scores of 4-0 and 6-1. "I had all intentions of going out there and winning the first match and doing it in two and a row, but that's why the sport of wrestling is great, because you never know what's going to happen," said Snyder. "You never know if you're going to win. You never know if you're going to lose. You can just prepare to the best of your ability." Adeline Gray was overcome with emotion after winning the Olympic Team Trials title (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)Gray, a three-time World champion, showed why she's one of the top women's freestyle wrestlers in the world across all weight classes by dominating Victoria Francis in the finals. She won both matches by technical fall without surrendering a point. Immediately after winning Gray was overcome with emotion. "I'm just so excited," Gray said as she fought back the tears. "It's really surreal. I just can't even believe it's here. I have kind of like been holding back a lot of emotions leading up to this moment. I qualified the weight. I knew I was No. 1 in the world. I knew I could do this. But to still actually get it done is another story." Daniel Dennis made his first Olympic team at 57 kilos, beating two-time World Team member Tony Ramos in a battle of former Hawkeyes. Dennis took the first match 2-1. In the second match Dennis scored an early takedown, then locked up a gut wrench and rolled Ramos four times for the 10-0 technical fall. "I'm confident if I can get on top I can do some damage," said Dennis. "I've known that, and that's what the coaches have been telling me for a while." J'den Cox celebrates after winning the Olympic Team Trials title (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)University of Missouri wrestler J'den Cox came through to win the title at 86 kilos, beating four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake in the finals. Cox dominated Dake 8-1 in the first match, but Dake battled back to win the second match 5-3 and force a third and deciding match. Cox won the third match 5-3. "I think of all the people that are with me in this journey to get here," said Cox. "God works in mysterious ways." Cox is looking forward to future battles with Dake. "It was just awesome to have the chance to wrestle him," said Cox. "We're going to have a lot of battles. I look forward to them. We're going to make each other grow. It's going make each other evolve. I think that's awesome for the sport, and it's awesome for us both." Andy Bisek smiles after making the 2016 Olympic Team (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)Two-time World bronze medalist Andy Bisek and Robby Smith earned their spots on the Olympic team in Greco-Roman by claiming titles on Sunday night. Bisek topped Geordan Speiller in two straight matches by scores of 6-2 and 4-0. "To get it done and be the guy on this stage, it's incredible," said Bisek. Smith handled Adam Coon in two straight matches by scores of 4-1 and 7-2. Smith scored with a five-point arm throw in the final match, which proved to be the difference. "Coon wrestled his ass off out there," said Smith, who has placed fifth at the World Championships twice. "He gave me a great fight. I'm proud of that kid. I just wasn't going to let this one go." Haley Augello defeated Victoria Anthony in the finals at 48 kilos (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Haley Augello, a past Cadet World champion, captured the title at 48 kilos in women's freestyle, beating two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony in a three-match battle. Earlier in the day Augello knocked off two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe. "I feel happy, but I don't feel like my goal is succeeded yet, so I'm not like ecstatic," said Augello. "I've still got to go qualify the weight, and then obviously at the Olympics. I feel happy, but I also feel excited about the future. I'm ready to keep competing and just keep following my dream." Finals Results Men's freestyle 57 kilos: Daniel Dennis defeats Tony Ramos 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Dennis dec. Ramos, 2-1 Match 2: Dennis dec. Ramos, 10-0 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs defeats Andrew Howe 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Burroughs dec. Howe, 9-3 Match 2: Burroughs tech. fall Howe, 10-0 86 kilos: J'den Cox defeats Kyle Dake 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Cox dec. Dake, 8-1 Match 2: Dake dec. Cox, 5-3 Match 3: Cox dec. Dake, 5-3 97 kilos: Kyle Snyder defeats Jake Varner 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Varner dec. Snyder, 4-4 Match 2: Snyder dec. Varner, 4-0 Match 3: Snyder dec. Varner, 6-1 Greco-Roman 75 kilos: Andy Bisek defeats Geordan Speiller 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Bisek dec. Speiller, 6-2 Match 2: Bisek dec. Speiller, 4-0 130 kilos: Robby Smith defeats Adam Coon 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Smith dec. Coon, 4-1 Match 2: Smith dec. Coon, 7-2 Women's freestyle 48 kilos: Haley Augello defeats Victoria Anthony 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Augello dec. Anthony, 6-4 Match 2: Anthony dec. Auguello, 11-6 Match 3: Augello dec. Anthony, 8-2 53 kilos: Helen Maroulis defeats Whitney Conder 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Maroulis tech. fall Conder, 10-0 Match 2: Maroulis tech. fall Conder, 11-0 75 kilos: Adeline Gray defeats Victoria Francis 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Gray tech. fall Francis, 11-0 Match 2: Gray tech. fall Francis, 10-0

Men's freestyle 57 kilos: Daniel Dennis defeats Tony Ramos 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Dennis dec. Ramos, 2-1 Match 2: Dennis dec. Ramos, 10-0 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs defeats Andrew Howe 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Burroughs dec. Howe, 9-3 Match 2: Burroughs tech. fall Howe, 10-0 86 kilos: J'den Cox defeats Kyle Dake 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Cox dec. Dake, 8-1 Match 2: Dake dec. Cox, 5-3 Match 3: Cox dec. Dake, 5-3 97 kilos: Kyle Snyder defeats Jake Varner 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Varner dec. Snyder, 4-4 Match 2: Snyder dec. Varner, 4-0 Match 3: Snyder dec. Varner, 6-1 Greco-Roman 75 kilos: Andy Bisek defeats Geordan Speiller 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Bisek dec. Speiller, 6-2 Match 2: Bisek dec. Speiller, 4-0 130 kilos: Robby Smith defeats Adam Coon 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Smith dec. Coon, 4-1 Match 2: Smith dec. Coon, 7-2 Women's freestyle 48 kilos: Haley Augello defeats Victoria Anthony 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Augello dec. Anthony, 6-4 Match 2: Anthony dec. Auguello, 11-6 Match 3: Augello dec. Anthony, 8-2 53 kilos: Helen Maroulis defeats Whitney Conder 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Maroulis tech. fall Conder, 10-0 Match 2: Maroulis tech. fall Conder, 11-0 75 kilos: Adeline Gray defeats Victoria Francis 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Gray tech. fall Francis, 11-0 Match 2: Gray tech. fall Francis, 10-0

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Tony Ramos entered the Olympic Team Trials with an undefeated record at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. That undefeated streak remained intact after Sunday's opening session of the 2016 Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City. Ramos, a two-time returning World Team member, had to dig deep in his two matches to punch his ticket to tonight's finals at 57 kilos. He opened his tournament by defeating Nahshon Garrett 3-3 on criteria. Ramos trailed 3-2 in the third period, but earned a caution point late in the match to win on criteria. Ramos then edged 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott 4-4 on criteria in an action-filled semifinal match. Scott led 2-0 at the break after scoring off the shot clock and by a step out. Ramos battled back in the second period, countering a Scott attack for a takedown to make the score 2-2. The former Hawkeye kept the pressure on and scored another takedown to go up 4-2. Then in the final five seconds Scott took down Ramos to make the score 4-4. However, Ramos held criteria based on having more two-point moves. He will now face another former Hawkeye, Daniel Dennis, in the finals. Dennis earned his trip to the finals by notching a 6-2 victory over Tyler Graff in the semifinals. Graff led 2-0 at the break, but Dennis came back to score six unanswered points in the second period. Three weeks after winning his second NCAA title, J'den Cox will wrestle in the Olympic Team Trials finals at 86 kilos. He had an impressive run to the finals, which included victories over Clayton Foster, Jake Herbert and Keith Gavin. On the bottom side of the bracket, Kyle Dake defeated David Taylor 4-3 to advance to the finals. The match was knotted 1-1 at the break. Dake picked up a takedown in the first 15 seconds of the second period to lead 3-1. The two then traded step out points, and Dake led 4-2 late. Taylor took a shot late and was able to get to Dake's legs but unable to finish for a takedown. At 74 kilos, Andrew Howe came through the challenge tournament with victories over Mark Hall, Alex Dieringer and Nick Marable, setting up a rematch from the 2012 Olympic Team Trials finals against Jordan Burroughs. Olympic champion Jake Varner battled through the challenge tournament to reach the finals tonight at 97 kilos against returning World champion Kyle Snyder. Varner was unscored upon in three matches. In women's freestyle, a surprise came at 48 kilos where Haley Augello, a past Cadet World champion, defeated two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe, 7-6 in the semifinals. On the bottom side of the bracket, Victoria Anthony handled 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Clarissa Chun 9-2 in the semifinals. World champion Helen Maroulis had three technical falls to advance to the finals at 53 kilos. In the finals she will face three-time World Team member Whitney Conder. Conder had two technical falls and a 7-2 victory in the semifinals over Michaela Hutchison. Victoria Francis won the challenge tournament at 75 kilos. She will meet three-time World champion Adeline Gray tonight. In Greco-Roman, returning World fifth-place finisher Robby Smith was unchallenged in the opening session at 130 kilos, earning a 39-second pin in his first match, which he followed up with an 8-0 technical fall. Smith will meet Adam Coon in the finals. Coon had a pair of technical falls to reach the finals. In the only other Greco-Roman weight class contested on Sunday, 75 kilos, Geordan Speiller came through the challenge tournament. He defeated Cheney Haight 7-0 to advance to tonight's finals against two-time World bronze medalist Andy Bisek. Finals Matchups Men's freestyle: 57 kilos: Tony Ramos vs. Daniel Dennis 74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs vs. Andrew Howe 86 kilos: J'den Cox vs. Kyle Dake 97 kilos: Kyle Snyder vs. Jake Varner Greco-Roman: 75 kilos: Andy Bisek vs. Geordan Speiller 130 kilos: Robby Smith vs. Adam Coon Women's freestyle: 48 kilos: Haley Augello vs. Victoria Anthony 53 kilos: Helen Maroulis vs. Whitney Conder 75 kilos: Adeline Gray vs. Victoria Francis

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Tervel Dlagnev thought about hanging up his wrestling shoes two days before competing in the Olympic Team Trials. Tervel Dlagnev gets ready to compete in the finals of the Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)After arriving in Iowa City, the two-time World bronze medalist was preparing to compete by doing a couple minutes of stance and motion drills in the sauna when he experienced a painful sensation. "I had a really, really weird, scary pain go down my back and into my legs," said Dlagnev, who had back surgery last year. "I don't want to go through that again. At that point I wasn't even thinking about performance. I was thinking about my future and playing with my boys and being a dad and being a husband." His coaches told him that he if at any time he was scared, that he should hang it up. The pain did not return. On Saturday night, Dlagnev came through to make his second straight U.S. Olympic team, beating Zack Rey in two straight matches at the 2016 Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City, Iowa. Dlagnev grinded out a 3-1 victory in the first match on the strength of a takedown early in the second period. The second match was a back-and-forth affair. Rey went up 3-1 in the second period after countering a Dlagnev attack. Dlagnev responded with a takedown in the final minute to make the score 3-3 and take the lead on criteria. Rey shot a low single late in the match and was in deep, but Dlagnev countered for a takedown to win 5-3. "It's cool to go the first day if you win because then you get to watch it as the Olympian that's already on the team and see the guys battle tomorrow," said Dlagnev. Dlagnev was one of three wrestlers to secure a spot in the Rio Games on Saturday night. Joining him on the 2016 Team USA Olympic roster are Ben Provisor and Elena Pirozhkova. All three wrestlers who punched their tickets to Rio were 2012 Olympians. Ben Provisor walks out onto the mat for his finals match (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Provisor made his second straight Olympic team, beating two-time World Team member Jake Clark in the finals at 85 kilos in Greco-Roman. Provisor used a gut wrench and step out point to beat Clark 3-0 in the first match. In the second match Provisor scored a takedown early to go up 2-0. Clark knotted the score at 2-2 after a caution and two. Provisor then countered a Clark turn and secured the fall. Provisor has battled several injuries since the London Games. He moved up a weight class this year ... and also recently moved from Colorado to Florida to train. "The best thing that I've done in the last two months is move to Florida and start training with the Florida Jets and with Geordan Speiller," said Provisor. "It's a lot of one-on-one stuff. I didn't feel like I was getting the right things in Colorado, so I had to move." Pirozhkova, a four-time World medalist, became the first wrestler to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team by beating Erin Clodgo in two straight matches. Pirozkhova claimed a 3-1 victory in the first match, and then was able to pin Clodgo in the second match after going up 6-0. "Making an Olympic team is awesome and exciting," said Pirozhkova. "But last time it was awesome just to make the team. This time I made the team and I was like it's just a step in the way for me to get my gold." Six other champions were crowned on Saturday, but those six wrestlers will have to qualify their weight classes for the Olympic Games at one of the final two qualifying events. Frank Molinaro came through as the No. 9 seed to win the title at 65 kilos, arguably America's deepest men's freestyle weight class. After beating three multiple-time NCAA champions, including top-seeded Brent Metcalf, in the opening session, Molinaro defeated 19-year-old rising star Aaron Pico in the finals. Pico won the first match 4-2, but Molinaro battled back to take the second and third matches by scores of 4-3 and 4-4 to claim the championship. "That was a battle out there," said Molinaro. "Aaron's an animal. I knew that was going to be a dog fight. It hasn't really set in yet, really." Kelsey Campbell remained undefeated at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in two trips, winning her second straight U.S. Olympic Team Trials title. In the finals she topped three-time returning World Team member Alli Ragan in two straight matches at 58 kilos. Campbell won both matches by identical scores of 2-1. In the final match, Ragan scored first when Campbell failed to score when on the shot clock. Campbell, though, battled back to score two points in the final period to take the match. "I really didn't know what was going to happen today," said Campbell. "I truly didn't know. I just knew what I could control and focus on, and that's what I did focus on. It just worked out. I'm just really thankful, and I'm in shock right now." Tamyra Mensah lived up to her No. 1 seed, winning the Olympic Team Trials at 69 kilos with two dominating victories over Brittney Roberts in a battle of Texas natives. Mensah, a WCWA national champion for Wayland Baptist won both matches 8-1. All 16 of Mensah's points in the finals were scored off takedowns. "I can't even put it into words, but it feels amazing," said Mensah. "I want to cry, and I'm trying not to." She will now head to Mongolia in two weeks to attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games. "I'm excited," Mensah said of wrestling in Mongolia. "I want to be able to wrestle the same way there like I did here. Hopefully I'll get top two." Jesse Thielke, a 2013 World Team member, capped off an impressive day with two straight victories over 2008 Olympian Ildar Hafizov to win the title at 59 kilos. In the first match Thielke went up 5-0 and then executed a five-point throw to finish the match. Thielke took the second match 9-3. "I've wanted it for so long," said Thielke. "I've been here four years ago. I lost to my friend Ellis [Coleman] in the quarters. I couldn't feel that way again, especially in this arena in front of these fans. I'm doing that twice in a lifetime." The 23-year-old Thielke was an NCAA qualifier for Wisconsin in 2015, but decided to take an Olympic redshirt in the 2015-16 season. "Greco is my passion," said Thielke. "I live for this. I thrive for this. It's my favorite thing to do in the whole wide world." Joe Rau captured the title at 98 kilos with a hard-fought three-match victory over Caylor Williams. Williams used a big throw in the first period of the first match to pin Rau and go up 1-0 in the series. Rau came back to win the next match 5-2, setting the stage for a third and deciding match. In the final match Rau jumped out to a 4-0 lead and looked to be in command. Williams came back with a four-point throw to make the score 4-4 and take the lead on criteria. Williams would add a step out point to go up 5-4. Rau stayed aggressive, and with 40 seconds left scored a takedown off a high dive to take the lead 6-5, which is how the match would end. "It feels great, but it's not over yet," said Rau, who trains with the Minnesota Storm. "I still have to qualify this weight for the Olympics. I'm happy for tonight, and then tomorrow it's back to work." RaVaughan Perkins topped Pat Smith two matches to one to claim the crown at 66 kilos. After losing the first match 4-0, Perkins edged Smith 2-2 on criteria in the second match, and then rolled to a 9-2 win in the third match. In 2014, Perkins won both the U.S. Open and World Team Trials. However, he was unable to compete at the 2014 World Championships after testing positive for a banned substance. He served a six-month suspension. "It's been a tough couple years in my life," said Perkins. "I just feel amazing." Sunday action is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CT. The final nine weight classes will be contested. Finals Results Men's freestyle 65 kilos: Frank Molinaro defeats Aaron Pico 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Pico dec. Molinaro, 4-2 Match 2: Molinaro dec. Pico, 4-3 Match 3: Molinaro dec. Pico, 4-4 125 kilos: Tervel Dlagnev defeats Zack Rey 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Dlagnev dec. Rey, 2-0 Match 2: Dlagnev dec. Rey, 5-3 Greco-Roman 59 kilos: Jessie Thielke defeats Ildar Hafizov 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Thielke dec. Hafizov, 10-0 Match 2: Thielke dec. Hafizov, 9-3 66 kilos: RaVaughan Perkins defeats Pat Smith 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Smith dec. Perkins, 2-0 Match 2: Perkins dec. Smith, 2-2 Match 3: Perkins dec. Smith, 9-2 85 kilos: Ben Provisor defeats Jake Clark 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Provisor dec. Clark, 3-0 Match 2: Provisor pinned Clark, 2:30 98 kilos: Joe Rau defeats Caylor Williams 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Williams pinned Rau, 1:37 Match 2: Rau dec. Williams, 5-2 Match 3: Rau dec. Williams, 6-5 Women's freestyle 58 kilos: Kelsey Campbell defeats Alli Ragan 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Campbell dec. Ragan, 2-1 Match 2: Campbell dec. Ragan, 2-1 63 kilos: Elena Pirozkhova defeats Erin Clodgo 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Pirozkhova dec. Clodgo, 3-1 Match 2: Pirozkhova pinned Clodgo, 4:00 69 kilos: Tamyra Mensah defeats Brittney Roberts 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Mensah dec. Roberts, 8-1 Match 2: Mensah dec. Roberts, 8-1

Men's freestyle 65 kilos: Frank Molinaro defeated Aaron Pico 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Pico dec. Molinaro, 4-2 Match 2: Molinaro dec. Pico, 4-3 Match 3: Molinaro dec. Pico, 4-4 125 kilos: Tervel Dlagnev defeated Zack Rey 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Dlagnev dec. Rey, 2-0 Match 2: Dlagnev dec. Rey, 5-3 Greco-Roman 59 kilos: Jessie Thielke defeated Ildar Hafizov 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Thielke dec. Hafizov, 10-0 Match 2: Thielke dec. Hafizov, 9-3 66 kilos: RaVaughan Perkins defeated Pat Smith 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Smith dec. Perkins, 2-0 Match 2: Perkins dec. Smith, 2-2 Match 3: Perkins dec. Smith, 9-2 85 kilos: Ben Provisor defeated Jake Clark 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Provisor dec. Clark, 3-0 Match 2: Provisor pinned Clark, 2:30 98 kilos: Joe Rau defeated Caylor Williams 2 matches to 1 Match 1: Williams pinned Rau, 1:37 Match 2: Rau dec. Williams, 5-2 Match 3: Rau dec. Williams, 6-5 Women's freestyle 58 kilos: Kelsey Campbell defeated Alli Ragan 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Campbell dec. Ragan, 2-1 Match 2: Campbell dec. Ragan, 2-1 63 kilos: Elena Pirozkhova defeated Erin Clodgo 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Pirozkhova dec. Clodgo, 3-1 Match 2: Pirozkhova pinned Clodgo, 4:00 69 kilos: Tamyra Mensah defeated Brittney Roberts 2 matches to 0 Match 1: Mensah dec. Roberts, 8-1 Match 2: Mensah dec. Roberts, 8-1

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Two and half years ago Aaron Pico announced that he would be forgoing his high school and college wrestling career to pursue his Olympic dream. Aaron Pico in the corner during his semifinal match against Reece Humphrey (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)On Saturday, Pico moved one step closer to that dream by earning a spot in the finals of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City. The nineteen-year-old Pico reached the finals at 65 kilos by dominating three-time World Team member Reece Humphrey 12-1. The two met in December in Las Vegas, and Humphrey won that match 10-0. This time it was all Pico. He used two takedowns and two step outs to go up 6-1 after the opening period. Pico then finished the match in the second period with three more takedowns. "I didn't know when I was going to be able to wrestle him again," Pico said. "Reece is a great guy. That just didn't sit well with me, the last nationals." Earlier in the day Pico was pushed hard, first by Jayson Ness and then Jordan Oliver. Against Ness, Pico found himself down 9-0 -- on the verge of losing by technical fall -- but battled back to earn a 20-9 technical fall. He then edged Jordan Oliver 11-9 in a back-and-fourth semifinal match. "It feels good to be at the top, especially at one of the toughest weights in the world," said Pico. Pico will now meet Frank Molinaro, who had an impressive run to the finals, beating three multiple-time NCAA champions, Kellen Russell, Brent Metcalf and Logan Stieber. Against the top-seeded Metcalf, Molinaro fell behind 2-0, but came back to win 3-3 on criteria. Molinaro then beat Stieber on criteria 5-5 on the strength of a four-point move in the second period. In the only other men's freestyle weight class contested on Saturday, 125 kilos, Tervel Dlagnev and Zack Rey came through the challenge tournament and will meet tonight. Dlagenv, a 2012 Olympian and two-time World bronze medalist, opened with a 10-0 technical fall victory over Connor Medbery, and then handled past Junior World champion Dom Bradley 5-1 in the semifinals. Rey, who competed in last year's World Championships, was down 2-0 to Nick Gwiazdowski after the opening period, but battled back for the 4-2 victory. In Greco-Roman, the opening session saw two No. 1 seeds, Bryce Saddoris (66 kilos) and Jordan Holm (85 kilos), fall. Two Olympians, Spenser Mango (57 kilos) and Ellis Coleman (66 kilos), also failed to reach the finals. Saddoris, a two-time returning World Team member, lost on criteria (4-4) in the quarterfinals to Michael Hooker. Hooker's run in the championship bracket ended in the semifinals, though, as he was blanked 4-0 by Pat Smith. Smith will face RaVaughan Perkins in the finals. Perkins, who won the U.S. Open and World Team Trials in 2014, edged 2012 Olympian Coleman 3-2 in the semifinals. Jake Clark executes a throw in the opening session of the Olympic Team Trials (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Two-time World Team member Jake Clark punched his ticket to the finals with two dominating victories. The 36-year-old Clark opened with a quick technical fall victory over Hayden Zillmer in the quarterfinals, and then claimed an 11-3 technical fall victory in the semifinals over Jon Anderson. Clark broke the match open early against Anderson with a four-point front headlock roll through to go up 5-1, He extended his lead to 9-3 with another four-point move, and then scored two to put the match away. Clark will face 2012 Olympian Ben Provisor in the finals in a rematch from the Senior Nationals/Trials Qualifier finals in December. Provisor took out top-seeded Jordan Holm 3-0 in the semifinals. Holm was a World Team member in each of the past three seasons. At 57 kilos, top-seeded Ildar Hafizov, a 2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan, advanced to the finals. He opened with a 5-0 shutout victory over Max Nowry in the quarterfinals, and then a 4-2 victory over Ryan Mango in the semifinals. Ryan Mango took an early 2-0 lead, but Hafizov battled back and took a 3-2 lead into the second period. Hafizov broke the match open in the second period with a four-point thrown to go up 8-2. Mango would add two points late, but Hafizov held on for the two-point win. On the bottom side of the bracket at 57 kilos in Greco-Roman, 23-year-old Jesse Thielke, a 2013 World Team member, took out two-time Olympian and six-time World Team member Spenser Mango to reach the finals. Thielke used a four-point throw and turn to go up 6-0 after the opening period. He finished the match in the second period with a takedown to earn the 8-0 technical fall. Mango left his shoes on the mat, signaling his retirement from wrestling, as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. At 98 kilos in Greco-Roman, the top two seeds, Joe Rau and Caylor Williams, were unchallenged and unscored upon in the opening session. The two will now meet in the finals. Rau opened with a 9-0 technical fall over Jarod Trice before beating Orry Elor 6-0 in the semifinals. Williams had a pair of technical falls to reach the finals, first over Daniel Miller and then over G Angelo Hancock. In women's freestyle, all three No. 1 seeds competing on Saturday advanced to tonight's finals. At 58 kilos, top-seeded Alli Ragan was pushed hard in the semifinals by Kayla Miracle, but prevailed 6-4. On the bottom side of the bracket, 2012 Olympian Kelsey Campbell edged Cadet World champion Teshya Alo 6-4, reversing a result from the U.S. Open finals. Four-time World medalist Elena Pirozhkova is looking to get back on the Olympic team. She outscored her three opponents 26-1 to reach the finals at 63 kilos. Her finals opponent tonight will be returning World Team member Erin Clodgo, who advanced to the finals by defeating Amanda Hendey 6-2. At 69 kilos, top-seeded Tamyra Mensah was impressive in the semifinals, beating Julia Salata 11-1. Salata had notched a win over past World champion Iris Smith in the quarterfinals. She will face Brittney Roberts, who edged Randi Miller in the semifinals. Tonight's finals matches begin at 6 p.m. CT. All finals matches are best-of-three. Finals Matchups Men's freestyle: 65 kilos: Frank Molinaro vs. Aaron Pico 125 kilos: Zack Rey vs. Tervel Dlagnev Greco-Roman: 59 kilos: Ildar Hafizov vs. Jessie Thielke 66 kilos: Pat Smith vs. RaVaughan Perkins 85 kilos: Ben Provisor vs. Jake Clark 98 kilos: Josef Rau vs. Caylor Williams Women's freestyle: 58 kilos: Alli Ragan vs. Kelsey Campbell 63 kilos: Erin Clodgo vs. Elena Pirozkhova 69 kilos: Tamyra Mensah vs. Brittney Roberts

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials take place Saturday and Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Here are 10 questions heading into this weekend's men's freestyle competition. David Taylor with his coach Cael Sanderson at Senior Nationals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Who will come through at 86 kilos in men's freestyle? The U.S. has yet to qualify this weight class for the Rio Games, so the winner this weekend is not guaranteed a spot on the 2016 Olympic Team roster. Jake Herbert is the returning World Team member, 2012 Olympian and 2009 World medalist, but is far from a havy favorite in Iowa City. Four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake and four-time NCAA finalist David Taylor have joined this weight class after failing to break through at 74 kilos. Keith Gavin was a World Team member in 2013. The weight class also includes Ed Ruth, Clayton Foster, Tyler Caldwell, Richard Perry, Jon Reader and J'den Cox. In other words, it's extremely deep and wide open. Will Coleman Scott get a chance another chance at an Olympic glory? Scott had a breakthrough year in 2012, winning an Olympic bronze medal at 60 kilos in London. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy wrestler has not been able to regain his 2012 form, but has still been productive over the past few years at 61 kilos, placing third in the Trials last year and second in 2014. It's been a season of change for Scott. He was named head wrestling coach at North Carolina in June, and also made the decision to cut down to 57 kilos -- as opposed to moving up to 65 kilos -- for one last Olympic run. He placed third at the Senior Nationals/Trials Qualifier in December, with his lone loss coming to Daniel Dennis in the semifinals. Will anyone challenge Jordan Burroughs? Burroughs has his sights set on striking gold in Rio and becoming the first American to repeat as Olympic gold medalist since John Smith in 1992. He comes into Iowa City with a senior-level record of 122-2. As a returning World champion Burroughs has an automatic berth in the best-of-three finals. Two of his top challengers in recent years, Dake and Taylor, have moved up a weight class to 86 kilos. Burroughs' biggest threat domestically is likely Andrew Howe, who reached the finals of the 2012 Olympic Team Trials and was an Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix silver medalist in 2015. Chris Perry, a Junior World medalist and University World medalist, also poses a strong threat to make the finals against Burroughs. Jake Varner fell to Kyle Snyder three times last year, including twice at the Trials (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Can Jake Varner unseat Kyle Snyder? Last year saw a changing of the guard as then-19-year-old Kyle Snyder toppled Olympic champion Jake Varner, first at the U.S. Open, then again at the World Team Trials, to secure his spot on the U.S. World Team. Snyder made the most his opportunity by winning a gold medal at the World Championships in Las Vegas to become the youngest American World champion freestyle wrestler ever. This year Snyder has competed both overseas in freestyle and domestically in NCAA wrestling. He claimed bronze medals at both the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix and the Alexander Medved International. Last month Snyder won an NCAA title at heavyweight, knocking off two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski. Varner was a silver medalist at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix, losing to Anzor Boltukayev of Russia, the same wrestler who defeated Snyder. The returning World champion Snyder has an automatic spot in the best-of-three finals on Sunday night. Varner will have to go through the challenge tournament for a crack at Snyder. In three meetings, Snyder has outscored Varner 9-2. Aside from Snyder, can any of the collegiate wrestlers contend? All 10 NCAA Division I champions this season were automatic qualifiers for the Olympic Team Trials. Two-time NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez has publicly stated that he will not be competing in Iowa City, but most of the others are expected to compete. Past NCAA champions Nick Gwiazdowski, a Bill Farrell Memorial champion, and Nathan Tomasello, a three-time Fargo champion, have also qualified. Kyle Snyder is the returning World champion. Zain Retherford is a Cadet World champion in freestyle. Nahshon Garrett has competed for Team USA at a Beat the Streets event. Alex Dieringer and Gabe Dean were Junior World medalists. Dean Heil, Myles Martin and J'den Cox were Fargo freestyle champions. Brent Metcalf gets his hand raised after an opening-round victory at the World Championships (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Will Brent Metcalf stay on top 65 kilos? Metcalf has dominated his weight class domestically since 2013, but is still in search of his first Olympic team and first World or Olympic medal. In 2012, Metcalf lost narrowly in the finals of the Olympic Team Trials to Jared Frayer. The U.S. has not qualified the weight class for the Olympic Games, so the winner in Iowa City will have some work to do before securing a spot in Rio. Metcalf enters as the top seed, but will have his work cut out for him as the weight class is loaded with talent. James Green was a World bronze medalist last year at 70 kilos, but has made the move down to 65 kilos. There are several other wrestlers in this weight class capable of coming out on top in Iowa City, including Jordan Oliver, Jimmy Kennedy, Reece Humphrey, Logan Stieber, Aaron Pico, and Kellen Russell. How will high school wrestler Mark Hall perform? Two-time InterMat High School Wrestler of the Year Mark Hall will be making his Trials debut on the senior level. The Penn State-bound Hall qualified for the Trials last weekend by defeating 2015 top recruit Anthony Valencia 5-4 in a wild, action-filled finals match at the Last Chance Olympic Qualifier in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Valencia was third at the U.S. Open in 2015. Hall, a six-time state champion in Minnesota, claimed a Cadet World title in 2014 and competed at the Junior World Championships last year. Will any Hawkeyes win titles at Carver-Hawkeye Arena? In 2012, Iowa failed to put a wrestler on the U.S. Olympic Team for the first time since 1976. The Hawkeyes are positioned to put one or more on this year's team. Ramos and Metcalf both enter as top seeds. Daniel Dennis and Bobby Telford are also contenders. Is Tervel Dlagnev healthy enough to get back on the Olympic Team? Dlagnev has battled injuries in recent years. He had back surgery in 2015. In late January, He competed for the first time since last summer's Trials and earned a bronze medal at the Paris International. Dlagnev's lone loss came to Olympic medalist and World medalist Komeil Ghasemi of Iran 3-2. In May, Dlagnev won the Pan American Olympic Qualifier in Frisco, Texas, and qualified the United States at 125 kilos for the Olympic Games. Zack Rey has shown that he can not only compete with Dlagnev, but beat him. Dlagnev defeated Rey in the best-of-three finals at last year's Trials, but dropped one of the matches to the former Lehigh wrestler. Gwiazdowski, Dom Bradley and Tyrell Fortune could also challenge for the spot. Which sleepers will shine? Virtually every Olympic Trials there are sleepers that fans and prognosticators fail to mention as top contenders that make noise. There are no easy draws. The brackets are filled with NCAA champions and multiple-time All-Americans. Which sleepers will shine in Iowa City? Note: InterMat will be providing session recaps throughout the two-day event. NBC Sports will have live coverage, including free online viewing of all the preliminary matches on Saturday and Sunday. The finals will air live on NBC Sports Network at 6 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, April 9 and on tape-delay at 9:30 p.m. (CT), on Sunday, April 10, following NHL coverage. Schedule Note: All times CT Saturday, April 9 Men's freestyle: 65 kilos and 125 kilos Women's freestyle: 58 kilos, 63 kilos and 69 kilos Greco-Roman: 59 kilos, 66 kilos, 85 kilos and 98 kilos 8 a.m. -- Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. -- Preliminaries through challenge tournament finals 5 p.m. -- Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena 6 p.m - 9 p.m. -- Best two of three Championship Series Sunday, April 10 Men's freestyle: 57 kilos, 74 kilos, 86 kilos, 97 kilos Women's freestyle: 48 kilos, 53 kilos, 75 kilos Greco-Roman: 75 kilos and 130 kilos 8 a.m. -- Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. -- Preliminaries through challenge tournament finals 5 p.m. -- Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. -- Best two of three Championship Series.

State champion Trence Gillem (Helix, Calif.) needed a new college destination after the program at Grand Canyon University was disbanded. On Thursday afternoon, Gillem announced his new college choice, and it was Cornell University. The two-time state placer, eighth last year at 126 and champion this year at 132, projects to compete at 141 in college. He joins a Big Red recruiting class that features a trio of top 100 prospects in Ben Darmstadt (Elyria, Ohio), Max Dean (Lowell, Michigan), and Noah Baughman (Wadsworth, Ohio).

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. -- Tony Willaert '11 was named the head wrestling coach at Saint John's University, following two seasons as the interim, on Thursday, April 7. "I am very excited and honored to be the next wrestling coach of the Saint John's wrestling program," Willaert said. "I would like to thank the hiring committee and (SJU athletic director) Tom Stock for giving me this opportunity. Now it's time to get back to work and finish what we started." SJU has sent five wrestlers to the NCAA Division III Championships and earned four National Wrestling Coaches' Association (NWCA) All-America Scholar honors over the past two seasons with Willaert as interim. The Johnnies recorded the 17th-best GPA (3.20) in Division III en route to NWCA All-Academic team honors in 2015-16 and finished 10th the previous year. Willaert was named the Johnnies' interim head coach in May 2014, replacing Brandon Novak '01, after serving as an assistant coach for three seasons. "Tony has earned this opportunity through his hard work, solid core values and competitive spirit," Stock said. "We believe he can return our wrestling program to national prominence." He compiled a 74-49 (.602) career record on the mat and was a national entrant, one of a school-record seven, as a senior at 197 pounds in 2010-11. Willaert is also the head coach of the Central Minnesota Wrestling Club, as part of the Minnesota Storm program, and resides in nearby St. Cloud.

University of St. Mary is seeking a head wrestling coach for men's and women's programs that have yet to be officially announced, according to a job listing at the Kansas school's athletics website. There is no listing of any wrestling programs -- men's or women's -- at St. Mary's athletics website, nor is there an announcement at the home page for the Spires sports website or the school's Facebook page. InterMat was unable to find any news stories reporting on possible new wrestling programs at St. Mary; nor has it received a response to an email seeking confirmation of the addition of wrestling. The job posting at the St. Mary website provides this summary of the available position: "Plans and directs the activities of the Men's and Women's Wrestling program ensuring that the team follows the direction and mission of USM and the Athletic Department." Among the essential functions listed for the position include overseeing the conduct, discipline and positive character development of student-athletes by using the guidelines and principles of the USM Mission and the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Champions of Character initiative; counsel student-athletes in personal development and academic success; teach and promote the USM Mission values of community, respect, justice and excellence; recruitment of student athletes with recommendation for athletic financial aid awards; responsibility for administering NAIA, KCAC and USM policies pertaining to recruitment and student-athlete eligibility. The job description also states that the coach would supervise all practices and competitions; hire, evaluate and supervise team managers and assistant coaches; and be responsible for men's and Women's Wrestling team schedule as well as coordination of team travel, among other duties. Candidates for the St. Mary coaching position must have a Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred), 3-5 years of related experience, and a working knowledge of KCAC rules and regulations. Applicants are asked to send their resume, along with a cover letter, contact information, and at least three current professional references via email at hr@stmary.edu (preferred), by fax to (913) 758-4330, or by mail to: Human Resources, University of Saint Mary, 4100 South Fourth Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048. The University of Saint Mary (USM) is a private liberal arts university in Leavenworth, Kansas. Established as a school for women in 1923, it is now co-educational. It has an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students.

Two-time U.S. World Team member Jake Clark returned to wrestling in 2015 after a three-year layoff from competition and captured a Senior Nationals title in Greco-Roman at 85 kilos. Clark is a top contender at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City on April 9. It will mark the fifth time he has competed at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. InterMat recently caught up with the 36-year-old South St. Paul native. You returned to competition in 2015 after a long layoff and won a Senior Nationals title in December. You seemed surprised that you came out on top. What were your expectations going into that event? Clark: My expectation was to win it and show that I'm ready to make this 2016 Olympic Team. However, I had an injury, and that kept me off the mat for the two weeks leading up to it. I was very frustrated, and it definitely had me questioning whether or not I was as prepared as I needed to be. USA Wrestling recently changed their criteria to where former World and Olympic team members are no longer automatic bids into the Olympic Team Trials, so I had to lace my shoes up, wrestle smart and make it into the top seven. I honestly debated injury defaulting once I made it far enough to be qualified. Thankfully, I talked myself out of that one. At this point in my 32-year career I have to be smart about keeping my body healthy as can be. My mind has been set on the 2016 Trials. That is my goal, and it's where all of my focus has been directed. I wrestled smart, and won the tournament feeling around seventy percent of where I want to be for the Trials. It was definitely a surprise and a confidence booster. Jake Clark battles Ben Provisor in the finals of the Senior Nationals (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)What went into the decision to take a long layoff from competition? Clark: I never planned to take that much time off. I was bouncing around the globe and doing lots of traveling, which made it too difficult to focus on training at the highest level. At the 2012 Trials I busted my shoulder, had to get two surgeries, and this was the first real break I took from the sport in 30 years. I was living in Hawaii, and being so far away made things a little difficult to make it to competitions. I think it's nearly impossible to compete at this level if you're not fully committed and training 7-10 times per week. If I'm not able to put in the time needed I don't think it's smart decision to put my body on the line and risk injury. What do you enjoy about Hawaii? Clark: I grew up in the frozen lands of Minnesota … Need I say more?! I've been fortunate to do quite a bit of traveling, and there's something about the island life that pulled me in. That, and I think I'm allergic to winter. Mentally and physically it's a great place for training. I practice in the morning, and would go straight to the beach after to take a dip in Waikiki. I'm a fan of the culture, the weather and the food. The only downfall is that it's so far from home, and as I'm getting older I'd rather be closer to family and friends. I'm thinking the Caribbean is up next, and I'll need a few training partners if anyone is interested. Hawaii seems to be producing some top wrestlers, especially in women's freestyle. Clarissa Chun, a Hawaii native, won an Olympic medal in 2012. Now another Hawaii native, Teshya Alo, is an Olympic hopeful. What's the wrestling culture like in Hawaii? Clark: Clarissa and Teshya are both amazing wrestlers, and more importantly great people. Martial arts in general are very popular throughout the islands, and they have some amazing athletes. I really believe they could produce more top-level wrestlers more frequently, but sometimes the King of the Island mentality gets in the way of those running the programs there. I hope that some of the more recently successful Hawaiian wrestlers go back and take charge in the near future. There is a lot of potential for the sport in Hawaii, and even into other Pacific Islands. Jake Clark with training partnersWhat has your training situation been like leading up to the Olympic Team Trials? Clark: My training has been great. I feel the best I've ever felt mentally and physically. As much as I enjoy living and training in Hawaii I had to come home to take my training to another level. I've been back in Minnesota since the beginning of December, and am grateful to be around my family and friends leading up to the Trials. I'm on the mat nine times per week, and have an amazing group of training partners and coaches helping in every area of my game. It's been a real team effort in preparing for this one. So many family, friends, sponsors and coaches have all brought different pieces of the puzzle, and I'm more than ready to throw down on April 9. Jordan Holm is a three-time returning World Team member at your weight class and is a teammate of yours on the Minnesota Storm. Is it a difficult situation having arguably your toughest U.S. competitor in the same wrestling room? Do you avoid wrestling each other? Clark: There are definitely some pros and cons to that situation. Leading up to the Trials we haven't partnered up much, but thankfully our room is full of other great practice partners to choose from. The U.S. Greco-Roman head coach is Matt Lindland. He's someone you wrestled early in your senior level career. Is it strange having someone you competed against now coaching Team USA? Clark: I don't think it's strange at all. Matt is a very accomplished wrestler and fighter, so I think it's great to have someone with his knowledge and experience in both areas running the Greco program. When we wrestled in 2000 he bit my ear during one of our matches. I'd definitely like to ask him about that sometime, but that conversation hasn't come up … yet. Jake Clark with friends Dustin Zahursky and Cazzy Zahursky of Kutting Weight at the World Championships in Las Vegas (Photo/Larry Slater)You were in Las Vegas for the 2015 World Championships. What did you take away from that event as a spectator? Clark: I was working at my friend's Kutting Weight booth and didn't watch too much of the action. It was like a huge reunion, so I spent most of my time chatting with wrestling friends from all over the world. Las Vegas should definitely host the World Championships at least once every Olympic cycle. That place was slam-packed with fans from all over the world, and it was by far the best wrestling event I've ever been to. Andy Bisek has been on the Greco-Roman scene for several years, but over the past two years he has established himself as one of the best in the world at 75 kilos, winning two straight World medals. Why do you think it's all coming together now for Bisek? Clark: It's pretty simple. He grew up drinking Minnesota tap water. That, and he's an extremely hard worker. He's done a great job of forming his own style of wrestling. He wrestles smart and has earned every bit of his success on the mat. A wrestler from Minnesota has represented the United States in every Olympics since 1968. As a Minnesota native, how much pride do you take in that streak? Clark: It's a huge honor to be a part of this program, and definitely something we all think about. We seriously have a great shot at placing several of us on the 2016 team, and I wouldn't be one bit surprised if things turn out that way. With all the support we have from the Minnesota Storm, Minnesota Training Center, Minnesota Wrestling Club, and the entire Minnesota wrestling community it allows us to fully concentrate on our training, and continuing this streak not only in 2016, but also through many more Olympics in the future. How have you changed as a wrestler since 2012? Clark: I thought I was on point in 2012, but have since added a few more things to my arsenal. I am so ready to hit the mat in Iowa City. I've worked on my weaknesses all while continuing to fine-tune my strengths. This will be the oldest Jake Clark you've seen in these Trials, but I promise it will be by far the best Jake Clark that has ever stepped on a mat. Jake Clark lifts Peter Hicks at the 2012 Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)The Olympic Team Trials were at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City in 2012. What's it like wrestling at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in front of such a large and passionate crowd? Clark: It was unreal in 2012, and I'm sure it will be even better this time around. The crowd was great, and it was an honor to compete in front of so many fans. Their energy is definitely something we feed off as athletes and something we all appreciate very much. I have a huge group of family, friends, and fans attending the Trials, so I know they will be giving me, and my Storm teammates an extra boost of energy throughout our matches. You have talked about how leading up to the 2012 Olympic Team Trials was the best you've ever felt. How are you feeling heading into the 2016 Olympic Team Trials? Clark: I felt great in 2012. I know I had done everything right leading up to the Trials that year, but it just wasn't meant to be. The stars are aligning for me. I feel it, and I believe more than ever that this is my time. You have been on multiple World teams, but I know you have always had a goal of competing in the Olympic Games and winning an Olympic medal. Do you feel more pressure when it's an Olympic year? Clark: There's definitely some added pressure, but with that comes more excitement. I've been very close several times, and honestly feel like I'm meant to make this team. I know that I have done what is needed to be an Olympian. It's time. I know you're focused on this year, but have you put a timetable on your career? Do you plan to compete after 2016? Clark: My body feels healthy and I'm still competing at the highest level, so I'll probably continue wrestling through 2020. I love the sport, and it's definitely not something I'm ready to walk away from just yet. Jake Clark gets his hand raised after winning a Senior Nationals title (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)What are keys for you to be successful in Iowa City? Clark: I've put in the time, and am going into this event very confident. I have to wrestle smart matches, stick to my plan, and with those two keys I will be the representative at 85 kilos for Team USA in Rio de Janeiro. I would like to say thank you to all my family, friends, sponsors, and people of the wrestling community who have been supporting my training leading up to this great opportunity to compete in the 2016 Olympic Trials. I'm beyond excited to step on the mat representing all of them, my teammates, my training partners, the Minnesota Storm, my coaches, and the many others who have played even the smallest roles in getting me to this point. I'm ready. This story also appears in the April 8 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. Subscribe to The Guillotine.

On the eve of the the nation's top wrestlers colliding in Iowa City, Iowa with dreams of an Olympic berth within reach, the U.S. Olympic Committee, in conjunction with NBC Sports Films, has announced the release of a four-part video series encapsulating the culture of wrestling in Iowa. The digital documentary series entitled Olympic Hometowns in America is debuting prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials that will be held inside historic Carver-Hawkeye Arena on in Iowa City, April 9-10. "This is a fantastic example of cooperation between USA Wrestling, the U.S. Olympic Committee, our partners at NBC, the University of Iowa and the people from the Olympic Hometown for wrestling in Iowa City, Iowa. The timing is fantastic with the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this weekend and the message is spectacular. This is a must-watch video series. It truly articulates the human side of wrestling excellence," said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. The four episodes produced highlight not only the one of a kind passion for wrestling that is prevalent in Iowa City, but also examine the 2016 Olympic hopefuls from Iowa that will compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this weekend. The series focuses on the wrestling culture in Iowa City, the University of Iowa wrestling program and the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. There is extensive footage from the Grapple at the Gridiron held last November at Kinnick Stadium where over 42,000 fans watched Iowa battle Oklahoma State to open the college season. "On behalf of our community I'd like to thank NBC for capturing what we've all come to know about Iowa and wrestling. Iowa wrestling fans embody the Olympic spirit as well as anyone in the world, and this video series tells a story that can be enjoyed by all and make our whole country proud," said Josh Schamberger, Iowa City/Coralville CVB President. The first installment of the digital documentary series highlighting wrestling in Iowa City has been released to the public on the Team USA social media platforms with the remaining episodes coming soon. In total, the U.S. Olympic Committee will release 20 episodes of the Olympic Hometowns in America series featuring six additional regions throughout the country that have strong ties to an Olympic sport. All episodes in the series will be hosted on TeamUSA.org and distributed through the Team USA social media platforms.

PHILADELPHIA -- University of Pennsylvania alumnus Brandon Slay, a gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, will assume responsibilities as Executive Director and Head Coach of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center based in Philadelphia. Slay graduated from Penn's prestigious Wharton School of Business in 1998, with a dual concentration in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management. He has served as National Freestyle Development & Resident Coach for USA Wrestling since 2008. The Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC), established in August of 2014, is a designated Regional Training Center (RTC) by USA Wrestling under the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The PRTC is the only one of its kind in the nation – a collaboration of Philadelphia's two NCAA Division I programs with the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University serving as the designated training sites. The Pennsylvania RTC will serve as an elite training organization for three age group levels, including Olympic, collegiate, and scholastic wrestlers. “The collaboration between Penn and Drexel presents a tremendous opportunity, providing twice the number of college coaches, twice the number of college athletes, and shared infrastructure,” stated Slay. By regulation, RTC's are permitted to attract qualified athletes from within a 250-mile radius. Slay added, “There is no better hotbed in the nation of youth, scholastic, and collegiate wrestling than the 250-mile radius around Penn and Drexel. This fact puts us in position to build something very unique, and very special at the Pennsylvania RTC.” The impact on opportunities for Penn and Drexel's programs is significant Alex Tirapelle, head coach at Penn, stated, “I'm excited for Penn's program to work with and learn from Brandon. He has reached the pinnacle of our sport as both a coach and a competitor, all the while displaying the type of character we expect from our student-athletes and coaches. The leadership and experience he brings to the Pennsylvania RTC will have an immediate impact on international, collegiate, and scholastic wrestling in our region. I cannot imagine a better fit for this position.” Matt Azevedo, head coach at Drexel, added, "The Pennsylvania RTC has created a unique opportunity for Drexel wrestlers to train side-by-side with Penn wrestlers and some of the nation's top Olympic hopefuls. I strongly believe that freestyle training is an important part of any wrestler's overall development. That's why I am so excited for Brandon Slay to be the new PRTC Executive Director & Head Coach. He has the ability to make the PRTC one the most influential and successful RTCs in the country, and serve the local scholastic and club community. Brandon is an amazing leader and he will bring a wealth of knowledge to share with our athletes and coaches.” Slay, one of the coaches leading Team USA to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, noted that five of the eight 2015 USA Wrestling Freestyle World Team members hailed from within the Pennsylvania RTC's training radius. Former Penn Head Coach Roger Reina, currently the President and Chairman of the Board of the PRTC and Senior Associate Athletic Director at Penn, added “The wrestling ecosystem in our region includes the PRTC collaboration between Penn and Drexel, the impressive youth and scholastic wrestling communities, combined with the outstanding mission of Beat The Streets Philly (which has introduced 22 new school wrestling programs in Philadelphia and Camden, serving over 1,200 student-athletes). These communities provide a powerful environment like no other in the United States.” “With Brandon coming to lead the Pennsylvania RTC, we envision furthering opportunities for members of our community to advance their national and international aspirations in the sport of amateur wrestling, as well as serve the community on and off the mats,” stated Clinton Matter, a teammate of Brandon's on record-setting Penn teams in the late 90's, Vice President of the PRTC, Chairman of Beat The Streets Philly, and a hedge fund manager for Weiss Associates in New York City. “This is a very exciting moment in time for the sport of wrestling in the United States and our region.” Penn's Matt Valenti, a two-time NCAA Champion and 2012 Olympic Trials placewinner, added, “This is an sensational opportunity for the PRTC, Penn, Drexel and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Brandon's accolades alone– Olympic champion, two-time NCAA finalist and Penn alumnus – are enough to inspire local student-athletes and coaches. Yet it is the character traits behind those accomplishments that will truly lay the foundation for success of the PRTC. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated, humble and genuine person to lead this program toward a very bright future." Penn's famous Palestra, in Greek literal translation meaning “House of Wrestling,” was Slay's home arena throughout college. “The Palestra has been a destination venue for terrific scholastic, collegiate and international events over the years,” Slay said. These include 3 NWCA College All Star Meets, 2 USA Wrestling World Team Trials, the 1992 Olympic Team Trials, and this past year FloWrestling's Who's #1 Dual Meet Championships. “The PRTC will look to bring major events to Philadelphia and the Palestra. The fan base in our region is second to none,” Slay added. Slay will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, as a Distinguished Member, on June 5, 2016 in Stillwater, Okla. During Slay's collegiate career at Penn, his accomplishments included two appearances in the NCAA finals, a pair of EIWA championships, and two Ivy League Wrestler of the Year honors. In addition, Slay won every age group national freestyle title available including Espoir National Freestyle and Greco Roman Champion, University National Freestyle Champion, US Open Freestyle National Champion and Outstanding Wrestler, and Olympic Champion.

USA Wrestling has released a special set of Greco-Roman rankings for those athletes qualified to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on April 9-10. Rankings have been set for the top eight wrestlers for each of the six Olympic weight classes based on following criteria: 1) head-to-head victories, 2) wins over common opponents and 3) whether or not an athlete was a member of the 2015 U.S. World Team. Results that were considered include any tournament an athlete has competed in since Jan. 1, 2015. This includes both domestic and international matches during that time period. A computer system which compiled all of the relevant data was used to help create these rankings. If an athlete was a member of the 2015 U.S. World Team and qualified the weight that he will be competing at in Iowa City for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, then that athlete was automatically granted the No. 1 ranking and will be the No. 1 seed at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The three athletes automatically earning the No. 1 ranking include Andy Bisek at 75 kilos, Jordan Holm at 85 kilos and Robby Smith at 130 kilos. By winning a bronze medal at the 2015 World championships, Andy Bisek has advanced to the best-of-three Championship Series in his weight class and will not participate in the morning Challenge Tournament in Iowa City. The following rankings will serve as the baseline for which athletes will be seeded at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. All athletes who have currently qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials are listed below, but only the top-eight have received a ranking. At the seeding meeting in Iowa City, all of the athletes entered will receive a seed and byes will be placed accordingly to the highest seeded wrestlers. Official U.S. Olympic Team Trials seeding per weight class is subject to change based on the coaches seeding meeting after wrestlers weigh-in in Iowa City. 59 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Ildar Hafizov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 2. Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 3. Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (New York AC) 4. Nikko Triggas, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 5. Ryan Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) 6. Sam Jones, Folsom, La. (NYAC/NMU) 7. Jermaine Hodge, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 8. Max Nowry, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) Additional Qualifiers Cade Olivas, Fontana, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) Dmitry Ryabchinskiy, Brooklyn, N.Y. (NYAC/NMU) Justin LaValle, Burnsville, Minn., (Minnesota Storm) 66 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Bryce Saddoris, Sneads Ferry, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) 2. Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 3. RaVaughn Perkins, Omaha, Neb. (New York AC) 4. Patrick Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 5. Christopher Gonzalez, Bolingbrook, Ill. (NYAC/NMU) 6. Brian Graham, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 7. Alejandro Sancho, Miami, Fla. (NYAC/NMU) 8. Devin Scott, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) Additional Qualifiers Michael Hooker, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) Marco Lara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 75 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) 2. Geordan Speiller, Oviedo, Fla. (Florida Jets) 3. Kendrick Sanders, Homestead, Fla. (New York AC/NMU-OTS) 4. Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 5. Cheney Haight, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 6. Tarrence Williams, Portland, Ore. (CSU Pueblo Wrestling RTC) 7. Jacob Fisher, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 8. Corey Hope, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC) Additional Qualifiers Jon Jay Chavez, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC) Mason Manville, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) Taylor Walsh, Cherry Hill, N.J. Barrett Stanghill, Philipsburg, Montana (NYAC/NMU) Dillon Cowan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) Alec Ortiz, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 85 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 2. Jon Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 3. Jacob Clark, Honolulu, Hawaii (Minnesota Storm) 4. Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC) 5. Patrick Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 6. Lucas Sheridan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) 7. Mark Stenberg, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/NMU) 8. Ryan Hope, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/CKWC) Additional Qualifiers Kevin Radford, Jr., Fayetteville, N.C. (Sunkist Kids) Courtney Myers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) Michael Brant, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) Timothy Bleau, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) Hayden Zillmer, Crosby, Minn. (CrosbyHay) 98 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Joe Rau, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 2. Caylor Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 3. G'Angelo Hancock, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC) 4. John Wechter, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 5. Orry Elor, Walnut Creek, Calif. (NYAC/NMU) 6. Marcus Finau, Ewa Beach, Hawaii (CSU Pueblo Wrestling RTC) 7. Jacob Kasper, Mansfield, Ohio (Roughhouse) 8. Daniel Miller, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps) Additional Qualifiers Jarod Trice, Ames, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC) Patrick Carey, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) John Lorenz, LaCrosse, Wis. (unattached) 130 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 2. Adam Coon, Fowlerville, Mich. (Cliff Keen WC) 3. Toby Erickson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 4. Jacob Mitchell, Portland, Ore. (CSU Pueblo Wrestling RTC) 5. Parker Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 6. Matthew Lamb, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) 7. Donny Longendyke, Vadnais Heights, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 8. Zach Merrill, Bermuda Dunes, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) Additional Qualifiers Sam Stoll, Kasson, Minn. (Minnesota Storm/Hawkeye WC) Eric Fader, Camp Lejeune, N.C (U.S. Marines) Jack Griggs, Brighton, Mich. (NMU-OTS) Tyrell Fortune, Tempe, Ariz. (Titan Mercury WC)

The 2015-16 scholastic wrestling season has come to an end. We've gone through the postseason national tournaments, the state tournament series across the country, the regular season, and the spring/summer/fall offseason. At this time, we reflect upon what has happened over the past cycle and recognize the top wrestler in each high school weight class as well as the Wrestler of the Year with First Team All-American recognitions by InterMat. Wrestler of the Year: Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) -- 170 pounds There is very little that this Penn State-bound wrestler has not accomplished during his prep wrestling career. The six-time state champion ended his scholastic wrestling career with a record of 277-4, having gone undefeated since the middle of his freshman year, and is now InterMat Wrestler of the Year for a second consecutive season. Hall started this period with a championship in the 74-kilo weight class at the UWW Junior Nationals in freestyle, earning victories over Joe Smith and Jason Nolf in the semifinals and finals. The Junior World Team spot was confirmed at the Trials with a two-match sweep over former InterMat Wrestler of the Year Chance Marsteller. Mark Hall became Minnesota's first-ever six-time state champion (Photo/The Guillotine)In the preseason Hall earned his fifth straight title at the InterMat JJ Classic. During the high school season he was 47-0 with only three matches not decided by forfeit, pin, or technical fall; those were determined by major decision. Three of those wins were over nationally ranked wrestlers: first-period pins over Marcus Coleman (Ames, Iowa) and Lucas Jeske (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.), and a 14-5 major decision over Taylor Venz (Farmington, Minn.). Hall also participated in a pair of postseason all-star matches, earning a major decision over No. 2 Alex Marinelli (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) in the Dream Team Classic before beating nationally ranked Austin Bell (Belle Vernon, Pa.) 8-4 in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic. This past weekend, he won the last chance qualifier for the Olympic Team Trials this coming weekend, competing at 74 kilos in the UNI-Dome. Previous Wrestlers of the Year: 2015: Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) 2014: Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) 2013: Kyle Snyder (Good Counsel, Pa.) 2012: Jason Tsirtsis (Crown Point, Ind.) 2011: Morgan McIntosh (Calvary Chapel, Calif.) Other Top-Ranked Wrestlers at their weight class … 106 pounds: Adam Busiello (Eastport-South Manor, N.Y.) The freshman earned a second consecutive state title, winning last season at 99 pounds in eighth grade, as New York State allows junior high wrestlers to compete in high school. After placing third in Cadet freestyle at 106 pounds, Busiello was completely dominant during the folkstyle portion of this period. He was champion at the Super 32 Challenge in this weight class, and went undefeated during the high school season. 113 pounds: Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson-Morgan, Pa.) The sophomore went undefeated for a second straight season on the way to a state title, and has started his career with an 82-0 record. Last spring he earned a second consecutive UWW Cadet National freestyle championship, this time qualifying for the Cadet World Championships at 50 kilos. Most notable on the regular season resume this year was a second consecutive title at the Powerade with wins over a pair of top ten ranked wrestlers in the semifinal and final. 120 pounds: Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) Like Teasdale before him, this Pittsburgh area native is undefeated for his career, a three-year career record of 109-0. While his junior season was short on matches due to recovery from injury sustained before and during the Junior World Championships, his career resume is just the opposite in terms of accomplishments. Testament to his ability is a 15-0 technical fall in the state final over a top five wrestler in the nation in his weight class, Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township). This past summer Lee was a Junior World champion in freestyle at 50 kilos, one year after winning a Cadet World title in that weight class. 126 pounds: Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) Suriano ended his high school career as a four-time undefeated state champion, including four titles at the Beast of the East and two titles at the Doc Buchanan Invitational, which are among the nation's preeminent regular season tournaments. During his senior season Suriano went 5-0 in matches against three wrestlers ranked in the top ten nationally. Prior to the season, he won a second Super 32 Challenge title, advancing to a third such tournament final in his high school career. Suriano has signed with Penn State. 132 pounds: Chad Red (New Palestine, Ind.) Red also ended his career as a four-time undefeated state champion, including a one-point victory in this year's state final over a returning state champion, who ended the season ranked third nationally (Nick Lee). During the fall he also earned victories over a pair of elite wrestler in the next weight class at the "Who's Number One" preseason all-star event. The Nebraska signee won titles at the Super 32 Challenge and FloNationals during the 2014-15 school year. 138 pounds: Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) The junior has won state titles in each of the last four high school seasons, including one in eighth grade at 99 pounds. This fall he joined an exclusive club of wrestlers to win three Super 32 Challenge titles, and could become the first to win a fourth in October. The verbal commit to Cornell was also a UWW Cadet National freestyle champion at 58 kilos last spring, and them won a Cadet World title in that weight class during the summer. 145 pounds: Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford, Pa.) The three-time state finalist went an undefeated 37-0 during his junior season to earn a second state title in three seasons. Coy, who has verbally committed to the University of Virginia, has a three-year record of 110-11. Most notable regular season wins this year were those over nationally ranked Mekhi Lewis in the Powerade final, and Cadet World freestyle champion Jarod Verkleeren in the WCCA Tournament final. 152 pounds: Mason Manville (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) The Penn State signee won his second National Prep title at the end of this season, and was undefeated during his senior year of high school. Manville's folkstyle evaluation period included titles at the Super 32 Challenge, Walsh Ironman, and Powerade. It included six wins over four wrestlers ranked in the top four at their respective weight classes nationally (two over Hayden Hidlay, two over Griffin Parriott, with single wins over Thomas Bullard and Evan Wick). The past offseason included a UWW Junior National runner-up finish in Greco-Roman and All-American finishes in both styles during the Junior Nationals in Fargo. 160 pounds: Isaiah White (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) The Ohio State signee won his third state title, and second straight in undefeated fashion. White has at least 105 wins in the last three seasons against just four losses, with his last loss coming at the Detroit Catholic Central Super Duals in January 2014 (4-3 to Justin Oliver). Most notable in terms of major event accomplishments is his 2014 Walsh Ironman title and 2014 Junior National freestyle title. 182 pounds: Beau Breske (Hartford Union, Wis.) The four-time state finalist won 175 of his last 176 matches in his high school career, losing just a 5-4 tiebreaker decision in the state final during his junior year. Breske was a three-time state champion in high school with a career mark of 203-3, winning titles at the Cheesehead Invitational each of the last three years. In terms of offseason accomplishment, he was a Junior National freestyle champion this past summer after winning Cadet National titles in both styles during 2013 and 2014. Breske has signed with the University of Nebraska. 195 pounds: Chase Singletary (Blair Academy, N.J.) During his junior season, Singletary won an initial National Prep title to go with the Florida state titles earned in seventh and eighth grade. He also was runner-up at National Preps last year, third in Florida his freshman year, and runner-up in Florida during sixth grade. In terms of the 2015-16 season, Singletary was champion at the Walsh Ironman and runner-up at the Beast of the East; most notable was a 2-0 record over the second-ranked wrestler in this weight class (wins over Nick Reenan in the late January dual meet and at National Preps). 220 pounds: Gable Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) Just a sophomore, Steveson already has been in the state final three times in his high school career. (Junior high wrestlers can compete varsity in Minnesota.) His last loss came in the state finals at 195 pounds during the eighth grade season, and Steveson has an 89-0 record over the last two seasons. Last spring he beat returning Cadet World silver medalist Jordan Wood in qualifying for the Cadet World freestyle team at 100 kilos. Steveson would subsequently win a World title, and also won a Cadet National freestyle title in Fargo. Though Cadet eligible, he won a Junior folkstyle title last weekend. 285 pounds: Osawaru Odighizuwa (David Douglas, Ore.) The UCLA signee as a defensive lineman finished his scholastic career with three undefeated state title-winning seasons, amassing 131 consecutive wins along the way. Odighizuwa would also win two Fargo freestyle titles, one at the Cadet level in 2014 and then one at the Junior level in 2015; during those years, Odighizuwa was runner-up in Cadet Greco-Roman and third in Junior Greco-Roman.

USA Wrestling has released a special set of women's freestyle rankings for those athletes qualified to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on April 9-10. Rankings have been set for the top eight wrestlers for each of the six Olympic weight classes based on following criteria: 1) head-to-head victories, 2) wins over common opponents and 3) whether or not an athlete was a member of the 2015 U.S. World Team. Results that were considered include any tournament an athlete has competed in since Jan. 1, 2015. This includes both domestic and international matches during that time period. A computer system which compiled all of the relevant data was used to help create these rankings. By winning a medal at the 2015 World championships Adeline Gray has advanced to the best-of-three Championship Series at 75 kg and will not participate in the morning Challenge Tournament in Iowa City. The following rankings will serve as the baseline for which athletes will be seeded at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. All athletes who have currently qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials are listed below, but only the top-eight have received a ranking. At the seeding meeting in Iowa City, all of the athletes entered will receive a seed and byes will be placed accordingly to the highest seeded wrestlers. Official U.S. Olympic Team Trials seeding per weight class is subject to change based upon the coaches seeding meeting after wrestlers weigh-in in Iowa City. Men's freestyle rankings were released on April 1. The Greco-Roman rankings will be released tomorrow on April 6. U.S. Olympic Team Trials Women's Freestyle Qualifier Rankings 48 kilos:. Top Eight Ranking 1. Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 2. Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Clarissa Chun, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) 4. Erin Golston, Lake In The Hills, Ill. (New York AC/OTC) 5. Nicole Woody, Odenton, Mich. (Terrapin WC) 6. Cody Pfau, Brush, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) 7. Breonnah Neal, Clemons, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC) 8. Marina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) Additional qualifiers Regina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) Candace Workman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) Sarah Allen, Huber Heights, Ohio (Cumberlands) Ashley Iliff, Newton, N.J. (King) Tayler Resuriz, League City, Texas (McKendree) Alesha Zappitella, Brighton, Mich.(unattached) Brittney Taylor, Omaha, Neb. (Omaha) 53 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Helen Maroulis, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) 2. Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 3. Michaela Hutchison, Lebanon, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Haley Augello, Lockport, Ill. (NYAC/OTC) 5. Katherine Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC) 6. Sarah Hildebrandt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC) 7. Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) 8. Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (New York AC) Additional qualifiers Jessica Medina, Champaign, Ill. (Sunkist Kids) Deanna Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) Samantha Klingel, Kregesville, Pa. (King) Cady Chessin, Los Gatos, Calif. (Menlo College) Shelby Morrison, Amarillo, Texas (Oklahoma City) Amy Fearnside, Jamestown, N.D. (Titan Mercury WC) Rachel Archer, Winlock, Wash. (Oklahoma City Univ.) Dajan Treder, Anchorage, Alaska, (Jimmie WC) Christina Powell, Powder Springs, Ga. (Missouri Valley) 58 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 2. Teshya Alo, Honolulu, Hawaii (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Kelsey Campbell, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) 4. Kayla Miracle, Campbellsville, Ky. (Sunkist Kids) 5. Leigh Jaynes-Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 6. Maya Nelson, Denver, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 7. Jenna Burkert, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 8. Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC) Additional qualifiers Randi Beltz, Chesterfield, Mo. (Titan Mercury WC) Arian Carpio, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) Megan Black, Batavia, Iowa (McKendree) Dominique Parrish, Scotts Valley, Calif. (Simon Fraser) Natalia Hinojo, El Paso, Texas (Oklahoma City) Shelby Hall, Doylestown, Ohio (Campbellsville) Rosemary Flores, Staten Island, N.Y. (Campbellsville) Tarkiya Mensah. Katy, Texas (Wayland Baptist) Trinity Griffin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) Lauren Louive, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) 63 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) 2. Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 3. Amanda Hendey, San Gabriel, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) 4. Jennifer Page, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) 5. Mallory Velte, Sacramento, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) 6. Alexis Porter, Ballston Lake, N.Y. (NYAC/MWC) 7. Hannah Jewell, Grand Blanc, Mich. (King University) 8. Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) Additional qualifiers Monica Ramirez, Baldwin Park, Calif. (Lindenwood) Francesca Giorgio, Reading, Pa. (Simon Fraser) Maggie Douma, Napa, Calif. (Oklahoma City) Olivia Seppinni, Rocklin, Calif. (McKendree) Shai Mason (Jamestown, N.D./Titan Mercury WC) Rachael Shannon, Ballwin, Mo. (Xtreme Training) Axa Molina, Federal Way, Wash. (Lindenwood Women's Wrestling) 69 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Tamyra Mensah, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) 2. Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) 3. Brittney Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 4. Julia Salata, Canton, Mich. (NYAC/OTC) 5. Forrest Molinari, Benicia, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) 6. Rachel Watters, Ankeny, Iowa (Gator/OKCU Women's RTC) 7. Jessika Rottier, Little Suamico, Wis. (Cumberlands) 8. Veronica Carlson, Rock Hill, S.C. (New York AC) Additional qualifiers Lisa Gonzalez, Rio Grande City, Texas (Lindenwood Women`s WC) Brittany David, St. Charles, Mo. (Lindenwood Women`s WC) Lorrie Ramos, Williamsburg, Ky. (Titan Mercury WC) Hanna Gladden, Gadsden, Ala. (EAWC) 75 kilos: Top Eight Ranking 1. Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 2. Jackie Surber, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) 3, Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 4. Victoria Francis, Litchfield, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC) 5, Niauni Hill, Oakland, Calif. (Lindenwood Women`s WC) 6. Alyssa LaFrancis, Escondido, Calif. (Cumberlands) 7. Brandy Lowe, Paxico, Kan. (Bearcat WC) 8. Katerina Lobsinger, Martinez, Calif. (Combat Sports Academy) Additional qualifiers Nahiela Magee, Lancaster, Calif. (Wayland Baptist) Hanna Hall, Doylestown, Ohio (Campbellsville) Tiaira Scott, Chicago, Ill. (Campbellsville) Kierra Boyce, Plugersville, Texas (Wayland Baptist) Renee Samano, Veneta, Ore. (Jamestown) Tanya Kusse, Ballwin, Mo. (Xtreme Training) Mary Westman, Cattaraugus, N.Y. (Jimmie WC)