InterMat Staff

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The 16th-ranked Missouri Tigers took to the mat for the first time Friday night, taking the season opener 23-9 at the hands of the North Dakota State Bison. Mizzou won seven of the first eight bouts at Bison Sports Arena in Fargo, N.D., en route to their first win in 2013-14. Junior-captain Johnny Eblen set the tone for the Tigers on Friday, defeating 184-pound counterpart Kurtis Julson by decision, 5-2, in the opening match. After a scoreless first period, Eblen picked up an escape point in the second period after starting in the down position to take the lead. He would fall behind in the third after a Julson reversal, but an escape and a late takedown in the third sealed the victory and three team points for the Tigers. True freshman J’den Cox followed suit at 197-pounds, tabbing six takedowns against North Dakota’s Colt Castlebury in his first career collegiate match, a 14-4 victory by major decision. Head Coach Brian Smith opted to leave the redshirt off of Cox and fellow freshman Barlow McGhee in 2013-14, dressing both for the Tigers season debut. McGhee also won his first dual match, a 5-2 decision over 125-pounder Hunter Weber after two first period takedowns and an escape in the third period. “With Barlow (McGhee), he has just been the best guy in the practice room for the past three or four weeks,” said Smith following the team’s first win. “And with Alan Waters redshirting and with the possibility of Barlow wrestling at 125-pounds again next year, we thought that this year would present us with a good opportunity to get him some experience.” “And with J’den (Cox), the coaches have all the confidence in the world that he can do great things this year. He’s mature enough and he knows he can get better. He’s a hungry wrestler with the potential to bring great things to this team already.” With Mizzou holding on to a 13-0 lead after the first four matches, seniors Eric Wilson and Kyle Bradley, and 2013 All-American Drake Houdashelt added wins to seal Missouri’s first victory. Wilson fell behind 2-0 after an early takedown by Justin Scherkenbach in the first period, but he would respond with a takedown of his own, supplemented by two more escape points en route to a 4-2 win. Houdashelt added a 6-1 decision over Tyler Diamond at 149-pounds, and Bradley quickly followed with a major decision fueled by a 5-point third period over NDSU’s Matthew Gray. The night’s closest matchup came at heavyweight in a bout featuring MIzzou’s No. 16 Devin Mellon and North Dakota’s Evan Knutson. Scoring was hard to come by for both program’s ‘big men,’ as both were only able to muster up points on escapes through the first three frames. With the score knotted at two-a-piece, the match went to extra time, where Mellon was able to pick up the decisive point via riding time in the second tiebreaker, giving Mizzou three more team points with a 4-3 decision. North Dakota won three decisions on the night thanks to 18th-ranked Justin LaValle, 3rd-ranked 165-pounder Steven Monk and 174-pounder Hayden Zillmer. With the first win in the books, the Tigers will take a break from dual action until their next match scheduled for December 6th versus MAC-foe Ohio in Columbia. A total of 27 Tigers will make the short drive to South Dakota State for the WarrenWilliams/Daktronics Open set to take place this Sunday in Brookings, S.D. For news, pictures,interviews, and plenty more behind the scenes content from Tiger Style wrestling, follow us on Twitter (@MizzouWrestling), like us on Facebook andcheck out @MizzouTigerStyle on Instagram. Fans can also join the conversation by using the hashtag #TigerStyle all season long. Results: 184: Johnny Eblen (MU) won by decision over Kurtis Julson (NDSU) 5-2. (3-0 MU) 197: J`Den Cox (MU) won by major decision over Colt Castlebury (NDSU) 14-4. (7-0 MU) HWT: Devin Mellon (MU) won in tie breaker 2 over Evan Knutson (NDSU) 4-3. (10-0 MU) 125: Barlow McGhee (MU) won by decision over Hunter Weber (NDSU) 5-2. (13-0 MU) 133: Eric Wilson (MU) won by decision over Justin Scherkenbach (NDSU) 4-2. (16-0 MU) 141: Justin LaValle (NDSU) won by decision over Trevor Jauch (MU) 4-1. (16-3 MU) 149: Drake Houdashelt (MU) won by decision over Tyler Diamond (NDSU) 6-1. (19-3 MU) 157: Kyle Bradley (MU) won by major decision over Matthew Gray (NDSU) 10-2. (23-3 MU) 165: Steven Monk (NDSU) won by decision over Jordan Gagliano (MU) 6-1. (23-6 MU) 174: Hayden Zillmer (NDSU) won by decision over Mikey England (MU) 3-1. (23-9 MU)

BLACKSBURG -- The Virginia Tech wrestling squad held its annual Maroon & Orange intrasquad scrimmage Friday night inside Cassell Coliseum as the team continues to prepare for the season opener next weekend. “We did okay tonight as a group,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “It is hard to wrestle these intrasquad scrimmages. I felt the effort was there in most places. A few of our younger guys have done a poor job with their weight and it showed. Overall, we made progress tonight.” The Hokies will open the 2013-14 season next weekend in Salem, taking on Hofstra Friday night and then hosting the Hokie Duals and Hokie Open Sunday. All three events will be held inside the Salem Civic Center. Devin Carter will compete in the NWCA All-Star Classic Saturday (Nov. 2) in Fairfax, taking on Tony Ramos of Iowa. Below are the results from Friday night: 285: Ty Walz dec. Brandon Taylor, 10-5 285: Dan Garwood dec. Dawson Peck (285), 3-1 (OT) 125/133: Joey Dance (125) dec. Nick Anderson (133), 4-2 (OT-2) 133/141: Erik Spjut (133) maj dec. Cameron Bowen (141), 14-5 133/141: Dennis Gustafson (133) dec. Gerald Ronnau (141), 11-8 149/157: David Wesley (149) dec. Mason Mele (157), 14-5 157: Sal Mastriani dec. Chad Strube, 3-2 165: Chris Moon fall David Bergida, 5:24 157/149: Nick Brascetta (157) fall Mattheos Lozier (149), 5:54 174: Zach Epperly fall Brooks Morrison, 2:21 184/197: Nick Vetterlein (184) dec. Jared Haught (197), 8-4 184/197: John Dickson (184) dec. Bobby Lavelle (197), 2-0 197: Chris Penny dec. David Reck, 8-1 285 Final: Ty Walz dec. Dan Garwood, 3-2

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- While most of the Lehigh wrestling team readies to open its season Sunday at the Clarion Knight Point Open, two Mountain Hawks will be competing at the NWCA All-Star Classic Saturday in Fairfax, Va. Sophomore Mason Beckman was selected to compete in the All-Star meet last month. He will be joined by senior Joey Napoli, who was selected for the classic Friday as a replacement for Iowa’s Derek St. John was a late scratch due to illness. Napoli, the defending EIWA champion at 157, will take on Nestor Taffur of Boston University Saturday night. Napoli is ranked tenth in Amateur Wrestling News’ preseason rankings, while Taffur is ranked 11th. Last season, Napoli went 18-4, winning 18 of his first 20 bouts to claim the EIWA title and earn the No. 3 seed at the NCAA Championships. Beckman will be competing against A.J. Schopp of Edinboro in the NWCA All-Star Classic. Lehigh’s Deferred Eligibility Wrestler of the Year last season, Beckman enters this season ranked tenth at 133, while Schopp, a returning All-American is ranked fourth. This marks the first time since November 2004 that Lehigh will have two entrants in the All-Star Classic. That year, Cory Cooperman fell to Teyon Ware of Oklahoma at 141 and Troy Letters downed David Bolyard of Central Michigan at 165. The NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps will get underway at 7:15 p.m. at the Patriot Center on the campus of George Mason University. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster. On Sunday, Lehigh heads to Clarion, Pa. for the Clarion Knight Point Open. Among the teams joining Lehigh and host Clarion in the all-day event are Campbell, Indiana, Lock Haven, Maryland, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and VMI. The Mountain Hawks are planning to send more than 20 wrestlers including starters and wrestlers that are still competing for starting sports. Lehigh’s other two returning EIWA champions will compete at the Clarion Open as junior Nathaniel Brown and sophomore Randy Cruz move up to their new weight classes. Brown is the returning EIWA champion at 174 but will be moving up in class this year to 184. Last year, Cruz was Lehigh’s first true freshman EIWA Champion since 1980. Cruz wrestled at 133 last year and will be moving up to 141 with the return of Beckman at 133. At 184, senior Austin Meys has been cleared to return to competition after missing the last two seasons battling Guillain-Barre syndrome. Meys went 21-10 with 11 falls in 2010-11, his only official season of competition. Two of the more competitive spots in Lehigh’s lineup are 125 and 141 and both weight classes will be well represented at Clarion. True freshmen Darian Cruz, Artem Timchenko, Dean Somers and sophomore Cody Kievman are all slated to compete at 125, while the 141 field includes Randy Cruz, sophomore Laike Gardner, junior Jim Carucci and freshman Will Switzer. The competition at heavyweight will also continue with sophomore Max Wessell and freshman Doug Vollaro expected to compete. Action at the Clarion Knight Point Open is set for 9 a.m. from Clarion’s University Rec Center. Following this weekend’s action, the Mountain Hawks will open the dual meet season against Bucknell, Saturday Novembe

Related: NWCA All-Star Classic Live Blog Schedule: 10 a.m.: Virginia vs. Anderson; Gardner-Webb vs. West Virginia Noon: Virginia vs. Gardner-Webb; Anderson vs. West Virginia 2 p.m.: Virginia vs. West Virginia; Anderson vs. Gardner-Webb Virginia Quad

NWCA All-Star Classic

InterMat senior writer T.R. Foley answers reader questions about NCAA wrestling, international wrestling, recruiting, or anything loosely related to wrestling. You have until Thursday night every week to send questions to Foley's Twitter or email account. Do you want to read a past mailbag? Access archives. On Wednesday the NCAA announced its list of final candidate cities for hosting the 2015-2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Many of the cities mentioned were expected, while at least three came as surprises. Behind each of the bids is a difficult equation of profit and exposure, green space and safety that the Championships Committee of the NCAA must figure into their final decisions. What sinks some efforts and elevates others is still a mystery, but there are some powerful indicators as to why each city was chosen. It's important to notice which cities are notably absent from the final lists: Des Moines and Atlanta ... the latter of which many assumed was going to bid did not make it through. Des Moines' arena seats less than 18,000 fans, a benchmark the NCAA has said before it would like to maintain. Also the city doesn't have a major national airport which drove up transportation costs for the schools -- all the cities included in the final list have one or more airports. New York City Venue: Madison Square Garden Host: Hofstra The Big Apple is the media capital of the world, and there is no question that the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will draw the most media attention of any finalist city. Reporters enjoy convenience and with a new tournament style like wrestling in the city, The hipsters of Williamsburg will be sure to pedal over and file snarky reports from their day at the matches. New York City is expensive for hotels and taxis, but cheap for flights, and that convenience might also factor into the number of fans making trips from the tri-state area. Pennsylvania and New Jersey will put plenty of butts in the seats. Despite the positives, wrestling is a normally low-income sport with a large Midwestern fan base -- a move to New York City might help develop the media outreach, but could endanger the tradition of fans in Iowa and Oklahoma. Pittsburgh Venue: CONSOL Energy Center Host: West Virginia How did I miss this as a great option? I blame myself. The city most associated with high school wrestling greatness, Pittsburgh will sell out each and every seat in a matter of hours, but will it be a the right city to host wrestling's biggest event? My good friends and former roommates were born Pittsburgh and though I could do without "yinz" and the need to profess the greatness of crappy lagers, I can get down with Pittsburgh. The people in Pittsburgh are kind and the pizza is tasty. More than the generosity of the denizens to both my heart and taste buds, the hotels are top of the line and there is a life on the streets after the final session. No more patrolling for a White Castle at 11 p.m. because room service is closed. The Pittsburgh Airport services plenty of flights and the driving traffic will be ideal for much of the east coast. Again, the Midwesterners who've enjoyed good driving distances for several years are the ones taking one to the shins, but the sport needs to build up a base of younger fans and moving to a destination that can be as much party as it is singlets and school cheering, will attract younger, wealthier fans. Also, for building a nationwide story, an event moored in a destination known for wrestling will attract more national news coverage. Louisville Venue: KFC YUM Center Host: Louisville/Louisville Sports Commission Cue the intrigue! Why would Louisville bid? I didn't know so I called the sports office and asked. My guy Josh Heird, Louisville's Assistant AD for Facilities and Championships, told me that they saw the love, excitement and passion around wrestling and wanted to be part of the action. "We looked at all the bids out there. Look at the excitement around wrestling and about three years ago we started formulating a plan." Though the Louisville Cardinals don't have a wrestling program, Heird said that the lack of school focus would be better since it would be an "A-plus experience for all schools." Louisville has good hotel options, including large convention centers and a pretty nifty downtown. For drivers from the Midwest, Louisville is reachable by four wheels, but not so for the East Coast. Washington D.C. is nine hours away. New York City would have to drive, and you can expect there would be very little local participation. I did ask the $64,000 question: Does this mean Louisville is interested in using its surplus of athletic funds to start a wrestling program? Heird didn't answer but did direct to me the athletic director, who he mentioned "loves wrestling and has a son who wrestled through high school." Wells Fargo Center hosted the 2011 NCAAs in Philadelphia (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Philadelphia Venue: Wells Fargo Center Host: Rider/Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference The City of Brotherly Love managed one of the most successful and profitable NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and was the motivation for many other non-traditional East Coast cities to bid. If Philly wins, fans will struggle with getting accommodations close to the arena, but should have a fantastic assortment of dining options. Sellout is guaranteed, but can their margins hold up against other, less-expensive cities? Cleveland Venue: Quicken Loan Arena Host: Mid-American Conference/Greater Cleveland Sports Commission A blend of Pittsburgh's tradition and St. Louis Midwestern appeal, Cleveland is the safest, risky option on the docket. There isn't anything it can offer that competitors won't do better. Media is best in NYC and Pittsburgh's regional obsession is more complete. However, Cleveland has a nice downtown area, an up-and-coming restaurant scene, and plenty of local fans to fill the stands. But is Cleveland the direction that NCAA wrestling wants to take? St. Louis Venue: Scottrade Center Host: Missouri/St. Louis Sports Commission The safest choice on the list, St. Louis has become the location that wrestling fans have most closely associate with a semi-permanent location. Good airport access, drivable from much of the Midwest and with an empty but traversable downtown, St. Louis is a safe a choice for the NCAA Championships committee. Kansas City Venue: Sprint Center Host: Missouri/Kansas City Sports Commission Few cities are less attractive to me than Kansas City. Sorry! I know that we have readers who love the dining scene and promise that beers downtown can be fun, but I don't see the city meeting many of the criteria that will help the sport to grow in the eyes of the media. It's not a regional powerhouse, has limited tradition as a host and isn't a top-flight destination for young fans who want to get involved in the sport. Oklahoma City Venue: Chesapeake Energy Arena Host: Oklahoma State/Oklahoma City All Sports Association I'm ready for 2014! The final award will be announced on December 11th. To your questions ... Q: What is better to wear under your singlet: jockstrap or compression shorts? Or is it up to the preference of the individual wrestler, and why? -- Gregg Y. Foley: I struggle with this every time I get dressed for wrestling class. Nothing seems to fit perfectly, and when you are in a variety of positions it's likely that you'll either encounter a wedgie in your boxers, or some uncomfortable shift while wearing jockstraps. In college the preference was for the two-strap, backless jock strap. Everything stayed in place which meant less crotch adjustment. However, I'm 32 years old and though I don't easily blush, I think that wearing a jock strap out of college whiffs of desperation for my competition days. There is too much hair on my chest to be mistaken for a young collegiate stud, so why wear ass-less underwear in a locker room? High school, or college? I'm strappin' in tight. Taxpaying citizen in their thirties with a receding hairline? I'll stick to the tight boxer briefs and deal with the frustration of adjustment. I embrace my fall into physical irrelevance one piece of modest and sensible clothing at a time. Q: On Sept. 8 Flowrestling.com posted an article with the proposed new 6-6-6 weights for the senior level, and Flo stated that the weights would be finalized at FILA's Technical Commission during the World Championships. However, I haven't been able to find any official statement listing the revised weight classes. Do you know what weight classes FILA decided on or if that is still under debate? Also, what are your thoughts on how the proposed weights left a huge gap at what was formerly 60 kilos? -- Jeff S. Foley: The revised weight classes will be distributed by FILA in the coming weeks. Though 60 kilos was eliminated for Olympic years, there was discussion of adding the weight class, or something nearby, back to the program during non-Olympic qualifying World Championships. Of course, the reduction of a weight class wasn't a decision that the FILA leadership made with ease, but in order to keep the sport in the Olympics they felt mandated to balance the opportunities for men's and women's wrestling. The new weight classes won't be the ones from the article you read on Sept 8. Instead you'll see something to take the sting off the loss of 60 kilos and probably a variety of weight classes between freestyle and Greco-Roman -- something FILA had been trying to accomplish for a while to help the sports become more identifiable. Keep your eyes out for more information this week or next. Q: Troy Lamson, who competes on scholarship in wrestling for Michigan State, fights amateur MMA and holds a 16-0 record. Are there any rules against competing in amateur MMA while on scholarship? What if you get hurt? -- Gregg Y. Foley: Without speaking to Troy or his coaches, I'm certain they aren't thrilled he's taking right hooks to the head in the offseason. However, if they see his scholarship as paying off for them, there is no reason they wouldn't keep paying. Plenty of college wrestlers spend their offseason playing Call of Duty. I think training in amateur MMA is much healthier and productive. Lamson isn't a starter at the moment, but seems to be a good backup, earning an 11-7 overall record last season. Not everyone can be an NCAA champion. The room needs workout partners. Lamson very well might be an excellent workout partner and teammate -- one that you would hesitate to piss off. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Brent Metcalf used to be a skater Johnny Hendricks is going for the belt ... Q: Now that we have a glimpse of what Tour ACW is offering with wrestling and we saw what Agon has tried, what are your thoughts? -- J. Martin Foley: I think that the two could learn a lot from each other. For me, the wrestling on both sides was watchable, but the matches are far too long. Once the outcome is known, the fans will lose interest and disengage from the product. Tour ACW is more open to participants. Though I doubt I'd make it to ten points in a match, there is nothing restricting me from attempting to win a grand prize. That ability to make some scratch while in the coaching aspect of your life is appealing to guys like Jarrod Garnett, and if we can keep him in the college ranks a few more years because he is make a few grand from events, then it's a win. Compared to Tour ACW, Agon was a spectacle. The guys at the front of the organization are all opinionated and passionate, and that drives a certain feel of hyper energy through the event. Unfortunately, the details are important, and I think that those got lost in their premier event. They profess new ideas and are passionate in pursuing them to their logical ends -- it's commendable and even admirable. I don't think the marquee matchups offered by Agon are a grassroots approach to building the sport, but more of a top-down method that could succeed in creating celebrities, which in turn helps drive the passion and commitment of youth wrestlers. The trash-talking in Agon is entertaining, and though it doesn't bother me, I can see how some parents might not want their child entering a sport with standoffs and the rest. The fear is that Agon and wrestling becomes too closely associated with professional wrestling, and even MMA. Agon can avoid those comparisons by tamping down the unnecessary trash talking and working on putting the touches on the production side of their operation. I'm still advocating for a takedown-only style and am willing to bring on a partner! Q: Do you happen to know why Solomon Chishko and Joey Galasso missed the Super 32 Challenge? I was looking for the names in the brackets and couldn't find them anywhere. -- Brian K. Foley: Word around the Xbox is that Chishko was sidelined by the Chickenpox (yes, it still happens) and Galasso was out with a fairly serious shoulder injury, but is expected to return in late December or early January. Q: Just looking at the finals from the Super 32 Challenge, PA was obviously dominant. But looking at it closer, District 7 in PA was unusually dominant in the lower weights. Of the first six matches, a wrestler from that district either won or was in the finals or both. And if Solomon Chishko would've wrestled it probably would have been the first eight matches. Would you attribute this to the youth programs, coaching or something else? It seems their doing something different from the other programs to be that dominant. -- Henry C. Foley: According to Josh Lowe ...There is a litany of reasons why WPIAL is better than others when it comes to their performance at the Super 32 -- willingness to participate in this type of event, strong culture and tradition for wrestling, and excellent coaching. WPIAL finalists at the Super 32 Challenge: 106: Curry 113: Lee (champion) 120: Both (Pletcher 5, Phillippi 4) 126: Forys 132: Both (Krivus 2, Kemerer 1 TB) 138: Nolf (champion) 152: Kelly *Burrell resident who attends Kiski Prep 182: Zavatsky (champion) Yes, Chishko would've been favored at 145, though that is no guarantee (see Forys over Thorn in the semis). Six of those wrestlers (Lee, Pletcher, Krivus, Kemerer, Nolf, and Zavatsky) were on the Young Guns WC Disney Duals team that torched their way to a title this summer; 10-plus wins each dual.COMMENT(S) OF THE WEEK By Russ W. Last year I emailed you about Jason Chamberlain being underestimated in the early rankings. This year I want to alert you to another BSU wrestler who may receive much more attention by the time the NCAAs roll around. Carson Kuhn was the Dave Shultz winner for Utah way back in 2009. Since then he has trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, wrestled internationally, and gone on a mission. By Middle School Coach For my middle school I went right to fight shorts and my numbers are up 300 percent. Last year 9 this year 27. (I just added another.) THE SINGLET IS DEAD.

Bellator 106 was shaping up to be a potentially disappointing pay-per-view idea anchored by a fight between two past-their-prime UFC washouts nobody asked for. However, with Tito Ortiz hurt and the card moved back to basic cable, things suddenly seem more interesting. Richard and John analyze the main card, headlined by lightweight titlist Michael Chandler against Eddie Alvarez and featherweight champ Pat Curran versus Daniel Straus. Do you want to listen to a past episode? Access archives.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Purdue wrestling team will contest starting roles at the Black & Gold Matches Saturday at 10 a.m. ET in Lambert Fieldhouse. Eight decisive bouts will take place, along with four exhibition matches. The Black & Gold Matches are free and open to the public. The 2013-14 Boilermakers begin competition at the Michigan State Open on Nov. 9. The first home dual of the season will be one to be remembered as Purdue will celebrate 100 years of wrestling while hosting Duke on Nov. 16. It marks the return of former assistant coach Glen Lanham, who is now at the Blue Devil helm, and two legendary Purdue grapplers, Jake Patascil and Ben Wissel, who are assistants under Lanham. Half of the Boilermakers' 14 duals will be against teams that finished among the top 20 at the 2013 NCAA Championships. They will take on familiar Big Ten Conference foes and meet a handful of opponents for the first time in years. Head coach Scott Hinkel has his Purdue team in three marquee tournaments to prepare for the 2014 Big Ten Championships and the grand finale at the 2014 NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla. Leadership and experience are key factors to success and the 2013-14 Boilermakers have that with five returning NCAA qualifiers and four Big Ten Championships placewinners. Their experience, combined with their range of weights, has brought a heightened drive and intensity into the wrestling room. A strong, healthy lineup has returned after battling hankering injuries and off-season surgeries. Even though half of the lineup has postseason credentials, they still have to earn their starting role. PurdueSports.com has broken down each weight class: who's the front-runner to earn a starting spot, who has changed weight classes and who has earned preseason recognition. Gold & Black bouts are unveiled at the conclusion of the 2013-14 preview. 125: Veteran Camden Eppert enters his final campaign at Purdue with high aspirations after narrowly missing a third-straight trip to the NCAA Championships last year. The senior is looking to have his best season yet after an off-season surgery that questioned whether or not he would return to the mat. His recovery, and what he has shown in the wrestling room, is beyond what was expected. Earning preseason national rankings, Eppert is aiming for a podium finish in Oklahoma City. Eppert posted a 23-13 record as a junior, with a team-high nine wins via major decision. His 14 reversals earned him a spot on the single-season top-20 list, tied for 18th, and pushed him into a tie for 11th on the all-time list with 33. In conference duals, the Anderson, Ind., native surrendered just three takedowns while registering a 6-2 mark. Despite Eppert's credentials, redshirt sophomore Luke Schroder and true freshman Aaron Assad will also be contending for the starting role at 125. Schroder wrestled at 125 as a true freshman in 2011-12, filling in as Eppert battled illness and injury, finishing 9-14. He took a redshirt last year while listed at 133, but will drop back down for his second season. 133: Like Eppert, Cashè Quiroga narrowly missed a third trip to the NCAA Championships last season after battling multiple injuries that limited him to just 13 matches. Quiroga's determination to become a two-time All-American has stood out early in practice. Although he had a shortened season as a junior, Quiroga owned a 10-3 record, highlighted by a trio of major decisions and tech falls, and had a team-high 68 takedowns. He currently sits at eighth on Purdue's career takedown chart with 289 and averages 96.3 takedowns per season. At that rate, he could be closing in on finishing among the top-three all-time. Willie Wineberg (1996-99) is third with 387 takedowns. The senior hailing from Indianapolis, Ind., has also garnered preseason attention, landing among the top 20 in two polls. Quiroga is being pushed by redshirt freshman Kyle Ayersman and true freshman Luke Welch, who is the younger brother of Doug and Chad. 141: With Brandon Nelsen making the move to 149 pounds, the competition at 141 has heightened. Redshirt junior Nick Lawrence saw action in four duals, winning three bouts, and competed in six open tournaments, including a first-place finish at the Indianapolis Greyhound Open with a pair of tech falls, for a 17-9 record a year ago. Danny Sabatello makes the move up to 141 after spending his redshirt freshman season at 133, where he went 11-8. He had a team-best four tech falls which helped him earn the second-most back points among returners with 39. This is also one of the weights where Alex Griffin, a redshirt freshman from Lafayette, Ind., could be a contender as he shifts from 157. Also in the mix is true freshman Cody Pae, a two-time Missouri High School state champ. 149: For the past two seasons, Brandon Nelsen has been the mainstay at 141, but with the graduation of All-American Ivan Lopouchanski, he makes the move to 149. Nelsen qualified for his first NCAA Championships a year ago after a fourth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships. He has twice led the Boilermakers with nine pins in each of his first two seasons, which is tied for 17th on the single-season record list, and his 18 career falls are tied for 14th. The Indianapolis, Ind., native has received preseason recognition, although two polls have him listed at 141. WrestlingReport.com included Nelsen on its 149 list, checking in at No. 23. Griffin could also be in contention at 149, in addition to 141. True freshman Josh Farrell is also in the mix at 149. 157: With the loss of two-time NCAA qualifier Tommy Churchard to graduation, determining who will be the starter at 157 pounds will impact the Boilermakers all the way up to 184 with numerous wrestlers being able to compete at different weight classes. Heading into the Black & Gold Matches, four names are in the mix at 157: Kyle Mosier, Doug Welch, Dustin Schultz and Riley McClurg. Mosier has competed for Purdue at a wide-range of weights over the course of three years with a career record of 38-38 combined with matches at 164, 174 and 184. The Yorktown, Ind., native, has appeared in the Big Ten Championships each season for the Boilermakers. Welch is also making the move from 165 to 157. During his initial season, he wrestled all but one of his 22 matches at 165 for a 13-9 record. Seven of his wins resulted in bonus points with four pins, two major decisions and one tech fall. Redshirt junior Dustin Schultz is the only one out of four contenders that has wrestled at 157, with majority of his action coming at open tournaments. He is 17-16 in two seasons with one dual appearance. McClurg is a true freshman trying to gain an edge amongst the veterans. 165: Pat Robinson went 23-15 as the starter at 165 pounds last season and his 58 takedowns are the third most among returners. During his redshirt sophomore campaign, Robinson won five-consecutive matches on two occasions, placed third at the Eastern Michigan Open and fifth at the Northern Iowa Open. Add Chad Welch, who was a NCAA qualifier at 174 pounds in his first season as a Boilermaker, into the conversation of potential starters at 165. Welch finished with a 22-15 record and an eighth-place showing at the Big Ten Championships. Redshirt sophomore Andy Hoselton is eyeing his dual debut after appearing in five open tournaments in his first year. 174: Chad Welch could also resume his duties at 174, where WrestlingReport.com has tabbed him 26th in its preseason poll. Another starter from last season, Patrick Kissel, also wants to retain his role. Kissel (21-9) split the load for Purdue at 184 pounds alongside Andy Wiseman (12-8) while battling injuries. He has dropped down a weight class for his redshirt junior campaign, but so has Wiseman. Preston Quam wrestled his first three collegiate matches at 285 (2-1) before moving to 197 (2-4) for his six other bouts. For his redshirt sophomore season, he has cut to 174. Also providing support is true freshman Jacob Morrissey, who posted a pair of undefeated seasons in high school and won three Wisconsin state titles. 184: Like Welch at 174, Kissel could also hold steady at his starting role at 184. He made his first appearance in a national poll, checking in at No. 19 in the W.I.N. Magazine preseason 184 list. If Kissel opts to wrestle at 174, a trio of redshirt freshmen is ready for an opportunity to become a starter in their first season of competition: Tanner Lynde, Luke Schmidt and Andrew Hissom. Lynde, a product of Delphi High School where he was teammates with 197-pounder Braden Atwood, became the first state champion in school history, winning the 189 pound Indiana title in 2012. He also posted the first undefeated season for Delphi with a record of 52-0 as a senior. Schmit and Hissom each were two-time high school state championship qualifiers in Minnesota and Michigan, respectively. Hissom wrestled his way to a podium finish, placing fifth at 189 as a senior. 197: This is one weight class for the Boilermakers without any questions with Braden Atwood. The junior captain has been recognized as a top-15 197-pounder in numerous preseason polls, listed as high as No. 13 by Amateur Wrestling News and W.I.N. Magazine. Atwood went 25-12 last year and earned an automatic berth to his second NCAA Championships, his first at 197, with an eighth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships. He led the team with 85 points scored in dual action a year ago. Among returners, the Delphi, Ind., native's 25 wins and seven falls rank second and his 35 back points is third. 285: A pair of wrestlers with experience as a starter, although at different weights, is vying for the job at 285. Redshirt senior Alex White led the way for Purdue as the starter a season ago finishing with a 10-19 record, with seven of his eight Big Ten bouts coming against top-20 competition. Drake Stein stepped in immediately as a freshman, serving as the 174-pound starter during the 2011-12 season. He tallied a 10-18 mark in his inaugural collegiate season, racking up six pins, one tech fall and one major decision. After taking a redshirt last year, Stein has bulked up and made the move to 285 where he looks to contend with White for the starting role. Looking for their first opportunity to step on the mat wearing the Old Gold & Black are redshirt freshman Tyler Kral and true freshman Andrew Geers. Kral took home the 220-pound Indiana High School state title as a senior and Geers compiled a 131-29 record with 63 wins via fall, capping off his high school career as the Illinois High School 3A runner-up. Black & Gold Bouts 125 - Camden Eppert vs. Luke Schroeder 125 - Aaron Assad vs. Luke Welch (exhibition) 133 - Cashè Quiroga vs. Kyle Ayersman 141 - Nick Lawrence vs. Danny Sabatello 149 - Brandon Nelsen vs. Alex Griffin 157 - Doug Welch vs. Kyle Mosier 165 - Pat Robinson vs. Andy Hoselton 174 - Patrick Kissel vs. Jacob Morrissey 184 - Andy Wiseman vs. Luke Schmit (exhibition) 197 - Braden Atwood vs. Tanner Lynde (exhibition) 285 - Alex White vs. Drake Stein 285 - Tyler Kral vs. Andrew Geers (exhibition)

Travis Rutt, a native of New Prague, Minn., was a 2011 NCAA Division I All-American at 184 pounds while attending the University of Wisconsin. Rutt has since transferred to the University of Oklahoma, and returns to NCAA competition this season after an Olympic redshirt season followed by a redshirt season. He enters this season ranked No. 5 at 197 pounds by InterMat. InterMat recently caught up with the Sooner senior. Travis Rutt (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)You've been out of the lineup for the past two seasons. How much are you looking forward to competing in the lineup this season for the Sooners? Rutt: I'm really excited. It's been two years since I've been part of a team atmosphere like that. It's going to be great. You spent time with your assistant coach Jared Frayer at Wisconsin, and then rejoined him at Oklahoma. How much did having Frayer at Oklahoma factor into your decision to become a Sooner? Rutt: It was like paving the way. It was pretty easy coming down on a visit since I had known him before. It really influenced my decision quite a bit right away. When I came down it was a perfect fit for me. Then it didn't matter that he was my coach before. You and Andrew Howe both made the move from Madison to Norman. Were you two set on staying together? Or is that just how things turned out? Rutt: We really wanted to stay together. We knew if it wasn't going to work out, then it wasn't going to work out. But we tried to stay at the same place and it ended up working out perfectly. Travis Rutt defeated Kevin Steinhaus to place seventh at the 2011 NCAAs (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)You were an All-American at 184 pounds in 2011. Now you're moving up to 197 pounds. How is that transition to 197 pounds going? Rutt: Putting on the weight hasn't been an issue. I wrestled 211 in the summer. I felt pretty good there. It has been a pretty easy transition so far. I haven't competed at 197 at all, though. Taylor Meeks of Oregon State is currently ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds. You made quick work of Meeks in freestyle this past spring, earning a fall in just 34 seconds. Did that win give you added confidence knowing that Meeks is the highest returning NCAA finisher at 197 pounds? Rutt: Yeah. It is a different style, so that plays a factor. But it's still going to be there … in the back of both of our minds. That win kind of finalized my decision to go up to 197 pounds. You could potentially meet Meeks at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in early December. Is that a potential matchup you look forward to more than other matches? Rutt: Yeah. He is the guy with the target on his back right now. You always want to wrestle the No. 1 guy. We have a dual with Oregon State later in the season too. I could potentially see him three or four times this year. Every time we meet it will be a good match and also be exciting. Mark CodyMark Cody is regarded as one of the nation's top college wrestling coaches. What's it like wrestling for him? Rutt: It's great. It's a really nice to have such a hands-on head coach. You competed in the starting lineup at Wisconsin as a true freshman in 2008-09. When you look back on that season now, what did that season do for your wrestling career? Rutt: I was just talking to some of the Oklahoma guys here about that last night. I think I had like seven wins, including open tournaments, before I was taken out of my redshirt. It was not a good year. I definitely took my lumps. It was great, though, because I feel like I learned so much faster through that than if I would have redshirted. I like that I was able to redshirt later. I knew what I needed to work on and where I lacked. So it was a lot easier to focus on things rather than not knowing as a true freshman. I definitely took my lumps. I had a lot of losses, but it helped in the long run. Travis Rutt competed in the 2012 Olympic Trials in Greco-Roman (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)You come from Minnesota, a Greco-Roman wrestling hotbed. You have competed in several national events in Greco-Roman, including the Olympic Team Trials in 2012. Do you have favor Greco-Roman over the other two styles? Rutt: I really enjoyed wrestling Greco-Roman growing up. I definitely had a better feel for it. Now I really don't know if I could pick a favorite. I'm planning on wrestling both styles at the World Team Trials next summer. You have coached some national teams in Fargo. Is coaching a potential career path for you? Rutt: Yeah, definitely. I really enjoy that, especially coaching the wrestlers who want to learn and get better, so it's always fun coaching in Fargo. I definitely could see myself coaching in the future. You're one of six All-Americans in the Sooner lineup this season. What does your team need to do to win an NCAA team title in Oklahoma City? Rutt: We're definitely going to need everybody to wrestle up to their potential and perform better than where they're going to be seeded. We'll probably have six guys ranked in the top eight coming into the tournament, and then the other guys are going to have to contribute to that as well. It's not just about the past All-Americans. It's about the other wrestlers too. That will play a big factor in how we finish. This story also appears in the Oct. 25 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.

EDMOND -- A foursome of returning All-Americans looked in mid-season form in rolling to easy wins as the Bronze edged the Blue 23-21 in Central Oklahoma’s annual intrasquad dual Wednesday night at Hamilton Field House. The Bronze won six of the 11 matches to earn the victory, sparked by back-to-back technical falls from All-American Jordan Basks at 149 pounds and defending national champion Cory Dauphin at 157. Returning national tournament placers Casy Rowell and Chris Watson paced the Blue, with Watson picked up a technical fall at 165 and Rowell a major decision at 133. “Some of our veteran guys looked pretty good and they should have,” UCO head coach David James said. “They showed their experience and took care of business, which was good to see. Some of the matches were a little rough, but it’s a start for us and we’re ready to get going.” Dauphin, who opens the season ranked No. 1 after winning last year’s national title, racked up nine takedowns, seven in the first period en route to a 23-7 rout that ended at the 5:55 mark. The second-ranked Basks had six takedowns and a pair of near-falls in his 20-5 technical fall. Rowell, a two-time All-American for the Bronchos who enters the season ranked No. 4, had three of his five takedowns in the opening period in earning a 15-5 win. The third-rated Watson jumped out to a 10-1 first-period lead behind three near-falls and two takedowns in his 20-5 technical fall. The Bronze team also got wins from 125 Ryan Brooks, 174 Kyle Buckley, 174 Kasey Wilcox and 197 Garrett Henshaw, with Wilcox picking up a 10-2 major decision and Henshaw a 4-3 overtime triumph on a reverse in the third tiebreaker period. Other winners for the Blue were 141 Dustin Reed, 184 Dylan Harmon and heavyweight John Finn. Reed had a 12-5 major decision, while Finn ended the match with the lone fall of the night at the 2:16 mark. UCO will take 20-25 individuals to the Oklahoma City Open Sunday to open the season. Results: 125: Ryan Brooks, Bronze, dec. Cooper Finch, 2-1. 133: Casy Rowell, Blue, major dec. Gunner Laffoon, 15-5 141: Dustin Reed, Blue, major dec. Anthony Mica, 12-5. 149: Jordan Basks, Bronze, tech. fall Brett Dunning, 20-5 157: Cory Dauphin, Bronze, tech. fall LeSean Sanders, 23-7. 165: Chris Watson, Blue, tech. fall Kyle Driscoll, 20-5. 174: Kyle Buckley, Bronze, dec. Zach Aylor, 8-3. 174: Kasey Wilcox, Bronze, major dec. Jacob Lamb, 10-2 184: Dylan Harmon, Blue, dec. Cason Montgomery, 7-3. 197: Garrett Henshaw, Bronze, dec. Michael Conner, 4-3 (TB). Heavyweight: John Finn, Blue, pinned Quinn Hulsey

CHICAGO -- With the Big Ten seeking its eighth straight national championship, BTN’s 2013-14 wrestling coverage, presented by returning sponsor Cliff Keen Athletic, will be the most extensive in network history. The television schedule includes a dual between Penn State and Iowa, winners of the past six national titles, a Monday night meet in primetime between Ohio State and Purdue, and live coverage of the entire Big Ten Wrestling Championships hosted by Wisconsin. Although Penn State and Iowa were not originally scheduled to meet as a result of the Big Ten’s rotating slate of eight regular-season duals, the two schools agreed to arrange a non-conference dual. The two schools have met every year since 1982. Additionally, a record 48 events will be streamed live on the Big Ten Digital Network (BTDN). A large number of those streamed events will also be televised on delay as Student U. BTN’s coverage of the regular season begins with Duke at Purdue, which will stream live on BTDN at 3 PM ET on Nov. 16. With the passionate wrestling community continuing to grow, more and more fans are turning to BTN as their home for Big Ten wrestling. Last year, BTN’s wrestling coverage saw a double-digit increase in ratings. “Wrestling attracts an extremely engaged and enthusiastic fan base,” said BTN President Mark Silverman. “With the strength of the Big Ten in the sport, the audience will only continue to grow.” According to InterMat’s rankings, the Big Ten is expected to open the 2013-14 season with the three top teams in the country with No. 1 Penn State, No. 2 Iowa and No. 3 Minnesota. Nebraska and Wisconsin are also included in the top-10, at seven and eight, respectively. The final session of the 2014 Big Ten Wrestling Championships will be televised live at 2 PM ET on Sunday, March 9. With nine ranked individuals heading into the season, Penn State will look to capture its fourth-straight Big Ten Championship under Coach Sanderson. Minnesota and Iowa finished second and third, respectively, at the Big Ten Championships last season. *BTN/BTN2GO brodcasts in bold Saturday, Nov. 16 Duke at Purdue 3:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Nov. 17 Duke at Indiana 11:00 AM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Nov. 17 Oregon State at Michigan 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Nov. 17 Cleveland State at Indiana 3:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Thursday, Nov. 21 Eastern Michigan at Michigan State 8:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Nov. 24 Stanford at Michigan 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Nov. 24 Wyoming at Minnesota 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Dec. 8 Pittsburgh at Penn State 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Dec. 8 West Virginia at Indiana 11:00 AM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Dec. 8 SIUE at Indiana 1:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Dec. 8 Wisconsin at Michigan State 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) Thursday, Dec. 12 Buffalo at Iowa 8:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Dec. 14 Manchester at Indiana 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Dec. 15 Ohio State at Penn State 12:00 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) Saturday, Dec. 21 Penn State at Iowa 9:00 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) Friday, Jan. 3 Wyoming at Nebraska 8:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Jan. 4 Indiana at Northwestern 4:30 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) Saturday, Jan. 4 Michigan State at Iowa 8:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 10 Indiana at Nebraska 8:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 10 Minnesota at Northwestern 8:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 10 Oklahoma State at Iowa 8:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Jan. 11 Pennsylvania at Nebraska TBA (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 12 Indiana at Iowa 3:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 17 Penn State at Indiana 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 17 Minnesota at Michigan State 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Jan. 18 Iowa at Nebraska 5:30 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) Sunday, Jan. 19 Minnesota at Michigan 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 19 Northwestern at Penn State 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 24 Wisconsin at Indiana 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 24 Michigan State at Michigan 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 24 Nebraska at Ohio State 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 24 Illinois at Penn State 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Jan. 25 Minnesota at Iowa 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) Sunday, Jan. 26 Illinois at Michigan State 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Jan. 26 Nebraska at Purdue 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 31 Purdue at Indiana 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 31 Penn State at Michigan State 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Jan. 31 Iowa at Northwestern 8:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, Feb. 1 Nebraska at Illinois 5:00 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) Sunday, Feb. 2 Indiana at Minnesota 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 2 Penn State at Michigan 3:30 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) Monday, Feb. 3 Ohio State at Purdue 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) Friday, Feb. 7 Michigan at Nebraska 8:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Friday, Feb. 7 Illinois at Purdue 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 9 Michigan State at Indiana 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 9 Northwestern at Illinois 3:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 9 Michigan at Iowa 3:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 9 Penn State at Minnesota 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) Friday Feb. 14 Olivet at Michigan State 7:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 16 NWCA National Duals – Day 1 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Monday, Feb. 17 NWCA National Duals – Day 2 TBA (TBA) Friday, Feb. 21 Nebraska at Wisconsin 8:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 23 Virginia Tech at Ohio State 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 23 Iowa at Wisconsin 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, Feb. 23 Clarion at Penn State 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, March 8 B1G Championships – Session 1 11:00 AM (LIVE on BTDN) Saturday, March 8 B1G Championships – Session 2 6:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, March 9 B1G Championships – Session 3 12:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, March 9 B1G Championships – 3rd Place Match 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTDN) Sunday, March 9 B1G Championships at Wisconsin 2:00 PM (LIVE on BTN/BTN2GO) All dates/times of scheduled events are subject to change. Please check www.BTN.com for most updated listings. About BTN: A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, BTN is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 800 events, all in HD, the 24/7 network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. BTN2Go is the 24/7 simulcast of BTN that delivers live and on-demand programming via the internet, smartphones and tablets to customers of participating video providers. Events include football, men’s and women’s basketball games; dozens of Big Ten Olympic sports and championship events; studio shows; and classic games. The network televises and streams more Olympic sporting events and women’s sports than has ever been aired on any other network. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation’s finest universities. The groundbreaking Student U initiative provides real-world experience for students interested in careers in sports television. The network is in more than 52 million homes across the United States and Canada, including carriage by all the major video distributors, such as DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Communications, Comcast Xfinity, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Mediacom, RCN, WOW!, Rogers Cable, Shaw and Shaw Direct (Canada) and approximately 300 additional video providers across North America. For additional information, go to www.BTN.com.

The NCAA on Wednesday announced the host site finalists for the final round of 81 of its 89 championships for the 2014-18 championship seasons. The finalists were selected by the respective sport committees, which are made up of coaches and administrators from NCAA member schools and conferences, from an original pool of 1,948 bids. The committees will select the winning sites, which must then be approved by the appropriate divisional championships cabinets/committees before being announced via webcast at NCAA.com on Dec. 11. The announcement also will include all pre-determined regional host sites. “We had a tremendous response to the request for bids which made this an extremely difficult process for our sports committees,” said Mark Lewis, NCAA executive vice president of championships and alliances. “We really feel these sites will all provide a tremendous experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. Therefore there will be some really difficult decisions by the sport committees coming up as they determine who will ultimately host the championships.” The 150 cities named as finalists for at least one championship are spread across 39 states and the District of Columbia. Ohio led the way as the state with the most finalist selections with 24 championship sites, while the state of Florida had 22 selections and North Carolina had 21. Louisville was the city that received the most selections with 13, while Columbus, Ohio, and Birmingham, Ala., both had eight. There are 213 hosting opportunities for the finals site of the 81 championships. Cities were able to bid for one or more years of the same championship. Division I | Division II | Division III | National Collegiate

T.R. Foley and Brian Muir discuss the idea of Iowa style and if it affects the development of youth wrestlers, set lines for the NWCA All-Star Classic and bemoan the existence of Homeland's Dana Brody -- the worst character in television history. Check out our Tumblr page at backpoints.tumblr.com. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "back points" and pushing SUBSCRIBE. Do you want to listen to a past episode? Access archives.

February 12, 2013: The day the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board voted to eliminate wrestling from the Olympics after the 2016 Games. The decision -- made, incredibly, on the 204th anniversary of the birth of wrestler-turned-President Abraham Lincoln -- was shocking, stunning, seemingly out of nowhere ... and pretty much universally derided. Individuals who didn't know a takedown from a touchdown -- as well as sportswriters, sportscasters and other non-wrestling media who usually don't cover the sport were suddenly up in arms. "You're getting rid of wrestling? That's an ancient sport. What are those idiots at the IOC thinking/drinking/smoking?" Wrestlers, coaches and fans around the world were just as stunned -- and even angrier. They got up off the mat, they mobilized -- and, enlisted the help of media experts -- to see if they could get the IOC to reverse its decision. Nearly seven months later -- September 8 -- the IOC membership voted to make freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling a provisional -- not core -- sport for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. What happened in that time period to make the IOC reverse course, and save the ancient sport of wrestling? That's the story of "Saving Wrestling: The Inside Story of the Sport's Epic Fight to Stay in the Olympics," the new book by award-winning wrestling writers Jamie Moffatt and Craig Sesker, just published by Exit Zero Publications. Prior to this latest effort, Moffatt had written four other books: "A Turning Point" (about Penn State hosting the 1953 NCAAs; written with Roger Olesen); "Wrestlers at the Trials;" "Strobel: Stories From A Life With Wrestling;" and "Adam Frey: A Collection of Blogs and Stories." Sesker, Communications Manager for USA Wrestling -- the governing body for the sport in this country -- has penned the books "Bobby Douglas: Life and Legacy of an American Wrestling Legend," and "Driven to Excellence." How the book came together "When I heard the news, I was as stunned as anyone," Jamie Moffatt told InterMat. "However, it occurred to me pretty quickly that it was a recommendation, not a final decision. I also knew that wrestlers wouldn't take it lying down." Jamie Moffatt"I immediately thought, 'Someone should chronicle this story.' Then it occurred to me that the story deserved more -- a behind-the-scenes look, what was going on with the IOC, USA Wrestling, the Russians, and the other parties involved." "I made some quick calls to contacts, seeking help to get a background perspective," Moffatt continued. "They fed me information that wasn't confidential." "In the beginning I gave wrestling a 50-50 chance." "I called Craig Sesker within the first two or three days. I know him, but hadn't worked with him. I asked if he would be willing to help. He was on board within ten minutes." "I started collecting articles. Ended up with 500, 600, 700 articles, from multiple sources. Looked for articles, quotes, whatever, to get my arms around the story, trying to organize my thoughts, and see where it might go, and write a rough version as I went. I didn't have an outline." "I went to some events in person," said Moffatt. "The first was the presentation at the U.N. (United Nations), and the Rumble on the Rails at Grand Central Station in New York." "I was working on this in real time, collecting info as it was happening. But I didn't start the actual writing process until after St. Petersburg (the site of the IOC meeting in late May where eight sports made presentations for inclusion at the Olympics; wrestling, along with squash and a combined baseball-softball bid made the cut for a vote in September in Buenos Aires)." Craig Sesker"I wanted the completed book out within a month of Buenos Aires." A division of labor helped make that goal a reality. "Craig Sesker did lots of the interviews -- (Dan) Gable, the kids at Fargo, Rich Bender (of USA Wrestling). He also went to the wrestling events in Los Angeles and at Niagara Falls. I covered what went on in New York, interviewed Stan Dziedzic." "All along, we both realized that it was very important for us to provide a behind-the-scenes, behind-closed-doors point of view," said Moffatt. "We didn't want just a chronology, or a documentary." What Moffatt and Sesker uncovered One of the strongest elements of "Saving Wrestling" is its ability to provide readers with a strong sense that you are there, sitting in on the meetings, presentations, discussions that were taking place all over the globe. That comes across early in the book, at the meeting of FILA, the international governing body for wrestling, in the glamorous resort of Phuket in Thailand, held just days after the IOC bombshell announcement but had already been on the schedule. "Saving Wrestling" paints a picture of behind-the-scenes intrigue as long-time FILA head Raphael Martinetti is maneuvered out of his job through a no-confidence vote ... but manages to be an ongoing -- and troubling -- presence throughout the book, and the international fight to return wrestling to the Olympics. "The immediate reaction was, 'The IOC has no idea of what it's doing, what a bunch of goofs,'" Jamie Moffatt told InterMat. "But, within days, leaders like Bill Scherr, (Stan) Dziedzic, USA Wrestling, said 'We can only hurt ourselves and our cause by condemning the IOC or the other sports in contention.'" That realization led to the use of professional media types -- public relations firms, advertising agencies, media consultants -- that had worked with the IOC in the past, for example, in helping cities such as Beijing land an Olympic host bid. "Saving Wrestling" provides details on how these organizations -- and the dedicated individuals working for them -- employed their experience and expertise to coordinate various communications efforts from FILA and its individual national governing bodies such as USA Wrestling, not just to the IOC, but to the worldwide wrestling community. The level of coordination and cohesive strategy from these media types, bringing together seemingly disparate organizations and individuals who seemed only to share a love of wrestling, is a marvel to this writer, who worked in advertising for more than two decades, and is one of the more fascinating elements of "Saving Wrestling." Or, to quote former Binghamton University wrestler-turned-actor Billy Baldwin, "Wrestling has done something no sitting president could do: it brought together the U.S., Russia, and Iran." How did this happen in the first place? Why did the IOC decide to strike wrestling from the Olympic programme -- a sport with ancient roots, and one of the original sports at the first Modern Olympics in 1896? "FILA was arrogant, cut off," according to Jamie Moffatt. "They were the only sport not at the IOC's February meeting. Wrestling considered itself to be above being eliminated." "The IOC couldn't help but notice the difference in attitudes between wrestling and modern pentathlon, a sport that was walking the gangplank, the sport everyone outside the IOC expected would get the axe. They were doing all the little things right. They attended all the meetings. They hobnobbed with IOC members over drinks after the meetings. By contrast, wrestling was arrogant, couldn't be bothered, failed to make connections. Modern pentathlon was part of the IOC fraternity; wrestling wasn't even on campus." Saving Wrestling also goes into detail on decisions made by FILA since the February 12 IOC announcement, such as rule changes to make the sport more exciting for fans in the stands -- as well as at home – and how to increase the role of women in the sport, not just by offering more opportunities for women to compete on the mat, but also to make decisions at FILA and its individual national organizations. “There are still things that need to be worked out,” Moffatt told InterMat. “There are still differences among the countries who want the rules to suit their advantages. For example, we still need to sort out the weight classes.” Even for wrestling fans who were eagerly, obsessively following news developments on the issue of “Will wrestling return to the Olympics?” the Saving Wrestling book will provide revelations that are surprising and fascinating. We all know how the story ends… yet it still makes for powerful, compelling, page-turning reading. It all goes back to Moffatt and Sesker’s ability to provide that behind-the-scenes, you-are-there perspective; even if they weren’t actually there, say, inside a meeting, they managed to talk to those who were, and shared those insider views. One other note: For a book that was essentially written on the fly and available to readers one month after the IOC’s good news out of Buenos Aires in September, Saving Wrestling serves up a very polished, professional presentation. Despite being the work of two writers, the narrative is seamless and seemingly of one voice. Adding to the quality impression is the top-notch graphic design, typesetting and photo-reproduction quality that is a hallmark of Exit Zero Publishing products. Saving Wrestling is available in as an e-book for Kindle readers from Amazon.com, or as an iBook for iPad or iPhone. It’s also available in softcover print format; contact Jamie Moffatt via email at emoffatt@aol.com to order.

Amateur wrestling took center stage on Sunday night at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas when Agon I debuted with its silver hexagon mat, high production value and pay-per-view stream. The event, which was held at the end of the Freakshow high school wrestling tournament, pit former collegiate wrestling stars in money matches in front of youth wrestlers and online subscribers. Though much of the attention was created by headliners Ben Askren and Quentin Wright, there were three other marquee matchups. The first match of the night saw 2010 NCAA champion Jay Borschel beat 39-year-old NCAA All-American and MMA star Aaron Simpson handily. Borschel, who is an assistant at Northwestern University, was in much better condition than Simpson and utilized several hi-crotch attempts to secure an 11-3 victory. Lance Palmer flexes at weigh-in (Photo/Urijah Faber)Two-time NCAA champion Jordan Oliver kept things going for the younger competitors, beating NCAA finalist and current undefeated RFA fighter Lance Palmer, 8-0. Oliver, who is considered one of the best 66-kilo freestyle wrestlers in the country, capitalized on several re-shots and quick finishes against the Team Alpha Male fighter. The third match of the night was saw 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas best 2011 World Team member Nick Simmons, 2-1. Abas, who won three NCAA titles for now-defunct Fresno State, was impressive enough for some to wonder if he should make a comeback on the freestyle circuit. Two-time NCAA champion Ben Askren earned a convincing 22-8 victory over recent Penn State graduate and two-time NCAA champion Quentin Wright, scoring quickly on a takedown and series of turns and holds. Looking to make a big splash in their first event, Agon offered larger than expected cash purses to several of wrestling's most marketable stars. Askren who is the current Bellator welterweight champion and the matchmaker for Agon, was paid $10,000 for his win over Wright. Though Agon wasn't willing to release the information for each of the purses, Askren confirmed that Oliver received $3,000 to show and another $3,000 for his win, while Jay Borschel was awarded $2,000 and $1,000. "Agon I put on a pro-level production value," said Askren on Monday. "And they paid wrestlers real money (for competing)." Though buffered by the monies collected by the high school fans in attendance, Agon struggled to promote the event outside of their distribution network on Flowrestling.com and through their Twitter feed. In addition to their promotional difficulties, the event was delayed an hour, leaving same fans to complain on Twitter. Though well short of the polish and professionalism of a major MMA or boxing promotion, Agon was mentionable among the best produced first-time wrestling events, outpacing what the NCAA produced in the early 90's. There were some preventable production mishaps (lack of pre-packaged highlights and an absence of on-screen scoreboards), but the variety of camera angles and addition of Daniel Cormier as a guest broadcaster were huge additions to the evening's event and appeal. "We were very disorganized before the event and there was lots of turmoil in getting this thing off the ground," assessed Askren. "It was very stressful. No full-time employees and no real exact responsibilities yet. That was part of the problem from an organizational level." "Lots of great ideas, though." Taking from the lessons they learned in Las Vegas Agon owners and operators, including Mike DiSabato and Ernie Ciaccio are already planning to host Agon II on Dec. 22 in Flint, Mich., in coordination with NUWAY's Mat Mayhem event. The lineup card is filled with compelling matchups, with a majority of the wrestlers hailing from the state of Michigan, a move Agon is hoping will attract more fans into the stands. Agon II lineup card: Chris Bono vs. Brent Metcalf Max Askren vs. Jon Reader Cam Simaz vs. Ben Bennett Andy Simmons vs. Kellen Russell

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Warner Pacific College Director of Athletics Jamie Joss has announced that the College will add men's and women's wrestling to its athletics program and begin intercollegiate competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 2014-15. The search for a head coach and recruitment of student-athletes will begin immediately. "We're thrilled to offer a robust athletics program that serves the needs of a wide variety of students," said Warner Pacific President, Andrea Cook. "I believe men's and women's wrestling will provide many students new avenues in which to pursue their higher education goals, while strengthening their character through the principles inherent in Knights Athletics." Warner Pacific previously fielded a men's wrestling program from 1968-75 led by local coaching legend and Warner Pacific Hall of Honor member, Dave Sanville. Under Sanville, the Knights amassed a 58-30-3 3 record in dual match competition and had 35 individuals qualify for the NAIA National Wrestling Championships including one NAIA All-American. Sanville continued to coach in the high school ranks for many years, including eight years at Bend High School (1976-84), and 17 years at West Linn High School (1984-2001). "Many top wrestlers in Oregon and Washington are forced to leave the state to pursue college wrestling, while others just stop wrestling after high school," said Director of Athletics, Jamie Joss. "The return of wrestling at Warner Pacific College provides wrestlers in our region with the opportunity to continue their pursuit of athletic excellence, while providing an outstanding urban Christ-centered liberal arts education. We are very excited to find the right coach to lead both programs and begin recruiting student-athletes who are ready to excel as champions on the mat, in the classroom, and in life." The College's decision to initiate a women's program is a historic addition for NAIA wrestling. Warner Pacific will become the 15th women's program in the NAIA, allowing women's wrestling to become a NAIA Recognized sport. Warner Pacific women's wrestling will be the third program in Oregon, joining non-NAIA programs at Pacific University and Southwest Oregon Community College. "Adding the women's program is a great opportunity for many of the top women's wrestlers from Washington to stay close to home, while also expanding the recruiting efforts of the College in California and Hawaii," Joss added. Women's wrestling is a recognized Olympic sport, and since 1994, the number of women participating in high school wrestling has grown from 804 to over 8,727. California, Guam, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Texas, and Washington sponsor a girl's state high school championship, while many girls compete for boys high school teams across the United States. The Knights women will compete both regionally and nationally in the Women's College Wrestling Association (WCWA). The National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) added a Women's Collegiate Division in 2008. The WCWA is the current governing body for all collegiate women's wrestling programs at NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA institutions. The WCWA competes in freestyle Olympic wrestling and includes the following weight classes (in pounds): 101, 109, 116, 123, 130, 136, 143, 155, 170 and 191. The Knights, along with Life University (Ga.), Lyon College (Ark.), and Ottawa University (Kan.), have committed to adding women's wrestling beginning in 2014-2015. They will join current NAIA women's wrestling programs including: Oklahoma City University, University of Jamestown (S.D.), Missouri Valley College, Wayland Baptist University (Texas), Missouri Baptist University, University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), Midland University (Neb.), Waldorf College (Iowa), Lindenwood University-Belleville (Mo.), Menlo College (Calif.), and Campbellsville University (Ky.). Warner Pacific's men's program is the fifth intercollegiate team in the state joining Clackamas Community College, Oregon State University, Pacific University and Southern Oregon University. The men's sport, which was added by the NAIA in 1958, is currently sponsored by 43 institutions across the United States. The NAIA Wrestling National Championship has 10 men's weight classes (in pounds): 125, 133, 141, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197 and 285. There are currently 280,000 high school students actively engaged in wrestling at the secondary education level. For information on recruiting and hiring within the Warner Pacific College wrestling program, contact Jamie Joss at 503.517.1261 or jjoss@warnerpacific.edu. Founded in 1937 in Spokane, Washington, as Pacific Bible College, Warner Pacific is a Christ-centered, urban, liberal arts college dedicated to providing students from diverse backgrounds an education that prepares them to engage actively in a constantly changing world. Learn more at www.warnerpacific.edu.

Finals Results: 70: Kellyn March (South Dakota) pinned Corey Gamet (Michigan) 75: Joshua Saunders (Missouri) maj. dec. Kurt McHenry (Virginia), 12-4 80: Colt Newton (Oklahoma) dec. Kyle Biscoglia (Iowa), 6-2 85: Adam Busiello (New York) dec. Colton Yapoujian (Colorado), 1-0 90: Gavin Teasdale (Pennsylvania) major dec. Patrick Glory (New Jersey), 14-0 95: Cade Olivas (California) maj. dec. Peyton Robb (Minnesota), 19-10 100: Thorius Robinson (Colorado) pinned Brian Stuart (Maryland) 105: Mitch Moore (Ohio) major dec. Andrew Merola (New Jersey), 10-2 112: Jarrett Trombley (Michigan) dec. Trevor Lawson (Ohio), 8-6 120: Grant Aronoff (Florida) dec. Sandro Ramirez (Ohio), 3-0 128: Ryan Thomas (Ohio) dec. John Manning (Utah), 4-2 136: Josiah Rider (Colorado) pin Cody Cochran (Georgia) 145: Mason Parris (Indiana) dec. Erich Byelick (Florida), 6-5 157: Brandon Whitman (Michigan) dec. Michael Beard (Pennsylvania), 4-2 180: Blake Barrick (Pennsylvania) dec. Anthony Walters (Pennsylvania), 3-0 235: John Holtzworth (Virginia) dec. Tanner Whitesell (Virginia), 2-0

106: 1st: Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) dec. Gage Curry (North Hills, Pa.), 3-0 3rd: Ty Agaisse (Delbarton, N.J.) dec. Ben Freeman (Walled Lake Central, Mich.), 2-1 5th: Tyler Warner (Claymont, Ohio) over Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) by default 7th: Kennedy Monday (Cardinal Gibbons, Fla.) pinned Brandon Cray (Steinert, N.J.), 2:27 113: 1st: Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) dec. Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), 3-1, SV 3rd: Jose Rodriguez (Massillon Perry, Ohio) dec. Kyle Norstrem (Brandon, Fla.), 5-1 5th: Dustin Warner (Claymont, Ohio) dec. Christian Moody (Collinsville, Okla.), 12-6 7th: Eli Stickley (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) dec. Eric Hong (Georgetown Prep, Md.), 8-2 120: 1st: Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) dec. George Phillippi (Derry Area, Pa.), 5-2 3rd: Sean Russell (Collins Hill, Ga.) dec. Nick Piccinnini (Ward Mellville, N.Y.), 4-3 5th: Bryan Damon (Jefferson, N.J.) dec. Troy Gregor (Hickory Ridge, N.C.), 6-5 7th: Evan Cheek (Milan Edison, Ohio) maj. dec. Anthony Cefolo (Hanover Park, N.J.), 11-3 126: 1st: Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill, Ga.) dec. Domenic Forys (North Allegheny, Pa.), 3-0 3rd: Tommy Thorn (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) dec. Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), 5-4 5th: Dylan Lucas (Brandon, Fla.) dec. Kevin Jack (Danbury, Ct.), 8-4 7th: Anthony Tutolo (Lake Catholic, Ohio) dec. Davion Jeffries (Broken Arrow, Okla.), 5-3 132: 1st: Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area, Pa.) dec. Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.), 2-1 TB 3rd: Brock Ervin (Union County, Ky.) dec. Colton Adams (Scottsbluff, Neb.), 3-1 5th: Chase Zemenak (Nazareth, Pa.) over Anthony Giraldo (North Bergen, N.J.) by default 7th: Gary Wayne Harding (Collinsville, Okla.) dec. Coy Ozias (Christiansburg, Va.), 3-1 138: 1st: Jason Nolf (Kittanning, Pa.) maj. dec. Brock Zacherl (Brookville, Pa.), 17-7 3rd: Patrick Duggan (Cumberland Valley, Pa.) dec. Justin Oliver (Davison, Mich.), 8-6 SV 5th: Max Thomsen (Union, Iowa) pinned Kyle Lawson (St. Paris Graham, Ohio), 4:25 7th: Blake Clevenger (Kearney, Mo.) dec. Joseph Ghione (Brick Memorial, N.J.), 8-1 145: 1st: Logan Massa (St. Johns, Mich.) dec. Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.), 4-3 3rd: Nick Bennett (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) maj. dec. Michael Longo (Santiago Corona, Calif.), 12-3 5th: Tommy Forte (Mishawaka, Ind.) over Malik Amine (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) by default 7th: Thomas Dutton (Rocky Point, N.Y.) dec. Gary Dinmore (Hunterdon Central, N.J.), 4-3 152: 1st: Jacob Danishek (Dayton Christian, Ohio) dec. Zach Kelly (Kiski School, Pa.), 4-3 3rd: Louis Hernandez (Mepham, N.Y.) dec. Jack Bass (Robinson, Va.), 3-2 5th: Fox Baldwin (Osceola, Fla.) pinned Isaiah Crosby (South Dade, Fla.), 2:47 7th: Zach Hertling (Ocean Township, N.J.) dec. Austin Eades (Jenks, Okla.), 4-3 160: 1st: Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin, Pa.) dec. Jonathan Schleifer (East Brunswick, N.J.), 5-2 3rd: Austin Reese (Mechanicsburg, Ohio) dec. Logan Breitenbach (Archbishop Spalding, Md.), 5-3 5th: Connor Schram (Bellbrook, Ohio) dec Bobby Fehr (Northampton, Pa.), 1-0 7th: A.J. Kowal (Princeton, Ohio) over Dayton Racer (Apple Valley, Minn.) by default 170: 1st: Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) dec. Taylor Lujan (Carrollton, Ga.), 9-3 3rd: Tyrel White (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) dec. Andrew Garcia (Detroit Catholic Central, Ohio), 5-3 5th: Joe Heyob (Cincinnati St. Xavier, Ohio) dec Ryan Harris (Beachwood, Ohio), 1-0 7th: Seth Williams (Tiffin Columbian, Ohio) dec. Dylan Peters-Logue (Orange, N.C.), 4-1 182: 1st: Zack Zavatsky (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) dec. Nicky Hall (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), 5-2 3rd: Stephen Loiseau (Lancaster Catholic, Pa.) dec. Rocco Caywood (Perrysburg, Ohio), 4-2 5th: Tom Sleigh (DuBois, Pa.) over Tyler Wildmo (St. Johns, Mich.) by default 7th: Tristan Sponseller (Bermudian Springs, Pa.) dec. Derek Hillman (Woodhaven, Mich.), 12-6 195: 1st: Chip Ness (Buford, Ga.) dec. Derek White (Edmond North, Okla.), 4-2 3rd: Tyler Worthing (Kiski Area, Pa.) dec. Drew Phipps (Norwin, Pa.), 4-3 5th: Ralph Normandia (Franklin, N.J.) dec. Michael Oxley (Christian Brothers Academy, N.J.), 5-4 7th: Corey Damiana (Lower Cape May, N.J.) dec. Wood Mancuso (West Carteret, N.C.), 4-3 220: 1st: Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.) maj. dec. Ian Butterbrodt (St. John's Prep, Mass.), 11-0 3rd: Matthew Moore (Apalache, Ga.) dec. Vincent Feola (Walt Whitman, N.Y.), 4-3 5th: Jake Gunning (Bethlehem Liberty, Pa.) dec. Ben Cruz (Osceola, Fla.), 3-2 7th: Trent Allen (South Brunswick, N.C.) over Antonio Pelusi (LaSalle College, Pa.) by default 285: 1st: Patrick Garren (Bishop Ready, Ohio) dec. Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony Union, Vt.), 2-1 TB 3rd: Antonio Underwood (Tampa Jesuit, Fla.) dec. Andrew Dunn (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), 6-3 5th: Daniel Leon (North Miami, Fla.) over Jake Scanlan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) by default 7th: Patton Gossett (White Knoll, S.C.) pinned Dakota Bell (North Wilkes, N.C.), 3:34

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The 15th annual Super 32 Challenge came to an end on Sunday afternoon with fourteen wrestlers being crowned as champion, and 112 in all earning placement medals. It was arguably as deep a field at the Super 32 has ever seen, and as deep a field for any scholastic aged event in the country. Seven individuals entered the tournament having won a Super 32 Challenge in the past; however, only three added a second Super 32 title to their resume. Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill, Ga.), Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area, Pa.), and Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) are now multiple time champions; while Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.), Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.), and Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony Union, Vt.) were unable to add a second title to their resume. Krivus earned his title in the 132 pound weight class, with a 2-1 (ultimate) tiebreaker victory in the ultimate tiebreaker over the previously mentioned Kemerer; that result makes Kemerer now runner-up in back-to-back years, after winning a championship in 2011. Krivus rode out Kemerer in the second period, but was hit for locking hands late in that period; Krivus then scored an escape midway through the third period. Overtime went scoreless, with Krivus hit for a stalling call. Having scored first, Kemerer had choice in the tiebreaker -- tournament format makes that one 30-second period. He chose top, but was unable to hold Krivus down. On Sunday, Krivus also had wins over a pair of New Jersey state champions, and top 100 seniors: 3-1 over Mike Magaldo (Watchung Hills) in the quarterfinal, and 4-3 over Anthony Giraldo (North Bergen) in the semifinal. His last match win on Saturday came by 3-1 decision against returning Super 32 placer Colby Ems (East Stroudsburg, Pa.) Millhof was champion in the 126 pound weight class, earning a 3-0 victory in the final against two-time state placer Domenic Forys (North Allegheny, Pa.). Key to Millhof’s victory was a first period takedown at the end of a high-action period. He added a rideout in the second period and a third period escape for the final scoring. Other key victories were a 3-1 overtime decision over fellow top 100 senior Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) in the semifinal, a 6-0 decision against three-time state champion Dylan Lucas (Brandon, Fla.) in the quarterfinal, and victories on Saturday over returning Super 32 placer A. C. Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa.) and two-time state placer Weston Basler (Seckman, Mo.) Marsteller, undefeated in three high school seasons to date, added a 2013 Super 32 title at 170 pounds to his 2011 championship at 160 pounds. The nation’s top senior had a fall, two technical falls, and two major decisions on his way to the final -- where it was a 9-3 decision over two-time state champion Taylor Lujan (Carrollton, Ga.) The tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award, sponsored by Flips Wrestling, was given to Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) -- champion of the 113 pound weight class with a 3-1 overtime victory over defending champion Suriano. This was a reversal of last year’s championship match, which was won 4-3 by Suriano on a late takedown. This go around, there was only an exchange of escapes in regulation before the Lee takedown in overtime. Earlier matches for Lee included a 6-2 semifinal victory over returning Super 32 placer, and state champion, Jose Rodriguez (Massillon Perry); a 15-0 technical fall over Cadet freestyle champion Jack Mueller (Trinity Christian Academy, Tex.) in the quarterfinal; and a decision victory over state champion Jake Spiess (Delta, Ohio). Another overtime match that went to derail a repeat champion came in Sunday afternoon’s last match, when Patrick Garren (Bishop Ready, Ohio) upended Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony Union, Vt.) 2-1 in the tiebreaker. Wrestlers in that match traded escapes during regulation, Garren getting the first escape, which enabled him to choose down and get the escape inside the last five or ten seconds. It also happened to avenge last year’s tournament semifinal, when Webb scored a pin in overtime on the way to a championship. Also knocking off a defending Super 32 champion in the finals was Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Mich.), who upended Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.) 4-3. Massa gave up the first takedown, but scored an escape before the first period was over; and then scored a takedown to tie the match at the end of two after Leeth had the choice escape. Massa got an escape to start the third and then held to that lead for a title. Other wins during the tournament included a pair over state champions, another over a state runner-up, then yet another against a state placer. In all, eight wrestlers from the Keystone State ended up earning championship belts on Sunday in the high school division. Among those to join Lee, Krivus, and Marsteller were a pair of teammates from Greater Latrobe -- Luke Pletcher at 120 pounds and Zack Zavatsky at 182. After finishing third in the two prior seasons, losing both times in the semifinal round, Pletcher got the gold this year running through an impressive gauntlet of competition. Wins on Saturday included a 7-2 decision against two-time Cadet Greco-Roman champion Mitch McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.), plus a decision and pin against state placers. Things were even tighter against even tougher competition on Sunday. His quarterfinal match was won by 4-2 overtime decision over Junior freestyle third place finisher Kyle Akins (Sycamore, Ill.). The semifinal was also won in overtime, this time it was a 3-1 decision over Sean Russell (Collins Hill, Ga.), who was runner-up last year, and is now a three-time placer in the tournament. It would set up to a finals showdown against fellow sophomore and Pennsylvania state champion George Phillippi (Derry Area). He scored the go-ahead takedown with just under a minute remaining, and was able to keep Phillippi down for the duration and a 5-4 win. For Zavatsky it was also a rigorous journey, one capped off by a 5-2 finals victory over last year’s National Prep champion Nicky Hall (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.). Keys to the match were takedowns in the second and third periods. His semifinal victory came by 5-2 decision over fellow state third placer and FloNationals placer Tom Sleigh (DuBois, Pa.). Zavatsky scored a 17-2 technical fall in the quarterfinals against a returning New Jersey state placer, and had an 8-1 round of 16 win over an Ohio state placer. Rounding out the Pennsylvania group of champions were Jason Nolf (Kittanning) at 138 pounds, Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin) at 160, and Jordan Wood (Boyertown) at 220. Nolf steamrolled his way through the field with three pins, two major decisions, and a pair of seven point decision victories; that includes the 17-7 major decision in the final against fellow top 100 senior Brock Zacherl (Brookville, Pa.). It was only 2-0 after one, but three takedowns in the second extended it to 9-2, while four in the third period made for the overall margin. Other wins for Nolf came against an Iowa state champion, three state runners-up, and a Cadet double All-American. After placing fifth and sixth the last two years, Peppelman made it to his first final, and then won the title with a 5-2 decision over fellow top 30 seniors Jonathan Schleifer (East Brunswick, N.J.). Peppelman’s takedown came in the second period, while it was two late penalty points against Schleifer to reflect the final margin. The last four wins for Peppelman came against wrestlers who finished top three in the state tournament. Wood earned major decisions in both the semifinal and final round, including an 11-0 finals victory over Christian Butterbrodt (St. John’s Prep, Mass.). Last year Wood was fourth at the Super 32 and a Pennsyhlvania runner-up at 220 pounds as a freshman. The championship match was a destruction from start to finish, with a takedown coming in each period and near fall points during the second period. Rounding out the weight class champions were Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) at 106 pounds, Jacob Danishek (Dayton Christian, Ohio) at 152, and Chip Ness (Buford, Ga.) at 195. Diakomihalis, who won the middle school division last year at 100 pounds before winning a New York high school state title in eighth grade at 99 pounds, now has a high school division belt to his credit. After winning 14-3 in the quarterfinal round, he would score a second period pin over state champion Tyler Warner (Claymont, Ohio). The championship final match was one in which the score belied the dominance. It was a first period takedown, a second period escape, and about three minutes of (unofficial) riding time in a 3-0 decision over state placer and FloNationals placer Gage Curry (North Hills, Pa.). On Saturday, Diakomihalis had a technical fall and two pins, including one over a fellow top 25 freshman. Three-time state champion Danishek had to survive a very stern test in order to win his final 4-3 over National Prep runner-up Zach Kelly (Kiski Prep, Pa.), who also finished third in Junior freestyle this summer. Danishek was unable to finish on deep attacks in the first and second period, gave up a second period takedown, then needed an escape midway through the third followed by a takedown in the last fifteen seconds. Other wins for Danishek included a pair over state champions, and another over a three-time state runner-up. Ness improved upon his fourth place finish in the Super 32 last year with a 4-2 finals victory over fellow top 100 senior Derek White (Edmond North, Okla.). All of White’s points came in the second period, when earned a reversal and takedown.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- After Day 1 of the Super 32 Challenge, the quarterfinal pairings have been established, so have the eight wrestlers in consolation also battling for placement positions. Both quarterfinal and consolation matches, which are listed here, begin at 8:00 a.m. ET on Sunday. 106: Gage Curry (North Hills, Pa.) vs. Ian Parker (St. Johns, Mich.) Ty Agaisse (Delbarton, N.J.) vs. Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.) vs. Hunter Lucas (Lima Shawnee, Ohio) Dylan Artigues (Archer, Ga.) vs. Tyler Warner (Claymont, Ohio) Diakomihalis was champion of the Super 32 middle school division last year Kennedy Monday (Cardinal Gibbons, Fla.) vs. Jacob Wasser (Palisades, Pa.) Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.) vs. Ben Freeman (Walled Lake Central, Mich.) Jared Reisenbechler (Jackson, Mo.) vs. Chris Cuccolo (St. Benedict’s Prep, N.J.) Brandon Cray (Rhino Wrestling, N.J.) vs. Paxton Rosen (Edmond North, Okla.) 113: Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) vs. Eli Stickley (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) Dustin Warner (Claymont, Ohio) vs. Christian Moody (Collinsville, Okla.) Jose Rodriguez (Massillon Perry, Ohio) vs. Eric Hong (Georgetown Prep, Md.) Jack Mueller (Trinity Christian Acaemy, Tex.) vs. Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) Suriano was champion last year, Lee finished second, Stickley and Rodriguez were placers, while Hong was a middle school division champion Doyle Trout (Centennial, Neb.) vs. Kyle Norstrem (Brandon, Fla.) Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) vs. Patrick D’Arcy (Holy Spirit, N.Y.) Jacob Spiess (Delta, Ohio) vs. Gus Solomon (Franklin Regional, Pa.) Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.) vs. Michael Murphy (The Baylor School, Tenn.) 120: Sean Russell (Collins Hill, Ga.) vs. Anthony Cefolo (Hanover Park, N.J.) Kyle Akins (Sycamore, Ill.) vs. Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) Alex Mackall (Walsh Jesuit, Ohio) vs. George Phillippi (Derry Area, Pa.) Troy Gregor (Hickory Ridge, N.C.) vs. Nick Farro (Delbarton, N.J.) Russell was runner-up at the Super 32 last year, while Pletcher has finished third each of the last two years. Mitchell McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) vs. Bryan Damon (Jefferson, N.J.) Skyler Petry (Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, Minn.) vs. Evan Cheek (Milan Edison, Ohio) Nick Piccinnini (Ward Mellville, N.Y.) vs. Tyrone Klump (Nazareth, Pa.) Ricky Cavallo (Hempfield, Pa.) vs. Jonathan Furnas (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio) 126: Tommy Thorn (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) vs. Kevin Jack (Danbury, Ct.) Anthony Tutolo (Lake Catholic, Ohio) vs. Domenic Forys (North Allegheny, Pa.) Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill, Ga.) vs. Dylan Lucas (Brandon, Fla.) Davion Jeffries (Broken Arrow, Okla.) vs. Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) Millhof was champion last year, Jack is a returning placer, and Moisey has placed in this tournament two times prior. Jacob Grigg (East Gaston, N.C.) vs. Korbin Myers (Boiling Springs, Pa.) Ben Calandrino (Howell, Mich.) vs. Kevin Budock (Good Counsel, Md.) Peter Lipari (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) vs. Justin Patrick (Kiski Prep, Pa.) David Bavery (Massillon Perry, Ohio) vs. A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa.) 132: Caleb Ervin (Union County, Ky.) vs. Chase Zemenak (Nazareth, Pa.) Coy Ozias (Christiansburg, Va.) vs. Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.) Anthony Giraldo (North Bergen, N.J.) vs. Colton Adams (Scottsbluff, Neb.) Mike Magaldo (Watchung Hills, N.J.) vs. Sam Krivus (Hempfield, Pa.) Krivus was champion last year, Kemerer was runner-up last year after winning the year before, Ozias is a two-time placer in this tournament, while Giraldo is also a returning placer. Drew Hughes (Lowell, Ind.) vs. Gary Wayne Harding (Collinsville, Okla.) Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford, Pa.) vs. Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County, Pa.) Brent Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) vs. Jamal Morris (Cardinal Gibbons, Fla.) Keegan Moore (Putnam City, Okla.) vs. Colby Ems (East Stroudsburg, Pa.) 138: Patrick Duggan (Cumberland Valley, Pa.) vs. Joseph Ghione (Brick Memorial, N.J.) Brock Zacherl (Brookville, Pa.) vs. Jake Adcock (Pope, Ga.) Kyle Lawson (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) vs. Jacob Wentzel (South Park, Pa.) Max Thomsen (Union, Iowa) vs. Jason Nolf (Kittanning, Pa.) Nolf placed third in last year’s tournament, while Lawson was champion of the middle school division. Josh Marcua (Franklin Regional, Pa.) vs. Jonce Blaylock (Berryhill, Okla.) Myles Amine (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) vs. Justin Oliver (Davison, Mich.) Kaleb Young (Punxsatawney, Pa.) vs. Blake Clevenger (Kearney, Mo.) Tyler Ponte (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) vs. Cody Burcher (Claymont, Ohio) 145: Gary Dinmore (Hunterdon Central, N.J.) vs. Malik Amine (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) Logan Massa (St. Johns, Mich.) vs. Michael Longo (Santiago Corona, Calif.) Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.) vs. Thomas Dutton (Rocky Point, N.Y.) Tommy Forte (Mishawaka, Ind.) vs. Tanner Bailey (Broken Arrow, Okla.) Leeth was champion last year, while Massa placed third. Thomas Bullard (Archer, Ga.) vs. John Van Brill (Clearview, N.J.) Vincent Deprez (Hilton, N.Y.) vs. Chandler Pyke (Woodward Academy, Ga.) Billy Barnes (Williamson, Pa.) vs. Chad Decker (Grass Lake, Mich.) Dewey Krueger (Oconto Falls, Wis.) vs. Nick Bennett (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) 152: Zach Hertling (Ocean Township, Pa.) vs. Jack Bass (Robinson, Va.) Jacob Danishek (Dayton Christian, Ohio) vs. Louis Hernandez (Mepham, N.Y.) Cody Hughes (Marshwood, Maine) vs. Fox Baldwin (Osceola, Fla.) Zach Kelly (Kiski Prep, Pa.) vs. Isaiah Crosby (South Dade, Fla.) Baldwin placed third in this tournament last year, while Kelly placed sixth. Dakota Greene (Brandon, Fla.) vs. Nate Higgins (Belleville West, Ill.) Jake Savoca (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) vs. Toby Hague (McDonogh, Md.) Austin Eades (Jenks, Okla.) vs. Christian LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.) Paden Bailey (Broken Arrow, Okla.) vs. Dennis Ferro (East Islip, N.Y.) 160: Jelani Embree (Warren Lincoln, Mich.) vs. Bobby Fehr (Northampton, Pa.) Jonathan Schleifer (East Brunswick, N.J.) vs. Dom Scalise (Kiski Prep, Pa.) Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin, Pa.) vs. Dayton Racer (Apple Valley, Minn.) Ben Schram (Bellbrook, Ohio) vs. Austin Reese (Mechanicsburg, Ohio) Peppelman has placed twice in this tournament, while Schleifer placed third last year. Kasey Caelwerts (Pulaski, Wis.) vs. A.J. Kowal (Princeton, Ohio) Logan Breitenbach (Archbishop Spalding, Md.) vs. Christian Stackhouse (Riverside, N.J.) Kyle Jolas (Huntington North, Ind.) vs. Richard Viruet (Springfield Central, Mass.) Kenny Hughes (Lowell, Ind.) vs. Taylor Misuna (Grassfield, Va.) 170: Taylor Lujan (Carrollton, Ga.) vs. David Peters-Logue (Orange, N.C.) Brad Drover (North Andover, Mass.) vs. Andrew Garcia (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) Chance Marsteller (Kennard-Dale, Pa.) vs. Steven Schneider (MacArthur, N.Y.) Austin Repp (Pacific, Mo.) vs. Ryan Harris (Beachwood, Ohio) Marsteller seeks a second Super 32 title, having won in 2011, while Harris placed seventh last year. Jacob Weber (Clarence, N.Y.) vs. Jacob Cooper (Springport, Mich.) Austin Flores (Clovis North, Calif.) vs. Tyrel White (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) Seth Williams (Tiffin Columbian, Ohio) vs. Sean Kennedy (Riverdale, Tenn.) Joseph Russo (Rocky Point, N.Y.) vs. Joe Heyob (Cincinnati St. Xavier, Ohio) 182: Steven Loiseau (Lancaster Catholic, Pa.) vs. Nicky Hall (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) Tyler Wildmo (St. Johns, Mich.) vs. Tristan Sponseller (Bermudian Springs, Pa.) Phil Woods (Roselle Park, N.J.) vs. Tom Sleigh (DuBois, Pa.) Nicholas Costa (Brick Memorial, N.J.) vs. Zack Zavatsky (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) Consolation matches are below. Derek Hillman (Woodhaven, Mich.) vs. Zane Black (Bishop McDevitt, Pa.) Antavian Leary (Ocean Lakes, Va.) vs. Rocco Caywood (Perrysburg, Ohio) Nick Weldon (Clay-Chalkville, Ala.) vs. Anthony McLaughlin (St. Ignatius, Ohio) Dylan Reynolds (Saegertown, Pa.) vs. James Bennett (St. Augustine, N.J.) 195: Tyler Worthing (Kiski Area, Pa.) vs. Ralph Normandia (Franklin, N.J.) Christian Dulaney (Benilde St. Margaret’s, Minn.) vs. Derek White (Edmond North, Okla.) Michael Oxley (Christian Brothers Academy, N.J.) vs. Drew Phipps (Norwin, Pa.) Cory Damiana (Lower Cape May, N.J.) vs. Chip Ness (Buford, Ga.) Ness placed fourth in this tournament last year. Ronaldo Abreu (Olympic Heights, N.J.) vs. Casey Cook (Upper Perkiomen, Pa.) Christian Colucci (St. Peter’s Prep, N.J.) vs. Clif-Steven Decius (North Miami, Fla.) Alex Foley (Shawnee, N.J.) vs. Tyler Oliver (United, Pa.) Zachary Smith (North Allegheny, Pa.) vs. Wood Mancuso (West Carteret, N.C.) 220: Jake Gunning (Bethlehem Liberty, Pa.) vs. Christian Butterbrodt (St. Johns Prep, Mass.) Vincent Feola (Walt Whitman, N.Y.) vs. Antonio Pelusi (LaSalle, Pa.) Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.) vs. Jerry Thornberry (Cincinnati Moeller, Ohio) Trent Allen (South Brunswick, N.J.) vs. Matthew Moore (Apalachee, Ga.) Allen has placed twice in this tournament, while Wood placed fourth last year. River Ullrich (Rhino Wrestling, N.J.) vs. Orey Humphrey (Springstead, Fla.) Christian Jenco (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) vs. John Kramer (Wilson Central, Tenn.) Darius Bernhardt (Mastery Charter, Pa.) vs. James Russell (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) Brian Mays (Leonardtown, Md.) vs. Seth McLenon (United, Pa.) 285: Logan Turner (Martinsville, Va.) vs. Antonio Underwood (Tampa Jesuit, Fla.) Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony Union, Vt.) vs. Dakota Bell (North Wilkes, N.C.) Andrew Dunn (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) vs. Jake Scanlan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) Patton Gossett (White Knoll, S.C.) vs. Patrick Garren (Bishop Ready, Ohio) Webb was champion last year in this weight class, while returning placers include Turner, Underwood, and Garren. Nicholas Wimmer (North Davidson, N.C.) vs. Bucky Dennis (Charlotte, Fla.) Daniel Leon (North Miami, Fla.) vs. Chris McDermand (Libertyville, Ill.) Josiah Cleghorn (Wellington, Fla.) vs. Sammy Evans (Alcoa, Tenn.) Dane Drimmer (Chapparal, Colo.) vs. Nick Nader (Gahanna Lincoln, Ohio)

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Missouri wrestling team opened up their season Saturday afternoon with their first-ever Alumni Black & Gold Match. Seven former All-Americans returned to Columbia to participate in a wrestling dual versus current Tigers. A total of 13alumni from all over the country returned to their alma mater, prepared to face the current Tigers. Crowd participation was encouraged in the event, including a rule stating that after one overtime period, fans would be asked to decide the winners of tied matches. This rule came into effect twice, during matches between Nick Marable (All American 2008/2009) and Johnny Eblen, as well as alumni Patrick Wright and redshirt freshman Parker Von Egidy. With help from the crowd, both Eblen and Wright were crowned victorious. The two McCormick brothers, Tyler (All-American 2006/2007) and Nathan (All-American 2013), got the alumni off to a fast start by winning each of their matches, 1-0 and 2-1 respectively. Two-time All-American Dom Bradley would follow suit with a win against sophomore Justin Heberlie, increasing the alumni’s lead to 9-0. The present Tigers would battle back, however, taking three straight wins, capped off by a Cole Baumgartner victory over Brooks Travis, the oldest alumni (graduating in ’97) that participated in the event. Wins by former grapplers Dorian Henderson, Mike Larson, and the overtime win by Patrick Wright would seal the dual, with the Alumni coming out on top. Despite the teams not actively keeping score, thealumni won seven of 13 bouts and unofficially won the dual 21-20. “It was a lot of fun,” said Head Coach Brian Smith following the inaugural event. “We saw some good wrestling. It’s good because we are such a young team, and they got to see some of the former wrestlers and wrestle with them and I think, being Homecoming, it was a good time to have this event. We open up next Friday, so to get a crowd like this, to have this many people here, and to be able to wrestle in front of a referee…it’s good.” Before any alumni took the mat, six wrestle-off matches between current Tigers took place to showcase new talent from the Tigers’ No. 2 recruiting class as well as provide a last-minute opportunity for a few grapplers to vie for a spot in the starting lineup. In the first wrestle-off, freshman Barlow McGhee took down redshirtfreshman Zach Synon as time expired in sudden victory, defeating Synon 4-2.Sophomore Trevor Jauch took the second match 5-3 against freshman Lavion Mayes after accumulating 2 minutes of riding time. An aggressive Joey Lavallee won against fellow freshman Robbie Mathers by major decision 14-5 after accumulating multiple takedowns, a near fall, and a riding time point as time expired. In the final wrestle-off, sophomore Cody Johnston topped junior-teammate Ty Prazma by way of two near falls and three takedowns, for a final of 13-9. Smith hopes that the event could be something that turns in to an annual thing. Many of his former Tigers loved returning, allowing them to put on the Black & Gold singlet one more time. “It was good to compete again,” said former 174-pounder Dorian Henderson. “It would be something annually to look forward to. It also brings back the old wrestlers and keeps everyone in contact, so it was a lot of fun. Missouri opens their regular season next weekend on the road. The Tigers will grapple with North Dakota State on Friday, November 1, before heading to the South Dakota State Open on November 3. The Tigers defeated the Bison last year in Columbia, 37-7. Stay connected with Mizzou Wrestling by following us on Facebook and Twitter, and right here on MUTigers.com. Past vs. Present Matches (Alumni in BOLD) Results: Tyler McCormick won by decision over Tony DeAngelo, 1-0 Nathan McCormick won by decision over Eric Wilson, 2-1 Dom Bradley won by decision over Justin Heberlie, 3-1 Johnny Eblen won by CROWD decision over Nick Marable, 1-1 Kyle Bradley won by major decision over Andrew Sherry, 10-2 Cole Baumgartner won by decision over Brooks Travis, 7-3 Dorian Henderson won by decision over Mikey England, 6-3 Mike Larson won by decision over Devin Mellon, 3-1 Zach Toal won by major decision over Amond Prater, 10-2 James Williamson won by decision over Jon Goerke, 5-0 Patrick Wright won by CROWD decision over Parker Von Egidy, 0-0 Drake Houdashelt won by decision over Todd Schavrien, 1-0 J’Den Cox won by decision over Matt Pell, 5-1

Related: WCWA Team Rankings | WCWA Individual Rankings OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Tabbed as the preseason favorites, the King University women's wrestling team lived up to that billing in their first event of the season. The Tornado cruised through pool play and both the quarter and semifinals before facing defending WCWA national champion Simon Fraser University in the finals of the Cliff Keen Duals. King didn't slow down, topping the Clan 35-9 to take the title. King won the Cliff Keen DualsThe day started with a near perfect team effort as King defeated McKendree University 48-0. King earned pins at eight of the 10 weight classes en route to the victory. At 116 pounds, freshman Haley Augello pinned Lindsey Spjut in 32 seconds while Sarah Hildebrandt pinned Anna Divins in the same amount of time at 123 pounds. At 136 pounds, Alli Ragan pinned Sonia Beri in 41 seconds while Daisy Santos (109), Kayla Brendlinger (130) and Amanda Hendey (143) all earned pins. In the semifinals, the Tornado squared off with Wayland Baptist University, and Shannon Constantine started the match with a pin in 2:45 at the 101 pound weight class. Santos followed with a pin in 1:49 at 109 and Ragan took a victory via pin in 53 seconds to give King a 28-0 lead. Lorrie Ramos and Malexis McAdoo capped King's 41-3 victory with tech fall wins at 170 and 191 pounds, respectively. King then took on defending WCWA National Champion Simon Fraser in the finals. The Tornado fell behind 4-0 early, but Santos gave the 5-4 lead to King with a pin at 109 pounds. Augello followed with a win by tech fall at 116, and King held a 9-5 lead that they would not relinquish. At 136, Ragan took another pin victory, defeating Mallory Velte in 1:32. Julia Salata and McAdoo earned the final two King victories of the day as Salata earned win on a tech fall at 155 while McAdoo ended the 35-9 triumph with a pin of Jenna McLatchy in 1:46. For the weekend, King win 7-0 en route to the Cliff Keen Duals championship. The Tornado will be action again next Saturday when they host their only event of the season. King will face University of the Cumberlands and McKendree University at the Student Center Complex starting at 9:00 a.m.

InterMat's Josh Lowe is tweeting updates throughout the 2013 Super 32 Challenge, which takes place Saturday and Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. Follow his updates on this page. Related Content: Results Refresh page to view latest updates Tweets by @JoshMLowe

AMES, Iowa -- The 125-pound bout ended the annual Cardinal-Gold Intrasquad Scrimmage with a bang Friday evening at the Lied Recreation Center. Sophomore Earl Hall pinned redshirt freshman Kyle Larson after pulling off a rare, explosive move called the cement mixer. The pin came at the 1:48 mark in the opening period and was the only first-period pin of the night. Hall, a Homestead, Fla. native, is entering his first season of collegiate wrestling after electing to train at the Olympic Training Center for a year right out of high school. Senior Boaz Beard also won by fall tonight as well, as he was able to run over an arm bar and pin redshirt freshman Cameron Thomson 4:03 into their match at 184 pounds. At 174, redshirt sophomore Tanner Weatherman picked up a 6-2 win over talented redshirt freshman Lelund Weatherspoon, racking up 1:19 seconds of riding time in the match. Returning starters Luke Goettl and Logan Molina earned impressive victories tonight. Goettl scored a 9-3 win over Luke Swalla and Molina a 13-4 major decision over Ben Swalla. All-Americans Michael Moreno and Kyven Gadson each notched decisive victories tonight as well. Gadson defeated freshman Dane Pestano 9-5 at 197 pounds and Moreno won by major decision 12-4 over Carson Powell at 165 pounds. Moreno was dominant from the top position as he had nearly three minutes of ride time in the match. “Michael Moreno is going to continue to be Michael Moreno, but what I really was impressed with tonight was our true freshmen,” head coach Kevin Jackson said. “They weren’t intimidated at all by our upperclassmen and All-Americans.” Jackson was pleased with what he saw tonight, but emphasized three areas where he’d like to see improvement. “We need to get better at riding,” Jackson said. “We need to be able to get out from the bottom and our hand fighting needs to improve.” Four former Cyclones were honorary coaches for the annual kickoff scrimmage: Nate Gallick, Dwight Hinson, Nick Britton and Zach Thompson. Iowa State, who is preseason ranked No. 8 by InterMat, opens the season on Nov. 7 with a double dual at Hilton Coliseum with Drexel and Grand View. Results: 125: Earl Hall fall Kyle Larson, 1:48 133: Dakota Bauer dec. RJ Hallman, 9-8 141: John Meeks dec. Bubba Hernandez, 6-5 149: Luke Goettl dec. Luke Swalla, 9-3 (1:18 RT) 157: Logan Molina maj. dec. Ben Swalla, 13-4 (2:26 RT) 165: Michael Moreno maj. dec. Carson Powell, 12-4 (2:50 RT) 174: Tanner Weatherman dec. Lelund Weatherspoon, 6-2 (1:19 RT) 184: Boaz Beard fall Cameron Thomson, 4:03 197: Kyven Gadson dec. Dane Pestano, 9-5 285: Ben Perna dec. Quean Smith, 5-4

Related: WCWA Team Rankings | WCWA Individual Rankings OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- The King University women's wrestling team opened their season in impressive fashion on Friday as they swept through pool play at the Cliff Keen Duals, hosted by Oklahoma City University. The Tornado took victories over Wayland Baptist University (2), the mystery team, Lindenwood University (2) and Missouri Baptist University to move into Saturday's Gold Bracket. Sarah HildebrandtThe Tornado started the day with a 44-4 triumph over Wayland Baptist. King took a 10-4 lead following forfeits at both the 101 and 116 pound weight classes. Sarah Hildebrandt extended the lead to 14-4 when she defeated Dineesha Jones on a tech fall. Malexis McAdoo capped the 44-4 win by defeating Kierra Boyce on a tech fall. King then faced the Mystery Team, which is comprised of wrestlers from the schools competing, and took a 42-0 victory. Ashley Iliff got things off to a great start when she pinned Stephanie Martinez, of Oklahoma City in 2:42 at 101 pounds to give King an early 5-0 lead. Both Samantha Klingel (116) took a win by tech fall over Oklahoma City's Emily Ducote and Kayla Bartosch pinned the Stars Shilo Barrett. Stacy Martin (136) and Julia Salata (155) both took wins by tech fall while Lorrie Ramos (170) and McAdoo (191) both earned pins to cap the 42-0 Tornado win. King again earned a shutout victory as they defeated Lindenwood 44-0 in their next match. Shannon Constantine defeated Sabreener Shelton on a tech fall to give King an early 9-0 lead. Alli Ragan (136) and Amanda Hendey (143) both turned in impressive victories. Ragan defeated Noelle Pohina on a fall in 50 seconds while Hendey topped Anna McAleavy on a fall in only 20 seconds. In their final match of the day, King defeated Missouri Baptist 40-5 to earn the top seed in the Gold Bracket tomorrow. The Tornado earned three pins in the victory, starting with Daisy Santos at the 109 pound weight class as she pinned Kaylee Chavez in 4:52. The Final pins came by Ramos (170) over Aylin Hernandez in 0:47 and McAdoo (191) over Sharon Garcia in 1:23. King will face McKendree University in the quarterfinals at 9:00 a.m. The Tornado could face defending WCWA national champion Simon Fraser University in the semifinals and home standing Oklahoma City University in the finals.