InterMat Staff

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Third-year Army head wrestling coach Joe Heskett announced the addition of Brad Pataky to his staff as an assistant coach on Thursday morning. An extremely accomplished wrestler in his own right, Pataky comes to West Point having spent the last two seasons on the staff at Lock Haven University. “Brad is an ideal fit for our mission here at West Point,” Heskett said. “He embodies impeccable character and a passion for greatness. He is very intelligent and loves to battle on the mat. He is in the hunt to make World and Olympic teams and will have a major impact in the overall development of our cadet-athletes." Pataky was a three-time NCAA qualifier at Penn State where he was also three-time BIG 10 place winner. The Keystone State native helped lead the Nittany Lions to the 2011 NCAA national title and posted an 83-31 career record. Prior to his time in State College, Pa., Pataky enjoyed a stellar high school career during which he was a 2004 PIAA State Champion at 112 pounds, three-time PIAA state medalist and 10-time Asics Freestyle/Greco All-American. He authored an impressive 125-5 record as a high school grappler. Pataky continues to enjoy a highly successful career at both the national and international level. He is a University Place Winner and Champion (2008), Canada Cup place winner and two-time runner-up. A Guelph Open place winner and Champion, also in 2008, he was also a two-time Northwest F/S Regional Champion and U.S. Open place winner, NYAC place winner (2007) and University World Team member (2008). He placed seventh at the 2008 University World Games and was an Olympic Team Trials Qualifier in 2008. Pataky earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Penn State in 2011. He went on to obtain his teaching certification while serving as a volunteer assistant coach at Lock Haven over the last two seasons. Along with maintaining his coaching duties, Pataky continues to train for an Olympic berth at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- University of Maryland wrestling head coach Kerry McCoy announced the addition of four-time NCAA All-American and 2004 NCAA runner-up Tyrone Lewis as an assistant coach for the Terps on Thursday. Lewis, a native of El Reno, Okla., arrives in College Park after spending two seasons as a volunteer assistant at Oklahoma. Prior to his two-year stint in Norman, Lewis served as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State for three seasons. "I am very excited to have Tyrone join our program," said McCoy. "He was one of the best wrestlers on one of the nation's best teams at Oklahoma State, and has coached for two of the country's most storied programs. "He brings a ton of knowledge and experience with him. He has already and will continue to provide a positive impact on the Maryland wrestling family." In his time with Oklahoma, the Sooners finished in the top 15 at the NCAA Championships twice with Kedric Maple capturing the 141-pound national title last season. Before making the transition into coaching, Lewis wrestled for the Cowboys from 2001-04, where he won two Big XII titles (2001, 2004) and compiled a 120-15 record. Lewis made four NCAA appearances finishing fifth in 2001, third in 2002, fifth in 2003, and was a national runner-up in 2004. Lewis' name is known in national wrestling circles as he was the 2008 runner-up at both the U.S. Olympic Trials and at U.S. Nationals in the 74 kg/163 pound weight class. He was an alternate for the 2008 Olympic team. Lewis competed on both the national and international levels after leaving Oklahoma State. He represented the United States at the 2005 World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, and was a training partner for the U.S. Senior World Team as it competed at the 2005 FILA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. "As soon as I saw an opportunity at the University of Maryland, I knew I had to jump on it,” said Lewis. "I know the direction the program is headed and the excitement surrounding the program. "I knew it would be a great fit for me because of the relationship I have with Coach McCoy from competing and training together in the past. Being able to learn from him and Coach [Mike] Catullo, a guy with a wealth of knowledge, caused everything to line up and it is a great fit. I am excited to get started." After graduating from Oklahoma State, Lewis took his first collegiate coaching job at Oklahoma City University as an assistant and helped guide the Stars to a 12th-place finish at the NAIA Championships, while coaching three All-Americans.

They took a year off to acclimate to a college schedule, grow, or just wait out a starter, but now these ten redshirt freshman are ready to shine. Staying on top will require hard work and good luck, but if their prep careers and early college results are any indication, each of these wrestlers is poised to make an impact at the NCAA tournament in 2014. Cory Clark (Iowa, 125) About Clark: Cory Clark's redshirt year was pretty impressive. Though it seemed to start almost impossibly well, with his surprising last second 3-2 loss to two-time NCAA champion and teammate Matt McDonough, Clark's season only heated up as the winter grew colder. In December the young Hawkeye picked up a stunning 6-1 win over eventual 2013 NCAA champion Jesse Delgado (Illinois) in the finals of the UNI Open. He finished the season 20-2. Clark, who was a four-time state champion in Iowa, will face stiff competition from fellow redshirt freshman Thomas Gilman for the starting spot at 125 pounds. However, should Clark make it out of the practice room the nation will already be on warning, and he will be considered an immediate contender for the national title. Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands on Clark: "We have a unique situation with Clark and Gilman, and they're benefitting from it. Clark is super determined and super competitive, and those are two of the things that have helped him develop at the rate he's going. He's learning discipline every day." Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern, 149) Jason Tsirtsis made the Junior World Team at 66 kilos (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)About Tsirtsis: Things are looking up for Northwestern coach Drew Pariano. Fresh off a five-year contract extension, Pariano will be welcoming Jason Tsirtsis -- the nation's top recruit in 2012 -- to the Wildcat lineup. Tsirtsis, the younger brother of Iowa standout and All-American Alex Tsisrtis, is coming off an impressive redshirt campaign. Jason placed eighth at Midlands where he wrestled 2013 NCAA champions Kendric Maple of Oklahoma to a narrow 7-5 loss and piked up 18 wins overall. In high school Tsirtsis defeated former NCAA champions Darrion Caldwell at the 2012 Last Chance Olympic Qualifier. That success has continued, as the Indiana native will be representing the United States. in the freestyle competition of the 2013 FILA Junior World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria at 66 kilos. Northwestern head wrestling coach Drew Pariano on Tsirtsis: "I believe that Tsirtsis will be perfectly prepared to have an outstanding freshman season. With Welch graduating we will rely on Tsirtsis to score big points for our middle weights. He will also be positively impacted by our Chicago RTC and the training partners that we have lined up for him (which includes Welch) and our team. Lastly, he has a burning desire to win a World title next week. That attitude will carry over and help him reach his goals of being a national champion." Jimmy Gulibon (Penn State, 133) About Gulibon: Cael Sanderson' accompaniment to two-time NCAA finalist Nico Megaludis, the incoming 133-pound wrestler was a four-time state champion in Pennsylvania and a POWERade title. Potent on top and still growing into 133 pounds. Gulibon posted a 23-7 record in his redshirt campaign, including six technical falls and five major decisions. Penn State head wrestling coach Cael Sanderson on Gulibon: "Jimmy has had a real solid redshirt year. He has a history of success being a four-time PIAA state champ. Those don't come around often. He is extremely competitive, a hard worker and disciplined. But above all that, he loves to wrestle. We're excited to get him out there on the mat this year." Jordan Rogers (Oklahoma State, 184) About Rogers: One of the most sought after wrestlers in 2012 and the top 182-pound prospect in the nation, Jordan Rodgers was an impressive 144-8 in high school. The pinning machine also found his way to three Washington state titles and the Junior Dan Hodge Award. Rogers, who finished his redshirt season 8-3 including six falls, found an end-of-the-year streak of five wins. The well-built redshirt freshman is expected to fill in for Chris Chionuma at 184 pounds, and wrestle alongside returning 174-pound NCAA champion Chris Perry. Oklahoma State head wrestling coach John Smith on Rogers: "With Rogers, I like his pinning potential. He's great at it. His development is coming along a lot quicker than I expected, and I'm excited to see what he can do for us." Mark Grey (Cornell, 133) Mark Grey finishes a shot against Illinois' Zane Richards (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)About Grey: Though an accomplished folkstyle wrestler with a well-known older brother, Mark Grey is hoping to prove himself as one of the best wrestlers in the nation in 2013. Though technically not a redshirt since he has yet to enroll at Cornell, Grey trained with the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club (FLWC), which helped him acclimate to the college training schedule and expectations. He placed fifth at the Buffalo Brawl dropping matches to two-time NCAA Champion Logan Stieber and Army's Jordan Thome. He'd later take second at the Binghamton Open and win the Mat Town Open. The two-time Junior World Team member won arguably the toughest weight class of the FILA Junior World Team trials in 2013 (60 kilos) when he beat Earl Hall, Joey McKenna, and Zane Richards in a row. He'll join several other wrestlers on this list and will be competing in Bulgaria next week at the FILA Junior World Championships. Alex Cisneros (Cornell, 149) About Cisneros: Like teammate Mark Grey, Alex Cisneros technically wasn't a redshirt this past season and has yet to enroll at Cornell. The young wrestler went 2-2 at the Buffalo Brawl, but bounced back and won the Mat Town Open with four straight victories. The three-time California state champion is hoping to work his way into a Big Red lineup that is always competitive at the lower weights. Thomas Gilman (Iowa, 125) Thomas Gilman earned a spot on the Junior World Team at 55 kilos (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)About Gilman: Were it not for teammate Cory Clark's wins over Delgado, the wrestling world would probably be buzzing about Thomas Gilman and his new role as the Hawkeyes' starting 125-pound wrestler. Like Clark, Gilman was a heavily recruited four-time state champion (Nebraska) and seems destined to stand on top of several podiums throughout his collegiate career. However his first task is making it past his teammate. Gilman's 2013 collegiate season included an impressive 23-5 overall record, including seven straight wins to end the season. Maybe most striking about his season was that the 55-kilo freestyler earned the chance to represent the United States in next weekend's 2013 FILA Junior World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands on Gilman: "Gilman has made steady progress where I would call a good place. He's very serious about what he's doing. He's very committed. He's very disciplined. Very determined. He works every day and he works hard at it. Doug Vollaro (Lehigh, 285) About Vollaro: A star recruit from 2012, with a solid performance to start his redshirt campaign, Vollaro was forced to sit out the second half of the season due to injury. Though he only saw limited action, the heavyweight with a big future posted a respectable 18-7 record. The Mountain Hawks expect even more in 2013-2014. A two-time high school state champion from Florida, Vollaro was also a FloNationals champion in high school and one of the top-ranked heavyweights in the country. With a history of heavyweight champions, including 2011 NCAA champion Zack Rey the future is bright for Vollaro and the Lehigh Valley. Sam Brooks (Iowa, 174/184) Sam Brooks defeated Oklahoma State's Jordan Rogers on his way to making the Junior World Team at 84 kilos (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)About Brooks: Sam Brooks is one of the nation's top incoming redshirts, but unfortunate for him he's behind All-Americans Mike Evans (174) and Ethan Lofthouse (184). Unexpected injuries could always help Brooks with chance to start for the Hawkeyes, and given that he should be able to float between weight classes the Illinois-native will find mat time. No matter if he starts in 2014 or not, he can take comfort in the knowledge that Iowa fans appreciate a wrestler who is willing to wait his turn and be a team player. Brooks has a solid redshirt campaign going 19-9 in collegiate competition and placing eighth at Midlands. A FILA Cadet World bronze medalist, Brooks qualified for next week's FILA Junior Worlds in Sofia and will wrestle at 84 kilos. Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands on Brooks: "Brooks last year went with some of the best guys in the country. He went with Ethen Lofthouse, so he has one of the best guys in the country right there in his room. He's got an opportunity every day to see where he stacks up. It's unique because he has to get ready in our room with Burak and Evans and Lofthouse. It's a good situation for him and he thrives on it. I don't think he shrinks from any challenge. From a competitive point of view, he doesn't shrink from a task." Max Schneider (Cal Poly, 157) About Schneider: The only wrestler on the list who didn't compete in 2013, Max Schneider's career is ready to take off. The top recruit of then first-year Cal Poly coach Brendan Buckley, Schneider has plenty of promise, and is another anchor for the young Mustang squad. Cal Poly head wrestling coach Brendan Buckley on Schneider: "We have the highest of expectations for Max. He has a unique style with his judo background and is solid in all positions. We feel he will be very competitive this year and be a major player on our team."

Brent Metcalf will go "On the Mat" today. "On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM Central on AM 1650, The Fan. This week's show will air from 5 to 5:30 p.m. due to the Chicago Cubs pre-game show. E-mail dgmstaff@nwhof.org with any questions or comments about the show. A podcast of the show is available on theopenmat.com. Metcalf was an NCAA champion for the University of Iowa in 2008 and 2010. He recently won the Sargsyan International tournament in Armenia. Metcalf will represent the United States at the freestyle World Wrestling Championships at 145.5 pounds later this year.

"He had muscles on top of muscles on top of muscles ..." Curley Culp"His strategy was just to get his hands on his opponent and destroy him with his strength." He stood 6' 2", and weighed in at 265 pounds. He won the heavyweight title by pinning his finals opponent in just 51 seconds. He was so tough and strong, he reportedly broke the helmets of three of his college football teammates during on-field practice sessions. ... yet, by contrast, he was voted "Boy with the Best Smile" by his college classmates. All these wide-ranging statements describe the same guy: Curley Culp, 1967 NCAA heavyweight wrestling champ for Arizona State who was also a football standout, first for the Sun Devils, then over a 14-year NFL career that just culminated by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on Saturday, Aug. 3. Let's meet the man who was a superstar on the wrestling mat and on the football field, who despite his imposing physique and impressive strength, was considered to be a true gentleman, even by his opponents. The man from Yuma Curley Culp was born March 10, 1946 in Yuma, Arizona, in the far southwest corner of the state, where Arizona, California and Mexico come together. The youngest of thirteen children of Frank and Octavia Culp, Curley was a twin. His parents liked the name Shirley for his twin sister (who was born 15 minutes prior to her brother), and sought a rhyming name for the son, and decided on Curley. 1963 Yuma Union wrestling teamCurley and his family lived on a farm just outside Yuma. In fact, Curley was a member of the Future Farmers of America organization at Yuma High School in the early 1960s, and president of his high school chapter his senior year. That hands-on farm experience may have had a direct impact on his performance on the football field -- and on the wrestling mat -- for the Yuma High Criminals, as the school's sports teams were called. (The town was the site of a major state prison.) A 1967 Arizona State football handout produced to honor Curley Culp offered an explanation as to how the standout defensive guard got to be the physical specimen that put fear into the hearts of opposing wrestlers and football offensive players alike. "Many athletes nowadays gain size and strength through weightlifting. Not Curley. He attained physical strength through physical labor -- namely, helping his dad in Yuma, Ariz. with work on the farm. His father raised pigs and contracted for garbage with many firms in Yuma. Many are the 50-gallon barrels of garbage toted by Curley. He also has pitched watermelons and worked at an ice plant which accounts for his 18 �" neck and biceps to match." Culp's strength and size gained from farm work made him a critically important member of the Yuma High School's football team as a defensive lineman. Al Alvarez, who assisted with football practices at Yuma High while Culp was on the team, also shared a memory of how Yuma's head football coach Frank Thomas (who passed away earlier this year) decided to give Curley Culp a new role -- taking him off defense, and making him a fullback -- in Yuma's 1964 homecoming game against Mesa. "Coach Thomas said the only way we can beat this team is if we have a fullback that will grind it out," Alvarez said. "He asked Curley if he would play fullback, and Curley said �Sure coach, why not?' And he did, and we beat them 7-0. Curley Culp gained about 100 yards that game, but it took seven or eight defensive Mesa boys to bring him down every time he ran the ball. The next Monday at practice, Curley Culp called coach over and said �Coach, I better not play fullback anymore because I won't last the whole season. They beat me up.'" The mat star with muscles on top of muscles The football player with that speed, size, strength and determination was equally impressive -- and formidable -- as a wrestler. "When I first saw him, he was walking across the gymnasium," said Pat Patterson, head wrestling coach at Yuma High at the time. "It was empty, and as I watched him walk across, I knew he was a once-in-a-lifetime heavyweight wrestler." In a team photo from the 1963 Yuma High yearbook, the wrestling team was shown not in traditional sweatsuits or warm-ups, but in shiny, silky-looking robes, like those worn by prizefighters. In its recent profile of hometown hero Curley Culp, the Yuma Sun wrote, "Once Culp, a heavyweight, shed his robe, the opposing crowd would voice a collective gasp that resonated throughout the gymnasium." Football coach Al Alvarez confirmed that description, saying, "When it was his turn to wrestle, he'd take his robe off and everybody stood in awe at his physique and how big he was and how he went about his business." "He had a body build that was just unbelievable," wrestling coach Patterson added. "He had muscles on top of muscles on top of muscles ..." Culp -- who, in his NFL prime, stood 6' 2" and tipped the scales at 265 pounds -- was not a ponderous muscleman, either. "I've never seen a man that big who could move as quickly as he could," said Patterson. Culp managed to win back-to-back heavyweight titles at the Arizona high school state tournament in 1963 and 1964. In high school, the total package By any measure, Curley Culp was the total package in high school: A successful two-sport athlete who also excelled in the classroom, too. As Patterson put it, "He was a straight-A student. He had intelligence, plus he had the athletic ability." Beyond the gridiron and the wrestling mat, Culp was a highly-accomplished high school student. In addition to being involved with Future Farmers of America (elected chapter president as a senior), Culp was a three-year member of the school's Letterman's Club, a member of the National Honor Society, an Academic Honor Roll honoree, a Who's Who Among Student Leaders in High Schools of America honoree, American Legion Student of the Year, and a delegate to Arizona Boys' State in 1964, according to his bio at his official website. "He was a great person," Alvarez said. "Everybody liked him ... He wasn't a person that you thought was the greatest or anything; he was just a regular guy. But we knew, and everyone else knew, he was the best in whatever he was at. In football he was the best in the line." It's easy to imagine that a high school student with these attributes would attract the attention of colleges far beyond isolated Yuma, Arizona. Curley Culp was heavily recruited by a number of colleges, but chose Arizona State because they said he could continue to participate in both football and wrestling. There may have been additional factors as well. A recruiting trip to remember Fellow Sun Devil matman Tony Russo shared the story about Culp's recruitment trip to ASU in the 2012 book "Wrestling With The Devil" which he wrote with his daughter Tonya Russo Hamilton. "The 1964 season was approaching an end," wrote Russo. "Our final dual meet was to be against our archrivals, the University of Arizona Wildcats, and (ASU head wrestling coach Ted) Bredehoft had a new recruit on campus, Curley Culp ... Bredehoft had given me the task of making sure Curley fell in love with Arizona State." "Curley may have been large, but he had a softness about him; his rounded face and little boy's smile could light up a room, and Coach wanted badly to sign him. Bredehoft turned up his enchanting powers to full-tilt. He'd decided that the dual against the University of Arizona was going to be an outside show ..." "He set the mats up right near the end of Palm Walk, making sure that the Sun Devil wrestlers' chairs would be in the shade of some nearby trees. The Wildcats' chairs were positioned along the side of the mat with no trace of shade; they were getting full rays ... At three-thirty in the afternoon, with no wind and the mat surface lying directly on the concrete, it was hot." "The Wildcats' coach was out of his mind. He couldn't believe the antics Bredehoft was pulling. His guys were overheating, the mat was scalding hot, and as far as he was concerned, Bredehoft was cheating." "'Shady Brady' quipped the opposing spectators more than once during the competition. I still had Curley at my side, and he was thoroughly enjoying himself amidst the mass humanity of the crowd," Russo wrote in his memoir. In a last-minute decision, ASU coach Bredehoft moved Russo up a weight class. "My nerves were ratcheting up; I knew the guy was tough. He was the prior year's conference champion, not to mention ten pounds heavier than me, and I had an audience to impress. Curley needed to see his mentor beat this Wildcat ..." "When my arm was raised, I saw Curley stand up and cheer." "Needless to say, Curley was hooked. He signed with the Devils in both football and wrestling, beginning a highly successful dual career," wrote Russo. You're a Sun Devil now After graduating from Yuma High in 1964, Curley Culp headed to Tempe, Arizona to become a Sun Devil, wrestling for head coach Ted Bredehoft. Bredehoft came to Arizona State in 1962, having coached at University of Washington since 1958. Prior to launching his coaching career, Bredehoft wrestled at Cornell College of Iowa in the early 1950s. Bredehoft competed at the 1952 NCAA championships, where he lost to eventual 115-pound champ Hugh Peery of Pittsburgh, a member of the Peery family mat dynasty that also included brother Ed Peery and father Rex Peery, each three-time NCAA champs. Culp wrestled what was then called the unlimited weight class. (Back then, there was no upper limit for the big men of college wrestling; in fact, there were a handful of NCAA heavyweight champs who tipped the scales at over 300 pounds.) During his career at Arizona State, Culp compiled an overall record of 84-9-4. He won three WAC (Western Athletic Conference) titles and was a two-time NCAA qualifier. As a sophomore at the 1966 NCAA Wrestling Championships at Iowa State, Culp defeated his first opponent, Carel Stith of the University of Nebraska ... but got knocked out of title contention by Iowa State's Steve Shippos. By the rules in place at the time, Culp did not compete in the consolation bracket, and, therefore, did not place. (The heavyweight champ crowned at the 1966 NCAAs was University of Michigan's Dave Porter.) That championship season As a junior, Culp was a perfect 19-0 ... with fourteen of those wins by pin. As the 1967 WAC champ, Culp qualified for the 1967 NCAA championships, hosted by Kent State University in northeast Ohio. According to Jay Hammond's "History of Collegiate Wrestling," a record 345 wrestlers from 91 schools showed up, shattering the previous record of 253. (Recent NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships had 330 wrestlers.) At the 1967 NCAAs, the unlimited bracket had 22 wrestlers. Culp was seeded second, behind 1966 NCAA champ Dave Porter of Michigan. Curley Culp with his coach Ted BredehoftTo help him prepare for the 1967 NCAAs, coach Bredehoft sought the help of Russ Winer, former Oklahoma State heavyweight who won the Big 8 conference title in 1965, and was a finalist at the 1965 NCAAs. "Bredehoft called me to give the 'kid' a workout going into NCAAs," said Winer. "I used to bait heavyweights with a single leg and then sprawl and get the takedown. Culp reached in and took my leg at the knee and lifted me to shoulder height, then gently returned me to the mat." "In another scramble I caught his thigh in a hi-c and turned the corner to see two legs," said the former Cowboy big man. "I had caught ahold of his bicep and thought it was a leg." In the first round of the 1967 NCAAs, Culp drew a bye. In the second round, he faced off against Frank Paquin of Lehigh, a 1965 Ohio high school state champ at heavyweight for North Canton High School, not far from Kent State ... or the Pro Football Hall of Fame in nearby Canton. In a recent interview with Mike Popovich of the Canton Repository, Paquin admitted he had never heard of Curley Culp before the 1967 NCAAs. This may seem strange today, but, realize, nearly 50 years ago, eastern schools such as Lehigh usually didn't schedule Arizona State and other "out west" programs. It was also an era before Facebook, Twitter, wrestling forums and websites such as InterMat made it possible for potential wrestling rivals to connect online and watch each other in online videos. Paquin first met Culp at the weigh-in. As Popovich wrote, "It was an eye-opening experience for Paquin and Penn State's Mike Reid, who went on to star in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals." "It would not be an exaggeration to say we were both astounded," Paquin told the Canton Repository. "His arms were literally the size of legs, and believe me, they were all muscle." Culp put those muscles to work on the mat in his match with Paquin. "I have to say that I never experienced human strength to the level of Curley Culp," Paquin said. "It wasn't that he was a great technical wrestler. His strategy was just to get his hands on his opponent and destroy him with his strength." Unlike many of Culp's other opponents, Paquin managed to go the distance with the Sun Devil strongman. Culp got a 15-5 decision over his Lehigh rival. Frank Paquin"It's probably the most points I had ever had scored on me," Paquin told the Canton paper. "Over the years, when folks would say I should be pleased that Curley did not pin me, I would tell them that he was very fresh at the time of the tournament. He threw me so hard that I bounced high enough to turn over before I came back down on the mat." That said, Paquin described a wrestler who was anything but an abysmal brute. "After the match, we did have a short chat, and I found Curley to be a real gentleman," said Paquin. "He was a fine person who may have known it was his year." Quarterfinals and beyond After defeating Paquin, Culp advanced to the quarterfinals, where he pinned Michigan State's Jeff Richardson -- the No. 7 seed, and 1967 Big Ten runner-up -- at 1:50 of their match. At the same time Culp pinned the Spartan, on the other side of the bracket, defending NCAA heavyweight champ Dave Porter of Michigan suffered a stunning 5-4 upset loss to NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) heavyweight champ Dominic "Nick" Carollo of Colorado's Adams State, the No. 8 seed, in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Culp faced off against another football star-wrestler, Granville Liggins of the University of Oklahoma. The second-seeded Culp pinned the No. 3 seeded Sooner at 3:46 to advance to the finals. Also advancing to the heavyweight finals was Carollo, who got a 5-3 win over No. 5 Tom Beeson of Western State in Colorado. Carollo, who brought a 16-3-1 record to the NCAAs, had wrestled part of the season at 191 pounds. As Keith Jackson, one of the sportscasters on the ABC-TV "Wide World of Sports" broadcast of the 1967 NCAA finals, pointed out as he introduced the two wrestlers, Carollo weighed in at 205 pounds, while Culp tipped the scales at 260 pounds. Watching online video of that black-and-white ABC broadcast of the heavyweight finals, it's hard not to notice the substantial size difference between the two men that went beyond weight. Culp appeared to be significantly taller and bulkier than his Adams State rival. The match was over almost before it began. The two men shook hands, crossed over, then Culp went in almost immediately and used a lateral drop to bring Carollo to his back. The Adams State wrestler desperately tried to bridge off the mat, but Culp's size and strength were too much; Carollo was pinned at 51 seconds of the bout. With that fast fall, Culp became the first Arizona State wrestler to win an NCAA title, and the first from a school in the southwest. In addition to winning the 1967 NCAA heavyweight title, Culp was presented with the Gorriaran Award, for scoring the most falls in the least amount of time at the tournament. A couple weeks after the NCAAs, Culp was invited to participate in the first-ever East-West All-Star event, sponsored by the NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association), and hosted by Oklahoma State. Much like today's annual All-Star Classic, the idea was to feature the top two wrestlers in each weight class; however, in the early years, the event was conducted more like a dual meet, with wrestlers put in east-west teams based (sometimes loosely) on the location of their schools. The concluding match of the 1967 East-West All-Stars featured a battle of heavyweight champs ... with the recently-crowned titlewinner Curley Culp being pinned by 1966 NCAA champ Dave Porter of Michigan at 3:36. One year later, at the 1968 East-West All-Stars, the two met again on the mat, again at Gallagher Hall at Oklahoma State. This time, the 1967 NCAA champ Culp avenged his previous loss to Porter with a 5-3 decision over the Wolverine who won the '66 and '68 heavyweight titles. Culp also pursued a dream of wrestling at the Olympics, by entering the 1968 US Olympic Trials at Iowa State. Russ Winer shared an amusing story about his time in Ames for the Trials: "He, Buzz Hayes and I roomed together at the O-Trials in Ames," said the former Oklahoma State heavyweight. "He went out to get ice, so I hid by the corner and jumped out to scare him, making him drop the ice. He said, �Don't ever do that again, Russ, or I'll throw you off this balcony.' I didn't." Culp's dream of making the US Olympic freestyle team was denied by Larry Kristoff, who had wrestled heavyweight for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and heavyweight champ at the first-ever Midlands in 1963. Some suggested he try for the U.S. Greco-Roman squad, but Culp said no ... deciding it was time to focus on continuing his football career by entering the pro football draft. Arizona State gridiron great Curley Culp appeared on the front cover of Arizona State Sun Devils' football program in 1967 as an All-American candidateEven before hanging up his singlet and embarking on an NFL career, Curley Culp was a true two-sports star at Arizona State, excelling at both wrestling and football. In fact, he was one of the few athletes to earn All-American honors in more than one sport, being named a football All-American by both The Sporting News and Time magazine. As with wrestling, Culp was well-regarded on the football field for his incredible strength ... and physical toughness. The story goes that he was so strong, he broke the helmets of three Sun Devil teammates during football practice. Some of his football rivals weighed in, in comments printed in the 1967 ASU football program tribute to Culp. "Culp is really strong," said Dave Middendorf, Washington State offensive guard. "I have never played against a linebacker or middle guard who is as strong in the upper body. He just tosses you off and goes about his business." "You could take all the defensive linemen we faced last year and you wouldn't find a better one than Culp," according to West Texas State center Phil Hampton. "His strength and speed made him almost impossible to block." Hampton's teammate, quarterback Hank Washington, said, "Every time I dropped back to pass, Culp would be there to greet me. He stayed on me all night long and hit like a tank. He would have to be the best defensive player I saw all season." Wyoming offensive guard Mel Hamilton used Culp as a motivational tool. Curley Culp, Arizona State's Smile King in 1967, pictured with Smile Queen Diane Housman"I was impressed with Culp," said Hamilton. "I never was hit so hard. In fact, I'm so impressed with Culp that I've got his picture hanging on the wall, building myself up for next season." During his time in Tempe, Curley Culp could definitely be considered "Big Man On Campus" -- and not just because of his imposing physique. Thumb through copies of the Arizona State Sahuaro yearbooks of the mid-1960s and you'll see dozens of pages devoted to Culp, featuring countless photos as a wrestler, football player, and, out of uniform. He was 1967 Homecoming King ... voted "Boy With The Best Smile" ... Student-Athlete of the Year in both 1967 and 1968 ... and selected as Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for 1967-68. Going pro In 1968, Culp entered the NFL draft, just one semester shy of graduating. (He would graduate with a bachelor's degree in 1970.) Culp was a second-round pick, grabbed by the Denver Broncos as the 32nd selection overall. However, the team had plans to switch him to offense ... but, instead, decided during training camp to trade him to the Kansas City Chiefs, where, as his Pro Football Hall of Fame biography states, "Fit in perfectly with Chiefs' dominating defense." In his second season in the NFL, Culp was definitely a difference-maker for the Chiefs at Super Bowl IV in New Orleans in January 1970. As the starting left defensive tackle vs. the Minnesota Vikings, Culp registered three tackles, and one assisted tackle to help his team -- who were 13-point underdogs -- to get a 23-7 upset win over the NFL's highest-scoring team. During the 1974 season, Culp was traded by Kansas City to the Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans), helping lead that team to its first winning season in eight years in 1975. In 1980, Culp found himself changing teams again, this time, heading north to the Detroit Lions, where he played for one season before retiring from football in 1981. All in all, Curley Culp compiled a very impressive pro football career that spanned fourteen seasons and 179 games. Among the highlights: Named NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1975. First- or second-team All-AFC five times. Six Pro Bowls. Super Bowl IV. Hall of Famer In February 2013, Curley Culp, 67, learned that he would be welcomed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On Saturday, Aug. 3, the former defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions was welcomed into the hall at Canton, along with Green Bay outside linebacker Dave Robinson, Baltimore offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, Dallas guard Larry Allen, Minnesota wide receiver Cris Carter, Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp and coach Bill Parcells in the Hall of Fame's Class of 2013. At the induction ceremony Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Curley Culp was introduced by one of his two sons, Chad, 30. Curley Culp giving his HOF induction speechIn his induction speech, the elder Culp acknowledged his own parents, saying, "Two of the most important people in my life, my parents, are not here to celebrate with me. They supported me when I had the opportunity to leave home for the big city in Tempe, Arizona. I will always remember, love and appreciate all that they did for me." In addition, the former Sun Devil thanked a pair of NFL owners: Bud Adams of the Houston Oilers, and Lamar Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs. "These are the men that made my professional playing days happen. Lamar Hunt wrote me a hand-written letter that I have to this day. Good owners make great players." Culp wrapped up his speech with this message: "In life, as in sports, we should play hard and clean. Hopefully our stories, preserved forever in the Hall of Fame will remind others what hard work and team work can produce." The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement is arguably the ultimate honor for Culp. However, he has been welcomed into a number of other halls of fame, including the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame, the Arizona High School Hall of Fame, the National High School Sports Hall of Fame, the Arizona Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame ... along with the Kansas City Chiefs Ring of Honor, and the Arizona State Ring of Honor. Beyond halls of fame inductions, Curley Culp was named the No. 3 athlete in Sports Illustrated magazine's "50 Greatest Sports Figures" of Arizona list in 1999, and ranked sixth in The Arizona Republic's "Athletes of the Century" list that same year. To see Curley Culp make short work of his opponent in the heavyweight finals of the 1967 NCAAs, check out this video on YouTube from the original ABC-TV broadcast. For more than 100 photos of Culp as a wrestler and football star -- along with his opponents and others in his life -- visit the "1967 Curley Culp" photo album at the NCAA Heavyweight Champs Yahoo group. And, check out his new, official website, www.curleyculp.com.

Ashland University has named Josh Hutchens as its head wrestling coach. Hutchens replaces Tim Dernlan, who has left college coaching to start a career as a high school administrator. Hutchens comes to AU from Colorado School of Mines. He's been the head coach of that program since 2009. This will be the third head coaching job Hutchens has held. He was the head coach at James Madison from 2004-07. "I think we're extremely fortunate to find a coach of his caliber who has agreed to lead our program at this particular time," said AU director of athletics Bill Goldring. "He has tremendous experience and knowledge and he's excited to be the next wrestling coach of the Eagles. I think he'll continue to take us in a positive direction." The new AU head coach has several things in common with his predecessor. Like Dernlan, Hutchens is a Purdue graduate. He was a roommate of Dernlan's during his time at Purdue. Hutchens becomes the ninth head coach in the program's history. AU has had varsity wrestling since the 1961-62 season. AU was 15th at nationals last season and returns a pair of All-Americans – Joe Brandt (Versailles, Ohio) and Michael Labry (Twinsburg, Ohio) - in 2013-14. "I've seen them wrestle at nationals every year," remarked Hutchens, when asked about the Eagles. "I know Tim very well and I've talked to Tim a lot, just talking about training and things like that. I know the kids who got to nationals and some other starters. I've started to study where kids are from and what they did in high school. I think I have a pretty good sense of the roster." As a head coach, Hutchens has coached five NCAA national qualifiers and one All-American. He has coached 17 National Wrestling Coaches of America All-Americans and his teams have placed in the top 15 of the NWCA All-Academic Team standings four times. One of his wrestlers received the NCAA Elite 88 Award, which is presented each year to the participating student-athlete at nationals with the highest grade point average. For Hutchens, coming to Ashland is a return to his wrestling roots. "I'm from the Midwest," reminded the new AU head coach. "I'm excited about the caliber of wrestling in Ohio and having the chance to compete nationally. Coming to campus and meeting the athletic director, the president and the other coaches, I saw that I had the same philosophy as everyone else. It's a philosophy that puts the individual first." In addition to his two head coaching stints, Hutchens served as an assistant coach at Colorado School of Mines (2007-09/2002-03) and at James Madison (2003-04). Hutchens also spent one year (2001-02) as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater. While at James Madison, Hutchens was the youngest Division I head coach in the nation. James Madison eliminated its wrestling program and Hutchens moved west to Colorado School of Mines. At each stop of his coaching career, Hutchens has worked at schools with high expectations academically. His teams at Colorado School of Mines have consistently ranked among the nation's top academic programs. That's a philosophy he expects to continue at AU. "There are a group of people who think you can't win without sacrificing integrity," said Hutchens. "There are people who think you can't do it without sacrificing the students' welfare. I want to win, but I want to win the right way. I'm a Purdue graduate and a big John Wooden fan. I think you build someone up and they can accomplish anything." As a wrestler, Hutchens was an NCAA Division I national qualifier at Purdue. He finished third at the Big Ten championships. In high school, Hutchens was a two-time Indiana state wrestling champion. He was a 2009 inductee into the Indiana State High School Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Hutchens earned his bachelor's degree in small business management from Purdue. He earned his master's degree in athletic administration from James Madison.

ITHACA, N.Y. -- After two seasons as a volunteer on the Cornell coaching staff, Mike Grey has been promoted to a full-time assistant coach it was announced today by Rob Koll, The David Dunlop '59 Head Coach of Wrestling. Mike Grey (Photo/Cornell Sports Information)In his two seasons as a volunteer assistant, Cornell posted a 25-5 dual meet record with two Ivy League titles, two EIWA team crowns and two top five NCAA team finishes. Big Red athletes won four NCAA titles, earned nine All-America honors, won six EIWA titles and captured seven first-team All-Ivy honors. The 2012 squad finished fourth at the NCAAs and featured three national champions (Kyle Dake at 157, Steve Bosak at 184, Cam Simaz at 197), while the 2013 team was fifth overall and had four wrestlers finish in the top four of their weight class. Included was four-time national champion Dake, the 2013 Hodge Trophy winner. Grey joined the Big Red as volunteer assistant coach in 2011 after helping the team to second-place finishes at the 2010 and 2011 NCAA championships as a student-athlete, the highest finishes in program history. Grey finished an impressive collegiate career with a 117-30 record and sits third on the Big Red leader board for most major decisions. A four-time NCAA qualifier, he was named the 2008 Ivy League Rookie of the Year and the 2008 Rev Wrestling Freshman of the Year. Grey was also a four-time All-Ivy first team selection, as well as a two-time EIWA champion. He placed sixth at the NCAA tournament in both his rookie season and his senior season, earning him All-American status twice. Prior to Cornell, Grey was a highly decorated high school wrestler, as the first four-time state champion out of New Jersey. Grey graduated from Cornell in 2011 with a degree in Development Sociology and currently resides in Ithaca.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips announced today that head wrestling coach Drew Pariano has been given a five-year contract extension through the 2018 season. In three seasons as head coach of the Wildcats, Pariano has guided the squad to top-20 finishes at the NCAA championships in each season along with seven All-America honors. "In his three years as our head coach, it is evident to see the positive impact Drew has had on our wrestling program and our athletic department as a whole," Phillips said. "He produced two NCAA finalists this past season, seven All-America honors in just three years and his teams are consistently recognized by the NCAA and NWCA for academic success. As a result, we are looking forward to crowning multiple NCAA champions and All-Americans in the coming years and seeing what the future holds for the Northwestern wrestling program with Drew at the helm." "I would like to thank Dr. Phillips and President Schapiro for their ongoing support of our wrestling program," Pariano said. "Northwestern Wrestling is synonymous with excellence and my staff and I will work extremely hard to carry on the tradition. Northwestern is a very special place for me and I plan on building the program into a perennial national title contender. The student-athletes that we currently have, and those who we continue to recruit, will embody what Northwestern Athletics is all about; success, honor and dedication". Pariano has been an integral part of the Northwestern program for 12 years, wrestling for the Wildcats from 1995-99, returning as an assistant coach in 2005 and then elevated to associate head coach before assuming the role as head coach on June 1, 2010. In his three seasons at the helm, the Wildcats have enjoyed a significant amount of success in the highly-competitive Big Ten Conference and on the national level. The 2012-13 season culminated with then-senior Jason Welch winning the Big Ten title at 157 lbs. and also earning a trip to the national finals at the 2013 NCAA Wrestling Championships, capping his NU career in elite company as a three-time All-American. Redshirt sophomore Mike McMullan also advanced to the national finals at heavyweight, giving Pariano's squad two NCAA finalists. Northwestern was one of just four schools, along with team champion Penn State, runner-up Oklahoma State and Iowa, to advance at least two wrestlers to the finals at the 2013 NCAA Championships. The Wildcats have qualified at least five wrestlers for the NCAA championships in each of Pariano's three seasons as head coach. Additionally, the squad has finished inside the top 20 all three years, including a top-10 showing (ninth place) during the 2011-12 campaign. During that span, four different wrestlers have achieved seven All-America honors. Since Pariano returned to Northwestern as an assistant coach in 2005, he has helped coach Jake Herbert (2007, 2009) and Dustin Fox (2008) to three national titles and guided nine wrestlers to 19 All-America honors. Pariano's Wildcats also are consistently honored for their academic achievements. As a team, Northwestern's GPA during the 2012-13 season ranked amongst the top 20 squads in the country according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and the Wildcats had a perfect APR score of 1,000 during 2011-12 to receive an NCAA Public Recognition Award. Redshirt sophomore Pierce Harger, a two-time NCAA qualifier, became a two-time NWCA All-Academic honoree in 2012-13, which extended NU's streak of at least one NWCA All-Academic honoree to nine of the last 10 seasons. Off the mat, Pariano has been instrumental in assembling several of the most highly-touted recruiting classes Northwestern has seen in the past two decades. He took the lead in recruiting two-time Illinois state champion Brandon Precin from Chicago's Sandburg High School in 2006 -- coaching the three-time All-American Precin to two third-place national finishes at 125 pounds -- and in 2008 he helped NU sign Welch -- a three-time NU All-American and 2013 NCAA finalist -- the Junior Dan Hodge Trophy winner as the nation's best prep wrestler. He also signed McMullan, who was the nation's No. 1 ranked heavyweight and now two-time All-American at NU, along with one of the top recruits in the country in 2012, four-time Indiana state champion, Jason Tsirtsis, who is currently preparing for the 2013 FILA Junior World Championships.

Related: Schedule IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Iowa wrestling program released its 2013-14 schedule Monday, and the calendar includes seven home dates and a return to the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships. Iowa, the national attendance leader each of the last seven seasons, opens the home schedule on Mediacom Mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Nov. 22, hosting Baker University, Cornell College, and Iowa Central in the Iowa City Duals. Nonconference foes Buffalo (Dec. 12) and Oklahoma State (Jan. 10), and Big Ten opponents Michigan State (Jan. 5), Indiana (Jan. 12), Minnesota (Jan. 26), and Michigan (Feb. 9) are also on the home schedule. Iowa's road schedule includes a pair of visits to Evanston, Ill. The Hawkeyes will aim for their record 23rd Midlands Championship at Welsh Ryan Arena on Dec. 29-30, before returning to Northwestern on Jan. 31 to face the Wildcats in one of four conference road duals. The Big Ten schedule also includes duals at Purdue (Jan. 3), Nebraska (Jan. 17), and Wisconsin (Feb. 23). The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series continues Dec. 1 in Ames, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have won all nine meetings against the Cyclones since the Cy-Hawk Series' inception in 2004-05. The nonconference schedule also include duals at Edinboro (Dec. 5) and Lehigh (Feb. 14). Wisconsin hosts the Big Ten Championships on March 8-9, and the NCAA Championships will be contested March 20-22 in Oklahoma City. The Hawkeyes open the season Nov. 15 at a tournament yet to be determined. All start times for the 2013-14 season will be announced at a later date.

BLOOMSBURG -- Bloomsburg University Director of Athletics Michael McFarland has announced the hiring of Jason Mester as the new head coach for wrestling. Mester comes to Bloomsburg from Central Michigan University (CMU) where he was an assistant coach for the Chippewas. Jason Mester"This is a great opportunity for me and my family and I am looking forward to continuing the strong wrestling tradition at Bloomsburg," said Mester. "My goal is to inspire, motivate and work to see the young men I will be entrusted with coaching achieve their goals, both in school and on the mat." "There is a lot of talent returning from last year's team that finished ranked in the top 15," Mester continued. "I can't wait to meet the guys and get working on the 2013-14 season." Mester, a graduate of Central Michigan, spent one season as the Chippewas' top assistant coach after two seasons as the assistant coach at the University of Missouri. While with the Tigers he helped lead the team to their first Big 12 Tournament championship in 2012 after a runner-up finish in 2011. Missouri boasted a school-record four individual Big 12 champions in 2012 and qualified an individual for the NCAA Championships in all 10 weight classes. Prior to Missouri, Mester spent five seasons as the strength and conditioning coach at the University of Nebraska. He worked directly with 14 All-Americans and three NCAA Championships finalists -- including two national champions -- and was part of a staff that led Nebraska to a pair of fourth-place team finishes at the NCAA Championships. "Today is a great day to be a Husky and I am proud to welcome Jason, his wife Lory, and their two children (daughter Charlotte and son Cecil) to the Bloomsburg community," said McFarland. "Everyone was impressed with Jason's vision for the program, leadership style, and how he plans to mold young men in and outside of the wrestling room," McFarland added. "His style and personality will fit in perfectly in this wonderful community." Jason MesterOne of the top wrestlers in CMU history, Mester is tied for 11th in school history with 104 career victories from 2001-04. He won three Mid-American Conference championships (2001, 2003, 2004) at 141 pounds and was an All-American in both 2003 and 2004. A three-time recipient of the Chick Sherwood Award as CMU's Most Valuable Wrestler, Mester was named MAC Wrestler of the Year as a senior. Mester's career winning percentage of .806 (104-25 overall) still ranks fourth overall in program history, and he owns two of the top eight single-season winning percentages in CMU history: .897 (26-3 overall, No. 6 all-time) in 2002-03 and .891 (33-4 overall, No. 8 all-time) in 2003-04. Mester earned a sport studies degree from CMU in 2004. He spent his first year following graduation as an assistant coach at CMU, helping lead the Chippewas to MAC regular season and tournament titles and a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2005. Mester takes over for John Stutzman who was named the head coach at Buffalo in May.

Jordan BurroughsVANADZOR, Armenia -- 2012 Olympic champion and 2011 World champion Jordan Burroughs continued his dominant wrestling with a gold-medal victory at 74 kilos/163 pounds on the final day of the Stepan Sargsyan International on Sunday. Burroughs won four matches on the way to the title, defeating 2012 European Junior champion Akamaz Sanakoev of Russia in the finals, 7-6. Read complete story ...

Eric Guerrero

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Victoria Anthony was shorter, smaller and seeded lower than all four girls she wrestled. But that didn't stop the hard-charging Anthony from winning a championship at the Women's World Team Wrestle-Offs on Saturday afternoon at Palmer High School. Read complete story ...

VANADZOR, Armenia -- The U.S. won four freestyle medals, including two gold medals, at the competitive Stepan Sargsyan International on Saturday. Claiming individual gold medals were 2013 U.S. World Team member Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC/Titan Mercury WC) at 66 kilos/145.5 pounds and Clayton Foster (Laramie, Wyo./GRIT Athletics/Cowboy WC) at 84 kilos/185 pounds. Read complete story ...

EVANSTON, Ill. -- USA Wrestling announced that Northwestern University has been added to the list of certified Regional Training Centers. The Chicago Regional Training Center will provide athletes with the utmost in training and learning opportunities in support of the Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling and USA Wrestling. The designation as an official Regional Training Center carries with it many responsibilities to develop athletes. The Chicago Regional Training Center provides a world class coaching staff along with an outstanding training facility to maximize the production of current and future Olympians. “The Chicago RTC is instrumental in developing our athletes into world and Olympic Champions,” said Northwestern head wrestling coach Drew Pariano. “We also want to focus on the process, and that begins at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels. The Chicago RTC will open up opportunities for wrestlers to train at an elite level. Our involvement with USA Wrestling is very important to our program and we thank them for their support”. Recently, Northwestern has produced a World Silver Medalist and 2012 Olympian Jake Herbert. In addition, two-time Olympian and Canadian National Champion, Matt Gentry has found a home with the Chicago Regional Training Center. On the Junior level, Lee Munster won the World Team Trials in 2011 at 84 kg and competed at the World Championships in Bucharest, Romania. In just two weeks, Northwestern freshman Jason Tsirtsis will compete for a World freestyle title at 66 kg at the 2013 FILA Junior World Championships, August 18 in Sofia, Bulgaria. In addition, 2007 NCAA Runner-Up Aaron Anspach and 2006 NCAA All-American Alex Tsirtsis will also be members of the Chicago RTC. USA Wrestling Regional Training Centers are open to any and all members of USA Wrestling.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling head coach Heath Eslinger named Mark Ellis assistant coach today. Ellis is a two-time All-American and the 2009 NCAA Champion as a heavyweight at Missouri. “We have made some changes in our staff that we are very excited about,” stated Eslinger. “Mark Ellis will join us this year and I really think he is going to be a great addition. He brings a lot of dimensions to the table that we need right now.” Ellis claimed the National Championship in 2009 to become the second wrestler at Missouri to win a title. He entered the tournament as the weight class's No. 2 seed and earned five wins over ranked wrestlers at the tournament, closing things out with a 3-2 win over No. 5 Konrad Dudziak (Duke) in tiebreakers. Ellis became a two-time All-American the following year when he finished sixth. “It is a good atmosphere here, from the top down,” stated Ellis. “The kids enjoy being here and I want to see if we can get someone to win a national championship here.” Ellis finished his National Championship campaign with a 31-3 record, the fifth-best winning percentage (.912) in a single season in program history. He closed out his Tiger career with a 90-39 record and was the program's Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2009. He and captured the Ed Lampitt Award in 2010 and currently ranks sixth all-time in career falls, pinning 30 opponents in his career. Associate head coach Rocco Mansueto has stepped aside to pursue other interests, but will still oversee the UTC Wrestling Camps. Mansueto was a part of Esligner’s staff for the past four years. Ellis competed in mixed-martial arts following his graduation from Missouri in 2010, and was a volunteer assistant coach for the Tigers last season. “I feel like the foundation is good, but it is time to put some finishing touches on things,” added Eslinger. “I think he is a guy who can come in and help our student-athletes do that. It is time to have some All-Americans here and it is time to have a national champion here and he can help us get there.”

Arkadelphia -- Ouachita Baptist Men's Wrestling Head Coach Kevin Ward is excited to announce the hiring of Chris Chionuma as the program's first assistant coach. Chris ChionumaSaid Coach Ward, "I am so excited he is joining our staff and know he will have a great impact on our program. He is a person of strong character first and foremost, and he has a very impressive and accomplished wrestling career." Coach Chionuma will bring championship level experience to a talented Tiger squad. He began his wrestling career at Lindenwood University where he was a NAIA National Champion in 2011. In 2013, he was a starter for the Big XII Champion Oklahoma State Cowboys. That team finished 2nd in the NCAA tournament. The unique experiences of having wrestled at the highest level at both a small program and a Division I powerhouse will be a great coaching tool for Coach Chionuma according to Coach Ward. "He knows what it's like to get a team ready to compete for a national title." When Coach Chionuma talks about goals for the OBU squad this year, championship caliber effort is a priority. "I expect all of our athletes to give 100%. The finish will represent how much effort we will put in. I see us placing as high as top 5 this year with a national champion in our lineup." Coach Chionuma went on to add, "My goals are to bring out the best in each wrestler on and off the mat, sharpen technique and build a hard working mentality to the foundation to our program." When asked what drew him to Ouachita Baptist, Coach Chionuma said, "I chose Ouachita because they had just begun their program and are setting the bar high for Arkansas wrestling. Being able to coach with fellow former OSU Cowboy Kevin Ward will give me the experience I need to be the best coach for our athletes as well." Ouachita Baptist Wrestling hits the mat in November. Coach Chris Chionuma's accomplishments: 3X NAIA All-American 2010 NAIA Runner-up 2011 NAIA National Champion 2013 Big XII Champ 2013 Starter for an Oklahoma State team that finished 2nd at the NCAA Championships

Fight Now TV Presents Takedown Wrestling in the Brute studios. Takedown Wrestling is proudly presented by Kemin, Inspired Molecular Solutions! This Saturday on Takedown Wrestling Radio from 9 to 11 a.m. CT/ 10 a.m. to noon ET. Join Scott Casber, Kurt Backes and Brad Johnson live from Des Moines, Iowa. This week's guests: 9:03 Donnie Pritzlaff, Michigan assistant head wrestling coach 9:15 Eric Guerrero, Oklahoma State assistant head wrestling coach 9:35 Dylan Wanagiel, Madison Square Garden Director, Sports Events 9:50 Tyler Barkley, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update 10:00 Doug Schwab, Northern Iowa head wrestling coach 10:20 Dennis Papadatos, North Carolina assistant wrestling coach 10:35 Joe Russell, George Mason head wrestling coach 10:50 Peggie Johnson, Wildrose Casino and Resort, Clinton, Iowa Fans, athletes, coaches: This is your sport. Join in the conversation live. Ask questions. Call 866-333-5966 or 515-204-5966. Takedown Wrestling is available on radio on AM 1460 KXNO in Iowa, online at Livesportsvideo.com, or on your Blackberry or iPhone with the iHeart Radio app. (Click on KXNO under Sportsradio.)

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. The 125th Congress of the IOC is 36 days from deciding the future of Olympic wrestling. My urge to pontificate about the excellency of wrestling has irritated a number of non-wrestling Facebook friends and no doubt led to some repetition in the mailbag and across social media. And yet I regret nothing. Our cause is just, and we will stay the course! Despite some recent positive indicators, wrestling has never faced a more certain threat to its long-term solvency than its possible removal from the 2020 Games. American, Russian and Iranian wrestlers will lose an opportunity for competition, but for many other countries around the world with less fortunate financial circumstance the cost is much larger. In India, Mongolia and Southeast Asia where wrestling helps ethnic minorities and women achieve equality, a world without wrestling means stunted social growth and prolonged suffering. We might be selfish in our assistance of the cause, but know that the consequences are further reaching than our borders. There are 36 days left in the campaign to #SaveOlympicWrestling and nothing we've done is enough. Money, lobbying and the carrying out of various campaigns were all white noise leading up to this final push over the final five weeks. Wrestlers are the most persistent, dedicated, loyal and stubborn athletes on the planet and we need to see this project through to its final conclusion in Buenos Aires. It's our task. Your assignment this week is to join the most recent social media campaign #TakeAStance. The idea is simple: Show your desire to #TakeAStance for wrestling by posing in your stance in a cool, or fun location. No singlets necessary. Just you in a welding costume hanging from the side of shipping container should be adequate. Be sure to leave the hashtag #TakeAStance and include @FILA_Official on Facebook and Twitter when possible. The IOC is checking our progress, and I can tell you that wrestling has almost caught up to squash. Almost. #TakeAStance is a new campaign, but the very best way for the worldwide wrestling community to show support for their sport heading into Buenos Aires. Don't be complacent. Wrestle at the edge of the mat! You are wrestling and wrestling needs you. #TakeAStance To your questions … Q: Four coaching vacancies and four jobs filled this offseason: Brown University -- Todd Beckerman Lock Haven University -- Scott Moore SIUE -- Jeremy Spates Buffalo -- John Stutzman I think the most important hire for the sport is at Brown. Non-traditional wrestling region, potentially susceptible program but with much upside potential. They will never win championships but could produce NCAA qualifiers and All-Americans like a Harvard. Collegiate wrestling should not lose programs at schools like Brown when there is a proven formula for success. Using # of All-Americans as the measure of success and leaving your rooting interest aside, which school produces the most All-Americans in 2018? -- Scott S. Foley: The drama-seeking storyteller in my head would love to see SIUE making a run at the national title in 2018, Scott Moore coaching a set of twins in the national finals, and Coach Beckerman racing across the mat to hug the program's first NCAA champion. But those are unlikely outcomes. John StutzmanThe most likely result of this year's coaching changes will be Coach Stutzman coaching at least two All-Americans in 2018 with the potential for a few more. Not because he's a better mat coach or was the best hire, but because he has head coaching experience and has progressed past the growth pains the other three will inevitably encounter over the next four seasons. He has shown the ability to lead a program and were this Vegas the odds would show that to be a major edge over his competitors. Stutzman has the experience to make a quick turnaround possible, and with only four years to create a winning program I see him slightly ahead of Moore, Beckerman and Spates. Also, I agree with you and the hiring of Beckerman at Brown. The end always comes with a whisper and I think that if the Brown alumni had lost their bid to keep the program, college wrestling would've seen a quick series of eliminations that could've dropped our Division I programs to new lows. Thankfully the hard work of the alumni helped to protect the team and the future of all wrestling. Q: Just curious if you have any comment on the Penn State, Thomas Haines recruiting issue? Penn State committed to Thomas Haines then backed out when they found out they could recruit a higher ranked wrestler. I'm disappointed with Penn State. I thought the wrestling brethren would stand by their word. Is this something that regularly occurs in the recruiting process? -- Henry C. Foley: I don't have any comment on the details of that particular case, largely because it seems that much of the information about the event has been played out in the media, or is otherwise conjecture. Penn State, as with any school, has the right to revoke a verbal offer, just like a student has the right to change his/her mind. Haines is being reasonable in expressing his disappointment, and Penn State's response seems well-handled. Since I coached at Columbia University I only have experience in the unique environment of Ivy League recruiting where there are no scholarships, serious academic restrictions for incoming students, and several competitors in the same region of the country selling virtually the same product. Like the scholarships schools the process remains intense throughout the summer and fall. In my years as a coach it was common for Ivy League programs to have potential wrestlers play schools off of each other once each has committed them a spot on the roster. Part of the play is in asking for matching grant packages, which often varies between schools by as much as $10k. The incoming wrestler convinces you that they'll attend your school just to get a financial read, but in the end just sends it to another institution, or vice-versa. What Penn State did -- the simple act of revoking a verbal offer -- is commonplace in sports like basketball and football, where relationships and not institutions dictate where a student will attend. In wrestling it is MUCH less common, largely because very few wrestlers earn a full scholarships, fewer still are offered before July 1 of their junior season, and only a fraction ever change their mind or have some incident change the predicted outcome. What happened at Penn State was rare, but significant in the sense that it signals a larger interest in the sport of college wrestling and the happenings of Happy Valley. Wrestling is becoming more popular and receiving more media attention, which means that like other sports we will have our indiscretions, or stories of possible scandal, highlighted on occasion. The leading stories in the NFL (racist slur) and MLB (drug use) aren't our future, but as we become a more fan-friendly sport we'll need to become more accustomed to negative press, and difficult stories with multiple sides. Q: A lot of high school wrestlers come out of high school as four or five time state champs. Why in your opinion is it hard to duplicate that success in college? -- Gregg Y. Foley: The most obvious difference is the size of the talent pool, number of years your opponents have wrestled better competition, and the size/strength of opponents as many as four years older. Less concrete would be competition anxiety and angst about finally losing. Though Kyle Snyder moved to Colorado Springs to train his senior season, there are dozens of returning state champs who are happy enough winning in their home state. When they get to college, they lose a few times and don't enjoy the aftertaste. Mom's cooking is always better than the slop at the dining hall. Another reason that young wrestlers don't win every championship is their predictable deficiency in mat wrestling. There are only a few freshmen who've come into college wrestling capable of both escaping at will, and earning ride time in a majority of their matches. Jesse Jantzen was a phenom from top, but even he had some trouble from bottom as a freshman. He improved quickly, won an national title and is still regarded as a top specialist, but that early lag had mostly to do with a lack of wrestling partners capable of giving him a Division I feel. Winning in high school is never a guarantee of collegiate success, even if you've won multiple state championships. Q: If Aaron Pico wanted my lunch money could I stop him? -- @BrantleyHooks Foley: You could try, but being face-planted by a 16-year-old isn't going to do much for your self-confidence. Better to give him the lunch money, lace the food with a sleeping aid, and then take a photo of you finishing a double as he's curled up during nap time. Did you see what happened to the kid who jumped out 8-0 against him in Fargo? Better still, have you seen what Pico can do with his hands? Good luck. I'd recommend a heavy breakfast. Q: Why are wrestlers like Michael Chandler, Jake Ellenberger, Ben Askren and others so successful in MMA? Is the transition from wrestling to MMA easy or hard in your opinion? Would you ever consider MMA? -- Gregg Y. Foley: Top Division I wrestlers compete several times a week for four months a year. That constant cycle of "train-compete-train-compete, rinse, repeat" has grown their mental and physical conditioning, as much as it sharpens their technical skills. Double legs and throws help control matches and put wrestlers in advantageous scoring positions, but it's the mindset of the American collegiate wrestler, and the training of a scholastic season, that makes the most significant difference when compared to other disciplines. Then again, maybe it is the technique. For me, wrestling has always been an adequate catharsis for frustrations that I can't seem to uncork in any other healthy way. MMA wasn't as accessible when I graduated from college in 2004 -- only a few guys were in the game and from the outside it looked pretty brutal. Also, like many collegiate wrestlers I was just exhausted from competition after college. I'd reached my goals, felt fulfilled and wondered what it felt like to drink during Christmas and New Years. (I found out that it was an overrated amateur hour.) Taking on another physical task, especially one so painful, wasn't appealing so I chose to invest time and money in myself by carrying various jobs, traveling abroad and eventually going back to school. Looking back I don't regret the choice to stand outside the cage and write about the personalities and the actions inside. On occasion I put on the gloves and go full sparring sessions, but it's all pretty tame. Who knows, I might have made a decent fighter. I certainly could've slam-dunked Sam Sheridan's face into the canvas, but I also might have been clipped in the jaw by a shinbone. I didn't try, so I'll never know, but I also won't have tens of thousands in medical bills, and for that I'm thankful. Q: Where does Penn States latest addition rank them in all-time best recruiting classes? -- @Bobbylit20 Foley: My gut reaction was BEST EVER, but I know that couldn't be totally right, so I lobbed this softball to Josh Lowe who clarifies and substantiates high school rankings with the best of 'em. Enjoy the breakdown! All are based on the END OF SENIOR YEAR RANKINGS!! Michigan was 2, 4, 11, 27, and 98 with c/o 2013 Iowa was 8, 10, 14, 15, and 49 c/o 2012 Cornell was 5, 9, 18, 25, and 64 c/o 2012 Ohio State was 7, 14, 16, 27, and 33 c/o 2011 Central Mich was 11, 17, 41, 43, and 55 c/o 2011 Iowa was 5, 12, 16, 18, 27, and 77 c/o 2010 Iowa was 10, 15, 17, and 56 c/o 2009 This covers the five years I've been doing them. Given that the rankings are subject to evolution, if things "hold," Penn State would be the first to have three in the top ten. To proclaim one class as all-time great would be a rash thing to do. There is one or a couple super class, or a couple, every year. Some pan out, others don't, and even within that the combination of who pans out, who doesn't and the such is never according to "chalk." COMMENT OF THE WEEK By Muir Aaron Pico is the future of MMA.

The college wrestling season is a few months away, but like the NCAA football fans who started in the spring on their campaign to better understand the landscape of their sport, we're prepping you all summer long. The list of top ten wrestlers coming off redshirt does not include freshmen who came in and were put immediately into redshirt. Though all of them have a valid freshness date, this list is only concerned with those that have already completed a full NCAA wrestling season. Let the debating begin. It's a long, hot summer, but wrestling season is on just the other side of autumn so it's always best to be prepared. Andrew Howe fell to Kyle Dake at the 2013 U.S. World Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Andrew Howe (Oklahoma) About Howe: After an epic offseason that saw him come within a takedown of a rematch with Jordan Burroughs for a spot on the 2103 World Team, Andrew Howe is back for a full collegiate season. Between redshirts, greyshirts and injuries, the sixth-year senior and 2011 NCAA champion has the most decorated career of anyone coming back this season. Despite making 74 kilos for the World Team Trials, Howe is likely headed to 174 pounds. where he will be facing off against defending NCAA champion Chris Perry (Oklahoma State) and NCAA runner-up Matt Brown (Penn State). Oklahoma assistant wrestling coach Jared Frayer on Howe: "Same as earlier, he expects to win and dominate throughout the entire season. By the time the season starts he will be as healthy as he has been in three years, and that is scary. Andrew is another that leads by example, but will voice himself to a teammate behind the scenes. We are all excited to finally see him in the Crimson and Cream." Austin Marsden earned a spot on the Junior World Team (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Austin Mardsen (Oklahoma State) About Marsden: The Oklahoma State heavyweight will look to fill the hole left by uber-talented Russian Alan "Z" Gelogaev, who placed fourth in the NCAAs. Mardsen, who qualified for the 2012 NCAA tournament after being pulled from redshirt late in the season, finished his inaugural campaign with an impressive 27-5 record and a runner-up finish in the Big 12. Head coach John Smith and Cowboy nation will be expecting Mardsen to accomplish more in 2014, and could open the season ranked in the top five nationally. Oklahoma State head wrestling coach John Smith on Marsden: "I think he's ready to help his team. I think he has a chance to do some things this year, and I'm really excited to watch him develop and grow more as a part of this team." Nick Gwiazdowski (N.C. State) About Gwiazdowski: A 2012 transfer from Binghamton to N.C. State, Gwiazdowski was a freshman All-American for the Bearcats before settling into a productive redshirt season in Raleigh. A definite All-American candidate in 2013, Gwiazdowski used the 2012-2013 redshirt year to compete in several national tournaments in both freestyle and folkstyle. He had two wins over two-time NCAA champion Tony Nelson (Minnesota) at the World Team Trials, including a 9-0 technical fall victory in the opening round. He posted a 20-1 record during the collegiate season where he won three tournaments. N.C. State head wrestling coach Pat Popolizio on Gwiazdowski: "Nick has made big strides this season as a redshirt. He has improved both technically and mentally. He has gained a lot of confidence by placing third in this year's World Team Trials. One of Nick's goals this past season was to add some size and muscle mass, with the help of our strength coach, Brian Tatum, he was able to accomplish this. Nick will go into this season with high expectations. His goal is to win an NCAA title." Jarrod Patterson is a three-time NCAA qualifier at 125 (Photo/Austin Bernard)Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma) About Patterson: The lightweight among Oklahoma head coach Mark Cody's trio of stud redshirts, Patterson will be looking for his second All-American plaque. The three-time NCAA qualifier will once again compete at 125 pounds, where he's won 10 matches at the NCAA tournament. Patterson will have significant help in the lineup, and should he maintain his top ten ranking throughout the season will be in position to add to his collection of hardware come March. Frayer on Patterson: "Our expectations and his are the same, and that is to win an NCAA title. He has had all the best guys on the ropes, and this year off has allowed him to figure out how to finish the big matches. Jarrod has been a constant with the two staffs changing, and leads by silent example, a small town Oklahoma guy who works his tail off. What excites us is that he got what he wanted from this redshirt year, he matured mentally and got his love for the game back. Patterson will surprise come March. Travis Rutt (Oklahoma) About Rutt: Rutt, a transfer from the University of Wisconsin along with Andrew Howe, is among the best wrestlers in the nation to take a late-career redshirt. The All-American has his eyes on an NCAA title. There to assist him in his goal is head coach Mark Cody who has plenty of experience leading big guys to the NCAA finals, including NCAA champion Josh Glenn of American. Should Rutt find a spot in the finals alongside Howe and possibly Patterson, then he'll certify that Oklahoma made the correct decision in redshirting the team's three stars in 2013. Frayer on Rutt: "Definitely shows the big men how it's done. During his redshirt year he got his folkstyle legs back under him after an Olympic redshirt in Greco. Travis has also gotten bigger, which will allow him to focus on his wrestling, and not so much cutting weight. We expect Travis to be in the title hunt come March." Daniel Mitchell (American) About Mitchell: A three-time NCAA qualifier coming into a fifth-year senior season can be a powerful tool. Mitchell, who wrestled much of his career under Mark Cody, is a preseason All-American candidate at 197 pounds, and just the type of wrestler that head wrestling coach Teague Moore will want to be in the lead of his young, dynamic squad. American University head wrestling coach Teague Moore on Mitchell: "Danny spent a lot of time on technique development during his redshirt season and is very prepared for 2013-14. Danny will contend for the NCAA title in March. I was most impressed with his maturity to analyze his own wrestling and see areas that were in need of improvement." Morgan McIntosh went 18-10 as a true freshman in 2011-12 and qualified for the NCAAs (Photo/Bill Ennis)Morgan McIntosh (Penn State) About McIntosh: The California native was among head coach Cael Sanderson's most prized recruits heading into the 2011-2012 season. Though many thought he might redshirt out of high school, McIntosh, who wrestles 197 pounds, instead chose to compete and earned a spot in the NCAA Championships where he finished 1-2. Surrounded by a wealth of talent, McIntosh has the training to dramatically improve his finish over two seasons prior. Though he'll be expecting an All-American campaign, he'll have to battle a few wrestlers on this list alone. Penn State head wrestling coach Cael Sanderson on McIntosh: "Morgan had a great redshirt year. He's bigger, stronger and better technically. He is ready to challenge for the national championship." Mason Beckman (Lehigh) About Beckman: A redshirt sophomore when he takes the mat this season, the Pennsylvania kid is one of head coach Pat Santoro's most competent wrestlers heading into the 2013-2014 season. Beckman, who wrestled 125 before moving to 133 in his freshman season, went 1-2 at the NCAA tournament with an overall record of (27-11). Like most redshirts he's sure to see massive improvement after a year of battling in the room. Lehigh University head wrestling coach Pat Santoro on Beckman: "Mason and the coaching staff have high expectations for this coming season. He has done everything right during his redshirt. He has become more aggressive and has filled into a nice size 133-pounder. He can score a lot of points and should be a lot of fun to watch this year." Stephen Dutton (Michigan) About Dutton: The New York native and two-time NCAA qualifier for Lehigh sat out the 2013 season after transferring to the Michigan program in July of 2012. Now ready-to-compete for the Blue, Dutton is looking to capture his first All-American trophy and help head coach McFarland reestablish his program as one of the best in the Big Ten. Michigan assistant wrestling coach Sean Bormet on Dutton: "Coming off his redshirt year, Steve knows he has two great years ahead of him. He is a competitor, has excellent leg attacks, and is very tough on top. Steve is excited to compete and embrace the challenges ahead and we are excited to have the opportunity to coach him at Michigan." Devin Carter was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Dave Schultz Memorial (Photo/Larry Slater)Devin Carter (Virginia Tech) About Carter: An absolute monster at any weight he wrestles, the former 133-pound wrestler should be heading up to compete at 141 pounds in 2014. Carter took off the 2013 season where he won the Dave Shultz Memorial and was also named Outstanding Wrestler. Not surprisingly, Carter's goal for 2014 is to be the type of wrestler capable of winning both an NCAA championship and the Hodge Trophy. The Virginia native is a two-time NCAA qualifier and 2012 NCAA All-American at 133 pounds, and should he win back-to-back NCAA titles for the Hokies, he'd be the first to do so from Blacksburg. Virginia Tech head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser on Carter: "Felt that he was in between 133 and 141. Because of that we wanted him to be a full size 141-pound guy. Excited to get him back in the lineup for his wrestling (one) and his leadership ability (two). He's got one thing on his mind, being the national champion at 141 pounds. We think he can be in the hunt this year for a title."

Helen Maroulis and Billy Baldwin will go "On the Mat" this Wednesday, July 31. "On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM Central on AM 1650, The Fan. E-mail dgmstaff@nwhof.org with any questions or comments about the show. A podcast of the show is available on theopenmat.com. Maroulis won this year's World Team Trials at 121 pounds. She was a silver medalist at 2012 World Championships as well as a fifth place finisher at the 2011 World Championships. Maroulis recently won a silver medal in a special international tournament in Olympia, Greece. Baldwin, who starred in "Backdraft" and "Sliver," wrestled in high school and for two seasons at Binghamton University in New York. He is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an Outstanding American and is one of the leaders in the effort to save wrestling at the Olympic Games.

Boalsburg, Pa . -- Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy is proud to announce the launching of a new wrestling program this coming wrestling season in 2013. Saint Joseph's will add wrestling as another PIAA athletic opportunity as a Class AA wrestling program in 2013. The Saint Joseph's wrestling program will be run by two former NCAA Division I wrestlers with over 32 years of experience coaching wrestling. Head Coach Pat Flynn is originally from Annapolis, MD where he was a State Champion in High School and then went on to compete for 3 years as a starter for the University of Maryland. At Maryland, Pat was an NCAA Honorable Mention All-American and an ACC Champ in 1995. In 1996 Pat earned a B.S. in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland and went on to coach at the Naval Academy, F&M, and James Madison. After moving to State College in 2001 he turned his focus to High School Coaching at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and as an Assistant Coach at Bellefonte High School. During his time at Bellefonte High School Pat helped to coach numerous PIAA State Placers and 1 PIAA State Champion and was named the 2007 PIAA High School Assistant Coach of the Year. He currently lives in State College with his wife Jennifer and their two children and enjoys working as a Mortgage Loan Officer for Snare and Associates. Assistant Coach Chad Dubin is originally from Orlando, Fla. Chad was a walk-on at Penn State University where he went on to become a two year NCAA qualifier and a member of the 1991 NCAA National Dual Team Champions. Chad graduated with a Business Logistics degree in 1991 and was also a 1991 2nd Team Academic All American. After a successful business career on Wall Street, Chad moved back to State College in 1995 when he became involved in coaching High School Wrestling. Over the last 18 years, holding various positions at State College Area High School (2009-2013 Head Coach) and the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, Chad coached 6 PIAA State Champions and 25 PIAA State Place Winners. He was also an Assistant Coach for 4 years for the PA Junior National Freestyle Team. Chad is currently an owner of Mammoth Restoration & Construction and lives in Bellefonte with his wife Heather and two children. "We enthusiastically welcome Pat Flynn and Chad Dubin to the Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy community and consider ourselves very fortunate to have such experienced and capable coaches on board to establish and lead our new wrestling program," said Chris Chirieleison, Principal of Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy. "Having spent time with Pat and Chad to discuss their coaching philosophy and objectives, I am confident that they will be excellent mentors to our scholar athletes and a great credit to S.J.C.A.'s wrestling program and community." The new wrestling program will complement the other PIAA athletic opportunities at Saint Joseph's for the 2013/ 2014 school year which are: Football, Volleyball, Golf, Cross Country, Boy's and Girl's Basketball and Track and Field. For further information on the educational and athletic opportunities at Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy please contact Chris Chirieleison or Jean Kozak at (814) 808-6118 or email us at admin@stjoeacad.org. Fl

What competitive options does a wrestler have once his college career is over? If he wants to stay active in wrestling (and isn't quite ready to become a coach), he can pursue the Olympic dream and compete in freestyle or Greco-Roman. He could enter mixed martial arts (MMA) competition ... or become a pro wrestler. Now there's a new way to continue to compete in wrestling ... and make some money doing it. Tour ACW, the Association of Career Wrestlers, is a brand-new venture, launched by Teague Moore -- 1998 NCAA 118-pound champ for Oklahoma State, now American University head coach -- and business partner Kyle N. Smith. The idea behind Tour ACW is to provide wrestlers who aren't old enough for the veterans' circuit new opportunities to continue their competitive careers in the sport they love. The first-ever Tour ACW event will take place this fall in Pittsburgh. Intro to Tour ACW When asked to provide a quick overview description of Tour ACW, Moore responded, "We're attempting to start a new style of wrestling, with new rules that bring together elements of folkstyle and freestyle. The idea is to create a more fan-friendly, action-packed event." "Unlike college wrestling, there won't be a match time limit, and there won't be a set number of periods. There are two ways for a wrestler to win: by pinning his opponent, or by being the first to score ten points." ("First2Ten" is a phrase that appears more than once at the Tour ACW website.) Some fans who are all-too-familiar with low-scoring college wrestling bouts that have all the strategy and physicality of a chess match may be wondering how it might even be possible for a wrestler to score ten points. It's a concern that Teague Moore understands fully. "When you start a match with two very good wrestlers, it would normally take a while to get to ten points," said Moore. "So we've opened up opportunities for scoring, incorporating effective scoring techniques from freestyle and folkstyle." "When the wrestlers are on their feet, it's a combination of freestyle and folkstyle," Moore continued. "Once the wrestling action is on the mat, it's more like folkstyle." Here's how the Tour ACW website breaks down the point values for scoring. As with college wrestling, a takedown or a reversal is each worth two points ... while an escape is worth one point. However, Tour ACW provides new ways for wrestlers to tally more points ... including a one-point push out (pushing your opponent out of the wrestling area). Taking your opponent from his feet to back exposure nets you three points ... while a nearfall can add two or three points to your score, depending on how long you put your opponent in danger of getting pinned. Those high-value back points should be easier to come by under Tour ACW rules, according to Moore. "If an opponent's shoulder blades are facing the mat, that will count towards back points," said the American University coach. Who can compete? For the inaugural event this fall, Tour ACW has five weight classes for men -- 135, 155, 170, 205, and 265 pounds. Sixteen wrestlers will compete in each weight class. ("We hope to grow to offer more opportunities in the future," said Moore.) Teague Moore coaching at the 2013 NCAAs in Des Moines (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Tour ACW is open to athletes 18 years old and up. "We're looking for young men in their mid 20s to early 30s who would be able to compete," Moore told InterMat. "There aren't that many opportunities for guys who want to compete." Rarer still are opportunities for wrestlers to make money on the mat. With Tour ACW, winners in each weight class will earn $2,500 each. "Ideally, we're looking for guys who have completed their college wrestling careers," Moore continued. "Current college wrestlers can compete, but it could affect a wrestler's eligibility. Athletes must understand the possible ramifications." Beyond recent college graduates, Tour ACW offers potentially profitable opportunities for other athletes to compete on the mat. "A lot of guys fighting in amateur MMA see the importance of having strong wrestling skills to succeed, and may enter Tour ACW to improve their wrestling," said Moore. "We think there are other guys who wrestled in high school but for whatever reason did not compete in college, who would be great candidates for this," Moore continued. "We can imagine that there are guys who had their wrestling careers cut short after high school for whatever reason -- couldn't afford to go to college, family obligations -- who would make great human interest stories for Tour ACW." Does Tour ACW have a familiar ring? For long-time fans of amateur wrestling, Tour ACW may sound like previous ventures designed to provide former college wrestlers the opportunity to compete for glory and prize money. The one that may be most familiar is Real Pro Wrestling, a 2005 attempt at what could be called "paid amateur wrestling" in that contestants competed for money. Despite the name, Real Pro Wrestling bore little resemblance to recent-vintage professional wrestling; there was no ring, no "heels" (villains) or "faces" (good guys), no costumes, no soap-opera storylines, and no predetermined outcomes. Rather, Real Pro Wrestling was more a souped-up version of what takes place in high school gyms and college arenas, complete with a round mat, and wrestlers with legitimate amateur wrestling backgrounds. (Most Real Pro Wrestling contestants were former top college wrestlers -- NCAA champs or All-Americans -- along with guys with impressive freestyle or Greco credentials.) Teague Moore finished runner-up in the Real Pro Wrestling event in 2005, losing in the finals to Sammie Henson (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)That said, Real Pro Wrestling incorporated some showbiz elements to attract cable TV viewers who might not consider themselves to be amateur wrestling fans. The rules were a hybrid of various amateur wrestling styles with an eye to enhancing action, including a push-out rule that has since been incorporated into international wrestling ... as well as Tour ACW. The round mat was surrounded by a dry moat, upping the stakes for the push-out rule. Filmed inside a large Hollywood studio, the wrestlers entered the circular arena (which bore some resemblance to the Roman Colisseum) with attention-getting music and light show ... and, perhaps most controversial at the time, all but the heavyweights competed in trunks, without shirts. (The guys in the 265-pound weight class wore singlets.) Despite generating considerable buzz in the amateur wrestling community -- and decent ratings -- Real Pro Wrestling disappeared after one season. Teague Moore understands how some fans might think of Real Pro Wrestling when they learn about his Tour ACW. After all, he made it to the finals of that one and only 2005 season of Real Pro Wrestling ... and has fond memories of the experience. "When I left that event, I thought it was really cool," Moore told InterMat. "However, it appears (Real Pro Wrestling's) business model didn't work for them." "There were a lot of strong aspects of the Real Pro Wrestling product. We liked the way they combined various wrestling styles, and the way they introduced the push-out rule as a way to score." "That said, we decided to start smaller," Moore continued. "We thought, let's start with five weight classes for men, then we can grow into more opportunities in the future." "We decided to start with a single event," said Moore, who hopes to have three more Tour ACW events in 2014. First stop for Tour ACW: Pittsburgh The first Tour ACW event will be held Sunday, Oct. 20 at the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency hotel near the Pittsburgh International Airport. Athlete registration opens August 1, with 16 wrestlers competing in each of the five weight classes. (The idea behind early registration, according to Teague Moore: so that Tour ACW can generate advance publicity for the contestants, thus creating more media coverage and fan interest ahead of the event.) "We're focused on creating a great athlete experience," said Moore. "If we can create a really great event, we can generate excitement among participants as well as wrestling fans." Wrestling fans who want to be a part of the inaugural Tour ACW event may want to act quickly, as there will be only 300 seats available in the Hyatt ballroom. Tickets may be purchased directly at the Tour ACW website as part of a Social Membership, which includes a ticket to the Pittsburgh event -- and first rights to purchase tickets for future events -- along with additional perks such as a collared shirt with an embroidered Tour ACW logo, admission to weigh-ins and social events, and discounts on hotel accommodations. The idea: New competitive and promotional opportunities In creating Tour ACW, Teague Moore has considered all aspects of broadening the appeal of wrestling to make the event more attractive to competitors ... and to fans. With that in mind, one element that is already in place for Tour ACW athletes: They won't have to wear a singlet to compete. "I think the traditional wrestling singlet turns away a lot of potential competitors," said Moore. "It also turns off a lot of kids." "Tour ACW competitors can wear fight shorts, and even get sponsorships to be displayed on their gear," Moore continued. "I think it could attract new athletes to high school and college to wear fight shorts, and, ultimately, help how wrestling is marketed." "Our hope is that Tour ACW will help wrestling grow in the next ten years and beyond. We need to make wrestlers and wrestling more marketable." The International Olympic Committee's decision in February to remove wrestling as a core sport as of the 2020 Olympics got Moore -- who, in addition to wrestling in high school and college, competed in freestyle -- to thinking about his sport's future. "For the first time in my life, I see individuals like me asking what we can do to ensure wrestling's future," said Moore. "We're asking, ‘What can we do to promote the sport?'" "That said, if we're not analyzing our sport to see about eliminating any weaknesses, how can we expect to reach potential fans?" "I think events like Tour ACW can contribute to that effort." "Originally, I was concerned about the possible reaction," Moore said of his new venture. "But I'm getting a lot of positive response. I think one reason is that we are opening up new opportunities for athletes to continue wrestling." To learn more about Tour ACW -- and how you can participate either as an athlete, or as a fan -- visit the organization's official website: www.touracw.com .

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. In the aftermath of IOC Executive Committee's recommendation to remove wrestling from the Olympics, many wrestling fans were left with resentment towards FILA, the international governing body of wrestling. President Rafeal Martinetti had disappointed millions of wrestling fans in the month's leading up to the February vote when he ignored the continued pleas of the IOC to make substantive and progressive change. That stubbornness cost wrestling its position in the Olympics, jeopardized the future of a sport, and left wrestling fans to tremble with rage. For the first few months of the #SaveOlympicWrestling campaign, FILA was the target of the wrestling communities collective discontent. They'd fired Martinetti, hired PR whizzes, implemented rule changes, established a relationship with the IOC and hosted several unique press events and still they were left to be critiqued for inadequacies instead of supported through their period of upheaval. Common sense dictates that a fractured international wrestling community is less powerful than one that is unified. FILA will be wrestling's voice on Sept. 8 in Buenos Aires and they can ONLY way they can be successful is if we can show our strength as a community. After we win in Buenos Aires those who are within the community will have more insight and opportunity to effect change. Consider this an invitation to support. If you have Twitter then you NEED to follow @FILA Official, however, we also need you to do some actual work to help pump up the size of FILA's Facebook Community. Here's what you do: 1. Head over to FILA Official on Facebook and push "Like" 2. In the upper right hand corner is "Invite Your Friends to Like This Page" 3. Push "Invite" until the box disappears, and then push "See All" 4. Open up the list to other communities As of today these are the numbers of LIKES for comparable sports, subsidiary national bodies and other professional leagues. UFC: 10,760,494 OneFC: 454,085 Judo: 265,819 Squash: 46,550 Baseball/Softball: 32,525 FILA: 15,761 As you can see, we are losing ... badly. Not to fret, we've shown success in the past with last-minute social media campaigns. Before the first vote, where social media was also considered, FILA's Twitter numbers were driven from 3.5k to 15k in 24 hours. Facebook LIKES might not be a needle-mover for every member of the IOC, but it is a documented and distributed metric they are allowed consider. To improve wrestling's chances we need to empower FILA in the simplest way possible -- by simply ‘liking' them. Why should we knowingly lose a battle that we know we can win? Do your part and start clickin.' To your questions ... Q: Watched the Inside Russia on Flo and was shocked to see empty stands It looked like Vegas at the U.S. Open. Why can't Russia fill seats? -- Tim R. Foley: First of all ... wow. The Flo team has plenty to be proud of with these productions. They are creating a whole new industry and our sport is all-the-better as a result of their efforts. Bravo, guys. Noticed this as well. Good eye. Maybe it was location? Krasnoyarsk ain't exactly a well-traveled summer location for many Ruskies. One of the proposals to improve the marketability of international wrestling is to create a Grand Prix circuit with a focus on enormous cash prizes hosted in the hometowns of individual All-Stars. For example, the 2014 74-kilo Grand Prix would have a cash prize of $1 million and be held in Newark, N.J. Wrestlers from around the world would come to the event to compete for the money, and fans would fill the arena to see LOCAL hero Jordan Burroughs take home a big ol' check. That many people and that type of prize money would attract sponsors who would be the ones responsible for the payment. In an effort to polish up the delivery of our product wrestling could make the finals into a separate event, with plenty of buildup for the match. It might seem like a lot of effort, but if we don't try to make our sport something with appeal and a magnet for media attention, then it'll continue to be ignored. Q: Having mostly followed high school and college wrestling over the years I am curious how the rest of the world conducts their competitions. Do they have dual meets and tournaments like the NCAA? And once wrestlers are at the senior level, how do they compete? I'm asking this because it seems to me with all the clubs in the U.S., why don't we have dual meets between them? Sunkist Kids vs. Nittany Lion Wrestling Club for example? -- Ken S. Foley: Freestyle wrestlers in foreign countries have various training methods. The Mongolians recently asked their government for the funding to establish wrestling teams by Aimag (states) that they would then wrestle-off against each other. In Senegal the wrestlers travel overseas. In China they have several live-style intrasquads and tend to make it to several regional tournaments a year. Americans are traveling often, but as you said maybe not often enough. It can be financially difficult to travel all the time, and you might have the right idea about starting a dual meet tournament. My only concern is that some teams might not be able to fill out rosters, and that the backups of some program would want to compete. In that case we might be able to create a second team (as in the case of Sunkist and NYAC). Like a Grand Prix, everything would be left to the marketing of the event, but more importantly I think a dual meet tournament might be the best way to get our guys in the competition mood, for cheap and on home soil. I got money on Sunkist Kids. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Wrestling goes back to Ancient Greece ... What the hell ... Q: My question is regarding Kyle Dake and the ESPY Awards. I'm crushed that he did not win best male college athlete. Sure, the ESPYs are a popularity contest, and Johnny Football had an amazing year, but do you believe he should have earned that award this year? On another note, one flaw I find with the ESPYs is that highly televised college sports (e.g. basketball, football) seem to have better shots of winning awards than other sports (e.g. wrestling, baseball, tennis) due to the fact the voters stem from fans who have an easier time following their "team". If an unbiased committee was chosen to pick the winners, do you think Dake would have won? I'm only asking because Dake's win could have been a huge boost for wrestling, and we need any kind of attention/support we can get to help our cause for the 2020 Olympics. -- Chris G. Kyle Dake with Megan Palladino at the ESPYsFoley: Don't worry, the ESPYs are one of the year's least-watched award shows. Athletes aren't like celebrities in theater, movies and music, who need some sort of way to rank themselves against each other. Sports does the trick by entering everyone into direct competition and awarding trophies at the end of the season. Isn't it kind of redundant to bring them back and hand them a second or third award for the same honor. ESPN realized the same issue with the ESPYs and early on sought out to diversify their presentations by creating cross-sport competition, like Best Male College Athlete. If the ESPYs were voted on by sportswriters -- a famously curmudgeon hateful bunch -- Kyle Dake would have earned the equivalent of a technical fall in votes over Johnny Manziel. As it is, the voting was left up to 12-year-olds and intoxicated sorority girls in fur jackets. Winning the ESPY would have been a nice grab for wrestling's ongoing publicity campaign, but ultimately that will be decided by much larger factors. And in a strange way, the fact that Manziel won created such a backlash that it worked just the same, maybe even better than if Dake had won. Q: Got any predictions for this week's Bellator card? -- Donny C. Foley: I think this is the opening of the season. It's best to take Askren and Chandler in the title fights, and Anthony Leone in the four-man tournament. If you want help on the weekend's UFC fights, I'd put big money on Jake Ellenberger (+190) to beat Rory MacDonald. Wrestling is the greatest equalizer, so long as you have a gas tank. COMMENT OF THE WEEK -- Tim J. Update on Nevada Walker ... That really is his name. He had more natural talent than any wrestler I've ever seen. Could have easily, and I'm being serious, easily been a multiple-time national champion. He had a hard home life and just didn't have the support system to focus on college. Commodore Perry graduates about 50 kids in a class and during Nevada's time, I'd of taken the '97 team against anyone. He graduated in '98 and that had the most talented group of wrestlers in school history. There is another kid in his class that was even better but like Nevada and rest of that class didn't care as much as they should. Their pre-match meal consisted of snacks and a Marlboro Red or smoking a bowl. Sadly, wrestling is dead at the school. Hard to believe that in 15 years it could go from a top 10 team in country to five or six kids on the team. Just really sad and I don't know how to get the area to get kids out.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Former Virginia All-American Derek Valenti has joined the coaching staff of the UVa wrestling team as the volunteer assistant coach. Virginia head coach Steve Garland made the announcement Thursday (July 25). Derek Valenti“I am excited to be able to spend another year here at Virginia and am thankful that Coach Garland and the other coaches have welcomed me back,” Valenti said. “Coach Garland has been a great mentor for me through my five years as a student-athlete and I look forward to learning more from him in the office and as a coach. I am also looking forward to developing our wrestlers into successful athletes as well as students.” Valenti joins a trio of fellow former All-Americans, Garland and assistant coaches Alex Clemsen and Jordan Leen, on the Cavaliers’ coaching staff. “Derek joining our staff is a dream come true for me,” Garland said. “Every coach loves the idea of one of his own coming back to further work with the program he helped build. Derek was part of one of our most successful recruiting classes here and went on to have an outstanding career. He not only was an All-American here, but more importantly was a great student and leader in this athletics department. Derek knows our system and is the prototypical guy you want in and around your program.” Valenti wrestled at Virginia from 2008-13 and became the 13th All-American in program history in 2011 when he took eighth place at 149 pounds at the NCAA Championships. Valenti was a three-time NCAA qualifier (141 pounds in 2010, 149 in 2011 and 2013). He accumulated 95 career wins, which ranks 10th in UVa history. The Newton, N.J., native posted a career record of 95-45 and ranks fifth in the Cavalier career annals with 52 dual-match wins. His 140 career bouts ranks ninth in program history. He finished his career with 16 falls, six technical falls and 12 major decisions. Valenti was the ACC runner-up at 149 pounds in 2011 and 2013. Valenti earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from UVa in 2012 and a master’s degree in environmental science this past spring.