InterMat Staff

DES MOINES -- Fight Now TV Presents Takedown Wrestling from the Brute studios in Des Moines, Iowa at 1460 KXNO. Takedown Wrestling is brought to you by Kemin Agrifoods! This Saturday it's Takedown Wrestling Radio. Join Scott Casber and Brad Johnson this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. CT/ 10 a.m. to noon ET. This week's guests: 9:01 Jim Andrassy, Kent State head wrestling coach 9:20 Ben Stehura, Cleveland State head wrestling coach 9:40 Kevin Hoogenboom, Lake Erie head wrestling coach 10:01 Dan Wirnsberger, Bucknell head wrestling coach 10:20 Anthony Robles, NCAA champion and author 10:50 Ken Kraft, Midlands founder 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? View archives. I've been in the process of moving for about ten days, which feels like three times that. I have effectively been moving for a month. The stress is overwhelming, but eventually your bed gets made, your ties get hung and the desk is restored to its proper order. But in the days before the satisfaction hits you, there are moments of pure insanity. What got me through? Television. There is no way to know for me to know what it felt like to only have I Love Lucy and Green Acres to watch every week, but it sounds ... limiting. Every night there is an hour-long program (45 minutes with DVR) that I must watch. HAVE TO WATCH. I don't like television all that much, and I despise video games, but I love a good story, and right now television is telling the best stories. Here are the five shows you must be watching if you are to be of any interest at a cocktail party: 1. Homeland: The best show on television. Read Andy Greenwald's stuff at Grantland, and he'll bring you through some of Season 1. 2. Dexter: Michael C. Hall kinda walks like a wrestler. Yes, he's a serial killer, but he's got a heart. Somewhere. Maybe. 3. Jeff Lewis' Flipping Out: Pure entertainment. He's a brilliant interior decorator who loves to goof off. It's not the manliest show to announce to readers that you enjoy, but I can't get enough. (This could be a result of the recent move and hoping to find "inspiration" for decorating my new place.) 4. Mad Men: The long-running "Best Show on TV," which has been dethroned by Homeland, or ... 5. Breaking Bad: If you like Meth, I guess it's cool. Nobody asked but I know you'll want to hear this. Remember that insufferable cement-head Trev Alberts,? He's the former Nebraska football player and ESPN College Gameday announcer, who miraculously became AD at the University of Nebraska-Omaha having never coached a team, or run a business, and who eliminated the school's storied wrestling program the night they won the DII national championship. WELL. Karma's a bitch, Trev. The little brat had made public his desire to vault himself from Omaha into the AD position at Nebraska once Tom Osborne left. Well Osborne is leaving January 1, but instead of hiring Alberts the school chose University of Miami AD Shawn Eichorst. Gloating won't bring the team back, but it brings immense gratification to know that Albert's BIG PLAN to revive the UNO athletics program by cutting the wrestling program got the wimp a whole lotta NOTHING. Now the quitter is left to live with his mistakes. I for one hope he's miserable and is left to reflect every night on his monumental irrelevancy. To your questions! Q: You mentioned before that you used to work in politics. Did you see the debates last night? What'd you think? Romney by tech fall? -- Chris L. Foley: I was once a young, idealistic politico. In college I was able to gain an internship with then-Speaker of the House Denny Hastert (IL-14), who is famously also a former wrestling coach. My experience on the Hill was as much about gawking at the political celebrities as it was learning the inner workings of politics. I got to work on some cool assignments, but ultimately I spent my summer watching the Chandra Levy drama play out and hoping I wasn't dumb enough to take an interview with CBS News about "How are interns on the Hill really treated?" After college I worked on a campaign, had a massive falling out with the political process, and returned to the safety and warmth of the wrestling community. Through these experiences I learned one lesson about politics and elections that will always be true: No matter what you think of these guy's policies the majority of politicians I've met really do love their country and are good people. Who wins next month? Dunno. But I'm confident that both men will execute the duties of the office with integrity. Q: Any idea when we find out the site? Des Moines in 2013, Oklahoma City in 2014, what's after? I read St. Louis, Philly, and Atlanta all plan to bid on it. Atlanta would be interesting, thoughts? -- Frank C. Foley: I'd move to Atlanta and was disappointed to hear that they wouldn't be hosting the event. If we are going to move the event around, which I've written before is counter-productive, then we do need to get the event out of the Midwest and into the American South. Another excellent host city could have been Charlotte. Big, clean, and a major hub airport the costs of travel would be low and the crowds would really enjoy the city. I liked Oklahoma City in 2006, but would just as soon prefer to not return. Restaurants closed at 8 p.m.! And when fans and coaches can't eat, you get a lot of cranky people drinking too much booze on too empty of a stomach. Q: What was the best weight class in an NCAA tournament in terms of MMA success? I suggest 1992, 190 pounds. Randy Couture, Mark Kerr, Jeff Monson. Crazy how I stumbled into that, watching the most recent UFC fight night saw Gunnar Nelson fight, Googled him and saw he beat Jeff Monson in grappling, read that Monson was a Pac-10 champ in 1992 and then Googled the 1992 NCAA tournament. Crazy. -- Scott G. Foley: First, I love that you and I email. Maybe the mailbag isn't he place to draw out an old relationship, but it says something about our sport that we can be in constant communication. Here's the back story. Scott was the starting 157-pounder wrestler for N.C. State my junior season when I wrestled at the same weight class. We had hoped to see each other in the dual meet, but Scott was injured and at ACCs I was upset by the wrestler from UNC and didn't meet him in the finals. We've recounted over several emails how we would have liked to wrestle each other -- that our styles were so similar that the total points scored in the match was certain to have crested 30+. I should have won. Oddly, I also seem to remember a boozy night after NCAAs in Kansas City in 2002 where broken by a 1-2 performance and later the blackjack table, you gave me cab money for a ride back to the hotel. I ended up getting taken for a ride by my cab driver (I saw Kansas), but I got home safely. I think I owe you $60. Your question is interesting because of the old-ass names your research pulled. I've seen Jeff Monson grapple and fight but had NO IDEA he wrestled in college, much less became a Pac-10 champion. For Mark Kerr to be in the same bracket is impressive, mostly because MMA wasn't a career option in 1992. I started to research which bracket was THE most ridiculous in terms of NCAA to MMA, but quickly recognized the task as a massive time suck. Here are two that I found quickly and thought were interesting. 2002, 174 pounds: Jacob Volkmann, Gerald Harris, Nate Coy, and Josh Koscheck 2001, 197 pounds: Mark Munoz and Chael Sonnen There are plenty of others. Gray Maynard and Shane Roller were often in the same weights in college, and other guys like Urijah Faber slid into the lower weights. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that you'd find the highest concentration of MMA talent from the past ten years at 184 pounds and 157 pounds. Lightweights, too, but the upperweights seem to be making the biggest impact. Thanks again for the question. Check is in the mail ... Q: Has there been any Division I team to have 10 All Americans at one time? What is the most any Division I team has ever had had at one time? -- Rick Foley:Ten. 2001 NCAA champion Minnesota Gophers placed 'em all and won the team title with no national finalists. Wild stuff. Q: What ever happened to Frank Cagnina? He wrestled for Lehigh as a frosh then left and went to Iowa Central CC where he wrestled unattached. He then signed with Nebraska but he isn't on their 2012-2013 roster. -- Tom G Foley: Maybe Facebook isn't the most dependable research tool, but it looks like he's back in school, possibly in New Jersey. He had been trying to get into Nebraska but I think things fell through. However, he doesn't seem to be on the roster. He's a promising talent and I hope we can see him on the mats this season or next. Q: Who are your write-in champs for the season? Any dark horses? -- @dmarble33 Alan Waters earned a No. 3 seed at the 2012 NCAAs at 125 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Foley: I don't want to shine too bright a light on my dark horses this early in the season, but there are always a handful of guys that could make a run at the NCAA title that are sometimes left unmentioned. First on my list is Alan "Running" Waters who has Sammie Henson devoting 12 hours a day seven days a week to making him an NCAA champion. Yes, Mighty McD is an almost lock to repeat, but if someone can creep in there and make this a finals to watch, I think it's the Bull's Waters. My upperweight pick will be Matt Brown. It's not as sexy, because by now we all kind of expect that he'll be in the hunt, but I have a sneaking suspicion we are looking at an undefeated season heading into Big Tens and likely the NCAA tournament. To win the title after only being back on the mats for one-plus seasons would, in my opinion, put him in the hunt for postseason awards. I don't often get too homerish about my beloved Cavaliers of Virginia, but I think you'll see as many as four All-Americans from them in 2013. It's a lofty expectation, but they've improved almost every year as a team and are loaded with talent, much of which might be labeled dark horse. Look out for heavyweight Derek Papagianopoulos. Q: Round-Robin Open Weight Battle of the Children's Television All-Stars -Bill Nye the Science Guy -Barney the Purple Dinosaur -Mr. Rogers the Human -Pee Wee Herman -Steve from Blues Clues -Levar Burton the Readin' Rascal -Big Bird the Big Bird -Wishbone the Jack Russell -- Willy D. Foley: After last night's debates I can only tell you that nobody has the popularity of the big yellow bird. Yowza. That upright bird has been entertaining kids for 30+ years and has a good enough reputation to not only be tossed about in a presidential debate, but to then trend and tweet on Twitter. Second place goes to Bill Nye the Science Guy for his incredible rants. Note: I love the bow tie. Dora the Explorer took third. She knows 27 dialects of Mandarin and once crafted a canoe from old backpacks and shoelaces. You really entered Pee Wee Herman? Sick bastard!

USA Wrestling wrapped up another day of competition today at the World University Wrestling Championships in Kourtane, Finland. Minnesota heavyweight Tony Nelson competed for the men’s freestyle team in the 120 kg/264.5 lb. weight class and worked his way to a fourth place finish, for the top USA finish of the day. Nelson started the day against his original draw, Sunny Dhinsa of Canada, and a win (0-1, 1-0, 1-1). He then advanced to face Iran’s Parviz Hadi in the quarterfinals. Hadi prevailed 2-0, 3-0 to knock Nelson into the consolation round. Now working towards bronze, Nelson only needed two periods to take care of Richard Csercsics (Hungary), winning 3-2, 1-0. Nelson battled O. Khotsianivskyi (Ukraine) in the third place match. Despite a solid effort, Nelson fell 0-1, 0-4 to finish fourth in the event. Nelson will return to Minnesota for his sophomore season an looks to defend his 2012 NCAA Heavyweight National Championship title.

InterMat's T.R. Foley and Mike Riordan welcome a special guest. Also, new weekly guest Brian Muir puts the lines on potential NCAA team champions.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The 125 pound weight class bout at the 2012 NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps will feature Nico Megaludis of Pennsylvania State University wrestling against Jesse Delgado of the University of Illinois, in a match of two of the top freshman from a year ago. Nico Megaldudis reached the NCAA finals as a true freshman at 125 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Megaludis looks to continue to build on his mounting success from the 2011-2012 season where he finished fifth at the Big 10 Championships and second at the NCAA Championships. Megaludis earned All-American status for his second place finish, making him Penn Stat'’s first true-freshman All-American since current Nittany Lion Quentin Wright earned the honor in 2009 at 174 pounds. Megaludis, who was the 10th seed, had an excellent run through the NCAA tournament as he defeated the 2nd, 6th and 7th seeds to make the finals before falling to Matt McDonough of Iowa, in a 4-1 decision in the finals. Megaludis finished the season 28-8, 11-3 in duals and 5-3 in Big 10 competition. Delgado, also has a an outstanding freshman campaign where he finished third at the Big 10 championships and seventh at the NCAA Championships, earning him All-American honors. Delgado finished the season 34-7, 16-4 in duals and 6-2 in Big 10 competition. The NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps will occur on November 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Bender Arena on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. The NWCA All-Star classic is hosted by the DC Athletic Club and Greater Washington Business Network and is also sponsored by Balance Bar. To purchase tickets to the event visit American University’s website at http://aueagles.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=507577. For more information on the event, visit the NWCA website and follow the NWCA Facebook and Twitter pages. The NWCA Classic serves as a premier event to help grow the sport of wrestling. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the sport in the Washington DC area.

Bellator's Season 7 heavyweight tournament kicks off on Oct. 5, and after breaking down the matchups, John and Richard interview tournament participant Mark Holata. Holata came up short in the last heavyweight competition, but bounced back with a win over Abe Wagner. Now he will face UFC veteran Vinicius Queiroz to begin the race to replace retiring champion Cole Konrad. Also on the show, Richard and John take a look at the UFC on FX 5 event, featuring a heavyweight clash between Travis Browne and Antonio Silva and a flyweight title eliminator pitting John Dodson against Jussier "Formiga" da Silva. Do you want to listen to a past episode? View archives.

The University of Minnesota has two wrestlers competing this week at the World University Wrestling Championships in Kourtane, Finland as members of the USA men’s freestyle team. Former Gopher Zach Sanders (Lauderdale, Minn.) and current heavyweight starter, and reigning NCAA National Champion, Tony Nelson (Cambridge, Minn.) after qualifying at the University Trials in Colorado Springs in late August. Sanders, who finished eighth in the 2008 Junior World Championships, took the international stage today to vie for the 55 kg/121 lb. title, while Nelson will take his turn on the mat tomorrow in the 120 kg/264.5 lb. group. Sanders plowed through three adversaries to reach the final, before ultimately finishing second place. The four-time All-American drew Artem Kolomiiets (Ukraine) for the first round in a pool of 11 wrestlers. The pair faced off this morning with sanders taking home the 2-0, 2-0 victory. He then moved to the quarterfinals where he defeated Steven Takahashi of Canada in three periods by scores of 1-2, 2-1, 4-1. Next stop on the ladder to the championship was Batbold Sodnomdash of Mongolia. Once again, Sanders prevailed in three (1-5, 1-1, 3-0). Russia’s K. Donduk-Ool would be Sanders’ final test of the event. After a hard battle, Sanders fell 0-1, 2-6 to the Russian, finishing in second and taking home the silver for the United States. To follow along with results and recaps of the event, visit USA Wrestling at www.themat.com.

With the high school wrestling season' start approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top high school senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to future college and senior level stars. Led by a pair of InterMat Top 100 recruits, this group of 10 representing the Empire State is unique in the fact that of those being recognized, only three have won individual NYS titles in their respective divisions, including a two-timer in both DI and DII. Therefore, if you were to look at total number of state titles earned, the number five may falsely cause you to believe that this current class is weaker than the ones that came before it. We can assure you, nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike some of their ancestors, the "it quality" of the Class of 2013 is the breadth of success they have enjoyed outside the comforts of their own state. Combining for two NHSCA Nationals champions, 12 NHSCA All-Americans, two FloNational All-Americans, four Junior National freestyle All-Americans, and a Junior National Greco-Roman All-American, this dirty dozen knows how to get the job done when the bright lights are shined upon them. With four of the chosen 10 having already committed to DI schools (oddly enough, they all selected Binghamton), and the six remaining all being heavily recruited by schools in respective NCAA DI power conferences, the proof is in the pudding. These kids are winners and more importantly, they all are leaders and role models for their schools. The current senior class in New York was so deep than when you look at those who missed the cut and had to settle for honorable mention distinction, you will find a 2012 NHSCA Junior National champion, a 2012 NYS DII champion, as well as several state runners-up. Note: InterMat No. 85 recruit, Nicky Hall (formerly of Longwood; currently attending Wyoming Seminary) was originally selected to this list. As a two-time NYS DI placewinner/2012 state runner-up, who had earned multiple NHSCA All-American honors, Hall figured to be slotted in the No. 3 or No. 4 spot. Because it has since been announced that Hall will be completing two years at the Scott Green-run prep school powerhouse, the second generation stud will be included in the 2014 edition of this series. 1. Zack Zupan (Canastota/NYS DII) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 184 College Plans: Committed to Binghamton Zack Zupan (Photo/Boris Veysman)Analysis: The future Bearcat student-athlete has been an impact performer since day No. 1, placing in all three of his trips to Albany, including a state title effort last season in a loaded 170-pound bracket, which included the likes of current Edinboro freshman Nick Mitchell (who had been undefeated in 2012 before dropping the 3-2 decision to Zupan in the state finals), Burke Paddock (the InterMat No. 40-ranked junior), and fellow class of 2013 Top 10 member Troy Seymour. In his first two attempts at the brass ring, Zupan put forth strong showings, finishing fourth at 160 as a freshman and fifth at 171 as a sophomore, despite competing at weights usually controlled by upperclassmen. The No. 87-ranked wrestler in his class per InterMat, Zupan has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a force to be reckoned with, both state-wide and against the nation's best. A two-time finalist in Virginia Beach at the NHSCA Nationals, Zupan was a national champion in 2010, falling one "w" short of the repeat as a sophomore. His success on the national scene would continue in 2012 when he upended two-time New Jersey state champion Ryan Harrington (now competing for the University of North Carolina) in leading Team New York to the upset victory over the Garden State in the second annual NY/NJ All-Star Charity Challenge. The win snapped Harrington's 84-match winning streak. Zupan would put an emphatic cap on his junior campaign, earning his third career All-American distinction with an eighth-place finish at the 2012 FloNationals. Zupan heads into senior year as the No. 11-ranked wrestler in the land (at 170) per Flowrestling.com. Words From the Corner: "He has been a true pleasure to coach. He is self motivated and driven. By the time he was 2 you could tell he was different than most kids. He was so focused on what he was doing at any given time that he did not go from one thing to the next like other kids. Case in point, when he was 2-years-old, I would take him bullhead fishing at my assistant coach's house. We would be amazed at how he would focus on those poles for hours. He'd catch one after another, and when I would tell him it was time to go he would beg to stay. Such was also true of his wrestling. He would attend every varsity tournament with me and, by the age of five would ask, 'Dad who is the best three guys in this gym?' I would tell him who I thought were the best and he would go to the mats those kids were wrestling on and study them the entire day. That was when I knew he was going to be something special. He has meant a lot to our program since he was in seventh grade and our starting 135-pounder. He has been a team leader for years and has helped to develop other kids on the team, enabling them to reach their potential. He was pivotal in leading Canastota to an improbable section 3 team title last season, dethroning six-time champ Phoenix." -- Canastota coach (and Zack's father) Nick Zupan, a 1985 NYS placewinner (4th at 138). Career Highlights: Three-time NYS DII placewinner (4th in '10 at 160; 5th in '11 at 171; 2012 NYS champion at 170) Two-time NHSCA All-American (National champion in 2010 at 160; National Runner-up in 2011 at 171) 2012 FloNationals All-American (8th at 170) 2. Nick Kelley (Shenendehowa/NYS DI) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 132/138 Projected College Weight Class: 141 College Plans: Committed to Binghamton Nick Kelley (Photo/John Carl D'Annibale, Times Union)Analysis: The first of two Shenendehowa student-athletes profiled, Kelley, the No. 93-ranked recruit from the current class, made it two-for-two for new Binghamton head wrestling coach Matt Dernlan when he verbally committed to the CAA Conference school in late August. Despite not having an individual state crown to don his mantel, many consider Kelley to be a lock to walk through the 2013 DI tournament, due in large part to the magnitude of his accomplishments on the national stage. Considered the pound-for-pound best wrestler in the Empire State without the hardware, Kelley has been an integral and irreplaceable component in Shenendehowa's back-to-back state team titles. A shoe-in to join the exclusive club of six-time NYS tournament qualifiers, Kelley had to endure some hardships, failing to reach the podium in his first three trips to the Times Union Center. However, true to his fighting spirit and the passion he feels for the world's oldest and greatest sport, Kelley would never get down on himself, combating defeat with additional hard work. The blood, sweat, and tears shed by the longtime Journeymen WC member would finally pay off in 2011 when Kelley earned his first New York state placement, taking fourth at 130 pounds with his only losses coming at the hands of a pair of eventual NCAA DI wrestlers Steven Rodrigues (the eventual state champion who is currently wrestling for the University of Illinois) and Chris Perez (who finished third in NYS in 2011 and was a NHSCA Senior National runner-up prior to becoming the starting 133-pounder for the Princeton University Tigers). As a junior, Kelley would be the victim of seeding criteria, as facts and figures won out over common sense, resulting in the two best 132-pound wrestlers in the state meeting in the semifinals. Pitted against nationally ranked Jamel Hudson (now a freshman at Hofstra University), Kelley would push the pace and be relentless in his attacks, coming just inches away from a takedown on the edge of the mat in the closing seconds, before having to accept the 8-7 loss. To his credit, the Plainsmen team captain would shake off the loss quickly, dominating his final two matches of the weekend en route to the bronze medal Ranked by Flo as the No. 6 132-pounder in the country heading into his swan song, if there was one wrestler who really solidified his stock after the high school season had concluded, it was Kelley. A 5-1 winner over New Jersey state champion Scott Delvecchio in the aforementioned Charity Challenge, Kelley would save his best performance to date for the FARGODOME, finishing fourth at the Junior National freestyle competition. This impressive showing marked the third time that the Section II representative would earn All-American accolades, adding it to a resume that also included a fifth-place showing at the 2011 FloNational tournament and a third-place finish as a freshman at NHSCA Nationals. Words From the Corner: (Speaking on what makes his wrestler effective) "Nick Kelley is an "old-school, throw-back" wrestler. In my 20 years of coaching wrestling, I have not had a wrestler as tenacious as he is. Add into that a work ethic that is off the scale, and you begin to see why Nick is an effective wrestler. Nick is a 12-month-a-year wrestler. Additionally, Nick has spent a lifetime developing a style of wrestling that is very hard to compete with. When most wrestlers concede in a scramble or situation, Nick takes everything to the next level. His style tends to "break" his opponents." -- Shenendehowa head wrestling coach Rob Weeks. (Speaking on the leadership abilities of his wrestler) "You couldn't ask for a better role model in your room than Nick Kelley. He truly lives the clean life. If Nick isn't wrestling, he's practicing wrestling. If he's not practicing wrestling, he's fishing or hunting or camping. Additionally, he has a strong relationship with his family. They have invested with Nick into the sport of wrestling and they have helped guide him through the process. Nick is adamantly opposed to the "party" lifestyle. He definitely lives his life above the temptations that others succumb to. The other wrestlers on the team know that and aspire to be like Nick. He is definitely a lead-by-example type of captain." -- R. Weeks (On the overall make-up of his wrestler) "Nick Kelley has the best work ethic I have ever seen. It's just tremendous; off the charts. And, in regards to both him and David [Almaviva], both are incredibly respectful. They are good citizens; they are good wholesome guys. And it translates on the mat; it's great when that happens. It's not always the case where guys have both talent and character. I think that when it does work out that way, it's like seeing the 'good guy' win. Everything kind of feeds off the other and in the end, it just works." -- Shendendehowa assistant wrestling coach/Journeymen Wrestling Club founder & head coach Frank Popolizio Career Highlights: Two-time NYS DI placewinner (4th in 2011 at 130; 3rd in 2012 at 132) 2010 NHSCA Freshman All-American (3rd) 2011 FloNationals All-American (5th at 125) 2012 Junior freestyle All-American (4th at 132) 3. Nick Tighe (Phoenix/NYS DII) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 133/141 College Plans: Committed to Binghamton Nick TigheAnalysis: The Division II 126-pound bracket was full of intrigue last February with several standouts and storylines. Tristan Rifanburg (the No. 45 ranked sophomore according to InterMat) looked for his third straight finals appearance as a freshman. Corey Dake (brother of former two-time NYS DII champion/three-time NCAA champion Kyle) was attempting to get an elusive title after placing in each of his three previous attempts in Albany. Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (rated as the No. 49 overall prospect in the junior class), fresh off of a summer that witnessed him become a Cadet freestyle All-American (fourth at 125) aimed to make his mark. But at the end of the tournament, it was Tighe topping the podium for the second straight year after pinning three of his four opponents and surviving a late charge from Rodriguez-Spencer in the finals to prevail by a score of 13-8. This title effort made him the first wrestler in school history to win multiple state crowns. He'll go for his fourth All-State finish (having complemented his two titles with a fifth-place showing in 2010 at 112 pounds) and a third New York state crown in 2013 for Coach "Mean" Gene Mills. Tighe has proven time and time again that his achievements aren't limited to the Empire State borders. Nationally, he has twice placed at the NHSCA Nationals, taking fourth at 112 as a freshman and seventh at 119 as a sophomore. Just last month, Tighe posted an unblemished 7-0 record at the inaugural National Hall of Fame Duals. He enters his senior season currently ranked 15th in the nation per Flo. Words From the Corner: (On what makes his wrestler successful on the mat) "Nick (Tigi Monster) puts a lot of time on the mat and wants to make sure his technique is perfect so he can't be countered. He works hard on his setups and tries to finish almost every move taking his opponent to their backs. Nick is a high-intensity competitor and makes many of his opponents want to quit in the middle of a match due to the intense pressure he imposes on his opponents." -- Phoenix head wrestling coach, Gene Mills (On the leadership qualified possessed by Tighe) "Nick is a great leader by example, always focusing on the task at hand and encouraging others. Nick's leadership elevates everyone on the team, especially the ones who work out with him on the mat. After wrestling with his partners, he always tries to offer words of encouragement and help them try to be better also. Nick is one in a billion and the Phoenix Wrestling program is blessed to have such a great role model." -- G. Mills Career Highlights: Three-time NYS NYS DII placewinner/two-time state champion (5th in 2010 at 112; state champion in 2011 at 119; state champion in 2012 at 126) Two-time NHSCA All-American (4th in 2010 at 112; 7th in 2011 at 119) 4. Tyler Grimaldi (Half Hollow Hills West/NYS DI) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157/165 College Plans: Considering Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, Penn, Hofstra, Virginia, Arizona State, Bucknell, and North Carolina State Tyler GrimaldiAnalysis: A wrestler with the heart of a lion and the gas tank of a Honda CR-Z, Grimaldi enjoyed a breakout season in 2012, making the most of his first NYS tournament appearance, finishing as the state runner-up at 160 pounds behind only fellow Long Islander/2012 NHSCA Senior National champion Dylan Palacio (a 2012 Top 10 senior honoree; Cornell recruit who will join the Big Red in 2014). As impressive as this showing may have been, those who have followed Grimaldi closely during his scholastic career suggested that we are only now seeing the depth of this young man's potential. He possesses as high a ceiling as any prospect in the Empire State, regardless of grade level. Every time he steps on the mat, he seems to learn something and get just that much better. When you consider that he went 48-2 last season, the thought that he might have another gear that he has yet to show should strike fear into the hearts of all 160-pounders across New York State and beyond. Equally outstanding is the job Grimaldi does in the classroom, making him nothing if not the true embodiment of what it means to be a student-athlete. It is this double-barreled weaponry of brains and brawn that makes Tyler such a dream recruit for interested college coaches. The lucky school that lands him will know that they are getting that .5-percent gentleman who will always handle his responsibilities and who will never fail to represent his school and sport with utter class and honor. A force on the national scene the past few months, Grimaldi became the first member of the 2013 Top 10 to earn multiple All-American distinctions as a junior. A testament to his versatility, Grimaldi proved just how quick his learning curve was when a few months removed from placing fourth at the NHSCA Junior National tournament, he made the journey to Fargo to compete in freestyle, a discipline in which he had only recently begun serious training. However, just like Roy Hobbs took to baseball, Grimaldi would show himself to be a natural, finishing sixth in Junior freestyle in a very deep weight class consisting of the creme de la creme of upperclassmen, including the No. 3 overall prospect from the current senior class Isaiah Martinez (California) and the No. 27 ranked member of the class of 2013 Nick Wanzek (Minnesota; committed to the University of Minnesota). Grimaldi will begin his quest for the state title that escaped him as the 15th-ranked wrestler in the land at his weight. Words From the Corner: (On speaking about what makes his wrestler so successful) "Tyler is the whole package. He has all of the talents needed to be a successful wrestler. What he has that many kids do not is a tenacious desire to be the best at whatever he is doing. Being that Tyler only started wrestling in the eighth grade, he had a lot of catching up to do. He has put in more work over the past two years then most wrestlers do in a lifetime." -- Hills West head wrestling coach/former two-time NCAA All-American Mike Patrovich (On what makes Tyler Grimaldi a great leader/example for the team) "I have built my program around Tyler Grimaldi. He is the best example of what every student-athlete should strive to be like. He is a natural leader and the kids flock to him. He is a great example of what a wrestler should be like both on and off the mat. Tyler is already the most accomplished wrestler in the history Hills West High School and still has one more year to go! Tyler has lifted our program from one of the worst in Suffolk County to a top ten program!" -- M. Patrovich Career Highlights: 2012 NYS DI Runner-up at 160 2012 NHSCA Junior National All-American (4th at 160) 2012 Junior freestyle All-American (6th at 160) 5. Tim Schaefer (Warsaw/NYS DII) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 182/195 Projected College Weight Class: 184/197 Tim Schaefer (Photo/Pete Rao & Pete Roetzer)Analysis: Question: Which member of New York's Class of 2013 leads the race for most appearances on the podium in Albany? Answer: Tim Schaefer. The current Warsaw senior has qualified for the state tournament five times and has placed in four of them. He began his career in Division I with Lancaster in Section 6 before moving to Warsaw. As a seventh-grader, Schaefer began his medal run with a sixth-place finish in a meat grinder of a 96-pound weight bracket that saw every person who finished ahead of him either win a state title (Bob Dierna, Sean McCormick, Damon McQueen, and three-time champion Brian Realbuto) or make a state finals appearance (Matt Ross). Schaefer would equal the feat the following year at 103. He was fourth at 112 as a sophomore before taking third up several weight classes at 182 this past campaign. His junior year included several quality wins, including victories over the Division I champion and runner-up (John Glenn's Nick Bellanza and Scarsdale's Jacob Berkowitz, respectively). His ability to compete with the best in the state since seventh grade in a wide range of weights bodes well for his future. Words From the Corner: (On what makes his wrestler a winner) "Tim Schaefer is extremely humble and hard working, but what sets him apart from the rest is that his tenacity and the way that he evaluates himself after a match and constantly works to get better. Being tenacious is what makes Tim able to climb mountains and leap obstacles, and with the spirit of a champion Tim will continue to be without limits." -- Warsaw head wrestling coach, Rob Hirsch (On the effect that Tim Schaefer's success has on the Warsaw program) "Tim provides leadership by example during practice and on the mat working nonstop from whistle to whistle. But most of all for a team that continues to compete at the highest levels Tim brings a laidback cool and confident demeanor that relaxes the team so they can wrestle their best in intense situations." -- R. Hirsch Career Highlights: Five-time NYS tournament qualifier Four-time NYS placewinner (6th in 2008 at 96; 6th in 2009 at 103; 4th in 2011 at 112; 3rd in 2012 at 182) 6. Troy Seymour (Peru/NYS DII) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 170/182 Projected College Weight Class: 174 College Plans: Considering Rider and Kent State Troy Seymour (Photo/Keith Lodell)Analysis: If there is one wrestler from this group of 10 that has seemingly done his best wrestling when competing on the grandest stages, it is Seymour. Similar to 2012 Top 10 list members, the previously mentioned Palacio and current Brown University freshman Anthony Finocchiaro during the duration of his scholastic career, Seymour has shown an uncanny ability to flip the switch and elevate his game to an entirely different level when opposed by foes from across the nation. A three-time NYS tournament qualifier for perennially strong Peru, Seymour got his first taste of the medal stand as a junior, finishing fourth at 170 pounds behind a plethora of current and future DI wrestlers (Zupan, Mitchell, and Paddock). Turning the page and looking at his curricula vitae on the national stage, there might not be a more accomplished wrestler in the Top 10 than Seymour. An All-American at every grade level in Virginia Beach, Seymour will head into senior year on a bit of a hot streak, having put forth his best finish ever at the NHSCA-run event, finishing as the national runner-up at 170 pounds. In the two years that preceded this finals appearance, the Section 7 wrestler mustered a fifth place showing as a freshman at 145, followed by a sixth-place finish at 152 pounds. Words From the Corner: (On the passion his wrestler feels for the sport of wrestling) "Troy likes wrestling more than 99 percent of the kids I've ever coached. It's all about wrestling. He's always doing something related to wrestling. He follows Division I closely, gets magazines, follows everything online, and coaches the peewees. He'll go to a tournament a day earlier just to coach the little kids. He just loves the sport. He's never said no when I've asked him to go to a tournament. We're at least five hours away from most events. He's probably spent more time in a car than any New York kid his age travelling to tournaments, but he's willing to go anywhere. He's really competitive." -- Peru head wrestling coach Mike Hogan (On what Troy Seymour has approved upon and how he foresees his wrestler's success at the next level) "Whatever college Troy chooses will be getting a good one. He's young for his grade and he's gotten a lot more physical over the past year after weightlifting hard. He's always been good on his feet and on bottom and he could ride. But the difference last year was that he could turn people. He became a lot more effective on top." -- M. Hogan Career Highlights: Three-time NYS DII tournament qualifier 2012 NYS DII placewinner (4th at 170) Three-time NHSCA All-American (5th in 2010 at 145; 6th in 2011 at 152; National runner-up in 2012 at 170) 7. David Almaviva (Shenendehowa/NYS DI) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 College Plans: Committed to Binghamton David AlmavivaAnalysis: Much like Grimaldi, 2012 was a coming-out party for Almaviva, as he unleashed all of the raw potential he showed as a schoolboy when he placed as the NHSCA National Middle School runner-up in 2009. A DI state qualifier as a sophomore, Almaviva just missed making All-State by a single victory, dropping a hard-fought decision to the previously referenced Hudson in the money round. However, in compliance with the lessons and virtues preached in the Plainsmen wrestling room, loss was not met by sulking, but rather by growth and development. These are characteristics centered on a sense of perseverance were ones that would aid Almaviva this past February when again he found himself in a spot that neither he, nor his team expected him to be. Upset in the first match of the 2012 DI tournament, it would have been easy for the future Bearcat (a bit of pattern is emerging here among college selections) to cash in his chips and mentally check out. But alas, that simply is not the Shen way. Instead, Almaviva would pick himself off the ground and go on finish the weekend on a five match winning streak (including a 4-1 decision win over top-seeded Dan McDevitt in the consolation semifinals) en route to a bronze medal showing at 138 pounds. Priding himself on being more than just a folkstyle specialist, Almaviva would open a lot of eyes and turn more than his fair share of heads during the summer months, first knocking off two-time Junior National freestyle All-American/four-time DII state champion/current Indiana freshman Quinton Murphy at the NYS freestyle tournament. Almaviva's encore would be even better as he entered the confines of the FARGODOME a relative unknown, but left it a few days later as an All-American, finishing eighth at 145 pounds (with his three losses coming at the hands of a trio of InterMat Top 100 recruits, No. 7 Brian Murphy (Illinois), No. 37 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa), and No. 65 Austin Eads (Missouri). Words From the Corner: (On the reasons his wrestler is so successful) "David Almaviva is a very gifted athlete. He naturally has that advantage over a lot of opponents. Add to that his commitment and work-ethic, and he becomes a very effective wrestler. David is a 12-month-a-year wrestler. He is very quick on his feet. That is, he often has his opponents reacting to his offensive movement, only to take them down with an explosive leg attack. Additionally, he has a very strong for his weight. When riding an opponent, he often takes them out of the match with an array of tilts and turns." -- Shenendehowa head wrestling coach Rob Weeks (On the strengths that David Almaviva brings to the Shen wrestling room) "David is very focused on the 'objective' when he enters the wrestling room. He tends to bring other wrestlers up to a higher level when they train with him. Again, David is a very gifted wrestler and a lot of technique comes relatively easy to him. So having David in the room is like having an assistant coach in the room. He can assist in the breakdown of technique to guys on the team who may struggle with it. Additionally, David has a dry sense of humor that can break up the monotony that can build up during the season. David has been part of the varsity program since seventh grade and he has developed a level of respect that comes with the time he has spent with us." -- R. Weeks (On what makes David Almaviva special) "David has some of the best technique I have ever seen. He is like an encyclopedia; he just picks it up; he sees it once, he's got it, and then he can implement it. So While he and Nick [Kelley] have their different strengths, they work together all the time, and as a tandem, they bring the best out of each other." -- Frank Popolizio, Shenendehowa assistant wrestling coach/founder & head coach of the Journeymen WC Career Highlights: Two-time NYS DI qualifier/2012 DI State placewinner (3rd at 138) 2012 Junior freestyle All-American (8th at 145) 8. Nick Lupi (Huntington/NYS DI) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 220 Projected College Weight Class: 285 Nick Lupi (Photo/Huntington Public School Distric)Analysis: A wrestler who made this list perhaps not because of his feats to date, but because of the immense potential he has shown. In speaking to Empire State wrestling aficionados, the theme that has emerged is that we are still at the tip of the iceberg in regard to Lupi's development. To say that he is right up there with fellow Suffolk Country peer Grimaldi in terms of the depth of his potential is an understatement. Lupi still has another level that he feasibly can reach; a frightening notion when you consider that nationally he has already announced his presence with authority, winning a NHSCA National title as sophomore in 2011, before finishing in the top four as a junior last season. It is for this reason this he was a "must have" addition to this list. With co-writer Matt Diano having dropped the ball on guys like Tony Fusco, Tony Lock, and Kyle Stanton last season, there was no way we were going to allow for another ultra talented big man go unrecognized. As the lone returning medalist at his weight class, not only is Lupi a sure-fire guarantee to improve upon last season's fifth-place showing in his first trip to the state's capital, he is also the frontrunner to walk away with the hardware. Flowrestling.com thought so highly of him that they ranked Lupi as 19th-ranked 220-pounder in the country. Words From the Corner: "Nick Lupi has what all our former champions have: Desire, discipline, and determination. Nick has set some high goals for this upcoming season and will not let up until they all are achieved. Having Nick improve each and every year for the past five years shows others that, commitment and hard work pays off. He has done this not only on the wrestling mat, but in the classroom as well." -- Huntington head wrestling coach Kieran Mock Career Highlights: 2012 NYS DI placewinner (5th at 220) Two-time NHSCA All-American (National champion in 2011 at 220; 4th in 2012 at 220) 9. Kyle Kelly (Chenango Forks/NYS DI) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 113 Projected College Weight Class: 125 College Plans: Considering Cornell, Binghamton, Bucknell, and Ithaca (NCAA DIII) Kyle Kelly (Photo/Erin Kelly)Analysis: The most accomplished wrestler to come out of the Forks program since former five-time NYS champion/four-time NCAA All-American (Cornell) Troy Nickerson, on paper, Kelly might be the most credentialed wrestler in this year's Top 10. A pure three-style competitor, Kelly has come, seen, and conquered in every style of the sport known to man. In fact, he is so multidimensional that if tomorrow someone told him to start practicing sambo, by year's end, the smart money would be on him being a champion in the Russian style. Unfortunately, what has hurt Kelly and resulted in such a low placement on this list is his lack of size. A three-year All-State wrestler/the two-time defending New York state champion at the lightweight weight class (96/99), there is some concern whether or not this immensely gifted student-athlete has the frame to eventually fill out to a college-sized 125 pounds. If Kyle is indeed able to add the necessary muscle mass in the coming years, he could end of being the biggest steal of the bunch as a premier career 125-pounder is not easy to come by. With the plan being to jump two weight classes to 113 in 2013, Kelly will have every opportunity in the world to demonstrate that his unmatched level of success down low is easily replicable as he moves up. As noted above, when it comes to the scope of one's national resume, few, if any, wrestler in the Empire State (regardless of grade) can stand toe-to-toe with the wealth of success enjoyed by the Section 4 standout. A 2012 NHSCA Junior National All-American (fifth at 106), Kelly has no doubt proven how adept he is when competing in folkstyle. However, it is his diverse accomplishments in the international styles that set him apart from many of his colleagues. A two-time Junior Greco-Roman All-American (a pair of seventh-place finishes at 98 pounds in 2011 and 106 points in 2012 respectively, Kelly just missed being a double junior AA this past summer, coming a single victory short of the podium in Fargo. Words From the Corner: "Kyle is a very dedicated, intelligent, and committed three-sport student-athlete. Plus, he has earned All-American status in all three styles of wrestling, folk-style, freestyle, and Greco-Roman. This level of athleticism and versatility allows Kyle to make improvements in each and every practice. Thus, when Kyle and senior teammate Jake Green work out in our wrestling room they both model a work ethic and wrestling proficiency that all wrestlers from youth level to varsity try to emulate. The Chenango Forks wrestling community is very proud of Kyle's accomplishments, in the classroom, and in both state and national tournaments." -- Chenango Forks head wrestling coach/2009 USA Wrestling Developmental Coach of the Year recipient Rick Gumble Career Highlights: Three-time NYS DI placewinner (4th in 2010 at 96; 1st in 2011 at 96; 1st in 2012 at 99) Two-time Junior National Greco-Roman All-American (7th in 2011 at 98; 7th in 2012 at 106) 2012 NHSCA Junior All-American (5th at 106) 10. John "Trey" Aslanian (Edgemont/NYS DII) Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 120 Projected College Weight Class: 125 College Plans: Considering Harvard, Princeton, and Penn Analysis: If there was an award at the New York tournament given to the student-athlete who came the closest to winning it all, then that honor would be to Aslanian who in 2011 had eventual state champion William Koll on his back early into their 106-pound finals before losing a 50/50 position and getting pinned. In 2012, the dual threat (smarts + athleticism) would again find himself on center stage, but for the second time in as many years would have to settle for the bridesmaid spot on the podium, dropping a 5-0 decision to a wrestler who got hot at the right time, Sean Peacock (who had defeated Koll earlier in the day in the state semifinals). In his only non-finals appearance in 2010, Aslanian would just narrowly miss making it an 3-for-3 sweep, dropping his semifinal bout by the slimmest of margins, 6-5, to eventual state runner-up Drew Longo. Aslanian would win two of his remaining three bouts to emerge with a solid fifth in his Times Union Center debut. John "Trey" AslanianNationally, Aslanian has opted to test himself against the country's best in the international styles. A 2011 Junior freestyle All-American (eighth at 112), Aslanian would add an additional bullet point to his collective body of work, compiling a 7-1 overall record at the 2012 Junior National Duals in freestyle. While his attempt to repeat as Junior National All-American in Fargo would be an unsuccessful one, his 4-2 record under the dome more than confirms that he remains one to watch in 2013. Words From the Corner: "I think Trey's biggest strength is the amount of time he puts into honing his craft. He's very technical for a high school wrestler and he spends lots of time drilling. He watches films of himself and standout wrestlers from around the world. He figures out why some things work and others don't. He's a real student of the game. If you line him up against the best in the state, he won't be the strongest kid or the best natural athlete. He's achieved what he has by working hard to play to his strengths. Trey has a great gas tank. He just doesn't get tired. He's also very academically minded. He's a great student who takes a lot of AP and honors classes." -- Edgemont head wrestling coach, Peter Jacobson Career Highlights: three-time NYS DII placewinner (5th in 2010 at 96; 2nd in 2011 at 103; 2nd in 2012 at 113) 2011 Junior freestyle All-American (8th at 113) Compiled a 7-1 record at the 2012 Junior Freestyle Duals. Honorable Mention Selections (Alphabetical): Chris Araoz (Wantagh/DI) -- 2012 NHSCA Junior National champion at 120 Zack Bacon (Hornell/DII) -- 2012 NYS runner-up at 220 Shayne Brady (Carthage/DI) -- 2012 NYS runner-up at 170 TJ Fabian (Shoreham Wading-River/DI) -- 2012 NYS 4th place at 120; two-time NHSCA All-American (4th in 2011 at 112, 6th in 2012 at 120) Drew Hull (Royalton-Hartland/DII) -- Two-time NYS placewinner (6th in 2011 at 135; 2nd in 2012 at 145); 2011 NHSCA All-American (7th at 135) Austin Keough (Warsaw/DII) -- Three-time NYS placewinner (2nd in 2012 at 103, 4th in 2011 at 112, 6th in 2012 at 113) Christopher Koo (Great Neck South/DI) -- Two-time NHSCA All-American (6th in 2011 at 145, 7th in 2012 at 152) Connor Lapresi (Lansing/DII) -- 2012 NYS champion at 132; two-time NHSCA All-American (8th in 2010 at 112, 8th in 2011 at 125) Matt Leshinger (Sayville/DI) -- 2012 NYS placewinner (3rd at 120); defeated 2012 NYS champion, Sean McCabe in the Section 11/Suffolk County tournament Drew Longo (Ardsley/DII) -- Two-time NYS placewinner (2nd in 2010 at 96, 5th in 2011 at 112) Bryce Mazurowski (Avon/DII) -- 2012 NYS runner-up at 195 Dan McDevitt (Wantagh/DI) -- 2012 NYS placewinner (5th at 138); two-time NHSCA All-American (8th in 2011 at 130, 5th in 2012 at 138) Cheick Ndiaye (Brooklyn International/DII) -- 2012 NYS runner-up at 106 Dylan Realbuto (Somers/DI) -- Two-time NYS finalist/champion in 2012 at 113; NYS runner-up in 2011 at 96; younger brother of 2012 No. 1 ranked wrestler in NYS Brian Alex Soutiere (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk/DII) -- 2012 NYS runner-up at 285 El Shaddai Gilmore Van Hoesen (Columbia/DI) -- 2012 NYS runner-up at 285; three-time NHSCA All-American (5th in 2010, 4th in 2011, and 6th in 2012, all in the 285 weight class. For all the latest New York wrestling news, visit Newyorkwrestlingnews.com.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The 141 pound weight class bout at the 2012 NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps will feature B.J. Futrell of the University of Illinois wrestling against Kendric Maple of the University of Oklahoma, a match-up never before seen at the collegiate level. During the 2011-2012 season Futrell, currently a redshirt senior, placed third at the Big 10 Championships and received two-time All-American status after finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships at 133 pounds. Futrell also received Wrestler of the Week and Academic All-Big 10 honors for his efforts during the season. Futrell was 30-9 during the 2011-2012 season, 16-4 in duals and 7-1 in Big 10 competition. Futrell led the Fighting Illini in pins, 13, tying Larry TenPas’ record from the 1954-1955 season. Futrell wrestled at 125 pounds during his freshman season (2008-2009), finishing sixth at the Big 10 Championships and qualifying for the NCAA Championships, and 133 pounds during his redshirt sophomore (2010-2011) and junior (2011-2012) seasons, where he finished fourth and third at the Big 10 Championships and eighth and sixth at the NCAA Championships. Futrell, who has a career record of 82-34, will be making his 2nd appearance in the NWCA All-Star Classic. Futrell competed in the 2011 event dropping an 8-7 decision to Jordan Oliver of Oklahoma State. Kendric Maple is coming off an NCAA fourth-place finish (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Maple, had a breakout sophomore season in 2011-12 winning the Big 12 Championships and finished fourth at the NCAA Championships earning All-American honors at 141 pounds. Maple, a redshirt junior, finished with a 32-3 overall record, 17-1 in duals. Maple currently has a 65-15 career record. During the 2011-2012 season, Maple became one of only three wrestlers in the history of the Big 12 to win three conference honors in one season. Maple was two-time Big 12 wrestler of the Week, and Wrestler of the Month in addition to leading the Sooners in falls (7), major decisions (15), takedowns (72), near falls in duals (23), overall wins (32), and percent of bouts won (91.4%). During the 2009-2010 season Maple received an at large bid to attend the NCAA Championships after finishing third at the Big 12 Championships at 133 pounds. The NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps will occur on November 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Bender Arena on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. The NWCA All-Star classic is hosted by the DC Athletic Club and Greater Washington Business Network and is also sponsored by Balance Bar. To purchase tickets to the event visit American University’s website at http://aueagles.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=507577. For more information on the event, visit the NWCA website and follow the NWCA Facebook and Twitter pages. The NWCA Classic serves as a premier event to help grow the sport of wrestling. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the sport in the Washington DC area.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The 184 pound weight class bout at the 2012 NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps will feature a pair of returning NCAA All-Americans in Kevin Steinhaus of the University of Minnesota wrestling against Robert Hamlin of Lehigh University. Steinhaus, currently a red shirt junior, looks to build on his success from last year’s season at 184 pounds. Steinhaus won the Big 10 championships and was fifth at the NCAA Championships. Steinhaus received All-American honors for the second time at this weight after finishing eighth at the 2011 NCAA Championships. Steinhaus completed the 2011-2012 season with a 34-6 overall record, finishing 14-3 in duals and 8-0 in Big 10 competition. Steinhaus received Big 10 Wrestler of the Week and Big-10 All Academic honors and was voted Most Dedicated Wrestler of the Year by his teammates. Steinhaus led his team in the most major decision wins with 10. Steinhaus has a career record of 67-18. Lehigh's Robert Hamlin gets in on a shot against Quentin Wright in the NCAA semifinals at 184 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Hamlin enters his senior season as a two-time NCAA All-American after finishing fourth in 2012 and 2nd in 2011. Hamlin is also a two-time EIWA Champion at 184 pounds. Hamlin was the first wrestler ever from the state of Vermont to advance to the NCAA finals. Hamlin won the Coaches Award following the 2011-2012 season for the second consecutive season for his signification contributions to the Mountain Hawks in leadership, attitude or improvement. Hamlin completed the season with a 31-3 overall record, finishing 16-1 in duals. Hamlin has a career record of 83-18. Hamlin and Steinhaus are no strangers to one another as competitors at the 184 pound weight class. At the 2012 NCAA Championships Hamlin defeated Steinhaus in a 3-2 decision to advance to the bronze medal bout. The NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps will occur on November 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Bender Arena on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. The NWCA All-Star classic is hosted by the DC Athletic Club and Greater Washington Business Network and is also sponsored by Balance Bar. To purchase tickets to the event visit American University’s website at http://aueagles.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=507577. For more information on the event, visit the NWCA website and follow the NWCA Facebook and Twitter pages. The NWCA Classic serves as a premier event to help grow the sport of wrestling. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the sport in the Washington DC area.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The 157 pound weight class bout at the 2012 NWCA All-Star Classic will feature Dylan Alton of Pennsylvania State University wrestling against Jason Welch of Northwestern University in a rematch of the 2011 NCAA Championship third place bout. Dylan Alton won his most recent meeting with Jason Welch at the 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)In 2011-2012 Alton began his collegiate career earning All-American Honors as a freshman. Alton was third at the Big Ten Championships and defeated Welch in a 6-2 decision in the third place bout at the NCAA National Championships. Alton tied his brother, Andrew Alton, and Josh Moore for tenth on Penn State’s list of all-time wins recorded by a freshman. Alton, who was a redshirt during the 2010-2011 season, completed his freshman season with a 30-10 overall record, 12-2 dual record and 6-2 record in the Big Ten. Alton recorded the fourth most wins for the Nittany Lions during the 2011-2012 season. Welch is a two time All-American, only the 15th athlete in Wildcat history to earn All-American status twice. Welch has never finished outside of the top three at the Big Ten Championships, finishing second in 2012, and has traveled to the NCAA Championships three times in his career qualifying as a true freshman, finishing sixth as a redshirt sophomore and finishing fourth as a redshirt junior. Welch finished the 2011-2012 season 27-3 overall, 15-0 in duals and 8-0 in Big Ten competition. Welch was the recipient of the Stutevill High Point-Scorer Award and Lupton Takedown Award during the 2011-2012 season for recording the most team dual points and most net takedowns on the team. Welch has a career record of 83-21. Alton and Welch have faced off twice already in their careers. Welch won the first bout on a 2-1 decision, but was bested by Alton in their match up at the NCAA Championships. Welch wrestled at the 2011 NWCA All-Star Classic where he defeated Granbayar Sanjaa of American University in an 8-5 decision. Welch, who is an elite group of wrestlers to receive back-to-back invitations to the event, is excited to have the opportunity to participate in the event. "It's extremely exciting for Jason and his family to be attending their second All Star Classic," said Northwestern head coach Drew Pariano. "With the excitement for this year's event, you have to give credit to the NWCA and Teague Moore for their marketing efforts. It is going to be a great event and back-to-back invites puts Jason in an elite crowd." The All-Star Classic will occur on November 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Bender Arena on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. To purchase tickets to the event visit American University’s website at http://aueagles.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=507577. For more information on the event, visit the NWCA website and follow the NWCA Facebook and Twitter pages. The NWCA Classic serves as a premier event to help grow the sport of wrestling. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the sport in the Washington DC area.

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? View archives. Did you hear that Kyle Dake and David Taylor are wrestling? It's kinda big news 'round here. The pairing off of NCAA champions will be a season-long event, with Dake staying up at 165 pounds all season, but as if to ensure against a last-minute cut to 157 pounds, the New York native has signed up to wrestle Taylor at the NWCA All-Star Classic on Nov. 3 at American University. Yes, tickets are still available. Many of your questions centered around the fallout from the Dake vs. Taylor match, and though I had to pull some of the repeats, I've kept three that I think capture the excitement for the event and how there could be several outcomes and storylines in the weeks following the event. To your questions ... Q: That 'Gangnam Style' video is a complete joke. What an embarrassment. As if the "rolling around in tights with men" stigma wasn't bad enough, they look like complete idiots to say the least. Not one of the kids would get an interview in my world. Disgrace -- James F. Foley: There is a history to sport teams making spoof videos of songs that go viral, and some of them are actually more insulting than the one you've cited from the Duke wrestling team. But you're right, there was something cringe-worthy going on during this video. It felt insulting to see wrestlers writhing around in their singlets, something we see as a game uniform but others see as a half-homoerotic expression. I understand that some spoofs are constructed to play into a stereotype in order to get across some subtle message. That doesn't seem to have been Duke's intention, and if it was then they missed, and they missed way more than just a bit outside. Why did Duke make this video? The wrestling program been working hard with Coyte Cooper at the NWCA to create a marketing campaign to get fans interested in the team. This video wasn't Cooper's creation, but the official team account on Twitter has been very active in promoting the video and it's viral success, so it's safe to assume head wrestling coach Glen Lanham approved the video prior to distribution. The second influence is Flowrestling and that stupid, ridiculous, childish, half-perverted social networking ploy they pushed this summer called #bulging. For those who live in the utopia of a pre-#bulging world, it is essentially the website asking high school kids to romp around public in their singlet in an effort to garner attention for themselves. It's a wildly misguided attempt to earn some type of broader respect, but fell flat. It's sophomoric idiocy, far below the proud tradition of wrestling in America. The Duke team seems to have been emboldened by Flo's moronic bullshit. The Duke team has a lot to be excited about this year. Hiring a new coach means that they can change the direction of their program. Coach Lanham is one of the good guys in the sport, somebody who has earned universal respect from the coaching community. They will move past this kneecapping of their respectability and hopefully put a few guys into the NCAA tournament. You should still look at their resume! Though they lack the social skills of their neighbors in Charlottesville, but I remember recruiting plenty of bright teens that chose Durham over Morningside Heights. Honey, you're just angry right now ... On a somewhat related note, I first heard this song in Hawaii a few months ago and thought to myself "It's sooo much different here than the mainland." Q: Now that Kyle Dake and David Taylor have accepted the matchup, what are two more matches you'd want to watch? I want the rematch between Logan Stieber and Jordan Oliver. -- Harold E. Foley: Greed! The wrestling world gives you gold and now you want platinum. Shame on you. I'm very grateful to Dake and Taylor for providing us such compelling early-season fodder for the mailbag, but I'll go ahead and go with you, Harry. Time to make some more dream matchups! 1. Jordan Oliver vs. The OTHER Steiber: There are so many excellent stories of revenge, but rarely does it happen that those who've been maligned must find their solace in the destruction of their enemy's family. I'd take JO all day long, but it would be a super compelling storyline and because JO is headed up to 141 pounds, it' the only way those two names are going to meet up. 2. Ed Ruth vs. Steve Bosak: Just a pair of defending NCAA champions who aren't scared to wrestle the same weight class. We are rarely treated to more than one NCAA champ in a weight, and though waiting until later in the season (possibly Southern Scuffle) might happen, it won't be under the same spotlight. 3. Matt McDonough vs. Nico Megaludis: A rematch to kick off the event would be, uh, sweet. Q: Does Kyle Dake feel pressure to bump to 165 for the year in order to win the Hodge? -- @Rob_SwagginU Cornell's Kyle Dake gets interviewed by ESPN moments after capturing the NCAA championship at 157 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Foley: Kid Dynamite isn't scared, pressured, cajoled, shoved, intimidated, or MADE to do anything he doesn't want to do! Somebody should start making "Kyle Dake is NOT Impressed" memes? Unshakeable towhead, that Kyle Dake. I don't know Dake at all, but he seems to love wrestling and embrace the competition. He wants to win and seems pretty good at doing so year to year. Dake's motivation for the bump isn't known, but a Hodge can't be the cause. The Hodge is a lock for any four-time NCAA champion and his chances of winning that award were much better at 157 pounds where there wasn't a defending NCAA champion, Taylor, and 2011 NCAA finalist Tyler Caldwell of Oklahoma. I'd guess that Dake made the bump for any number of reasons, but it had to occur to him that if he wins four titles at four weight classes in four years he could be in contention as the greatest of all time. And that ain't no small thing. Q: What happens if Taylor/Dake doesn't make the finals at 165 pounds? Will the wrestling world take a hit? -- @BrandonfrmNJ Foley: Not me. If one of those two guys doesn't make the finals I win $200. I'm not telling you which one. I don't want to move the lines. Q: You talked about whether Jon Jones' improvement in MMA is enough to carry him in the Midlands, and basically said it won't. While that may be true for Jones, how about some other examples. Mark Schultz did gymnastics (and was pretty good) and only started wrestling his junior year of high school. He won California states his senior year, and followed it with three NCAA titles, and Olympic gold, and two World titles. Schultz is obviously an extreme example, but Jimmy Pedro is another good one. He is a superstar in judo, and was also able to pick up an EIWA title for Brown. If an athlete pushes himself to excel in one sport, don't you think that can translate to success on the mat? -- David, Massachusetts Foley: I absolutely think that great athletes can translate their talents into several sports, especially brothers like judo and wrestling, and distant cousins like gymnastics and wrestling. The translation is much less apparent if you tried to jump from basketball to wrestling, or football to gymnastics. But those that have some crossover, even gymnastics and wrestling, can mean the best athletes in those sports can make a lateral move. Just ask Michal Jordan!

Fight Now TV Presents Takedown Wrestling from the Brute studios in Des Moines, Iowa at 1460 KXNO. Takedown Wrestling is brought to you by Kemin Agrifoods! This Saturday it's Takedown Wrestling Radio. Join Scott Casber and Brad Johnson this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. CT/ 10 a.m. to noon ET. This week's guests: 9:03 Steve Martin, Old Dominion wrestling coach 9:20 Joe Bastardi, Penn State wrestling insider 9:40 Heath Grimm, Upper Iowa head wrestling coach 9:50 Ty Barkley, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update 10:03 JohnMark Bentley, Appalachian State head wrestling coach 10:20 Mike Van Arsdale, MMA coach, former wrestler/fighter 10:40 Ned Shuck, Heidelberg head wrestling coach 10:50 Tim Bollman, GM Wildrose Casino and Resort 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.)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro has announced that former Pittsburgh All-American Drew Headlee has joined the Mountain Hawks coaching staff as a volunteer assistant. Headlee will train and work with the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club, a position that allows him to assist the Lehigh program on a volunteer basis. He will work primarily with Lehigh's young and talented group of lightweights. "I'm really excited to have Drew here," Santoro said. "I've known him for a long time, being a Pitt grad. I think he will fit in very well here. He's great technically and is a quality person. It's always great to have an All-American in the room and he's also done well at the international level." Drew HeadleeHeadlee has spent the last two years training at the North Carolina Regional Training Center in Chapel Hill, N.C., and prior to that trained for two years at the Regional Training Center at West Virginia. He competed in freestyle at the Olympic Trials in 2008 and 2012 in the 132 lb. weight class. Headlee placed in the top seven at the U.S. Open in freestyle in four straight years from 2008 to 2011, highlighted by fifth place finishes in 2010 and 2011. This past year Headlee won the Final Olympic Trials Qualifying tournament. He also owns a runner-up finish at the 2009 NYAC International and third place finishes at the 2010 Sunkist International and the 2011 Cerro Pelado International. At the University of Pittsburgh, Headlee was a three-year captain and four-year letter winner for the Panthers under head coach Rande Stottlemyer. Headlee won Eastern Wrestling League titles in 2007 (at 133) and 2008 (at 141) and was a three-time NCAA tournament qualifier. As a sophomore in 2005, Headlee earned All-America honors with an eighth place finish at 133. He just missed earning his second All-America medal as a senior in 2008 as he lost in the round of 12. As a freshman, Headlee won the Mat Town Invitational at 125. He also won the 133-pound title at the 2006 Body Bar Invitational at Cornell, and was a University National Freestyle Champion. He earned his degree in architectural studies from Pitt in 2008. Headlee was a four year letter winner at Waynesburg Central High School in Waynesburg, Pa. He compiled a career record of 137-28 and was a three-time WPIAL Champion and a three-time Pennsylvania state qualifier, placing fourth in AAA in 2001 before capturing a state title in 2002. Headlee was also a three time Pennsylvania freestyle state champion and a six time Cadet/Junior National place winner. Headlee joins a Lehigh coaching staff led by Santoro and featuring former Lehigh All-American Brad Dillon and former Penn State national champion John Hughes, all of whom enter their fifth seasons on the Mountain Hawks coaching staff. "He fits a need for us as the lightweight coach," Santoro said. "It's a win-win for both parties. It will help Drew and it will help us, so we're really excited he's coming." Lehigh begins preseason practice next month, with the annual Brown and White Wrestle-offs set for Thursday November 1. One week later on November, Lehigh will open the dual season against Binghamton inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Season and single match tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting Lehighsports.com.

InterMat's T.R. Foley and Mike Riordan welcome American University head wrestling coach Teague Moore to Cheap Tilt Radio. They talk to him about the NWCA All-Star Classic, including the much-anticipated meeting between Kyle Dake and David Taylor. Brian puts a line on the Dake-Taylor match and some other All-Star Classic matches.

Barry Davis

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The heavyweight, 285 pound weight class match at the 2012 All Star Classic will feature Dom Bradley of Missouri vs Mike McMullan of Northwestern, in a match pitting the previous third place finishers at the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Wrestling Championships. In 2010-11 Bradley was a first year starter and recorded the highest winning percentage on his team with a 30-4overall record, going 19-3 at duals. Bradley was Missouri's first Big 12 Heavyweight champion and earned All-American honors at the NCAA Championships. Northwestern sophomore heavyweight Mike McMullan will be looking to improve on his NCAA third-place finish in 2012 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.comHowever, Bradley elected to take an Olympic redshirt during the 2011-2012 season and did not wrestle. McMullan, began his collegiate wrestling career during the 2011-2012 season where he won the second most matches out of any Wildcat with a record of 29-11 overall and won the third most matches out of any Wildcat during duals with a record of 11-3. McMullan earned All-American status during his freshman season and was given the first Jake Herbert Freshman of the Year trophy. "We are excited to have Mike wrestling in the All Star Classic," said Northwestern head coach Drew Pariano. "It is an important step for the season as this event serves as a kick off for college wrestling. It is a spotlight event and in many instances it can be a preview of the match-ups that will happen in the NCAA finals." This match-up, never before seen at the college level, is sure to bring excitement for spectators as both wrestlers are explosive competitors who like to put points up on the board. "We have two top notch wrestlers at the heavyweight division that will put on a great show for wrestling fans. I am certain that this matchup will help make the All Star Classic a better event for wrestling fans," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. With this match set, fans can now look forward to future acceptances at the eight other weight classes featured in the event. The All-Star Classic will occur on November 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Bender Arena on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. To purchase tickets to the event visit American University's website at http://aueagles.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=507577. For more information on the event, visit the NWCA website and follow the NWCA Facebook and Twitter pages. The NWCA Classic serves as a premier event to help grow the sport of wrestling. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the sport in the Washington DC area.

Sam Hazewinkel

With UFC 152 in the books, Richard and John take a look at Jon Jones' successful title defense against Vitor Belfort, Cub Swanson entering the featherweight title picture, and the other big storylines from the Toronto event. They also preview UFC on FUEL TV 5, headlined by a heavyweight clash between Stefan Struve and Stipe Miocic and a bantamweight tilt between Yves Jabouin and Brad Pickett. Do you want to listen to a past episode? View archives.

First, the news. The NCAA has mandated that college wrestling undertake a season-long test run of instant replay. The reviews would come from matside video and the referee in charge of the mat would make determinations on whether or not to overturn the original call. Coaches would have the ability to challenge three times during a tournament and once during a dual meet. There is no penalty for a bad challenge, and overturned calls result in the reinstatement of the team's challenge. According to the language released yesterday by the NCAA, matside reviews will abide by the following protocols:Matside video review may be used to confirm or reverse on-the-mat decisions, except a fall. The matside video review process will operate under the assumption that the ruling on the mat is correct, and only when there is indisputable video evidence that a ruling was incorrect, will a call be changed. Absent that evidence, the original ruling will stand. Each team will be allowed one coach's challenge per dual meet, including team advancement tournaments, to be used at the coach's discretion. Each team in an individual advancement tournament, excluding open tournaments, will be allowed three challenges to be used at the coach's discretion. If a coach's challenge is successful, the team will retain that challenge. A coach may ask the referee to stop the match for a challenge by approaching the scorer's table when there is no significant action and requesting that the match be stopped.It's widely assumed that this video process will correct some of the missed calls we see throughout the season and at the NCAA tournament, because for many people that is the only thing instant replay symbolizes: Always getting the correct call. However, video review is not a panacea for correcting calls. In fact, many of the calls wrestling fans will find most controversial won't be allowed to be overturned. It's the same way in football. Look at the total societal meltdown caused by Monday night's Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks NFL game. The game ended in what many thought was a blown call. To the booth! But the reviewers had rules, they couldn't overturn the call on the field of a touchdown (possession isn't challengeable) so the booth review was only to see if the ball was caught, which of course it was. Arguably the worst call in NFL history and it wasn't reviewable. Now take a look at wrestling. The last questionable call that decided an NCAA championship happened in 2012 when Jordan Oliver wasn't granted a takedown in his last-second scramble against Logan Stieber. Fans booed, coaches complained and message boards erupted, but would the call have been overturned? Likely not. Under the new rules the scramble and possible takedown would have been reviewable, but was there irrefutable evidence? Not in the mind of the referee. That scramble lasted several seconds and the position didn't change for more than five seconds, which means that the referee had time to analyze the action and determine whether or not control had been established. In real time he didn't think so, and while slow motion might make him second-guess, he'd have to have gorilla-sized testicles to hand over an NCAA championship on something he only moments ago saw as a non-takedown. The fact that fans are still debating the call means that (as happens in wrestling) there was not a rock-solid answer. What about the famous (notorious?) non-call in the Johny Hendricks vs. Ryan Churrella final in 2006? We know that we can't overturn a fall, but can you go back in time and call a fall? Is there any amount of video evidence that can be provided to prove that a back is flat on the mat? Wouldn't the referee, when in position, always have the correct call? Though I personally believe Churella got jobbed, the video review system wouldn't have been much help. So what's left? College wrestling fans will have to endure and entire season of challenges for takedowns on the edge, riding time points, backs exposures, escapes, and reversals. Most tournaments will average more than 60 video reviews, which will result in hours of lost time. I'm not sure when the last time you went to a wrestling match, but they are classically hampered by inefficiencies and can last well into the night. Video reviews will force tournaments like the Big Ten tournament well past midnight on Day 1. The system is also be open to abuse. It's easy to see that coaches will use the challenge to give their wrestlers a breather in big matches, but there are larger questions of use. Who is really keeping track of each school's challenges during a tournament? What is the baseline standard for video angles? Two cameras? What if the call is off-screen? Our videographers aren't exactly being trained for this job, and most are just volunteers. Will they be heckled for not videoing from the correct angle? Wrestling needs more marketable events, not regular season nit-picking of our officials calls. The system is not going to handle the expectations of coaches and fans. Were I a coach I'd see those three challenges as must-uses, that my job require I challenge late in a tournament just to ensure I keep my wrestler competitive. In dual meets, the challenges might preserve team points, so it will always end up being used. College wrestling has never been more popular, but the speed of video review and the potential for abuse by coaches could mean a potentially great season of action will be mired in senseless controversy.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The matchup that the entire wrestling community has long been waiting for may just happen at this year's 2012 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All Star Classic. Two of the biggest names in college wrestling, Kyle Dake of Cornell and David Taylor of Penn State, have accepted invitations to the event at 165 pounds and are slotted to match-up come Nov. 3 in Bender Arena. Kyle Dake defeated David Taylor at the 2012 Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Dake and Taylor enter the event coming off nearly identical seasons where both wrestlers finished the year undefeated capped off with an NCAA title. Dake posted a 35-0 overall and 7-0 dual record while Taylor posted a 32-0 overall and 14-0 dual record. Dake, who has a career record of 100-4, is looking to become only the third wrestler ever to win four NCAA titles and the first to win four titles in a row without a redshirt year. He is also the first wrestler ever to win three consecutive NCAA Championships at three different weight classes. Taylor enters his junior season as a two-time All-American with a career record of 70-1. Taylor was 2nd in the 2011 NCAA Championships. Taylor was named the 2012 Dan Hodge Award winner which is given annually to the top college wrestler in the country. Dake finished third in the voting last year. For Dake, this will be slightly unchartered territory. While this is his fourth different weight class he has competed in during his career, it will be his first time competing at the 165 pound weight class. "It's going to be one of the most exciting events of the year," said Kyle Dake. "I am honored to be a part of the NWCA Classic and am looking forward to putting on a show." This matchup is sure to excite fans across the nation. "We are absolutely thrilled that this match-up will be taking place at this year's All Star Classic. This will be a true treat for wrestling fans across the country, and a great way to start this year's college wrestling season," said American head coach Teague Moore. The All-Star Classic will occur on Nov. 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Bender Arena on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. To purchase tickets to the event visit American University's website at http://aueagles.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=507577. For more information on the event, visit the NWCA website and follow the NWCA Facebook and Twitter pages. The NWCA Classic serves as a premier event to help grow the sport of wrestling. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the sport in the Washington DC area.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Friday approved rules changes in a five intercollegiate sports, including wrestling. Panel members approved an experimental rule in wrestling to allow mat-side video review during the 2012-13 season, excluding open tournaments. Designation of the official mat-side video review system will be determined by the host institution before the beginning of competition. The host will also determine the number of mats and the rounds the mat-side video review system will be used. If the mat-side video review will be used, the host must provide notification to participating coaches no later than weigh-ins. Mat-side video review may be used to confirm or reverse on-the-mat decisions, except a fall. The mat-side video review process will operate under the assumption that the ruling on the mat is correct, and only when there is indisputable video evidence that a ruling was incorrect, will a call be changed. Absent that evidence, the original ruling will stand. Each team will be allowed one coach’s challenge per dual meet, including team advancement tournaments, to be used at the coach’s discretion. Each team in an individual advancement tournament, excluding open tournaments, will be allowed three challenges to be used at the coach’s discretion. If a coach’s challenge is successful, the team will retain that challenge. A coach may ask the referee to stop the match for a challenge by approaching the scorer’s table when there is no significant action and requesting that the match be stopped.

NEW YORK -- The Board of Trustees of Beat the Streets Wrestling Inc. (BTSW) today announced the appointment of Jim Fallis as executive director, effective August 27, 2012. "We are extremely pleased to welcome Jim Fallis to our organization and look forward to his stewardship of our mission to strengthen the culture of wrestling in New York and engage many more of our youth in this endeavor," said Chairman of the Board Mike Novogratz. "Jim has an exceptional leadership record of many years as an NCAA Athletics Director, combined with a background as a collegiate wrestling coach and competitor. He has a passion for helping young people through their engagement in the disciplined life of wrestling competition. Jim brings to us the precise combination of values, experience, skills, and energy we need for the next steps of Beat The Streets." Kyra Tirana Barry, President of BTSW Board, offers, “The future is bright for Beat The Streets Wrestling with the high energy and dynamic leadership of Jim Fallis. Jim’s vision and passion, his experience with growing athletic programs, and the search committee’s strong endorsement made him a clear choice to become our next executive director. He is the right person for us at the right time to bring our organization to the next level of growth.” Jim Fallis, new Executive Director of Beat the Streets Wrestling commented, "I am very excited to be joining Beat the Streets and becoming a part of such a respected youth development organization which has in a very short time produced remarkable results. This position presents a unique opportunity for me to continue to build the platform to impact many more New York City youth through the great sport of wrestling." About Beat the Streets Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc. works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to help New York City's student-athletes achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTSW and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life skills of physical fitness, teamwork, and self-empowerment. The goal of fostering strong, dedicated, and optimistic kids is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, and mentoring. More information about Beat the Streets can be found at www.beat-the-streets.org. Jim Fallis – Executive Director Jim Fallis most recently served as Director of Athletics at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Prior to that he served in the same capacity at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and Lake Superior State University (LSSU). He also coached wrestling at the collegiate level at Lake Superior state. Academic success, athletic success, and increases in external fundraising have been hallmarks at all three Universities under his direction. During his time at NAU the program won 27 Big Sky Conference Championships and had eight individual National Champions, including two time Olympian Lopez Lomong who was the flag bearer for the USA at the 2008 Olympics. At UNC the program earned 31 conference championships and won two NCAA Division II Football Championships. At his alma mater LSSU, the school won two NCAA Division I Men’s Ice hockey Championships (both in New York - 1988 in Lake Placid and 1992 in Albany). Fallis has served on numerous national committees including most recently the NCAA Division I Championship Cabinet and as chair of the Learfield Directors Cup Committee. A member of five Hall of Fames -- NAIA, NCAA Division II Wrestling, Lake Superior State, North Central Conference and Northern Colorado University -- he earned his Bachelors Degree in History from LSSU and his Master’s in Education from Northern Michigan University. He and his wife Anna are the parents of two grown children and five grandchildren.

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? View archives. The last few weeks I've been grateful to receive some of the best questions we've ever had for the mailbag. From the NWCA/NCAA dual meet debacle to Greco matches between starting quarterbacks of East Coast football teams, we've had an array of informative and curious prompts. Though I tried to answer all this week's questions, I had to whittle this preseason mailbags to about 1500-2000 words in order to not irritate my editor (For those of you who think of word counts only in terms of term papers, that's 6-8 pages double-spaced and that's without "Courier New," cheaters) To your questions. Q: What are your thoughts about Jon Jones and the Midlands? Can he actually win it? Can he make 197 multiple days in a row? Thoughts on whether Dana will allow it (I heard he let other guys into BJJ events between fights.) -- Bryan R. Jon Jones (Photo/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Foley: Man, that would really cheapen my comeback from last season. Why can't Jon Jones just give me that ONE thing? He's got the belt, the bank and the Bentley. Jones was a great wrestler in high school, placing fourth at the NHSCA Senior Nationals. He owns a redshirt season win over eventual NCAA champion Max Askren. Those credentials make it obvious that he was a talented wrestler with every chance to become a multiple-time NCAA champion. However, it wasn't to be, and Jones took up MMA and became the sport's biggest star. I think that signing with Nike makes it obvious he made a pretty good life choice. The potential was there, but can Jones go back and recapture that glory? Is his ascendency and physical betterment in MMA equal to what it would have been in wrestling? No. Jones is a transformational talent in the octagon and had he chosen to make a career of wrestling he might've been a legend. But if he steps on the mats in late December he'll get destroyed by younger guys that have the tanks for seven minutes of collegiate style wrestling -- no fear of being choked, punched, kicked, or eye poked (Josh Koscheck reference to the uninitiated). And though 15 to 25 minutes of fighting is likely more physically strenuous, there is nothing that will compare to seven minutes of using muscles meant solely for wrestling. Dude's also risking a major injury by putting his health in the hands of college opponents. Jones is a big boy, weighing as much as 225 pounds between fights. Assuming he doesn't want to cut to 197 pounds, a full eight pounds lighter than his fighting weight of 205 pounds, then he'll be wrestling at heavyweight and giving up as much as 60 pounds. Also, the BJJ and lack of on-the-mat wrestling will ultimately doom him to be stuck beneath some 19-year-old kid for seven minutes. Northwestern heavyweight Mike McMullan would ride him out of the gym. I love the idea of Jones showing up at Midlands. His appearance would mean incredible press for the sport and one of the premier events. I just think that he'd be risking too much to gain far too little. How about a grappling match versus Ben Askren? Now that's an idea. Q: Please talk about what skills need to be developed to successfully progress through the different levels of wrestling. What are the actual differences between high school state champs, high school all-Americans, Division I starters, NCAA All-Americans/champs and Olympians. What are the skills/technique differences that one needs to be successful at each level. I ask because it is really difficult to gauge why world-beaters at say the high school level don't always translate. Obviously, some lose interest or were just more physically mature than competitors at the prior level but I'm interested in the more specific item like the ability to get out from bottom, counter-wrestling. I hope this question is clear. It's just hard to tell as an interested fan of the sport what the skill and technique differences are that allow say a Jason Welch to totally dominate across the country in high school while not being nearly as effective in college. -- Bryan R. Foley: American folkstyle wrestling demands an immense amount of courage from its participants. We don't have teammates to carry loads, or pads to hide beneath. Every move we make is our choice, every mistake is only ours to suffer through. When you increase the stakes, you ask more in the way mental toughness. Wrestlers in college are, on average, way tougher than guys in high school -- they've seen more, survived more, battled more. Like you stated, some make the leap because they are mentally tough enough to deal with the failures. As for technique, every college coach in America will tell you that the biggest issue with freshmen is that they can't get off bottom. It's not a secret that the ability to ride is fine-tuned in college, which means that no matter where you wrestled in college, you've never been under more duress than when you wrestle your first leg-rider in college. That right there can break a wrestler. And every season it does. The other technique that can make or break a career is hand fighting. It's ironic I say this because I'm a horribly inconsistent hand fighter, but its nonetheless true. It sucks to get your head snapped. It sucks to have a sore neck and to be scrambling back into good position for the majority of a two-hour practice. Kids who don't learn to hand fight make the sport a lot harder on themselves than is necessary by constantly battling with their bodies to stay in good position. Despite those two techniques it really does come down to desire and at least a modicum of athletic ability. Wrestling isn't difficult to figure out. It's a battle of will. That simplicity makes it so appealing to some and bland to others. Q: I'm reading that we are going to have video replay. I think this is a bad idea. It's going to slow down matches and give wrestlers a break! -- Derek M. Foley: You are one-hundred percent correct. The modern collegiate wrestling match would grind to a halt. Wrestling coaches would argue every point that they think mattered and use the review as a manner for a timeout, or just to relay information to their wrestler. Were I coaching I'd absolutely go to video review if my kid needed a breather. Winning trumps all. I'm all for a more lenient seven-minute match. (I think that much of the "hustle-first" mentality is nothing but dramatics and devalues skill.) But you can't give wrestling coaches the keys to a review system. They'd waste time and for the poorer schools it would be an unnecessary financial burden. Simply put, instant replay in wrestling is a monumentally shitty idea … Except if only used at the NCAA tournament. Here's why. Not every wrestling match in a season matters, that much we know from recent bantering between the opposing armies of our sport's recent war over the schedule. Dual matches and early season tournaments? Blah. Who cares? Don't waste our time. But the NCAA tourney? That matters. Instant replay is an addition to the current format, a way to make sure that nobody is getting hosed at the exact wrong moment. Not having instant replay at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational isn't reductive, it's passable, and normal, and won't have the slightest impact on the rest of the season. Adding it to the biggest event would only ensure that we have the correct outcome of a match and the correct outcome of a tournament. A horrible, awful, boring idea for the sport to adopt, except in the case of the NCAA Championships. There, I'm sold. Q: With the news that Missouri will be joining the MAC in wrestling for the upcoming season, is the current plan for the remaining Big 12 teams (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Iowa State and possibly West Virginia?) to continue to have a four-team qualifying tournament for the NCAA tournament? What are your thoughts/opinions on a four-team qualifying tournament and are there any rumors of a change in the future? -- Dave Foley: The fact there are only four teams doesn't figure into the qualifying new system as much as it did the old. The way the system works now is by individual performances. Only if the Big 12 earned four spots at a weight class would you possibly see some funny business. However, chances are that most weights will only qualify two wrestlers with a select few of the tougher ones managing three. The change would only come with a total change to the system of college wrestling, which would only come about if the NCAA/BCS changes to a regional system for college football. That, or we could get all the coaches together to create a proposal for a new regional system where ... yeah, that'll never happen. Longtime rivals Dom Bradley (Missouri) and Jarod Trice (Central Michigan) are now in the same conference (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Q: The MAC just got a lot more interesting. Haynes vs. Kilgore, Larson vs Bennett, Bradley vs. Trice, Loder vs Bennett. #MatchupsGalore ... Missouri for the title? -- @Will_J_157 Foley: The only one of those that made me jump out of my seat was Jarod Trice vs. Dom Bradley. I can't wait. What a matchup. These two guys are entertaining dudes and physically talented wrestlers. I'd love to see the back-and-forth between them on the mat during the match and afterwards on the sidelines. Does the MAC have distribution network yet? Because I want to see this go down! Q: RG3 vs. Cam Newton ... in Greco-Roman. -- @brantleyhooks Foley: RG3 is the new Cam Newton, right? But Cam Newton is still the original Cam Newton only a year older, wiser, stronger, faster, and better? Look, you take the original before you even think about jumping to the imitator. I know very little about football, but I know that Newton is supposed to be the most athletic quarterback to ever play the game (yes, over Mike Vick). So I have to assume that he's going to find a way to win a Greco match against RG3. Dan Snyder would find a way to influence the outcome and only end up hosing his own athlete. 5-1, 1-0 Newton.

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