InterMat Staff

Related Link: Brackets GREENSBORO, N.C. -- There was lots of hype about the 2011 Super 32 Challenge, and upon reflection, it was justified, as the competition was phenomenal. There were some dominating performances, and many tightly contested matches, during the championship finals. The first five matches of the finals were decided by a one score or less margin. Wrestling in the championship round opened at 106 pounds, where two of the nation's top freshmen hit the mats. No. 9-ranked Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.) upended No. 2-ranked Matthew Kolodzik (Miami Valley School, Ohio) using a late third period escape to eke out a 3-2 victory, after the wrestlers traded takedowns in the first two periods. The second match saw yet another Buckeye State wrestler suffer a defeat, when Jarred Brooks (Warsaw, Indiana) used a first period takedown to secure a 3-2 victory over Nathan Tomasello (CVCA, Ohio). The result relegated Tomasello to a second straight Super 32 runner-up finish. At 120 pounds, yet another Ohio native fell to defeat, when Ryan Diehl (Trinity, Pa.) defeated FloNationals champion George DiCamillo (St. Ignatius, Ohio), 4-2. The wrestlers traded takedowns in the first two periods, while Diehl used escapes in the second and third periods and excellent defense of multiple shots by DiCamillo to procure the victory. Anthony Ashnault defeated Joey Dance to win his second straight Super 32 Challenge title (Photo/Rob Preston)The much-hyped 126-pound weight class had a championship match which was reflective of that hype. Two of the nation's best juniors, both of whom are two-time state champions and had a Super 32 championship on the resume prior to this year, wrestled an action packed final that was not decided until the final horn. No. 20 Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) won a second consecutive title with the 4-3 victory over No. 14 Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Va.). Dance opened a 3-0 second period lead after an escape and a takedown midway through that period. Ashnault scored an escape in the second period -- and another escape early in the third period -- to set up the rip-roaring finish in which he scored a very late takedown, and prevented Dance from getting an escape right at the end. The result relegated Dance to a second straight runner-up finish after winning a title in 2009. Ashnault was the lone defending champion to repeat, but at 132 pounds, Alex Cisneros (Selma, Calif.) joined him as a returning champion to win another Super 32 title. Cisneros added to his 2008 championship belt with a tiebreaker rideout victory over Devon Jackson (Yorktown, Indiana). The match was tied at 2-2 in regulation and at the end of overtime, and was one in which Cisneros was in deep on multiple attacks, but excellent defense by Jackson kept him in the match. After five tightly-contested matches, the 138 pound weight class title match between talented juniors had a clear domination. Ben Whitford (St. Johns, Mich.) -- ranked No. 2 in that class -- capped off a two day show of domination with a 13-3 major decision over Austin Matthews (Reynolds, Pa.). His other six matches involved five pins and a 19-3 technical fall. Whitford's teammate, Taylor Massa -- the No. 1 ranked senior in the country -- was similarly dominant at 170 pounds. In the final, he upended Elliott Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) with a 16-6 major decision. In his other five matches, Massa earned four pins along with a convncing 12-5 decision. The other blowout of the finals came at 220 pounds, where Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) earned a 13-0 major decision over Ray Stone (Akron SVSM, Ohio). Haines scored five point moves on takedown to the back in the first and second periods to cap off a dominant showing. In a battle of 2011 NHSCA Junior Nationals champions, Jacob Crawford (Millbrook, Va.) upended Alenick Richardson (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.), 4-2, at 145 pounds. After giving up the first takedown, and almost getting turned, Crawford -- a runner-up in the event in 2008 -- answered back strong with an escape and takedown of his own in the first period. After riding Richardson out in the second period, Crawford finished off the scoring with a third period escape. Another pair of NHSCA grade level champions met in the 152-pound final, as sophomore Josh Llopez (La Plata, Md.) upended Nick Kee (Scotland, N.C.), 5-4. Llopez scored a pair of takedowns in the second period to open up a 5-1 lead, and despite giving up a third period escape and late takedown to Kee, had done the damage necessary to secure the championship. After a sophomore won the title at 152 pounds, it was another sophomore winning the title at 160 pounds. No. 1-ranked in that grade, Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) lived up to his robust resume and reputation with a thorough 5-2 victory over Cody Allala (Hopewell, Va.) in the final. Marsteller used takedowns in the first and third periods to secure the victory. A pair of seniors went after the championship at 182 pounds, as Tim Dudley (Irmo, S.C.) upset defending champion Brandon Griffin (Sprague, Ore.), 8-1, in the final. Dudley scored a first period takedown, then the wrestlers traded escapes in the second and third period to make it 3-1; finally late in the third period, Dudley scored a takedown, and then secured a turn at the end of the match to separate the margin. A duo of juniors met in the 195-pound final, as Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area, Pa.) beat Brooks Climmons (Pope, Ga.) 2-1 in the tiebreaker. The wrestlers traded escapes in regulation, but could not score other points during regulation or overtime. Since McCutcheon escaped first, in the second period, he chose the down position in the tiebreaker and scored the winning escape. Finally, a pair of Florida seniors did battle at 285 pounds, where No. 14 Doug Vollaro (Pine Castle Christian) defeated No. 98 John Dreggors (Springstead) on the strength of a third period takedown after the wrestlers had traded escapes to be tied at 1-1. Finals Results: 106: Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.) dec. Matthew Kolodzik (Miami Valley School, Ohio), 3-2 113: Jarred Brooks (Warsaw, Ind.) dec. Nathan Tomasello (CVCA, Ohio), 3-2 120: Ryan Diehl (Trinity, Pa.) dec. George DiCamillo (St. Ignatius, Ohio), 4-2 126: Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) dec. Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Va.), 4-3 132: Alex Cisneros (Selma, Calif.) dec. Devon Jackson (Yorktown, Ind.), 2-2 TB 138: Ben Whitford (St. John's, Michigan) maj. dec. Austin Matthews (Reynolds, Pa.), 13-3 145: Jacob Crawford (Millbrook, Va.) dec. Alenick Richardson (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.), 4-2 152: Josh Llopez (La Plata, Md.) dec. Nick Kee (Scotland, N.C.), 5-4 160: Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) dec. Cody Allala (Hopewell, Va.), 5-2 170: Taylor Massa (St. John's, Mich.) maj. dec. Elliott Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), 16-6 182: Tim Dudley (Irmo, S.C.) dec. Brandon Griffin (Sprague, Ore.), 8-1 195: Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area, Pa.) dec. Brooks Climmons (Pope, Ga.), 2-1 TB 220: Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) maj. dec. Ray Stone (Akron SVSM, Ohio), 13-0 285: Doug Vollaro (Pine Castle Christian, Fla.) dec. John Dreggors (Springstead, Fla.), 3-1

106: Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.) dec. Matthew Kolodzik (Miami Valley School, Ohio), 3-2 113: Jarred Brooks (Warsaw, Ind.) dec. Nathan Tomasello (CVCA, Ohio), 3-2 120: Ryan Diehl (Trinity, Pa.) dec. George DiCamillo (St. Ignatius, Ohio), 4-2 126: Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) dec. Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Va.), 4-3 132: Alex Cisneros (Selma, Calif.) dec. Devon Jackson (Yorktown, Ind.), 2-2 TB 138: Ben Whitford (St. Johns, Mich.) maj. dec. Austin Matthews (Reynolds, Pa.), 13-3 145: Jacob Crawford (Millbrook, Va.) dec. Alenick Richardson (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.), 4-2 152: Josh Llopez (La Plata, Md.) dec. Nick Kee (Scotland, N.C.), 5-4 160: Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) dec. Cody Allala (Hopewell, Va.), 5-2 170: Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Mich.) maj. dec. Elliott Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), 16-6 182: Timothy Dudley (Irmo, S.C.) dec. Brandon Griffin (Sprague, Ore.), 6-0 195: Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area, Pa.) dec. Brooks Climmons (Pope, Ga.), 2-1 TB 220: Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) maj. dec. Ray Stone (Akron SVSM, Ohio), 13-0 285: Doug Vollaro (Pine Castle Christian, Fla.) dec. John Dreggors (Springstead, Fla.), 3-1

The finals matchups are set at the 2011 Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, N.C. The finals will begin shortly and will be live on Flowrestling.com. 106: Matthew Kolodzik (Miami Valley School, Ohio) vs. Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.) 113: Jarred Brooks (Warsaw, Ind.) vs. Nathan Tomasello (CVCA, Ohio) 120: George DiCamillo (St. Ignatius, Ohio) vs. Ryan Diehl (Trinity, Pa.) 126: Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) vs. Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Va.) 132: Devon Jackson (Yorktown, Ind.) vs. Alex Cisneros (Selma, Calif.) 138: Ben Whitford (St. Johns, Mich.) vs. Austin Matthews (Reynolds, Pa.) 145: Jacob Crawford (Millbrook, Va.) vs. Alenick Richardson (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.) 152: Josh Llopez (La Plata, Md.) vs. Nick Kee (Scotland, N.C.) 160: Cody Allala (Hopewell, Va.) vs. Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) 170: Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Mich.) vs. Elliott Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) 182: Timothy Dudley (Irmo, S.C.) vs. Brandon Griffin (Sprague, Ore.) 195: Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area, Pa.) vs. Brooks Climmons (Pope, Ga.) 220: Ray Stone (Akron SVSM, Ohio) vs. Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) 285: Doug Vollaro (Pine Castle Christian, Fla.) vs. John Dreggors (Springstead, Fla.)

Semifinal Matchups: 106: Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill, Ga.) vs. Matthew Kolodzik (Miami Valley School, Ohio) Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) vs. Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.) 113: Sam Krivus (Hempfield, Pa.) vs. Jarred Brooks (Warsaw, Ind.) Billy Rappo (Council Rock South, Pa.) vs. Nathan Tomasello (CVCA, Ohio) 120: George DiCamillo (St. Ignatius, Ohio) vs. Eric Montoya (Volcano Vista, N.M.) Vito Pasone (Meyers, Pa.) vs. Ryan Diehl (Trinity, Pa.) 126: Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.) vs. Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Va.) vs. Randy Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) 132: Brandon Jeske (Cox, Va.) vs. Devon Jackson (Yorktown, Ind.) Alex Cisneros (Selma, Calif.) vs. Joey Ward (Moeller, Ohio) 138: Tony DeAngelo (Southern Alamance, N.C.) vs. Ben Whitford (St. Johns, Mich.) Mike Hess (Jensen Beach, Fla.) vs. Austin Matthews (Reynolds, Pa.) 145: Solomon Chisko (Canon McMillan, Pa.) vs. Jacob Crawford (Millbrook, Va.) Matt Cimato (LaSalle, Pa.) vs. Alenick Richardson (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.) 152: John Keck (Shoreham-Wading River, N.Y.) vs. Josh Llopez (La Plata, Md.) Nick Kee (Scotland, N.C.) vs. Garrett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) 160: Geno Morelli (DuBois, Pa.) vs. Cody Allala (Hopewell, Va.) Geordan Speiller (Pine Castle Christian, Fla.) vs. Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) 170: Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Mich.) vs. Brandon O'Neill (Clear Fork, Ohio) Elliott Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) vs. Jacob Taylor (Bald Eagle Area, Pa.) 182: Timothy Dudley (Irmo, S.C.) vs David Reck (Colonial Forge, Va.) Cody Wiercioch (Canon McMillan, Pa.) vs. Brandon Griffin (Sprague, Ore.) 195: Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area, Pa.) vs. Mitch Sliga (Fishers, Ind.) Aaron Rowe (Indian River, Va.) vs. Brooks Climmons (Pope, Ga.) 220: Ray Stone (Akron SVSM, Ohio) vs. Mark Mongell (St. Francis, Ga.) Garrett Linton (Rootstown, Ohio) vs. Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) 285: Doug Vollaro (Pine Castle Christian, Fla.) vs. Greg Moray (Steubenville, Ohio) or Mike Kosoy (Olympic Heights, Fla.) Terrance Jean-Jacques (Haverhill, Mass.) vs. John Dreggors (Springstead, Fla.)

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The action was fast and ferocious inside Memorial Hall as Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren successfully defended his belt against Tournament Champion Jay Hieron and Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos both advanced to the Finals of the Bellator Heavyweight Tournament with first round finishes. Hieron began the title fight with an impressive opening round, defening against Askren's takedowns and controlling the pace. Askren got off to a slow start but warmed up as the fight went on, as his takedowns prevailed in the second, third, and fourth rounds. Hieron sensed he was down heading into the fifth and final round, and came out with heavy hands, including a crowd igniting spinning back kick to the chest of a stunned Askren. However, when it came time to raise the winner's hand, one judge saw the fight in favor of Hieron while the other two sided with Askren, 48-47. Askren now awaits the winner of the Season 5 Welterweight Tournament, which will be decided at Bellator 57 in a Finals fight between Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima. Neil Grove had a second shot at tournament glory after filling in for the injured Blagoi Ivanov, and was set to square off against “The Big Monster” Thiago Santos. “Big Monster” survived Grove's first attack and then dropped him with his first punch -- an overhand right. Santos then followed him to the ground and took over Grove's back to submit the former tournament finalist by way of rear naked choke 38 seconds into the first round. Prindle too would advance to the Finals following a heavy handed punch as he knocked Ron Sparks out cold while countering a leg kick. Sparks delivered an outside leg kick to Prindle early and let his right hand drop below his chin. It was at this point that the former five-time All Army Boxing Champion dropped him with a swift left hook and followed him to the mat for two more punches before a referee stoppage. The win was ruled a knockout for Prindle and took just 40 seconds. "This is why you can't blink when our heavyweights are mixing it up," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "Thiago Santos is a world-class jiu-jitsu player and showed his evolution as a mixed martial artist by putting Neil Grove down with a big punch; and Eric Prindle proved he's an absolute beast by knocking out a heavy-handed heavyweight in Ron Sparks. I cannot wait for this final on November 26 at Caesars in Atlantic City." "With Ben and Jay, I thought it was a good fight. I think Ben is being hard on himself and Jay is a world-class welterweight. No one's going to come in here and outwrestle Ben, and Jay presents a lot of problems for his opponents. I thought they both put on a strong show." For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator About Bellator Fighting Championships Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator's founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships' executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. About MTV2 MTV2 is a man's best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. About EPIX EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), is a next-generation premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service launched on October 30, 2009. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of its partners and other studios, EPIX provides a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood titles, classic feature films, original series, music and comedy specials through the linear channel, video-on-demand and online at EpixHD.com, the leading online destination for movies. EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry's most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available on EpixHD.com. The service is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.

Day 1 of the Super 32 Challenge was littered with major upsets, as two defending champions (Darian Cruz and Nathan Kraisser) fell to defeat. However, the quarterfinal rounds will be full of showcase matches. The pair of No. 1 and No. 2 wrestlers in the graduating class rankings advanced to the quarterfinal round -- Taylor Massa (170), Ben Whitford (138), Chance Marsteller (160), and Matthew Kolodzik (106). Quarterfinal Matchups: 106: Coy Ozias (Christiansburg, Va.) vs. Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill, Ga.), Brent Fleetwood (Smyrna, Del.) vs. Matthew Kolodzik (Miami Valley School, Ohio); Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) vs. Sean Russell (Collins Hill, Ga.), Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.) vs. Dylan Lucas (Brandon, Fla.) 113: Sam Krivus (Hempfield, Pa.) vs. Cassidy Oshiro (Maryknoll, Hawaii), Jarred Brooks (Warsaw, Ind.) vs. Zac Hall (St. Johns, Mich.); JR Wert (Christiansburg, Va.) vs. Billy Rappo (Council Rock South, Pa.), James Flint (Brandon, Fla.) vs. Nathan Tomasello (CVCA, Ohio) 120: George DiCamillo (St. Ignatius, Ohio) vs. Dustin Rook (Big Spring, Pa.), Jake Goodwin (Bishop Lynch, Texas) vs. Eric Montoya (Volcano Vista, N.M.); Vito Pasone (Meyers, Pa.) vs. Bryce Killian (Middletown, Pa.), Brock Ervin (Union County, Ky.) vs. Ryan Diehl (Trinity, Pa.) 126: Jake Smith (Newark Memorial, Calif.) vs. Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), Ken Bade (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) vs. Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.); Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Va.) vs. Eric Devos (Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa), Randy Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) vs. Maverick Passaro (Eastport South Manor, N.Y.) 132: Brandon Jeske (Cox, Va.) vs. Neal Molloy (Danville, Ind.), Devon Jackson (Yorktown, Ind.) vs. Laike Garder (Biglerville, Pa.); Alex Cisneros (Selma, Calif.) vs. Nick Mauriello (Happauge, N.Y.), Joey Ward (Moeller, Ohio) vs. Jamel Hudson (St. Anthony's, N.Y.) 138: John Fahy (Trinity, Ky.) vs. Tony DeAngelo (Southern Alamance, N.C.), Corey Stasenko (South Plainfield, N.J.) vs. Ben Whitford (St. Johns, Mich.); Connor Melde (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) vs. Mike Hess (Jensen Beach, Fla.), Steve Spearman (Erie McDowell, Pa.) vs. Austin Matthews (Reynolds, Pa.) 145: Connor Mullins (New Castle, Ind.) vs. Solomon Chisko (Canon McMillan, Pa.), Sam Schwartzapfel (Hauppauge, N.Y.) vs. Jacob Crawford (Millbrook, Va.); Matt Cimato (LaSalle, Pa.) vs. Joe Moon (Southern Alamance, N.C.), Ty Lydic (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) vs. Alenick Richardson (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.) 152: John Keck (Shoreham-Wading River, N.Y.) vs. Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin, Pa.), Josh Llopez (La Plata, Md.) vs. Zane Zeman (Avon, Ohio); Francisco Colom (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.) vs. Nick Kee (Scotland, N.C.), Garrett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.) vs. Peter Renda (Brandywine Hts., Pa.) 160: Jordan Wohlfert (St. Johns, Mich.) vs. Geno Morelli (DuBois, Pa.), Ty Walter (Mifflinburg, Pa.) vs. Cody Allala (Hopewell, Va.); Geordan Speiller (Pine Castle Christian, Fla.) vs. Devon Gobbo (Delbarton, N.J.), Victor Pereira (Newark Memorial, Calif.) vs. Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) 170: Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Mich.) vs. Chip Ness (Buford, Ga.), Parker Vonegidy (Piedmont, N.C.) vs. Brandon O'Neill (Clear Fork, Ohio); Tyler Rill (Mt. St. Joseph, Md.) vs. Elliott Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), Austin Wenzlaff (Md.) vs. Jacob Taylor (Bald Eagle Area, Pa.) 182: Timothy Dudley (Irmo, S.C.) vs. Jarred Lux (North Allegheny, Pa.), David Reck (Colonial Forge, Va.) vs. Jordan Thomas (Greenville, Mich.); Cody Wiercioch (Canon McMillan, Pa.) vs. Kevin Beazley (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.), Jesse Doyle (Wheatmore, N.C.) vs. Brandon Griffin (Sprague, Ore.) 195: Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area, Pa.) vs. Joe Jessen (Millbrook, Va.), Mitch Sliga (Fishers, Ind.) vs. Troy Mercer (Rockwall Heath, Texas); Aaron Rowe (Indian River, Va.) vs. Payne Hayden (St. Johns, Mich.), Brooks Climmons (Pope, Ga.) vs. Austyn Hayes (Phoenix, N.Y.) 220: Ray Stone (Akron SVSM, Ohio) vs. Justin Williams (Skyline, Va.), Chuckie Kerkesner (Cypress Lake, Fla.) vs. Mark Mongell (St. Francis, Ga.); Garrett Linton (Rootstown, Ohio) vs. Trevor Stevens (Pope, Ga.), Brendan Darrow (Trinity, Ky.) vs. Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) 285: Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony Union, Vt.) vs. Doug Vollaro (Pine Castle Christian, Fla.), Greg Moray (Steubenville, Ohio) vs. Mike Kosoy (Olympic Heights, Fla.); Terrance Jean-Jacques (Haverhill, Mass.) vs. Zachary Carmin (Collins Hill, Ga.), Caleb Denny (Moeller, Ohio) vs. John Dreggors (Springstead, Fla.)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Fans are the lifeblood of every sports program. From youth sports to professional teams, without fans, there is no team. Without a team, the lessons learned through sport are lost and society suffers for it. Fans come in the form of parents, athletes, alumni and community supporters. One of the most important yet overlooked jobs of the coach is the need to cultivate this fan base and develop a community that will support a team, financially and otherwise. Jim Harshaw, of Riot Sports Marketing, and Coyte Cooper, Ph.D., of Elite Level Sport Marketing, will be co-hosting a webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 9 p.m. EST to help coaches implement the most effective marketing strategies used by top programs around the country. Harshaw, with a background in collegiate coaching, non-profit management and small business ownership brings a wealth of experiences to the table in terms of program development. Cooper, a professor of Sport Administration at the University of North Carolina, will bring both experience and knowledge to this presentation provided for free to the first 50 registrants. "The most successful coaches have told me that the least important thing that they do is instruct." Harshaw explained. "Other coaches think it is the most important thing. We are going to provide both practical strategies and actionable tactics, so that coaches will be able to leverage the most effective methods used by successful teams across the country." Topics will include: Marketing 101- How to market your team successfully. Core Product- Why would anyone want to join, participate, donate, or attend an event. Product Extensions- What else can you do to enhance the entertainment value of your program. Positioning- Why fans would want to choose to support your team. Register now: http://team.riotsportsmarketing.com/brand-building Both Harshaw and Cooper were Division I All American wrestlers (University of Virginia and Indiana University, respectively). Jim Harshaw is the founder of Riot Sports Marketing. Riot is a web based application that helps programs efficiently communicate with fans, alumni, and supporters through building and maintaining multiple channels of communication. Coyte Cooper, Ph.D. is the founder of Elite Level Sport Marketing. Through his blog, he provides coaches with the tools necessary to market their program. Dr. Cooper is an Assistant Professor of Sport Administration at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill.

Event: UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Venue: Mandalay Bay; Las Vegas, Nevada Date: Oct. 29, 2011 The UFC Monster is in Las Vegas for UFC 137 trying to extend his winning streak for InterMat readers. Our mission is to find weaknesses and value in the Las Vegas betting line, as it relates to mixed martial arts fighting. There is money to be made on a card that has been changed numerous times. For starters, welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre was to fight WEC champion Nick Diaz in a five round title fight. But Diaz failed to show up to a couple of promotional events, and was tossed from the main event by UFC President Dana White. Carlos Condit, scheduled to fight B.J. Penn, was then elevated to fight GSP, with Diaz dropping to fight Penn. But GSP hurt his knee and was forced out, so Condit has no fight! And, B.J. and Nick now are the main event! How about that? And, what a main event it is. Both are marquee names that would look good on the other's resume. Both are world-class jiu-jitsu fighters, and neither has ever been submitted! Wow. But, both prefer to stand and strike, and each has boxing skills as good as it comes in the UFC. I think B.J. (16-7-2) has quicker hands and more power in his strikes. But Diaz has a high intensity pawing style that is relentless and often frustrates his opponents. Diaz (25-7-1) has triathlon cardio, while B.J. often gasses late. Anything can happen when two of my favorite fighters lock up. This should be the Fight of the Night (FON). B.J. opened as a slight underdog, and I continued to bet on him until he is now the -125 favorite. Now Diaz is the slight underdog. In a battle for the ages, I'll lay it with B.J. Penn as he stuns the MMA world with a second round KO of the Stockton punk. I love Diaz, but B.J. gets the win. Two powerful heavyweights, Cheick Kongo (16-6-2) and Matt Mitrione (5-0), should give the crowd what they want, lots of toe-to-toe slugging, and a sure KO from someone. This one shouldn't go the distance. Mitrione has won all of his UFC fights, while Kongo is coming off a miracle win over Pat Barry. I like the experience of Kongo here. Mitrione has done well, but this is a step up for him, and he may be in over his head with a beast like Kongo. I'll take my chances on the Frenchman Kongo at +120. Kongo wins by second round KO. Heavyweight Mirko Cro-Cop Filipovic (27-9-2) used to dominate Japan's Pride fighting. But he has aged and lost his power since arriving on the UFC scene. He is a shadow of his previous self these days. His opponent is "Big Country" Roy Nelson (16-6), a surprisingly athletic fighter with a great ground game, who looks like he has never spent a day in the gym based on his flabby physique. Looks can be deceiving according to the oddsmakers, who have installed Nelson as a -260 favorite. I'll take the value of +220 on the Croatian, and hope that he has a few more good fights in him. Cro-Cop wins with a late third round KO as Big Country gasses like he did against Cain Velasquez, who destroyed him. Japan's Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) makes his UFC debut tonight against George Roop (12-7-1). Most highly-touted Japanese fighters have fallen flat in the UFC, but this might be different. Roop is capable and long and lanky which may give the more compact Hioki trouble. But I think Hioki has enough of a diverse skill set to get the job done Saturday, and he is heavily favored to do so. Take Hioki and lay the -325 as he wins a unanimous decision. Nobody on tonight's card has more experience than bantamweight (135 pounds) Jeff Curran (33-13-1). He is also extremely strong on the ground with submissions dominating his victories. His opponent, WEC's Scott Jorgensen (12-4), is aggressive and relentless with ample striking and a good defensive ground game. But making Curran a +325 'dog? Are you kidding me? I have to bite on that! Let's hope that Curran finds a way to lock one up on Jorgensen, and wins by second round submission. Grab the 'dog here. Great value. Now let's take a quick look at the formidable undercard ... Lightweight (155 pounds) Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone (19-7) is on a roll. He has won seven of his last nine, losing twice to Ben Henderson by decision. Cerrone is another WEC product who is lanky (6'0" tall), a very good striker, and has a lethal submission game that carries him. His kick-boxing opponent is the short (5'7") and stocky German, Dennis Siver. Cerrone at -220 will trade shots, while setting up a takedown. Once on the mat it is over for Siver. Another rear-naked choke ends this one late in the first period. The Cowboy rides on to fight another day. Lightweight Tyson Griffin (15-5) was the first to defeat Uriah Faber. This strong wrestler has won most of his fights by decision, but has lost three of his last four. Journeyman veteran, Bart Palaszewski (33-13) is yet another WEC product. He will need to land some shots if he wants to win this one. I don't see that happening. I see Griffin at -300 cruising to another unanimous decision, controlling all the way. Light heavyweight Brandon Vera (11-5) once was considered to be championship material. But that was then and this is now ... Vera has now won only three of his last nine fights in the Octagon, so why is he such a big favorite at –425 to beat Elliott Marshall (8-4)? I have no clue, and will take the 'dog on principle alone! Marshall squeaks out a close decision at +350. Chris Camozzi (15-4) should use his Octagon experience to beat Francis Carmont. I'll lay the -130 on Carmozzi by decision. Two undefeated fighters make their UFC debuts tonight when middleweights (185 pounds), Dustin Jacoby (6-0) and Clifford Starks (7-0), go at it. In a pick 'em affair, I'll pass. This fight replaces the scheduled Brad Tavares vs. Tim Credeur. And, finally welterweight Ramsey Nijem at -200 is getting all the action out here in Vegas against youthful Danny Downes. And, in a sport with a limited betting fan base, money moves usually indicate where the "smart money" is going. In this case it is going down on Nijem. So, I'll follow suit. Nijem by submission in the first. Now let's see what we can do with our fictitious $1000 bankroll. Let's lay $125 to win $100 on B.J. Penn to get the better of Nick Diaz. Let's lay $70 to win $84 on Cheick Kongo to end Matt Mitrione's unbeaten streak. Let's lay $50 to win $110 on Mirko Cro-Cop to keep his career alive. Let's lay $130 to win $40 on Hatsu Hioki's UFC debut. Let's lay $ 60 to win $195 on Jeff Currans return to the UFC. Let's lay $220 to win $100 on Donald Cerrone's submission techniques. Let's lay $50 to win $175 on Elliot Marshall's upset of Brandon Vera. Let's lay $150 to win $50 on Tyson Griffin getting back on track. Let's lay $65 to win $50 on Chris Camozzi. Let's lay $80 to win $40 on Ramsey Nijim. ... and, we will pass on newcomers Jacoby and Starks. In all, we are risking $1000 to win $944. Not bad. I hope to continue to make a profit for InterMat readers. And, I hope InterMat readers will reciprocate by renewing their InterMat Platinum subscriptions! It pays for itself. And please don't forget to give some of your winnings to your local youth wrestling program, where tomorrow's champions are born. Enjoy the fights. I know I will.

Fight Now USA Presents Takedown Wrestling from the Brute studios in Des Moines, Iowa at 1460 KXNO. Takedown Wrestling is brought to you by Kemin Agrifoods! Wrestling Fans- I'll be away from the studio this week announcing the SOLD OUT USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Bob Selby will step in with a different view I'm sure you'll enjoy. So, Join Bob Selby, Chad Kriz and Brad Johnson with the Takedown Wrestling Headline News this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. CT/ 10 a.m. to 12 noon ET. This week's guests: 9:01: Jeff Murphy with the Kemin Wrestling Report 9:15: Brad Johnson with Takedown Wrestling Headline News 9:20: Mark Manning, Head coach at the University of Nebraska, newest members of the Big Ten 9:40: Rande Stottlemyer, Long-time coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers 9:50: Ty Barkley, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update http://www.maxmuscledesmoines.com/ 10:01: Scott Hinkel, Purdue wrestling begins its 98th year of competition 10:20: Joe Russell, After 17 years as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota, Russell takes the helm as head coach at George Mason University 10:40: Willie Saylor of TheOpenMat.com joins us LIVE from the Super 32 wrestling tournament 10:50: Amy Williams of Wildrose Casino and Resort 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.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State wrestling team continued building towards the future when they received their third verbal commitment from the Class of 2012, Nick Roberts. A three-time state placewinner for North Star High School. Roberts won individual Pennsylvania state titles as a freshman and junior and 103 and 112 pounds. Nick is currently ranked no. 30 in the InterMat Top 100 and he finished last year ranked fifth nationally at 112. "It is a great feeling to be an Ohio State Buckeye," stated Roberts when asked about his commitment. 'I really don't know what to say other than I am really excited and happy to see what is ahead in the years to come." A nationally respected wrestler, Roberts jumped on the OSU recruiting radar this summer after he competed at the 2011 Junior World Championships in Bucharest, Romania and roomed with current Ohio State sophomore Logan Stieber. "I was looking at several colleges before I went overseas with Logan to the Worlds. We talked about a lot of things and I got a chance to pick his brains about the wrestling in college, going to school at OSU, training and competing internationally, and a lot of different things," said Nick when asked about his recruitment. "When we got back I reached out to the coaches and started to build a relationship, I got to come in for a football game and got a chance to see a lot of stuff, and I think I made a great decision in choosing to wrestle at Ohio State." Roberts selected the Buckeyes over Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan. "Growing up I knew that I wanted to wrestle in college and I knew I wanted to compete in the Big Ten," offered Nick when asked about his decision. "There wasn't anything wrong with the other schools; it just seemed that for me, everything was right about Ohio State from the school, to the team and the coaches, to the opportunity to train with the Ohio RTC." Wrestling since he was three years old, Roberts has fourteen years of experience and a track record of success. A two-time state champion for the Cougars, Nick has built a 103-9 career record in high school going 32-6 as freshman and 39-1 as a sophomore at 103 pounds, and 31-2 as a junior at 112 while placing first, third, first at state. He is planning on moving up to 120 or 126 pounds as a senior. A year-round wrestler, Roberts has also excelled in the international styles as a four-time national champion. Nick was a 2009 Cadet double national champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman, a 2010 and 2011 FILA Junior national champion in freestyle, and he placed fifth at the 2010 Junior World Championships. "The focus this year is to win state, to make it back on the Junior World Team again, and to bring a medal back to the United States," stated Roberts. "Being a year-round wrestler definitely helps because the skills transfer from one season to the other. Whether it is on your feet or on the mat, wrestling is wrestling. The more you do the better, the harder you work, the more you learn, the better you are going get," explained Nick when asked about making the transitions from folkstyle to the Olympic styles and back. "One of the benefits of going to school at Ohio State is being able to work with the Ohio Regional Training Center and continue wrestling freestyle in the offseason without having to go anywhere else." The Ohio RTC currently has four internationally ranked wrestlers training in Columbus: 2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo, four-time college All-American and 2008 NCAA champion Angel Escobedo, NCAA finalist and 2009 World Team member Shawn Bunch, and NCAA finalist and 2011 World Team member Reece Humphrey. "Competition makes you stronger whether you are at practice or on the mat in an actual match, it is the same things with freestyle, Greco or folkstyle and I know that I am going to be challenged all year round at Ohio State," said Roberts when speaking of his long term goals. "It takes a lot of hard work if you want to be NCAA champion or a World champion." Nick is expected to sign his National Letter of Intent in November; he plans on moving to Columbus next summer to get an early start, and anticipates redshirting his first-year on campus. Roberts projects as a career 125 for the Buckeyes, but he could move up to 133 as an upperclassman. Nick is planning on majoring in Sports Medicine and would like to eventually get into physical therapy or work as a trainer. "I am really excited about being a Buckeye and I hope I can accomplish all of my goals in Columbus, Ohio," expressed the Pennsylvania native. "I do want to thank my parents, coach Jody Strittmatter, and my coaches Tim Rosa and Pat Berzonski." The addition of Roberts to the 2012 Ohio State recruiting class gives head coach Tom Ryan a trio of nationally ranked wrestlers that are expected to sign their National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Nick joins seniors Mark Martin, no. 52 overall and no. 19 at 152 in 2011, and heavyweight prospect Nick Tavanello, No. 28 overall and No. 7 at 215 in 2011 as future Buckeyes. InterMat was granted permission to republish this article from BuckeyeWrestling.com. http://www.buckeyewrestling.com/?q=node/44058

With the high school wrestling season's start fast 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. Minnesota is known for its rich Greco-Roman wrestling tradition, but the Land of 10,000 Lakes churns out top national talent in all three styles of wrestling year in and year out. Last year Minnesota sent 23 high school wrestlers to Division I programs. In addition, Minnesota had the nation's top-ranked high school wrestling program, Apple Valley, and four teams in the final InterMat Fab 50 team rankings. This year Minnesota could send even more wrestlers to Division I programs than last year when the dust settles. Only Pennsylvania and Ohio have more wrestlers ranked in the InterMat Top 100 seniors than Minnesota. Seven of the 10 wrestlers on this Wrestling 49 list have already committed to Division I programs, with the top four committing to the University of Minnesota. Brandon Kingsley defeated Mason Manville at the 2011 InterMat JJ Classic (Photo/The Guillotine)1. Brandon Kingsley (Apple Valley) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 Analysis: Kingsley, who is ranked as the No. 6 overall senior in the country by InterMat, has been a dominant force in Apple Valley's lineup ever since he became a starter as a freshman. Kingsley is a three-time state champion with career record of 169-6. His coming out party came his freshman season when he pinned David Thorn, who was one of the nation's top seniors at the time, in the finals of the Minnesota Christmas Tournament. Kingsley is a pinning machine. Of his 169 career wins, 126 have come by way of pin. He recently captured a title at the InterMat JJ Classic, which included a 4-2 victory over Mason Manville, who is ranked as the nation's No. 3 junior high wrestler. Kingsley committed to the University of Minnesota at the end of his junior year. 2. Dakota Trom (Apple Valley) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Trom, like his Apple Valley teammate Kingsley, will be in search of his fourth state championship. Trom's state titles have come at 112, 119, and 125 pounds. He has gone 134-8 over the past three seasons. Trom was a runner-up at the Cheesehead the past two seasons and a Cadet National freestyle runner-up in 2010. He is ranked as the nation's No. 48 overall senior by InterMat and recently committed to the University of Minnesota. He projects as a 141-pounder in college and will look to follow in the footsteps of another Apple Valley great, Chad Erikson, who finished as a two-time All-American at 141 pounds for the Gophers. Sam Brancale was an InterMat JJ Classic champion at 132 pounds and OW (Photo/The Guillotine)3. Sam Brancale (Eden Prairie) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 125/133 Analysis: Brancale entered high school with an impressive wrestling resume in national age group events, but weighed less than 100 pounds when he was a freshman. Still, despite being an undersized 103-pounder, Brancale managed a sixth-place finish at the state tournament in 2009. He grew into the 103-pound weight class as a sophomore and dominated his competition, going a perfect 42-0 en route to a state championship. As a junior, Brancale entered the state tournament ranked No. 1 in the state, but lost 1-0 in the quarterfinals to nationally-ranked Mitch Bengtson (St. Cloud Apollo), and came back to finish third. Brancale has been a FILA Cadet double All-American the past two years. He is ranked as the nation's No. 56 overall senior by InterMat. Brancale recently claimed a title at the InterMat JJ Classic and was named the event's Outstanding Wrestler. 4. Michael Kroells (Scott West) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 220/285 Projected College Weight Class: 285 Analysis: Kroells is mobile, athletic big man who has shined in state and national events. He was an undefeated (47-0) state champion last season at 215 pounds, has twice been in the state finals, and has earned three state medals. Kroells, the nation's No. 63 overall senior, will bring a 133-28 record into his senior season. He was a Cadet National folkstyle champion in 2010. This past spring Kroells registered a win over the nation's No. 1 heavyweight last season, Donny Longendyke (White Bear Lake). He recently pinned Cadet National double champion Sam Stoll (Kasson-Mantorville) to win the InterMat JJ Classic title at heavyweight. Kroells has committed to the University of Minnesota, where he will look to carry on the Gopher heavyweight legacy. 5. Ben Morgan (Forest Lake) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 133/141 Analysis: Morgan, the son of 1996 Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler Gordy Morgan, won a state championship before any wrestler on this list. That state title came when Morgan was an eighth-grader at 112 pounds, and many predicted he would be a five-time state champion. But Morgan has been unable to get back to the state finals, let alone win a state title, since entering high school, and will begin his senior season in search of the elusive second state title. He has finished third at the state tournament in each of the past three seasons. Morgan has twice been a freestyle All-American in Fargo. He is a four-time Rumble on the Red champion and two-time Minnesota Christmas Tournament champion. Morgan, who is ranked as the nation's No. 84 overall senior by InterMat, recently committed to the University of Nebraska. Ben Sullivan gets in on a shot against Iowa City West's Justin Koethe at the InterMat JJ Classic (Photo/The Guillotine)6. Ben Sullivan (Apple Valley) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 165 Analysis: Sullivan has flown under the radar a bit, partly because of the fact that he was unable to compete on Apple Valley's varsity team last season after moving to Minnesota from Alaska. He was an undefeated (41-0) state champion as a sophomore in Alaska. Sullivan showed that he is one of the nation's best by reaching the NHSCA Junior National finals at 160 pounds. He recently went toe-to-toe with Justin Koethe (Iowa City West), the nation's No. 31 overall senior, in the finals of the InterMat JJ Classic, but fell 10-7. 7. Micah Barnes (Simley) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 165 Analysis: Barnes, who recently committed to Old Dominion University, will be counted on to help lead Simley to another state title and high national ranking. He earned All-American honors this year in folkstyle and freestyle at the Junior level. Barnes will be looking for the elusive state title after finishing runner-up as a sophomore and junior. He won the Cheesehead last season, beating Apple Valley's Steven Keogh in the finals. 8. Austin Goergen (Caledonia/Houston) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 285 Projected College Weight Class: 285 Analysis: Goergen, a two-time state champion at heavyweight, is the biggest wild card on this list because of the fact that he has not been competing in national events. Some evaluate him as one of the nation's top heavyweights with tremendous college potential, while others see him as a solid in-state heavyweight with limited college potential. Goergen was unheralded (and unranked in the state) when he won his first state championship as a sophomore. Last year he was an undefeated state champion who went unchallenged at the state tournament. 9. Joey Munos (South St. Paul) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Munos has put together an impressive wrestling resume, earning two state titles, four state medals, and a Junior National folkstyle championship this past spring. He wrestles for the same high school (South St. Paul) that produced Jake Clark, a two-time U.S. World Team member in Greco-Roman and a 2012 Olympic hopeful. 10. Cooper Moore (Jackson County Central) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 170 Projected College Weight Class: 165/174 Analysis: Moore is a three-sport athlete from the same school that produced Chad Kraft, Nate Baker, Travis Rutt, and Cole Von Ohlen. He first wrestled in the state tournament as a seventh-grader at 103 pounds in 2007. Moore earned his first state medal (fourth) as a freshman, and then captured a state title as a sophomore at 160 pounds. Last year he took a No. 1 ranking into the state tournament, but suffered a concussion in the first round and was forced to default out the event. Moore is a two-time Junior National folkstyle All-American. He recently committed to Northern Iowa University and projects as a 165/174-pounder in college.

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CHICAGO, Ill. -- As Bellator Fighting Championships prepares to invade Memorial Hall in Kansas City on October 29, the fight card has been finalized with a number of preliminary fights featuring some explosive local talent sure to make the Kansas City faithful proud. Saturday will also feature the Kansas City return of Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren, who puts his title on the line against former UFC veteran and Season 4 Tournament winner Jay Hieron. The Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament also marches on as semifinalists Ron Sparks and Eric Prindle battle it out for a spot in the finals, while Neil “Goliath” Grove takes on Thiago Santos to move one step closer to a title shot against current Bellator Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad. The action will be LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX2 beginning at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT. First fight will take place at 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com. Tickets for the event can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com and at the Memorial Hall Box Office. Staying in the Halloween spirit, fans are encouraged to show off their best costumes on fight night as there will be two $500 prizes for best male and female costumes. Winners will be shown LIVE on MTV2 and EPIX2 and will be guests of honor at the Bellator 56 after-party in Memorial Hall after the event. The only way into the highly-anticipated after-party is to buy a ticket to Bellator 56. A 2008 U.S. Olympian and former ESPY award nominee for Best Collegiate Athlete, Askren, the reigning Bellator Welterweight Champion, will put his title on the line for the first time since capturing the crown at Bellator 33 over then champion Lyman Good. While the fight may be the toughest test of his young MMA career, the University of Missouri product and two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion should feel right at home fighting in Kansas City. “It's an unreal feeling knowing I'll be fighting so close to Mizzou,” said Askren. “It won't affect me during the fight, I could beat Jay in his living room, but to be able to celebrate with all my friends and family after the win is going to be awesome.” Missouri native and long-time Bellator veteran Rudy “Bad News” Bears will square off against Kansas resident Marcos Navarro in a welterweight fight, while the undefeated Jeremy Spoon will look to keep his record spotless with a victory over former Featherweight Tournament participant Adam Schindler. “Kansas City has been a spectacular home for Bellator with huge, loud crowds and incredible fights,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “But, this event Saturday night is the greatest event we've ever brought to KC with our partners from MTV.” Light Heavyweight Dan Spohn will look to keep his momentum going in a scrap with Kelvin Tiller. Spohn left fans stunned with a nine-second knockout victory in his Bellator debut and will be looking for the same result Saturday at Memorial Hall. St. Louis native and undefeated lightweight E.J. Brooks will take on William De Souza, while Jacob Aiken will battle Jeimeson Saudino in a featherweight affair. Odessa, Missouri native Owen Evinger will fight Aaron Ely, who is making his Bellator debut and will be looking to impress. The night will round out with Derrick Ruffin battling Daniel Gallemore in a heavyweight fight sure to produce fireworks. For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator About Bellator Fighting Championships Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator's founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships' executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. About MTV2 MTV2 is a man's best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. About EPIX EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), is a next-generation premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service launched on October 30, 2009. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of its partners and other studios, EPIX provides a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood titles, classic feature films, original series, music and comedy specials through the linear channel, video-on-demand and online at EpixHD.com, the leading online destination for movies. EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry's most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available on EpixHD.com. The service is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.

TEMPE -- Fans will have their first opportunity of the 2011-12 athletic campaign to witness the Arizona State University wrestling team in action on Friday as the team hosts its annual Maroon & Gold Wrestle-Offs at the Riches Wrestling Complex in Tempe, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The annual intrasquad dual gives the student-athletes their first taste of action in a competitive atmosphere. Each weight class will feature two wrestlers essentially battling it out for their spot on the starting roster, making Friday's bouts a bit more important than one might find typical of an intrasquad scrimmage. Fans are encouraged to come out to the competition and get a taste of the action up close and personal on Friday evening. The Sun Devils team features several student-athletes already receiving some preseason recognition from some of the early season polls. InterMat has returning All-American heavyweight Levi Cooper ranked seventh in its preseason rankings, with Luke Macchiaroli at No. 18 at 197 pounds and Eric Starks at No. 19 at 174 pounds. Friday's bouts will be as follows: 125 – David Prado vs. Josh Sandoval 133 – Kalin Goodsite vs. Cameron Carlberg 141 – Nathan Hoffer vs. Alex Schmersal 149 – Joel Smith vs. Victor De Jesus 157 – Hans Rasmusson vs. Kory DeBerry 165 – Kyle DeBerry vs. Derek Felton 174 - Eric Starks vs. Blake Stauffer 184/197 – Tommy Burriel vs. Bobby Bowman HWT - Levi Cooper vs. Michael Hawkins Fans are welcome to come enjoy the action. There will be a $5 entry charge at the door for a night's worth of action. All proceeds go to the continued support of the ASU wrestling program. The season is set to officially begin the following weekend as the team will travel way north to Ypsilanti, Mich., on Nov. 5 to take part in the Eastern Michigan Open.

USAFA, Colo. -- The Air Force wrestling team competed in front of its fans for the first time during the 2011-12 season on Wednesday evening, as it hosted the annual Blue-Silver Intrasquad Match in Clune Arena. In a decision that came down to the final bout, the Blue team took a narrow 19-16 victory over the Silver team. The action began with the 125-pound match between junior Steven Joseph (Middleburg, Fla.) and sophomore Greg Rinker (Northampton, Pa.). After two scoreless periods, Rinker notched the first point of the match, notching an escape to open the third period. Neither wrestler scored again, as Rinker took the 1-0 decision to give the Silver team a 3-0 advantage in the team scoring. At 133 pounds, freshman Dylan Hyder (Yelm, Wash.) earned a 5-0 decision over classmate Cody Hancock (Wrightwood, Calif.) to put the Blue team on the board. Hyder scored a first-period takedown to take the early lead and kept the advantage for the entire second period. Starting the third period on bottom, Hyder registered a reversal and added nearly four minutes of riding time for the win. The match at 141 pounds was the closest of the evening, with senior Tyler Untrauer (Midwest City, Okla.) taking the mat for the Blue team, while newcomer Carter McElhany (Colorado Springs, Colo.) wrestled for the Silver team. Untrauer scored the first takedown of the match to grab the lead, while McElhany scored a quick escape. After a scoreless second period, McElhany recorded an escape to open the third, and took a 3-2 lead after Untrauer's second stall warning of the match. However, Untrauer was able to regain control with a takedown in the final 20 seconds of competition, earning the 4-3 decision. With the Blue team leading, 6-3, junior captain Cole VonOhlen (Jackson, Minn.) was ready to put more points on the board for his squad. Taking on sophomore Daniel Baucke (Memphis, Tenn.) in the 149-pound bout, VonOhlen scored a takedown to earn a 2-0 advantage after one period. After another takedown and a second stall warning call against Baucke, VonOhlen led 5-0 going into the final period. His lead grew to 7-0 with a third-period reversal, and with an extra point for riding time, VonOhlen won the 8-0 major decision to give the Blue team a 10-3 advantage. The 157-pound match was a battle of two veterans, as returning starter and team captain Alec Williams (Sr., Fultondale, Ala.) faced off against sophomore Josh Kreimier (Fort Collins, Colo.), the Falcons' starter at 149 last season. Kreimier, wrestling for the Silver team, took the early lead, scoring the first takedown of the match, while Williams tied the score at 2-2 with a reversal. However, Kreimier notched a reversal of his own to earn a 4-2 lead after one period. An escape by Williams to start the second period brought him back within a point, but he was unable to score again. Meanwhile, Kreimier scored a takedown and a third-period reversal, earning a 9-3 decision. At 165 pounds, sophomore Colby Kluesner (Denver, Colo.) and senior Tanner Weltzin (Alexandria, Minn.) wrestled a close match, beginning with a first-period takedown by Weltzin. Kluesner responded with an escape and a takedown of his own to take the lead, while Weltzin scored an escape to tie the bout at 3-3. However, Kluesner scored another takedown to end the opening period, grabbing a 5-3 advantage. Weltzin scored the only point of the second period, earning an escape, but after a scoreless third period, Kluesner had the riding time advantage to win the 6-4 decision for the Blue team. Trailing in the team scoring, 13-6, the Silver team was looking for a win from Clayton Gable (Jr., Dallastown, Pa.) in the 174-pound bout. The match against freshman Garrett Wells (Corvallis, Ore.) had a slow beginning, with neither wrestler scoring any points in the opening period. However, Gable responded with a pair of two-point near falls in the second period and added three takedowns and an escape in the final period. With over two minutes of riding time, Gable picked up a 12-2 major decision over Wells to bring the Silver team back within three points. The match between Dalton Henderson (Fr., Owatonna, Minn.) and Greg Isley (So., Toledo, Ohio) at 184 pounds was another exciting bout to watch, with both wrestlers earning takedowns and near falls in the opening period. Isley scored the only takedown of the second period, but with a pair of escapes, Henderson still held the slight edge. After an Isley escape to open the third period, Henderson scored his third takedown of the match. The freshman added a three-point near fall in the waning seconds to earn a 15-10 decision, putting the Blue team ahead, 16-10. At 197 pounds, sophomore Brook Gosch (Orwigsburg, Pa.), representing the Blue team, took on junior Josh Mohr (Pewaukee, Wis.), competing for the Silver team. Mohr took a 2-1 lead after one period, with a single takedown, and started the second period in the down position. However, with a quick move, Mohr was able to score a fall just 15 seconds into the period, helping the Silver team tie the score at 16-16. With just one more bout remaining, the heavyweight match would prove to be the deciding factor in the team competition. Wrestling for the Blue team was returning starter Jared Erickson (Jr., Newton, Utah), while Cody Davis (So., The Woodlands, Texas) wrestled up a weight class for the Silver team. Erickson scored the first points of the match with a first-period takedown, and led 2-1 going into the second period. Davis recorded an escape for the only point of the second period, tying the score at 2-2. Erickson took control in the final period, scoring an escape and a takedown, and earned a 6-3 decision over Davis to give the Blue team a 19-16 victory. The Falcons' season gets to an official start on Nov. 6, when the team travels to Salem, Va., for the Hokie Open, hosted by Virginia Tech. Blue 19, Silver 16 125 - Greg Rinker (Silver) dec. Steven Joseph, 1-0 133 - Dylan Hyder (Blue) dec. Cody Hancock, 5-0 141 - Tyler Untrauer (Blue) dec. Carter McElhany, 4-3 149 - Cole VonOhlen (Blue) maj. dec. Daniel Baucke, 8-0 157 - Josh Kreimier (Silver) dec. Alec Williams, 9-3 165 - Colby Kluesner (Blue) dec. Tanner Weltzin, 6-4 174 - Clayton Gable (Silver) maj. dec. Garrett Wells, 12-2 184 - Dalton Henderson (Blue) dec. Greg Isley, 15-10 197 - Josh Mohr (Silver) fall Brook Gosch, 3:45 HWT - Jared Erickson (Blue) dec. Cody Davis, 6-3

EDMOND, Okla. -- St. Cloud State (Minn.) enters the 2011-12 season as the No. 1 team in NCAA Division II wrestling, according to the preseason poll released by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association Wednesday. The Huskies, coming off a best-ever runner-up finish in last year's national tournament, received four of the eight first-place votes cast in balloting of coaches from around the country and finished with 153 points in earning the favorite's tag. Newberry (S.C.), which has won four straight Super Region I titles and was sixth nationally last season, earned three first-place votes and is second in the poll with 150 points. Upper Iowa came in third with 144 points, Nebraska-Kearney had the other first-place vote in finishing fourth with 132 and Grand Canyon (Ariz.) is fifth with 130. Rounding out the top 10 is Augustana (S.D.), Central Oklahoma, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.), Wisconsin-Parkside and Ashland (Ohio). Twenty-nine teams received points in the wide-open voting, with first-year program Maryville (Mo.) coming in 15th with 47 points. Nebraska-Omaha had its program disbanded last year after winning its third straight national championship and several members of that team, led by long-time head coach Mike Denney, went to Maryville. The top 20 poll, with points and each team's finish in last year's national tournament following by the individual rankings at each weight: Rank School (State) Points Last Year's Finish 1. St. Cloud State (Minn.) 153 2nd 2. Newberry (S.C.) 150 6th 3. Upper Iowa 144 4th 4. Nebraska-Kearney 132 8th 5. Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 130 7th 6. Augustana (S.D.) 124 3rd 7. Central Oklahoma 107 13th 8. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 94 T-10th 9. Wisconsin-Parkside 90 9th 10. Ashland (Ohio) 74 20th 11. Mercyhurst (Pa.) 70 25th 12. Minnesota State 69 T-10th 13. Adams State (Colo.) 63 21st 14. Findlay (Ohio) 53 14th 15. Maryville (Mo.) 47 NR 16. Fort Hays State (Kan.) 44 T-22nd 17. Limestone (S.C.) 31 27th 18. North Carolina-Pembroke 28 T-17th 19. San Francisco State (Calif.) 23 T-17th 20. Shippensburg (Pa.) 15 T-22nd Others receiving votes: Central Missouri, Colorado School of Mines, East Stroudsburg (Pa.), Gannon (Pa.), King (Tenn.), Kutztown (Pa.), Mary (N.D.), Northern State (S.D.), Western State (Colo.). 125: 1. Connor McDonald, Newberry (S.C.) 2. Kyle Pedretti, Upper Iowa 3. Corey Ulmer, Minnesota State-Moorhead 4. Terrell McKinney, Maryville (Mo.) 5. Ben Sergent, Findlay (Ohio) 6. Jerry Huff, Adams State (Colo.) 7. Brandon Davis, Ashland (Ohio) 8. Shane Summerlin, Belmont Abbey (N.C.) 133: 1. Trevor Franklin, Upper Iowa 2. Jason Jeremiason, Augustana (S.D.) 3. Ryan Link, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 4. Trison Graham, Central Oklahoma 5. Matt Oliver, Newberry (S.C.) 6. Michael Magaha, Limestone (S.C.) 7. Dan Mandara, Ashland (Ohio) 8. Tyler Nelson, Colorado Mesa 141: 1. Dalton Jensen, Nebraska-Kearney 2. B.J. Young, Newberry (S.C.) 3. Jack Bachman, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 4. Dan Genetin, Ashland (Ohio) 5. Simon Rice, Shippensburg (Pa.) 6. Adam Hluschak, East Stroudsburg (Pa.) 7. Madison Gambrell, Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 8. Nick Wykoff, West Liberty (W. Va.) 149: 1. Nate Herda, Augustana (S.D.) 2. Mitchell Means, Fort Hays State (Kan.) 3. Tommy Abbott, Minnesota State 4. Josh Hensley, Adams State (Colo.) 5. Ethan Swope, Gannon (Pa.) 6. Deral Brown, Newberry (S.C.) 7. Nathan Link, Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.) 8. Ryan Maus, Truman State (Mo.) 157: 1. Dillon Bera, Wisconsin-Parkside 2. T.J. Hepburn, Nebraska-Kearney 3. Jordan Shields, Mercyhurst (Pa.) 4. Teddy Bristol, Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 5. Cory Dauphin, Central Oklahoma 6. Marcus Edgington, Augustana (S.D.) 7. J.D. Horn, St. Cloud State (Minn.) 8. Winston Robbins, Upper Iowa 165: 1. Tad Merritt, St. Cloud State (Minn.) 2. Joey Wilson, Nebraska-Kearney 3. Mike Williams, North Carolina-Pembroke 4. Dylan Granard, Colorado Mesa 5. Sean Brynes, Newberry (S.C.) 6. Isaiah Jimenez, San Francisco State (Colo.) 7. Jordan Larsen, Colorado School of Mines 8. Ronald Tetreault, American International (Mass.) 174: 1. Michael Lybarger, Findlay (Ohio) 2. Luke Rynish, Wisconsin-Parkside 3. Victor Carazo, Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 4. Shamus O'Grady, St. Cloud State (Minn.) 5. Kelly Henderson, Central Oklahoma 6. Bryce Sopko, Limestone (S.C.) 7. Carl Serck, Augustana (S.D.) 8. Brendan Eichman, Minnesota State 184: 1. Ross Brunkhardt, Nebraska-Kearney 2. Mitch Schultz, Upper Iowa 3. Matt Gille, Wisconsin-Parkside 4. Derek Skala, St. Cloud State (Minn.) 5. Tanner Keck, Central Oklahoma 6. Brady Anderson, Mary (N.D.) 7. Brandon Tressler, King (Tenn.) 8. Londele Cox, Mercyhurst (Pa.) 197: 1. Carl Broghammer, Upper Iowa 2. Dan Scanlan, Limestone (S.C. 3. Luke McPeek, Adams State (Colo.) 4. Matt Baker, Maryville (Mo.) 5. Pat Mahan, Minnesota State 6. Frank Morgan, King (Tenn.) 7. Eddie Ebewo, East Stroudsburg (Pa.) 8. Karl Reed, Newberry (S.C.) 285: 1. Matt Meuleners, Northern State (S.D.) 2. Jacob Kahnke, St. Cloud State (Minn.) 3. Jacob Southwick, Ashland (Ohio) 4. Jake Elkins, Newberry (S.C.) 5. Zach Rosol, Upper Iowa 6. Fred Hale, Mercyhurst (Pa.) 7. J.D. Ramsey, West Liberty (W. Va.) 8. Cody Beck, Central Missouri

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The CSU Bakersfield wrestling team will host "Meet at the Mat" Thursday, Nov. 1 in the John Antonio Sports Center. “Meet at the Mat” is free and open to the public. “Meet at the Mat” will be a chance for fans to meet the coaching staff, the team, and other CSU Bakersfield fans and supporters. The festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with the introductions of the staff and the team. The wrestlers will then demonstrate a typical workout and explain moves used during competition. “Meet at the Mat” will also feature a breakdown of CSUB's 2011-12 schedule and the announcement of other events that will be taking place in the near future that will support the program. Light refreshments will be served. Therefore, an RSVP is required. Please email, CSUB head coach Mike Mendoza at mmendoza2@csub.edu or call the wrestling office at 661-654-2343 to make a reservation.

The unofficial kickoff to the high school wrestling season comes this Saturday and Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. at the Super 32 Challenge. Competition on Saturday will narrow the field in each weight class down to 16 competitors (eight in the quarterfinals, and eight in consolation), with the competition on Sunday determining a champion and the other seven place-winners. Many of the nation's elite wrestlers will assemble for a truly rigorous "pre-test" as they "Battle for the Belt." This field includes 23 of the nation's Top 100 seniors, 19 of the Top 50 juniors, 18 of the Top 50 sophomores, and 10 of the Top 25 freshmen. Among that group is the nation's best senior in Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Mich.), the nation's best sophomore in Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.), along with number two ranked wrestlers in the senior, junior, and freshman classes -- Jason Tsirtsis (Crown Point, Indiana), Ben Whitford (St. Johns, Mich.), and Matthew Kolodzik (Miami Valley, Ohio). Fifteen wrestlers that have made a Super 32 Challenge final over the years are among the anchor wrestlers of the field. It includes an impressive five of such wrestlers in the 126 pound weight class, the premier weight class of the tournament: defending champions Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) and Nathan Kraisser (Centennial, Md.); along with runners-up in Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), 2009 champion Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Va.), and Rossi Bruno (Brandon, Fla.). Two returning event champions also anchor the 182 pound weight class -- Cody Wiercioch (Canon McMillan, Pa.) and Brandon Griffin (Sprague, Ore.). Other weight classes with a pair of former finalists include 113, 132, and 138 pounds. The pair of finalists from 103 pounds last year, Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) and Nathan Tomasello (CVCA, Ohio) headline the 113 pound field; 2008 champion Alex Cisneros (Selma, Calif.) and last year's 130 pound runner-up Brandon Jeske (Cox, Va.) showcase at 132 pounds; while defending champion Steve Spearman (Erie McDowell, Pa.) and two-time runner-up Jason Tsirtsis are among the stars at 138 pounds. Rounding out that cast of characters is 2008 runner-up Jacob Crawford (Millbrook, Va.) at 145 pounds along with 2008 and 2009 runner-up Taylor Massa. The following is a breakdown of some of the (many) key wrestlers in each weight class, along with potential thoughts on what might happen over the two-day tournament. 106: Even though this weight lacks a true "mega-star", there are still many highly credentialed wrestlers within this field -- seven are ranked in their respective graduating class, and eleven have earned All-American honors in Fargo (Junior and/or Cadet Nationals) at some point of their career. Leading this field is Nathan Boston (Indiana), who was undefeated during his freshman season of high school and a FloNationals runner-up in March 2011. A key feature of this opening weight class is impact freshmen, including Matthew Kolodzik (Miami Valley, Ohio), Dylan Lucas (Brandon, Fla.), Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional, Pa.), A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa.), and Fredy Stroker (Bettendorf, Iowa). Other notables include state champions Sean Russell (Collins Hill, Ga.), Coy Ozias (Christiansburg, Va.), and Kyle Kelly (Chenango Forks, N.Y.); NHSCA Freshman Nationals champ Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill, Ga.); Junior National double All-American Jan Rosenberg (Morris Knolls, N.J.); and three-time Cadet National All-American Brent Fleetwood (Smyrna, Del.). Finals Prediction: Nathan Boston over Matthew Kolodzik 113: This is a very deep weight class that includes six returning Super 32 Challenge placers, along with ten additional wrestlers that have earned All-American honors in Fargo. Headline figures include last year's Super 32 finalists at 103 pounds -- Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) and Nathan Tomasello (CVCA, Ohio) - each also won a title in Fargo this past summer. Other returning place-winners are two-time state champion Ryan Diehl (Trinity, Pa.), three-time Cadet All-Americans Dalton Macri (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) and Zac Hall (St. Johns, Mich.), along with state champion Billy Rappo (Council Rock South, Pa.). Also in this weight are FILA Cadet freestyle champion Dalton Brady (Colo.), Junior National freestyle runner-up Jarred Brooks (Warsaw, Indiana), and Junior National double All-American Jordan Wigger (Summerville, S.C.). Additional notable wrestlers include state champions JR Wert (Christiansburg, Va.), Cassidy Oshiro (Maryknoll, Hawaii), James Flint (Brandon, Fla.), Braun Marquez (Canyon Randall, Texas), and Brendan Calas (Seton Hall Prep, N.J.). Finals Prediction: Dalton Brady over Nathan Tomasello 120: The three featured wrestlers in this weight placed in the top five of last year's absolute meat-grinder of a weight class at 112 pounds in the Super 32. George DiCamillo (St. Ignatius, Ohio) followed that up with a second Ironman title, along with initial state and FloNationals championships; Jacob Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.) and Conner Schram (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) made their second state finals appearances in as many high school seasons, while Schmitt also placed second in freestyle at the FILA Cadet Nationals and was a Junior Greco-Roman All-American. Others of note in this weight class include state champions Austin Hood (Louisburg, Kansas), Eric Montoya (Volcano Vista, N.M.), Cody Hummer (Savannah, Mo.), and Kaleb LeMaire (Caesar Rodney, Del.). Also meriting attention are 2010 state champions Emilio Martinez (Greeley West, Colo.), Will Mason (Cape Henry Collegiate, Va.), Alec Dierna (Wayne, N.Y.), and Drew Ferguson-Mitchell (Collins Hill, Ga.). In addition are National Prep placers Jacob Goodwin (Bishop Lynch, Texas) and Andrew Atkinson (Liberty Christian, Va.), FloNationals runner-up Cody Stainbrook (Walsh Jesuit, Ohio), and Junior National freestyle All-American Eli Hale (Miami, Okla.). Finals Prediction: George DiCamillo over Jacob Schmitt 126: As discussed in the lead portion of this article, the weight class is absolutely stacked with five returning Super 32 finalists. Those include three-time state champions Rossi Bruno (Brandon, Fla.) and Nathan Kraisser (Centennial, Md.), two-time state champions Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) and Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Va.), along with 2010 state champion Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.). Yet those five don't even scratch the surface of the quality present in this weight class. Three other wrestlers placed in last year's Super 32 Challenge -- 2010 Junior freestyle All-American Eric Devos (Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa), Russell Coleman (Park Hill, Mo.), and Chris Caton (Northside Christian, N.C.). Other multiple-time state champions in this weight include Brandon Brunner (The Baylor School, Tennessee), FloNationals champion Dean Heil (St. Edward, Ohio), David Jeffrey (Parkersburg South, West Va.), Ryan O'Boyle (Central Catholic, Massachusetts), 2010 FloNationals runner-up Cody Phillips (Union County, Indiana), Zach Watson (The Baylor School, Tennessee), Skyler Wood (Platte County, Mo.), and Garrison White (Robinson, N.C.). Yet other notable wrestlers are Cadet freestyle runner-up finishers Jonce Blaylock (Berryhill, Okla.) and Gary Wayne Harding (Collinsville, Okla.), along with two-time state finalists in Alex Calandrino (Howell, Mich.), Corey Keener (Blue Mountain, Pa.) Randy Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), Dane Harlowe (Annandale, Va.), and Jake Smith (Newark Memorial, Calif.). Finals Prediction: Rossi Bruno over Nathan Kraisser 132: Three wrestlers in the top ten of their respective graduating classes stand out as the best in this weight class -- two-time Super 32 runner-up Brandon Jeske (Cox, Va.), 2008 Super 32 champion Alex Cisneros (Selma, Calif.), and Junior National Greco-Roman champion Kevin Norstrem (Brandon, Fla.). Three other former Super 32 placers feature in this weight class as well -- Shyheim Brown (Central Dauphin, Pa.), Tyson Dippery (Central Dauphin, Pa.), and John Fahy (Trinity, Kentucky). Also in this field are four additional Junior National Greco-Roman All-Americans in Laike Gardner (Biglerville, Pa.), Julian Purdy (Nevada Union, Calif.), Arty Walsh (Schuylkill Valley, Pa.), and Joey Ward (Moeller, Ohio); along with Junior National freestyle All-American Brant Schafer (St. Johns, Mich.). Additional state champions in this weight class include Davey Dolan (Berryhill, Okla.), Campbell Lewis (Soddy Daisy, Tennessee), and Neal Molloy (Danville, Indiana). Notable multi-time state placers include Colt Cotten (Benton, Pa.), Devon Jackson (Yorktown, Indiana), Brandon Keller (Timber Creek, N.J.), and Connor Melde (Bergen Catholic, N.J.). Finals Prediction: Brandon Jeske over Alex Cisneros 138: With the consolidation of middle-weight classes this year (last year's 125, 130, 135, 140, and 145 are shrunk into 126, 132, 138, and 145), there are going to be some weight classes in tournaments that are absolutely star-laden due to the lack of competitive options. This is one of those cases. The second-ranked senior and junior in the nation are both in this weight class -- two-time Super 32 runner-up Jason Tsirtsis (Crown Point, Indiana) and three-time Fargo double finalist Ben Whitford (St. Johns, Mich.). Additional stars in this weight class are FloNationals champion Nate Skonieczny (Walsh Jesuit, Ohio), a pair of FloNationals runners-up in Quentin Murphy (Holley Central, N.Y.) and Steve Spearman (Erie McDowell, Pa.), and two-time Super 32 placer Brent Fickel (Padua). Other state champions in this field are NHSCA Junior National runner-up Tony DeAngelo (Southern Alamance, N.C.), Nick Trimble (Sparta, Mich.), FloNationals placer Gabe Morse (Lowell, Mich.), and Brooks Martino (Robinson, Va.). Wrestlers that have finished second in the state include Josh Pennell (St. Johns, Mich.), Austin Matthews (Reynolds, Pa.), James Dekrone (John Glenn, N.Y.), and Mitch Newhouse (Massillon Perry, Ohio). Finals Prediction: Jason Tsirtsis over Ben Whitford 145: Leading the way in this weight class is three-time state champion, two-time state placer, and NHSCA Juniors champion Jacob Crawford (Millbrook, Va.). Three other InterMat Top 100 seniors anchor the weight class: two-time Junior National freestyle All-American Matt Cimato (LaSalle, Pa.), three-time state champion Alec Mooradian (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.), along with state champion and FloNationals placer Andrew Morse (Lowell, Mich.). Other very formidable seniors in this weight include FloNationals placer Kevin Moylan (Stagg, Ill.), NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Alenick Richardson (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.), Junior National Greco-Roman All-American Cody Ross (Springstead, Fla.), three-time state placers Zach Beitz (Juniata, Pa.) and Connor Mullins (New Castle, Indiana), state champion Joey Moon (Southern Alamance, N.C.), two-time National Prep placer Will Switzer (Archbishop Spalding, Md.), and three-time state runner-up Tanner Minder (Kearney, Mo.). Sophomore superstars include two-time Super 32 placer Solomon Chisko (Canon-McMillan, Pa.), National Prep runner-up Jack Clark (McDonogh, Md.), and Cadet freestyle All-American Jack Bass (Allen, Texas). Top juniors include state champion Cain Salas (Granite City, Ill.), along with state runner-up and Cadet double All-American Garrett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pa.). Finals Prediction: Jacob Crawford over Matt Cimato 152: Two years ago as an eighth-grader this young man competed in the Nittany Lion Open. Not only that, but he won a match, and was rather competitive in his two losses. Since then, the reputation of Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) has only continued to grow. A dominant Cadet freestyle title last summer, an undefeated state championship season as a freshman in the Pennsylvania big-school division, and an absolutely dominant sweep of Greco-Roman and freestyle at the Cadet Duals and Cadet Nationals has transpired in the interim. Marsteller is clearly the best Class of 2014 wrestler in America, and some might argue the best overall high school wrestler in America. While there is no realistic challenger to Marsteller within this field, any number of wrestlers will be battling for "best of the rest" honors. Notable sophomores in this group include state champion and Cadet freestyle All-American Josh Llopez (La Plata, Md.), state placer Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin, Pa.), along with state placer and FloNationals placer Jordan Cooks (Davison, Mich.). Additional state champions in this weight include Kyle Burns (Milan Edison, Ohio), Eric O'Neill (Winter Springs, Fla.), Nick Kee (Scotland, N.C.), Austin Scogg (Rockford, Mich.), Patrick Davis (Woodbridge, Del.), and Aaron Walker (Judson, Texas). Also meriting attention is FILA Cadet freestyle All-American Travis Curley (St. Johns, Mich.). Finals Prediction: Chance Marsteller over Travis Curley 160: For the lack of star power present in the prior weight, this group provides more than sufficient compensation with four InterMat Top 100 Class of 2012 recruits as a starting point. This group includes Ironman and Beast of the East champion Jason Luster (Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Pa.) -- a three-time state/National Prep finalist; Beast of the East runner-up Cody Allala (Hopewell, Va.), a three-time state champion; FloNationals and Junior National Greco-Roman champion Geordan Speiller (Pine Castle Christian, Fla.), a two-time state champion; along with Beast of the East champion Devon Gobbo (Delbarton, N.J.), a two-time state placer and Super 32 placer. Additional wrestlers to watch include FloNationals placers Tyler Askey (Northgate, Ga.) and Geno Morelli (DuBois, Pa.); Junior National Greco-Roman All-American Burke Paddock (Warsaw, N.Y.); state champions Jordan Wohlfert (St. Johns, Mich.), John Crowley (Regis, Colo.), and Zach Epperly (Christiansburg, Va.); NHSCA Junior placers Vincent Favia (Christian Brothers, N.J.), Ben Sullivan (Apple Valley, Minn.), and Justin Spyres (Green Run, Va.); along with state runners-up Victor Pereira (Newark Memorial, Calif.) and Adam Jackson (Rosemount, Minn.). Finals Prediction: Jason Luster over Cody Allala 170: Like the 152 pound weight anchored by the nation's top sophomore, this weight is anchored by one of the true elite wrestlers in America -- Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Mich.). Massa is seeking an elusive Super 32 title having finished third, second, second, and third in his prior attempts. The University of Mich. bound wrestler is ranked as the top recruit in the Class of 2012, has won three state titles, and is a two-time FILA Junior National freestyle champion. An additional similarity, is the lack of a bona fide challenger, though the contender group has some pretty solid wrestlers. Other state champions in this weight class include Junior Greco-Roman All-American Kyle Koziel (Brandon, Fla.), Forrest Przybysz (Jefferson, Ga.), Tanner Tinsley (Hanover, Va.), Jacob Haydock (Brandon, Fla.), Jared Haught (Parkersburg, West Va.), Cadet freestyle runner-up Parker Vonegidy (Piedmont, N.C.), and NHSCA freshman champion Chip Ness (Buford, Ga.). Additional wrestlers meriting attention are state placers Elliott Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), Connor Moran (Solanco, Pa.), and Austin Coniker (Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Pa.); along with National Prep placer Tyler Rill (Mt. St. Joseph, Md.), Super 32 placer Brian Dorsey (Bowie, Texas), and NHSCA Sophomore champion Nick Zak (Jackson Liberty, N.J.). Finals Prediction: Taylor Massa over Kyle Koziel 182: The other side of the consolidation of weight classes in the middle is the increase of classes in the upper weights. What used to be the three weight classes of 171, 189, and 215 is now a four weight stretch of 170, 182, 195, and 220. This weight class is similar to the 180 weight that had been contested in prior years in Texas, but is new for high school wrestling overall. Despite that, there is excellent quality present in this weight class with a pair of defending Super 32 champions in Brandon Griffin (Sprague, Ore.) and Cody Wiercioch (Canon-McMillan, Pa.). Other superstars in this weight include two-time Junior National freestyle All-American Jordan Thomas (Greenville, Mich.), state champions and returning Super 32 placers Chaz Gresham (Goshen, Ohio) and Jesse Doyle (Wheatmore, N.C.), NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Tim Dudley (Irmo, S.C.), as well as FloNationals and Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Kevin Beazley (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.). Others meriting attention include state champions Greg Wilson (Keller Central, Texas), Taylor Jackson (Citrus, Fla.), and Gray Jones (Camden County, Ga.); NHSCA Junior Nationals placers David Reck (Colonial Forge, Va.) and Victor Pozsonyi (Roselle Park, N.J.); along with Super 32 placer Jared Lux (North Allegheny, Pa.). Finals Prediction: Jordan Thomas over Brandon Griffin 195: This weight class and the next weight class are where the after-effects of the weight class change really show, both in terms of quality depth and quantity of participants. A pair of star juniors headlines the field in this weight -- two-time Cadet National double (Greco-Roman and freestyle) champion Mitch Sliga (Fishers, Indiana) and two-time state finalist, 2010 Cadet freestyle champion, Brooks Climmons (Pope, Ga.). Additional wrestlers to note include a trio of NHSCA Junior Nationals placers in Joe Jessen (Millbrook, Va.), Cameron King (Trinity, N.C.), and James Suvak (St. Edward, Ohio). Also present in the field are state champion Cody Davis (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee) along with state placers Payne Hayden (St. Johns, Mich.) and Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area, Pa.). Finals Prediction: Mitch Sliga over Brooks Climmons 220: Winning a state championship as a freshman is a genuine accomplishment. Winning it in the Keystone State makes it all the more impressive. But to do it at 215 pounds, against 18 and 19 year old men, is all the more impressive. That is what Thomas Haines (Solanco, Pa.) did this past year. This sophomore, ranked No. 11 nationally, regardless of weight is a strong favorite to emerge with the belt on Sunday afternoon. Others to watch include state champion Chuckie Kerkesner (Cypress Lake, Fla.) along with state placers Ray Stone (Akron SVSM, Ohio), Trevor Stevens (Pope, Ga.), and Garrett Linton (Rootstown, Ohio). Finals Prediction: Thomas Haines over Chuckie Kerkesner 285: Last, and least in terms of participants in this tournament, is the heavyweights. None the less, there are a couple of high profile names in this field. First and foremost is Junior National double All-American Doug Vollaro (Pine Castle Christian, Fla.), who also was a FloNationals champion and earned second consecutive double runner-up honors at the FILA Cadet Nationals this spring. Joining Vollaro as an InterMat Top 100 senior in this weight is John Dreggors (Springstead, Fla.), a state runner-up who won titles at the NHSCA Junior National and FILA Cadet Greco-Roman tournaments this spring. Additional wrestlers in this weight class include National Prep runner-up Terrance Jean-Jacques (Haverhill, Massachusetts), Junior National freestyle All-American DaQuante Timbers (Freedom, Va.), state champion Lucas Ryan (Stonewall Jackson, Va.), and NHSCA Freshman champion Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony Union, Vt.). Finals Prediction: Doug Vollaro over John Dreggors

The field has been set for the 45th Annual POWERade Christmas Wrestling Tournament that will be held on Dec. 29 & 30, 2011. The tournament will be held at CanonMcMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pa. A complete listing of the teams and information including the top returning wrestlers can be found on our website - http://poweradewrestling.com.

Please note: This preview was written using the preregistration list. Some wrestlers may be in different weight classes or not competing. The USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals return to the UNI-Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls for a fourth year on Saturday, Oct. 29. Four wrestlers will be defending championship titles earned last year in the high school division -- Colton Adams (Nebraska), Jack Hathaway (Iowa), Justin Koethe (Iowa), and Taylor McGiffen (Illinois). The tournament features five divisions for wrestlers from the first through 12th grade, and sold out at 1,650 wrestlers across the divisions for a second consecutive year. The high school division has just over half the participants, with 831 registered wrestlers coming from approximately 30 states. This year's field features some highly credentialed and proven wrestlers in all the weight classes, while other wrestlers are seeking that breakthrough opportunity to hit the radar screen of the wrestling community. The following is an analysis of wrestlers to watch within each of the weight classes. 106: Two-time state champion Paul Mascarenas (New Mexico) is arguably the leading figure in the over 80 wrestler field, as a two-time state champion that placed third at the Preseason Nationals last year. Others to watch include state finalists Jake Koethe (Iowa) and Junior National Greco-Roman runner-up Dante Rodriguez (Nebraska); Bobby Nachreiner (Wisconsin) placed third at state and was a Junior National Greco-Roman runner-up; Joseph Velliquette (Missouri) and Junior Naitonal freestyle runner-up Tommy Pawleski (Illinois) placed fourth at state; while additional Fargo All-Americans include Jacob Cottey (Indiana), Drew Romero (Colorado), Grant Boggs (Montana), Jay Fresh (Iowa), Darek Huff (Colorado), and Ty Pelot (Wisconsin). 113: State runners-up Jordan Northrup (Illinois) and Jared Oftedahl (Minnesota) lead the almost 90 wrestler field in this weight class. Northrup was fourth in Cadet freestyle this past summer, while Oftedahl was a double All-American at the Junior Nationals in Fargo. Others to watch include state champions and Cadet Greco-Roman All-Americans in Wyatt Scribner (Washington), Jordan Shearer (North Dakota), and Bryce Meredith (Wyoming); Cadet freestyle All-Americans Brandon James (Indiana) and Jaydin Clayton (Missouri), who are among the nation's top freshmen; along with a pair of wrestlers that placed fifth at state and have Cadet National All-American finishes on their resume in Mark Duda (Illinois) and Jordan Laster (Illinois). 120: Colton Adams (Nebraska) seeks back-to-back Preseason Nationals championships, coming off a year in which he won a state title and earned a seventh place finish in Cadet freestyle. However, the challengers will be many, as at least six other defending state champions are among the just over 80 registered in this weight class. Those wrestlers include Morgan Engbrecht (South Dakota), 2010 Junior National freestyle All-American Colby Knight (Iowa), Cadet National double All-American Andrew Crone (Wisconsin), Cadet Greco-Roman All-American Josh Alber (Illinois), Johnny Jimenez (Illinois), and Anthony Rees (Colorado). Three others come in off state runner-up finishes from last year – 2010 state champion and multiple-time Fargo All-American Kevon Powell (Illinois), Tyler Rice (Wisconsin), and Ryan Strope (Missouri). Others to watch include state third placer Zac Denny (Illinois), and Junior Greco-Roman All-American Jared Parvinmehr (Illinois). 126: Jack Hathaway (Iowa) is the second of four defending Preseason Nationals champions in the field, and he comes off a season in which he won a maiden state title and earned All-American honors in both styles at the FILA Cadet and Junior Nationals. Five notable challengers stand out in the field of just under 70 wrestlers: three-time National Prep placer Eric Friedman (Maryland), a 2010 Junior freestyle All-American; Junior freestyle All-American Zac Synon (Illinois); state champion Tate Robinson (Tennessee), who has finished fifth three times at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo; two-time state placer Eddie Greco (Illinois); and three-time state placer, former state champion Sawyer Ferris (Iowa). Others of note include two-time state placer Tyler McWilliams (Iowa), along with Cadet National All-Americans in Joseph Nelson (Wisconsin) and Nicholas Gil (Illinois). 132: Three-time state champion Cole Mendenhall (Montana) headlines a field of close to 90 wrestlers in this weight class. Others to watch include state runner-up and Cadet freestyle All-American Sam Crane (Missouri), state runner-up Joshua Morin (Montana), state third place finisher Derek Gill (Wisconsin), state champion JJ Whaley (Illinois), and state third place finisher Cameron Kleven (Wisconsin). 138: Two-time state champion and 2010 Cadet freestyle runner-up Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) anchors the field in one of the overall tougher weights of the tournament. Leading challengers include three-time state runner-up Connor Ryan (Iowa), Junior Greco-Roman All-American and multi-time state champion Austin Roper, state champion and 2010 Cadet freestyle All-American Kaleb Baker (Iowa), and three-time state champion Andrew Riedy (Nebraska). Others to watch include state runner-up, and 2010 state champion, Logan Mulnix (Iowa); two-time state champion Tyler Nation (Nebraska); state champions Colin Dolata (Wisconsin) and Adam Yde (Wisconsin; state champion and Cadet Greco-Roman All-American Phil Downing (Colorado); along with state placers in Mitch Friedman (Wisconsin) and Clayton Lutzow (Illinois). Additional Cadet Greco-Roman All-Americans in the field are Xavier Montalvo (Illinois) and Alex Mossing (Ohio). 145: Arguably the deepest weight class of the tournament, as it features four wrestlers from the InterMat class rankings – a pair of juniors in Grant Lamont (Utah) and Jake Marlin (Iowa), along with a pair of sophomores in Bo Nickal (Texas) and Ryan Blees (North Dakota). Both Lamont and Marlin won state titles this past year; Lamont earned third place finishes in both Junior Greco-Roman and Cadet freestyle this past summer in Fargo, while the 2011 state title marked repeat championships for Marlin. Nickal and Blees each earned All-American honors in both styles at the Cadet Nationals this past summer; state runner-up Nickal was third in Greco-Roman and seventh in freestyle, while state champion Blees was fourth in each style. Also in this weight class is Nick Becker (Wisconsin), a state place finisher who earned seventh place finishes in each style this summer at the Junior Nationals. Others to watch include a pair of state champions in Blake Fruchtl (Nebraska) and Lucas Lambrecht (Wisconsin); as well as state runners-up in Connor Bass (Illinois) and Jordan Henrickson (Colorado). 152: Four returning place-winners from last year's Preseason Nationals lead the way in this weight class. Peter Galli (Maryland) finished second at 140 pounds, and went on to finish as a National Prep runner-up at 140 pounds (placing at that season-ending tournament for a third consecutive year). TJ Fox (Ohio) was fifth in the same weight, and went on to finish second in his state, after finishing runner-up in both styles at the 2010 Cadet Nationals in Fargo. Colin Holler (Illinois) was sixth in that weight class as well, and then finished third in the state of Illinois for a second placement finish in as many years of high school; this summer, Holler was a Cadet freestyle national champion. Finally is Nick Babcock (Colorado), who finished fourth in a lower weight class, and finished third in his state tournament after placing second the prior two years. Others to watch include a pair of state champions in Robert Walker (Iowa) and Justice Bridgeford (Nebraska). 160: Two of the nation's top 100 seniors anchor this weight class in Justin Koethe (Iowa) and Dylan Reel (Illinois). Each wrestler finished third in their state this past year, third in Junior Greco-Roman, and eight in Junior freestyle. Koethe seeks a second consecutive Preseason Nationals title after competing in Fargo at 152 pounds, and was additionally a FILA Junior Greco-Roman champion at 154 pounds; while Reel competed at 160 pounds in Fargo, and additionally had two state titles along with a 2010 Junior Greco-Roman national title to his credit. Two other Junior Greco-Roman All-Americans are featured in this weight class as well in state runner-up Matthew Gray (Wisconsin), who also earned Junior freestyle All-American honors in 2010, and state champion Trace Engelkes (Illinois). Others to watch include state champion Tyler White (Missouri) and state third place finisher Zeb Wahle (Iowa). 170: Junior National double All-American Alex Meyer (Iowa), also a two-time state placer and top 100 wrestler in the Class of 2012, is the strong favorite in this weight class. However, there is going to be some formidable competition standing in his way, led by state champions Jacob Morrissey (Wisconisn), Marcos Peralta (Colorado), and Barrett Stanghill (Montana); state placers and Cadet All-Americans in Adam Drain (Iowa) and Jake Stilling (Wisconsin); along with state runner-up Nick Fuller (Iowa) and state third place finisher Austin Trujillo (Colorado). 182: Taylor McGiffen (Illinois) is the last of four wrestlers seeking repeat titles at the 2011 Preseason Nationals; and he also placed third at state this past year. Others to watch include state placer and Cadet freestyle All-American Matt McClimmens (Missouri), Cadet double fourth place finisher Aaron Rothwell (Wisconsin), and state runner-up Bradon Larson (North Dakota). 195: Two standout wrestlers in this weight are state champion Derek Geddings (Nebraska) and Jared Bartel (Iowa). 220: State champion, and FILA Cadet All-American, Alex Bambic (Arizona) is the lead figure in this weight class. Another wrestler to watch is Thomas Howell (Illinois), who was champion at the 2010 Dvorak Memorial Invitational at heavyweight despite being incredibly un

Related Links: Watch JJ Classic Videos View JJ Classic Photos View JJ Classic Placewinners View JJ Classic Brackets ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Fredy Stroker entered Saturday's InterMat JJ Classic on ranked among the nation's top 20 freshmen before ever donning a high school wrestling singlet. Fredy Stroker (Photo/The Guillotine)The 15-year-old Stroker, who attends Bettendorf High School in Iowa, showed why he is so highly regarded by defeating three state placewinners, including a Cadet National finalist and a two-time state champion, en route to capturing the JJ Classic title at 113 pounds. Stroker used lightning-quick attacks, strong scrambling, and a poise that far exceeds his age to roll through his competition. He pinned state third-place finisher Joey Majerus (Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Minn.) in the quarterfinals. Then he came from behind to defeat top-seeded Tristan Manderfeld (Foley, Minn.), 7-4, in the semifinals. Stroker capped off his tournament by defeating two-time state champion Jordan Shearer (West Fargo, N.D.), 3-1, in the championship match. Three Gopher recruits win titles, Brancale named OW Three seniors who have committed to the University of Minnesota, Sam Brancale (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Brandon Kingsley (Apple Valley, Minn.), and Michael Kroells (Scott West, Minn.), claimed titles at the JJ Classic. Sam Brancale (Photo/The Guillotine)Brancale, who is ranked as the nation's No. 56 overall recruit, cruised to the championship at 132 pounds, a weight class that included three state champions and several state placewinners. He recorded three pins en route to reaching the semifinals. Brancale then won 9-2 over two-time state placewinner Taner Trembley (LCWM, Minn.) in the semifinals, before winning by the identical score of 9-2 in the finals over state champion Mitchel Lexvold (Kenyon Wanamingo, Minn.). Brancale was voted Outstanding Wrestler of this year's JJ Classic. Kingsley, a three-time state champion and No. 6 overall recruit, registered two pins and two decisions on his way to capturing the title at 152 pounds. He was pushed in the semifinals by eighth-grade phenom Mason Manville (South County, Va.), who is ranked as the No. 3 junior high wrestler in the country, but prevailed for the 4-2 victory. Kingsley's victory in the finals came over Adam Cooling (Madelia/Truman/Martin Luther, Minn.), 5-0. Kroells, an undefeated state champion last season, showed why he is among the nation's top big men by pinning Sam Stoll (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), a Cadet National double champion and the nation's No. 12 sophomore, to take the title at heavyweight. Three Apple Valley wrestlers finish on top Three Apple Valley wrestlers won titles at the JJ Classic. No other program produced more than one champion. Apple Valley's titlists included Kingsley (152), Seth Gross (126), and Mark Hall (145). Seth Gross (Photo/The Guillotine)Gross, a Cadet National freestyle champion this past summer, was dominant throughout the tournament. He won his opening match by pin, and then outscored his remaining three opponents 32-5. He defeated Northern Plains Cadet freestyle champion Ben Brancale (Eden Prairie, Minn.), 8-2, in the championship match. Hall, who is ranked as the nation's No. 1 junior high wrestler, defeated Weston Droegemueller (Wayzata, Minn.), 7-0, to take the title at 145 pounds. Nation's No. 20 freshman wins at 182 Lance Benick (Totino Grace, Minn.), the nation's No. 20 freshman, won his first JJ Classic title at 182 pounds, beating Corbin Farrell (Apple Valley, Minn.), 5-2, in the championship match. Benick outscored his opponents 31-11 throughout the tournament. He is coming off a summer in which he went undefeated at the Schoolboy National Duals and 15-1 at the AAU Junior Olympics. Rodriguez knocks off red-hot Sykora to win title at 106 Dante' Rodriguez (Photo/The Guillotine)Dante' Rodriguez (Grand Island, Nebr.), a Junior National Greco-Roman runner-up, put together an impressive string of victories to claim the title at 106 pounds. Rodriguez, who was fifth at the 2010 JJ Classic, was dominant in his first three matches, picking up two pins and a major decision. Then in the semifinals he edged state runner-up Tanner Johnshoy (Prior Lake, Minn.), 3-2. (Johnshoy won the award for most pins in the least amount of time.) Rodriguez then capped off his tournament by beating red-hot Cameron Sykora (Border West, Minn.), a 2011 Grappler Fall Classic champion, 4-2. Prior to the finals Sykora, a state champion, had outscored his opponents 37-2 and picked up a pin in under a minute. Koethe defeats Sullivan in barnburner at 160 In perhaps the most action-filled finals match, Justin Koethe (Iowa City West, Iowa) defeated Ben Sullivan (Apple Valley, Minn.), 10-7, in a barnburner at 160 pounds. Sullivan, an NHSCA Junior National finalist, scored the first two takedowns of the match off leg attacks, and took a 4-2 lead into the second period. Koethe, a five-time Fargo All-American, battled back, scoring two takedowns of his own in the second period to tie the score at 7-7 heading into the third period. Koethe added an escape and a late takedown to win 10-7. Kuefner becomes first two-time JJ Classic champion Coyte Kuefner (Owatonna, Minn.) pinned Cody Linssen (Park, Minn.), a Minnesota Ninth Grade League state champion, to claim the title at 220 pounds and become the first two-time JJ Classic champion. Kuefner, a two-time Junior National folkstyle All-American, won his title last year at 215 pounds. Eleven No. 1 seeds win titles Of the 14 champions crowned on Saturday, 11 were No. 1 seeds. In addition to top seeds Gross, Brancale, Hall, Kingsley, Koethe, Kuefner, and Kroells winning titles, Josh Alber (Dakota, Ill.), Marcus Peterson (Clarion-Goldfield, Iowa), Cody Anderson (White Bear Lake, Minn.), and Alex Gray (Maple Grove, Minn.) lived up to their No. 1 seeds. Josh Alber (Photo/The Guillotine)Alber, an undefeated state champion and Cadet National freestyle All-American, surrendered only four points in five matches to win the title at 120 pounds. His victory in the finals came over Andres Gonzales (Mason City, Iowa), 3-1. Peterson defeated Kyle McKenzie (La Crosse Logan, Wis.), 9-1, to win the championship at 138 pounds. Anderson, a JJ Classic runner-up in 2010, won 7-3 over Alex Jackson in the finals at 170 pounds. Gray pinned Schoen Kichler (Waconia, Minn.) to claim the title at 195 pounds. Tough break for bracket-buster Riggs Freshman Austin Riggs (Robinson, Va.) entered the JJ Classic unseeded at 120 pounds and notched the first major upset of the tournament when he knocked off second-seeded Zack Kuhns (Maple River, Minn.), 4-0, in the opening round. Riggs went on to pin his next two opponents in the first period to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinals, Riggs suffered an injury and was forced to default out of the tournament. Seventh-grader Shearer places fifth at 106 Jesse Shearer (West Fargo, N.D.) was the lone seventh-grader to place at the JJ Classic. Shearer dropped his opening match, but went on to win five of his next six matches to place fifth at 106 pounds.

106: 1st: No. 2 Dante' Rodriguez (Grand Island, Neb.) dec. No. 1 Cameron Sykora (Border West, Minn.), 4-2 3rd: No. 3 Tanner Johnshoy (Prior Lake, Minn.) dec. Kaz Onoo (Mason City, Iowa), 7-4 5th: Jesse Shearer (West Fargo, N.D.) maj. dec. No. 5 David Flynn (Scott West, Minn.), 11-3 113: 1st: No. 4 Fredy Stroker (Bettendorf, Iowa) dec. No. 3 Jordan Shearer (West Fargo, N.D.), 3-1 3rd: No. 1 Tristan Manderfeld (Foley, Minn.) dec. No. 2 Jarred Oftedahl (BSM, Minn.), 4-0 5th: No. 6 Brock Morgan (Apple Valley, Minn.) dec. No. 5 Joey Majerus (Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Minn.), 9-5 120: 1st: No. 1 Josh Alber (Dakota, Ill.) dec. No. 3 Andres Gonzalez (Mason City, Iowa), 3-1 3rd: No. 5 Robert Lee (Kaukauna, Wis.) dec. No. 4 Aaron Anderson (Clarion Goldfield, Iowa), 3-0 5th: No. 7 JJ Wolfe (Dakota, Ill.) inj. def. Austin Riggs (Robinson, Va.) 126: 1st: No. 1 Seth Gross (Apple Valley, Minn.) dec. No. 3 Ben Brancale (Eden Prairie, Minn.), 8-2 3rd: Garet Anderson-Lind (Oshkosh West, Wis.) inj. def. No. 6 Brandon Peters (Faribault, Minn.) 5th: No. 5 Trey Blaha (Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa) dec. No. 7 Frank Wilczek (Little Falls, Minn.), 8-6 132: 1st: No. 1 Sam Brancale (Eden Prairie, Minn.) dec. No. 2 Mitchel Lexvold (Kenyon-Wanamingo, Minn.), 9-2 3rd: No. 5 Taner Trembley (LCWM, Minn.) dec. No. 4 Marcus Hamer (Kimball, Minn.), 5-0 5th: No. 6 Mark Voss (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) dec. No. 3 Brett Stolarzyk (Stewartville, Minn.), 4-2 138: 1st: No. 1 Marcus Peterson (Clarion Goldfield, Iowa) maj. dec. No.3 Kyle McKenzie (La Crosse Logan, Wis.), 9-1 3rd: No. 4 Tyler Pasvogel (Sibley East, Minn.) dec. No. 8 Wayne Voss (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.), 3-1 5th: No. 2 Isaac Lundgren (Spirit Lake, Iowa) pinned Logan Peterson (ACGC, Minn.), 2:50 145: 1st: No. 1 Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) dec. No. 2 Weston Droegemueller (Wayzata, Minn.), 7-0 3rd: No. 3 Josh Halicke (Sartell, Minn.) maj. dec. No. 4 Mitchell Hartwig (GSLLP, Minn.), 11-2 5th: No. 5 Kendall Carnahan (Duncan, Okla.) dec. No. 6 Kyle Kragnes (West Fargo, N.D.), 6-5 152: 1st: No. 1 Brandon Kingsley (Apple Valley, Minn.) dec. No. 3 Adam Cooling (Madelia Truman Martin Luther, Minn.), 5-0 3rd: No. 4 Mason Manville (South County, Va.) pinned No. 2 Grant Nehring (Saint Cloud Appollo, Minn.), 1:02 5th: No. 6 Devin Wicks (WHAN, Minn.) maj. dec. No. 5 Jake Deutschlander (BSM, Minn.), 11-2 160: 1st: No. 1 Justin Koethe (Iowa City West, Iowa) dec. No. 2 Ben Sullivan (Apple Valley, Minn.), 10-7 3rd: No. 3 Derek Weinmann (Irondale, Minn.) dec. No. 5 Darrin Allen (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), 2-1 5th: No. 4 Ben Cousins (Bloomington Kennedy, Minn.) dec. No. 7 Christian Carnahan (Duncan, Okla.), 5-1 170: 1st: No. 1 Cody Anderson (White Bear Lake, Minn.) dec. No. 3 Alex Jackson (Kenyon-Wanamingo, Minn.), 7-3 3rd: No. 2 Elijah Preisser (Bettendorf, Iowa) dec. No. 6 Dillon Downes (Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Minn.), 7-0 5th: No. 4 Sal Ayala (Libertyville, Ill.) inj. def. No. 5 Nick Hoff (LARP, Minn.) 182: 1st: No. 2 Lance Benick (Totino Grace, Minn.) dec. No. 1 Corbin Farrell (Apple Valley, Minn.), 5-2 3rd: No. 3 Miles Hammerlund (Delano, Minn.) dec. No. 5 Austin Gould (Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa), 8-2 5th: No. 4 Max Bullock (Waconia, Minn.) dec. No. 6 Greg Johnson (LARP, Minn.), 4-3 195: No. 1 Alex Gray (Maple Grove, Minn.) pinned No. 2 Schoen Kichler (Waconia, Minn.), 1:12/2:46 220: 1st: No. 1 Coyte Kuefner (Owatonna, Minn.) pinned No. 2 Cody Linssen (Park, Minn.), 4:22 3rd: No. 3 Jordan Stevens (Central, Minn.) dec. No. 6 Mitch Diller (White Bear Lake, Minn.) 4-1 5th: No. 4 Matthew Wilson (Saint Charles, Minn.) won by forfeit over Josh Deike (Wahpeton, N.D.) 285: 1st: No. 1 Michael Kroells (Scott West, Minn.) pinned No. 2 Sam Stoll of (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), 2:09, 2:57

The second-annual InterMat JJ Classic takes place tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 22) at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. This year's field includes several nationally-ranked wrestlers, state champions, and state placewinners. Registration is open through 8 p.m. CDT tonight. For more information or to register for tomorrow's event, visit www.intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic. Below is a weight-by-weight preview of this year's JJ Classic based on wrestlers registered through Thursday night. 106: Cameron Sykora (Border West, Minn.), a state champion last season as an eighth-grader, is expected to be the top seed. Sykora is coming off a dominating performance at the Grappler Fall Classic in Michigan last weekend, where he went 5-0 with two pins and three major decisions, including a 13-0 victory in the finals. Two other wrestlers expected to challenge for the title in this weight class are Dante' Rodriguez (Grand Island, Neb.) and Tanner Johnshoy (Prior Lake, Minn.). Rodriguez, a Nebraska state runner-up last season as an undersized 103-pounder, has a wrestling resume that is littered with national age group accomplishments. He won USAW national titles in all three styles in 2010. This past summer Rodriguez was a Junior National runner-up in Greco-Roman. Johnshoy was a state runner-up last season, losing to 2011 Cadet National freestyle champion Tommy Thorn in the state finals. Johnshoy won the Mental Aerobics title in March. Ty Pelot (Two Rivers, Wis.), a Junior National Greco-Roman All-American, is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 1-2 performance at the Grappler Fall Classic last weekend. Ryan Weinmann (Irondale, Minn.), a state qualifier last season, is one of the top challengers in this weight class. David Flynn (Scott West, Minn.), a Northern Plains Greco-Roman champion, has a lot of tools and should figure into the mix. Jake Allar (Benilde-St. Margaret's, Minn.) is a talented seventh-grader who is looking to make his mark at the high school level. He won USAW national titles this year freestyle and Greco-Roman. Other wrestlers to watch in this weight class include Hank Friederichs (Chatfield, Minn.), Louie Sanders (LCWM, Minn.), Levi Marsh (LCWM, Minn.), Kaz Onoo (Mason City, Iowa), Bailey VanHandel (Kaukauna, Wis.), Collin DeGrammont (Lakeville North, Minn.), Jesse Shearer (West Fargo, N.D.), and McCoy Tekautz (LARP, Minn.). 113: This weight class is loaded with talent. Tristan Manderfeld (Foley, Minn.), a Cadet National Greco-Roman runner-up and state third-place finisher, leads this talented group. Manderfeld was the Outstanding Wrestler at the JJ Classic a year ago and will look to repeat as a JJ Classic champion. The wrestler Manderfeld beat in the JJ Classic finals a year ago, Jarred Oftedahl (Benilde-St. Margaret's, Minn.), is expected to get the No. 2 seed in this weight class. Oftedahl competes virtually everywhere and has compiled an impressive wrestling resume. He was a Junior National folkstyle champion this year and earned All-American honors in all three styles. He was a state runner-up last season as a sophomore. Jordan Shearer (West Fargo, N.D.), a two-time state champion and Cadet National Greco-Roman All-American, will be in the hunt for the title. Shearer had a win over 2011 Cadet National freestyle champion Tommy Thorn earlier this year. If the projected seeds stay the same and hold true, Shearer would see Oftedahl in the semifinals. Oftedahl pinned Shearer at the Rumble on the Red last season. Fredy Stroker (Bettendorf, Iowa) is one of the nation's top freshmen (ranked 18th overall by InterMatWrestle.com) and has the skills to challenge for the title in this weight class. Stroker spent his early years wrestling in Virginia, and then Pennsylvania, before moving to Iowa this year to start high school. He was a Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling (PJW) state champion in 2010 and a Cadet National Greco-Roman All-American this past summer. Another wrestler expected to be in the hunt in this weight class is Joey Majerus (Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Minn.), who won 42 matches last season as an eighth-grader and finished third in the state tournament. A couple Apple Valley wrestlers, Brock Morgan and Maolu Woiwor, should figure into the mix. Morgan was a Ninth Grade League state champion last season as a seventh-grader and was undefeated at the Schoolboy Duals in freestyle. Woiwor was a Ninth Grade League state runner-up last season as an eighth-grader and placed sixth at last year's JJ Classic. State qualifiers James Goman (Trinity, Minn.) and Ulises Diaz (Bloomington Kennedy) add depth to the weight class. 120: Josh Alber, an undefeated state champion in Illinois last season as a freshman, will likely earn the top seed in this weight class. Alber was a Cadet National All-American this year in folkstyle and freestyle. He was a fourth-place finisher at the JJ Classic at 103 pounds a year ago. Trey Blaha (Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa) is a tough sophomore who beat Alber for third place at last year's JJ Classic. Blaha had a strong 2010-11 season and appeared to be on his way to earning a state medal before an injury ended his freshman season. Zack Kuhns (Maple River, Minn.) was a state placewinner in 2010 and has gone 69-14 over the past two seasons. Another state placewinner to keep an eye on in this weight class is Andres Gonzalez (Mason City, Iowa). He won 39 matches last season en route to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament. Aaron Anderson (Clarion-Goldfield, Iowa), a multiple-time state entrant who has been ranked in the top three in the state, should make some noise in this weight class. A talented freshman to keep your eye on in this weight class is Robert Lee (Kaukauna, Wis.). Lee has been very successful in national age group events. He was USAW Schoolboy Nationals runner-up this year in folkstyle. Lee has won national events like Liberty Nationals and Border Wars Nationals, plus has five state titles on his wrestling resume. A couple tough sophomores who should be in the mix to place are Tone Fuenffinger (Hibbing, Minn.) and Billy Underhill (Burnsville, Minn.). Fuenffinger won 36 matches last season as a freshman. Underhill went 24-6 last season. A potential bracket buster in this weight class is freshman JJ Wolfe (Dakota, Iowa), a Northern Plains runner-up in freestyle at the Schoolboy level. 126: Cadet National freestyle champion Seth Gross (Apple Valley, Minn.) is among the nation's Top 50 sophomores (ranked 44th overall by InterMatWrestle.com), and is the wrestler to beat in this weight class. Gross was fifth at this year's Cadet National folkstyle competition before his breakout performance in Fargo. He won 40 matches last season as a freshman en route to finishing third in the state tournament. His only loss at the state tournament came in overtime to fellow Cadet National freestyle champion Tommy Thorn. Dustin Weinmann (Irondale, Minn.) was a state placewinner last season at 112 pounds and will be among the favorites to reach the finals. Another wrestler expected to be in the title hunt in this weight class is Ben Brancale (Eden Prairie, Minn.), who went 36-8 last season as an eighth-grader. He was a Northern Plains champion in freestyle this past spring and has beaten Gross. Andy Underhill (Burnsville, Minn.), a multiple-time state qualifier and 2010 JJ Classic runner-up, should be in contention for a high placement. Kollin Kragnes (West Fargo, N.D.) was a state placewinner last season at 112 pounds. Brandon Peters (Faribault, Minn.), Frank Wilczek (Little Falls, Minn.), and Zach Becicka (Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa) have all been 30-match winners, and should not be overlooked. 132: This is not only the most top-heavy weight class, but also the deepest weight class at this year's JJ Classic. The weight class includes three state champions, several state placewinners, and an abundance of 30-match winners. The favorite is Sam Brancale (Eden Prairie, Minn.), who is ranked as the No. 56 overall senior in the country. Brancale, who has committed to the University of Minnesota, is a state champion, three-time state placewinner, and a FILA Cadet double All-American the past two years. The other two state champions in this weight class are Mitchel Lexvold (Kenyon Wanamingo, Minn.) and Brett Stolarzyk (Stewartville, Minn.). Lexvold has reached the state finals in each of the past two seasons. He posted a record of 42-4 last season en route to winning his state championship at 119 pounds. Stolarzyk, a JJ Classic runner-up last year, claimed his state championship at 112 pounds. He also earned All-American honors at Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman. Marcus Hamer (Kimball, Minn.), Taner Trembley (LCWM, Minn.), Mark Voss (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.), and Cody Hickel (Wahpeton, N.D.) are state placewinners. There are several other wrestlers in this weight class who are capable or wrestling with the state's best, which will make for thrilling matches throughout the day. 138: Of all the weight classes at this year's JJ Classic, this is perhaps the most balanced and wide open weight class. There are five to seven wrestlers in this weight class who are capable of winning the title with a strong performance on Saturday. Marcus Peterson (Clarion-Goldfield, Iowa) was ranked No. 1 in Nebraska for most of last season. He has since moved to Iowa. Isaac Lundgren (Spirit Lake, Iowa), Kyle McKenzie (La Crosse Logan, Wis.), Tyler Pasvogel (Sibley East, Minn.), and Coltan Laganiere (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) have all earned state medals in the past, and have to be considered among the top contenders in this weight class. Logan Peterson (ACGC, Minn.), Ben Rock (Prior Lake, Minn.), Henry Wolfbauer (Hopkins, Minn.), and Dylan Herman (United South Central, Minn.) are multiple-time state qualifiers, and all three should figure into the mix. Wayne Voss (St. Michael-Albertville) won 35 matches last season and cannot be counted out. 145: Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) is head and shoulders above the other competitors in this weight class. Hall, who is ranked as the nation's No. 1 junior high wrestler by InterMatWrestle.com, claimed a state title last season as seventh-grader. He has proven that he can compete not only with the best high school wrestlers in Minnesota, but also across the country. Last weekend Hall won the Grappler Fall Classic, beating nationally-ranked senior Zack Dailey (Massillon Perry, Ohio) in the finals. Weston Drogemueller (Wayzata, Minn.) has won 30-plus matches in each of the last three seasons, and qualified for the state tournament four straight seasons. Josh Halicke (Glencoe-Lester Prairie, Minn.) went 32-3 last season. Mitchell Hartwig (GSLLP, Minn.), Christian Carnahan (Duncan, Okla.), and Kyle Kragnes (West Fargo, N.D.) have all been state qualifiers. 152: Brandon Kingsley (Apple Valley, Minn.) is one of the nation's top seniors (ranked sixth overall by InterMatWrestle.com) and the overwhelming favorite to win this weight class. Kingsley will be gunning for his fourth state championship this season. He has compiled a gaudy career record of 169-6 with 126 pins. Grant Nehring (Saint Cloud Apollo, Minn.), Brad Maas (Medford, Minn.), and Derek Weinmann (Irondale, Minn.) have all been state placewinners. Jake Deutschlander was a Cadet National Greco-Roman All-American this year. Mason Manville (South County, Va.) is among the truly elite age group wrestlers in the country. The 14-old Manville, who is ranked as the No. 3 junior high wrestler in the country, has a wrestling resume filled with titles at national events. He was a Super 32 Challenge champion in the middle school division last year. Manville is a USAW National Triple Crown winner this year, winning national titles in all three styles. He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2011 Reno World Championships. Manville has been absolutely crushing wrestlers in his age group, but now will get a chance to test himself against top high school wrestlers on Saturday. 160: Justin Koethe (Iowa City West, Iowa), the nation's No. 31 overall senior, is the most accomplished wrestler in this weight class. Koethe, who committed to the University of Wisconsin, is a five-time Cadet and Junior National All-American in Fargo. He was a Cadet National freestyle champion in 2009. Koethe was also a FILA Junior National double All-American this year, winning a title in Greco-Roman. Ben Sullivan (Apple Valley, Minn.) poses the biggest threat to Koethe. Sullivan was an NHSCA Junior National finalist this year and has been a state champion. Koethe and Sullivan met at Northern Plains this year in freestyle, with Koethe winning that battle 7-0, 6-1. Ben Cousins (Bloomington Kennedy, Minn.), Darrin Allen (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), Tim Moore (Rochester John Marshall, Minn.), and Michael Lehmann (Wahpeton, N.D.) all won at least 20 matches last season. Cory Flaata (Park, Minn.) posted a 10-0 record at the Schoolboy National Duals in Greco-Roman. 170: Daniel Woiwor (Apple Valley, Minn.) is expected to be the favorite in this weight class. He is a state champion and four-time state placewinner. Woiwor is ranked as the No. 37 junior in the country by InterMatWrestle.com. Cory Anderson (White Bear Lake, Minn.) is a two-time section champion and a JJ Classic runner-up last year. Elijah Preisser (Bettendorf, Iowa) placed fourth at Cadet Nationals in folkstyle this year. He was a state champion this year in folkstyle and a state runner-up in folkstyle. Alex Jackson (Kenyon-Wanamingo, Minn.) was a 20-match winner last year. Sal Ayala (Libertyville, Ill.) placed third in the Illinois state freestyle tournament this year at 152 pounds. 182: Richard Carlson (Mounds View, Minn.) was a state placewinner last season and will be among the favorites to win the title in this weight class. Other top contenders in this weight class include Corbin Farrell (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Lance Benick (Totino Grace, Minn.). Farrell was shuffled all over Apple Valley's lineup last season, but settled as the starter at 215 for the nation's No. 1 high school wrestling program. Farrell was a JJ Classic runner-up a year ago. Another wrestler expected to contend for the title in this weight class is Lance Benick (Totino Grace, Minn.), who is ranked as the nation's No. 20 overall freshman by InterMatWrestle.com. Benick went undefeated at the Schoolboy National Duals, and followed that up by going 15-1 at the AAU Junior Olympics. Miles Hammerlund (Delano, Minn.), Max Bullock (Waconia, Minn.), and Greg Johnson (LARP, Minn.) all won at least 20 matches last season. 195: Schoen Kichler (Waconia, Minn.) and Alex Gray (Maple Grove, Min.) both won over 20 matches last season. Gray placed sixth at last year's JJ Classic. 220: Coyte Kuefner (Owatonna, Minn.) will be looking to repeat as a JJ Classic champion. He is a two-time Junior National folkstyle All-American and state placewinner. Cody Linssen (Park, Minn.) was a Minnesota Ninth Grade League state champion last year. Jordan Stevens (Central, Minn.) was a Northern Plains champion in freestyle this year. Matthew Wilson (Saint Charles, Minn.) won over 20 matches last season. 285: This weight class features one of the most anticipated matches of this year's JJ Classic ... Michael Kroells (Scott West, Minn.) vs. Sam Stoll (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.). Both are nationally-ranked wrestlers. Kroells is the nation's No. 63 senior, while Stoll is the nation's No. 12 sophomore. Kroells had a dominant junior season, going undefeated en route to winning a state championship at 215 pounds. He recently committed to the University of Minnesota. Stoll, a state runner-up as a freshman, is coming off a sensational spring and summer. He was undefeated at the Cadet Nationals, and then followed up that performance by winning Cadet National double titles in Fargo. He capped off his summer by going undefeated at the AAU Junior Olympics. Kroells pinned Stoll last season at the state tournament in the team competition.

Leading up to the InterMat JJ Classic, a premier preseason high school wrestling tournament that takes place this Saturday in Minnesota and serves as fundraising event for a cancer support center, InterMat will be releasing stories about people in wrestling who have been affected by cancer. Registration for the InterMat JJ Classic is open through Friday at 8 p.m. CDT. As a sport uniform, the singlet is unique. The single austere piece of polyester and cotton weave normally doesn't allow for the frivolities of football and basketball outfits where players seemed predisposed to tinkering with their individual appearance -- projecting a public persona through arm bands, knee wraps, shooting sleeves and headbands. Wrestlers are limited to the basics: team shoes, athletic socks, and assigned singlets. Like the sport that popularized its use, the singlet is simple; so when Dakota Trom stepped onto the mat in elementary school with a pink ribbon stitched across the lumbar section of his back, fans and wrestlers took notice. Dakota Trom locks up a cradle in the finals of the Minnesota Christmas Tournament (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Young Dakota spent his time away from wrestling watching as his mother battled breast cancer. She had been diagnosed when he was 3 and by the time he started middle school wrestling she had already battled her first diagnosis for five years, experienced a remission, then been diagnosed for a second time. It was that second battle with cancer, three years in total, which finally took her life. Dakota was 12. Lottie Trom had been sick for much of Dakota's life, but still managed to be a devoted mother, spending her healthy moments in the car with her kids, whisking them to tournaments and college dual meets 20 miles away at the University of Minnesota. Lottie was, at her core, always a wrestling mom. "Lottie was a super mom in a lot of ways," says Apple Valley High School (Minn.) head wrestling coach Jim Jackson. "She was super involved, and always driving the kids anywhere they needed to be -- heck, even her daughters got involved in the program. Both of them were managers of the team." Lottie's dedication to wrestling wasn't passed through generations of tough Minnesota wrestlers; she had found the sport for her son through geographical coincidence. It was popular to be a wrestler in Apple Valley and though neither she nor her husband Brice had any family members with cauliflower ear, Dakota joined the local little league team with their full backing Dakota Trom will look to join Apple Valley great Chad Erikson (seated next to Trom) as a four-time state champion (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)"He's always been a high-energy kid," says his father. "Even when he was little it was always jumping around and wanting to wrestle. I guess that isn't all that strange, but even if he wasn't winning as a kid, he always had a smile on his face." Lottie's dedication to her son's pursuits and the bond that mothers hold over their young children inspired Dakota to make that first statement. He wanted to show his wrestling world that the battles he fought at home would be the inspiration for the battles he took on the mat. The pink ribbon that once adorned the back of a pee-wee wrestler has now been replicated, enlarged, and celebrated by the entirety of the Apple Valley wrestling team. "That first ribbon in high school was pretty big," says Brice Trom. The family had been concerned that the athletic league or another coach might complain, but the call for change never came. "We were happy that they let him keep the ribbon on the back." Dakota Trom captured his third state title this past March (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)The next year Dakota moved the ribbon to the front of his singlet where it was joined -- as had become the custom -- by pink shin-high socks. Dakota became a wildly successful high school wrestler, winning three titles for Apple Valley. He reached the Cadet National finals in freestyle. Brice Trom watched as his son won the majority of his matches, though at times, when he failed to win, he watched as he carried the weight of the losses, though never getting as low or as high as other emotionally volatile wrestlers. "With Dakota it ebbs and flows -- most of the time he uses [Lottie] for extra support and drive. Maybe sometimes if things don't go right -- he doesn't get too worked up. He relates things back to her and he doesn't get super high and super low, takes the tops and bottoms off of things," Brice Trom says. "He was 12 years old and made to swallow a pretty big bullet." The pink ribbon caught on at Apple Valley, where other wrestlers had experienced loss due to breast cancer. Dakota's first ribbon and socks were a catalyst for several more wrestlers to wear them during matches. Dakota said that it has been nice "to get support from my teammates and the wrestling community." Dakota lost his mother young, but recognizes that in a way it taught him some important lessons about the severity of a loss. "Losing my mom matured me and taught me how to deal with loss and let go and accept that nothing could have been done. Dakota Trom reached the Cadet National finals at 130 pounds in the summer of 2010 (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)"I know that I'm not going to win every time, but I know that I should try my best every time. That's the important thing that my mom would want to see." Dakota isn't just a leader on the Apple Valley team (he's a captain), he also leads a grief group for students who have recently experienced loss, as a part-time counselor. He says that learning about himself has made the transition to the stress of the big stage easier. "I get on the mat and the ribbon is there on my chest," says Dakota. "She's always there with me. It's not just being sad anymore. She's by my side and watching." The three-time state champion verbally committed to the University of Minnesota. Dakota had been a hot commodity in early recruiting -- a talented, successful lightweight from a well-coached national powerhouse program -- but Brice says his son always wanted to wrestle for the Gophers. "He had his mind made up when he was young," says Brice Trom. "It was a goal of his to wrestle there. He could have left, but he's a homer and wanted to stick around the family." Dakota Trom, who is ranked as the nation's No. 48 recruit, is one of four InterMat Top 100 recruits from Minnesota to commit to the Gophers (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)That family includes his mother, who Dakota says he wants to honor in college by wrestling in an arena where she took him to watch those college dual meets. Next fall his car will be packed with sheets, clothes, and a mini-fridge, but he's also bringing something else ... a pink ribbon for his Gopher singlet. "I'm going to push to wear a ribbon on my singlet, but I know it's different in college. There's just different rules." Dakota says he'll continue to wear his socks and participate in charity events like Relay for Life and the Susan G. Komen's 3-Day Walk for the Cure. And when he takes to the mat, whether with a ribbon or just socks he says he'll be just fine. "I know she's watching me, and when I try my best she'll be proud."

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