InterMat Staff

St. Cloud, Minn. -- St. Cloud State head wrestling coach Steve Costanzo and his staff of assistant coaches has announced the newest class of Husky wrestlers. Seven talented young men signed Letters of Intent and are set to join the 2011 NCAA DII Runner-Up team for the 2011-12 season. In addition, seven additional student-athletes have been accepted into St. Cloud State University and they all intend to wrestle for the Huskies beginning in 2011-12. This class features student-wrestlers from seven states that combined to win 41 state medals and 15 individual state championships during their prep careers. “We are very pleased to announce this recruiting class that we have coming in,” Costanzo said. “We believe this class has all of the qualities that we are looking for to keep SCSU wrestling moving in the right direction. This class has academics, talent and the right attitude to keep the Huskies competitive with the top teams in the country. I applaud my coaching staff for seeking individuals that are committed and dedicated to the classroom and to the sport. That is exactly what this group exudes. ” Isaiah Chip Erickson (Barronett, Wisc.), Trey Griffin (Lena, IL), Jay Hildreth (Council Bluffs, IA), Brady Johnshoy (Prior Lake, Minn.), Matt Nelson (Big Lake, Minn.), Andy Pokorny (Bennington, Neb.) and Caleb White (Neola, IA) have all signed letters of intent to wrestle for the Huskies. They join Eric Forde (Fargo, ND) and Clint Poster (Pierz, Minn.) as part of the incoming recruiting class for 2011-12. Forde and Poster signed letters of intent in November 2010. In addition, Mason Bohm (Shawano, Wisc.), Eric Hood (Lake Crystal, Minn.), Jared Kust (Clintonville, Wisc.), Shaun Little (St. Michael, Minn.), Derek Swanson (Cambridge, Minn.), Cody Tibbetts (Lake Crystal, Minn.) and Elliot Zander (Fargo, ND) have all been accepted into the University and they intend to wrestle for Coach Costanzo beginning this fall. CHIP ERICKSON Erickson is one of three Wisconsin natives in this year's recruiting class. The two-time Wisconsin state champion wrapped up a stellar high school career with a second straight WIAA title in 2011. Erickson went 44-0 as a senior to win the crown for Cumberland High School. A year prior, he posted a 43-4 mark to claim his first state title and leaves CHS with 119 wins in the past three years. He is projected to compete at 149/157 – pounds for the Huskies. TREY GRIFFIN Griffin comes to St. Cloud State from Lena-Winslow (Ill.) High School where he was a two-time state champion and three-time IHSA state place winner. Griffin leaves LWHS with a 145-15 career record. He was third in 2009 and won the 171-pound state title in 2010 with 39-0 mark. This year, Griffin won the 189-pound state title as a senior and concluded his season with a 38-1 record. He is projected to compete at 184-pounds for SCSU. JAY HILDRETH A 2011 graduate of Lewis Central High School (Iowa), Hildreth was a three-time IHSAA state place winner. He finished seventh in 2009, third in 2010 and second in 2011 at the Iowa High School State Championships. Hildreth amassed a career high school mark of 184-21 in four years. In addition, he claimed eighth place honors in the 2010 Junior National Greco Roman tournament to earn him All-American. He is projected to compete at 141/149 – pounds. BRADY JOHNSHOY Johnshoy is a 2011 graduate of Prior Lake High School. He was a four-time state qualifier and a three-time MSHSL state place winner. He placed fifth in 2009, third in 2010 and second in 2011. He posted a career high school record of 152-39. On the Junior Freestyle and Greco Roman scene, he was a double champion at the Minnesota state tournament this past spring. Johnshoy is expected to compete at 133/141 – pounds this next fall. MATT NELSON Nelson comes to St. Cloud State with a lofty senior national ranking. The Minnesota product is the No. 14 ranked wrestler at 130-pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine. Nelson was a five-time Minnesota state place winner, four-time state finalist and a 2011 state champion at 130-pounds. Nelson compiled an impressive 208-31 career record. In addition to his Folkstyle accolades, he was a 2010 Junior National All-American in Freestyle by placing eighth. The first team Guillotine Academic All-State wrestler is projected to compete at 133/141 - pounds for the Huskies. ANDY POKORNY Pokorny was a three-time state champion, winning the 2007 Class C crown at 125 pounds after winning at 112 pounds in 2006 and 103 in 2005. A 2006 Junior Freestyle All-American, Pokorny was the fourth-ranked 112-pound wrestler in the nation by Wrestling USA, and was the No. 52 high school wrestler overall by Intermat. Off the mat, he graduated with a 4.0 GPA and scored 33 on his ACT. He was also a member of the National Honor Society. Pokorny spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where he was a member of the Husker wrestling team. During the 2010-11 campaign, Pokorny attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, but did not compete. He is expected to compete at 133 – pounds for this fall for the Huskies. CALEB WHITE White hails from Neola, Iowa where he attended Tri-Center High School. As a senior, he captured the 2011 IHSAA State Championship with an undefeated season, 37-0. As a four year letterwinner and starter, white also placed fourth in 2010 and fourth in 2009 at the state championships. He combined for an overall record of 124-13 his last three years. An accomplished freestyle and Greco roman wrestler, White was a double All-American at the 2009 Cadet Nationals placing eighth in freestyle and second in Greco roman. He will be competing at the 285 – pound weight class for SCSU. MASON BOHM Bohm is one of two Shawano High School graduates to join the 2011-12 Husky wrestling squad. Bohm was a three-time WIAA state qualifier and a two-time state runner-up. He amassed a career record of 146-29 including a 44-3 record during his senior campaign. Active in freestyle and Greco roman wrestling, Bohn is a two-time state place winner in freestyle and a state place winner in Greco Roman. He is projected to compete at the 125-pound weight class. ERIC HOOD A four-year letterwinner and starter at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial High School, Hood qualified for the MSHSL state tournament as a senior. He was also a member of the Minnesota Cadet and Junior National teams in Greco roman. Hood had a career high school record of 101-50 and is projected to compete in the 149-pound weight class. JARED KUST Kust is a 2011 graduate of Shawano High School. As a four-year letterwinner and starter, he collected a third, fourth and fifth place medal at the WIAA state championships. He was a 2009 Cadet National All-American in freestyle by placing sixth and has combined for a career record of 170-23 at the high school level. An excellent student, Kust is expected to compete in the 141-pound weight class. SHAUN LITTLE A 2011 graduate of Saint Michael-Albertville, Little was a three-time MSHSL state qualifier. He wrapped up his senior campaign with a 39-3 record and a runner-up finish at state. He leaves STMA with a 101-32 record in his last three years. Little is projected to compete in the 197-pound weight class for the Huskies. DEREK SWANSON Swanson comes to St. Cloud State out of Cambridge-Isanti High School. He placed fifth at the 2011 MSHSL state tournament and had a record of 40-7 on the season. Swanson compiled a career mark 132-43 over his four-year career. He is projected to compete in the 165/174-pound weight class. CODY TIBBETTS Tibbetts is a 2011 graduate of Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial High School where he was a three-time MSHSL state qualifier in wrestling. He placed second in the state as a sophomore en-route to a 30-9 record at 152-pounds and then placed again as a senior finishing sixth with a record of 27-11 at 160-pounds. He amassed a four-year mark of 167-61 for his career. Tibbetts was a 2008 freestyle and Greco roman state wrestling champion and a 2009 runner-up in both styles. He is projected to wrestle in the 165-pound weight class for the Huskies. ELLIOT ZANDER Zander, another product of Fargo South High School, was a 2011 NDHSAA state qualifier in wrestling. He finished his senior year with a record of 27-12 at 171-pounds. He will be joining teammate Eric Forde who signed with the Huskies in November. Zander is projected to compete in the 174-pound weight class. The Huskies finished the 2010-11 season with a school-record 19-2 dual match record. SCSU went on to claim first place honors at the 2011 NCAA Division II Super Region #3 and the Huskies placed second at the 2011 NCAA Division II championships. This marked the first time in team history the Huskies won an NCAA regional title and the second place finish at nationals is the best in team history.

BLACKSBURG -- Fresh off a record-setting dual meet season, Virginia Tech wrestling coach Kevin Dresser has released the team's 2011-12 schedule, one that will test the Hokies once again as they continue to build upon last season's success. The Hokies will open the season on Nov. 5 against Campbell at the Salem Civic Center before hosting the Hokie Open the following day at the same venue. Tech will then head to the Duals @ Hershey once again before taking to the road to take on Ohio State on Nov. 20. Tech will open its ACC schedule on Nov. 25 at Virginia before coming home for its home opener on Dec. 1 against Appalachian State. Individuals will compete in the Penn State Open on Dec. 4 before heading to the prestigious Midlands Open Dec. 28-29 in Evanston, Ill. The Hokies will open the new year by hosting defending ACC champion Maryland on Jan. 8 and then head to Iowa State on Jan. 13 and NC State on Jan. 15. A four-match homestand follows as Tech hosts Duke (Jan. 21), North Carolina (Jan. 22), Old Dominion (Feb. 3) and Rutgers (Feb. 5). On Feb. 12, the Hokies will participate in a newly remodeled NWCA National Duals. Tech will be one of 24 already-determined teams battling for the title in the event. Teams will be seeded in one of four regionals (Rutgers, Cornell, Iowa and Oklahoma State). Six teams will go to each site and the teams will wrestle dual meets (the top two seeds at each site get a bye) until a a winner is determined. The four winners will then wrestle the next weekend in the Final Four for the championship at a to-be-determined site. The hope is for this event to become an NCAA-certified dual meet national title event down the road. For the 2012-12 season, the 24 teams will be selected in early February based on season results. Tech is scheduled to wrestle at American on Feb. 19, provided it isn't in the Final Four of the NWCA Regionals. The 2012 ACC Championships will be held on March 3 at Chapel Hill, N.C., and the NCAA Championships will be held March 15-17 at St. Louis, Mo. Last season, the Hokies won a school-record 20 matches and finished the season ranked sixth in the country as a dual meet team.

1984 Olympic champion wrestling Randy Lewis and veteran wrestling announcer Sandy Stevens will be radio show guests this week. “On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum and can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 - 6:00 PM Central time on AM 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show. Randy Lewis was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American at the University of Iowa. He won the freestyle gold medal at 136.5 pounds at the Los Angeles Olympics. Sandy Stevens is a journalist by trade. However, most people in the wrestling world know her from her over 40 years of announcing high school, collegiate and international wrestling dual meets and tournaments.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Time is running out for wrestling fans to purchase tickets to “Gable's Gold: A Celebration of Dan Gable's Legacy.” The retirement celebration honoring the legendary wrestling coach will be held June 4 at the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. The reception is open to the public, but tickets are limited and must be purchased by May 27. Tickets for the reception and sit-down dinner are $50 per person, or $500 for a table of 10, and available through the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office. Tickets can be purchased at hawkeyesports.com, over the phone at (319) 335-9323 or (800) IA-HAWKS, or in person at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena West entrance. Ticket office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To order online, go to hawkeyesports.com and scroll over the tickets option and select “Buy Tickets” from the available options. On the next page you will want to select the group “Gable's Gold: A Celebration of Dan Gable's Legacy”. On the next page you will be able to enter in your ticket quantity and any special requests. The reception is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and a special program scheduled to follow. Featured speakers include former college and Olympic teammate Ben Peterson; former UI Director of Athletics Bump Elliott; Hawkeye head wrestling coach Tom Brands; Minnesota head wrestling coach J Robinson; former Hawkeye wrestlers Mike DeAnna and Terry Brands; and UI Director of Athletics Gary Barta. Gable is considered, by most, to be the best collegiate wrestling coach in history. He was Iowa's head coach for 21 years and compiled a 355-21-5 record that included 15 national and 21 Big Ten team titles.

Laramie, Wyo. -- Cowboy head coach Mark Branch announced today that five prep student-athletes have signed a National Letter of Intent to wrestle for the University of Wyoming. Branch's third recruiting class will begin its UW career during the 2011-12 academic year. Joining the Cowboy wrestling squad next fall will be Alex Baca (Pueblo, Colo.), Austin Breckenridge (Cheyenne, Wyo.), VJ Giulio (American Falls, Idaho), Tanner Harms (Greenwood Village, Colo.) and Jace Jensen (Buffalo, Wyo.). “We knew we weren't going to have a huge signing class like last year, so we were very specific in looking for kids who fit the mold we have created here at Wyoming,” Branch said. “These young men showed a passion to compete for the Cowboys and have demonstrated they can be successful at the highest level, which are two things that caught our eye. We feel very good they will fit in well with a very solid team that we have returning and help us compete in the future with great success.” UW's 2011-12 class is highlighted by student-athletes that have excelled at the prep level with a total of nine individual state titles and an overall record of 665-92, while also earning several All-America accolades during competition at the Cadet and Junior levels. The class includes two natives of Wyoming and student-athletes from a total of three states. Alex Baca -- Pueblo, Colo. -- 125 Pounds The second Colorado native in Wyoming's 2011-12 class, Alex Baca finished his prep career with a 117-13 overall record under coach Efrain Tapia at Class 4A Pueblo Central High School. Baca was a four-time state qualifier and advanced to the title match twice. As a senior, he finished runner-up in the state tournament at 112 pounds with a 44-2 mark, before earning All-America honors this summer at the National High School Coaches Association's High School Nationals with a sixth-place finish in the senior bracket. Wrestling at 119 pounds during his junior campaign, Baca compiled a 15-3 record until an injury at the state championships ended his season. He dominated the 103-pound division as a sophomore with a 29-0 record en route to a state title, as his effort's earned him a spot on the Denver Post's all-state first team. Baca went 28-7 as a freshman at 103 pounds. He also captured regional titles as a sophomore and senior. A four-time letterwinner on the mat, Baca was voted team captain three times. He was a three-time honoree on the school's honor roll and was a member of National Honor Society. Austin Breckenridge -- Cheyenne, Wyo. -- 149 Pounds Austin Breckenridge won individual state titles the last three years of his prep career under coach Bryce Leonhardt at Class 4A Cheyenne Central High School. He compiled a 160-21 overall record with 116 pins to become the first three-time state champion from Central and ended his career as the school's all-time pins leader. As a senior, he went 31-3 to earn the title at 152 pounds, after posting a 49-2 mark for the 145-pound championship during his junior campaign. He won at 140 as a sophomore with a 44-4 record and went 36-12 at 125 as a freshman. A four-time regional champion, Breckenridge earned all-conference and all-state honors each year and was named Wyoming's Dave Schultz Award winner as a senior. Breckenridge has also excelled in the U.S. wrestling system by winning four All-America honors. During the summer of 2009, he finished fourth in freestyle and fifth in Greco-Roman at the U.S. Cadet National Championships, while also earning All-America accolades with a third-place finish in the sophomore division at the National High School Coaches Association's High School Nationals. Last summer Breckenridge placed eighth in Greco-Roman at the U.S. Junior National Championships. On the football field, Breckenridge was a running back and earned all-conference and all-state honors during his senior season. He was also named all-conference as a junior while helping his team finish 10-2 and runner-up in the state. He earned four letters in wrestling, three in football and one in soccer. VJ Giulio -- American Falls, Idaho -- 184 Pounds One of the top recruits in the state of Idaho, VJ Giulio joins the Cowboys after a dominant prep career for Class 3A American Falls High School. Giulio compiled a 163-17 overall record en route to becoming the eighth wrestler in Idaho history to win four individual state titles. During his senior campaign, he posted a 42-0 mark with 37 pins to earn his second-straight state championship at 189 pounds and finish ranked seventh in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News. Giulio won the title at 160 pounds as a sophomore and at 135 as a freshman. Voted a team captain twice, he helped the Beavers capture three team state titles, while wrestling under his father Jim. The elder Giulio, a former University of Montana wrestler from 1984-88, finished second three times at the Big Sky Championships and has coached American Falls to five team state titles. On the football field, Giulio earned first-team all-conference honors as a running back this past season. The senior rushed for 1,232 yards and 15 touchdowns on 179 carries, while racking up 30 tackles and two sacks as a defensive end to claim second-team all-conference honors on the defensive side of the ball. Giulio also qualified for the state track and field meet in the triple jump as a junior. A four-time letterwinner in all three sports, Giulio has been named to the high honor roll in the classroom all four years. He was also recruited by Arizona State, Boise State and Oklahoma. Tanner Harms -- Greenwood Village, Colo. -- Heavyweight Projected to wrestle at heavyweight for the Cowboys, Tanner Harms progressed in leaps and bounds at the high school level and in the U.S. wrestling system during his prep career. Harms compiled a 120-12 overall record in three years under coach Mike Luhring at Class 5A Cherry Creek High School. Wrestling in the state's largest division, Harms went 38-4 with 17 pins as a senior at 215 pounds to finish sixth at the state tournament. He earned first-team All-Centennial League honors, while placing well at several prestigious tournaments throughout the season, including second at the Rocky Mountain Nationals. He was named the team's Most Outstanding Wrestler and earned the Most Takedowns Award with 81 during the season. As a junior, Harms finished third at the state tournament at 189 pounds courtesy of a 40-5 mark with 20 pins. He won the regional tournament and earned first-team all-conference honors, while also placing fourth at the Rocky Mountain Nationals. As a sophomore, Harms went 42-3 at 171 pounds at the junior varsity level. Harms has also wrestled well in the U.S. wrestling system at several levels and styles. This summer he placed third at 215 pounds at the Folkstyle Junior National Championships to earn All-America honors and a spot on the U.S. Junior National team. During the summer of 2010, he was the Colorado state champion at 189 pounds in the Junior Greco-Roman division and placed second in Junior Freestyle. At the Cadet level in the summer of 2009, he won the Greco-Roman division and finished runner-up in Freestyle. A two-time team captain for his high school, Harms earned academic all-state honors twice in the classroom. He has a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average and scored 31 on the ACT. Jace Jensen -- Buffalo, Wyo. -- 174 Pounds A two-sport standout, Jace Jensen excelled on the wrestling mat and the football field for Class 3A Buffalo High School. He completed his prep wrestling career with a 105-29 overall record under coach Jay Camino, including a senior season in which he went an undefeated 31-0 to capture the state title at 171 pounds. He rolled through the bracket at the state tournament with two pins, a decision and a technical fall, after winning the east region. His state title was the first for Buffalo in five years. Jensen was also named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Shane Shatto Invitational during his senior campaign. A four-time state qualifier, Jensen finished fourth as a junior at 160 pounds and second as a sophomore at the same weight after wrestling at 152 as a freshman. He notched at least 28 wins in each of his last three seasons on the mat. A fullback and linebacker on the football field, Jensen helped lead the Bison to three runner-up finishes and four appearances at the state tournament in his four years with the program. As a senior, he was named to the Casper Star Tribune's Super 25 first-team after amassing over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns on offense and intercepting five passes on defense, while also earning an invite to the Shrine Bowl. As a junior, he was named to the Super 25 second-team. Jensen was the captain of the football and wrestling teams as a senior, and earned four letters in wrestling and three in football.

NEW YORK -- The first 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a week combat sports channel is bringing the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and match-ups happenings around the globe. FIGHT NOW TV was founded by veteran broadcast executives Mike Garrow, Cal Millar and Romen Podzyhun; Garrow will serve as the channel's General Manager. Longtime sports TV veteran Doug Jacobs serves as a production and programming consultant. FIGHT NOW TV has also enlisted one of the fight game's biggest names to join its camp. Former UFC champion and MMA legend Randy Couture will serve as both a spokesperson and analyst for the channel. “Combat sports events happen 52 weeks a year. There is no off season in the fight game; so whether it's mixed martial arts, boxing, grappling or kickboxing contests you are into, we offer it all on one dedicated channel,” said Garrow. “There is something for every fight fan on FIGHT NOW TV, as we will deliver ‘knockout' entertainment to viewers each and every day.” “FIGHT NOW TV will bring the best fights from around the world right to our viewers,” said Jacobs. “We're working with the top promoters to showcase up-and-coming fighters, elite stars and ring legends.” The nation's first round-the-clock combat sports channel goes live on Tuesday, May 24 as part of Cablevision's iO Sports & Entertainment Pak on channel 464. The iO Sports & Entertainment Pak is available to Cablevision customers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa senior Luke Lofthouse and the University of Iowa wrestling program have received academic honors from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). The Hawkeyes were named among the NWCA's Division I All-Academic Top 30 teams, while Lofthouse earned a spot on the 2011 NWCA Individual All-Academic Team. The Individual All-Academic Team is determined by GPA and season record/accomplishment. Lofthouse is one of 28 All-Americans and 84 NCAA qualifiers named to the national team. Lofthouse is an interdepartmental studies major from Avon, Utah. He completed his senior season with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships and posted a 25-7 record en route to a runner-up finish at the Big Ten Championships. A 2011 Academic all-Big Ten honoree, Lofthouse was awarded the John and Dorothy Sill Award for most dedicated wrestler at this year's wrestling team banquet. This is Lofthouse's first NWCA academic award. He is the 14th Hawkeye in program history to receive the honor. For teams to be eligible for consideration, the team GPA is comprised of 12 student-athletes, including the 10 wrestlers that were the entries in the NCAA tournament conference qualifier. If teams had less than 10 entries for their respective qualifier, they may fill those spots with wrestlers that competed in at least one varsity dual during the season. Iowa ranked No. 23 on the NWCA's All-Academic Top 30 list. The Hawkeyes finished the 2010-11 season with a record 10 Academic all-Big Ten honorees, five All-Americans and two Big Ten Champions. Iowa earned its fourth straight Big Ten regular season title with a perfect 8-0 conference record and extended its unbeaten dual winning streak to 77 by posting a 15-0-1 overall dual mark. The Hawkeyes' perfect 8-0 home record marked the program's 19th undefeated season at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Five competitors with ties to the Minnesota wrestling program placed last weekend at the 2011 FILA Junior World Team Trials including freshman Joel Bauman, who took home top honors in the 84 kg Greco-Roman division to advance to the FILA Junior World Championships next month in Europe. Bauman, who was 11-4 this season as a true freshman with the Gophers, topped Wisconsin's Devin Peterson in three matches over the weekend. Peterson opened the event with a decision over the Gopher (0-1, 1-0, 1-0) before Bauman rallied with two wins (2-0, 3-1; 3-0, 0-1, 3-0) to take home the championship at 84 kg. With the win, Bauman advances to the FILA Junior World Championships, scheduled to take place in Bucharest, Romania July 26-31. Meanwhile, two other wrestlers with ties to the Gophers will serve as alternates for next month's event after placing second this weekend. Freshman Nick Dardanes and Dylan Ness both finished as runner-ups in the 60 kg and 66 kg weight classes, respectively. Rounding out the Minnesota contingency last weekend in Indiana were Chris Dardanes and Scott Schiller, who both tallied third-place finishes in their weight classes - Dardanes at 60 kg and Schiller at 96 kg.

BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser announced Monday the addition of nine athletes who will join the Hokie wrestling program in the fall of 2011. Led by the 2011 Virginia Group AAA heavyweight champion, this class features four upperweights, along with two middlewe! ights and three lightweights. Taylor Horner, who hails from Rocky Mount, Va., captured the Virginia Group AAA state title at heavyweight for Franklin County High School this past year, picking up a pin in the championship bout. He took fourth place in the state as a junior and was eighth at the 2010 Beast of the East Tournament. Two Virginia products will come in as projected 197 pounders, helping give depth to a thin part of the Hokies' roster. Jake Semones was a two-time Virginia Group AA state champion at 215 pounds for Salem High School in nearby Salem while Darren Hankins placed second at the Group AAA state meet at 215 pounds for Hickory High School in Chesapeake. He recently placed fourth in the country at the High School Nationals. Jordan O'Donnell is a two-time state placewinner who is projected as a 133-pounder. He attends James River High School in Richmond. The Central Region Outstanding Wrestler placed fifth in the state at 130 pounds this past year as a senior after finishing third at 125 pounds his junior year with a 47-10 record. Taylor Whitt is a projected 133/141-pounder from Norfolk Academy who posted a career record of 164-24 with 104 pins and was a three-time VISAA state champion. He was also a two-time national prep placewinner and was ranked the No. 1 135-pounder in Hampton Roads (public and private schools) all year by The Virginian Pilot. Christian Funder is one of three out-of-state products in this year's class. He hails from Winston-Salem, N.C., and attends Forsyth Country Day School. The projected 149/157-pounder was a state champion as a junior and took second as a senior. Sean Van Dyke was also a state champion this past year, winning a Group AA title at 125 pounds for Grundy High School. Van Dyke is projected as a 125/133-pounder in college. Dan Garwood hails from Mullica Hill, N.J., where he attends Clearview Regional High School. The projected heavyweight went 40-3 as a senior, taking fifth place at 215 pounds at the New Jersey state meet. He went 28-7 as a junior, qualifying for the state meet and also earned a pair of letters in football and lacrosse. Jordan Rosa is a projected 141/149-pounder who is from Wyomissing, Pa. He compiled a 127-31 career record, including a 30-1 his senior year before an injury cut his season short. Rosa attends Wilson High School and was a two-time Pennsylvania state sectional champion and finished fifth at 2010 Junior Nationals. These additions join those who signed in the fall: two-time Ohio state champs Matt Stephens (165/174) and Nick Brascetta (141/149) from Graham High in St. Paris, Ohio, three-time Maryland champs Bubba Scheffel (174) and Lex Ozias (141/149) from Southern Garrett in Oakland, Md., and three-time Colorado state champ Austin Gabel (184/197). The class is ranked ninth in the country by WIN Magazine. This is the fifth-straight national top-11 class pulled in by head coach Kevin Dresser and his staff.

Darrion Caldwell loves to put on a show when he's on a wrestling mat. His wide-open style, skills, and athleticism not only made him a crowd pleaser, but also an NCAA champion in 2009 and one of the most successful wrestlers ever to compete at North Carolina State. A shoulder injury that forced him to default at the 2011 NCAAs hindered his chances to become the first North Carolina State wrestler to win two NCAA championships. Darrion CaldwellOver the last four years, Caldwell has beaten six NCAA finalists, a Dan Hodge Trophy winner twice (Brent Metcalf), a U.S. World Team member (Dustin Schlatter), and a U.S. Olympian (Doug Schwab). He made the U.S. National Team in 2009 after a third-place finish at the U.S. World Team Trials. Caldwell recently had surgery, which will keep him out of next month's U.S. World Team Trials. He is now focused on getting healthy, earning a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, and bringing home an Olympic gold medal in London. InterMat catches up with the 23-year-old Caldwell and talks to him about his recent surgery and when he expects to be back on the mat, Jordan Burroughs, Bubba Jenkins, Henry Cejudo, how much longer he plans on wrestling, MMA, and much more. I understand you're coming off surgery. What was the surgery you had? Caldwell: The surgery I had was a fully-constructed Bankart surgery. I got the surgery on April 11, so I'm about five or six weeks out right now. I'm in a sling, but I'll be out pretty soon. I actually just got out to the Olympic Training Center. I just started my rehab. Do you have a timetable for when you will be back on the mat? Caldwell: I won't be back on the mat this summer. I have a goal to be back drilling in October. Then we'll see. The NYAC tournament is in November. We'll see how I'm feeling for that. Darrion Caldwell (NC State Sports Information)What went into your decision to move to Colorado Springs to train at the Olympic Training Center? Caldwell: I feel like any wrestler who wants to win an Olympic gold medal and put themselves in the best position for that, the Olympic Training Center is the place to be. The proof is in the pudding with our last Olympic champion doing it. That played a big part in me coming out. You have the best coaches in Coach Zeke, Coach Slay, and Coach Zadick, best facilities, and the best training room. I feel like I'm putting myself in the best position to do some work for the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics. You missed the first half of your senior season and had only 12 matches under your belt heading in to the ACC Championships. Was the time off from competition more of a precautionary measure? Caldwell: No, not really precautionary. My shoulder just kept slipping out. We just kept having setbacks. The surgery was inevitable. The coach says I was wrestling with one arm. I had two arms, but my shoulder didn't hold up this season. I got hooked up with Dr. Andrews, who I feel is the best doctor in America for shoulders and joints. So I feel like things are really flowing. North Carolina State's Darrion Caldwell was forced to injury default against Michigan's Eric Grajales at the 2011 NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)You suffered a shoulder injury in your second-round match at this year's NCAAs against Michigan's Eric Grajales. Describe what happened. Caldwell: Well, in my first match of the day against Lopouchanski, we were wrestling upper body, overhook, underhook ... and that put a lot of stress on my shoulder. That was a position I didn't want to be in ... but I happened to get there for whatever reason. So that kind of triggered the problem. So I went into the Grajales match and did a front headlock ... and it just dislocated. The crowd gave you a pretty loud ovation when you were helped off the mat at the NCAAs. Did you hear the ovation? Caldwell: I heard it, but there was so much going on that I couldn't really grasp it too much. I vaguely remember it. Coming into college, and still, my goal is to give the fans some excitement. Wrestling is popular, but we need to draw more fans to the sport. We need to keep these guys on a stage and consistently bring in guys who make the sport exciting so these younger guys want to continue to wrestle ... instead of join a basketball team or something. My big thing is wrestling for the fans and wrestling with a passion. I go out there and I wrestle with a passion. You finished your career as one of the most accomplished wrestlers ever to wrestle at North Carolina State. Do you have any regrets in your college career? Caldwell: That's a hard question. When we fall short of our goals, we always wish that we could have changed the outcomes. But the position that I'm in now is just unbelievable. I guess I did something right to be able to get here and be able to put myself in a nice house and be surrounded by guys who want to win gold medals. So you're living with other wrestlers? Caldwell: I'm actually living with Angel Escobedo right now. You and Jordan Burroughs are both New Jersey natives. Describe your relationship with Burroughs. Jordan Burroughs and Darrion CaldwellCaldwell: Jordan Burroughs and I grew up wrestling together. That's my boy. When we're in the same town, we're together. That's the type of friendship we have. I feel like he's going to make it happen in terms of the Worlds and Olympics. He's a good guy, just a real honest guy with a great heart. He's a good person. Those are the type of people I like to surround myself with. For him to be such an amazing wrestler on top of that, it inspires me. And then the fact that he's from Jersey ... He's African-American, which is not really popular in our sport. It's a pretty big deal that he's doing such a good job. We're the same age and it's great that we have a friendship like we have. When Burroughs was coming out of high school, did you envision that he could have the kind of career he had at Nebraska? Caldwell: I most certainly did. You can tell by the way he progressed throughout his years. When we were real young, he won a kids state championship. Throughout the years, he began to get on the scene a little bit. I don't know if he even made it out of his region his freshman year of high school. But you could see the progression he was making. When I watched him wrestle Molinaro his junior year at states, I felt like he had it in him to win it. But then he came back out the next year and won a state championship. Then he goes out and wins Senior Nationals ... You could just see progression and potential. If you were paying close attention, you could kind of see that he was headed in this direction. Many wrestling fans were shocked when Bubba Jenkins pinned David Taylor in the NCAA finals. What were your thoughts when you witnessed Jenkins pin Taylor? Caldwell: My thoughts were that's my dude. I know what he's capable of. A national championship is something he has talked about since I knew him. Just to see him get that was a blessing. I know how much it means to him, his family, and his friends. I don't know where he would fit in the U.S. lineup for freestyle ... because we have me at 145 and Burroughs at 163. But it's always fun to wrestle with that cat, my buddy. Hopefully we can get him back on the mat someday. Darrion Caldwell (NC State Sports Information)You attended the Beat Streets Gala 2011 in New York City. What did you think of that event? Caldwell: Oh, man ... It felt like a championship game and then afterwards a draft party. It was just amazing to see USA really dominate the way we did. It just showed how much potential we have with our young guys, how much work the coaches have been putting in, and how much we want it. These guys that I know from USA really want to place. They really want to win gold medals. They really want to be that guy on the Wheaties box. They really want to have their own wrestling shoes. It's great to see Americans doing what we do and dominating other countries. You graduated from high school the same year as Henry Cejudo. What are your thoughts about Cejudo returning to the mat? Caldwell: We wrestled in the Dapper Dan together, so that was the first time I had seen him wrestle. I was stoked to see him back on the mat. The guy knows how to get it done. To see him out there, it was a big boost for me. It definitely gave me some fire and made me want to be out there. I was like, 'Dang, those are all my boys. I need to be out there.' That's the team I envision myself on ... wrestling with guys like Cejudo, Bunch, Burroughs, Herbert, and Varner. The U.S. men's freestyle team failed to win a medal at the World Championships last year. What were your thoughts after that performance? Caldwell: It won't happen next year. We had a lot of young guys ... and we just didn't go out there and perform. Going out to New York and seeing the way we performed against Russia ... I feel like with that win, that should give our team much more confidence. We should be going into other countries, having fun, smacking up on them, and partying in their town. North Carolina State's Darrion Caldwell defeated Iowa's Brent Metcalf in the 2009 NCAA finals (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Your name will be forever linked to Brent Metcalf because of your win over him in the 2009 NCAA finals. When was the last time you watched that match? Caldwell: Maybe last summer when I was about to get back into it. I usually show it at camps, but I haven't done any camps this summer yet. I usually show a move or two from that match. It was a great match. Metcalf made the U.S. World Team last year in your weight class. Teyon Ware won the U.S. Open this year, which included a victory over Metcalf. The weight class also includes Cary Kolat, Josh Churella, and others. What are your thoughts on the 66-kilogram weight class? Caldwell: It's wide open. I feel like I'm the guy when I get better. Right now that weight class is wide open until I get there. When you competed at the 2009 U.S. World Team Trials after your junior year of college, you hadn't competed in a freestyle match since high school. How much have you been able to focus on freestyle since you last competed at the 2009 U.S. World Team Trials? Caldwell: Unfortunately, it has mostly been college. But the upside is that I'm out here (Colorado Springs) for a whole year. I've never had that kind of time with freestyle. I feel like in this one year I'll be three or four times better than I was in 2009. John Smith won six World-level gold medals before retiring. Bruce Baumgartner won 13 World-level medals before retiring. Cael Sanderson won an Olympic gold medal at age 25 and then retired. Do you have aspirations of winning several World and Olympic gold medals? Or would you consider hanging up the shoes if you win an Olympic gold medal in 2012? Caldwell: I need to be competing. So God willing, if my body stays healthy, I'm going to be competing through at least the next Olympic cycle in 2016. Then it's maybe going to be over for me ... and I'll look at other options. I know your focus is on wrestling right now, but would you ever consider an MMA career? Caldwell: Right now I'm totally dedicated to wrestling. When I achieve these gold medals and other options open up I'll take it from there.

OREGON CITY, Ore. -- Clackamas Community College head wrestling coach Josh Rhoden announced today that the wrestling team has added three additional recruits to the 2011-12 list in Patrick Downey (North County HS, MD), Nick Sierra (Lemoore HS, CA) and Sage Ornelas (Safford HS, AZ). "All three of these kids are big time additions to the program," said Rhoden. "We are very excited about their ability to have an immediate impact on our program." Downey projects at 184 pounds and will fill the shoes of graduating sophomore and two-time All-American Brett Sanchez. Patrick was a two-time undefeated state champion in Maryland and won the NHSCA Senior National championship this year at 189 pounds. Currently he is the fourth-ranked 184-pound prospect by The Open Mat and No. 80 overall recruit in the country. "Pat is a great addition to our program and we look forward to helping him further his wrestling career during his time with us here at Clackamas," said Rhoden. Sierra was the 2010 California ctate champion and Dave Schultz Champion of Champions at 152 pounds. He will fill in at 157 pounds for the Cougars as he transfers from Division II Grand Canyon University. “Nick has a ton of wrestling experience and is really tough. He is a proven winner and will continue to help us reach the levels that we hope to here.” Ornelas finished his prep career as a four-time Arizona state finalist and three-time champion. He was a two-time FILA Cadet All-American in 2009 and 2010. Sage has a lot of wrestling under his belt and will compete at the 125-pound weight class with 2011 starter Kegan Handlovic. "We are looking forward to the depth we are adding at 125 and are excited to add a kid of Sage's caliber to the roster," concluded Rhoden. This year's recruiting class figures to be one of the very best in recent years for the NJCAA national champion Cougars as they have added numerous nationally-kamasranked wrestlers to the 2011-12 roster. The team looks to be well on their way to making a run a repeat performance in 2012!

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Freshmen Derek Papagianopoulos (Burlington, Mass.) and Nick Sulzer (Cleveland, Ohio) of the Virginia wrestling team each took second place Friday in their respective weight classes in the freestyle competition at the FILA Junior World Team Trials in Franklin, Ind. Competing at 74 KG (163 pounds), Sulzer dropped two narrow matches to Taylor Massa of the Michigan Wrestling Club in the best-of-3 finals. He fell 2-0, 2-1 in the first round, then dropped a 3-0, 4-3 decision in the second round. Papagianopoulos lost a pair of bouts to Daniel Miller, who was competing unattached in the 120 KG class (264.5 pounds). Miller won the first round 3-0, 2-1 and clinched the berth in the FILA Junior World Championships by taking the second round 4-3, 4-0. Sulzer defeated three opponents to reach the finals. He topped Dakota Friesth of Gator Wrestling Club, 5-0, 3-0, in the opener before rolling past Michael Kelly of Hawkeye Wrestling Club, 2-0, 7-0, in his second bout. Sulzer then defeated Nick Moore of Hawkeye Wrestling Club, 4-2, 1-0, to earn the opportunity to take on Miller, who earned a bye to the finals after winning Junior Nationals back in April. Papagianopoulos advanced to the World Team Trials championship by downing Carl Buchholz of Rutgers, 1-0, 2-0, before falling to Miller. The Cavalier duo reached the World Team Trials after each earning All-America status at University Nationals in April.

FRANKLIN, Ind. -- Northwestern freshman Lee Munster (Fox Lake, Ill./Grant) wrestled his way to one of seven spots on the United States Junior World Team when he won the FILA Junior World Team Trials Friday in Franklin, Ind. Munster will compete at the 2011 FILA Junior World Championships this summer, set for July 26-31 in Bucharest, Romania. Lee MunsterMunster, a two-time University Nationals champion, rolled past Oregon State freshman Taylor Meeks in the 84-kg freestyle finals of the Trials without surrendering a point in a two-period victory (5-0, 5-0; 2-0, 3-0). Munster, a finalist at the event last year, is the first Northwestern representative on the Junior World Team since Anthony Pariano -- older brother of head coach Drew Pariano -- back in 1993. Munster was joined at the Junior World Team Trials by freshman teammates Colin Shober (Reading, Pa./Schuykill Valley), Kaleb Friedley (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill) and Alex Polizzi (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial). Polizzi entered the field in the Greco Roman competition and advanced to the finals at 96 kg, which proved to be a grueling three-period match against Marcus Finau. Polizzi won the first period 1-2, 3-0, 1-0, but lost the next two by scores 1-0, 3-0 and 2-0, 1-0. Shober and Friedley eventually met in the wrestlebacks of the 66 kg freestyle bracket, where Friedley won by fall in 1:28. Friedley then faced Steven Hernandez of Boise State in the consolation finals, with Hernandez notching a 4-0, 5-0 victory. Visit TheMat.com, linked at the top of the page, to find more information on this weekend's Junior World Team Trials.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thirteen state qualifiers, including nine who made the field multiple times, will join the Cleveland State wrestling program for the 2011-12 season. Head coach Ben Stehura made the announcement on Friday (May 20). Joining the Vikings are Andrew Brown (who will wrestle at either 125 or 133 pounds), Narcisco Inchaurregui (125), Mike Carlone (133/141), Jared Beatty (133), Tanner Lemon (149/157), Sheldon Brandenburg (165), Xavier Dye (165), John Sims (165/174), Micah Kullman (174/184), Bobby Blankenship (184/197), Troy Benjamin (184/197), Nathan Silvus (197) and Mitchell Gross (197). All 13 signees will enter Cleveland State as freshmen with four years of collegiate eligibility. "I'm very excited about this incoming class," Stehura said. "Many of these guys are coming off accomplished high school careers, and I think all of them have the chance to contribute to our success over the next four years." Brown, a two-time state qualifier from Uniontown, Ohio, finished seventh in the state wrestling at 130 in 2011. Inchaurregui is a three-time state qualifier from Lorain, Ohio. In 2008 he placed seventh in the 112 pound division at the Ohio High School Division I State Wrestling Tournament. Carlone, who wrestled at Mayfield High, was the state runner-up in the 130 weight class as a senior. He also qualified for the state tournament in 2010, placing seventh. Beatty also qualified for the state tournament in 2010, finishing in eighth place. He won a sectional championship during his senior year at Arcanum High before an injury at the district tournament put an early end to his season. A two-time state-placer out of Massillon Perry High, Lemon finished second in the state in the 152 division as a senior. He finished eighth in the state in 2010. Brandenburg is another state runner-up, placing second in the state in the 160 class during his senior season at Wadsworth High. He also placed fifth in the state tournament in 2010 while helping Wadsworth win the team championship. A cadet All-American who placed fifth in Fargo, Dye qualified for the Ohio state tournament four times during his career at Patrick Henry High in Hamler, Ohio. Dye was the state runner-up in the 160 class in 2011, following a fourth-place showing during his junior season in 2010. Sims, who wrestled at Mater Dei High in Evansville, Ind., is also a four-time state qualifier, placing all four years, including a runner-up finish in the 160 class as a senior. Kullman, a 2010 FILA Junior Greco-Roman National Champion, qualified for the state tournament twice while wrestling at Minerva High. His highest finish was a sixth-place showing in the 171 weight class as a junior. Blankenship posted back-to-back fourth place finishes at the Ohio Division II State Tournament wrestling at 189 pounds. He helped Jonathan Alder High place 19th out of 84 schools in the 2011 tournament. As a senior out of Mexico, N.Y., Benjamin placed fifth in the 171 class at the 2011 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Wrestling championship. Silvus, who wrestled at 215 at Springfield Shawnee High, also placed fifth in the 2011 Ohio Division II State Tournament. A sixth-place finalist in the 189 division at the 2011 Ohio Division III State Tournament, Gross wrestled at Norwalk St. Paul High.

It is often true that money, or lack thereof, can drive life decisions. The old adage 'follow the money' is often heard. But for Jake Clark and Joey Clark, it is wrestling, not money, that has driven their life decisions. One could say the two brothers from South Saint Paul, Minn. have chosen to 'follow the wrestling.' "Wrestling has always provided for me," said Jake, who has won national titles in every age group. "Not necessarily financially because wrestling is not a sport that is going to provide financially for you, but it has provided so many opportunities. The opportunity to travel. The opportunity to meet so many different people. The opportunity to do so many different things. It is my sport." Jake Clark and Joey Clark have remained best friendsThe Clark brothers, who are best friends, were teammates on the All-Marine Wrestling Team in the early 2000s. They became two of the nation's top Greco-Roman wrestlers in their weight classes. Jake, who is 31, has been on the U.S. National Team six years and has made the U.S World Team twice. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the U.S. at 84 kilograms (185 pounds) in Greco-Roman. Joey, who turned 35 last month, placed several times at the U.S. Open and U.S. World Team Trials, but hung up his wrestling shoes in 2002 and transitioned to an MMA career. He found immediate success in MMA and began headlining MMA events. Shortly after beginning his MMA career, Joey received a call out of the blue from UFC star B.J. Penn. Penn had spent some time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center with wrestlers and was looking to learn more wrestling skills to help him in his MMA career. While at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Joey's name was given to Penn by Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler Kevin Bracken. Joey recalled his initial phone conversation with Penn. "He says, 'Hello, this is B.J. Penn. I got your number from Bracken. Do you want to come help me train?' I was like, 'When?' He says, 'In two weeks.' I was like, 'Sure.'" Just like that Joey became a training partner for B.J. Penn. Jake joined as a training partner for Penn after he finished up in the military. The Clark brothers have traveled to Penn's native Hawaii several times to help him train for fights. "I haven't scratched the surface with what Jake and Joey Clark can teach me," said Penn, who is only the second fighter in UFC history to win titles in two different weight classes (Randy Couture was the first). "We have a good relationship and get along great. I have much to learn from them. They make me better and my camps so much better." For Jake, training with MMA fighters is a much-needed change of pace from the daily grind of wrestling training. "It's just a good experience for me," said Jake who has trained with several MMA fighters (in addition to Penn), including Kendall Grove, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt, Mo Lawal, and Bobby Lashley. "It changes up my training a little bit, which I think helps in my wrestling too. After 25-plus years of wrestling and working out, it's good to change it up a little bit and it brings a whole new fresh side of training." B.J. Penn paid a visit to Ambition MMA last monthIn 2008, Joey Clark, along with business partners Mark Dale and Teri Dale, founded Ambition MMA, a state-of-the-art training academy and fight club located in Eagan, Minn. The academy offers a variety of training services, including wrestling training. Jake and Joey put wrestlers through workouts a couple times a week, attend wrestling tournaments, and take notes on matches to help the wrestlers tweak their technique. "One thing that is important to us is that we don't want to take them from their clubs or hometowns," said Jake. "So we came up with a schedule that usually works. Usually their practices are Tuesdays and Thursdays in the summer, so we went with Fridays and Sundays." Jake missed this year's U.S. Open due to injury, but plans to compete at the U.S. World Team Trials, which take place June 10 in Oklahoma City, Okla. "When I'm competing now I want my body to be at a hundred percent," said Jake. "I don't feel that I have things to prove to anybody. I know that I'm the No. 1 guy at 84 kilos. As long as my body is healthy and I'm able to train the way I need to train, then everything will go my way." Jake Clark (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Jake has represented the U.S. at the World Championships, Pan American Championships, World Cup, and may other international events. But he has yet to wrestle in the Olympic Games, which has been his goal since he was a little boy. "My main goal right now is the Olympics," said Jake. "I've been on some World Teams. I've won nationals at every age group. I'm a World Cup champion. I've accomplished quite a bit and I'm happy with what my wrestling has done. But I've always had that dream to be an Olympian and that's what I really need to concentrate on. Not that I'm looking past this year's World Team Trials, but everything I'm doing right now is in preparation for 2012." So would Jake retire from wrestling competition if he wins an Olympic medal in London? "That would definitely be a great way to go out," said Jake. "To get the medal, you have to make it there. I'm trying to make sure I'm concentrating on the Trials prior to that. If I really can do this game plan that I have in my mind, I don't see why I wouldn't be able to get a medal. "To get a medal in the Olympics in wrestling ... I'm going to be honest, the stars have to align. That day everything has to be right." Regardless of whether the stars align or not for Jake, the Clark brothers will be forever grateful for the opportunities wrestling has provided and continue to give back to the sport. "Wrestling has been unreal for all the things that it has brought to my life and my brother's life," said Jake. "We're very grateful for everything that it has done. For us to have a chance to give back, we want to take advantage of that. We want to bring to others what the sport has brought to us."

ROME -- The Shorter University wrestling program secured another key addition to its 2011 recruiting class on Thursday, announcing the signing of Florida prep standout Wally Figaro. Wally FigaroFigaro, a native of Brandon, Fla., and star grappler at Brandon High School, is the overall No. 58 ranked recruit in the country and the nation's No. 6 ranked high school recruit at 160 according to InterMat. "Wally is an outstanding pickup for us," said Shorter head coach Josh Henson, who guided his Hawks to a 20th place finish at the NAIA Wrestling National Championships this past season to cap an enormously successful inaugural campaign. "When you are building a program, you look for student-athletes who can put you on the map athletically, and at the same time, serve as a cornerstone for the future," the coach added. "Wally has the ability to do that for our team." Figaro was a Double Junior National All-American -- he placed third in Greco-Roman and fifth in freestyle -- in 2010, placed second in the 2010 Super 32 and is a Florida state champion and four-time placewinner during his high school career. Figaro has been groomed by one of the nation's premier prep program in Brandon High and Henson believes that Figaro has a bright future ahead with the Hawks. "Wally is the complete package -- athletically, academically and socially -- and would be a great addition to any wrestling program," Henson said. "I am very excited that he has ended up at Shorter University." Figaro figures to join a rapidly up-and-coming program with the Hawks, who enjoyed a banner first season in 2010-11. Shorter supplemented the Top 20 national finish by winning the 2011 NAIA Team Sportsmanship Award. Shorter also produced its first-ever Mid-South Conference individual champion in freshman Robbie Collum, who garnered Mid-South Freshman of the Year honors after taking the title at 149. Shorter's Raleigh Abbott was a Mid-South Academic All-Conference selection and was ranked as high as No. 3 in the country at 165 during the season.

After Northwestern fifth-year senior Brandon Precin suffered the most devastating loss of his college wrestling career -- a 3-1 loss in the semifinals of the 2011 NCAAs to Iowa's Matt McDonough -- it was gut-check time. "In my mind, I had a decision to make," said Precin, a three-time All-American for the Wildcats. "Either I could take third or I could take sixth. I just had to buckle down." Northwestern's Brandon Precin finished his college wrestling career as a three-time All-American at 125 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Precin did just that. He rebounded to win his final two matches the following day to finish third at the NCAAs for the second time in his career. It was by no means the way Precin wanted -- or envisioned -- his college wrestling career ending, but he was not going to be ungrateful. "It was bittersweet," said Precin of his third-place finish. "I was pretty emotional. I was happy that I went out there and gave it my all." Precin had climbed to No. 1 in the rankings at 125 pounds earlier in the season after beating McDonough, a 2010 NCAA champion, in the finals of the Midlands Championships. Precin and McDonough met again a month later in a dual meet at Northwestern. In that match, Precin controlled the action through the first two periods and led 3-0 late in the match before McDonough threw a headlock and secured a pin. McDonough edged Precin in the Big Ten finals and finally in the NCAA semifinals. "I went into each match (against McDonough) thinking I would win," said Precin. "That's the way you have to go into each match. You have to respect your opponent, but you have to know going into the match that you're going to win. Obviously, it didn't go my way, but I went into each match thinking I was going to win. "We both have respect for each other. I think we both knew coming in that it was going to be a battle and there weren't going to be any easy points scored." Northwestern's Brandon Precin and Iowa's Matt McDonough get in a scramble in their semifinal match at the 2011 NCAAs (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Precin's weight class was won by Arizona State's Anthony Robles, who defeated McDonough in the NCAA finals. "I would have liked to have wrestled Robles," said Precin. "We were 1-1 against each at the 2009 NCAAs. He beat me the first time and I beat him the second time. We established some competitiveness against each other. I definitely would have liked to have another shot at him. But as the saying goes, you have to wrestle the guy in front of you." Precin graduated from Northwestern with a history degree in March. He will walk at Northwestern's graduation ceremony in June. "It was a world-class experience, athletics, academics, socially," Precin said of his college experience. "It was a great experience for me. I learned a lot by going to Northwestern. I don't have any regrets in that sense. Even though I finished third, instead of first, I put forth as much effort as possible." Northwestern's Brandon Precin defeated Utah Valley's Ben Kjar to finish in third place at the 2011 NCAAs at 125 pounds (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Precin's focus has now shifted to freestyle wrestling. Last year he placed seventh at the U.S. Open and true fourth at the U.S. World Team Trials. He chose not to compete at this year's U.S. Open, which took place in April 8-9, because he says it was too close to the end of the collegiate wrestling season and he wanted to "work out some kinks" while making the transition from folkstyle wrestling to freestyle wrestling. Instead, Precin opted to compete at the 2011 University Nationals in Akron, Ohio, which took place two weeks after the U.S. Open. He dominated the competition in Akron, winning a University Nationals title at 55 kg, which included a victory in the finals over Cornell's Frank Perrelli, a fifth-place finisher at the U.S. Open. By winning University Nationals, Precin qualified for the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials, which are set for June 10-11 in Oklahoma City, Okla. In addition to Perrelli, Precin has beaten other top contenders on the senior level at 55 kg, including 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Hazewinkel. Precin defeated Hazewinkel in the seventh-place match at last year's U.S. Open. "Being able to compete with all the top guys last year gave me confidence that I can go out there, compete, and beat these guys," said Precin. "I feel at last year's U.S. Open I did pretty well and that helped propel me at the World Team Trials." Precin currently divides his time between Northwestern and the Overtime School of Wrestling in Naperville, Ill. He says that it's a lot of "flip-flopping," but he feels it gives him the best opportunity to succeed. For Precin, there is no shortage of wrestling brains to pick. His coaches include Northwestern coaches Drew Pariano and Tim Cysewski, as well as Overtime coaches Sean Bormet, Kerry Boumans, Ed Giese, and John Kading, among others. Precin has not only had to make a quick transition from folkstyle to freestyle, but also adjust to the 55-kg (121-pound) weight class, which is four pounds lighter than his collegiate weight class of 125 pounds. However, in college wrestling, competitors weigh in an hour before competition. In freestyle wrestling, competitors weigh in the day before competition. Northwestern coaches Tim Cysewski and Jake Herbert talk to Brandon Precin before the 2011 Big Ten finals at 125 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)"The weight cut is definitely different," Precin said of the difference between his college weight class and freestyle weight class. "There is a different plan of attack for cutting weight. In folkstyle, you have to keep your weight low all the time. In freestyle, there's a little bit more leeway, but you still have to keep your weight somewhat low. You have to be able to cut the weight safely and be within striking distance." Precin has his immediate sights set on winning the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials. He has aspirations of winning World-level medals, like his former Northwestern teammate and coach Jake Herbert, who captured a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships. "To have Jake bring home that medal and actually see it, it made it real," said Precin. Soon a World-level medal could become even more real to Precin.

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The National Wrestling Coaches Association has announced its annual Division I All-Academic Top 30 Teams and the NWCA Individual All-Academic wrestling team for the 2010-11 wrestling season. Harvard is honored as the nation's top academic wrestling program for the second year in a row, while three NCAA Champions also made the individual list. On this year's Individual All-Academic Team there are 92 total athletes, three NCAA Champions, five NCAA Runner-Ups, 28 All-Americans and 83 NCAA Qualifiers. The NWCA All-Academic Team records go back to 1991, which until this year the 2001 Princeton team held the highest team GPA of 3.43. This year that was broken by two teams who hold the No.1 and No.2 spots respectively. The Harvard University Crimson lead this year's team with a 3.51 GPA. This is the second year in a row that Harvard, lead by head coach Jay Weiss, has taken home top honors. Mark Cody's team at American had another outstanding season as well, placing Top 5 at the NCAA Championships and for the second year in a row finishing No. 2 as an All-Academic Team with a GPA of 3.48. Both Harvard and American improved their Team GPA's to lead this year's Top 30 teams. Finishing out the Top 10 Teams are: Harvard, American, Columbia, South Dakota State, Old Dominion, Princeton, Chattanooga, Nebraska, Utah Valley and Cornell. Ten of the eleven Division I Conferences are represented in the Top 30. The EIWA has the most teams with nine. "Being able to recognize our coaches and their teams for the accomplishments that they have made academically is always a high point at the end of the season for our staff. All of the athletes that have made this year's team are setting themselves up for success once they leave college, they are becoming leaders of the future," said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. For teams to be eligible for consideration, the team GPA is comprised of 12 student athletes, including the 10 wrestlers that were the entries in the NCAA tournament conference qualifier. If teams had less than 10 entries for their respective qualifier, they may fill those spots with wrestlers that competed in at least one varsity dual during the season. The Individual All-Academic Team also has qualifying standards by GPA and season record/accomplishment. Ninety-two wrestlers take this honor home with them; out of that group 83 of them competed at the 2011 NCAA Division I Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 2011 individual with the highest GPA is North Dakota State's Tyler Johnson who has 4.0, while majoring in Biology. This year's NCAA Elite 88 Winner Nick Amuchastegui, comes in at No. 2 with a 3.979 GPA at Stanford University where he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. The Elite 88 Award is presented to the top athlete qualifying for a post-season championship in each of the NCAA's 88 national championship events. Rounding out the Top 5 highest GPA's are Ryan Flores of American with a 3.94, Nebraska's Tucker Lane with a 3.937, and Daniel Mitchell of American with a 3.927. The three NCAA Champions on this year's Individual Team are: Penn State's Quentin Wright, Kyle Dake of Cornell, and Lehigh's Zachery Rey. American University sets another record this year with six individuals making the team, prior to this the individual team record set was five athletes. All six of these individuals qualified for the NCAA Tournament, while three of them earned the title of All-American, they are: Steve Fittery, Ryan Flores, Patrick Graham, Matthew Mariacher, Daniel Mitchell and Ganbayar Sanjaa. Both Cornell University and the University of Oklahoma had five individuals named to the team, both with three All-Americans. The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, student-athlete welfare, and promotion of wrestling.

FIGHT! Magazine's managing editor Jim Casey shares his favorite Doug Blubaugh moments. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: Summer, 1998 I was a 133-pound sophomore wrestler at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, working our summer wrestling camp when I first had the pleasure of meeting Doug, one of our camp's featured clinicians. I was slated to be Doug's handler while he was at the camp, moving him from session to session, acting as his technique dummy, and taking him to lunch. To say I was immediately mesmerized by Doug is an understatement. Doug had driven through the night from Oklahoma to make it to the camp on time. He showed up in a conversion van and asked me to help him unload his gear, which consisted of his 1960 Olympic gold medal and 400 posters of him pinning Emam-Ali Habibi of Iran. He traveled light. Doug BlubaughDoug was an immediate hit with the kids. They couldn't get enough of him. They loved his old-school wrestling moves and his candid conversation. He would show the campers a neck crank they had never seen, talk about mail-order brides, and then walk on his hands across the mat. He was a 63-year-old, one-man comedy show. After the last technique session of the day, Doug would go over to a table and autograph posters. One of the kids got the Olympic champion laughing so hard that Doug -- who suffered from narcolepsy -- fell asleep on the table and drooled on one of the posters. When Doug woke up, he gave me the poster (which I still have), telling me that if he ever died, his DNA was on the poster and to clone him. That was Doug -- always cracking a joke. And, this brings me to my favorite Doug moment. One the third day of camp, we decided to break up the monotony of wrestling by going to the pool and having a high-dive contest, with the winner receiving all sorts of UTC wrestling gear. We asked Doug to be a judge. He immediately declined. Instead, Doug wanted to enter the competition. Who was I to say no? So, Doug got in line with a bunch of kids. After about 20 or so lackluster backflips and one-and-a-half dives, a round, little, chubby 10-year-old, whose name was Goldberg, climbed the ladder. Goldberg was one of the big hits of the camp. Whenever he entered the arena, hundreds of campers would shout, "Gooooolllllllddddddd Beeeeerrrrrrrg, Gooooolllllllddddddd Beeeeerrrrrrrg," which was in reference to the enormous popularity of professional wrestler Bill Goldberg. Chubby, little, Goldberg waved to the onlookers, ran off the board, and did a flawless belly flop to the delight of the crowd. He emerged from the water with perfect 10s across the board -- and everyone chanting, "Gooooolllllllddddddd Beeeeerrrrrrrg." The 1960 Olympic Gold medalist was undeterred. He climbed the ladder and poised himself. Doug took a deep breath, ran a few steps, and jumped high into the air. He bounced his butt off the diving board (spank the baby) and immediately went into a handstand with his back facing the water. It was magical. However, Doug had problems holding the handstand and he teetered off the side of the board, still trying to complete his inverted one-and-a-half dive. He managed to nail the flip, but he couldn't stick the dive, and he landed on his stomach, causing a huge splash. After a few tense seconds, Doug popped up from the water unscathed, probably because he had the skin of a bull elephant. He looked at the scores -- 10s across the board, except for an 8. There was a Goldberg sympathizer on the judge's panel -- one of his classmates. Doug was irate, pleading his case that not only did he spank the baby, nail the handstand, and complete a flip, but also his inadvertent belly flop was far more substantial than Goldberg's. There was nothing I could do. The scores were tallied, and Doug finished third. Here was a man who won an NCAA Championship, Olympic gold medal, and Outstanding Wrestler of the world, and he was getting third in the 1998 UTC Wrestling Camp Diving Contest. At lunch, Doug told me that he was more mad at himself than the kid who gave him the 8. "I know I could nail that dive if I had another chance," he said. I agreed. At the end of the week, I tried to give Doug a bag of UTC wrestling gear. Doug refused it, saying, "I didn't earn it." That was Doug. He never wanted anything that he didn't earn. My former teammates and I still talk about Doug every time we get together for reunions. He was an amazing man. Doug Blubaugh will be missed.

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio Wrestling added six newcomers to its stable of student-athletes, the program announced Wednesday afternoon. Five student-athletes have achieved state titles and all have placed in their various state tournaments multiple times. Combined with its fall class, the recruiting class projects to cover most of the weight classes on the roster and includes many talented wrestlers and academic achievements. "We are extremely excited to welcome this class to Ohio,” said Ohio head coach Joel Greenlee. “This is an outstanding group of student-athletes and it is one of the finest our staff has ever assembled. This group is really exciting from the perspective of, not only the obvious athletic talent, but from the perspective of the type of students and quality young men we have recruited. Collegiate wrestling success starts with a commitment and dedication to the classroom and to the sport and that is exactly what this group exudes. They will all be fantastic additions to, not only Ohio Wrestling, but the University as well." The bios of the six newcomers are below: Tyler Heminger - Galion Northmor, OH (2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 1st) - Ranked 14th at 119 lbs. by USA Wrestling Magazine, earning him All-America honors…He is a four-time state finalist and capped off a terrific senior year with an Ohio state title…He is a two-time conference Wrestler of the Year, 2010 Central District Division III Wrestler of the Year and 2011 Central District Wrestler of the Year…He finished with an outstanding 190-16 career record, which is a Galion Northmor High School record and lands him in the top 20 in Ohio High School History for most wins…Almost as impressive are his academic accomplishments as he is a three-time Academic All-Ohio member and a member of the National Honor Society…Heminger is projected to wrestle either the 125 or 133 lb. weight classes for Ohio. Nick Goebel – Elmwood, OH (1st, 3rd, 2nd) - Goebel is another highly successful Ohio high school wrestler, as he has a career record of 175-17…He has placed among the top three in the state three times and his career is highlighted by an Ohio state title and undefeated season in 2009…Goebel is also a strong academic performer as he was an honor roll student at Elmwood High School for all four years…He is projected to wrestle at the 125 lb. weight class for Ohio. Spartak Chino - Wheaton, IL (5th, 5th, 1st) - A three-time Illinois high school state place winner, Chino finished off his senior season with a state title and was named HM All-America at 152 lbs. in Wrestling USA Magazine…While at Wheaton High School, he was named All-Conference the past four years and finished with a career record of 142-18…He took fourth at Folkstyle Nationals and has also been a member of the Cadet/Junior Illinois National Dual Team the last three years…In addition to his wrestling prowess, Chino was an All-Conference performer for his high school football team that won the Illinois state title the past two years and was ranked in the top 10 nationally this year…Chino is another excellent student, as he was named to the Illinois Academic All-State Team the last three years as well…He is a member of his high school's athletic leadership council, as well as in the prestigious J. Kyle Braid Leadership Foundation, a nationwide leadership group composed of 20 high school senior boys who demonstrate good character and leadership through athletics in their community…Chino is projected to wrestle at the 157 lb. weight class for Ohio. Cody Rodgers – Mechanicsburg, OH (4th, 6th, 3rd) - Rodgers finished his high school career with a 175-25 record, going 45-3 his senior year on his way to a third-place state tournament finish…Rodgers is a four-time Ohio State Tournament entrant and a three-time state place winner…In addition to wrestling, he was a four-year starter in football and is another academic standout, having been on the Mechanicsburg High School honor roll all four years, while also being a National Honor Society Member…Rodgers is projected to wrestle at the 197 lb. weight class for Ohio. Keith Johnson – Dover, OH (7th, 3rd) - Johnson is a three-time state entrant and two-time Ohio state place winner, after placing third as a senior…He finished his career with a 146-24 record and is Dover's career wins and takedowns leader, while being a two-year team captain…In addition to wrestling, the two-sport student-athlete excelled in football, earning All-Ohio honors while playing running back and serving as a team captain…He is projected to wrestle at the 184 lb. weight class for Ohio. Marshal Willet – Brecksville, OH (3rd) - Willet has a career record of 103-32 and placed third in the Ohio state tournament at 171 lbs. this year…He was named Brecksville Wrestling MVP and a team captain…Other athletic accolades include being a 2011 two-time freestyle AAU bronze medalist, two-time freestyle state runner-up, four-year letterman in wrestling and a two-year letterman in football…Yet another academic standout, Willet was a four-year honor roll member for Brecksville High School, an Academic All-Ohio selection for 2011 and a two-year National Honors Society Member…He is projected to wrestle at the 174 lb. weight class for Ohio. This group will join Ohio's five newcomers that were announced in the fall: Garret Garness (Hayfield, Minn.), Daniel Mirman (Wadsworth, Ohio), Zach Rohr (Hastings, Minn.), Andrew Romanchik (Independence, Ohio) and Cody Walters (Macedonia, Ohio).

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! Join Takedown Wrestling Host Scott Casber along with special in studio guest host UFC and MMA star Joe Brammer. Join in this Saturday for Takedown Wrestling 9 to 11 a.m. CT/ 10 a.m. to 12 noon ET. This weeks guests include: 9:01 to 9:15 Heath Eslinger, head coach at Chattanooga 9:20 to 9:35 Bucky Maughan, retiring head coach of NDSU Bison 9:40 Mike Garrow, head of the NEW Fight Now USA Network 9:50 Max Muscle Minute with Ty Barkley 10:01 to 10:15 Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling's Abbott of wrestling 10:20 Kevin Dresser, head coach at Virginia Tech 10:40 Joe Brammer, "The Hammer" UFC, MMA Star Elite Edge Training Center 10:50 Maureen Roshar Wildrose Casino and Resort in Clinton, Iowa Join us LIVE 9 to 11 AM CST for Takedown Wrestling. Listen on radio, on computer, your Blackberry or iPhone with the iHeart Radio App, KXNO.com, or Takedownradio.com.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- 2008 Olympic gold medalist and author Henry Cejudo joins a distinguished group of Olympic and Paralympic champions and hopefuls as one of Coca-Cola's “Ambassadors of Active Living” to inspire people to lead active and balanced lives. The high-profile athletes form the Coca-Cola “Eight-Pack” as part of the brand's London 2012 Olympic Summer Games program. Coca-Cola is the longest continuous corporate partner of the Olympic Games since 1928 and the 2012 Games will be the third consecutive time in which Coca-Cola has included a collection of athletes as part of its Olympic program. The 2012 Coca-Cola “Eight-Pack” consists of Henry Cejudo (wrestling), Shawn Johnson (gymnastics), David Oliver (track and field), Jessica Long (Paralympic Swimming), David Boudia (Diving), Marlen Esparza (boxing), John Isner (tennis) and Alex Morgan (soccer). Coca-Cola will highlight Cejudo as a member of Coca-Cola's “Eight-Pack” in a variety of creative initiatives including in-store materials and advertising targeting all consumers including specific programs for Hispanic and African-American consumers. Details about how Cejudo and the athletes are to be featured will be available in the future. “I am extremely honored to be a Coca-Cola Ambassador of Active Living and a member of its Olympic Eight-Pack. Coca-Cola has given so much to the Olympic program over the years, and has a long tradition of inspired community involvement. It is exciting to be involved with a company of Coca-Cola's caliber and to participate alongside such amazing athletes,” Cejudo stated. About Henry Cejudo Olympic gold medalist and author, Henry Cejudo, achieved his dream of becoming an Olympic gold medalist at just 21 years old. Henry made history by becoming the youngest American wrestler to bring home the gold. The American born son of undocumented immigrants from Mexico, Cejudo spent his early years in fear of his criminal father and immigration officials. He struggled to find consistency in his chaotic world as he fought for survival on and off the wrestling mat. His amazing story of determination and triumph has won the hearts of America. A story that was captured by Henry Cejudo and Bill Plaschke in a book titled “American Victory.” Henry continues to achieve his dreams with another book deal, adidas shoe endorsement and inspiring millions of young athletes and troubled youth through his work with numerous charities. Many have expressed that Cejudo represents everything that is right with this country and that his journey embodies the ethos of the American Dream. To learn more about Henry Cejudo visit his website at www.henrycejudo.com. About The Coca-Cola Company The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. The Company's portfolio includes 15 billion dollar brands, including Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, as well as Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia. Globally, they are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, Coca-Cola is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where they operate. For more information, please visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

HUMBOLDT, Iowa -- The hometown of world wrestling champion Frank Gotch, one of the nation's best-known athletes in the early part of the 20th Century, is making plans to honor its most famous citizen with a statue to be placed in Bicknell Park. The park occupies the site where Gotch trained for his most important match. The project is being run by a not-for-profit organization called the Frank Gotch Statue Committee. “Frank Gotch was arguably the top athlete in America in the 1908 to 1915 era,” said co-chair Steve Reimers, a lifelong resident of the city located in the northwestern part of the state. “Frank brought great recognition to this town and to all of Iowa. Many of us feel it is time to pay a special tribute to Gotch and the great legacy he left behind.” Bicknell Park was the site of Gotch's training camp prior to his epic match with George Hackenschmidt, known as The Russian Lion, on September 3, 1911, in Chicago. Gotch set up camp by the small bluff on the Des Moines River and spectators flocked to watch the world champion in training. Sports reporters from around the nation converged on Humboldt the month prior to the match. One reporter estimated that one day there were nearly 2,000 fans down by the park watching Gotch train. The camp consisted of a large ring, handball courts and an area for wall pulleys and punching bags. Several of the top wrestler in the world came to the camp at various times to serve as workout partners for Gotch. His training was supervised by Farmer Burns, considered the greatest professional wrestling instructor of all time. Bicknell Park was donated to the city in 1920. The project will include a brick walkway around the pedestal the statue stands on. The statue will be made of bronze and stand eight-foot tall, depicting Gotch in a familiar pose with hands on hips while attired in a wrestling uniform. It will be placed on a two-foot high pedestal, with accompanying information on his career and life in Humboldt. Gotch was undefeated during his seven-year rein as world champion and won his last 88 matches in a row. He owned a considerable amount of land in Iowa and Minnesota and was active in the community in a variety of ways. He was part owner of an automobile dealership in Humboldt and served on several civic boards. He was even being considered to star in a movie in Hollywood and the Republican Party of Iowa was looking at him as a possible candidate for governor in 1920. But Gotch fell ill in early 1917 and died on December 16, 1917, at the age of 39, of kidney failure. His death was front-page news all around the nation and an estimated 2,000 people attended his funeral. He is buried in a large mausoleum in Union Cemetery, two miles west of town. According to the author Mac Davis, in the book 100 Greatest Sports Heroes, Gotch was a bigger star than any boxer or baseball player. “As the idol of millions in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Gotch made wrestling a big-time sport in his day. Babies had been named in his honor, as had buildings, toys, farm implements and a hundred other things. The word ‘Gotch' was a synonym for quality and strength.” The statue committee is comprised of various members of the Humboldt community, as well as two noteworthy “outsiders.” Frank Gotch III is the grandson of the legendary wrestler and currently lives near Austin, Texas. He has agreed to serve as an honorary member. Mike Chapman is one of the nation's leading wrestling historians and the author of 22 books, including three on Gotch. One of them, Gotch: An American Hero, has been purchased by Empire Film Group in Los Angeles and is under development as a major motion picture. “We are delighted that the grandson of Frank Gotch and a well-known historian are helping us with the project,” said Reimers. Other members of the committee are Ron Wasoba, former Humboldt High School wrestling coach, who is co-chair; Tonya Harklau, former executive director of the Humboldt Area Chamber of Commerce; Maurey Abens, Chad Beaman, Jana Bratland, Ken Bratland, Kent Clendenen, Todd Lee, Phil Monson and Bruce Reimers, a former NFL football player from Humboldt who played in a Super Bowl as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. “In an effort to make this project all inclusive, we are reaching out to the citizens of Humboldt, and also to wrestling fans across the state and the entire nation,” said Wasoba. “Frank Gotch helped created a strong interest in wrestling in America in the early 1900s. We believe many fans across the nation will want to be a part of this effort to honor his memory and his impact on the sport, both amateur and professional.” “I think part of the reason this is such a wonderful project is because Frank Gotch had a very powerful love of this community,” said Chapman. “After he became world champion, many promoters and managers tried to get him to leave Iowa and move to the big city. But he never was tempted. He told them he was born an Iowa farmer, was raised an Iowa farmer and would die an Iowa farmer. And he was true to his word.” There are various levels of support offered to donors, beginning at $125 and going up to $3,000, and beyond. Anyone wishing more information should contact the Frank Gotch Project, c/o Friends of the Park, PO Box 247, Humboldt, Iowa, 50548, or call Tonya Harklau at 515-332-3285 (or harklauj@goldfieldaccess.net) for further details. Donations are tax deductible to the extent offered by the law.

Kevin Dresser