InterMat Staff

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri wrestling team has finalized its 2011-12 schedule, announced Tuesday morning by head coach Brian Smith. The Tigers will host the 2012 Big 12 Championships in Columbia, the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, and compete in four other tournaments over the course of the season. The Tigers will open the regular season at home on Nov. 13 with a matchup against the Purdue Boilermakers, with Missouri looking to avenge an 18-15 loss last year to Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. From there, Mizzou hits the road for their first two of six conference meets. They'll first travel to face Oklahoma on Nov. 18 and then to Stillwater, Okla., on Nov. 20 for a matchup with the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The following week, Missouri heads west for a pair of Pac-12 matchups, beginning with Oregon State on Nov. 25. The Tigers fell to Oregon State last year at home, 19-13. Two days later, Mizzou will face off with Stanford, who finished 11th at the NCAA Championships last year with 44.0 points. From there, the Tigers will compete in their first tournament of the season, as they stay in-state and head to Maryville for the Kaufman-Brand Open. The following weekend Missouri will travel to Kent State, who the Tigers defeated by a 19-15 score in Columbia last year. Mizzou returns home to close out 2011, hosting the Iowa State Cyclones at the Hearnes Center on Dec. 18. Missouri opens 2012 at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Jan. 1-2, hosted by the University of Chattanooga. This year's Scuffle will feature seven of last year's top-25 teams, including National Champion Penn State and runner-up Cornell. A week later, Missouri will face off with Iowa State again, this time in Ames, for their second and final meeting of the season. The Tigers will hit their second tournament of the month from Jan. 13-14, when they travel to Virginia Beach, Va., for the Virginia Duals. Two weeks after the Virginia Duals, Missouri will travel to Edwardsville, Ill., for a tri-meet against SIU-Edwardsville and Eastern Michigan. The next weekend, the Tigers play host to both Oklahoma schools on back-to-back days to close out the regular season Big 12 schedule. Missouri and the Cowboys will battle on Feb. 4, with the Tigers and Sooners facing off on Feb. 5. The regular season comes to a close with the 2012 NWCA National Duals, which have taken on a new format this season. There are now four, six-team regions participating in the National Duals on the weekend of Feb. 11-12, with each region's winner advancing to the Final Four round held at one of the remaining team's campus the following weekend. Missouri will head to Piscataway, N.J., for the opening round of action, where they'll compete against host Rutgers, Minnesota, Michigan, Kent State and Cal Poly. This year's National Duals includes 22 of last year's final top-25. On March 5, the University of Missouri will host the Big 12 Championships for the third time in program history, welcoming Iowa State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to the Hearnes Center. The Tigers look to capture their first conference crown after matching their best finish (second) last season. For the fifth time since 2003, Missouri will co-host the NCAA Championships, held at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis from March 15-17. Members of the Missouri Wrestling Takedown Club get first dibs at tickets for the event in the Mizzou section. For more information about Missouri wrestling as the season gets close, visit mutigers.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Nine home dual matches, including a bout with Virginia Tech at John Paul Jones Arena, highlight the 2011-12 Virginia wrestling schedule, announced today by UVa head coach Steve Garland. Virginia and Virginia Tech will square off on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. at JPJA. "We couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to wrestle Virginia Tech in John Paul Jones Arena," Garland said. "Ever since the 2011 ACC Championships concluded, I have been scratching, clawing and begging to get back in there. In my opinion, that facility provides the most beautiful, first-class wrestling experience our student-athletes could ever have. "I can say without a doubt that this is going to be a wonderful event for the friends and families of both programs, alumni, current UVa students and of course the local community." The dual with Virginia Tech will mark the Cavaliers' first wrestling dual at JPJA. The wrestling match also will cap a weekend of rivalry action in Charlottesville, as the UVa and Virginia Tech volleyball teams play Friday (Nov. 25) and the Virginia and Virginia Tech football teams battle Saturday (Nov. 26) at Scott Stadium. Tickets for the Virginia Tech dual are $7 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under), seniors and staff and will go on sale Oct. 10 through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office. All tickets are general admission. The remaining eight home bouts will be contested inside Memorial Gymnasium; there is no admission charge for matches at Mem Gym. Virginia's schedule takes on a different look this year. UVa has cut down on its number of dual meets, with a dozen duals on the 2011-12 schedule (from 26 in 2010-11). The Cavaliers' season opens Nov. 5 with a tri-meet against Campbell and Anderson. "Overall we are very happy with the schedule we have planned for our team," Garland said. "Every year our goal is to perform our very best at ACCs and NCAAs, so no matter what happens during the year, our focus won't shift. We want to bring home another ACC team championship and have multiple All-Americans again this year. We feel this approach can help us do that." In addition to the Anderson, Campbell and Virginia Tech duals, Virginia will face Duke (Jan. 20), North Carolina (Jan. 21), Maryland (Jan. 29), Rutgers (Feb. 4), Old Dominion (Feb. 19) and George Mason (Feb. 19) at home. Maryland and Rutgers joined UVa among the top 30 teams in the final standings at the NCAA Championships last season. "I am very much looking forward to our home dual meet schedule this year," Garland said. "We have nine home duals planned and we hope that will please our friends, fans and student body. Some other highlights of the year should be the Cornell Invitational, which features two top-five nationally ranked teams (Cornell and Minnesota), and the Southern Scuffle, which always boasts some of the toughest competition in the country." UVa will wrestle Drexel (Dec. 18), NC State (Jan. 13) and Appalachian State (Feb. 11) on the road in dual action. The ACC Championships will be contested in Chapel Hill, N.C., on March 3. The NCAA Championships return to the Scottrade Center in St. Louis March 15-17. UVa will participate in Cornell's Body Bar System Invitational for the first time this season. Joining the Cavaliers in the invitational are Army, Binghamton, Buffalo, Clarion, Cornell, Drexel, Ithaca College, Kent State, Lock Haven, Minnesota and Sacred Heart. Cornell was the national runner-up at the 2011 NCAA Championships, while Minnesota took seventh. The Cavaliers again will compete in the Southern Scuffle this year (Jan. 1-2). The tournament moves to Chattanooga, Tenn., this season.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- CSU Bakersfield head wrestling coach Mike Mendoza has announced the addition of Riley Orozco to the CSUB coaching staff as an assistant coach. Orozco became the 12th Roadrunners' wrestler to win at least 100 matches in a career as he wrapped up his time at CSUB with a 100-48 a year ago. He became the first four-time NCAA Division I qualifier from CSUB since 2002 (Matt Sanchez, Efren Ceballos) a year ago when he finished third at the 2011 Pac-10 Championships. Orozco took home the 197-pound title at the Pac-10 Tournament as a junior. Orozco earned first team Academic All-Conference honors as a junior and was selected second team Academic All-Conference as a freshman and as a sopomore. :We are excited to add Riley to the coaching staff,: Mendoza.:It is great to add someone to the program that is familiar with the program's history and has been a part of it. He has a great skill set that will compliment our current coaching staff. With a young group, he will have an immediate impact as he works to develop our upperweights."

"I sustained a major head injury and my life had been tragically altered forever. I will never have that pre-accident swagger again." Those are the words of Richard "Dickie" Bouzakis, a former high school and college wrestler who survived a serious car accident in 1986 that killed the driver, and put the former matman from Orange County, New York in a coma for nearly two months. The past 25 years has been a series of challenges for Bouzakis, who shares his story in a brand-new book, Comeback: A Wrestler's Story of Triumph and Tragedy. Before the accident Bouzakis was introduced to wrestling as a fifth-grader, getting involved with his younger brother Troy in the Orange Crushers kids wrestling club. At Pine Bush High School, Bouzakis crafted an impressive mat career. As a freshman, he compiled a 27-3 record; as a junior, he earned Outstanding Wrestler of the Orange County League tournament. In his senior year, Bouzakis placed second in the New York State Championships. After graduating from Pine Bush High in 1985, Dickie Bouzakis headed to James Madison University in Virginia to continue his wrestling career. However, the transition to college was rough one for Bouzakis on and off the mat. As Bouzakis told Scott Casber of Takedown Wrestling in a recent audio interview, "In college I learned to party. I didn't always make the right decisions." Richard BouzakisThat may describe what happened in July 1986, when Dickie Bouzakis left one party in search of another. Bouzakis climbed into a car with a friend; that friend lost control of his car, crashing at high speed. The driver was dead at the scene; emergency crews arriving on the scene saw no sign of Bouzakis for a while, until they found him attached to a shoe that was the only portion of him visible in the wreckage. The outward signs of injury to Bouzakis were serious -- a broken jaw and dislocated elbow were among the obvious injuries -- that would heal in time. Doctors credit Bouzakis' survival to his wearing a seatbelt, and being in peak condition as a wrestler. (At the time, Bouzakis was in training for the Empire State Games in New York.) However, the upper brain stem injury was a more formidable opponent. Coming out of a cocoon into recovery Bouzakis opens his book Comeback: A Wrestler's Story of Triumph and Tragedy describing his time in the hospital immediately after the accident. In his recollection of coming out of the two-month coma, Bouzakis compares the process to a "human butterfly" as it emerges from a cocoon. Being comatose for nearly 2 months in the summer of 1986, it was much like a dream world to me. I was dreaming thus my mind was working trying to explain my surroundings. I was non-verbal, non-communicative and non-functioning ... I had no physical functioning to do much more then twist and arch in bed. I could not speak due to a wired jaw or a problem in the motor area of speech communication. Diagnosed with an upper brain stem injury, a severe closed head injury, I was a mere blueprint of my former self. My motor skills, my coordination, my balance and control centers were severely damaged. In his interview with InterMat, Bouzakis said, "I poured my heart and soul into coming out of the coma." When asked if his wrestling background was a factor in his recovery, Bouzakis responded, "The physical pain I could deal with, no big deal. The mental pain was the roughest part. I had to keep telling myself, 'I'm going to remake myself.'" During the coma, Richard Bouzakis lost 35 pounds of muscleThe opening chapter -- appropriately titled "Emerge" -- goes into incredible detail of Bouzakis' long process of recovery and rehab from the near-fatal accident. One of the byproducts: during the coma, Bouzakis lost 35 pounds of muscle. Some basic skills that we all take for granted -- talking and walking, for example -- had to be relearned. Not to mention seemingly small "activities of daily living," such as discovering that the purpose of a toothbrush is not to comb your hair ... or that drinking out of a regular glass or cup was perilous without a lid and a straw. Bouzakis also had to learn to control tremors in various parts of his body that prevented him from sitting still while unsupported. It required all the focus and concentration he could muster -- and then some. While at the Hillcrest Head Injury Recovery Center in Milford, New York, therapy became Bouzakis' full-time job. Seemingly endless hours of physical, occupational and speech therapy. As he writes in his book, "Wrestling gave me an internal drive and an iron will." There were times the frustration threatened to win out. Bouzakis told of a time when he was working on an exercise inserting pegs into a pegboard, describing it as "like trying to put a football into a golf hole." His therapist -- who went on to become a boxer -- sensed the frustration, and took the wrestler to a room with a mat on the floor, and let Bouzakis take out his frustration and aggression using a pugil stick, a long pole with padding at the ends, used in military training for hand-to-hand combat. Putting into words When asked how the book came together, Richard Bouzakis responded, "Once I wrote the first chapter, discipline was no problem." "The whole thing was my idea," said Bouzakis. "With my disability, I can spend hours at the computer." The entire process took approximately a year and a half. As Bouzakis puts it, "I went to college to study health. I'm not a writer." That said, Bouzakis followed up by saying, "Head injury people often discover a creative talent. Writing was mine. I really enjoy writing poems." "I don't believe any head-injury guy has written a book about coming out of a coma and his life since." "(Writing is) a form of therapy," Bouzakis continued. "I wanted to get my story out." And, he wanted the story to be his, down to the way he put words together for his book. "I'm very aggressive, and that's the way my story is, and it's staying that way." He asked a former girlfriend -- who is now a newspaper writer -- to go over what he had written. "She said I should keep it in my own words. She didn't make any structure or grammar changes." A story worth sharing Now 44 years old, Richard Bouzakis wants to share his story. Not just with his new book, but in other ways as well. Olympic champion Ed Banach visited Richard Bouzakis"I speak at monthly victim-impact panel meetings," said the author of Comeback of his presentations to various groups in the hope of changing risky behaviors and making smart choices by stopping and taking time to think before acting. "I don't want people to feel bad for me, but I want people to be safer." "I know that I'm getting through to these guys." Bouzakis is also passionate about letting others know the importance of getting proper care for head injuries of any type, no matter the cause -- whether it's a car accident, or from participating in sports. "Once you've sustained a head injury, it's important to get a medical report to document the situation," Bouzakis told Takedown Wrestling's Scott Casber as he talked about advising a woman whose son had suffered a concussion during a wrestling match. "If you have problems in the future, that documentation could help in terms of getting better care in the future, when you're not able to communicate for yourself." Even with time spent writing the book and sharing his experiences with others, Bouzakis still finds time to be active in the sport he loves. He serves as a volunteer coach at Pine Bush High School, saying, "I coach every day of the season." He also has made his presence felt at clinics put on by Cornell University, and at the New York State Wrestling Championships. "They can appreciate me for my wrestling prowess, but I'd rather be doing what I'm doing." Richard Bouzakis with his motherComeback: A Wrestler's Story of Triumph and Tragedy tells the story of one former wrestler's life since a near-fatal car accident, overcoming obstacles tougher than any opponent on the mat. Richard Bouzakis shares his story in a very honest, unflinching way. His writing style is very conversational; in fact, as a reader, you feel as if you're listening to Bouzakis -- or reading a private journal -- as he shares details of the most recent 25 years of his life, painful and challenging as they are. Yet, in the tragedy and challenge and frustration, there is triumph and success and inspiration, too. All of these elements make Comeback especially vital reading for wrestlers, coaches and fans. The book resonates beyond the world of wrestling. Awareness of brain injuries has increased in recent years, with news stories about concussion dangers in various sports, including football, soccer, and, yes, wrestling ... as well as reports from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan involving soldiers suffering trauma in battle, along with the well-publicized stories of injured TV war correspondents Bob Woodruff and Kimberly Dozier. Bouzakis' background as a wrestler may have made him uniquely strong for the challenges he continues to battle to this day. "From my days on the mat, my life has changed dramatically and I never foresaw this injury happening to me," Bouzakis writes. "Believe me, it can happen to you, too. It feels as if it has taken my whole life to get to this point. Throughout my life, the one thing that remains constant is competition. An inbred brain mechanism such as competition needs no prompting, no cueing, no learning at its basic level. It is done without thinking ... Despite brain injury, competition indeed fuels my cells and is no doubt responsible for my survival. When my brain is ready to function, my body will be ready. Even as I sit here today, I cannot wait for tomorrow.'' Comeback: A Wrestler's Story of Triumph and Tragedy is available for purchase online as an entire book, or on a chapter-by-chapter basis, by visiting the official website, www.AcomebackStory.com.

Alan Rice, coach of the 1972 Greco-Roman Olympic wrestling team, and Dave Whitsett, professor emeritus at the University of Northern Iowa, will go “On the Mat” this Wednesday, September 14. “On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM Central on AM 1650, The Fan. An archive of the show can be found on www.themat.tv. Email radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show. During the months of August and September the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum will conduct “champions” interviews with champions outside the sport of wrestling. There will also be regular interviews with wrestlers and coaches. Rice coached the 1972 Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team. He won double national titles (freestyle and Greco-Roman) in 1956, and placed fifth at the Olympics that year in Greco-Roman. Rice is also the namesake of the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions. The Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions induction ceremony will take place on the campus of Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on October 1. This week's champion interview is with Dave Whitsett. Whitsett is a professor emeritus at the University of Northern Iowa. He taught psychology from 1974 through 2001, and worked with the Northern Iowa wrestling team during the 1970s and 1980s. Whitsett co-authored a book called “The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer”.

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. North Carolina has four nationally-ranked senior wrestlers for the 2011-12 season. All four have claimed success at top national tournaments last spring. They represent each high school classification in the state. These young men come from the foothills of the Appalachians to the sand hills of the eastern part of the state. Most of these wrestlers live along the I-40/I-85 corridor that has become a wrestling hotbed the last several years. Two of the wrestlers are high school teammates, while two others are former teammates that competed against each other last season. One wrestler is coached by his father. He and his two brothers have earned individual state championships, high placings and most outstanding wrestler honors in state tournament competitions the last several years. Three of these wrestlers have earned Most Outstanding Wrestler honors after winning their first high school state championship. Nine have achieved their goal of becoming a state champion. One other, having come up short twice, gets ready for his final attempt to achieve this elusive honor. Meet North Carolina's Top 10 wrestlers from the Class of 2012. 1. Jesse Doyle (Wheatmore) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182/195 Projected College Weight Class: 197 Jesse DoyleAnalysis: Doyle has garnered more high school All-American honors than any other North Carolina wrestler entering high school this year. He has competed at 189 pounds since his freshman season. With the new weight classes for high school he will compete at 182 pounds and 195 pounds during the 2011-12 season. Dolye is very strong and possesses the balance and quickness that makes him a great high school wrestler. He stays in good position and usually controls the pace of the match. He has a good shot, but with his Greco-Roman experience he will not hesitate to go for a throw. Due to his All-American placings at Fargo, FILA Cadet and FILA Junior Nationals, he has earned funded-athlete status and can go to the U.S. Training Center in Colorado Springs for training sessions. So far Doyle has taken two training trips to the OTC. Doyle finished his freshman season as a state qualifier and earned his first All-American honors the following spring as the tournament runner-up in the NHSCA Freshman Nationals. During his sophomore season Doyle had a third-place finish in the high school state tournament and again earned All-American honors in the spring. During the summer of 2010 Doyle was a Cadet National finalist in Fargo, placing second in Greco-Roman. In the fall of 2010 Doyle placed eighth in the prestigious Super 32 Challenge. At the conclusion of the 2010-11 season Doyle won his first high school state championship and was awarded the Most Outstanding Wrestler award for the 2A state tournament. He finished the season with a 45-1 record. During the spring Doyle finished third at the NHSCA Junior Nationals, was a double All-American at FILA Cadets, placing fifth in Greco and fourth in freestyle. At the FILA Cadet Nationals in April Doyle pinned two-time Fargo Cadet freestyle and Greco-Roman champion Mitch Silga of Indiana en route to his fourth-place finish. Doyle also competed in the FILA Junior Nationals in Cleveland, Ohio. There he wrestled up an age group and earned All-American honors, placing eighth. Last summer Doyle was off to a great start in the Junior Greco-Roman tournament in Fargo, but had to injury default from the tournament after getting a bad cut across his nose while throwing his opponent. Doyle is just now getting back to training from that injury and he plans to start off the season by competing in the Super 32 Challenge in October. Doyle has received many letters and phone calls from college coaches yearning for his services. His academic accomplishments are on par with his wrestling achievements. He carries a weighted 3.9 GPA and has scored 1150 on the verbal and math portions of the SAT. Doyle recently gave a verbal commitment to Iowa State. 2. Tony Deangelo (Southern Alamance) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Tony DeangeloAnalysis: If you are getting ready to wrestle Southern Alamance's star wrestler Tony Deangelo you better be in good physical shape! His matches are usually a crowd-pleasing whirl of action. Deangelo is a very quick with an aggressive style of wrestling. He is constantly attacking and looking to score. This held true at last year's 140-pound state tournament final where he scored a major decision over three-time state finalist and current Appalachian State wrestler Tom Puckett. The 16-8 decision was the only loss of the year for Puckett. This impressive win earned Deangelo (37-1) his first state championship and the 4A Most Outstanding Wrestler award at the state tournament. As a freshman Deangelo was a state qualifier and a NHSCA Freshman Nationals All American, placing eighth. In 2010 he placed fourth at the state tournament then elevated his wrestling six weeks later to win the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals. He defeated New York's three-time state champion Quinton Murphy in the finals. At the NHSCA Junior Nationals last spring Deangelo again was a finalist, but dropped a decision to Pennsylvania's state champion Mitch Minotti. Deangelo comes from a highly-competitive wrestling family. He is coached at Southern Alamance by his father Randy Deangelo. His older brother Joey was a two-time state finalist, a state champion in 2010, and is currently a wrestler for Nassau Junior College. Deangelo's younger brother Jake has placed third in the state tournament both his freshman and sophomore seasons. Deangelo is still undecided about where to attend college. This fall he plans to take official visits to UNC-Chapel Hill, Missouri, Indiana and Appalachian State. Deangelo plans to compete at the Super 32 Challenge again this fall. 3. Chris Caton (Northside Christain) Academy Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 125/133 Chris CatonAnalysis: Caton's high school competes in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association. He has won three NCISAA state championships and should finish his career as a four-time state champion. Last fall Caton wrestled in the prestigious Super 32 Challenge and placed seventh. Caton has proven that he can win at any level of competition. During the 2010-11 season he defeated two-time North Carolina 3A state champion Garrison White by a major decision at the Rock Hill Invitational. He was even more impressive at The King of the Mat Tournament, where he defeated NHSCA Senior Nationals finalist Antwan Davis in the semifinals and two-time North Carolina 4A state champion and current Penn State wrestler Michael Waters by a 12-1 major decision in the finals. He also competed in the prestigious Walsh Ironman, placing seventh. Caton is a two-time Prep All-American, placing fifth last season. Until last spring Caton was a three sport athlete at Northside playing football and baseball along with wrestling. Because of this he did not compete in spring and summer national events. Last spring he gave up baseball and competed in the NHSCA Junior Nationals. Caton breezed to the 125-pound finals where he lost a hard fought 4-2 decision to four-time Florida state champion Rossi Bruno. Caton is perhaps the most athletic of North Carolina's top ten wrestlers this season. He has a very aggressive style of wrestling and is at his best when in the neutral position. Caton has scheduled four official visits to colleges so far and is inclined to prefer one of the service academies. His top choices are: Air Force, Navy, UNC-Chapel Hill, Virginia and Appalachian State. 4. Garrison White (JR Robinson) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 126/132 Projected College Weight Class: 125/133 Garrison WhiteAnalysis: White has been a high school state finalist every year he has been in high school. He placed second as a freshman and won his first state championship as a sophomore. He did it in dramatic fashion by pinning defending state champion and current Gardner-Webb wrestler Ray Farnsworth. This helped to earn him the 2010 3A state tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler award. Last year was not as dramatic, but he scored a 7-0 decision, earning him his second state championship and finishing with a 61-2 record for the season. During the season White notched a couple of notable victories. He won a major decision over 119-pound 4A state champion and NHSCA Senior Nationals runner-up Antwon Davis. He also won a decision over two-time 125-pound 4A state champion Michael Waters. Last spring white earned All-American honors placing third in the FILA Cadet tournament in Akron, Ohio. He was a USA Wrestling Southeast Regional champion in Atlanta, Georgia and was a champion at the Brockport, New York tournament. In the Southeast Regional he defeated Fargo National third place winner Sammy Jones of Louisiana. White lost his first match in the FILA Cadet tournament in Akron, Ohio, but then won five straight matches to finish third. Since this was a world team trail tournament, he next defeated Fargo Greco All-American Jacob Scmitt of Michigan for true second. This earned White first alternate status for the FILA Cadet World Team. At Fargo White had a sold 4-2 record in freestyle. White is a very good technical wrestler that stays in good position and is always looking to score points. White, a member of the Arrichion Wrestling Club, wrestles and practices year round. He is also an excellent student. He carries a 4.8043 weighted GPA, unweighted 3.9348. He has 1930 SAT and 30 ACT scores. He plans to take his talents to either Stanford or Northwestern next year. 5. Cameron King (Trinity) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 195/220 Projected College Weight Class: 197 Analysis: King placed third in the state tournament at 171 pounds his sophomore season. As a junior he was a 215-pound state champion. When King was a freshman he was a teammate of Jesse Doyle at Trinity. The next year a new school was opened in their county and Doyle started going to this school. Last season Doyle bumped up to 215 pounds to wrestle King in an important dual meet. King won a hard-fought decision, giving Doyle his only loss of the year. King went on to win his first state championship and finish with a 50-3 record. Last spring King earned All-American honors at the NHSCA Junior Nationals, placing seventh. King is a dedicated wrestler with good takedown skills. He has been a NCUSA Fargo team member a couple of times, but has yet been able to break into those tournaments All-American ranks. King is a year-round wrestler, traveling to many off season tournaments with his Arrichion team members and coaches throughout the year. 6. Joey Moon (Southern Alamance) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: There is a saying in wrestling circles that most great wrestling champions have great wrestling workout partners. At Southern Alamance this holds true. Joey Moon and Tony Deangelo have been friends and workout partners for some time now. Last season both won their first state championships and both were NHSCA Junior National All-Americans. Moon placed fourth in the NHSCA Junior Nationals last spring. Moon was a North Carolina high school state fourth-place winner in 2010. Last season he dominated in the state tournament, scoring a tech fall and three major decisions. During the 2010-11 season, Moon lost only one match where he finished the year with a 41-1 record and the 4A 135-pound high school state championship. His only loss was a 3-2 decision to 4A senior 130-pound state champion Jovontae Coleman. Both Deangelo and Moon compete for the Hurricane Wrestling Club in the offseason. 7. Dustin Roemer (Pinecrest) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 Analysis: Roemer was a state qualifier his freshman year and placed sixth as a sophomore. Last season he won his first state championship and finished the season with a 49-1 record. Roemer is an old school "pinner." He scored 33 pins and four tech falls last season. In the state tournament he dominated scoring a tech fall, a pin and a major decision. In the state finals match he won by a decision, avenging his only loss of the season. Roemer should make a nice addition to most any college wrestling team. 8. J.J. LaPlante (West Wilkes) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Analysis: Another good prospect, LaPlante is a solid wrestler with good technical skills. He has a lean body style with good reach and balance. He was a state runner-up as a freshman and has won his first state championship as a sophomore. Last season, competing at 125 pounds, Laplante won his second state championship and finished the season with a 41-4 record. 9. John Sparks (Green Hope) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 120 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Analysis: Sparks was a state qualifier as a freshman and again as a sophomore. As a junior, Sparks had a dominating season. He won his first state championship and finished the season with a 47-0 record. Of these he scored 30 pins. Only four of Sparks' wins this past season were decisions. Sparks wrestled at 112 pounds his junior season. He could be a career 125-pounder in college. 10. Joseph Anders (Trinity) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Analysis: Anders placed sixth in the state tournament as a freshman. He was a state runner-up as a sophomore and again as a junior. The state finals was his only loss of the year. He finished the season with a 32-1 record. Honorable Mention: Carson Joyce (Chatham Central), Two-time state champion Hayden Albert (Fred T Foard), State runner-up Tyrone Mason (Cedar Ridge), Two-time state runner-up Alex Cabrera (South Caldwell). Placed third as sophomore, runner-up 2011 John Grigg (East Gaston), Has been fourth, state qualifier, and was third last season

Beginning Monday, ESPN3 will carry exclusive coverage of the FILA Wrestling World Championships live from Istanbul, Turkey. The first six to place in each Olympic weight category will qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games. From the U.S., 2004 Olympic gold medalist and Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson will return to the event in the 84-kilogram weight class. The schedule:

Save 50% Off Site Wide at Omaha Steaks! Valid 09.06.11 - 10.05.11. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- University of Illinois head coach Jim Heffernan announced that three-time All-American Cory Cooperman will join the Fighting Illini coaching staff as a volunteer assistant and Illini Wrestling Club coach. Cooperman comes to Illinois from Rutgers, where he served as assistant coach from 2009-11. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Cornell from 2006-09. Cory Cooperman (Photo/Tom Ciszek)"Cory has an enormous amount of energy, experience and , and will make an immediate impact on our student- athletes," Heffernan said. "He is exceptional technically and his strengths will enable us to become a more well-rounded team. His goals and focus are to help make Illinois a championship-caliber program." Cooperman helped guide Rutgers to a school-record 21 dual wins and a No. 9 national ranking in 2010-11. He also saw 165-pounder Scott Winston take home an Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association title and guided seven Scarlet Knights to NCAA berths, the most since 1960. During Cooperman's three years at Cornell, the Big Red produced three EIWA and Ivy League team titles, 12 All-Americans and two national champions. As a standout wrestler at Lehigh, Cooperman was a three-time EIWA champion in the 141-pound weight class, won the Southern Scuffle title in 2006 and was an alternate for the 2002 Junior World Team.

Related Link: 2011-12 George Mason Wrestling Schedule First-year head coach Joe Russell has officially released the schedule for the 2011-2012 George Mason wrestling season. The schedule features conference matchups on the road against Binghamton and Drexel, as well as matchups against Maryland and Virginia just before the CAA and NCAA Championships. "The early Open tournaments will let us evaluate and prepare for the dual meet season," said Russell. "The guys will be tested and hopefully it will help them grow so they will be ready for the dual meet season and tournament time in March." Mason will look to take advantage of their seven home matches this season, beginning with American on December 10th and ending with a February 16th match against Maryland. "It's always good to wrestle at home, so to have that many competitions at the RAC is going to be a big benefit to the guys," remarked Russell. "The conference tournament is on the road this year at Binghamton which will be an exciting time for the guys. We want them to be prepared to compete to qualify for the NCAA Championships in St Louis. Our home matches in the middle of the year will do a lot to help prepare our team for the conference and national tournament." With the beginning of the season less than 60 days away, Russell is looking for physical improvements in the weight room and mental preparation for the long season that is quickly approaching. "I want them to have a sense of urgency to get ready for these early competitions," said Russell. "Right now we're doing strength and conditioning in the morning. Guys are also starting to get themselves back on the mat and get their legs underneath them again. I see the countdown to the first match everyday on the website and it gets me excited. I want the team to be excited and fired up for the season to start as well." Tickets for all wrestling meets are $5 for adults and $2 for youth (18 & under). Tickets are available for purchase near the entrance to the RAC Gym beginning one hour prior to the start of the meet. Groups of 15 or more can purchase discounted tickets in advance through the Athletic Ticket Office. For information on group sales, please call 703-993-3270 or e-mail icatix@gmu.edu.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Seven contributors to the sport of wrestling will be honored Sunday, Oct. 9, by the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Wayne Bishop, Dennis Brand, Scott Chenoweth, Jim Love, Barry Patterson, Rick Reeves, and Todd Steidley will be honored with a banquet and induction ceremony in Oklahoma City at the Jim Thorpe Museum. A cocktail hour will begin at 3 p.m. with dinner and the ceremony to follow at 4 p.m. Reservations are $45 per person and are available online at www.ok-nwhof.ticketleap.com and are being accepted at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater. Six of these honorees will be inducted with Lifetime Service to Wrestling Awards, an honor given annually to those coaches, officials and contributors who have given a minimum of 20 years of service to the sport of wrestling, to their communities, and most importantly, to the young people they have coached, taught and inspired. Dennis Brand will be inducted as an Outstanding American, someone with a wrestling background who has excelled in other walks of life. For more information on the honorees or to purchase tickets for the banquet, contact Maghan Cawlfield at the NWHOF by phone at (405) 377-5243 or email at info@wrestlinghalloffame.org. Following in the footsteps of Bob Dellinger, his close friend and teacher, Wayne Bishop left his mark on wrestling in the state of Oklahoma through journalism. Bishop graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma in 1965. He covered his first high school state wrestling tournament in 1968 while working for the Broken Arrow Ledger. In 1970, he began covering sports at the Tulsa World Herald, including college and high school wrestling. Bishop has won many awards for his work in the sport, including the Scholastic Wrestling News national award, and he was a two-time winner Bob Dellinger Award from Amateur Wrestling News. Dennis Brand will receive the Outstanding American Award for his work outside the sport of wrestling. In 1970 Brand was a Big Eight champion for the University of Oklahoma at 158 lbs. He applied the skills learned in a wrestling room to a highly successful lifelong career in banking. In 1993, Brand accepted a position with BancFirst as president of its Shawnee market. At the time BancFirst had total assets of $750 million; today total assets exceed $5.4 billion. Brand became Chief Operating Officer in 2003 and in 2005 was named Chief Executive Officer. BancFirst is the largest state-chartered bank in Oklahoma with 90 branches in 50 Oklahoma communities with over 1,600 employees. Brand currently serves as a board member and treasurer of Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Foundation and as a board member of Midwest Housing Equity Group. As a past drive chairman for the United Way he was recognized in 1996 by United Way of America with the Mary M. Gates Service Award. Scott Chenoweth was a three-time state champion for Perry High School and a three-time All-American for the University of Nebraska (1989-1991). From 1993 through 1995 he served as an assistant wrestling coach at Perry High School before taking over the program in 1996. During his 16 years as head coach (1996-2011), his teams have won 12 state tournament championships, 11 state dual tournament championships, and four academic state championships. Perry has never placed lower than third at a state tournament during Chenoweth's tenure. His dual meet record stands at 263-76. Chenoweth has been named OWCA coach of the year 12 times and was a NHSACA national coach of the year finalist. He currently serves as Superintendent of Perry Schools. Jim Love has spent 42 consecutive years involved in wrestling as a competitor, coach, and fan of the sport. During that time, he coached 44 state qualifiers, 17 state placers, nine all-staters, four regional champions, and two state champions. He has served as the wrestling coach at Anadarko (1983-1990), Ardmore (1990-1992), and Little Axe (1992-present). His teams at Little Axe have compiled nine district championships, two conference championships and a 175-67-1 dual meet record. Love was twice named Midwestern Conference Coach of the Year (1987 and 1989) and was an all-state wrestling coach in 1999. He was also an all-state wrestler in 1977. In 2002, Barry Patterson coached Cushing High School to its first state wrestling title in 69 years. In 2003, Cushing won its first state dual team title ever. In 2004 and 2005, Cushing won both the traditional state title and the state dual team title, and from 2007 through 2009 they won three consecutive dual team titles. Patterson has a career dual meet record of 133-24 during his tenure as head wrestling coach at Cushing High School (1996-2009). His numerous awards include the 2005 NWCA Oklahoma Coach of the year, 2009 Oklahoma Coach of the Year, and 3A Coach of the Year three times. He currently serves as athletic director at Cushing High School. During his 31 years at Skiatook High School, Rick Reeves has served as both the assistant coach and the head coach for the team. He took part in a class 3A state team championship (1987), four regional championships, and seven district championships. Skiatook wrestling teams also had two state dual team runner-up finishes (1998 and 1999) and four regional runner-up finishes. Since taking over as head coach in 1994, Reeves has coached 39 state place winners, nine state champions, and five all-state wrestlers. He also spent 25 years coaching junior high football, nine years as an assistant high school football coach, and four years coaching junior high track. Todd Steidley was a state wrestling champion for Tulsa Union High School before a successful collegiate career. He was a NAIA national champion for the University of Central Oklahoma in 1987, and a Division I NCAA qualifier for Utah State in 1985. Steidley was the head wrestling coach at Bristow High School from 1992 through 1998, leading his team to state titles in 1994, 1996, and 1997, as well as state dual team titles in 1995 and 1998. From 1996 through 2006, he coached Ponca City High School to four state team titles (2003-2006) and three state dual team titles (2003-2005). He was named coach of the year in Oklahoma eight times during his coaching tenure. Steidley currently serves as principal at Claremore High School.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota released its wrestling schedule for the 2011-12 season. It looks like it will be another exciting season of Gopher Wrestling. Right off the bat the Gophers travel out East to take on Cornell and 2011 NCAA champion Penn State in State College, Pa. Other key dates are Dec. 2 at Central Michigan and Dec. 4 at Oklahoma State. Minnesota will host Iowa State on Friday Dec. 9 at Williams Arena.

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! Thanks to Trent Paulson (TP1) for joining us in studio last week. This week we wish the best to our men and women of Team USA as they head to Istanbul, Turkey for the 2011 World Championships. Join Hosts Scott Casber, 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 Dan Wirnsberger, Head wrestling coach at Bucknell 9:20 Jim Beichner, Head wrestling coach at Buffalo 9:40 Jeremy Spates, Assistant wrestling coach at Cornell 9:50 Ty Barkley, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update 10:01 Brian Smith, Head wrestling coach at Missouri 10:20 Kyle Borshoff, Assistant wrestling coach at American 10:40 Bob Patnesky, Head wrestling coach at Davidson 10:50 Amy Ruble, Wildrose Casino and Resort, Emmettsburg, Iowa Fans, athletes, coaches this is your sport. Join in the conversation LIVE, ask questions. 866-333-5966 515-204-5966. Join us live 9 to 11 a.m. CT for Takedown Wrestling. Listen on radio, Internet (KXNO.com or Takedownradio.com), or your Blackberry or iPhone with the iHeart Radio app.

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. While perhaps operating slightly under the radar for the past three (in some cases more) years, the Empire State Class of 2012 is one of the deepest in recent history. In fact, so immense was the overall talent in this senior class, that when polling a panel of New York State wrestling aficionados, upwards of 15-20 names were thrown out for serious consideration. Supporting the argument that the Class of 2012, like the two senior classes that preceded it, was among the strongest in the nation was the fact that collectively this group of upperclassmen never to finish lower than fourth at the respective NHSCA grade level tournaments (including a pair of runner-up finishes as freshmen and sophomores). In speaking to trusted associates from other states, I have often heard the words "sleeper" and "secret" attached to this particular class because quite a few members of the Top 10 were student-athletes who did the majority of their damage within the borders of New York State. While on at least one occasion, almost all of them branched out and proved themselves on the national level, the validity of the situation is that it is entirely possible that this profile will be the first time you are hearing some of these names (unless you happen to live in the Big-NY). I can assure you, a shortage of national credentials does not translate into a lack of ability. An interesting tidbit, is that because of the universal competitive nature of this senior class, I am pretty much guaranteed to post my lowest Top 10 state champion quotient in the three years that I have been penning this piece. The reason behind this inevitable validity is that when revealing their intended weight class for the upcoming season, four of the seven NYS DI members of the list cited a desire to compete at 152 pounds, creating what surely will be an epic battle to stand alone atop the podium in Albany. It is precisely this "test myself against the best" attitude that will ultimately propel the 11 men on this list to present and future feats on the scholastic and collegiate levels respectively ... With a combined 11 state titles, three NHSCA individual national titles, and a Junior National freestyle title (to go along with countless All-American honors), the combined resumes of this group stand on its own accord. What's equally impressive and intimidating is that if not for the aforementioned innate need to seek out the greatest caliber of challenge, these resumes might jump off the page even higher than they already do. This is a remarkable assemble that if you do not already know them, you will shortly because they will command your attention with their performances on the mat. They have no intention of resting on their laurels! 1. Brian Realbuto (Somers) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: The first NYS wrestler to win a Junior National freestyle crown since Troy Nickerson, the two-time DI state champion from Somers is nothing if not the consummate big-game wrestler. In earning his spot on the top step in the FARGODOME, Realbuto had to go through a who's who of nationally-ranked competitors, including among others Oliver Pierce, Jake Sueflohn, and Brian Murphy (who he pinned in the finals). While his title may have been considered an upset by some, we in New York have come to expect nothing less from Realbuto, who has made a career out of taking out the biggest names on the grandest stages. In fact, in his two state finals appearances, Realbuto bested a 2010 NYS champ/NHSCA Senior National bronze medalist Damon McQueen in 2009 at 103 as a freshman, as well as another former state titlist/2010 NHSCA Junior National champ Bob Dierna, who was on last year's New York Top 10 list, to win this year's 135-pound hardware. Brian Realbuto (Photo/Dave Jedlicka, jedicheetah.com)Realbuto could very well have been chasing his fourth title this year if not for a hard-fought loss to fellow two-timer Nigel McNeil as a sophomore in the 112-pound semifinals (13-10 final). To his credit, this young man, who is as talented in the classroom as he is on the wrestling mat, demonstrated an attribute of all champions, perseverance, in bouncing back to finish third in 2010. Already a four-time NYS placewinner/five-time qualifier (finished fourth as an eighth-grader), in addition to his Junior National freestyle title this past summer, InterMat's No. 16 recruit has repeatedly shown his ability to hang with the best in the land. A third place finisher in the inaugural FloNationals in 2010, Realbuto has also added NHSCA All-American honors to his name, finishing fourth a freshman in Virginia Beach at 112. Currently a disciple of Max Askren (who joined the Somers' staff this past season), Realbuto described his style as being "aggressive and funky and funky once I get down to the mat." Presently, he is considering the following colleges in random order: Cornell, Lehigh, Penn, and defending NCAA champion Penn State. 2. Quinton Murphy (Holley) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138/145 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Analysis: A surefire lock to become a six-time NYS DII placewinner (that's right, he's been doing well since seventh grade), Murphy will head into his senior campaign looking to join an exclusive club of four-time NYS champs. A winner as an eighth-grader (103), sophomore (125), and junior (135), if not for Matt Peters (who beat the Murphy in the 119-pound finals 4-0 in '09), the No. 33 recruit in the nation would be on pace to join the even more exclusive club of five-time titlists. (Currently Troy Nickerson is the sole member.) So consistent has been the Holley senior over the course of his six-year varsity career that the only time he did not wrestle in the finals was when he finished sixth as a very undersized 96-pound seventh-grader; this is pretty darn good when you consider that this weight class was so stacked 2011 NY-10 No. 2 wrestler Grant Greene (now at Northwestern) and Top 10 honorable mention Arik Robinson (at Buffalo) also failed to win the title. Quinton MurphyNationally (and for that matter internationally as he was a gold medalist for the USA at the 2010 Pan-American Youth Olympics), Murphy has proven time and time again that he is standout in every sense of the word. You name the tournament and Murphy has made his mark on it. A two-time NHSCA All-American (sixth as a freshman at 119; second as a sophomore at 130), as well as a 2009 Super 32 Challenge placewinner (sixth at 130), this past offseason was a banner one for Murphy and really raised his stock as a recruit. A national runner-up at the 2011 FloNationals (135), Murphy put an emphatic exclamation mark on his summer when he finished third at the Junior National freestyle tournament (defeating eventual champion Ben Whitford in pool play), as well as Iowa State recruit John Meeks in the medal rounds. Priding himself on his solid technical abilities, Murphy said that his goal for every match that he wrestles is to simply out work and out wrestle his opponent. Thus far, this has been a winning formula. Addressing the future, the highly touted prospect has yet to reach a final decision, but did say that he is looking closely at the following schools: Buffalo, Bloomsburg, Rutgers, Arizona State. 3. Chris Nevinger (Letchworth) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Analysis: As a sign of the pure dominance possessed by Section V this year on the divisional II level, Nevinger becomes the second consecutive student-athlete from that region to be make the Top 10. This is an honor rightfully deserved. Of the 10 young gentlemen who made this list, it is Nevinger owns the label as the "winningest wrestler" from the Class of 2012. With four combined titles (two state -- 145 in '10/152 in '11; two NHSCA grade level national titles -- both at 145 in '09 and '10), no one has hoisted hardware more than Nevinger in their scholastic careers. What makes this remarkable is that he accomplished all of this despite constantly having to deal with the pressure of being compared to older brother/former three-time NYS DII champion/current Cornell wrestler Mike. Should Chris do what many feel is an almost certainty and cap his career with a third state title, the combined six will forever solidify the Nevinger brothers as among the greatest in Empire State history. Chris Nevinger (Photo/Bob Blair)A bronze medalist as a junior in Virginia Beach at 152 pounds, Nevinger would also have to be considered among the favorites should he elect to compete at NHSCA Senior Nationals. Should he make this decision and reign victorious, he would join a fairly familiar name, Kyle Dake, as a three-time NHSCA Nationals champ from the state of New York. Regarded as a fierce counter wrestler, once Nevinger seizes control, he can be downright nasty from the top position with his tilts, as showcased in his profile photo. He also described his style as being somewhat cerebral, taking his time to ensure proper setups and successful outcomes. While this stud from Letchworth was unsure of his college plans, I can tell you that at least one high profile coach from an EIWA school was extremely high on him and actively intended to pursue him and land his services. 4. Jimmy Kloc (Iroquois) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: Quite possibly a name that does not automatically ring a bell, be forewarned that Jimmy Kloc is not someone to be reckoned with. An absolute physical beast, if titles were given out for being ripped and/or jacked, this young man may already have been an Empire State legend. As it stands, he is already a three-time NYS DI placewinner and a two-time finalist, earning his first state title this in 2011 at 145 pounds. His lone non-finals appearance came in 2009 when he finished fifth as a freshman in a 135-pound weight class where the top three placers all concluded their respective careers as two-time NYS champions (Dutton, Lenzi, and Liguori). In following the emerging pattern, it would be no understatement to suggest that Kloc may very well have been gunning for his third crown in 2012 if not for the previously mentioned Dutton. In both of Kloc's first two trips to Albany, it was Dutton who prevented him from reaching the pinnacle, beating him in the semifinals in 2009, and then in doing it again in deja vu fashion the following year in the 140-pound state finals. Seeing how Dutton just finished his true freshman year one victory short of NCAA All-American honors, it goes without saying that Kloc is among the best one-timers in the nation this season. And, given the gauntlet-like feel that 152 has adapted, should he not repeat, he will undoubtedly go down as one of the top one-timers in the chronicles of NYS history. Jimmy KlocNationally, the superstar from Iroquois has not been as active as some might prefer to see. However, I suppose it does not much matter how present you are, when the one time you do test yourself against the nation (2009 NHSCA Freshman Nationals at 140), you came out on top. A physically-imposing wrestler, Kloc does not need to score much in order to beat you. His ability to control you often leads to low scoring affairs that end in his favor. Winning a match 3-2 is perfectly acceptable to him, because he knows that at the end of the day, all that matters is the guy who gets his hand raised. Still very early in the recruiting season, Kloc indicated that at present time, his most interested suitor appears to be North Carolina-Chapel Hill. 5. Dylan Palacio (Long Beach) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 145/152 Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 Analysis: The most controversial of the selections thus far, many of the people that I consulted with were unsure if Palacio deserved a spot this high on the list. The reason for their concern was the lack of a state title, despite being a three-time qualifier and a two-time placewinner (fourth as a sophomore at 140; third as a junior at 145). However, when giving consideration to his candidacy, I could not help but be won over by the breadth of his national resume. This is the kind of kid that seems to show up for everything. And more importantly, he produces when he is there. Having had the best offseason by any senior not named Realbuto or Murphy, Palacio was my "high ceiling" pick. By this, I refer to the fact that in the three years that I have been doing this list, there is always one guy who I elevate to a fairly high spot (regardless of the absence of a state title) because of the level of potential that I see in him at the next level. Given the intangibles of work ethic, desire to succeed, and just a plethora of God-given ability, Palacio is an individual who I could see having a Jon Masa (former three-time All-American for Hofstra who never won a NYS title) career. After all, both are products of the same high school program. Dylan PalacioIf you were to measure this young man only by his performances in Albany, you likely would be doing him and yourself a credit disservice. For whatever reason, Palacio seems to come alive and be the best version of himself when competing on the national stage. A Greco All-American on both the Cadet and Junior levels in his career (fifth at 135 in '09; eighth at 152 in '11), Palacio is a true three-styler (having come up just short of Junior freestyle All-American honors in 2011). Attesting to his vast folkstyle talent is the fact that he is coming off of an unblemished record at the Disney Duals (competing for a North Carolina team), and in the past has accounted for a pair of NHSCA grade level All-American finishes (fifth as sophomore; third as a junior -- both at 145 pounds). Like a fine wine, this kid just seems to get better with age. A self-described dynamic wrestler, Palacio said he often makes up moves on the spot. He feels this unorthodox style makes him hard to wrestle, especially the first time you are facing him. Above all else, he is of the opinion that you need to be create and inventive in order to keep the sport fresh and enjoyable. As he so eloquently put it, "I'll never win if I am not having fun while on the mat." Collegiately, like a young man with his head screwed on right, Palacio indicated that he is looking for the best combination of academics and athletics. Hence, while there is still much discussion in his future, schools that have initially caught his eye include the likes of Cornell, Columbia, Bucknell, Harvard, Princeton, Maryland, Stanford, Ohio State, Arizona State, and Buffalo, among others. Palacio is also a blue-chip soccer player and could be exploring dual offers to compete in both sports on the DI level. 6. Derek Pfluger (Sandy Creek) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Perhaps the polar opposite of the person who preceded him on the list, Pfluger is a student-athlete who made and further proclaimed his reputation all within borders of NYS. Joining Realbuto as an individual seeking his fifth All-State performance in 2012, Pfluger is just one of those kids that you love to have on your team because he's money in the bank. The Sandy Creek staff knows that every time he takes the mat, they are guaranteed to get a steady effort out of him. In a world where people love upsets, he never gives you one because as a perennial top dog, he takes care of business each and every time he dons his school or sectional singlet. Such reliability is evident when you consider the tidbit that in the past four years, this two-time finalist/one-time NYS DII champion (in 2010), has never finished lower than third (which he did as both an eighth and ninth-grader) in his high school career. Joining the growing line of guys who very well could have been entering their senior seasons as multiple-time state champions, it is strongly believed by me and almost all of my colleagues that had he chosen to bump up to 145 in 2011, Pfluger might very well have repeated as a state champion. But alas, in typical warrior spirit, the "dirty blonde haired assassin" put more value in challenging the best, electing instead to stay at 140 and go against class of 2011 NY-10 recipient/current Binghamton freshman Derek Heyman. While he would drop a heartbreaking 4-2 decision in the DII state finals, Pfluger's willingness to embrace the challenge made a fan of me. Derek PflugerWhen asked, Pfluger attributed his scholastic wrestling success to being tough and fundamentally sound in all three positions. However, he commented that he felt his strongest when working from the top position. Being that college matches can be won or lost via riding time, it is his top game that Pfluger is confident will make him an asset to any collegiate program. However, at the time that we chatted, he had yet to initiate the recruitment process. 7. Alec Dierna (Wayne) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 120/126 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Analysis: A three-time NYS DI qualifier/two-time placewinner/2010 state champion (at 103), Dierna makes history with this selection. In joining his older brother Bob (referenced above), the Diernas become the first siblings to make the New York Top 10 list in different seasons. (In 2011, the Scott brothers shared a spot. Oddly enough, they too were from section V.) While Bob's number on the list hay have been higher, there is every reason in the world to suspect that by the end of the year, Al's state title count may surpass that of big brother. A third-place finisher this past year in the 119-pound weight class, anyone who questions Dierna's potential need only to revisit the 2010 NYS tournament where he cruised to the title, pinning two of his opponents (including 2009 Junior National freestyle runner-up/2010 NHSCA Senior Nationals champion Max Soria, in the semifinals), and outscoring two others by a combined tally of 16-7 (9-2 in the finals over 2011 Harvard recruit, Joe Barbato, the wrestler who knocked him out of title contention as a 96-pound freshman in 2009). Alec DiernaMaking the Wayne High School product so dangerous is his variety of offensive attacks. He is a chain wrestler who will hit you with different setups, from different angles, and at different times during the match. With such an unpredictable approach from his feet, Dierna is capable of lighting up the scoreboard. If you try to shoot it out with him, you better be prepared to get tagged with an "l" on your record. Similar to many of his peers on the list, Dierna feels that there is plenty of time to concern himself with the recruitment process. Therefore, for the time being he is focusing instead on building for a successful senior campaign -- one that he is confident will end with him regaining his top spot on the podium. He did however make mention of the fact that Maryland, under the tutelage of former NYS great, Kerry McCoy, has attracted early interest from him and his family. 8. Connor Sutton (LaSalle) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 Analysis: Representing the present in what has been a recent golden era for the LaSalle wrestling program is defending NYS DI champion Sutton. As a freshman, he had a front row seat to watch as teammates Zach Clemente and Ken Altarac would go on to repeat as state champs in their senior season. Before this dynamic duo, it was Michael Chaires in 2007 putting the closing remarks on a career that yielded multiple titles. Sutton is hopeful and confident that 2012 will be his year to follow in the tradition. Connor SuttonIf there was ever a young man who the populace of the Empire State was happy to see win it in 2011 (at 140), it was Sutton, who in two previous attempts (at 112 in '09 and at 125 in '10) in Albany failed to place. However, as a mainstay on the New York teams that have competed at the National Duals, Sutton is something of a fan favorite. In a time when many others are turning down invitations to represent their state, he seems to always be among the first to volunteer. It is this philosophy of "state above self" that made it a necessity for me to find a spot for Connor on this list. Armed with a nasty headlock and some top-level Greco-Roman skills (he went 4-1 at the Junior GR Duals), opponents go upper body against Sutton at their own risk (and more often than not, their own peril). He uniquely, but rather colorfully summarized his strategy on the mat by uttering the following, "All warfare is based on deception." Himself a champion in the classroom as well on the wrestling mat, Sutton cited the Ivy League as his future ambition. While he is uncertain which member of this prestigious list he will lend his services to, he very much takes to heart the notion that student comes before athlete in the term "student-athlete." 9a. James Dekrone (John Glenn) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138/145 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Analysis: If there ever was a living example that perseverance pays dividends, it rests in the mind, body, and spirit of this John Glenn senior. Placing no higher than fourth in his own sectional/state qualify during the first two years of his scholastic career, Dekrone's run to the 2011 130-pound state finals was nothing short of a Cinderella story (that unfortunately came one fairy Godmother short, as well as one blue chip prince, Rutgers' freshman Steven Rodrigues, too many of ending with the glass slipper). Making his debut in Albany, one by one, Dekrone took on and disposed of some of the biggest household names in NYS. In the quarterfinals, he would earn the 6-3 "w" over returning state finalist Malik Rasheed (an opponent that he also defeated weeks earlier in the Suffolk County semifinals). Next up, he was matched against current Princeton freshman, multiple-time NHSCA All-American (including a runner-up finish at 2011 NHSCA Senior Nationals) Chris Perez. And yet again, it would be Dekrone rising to the occasion, penetrating the tight defense of Perez to emerge with the 6-4 decision. In defeat, Dekrone showed why he was one to watch in 2012, going nose-to-nose with Rodrigues, dropping the bout by the narrowest of margins, 3-2. When you take into account the fact that a few months later, Rodrigues would go on to finish fifth in the Junior National freestyle competition, which included a win over No. 2 Murphy, the overall effort in keeping the match so close takes on greater significance. James DekroneNationally, Dekrone is a wrestler who has been on the cusp several times in his scholastic career, coming up just short in 2009 (119) and 2011 (135) of NHSCA All-American honors. In 2010, all of the pieces seemed to fall into place, as he fought his way to a third- place finish as a sophomore in a competitive 125-pound bracket. A wrestler who likes to control the pace of the match, Dekrone says that the key ingredient to his success is to let the action come to him. Rather than force it and put himself in bad positions, he goes with the flow and seizes opportunities as they naturally develop. On the topic of college, he too was just getting started with the process and elected not to name any specific schools as the current time. 9b. Anthony Finocchiaro (Canastota) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138/145 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Analysis: As a trained, professional journalist, I have been taught that you cannot run away from your errors. Therefore, in the spirit of full disclosure, I will admit that initially I did not have Finocchiaro on the list, simply because over the course of the past few years, I have been so focused on blogging the DI tournament, that I never got the chance to actually scout him. However, when doing the research on Dekrone, I could not help but take notice of the fact that everywhere the former was, so was the latter (including a head-to-head 6-5 victory in the NHSCA Freshman Nationals). Hence, as someone who is committed to doing what is both just and earned, I had no other option but to bestow upon this young stud the respect and credit that he had earned. This student-athlete has written his own ticket. He is a much worthy recipient of this distinction and I have no intent of cheating him of the acclaim. Anthony FinocchiaroSimilar to the person who he shares the No. 9 spot with (Dekrone competing in DI), 2011 marked the first time that Finocchiaro made an appearance in the NYS Division II tournament. A two-time DI qualifier for Baldwinsville, Finocchiaro went 1-2 in 2010 (after also going 1-2 in 2009), having the unfortunate luck of running into former NYS finalist, Justis Flamio in the quarterfinal round. An 8-1 defeat, followed by a narrow 4-3 loss in his first consolation match (to eventual fourth-place finisher, Ryan Gerondel) would mark a sour ending to his sophomore season...Fast forward one year, and despite again finding himself in a loaded bracket featuring a pair of future Harvard Crimson wrestlers (Pat Hogan and Ryan Osleeb), the Canastota grappler would put forth a great effort, taking home the bronze and instantly securing his spot on the "to watch" list for 2012. In much the same way that I regard No. 5 Palacio, my decision to add Finocchiaro to the list was grounded in the theory that this is a kid who just knows how to turn it on when stepping onto the big stage. As only the second three-time NHSCA All-American among the group (Nevinger being the first), there is no doubting his ability to bang it out with the finest this country has to offer. Also of keen interest is the fact that of all of the people on the list, he may have the highest ceiling, as proven when he catapulted from two seventh and eighth place finishes as a freshman (at 119) and sophomore (at 125) to a runner-up placement at 130 this past offseason at NHSCA Junior Nationals in Virginia Beach. Because of my original oversight, I did not have the opportunity to contact him directly for recruitment information. Therefore, I will say only that his national body of work over the duration of the past three years makes him in my opinion the kind of wrestler that any DI institution would be lucky to have representing them. If I am correct about him only now coming into his own, then it is quite possible that he could end up being the biggest steal of the 2012 recruiting season. 10. Sam Speno (Fox Lane) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Analysis: While fearful of beating a dead horse, Speno is another guy whose potential and growth in the past year I could not overlook. He too has the guts and heart of a lion. A three-time NYS qualifier, Speno announced his presence with authority in 2009, finishing fifth in a deep 96-pound bracket of talented underclassmen (with all four placewinners older than him having moved onto the NCAA DI level). For this reason, he headed into his sophomore campaign as a favorite to again being among the Empire State's best. However, bad luck would intervene when a string of upsets resulted in him running into returning state champion Mike Soria (twin brother of the previously mentioned Max) in a 103-pound elimination match to determine who would place. Giving it his best shot, Speno was unable to defeat the Soria (two years his elder), and fell 6-0, thus coming one "w" short of the podium. Rather than sulk and feel sorry for himself, the Fox Lane gem went back to work with a fire in his belly; a true man on a mission. This "take no prisoners" attitude proved to be worth its value in silver as during the regular season, Speno would beat former NYS finalist/2010 NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Sean McCormick on multiple occasions, further confirming that if you wanted the state title, you would need to go through him. This notion would come to fruition as Speno figuratively spanked his first three opponents, pinning his first victim midway through the second period and outscoring his other two foes by a combined score of 19-4 (including a 6-2 victory over returning NYS fourth-place finisher Asher Kramer, also of Section I), thus locking up his first career finals appearance at 112 pounds. Unfortunately, awaiting him on the top half of the bracket was none other than McCormick, who in relying on his senior experience managed to even the score, securing the necessary takedowns to walk away with the 5-2 decision and deprive Speno of that much craved crown. Sam SpenoIf the improvement made from last offseason to this past year is any indication of what we can expect from Speno, than this kid is going to march into his senior season like a possessed caged animal looking for blood. If he tells me he's going all the way, I am sure going to take his word for it. Breaking down his strategy for us, Speno expressed that the key to victory comes from being aggressive and getting off first. As he phrased it, "If I stay on the attack and continue to get in deep, my opponent is going to have no choice but to wrestle from a position of disadvantage." Still weighing his college options, Speno did say that he is looking to go DI and wants to attend a school that offers a strong program in physical education. Working in his favor is the knowledge that almost all prominent NCAA DI teams have above average schools of education. Thus, he will have his pick of amazing opportunities. Honorable Mention: Danny Ventura (Fox Lane), 2nd in '11 at 119* Tom Page (Eden), 5th in '09 at 96, 3rd in '10 at 112, 3rd in '11 at 119* Jeff O'Lena (East Rochester), 6th in '09 at 96, 5th in '11 at 119* Corey Dake (Lansing), 4th in '09 at 96, 4th in '10 at 112, 6th in '11 at 119* Jimmy Kyreakedes (Dobbs Ferry), 6th in '10 at 103, 4th in '11 at 119* Kevin Strong (Frewsburg), 5th in '09 at 103, 3rd in '11 at 125* Malik Rasheed (Longwood), 5th in '09 at103, 2nd in '10 at 112* Ben Haas (Salamanica), State Champion in '11 at 145* Lucas Malmberg (Marathon), State Champion in '11 at 96, NHSCA AA in '11 ** Mark Raghunadan (Long Beach), 3rd in '10 at 96, 2nd in '11 at 103, Fargo Double AA in '10** Jacob Goddeau (Peru), State Champion in '09 at 96, 4th in '10 at 103, NHSCA AA in '11** Tyler Button (Phoenix), 4th in '10 at 145, 3rd in '11 at 145, NHSCA AA in '09** Tristan Hamner (Medina), 5th in '10 at 152, 3rd in '11 at 152, NHSCA AA in '09, '10, '11** Matt Lashaway (Queensbury), 2nd in '11 at 171, FloNationals AA in '11** Tony Lock (Pioneer), 4th in '10 at 171, 2nd in '11 at 171, NHSCA AA in '09** Austyn Hayes (Phoenix), 4th in '10 at 171, 6th in '11 at 171, NHSCA AA in '09, '10** Ryan Todd (Lansing), 2nd in '10 at 189, 2nd in '11 at 189, NHSCA AA in '10** Zach Diekel (Whitehall), 4th in '09 at 171, 5th in '10 at 171, 3rd in '11 at 189, NHSCA AA in '09** Kacee Sauer (Holley), 2nd in '10 at 285, 2nd in '11 at 285, NHSCA AA in '09** Pat Skinner (Kellenberg Memorial), 6th in '11 at 103, NHSCA AA in '11*** Sean McCabe (Connetquot), 3rd in '11 at 112, NHSCA AA in '10*** Dylan Caruana (Kenmore West), 6th in '11 at 125, NHSCA AA in '11*** Jamel Hudson (St. Anthony's), 5th in '11 at 135, NHSCA AA in '10*** Aaron Dudley (Hudson Falls), 6th in '11 at 145, NHSCA AA in '09*** Keegan Cerwinski (Greene), 6th in '11 at 160, NHSCA AA in '09*** Tony Fusco (Shenendehowa), 4th in '11 at 189, 2009 NHSCA AA*** Cole Lampman (Shenendehowa), 5th in '11 at 285, NHSCA AA in '10 * '11 NYS finalist or former multiple-time NYS placewinner ** '11 NYS finalist or former multiple-time NYS placewinner + NHSCA, Flo, or Fargo AA *** NYS Placewinner + NHSCA, Flo, or Fargo AA

Kayla Harrison, a 2010 World champion in judo, and Gordy Morgan, a 1996 Greco-Roman Olympian, will go "On the Mat" this Wednesday, September 7. "On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM Central on AM 1650, The Fan. An archive of the show can be found on www.themat.tv. E-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show. During the months of August and September the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum will conduct “champions” interviews with champion athletes and coaches outside the sport of wrestling. There will also be regular interviews with wrestlers and coaches. This week's "champion" interview is with Kayla Harrison. Harrison was a 2010 World champion in judo at the 78 kg weight class. She earned a bronze medal at this year's World Championships in Paris. Gordy Morgan was a 1996 Greco-Roman Olympian at 74 kg. The Morgan family will be recognized on Oct. 1, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn., with the Greco-Roman Legacy Award. John, Gordy and Marty (sons of Jim and Olive Morgan) won a combined 10 national Greco-Roman titles. They also competed in two Olympics and nine World championships.

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. The Class of 2012 returns a very accomplished group of seniors that consists of five returning state champions, one three-time state champion that is in position to possibly become the second four-time California state champion since the first state tournament in 1973, four in pursuit of a rare fourth California state medal, and five competing for a respective third. In addition, five of the Top 10 are from the talent-rich Central Valley. At the national level, this group has performed very well among the elite states at the Junior & Cadet Nationals in Fargo and NHSCA Nationals, producing a total of 35 All-American honors, four individual national champions, and seven of the Top 10 wrestlers who are ranked among InterMat's Top 100 seniors. Leading this talented group of seniors is Alex Cisneros of Selma High School in the Central Valley. After a hard-fought state championship final against Clovis North's Vince Rodriguez (NHSCA Senior Nationals champion/three-time state medalist), Cisneros has positioned himself to go for a very rare fourth California state title. So rare, only six wrestlers have made the trip to the state finals four times, but with Cisneros being only the third of the past six to be in a position to win a possible fourth entering his senior year. Much the same as the last season, the road to a fourth title will not be an easy achievement. The talent base in the light middleweight divisions is "nails," but Cisneros has proven each year that he has what it takes to get the job done. Joining Cisneros in the pursuit of earning a rare fourth state medal is returning state champion and three-time medalist Daniel Gaytan of Clovis and teammate Zach Nevills, a finalist in 2010, and in position to earn a fourth medal. Other returning wrestlers that have great Division I potential include returning state champions Jake Elliott of Oakmont and Junior National champion (double finalist) Johnson Mai of North Torrance in SoCal. Despite not having a California state title behind their names, Natrelle Demision (Bakersfield), James Wilson (McNair-Stockton), and Victor Pereira (Newark Memorial) each are accomplished wrestlers with impressive resumes. Demison is in pursuit of a third state medal (third, fifth) and has earned three All-American honors. Earning a NHSCA National title in 2010, Wilson is a four-time All-American (Cadet/Junior/NHSCA) and has placed fourth at state twice. A state finalist in 2011, Pereira is a two-time All-American and in pursuit of a third state medal and will challenge for the state title. In my humble opinion, the top two upper middleweights in the country this year are from the Golden State. They are returning state champions Joey Davis of Santa Fe in SoCal and Central Valley's Nikko Reyes of Clovis West. After winning a tough 171-pound weight group and second state medal, Reyes capped his junior season off by winning a second NHSCA Nationals title in Virginia. Perhaps one of the most physical and lightning quick middleweights in the country, Davis opened a lot of eyes when he dominated a strong field at the FloNationals by beating Walsh Ironman champion Ian Miller of Ohio in the championship final, thus raising his national ranking considerably. His style reminds me a great deal of World and Olympic champion Kenny Monday of Oklahoma State. On a final note, I expect the CIF State Championships to be highly competitive again this season and am confident that our top seniors in California will do very well on the national stage, which includes high-caliber tournaments such as Walsh Ironman, Reno TOC, and the NHSCA Nationals in Virginia Beach. While compiling this list, it was once again very difficult to pick the Top 10 because many of wrestlers listed in the "honorable mention" section are just as talented and are more than capable of being in the Top 10. In short, there is a great deal of depth again this season and the road to the top podium in California will be a hard-fought battle to say the least. Below is a look at California's Top 10 high school recruits and list of highly-talented wrestlers listed as "honorable mention" from the Class of 2012. 1. Alex Cisneros (Selma) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Alex Cisneros (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Analysis: When Alex Cisneros won his first California state title in 2009, he became the youngest wrestler in the history of the CIF State Championships to achieve this great feat at the age of 14. Now entering his senior season, Cisneros has become the third Golden State wrestler to be in position to earn a very rare fourth state title. So rare, only one California wrestler has achieved this milestone. The first to be in position to win a fourth was Jacob Palomino of Independence, who in 2001 was defeated in the championship final by Bakersfield's Darrell Vasquez in a barnburner of a match. The following year, Vasquez dominated a strong field and became the first wrestler to earn the "Big Four," and it has taken 10 years for another California wrestler to be in position to possibly join Vasquez in achieving this prestigious honor. The journey for Cisneros has been somewhat of a smooth ride with only a few slight bumps in the road, but from what I have observed from him these past years is his sense of focus and confidence on the mat, which will play an important factor in his pursuit of achieving the Big Four. In addition to earning three state titles, Cisneros is a three-time ASICS All-American and has a Super 32 Challenge title to his belt. Ranked No. 7 by InterMat's Top 100 Seniors, Cisneros is also a top-notch student and has verbally committed to attend Cornell University next fall and will join his fellow high school teammate Nick Pena. Major Accomplishments: CIF State Champion '11 CIF State Champion '10 CIF State Champion '09 Three-Time CIF Central Section Champion Three-Time ASICS All-American Super 32 Challenge Champion '08 2. Nikko Reyes (Clovis West) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 174/184 Nikko Reyes (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Analysis: I first took notice of Nikko Reyes during his sophomore year at the CIF State Championships in Bakersfield. It was his enthusiasm and confidence to compete against top-level competition that set him apart from a majority of underclassman at his weight, especially at the California State Championships where it is uncommon to have a freshman or sophomore place in the top four in the middle to heavyweight divisions, let alone even medal. Like a true competitor, Reyes set his mark on the mat when he placed third at state that year. He continued his dominance on the mat at the NHSCA Nationals, winning a title in the sophomore division. The following year, he elevated his stock even more by winning the Reno TOC and dominating a very loaded 171-pound weight group at state and earning a second national title at the NHSCA Junior Nationals in Virginia. Reyes enters his senior season rated among the top seniors in the country, and in my humble opinion, is among the top upper middleweights in the country. Ranked No. 11 by InterMat's Top 100 Seniors, Reyes has verbally committed to attend the University of Illinois next fall. Major Accomplishments: CIF State Champion '11 Third CIF State '10 Two-Time NHSCA National Champion 3. Joey Davis (Santa Fe) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160/170 Projected College Weight Class: 165 Joey Davis (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Analysis: Joey Davis first entered my radar in December of 2009 when he rallied back from a second round loss at the Reno TOC to win eight straight matches to place a solid third place. It was his ability to overcome an early-round loss at a tough tournament and fight his way back to the medal stand that impressed me a great deal. The mental toughness required to achieve this task is not easy. From that point forward Davis had increasingly improved. Later that season he reached the CIF state finals as a sophomore, only to lose a hard fought match to David Ferry of Central Catholic. Last year, Davis set himself apart from the pack when he dominated a tough field in California to win his first state title, but that performance alone did not impress several within the national ranking groups. An early-season loss at the Reno TOC cast doubt on his ability to perform at the national level, but those demons of doubt vanished when he dominated a tough field at the FloNationals beating nationally-ranked Ian Miller from Oak Harbor, Ohio in the finals. In addition to his national title, Davis earned All-American honors at the NHSCA Nationals in 2009, placing third. In my humble opinion, Joey Davis is among the top middleweights in the country, if not the best. The quickness on his feet and power on the mat reminds me a great deal of the legendary Olympic and World champion Kenny Monday of Oklahoma. Keep an eye on this kid; he is truly a competitor that has the talent to take it to the next several levels and compete at the Division I level and beyond. Ranked No. 13 among the top 100 seniors per InterMat, Davis has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: CIF State Champion '11 FloNationals Champion/All-American '11 Second CIF State '10 NHSCA All-American '09 4. Zach Nevills (Clovis) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 174/184 Zach Nevills (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Analysis: Zach Nevills has been in the state spotlight since placing a solid fifth at state tournament his freshman year (very rare in California for a freshman to place at state in the middle to light heavyweight divisions). Since that time Nevills has earned two additional medals, placing second and third respectively. Despite not having the national credentials, as does many of the Top 10 and wrestlers listed in the honorable mention section, Nevills is truly among the top tier in the state and country. He proved his ability to compete against the nation's best by placing at several of the top tournaments in the country, such as Walsh Ironman, POWERade, and recently winning the highly-competitive Cheesehead Invitational in Wisconsin last year. Along with Cisneros and fellow teammate Daniel Gaytan, Nevills is in position to earn a rare fourth state medal and has the talent and skill level to win it all ... even challenge Nikko Reyes, if at the same weight. (Nevills beat Reyes at the Temecula "Battle for the Belt" Invitational last year.) Ranked among the Top 100 seniors per InterMat, Nevills has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: Third CIF State '11 Second CIF State '10 Fifth CIF State '09 5. Daniel Gaytan (Clovis) ] Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Daniel Gaytan (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Analysis: A strong fixture in the lightweight divisions since his freshman season, Daniel Gaytan enters the 2011-12 season ranked among the top lightweights in the country. His accomplishments tell the story ... a great deal of mat time against top-level competition followed by success. After completing a stellar season in 2011 by winning a CIF state title in a tough weight group that featured several returning state placers and five All-Americans overall, Gaytan is in position to earn a rare fourth state medal. Along with his achievements in scholastic style, Gaytan also earned All-American honors at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo. This year Clovis High School is scheduled to compete at several of the nation's top tournaments such as The Clash in Minnesota, which this year will feature many of the top ranked teams and individuals ... perhaps the toughest to date. As a result, I expect Gaytan to show his talent and skill level among these top individuals. Ranked among the Top 100 seniors per InterMat, Gaytan has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: CIF State Champion '11 Third CIF State '10 Fourth CIF State '09 Cadet All-American 6. Jake Elliott (Oakmont) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Jake Elliott (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Analysis: Entering the 2009-10 season, Jake Elliott of Oakmont High School in the Sac-Joaquin was virtually unknown to many outside the section, myself included. In the post season of that year, he went 2-2 at the CIF Sac-Joaquin Masters meet and failed to qualify for the CIF State Championships. Fast forward to the 2011 Clovis "Doc" Buchanan Invitational and the name "Elliott" sent shockwaves across the state. Suffering an early round loss, Elliott turned it on by winning six hard-fought matches in a row to claim a well respected third place, beating returning two-time state medalist Damien Arredondo (Buchanan), two-time All-American and state placer Jesse Baldazo of Liberty, and returning state champion David Ferry of Oakdale in the consolation final. From that point forward, Elliott won a total of seven tournaments, which included a Sac-Joaquin Masters and state title. Entering the 2011-12 season, Elliott returns very well known and in position to defend his state title, and is ranked among InterMat's Top 100 seniors. Keep an eye on this kid. He is just beginning to reach his potential and has the tools to compete at the Division I level and beyond. Elliott has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: CIF State Champion '11 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Champion '11 7. Johnson Mai (North Torrance) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 106/113 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Johnson Mai (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Analysis: Johnson Mai is a returning state champion and among the top lightweights in the country. Ranked in the top three for a majority of last season, Mai never looked back after his hard-fought loss to FloNationals champion Emilio Saavedra of Turlock's Pittman High School in the championship final at the "tough as nails" Clovis "Doc" Buchanan Invitational. Not only did he win a tough 103-pound weight group at state (the top four placers were good enough to win it), he had a stellar performance at the Junior Nationals in Fargo, winning a national Greco-Roman title and placing second in freestyle. In addition, Mai was chosen as an honorable mention with this year's ASICS All-American teams. With additional growth, Mai has the tools, skill and competitive edge to compete at the collegiate level and has a promising future in the international arena. Johnson Mai is a true competitor that has the competitive edge and adaptability to compete against the best of the best in any style of wrestling. Major Accomplishments: Junior National Champion-GR '11 Junior All-American-FS (finalist) '11 ASICS All-American (HM) '11 CIF State Champion '11 CIF Southern Section Champion '11 8. Natrelle Demison (Bakersfield) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132/138 Projected College Weight Class: 132 Natrelle Demison (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Analysis: Since his sophomore year, Natrelle Demison has been a fixture in the top tier of the light middleweight division. Yet to win an individual state title, Demison was on pace to achieve this feat last year when he defeated two-time state champion Nick Pena of Selma at the Clovis "Doc" Buchanan and again at the Central "Valley" Masters meet, but came up short when he had to face eventual four-time state placer Cody Tow in the second round at state. Battling back through the consolation meat grinder, Demision won six in a row to place third. A two-time state medalist (fifth 2010), Demision enters his senior year rated among the favorites to win a state title and earn a third medal overall. Rated among the Top 100 seniors per InterMat, Demison is a three-time All-American (two-time Cadet/one-time NHSCA). Demison has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: Third CIF State '11 Fifth CIF State '10 NHSCA All-American Two-Time Cadet All-American 9. James Wilson (McNair) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157/165 James Wilson (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Analysis: In many wrestling circles around the country, a wrestler would likely not receive much respect for placing fourth at the state tournament, as would a state champion. This is not the case for James Wilson or any other wrestler from the Golden State that has had to endure the month-long grind (league, sub-sections, Masters, and then a 40-man bracket at state) to stand on the medal podium in Bakersfield. Add the fact that our state is rapidly reaching close to 900 competitive wrestling schools within a one-division state tournament, and one begins to understand that placing in the top eight is an honor in California. In short, many California wrestlers have had greater success placing higher at the nationals than in California. Placing fourth at state twice, Wilson was in perhaps one of the toughest weights at state last year, which featured Bakersfield's Bryce Hammond (No. 1 in the country), Oak Ridge's Vince Waldhauser (No. 2 in the country), and Scotty Bacon (Santiago-Corona), a two-time Washington state champion/All-American that transferred to California his senior year. This past summer, Wilson earned his fourth All-American honor when he placed at the Greco-Roman Junior Nationals in Fargo. In 2010, Wilson was an NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion and earned All-American honors in Cadet freestyle and NHSCA Freshman Nationals in 2009. I truly believe Wilson is a "diamond in the rough" that has great potential to compete at the division one level and beyond. Keep an eye on this wrestler. He will definitely be among the favorites to win a state title this year and make some more noise at the national level. Among the Top 10 of this preview, Wilson is perhaps the most versatile wrestler on the list, earning All-American honors in each of the wrestling styles. Major Accomplishments: Fourth CIF State '11 Fourth CIF State '10 Junior All-American-GR '11 NHSCA National Champion Two-Time NHSCA All-American Cadet All-American-FS 10. Victor Pereira (Newark Memorial) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Victor Pereira (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Analysis: Victor Pereira is a true competitor and among the top wrestlers to come out of the CIF North Coast Section. A very accomplished wrestler while competing in the kids divisions, Pereira set his mark among the high school elite during his sophomore year when he made it to the semifinals at state, losing a hard-fought match with eventual champion Tyler Johnson of Vacaville. Finishing the season in fifth place, Pereira continued his mat time at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo, earning his second All-American honor that summer. With the additional mat time in Fargo, plus a solid performance at the Walsh Ironman in Ohio, Pereira was able to take another step closer to his goal of winning a prestigious CIF state championship, but came up short last year when he lost a very close hard-fought state final with FloNationals champion Joey Davis of Santa Fe. Not ranked among InterMat's Top 100 Seniors, Pereira has the talent and skill level to beat many listed on this list and will definitely enter the 2011-12 season determined to win his first CIF state championship. Pereira has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: Second CIF State '11 Fifth CIF State '10 Two-Time CIF North Coast Section Champion Two-Time Cadet All-American Honorable Mention (Listed Alphabetically): Alex Abono (De La Salle), 4th CIF State ** Austin Branum (Del Oro), 5th CIF State Micah Cruz (Bakersfield), 4th CIF State Hermillio Esquivel (Orland), 5th, 6th CIF State * Willie Fox (Gilroy) *** Dakota Gordon (Clovi), 7th CIF State Adam Hendrickson (Healdsburg), 6th, 7th CIF State Austin Lobsinger (West Valley), 2nd CIF State ** Robert Marchese (Oak Hills), 7th, 8th CIF State * Joe Moita (De La Salle), 4th CIF State ** Silas Nacita (Bakersfield), 4th CIF State ** Adam Pain (Rodriguez), 6th CIF State Martin Ramirez (Elk Grove), 3rd, 5th CIF State * Maxx Ramirez (Bakersfield), 6th CIF State Dillon Rocha (Lemoore), 5th CIF State Josh Rodriguez (Righetti), 2nd CIF State William Walker (De La Salle), 7th CIF State * Paul Yoo (Cypress), 6th CIF State * All-American honor (Cadet/Junior/NHSCA) Team Outlook 2011 CIF State Champion: Clovis High School Clovis High School (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The 2011-12 season appears to be a two-team race this year. Fixtures in the top five for several decades, the Cougars of Clovis High School and Drillers of Bakersfield, each from the Central Valley are loaded with a great deal of state level talent that no other team in the state can match at this time of the preview. This could perhaps be one of the best teams in Clovis history. Hard to believe considering the Cougars have already won a state record nine team titles and have placed in the top five 23 times since the first CIF State Championships in 1973. Leading the Clovis contingent is returning state champion and three-time state medalist Daniel Gaytan (All-American) and Zach Nevills, also a three-time state medalist in pursuit of his first state title. Also returning is Zach's younger brother, Nick, who in 2011 became the first freshman to win a state title at heavyweight. Keep an eye on this kid. He has the potential to be the top heavyweight in the country in the next year or two. Other returning state placers include Jonas Gaytan (fifth), Adrian Salas (seventh), and Dakota Gordan (seventh). Rounding out the roster of returning state qualifiers are Matt Gay, Jason Ladd, Colby Thompson, and Ryan Davies, a second team member behind Gordan last year. Despite being a second teamer, Davies placed at several of the top tournaments in Cal last year and had more than enough talent to place at state, if not for the fact that he was behind Gordan. Close behind is Bakersfield High School, which returns five state placers and six state qualifiers overall. Leading this talented team is senior Natrelle Demision. A two-time state placer with three All-American honors, Demision will challenge for a state title this year. Following Demision is junior standout Coleman Hammond. Despite having a disappointing state tournament last year, Hammond placed fourth as a freshman and is two-time NHSCA Nationals champion, as well as having All-American honors at the Cadet and Junior Nationals in Fargo. Rounding out the Driller squad is returning state medalist Silas Nacita (fourth in state, two-time NHSCA All-American), Micah Cruz (fourth in state), and Maxx Ramirez (sixth in state). Expected to join the Driller lineup this season are All-Americans Sean Nickell (Cadet) and Hunter Hodges (NHSCA), as well as returning state qualifier Kyle Pope. Other teams to watch include Gilroy (CCS), Lemoore (CS), Oakdale (SJS), Vacaville (SJS), De La Salle (NCS), Clovis West (CS), Poway (SDS), and Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana (SS). Note: Special thanks to John Sachs (Tech-Fall.com) and Tony Rotundo (WrestlersAreWarriors.com) for all the great photos.

Sean Gray, the former associate head coach at Boston University, has joined the coaching staff at Princeton, it was announced by sixth-year head coach Chris Ayres. He replaces Andy Lausier, who left the coaching profession after four seasons at Princeton. "Sean will be an amazing addition to our staff," Ayres said. "His experiences as the associate head Coach for B.U., combined with his stellar wrestling career at Virginia Tech led me to believe he will have an immediate impact on our program, both inside and outside the wrestling room. "This season is an important one as we continue to rise through the Division I ranks and the addition of Sean to our team only increases our chances of rising to the next level," Ayres added. Gray, a two-time All-America wrestler at Virginia Tech, spent seven seasons with the Terriers and helped the program qualify six wrestlers to the NCAA Championships over the last two seasons. Last season, Boston University won five matches at nationals, including one upset over a Top-10 opponent, and earned its best NCAA finish since 1997. One year earlier, Gray helped Freddy Santaite reach the NCAA quarterfinal; the journey included an upset victory over defending national champion Troy Nickerson of Cornell. "First and foremost, I would like to thank Carl Adams, the Boston University Administration, and the B.U. wrestling family for a very special and memorable seven years," Gray said. "I look forward to continuing the close relationships my family has made with the B.U. community, and I appreciate their great great support and understanding with making this big decision. I leave B.U. with great pride and confidence after the best finish in 14 years for the program, and what could be the best year in the history of the program this year. "With all that being said, I come to a hungry and electric Princeton Wrestling program with tremendous excitement," he added. "I want to my express my most sincere and gracious thanks to Chris Ayers and the Princeton administration for an incredible opportunity for me and my family. I'm excited to come home and coach for one of the most prestigious and on-the-rise programs in Division I wrestling." Gray was more than just a mat coach at Boston University. He worked with all phases of the program, including recruiting, scheduling, fund-raising, travel planning and several other aspects that make up a successful program. After six years as the assistant coach, he was promoted to associate head coach during the 2010-11 season. "Coach Ayres and I share the same fire, passion, and energy for coaching extraordinary student-athletes," Gray said. "The environment we will create for the development of student-athletes will be incredible and second to none. I look forward to coming in and making an immediate impact. I absolutely can't wait to get to work right away." Gray also had a standout undergraduate career, and he graduated as the all-time Virginia Tech leader in wins (133), winning percentage (.850), pins (45), and pins in a single season (15). The 1998 CAA Rookie of the Year, Gray placed sixth at NCAAs as a junior and seventh as a sophomore. He was also a three-time Eastern Wrestling League champion, and finished his collegiate career undefeated in conference dual-meet competition. Gray was inducted into the EWL Hall of Fame on March 4, 2007. In 1999, Gray won the FILA Junior National Freestyle Championship and wrestled to a sixth-place finish at 138 pounds at the Junior World Championship in Sydney, Australia. Gray was also recognized for his work in the classroom, as he earned the Virginia Tech Wrestling Academic Achievement Award after posting a 4.0 grade point average as a senior. The Blacksburg (Va.) Sports Club named Gray the Outstanding Male Athlete at Virginia Tech for 2001. Gray's wrestling accolades started in high school, where he was a three-time Prep National Champion for Blair Academy of New Jersey. He was also the first person in New Jersey history to win a Cadet Freestyle National Championship. Gray earned a Master's of Education degree with a specialization in physical education and coaching from BU in 2010. He graduated with an impressive 3.83 grade-point average. Beyond his work in collegiate wrestling, Gray has also gotten involved in MMA/UFC. He is a wrestling coach/corner coach for Kenny Florian. Gray and his wife Jessica have a daughter, Makayla.

WATERLOO -- WATERLOO - United States Congressman Bruce Braley will speak at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum's breakfast social on Tuesday, September 6. The social will take place at 8 a.m. Braley will speak at 8:30 a.m. The breakfast is free and open to the public. "I'm looking forward to joining supporters of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum for breakfast," said Braley. "Our country-especially Iowa-has a proud wrestling history and the Gable Museum is doing a fantastic job telling those stories. " The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum is located at 303 Jefferson St. in Waterloo, Iowa. Call (319) 233-0745 or e-mail info@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions.

WATERLOO -- The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum will give the Jim and Olive Morgan family its first Greco-Roman Legacy Award at the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions. The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, October 1, 2011, at the Christensen Center Commons on the campus of Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. The Morgan family is being recognized for their tremendous accomplishments in wrestling, specifically in the Greco-Roman discipline. A family of 12 kids, six boys and six girls, Jim passed along his boxing and wrestling skills to his boys. “It's a great honor,” said Jim Morgan, father of the family. “I look forward to attending this event.” Jim was one of eight boys in his family growing up in South Dakota where they had a boxing ring in their back yard. It's no coincidence all of the Morgan siblings were tough individuals. Jim became a barnstorming professional wrestler after leaving the Navy, spending over 20 years traveling the country. He took on all comers and worked with the likes of legendary wrestlers Red Bastein and Henry Korrum. John, Gordy and Marty – sons of Jim and Olive - won a combined 10 national Greco-Roman titles. They also competed in two Olympics and nine World championships. The Morgan brothers excelled in folkstyle wrestling prior to gaining fame in the Greco-Roman style. They combined for nine collegiate All-American honors; with John winning an NCAA Division II title at North Dakota State University and Marty winning NCAA championships for both NDSU and University of Minnesota. Jim and Olive's three oldest sons were boxers, all turning professional, including Danny Morgan, who twice fought for a world title. “Boxing and wrestling were something we grew up with,” said Jim. “If you didn't do it, there must be something wrong with you.” Alan and Gloria Rice, namesakes of the hall of champions, have been instrumental to the success of Greco-Roman wrestling in the United States. Alan Rice was a Big Ten champion and All-American for the University of Minnesota. In 1956 he won national titles in Greco-Roman and freestyle. He also competed at the 1956 Olympics and coached the 1972 Greco-Roman Olympic team. He and his wife, Gloria, helped form the Minnesota Wrestling Club. The Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions occupies a significant wing in the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo. Olympic and World champion Rulon Gardner will be inducted into this elite Hall. Gardner joins the inaugural 2009 class of Olympic champions Steve Fraser and Jeff Blatnick and World champions Mike Houck, Dennis Hall and Joe Warren. Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner at 7:00 and awards ceremony at 8:00. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online at www.dgm-nwhof.ticketleap.com or by calling the Dan Gable Museum at 319-233-0745.

The 2010 World Championships saw the worst performance by a U.S. men's freestyle team in decades. Not a single member won a medal and four of the seven athletes failed to win a match. With this year's event just around the corner (Sept. 12-19), one must wonder how this year's team will do. What are realistic expectations? The World Championships have become increasingly difficult as the former Soviet Republic countries have been steadily improving. The event now features multiple Russians as numerous countries field teams with wrestlers from Russia. One would think that this would result in more parity -- that the former Soviet Republics would trade titles each year -- but somehow Russia has continued to dominate since their third-place finish from 2003, when Georgia won the title in New York. While the U.S. has been struggling internationally, last year's exceptionally poor performance must be considered an anomaly. 2006 was a strong year for the U.S. with four wrestlers earning medals: Bill Zadick, gold; Mike Zadick, silver; and Sammie Henson and Donny Pritzlaff, bronze. Repeating this level of success and improving on it a bit certainly seems possible. Technically, the Team USA winning one medal is an improvement, but America's overall history should not aim for, nor be satisfied with simply one medal. One the other hand, to ignore Russia's shocking dominance at this event would not be realistic. Expecting to go from last year's performance to winning the title in one year -- while certainly possible -- seems unlikely. An acceptable performance lies somewhere in the middle. Part of the problem is that the field is so difficult to handicap. Past performances mean very little and even performances within the tournament don't mean much. Obe Blanc's early-round matches last year indicated that he was capable of winning the title, but he was suddenly pinned in the quarterfinals in a match he was winning. In the 2004 Olympics, Sazhid Sazhidov entered the event with a 2-0 series lead against Cael Sanderson, but had no answer for Moon Eui Jae's trapped arm gut wrench in the semifinals. These results seem crazy at the time they are happening, but are part of what makes the event exciting. Yes, Team USA should plan on being World champions. If it happens this year, great, but realistically, one would think we would get there incrementally. And important steps in the right direction have been taken. There have been no excuses made for last year's results. The U.S. didn't perform when they needed to and there has been very little finger pointing to suggest otherwise. There was not much talk about bad refereeing or gamesmanship. American wrestlers simply need to wrestle better if we want better results. The U.S. had looked at Russia's success and studied it. We have had an athlete train in Russia for over half a year. Flowrestling.com goes to Russian Nationals and records tons of matches. The techniques of the Russians are studied and dissected very carefully. Beat the Streets Gala dual meet against Russia in Times Square was simply phenomenal. The U.S. team looked sharp both offensively and defensively. The meet was promoted amazingly well and the presentation was stellar. While the U.S. should take great pride in the 5-2 match victory, very few are overstating the significance in the win. These were not the absolute top Russian wrestlers and a knowledgeable fan base realizes and acknowledges this. Again, incrementally, these were the opponents our athletes needed to face at that time. Cael Sanderson (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)The team that the U.S. is sending to Istanbul is strong. It is also a completely different lineup than last year. What would be a good performance for this team? It's hard to predict, but here is a breakdown. Two U.S. team members, Cael Sanderson (84 kilos) and Jordan Burroughs (74 kilos), appear to have legitimate gold medal shots. Cael Sanderson has not competed internationally since winning the Olympics in 2004, but looked sharp at this year's U.S. World Team Trials, as well as the Ion Corneanu Memorial in Romania last month. The 84-kilo field is pretty wide open, so Sanderson stepping in and winning gold appears realistic. Moreover, the rules have changed since 2004 and the addition of the pushout to the scoring appears to favor Sanderson's style. Jordan Burroughs has excited U.S. wrestling fans in the short time he has been competing at the senior level in freestyle. After a dominating college season, Burroughs won the U.S. Open and U.S. World Team Trials. He looked very sharp against Aniuar Geduev of Russia at the Beat the Streets Gala. In addition, Burroughs walked through the field at the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial International in July. In 1999, Stephen Neal double legged his way to a World title in Turkey and Burroughs appears capable of doing the same this year. However, the 74-kilo field features two-time World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia. A matchup between Burroughs and Tsargush would be one of the more anticipated bouts of the tournament. Jake Varner has also looked very solid as of late, winning his match in the Beat the Streets Gala, and the Ion Corneanu Memorial, along with his training partner, Sanderson. The 96-kilo field, however, is easily the deepest in the tournament. Khadjimourat Gatsalov of Russia has won four World titles and one Olympic title. He lost in the finals last year in a thrilling bout against Khetag Gazumov of Azerbaijan. Veterans Alexey Krupnyakov of Kyrgyzstan and George Gogshelidze of Georgia are also very talented and dangerous. Varner should be considered a medal contender, but the draw will play a big part in his chances. Tervel Dlagnev was a World bronze medalist in 2009, but did not make the U.S. World Team last year. He should be considered even money to match his 2009 performance, and improving upon it is certainly within reason. Three-time World champ Beylal Makhov of Russia and two time Olympic champ Artur Taymazov of Uzbekistan are the two favorites, but both have lost within the last year. Nick Simmons (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Nick Simmons, while known for crazy, unorthodox moves, has recently developed a mature balance between risk-taking and conservative wrestling. The 5'10" Simmons administers leverage most 55-kilo wrestlers have not experienced before. His style is perhaps his biggest asset, but opponents may adapt to it in later rounds as he is scouted more and more. With returning World silver medalist Toghrul Asgarov going up to 60 kilos, this increases Simmons' chances at medaling in a wide-open weight class. Reece Humphrey faces one of the deepest weights in the tournament. His weight class, 60 kilos, features three-time World champ Besik Kudukhov of Russia, who appears at the top of his game. Vasyl Fedoryshyn of Ukraine, Morad Mohammadi of Iran, and Asgarov of Azerbaijan are exceptional too. Humphrey is making his debut at the Worlds this year and is arguably the best thrower on the team. His father, Jim, was a World silver medalist in 1977 and took fourth in 1975. Matching either of those performances in Istanbul would be something U.S. fans should be thrilled with, given the field. Teyon Ware (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Teyon Ware is still adjusting to the international field and is capable of doing well in a weight that has some stars, but is not incredibly deep. Olympic and World champ Ramazan Shahin of Turkey will be tough to beat in his home country and India's Sushil Kumar is the standing World champion. When Ware burst onto the college scene and won the NCAAs as a true frosh, his potential seemed limitless -- and it still is, but a tough series against Nate Gallick of Iowa State, Ware switching from Greco to freestyle, and going from 60 kilos to 66 kilos, can make one forget just how good he is. It's difficult to gauge where his skill level is at right now, but we will find out in Istanbul. What makes the Worlds so exciting is how unpredictable they are. Four medals with at least one gold is probably something that U.S. fans should not be disappointed with, but it is impossible to guess who is going to excel and who is going to fall short. If Humphrey and Ware won gold and Sanderson and Burroughs went out in the first round, that would feel like a disappointment more than if the results were the other way around, but that would be the most gold medals we have won since 1996. What is an acceptable medal count and team finish for the U.S. is almost putting the cart before the horse. The thought process needs to be that the team has to wrestle well -- better than they did last year -- offensively and defensively. Our wrestlers need to eliminate errors, which result in them being countered, especially early in periods. They need to be prepared for specific arsenals of moves and be able to capitalize on even the smallest of mistakes. When that occurs, the results take care of themselves.

Mark Branch

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 hosts Scott Casber, Kevin Down and Brad Johnson with the Takedown Wrestling headline news. Listen Saturdays 9 to 11 a.m. CT/10 a.m. to noon ET. This week's guests: 9:01: Jimmy Pedro Jr. -- USA Judo Head Coach recaps the Worlds 9:20: Tyrone Lewis -- Assistant Coach, Oklahoma Sooners 9:40: Kevin Roberts -- Assistant Coach, Oregon State Beavers 9:50: Ty Barkley -- Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update 10:01: Big John McCarthy -- Top official in and out of the UFC 10:20: Mark Branch -- Head Coach, Wyoming Cowboys 10:40: Casey Kendrick -- KWEM Stillwater airs Takedown's TV shows 10:50: Amy Ruble -- Wildrose Casino and Resort Emmetsburg, Iowa 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.

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Fans of traditional powerhouses in collegiate wrestling will have the opportunity to see several teams in Laramie, as the Wyoming wrestling program announced its schedule for the 2011-12 season Wednesday. The UW home slate will feature teams like Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Cal Poly, and Western Wrestling Conference foes such as Utah Valley, Northern Iowa and Northern Colorado. Wyoming also will hit the road for several prestigious events, like the Las Vegas Invite, the Reno Tournament of Champions and the National Duals in Stillwater, Okla. "I think we found a good balance of competition. We weren't really looking to make any major changes," Wyoming wrestling head coach Mark Branch said. The tournaments The tournament season starts in Powell, Wyo., for the Northwest College Open on Nov. 5. UW then will host the Cowboy Open in the War Memorial Fieldhouse on Nov. 12, and head to the Kearney Open in Kearney, Neb., on Nov. 19. The Pokes then travel to Nevada for two tournaments, the Las Vegas Invite (Dec. 2-3), and head to the Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 18. The dual season The dual season for the Cowboys begins when they travel to Nebraska on Dec. 10. The home opener for the Pokes will be Jan. 1, when they host Oklahoma State for the second time in four years. Two days later, Oklahoma will visit Laramie. Those duals are scheduled to take place in the Arena Auditorium. "The fact that we can get tradition-rich programs like Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to make the return trip is big. That's not easy to do," Branch said. "But the fact we're able to bring that type of level of wrestling to Laramie is outstanding for fans and our program." The last time the Cowboys hosted Oklahoma State, the dual took place in the AA to allow access to more fans of Wyoming wrestling. With both Oklahoma State and Oklahoma coming off impressive performances at the NCAA Championships last year, interest for those duals should be robust. "We definitely want to promote (those duals) and get the fans thinking about them early," Branch said. "Hopefully, we can break some attendance records in wrestling. With those types of teams coming in, I think it's a great opportunity for us to do some special things. From a fan's perspective, this schedule has never looked better. From our perspective, it's never been tougher but that's what we want. We want those kinds of challenges. It's definitely a good mix." After the home openers, UW will travel to Corvallis, Ore., to battle Oregon State on Jan. 15. Then it's back home for the first of three straight home duals, starting with Cal Poly on Jan. 20. The conference season begins with Utah Valley on Jan. 21, and Northern Iowa on Jan. 29. It's off to the Air Force Academy for the next event, a dual on Feb. 2 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Cowboys then will host Northern Colorado on Feb. 8 before traveling to the National Duals on Feb. 12. The Pokes will wrap up conference dual competition on the road, when they take on South Dakota State (Feb. 16) and North Dakota State on Feb. 17, both on the road. "We put ourselves in competitions that we want to be extremely challenging," Branch said. "We don't put ourselves in anything that we don't believe we can win. We have high aspirations and we put ourselves in an extremely tough schedule for a reason. "I'll probably always say if we ever go undefeated and win everything on our schedule, I made some major mistakes as a coach. That doesn't mean we don't believe and expect to win every event that we enter." The postseason The WWC Championships/NCAA West Regional will be March 3 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, hosted by Northern Iowa. The NCAA Championships are March 15-17 in St. Louis.

USAFA, Colo. -- The Air Force wrestling team will host the All-Academy Championships for the first time since 2007, highlighting the 2011-12 schedule which also features appearances at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Reno Tournament of Champions and Lone Star Duals. In addition, the Falcons will host Western Wrestling Conference rival Wyoming in their Senior Night competition on Feb. 2. "I am excited about our 2011-12 schedule," said Air Force head wrestling coach Joel Sharratt. "It gives our athletes the challenges they need to be prepared to reach their goals on a weekly basis and over the course of our season. Several top tournaments will give our guys the national exposure they need to be recognized in the RPI and national coaches' rankings, and that is a key for the Falcon program to increase our number of national qualifiers." For the fourth straight year, all of the Falcons' home events, including the Blue-Silver Intrasquad Match on Oct. 26, will be held in Clune Arena. Air Force will host its first dual of the season on Jan. 19, when it welcomes WWC foe Utah Valley to the Academy. Just two days later, the Falcons will host a pair of non-conference opponents in Cal Poly and New Mexico Highlands. Air Force's final home dual of the season is slated for Feb. 2, as it honors its senior class prior to facing WWC rival Wyoming. Meanwhile, the signature event of the Falcons' regular season will be the 18th-annual All-Academy Championships, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 5. "The institution and staff are excited to be the hosts of the 2012 All-Academy Championships," said Sharratt. "The Air Force Academy will showcase our facilities and program when we host all seven other service academies. This event gives us the opportunity to compete for the All-Academy title and it is such a incredible competition to see these 80 young warriors battle! In this event, every point is earned and battled for--they do not come easy when you are competing in an event like this." Meanwhile, the Falcons also have a slew of road events, including several open competitions to start the season. Air Force will begin the year at the Hokie Open in Salem, Va., on Nov. 6, followed by trips to the Holiday Inn Open in Kearney, Neb., and the Old Chicago Open in Greeley, Colo., on Nov. 19. Air Force also returns to the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Dec. 2-3, to face some of the top wrestlers in the nation, while heading to the Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 18. Air Force's road duals include visits to Coe College (Jan. 6) and WWC foes Northern Iowa (Jan. 8), North Dakota State (Jan. 27), South Dakota State (Jan. 29) and Northern Colorado (Feb. 19). On Jan. 14, the Falcons head to the Lone Star Duals in Grand Prairie, Texas, to face some of the top teams in the nation. Despite having few home matches this season, the coaching staff has minimized the amount of time the cadets spend away from the Academy by eliminating mid-week competitions. "Every year, I meet with my program's leadership, both athletes and coaches," said Sharratt. "I took a new direction with this year's schedule that will keep our guys on campus and in the classroom. It will ease the demands that travel can put on our athletes and allow us as a program to maintain our top 10% APR (Academic Progress Rating) as recognized by the NCAA." Air Force caps off the season at the NCAA West Regional on March 3, hosted this year by Northern Iowa. The tournament, which doubles as the Western Wrestling Conference Championships, determines which athletes will qualify for the 2012 NCAA Championships, which will be held March 15-17 in St. Louis, Mo.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Former national champion Jordan Leen has been named an assistant coach with the Virginia wrestling team, head coach Steve Garland has announced. Leen was a four-time NCAA qualifier and three-time All-America selection while competing at Cornell. He was an assistant coach at Duke last season and was recruited to Cornell when Garland was a CU assistant. "I recruited and coached Jordan while I was an assistant coach at Cornell University," Garland said. "The relationship that started at Cornell has grown and strengthened over the years. I have always been a huge fan of his and when the opportunity arose to add him to our staff, it really was a no-brainer. Jordan has a unique combination of talent, intelligence, charisma, mental toughness and drive that few people can match. He was an amazing wrestler at Cornell but most importantly now, I think he is going to be an amazing mentor to our guys. Our program couldn't be adding a better guy." A 2009 graduate of Cornell, Leen was an assistant coach at Duke for the 2010-11 season and worked closely with the middle weights. He recorded a strong career at Cornell, making four straight appearances in the NCAA tournament while wrestling at 149 and 157 pounds. The 2008 national champion at 157 pounds, Leen posted a career record of 118-29 and was a First-Team All-Ivy League selection three times. Leen went 27-3 during his redshirt junior season (2007-08) en route to winning the national championship at 157 pounds. He also was the team captain for the Big Red team which recorded a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Leen upset three higher-seeded foes on the road to his championship. Leen qualified for the NCAA tournament as a true freshman, going 25-16 and taking third place at the EIWA tournament to earn an automatic bid to NCAAs. He also was named the 2005 Ivy League Rookie of the Year. Leen redshirted the 2005-06 season before posting a big season in 2006-07, as he recorded 37 wins and notched All-America honors after taking eighth place at the NCAA Championships. In his final season with the Big Red (2008-09), Leen won his second EIWA Championship and took third at the NCAA tournament at 157 as he again earned All-America honors. He posted an overall record of 29-3. Leen worked with ESPN as a commentator during the 2010 NCAA Championships. He was one of three former All-Americans selected to provide analysis during the semifinal bouts.

TEMPE -- Recently graduated Arizona State University wrestling standout Anthony Robles will return to the team for the 2011-12 campaign as a volunteer coach, as announced by head coach Shawn Charles on Wednesday. "Anthony is going to bring a wealth of knowledge to our lightweights, especially in the top positiions," ASU head coach Shawn Charles said. "He has knowledge in the sport and a lot of body awareness in the sport that will really help. Arizona State Wrestling is very fortunate to get Anthony to be our volunteer coach." Robles will work with the lightweights on the team and will bring a wealth of knowledge to a very young group of student-athletes that will certainly benefit from his experiences at the collegiate level. Born without a right leg, Robles went undefeated (36-0) during his senior season at Arizona State this past year and was the 2011 NCAA Champion at 125 pounds. He was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA Championships, tallying the third All-America accolade of his career. Robles notched his third consecutive Pac-10 title as well in 2011 and capped his career with 122 total victories, good for the eighth-best tally in Sun Devil wrestling history. Robles scored 47 technical falls during his tenure at ASU and won 75 percent of his matches with bonus points (92 of 122) for another school record. As a senior, Robles set single-season records for bonus-point wins (31) and technical falls (24) in what was one of the more dominating single seasons in ASU wrestling history. Robles had 53 career wins in duals - good for 10th best in school history - and was named as the Outstanding Wrestler at five events as a senior. Robles was honored at the 2011 ESPY Awards with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance and as the Best Male Athlete with a Disability. This will be Robles' first coaching role of his post-collegiate career. The Mesa, Ariz., native now works as a motivational speaker and has spent much of the summer travelling to assorted events across the country to tell his story. Charles, now in his third year as head coach, also added Travis Pascoe to the coaching staff earlier this summer. Pascoe was an All-America wrestler at Nebraska during his undergraduate years and worked with Charles during his time at Fresno State. The wrestling team will open up the 2011-12 schedule on November 5 at the Eastern Michigan Open in Ypsilanti, Mich.