InterMat Staff

Chance Marsteller finished this past season as the No. 1-ranked high school wrestler at 160 pounds, and No. 1 overall in the Class of 2014, after an undefeated sophomore campaign capped off by winning his second Pennsylvania state championship. He will take a perfect 85-0 high school career record into his junior season at Kennard-Dale High School. On June 3, Marsteller won the FILA Cadet Nationals in Akron, Ohio, which earned him a spot on the Cadet World Team that will compete at the FILA Cadet World Championships on Aug. 21-27 in Baku, Azerbaijan. On Sunday, Marsteller defeated Johnny Sebastian (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), 4-2, at the Adam Frey Classic. InterMat caught up with Marsteller and talked to him about his training, FILA Cadet World Championships, what his disappointment at FILA Junior Nationals did to him, whether he plans to wrestle in college or train full time at the OTC after he finishes high school, whether he would like to face Bo Jordan, what he needs to improve upon the most, and much more. What's your training schedule like right now? Marsteller: Right now it's just mainly at the wrestling barn at my house, just inviting guys in, like if a kid is home from college, one of my old buddies or something ... invite them in, work out with them. It's kind of a day-by-day thing to see who I can get in the room. Chance Marsteller claimed a Super 32 Challenge belt last October with a victory over Cody Allala (Photo/Rob Preston)You recently made the Cadet World Team by winning FILA Cadet Nationals. You'll wrestle in the FILA Cadet World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in August, which will be your first event against foreign competition. What excites you most about that opportunity? Marsteller: The most exciting part is finally getting to go overseas and wrestle foreigners and just getting a feel for different countries and different styles of wrestling. I'm just really excited to go overseas. You have talked about wanting to wrestle an American style with a Russian mindset. What do you mean by that? Marsteller: Russians are really relaxed. Americans always try to be in really good shape and are always looking to go the full six or seven minutes. I kind of meant having a great gas tank, like most American try to have, but in the same respect have the Russian mindset of a relaxed wrestler. I know you wanted to wrestle in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, but were not allowed to compete because of your age. How disappointing was that for you? Marsteller: It was pretty disappointing because I wanted to wrestle in the Trials before 2016 to kind of get a feel for what it's like. But at the same time, it also let me be a kid a little bit and have a little bit of fun ... and not cut a lot of weight. I would have had to maintain my weight for a while. It allowed me to go up a weight class, relax a little bit, and focus on training. Chance Marsteller with three-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake of Cornell (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)You went two and out at the FILA Junior Nationals this year in Madison, Wisconsin. What did that do to you? Marsteller: Well, I was sick with some kind of pneumonia. I was upset that I let myself compete, and let myself compete at that level with the way I felt. Coming into FILA Cadets, it really gave me something to look forward to and reprove myself. I trained really hard for the FILA Cadets because of it. It kind of put fire in my stomach again. You have spent time at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Who is the toughest U.S. wrestler you have trained with at the OTC? Marsteller: I really don't know. I couldn't pick one. There are a ton of great guys out there who bring a lot to the table. One of my favorite guys who taught me a lot was Raymond Jordan. Have you trained with Jordan Burroughs at the OTC? Marsteller: Not really. We have maybe drilled once. You still have two years left of high school. Have you decided whether you want to wrestle freestyle on a full-time basis immediately after high school, or whether you want to wrestle in college? Marsteller: Right now I'm thinking that I'm going to go to college and just take an Olympic redshirt in 2016. If I go to a good college I'll be in the room all the time with tough wrestlers. Chance Marsteller dominated his competition last summer in Fargo (Photo/Dave Jedlicka, jedicheetah.com)Is there a chance you could spend one of your high school years training at the OTC? Marsteller: It has crossed my mind, but right now I'm not really sure. I'm going to wait until my senior year to see where everything is at in my life. Many consider you and Bo Jordan of St. Paris Graham to be the top two wrestlers in the country regardless of weight class. He finished the year ranked No. 1 at 152 pounds and you were No. 1 at 160 pounds. Is Bo Jordan someone you'd like to face? Marsteller: People have asked me if I've wrestled him before, and I've always said no. It would be a great match to wrestle. I've just never really had a chance to yet. I don't really go to the same tournaments as him. It's not uncommon for high school wrestlers to transfer schools to seek out better training partners and coaches. You have chosen to stay at the school in your hometown and not transfer to an elite high school program. Why? Marsteller: I have a decent thing going here. I have my wrestling barn and can pull guys in when I want to. It just kind of keeps the fire going ... because if everything is just handed to you, you can get lazy. But I'm always seeking out partners. I also want to be a four-time Pennsylvania state champion, so I want to stay in PA. You have stated that you won't be competing in Fargo this summer. What went into that decision? Marsteller: It was mainly just a focusing kind of thing. I know when I really set my goals on one thing, that's normally when I do best. I'm just looking to keep training, instead of focusing on Fargo, cutting weight for Fargo, and everything that goes into that. I can find better training partners, whether it be around here or at the OTC. Chance Marsteller, wearing Nike Kolat wrestling shoes, is uncomfortable with the comparison to U.S. wrestling great Cary Kolat (Photo/Rob Preston)Is there a current U.S. wrestler or international wrestler you admire or try to emulate? Marsteller: No, sir. People like to compare you to U.S. wrestling great Cary Kolat. When you hear that comparison, how does it make you feel? Marsteller: I don't like being the second someone. I'm just going to be the first me and I want to do what I do. I kind of get upset when people compare me to Cary because I'm still young and Cary has had a great career. He was a great wrestler and I'm far from being what he ever was. What are some of the things you like to do when you're not training or competing? Marsteller: Just the basic high-schooler kind of stuff ... just hang out with friends, go swimming, play basketball, football, volleyball, whatever ... Do you take much of a break from wrestling? Or is it pretty much training year-round? Marsteller: It's training year-round, but I try to find a month where I can take a three-week break from practice and matches, which gets a little hard because I get antsy and want to get back on the mat. Penn State has reeled off two straight NCAA titles, and will be one of the frontrunners to win in 2013. Being in Pennsylvania, are you a fan of the Nittany Lions? Marsteller: I like to watch them wrestle. Chance Marsteller prefers freestyle over folkstyle (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)You have rolled through two years of high school undefeated and haven't been seriously challenged. You only gave up one takedown this past season, which happened in the state finals against Brian Brill. Is it ever difficult to motivate yourself against high school competition? Marsteller: Not really because I kind of look at everyone as a national-caliber wrestler or a national champion. You can never really take anyone lightly ... You could have a bad day and he could have a good day. You just never know. So I have the same mindset for every match. Do you enjoy wrestling freestyle or folkstyle more? Marsteller: I love wrestling freestyle. Folkstyle, not so much. I have heard you say you have wanted to be an Olympic champion since you were 10 years old. What put that goal in your head? Marsteller: I guess when I first started training at Kolat's ... and just knowing everything he did, learning and hearing about it, and wanting to get better at that time. Cary always wanted all of his guys to set their goals high. So I said that I wanted set the highest goal. What aspects of your wrestling do you feel you need to improve upon the most to get to where you want to be in 2016? Marsteller: I guess just a little more maturity, a little more lifting. I need to get stronger. Also, I need to learn how to get past the older guys' hands. They have great hand position and head position.

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! Every Saturday it's Takedown Wrestling Radio. Join Scott Casber, Steve Foster and Brad Johnson with the Takedown Wrestling Headline News this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. CT/10 a.m. to noon ET. This week's guests: 9:03 Bart Horton, Air Force assistant head wrestling coach 9:20 Brian Smith, Missouri head wrestling coach 9:40 Jason Reitmeier, Augustana head wrestling coach 9:50 Ty Barkley, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update * 10:00 Bruce Burnett, Navy head wrestling coach 10:20 Joe Johnston, Missouri assistant wrestling coach 10:40 Tom Borrelli, Central Michigan head wrestling coach 10:50 Maureen Roshar, Wildrose Casino and Resort Fans, athletes, coaches: Join in the conversation live by calling 866-333-5966 or 515-204-5966. Listen on radio, computer, Blackberry, or iPhone with the iHeart Radio app.

InterMat senior writer T.R. Foley answers reader questions about NCAA wrestling, international wrestling, recruiting, or anything loosely related to wrestling. You have until Thursday night every week to send questions to Foley's Twitter or email account. Q: What do you think of the Jordan Oliver vs. Logan Stieber non-takedown call at the end of the match? Didn't he meet takedown criteria? Don't we see less control called takedowns all the time, especially at the edge of the mat? -- Mike S. Jordan Oliver was close to securing a takedown in the closing seconds (Photo/Kevin Schlosser, BuckeyeWrestling.com)Foley: Blargh. I don't really want to answer this question because I know that there are too many people that think I'm irrationally high on Logan Stieber, but I'll give this question my best bi-partisan effort. My contention has been that Stieber's chest lock kept his position active, and that with Oliver's head stuck in Stieber's crotch no takedown should have been awarded. Even when you look at Oliver's grip, his left arms seemed to be wrapped around Stieber's extended right leg, but Oliver's right arm was around Stieber's left shin and ABOVE THE PLANTED FOOT. Stieber's chest lock, Oliver's head position and the way his hands were locked are what I think prevented his final shot from being called a takedown. The edge of the mat argument employed by those who thought Oliver had a takedown I think reflects on our conditioning as fans and wrestlers more than it does actual rules. The edge of the mat usually creates big scrambles with the popular kick-turn-kick three-step used by defensive wresters to avoid giving up the takedown. When offensive wrestlers hang onto one leg and then REEEEAAAAAACHH for the other both fans and the referees are ready to call an immediate takedown. Hell, even the defensive wrestler tends to give in a little when his second ankle is finally nabbed. Reaction times are truncated and both fans and referees understand the second ankle to indicate immediate control. In this way wrestling in the middle of the mat is significantly different than wrestling on the edge. Stieber had more options to pursue and as with all middle of the mat takedown attempts was given a wider berth in exploring those defensive options. The takedown wasn't happening on the edge of the mat so Stieber wasn't conditioned to sense that he'd given up a takedown. Also, with Oliver's head lodged in his crotch and with his thighs flat against the mat, Stieber reacted like a wrestler in a scrambling position which was essentially perceived by the referee(s) as the case. There was no need to declare finality to the action because not only were they not n the edge but Stieber's back wasn't exposed AND the referee wasn't acknowledging the clock. (Side note: John Smith and Eric Guerrero stayed on stage after the match to shake Stieber's hand. I KNOW that is what we EXPECT as fans, but in such a difficult time they showed class to congratulate the opposing wrestler even as theirs jumped from the stage in disappointment.) Q: Sounds like Ed Ruth is bumping up to 184 next season and Matt Brown will wrestle 174 for PSU. I have a two-part question: How do you think Ruth does at 184 in both the Big Ten and NCAAs. What about Brown at 174? Ed Ruth was the InterMat Wrestler of the Year this past season (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Foley: Heading into next season Ed Ruth is my selection as best overall wrestler in the country. Confident as I am in his ability, Ruth will face a stacked weight class including defending NCAA champion Steve Bosak (Cornell) and 2011 NCAA runner-up Robert Hamlin (Lehigh), both back for their senior campaigns. Still, if Ruth can maintain his dominance next season then he'll not only walk through Big Tens and NCAAs, he'll also earn InterMat Wrestler of the Year honors again and also claim the Dan Hodge Trophy. Matt Brown will do just fine and could easily contend for both the Big Ten and NCAA titles. His teammates (most of whom are PRETTY GOOD) think of him as some sort of superhero with limitless amounts of conditioning and incredible athleticism. Another year of technique and I don't see why he's not top three at the NCAA tournament. (Remember before this season Brown spent two years in Africa completely removed from wrestling.) He could very well do much better than third place, which could result in another NCAA team title for the Nittany Lions who will be in position to put as many as five wrestlers into the finals. Five wrestlers into the finals? You're right to be shaking your head. The Nittany Lions could squeeze in a sixth. Yes, they're that loaded. Q: What do you make of Sammie Henson to Mizzou? It'll be weird seeing him coach against Tyler Caldwell. -- Andrew H. Foley: Sammie Henson has experienced one of the most frustrating careers in college coaching. Absolutely no assistant coach has a more immediate impact on a program with more consistency than Sammie. He's a genuine dude, family man and a tough-as-nails leader, but when its come time for the increase in responsibility he's gotten some tough breaks. My hope for non-Mizzou fans is that we'll see a big-time program extend him the opportunity and until then I'm on the Sammie bandwagon screaming to AD's: GIVE THIS MAN A HEAD COACHING JOB! Henson will do wonderful at Mizzou. The team had 10 NCAA qualifiers and no All-Americans in 2012 and I'd predict -- depending on which conference they land in -- that we'll see eight NCAA qualifiers and three All-Americans in 2013. Sammie has THAT type of impact on a program. Look for returning starters Alan "Dirty" Waters, Kyle Bradley and Drake Houdashelt to make big gains in the first semester. I love that you mentioned Tyler Caldwell! Neither of these guys will let their admiration for each other get in the way of a good competition. If Mark Perry would coach against Chris Perry, I wouldn't doubt for a second that Henson would corner his Tiger against Caldwell. Q: You posted up some cool videos of Marcelo Garcia. Have you gone back and done any wrestling recently? Was there a big difference? -- Mark B. Foley: I have. Yesterday I wrestled with Minnesota's Chris Dardanes for 45 minutes and though I outweigh him by thirty pounds and stand six inches taller my neck is so sore from being bullied that I'm staring at my computer screen with my head on a tilt. I much prefer being choked out by Marcelo Garcia to being head snapped by a Big Ten All-American wrestler. One significant difference between the sports is the pace and the anxiety you feel while competing on your feet. I can "pull guard" in jiu-jitsu (go to my back) and be in a better scoring position, whereas in wrestling I HAVE to stay on top or else I'm losing. That variable alone decreases the anxiety of of a match by eliminating that necessity of aggression on your feet. And remember, in jiu-jitsu you are only ONE move away from an equalizer, even if you're on your back. Q: Bo Jordan committed to Ohio State even though his father, uncle, and cousin wrestled at Wisconsin. I think that this shows us it's all going downhill in Madison, don't you? -- Aaron M. Foley: Alarmist. Would you wrestle for Tom Ryan? I would, especially if I lived in Ohio. That 'Little Jordan' chose to compete for Ohio State isn't surprising and isn't indicative of a larger problem at Wisconsin. Yes, Barry Davis has been going through a tough streak as of late, but he's one hell of a good coach and I suspect that given this year to prove his wrestlers can compete at the NCAA tournament we'll see an influx of talent for the recruiting class rankings in 2013. Too much is made of what family members do in comparison to their familial predecessors. That we've had high profile brothers (Chris and Mark Perry) choose different schools is actually indicative of a very healthy family life. Supporting your children on their individual path to success seems to me like one of the highest ideals you can achieve as a parent. That written, my kids WILL ATTEND the University of Virginia. Q: I was wondering your opinion on what was the best individual rivalry in wrestling. Collegiate and international? -- Brad H. Foley: The best collegiate rivalry of the past 20 years: Brent Metcalf vs. Darrion Caldwell or Mark Perry vs. Johny Hendricks. The best collegiate rivalry going forward: Tony Nelson vs. Mike McMullan. The best international rivalry of the past 20 years: Keith Sieracki vs. Matt Lindland. The best international rivalry going forward: Denis Tsargush vs. Jordan Burroughs. Q: Battle of the Batmen Tournament Edition: Val Kilmer vs. Michael Keaton and George Clooney vs. Christian Bale? -- D. Thompkins (Semifinal results: Michael Keaton dec. Val Kilmer 6-1. Bale tech. fall Clooney 18-3, 2:26). Foley: Who is the Batman? Let's start with the one sure best-of in the Batman franchise: Heath Ledger playing the Joker is the best villain of the franchise and has a claim to best overall acting performance in the franchise. Can we all agree on this? Michael Keaton, who as we've discussed has had a so-so career since the late 90s, introduced audiences to the idea of Batman. His success in portraying Bruce Wayne's ass-kicking side was something he did well enough to spawn the Spiderman movies. Christian Bale has taken the role and elevated to a new potential, which also may or may not have given incentive to other superhero franchises (like Spiderman) to simply start over. Do you over-credit Keaton by saying that his original incarnation was the only thing that made possible Bale's role? Or do we treat it as an inevitability? Bale has an argument as one of the top ten actors of the past 15 years. If you want a passionate portrayal of a complicated character you seek out Daniel Day-Lewis (greatest living actor) or you find Bale. He's dedicated himself to his craft and created believers out of studios and fans. Even his role in Terminator Salvation could have flopped, but his detail and professional approach (NSFW) to the art of acting might have carried him past all his competitors. As Bale has become one of the biggest actors in the world, Keaton has struggled to find work and leave an impression on younger audiences. And I REPEAT: Bale lost 60 pounds for a role. That type of caloric restriction appeals to the wresting community and gives him the win. It WAS a foregone conclusion, Bale maj. dec. Keaton, 12-1.

Shawn Bunch

If you're ready for a stacked weekend of MMA action, get ready! If you're ready for a weekend with quality MMA, too bad. UFC on FX 4? Solid. XFC 18 on HDNet? All right. UFC 147? Cool. Wait ... UFC 147 isn't free? It's a pay-per-view for the equivalent of a TUF Finale card? Ew. Nevertheless, Richard and John break down all of the action in a rapid-fire format to try and cover up the fact that John didn't watch any of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. Objective failed. For anyone that actually spends $50 or $60 on the UFC 147 pay-per-view, we'd love to hear from you. Send us an email to mmaoutsiderpodcast@gmail.com so you can explain what on earth you were thinking. Do you want to listen to a past episode? View archives.

Sammie Henson

INDIANAPOLIS -- The 2012 National Coaching Conference Presented by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), will feature a seminar today, Wednesday, June 20 by the NWCA, "Using Coaching Education to Help Save Intercollegiate Olympic Sports: The NWCA Coaching Leadership Academy Program Example." The goal of the National Coaching Conference is to "educate, collaborate and influence"by bringing together coaches, coaching educators and school administrators to present new ideas and recognize the value of coaches as teachers. The theme for this year's convention is, "Sports – Take Part. Get Set for Life."This is the USA Coaching Coalition's opportunity to bring together the leaders in sport and create dialogue to change the paradigm of the way sports are viewed and coached in the United States. The NWCA's portion of the presentation will be given by the main architect for the Leadership Academy Daniel Gould, Ph.D., from the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports (ISYS) at Michigan State University along with his colleagues Larry Lauer, Ph.D., and Dennis Johnson, Ph.D. The Executive Director of the NWCA, Mike Moyer will also be discussing the importance of this program, why it was created and the impact it has had on Collegiate Wrestling in just four short years. The goal of the NWCA Leadership Academy is two-fold: to help coaches enhance their CEO skills in an effort to strengthen their programs and to promote best practices for improving retention and graduation rates. Since 2009, the NWCA has been able to provide scholarships to over 175 college coaches who have completed the course due to the generosity of our sponsors. This August, the NWCA and our sponsors will once again be able to scholarship an additional 50 coaches to take part in the Academy. To learn more about the NWCA Coaching Leadership Academy visit http://www.nwcaonline.com/NWCAWebSite/coachingdevelopment/leadership.aspx. One of the major features of the NWCA Leadership Academy comes from its funding source as all coaches receive a "Scholarship"to attend; their education has been made possible from extremely generous donors who believe in educating our coaches to allow continued growth and stability in the sport of wrestling. Without these generous donors this program would never have been made possible. By presenting this at the National Coaching Conference the NWCA and the ISYS will be discussing how this program can be adapted to other Olympic Sports at the collegiate and high school levels. "This is a fantastic opportunity for the NWCA to be able to share our knowledge of coaching education with the other Olympic Sports, along with coaches from many different backgrounds. This also allows us to keep our mission strong by following the three core competencies of the NWCA which are: Coaching Development, student-athlete welfare, and the promotion of wrestling,"said Moyer. "We want to thank the NFHS and the National Coaching Conference for including the Leadership Academy and the NWCA into this year's program." About the NFHS Since 1920, The National Federation of State High School Associations has led the development of education -based interscholastic sports and activities that help students succeed in their lives. We set directions for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS, from its offices in Indianapolis, Indiana, serves its 50 member state high school athletic/activity associations, plus the District of Columbia. The NFHS publishes playing rules in 16 sports for boys and girls competition and administers fine arts programs in speech, theater, debate and music. It provides a variety of program initiatives that reach the 18,500 high schools and over 11 million students involved in athletic and activity programs. About the NWCA The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, student-athlete welfare, and promotion of wrestling. About the ISYS The mission of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports is to provide leadership, scholarship and outreach that "transforms" the face of youth sports in ways that maximize the beneficial physical, psychological, and social effects of participation for children and youth while minimizing detrimental effects.

Fans can see a nationally televised broadcast of "The Grapple in the Big Apple" from historic Times Square on NBC Sports Network on Thursday, June 21 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The two-hour show will feature highlights of the Beat the Streets Gala competition including the ASICS USA vs. Russia freestyle dual meet, the U.S. Olympic Team Wrestle-off for the 60 kg/132 lbs. position on the U.S. Olympic Team in men’s freestyle wrestling, along with an exhibition match. Calling the action will be the NBC crew of play-by-play announcer Jason Knapp, with color commentary from Olympic champion Jeff Blatnick and sideline reporting from Andrew Catalon. The competition was held on Thursday, June 7, and was a spectacular day of action enjoyed by thousands of people in “The Crossroads of the World.” Fans can see the drama of the battle between Coleman Scott, Shawn Bunch and Reese Humphrey for the final spot on the U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team in the 60 kg Wrestle-off. Also headlining the USA vs. Russia match in Times Square were four U.S. freestyle Olympians: 2011 World champion Jordan Burroughs at 74 kg/163 lbs., 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., Sam Hazewinkel at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Jared Frayer at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. The tough young Russian team in Times Square featured two past Junior World champions, Andrey Valiev at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Shamil Akhmedov at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Wrestling fans will not want to miss this outstanding broadcast of championship Olympic wrestling, held only weeks prior to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. Additional airings for this show are expected on NBC Sports Network, so watch for updates. Check your local listings for the channel and time in your area. About NBC Olympics A division of the NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal's Olympic coverage. It is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history. Having produced every summer Olympic Games since Seoul in 1988 and every Olympic Winter Games since Salt Lake City in 2002, the networks of NBCUniversal are synonymous with the Games in the United States. In 2011, NBCUniversal acquired the U.S. media rights on all platforms to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, and the 2020 Olympic Games. At the conclusion of the 2020 Games, NBCUniversal will have presented 17 total Olympic Games and 11 consecutive, the most for a U.S. media company in both categories. NBC has won an unprecedented 91 Emmy Awards for its Olympics coverage, as well as a prestigious Peabody Award for its presentation of the Beijing Opening Ceremony in 2008, which USA Today said was "the best overall Olympic experience ever provided by a U.S. network." In addition to its unsurpassed heritage and award-winning production, NBCUniversal is known for aggregating large Olympic audiences, as nine of the top 11 most-watched U.S. television events of all time are Olympic Games presented across the networks of NBCUniversal. The Beijing Olympic Games rank No. 1 with 215 million viewers.

Sammie Henson and Bill Apter will go "On the Mat" this Wednesday, June 20. "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 p.m. Central on AM 1650, The Fan. An archive of the show can be found on www.themat.tv. E-mail dgmstaff@nwhof.org with questions or comments about the show. Henson was an NCAA champion for Clemson in 1993 and 1994. He won the World championships in 1998 and an Olympic silver medal in 2000. Henson recently accepted an assistant coaching position at Missouri. Apter will received the Jim Melby Award for journalism during the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame on July 13-14. He is best known for his work with Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

Brian Smith

Related: Brian Smith Interview COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Mizzou wrestling program has filled out their coaching staff with the addition of Sammie Henson, announced today by head coach Brian Smith. Henson was born in St. Charles, Mo., and wrestled for Missouri in 1991. A former All-American at Missouri and national champion at Clemson, Henson returns to Columbia and will take over as an assistant coach, joining recently-announced assistant Joe Johnston, volunteer assistant Mark Ellis and director of operations Todd Schavrien. Henson began his collegiate career at Mizzou, wrestling under Wes Roper and winning the Big 8 title and earning All-America honors as a freshman, placing fifth at the 1991 NCAA Championships. He then transferred to Clemson and became a two-time National Champion, winning back-to-back titles at 118 pounds in 1993 and 1994. Sammie Henson coached at Oklahoma from 2009 to 2011 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)“I have coached against Sammie for many years and have always had great respect for him,” stated Smith. “Having him back in his home state is not only exciting for the University and our program, but for the entire state of Missouri.” One of the world’s great freestyle wrestlers, Henson won gold at 54 kg at the 1998 World Championships, and was the silver medalist at the 2000 Olympic Games. More recently, Henson served as an assistant coach at Cal Poly from 2007 to 2009 and was an assistant at the University of Oklahoma from 2009 to 2011. Henson took over as the head coach of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club in July 2011. Fans can stay updated on all the happenings of the Tiger wrestling program this summer by following them on Facebook (facebook.com/MizzouWrestling) and Twitter (@MizzouWrestling).

SIEDLCE, Poland -- A day after U.S. freestyle wrestlers Obe Blanc (55 kilos) and Tervel Dlagnev (120 kilos) earned gold medals at the W. Ziolkowski Memorial, Ohio RTC wrestlers Logan Stieber (60 kilos) and J.D. Bergman (96 kilos) claimed titles to bring the U.S. gold medal count to four over the two-day event in Siedlce, Poland. Stieber, a 2011 Junior World silver medalist, went 2-0, which included a second-period fall in the finals over Munir Recep Aktas of Turkey and a shutout victory in the semifinals over Nikolay Noev of Tajikistan, 6-0, 2-0. Bergman, a 2010 U.S. World Team member, won four matches to claim the title at 96 kilos. His finals victory came over returning World silver medalist Serhat Balci of Turkey, 1-0, 1-0. The U.S. finished runner-up in the team standings, four points behind champion Turkey. Results 55 kilos: Gold: Obe Blanc (USA) Silver: Angel Escobedo (USA) Bronze: Ahmet Peker (Turkey) Bronze: Robert Okorokov (Russian) 5th: Adrian Hajduk (Poland) 5th: Emanuel Krause (Germany) 60 kilos: Gold: Logan Stieber (USA) Silver: Munir Recep Aktas (Turkey) Bronze: Nikolay Noev (Tajikistan) Bronze - Abdel Hakim Ibrahim Faray (Egypt) 5th: Krzysztof Bie?kowski (Poland) 5th: Oleh Pervachuk (Ukraine ) 66 kilos: Gold: Leonid Spiridonov (Kazakhstan) Silver: Haislan Garcia (Canada) Bronze: Azamat Omurzhanov (Kazakhstan) Bronze - Maxat Daulbayev (Kazakhstan) 5th: Rostilav Pervachuk (Ukraine) 5th: Innokentev Innokenti (Kyrgyzstan) 74 kilos: Gold: Matthew Gentry (Canada) Silver: Ramazan Sahin (Turkey) Bronze: Akzhurek Tanatarov (Kazakhstan) Bronze: Soner Demirtas (Turkey) 5th: Zhan Safian (Belarus) 5th: Jakub Kacenak (Slovakia) 84 kilos: Gold: Ibrahim Bolukbasi (Turkey) Silver: Semyon Semyonov (Kazakhstan) Bronze: Yermek Baiduashev (Kazakhstan) Bronze: Istan Vereb Istvan (Hungary) 5th: Michal Duba (Slovakia) 5th: Ricardo Robertty (Venezuela) 96 kilos: Gold: J.D. Bergman (USA) Silver: Serhat Balci (Turkey) Bronze: Faruk Akkoyun (Turkey) Bronze: Kamil Skaskiewicz (Poland) 5th: Rafael Toth (Hungary) 5th: Jozef Jaloviar (Slovakia) 120 kilos: Gold: Tervel Dlagnev (USA) Silver: Taha Akgul (Turkey) Bronze: Daulet Shabanbay (Kazakhstan) Bronze: Jarod Trice (USA) 5th: Abdel Raouf El Dosoki Ismail (Egypt) 5th: Arjan Bhullar (Canada) Team Standings: 1. Turkey 67 2. USA 63 3. Kazakhstan 60 4. Poland 40.5 5. Canada 24 6. Egypt 18 7. Slovakia 16.5 8. Ukraine 14 9. Hungary 12 10. Russian Federation 11 11. Tajikistan 7 12. Belarus 5 13. Kyrgyzstan 5 14. Germany 5 15. Venezuela 5

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! This Saturday it's Takedown Wrestling Radio. Join Scott Casber and Brad Johnson with the Takedown Wrestling Headline News this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m CT/10 a.m. to noon ET. Our guests include: In-studio guests: Chad Wiltsey and Troy Peterson 9:03 Tony Robie, Virginia Tech assistant head wrestling coach 9:20 Pat Pecora, Pitt Johnston head wrestling coach 9:40 Mike Rogers, Franklin & Marshall head wrestling coach 9:50 Ty Barkley, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update 10:00 Mike Chapman, Wrestling historian and author 10:20 Archie Randall, Oklahoma City head wrestling coach 10:50 Amy Ruble, Wildrose Casino and Resort GM

Northwestern University and Stanford University's wrestling programs are two of the eight Division I wrestling programs honored today by the NCAA for earning Public Recognition Awards, based on their most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rate. These annual awards are earned by teams with APRs in the top 10% in each sport. Northwestern, which placed 9th in the NCAA Championships in March, is being recognized for a fourth consecutive time, while Stanford is a first time recipient of this academic award in the sport of wrestling and placed 16th in the NCAA tournament. The University of Pennsylvania wrestling program joins Northwestern in being recognized by the NCAA for a fourth consecutive season, while Duke University is honored for the second season in a row. Boston University, Michigan State University, Princeton University, and the US Military Academy are the other four teams recognized by the NCAA. Each is a first time recipients of this award. "This public recognition by the NCAA is a highly sought after accomplishment; it is an honor that our coaches embrace and seek to achieve for their program," says Mike Moyer, the Executive Director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. "I salute the athletes, coaches, administrators, academic support staff, and fans of these programs. The student-athletes on these teams are among the elite competing at the Division I level." The sport of wrestling has made tremendous improvement in APR scores during the past four years and each year it is more competitive to finish in the top 10%. These top-performing teams APRs ranged between 978 and a perfect 1000 over the past four years and are among 394 men's programs honored by the NCAA. Full APR scores for all teams will be released by the NCAA next week. "Northwestern and Penn's programs have set the bar high in sustaining academic excellence," says Moyer. We are proud of what these programs have demonstrated over the course of time and equally proud of the four programs earning this recognition for the first time.

Manheim, Pa. -- The National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholastic Board of Directors is proud to announce the annual National Scholastic Award Winners. The NWCA presents awards in three categories: National Coach of the Year/National Prep Coach of the Year, National Assistant Coach of the Year and National Senior Wrestler of the Year/National Prep Senior Wrestler of the Year. The 2012 NWCA National Head Coach of the Year is Marty Linford of Cokeville High School in Wyoming. Cokeville is the smallest school in the state of Wyoming that sponsors wrestling. They have consistently proven themselves as one of the best teams in the state, by winning seven state titles in the past eight years. Coach Linford teaches English and Spanish along at Cokeville, along with helping as an assistant football coach and head Junior High football coach. "We commend Coach Linford for his dedication to draw the best out of his wrestlers, coming from a small community that is a large task to accomplish at the state level. He is the type of coach we strive to recognize as an educator and coach to these young student-athletes and pushing them to be the best person they can be," said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. Jeff Buxton of Blair Academy was named the National Prep Coach of the Year. Buxton has led the Bucs to 26 straight National Prep Championships and coached 145 individual champions. They have won the Ironman Tournament nine times, which is more than all other teams in the country combined along with the Beast of the East fourteen times. Buxton's team has perennially been the nation's top-ranked program the last two and a half decades. This is the third time that Coach Buxton has been honored as the NWCA National Prep Coach of the Year. "Coach Buxton has built a dynasty at Blair in his twenty-eight years as the head coach. He strives to take his athletes to the next level which shows when looking at the numbers of his former wrestlers who have gone on to wrestle at the collegiate level and have had so much success," said Moyer. The National Assistant Coach of the Year goes to Mark Madigan of Simley High School in Minnesota. He has been coaching for 31 years. This year he helped to guide the Simley Spartans to the fifth straight Class AA State Championship. He has helped to coach seven state finalist and five state champions. "Longevity is a great attribute to a truly dedicated assistant coach. I commend Coach Madigan on his years of dedication to the sport of wrestling and his continued service to helping build a program and to teach these young student-athletes," said Moyer. Pennsylvania's Jimmy Gulibon of Derry Area High School is the NWCA's Senior Wrestler of the Year. Gulibon is one of ten wrestlers in 75 years to accomplish the feat of being a four-time PIAA State Champion. He finishes his career with a 136-4 record, which he compiled at four weight classes: 103, 112, 119 and 126. Gulibon plans to compete at Penn State University next season. Mark Grey of Blair Academy takes home the National Prep Senior Wrestler of the Year Award for 2012. Grey is the tenth wrestler in Blair history to win four National Prep Titles, he is also the only four-time Beast of the East Champion. He holds a career record of 140-7, and will be attending Cornell University next year. "Both Jimmy and Mark have both concluded their stellar high school careers. We look forward to watching them compete and excel at the collegiate level in the years to come," said Moyer. "Our goal as a coaches association is to continue to recognize coaches and wrestlers for their outstanding accomplishments, both on the mat in competition, academically and in life." We would also like to recognize the award recipients of the NWCA Regional Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Senior Wrestlers of the Year. In order to be considered for National Honors, the nominee must have been selected as a Regional Award Winner: The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The three core competencies of the NWCA Coaching Development, student-athlete welfare, and promotion of wrestling.

InterMat senior writer T.R. Foley answers reader questions about NCAA wrestling, international wrestling, recruiting, or anything loosely related to wrestling. You have until Thursday night every week to send questions to Foley's Twitter or email account. Q: I want to read the article on the "Grapple in the Apple." Would you mind sending me your InterMat Platinum password? -- You and everyone else I know (including my mother) Foley: I did it, too. When I was a coach some of my friends, coworkers, and even guys on my team would share the same password to access InterMat's Platinum service. Of course, I understand now that I was essentially stealing information. (Ed. Note: InterMat now tracks Platinum logins by IP address. Those who share passwords (i.e. abuse their privileges) will have their Platinum service revoked without refund in accordance with InterMat's Member Service Agreement.) Information, especially when it comes from experts like Josh Lowe and Mark Palmer, should be at a premium. InterMat values a reader's experience, which translates into choosing an aesthetic that isn't saturated with ads. I think we can all agree that too many ads would diminish the quality of the site. However, this is a business and when you hire writers to do several hours of research, analysis and writing, the costs add up. It's obvious that Lowe, Palmer, and I don't work for compliments, which means our bosses have to support our paychecks while creating enough to also pay webmasters and the rest. When the information warrants it, they take it off the free site and put it behind the Platinum pay wall. I know that it's frustrating for users to land on the site to check out something they want only to be bested by a pay wall, but wanting to access the information in its own way validates that you should pay for it. The guys who run InterMat are already incredibly generous with the content they give away for free. The same type of specialization and analysis in lacrosse, golf, and basketball costs money for readers, usually big money. Even users of ESPN find themselves on the wrong side of the Insider when trying to learn more details about sports like MMA and college baseball. Trust me, I KNOW that you don't want to pay for news, information, and analysis. I GET IT. But buying Platinum is also a free-market exercise in showing your support for the sport. Guys like Lowe could make MUCH better money analyzing the bond market, or New York real estate prices, but he instead entertains us with his insane analysis of high school sports because he's passionate about the sport. We are always looking to add more value to the Platinum service without making the site off-limits to passer-bys. Should things go as planned, we'll be launching a new Platinum series that will be sure to cause some great debate and include factoids and research you won't want to miss. The high school rankings, Fargo breakdowns, and recruiting updates will also be updated throughout the year, along with exclusive interviews and the best analysis on the Web. At less than $1 per week I'm sure you'll find that platinum is a low-cost a service you'll use enough to find valuable. (This was the same argument that worked for my mother ... ) Q: What did you think about the Grapple in the Apple? Any thoughts on Coleman Scott and Shawn Bunch? -- Trevor L. Foley: You can read all about my thoughts once you get Platinum! The gist is that wrestling promotions are doing well to grab primary, secondary, and tertiary forms of media coverage when they host the BTS events in NYC. For example there was the actual taping of the event, then the stories about the results (local and national), and then analysis about what it all means or even just the guys who are responsible for running the show. The event also generated a bunch of dosh which will help expand BTS to LA, which in turn creates new wrestlers, new media and new fans. Overall: Winner, winner. Is it OK to go back in time and write that I KNEW Coleman Scott was going to win it all? I want to do that, because I thought he would, but statistically he seemed like a long shot. Maybe John Smith said it best when he told me that the reason Scott would win it is because he's had the toughest road. True, he did, but I have to think it also has something to do with having that much talent and dedication being ON. Zeke Jones, independent of Smith's comments, said before the wrestle-off that he expected the 60-kilo spot to be a highlight for the 2012 Olympic Team regardless of the representative for precisely the same reasons Smith thought Scott was going to achieve: TOUGHEST ROAD. By wrestling with what Jones called a "chip on their shoulder," Scott will be in position to take a home medal. Don't get me wrong, it's a long shot in a stacked weight class that includes four-time World champion Besik Kudukhov of Russia, but Scott is now part of what makes that weight stacked. Coleman Scott defeated Shawn Bunch with a five-point move in the third match (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The final move against Bunch became one of the most dramatic finishes to any wrestling event I've ever attended. You can't script the drama of wrestling (which is part of why scripted wrestling does so well -- you can guarantee the drama), so when Scott lifted Bunch for the win AND the Olympic spot it was tough to not cheer. I felt like I was cheering the event itself, that I was somehow enraptured not because I have any connection to Coleman Scott (I don't) but because EVERYTHING FELL EXACTLY INTO PLACE. Wrestling isn't known for catching a lot of great PR breaks, but that moment was a big break and would there have been a highlight by Universal Sports I think we would have seen it on SportsCenter's Top Ten plays. We could have at least hope for it to be passed around the Internet in much the same way as the Flying Squirrel. I also feel heartbroken for Bunch. He's talented and with some training and patience could hold off for another four years. My prediction is that we'll lose him to MMA, and while that hurts America in the short term, it does allow another young stud (LOGAN STIEBER, LOGAN STIEBER, LOGAN STIEBER) to earn more mat time with the coaches and earn better money once he's out of college. Final note on Bunch. His loss was horrific enough, but became even more so when he ran off the mat to be alone (force of habit for losing wrestlers everywhere), but found himself standing in the middle of Times Square. It's a nightmare sequence and I still feel bad when thinking of what he (and Reece Humphrey) must be going through right now. They gave it their all, and while they fell short, I'm sure I speak for many in the wrestling community when I say we are proud of their efforts. It's their competitive spirit that will help elevate Scott to a higher place on the Olympic podium. Final thought: Has there been a more likable cast of characters assembled for a U.S. Olympic Team? Q: Is Zain Retherford going to have a high school to wrestle for next season? -- @Bobbylit20 Foley: Word is that he'll be wrestling at Benton. Q: Did you see the Pacquiao-Bradley screwjob? Can you think of a wrestling match where someone got jobbed that bad? -- Geoff W. Foley: There is a significant difference in the structure of a boxing match which makes it much more offensive when someone like Pacquiao gets robbed. There are JUDGES, where in NCAA wrestling we just have a referee. Single humans can miss action, two judges seeing a fight the wrong way is almost certainly indicative of collusion. Americans can forgive mistakes. We have a tougher time forgiving people who intentionally try to screw us. Before I answer the wrestling portion of the question I did have friends place HEFTY bets on Bradley before the fight at +450 and walked away with enough money to buy 545 Platinum subscriptions. Another friend bought out of his Bradley bet in the 12th round because he was certain that Pacquiao had won. Ouch! (Secretly it makes me happy.) Many believe Johny Hendricks was pinned by Ryan Churella in the NCAA finals in 2006 (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The worst screwjob is recent NCAA wrestling probably belongs to Gary Kessel's non-call in the 2006 NCAA Division I finals at 165 pounds. Ryan Churella (Michigan) decked Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma State) in the second period, but Kessel was out of place, or just had a brief lapse in concentration and missed the call. Kessel caught some bad attention for his mistake because Churella went on to lose the match. But it was actually Hendricks who came out having lost the most. Maybe because Okie State was wrestling well, or his brash demeanor rubbed fans the wrong way, but Hendricks became the most hated wrestler of the aughties. Since then he's transitioned into MMA where he's one of the top welterweights in the world and fans don't just like him, they LOVE him (his nickname is the Happy Beard Guy). The reactions of the fans in 2006 might have cost wrestling something in the long term as well. In a recent interview with FIGHT! Magazine, the two-time NCAA champion said that the reason he didn't pursue the Olympics was because of the way he was treated by our fans. Why would he sacrifice his career for people who didn't respect his commitment? Internationally there have been so many American wrestlers hosed by Russian and European referees that it would be difficult to narrow it down to just one. I seem to recall that Mo Lawal was absolutely robbed in the semifinals of the 2005 World Championships where he eventually placed seventh. Lawal became so disenfranchised by the flippant way in which decisions were made in international wrestling that after a failed run at earning the Olympic spot in 2008 he moved over to MMA, and recently he also signed a contract with the professional wrestling organization TNA. He seems happy. Mixed martial arts aren't immune to bad decisions either (though most of them seem to surround Cecil Peoples). The biggest robbery in recent MMA history was Nam Phan vs. Leonard Garcia. Phan DESTROYED Garcia for three rounds, but Garcia was handed a split decision. The fight was so bad that it prompted UFC president Dana White to give Phan a rematch the next year, but only after he railed against bad decisions. On the whole, bad decisions in judged sports are rare. If Pacquiao had won maybe we'd finally get to see the fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. As it stands now, he'll have to re-fight Bradley and keep his fingers crossed that Mayweather makes it back from prison. Should that happen we could be in for quite the main event, though one has to suspect the fix is already in. The estimated takeaway for the two fighters is expected to break $100 million. (If you want a pretty cool explanation of where the Bradley-Pacquiao fight ranks against other boxing jobs, check out the animated podcast by Slate and Deadspin.com.) Battle of the Batmen Tournament Edition: Val Kilmer vs. Michael Keaton and George Clooney vs. Christian Bale? -- D. Thompkins (Note: Last week Michael Keaton dec. Val Kilmer, 6-1, and moved into the finals.) Foley: Lets start by looking at Christian Bale's dedication to his craft. The sometimes cantankerous actor shed 60 pounds to play the insomnia-ridden Trevor Reznick in the Machinist. A few years later he repeated the feat when he trimmed 40 pounds to play crack head boxing trainer Dicky Ecklund in The Fighter. With the vision of Christopher Nolan, Bale has changed what it means to be Batman. The movies are dark and meaty, but the Oscar winner turned a stale character in what could be the best superhero depiction of all time during his performance in the Dark Knight. He also has THE best gravelly Batman Voice. Did I mention he also once LOST 60 POUNDS FOR A MOVIE ROLE. Wrestlers rejoice. We are not alone. Batman and Robin was George Clooney's turn in the cape. Look Down and Shake. Clooney was simply awful. Bale tech. fall Clooney, 18-3 (2:26) Next week: Christian Bale vs. Michael Keaton!

St. Paris Graham's Bo Jordan works for the pin Bo Jordan (St. Paris Graham, Ohio), one of the nation's top wrestlers in the Class of 2013, recently committed to Ohio State. BuckeyeWrestling's Kevin Schlosser sits down with Jordan and talks to him about his decision to be a Buckeye.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- University of Illinois head coach Jim Heffernan announced that three-time All-American Boris Novachkov will train locally and assist the Illini wrestling team during the upcoming season. Novachkov comes to Illinois from Cal-Poly, where he wrestled for the Mustangs from 2007-2012. Boris Novachkov"Boris (Novachkov) will be a great asset to the program and community," Heffernan said. "Having someone with realistic goals of being an Olympian is a very positive thing for our program. In addition to his training, Boris will assist the program administratively in our daily operations." Novachkov was Cal Poly's first three-time NCAA Division I All-American with his third-place finish in this year's national championships (141 pounds), placing runner-up last year at 141 pounds and seventh at 133 pounds in 2010. During his four-years as a Mustang, Novachkov posted a 121-33 record and was a two-time Pac-12 champion in 2010 and 2011 and was conference runner-up this year and third in 2008. He was also named Cal-Poly's Male Athlete of the Year and shared the Mustang's Most Outstanding Wrestler Award. "I'm excited to become a part of the Illini wrestling program," Novachkov said. "It's a great opportunity for me to grow as a wrestler and continue to do what I love to do. I'm looking forward to training for the world and Olympic teams as well as help the team reach their goals."

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Cliff Keen Athletic is pleased to announce the signing of U.S. Olympic Wrestler Jake Herbert. The signing by Cliff Keen, marks a strategic marketing partnership with Herbert that entails Cliff Keen advertising, sponsored clinics, video production, and product endorsement. Herbert, a 2009 World Silver Medalist and current NYAC/Cliff Keen Wrestling Club member, is one of USA Wrestling's Medal Hopefuls for the upcoming London 2012 Olympic Games. Jake Herbert (Photo/Eric Bronson, CKWC)Further details of the Herbert signing include an apparel partnership. The sponsorship will launch immediately. Cliff Keen Athletic will be providing a line of newly designed shirts for Jake, which will be sold on Jake's website, jakeherbert.com, cliffkeen.com, and select Cliff Keen retailers nationwide. "We are truly thrilled to be working with Jake," said Tom Keen of Cliff Keen Athletic. "I've known Jake for a long time, going back to when he was part of our Cliff Keen/ Wrestling USA Dream Team Classic as a standout prep wrestler. I can tell you that few athletes posses the determination, drive, charisma, and integrity that Jake has. That's tremendous!" Jake Herbert added "I am really pumped to be working with Cliff Keen. I've been training in their gear for years now, and honestly nobody makes products for wrestlers as well as Cliff Keen does. Getting to know them, they are exactly the type of quality organization that I want to be linked to." About Jake Herbert: A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jake's list of accomplishments on and off the mat are impressive: A 2009 and 2010 World Team Member, Pan American Champion, USA Freestyle Wrestler of the Year, a Hodge Trophy Winner, 2X NCAA Champ at Northwestern University, and 4X All American. Jake is hoping to add "Olympic Gold" to his resume later this summer in London. About Cliff Keen Athletic: For nearly 60 years, Cliff Keen Athletic has been the leader of the international wrestling market. Started in 1958 by legendary University of Michigan Wrestling Coach Cliff Keen, Cliff Keen Athletic continues his great legacy in the sport to this day manufacturing uniforms and equipment for wrestlers the world over.

Chris Bono and Gerry Brisco will go “On the Mat” this Wednesday, June 13. "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 kklingman@nwhof.org with any questions or comments about the show. Bono was recently hired as the head wrestling coach at South Dakota State. He was an NCAA champion for Iowa State in 1996. Brisco is a talent scout for World Wrestling Entertainment. He is a member of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame located at that National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Case Western Reserve University Director of Athletics Dave Diles has announced the hiring of Mark Hawald as the Spartans' new head wrestling coach. A former National Coach of the Year, Hawald spent the last five seasons as head coach at the University of Mount Union, where he built one of the top Division III programs in the nation. Hawald is only the third head wrestling coach at CWRU since The University Federation in 1967. The late Bob Del Rosa coached the team from its origin through the 2010-11 season, and 2002 graduate Chris Nader led the program as interim coach in 2011-12. "Mark Hawald brings unprecedented qualifications to our wrestling program," said Diles. "He was a highly decorated wrestler at John Carroll University, and his coaching credentials are remarkable. As a three-time Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, and as the Division III National Coach of the Year, he has the experience and track record to lead the Spartan wrestling program. Moreover, I am particularly impressed with his international coaching experience and his overall vision for the advancement of our program. We are thrilled to welcome him to our department and university." Hawald brings with him to University Circle an outstanding resume that includes back-to-back OAC Championships in 2011 and 2012, seven NCAA All-Americans, 11 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-Americans and one NCAA Top-10 finish. A three-time OAC Coach of the Year, Hawald led the Purple Raiders to a 42-25 dual match record over the past five seasons and a program-best eighth-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Championship Tournament in 2011. Also during the 2010-11 campaign, the Solon, Ohio-native was tabbed as the D3wrestle.com National Coach of the Year in Division III. "I am excited to lead a program that is rich in history and tradition," said Hawald. "The world-class academic reputation and the resources at Case Western Reserve will allow us to recruit outstanding student-athletes who will help lead this program to a level of national prominence." Prior to his time at Mount Union, Hawald served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame College (Ohio) for one season following his time as a student-athlete then volunteer assistant at John Carroll. While at JCU, Hawald was a standout wrestler as a four-time OAC Champion and 2004 All-American at 174 pounds. The Blue Streaks' all-time leader in career wins (122), Hawald was tabbed as the Clyde Lamb Award winner in 2005, in recognition as the institution's top male student-athlete. Also a three-time Academic All-American, Hawald earned his Bachelor's Degree in accounting from JCU in 2005 and his Master's in Business Administration in 2007. In addition to his coaching duties at Mount Union, Hawald served an instructor in the Department of Economics, Accounting and Business Administration. The Spartan wrestling program has a long history of success both on the mat and in the classroom. Overall, Case Western Reserve has produced 19 All-Americans, four NCAA National Champions and 36 NWCA Scholar All-Americans. The program has also ranked in the top-10 in the nation for team grade point average four times, including posting the No. 1 ranking in Division III in 2007.

Related Link: The MMA Outsider Podcast Archives Following last weekend's UFC on FX 3, the biggest promotion in MMA is taking the week off. Judging by the show's undercard, that might be a good thing. Richard and John analyze the main card highlights and what the UFC can do to keep from having a watered down product with so many shows. Rounding things out, Strikeforce veteran Lyle Beerbohm joins the show to talk about his bout against former UFC and PRIDE fighter Marcus Aurelius on June 16 at ShoFights in Springfield, Ill.

Darton State College Athletics hired wrestling hall-of-famer Thomas Erikson to take over the Cavalier wrestling program. Erikson replaces former head wrestling coach Chris Fleeger. He is tentatively scheduled to begin his career at Darton on July 1. "We feel that Coach Erikson will have an immediate impact upon his arrival at Darton," Darton athletic director Mike Kiefer said. "He brings a wealth of experience as a coach and he's very well known and respected in the wrestling community. We're very pleased with his decision to become a member of our Darton family." Erikson built a reputation for excellence while serving as head assistant wrestling coach at Purdue University, where he coached All-American wrestlers at the NCAA D-I powerhouse. He simultaneously worked on athlete development among club-level wrestlers through Team Indiana. Erikson held his role as head assistant wrestling coach at Purdue University since 1999, and said that he recently realized it was time to move on if he wanted a position as a head coach. "I realized the head coach (at Purdue) isn't going anywhere," he said, "and that I needed to make a move." He referred to his hire at Darton as a homecoming of sorts, and added that his collegiate wrestling career began in the NJCAA, and he feels that things "are coming together full circle." Erikson won two national championship titles as a student-athlete at Triton College, a two-year school near Chicago, before transferring to Oklahoma State University and becoming a two-time NCAA All American. He's also a member of the NJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame. His new role at Darton will be to continue the development of the wresling program, and also to build up the sport of wrestling in the area, he said. "I am looking forward to making the term 'student-athlete' be a staple of the Darton wrestling program, where our athletes are just as successful off the mat and in the classroom as they are on it," Erikson said. "To meet that challenge, I am looking forward to recruiting the best student-athletes in the state of Georgia." Erikson said he also wants to work very closely with Team Georgia Wrestling - the head of club wrestling in Georgia - to build local talent and a strong recruiting base. "We want to build up the state of South Georgia wrestling and then we want to retain those kids," he said. Erikson added that he has already been in touch with local high school coaches as he moves forward with this goal in mind. Purdue University associate athletic director for communications Tanner Lipsett praised Erikson's career at Purdue and said he'll be an excellent coach for Darton State College. "He's a great guy, a great coach and I'm sure you'll be thrilled to have him leading your program," he said.

Jake Herbert was in the stands for the majority of last week's Grapple in the Apple. The Pennsylvania native and 2009 World silver medalist was taking it all in alongside Kyle Dake, Bubba Jenkins, and three well-heeled businessmen in dark suits and side-parts. "What the hell is going on?" asked one of these (likely) finance guys in frustration. Beat The Streets Grapple in the Apple raised $1.4 Million For New York City area youth wrestling and education programs (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Herbert overhead their interest and in all his charming oafishness popped into their conversation to give them pointers on scoring and positioning. For five minutes they posed questions and Herbert answered. Finally they realized that the enormous and fit human in front of them might have wrestled as well. "Did you wrestle?" (Really? What else on EARTH could possibly have given him that frame? You can't see his ears behind his traps ... SUIT.) Herbert explained that he was still wrestling but was sitting out this match. Almost without thinking of the attention it might grab he added that he'd be wrestling in the Olympics. The dapper trio lost their minds. A REAL Olympian was sitting in front of them. Cell phone photos were taken. Ten minutes later their enthusiasm wasn't subsided and there were promises of watching all of Herbert's matches and possibly buying a few T-shirts. Herbert wasn't trying to sell them, he was sharing his passion with new people by using the available platform: The Grapple in the Apple. Wrestling icon Dan Gable was in New York City to take in the event (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The wrestling community loves attention and save for a few glitches the match held in Times Square could be considered one of the most successful events in amateur wrestling history. Why? Because it managed to raise money, awareness and excitement -- the event is equal parts friend-raiser and fundraiser. Herbert, albeit an Olympian, used the event to promote his passion and earned the sport three new friends with a personal connection and a positive image of the sport. Three new fans isn't a small thing. In the days leading up to the match, the USA Wrestling team was on a full-scale promotional tour through NYC. (Kudos to Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling for selling some of the biggest names in the MSM on wrestling -- not an easy task.) In the course of one week we saw Jordan Burroughs on the NBC Today Show, CNN Early Start, and the WSJ video section. In print he was even more thoroughly covered including a piece on SI.com. The rest of the team also got into the act showing up at the closing bell of the NYSE and Yankee Stadium for batting practice. Herbert made an appearance on NBC affiliates in Chicago and NYC. The event was covered by the AP, ESPN, Reuters, and dozens of other media outlets, much of which had to do with the ease of the location, but also because the event itself was meaty, with the Russians visiting and an Olympic spot on the line. Local media picked up the achievements of their favorite athletes. For the first time since March my Google news alert for "wrestling" was void of references to Vince McMahon. Every story had something to do with the Grapple in the Apple. Coleman Scott defeated Reece Humphrey and Shawn Bunch to make the U.S. Olympic Team at 60 kilos in men's freestyle (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The matches themselves were almost inconsequential to the overall feel of the event. Beating the backup Russian team was impressive and the Coleman Scott vs. Shawn Bunch could not have been more tense or ended in a more dramatic fashion, but it was the event itself that drew the attention of the media. (ESPN did not include Scott's final throw as a Top 10 play.) We live in an attention economy and getting our best in front of the camera and described in print will assist in selling the sport to more fans and more future supporters. In addition to the MSM and national media attention, the $1.4 million to support BTS also had a significant impact on the long-term sustainability of amateur wrestling. The monies raised at the banquet following the event will presumably be used to expand the organization's reach within the NYC Metro area with enough left over to help support the capital behind the new BTS program in Los Angeles. That West Coast branch of BTS will be headed up by former Division I All-American and longtime assistant coach Yero Washinston. As a grassroots program, BTS will succeed in its mission to get kids off the streets and through wrestling find a path to college, but from a sustainability standpoint BTS helps wrestling en masse by creating positive local media. In turn that media helps builds support within school administration and local governments. After parents and bureaucrats decide that wrestling is a positive option for their youth there is an increase in participation rates. That wouldn't be possible without the Grapple in the Apple. Jordan Burroughs dominated Russia's Kamel Malikov (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Ultimately the legacy of the national media event like the Grapple in the Apple won't be with how many times we got to see Burroughs and Herbert on the television, or how the crowd became entranced by the back-and-forth between Scott and Bunch. The big payoff is that we have a grassroots organization impacting local communities. By cultivating the image of the sport at the local level we'll change the perception and habits of active youth, which will help us guarantee that there will always be a wrestling team to watch, cheer, and support. Like Herbert did in Times Square with the suits, our local wrestlers will recruit interest from family and friends. In turn they'll ensure that we have the support and the attention we've always pined for. Thanks to Beat the Streets, wrestling has its first long-term sustainable approach to creating, capturing, and capitalizing on an interest in the sport of wrestling. In a sport that seems more about contraction and negativity, this is the bright spot we can all enjoy. Footnote: I've been thinking it for some time (after the third-place finish at the 2011 Worlds, then after the third-place finish at the World Cup), but it's time to start considering a healthy overdose of praise for USA Wrestling's head coach Zeke Jones. There are several factors that have contributed to the recent uptick in international results (regional training centers, overall talent pool, Jordan Burroughs) but the coach of the program is the CEO and fair or not he'll take praise for the wins and criticism for the losses. Watching the Russian dual left me feeling hopeful about the United States chances not only in this year's Olympics, but for the next cycle as well. (Prediction: Logan Stieber will be a multi-time World and Olympic medalist. Grit. Speed. Strength.)