InterMat Staff

Randy Lewis

Jack Hathaway (Iowa City West, Iowa), an InterMat Top 100 recruit, has registered for the 2011 InterMat JJ Classic at 126 pounds. Hathaway compiled a 53-3 record en route to winning a state title this past season. He was a Cadet National double finalist in 2010, winning a title in Greco-Roman. Jack Hathaway (Photo/Wyatt Schultz, The Predicament)

Related Link: Grade Level Rankings Arguably the biggest event of the whole wrestling year came to its conclusion three weeks ago -- the Junior and Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D. Despite all the highlight matches, intriguing events, and interesting happenings the five No. 1 positions remain unchanged. Ben Whitford was a Junior National double champion (Photo/Dave Jedlicka, jedicheetah.com)Class of 2012: Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Michigan) Class of 2013: Bo Jordan (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) Class of 2014: Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) Class of 2015: Zahid Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.) Class of 2016: Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) However, that was about the only thing that was left unchanged. In three of the five groups, there is a new No. 2 wrestler. Class of 2013: Ben Whitford (St. Johns, Mich.) Class of 2015: Matthew Kolodzik (Miami Valley, Ohio) Class of 2016: Aaron Pico (California) Whitford swept the Greco-Roman and freestyle tournaments at the Junior Nationals last month in the 135-pound weight class. In six Fargo competitions, he now has five titles and six finals appearances to his credit. Kolodzik finished fifth in the Cadet freestyle at 105 pounds. Finally, Pico swept his way to titles in both Greco-Roman and freestyle at the Cadet Nationals in the 119 pound weight class. This year's senior group has excellent geographical diversity in its talent, with the top ten kids each coming from a different state; 14 states are represented in the Top 20, 18 in the Top 50, and 21 in all. The excellent group of seniors in the Buckeye State, anchored by Nate Skonieczny, leads all states with 14 in all from Ohio among the Top 100. Next on the list is Pennsylvania, who has ten ranked Class of 2012 wrestlers. Iowa's excellent senior class, which will be participating in the Wrestling USA Magazine Dream Team Classic this coming year, has nine ranked wrestlers. This represents a tie for the third most with Minnesota and Illinois. Geographical diversity, as well as wrestlers from Ohio and Pennsylvania, dominates the Class of 2013 rankings. The top nine wrestlers reside from different states, 13 states are represented in the Top 20 wrestlers, while the Top 50 is made up of wrestlers from 21 states. Seven wrestlers each from Ohio and Pennsylvania are in the Class of 2013 rankings. Three states with four are next -- Michigan, New Jersey, and Minnesota. Chance Marsteller toyed with opponents in Fargo (Photo/Dave Jedlicka, jedicheetah.com)Again, there is geographic balance in the Class of 2014 rankings, with 12 different states represented in the Top 20 and 23 states among the Top 50. However, Pennsylvania wrestlers dominate the class rankings with seven in all, led by the sensational Marsteller. Five wrestlers that attend high school in New Jersey appear in the rankings, along with four wrestlers from high schools in California, Maryland, and Michigan. Among incoming ninth-graders in the Class of 2015, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma lead the way with four in the Top 25 rankings. Yet again, this is not a surprise given the longstanding history of talent in the Keystone State, and its excellent PJW state tournament series for wrestlers prior to high school. Additionally, the underclassmen in Oklahoma represent some excellent groups of per capita talent. Finally, a trio of Pennsylvania and Minnesota wrestlers is featured among the Top 15 junior high wrestlers in the nation; California also has a pair of wrestlers in this select group.

The nation's top-ranked junior high wrestler, Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), will be wrestling in the 2011 InterMat JJ Classic. Hall won a state championship this past season as a seventh-grader at 130 pounds while wrestling for the nation's No. 1 program, Apple Valley. Mark Hall (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)

PEMBROKE -- Athletic department officials at the University of North Carolina on Pembroke announced the hiring of Othello Johnson as its sixth wrestling head coach on Tuesday afternoon. "I am very honored to take over such a successful program," said Johnson. "I look forward to continuing the success the program has built over the last five years under Coach Jamie Gibbs. I believe there is much more UNCP Wrestling is capable of, and I am very excited to be leading the Braves into the future." Johnson takes over the reins of a tradition-rich wrestling program from his mentor, Jamie Gibbs, who resigned after five years at the helm of the Braves in July. Johnson, who has served UNCP as an assistant coach in each of the past five seasons, will begin his duties in the athletic department immediately. He will also serve as a lecturer in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department at UNC Pembroke. Johnson brought his expertise to the coaching world as an assistant coach for the UNCP wrestling team in 2006, playing an integral role in leading the Braves to five-straight top-30 appearances. As an assistant coach, he mentored seven NCAA all-Americans and eight student-athletes to NWCA All-Academic Team accolades. In addition, 16 student-athletes made appearances at the NCAA Division II National Championships during his most recent stint. Over the last five years, UNCP has churned out a 51-40 dual meet clip, while also registering a slew of impressive finishes at distinguished tournaments, most notably a third-place honor at the Midwest Classic in December and a sixth-place finish at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in January. UNCP posted its best finish (T-17th) at the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championships after being ranked No. 11 in the final regular season national poll. He has also served a previous stint as a student assistant coach with the UNC Greensboro wrestling team, as well as undertaking adjunct teaching positions at both Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst and at Robeson Community College in Lumberton. He also serves as a camp instructor for the annual Ken Chertow Wrestling Camps. He is certified in both Red Cross CPR and First Aid and has attended each of the last three National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) conventions. Johnson began his athletic and academic career at Colby (Kan.) Community College in 2001, twice (2002, 2003) capturing all-American accolades from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). As a freshman, he turned in a seventh place finish at the NJCAA National Championships and highlighted Colby's runner-up finish at the 2003 event with a sixth place finish. The Trojans finished just 4-1/2 points for the national team title at the 2003 NJCAA National Championships. He also captured all-academic honors from the NJCAA as a sophomore as well. After earning his associate's of arts degree from Colby CC in 2003, he moved on to UNC Greensboro where he was a two-time starter for the Spartans during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 campaigns. As a junior, he helped lead UNCG to a third place finish at the Southern Conference Tournament, and then took home sixth place laurels at the Southern Scuffle during his senior season. Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science from UNCP in 2007, and then earned his master's degree in physical education from UNCP in 2010. Johnson and his fiancé, former UNCP basketball and track & field/cross country standout Ivy Ramsey, celebrated the birth of their first child, Norah, in November of 2009.

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard announced Thursday that the Cyclones have worked out an agreement with the National Wrestling Coaches Association to host one of four 2012 Cliff Keen Division I National Dual Meet regionals, Feb. 12, in Hilton Coliseum. Regional 1 in Ames will feature three schools that placed among the top eight wrestling squads at the 2011 National Duals in Iowa State (eighth), Wisconsin (third) and Virginia Tech (second). Iowa, which did not compete in the 2011 National Duals and placed third as a team at the NCAA meet, will compete in Ames. Northern Iowa and Oregon State round out the field. The Region 1 winner will advance to the National Dual Meet Championships, to be held Feb. 19. Ticket information and further details will be announced soon. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches and fans to be part of hosting the national wrestling dual championships,” Pollard said. “I really appreciate the Big 12 Conference working with us on our men's and women's basketball schedules to make Hilton Coliseum available to host this prestigious event. That support demonstrates how important wrestling is to the Big 12 Conference and to our institution.” The 2011-12 wrestling season will showcase an exciting new format for the NWCA/Cliff Keen Division I National Dual Meet Championships that will feature four regional locations and a culminating championship for the final four teams that advance out of each region. The 24 participating teams for the 2012 event were selected based primarily off the final 2010-11 NWCA Team Rankings as determined by the NWCA/USA Today Division I Coaches Poll. Region 1 - Iowa State (host), Iowa, Oregon State, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin and Northern Iowa. Region 2 - Cornell (host), Central Michigan, Oklahoma, Purdue, Illinois and American. Region 3 - Rutgers (host), Minnesota, Kent State, Michigan, Missouri and Cal Poly. Region 4- Oklahoma State (host), Boise State, Ohio State, Nebraska, Wyoming and Tennessee-Chattanooga. “I really appreciate that the Big 12 Conference and our administration were willing to work with the NWCA to make hosting this year's event in Hilton Coliseum possible,” Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Jackson said. “I'm really excited that our student-athletes will get to wrestle in the National Duals in Hilton Coliseum”. “On behalf of the NWCA Board of Directors, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to Iowa State University for its willingness to host this new concept,” NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer said. “We are also forever grateful to the man who founded the first D-I National Duals in 1989, John Graham, for his visionary role in this initiative. An event like this would never be possible without the incredibly generous and ongoing support of our title sponsor, Cliff Keen Athletics. At the request of Cliff Keen Athletics, the National Duals will carry the name of Cliff Keen, the original founder of the NWCA and Cliff Keen Athletics.” The full Iowa State wrestling schedule will be released soon.

USAFA, Colo. -- On the heels of one of its most successful seasons in recent history, the Air Force wrestling team looks to push for greater improvements during the 2011-12 season. Last year, the Falcons finished third in the Western Wrestling Conference/NCAA West Regional as a team and have lost just three starters from the conference lineup to graduation. This season, Air Force welcomes back a strong group of returners, led by juniors Cole VonOhlen and Clayton Gable, along with sophomore Josh Kreimier. VonOhlen, a two-time NCAA qualifier, ended his sophomore campaign with a 44-9 overall record, including a 16-1 dual mark, 14 falls and a 6-0 record in Western Wrestling Conference duals. Named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 2011 NCAA West Regional, VonOhlen won 20 of 21 matches heading into the NCAA Championships, with none decided by less than eight points. Entering this season with a career ledger of 75-18, VonOhlen will look to be the next Air Force wrestler to reach the NCAA podium in March. As a junior, he is on track to push the Falcons' career win record of 162 matches set by Kevin Hoy from 1999-2003. Last season, Gable finished second on the team with 27 victories, while earning third-team All-Western Wrestling Conference accolades at 165 pounds. He also earned a victory over a nationally ranked opponent. This year, he is expected to move back up to 174 pounds and should be the front-runner for the starting position there as he looks to earn a spot in St. Louis next March. Meanwhile, Kreimier had a solid rookie campaign for the Falcons in 2011, staying entrenched in the starting lineup at 149 pounds throughout the season. Kreimier compiled a 25-19 mark on the year and placed in three tournaments during his freshman season, including a third-place finish at the All-Academy Championships in February. He also notched victories over a pair of nationally ranked opponents in his freshman campaign. The projected starting lineup for the 2011-12 season follows: 125 - Greg Rinker, So., Northampton, Pa.: Posted a 19-7 record in freshman campaign ... earned the Falcons' starting spot at 125 pounds for the NCAA West Regional. 133 - Tyler Untrauer, Sr., Midwest City, Okla.: Compiled a 15-9 overall record at 133 pounds last season, including a 3-2 mark in dual action. 141 - Cole VonOhlen, Jr., Jackson, Minn.: Two-time NCAA qualifier ... notched a nation-leading 44 wins in 2010-11 ... NCAA West Regional champion at 141 pounds and recipient of tournament's Outstanding Wrestler Award. 149 - Josh Kreimier, So., Fort Collins, Colo.: Registered a 25-19 record as the Falcons' starter at 149 pounds during his rookie campaign. 157 - Alec Williams, Sr., Fultondale, Ala.: Compiled the best record of his career, finishing the season with a 26-18 mark as the Falcons' starter at 157 pounds. 165 - Carter Adams, So., Coon Rapids, Minn. - Posted a 13-9 overall record as a freshman, primarily in open competition. 174 - Clayton Gable, Jr., Dallastown, Pa.: Finished second on the team with 27 victories, including 20 wins as the Falcons' starter at 165 pounds ... third-team All-WWC honoree. 184 - Karl Oeser, Sr., Wichita, Kan.: Compiled a 4-3 record on the season, primarily in open competition. 197 - Josh Mohr, Jr., Pewaukee, Wis.: Posted a 14-10 record in 2010-11, primarily at 184 pounds ... registered a 5-1 dual mark as a starter at 184. 285 - Jared Erickson, Jr., Newton, Utah: Earned 23 wins as the starting heavyweight for the Falcons in 2010-11 ... third-team All-WWC honoree. Other wrestlers expected to make an impact this season include newcomers Dylan Hyder (125) and Carter McElhany (133). Both Hyder and McElhany are two-time state champions and four-time state medalists, hailing from Yelm, Wash., and Colorado Springs, Colo., respectively. At 157 pounds, junior Gabe Martinez (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will battle for the starting position, while sophomores Daniel Barringer (Monument, Colo.) and Devin Hightower (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will factor into the competition at 165 and 174 pounds, respectively. Meanwhile, sophomore Greg Isley (Toledo, Ohio) returns after a year away from the Academy and will be a likely challenger at 184 pounds.

Related Link: Purdue's 2011-12 Schedule WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Purdue wrestling program announced its 2011-12 schedule on Wednesday, unveiling a solid lineup of duals and tournaments capped by the 2012 Big Ten Championships at Mackey Arena and the 2012 NCAA Championships at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. The Boilermakers will host five dual contests this year, including four Big Ten Duals in Holloway Gymnasium. Purdue opens up its season on Nov. 5, returning to the Eastern Michigan Open after a year's absence. The squad then heads out to Columbia, Mo. on Nov. 13 for a tilt with the Missouri Tigers, looking to knock them off for the third straight season and 15th time in school history. The Boilermakers have their home opener on Nov. 18, hosting NCAA Division II foe Indianapolis, and close out the month with a rigorous schedule at the Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y., where they're scheduled to face Binghamton, Lock Haven, Rutgers and American. The Boilermakers head back out on the road to start December, traveling on Dec. 1 to Dekalb, Ill. where they'll square off with Northern Illinois for the 26th time in Purdue's history and the first time since 2008. They return home on Dec. 9 to open the Big Ten Dual slate, hosting Michigan State in Holloway Gymnasium for the second straight year. Purdue took a 22-9 victory last season and looks to open the conference schedule with a victory for the second time in the last three years. The Old Gold and Black has scheduled a trip to Edwardsville, Ill. before the holiday break on Dec. 18, heading over for a pair of duals against Southern Illinois Edwardsville and Truman State. They'll restart the season at the prestigious Midlands Championships, hosted by Northwestern on Dec. 28 and 29, returning as a team after sending just six athletes in 2010. The New Year opens with Illinois on Jan. 6, with plans for a special celebration for Military Appreciation Day. Purdue then heads to Columbus, Ohio the following Friday, Jan. 13, to face the Buckeyes, and comes back home on Sunday, Jan. 15 for a clash with the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. The Boilermakers start a grueling trip on Jan. 19, heading up to Madison, Wis. for a Friday night battle (Jan. 20) with the Badgers before heading out to Lincoln, Neb. for their first-ever Big Ten Dual with conference newcomer Nebraska on Sunday, Jan. 22. The last two Big Ten Duals are set for Jan. 27 and Feb. 5 as Purdue hosts Northwestern on the 27th and then heads down the road for the 98th showdown with archrival Indiana on the 5th. The Boilermakers are set to be a part of the new format of the NWCA National Duals, scheduled for Feb. 10-12, heading to Cornell for a six-team regional tournament. Joining Purdue in Ithaca, N.Y. is Central Michigan, Illinois, Oklahoma, American and the host Big Red. The winner of the region will advance to a four-team championship weekend, set for Feb. 19 at a location to be determined. Unless they advance, the Boilermakers close out their regular season schedule on Feb. 19, facing Central Michigan on neutral turf in Toledo, Ohio. After being forced to pass on hosting in 2011 with the Mackey Project in full swing, the Boilermakers bring the Big Ten Championships to West Lafayette for the first time since 2000. It's been a mixed bag for Purdue in recent history, but they'll aim for their first top-five showing at the conference tournament since 1992, after finishing sixth in 2004 and 2009. The national meet returns to St. Louis after a two-year absence as Purdue works to place its third All-American in the last four seasons.

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 rankings within this article do not necessarily reflect those done by InterMat. Kansas saw seven of their Class of 2011 wrestlers sign with Division I programs, leaving a perceived void in 2012. A closer look uncovers some gems that are bound to make a name for themselves on the national stage. This class carries with it 128 Fargo wins and six returning All-Americans. Headlining the class are a Fargo national champion, a Fargo finalist, and an NHSCA finalist. Matt Reed1. Matt Reed (Wichita Heights) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 170 Projected College Weight Class: 165/174 Analysis: Reed is a multi-sport phenom. He was a USAW Cadet National Greco-Roman finalist in 2010 and doubled his All-American status this year at Fargo. He anchored the Junior National Dual team, going 16-1 in dual matches. He brings a 98-16 record into his senior season, coming off an undefeated 35-0 junior campaign. In his two seasons as the starting quarterback of the football team, he is 19-1 while finishing as undefeated state champions last year. Reed carries a 3.4 GPA and is very active in the school Peer Leader program to acclimate incoming freshmen to the high school experience. Look for this elite athlete on the podium at Virginia Beach and Fargo next year! 2. Austin Hood (Louisburg) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Analysis: Hood is a two-time Kansas state champion with a career 110-13 record. In 2010 he brought home the hardware with a USAW Cadet National folkstyle title, followed by a Fargo USAW Cadet National freestyle title. That same year he was a Fargo USAW Greco-Roman finalist. His freshman season, he also claimed a double All-American status in folkstyle and freestyle. He is an unprecedented seven-time Kansas Triple Crown winner. In all, Hood has 26 Fargo wins! Reece Wright-Conklin3. Reece Wright-Conklin (Lawrence) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 174 Analysis: Wright-Conklin is a two-time state champion and three-time placer. He is 98-6 through three years and had a dominating 37-0 junior year with quality wins over nationally-ranked Kyle Crutchmer, Willie Schwartzkopf, and Austin Coburn, among others. Wright-Conklin carries a 3.7 GPA and has many college coaches interested. I can guarantee that this athlete will have many choices! 4. Bo Pursel (Lansing) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Analysis: Pursel is the favorite to be the next four-time state champion in Kansas. He has a career 109-8 record and three state titles. He beat four state champions last year, including a win over our other returning three-time champion Dylan Schumacher. He has trained under national coaches at the OTC. He was a 2011 National High School Rodeo qualifier in team roping. He has won multiple buckles, and rodeos, both locally and regionally. He won a 2010 United States Team Roping Jackpot in 2010. Bo competes in both tie-down roping and team roping. His style makes him very difficult to take down and he can scramble from anywhere to a scoring position. He has chosen to stay close to home for college and is going to attend budding NAIA program Baker University and wrestle for Coach Jimmy May. 5. Javier Vieyra (Salina South) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 113 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Analysis: Vieyra is a four-time Fargo All-American with 23 wins on the biggest stage. He is 92-24 in high school action and a two-time state finalist. He was also an NHSCA Junior National finalist in Virginia Beach. Adding to his hardware, Vieyra was a two-time USAW folkstyle All-American. He is a National Honor Society member and was voted class president of his senior class. 6. Connor Middleton (Olathe Northwest) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: Middleton's career record is 128-10. He is a three-time state placer and 2010 Kansas state champion. He is an NHSCA Junior National folkstyle All-American, as well as a Cadet and Junior National All-American. Over the last two years, he has only lost to two wrestlers and capped his junior season with a 45-1 title, losing only to four-time state champion Ryne Cokeley. Alex Bontz7. Alex Bontz (Andover Central) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: My comments about Bontz over the years have usually included, “He's one of the toughest kids I know.” Bontz is a three-time state placer and 2010 state champion with a 115-5 career record. He is a 2011 NHSCA Junior National All-American. 8. Dylan Schumacher (Thomas More Prep) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 120 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Analysis: Schumacher has had a stellar high school career! He is a three-time state champion with a record of 104-3, losing only to fourth-ranked Bo Pursel, Tim Prescott, and last year's Arizona State recruit Dalton Miller. 9. Brandon Charbonneau (Emporia) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Charbonneau is a two-time Fargo All-American with 24 Fargo wins! In 2009, he was a Cadet National runner-up. He carries a 101-19 record into his senior season and is a two-time state placer, including a 2010 state championship. Charbonneau maintains a 4.0 GPA and ranks first in his class of 328! 10. Sam Son (Chanute) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 170 Projected College Weight Class: 165 Analysis: Sam brings a 123-11 record into his senior season and is a favorite in 4A to stand atop the podium. He is a three-time state placer and two-time finalist. He finished a stellar junior season with a 44-1 record. He also set a school season record with 180 takedowns! To crown his junior year, Sam was a 2011 NHSCA Junior National All-American at Virginia Beach. He competes as a two time starting outside linebacker in football and a varsity catcher in baseball. He carries a 3.3 GPA and has goals of becoming a math teacher and coach in the future. Honorable Mention: Luke Bean (Kapaun Mt. Carmel) Ulyesses DeShazer (Wichita Heights) Konnor Kriss (Colby) Eric Mason (St. Thomas Aquinas) Justin McPhail (Liberal) Tim Prescott (McPherson) Aaron Seybold (Pittsburg) T.J. Stokes (Gardner) Colby Watters (Arkansas City) Tommy Williams (St. Thomas Aquinas)

Fight Now USA Presents Takedown Wrestling from the Brute studios in Des Moines, Iowa at 1460 KXNO. Takedown Wrestling is brought to you by Kemin Agrifoods! Join Takedown Wrestling Host Scott Casber and Brad Johnson with the Takedown Wrestling Headline News. Listen in this Saturday for Takedown Wrestling 9 to 11 a.m. CT/ 10 a.m. to 12 noon ET. This week's guests: 9:01: Mike Letts -- Assistant wrestling coach at Navy 9:20: Barry Davis -- Head wrestling coach at Wisconsin 9:40: Randy Lewis -- Former Iowa wrestler, celebrating the 27th Anniversary of Olympic gold in LA 10:01: Mike Straka -- TV Host, Author of Fighting Words by Mike Straka 10:20: Jimmy Pedro Jr. -- Hd Ch. Olympic Judo 10:40: Nikko Reyes -- Clovis West (Calif.) wrestler commits to Illinois 10:50: Amy Ruble -- Wildrose Casino and Resort, Emmetsburg 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.

The Clash board and the city of Rochester, Minn. is proud to welcome back Brandon, Fla. to The Clash X. Coach Russ Cozart is taking the 2,000-mile trip for the second consecutive season in search of the elusive national title he has been seeking. If healthy, Brandon will be bringing its most talented team in the history of this storied program. This team is absolutely loaded and as the field is settled, they have to be considered one of the strong favorites to win. First a little history: Brandon FL owns the longest winning streak in the history of high school sports (459 -- broken in 2008.) The program has taken one loss since then (to Apple Valley at Clash IX). The Eagles finished last season winning their 11th straight state title and ranked third nationally behind Blair Academy and Apple Valley, MN. In the last 30 years, Brandon has won 21 state titles and has three runner ups. Returning state medalists: Dylan Lucas -- state champion at 103 (Tampa Bay Christian) -- Class 2015 Devan Berrian -- state runner-up at 103 -- Class 2014 James Flint -- state champion at 112 -- Class 2014 Kevin Norstrem -- state champion at 125 -- Class 2013 Rossi Bruno -- state champion at 130 -- Class 2012 Tyler Liberatore -- state champion at 135 -- Class 2012 Bryce Jones -- fifth at 140 -- Class 2012 Travis Berridge -- state runner-up at 145 -- Clash of 2013 Clark Glass -- state champion at 152 -- Class 2012 Kyle Koziel -- state champion at 171 -- Class 2012 Additional state qualifier: Victor Fugate at 119 -- Class 2013 That are six state champions returning and one more joining.

Jennifer Pharr Davis, current speed record holder for thru-hiking on the Appalachian Trail, and Jessie Whitmer, 1997 NCAA wrestling champion at 118 pounds, will go "On the Mat" this Wednesday, August 10. "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 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 Jenn Pharr Davis. Pharr Davis recently broke speed record for thru-hiking on the Appalachian Trail -- a 2,175 mile hiking trail that covers 14 states on the east coast. Her time of 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes translates to an average of 47 miles a day. Whitmer was an NCAA champion for the University of Iowa in 1997 at 118 pounds. His individual championship was part of the all-time NCAA wrestling championship point record set at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

We assembled our U.S. FILA Cadet Pan Am Team in Aurora, Ill. on July 29. Twelve of the top Cadet age group wrestlers in the nation (representing nine different states) joined forces with coaches from California, Utah, New Jersey, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan for training camp at Marmion Academy near Chicago. The elite coaching staff prepared two-a-day workouts for the team that included freestyle and Greco-Roman training as well as team-building techniques and mental training. Trip Summary: July 29: Team and coaches arrive in Aurora for training at Marmion July 30: Training started with two-a-day workouts and team building drills July 31: Training intensity picked up with several live situations and mental training Aug. 1: The day focused on agility training, live matches and individual instruction Aug. 2: Travel day from Chicago O'Hare to Mexico City and then to Campeche Aug. 3: Started training in Campeche and team trip to the beach Aug. 4: Weigh-ins for Greco-Roman and team meal Aug. 5: Greco-Roman competition; eight medals, including four golds and the team title! Aug. 6: Weight cutting for freestyle and a visit to Mayan Ruins in Edzna. Aug. 7: Freestyle competition; nine medals, including five golds and the team title! Aug. 8: All team members head back home The tremendous cultural experiences, the ability to coach and compete at the international level and most importantly the pride in representing the USA in competition was felt by each team member and that allowed us to bond quickly into a very strong unit! The maturity of our elite wrestlers and the focus of our coaching staff allowed us to all grow to be better wrestlers, coaches and people. Team USA at Pan Am Cadet Championships"Our Greco team started a bit slow in Friday's morning session but we really rallied to earn 8 medals including 4 golds and the team title. For many of our guys, this was their first taste of international competition. As they became more comfortable with the environment they really started to tear guys up," said Coach Mike Clayton, head coach at Stevens Institute of Technology. Northwestern University head coach Drew Pariano said, "We are developing a more international style and this tournament effectively allowed us to test our match strategies. We still need to learn when to attack and when to control our mat position. The entire U.S. contingent from the athletes themselves; to the support staff, were motivated to win gold medals." The men's freestyle and Greco-Roman teams dominated the Cadet Pan Am Competition by bringing home 17 of a possible 20 medals in the two-day event. In total, the U.S. Contingent hauled in nine gold medals (four in Greco-Roman and five in freestyle). Jake Stilling (Wisconsin) and Eric Hoffman (Maryland) earned double titles for the U.S. team. Stilling had an impressive run of four straight victories in freestyle to capture the 73 kg weight class. Hoffman had an electrifying comeback victory in Greco-Roman to claim the 69 kg class. At 42 kg, Ethan Koan (Missouri) earned a silver medal in Greco and a bronze medal in the freestyle competition. At 50 kg, Chris Allen (Missouri) earned a spot in the Bronze Medal match in Greco-Roman. Illinois natives Tommy Pawleski and Jered Cortez had impressive showings and both athletes were double finalists. Pawleski won the gold in Greco-Roman and earned a silver in the freestyle competition. Cortez had a gold medal performance at 54 kg in freestyle and took the silver in Greco. At 58 kg in Greco-Roman, Brandon George (Utah) made his second Cadet Pan Am appearance after earning the spot in 2009. New Jersey's Anthony Ashnault earned a silver medal in freestyle after a back and forth finals match with tournament OW Wilfredo Rodriquez of Venezuela at 58 kg. Ashnault had two dominating wins in the qualification rounds. Utah's Grant LaMont (63 kg) earned gold as he dominated his freestyle opponents. In the bronze medal match for Greco-Roman, LaMont was able to score two five-point throws to secure his spot on the podium. At 84 kg, Spencer Wilson (Kansas) was a double medalist with a bronze in the Greco-Roman competition and a silver medal in freestyle. Specializing in Greco-Roman at 100 kg, Alex Bambic (Arizona) put together an array of attacks to earn his gold medal. Taking the freestyle duties for the U.S. team at 100 kg was Adam Coon (Michigan) who was unscored upon during the freestyle competition. Coon, who was a double champion at the FILA Cadet Nationals this past spring and will represent the United States at the Cadet World Championships in Szombethely, Hungary, Aug. 25-28, 2011. Team leader Brian Giffin of Beat the Streets Chicago said, "The Cadet program is a vital part of the development of our nation's top wrestlers. This trip to Pan Am's was a strong step to helping us prepare tomorrow's Olympic and World Champions for their journey." Special thanks to the USA Staff that made this trip such a successful venture: Team Leader: Brian Giffin (Illinois) Head Coach: Mike Clayton (New Jersey) Head Coach: Drew Pariano (Illinois) Asst. Coach: Steve Glassey (California) Asst. Coach: Craig LaMont (Utah) Asst. Coach: John Grecco (Florida) Asst. Coach: Dan Coon (Michigan) Team Manager: Ricardo Garcia (California) Team Manager: Matt Hampton (Illinois) Media: Mike Bambic (Arizona) Media: Bill Ashnault (New Jersey)

Event: UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz II Venue: Wells Fargo Arena (Philadelphia, Pa.) Date: Aug. 6, 2011 Coming off a 5-0 Strikeforce card, including two underdogs, the UFC Monster is back at it again, trying to beat the oddsmakers with tonight's UFC action. Betting on superior wrestlers against hot-shot strikers has been a winning and recession-beating strategy in mixed martial arts. Let's see if we can find some winners again tonight ... In what might be the lamest UFC card ever, due to injuries and cancellations, we find Rashad "Suga" Evans (15-1-1) fighting future HOF'er Tito "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Ortiz (16-8-1), once the face of the UFC. Evans was supposed to fight Jon Jones for the light heavyweight belt, but he finds himself in a rematch with Tito instead. Unfortunately, Jones suffered an injury in his beating of Shogun Rua. Evans and Ortiz fought four years ago, and the fight ended in a draw! Tonight that score gets settled. There is no value in the betting line with Evans installed as a -400 favorite. But Tito was 0-4-1 in his last fights before miraculously catching ASU's Ryan Bader in a choke hold. Other than beating up rival Ken Shamrock three times, Tito has been over-the-hill and AWOL forever. Now he fights a former champion on just one month's rest! Good luck with that. Rashad wins by second-round KO. It's OK to lay the heavy lumber in this lock. Rashad is the better athlete, wrestler, and striker. This is easy. One of my all-time favorite fighters, Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort (19-9), takes on formidable Yoshihiro "Sexy" Akiyama (13-3), who is 1-2 in the UFC. Not only has Belfort dropped to middleweight where his quick hands and powerful striking will dominate, but Akiyama is made to order for my Brazilian friend. Akiyama will be handed his pink slip early here, as Belfort responds from his kick-in-the-face loss to Anderson Silva by KO'ing Akiyama before the bell sounds to end the first round. Lay the -300 and enjoy the beating. I am also betting this as KO of the night, and quickest KO of the night, both at +450. Who really cares about journeyman veterans Dennis "Superman" Hallman (50-13-2) vs. Brian "Bad Boy" Ebersole (47-14-1)? I don't. The betting line is -115 either way, and that's where it should be as either guy can win. Both are best at submissions, but this stalemate should end in a decision. Expect plenty of back-and-forth action in a meaningless fight that I will pass on. I don't even know why it's on the main card ... next: Jorge "El Conquistador" Rivera (19-8) was to fight Alexio Sakara, but injuries restructured that fight to this, a strikefest with Constantino Philippou (7-2), who lost his UFC debut to unknown Nick Catone. Rivera went from an underdog to a favorite. Experience matters here, and Rivera is fighting on borrowed time. He needs a win badly here, and will get it with a vicious, and I mean vicious, second-round KO of his less experienced rival. Jorge is a bargain at -140. Another fight that baffles me for being on the main card, is up-and-comer, Rory MacDonald (11-1), against journeyman veteran, Mike "Quicksand" Pyle (21-7-1). Both will be active trying to set up the submission games, but MacDonald should prevail. I find the -275 reasonable. A second-round rear-naked choke submission will end this. Now let's take a quick look at the undercard, which I find to be as attractive as the main card. Joe Silva, whaddup with that? Chad "Money" Mendes (10-0) has been money in the bank. This lightning quick wrestler has over-powered and outworked every one of his opponents, and he is heading quickly up the food chain. He should roll through submission guru, former WEC star Rani Yahya (16-6), who's only hope is to sink in a submission hold before Mendes pushes him around the Octagon. There is no value at -600, though, so I'll watch this fight with splinters in my butt. Who doesn't love Matt "The Hammer" Hamill (10-3), the deaf wrestler with lead in his fists? Matt's gentle demeanor is anything but a fighter's. And his slow-prodding style, and willingness to stand and strike, often gets him in trouble. His opponent, Alexander Gustafsson (11-1), is perhaps more athletic, quicker, and the better striker. So what? I like wrestlers, so I'm hoping that Matt uses his brains and skill set to drag the Swede to the ground, and make him eat fists. At +160, I'll take my chances on Hamill. The ref stops this one in the third round, as he pulls the gentle giant off the bloody corpse. Ivan Menjivar (22-8) will try to use his experience to get by the determined Nick Pace (6-1). I'll go with the veteran here, and lay the -200, expecting to get awarded a decisive decision. Menjivar -200 is the play. Two great wrestlers go head-to-head when Okie State's Johny Hendricks (10-1) takes on Mike Pierce (12-3), who's 4-1 in the UFC with his only loss being to Jon Fitch. When two wrestlers meet, surprising you often see a boxing match evolve. If that is the case here, then Hendo has the edge. Six of his 10 wins have come by KO. He is the master of the upper cut. For some strange reason the oddsmakers opened the betting with Hendricks as a slight underdog. I got on early. Now Hendo carries a -125 price tag. It won't be easy, but I like Hendo to win here. By KO (I also took the 12:1 odds for KO of the night). Johny wins, "you know what I'm sayin'?" Nam Phan (16-8) will always be remembered for his courage and guts in his epic toe-to-toe battles with Leonard Garcia. Tonight he has to find a way to beat former WEC champion Mike Thomas Brown (24-8), who will always be remembered as beating the unbeatable Urijah Faber TWICE! Brown has struggled since, but his brute strength, quickness, and diversified attack will be enough to overwhelm Phan and gain some momentum in his attempt to climb the mountain. I like Brown -205 to win by second round submission. Newcomer Paul "The Gentleman" Bradley (18-2) makes his UFC debut tonight against Rafael "Sapo" Natal (12-3-1), who is a disappointing 0-2 in the UFC. Both are best at submissions. Natal opened as a slight -125 favorite, but the betting public is pounding Bradley, who now is as high as -140 to win! Why? ... I have no clue. Bradley, a former Iowa wrestler, has been fighting out of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy in venues at Black River Falls, Wis. and Podunk, Iowa. His last three opponents include a guy who is 1-39 and another who is 0-9!!! What the ... ? This guy has not only never been to the Big Show, but who the heck has he even fought? On principle alone, I'm taking Natal at +110. I'll say he wins a decision or gets a submission victory. Now let's see if we can turn these winners into some cash with our "fictitious" $1000 bankroll: Let's lay $160 to win $40 in a bridge jump on Rashad Evans. Let's lay $150 to win $50 on Vitor Belfort's quick hands and KO power. Let's pass on Hallman/Ebersole and just enjoy the action. Let's lay $112 to win $80 on Jorge Rivera keeping his UFC career alive. Let's lay $110 to win $40 on Rory MacDonald's submission skills. Let's pass on Mendes/Rahya. Price too steep on Money. Let's lay $60 to win $ 96 with a big smile on our faces for the Hammer. Let's lay $100 to win $50 on Menjivar. Let's lay $125 to win $100 on Johny Hendo, and wish we had laid more..... Let's lay $123 to win $60 on Mike Brown to get back on track. Let's lay $ 60 to win $66 on Sapo Natal to send Bradley back to the farm. In all, we are risking $1000 to try and win $582. I feel confident in my selections, tho' the butterflies come late. Don't forget to share your winnings with your local youth wrestling program, where tomorrow's champions are born! Enjoy the fights, I know I will.

Jarred Oftedahl (Benilde-St. Margaret's, Minn.), a 2011 Junior National folkstyle champion, has registered for the 2011 InterMat JJ Classic at 113 pounds. Oftedahl was a Junior National double All-American this summer in Fargo at 105 pounds. He finished as a state runner-up this past season at 103 pounds, posting a season record of 39-3. Jarred Oftedahl (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)

Wrestling, which began as a varsity sport at Stevens in 1919, has gone through some major transitions over the past 92 years. For the past five years, Mike Clayton, who became the head wrestling coach in 2007, has initiated and led many of these revolutionary changes. Mike ClaytonStarting with the numbers, the team's roster has grown from 15 wrestlers back in 2007 to 40 members for the fall 2011 season. This number includes three Neupauer Scholars and six wrestlers who made the President's List this past year with a GPA over 3.75. Academically, the team has gone from 19th in Coach Clayton's first year coaching to 10th, 6th, and 3rd this past year in all NCAA Div III wrestling -- as the team had an impressive collective GPA of 3.551. The team also earned Stevens' highest national ranking this past year at 18th and has had three All-Americans, a title no wrestler in Stevens' history had held prior. "Our success over the past four years has been the direct result of setting high goals and a willingness to work hard to reach those goals. We continue to attract top student-wrestlers from around the nation and we have a committed support staff that helps them focus on their academic and athletic priorities," says Coach Clayton. Team member Ryan Dorman, a three out of five Mechanical Engineering major, asserts: "Coach brings energy, not only to the wrestling room, but also to the image of the team overall. He promotes the growth and success of the team more than any other coach to come through the Stevens wrestling program." "He also cares for the athletes at both the athletic and academic levels, which is essential for the future success of student athletes as they look for employment upon leaving Stevens," Ryan adds. "He does as much to prepare the athlete for the mat as he does to prepare the student for the business world." Wrestler Joe Favia, a four out of five double major in Business and Technology and Social Science, remarks, "Coach Clayton has spent his career at Stevens tirelessly working to improve our program. He has built the program from a once unranked team to a top 20 team, with this upcoming year's goal of landing a top 10 ranking. He has given us these opportunities by surrounding us with a great training environment. He has recruited the best wrestlers and the best coaching staff. Our staff alone is one that can rival a Division I program." "A wrestling team is nothing without great training partners and a coaching staff that is fully committed to the team system," continues Joe. "Coach Clayton has provided our team with all of those amenities and more." While coaching at Stevens, Coach Clayton was able to focus on his studies as well and obtain a Master's degree in Management from the Howe School. He has also served as a member of the ROTC and Stevens Veterans Office for the past three years. A veteran of the Navy Supply Corps, he enjoys helping other vets in their educational pursuits. There were a number of things that first attracted Coach Clayton to Stevens, in particular, the academic success, spectacular location, career placement, and the salary statistics for graduates. He believes that the combination of these strengths help improve the ability to recruit students to Stevens and the wrestling program. When asked what he expects from the wrestlers wanting to come to Stevens Clayton says, "Total commitment to academics and discipline to get the training that will help them reach their goals in wrestling as well." The wrestling team had never won a match in the Centennial Conference. In the past four years, however, with Clayton's determination and passion, the team is now 22-6 in the conference. He mentions how he has toughened the schedule to compete against some of the highest ranked teams in the nation annually. "The season is long which is hard in itself. During that time you are challenged to battle one-on-one in competition 30 or more times. As many athletes know, game day is the most brutal part of competition sports, but what sets wrestling apart from other sports is the "mano a mano" physicality," adds Ryan. He goes on to explain that unlike any other collegiate sport, wrestling forces its athletes into a ring for seven minutes, during which each athlete tests and pushes the other for the smallest sign of weakness (this is part of the reason why a wrestling competition is called a "match" not a "game"). Couple that with the day-to-day mental discipline and desire to be the best which pushes each athlete past their physical breaking point on a daily basis. "As a team this causes athletes to join together and push one another to the next level to get them through any tough times," says Ryan. "The team aspect of wrestling is very important for this reason." Joe echoes the comment: "Being surrounded by athletes who share a common goal and work endlessly to achieve that goal no matter what it may take is my favorite part about the team. It is a new year with new wrestlers and we plan to work hard to come out on top." The team is expanding the wrestling room over the summer in addition to running a summer wrestling camp. Also, Clayton is currently working to build a wrestling team locker room. The newly expanded Wrestling Center will offer the 2011-2012 team over 3,000 square feet of mat space and more than 1,000 square feet for cardio workouts, weight lifting, and conditioning training. "Not only has the room expanded, but generous donations have allowed us to paint the entire room in red and gray and improve our signage to show off our wrestlers' accomplishments over the entire history of our program," says Coach Clayton. Joe concludes, "Our team is a close group of wrestlers. We share blood and sweat. Nothing can bring a team closer. We feed off each other's energy, in and out of the wrestling room, constantly pushing each other to reach high levels of success on and off the mat. We have high goals and even higher expectations for our own success every day. It forces us to work hard and become a tight group fighting for a common goal: A National Championship." The wrestling team sets the perfect example of what it means to be a student-athlete in a Division III college. As much time that is put into the training is put into the studies as well, giving any individual the opportunity to go above and beyond after college. Coach Clayton undoubtedly sets the example for what this means and brings out the best in the wrestlers to achieve their highest potential.

Fight Now USA Presents Takedown Wrestling from the mobile Brute studios in Las Vegas, NV on 1460 KXNO. Takedown Wrestling is brought to you by Kemin Agrifoods! Join Takedown Wrestling Hosts Scott Casber, Todd Patterson, Ryan Couture, Gary Abbott and many more. Brad Johnson will have the Takedown Wrestling Headline News along the way. Listen Saturday's for Takedown Wrestling 9 to 11 AM CST/ 10 AM to 12 Noon Eastern as we broadcast live from Xtreme Couture in Vegas. This week we'll introduce the Grappling World Team Trials that we'll broadcast later in the day on TheMat.com 9:01: Todd Patterson -- Former U.S. Army wrestler 9:20: Gary Abbott -- USA Wrestling 9:40: Various Guests 9:50: Ty Barkley -- Max Muscle Sports Nutritionist 10:01: Gary Abbott -- USA Wrestling 10:20: Ryan Couture -- An MMA legend in the making 10:40: Michael Chandler -- Former wrestler for the University of Missouri, now in MMA 10:50: Maureen Roshar -- Wildrose Casino, Clinton, 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.

For three days my Facebook feed was clogged with links to the improbable acrobatic setup and subsequent reverse lift of 20-year-old USA Greco-Roman wrestler Ellis Coleman. I'd seen Coleman's "flying squirrel" once before, when he attempted it at the Beat the Streets Gala on the Intrepid in 2010. Like many fans I was pleased to see it made such an impression with such a large swath of sports fans (mostly MMA sites), but got the chills when I learned that he did it at the Junior World Championships -- his biggest stage. Ellis ColemanNot long after learning the video went viral I began to read Facebook posts by friends in the wrestling community bemoaning that Coleman's "Flying Squirrel" had been measured against the scripted and flashier moves of professional wrestling. At the time I hadn't seen the original program on ESPN2, but I could sense the underlying frustration of fans and viewers, "We finally get our wrestling on television and we get referenced to 'The Claw'?" I watched the program and at first agreed that the comparisons to WWE seem pretty bogus, but then I started thinking of it from an editor's viewpoint -- professional wrestling was the most relevant connection to be made with the move and the program's younger demographic. The writers and editors on the show had done what they needed to do to make the story profitable. Jason Bryant of USA Wrestling -- who is the unquestioned leader of social networking in the wrestling community -- voiced his frustrations and asked that "just once" the mainstream media not mention the professionals when recounting these infrequent events. He's right, the mention of professional wrestling does devalue the nuance of Coleman's achievement, but that's not the real failure. Leaving these moments unanswered stymies the progress of the sport. The fault for allowing wrestling to remain a static set of repeated messages about professionalism, cutting weight and tight clothing is the fault of those in charge of creating messaging and branding, myself included. I've worked as a freelance print journalist for three years and in that time have published one wrestling-centric in a major newspaper or magazine (H/T: Jim Casey of FIGHT! Magazine). The problem wasn't that every pitch lacked a compelling storyline -- I pitched Anthony Robles, Cornell's ascension and Cael Sanderson. The hangup for most editors was that amateur wrestling doesn't compel their audience, that behind the achievement is just tights and weight loss. Amateur wrestling as currently packaged cannot be sold to the mainstream media as a stand-alone product. The wrestling community shouldn't be flustered when Ellis Coleman gets on ESPN2 for an effort that is both named like a professional wrestling move and that authentically replicate the absurd athleticism typically only executed through choreography -- it's what compels the editors and interests the most viewers and we've given them nothing else to discuss or understand. Amateur wrestling needs to ask itself if it is willing to track towards a more professional style of wrestling (celebrations anyone?), or if we do a complete and total re-branding that includes themes that are both easily transmittable to our core communicators like Jason Bryant and repeatable by our athletes, coaches and fans. What are the new ideas? That's unclear right now. Wrestling is cluttered with entrepreneurial enterprises that add value to our connectivity, profitability and messaging (e.g. RIOT and Flowrestling) but the intellectuals in our community have so far been mum about new ways to capture a wider fan base for the sport. The leading organizations have recently created alliances between the powerful organizations in our community, most notably the Hall of Fame and USA Wrestling. That new power structure should help the thinkers and journalists within the sport create an improved message that every wrestler, coach and parent can repeat to sarcastic friends, nosy neighbors and pandering reporters. "Oh, like with the tights … God, I knew a wrestler who use to always spit in a cup ... Like the professional guys, right? The response can't simply be a personalized defense and assertion that this is "the real stuff." We need ideas. I'd like to see more individuals marry the entrepreneurship of the wrestling community with serious thought and debate about messaging. My work on Wrestling Roots aspires to introduce lots of new ideas about wrestling at-large, but the site is young and still too broad to direct the message. Still, there is no greater intellectual force internationally than the American amateur wrestling community. We have the wealthiest and most popular traditional wrestling community in the world and it's time we start using our intelligence, connectivity and energy to affect major change in our community, or else we can leave it up to ESPN to cultivate our message (hope you like Royal Rumbles). Coleman's takedown was a missed opportunity. Had these discussions started three years ago one of it's youngest and most charismatic stars could have responded with a pointed re-direct to his ESPN antagonist -- maybe he could've been coached for his media appearance and reminded on how to respond. What impact could Coleman have had if he'd been given a better message? Who watching that morning might have been convinced to give wrestling another look? What decision-maker in Washington D.C. or at a college in danger could have learned something new and influential? We'll never know because the conversation turned to our hyperbolic cousins in the WWE leaping from tight ropes and slamming each other with chairs. I find it interesting that Coleman's move is called the "Flying Squirrel." In college my roommates and I were interested in purchasing one for our apartment (we called it a "sugar glider"). The man at the pet store told us that they were awesome pets, that they might get a little loud but give them the platform and they could soar across the room. "I thought they could fly," said one of my roommates. No, the owner corrected it just takes them longer to fall to the ground than other squirrels. Flying squirrels don't fly, and without better ideas and messaging, wrestling will never take off, just take a longer time to fall down. T.R. Foley's website WrestlingRoots.org documents traditional wrestling styles from around the world and he recently returned from a three-month research trip to Mongolia.

Henry Cejudo

EDMOND -- Hosting the biggest tournament of the season highlights what is otherwise a light home slate for Central Oklahoma wrestling in 2011-12, according to the schedule released Tuesday. The Bronchos have just four home duals during the regular season, but UCO will be the host school for the all-important NCAA Division II Super Regional II Tournament Feb. 25-26 at Hamilton Field House. Twelve teams will compete in that two-day event, with the top-four placers from each of the 10 individual weights qualifying for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships on March 11-12 in Pueblo, Colo. “Hosting the most important tournament of the year is a big deal for us and we're looking forward to it,” said long-time head coach David James, who has a 341-120-5 dual record and 12 national championships in 29 years at the UCO helm. “You can't do anything at the national tournament without getting through the regional and we're excited about having that event at home. “We have a good, tough schedule with several duals and events we'll point to throughout the season and I think we can accomplish some big things this year.” The Bronchos, who return all 10 starters from last year's 15-4 dual team that finished 13th in the national tournament, will preview the 2011-12 squad with the annual Bronze-Blue intrasquad dual on Nov. 2 before opening the season at the Oklahoma City Open on Nov. 6. UCO will make its home debut on Dec. 9 against Wayland Baptist, with the other home duals coming Jan. 12 (Nebraska-Kearney), Feb. 2 (Central Missouri) and Feb. 11 (Ouachita Baptist). The Bronchos have 10 duals scheduled in addition to the NWCA Division II National Duals on Jan. 7-8 in Chicago. UCO will also compete in five tournaments, including four open events.

AMES, Iowa -- Former Iowa State three-time All-American wrestler Travis Paulson, who was the No. 1 ranked U.S. wrestler at 74 kilograms (162.8 pounds) over the past year, has joined the Cyclone coaching staff as an assistant coach. Iowa State head coach Kevin Jackson made the announcement Wednesday. Travis Paulson (Tony Rotundo, WrestlerAreWarriors.com)"Travis is a long time member of the Cyclone family," Jackson said. "He brings energy to our coaching staff, in addition to world class technique and priceless tactical experience. He understands my mental, technical and wrestling philosophy. Travis will oversee all middle weight classes. He is a great addition to our staff." Paulson, a three-time All-American for the Cyclones, ended his Iowa State wrestling career with a collegiate record of 106-32, tying Billy Kelly (1984-87) and Zach Roberson (2001-04), on the all-time Iowa State win list. Travis Paulson competed in high school and at Iowa State his twin, Trent. Trent was also a three-time All-American at Iowa State and a member of the U.S. Freestyle team. Travis Paulson's performance on the mat was replicated in the classroom, as he earned Academic All-Big 12 accolades all four years. Paulson graduated from Iowa State in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in business management and minor in entrepreneurship studies. "I am excited," Paulson said. "I will be training for the 2012 Olympic Games and can be an example as a coach and as someone wrestling toward a goal and the lifestyle that goes with getting to that goal." Paulson has excelled in a post-collegiate competition, including winning the 2010 World Team Trials championship at 74 kg. He underwent knee surgery in December, limiting his competitive options heading into 2011. Travis earned three Iowa prep wrestling titles at Council Bluffs-Lewis Central and posted a prep record of 174-3, including 87-0 his final two seasons. Jackson also announced that Jon Reader, the 2011 NCAA 174-pound champion as an Iowa Stater, is joining the coaching staff as a volunteer coach.

The InterMat JJ Classic is seeking volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please send an email to Kathleen Hennessy Rehbein at kukowskijustin@gmail.com. We are looking for volunteers in a variety of areas, including table workers, pairers, hospitality, weigh-ins/registration (Friday), tickets, awards, setup, take down, concessions, merchandise, runners, clock, and tappers.

Rod Frost (Farmington, Minn.) has been named head official for the 211 InterMat JJ Classic. It marks the second straight year in which Frost has served as head official for the event. Rod FrostFrost has officiated for 20 years and is a board member for the Gold Country Wrestling Officials Association, where he serves as the head of the mentoring program. He has worked/qualified for 17 state tournaments, officiated in the Big Ten, MIAC, NCC, and has worked the NCAA Division III National Duals, as well as the NCAA Division I West Regional twice, and several years at the NCAA Division III Iowa Conference national qualifier. Frost has served on the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) wrestling board as Charter Clinician for nine years. He was also on the MSHSL Officials Advisory Committee for two years, representing all wrestling officials. Frost has been an official at The Clash eight of the nine years. He has been an official at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament for 18 years -- eight of those years as the head official. He has officiated high school section/regional tournaments for 20 years. Frost wrestled in high school at Don Bosco High School in Gilbertville Iowa, and at the college level for Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.

Registration for the 2011 InterMat JJ Classic has opened. Below you will find information about the event. Overview The InterMat JJ Classic is an annual preseason high school wrestling tournament open to wrestlers in grades 7 through 12. This year's event takes place on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. The tournament is sponsored by InterMat and organized by 360 Sports and Events Agency. InterMat is a leading national wrestling website that covers all aspects of amateur wrestling, including high school, college, freestyle and Greco-Roman competition, as well as mixed martial arts. 360 Sports and Event Agency is a sports management company that specializes in organizing, coordinating, and operating national sport-themed events, including the All American Bowl and Nike Coach of the Year Clinic. Cause Justin "JJ" KukowskiThe InterMat JJ Classic is named in honor of Justin "JJ" Kukowski, an athlete and avid sports fan who lost his long, hard-fought battle with brain cancer days after his 27th birthday in 2007. Proceeds from the event will go toward the Justin Kukowski Center for Spiritual and Physical Healing, a cancer support center that was opened in his memory two years after his passing, and is located in the Minneapolis suburb of Chaska. Wrestler Registration Wrestlers can register online for the 2011 InterMat JJ Classic at http://www.intermatwrestle.com/jjclassic/register. The registration rate is $50. The event is a USA Wrestling-sanctioned event, so a wrestler must have a USA Wrestling Card to participate. Not a USA Wrestling member? Purchase a USA Wrestling card now. Format Scholastic style (folkstyle) rules will be used. 2-2-2 periods for championship bracket matches, 2-1-1 periods for consolation bracket matches (This was a change from the original format.) Weight Classes The new high school weight classes approved by the National Federation of State High School Association's rules committee in 2011 will be used. Those weight classes are 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220, and 285. Venue The 2010 InterMat JJ Classic will be held at the UCR Regional Sports Center (Field House) in Rochester, Minn. The UCR Regional Sports Center has hosted many premier wrestling events, including The Clash, Minnesota Christmas Tournament, Northern Quad, Cadet National Duals, and the NJCAA Wrestling Championships. The address for the UCR Regional Sports Center is 851 30th Avenue Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904. Event Hotel The Kahler Grand Hotel is the official event hotel. The address for the Kahler Grand Hotel is 20 SW Second Avenue Rochester, MN 55902. Weigh-Ins Weigh-ins will take place on Friday, Oct. 21, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. CDT at the Kahler Grand Hotel. There will be no weight allowance. Admission/Coaches Pass Admission will be $10 for adults and $7 for students (18 and under). Admission is free for children under 6. A coaches/floor pass may be purchased at the door for an additional $5. Social There will be a social at the Kahler Grand Hotel on Friday, Oct. 21, 8:30 p.m. to midnight CDT. All coaches, parents, volunteers, referees, and media members are invited. Beer, soda, and snacks will be provided. History The first InterMat JJ Classic took place on Oct. 23, 2011, at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. Wrestlers from Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Texas competed in the inaugural event. Tristan Manderfeld of Foley High School (Minn.) was named Outstanding Wrestler of the 2010 InterMat JJ Classic after defeating multiple age group national champions en route to winning the championship at 103 pounds. Awards The top six placewinners in each of the 14 weight classes will receive medals. In addition, each of the 28 finalists will receive custom, limited edition InterMat JJ Classic finalist fight shorts from Cradle Gear. Exhibitors & Sponsors If you are interested in being an exhibitor or sponsor, please send an email to Terry Sullivan at info@360sportsevents.com. Volunteers The InterMat JJ Classic is seeking volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please send an email to Kathleen Hennessy Rehbein at kukowskijustin@gmail.com. We are looking for volunteers in a variety of areas, including table workers, pairers, hospitality, weigh-ins/registration (Friday), tickets, awards, setup, take down, concessions, merchandise, runners, clock, and tappers. If you have a preference on what position you would like to volunteer for, please specify in the email. Questions/Comments Questions and comments about the event can be directed at InterMat or 360 Sports and Events Agency depending on the nature of the question(s) or comment(s). InterMat General Questions, Rules, Format Email: contact@intermatwrestle.com Phone: 612-460-5824 360 Sports and Events Agency Logistics, Hotel, Facilities, Exhibitors, Sponsors Email: info@360sportsevents.com Phone: 612-356-2880

The 2011 NWCA Convention will be bringing a group of top notch presenters to the state of Florida for the three day event being held at the Harbor Beach Marriott in Fort Lauderdale. The NWCA Convention is outstanding opportunity to gain professional development while networking with over 200 college coaches in attendance. The 2011 Convention will be highlighted by two top-tier coaches who will serve as clinicians for this year's event. Mark Cody the newly appointed head coach at the University of Oklahoma and Bryan Snyder assistant coach at the University of Nebraska. Mark Cody the current 2011 NWCA Coach of the Year, takes over the Oklahoma program after eleven successful seasons at the helm of the American Program. His team placed fifth at the NCAA Championships and also broke two records on the 2011 NWCA All-Academic Team with six wrestlers making the individual team and being the team runner-up breaking the highest GPA on record. Bryan Snyder will be joining Cody as a clinician this year. He is a graduate of Nebraska and the schools only four-time conference champion and four-time All-American. He was a two-time NCAA Finalist. At Nebraska, his coaching has been integral in the development of eleven All-Americans and two NCAA Champions including 2011 Hodge Winner, Jordan Burroughs. Tying into the Scholastic Program for the weekend will be an All-Star line-up of high school coaches all from different backgrounds. Out of these coaches two of them have been named National Coach of the Year and the other two have been named Virginia Coach of the Year. Russ Cozart (Brandon High School, Florida), John Gordon (St. Christopher's School, Virginia ), Bryan Hazard (Robinson HS, Virginia), and Darryl Weber (Christiansburg High School, Virginia) will be making up this year's NWCA Scholastic presenters. The topics that the team will be presenting on: Selecting Captains and Assistant Coaches Building a successful and sustainable high school program Recruiting for high school and college Fundraising for your high school program Taking the meetings a step further will be the professional development series geared toward high school and college coaches alike that will feature sessions on: Who is Managing Your Career Injury Prevention for your Athletes Elevating your Human Performance State of Wrestling Forum Mark Tudi will start off the convention with his session on “Who is Managing Your Career.” Tudi is the Founder of SPORTS CAREERS and SPORTSEARCH, with their primary business being to retain executive recruitment and professional development. For over 30 years, Mark has established a high-profile track record in sports career development, closing in on 700 successful placements at all executive levels. Two leaders from the sports medicine community will be presenting the best practices to prevent some of the most common injuries is the knowledge of where they come from and applying the best practices to avoid them. Dr. Vinnie Hudson and Dr. Robert Palumbo from OAA Orthopaedic Specialists in Allentown, Pennsylvania, will be addressing this important topic both with many years of experience in the field. Stan Zeamer, will be bringing a specialized speech on elevating human performance, based off of the book, Three Laws of Performance: Rewriting the Future of Your Organization and Your Life, By Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan. This session is open to all coaches and their significant others and spouses who will be in attendance as well. Leo Kocher, President of the American Sports Council will be giving a presentation on Title IX and saving college programs. The CSC is a national coalition of coaches, athletes, parents, and fans who are devoted to preserving and promoting the student athlete experience. Convention registration can also be done through the NWCA Website through the Ticket Leap Registration Button. The Full Convention Registration is $225 also with the purchase of a Full Convention Registration an assistant coach from the same school can be registered for $175. Florida High School coaches (FACA Members) will receive a special rate of $150 for the event. Registration includes: Two luncheons, Social, Convention Notebook and Convention gift. During the NWCA Convention will be a trade show with many of wrestling's leading manufacturers and companies displaying their latest products. A highlight of the trade show will be a raffle which includes a week trip with airfare for two to St. Thomas, USVI. Convention attendees are able to take advantage of a $99 per night room rate during the convention, for more information on the hotel and how to reserve your room please visit the NWCA Website listed below. Deadline for reserving housing is Monday, August 1. For more information visit the NWCA website (http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwcawebsite/events/nwcaconvention.aspx) or call the NWCA Office at 717-653-8009. 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.