InterMat Staff

The Big Ten Network (BTN)'s television scheduled was released by several Big Ten schools this week; Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Minnesota all uploaded their schedules to the Web, announcing the matches they were excited to promote as being aired on national television. The wrestling community took one look at the schedule and immediately went nutty on Facebook and wrestling message boards. The problem for many posters seemed to be the lack of programming, especially live event coverage. Fans flooded BTN with Facebook posts describing their disappointment in the scheduling and sought reparation. "We are well aware of the wrestling community's displeasure with the current schedule," said Mike Vest, Communications Manager at the Chicago-based BTN. "But the schedule released by some of the schools wasn't really final and I don't think it tells the whole story." Indeed a follow-up post on USA Wrestling, which boasts 170k Facebook followers, mentioned that the Minnesota Gophers had added another live dual meet to the schedule. "The BTN is going to televise Penn State vs. Minnesota live ... that's now four duals live, but it's not enough live. Let them know you want to see more live wrestling on Big Ten Network." Wrestlers are a relentless bunch, huh? Vest described the decision-making process around what to schedule and when as a complicated matrix of travel schedules, event conflicts and managing expectations for all the interested sports fans. While he recognized that the number of live events are fewer than last season, he said that the total number of broadcasts across the online and broadcast platforms have actually increased since last season from 39 to 45 events -- growth which is consistent with each year of the BTN's coverage the past five years. Vest also said that the number doesn't include the student production initiative BTNU which could add to the selection of taped broadcasts provided by the network. "The BTN likes wrestling and it loves lives events. One of the misunderstandings is that wrestling fans think we somehow like tape delays. We don't. We love live events, they make more money because they draw more viewers." The problem is scheduling. Winter sports are played primarily on the weekends. Men and women's basketball are huge revenue generators for the network and take top priority. Add-in the coverage of ice hockey, volleyball and wrestling and you have five intercollegiate sports being competed at almost the exact same time (Friday night and Saturday afternoon) and consequently you're left with have-nots. Wrestling, at least this year, did not fare as well on the broadcast channel. "There are lots of things we need to consider, including protecting the attendance of the home team and the travel schedule of the visiting team. We could go live at 3 a.m. on Sunday morning, but that's obviously not in anyone's best interest." Vest said that Big Ten schools could work with the conference and the network (they're technically separate entities) to come up with a time that will benefit both teams and lead to a live broadcast. For example, if Brands and Cael can have a nice chat about schedules and make it work with the BTN, the Iowa vs. Penn State dual might air live on Sunday, Jan. 22. The wrestling community's premature response to the scheduling wasn't completely negative, argued Vest. "We are made aware of their frustrations almost immediately and can all work together to find solutions. We love the wrestling fans because it doesn't matter which teams we air, the fans like the sport of wrestling, not just a team, in sports like football it's all about who's playing and who we're airing." Four live events does seem light, and while that's frustrating for the fans, there is nothing keeping Flowrestling.com, TheMat.TV or other broadcast entities from negotiating with the conference to air television rights. To date that really hasn't happened. "We don't own all the content rights," said Vest. "We are given an allotment, but what we can't air, or choose not to air, becomes available for other networks and online providers. It's a pretty open marketplace." The wrestling community enjoys being frustrated and complaining has become our favorite knee-jerk reaction to what we feel is an abuse of our loyalty, or unwritten agreement. However necessary it's become for us to create villains and keep ourselves motivated, the BTN doesn't seem to be the richest target. The network took an original gamble in providing content, and has since increased their coverage of the sport -- they aren't a non-profit or governmental organization. They're a business. No, they weren't able to carry as many live programs this year as they did last year, but if the product is good enough and the fans want to see it live, there is a market for other networks or online content providers. Why not heckle the other providers for not providing any content? "One thing that I will say is that when the wrestling community gets onto a topic we are sure to find out about it immediately. Wrestling has a loyal fan base and as network we respect that and try to make sure that we can give them as many viewing options as possible."

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 Scott Casber, Chad Kriz and Brad Johnson with the Takedown Wrestling Headline News this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. CT/10 a.m. to 12 noon ET. This week's guests: 9:01 Jeff Murphy, Kemin Wrestling Report 9:15 Brad Johnson, Takedown Wrestling Headline News 9:20 Clar Anderson, Duke head wrestling coach 9:40 Mike Clayton, Stevens Institute head wrestling coach 9:50 Ty Barkley, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update (third anniversary and special guest Matt Hughes) 10:01 Joel Sharratt, Air Force head wrestling coach 10:20 Tom Borrelli, Central Michigan head wrestling coach 10:40 Tony Greathouse, MichiganGrappler.com owner & Grappler Fall Classic director 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.

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NEW YORK -- Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Carl Fronhofer has added former NCAA All-American and Pac-10 champion Adam Hall an assistant wrestling coach. "We are excited to have Adam join the Columbia coaching staff," said Fronhofer, who enters his first year leading Columbia's wrestling program after three years as an assistant. "He was a tremendous athlete at Boise State and an excellent student as well, so I think he'd be a great fit as a coach in the Ivy League." Hall had an outstanding athletic career at Boise State from 2006-07 to 2010-11, posting a 122-18 career record (87.1 win percentage) and wrestling in some of the biggest bouts in Broncos history. His 122 career victories rank second in Boise State wrestling history. He won two Pac-10 titles in the 157-pound class and qualified for the NCAA National Championships all four years he competed. Hall also earned All-America honors as a redshirt junior in 2009-10. Hall's success in the classroom was just as impressive as his success on the mat. He was named the 2010-11 Pac-10 Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year after maintaining a 3.50 GPA during his five years at Boise State. In May, Hall graduated with a bachelor's degree in health science and was selected as one of 29 NCAA male student-athletes to receive a 2010-11 winter sports postgraduate scholarship. Hall was also named to the 2010-11 Capital One Academic All-District At-Large Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. He earned NWCA Division I All-Academic and Pac-10 All-Academic honors for three straight years (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11). "He took his academics very seriously, as well as his athletics," Fronhofer said. "I think it will be an easy adjustment for him to coach Ivy League student-athletes." Competing at 157 pounds as a redshirt senior in 2010-11, Hall went 30-2 (93.8%), capturing his second Pac-10 Championship and finishing fifth at the NCAA National Championships. He defeated Arizona State's Bubba Jenkins in a triple-overtime slugfest to defend his Pac-10 title. Hall entered the NCAA National Championships at a perfect 25-0 and earned the top overall seed. He led the Broncos in overall wins (30), dual wins (12) and dual win percentage (12-0, 1.000). InterMat ranked Hall as the No. 5 wrestler in the nation in the 157-pound class. As redshirt junior in 2009-10, Hall posted a stellar 32-3 record (91.4%) while competing in the 157-pound class. He took third at the 2010 NCAA Championships and earned All-America status after going 5-1 in six bouts as the no. 2 overall seed. Hall also won his first Pac-10 Conference title in 2010, avenging a 2009 title match loss to Cal Poly's Chase Pami with a 5-1 decision. He ended the 2009-10 regular season ranked No. 3 in the nation by InterMat. Hall finished the year with a team-high 32 overall wins and 16 major decisions and tied for the lead in dual wins (16) and dual win percentage (16-0, 1.000). As a redshirt sophomore in 2008-09, Hall posted a dominant 35-6 record (85.4%). Hall compiled a 25-7 record during his 2007-08 redshirt freshman campaign when he competed in the 149-pound class. He redshirted during the 2006-07 season. Hall will also train full-time as he works toward earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. "We're really happy about that," Fronhofer said. "That brings a whole different level of intensity and commitment to the sport. I think the guys on the team are really excited as well and I know the staff is. He's going to be a great addition."

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- CSU Bakersfield head wrestling coach Mike Mendoza has announced the 2011-12 schedule. CSUB opens the 2011-12 campaign by hosting the Roadrunner Open on Saturday, Nov. 5. The all day affair is the first time since the early 1990s that CSUB will be hosting an in-season wrestling tournament in the Icardo Center. The Roadrunners will take part in the annual Blue-Gold Meet on Nov. 10 before heading to Palo Alto for a double dual against Menlo College and Pac-12 rival Stanford on Nov. 13. Cal Poly heads to Bakersfield on Nov. 18 for the first home conference dual. After a one week break for Thanksgiving, the Roadrunners travel to Las Vegas for the Dec. 2-3 Cliff Keen Invitational. Oregon State enters the Icardo Center for a Pac 12 dual Dec. 10. CSUB returns to tournament action Dec. 18 for the Reno Tournament of Champions and Dec. 29-30 for the Midlands Championships. CSU Bakersfield begins the new year with a Jan. 5 dual against American University. The dual will be held at Clovis North High School at 6:30 p.m. The following night, the Roadrunners play host to Boise State at 7 p.m. CSUB closes the home slate with duals Jan. 15 against Northern Colorado and Jan. 29 against Arizona State. The regular season concludes Feb. 3-4 at San Francisco State. Feb. 3 sees the Roadrunners face the Gators in a dual followed by the California Collegiate Open on Feb. 4. The Pac 12 Championships will be held at Boise State on Feb. 26. The NCAA Division I Championships will be held Mar. 15-17 at the Scotttrade Center in St. Louis, Mo. "The coaching staff is excited for this season," Mendoza said. "We will have a lot of new faces in the lineup this season. Our schedule will be competitive and challenging as we face four teams in American (5th), Boise State (7th), Arizona State (10th), and Stanford (11th) that finished in the top 12 at the NCAA's last year. We are glad to be hosting six of those competitions in the Icardo Center." 2011-12 CSU BAKERSFIELD WRESTLING SCHEDULE DAY DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME Saturday Nov. 5 Roadrunner Open Icardo Center 9 a.m. Thursday Nov. 10 Blue-Gold Meet Icardo Center 7 p.m. Sunday Nov. 13 Menlo College Palo Alto, Calif. 12 p.m. Sunday Nov. 13 at Stanford* Palo Alto, Calif. 2 p.m. Friday Nov. 18 Cal Poly* Icardo Center 7 p.m. Friday-SaturdayDec. 2-3 at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Las Vegas, Nev. All Day Saturday Dec. 10 Oregon State* Icardo Center 5 p.m. Sunday Dec. 18 at Reno Tournament of Champions Reno, Nev. All Day Thursday-FridayDec. 29-30 at Midlands Championships Evanston, Ill. All Day Thursday Jan. 5 American Clovis North HS, Fresno, Calif. 6:30 p.m. Friday Jan. 6 Boise State* Icardo Center 7 p.m. Sunday Jan. 15 Northern Colorado Icardo Center 1 p.m. Sunday Jan. 29 Arizona State* Icardo Center 2 p.m. Friday Feb. 3 at San Francisco State San Francisco, Calif. 1 p.m. Saturday Feb. 4 at California Collegiate Open San Francisco, Calif., SF St., host All Day Sunday Feb. 26 at Pac 12 Championships Boise, Idaho All Day Thursday-Saturday ar. 15-17 at NCAA Division I Championships Scottrade Center - St. Louis, Mo. All Day

With the high school wrestling season's start fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top high school senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to future college and senior level stars. The Class of 2012 is arguably the best to ever come out of Indiana. There are 13 wrestlers that are in position to become four-time state qualifiers, which is unheard of in a state with no wrestlebacks and only one division. Five of the wrestlers already own at least one state title, with six others that have wrestled under the lights at Conseco Fieldhouse. This year's senior class is so deep that two wrestlers who have finished in the top four twice are left out of Indiana's Top 10. 1. Jason Tsirtsis (Crown Point) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Jason Tsirtsis (Photo/IndianaMat.com)Analysis: Indiana has been blessed over the past 10 years with some extremely talented wrestlers and Jason Tsirtsis is right in line to follow the likes of Angel Escobedo, Andrew Howe, Reece Humphrey and his older brother Alex Tsirtsis. While travelling all across the country, Tsirtsis has competed with and beat some of the best wrestlers in the nation over the past four years. He has notable wins over collegiate freshmen and sophomores wrestling in the FILA Junior age division and beaten many of the top wrestlers in the country while wrestling Cadet, Junior and FILA Junior age divisions. On top of his unquestioned wrestling skills he also gets it done in the classroom and is currently being courted by the likes of Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Word is he is leaning towards staying close to home at Northwestern, but do not count out any of the others schools. Career Highlights: Career Record: 129-2 2011 state champion (140) 2010 state champion (130) 2009 state champion (125) 2011 FloNationals champion (135) 2011 Junior National freestyle champion (145) 2010 Super 32 Challenge runner-up (140) 2010 FloNationals champion (130) 2010 FILA Cadet National freestyle champion (63 kilos) 2010 Junior National freestyle third-place finisher (135) 2009 Super 32 Challenge runner-up (130) 2009 Cadet National freestyle runner-up (130) 2009 FILA Cadet National freestyle champion (58 kilos) 2008 Cadet National freestyle fourth-place finisher (119) 2. Kyle Ayersman (Lake Central) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Analysis: Kyle Ayersman is looking to step into elite company with his third state title this year. In winning his first two titles, he had to work overtime, first defeating Paul Beck in overtime 2-0 as a sophomore and last year defeating Brenden Campbell in a wild 10-8 overtime match. Ayersman showed true heart and grit in the finals last year getting two takedowns with less than 15 seconds left in the match to tie the score. Ayersman has recently verbally committed to wrestle for the Purdue Boilermakers next year. Career Highlights: Career Record: 141-2 2011 state champion (119) 2010 state champion (112) 2009 state third-place finisher (103) 3. Mason Todd (Pendleton Heights) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 120 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Mason Todd (Photo/IndianaMat.com)Analysis: Mason Todd could probably get the most improved wrestler award for this group as he has steadily improved each year and still has a lot of room to get better. After a fifth-place finish as a sophomore Todd wasn't much into the state title talk with the likes of Cody Phillips, Paul Petrov and Jarred Brooks in the same weight, but he proved many of the doubters wrong last year. He dealt Phillips his first high school loss at semi-state and then navigated the same tough field to capture a state title the next week. Career Highlights: Career Record: 117-8 2011 state champion (112) 2010 state fifth-place finisher (112) 2009 state qualifier (103) 2009 Cadet National freestyle seventh-place finisher (105) 4. Cody Phillips (Union County) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Analysis: You know the Class of 2012 is loaded when a wrestler with two state titles and only two career losses is ranked fourth. Cody Phillips was undefeated his first two years at 103, but lost twice last year and finished third in the state. Phillips, dubbed "Pocket Hercules," is small in stature, but an absolute beast on the mat. He placed at Fargo in 2007 and after his second state title finished runner-up at FloNationals in his only national events. He has been ranked as high as No. 1 by many national ranking services, but fell after last year's finish at state. He has recently taken a visit to Minnesota and will also be visiting Purdue in the near future. Career Highlights: Career Record: 135-2 2011 state third-place finisher (112) 2010 state champion (103) 2009 state champion (103) 2010 103 FloNationals runner-up (103) 2007 Cadet National freestyle seventh-place finisher (84) 5. Brenden Campbell (New Castle) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 120 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Brenden Campbell (Photo/IndianaMat.com)Analysis: The mark Brenden Campbell leaves on the state after this year will be either: one of the best wrestlers to only win one state title or one of the best to never win a state title. Campbell was ranked No. 1 all throughout his freshman season, but had to bail out of the state series after suffering appendicitis after regionals. He went on to place at Fargo that summer and has solidified himself as one of the top wrestlers in the state after placing third and runner-up the past two years. Career Highlights: Career Record: 151-3 State Appearances: 9th-X, 10th-third, 11th-runner-up 2011 state runner-up (119) 2010 state third-place finisher (112) 2009 Cadet National freestyle eighth-place finisher (112) 6. Jared McKinley (Perry Meridian) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Jared McKinley (Photo/IndianaMat.com)Analysis: Jared McKinley is another wrestler who has steadily improved throughout his career going from being a qualifier, to fourth place to state champion this past season. He had one of the sickest headlocks in the state finals this year pinning his opponent just before the first period ended. McKinley had a great summer coming just short of placing at Fargo in Greco-Roman, but battling to a fifth-place finish in freestyle. His physical style of wrestling will translate well into college. Career Highlights: Career Record: 155-6 2011 state champion (125) 2010 state fourth-place finisher (112) 2009 state qualifier (103) 2011 Junior National freestyle fifth-place finisher (130) 7. Devon Jackson (Yorktown) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Devon Jackson (Photo/IndianaMat.com)Analysis: As with Campbell, Devon Jackson could also be labeled as one of the best to win only one state title or one of the best to never win a state title. Jackson has finished second the past two years to nationally ranked Jason Tsirtsis and Ethan Raley. Tsirtsis needed overtime to defeat him as a sophomore and lost a tough 5-3 decision to Raley last year. Along with his in-state success Jackson has also placed twice at FloNationals including a third-place finish this past year. He avenged his only loss of the tournament in the third-place bout. Career Highlights: Career Record: 142-7 2011 state runner-up (135) 2010 state runner-up (130) 2009 state qualifier (112) 2011 FloNationals third-place finisher (130) 2010 FloNationals eighth-place finisher (130) 8. Jarred Brooks (Warsaw) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 113 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Jarred Brooks (Photo/IndianaMat.com)Analysis: It is extremely rare that a Junior National freestyle runner-up will be placed in the eighth spot in these rankings, but with the talent pool so deep this year there was no choice. Jarred Brooks has been successful at every level of wrestling and last year was more or less his coming out party. He finished second in the state to longtime rival Mason Todd, second at the FILA Junior World Team Trials to Nicky Roberts of Pennsylvania and then second at Fargo to Nathan Tomasello of Ohio in a tough three period battle. Being the competitor that he is Brooks is none too happy with all of those red ribbons and will be looking to take home quite a few blue ones this season. Career Highlights: Career Record: 104-6 2011 state runner-up (112) 2010 state fifth-place finisher (103) 2011 FILA Junior World Team Trials runner-up (50 kilos) 2011 Junior National freestyle runner-up (112) 2011 FloNationals fourth-place finisher (112) 9. Connor Mullins (New Castle) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Analysis: Going up in weight and keeping the same success level is never an easy task, but Connor Mullins has made it look easy. The second New Castle Trojan to be in the Top 10, he is looking to cap his career off with a state title after a runner-up finish this past season. Mullins has had an outstanding career while going up 40 since his freshman season. This past year he wrestled near his natural weight and placed the highest of his career. Look for him to stay near this weight for the 2012 season. Career Highlights: Career Record: 162-8 2011 state runner-up (152) 2010 state third-place finisher (130) 2009 state fifth-place finisher (112) 10. Tyler Willis (Indianapolis Cathedral) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 170 Projected College Weight Class: 174 Analysis: Tyler Willis is another one of the wrestlers that was hard to rank due to him being at 160 his whole career. Nine of his 13 losses came as an undersized freshman wrestling many juniors and seniors. He has placed in the top three the past two years and is one that will be a heavy favorite for a state title this year. Along with his wrestling accolades he is a starter on the Fighting Irish football team that is one of the best in the state and nation. Career Highlights: Career Record: 129-13 2011 state third-place finisher (160) 2010 state runner-up (160) 2009 state seventh-place finisher (160) Honorable Mention Paul Petrov (Hanover Central) Career Record: 131-12 State Appearances: 9th-X, 10th-runner-up, 11th-fourth Tanner Lynde (Delphi) Career Record: 133-13 State Appearances: 9th-Q, 10th-fifth, 11th-third Kirk Johnson (Perry Meridian) Career Record: 136-18 State Appearances: 9th-X, 10th-fourth, 11th-fourth Brian Harvey (Indianapolis Cathedral) Career Record: 129-18 State Appearances: 9th-sixth, 10th-sixth, 11th-fifth Anthony Quiroz (Chesterton) Career Record: 101-19 State Appearances: 9th-runner-up, 10th-Q, 11th-fifth Quincey Richey (Brown County) Career Record: 102-9 State Appearances: 9th-eighth, 10th-Q, 11th-fifth Blake Rueger (Evansville Reitz) Career Record: 131-15 State Appearances: 9th-Q, 10th-eighth, 11th-fifth

The St. Cloud State University wrestling program will salute the accomplishments of John Sundgren on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. with a special "wall ceremony" in the SCSU Wrestling Room, which is located inside the Halenbeck Hall Fieldhouse. Sundgren won the 157-pound NCAA Division II national championship in 2011 and his national championship banner will be unveiled during the ceremony and will forever be immortalized on the wall of the wrestling room to inspire future champions at SCSU. Fans will also have the opportunity to watch a brief highlight video of Sundgren's run to a national title as well as getting his take on his storybook career with the Huskies. Following the ceremony, all are encouraged to stay for the Husky football game as they take on Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival Northern State University at 4 p.m. Concluding the first quarter of play, the 2011 NCAA National Runner-Up Huskies will be introduced. Prior to the game and after the Sundgren ceremony in the wrestling room, the country band DIAMONDBACK will be playing and food vendors such as Famous Dave's will be catering for your appetite outside of Husky Stadium. The“Wall Ceremony” is free and open to the public. Tickets for the football game against Northern State can be purchased at the gate or you can call 1-877-SCSUTIX or 320-308-2137 for more ticket information. So, come out and enjoy the Husky celebration and CELEBRATE! St. Cloud State University on Oct. 1. For complete information on the Sundgren ceremony, please call the wrestling office at 320-308-3159 or e-mail sscostanzo@stcloudstate.edu

Nik Fekete

What comes to mind when you think of adversity? Is it a loss of something or someone important to you? Is it an injury that interferes with your dream of being a champion? Is it when fatigue sets in during a grueling workout? Or maybe adversity comes through common effects of life. It may be an abundance of small daily problems that weigh heavy. How ever you describe adversity, it's usually something you would not have chosen, and it presents a challenge. Adversity allows you to know yourself at the heart. You find out more about you during hardships than any other time. Tough moments truly define our substance and might. The big moments are easy when we're on top. Society gives us big smiles and abundant applause. But not so when we're in deep waters and struggling to stay afloat; these times reveal a lot. What is it that allows some to defy logic or science and come back from being gunned down by circumstances that wipe most others out? How about those who survived and thrived in prison camps, torture, starvation, hours stranded at sea clinging to nothing but a small board, days stranded in the wilderness in freezing conditions, no food, and not knowing if they will survive; this has to be one of the most humbling experiences a human will ever face-will I live or will I die? In many cases we have a lot of influence over the answer. We all have had or will have adversity. We all have experiences that detach us from our dreams and wound us physically and emotionally; it's called life. Complicated days will make their appearance. Unexpected blows will knock us off our feet. We all have pages of desolation in our story. We're not alone, unique, or an exception. Outside forces may have caused our unexpected difficulty. It's unfortunate but common. We shout "It's not fair!" Forget about fairness. We think life should be fair, "it's not." Where did we learn this erroneous message? We may fall into self pity and curse the world. I warn against using adversity as an excuse not to act. We have all bathed in self-pity and can relate; consequently, it's a bath of filthy water; we feel the likes of physical and emotionally poverty. There is an acceptable period of time to contemplate. However, we can't afford to mull-over too long. There is a lot on the line, and we must persevere. Our survival may depend on us postponing our heartache for a later time or not at all. Your whole life up to this point has been preparation for this trail and moment; how will you grip it? You can handle whatever yarn is spun. It won't be easy or pain free. It's tough to persevere under stormy conditions you would never have chosen. The weight of physical and emotional pain can be brutal. However, misfortune can fortify and meet you head-on in ways and areas that only trouble can. You can build off of unfortunate circumstances. You can still advance. Are certain humans born with special resolution and moxie that allows them to endure misfortune? I don't know that answer, but I do know the world of full of people that not only survive, but excel and exceed what we would expect. How have you handled adversity in the past? How will you handle adversity the next time it slaps you in the face? The solution for adversity cannot be bought, charged, muscled, or tweeted. No, the solution is found in your thinking. You can mine for opportunities and find out what resources you can muster in this process of discovery. Inside of you is a reservoir of courage and strength that activates when called-upon. Humans have immersed themselves in this reservoir of influence since the beginning of time. This potent inner strength is obtainable when you call on it. Do we need people to help us through adversity? YES! Do many of us pray and believe in a god that will supply us with strength? YES! But it's our decision that will determine whether we move forward or not; no one can make this decision for us. Based on how we handle harsh conditions, one never knows what gifts can come from adversity. The blessings may take years to bloom. Or we may just get an experience that can be used to help another. Honest reflection tells us there is a growing society in the world. It is a society of those whose present success has been built on the wreckage of past failures and adversities. Know that ... Humans are made to come through Adversity is a fact of life that we have face Destitution can further you more than accomplishment and ease ever could You often have to outdo heart breaking struggle before attainment and happiness Adversity can be a turning point for you

With the high school wrestling season's start fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top high school senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to future college and senior level stars. While the state of Nebraska does not annually produce large numbers of wrestlers that move on to the Division I ranks, every year there are a handful of standouts that could compete with the best in the country. Recent Division I success by homegrown University of Nebraska standouts such as Brandon Browne and Craig Brester (both now coaching at UNL) validates that there are true diamonds in the rough to be found at all corners of the state on a yearly basis. Last year's top prospect from the Cornhusker State, Nebraska commit Austin Wilson of Hastings St. Cecilia, finished runner-up at the NSHCA Senior Nationals. Two true freshmen from small schools that graduated in 2010 -- Shawn Nagel of Kimball and Nate Morgan of McCook -- ended up being starters for Nebraska and Penn State respectively. 2010 graduate Wil Brown of Chadron wrestles for Army. 2011 State champion Nyle Bartling of Syracuse is now competing for Tom Ryan at Ohio State. Another 2011 graduate, Logan Molina, is wrestling for Kevin Jackson at Iowa State. The Class of 2012 is led by Skutt Catholic standout Thomas Gilman, the best collegiate prospect from Nebraska since former Skutt standout Todd Meneely graduated nearly 10 years ago. 1. Thomas Gilman (Skutt Catholic) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 126/132 Projected College Weight Class: 125/133 Thomas Gilman (Photo/Dave Jedlicka, jedicheetah.com)Analysis: The nation's No. 5 overall recruit according to InterMat is a two-time Fargo freestyle champion, winning a Cadet National title in 2010 and a Junior National title over the summer. Gilman also won a FILA Cadet National title last spring and went 1-1 at the FILA World Championships in Hungary. A total student of the game, he has the intensity, focus and drive to be a future NCAA champion for whatever school he attends. It appears Nebraska and Oklahoma State have jumped in the lead for Gilman's services, but don't count Iowa out just yet. Gilman has two Fargo victories over current Iowa verbal Cory Clark. 2. Andy Janovich (Gretna) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 195 Projected College Weight Class: 197 or football Analysis: Returning state champion Janovich might be the best overall athlete in the state of Nebraska in 2011. He is a standout football player, but college wrestling coaches should be drooling over the possibility of a prospect that is a physical freak and has all the intangibles to be a star at the next level. He has not wrestled much nationally, but did beat graduated PIAA AAA runner-up and Harvard commit Josh Popple over the summer at the Disney Duals. He lost one very controversial match at the Disney Duals to St. Eds standout James Suvak. Nebraska is looking closely at Janovich, who is a complete physical specimen and has the potential to be the next Craig Brester. His work ethic and leadership skills might be better than his physical gifts. 3. Mike Shoff (Cambridge) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 285 Projected College Weight Class: 285 or Football Mike ShoffAnalysis: Although it is highly likely the two-time state champion Shoff ends up playing football at the next level, there is no doubt he could be a top flight national wrestling recruit if he chose that path. Only a narrow state finals defeat his freshman season has kept him from an unbeaten career. There's little doubt in my mind that Shoff could go toe to toe with any heavyweight wrestler in the country. The tenacious Shoff stands 6' 6" and is a full 285 pounds with great feet and agility and has a bench press of nearly 450 pounds. He already has a football scholarship offer from Iowa with Nebraska very close to offering. His father is principal at Cambridge. 4. Connor Bolling (Central City) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 121 or 126 Projected College Weight Class: 125/133 Analysis: Bolling is a two-time state champion from Central City, the team that knocked reigning king Omaha Skutt from the throne in last year's Nebraska state tournament. Bolling has great athleticism and tenacity with plenty of potential for improvement. His lone career loss in high school came in last year's state semifinals to Gilman, 12-5. He has had great success in the offseason at events like the Disney Duals, Fall Brawl and USA Wrestling tournaments. He has been receiving interest from Iowa State and Nebraska, among others. Honorable Mention Andrew Riedy Grand Island) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 133/141 Analysis: Riedy should be one of three wrestlers in this class to become an elite four-time state champion. He is drawing recruiting interest from Nebraska, among other schools. Tyler Nation (Scottsbluff) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Analysis: Nation has been asked to walk on at Nebraska, but will likely look at other options as well. A strong showing at the Walsh Ironman in December could vault his stock in the eyes of college recruiters. Zack Denney (North Platte) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138/145 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: Denney had a great junior season that included a solid victory over Tyler Nation and a narrow state semifinal loss to Omaha North's JaVaughn Perkins. Originally from Iowa, his coach is Dale Hall, the brother of U.S. Greco-Roman great Dennis Hall. Eric Coufal (Howells) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 121 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Analysis: Coufal comes from the same school that produced former Husker standouts Brad Vering and Craig Brester. He is a raw wrestler who could be a gem at the next level. He projects as a career 125-pounder in college. Carlos Rodriguez (Grand Island) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: The two-time defending state champion Rodriguez could well be the best wrestler on a loaded Grand Island squad, projected to be the top team ever assembled in Nebraska. He is an excellent scrambler with a ton of upside and great tenacity. Aaron Studebaker (Raymond Central) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 170/182 Projected College Weight Class: 174/184 Analysis: Studebaker is one of the top upperweights in Nebraska and is great from all positions. Brother Ethan was a former University of Nebraska wrestler. Jed Fenske (Sargent/Burwell) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152/160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Analysis: Fenske was the best 145-pounder in the state of Nebraska last year. He is powerfully built and a great athlete. He capped off an unbeaten season by tearing through the Class C state tournament. Fenske lost in the 2010 state semifinals, 4-2, to the now-graduated Austin Wilson.

UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage Pepsi Center; Denver, Colorado September 24, 2011 Eighteen years ago The UFC was launched in Denver as an eight-man tournament of various mixed martial arts disciplines, with the winnerneeding to survive three fights in an evening to be crowned champion. I was fortunate to be watching the event live at the time. I soon became addicted to this old, but “new” sport of mixed martial arts. The smallest of the entrants, Brazilian Royce Gracie, wearing a white gi with belt attached, rolled through the tournament with his chokehold submissions that forced his opponents to “tap out”. Brazilian jui-jitsu was soon king, and young boys in impoverished countries took to the mats indroves to learn such techniques of self-defense. Soon athletes were cross-training, adding multiple fight disciplines to their resumes. One-dimensional fighters soon became a dying breed in the UFC. But, we learned that those with wrestling backgrounds were by far the better fighters. Whether it was the ability to control your opponent's body on the mat, or to use wrestling as a defensive tactic to avoid take-downs, those with a wrestling pedigree rose quickly to the top of the food chain. And, now the sport has exploded, and is the fastest growing sport out there. Everybody wants to be a fighter. Wrestling provides the foundation. Now the challenge for amateur wrestling is to find a way to keep their better athletes wrestling, when the BIG BUCKS are there for the taking in mixed martial arts! Many of wrestling's elite, have left that sport to become MMA fighters, like it or not, while amateur wrestling struggles to survive and cultivate a growing fan base. That's the challenge ahead........Intermat is here to bridge that gap and cultivate that relationship. The UFC Monster was born with the mission of winning money wagering on such events. For those who followed my picks for UFC 134, you would have won almost $300 ($292) from my selections! And, tonight's card has even more opportunities than that, as I find the card to be full of barking ‘dogs with outstanding ROI (return on investment) potential. Never have I played more underdogs on a UFC card than I am tonight!.......I feel like I'm watching a ‘dog show, not a fight event............wha.wha. So, let's take a look at tonight's action-packed 10-fight card, and try to make some money doing it. This is where the fun starts........ The main event is the light-heavyweight (205 lbs) title fight (5 rounds) featuring 24-year-old champion Jonny “Bones” Jones (13-1 with 8 KOs) battling the legendary Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (32-8), a trash-talking street slugger you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. Rampage is strong with a rock hard head and lead in his fists. His experience has put him in many wars, and if he can avoid the KO from Jones, he could survive in the later rounds where Jones has never been. The public is pounding Bones Jones, and they should, but I have to take the value on the howling ‘dog at +400 now. Rampage pulls the upset with a stunning ground-and-pound victory in the fourth period. I mean, seriously, is Bones Jones going to win all of his fights?.............I think not. Is Rampage in his head? I hope so. I never bet on welterweight Matt Hughes (45-8, with 11 years of fighting)anymore, as he no longer dominates his division like he used to. He struggles to even win these days. But, he still has HOF credentials, and only takes those fights he expects to win. And, he expects to win here against the brash former wrestling AA, Josh Koscheck (15-5). Both are great wrestlers, but Kos likes to stand and bang instead. That has been his downfall (see GSP and Paulo Thiago for details). Hughes' striking has improved (ask Renzo Gracie about it...). And, nobody is going to dominate him on the mat. Therefore, I give the former champ a chance to survive the three-round onslaught, and out-work Koscheck to gain a narrow decision. Fighting is also a cerebral game, and Hughes has a big edge there. I'm betting on Hughes at an amazing +400 and I'm going for “Hughes by decision” at 6:1 odds! Koscheck was a late replacement for the injured Diego Sanchez, so that helps as well.......Mistakes cost Koscheck here. The beauty of betting big ‘dogs (anything over +200) is that you can win just one-out-of-three and still show a profit. Do the math. It works........So,let's try another: Heavyweight slugger, Mark Hunt (6-7, yes a losing record), takes on veteran Ben Rothwell (31-7), another heavyweight who likes to stand toe-to-toe and trade punches. Rothwell looked terrible in getting dominated and TKO'd by current champion, Cain Velasquez. And, Hunt is no Velasquez. But he does have a puncher's chance to land his powerful KO. And, at +275, I'll take my chances. Hunt cashes big with a second round “lights out” KO. While I laugh my way to the bank. If I hit just one of the above three fights, I'm ahead............so, let's move on. I love the punk Diaz brothers, Nick and Nate. Always have, always will. I guess I am intrigued how these non-athletic looking fighters are so good? They punch and paw at their opponents like girl's would fight. They frustrate and taunt and talk trash throughout their fights. And, their biggest weapon is often their middle finger. And, yet they win and win and win........It's younger bro' Nate's turn tonight. He has a 6” reach advantage that he will use well, as he puts his 13-7 record on the line against Japanese legend Takonori Gomi (32-7), a striker with a bit of ground game. Gomi was good enough to KO Tyson Griffin! But, he will get submitted here with that lanky triangle choke hold that makes Nate famous. Take Nate Diaz to cash tonight at -250, while his older brother waits to fight BJ Penn in a month. Undefeated heavyweight Travis Browne (11-0-1 with 9 KOs) should have little problem with Rob “The Bear” Broughton (15-5). Browne is the better striker and wrestler, and that's all it takes to control where this fight takes place. And, it takes place in my living room tonight. I will make a healthy play on Browne at -340, the nearest thing to a “bridge jump” for me tonight. A first round KO makes this one look easy. Shoulda bet more? Now let's take a quick look at tonight's undercard. The next two fights can be seen for FREE on Spike TV. The other three are available on the UFC's Facebook page. But the UFC Monster doesn't do Facebook. I'm old school. I love lightweight Aaron Riley (30-12-1) because he is old school, too, and always brings it. He is an aggressive striker who gives you your money's worth of effort. But he is a pure journeyman in the UFC, going nowhere, but still having a name to add to your resume. This is what TUF winner Tony Ferguson (11-2) is being fed here tonight, a stepping stone to a budding career. I would love to make the case for Riley's experience, but Ferguson's wrestling keeps me away from that. I'll make a small play on Ferguson at -350. Ferguson by decision. Good luck to Riley. When Tim Boetsch (13-4) dropped from a small light-heavyweight to a big middleweight, his punching power came with him. Nick Ring (12-0) presents a formidable opponent, but I like Boetch's deeper Octagon experience here, and slightly better wrestling skills to control the clinches and eke out a close decision win. Lay the -150 on Boetsch. Another unbeaten fighter bites the dust! Bantamweight Cole Escovedo (17-7) has had a few shots in the UFC, but he never seems to survive long enough to stick. Maybe tonight, huh, as a +160 ‘dog?.........Yes, I think so. Cole's ground game should be good enough to avoid submissions from his opponent, Takeya Mizugaki (14-6-2). A determined effort will be good enough to land me more money than I risk. I like getting +160 on a desperate fighter, trying to survive. Escovedo by submission. Light-heavyweight Ricardo Romero (11-2) is another underdog I like. He had won six straight before losing to Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 126, and is the better wrestler here. I think he wins by second round submission tonight against James Te Huna (12 5). I'll gladly accept the +130 odds to win. And, Eddie “The Filipino Phenom” Yagin (15-4-1) opened as a slight ‘dog to veteran Junior Assuncao (12-4), but the public has pounded him, making him now the -140 favorite! Why?.........Maybe because he (and Joe Warren) are the only fighters to ever beat the awesome Joe Soto? Maybe. And he beat him just a few months ago!.......I'll ride the momentum of that one, and will give Yagin a second round KO here. Lay the juice. So, that's it. Let's see if our money management skills can match our bold predictions: Let's lay $100 to win $400 on Rampage breaking Bones to shock the world. Let's lay $100 to win $400 on HOF'er Matt Hughes to humble Kos. Let's lay $100 to win $275 on wildman Mark Hunt to score a stunning KO. Let's lay $150 to win $ 60 on the younger Diaz brother, Nate. It's sub time. Let's lay $170 to win $ 50 on a Travis Browne “bridge jump”. 1st round KO. Let's lay $ 70 to win $ 20 on Tony Ferguson. No value, but should win. Let's lay $105 to win $ 70 on Tim Boetsch's better all around game. Let's lay $ 60 to win $ 96 on Cole Escovedo's return to the Octagon. Let's lay $ 60 to win $ 78 on Ricardo Romero by submission. Let's lay $ 84 to win $ 60 on Eddie Yagin to dominate with TKO. In all, we are risking $999 to win a whopping $1509. Let's git ‘er done!!! And, don't forget to give some of your profits to your local youth wrestling program, where tomorrow's champions are born! Enjoy the fights. I know I will.

DeKALB – Northern Illinois wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig Thursday announced the addition of Ryan Tomei as a volunteer assistant coach. Tomei, who spent the last five seasons wrestling at national power Pittsburgh, will serve as a coach for the heavyweights on NIU's roster. “I am really pleased to announce the addition of Ryan to the Northern Illinois staff,” Ludwig said. “Along with a wealth of wrestling knowledge, he brings a passion for the sport that we thrive on here at Northern. He is still competing on the international level and brings great intensity into our wrestling room.” Tomei completed an illustrious career with the Panthers in 2011 with a record of 110-34 and 40 pins, which ranks second in Pitt wrestling history. A two-time NCAA qualifier, he also won the Eastern Wrestling League title in the heavyweight class during his junior and senior seasons, while also being named the EWL's Most Outstanding Wrestler both seasons. He also helped Pitt win their first-ever EWL regular season championship in 2010 and their first tournament championship in 2011. Additionally, Tomei won five regular season tournaments, while finishing fourth at the prestigious Midlands Championships as a senior. He was also a two-time Academic All-American and a four-time EWL All-Academic Team selection. For his accomplishments at Pitt, Tomei was named the male recipient of Pittsburgh's Blue-Gold Award, which is annually given to a senior who excels in athletics, academics and community service. Past winners of the award include Mike Ditka and Dan Marino. “I'm excited to help this program,” Tomei said. “We want to get some of these guys to nationals and get the team into an upward spin when it comes to getting better wins as a team.” A native of Irwin, Pa., he earned his bachelor's degree in clinical dietetics and nutrition. In high school, he went 79-11 and was named to the all-state team twice at Penn-Trafford High School despite only wrestling for two years.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Seven home dates, highlighted by a visit from the defending national champions and the 100th meeting of Eastern Wrestling's greatest rivalry highlight the 2011-12 Lehigh wrestling schedule announced Thursday by head coach Pat Santoro. The Mountain Hawks will wrestle eight home dual meets in a schedule that includes three of the top six and five of the top 20 finishers from last year's NCAA Championships. “We have a really nice balance to our schedule,” Santoro said. “There will be some really tough competitions for our team. It will be a good measuring stick for us as we progress throughout the season. We'll have to rely on our senior leadership while we work with the talented young guys coming up. Santoro continued, “With the new National Duals format we had to change our schedule around a bit. What is nice is that we've picked up a Big 12 team and another Big Ten team in Oklahoma and Illinois, two very tough programs who we haven't wrestled in a while, so I'm excited about having then on our schedule. In the east, Penn State and Cornell will be very challenging, plus we're going back to the Midlands which is obviously a very challenging tournament.” The 103rd season of Lehigh wrestling begins with the annual wrestle-offs, scheduled for Thursday, October 27 inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. In a new twist, the Mountain Hawks will not open their season with a dual meet, but will instead send a full squad of regulars to the UB Open in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday, November 6. “We're going to take 20-25 guys,” Santoro explained. “I've wanted to go up to Buffalo for years. There's a big debate with tournaments versus dual meets and we've seen teams enjoy success doing both. This year we only have one tournament setting where we do multiple matches in a weekend, but this will give us multiple matches in a day to give us a feel of where we stand.” Lehigh's first dual meet will be on Saturday, November 12 when Santoro's alma mater Pittsburgh visits Leeman-Turner Arena. The Mountain Hawks' first three duals will be at home as the following weekend, Lehigh will host a tri-meet with Illinois and Clarion at Leeman-Turner Arena on November 20. Illinois will be making its first visit to Bethlehem since 1934, while Clarion will visit Bethlehem for the first time since 1997. Both teams feature former All-Americans from Lehigh's class of 2006 on their coaching staffs as Cory Cooperman was recently named a volunteer assistant at Illinois and Troy Letters was named the top assistant at Clarion. For the fifth straight year, Lehigh will spend Thanksgiving weekend at the Journeymen Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y. This year the Mountain Hawks will wrestle three duals in New York's Capital Region, squaring off against NCAA sixth place finisher Arizona State plus Big Ten member Purdue and ACC foe North Carolina. The Mountain Hawks will wrestle their first true road dual and get their first look at an EIWA opponent on Sunday, December 4 when Lehigh meets Penn at the famed Palestra. On Friday December 9, defending national champion Penn State visits Stabler Arena for the 100th dual meet between the longtime in-state rivals. If the Nittany Lions can maintain a No. 1 ranking coming into the early December showdown, Lehigh will look to knock off a top-ranked team at Stabler for the second straight year. The Mountain Hawks upended then-No. 1 Cornell 17-15 last January for Lehigh's first-ever win against a No. 1 ranked team. “Lehigh-Penn State is always a great event,” Santoro said. “Whether it's here or there there's always an outstanding crowd. I have a lot of respect for the Penn State program. They're the defending National Champions so it should be a fun atmosphere at Stabler Arena, so we're looking forward to that.” The Penn State matchup will serve as the final dual before breaking for final exams and the holidays. Lehigh will return to action at the prestigious Midlands Championships, December 29-30 in Evanston, Ill. Lehigh will ring in 2012 on the road on January 8 when the Mountain Hawks square off against EIWA rival Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y. The Mountain Hawks knocked the Big Red off their No. 1 perch last January but Cornell rebounded to win its fifth straight EIWA team title and place second to Penn State at NCAAs. After the Cornell showdown, Lehigh will return home for three duals. Navy visits Leeman Turner Arena on Saturday, January 14 as the Mountain Hawks will look to exact payback from last year's upset loss in Annapolis. The Mountain Hawks will double up the following weekend, facing Rutgers on Friday January 20 at Stabler Arena and Bucknell the following afternoon inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Lehigh will log some serious travel miles the following weekend with a pair of duals against top-20 finishers from last year's NCAA Championships. The trip begins on Friday January 27 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan against Central Michigan. From there it is on to Oklahoma to face the Sooners on January 29. The Mountain Hawks will close out the dual season against three Ivy League foes. Lehigh heads to New England to face Brown on February 11 and Harvard February 12. The regular season concludes February 18 when the Mountain Hawks host Princeton inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Princeton will host the 108th EIWA Championships at Jadwin Gym on March 3 and 4, while the NCAA Championships will be in St. Louis at Scottrade Center March 15-17. The Mountain Hawks return most of their key contributors from last year's team which placed eighth at the NCAA Championships. Included in the group of key returnees are All-Americans Brandon Hatchett and Robert Hamlin, and heavyweight National Champion Zach Rey.

Four All-Americans have been named captains of the 2011-12 University of Minnesota wrestling team. Seniors Zach Sanders and Sonny Yohn have been tabbed to lead the team, along with sophomores Tony Nelson and Kevin Steinhaus. The Gophers return seven of their nine competitors, from its NCAA Championship Team, which finished seventh overall last season. Minnesota will be looking to claim their fourth national championship this season. "Having great leaders is an important factor in achieving success here at Minnesota," assistant head coach Brandon Eggum said. "We are fortunate to have captains with great leadership and characteristics." Sanders, is a three-time All-American at 125 lbs, who has placed fifth at nationals the last two years. The Wabasha, Minn., native went 34-6 last season with seven pins. He holds a career record of 102-23 with 28 pins. Yohn enters his final campaign in the maroon and gold after coming off his second straight NCAA Championship appearance. Yohn, who hails from Alamosa, Colo., finished with 18 wins last season and a seventh place finish at nationals. He lost to Big Ten foe Matt Powless in the second round by split victory 3-5, but came back to defeat Powless 5-2 for the seventh place match in Philadelphia. The other two captains (Nelson and Steinhaus) as said before come from the sophomore class. This is something new to the Gopher tradition of having a couple sophomores take on the role, but Eggum and his staff feel pretty confident in their decision for this season. "It is a little unique to have two sophomore captains in Tony Nelson and Kevin Steinhaus," Eggum said. "These two have showed the skills on the mat and have shown the responsibility of being great captains. Nelson is coming off a very impressive freshman season. The Cambridge, Minn., native finished with a record of 33-8 and took seventh at the NCAA Championships to earn him All-American honors. He took second at the Big Ten Championships after falling just short to Iowa's Blake Rasing. Steinhaus, who picked up his first All-American honors with an eighth place finish at the NCAA Championships, finished with a record of 34-12 for the Gophers. Hailing from Pennock, Minn., Steinhaus also recorded 11 major decisions in the 2010-11 season. He placed second at the Big Ten Championships after falling 3-4 against the Nittany Lions Quentin Wright. Minnesota is set to open up practice on Monday October 10. The Gophers first competition of the season will be on Saturday November 12, as they will compete at the Bison Open.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum will give the Jim and Olive Morgan family its first Greco-Roman Legacy Award at the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions. The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, at the Christensen Center Commons on the campus of Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. The Morgan family is being recognized for their tremendous accomplishments in wrestling, specifically in the Greco-Roman discipline. A family of 12 kids, six boys and six girls, Jim passed along his boxing and wrestling skills to his boys. "It's a great honor," said Jim Morgan, father of the family. "I look forward to attending this event." Jim was one of eight boys in his family growing up in South Dakota where they had a boxing ring in their back yard. It's no coincidence all of the Morgan siblings were tough individuals. Jim became a barnstorming professional wrestler after leaving the Navy, spending over 20 years traveling the country. He took on all comers and worked with the likes of legendary wrestlers Red Bastein and Henry Korrum. John, Gordy and Marty -- sons of Jim and Olive -- won a combined 10 national Greco-Roman titles. They also competed in two Olympics and nine World championships. The Morgan brothers excelled in folkstyle wrestling prior to gaining fame in the Greco-Roman style. They combined for nine collegiate All-American honors; with John winning an NCAA Division II title at North Dakota State University and Marty winning NCAA championships for both NDSU and University of Minnesota. Jim and Olive's three oldest sons were boxers, all turning professional, including Danny Morgan, who twice fought for a world title. "Boxing and wrestling were something we grew up with," said Jim. "If you didn't do it, there must be something wrong with you." Alan and Gloria Rice, namesakes of the hall of champions, have been instrumental to the success of Greco-Roman wrestling in the United States. Alan Rice was a Big Ten champion and All-American for the University of Minnesota. In 1956 he won national titles in Greco-Roman and freestyle. He also competed at the 1956 Olympics and coached the 1972 Greco-Roman Olympic team. He and his wife, Gloria, helped form the Minnesota Wrestling Club. The Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions occupies a significant wing in the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo. Olympic and World champion Rulon Gardner will be inducted into this elite Hall. Gardner joins the inaugural 2009 class of Olympic champions Steve Fraser and Jeff Blatnick and World champions Mike Houck, Dennis Hall and Joe Warren. Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner at 7:00 and awards ceremony at 8:00. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online at www.dgm-nwhof.ticketleap.com or by calling the Dan Gable Museum at 319-233-0745. Apple Valley to be recognized The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum will recognize the Apple Valley High School wrestling team for its outstanding accomplishments at the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions ceremony. The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, at the Christensen Center Commons on the campus of Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. Apple Valley has been named the top high school wrestling team in the nation each of the past two seasons. They have also been dominant in their home state of Minnesota, winning 19 state team titles. The Eagles continually seek out nation-wide competition. Recent tournament titles include The Clash (32-dual team tournament in Rochester, Minn.), The Cheesehead (Wisc.) and the Keith Young Invitational (Cedar Falls, Iowa). Head coach Jim Jackson is entering his 17th season at the helm, and has been in the Apple Valley school system for 31 years. He began coaching at the junior level for five years after graduating from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Jackson's teams have captured 13 Class 3A championships in Minnesota. "Success breeds success," said Jackson. "We have a culture where kids pretty much train year round. The commitment from the parents and kids to do the work makes the difference. I've got great coaches on my staff." Apple Valley won six state championships under previous head coach Bill Demaray, the first in 1983. Demaray now works as an assistant coach and mentor to Jackson. Alan Rice, namesake of the Hall of Champions, will be honored with the Leadership Award. Rice was instrumental in the development of the American wrestlers in the Greco-Roman discipline for over half a century. He was an Olympian in 1956 and coached the 1972 Greco-Roman Olympic team. Along with his late wife, Gloria, Alan Rice helped form the Minnesota Wrestling Club. The Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions occupies a significant wing in the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo. Olympic and World champion Rulon Gardner will become the sixth inductee into this elite Hall. Gardner joins 2009 inductees Steve Fraser, Jeff Blatnick, Mike Houck, Dennis Hall and Joe Warren. The Jim and Olive Morgan family will receive the first Greco-Roman Legacy Award for their outstanding accomplishments. John, Gordy and Marty Morgan won a combined 10 national Greco-Roman titles and competed in two Olympics and nine World championships. The evening begins with a reception at 6:00 p.m. then dinner at 7:00 and awards ceremony at 8:00. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online at www.dgm-nwhof.ticketleap.com or by calling the Dan Gable Museum at 319-233-0745.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum will honor Rulon Gardner as this year's inductee into the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 1, 2011, at the Christensen Center Commons on the campus of Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. Gardner is the most successful Greco-Roman wrestler in American history. He did the unthinkable at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia when he defeated 12-time World and Olympic champion Alexander Karelin from Russia in the finals. Gardner won a World title in 2001 and was a bronze medalist at the 2004 Olympics. "This is something really special," Gardner mentioned. "To be honored you have to be willing to put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into Greco-Roman wrestling. I'm just a simple person who wanted to be great and was committed and willing to do the hard work." Gardner carried the American flag in the closing ceremonies of the Sydney Olympics, an honor reserved for the biggest star of the Games. Gardner joins the Class of 2009 in this elite hall. The inaugural class included Olympic champions Steve Fraser and Jeff Blatnick, and World champions Mike Houck, Dennis Hall and Joe Warren. Alan and Gloria Rice, namesakes of the hall of champions, have been instrumental to the advancement of Greco-Roman wrestling in the United States. Alan Rice was a Big Ten champion and an All-American for the University of Minnesota. He placed fifth at the 1956 Olympics and coached the 1972 Greco-Roman Olympic team. The hall is located in the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. The Jim and Olive Morgan family will receive the Greco-Roman Legacy Award for their accomplishments in the Greco-Roman discipline. John, Gordy and Marty Morgan won a combined 10 national Greco-Roman titles and competed in two Olympics and nine World championships. Head coach Jim Jackson and his Apple Valley High School team will also be recognized. Apple Valley was the best high school team in the nation the past two seasons. The evening begins with a reception at 6:00 p.m. followed by a dinner at 7:00 and an awards ceremony at 8:00. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online at www.dgm-nwhof.ticketleap.com or by calling the Dan Gable Museum at 319-233-0745.

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. For every wrestler who signs up for the team when they are in elementary or middle school, their ultimate goal is to be standing atop the podium at the Giant Center in Hershey on Saturday during the month of March. Wrestling in the Keystone state has perhaps the deepest talent pool in the nation. With a population over twelve and a half million, the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) has only two classifications for wrestling. The small schools are in class 2A and the big schools are 3A. With its history-rich tradition, it is hard to set new records in PA. This season one wrestler will be looking to make history as Derry senior Jimmy Gulibon is aiming for his fourth individual state championship, becoming the 10th wrestling in the history of the state to win a gold medal in all four years competing in the PIAA individual state tournament. Gulibon would become the first wrestler in this millennium to win four championships. The last one to become a four-timer was McGuffey's Jeremy Hunter, who was first from 1993 through 1996. Hunter, now an assistant at Illinois, became an NCAA champion at Penn State in 2000 at 125 pounds. Gulibon, a Penn State commit, plans to compete at 125 pounds for the Nittany Lions when he becomes eligible. The question may be a coincidence, but will the next four-time state champion from Pennsylvania go on to become an NCAA champion for The Pennsylvania State University? The answer will result over the next four to five years. The following seniors are considered the 10 best in the Class of 2012. In all, they have accounted for 10 state championships, one Prep National title, and a total of 13 final appearances and two Prep National finals. Editor's note: "Words from the Corner"' come from the wrestler's coach. Jimmy Gulibon1. Jimmy Gulibon (Derry) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Words from the Corner: "Jimmy is a one in a million kind of kid both on and off the mat. The thing that makes Jimmy special is that he is never satisfied. No matter what the outcome or score is he wants to improve and get better. He wrestles to dominate and score points from the first second until the last. One of the things that makes Jimmy so rare is that he enjoys training as much as he does competing." -- Jody Strittmatter, Young Guns Wrestling Club Director/Coach Career Highlights: 2011 2A state champion (119) 2010 FloNationals champion (112) 2010 3A state champion (112) 2009 3A state champion (103) Verbal commitment to Penn State 2. Mitchell Minotti (Easton) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 152/160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Words from the Corner: "Mitchell Minotti is a classic example of what Pennsylvania wrestling is all about. At a young age he had great success in a variety of sports such as football and baseball, though always doing the PA wrestling circuit of state and national tournaments. Mitchell is very talented as an athlete, but in PA talent will only take you so far. Mitchell has a great work ethic, his goals are clear athletically and academically. He has faced great competition in the Easton wrestling room as well as our year-round schedule. With the lessons he has learned in the sport of wrestling on and off the mat, with the support he has given our youth wrestlers at Easton Gold Medal Wrestling Club, Mitchell has done us proud by becoming Easton's 35th state champion as a junior. No doubt Mitch will carry these experiences from Pennsylvania wrestling through his career at Lehigh University, as well as his lifetime, and continue to give back to the sport that has given him so much." -- Steve Powell, Easton Head Wrestling Coach Mitch MinottiCareer Highlights: 2011 NHSCA Junior National champion (140) 2011 3A state champion (140) 2010 Reno TOC champion (145) 2010 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals fourth-place finisher (140) 2010 3A state fifth-place finisher (130) 2009 3A state seventh-place finisher (119) Verbal commitment to Lehigh 3. Jason Luster (Pittsburgh Central Catholic) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157/165 Words from the Corner: "He is perhaps the most physically-gifted athlete in the state of Pennsylvania, if not the entire country. His speed and quickness combined with his strength gives him the ability to score at any given time from any position on the mat. Off the mat, Jason is one of the kindest individuals to be around as he carries a very humble attitude. Jason has matured in the classroom as well achieving honor roll status last year as a junior. With major nationally-ranked tournament championships under his belt last year, including the Ironman and Beast of the East, he will be chasing the coveted PIAA AAA state championship this upcoming season." -- John Cortese, Central Catholic Assistant Wrestling Coach Career Highlights: 2011 3A state runner-up (160) 2010 Beast of the East champion (160) 2010 Walsh Ironman champion (160) 2010 Prep Nationals champion (152) (competed for The Kiski School, Pa.) 2009 NHSCA Freshman National champion (152) 2009 Prep Nationals runner-up (152) (competed for Blue Ridge School, Va.) As a freshman, Luster emerged as an immediate star when he placed third at Walsh Ironman while attending Woodberry Forest School, Va. He will wrestle collegiately for either West Virginia or Pitt. 4. Dominick Malone (Wyoming Seminary) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 125/133 Words from the Corner: "Dom Malone is an exciting combination of physical talent, tireless work ethic, a high wrestling IQ, and passion for the sport. Plenty of wrestlers have one or two of these qualities, but Dom's the whole package which makes him a tough match up for anyone. As a freshman, he had a good repertoire, but his success was as much a product of his relentless attack and physical style as it was execution of effective technique. He set a fast and physical pace that sooner or later broke his opponents. That approach hasn't changed, but through hours of hard work, year-round, Dom has become a more complete wrestler. Now, in addition to being a special athlete, his setups, attacks and finishes on his feet are more complex and well executed. He has become very effective, in fact I would say dominant, on top ... whether riding or turning, and he wastes little time coming out of the bottom position. In my opinion, Dom's style and mentality are well suited for collegiate wrestling. I am confident that his best wrestling days still lie ahead of him. If you're curious about how he has progressed so impressively, stop by the wrestling room some weekday morning before school, or some Sunday afternoon or some hot July day and you will get your answer. Dom will be in the room training. In order to succeed in anything at a high level you need to be willing to do the hard things -- most people are not willing to -- Dom Malone is. He is good and he deserves to be good. He consistently does the hard things. Many don't realize that in addition to his wrestling talents, Dom is an honor roll student at Wyoming Seminary, a very rigorous college prep school. The faculty selected him to be a Levi Sprague Scholar in this his senior year. That is the highest student distinction that the school offers. He is a team captain and a leader on and off the mat. Dom is the whole package who approaches his academic pursuits and life off the mat -- with the same tenacity that he competes on it." -- John Gordon, Wyoming Seminary Former Head Wrestling Coach/Dean of Upper School Career Highlights: 2011 Prep National champion (119) 2010 Walsh Ironman runner-up (119) 2010 Cadet National freestyle third-place finisher (112) 2010 Prep Nationals runner-up (112) 2009 Cadet National freestyle fifth-place finisher (105) 2009 Prep Nationals third-place finisher (103) Malone is a three-time Beast of the East and Walsh Ironman placewinner. He has numerous college choices including: Northwestern, Missouri, Virginia, Illinois, Virginia Tech, and Indiana. Brian Brill5. Brian Brill (Central Mountain) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 152/160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Words from the Corner: "Brian Brill is a complete wrestler. He is very tough on his feet, but when he gets on the mat he is as good as I have ever coached. Brian has a natural feel for the sport and his body awareness makes him dangerous from any position on the mat. It has been great having him in our practice room. It is pretty obvious by looking at his success that Brian works hard, but the one thing that separates Brian is his ability and willingness to help his teammates. I sometimes think he gets as much pleasure in seeing his teammates improving as he does with his own achievements." -- Doug Buckwalter, Central Mountain Head Wrestling Coach Career Highlights: 2011 3A state champion (145) 2010 3A state fifth-place finisher (140) 2009 Cadet National freestyle runner-up (140) Brian Brill is deciding between Penn State, Lehigh, and Cornell as his college of choice. Nick Roberts6. Nick Roberts (North Star) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 113 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Words from the Corner: "Nick is a great competitor who wrestles his best when it matters the most. He has won at every age level that he has been at and he continues to improve as he gets older. He is also a great Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestler. He has won multiple national titles and has gained international experience representing the U.S. at the past two FILA Junior World Championships." -- Jody Strittmatter, Young Guns Wrestling Club Director/Coach Career Highlights: 2011 FILA Junior National freestyle champion (110) 2011 2A state champion (112) 2010 FILA Junior National freestyle champion (110) 2010 2A state third-place finisher (103) 2009 Cadet National freestyle and Greco-Roman champion (98) 2009 2A state champion (103) 2008 Cadet National freestyle and Greco-Roman champion (84) Roberts is your prototypical career 125 pounder in college. The Ohio State University and University of Michigan are his final college choices. 7. Steve Spearman (Erie McDowell) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Words from the Corner: "Steve is a quick, powerful wrestler who stays low and attacks when someone comes out of their stance. His strongest position is neutral, but he has been doing a lot of spring and summer wrestling to improve his riding and tilting. Steve has been blessed with much natural ability and is a great scrambler." -- Shane McChesney, Erie McDowell Head Wrestling Coach Career Highlights: 2011 FloNationals fourth-place finisher (135) 2010 3A state champ (130) 2009 Cadet National freestyle 2nd (130) 2009 3A state third-place finisher (130) Spearman is undecided on where he wants to attend school. John Rizzo8. John Rizzo (Richland) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 285 Projected College Weight Class: 285 Words from the Corner: "Johnny is one of the most disciplined and dedicated heavyweights that I have ever been around. He is a very athletic heavyweight who uses his quickness and athleticism along with his strength and technique. He is extremely focused and driven to be the best he can be in all aspects of his life, whether it's on the mat, on the football field, in the weight room or in the class room." -- Jody Strittmatter, Young Guns Wrestling Club Director/Coach Career Highlights: 2011 2A state champion (285) 2010 2A state champion (285) 2009 2A state fifth-place finisher (215) He became the first Pennsylvania wrestler to capture heavyweight titles as a sophomore and as junior. Rizzo entered the state tournament with only one loss the past two seasons -- in both cases to Beth-Center's Jeff Tarley in the Southwest Regionals. He is multi-sport star on the mat and on the field for Richland's football team. John is undecided on which sport he will compete in college. 9. Corey Keener (Blue Mountain) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126/132 Projected College Weight Class: 125/133 Corey KeenerWords from the Corner: "I have known Corey Keener since he was in sixth grade. Ever since I met him, you could tell that he was determined and had many goals that he wanted to fulfill. Corey is a natural leader and always displayed sportsmanship, win or lose. He has great work ethic in the room which has led to him being successful and it's also something that the younger wrestlers look up to. Corey spends time demonstrating technique and assisting the younger wrestlers in our program. One of my favorite things about Corey is that he is always respectful and is just an all around great kid who can also make you laugh. Some people would say that Corey won the most competitive weight class at last season's state tournament and I would have to agree. Throughout that process, Corey never backed down from a challenge and reached his goal on becoming a state champion. This was one of my proudest moments as a coach sitting in his corner and watching him win with class and outstanding character. I look forward to watching Corey compete in his senior season and as he enters college for Central Michigan University." -- Sam Julian, Blue Mountain Assistant Wrestling Coach Career Highlights: 2011 3A state champion (119) 2010 3A state runner-up (112) 2009 3A state fifth-place finisher (103) Verbal commitment to Central Michigan Keener is a three-time Schuylkill League Tournament champion, four-time Fargo placewinner, three-time Walsh Ironman placewinner, three-time District Eleven champion, and three-time Northeast Regional champion. 10a. Randy Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class:133 Words from the Corner: "The best description of Randy is that he has tremendous natural ability, but also is mature and dedicated enough to always strive for improvement. I really believe in all my years of coaching he has been the most well-rounded student athlete that I have ever coached. Very goal-oriented beyond just wrestling. He strives to be the best in all aspects of his life. Very good in all positions on the mat (feet, top, bottom) and has shown tremendous growth from one season to the next. He has all of the skills to be very successful in Division I wrestling at the college level with some good mental toughness! He will graduate from Bethlehem Catholic with the most wins in school history and has an opportunity to be the only four-time regional champion/four-time state medalist." -- Jeff Karam, Head Coach Bethlehem Catholic Career Highlights: 2011 NHSCA Junior Nationals third-place finisher (125) 2011 2A state runner-up (119) 2010 Walsh Ironman seventh-place finisher (119) 2010 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion (112) 2010 2A state runner-up (112) 2009 NHSCA Freshman National champion (103) 2009 2A state sixth-place finisher (103) College choices: Penn, Virginia, Columbia, and Lehigh. He is also a three-time Beast of the East placewinner. 10b. Matt Cimato (La Salle) Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Words from the Corner: "Matt has grown into a true team leader on and off the mat in his four years at La Salle. His work ethic is second to none. We have had some very successful wrestlers who wrestled for La Salle and Matt has the ability to be the best one ever. Matt has always sought out the best competition across the country. I look forward to his senior year and what lies ahead for Matt Cimato." -- Anthony Panzarella, La Salle Assistant Wrestling Coach Career Highlights: 2011 Junior National freestyle eighth-place finisher (140) 2011 FloNationals fourth-place finisher (140) 2011 3A state third-place finisher (140) 2010 POWERade champion (140) 2010 Junior National freestyle sixth-place finisher (140) Cimato is an accomplished folkstyle and freestyle wrestler who travels nationwide to seek out the best competition during the offseason of scholastic wrestling. He is choosing from Drexel, Rider, and Old Dominion for college.

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! They're back! Burroughs brought back gold and Team USA's freestyle team landed a third-place finish. Istanbul, Turkey and the 2011 World Championships are over and it's time to get back to business! Join Hosts Scott Casber, Recruit A Wrestler.com's Bob Larson, Chad Kriz and Brad Johnson with the Takedown Wrestling Headline News this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. CST/ 10 a.m. to 12 noon ET. Saturday's guests: 9:01: Greg Strobel, Former head wrestling coach, now assistant athletic director at Lehigh University 9:15: Heath Grimm, Head wrestling coach at Upper Iowa University 9:40: Matt Pell, Assistant wrestling coach at University of Missouri 9:50: Ty Barkley, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update 10:01: Mike Mendoza, Head Coach of Cal State Bakersfield 10:15: Chad Smith, Head Coach Lindenwood University 10:20: Troy Smith, Long Island wrestler who helped save his program, featured in WIN Magazine as their wrestler of the month 10:20: Bill Smith, Father of Troy Smith 10:40: Othello Johnson, Head Coach at University of North Carolina-Pembrook 10:50: Amy Ruble, Wildrose Casino and Resort Emmetsburg, Iowa Takedown Wrestling is available on radio on AM 1460 KXNO in Iowa, online at Livesportsvideo.com, or on your Blackberry or iPhone with the iHeart Radio App.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) in conjunction with Dr. Coyte Cooper, Assistant Professor in Sport Administration at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, have developed the collegiate "Best of Brand" awards to recognize teams who are effectively using social media to build their program from a marketing standpoint. "One of the hot topics at the NWCA Convention since 2009 has been the use of social media to market the individual program. We want to incorporate that momentum by helping programs find an easy way to grow the number of spectators and fans, while maintaining a visible public image that will help to positively brand the wrestling team with the institution that they represent," said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. The NWCA has been working diligently to develop strategies that enhance the sustainability of wrestling programs across the United States. To help in this pursuit, the NWCA has created an innovative marketing program that will be unveiled at the 2012 NWCA Convention. In coordination with the introduction of a new Marketing Manual designed specifically for college programs, the convention will also feature a themed "Best of Brand" awards ceremony to honor the elite marketing programs in college wrestling. Each of the winning teams will be recognized in front of their peers at the 2012 NWCA Convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, next August. A letter of achievement will also be sent to their Athletic Directors and academic institutions. The new "Best of Brand" awards will feature seven different individual categories in the inaugural competition (see specific information below). When asked about the new awards program, Dr. Cooper explained that, "This is a unique opportunity for college wrestling programs to differentiate themselves from other sports. For college wrestling to be sustainable in future years, coaches must embrace the opportunity to build their programs with key stakeholders. My hope is that all programs will get on board, because this has the opportunity to grow the sport moving forward." Daily Doses of Excellence Awards v Gotta Be Grassroots: For the program who develops the strongest base via Facebook and Twitter. In addition to followers, this will reward the team that encourages the most interaction among site consumers. v Intent to Innovate: For programs who have the most creative videos in three specific areas. a. The Highlight Reel (for top highlight video) b. Pure Entertainment (for videos created to entertain and engage fans) c. Solid Service (for videos best demonstrating community service outreach) v The Magical Mission: For the programs who best brand their mission via social network sites. The NWCA will award programs with well-rounded values that embrace the university mission. Annual Achievement Awards v Top Newcomer: For programs who storm onto the social network site scene and build their program's brand the right way. In essence, this award will be evaluated based on a program's ability to establish a well-rounded approach with the effective combination of content, visual appeal, and interactivity on social network sites. v The Gold Standard: For the program who best embraces innovative marketing strategies in college wrestling. The criteria for this award will be similar to the "Top Newcomer" category. However, this category is for established programs who are further along with their marketing efforts. For coaches who are interested in participating, please have a member of your staff contact Dr. Cooper (cgcooper@email.unc.edu) with your social network site information so we can include you on the NWCA program watch list. Any questions about the competition can also be directed to Dr. Cooper.

NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma fans have the opportunity to spend a day and hit the links with the 2011-12 wrestling squad and legends on Friday, Sept. 30, at the annual Sooner Wrestling Golf Classic, held this year at the Westwood Park Golf Course in Norman. The four-person scramble format will kick off with a 1 p.m. shotgun start and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners. Lunch will be served prior to the tournament at the same time as registration from 11:45 to 12:45 p.m. Dinner will be provided following the golf outing. Participants are then invited to watch the team practice on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 8 a.m. The outing offers a special opportunity for OU wrestling fans to get to know the new coaching staff – Michael Lighter, Tyrone Lewis, Jared Frayer and Head Coach Mark Cody. The entry fee is $125 which covers lunch, green fees, cart, range balls, gift bag and dinner. For $250, one can become a hole sponsor and receive all tournament benefits. Interested parties are asked to make checks payable to the Oklahoma Takedown Club

After last year's 22nd-place finish at the Freestyle World Wrestling Championships, some people wondered if Team USA was on a decline in the international wrestling scene. This year's third-place finish shows that American freestyle wrestling is not. Jordan Burroughs' remarkable gold medal run led a U.S. performance which saw Jake Varner win a bronze medal, five of seven weights qualify for the Olympics, and six of seven athletes score team points. U.S. coach Zeke Jones hoists Team USA's third-place trophy (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)One cannot overstate how difficult this tournament has become. The talent level is exceptionally high -- arguably higher than it has ever been -- and the margin for error is non-existent. The Worlds have increased in difficulty over the last decade as the programs of the former Soviet republics have grown into powerhouses. Before the breakup of the Soviet Union, wrestlers falling short of being starters for the Russian team were still very, very good. Many Russian wrestlers watching from the stands were skilled enough to medal -- they just didn't have the opportunity. After the breakup, it has been common practice for wrestlers not making the Russian National Team to switch citizenship and gain world-level experience year after year. "Russia" has numerous medal threats at each and every weight, they just compete for various countries. U.S. heavyweight Tervel Dlagnev faced opponents from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and Georgia in the tournament. Not an easy match in the lot. Interestingly, the heavyweight from Belarus, Aleksandr Shemarov, beat the standing World champion from Russia in the finals. Indeed, this was really the first year since 2003 that Russia seemed even the slightest bit vulnerable. Russia's dominance since 2004 is remarkable considering that the world talent pool got tougher for them as well. Perhaps the rest of the world is catching up. Tervel Dlagnev suffered some tough breaks at the Worlds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Specifically, what makes the current landscape of senior level international wrestling so difficult is counter-offense. It is easy for Americans to preach an attacking, aggressive style, but this can easily result in points for opponents. At this tournament, Radoslav Velikov of Bulgaria scored twice off of Simmons' shots, Jake Varner got thrown after tying up in the bronze medal match, and Tervel Dlagnev gave up a point in his bronze medal match off his own shot. Even the amazing performance of Burroughs saw him getting rolled through twice off a double leg takedown widely considered to be unstoppable. Success at this event demands intelligent aggression. Scoring is about picking the right times and seizing opportunities that present themselves. By and large, Team USA did that very well. We live in an age where video of wrestling matches are ubiquitous. Technical analysis is a integral part of wrestling at the world level. Numerous press releases mentioned the studying of video and American freestylers indeed seemed well-prepared for what they were up against in each round. Team USA was helped greatly by the fact that six of the seven wrestlers scored points. The team scoring system for the Worlds is not without its flaws. One thing it rewards is balance. The first-place finisher gets 10 team points, the 10th-place finisher gets one point. A team could have no medalists, but if all seven wrestlers took fifth, they would score 42 points. This year's Worlds saw Russia win with 43 points and Iran take second with 41. USA's bronze medal was the result of 38 points scored. Nick Simmons scored off several leg attacks at the Worlds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Nick Simmons (55 kilos, fifth place) Simmons' strongest asset in his recent competitions has been a balance between fundamental wrestling and funk. Despite being very tall for the weight class, he finished several low leg shots but also earned a pin in the second round with a spladle. Simmons faced Velikov of Bulgaria in the semifinals -- an opponent he pinned at the Ziolkowski International over the summer. While the experience was invaluable for Simmons, it also allowed Velikov to make some adjustments since their first meeting. Velikov is a past World champion and wrestled like one against Simmons. Simmons' four wins and fifth-place finish showed a lot in his World Championship debut. He can only continue to improve. Reece Humphrey (60 kilos, ninth place) Humphrey looked strong in his first two matches -- confident and prepared. Arguably the best thrower on the team, Humphrey also demonstrated patience in not looking to force a big move. In the quarterfinals, he was winning the first period 1-1 against France's Didier Pais due to the fact that he scored last. As the period was winding down, Humphrey got inside tripped to his back. In looking back at Team USA matches throughout the tournament, that moment probably stings the most. Humphrey won the second period, but lost the third period in a leg clinch and therefore lost the bout. Had he not gotten inside tripped, won the period and then the match, he would have jumped from his ninth-place finish to at least fifth place, which would have been four more team points. That would have leapfrogged the U.S. over Iran for the silver and put them only one point behind Russia. While Team USA certainly had some things go their way this year, and while Pais set up the move very well, the fragile nature of success at the Worlds makes it difficult not to go back, point to moments and say "if only." Teyon Ware (66 kilos, DNP) Ware did not get a good draw, having two-time World medalist Andriy Stadnik of Ukraine in his first round match. Ware lost and Stadnik went on to fall in the quarterfinals, thus eliminating Ware. Formerly at 60 kilos, Ware looked a bit small for the weight. In his match he tried the front headlock turn that he successfully scored on Brent Metcalf at the U.S. World Team Trials, but it did not work at the Worlds. However, it is difficult to place too much stock on going 0-1 at the Worlds. Henry Cejudo did the same in 2007 and won the Olympics in 2008, Jamill Kelly did not make it out of his pool in 2003 and went on to win Olympic silver the following year. Jordan Burroughs was offensive throughout the Worlds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Jordan Burroughs (74 kilos, gold medal) Burroughs did not shut out his opponents, nor did he win every period. But his attacks were so crisp, so dynamic, and so relentless that it seemed like no one could keep up with him. His gold medal run did not come without distractions. Two-time World champ Denis Tsargush of Russia continually tried to unsettle him by pulling on his singlet and Burroughs' cauliflower ear exploded in the semifinals against Ashraf Aliyev of Azerbaijan. To those who have followed Burroughs' career for a while, it always seemed like a World title was a possibility. But it is a testament to his dedication to the sport of wrestling that he put the work in needed to make it happen. Being undefeated in freestyle while still being so new to senior world scene makes one wonder just how many titles Burroughs can rack up. Cael Sanderson (84 kilos, fifth place) The transition from folkstyle to freestyle is not always easy and it was not in the case of Cael Sanderson. Leading up to the 2004 Olympics, Sanderson had two losses to Yoel Romero of Cuba, two losses to Sajid Sajidov of Russia and a loss to Khadzhimurat Gatsalov of Russia. These losses were crucial to his development as a freestyle wrestler. They exposed him to situations, positions, scrambles and (as mentioned previously) counter-offense that he simply did not experience against domestic opponents. Seven years later, it would seem the main thing his comeback lacked was significant international competition leading up to this event. He competed in the Corneanu tournament this summer, won all three matches, but the field featured none of the top names in the weight class. Cael Sanderson dominated Mexico's Alejandro Gallardo Ocampo (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Sanderson looked solid and determined in the four matches he won and in need of a few tactical adjustments as well as slightly better conditioning in the matches he lost. Making the improvements he needs to in order to become a two-time Olympic champion next summer seems very doable, but it is complicated by his coaching duties at Penn State. There is an argument to be made that the best thing Cael did at the Worlds was show up. His commitment to the comeback as well as to the sport itself is remarkable. One of the biggest problems USA Wrestling faces is early retirement. It results in us not fielding the best teams we can. A folk hero sticking with it imparts a valuable lesson to the young wrestlers who look up to him today and attempt to represent our country tomorrow. Jake Varner (96 kilos, bronze medal) There was a general consensus that 96 kilos was the most stacked weight class at the event. Sanderson's protege, Jake Varner, proved himself to be in the mix with the very best. Working out so regularly with Sanderson has obviously been beneficial to him and the sky is the limit for him as he continues to improve. He gutted out a number of wins against very talented and decorated opponents. Tervel Dlagnev (120 kilos, fifth place) The current rules of freestyle wrestling sometimes feel more than slightly arbitrary. At the top of the list of controversial elements of freestyle is the dreaded ball grab/leg clinch. Dlagnev had no luck with the ball grabs in Istanbul and lost six in a row. He defended a third period leg clinch against two-time Olympic champion Artur Taymazov of Uzbekistan, which gave him a thrilling win, but lost the other five in his final three matches. More so than any other class, 120-kilo wrestlers have to be very picky about their shots. A shot which gets a wrestler extended and he cannot finish results in a lot of weight on top of you. Dlagnev was active when he should have been and that helped him. That he did not earn a second medal to go with his 2009 bronze was more a result of bad luck than any kind of mistake on his part. Team USA (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)After the dismal performance by the U.S. freestyle team in 2010, it seemed too unrealistic to try and dethrone Russia this year. There were too many specific areas that needed work. Too many mistakes, too many questions about the system overall. Although Team USA was within reach of the title (Humphrey winning in the quarterfinals and Cael winning the bronze would have done it) beating a team as decorated and dominating as Russia was a pipedream. After America's performance this past week, it no longer is.

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 August until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top high school senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to future college and senior level stars. Minnesota (Oct. 28) Illinois (Oct. 18) Nevada (Oct. 5) Ohio (Sept. 30) Indiana (Sept. 28) Nebraska (Sept. 27) Pennsylvania (Sept. 23) North Carolina (Sept. 12) New York (Sept. 8) California (Sept. 7) Tennessee (Aug. 29) Montana (Aug. 26) New Hampshire (Aug. 18) Kansas (Aug. 11)

Watch more video of 2011 World Championships on flowrestling.org

Watch more video of 2011 World Championships on flowrestling.org