InterMat Staff

Fight Now USA presents Takedown Wrestling from the Brute studios in Des Moines, Iowa at 1460 KXNO. Takedown Wrestling is brought to you by Kemin Agrifoods! Thanks to Trent Paulson (TP1) for joining us in studio last week. This week we wish the best to our men and women of Team USA as they head to Istanbul, Turkey for the 2011 World Championships. Join Hosts Scott Casber, Chad Kriz and Brad Johnson with the Takedown Wrestling Headline News this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. CT/10 a.m. to 12 noon ET. This week's guests: 9:01 Dan Wirnsberger, Head wrestling coach at Bucknell 9:20 Jim Beichner, Head wrestling coach at Buffalo 9:40 Jeremy Spates, Assistant wrestling coach at Cornell 9:50 Ty Barkley, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update 10:01 Brian Smith, Head wrestling coach at Missouri 10:20 Kyle Borshoff, Assistant wrestling coach at American 10:40 Bob Patnesky, Head wrestling coach at Davidson 10:50 Amy Ruble, Wildrose Casino and Resort, Emmettsburg, Iowa Fans, athletes, coaches this is your sport. Join in the conversation LIVE, ask questions. 866-333-5966 515-204-5966. Join us live 9 to 11 a.m. CT for Takedown Wrestling. Listen on radio, Internet (KXNO.com or Takedownradio.com), or your Blackberry or iPhone with the iHeart Radio app.

With the high school wrestling season's start fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top high school senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to future college and senior level stars. While perhaps operating slightly under the radar for the past three (in some cases more) years, the Empire State Class of 2012 is one of the deepest in recent history. In fact, so immense was the overall talent in this senior class, that when polling a panel of New York State wrestling aficionados, upwards of 15-20 names were thrown out for serious consideration. Supporting the argument that the Class of 2012, like the two senior classes that preceded it, was among the strongest in the nation was the fact that collectively this group of upperclassmen never to finish lower than fourth at the respective NHSCA grade level tournaments (including a pair of runner-up finishes as freshmen and sophomores). In speaking to trusted associates from other states, I have often heard the words "sleeper" and "secret" attached to this particular class because quite a few members of the Top 10 were student-athletes who did the majority of their damage within the borders of New York State. While on at least one occasion, almost all of them branched out and proved themselves on the national level, the validity of the situation is that it is entirely possible that this profile will be the first time you are hearing some of these names (unless you happen to live in the Big-NY). I can assure you, a shortage of national credentials does not translate into a lack of ability. An interesting tidbit, is that because of the universal competitive nature of this senior class, I am pretty much guaranteed to post my lowest Top 10 state champion quotient in the three years that I have been penning this piece. The reason behind this inevitable validity is that when revealing their intended weight class for the upcoming season, four of the seven NYS DI members of the list cited a desire to compete at 152 pounds, creating what surely will be an epic battle to stand alone atop the podium in Albany. It is precisely this "test myself against the best" attitude that will ultimately propel the 11 men on this list to present and future feats on the scholastic and collegiate levels respectively ... With a combined 11 state titles, three NHSCA individual national titles, and a Junior National freestyle title (to go along with countless All-American honors), the combined resumes of this group stand on its own accord. What's equally impressive and intimidating is that if not for the aforementioned innate need to seek out the greatest caliber of challenge, these resumes might jump off the page even higher than they already do. This is a remarkable assemble that if you do not already know them, you will shortly because they will command your attention with their performances on the mat. They have no intention of resting on their laurels! 1. Brian Realbuto (Somers) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: The first NYS wrestler to win a Junior National freestyle crown since Troy Nickerson, the two-time DI state champion from Somers is nothing if not the consummate big-game wrestler. In earning his spot on the top step in the FARGODOME, Realbuto had to go through a who's who of nationally-ranked competitors, including among others Oliver Pierce, Jake Sueflohn, and Brian Murphy (who he pinned in the finals). While his title may have been considered an upset by some, we in New York have come to expect nothing less from Realbuto, who has made a career out of taking out the biggest names on the grandest stages. In fact, in his two state finals appearances, Realbuto bested a 2010 NYS champ/NHSCA Senior National bronze medalist Damon McQueen in 2009 at 103 as a freshman, as well as another former state titlist/2010 NHSCA Junior National champ Bob Dierna, who was on last year's New York Top 10 list, to win this year's 135-pound hardware. Brian Realbuto (Photo/Dave Jedlicka, jedicheetah.com)Realbuto could very well have been chasing his fourth title this year if not for a hard-fought loss to fellow two-timer Nigel McNeil as a sophomore in the 112-pound semifinals (13-10 final). To his credit, this young man, who is as talented in the classroom as he is on the wrestling mat, demonstrated an attribute of all champions, perseverance, in bouncing back to finish third in 2010. Already a four-time NYS placewinner/five-time qualifier (finished fourth as an eighth-grader), in addition to his Junior National freestyle title this past summer, InterMat's No. 16 recruit has repeatedly shown his ability to hang with the best in the land. A third place finisher in the inaugural FloNationals in 2010, Realbuto has also added NHSCA All-American honors to his name, finishing fourth a freshman in Virginia Beach at 112. Currently a disciple of Max Askren (who joined the Somers' staff this past season), Realbuto described his style as being "aggressive and funky and funky once I get down to the mat." Presently, he is considering the following colleges in random order: Cornell, Lehigh, Penn, and defending NCAA champion Penn State. 2. Quinton Murphy (Holley) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138/145 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Analysis: A surefire lock to become a six-time NYS DII placewinner (that's right, he's been doing well since seventh grade), Murphy will head into his senior campaign looking to join an exclusive club of four-time NYS champs. A winner as an eighth-grader (103), sophomore (125), and junior (135), if not for Matt Peters (who beat the Murphy in the 119-pound finals 4-0 in '09), the No. 33 recruit in the nation would be on pace to join the even more exclusive club of five-time titlists. (Currently Troy Nickerson is the sole member.) So consistent has been the Holley senior over the course of his six-year varsity career that the only time he did not wrestle in the finals was when he finished sixth as a very undersized 96-pound seventh-grader; this is pretty darn good when you consider that this weight class was so stacked 2011 NY-10 No. 2 wrestler Grant Greene (now at Northwestern) and Top 10 honorable mention Arik Robinson (at Buffalo) also failed to win the title. Quinton MurphyNationally (and for that matter internationally as he was a gold medalist for the USA at the 2010 Pan-American Youth Olympics), Murphy has proven time and time again that he is standout in every sense of the word. You name the tournament and Murphy has made his mark on it. A two-time NHSCA All-American (sixth as a freshman at 119; second as a sophomore at 130), as well as a 2009 Super 32 Challenge placewinner (sixth at 130), this past offseason was a banner one for Murphy and really raised his stock as a recruit. A national runner-up at the 2011 FloNationals (135), Murphy put an emphatic exclamation mark on his summer when he finished third at the Junior National freestyle tournament (defeating eventual champion Ben Whitford in pool play), as well as Iowa State recruit John Meeks in the medal rounds. Priding himself on his solid technical abilities, Murphy said that his goal for every match that he wrestles is to simply out work and out wrestle his opponent. Thus far, this has been a winning formula. Addressing the future, the highly touted prospect has yet to reach a final decision, but did say that he is looking closely at the following schools: Buffalo, Bloomsburg, Rutgers, Arizona State. 3. Chris Nevinger (Letchworth) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Analysis: As a sign of the pure dominance possessed by Section V this year on the divisional II level, Nevinger becomes the second consecutive student-athlete from that region to be make the Top 10. This is an honor rightfully deserved. Of the 10 young gentlemen who made this list, it is Nevinger owns the label as the "winningest wrestler" from the Class of 2012. With four combined titles (two state -- 145 in '10/152 in '11; two NHSCA grade level national titles -- both at 145 in '09 and '10), no one has hoisted hardware more than Nevinger in their scholastic careers. What makes this remarkable is that he accomplished all of this despite constantly having to deal with the pressure of being compared to older brother/former three-time NYS DII champion/current Cornell wrestler Mike. Should Chris do what many feel is an almost certainty and cap his career with a third state title, the combined six will forever solidify the Nevinger brothers as among the greatest in Empire State history. Chris Nevinger (Photo/Bob Blair)A bronze medalist as a junior in Virginia Beach at 152 pounds, Nevinger would also have to be considered among the favorites should he elect to compete at NHSCA Senior Nationals. Should he make this decision and reign victorious, he would join a fairly familiar name, Kyle Dake, as a three-time NHSCA Nationals champ from the state of New York. Regarded as a fierce counter wrestler, once Nevinger seizes control, he can be downright nasty from the top position with his tilts, as showcased in his profile photo. He also described his style as being somewhat cerebral, taking his time to ensure proper setups and successful outcomes. While this stud from Letchworth was unsure of his college plans, I can tell you that at least one high profile coach from an EIWA school was extremely high on him and actively intended to pursue him and land his services. 4. Jimmy Kloc (Iroquois) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: Quite possibly a name that does not automatically ring a bell, be forewarned that Jimmy Kloc is not someone to be reckoned with. An absolute physical beast, if titles were given out for being ripped and/or jacked, this young man may already have been an Empire State legend. As it stands, he is already a three-time NYS DI placewinner and a two-time finalist, earning his first state title this in 2011 at 145 pounds. His lone non-finals appearance came in 2009 when he finished fifth as a freshman in a 135-pound weight class where the top three placers all concluded their respective careers as two-time NYS champions (Dutton, Lenzi, and Liguori). In following the emerging pattern, it would be no understatement to suggest that Kloc may very well have been gunning for his third crown in 2012 if not for the previously mentioned Dutton. In both of Kloc's first two trips to Albany, it was Dutton who prevented him from reaching the pinnacle, beating him in the semifinals in 2009, and then in doing it again in deja vu fashion the following year in the 140-pound state finals. Seeing how Dutton just finished his true freshman year one victory short of NCAA All-American honors, it goes without saying that Kloc is among the best one-timers in the nation this season. And, given the gauntlet-like feel that 152 has adapted, should he not repeat, he will undoubtedly go down as one of the top one-timers in the chronicles of NYS history. Jimmy KlocNationally, the superstar from Iroquois has not been as active as some might prefer to see. However, I suppose it does not much matter how present you are, when the one time you do test yourself against the nation (2009 NHSCA Freshman Nationals at 140), you came out on top. A physically-imposing wrestler, Kloc does not need to score much in order to beat you. His ability to control you often leads to low scoring affairs that end in his favor. Winning a match 3-2 is perfectly acceptable to him, because he knows that at the end of the day, all that matters is the guy who gets his hand raised. Still very early in the recruiting season, Kloc indicated that at present time, his most interested suitor appears to be North Carolina-Chapel Hill. 5. Dylan Palacio (Long Beach) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 145/152 Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 Analysis: The most controversial of the selections thus far, many of the people that I consulted with were unsure if Palacio deserved a spot this high on the list. The reason for their concern was the lack of a state title, despite being a three-time qualifier and a two-time placewinner (fourth as a sophomore at 140; third as a junior at 145). However, when giving consideration to his candidacy, I could not help but be won over by the breadth of his national resume. This is the kind of kid that seems to show up for everything. And more importantly, he produces when he is there. Having had the best offseason by any senior not named Realbuto or Murphy, Palacio was my "high ceiling" pick. By this, I refer to the fact that in the three years that I have been doing this list, there is always one guy who I elevate to a fairly high spot (regardless of the absence of a state title) because of the level of potential that I see in him at the next level. Given the intangibles of work ethic, desire to succeed, and just a plethora of God-given ability, Palacio is an individual who I could see having a Jon Masa (former three-time All-American for Hofstra who never won a NYS title) career. After all, both are products of the same high school program. Dylan PalacioIf you were to measure this young man only by his performances in Albany, you likely would be doing him and yourself a credit disservice. For whatever reason, Palacio seems to come alive and be the best version of himself when competing on the national stage. A Greco All-American on both the Cadet and Junior levels in his career (fifth at 135 in '09; eighth at 152 in '11), Palacio is a true three-styler (having come up just short of Junior freestyle All-American honors in 2011). Attesting to his vast folkstyle talent is the fact that he is coming off of an unblemished record at the Disney Duals (competing for a North Carolina team), and in the past has accounted for a pair of NHSCA grade level All-American finishes (fifth as sophomore; third as a junior -- both at 145 pounds). Like a fine wine, this kid just seems to get better with age. A self-described dynamic wrestler, Palacio said he often makes up moves on the spot. He feels this unorthodox style makes him hard to wrestle, especially the first time you are facing him. Above all else, he is of the opinion that you need to be create and inventive in order to keep the sport fresh and enjoyable. As he so eloquently put it, "I'll never win if I am not having fun while on the mat." Collegiately, like a young man with his head screwed on right, Palacio indicated that he is looking for the best combination of academics and athletics. Hence, while there is still much discussion in his future, schools that have initially caught his eye include the likes of Cornell, Columbia, Bucknell, Harvard, Princeton, Maryland, Stanford, Ohio State, Arizona State, and Buffalo, among others. Palacio is also a blue-chip soccer player and could be exploring dual offers to compete in both sports on the DI level. 6. Derek Pfluger (Sandy Creek) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Perhaps the polar opposite of the person who preceded him on the list, Pfluger is a student-athlete who made and further proclaimed his reputation all within borders of NYS. Joining Realbuto as an individual seeking his fifth All-State performance in 2012, Pfluger is just one of those kids that you love to have on your team because he's money in the bank. The Sandy Creek staff knows that every time he takes the mat, they are guaranteed to get a steady effort out of him. In a world where people love upsets, he never gives you one because as a perennial top dog, he takes care of business each and every time he dons his school or sectional singlet. Such reliability is evident when you consider the tidbit that in the past four years, this two-time finalist/one-time NYS DII champion (in 2010), has never finished lower than third (which he did as both an eighth and ninth-grader) in his high school career. Joining the growing line of guys who very well could have been entering their senior seasons as multiple-time state champions, it is strongly believed by me and almost all of my colleagues that had he chosen to bump up to 145 in 2011, Pfluger might very well have repeated as a state champion. But alas, in typical warrior spirit, the "dirty blonde haired assassin" put more value in challenging the best, electing instead to stay at 140 and go against class of 2011 NY-10 recipient/current Binghamton freshman Derek Heyman. While he would drop a heartbreaking 4-2 decision in the DII state finals, Pfluger's willingness to embrace the challenge made a fan of me. Derek PflugerWhen asked, Pfluger attributed his scholastic wrestling success to being tough and fundamentally sound in all three positions. However, he commented that he felt his strongest when working from the top position. Being that college matches can be won or lost via riding time, it is his top game that Pfluger is confident will make him an asset to any collegiate program. However, at the time that we chatted, he had yet to initiate the recruitment process. 7. Alec Dierna (Wayne) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 120/126 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Analysis: A three-time NYS DI qualifier/two-time placewinner/2010 state champion (at 103), Dierna makes history with this selection. In joining his older brother Bob (referenced above), the Diernas become the first siblings to make the New York Top 10 list in different seasons. (In 2011, the Scott brothers shared a spot. Oddly enough, they too were from section V.) While Bob's number on the list hay have been higher, there is every reason in the world to suspect that by the end of the year, Al's state title count may surpass that of big brother. A third-place finisher this past year in the 119-pound weight class, anyone who questions Dierna's potential need only to revisit the 2010 NYS tournament where he cruised to the title, pinning two of his opponents (including 2009 Junior National freestyle runner-up/2010 NHSCA Senior Nationals champion Max Soria, in the semifinals), and outscoring two others by a combined tally of 16-7 (9-2 in the finals over 2011 Harvard recruit, Joe Barbato, the wrestler who knocked him out of title contention as a 96-pound freshman in 2009). Alec DiernaMaking the Wayne High School product so dangerous is his variety of offensive attacks. He is a chain wrestler who will hit you with different setups, from different angles, and at different times during the match. With such an unpredictable approach from his feet, Dierna is capable of lighting up the scoreboard. If you try to shoot it out with him, you better be prepared to get tagged with an "l" on your record. Similar to many of his peers on the list, Dierna feels that there is plenty of time to concern himself with the recruitment process. Therefore, for the time being he is focusing instead on building for a successful senior campaign -- one that he is confident will end with him regaining his top spot on the podium. He did however make mention of the fact that Maryland, under the tutelage of former NYS great, Kerry McCoy, has attracted early interest from him and his family. 8. Connor Sutton (LaSalle) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 Analysis: Representing the present in what has been a recent golden era for the LaSalle wrestling program is defending NYS DI champion Sutton. As a freshman, he had a front row seat to watch as teammates Zach Clemente and Ken Altarac would go on to repeat as state champs in their senior season. Before this dynamic duo, it was Michael Chaires in 2007 putting the closing remarks on a career that yielded multiple titles. Sutton is hopeful and confident that 2012 will be his year to follow in the tradition. Connor SuttonIf there was ever a young man who the populace of the Empire State was happy to see win it in 2011 (at 140), it was Sutton, who in two previous attempts (at 112 in '09 and at 125 in '10) in Albany failed to place. However, as a mainstay on the New York teams that have competed at the National Duals, Sutton is something of a fan favorite. In a time when many others are turning down invitations to represent their state, he seems to always be among the first to volunteer. It is this philosophy of "state above self" that made it a necessity for me to find a spot for Connor on this list. Armed with a nasty headlock and some top-level Greco-Roman skills (he went 4-1 at the Junior GR Duals), opponents go upper body against Sutton at their own risk (and more often than not, their own peril). He uniquely, but rather colorfully summarized his strategy on the mat by uttering the following, "All warfare is based on deception." Himself a champion in the classroom as well on the wrestling mat, Sutton cited the Ivy League as his future ambition. While he is uncertain which member of this prestigious list he will lend his services to, he very much takes to heart the notion that student comes before athlete in the term "student-athlete." 9a. James Dekrone (John Glenn) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138/145 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Analysis: If there ever was a living example that perseverance pays dividends, it rests in the mind, body, and spirit of this John Glenn senior. Placing no higher than fourth in his own sectional/state qualify during the first two years of his scholastic career, Dekrone's run to the 2011 130-pound state finals was nothing short of a Cinderella story (that unfortunately came one fairy Godmother short, as well as one blue chip prince, Rutgers' freshman Steven Rodrigues, too many of ending with the glass slipper). Making his debut in Albany, one by one, Dekrone took on and disposed of some of the biggest household names in NYS. In the quarterfinals, he would earn the 6-3 "w" over returning state finalist Malik Rasheed (an opponent that he also defeated weeks earlier in the Suffolk County semifinals). Next up, he was matched against current Princeton freshman, multiple-time NHSCA All-American (including a runner-up finish at 2011 NHSCA Senior Nationals) Chris Perez. And yet again, it would be Dekrone rising to the occasion, penetrating the tight defense of Perez to emerge with the 6-4 decision. In defeat, Dekrone showed why he was one to watch in 2012, going nose-to-nose with Rodrigues, dropping the bout by the narrowest of margins, 3-2. When you take into account the fact that a few months later, Rodrigues would go on to finish fifth in the Junior National freestyle competition, which included a win over No. 2 Murphy, the overall effort in keeping the match so close takes on greater significance. James DekroneNationally, Dekrone is a wrestler who has been on the cusp several times in his scholastic career, coming up just short in 2009 (119) and 2011 (135) of NHSCA All-American honors. In 2010, all of the pieces seemed to fall into place, as he fought his way to a third- place finish as a sophomore in a competitive 125-pound bracket. A wrestler who likes to control the pace of the match, Dekrone says that the key ingredient to his success is to let the action come to him. Rather than force it and put himself in bad positions, he goes with the flow and seizes opportunities as they naturally develop. On the topic of college, he too was just getting started with the process and elected not to name any specific schools as the current time. 9b. Anthony Finocchiaro (Canastota) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138/145 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Analysis: As a trained, professional journalist, I have been taught that you cannot run away from your errors. Therefore, in the spirit of full disclosure, I will admit that initially I did not have Finocchiaro on the list, simply because over the course of the past few years, I have been so focused on blogging the DI tournament, that I never got the chance to actually scout him. However, when doing the research on Dekrone, I could not help but take notice of the fact that everywhere the former was, so was the latter (including a head-to-head 6-5 victory in the NHSCA Freshman Nationals). Hence, as someone who is committed to doing what is both just and earned, I had no other option but to bestow upon this young stud the respect and credit that he had earned. This student-athlete has written his own ticket. He is a much worthy recipient of this distinction and I have no intent of cheating him of the acclaim. Anthony FinocchiaroSimilar to the person who he shares the No. 9 spot with (Dekrone competing in DI), 2011 marked the first time that Finocchiaro made an appearance in the NYS Division II tournament. A two-time DI qualifier for Baldwinsville, Finocchiaro went 1-2 in 2010 (after also going 1-2 in 2009), having the unfortunate luck of running into former NYS finalist, Justis Flamio in the quarterfinal round. An 8-1 defeat, followed by a narrow 4-3 loss in his first consolation match (to eventual fourth-place finisher, Ryan Gerondel) would mark a sour ending to his sophomore season...Fast forward one year, and despite again finding himself in a loaded bracket featuring a pair of future Harvard Crimson wrestlers (Pat Hogan and Ryan Osleeb), the Canastota grappler would put forth a great effort, taking home the bronze and instantly securing his spot on the "to watch" list for 2012. In much the same way that I regard No. 5 Palacio, my decision to add Finocchiaro to the list was grounded in the theory that this is a kid who just knows how to turn it on when stepping onto the big stage. As only the second three-time NHSCA All-American among the group (Nevinger being the first), there is no doubting his ability to bang it out with the finest this country has to offer. Also of keen interest is the fact that of all of the people on the list, he may have the highest ceiling, as proven when he catapulted from two seventh and eighth place finishes as a freshman (at 119) and sophomore (at 125) to a runner-up placement at 130 this past offseason at NHSCA Junior Nationals in Virginia Beach. Because of my original oversight, I did not have the opportunity to contact him directly for recruitment information. Therefore, I will say only that his national body of work over the duration of the past three years makes him in my opinion the kind of wrestler that any DI institution would be lucky to have representing them. If I am correct about him only now coming into his own, then it is quite possible that he could end up being the biggest steal of the 2012 recruiting season. 10. Sam Speno (Fox Lane) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Analysis: While fearful of beating a dead horse, Speno is another guy whose potential and growth in the past year I could not overlook. He too has the guts and heart of a lion. A three-time NYS qualifier, Speno announced his presence with authority in 2009, finishing fifth in a deep 96-pound bracket of talented underclassmen (with all four placewinners older than him having moved onto the NCAA DI level). For this reason, he headed into his sophomore campaign as a favorite to again being among the Empire State's best. However, bad luck would intervene when a string of upsets resulted in him running into returning state champion Mike Soria (twin brother of the previously mentioned Max) in a 103-pound elimination match to determine who would place. Giving it his best shot, Speno was unable to defeat the Soria (two years his elder), and fell 6-0, thus coming one "w" short of the podium. Rather than sulk and feel sorry for himself, the Fox Lane gem went back to work with a fire in his belly; a true man on a mission. This "take no prisoners" attitude proved to be worth its value in silver as during the regular season, Speno would beat former NYS finalist/2010 NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Sean McCormick on multiple occasions, further confirming that if you wanted the state title, you would need to go through him. This notion would come to fruition as Speno figuratively spanked his first three opponents, pinning his first victim midway through the second period and outscoring his other two foes by a combined score of 19-4 (including a 6-2 victory over returning NYS fourth-place finisher Asher Kramer, also of Section I), thus locking up his first career finals appearance at 112 pounds. Unfortunately, awaiting him on the top half of the bracket was none other than McCormick, who in relying on his senior experience managed to even the score, securing the necessary takedowns to walk away with the 5-2 decision and deprive Speno of that much craved crown. Sam SpenoIf the improvement made from last offseason to this past year is any indication of what we can expect from Speno, than this kid is going to march into his senior season like a possessed caged animal looking for blood. If he tells me he's going all the way, I am sure going to take his word for it. Breaking down his strategy for us, Speno expressed that the key to victory comes from being aggressive and getting off first. As he phrased it, "If I stay on the attack and continue to get in deep, my opponent is going to have no choice but to wrestle from a position of disadvantage." Still weighing his college options, Speno did say that he is looking to go DI and wants to attend a school that offers a strong program in physical education. Working in his favor is the knowledge that almost all prominent NCAA DI teams have above average schools of education. Thus, he will have his pick of amazing opportunities. Honorable Mention: Danny Ventura (Fox Lane), 2nd in '11 at 119* Tom Page (Eden), 5th in '09 at 96, 3rd in '10 at 112, 3rd in '11 at 119* Jeff O'Lena (East Rochester), 6th in '09 at 96, 5th in '11 at 119* Corey Dake (Lansing), 4th in '09 at 96, 4th in '10 at 112, 6th in '11 at 119* Jimmy Kyreakedes (Dobbs Ferry), 6th in '10 at 103, 4th in '11 at 119* Kevin Strong (Frewsburg), 5th in '09 at 103, 3rd in '11 at 125* Malik Rasheed (Longwood), 5th in '09 at103, 2nd in '10 at 112* Ben Haas (Salamanica), State Champion in '11 at 145* Lucas Malmberg (Marathon), State Champion in '11 at 96, NHSCA AA in '11 ** Mark Raghunadan (Long Beach), 3rd in '10 at 96, 2nd in '11 at 103, Fargo Double AA in '10** Jacob Goddeau (Peru), State Champion in '09 at 96, 4th in '10 at 103, NHSCA AA in '11** Tyler Button (Phoenix), 4th in '10 at 145, 3rd in '11 at 145, NHSCA AA in '09** Tristan Hamner (Medina), 5th in '10 at 152, 3rd in '11 at 152, NHSCA AA in '09, '10, '11** Matt Lashaway (Queensbury), 2nd in '11 at 171, FloNationals AA in '11** Tony Lock (Pioneer), 4th in '10 at 171, 2nd in '11 at 171, NHSCA AA in '09** Austyn Hayes (Phoenix), 4th in '10 at 171, 6th in '11 at 171, NHSCA AA in '09, '10** Ryan Todd (Lansing), 2nd in '10 at 189, 2nd in '11 at 189, NHSCA AA in '10** Zach Diekel (Whitehall), 4th in '09 at 171, 5th in '10 at 171, 3rd in '11 at 189, NHSCA AA in '09** Kacee Sauer (Holley), 2nd in '10 at 285, 2nd in '11 at 285, NHSCA AA in '09** Pat Skinner (Kellenberg Memorial), 6th in '11 at 103, NHSCA AA in '11*** Sean McCabe (Connetquot), 3rd in '11 at 112, NHSCA AA in '10*** Dylan Caruana (Kenmore West), 6th in '11 at 125, NHSCA AA in '11*** Jamel Hudson (St. Anthony's), 5th in '11 at 135, NHSCA AA in '10*** Aaron Dudley (Hudson Falls), 6th in '11 at 145, NHSCA AA in '09*** Keegan Cerwinski (Greene), 6th in '11 at 160, NHSCA AA in '09*** Tony Fusco (Shenendehowa), 4th in '11 at 189, 2009 NHSCA AA*** Cole Lampman (Shenendehowa), 5th in '11 at 285, NHSCA AA in '10 * '11 NYS finalist or former multiple-time NYS placewinner ** '11 NYS finalist or former multiple-time NYS placewinner + NHSCA, Flo, or Fargo AA *** NYS Placewinner + NHSCA, Flo, or Fargo AA

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

With the high school wrestling season's start fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top high school senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to future college and senior level stars. The Class of 2012 returns a very accomplished group of seniors that consists of five returning state champions, one three-time state champion that is in position to possibly become the second four-time California state champion since the first state tournament in 1973, four in pursuit of a rare fourth California state medal, and five competing for a respective third. In addition, five of the Top 10 are from the talent-rich Central Valley. At the national level, this group has performed very well among the elite states at the Junior & Cadet Nationals in Fargo and NHSCA Nationals, producing a total of 35 All-American honors, four individual national champions, and seven of the Top 10 wrestlers who are ranked among InterMat's Top 100 seniors. Leading this talented group of seniors is Alex Cisneros of Selma High School in the Central Valley. After a hard-fought state championship final against Clovis North's Vince Rodriguez (NHSCA Senior Nationals champion/three-time state medalist), Cisneros has positioned himself to go for a very rare fourth California state title. So rare, only six wrestlers have made the trip to the state finals four times, but with Cisneros being only the third of the past six to be in a position to win a possible fourth entering his senior year. Much the same as the last season, the road to a fourth title will not be an easy achievement. The talent base in the light middleweight divisions is "nails," but Cisneros has proven each year that he has what it takes to get the job done. Joining Cisneros in the pursuit of earning a rare fourth state medal is returning state champion and three-time medalist Daniel Gaytan of Clovis and teammate Zach Nevills, a finalist in 2010, and in position to earn a fourth medal. Other returning wrestlers that have great Division I potential include returning state champions Jake Elliott of Oakmont and Junior National champion (double finalist) Johnson Mai of North Torrance in SoCal. Despite not having a California state title behind their names, Natrelle Demision (Bakersfield), James Wilson (McNair-Stockton), and Victor Pereira (Newark Memorial) each are accomplished wrestlers with impressive resumes. Demison is in pursuit of a third state medal (third, fifth) and has earned three All-American honors. Earning a NHSCA National title in 2010, Wilson is a four-time All-American (Cadet/Junior/NHSCA) and has placed fourth at state twice. A state finalist in 2011, Pereira is a two-time All-American and in pursuit of a third state medal and will challenge for the state title. In my humble opinion, the top two upper middleweights in the country this year are from the Golden State. They are returning state champions Joey Davis of Santa Fe in SoCal and Central Valley's Nikko Reyes of Clovis West. After winning a tough 171-pound weight group and second state medal, Reyes capped his junior season off by winning a second NHSCA Nationals title in Virginia. Perhaps one of the most physical and lightning quick middleweights in the country, Davis opened a lot of eyes when he dominated a strong field at the FloNationals by beating Walsh Ironman champion Ian Miller of Ohio in the championship final, thus raising his national ranking considerably. His style reminds me a great deal of World and Olympic champion Kenny Monday of Oklahoma State. On a final note, I expect the CIF State Championships to be highly competitive again this season and am confident that our top seniors in California will do very well on the national stage, which includes high-caliber tournaments such as Walsh Ironman, Reno TOC, and the NHSCA Nationals in Virginia Beach. While compiling this list, it was once again very difficult to pick the Top 10 because many of wrestlers listed in the "honorable mention" section are just as talented and are more than capable of being in the Top 10. In short, there is a great deal of depth again this season and the road to the top podium in California will be a hard-fought battle to say the least. Below is a look at California's Top 10 high school recruits and list of highly-talented wrestlers listed as "honorable mention" from the Class of 2012. 1. Alex Cisneros (Selma) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Alex Cisneros (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Analysis: When Alex Cisneros won his first California state title in 2009, he became the youngest wrestler in the history of the CIF State Championships to achieve this great feat at the age of 14. Now entering his senior season, Cisneros has become the third Golden State wrestler to be in position to earn a very rare fourth state title. So rare, only one California wrestler has achieved this milestone. The first to be in position to win a fourth was Jacob Palomino of Independence, who in 2001 was defeated in the championship final by Bakersfield's Darrell Vasquez in a barnburner of a match. The following year, Vasquez dominated a strong field and became the first wrestler to earn the "Big Four," and it has taken 10 years for another California wrestler to be in position to possibly join Vasquez in achieving this prestigious honor. The journey for Cisneros has been somewhat of a smooth ride with only a few slight bumps in the road, but from what I have observed from him these past years is his sense of focus and confidence on the mat, which will play an important factor in his pursuit of achieving the Big Four. In addition to earning three state titles, Cisneros is a three-time ASICS All-American and has a Super 32 Challenge title to his belt. Ranked No. 7 by InterMat's Top 100 Seniors, Cisneros is also a top-notch student and has verbally committed to attend Cornell University next fall and will join his fellow high school teammate Nick Pena. Major Accomplishments: CIF State Champion '11 CIF State Champion '10 CIF State Champion '09 Three-Time CIF Central Section Champion Three-Time ASICS All-American Super 32 Challenge Champion '08 2. Nikko Reyes (Clovis West) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 174/184 Nikko Reyes (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Analysis: I first took notice of Nikko Reyes during his sophomore year at the CIF State Championships in Bakersfield. It was his enthusiasm and confidence to compete against top-level competition that set him apart from a majority of underclassman at his weight, especially at the California State Championships where it is uncommon to have a freshman or sophomore place in the top four in the middle to heavyweight divisions, let alone even medal. Like a true competitor, Reyes set his mark on the mat when he placed third at state that year. He continued his dominance on the mat at the NHSCA Nationals, winning a title in the sophomore division. The following year, he elevated his stock even more by winning the Reno TOC and dominating a very loaded 171-pound weight group at state and earning a second national title at the NHSCA Junior Nationals in Virginia. Reyes enters his senior season rated among the top seniors in the country, and in my humble opinion, is among the top upper middleweights in the country. Ranked No. 11 by InterMat's Top 100 Seniors, Reyes has verbally committed to attend the University of Illinois next fall. Major Accomplishments: CIF State Champion '11 Third CIF State '10 Two-Time NHSCA National Champion 3. Joey Davis (Santa Fe) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160/170 Projected College Weight Class: 165 Joey Davis (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Analysis: Joey Davis first entered my radar in December of 2009 when he rallied back from a second round loss at the Reno TOC to win eight straight matches to place a solid third place. It was his ability to overcome an early-round loss at a tough tournament and fight his way back to the medal stand that impressed me a great deal. The mental toughness required to achieve this task is not easy. From that point forward Davis had increasingly improved. Later that season he reached the CIF state finals as a sophomore, only to lose a hard fought match to David Ferry of Central Catholic. Last year, Davis set himself apart from the pack when he dominated a tough field in California to win his first state title, but that performance alone did not impress several within the national ranking groups. An early-season loss at the Reno TOC cast doubt on his ability to perform at the national level, but those demons of doubt vanished when he dominated a tough field at the FloNationals beating nationally-ranked Ian Miller from Oak Harbor, Ohio in the finals. In addition to his national title, Davis earned All-American honors at the NHSCA Nationals in 2009, placing third. In my humble opinion, Joey Davis is among the top middleweights in the country, if not the best. The quickness on his feet and power on the mat reminds me a great deal of the legendary Olympic and World champion Kenny Monday of Oklahoma. Keep an eye on this kid; he is truly a competitor that has the talent to take it to the next several levels and compete at the Division I level and beyond. Ranked No. 13 among the top 100 seniors per InterMat, Davis has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: CIF State Champion '11 FloNationals Champion/All-American '11 Second CIF State '10 NHSCA All-American '09 4. Zach Nevills (Clovis) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 174/184 Zach Nevills (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Analysis: Zach Nevills has been in the state spotlight since placing a solid fifth at state tournament his freshman year (very rare in California for a freshman to place at state in the middle to light heavyweight divisions). Since that time Nevills has earned two additional medals, placing second and third respectively. Despite not having the national credentials, as does many of the Top 10 and wrestlers listed in the honorable mention section, Nevills is truly among the top tier in the state and country. He proved his ability to compete against the nation's best by placing at several of the top tournaments in the country, such as Walsh Ironman, POWERade, and recently winning the highly-competitive Cheesehead Invitational in Wisconsin last year. Along with Cisneros and fellow teammate Daniel Gaytan, Nevills is in position to earn a rare fourth state medal and has the talent and skill level to win it all ... even challenge Nikko Reyes, if at the same weight. (Nevills beat Reyes at the Temecula "Battle for the Belt" Invitational last year.) Ranked among the Top 100 seniors per InterMat, Nevills has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: Third CIF State '11 Second CIF State '10 Fifth CIF State '09 5. Daniel Gaytan (Clovis) ] Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Daniel Gaytan (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Analysis: A strong fixture in the lightweight divisions since his freshman season, Daniel Gaytan enters the 2011-12 season ranked among the top lightweights in the country. His accomplishments tell the story ... a great deal of mat time against top-level competition followed by success. After completing a stellar season in 2011 by winning a CIF state title in a tough weight group that featured several returning state placers and five All-Americans overall, Gaytan is in position to earn a rare fourth state medal. Along with his achievements in scholastic style, Gaytan also earned All-American honors at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo. This year Clovis High School is scheduled to compete at several of the nation's top tournaments such as The Clash in Minnesota, which this year will feature many of the top ranked teams and individuals ... perhaps the toughest to date. As a result, I expect Gaytan to show his talent and skill level among these top individuals. Ranked among the Top 100 seniors per InterMat, Gaytan has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: CIF State Champion '11 Third CIF State '10 Fourth CIF State '09 Cadet All-American 6. Jake Elliott (Oakmont) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Jake Elliott (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Analysis: Entering the 2009-10 season, Jake Elliott of Oakmont High School in the Sac-Joaquin was virtually unknown to many outside the section, myself included. In the post season of that year, he went 2-2 at the CIF Sac-Joaquin Masters meet and failed to qualify for the CIF State Championships. Fast forward to the 2011 Clovis "Doc" Buchanan Invitational and the name "Elliott" sent shockwaves across the state. Suffering an early round loss, Elliott turned it on by winning six hard-fought matches in a row to claim a well respected third place, beating returning two-time state medalist Damien Arredondo (Buchanan), two-time All-American and state placer Jesse Baldazo of Liberty, and returning state champion David Ferry of Oakdale in the consolation final. From that point forward, Elliott won a total of seven tournaments, which included a Sac-Joaquin Masters and state title. Entering the 2011-12 season, Elliott returns very well known and in position to defend his state title, and is ranked among InterMat's Top 100 seniors. Keep an eye on this kid. He is just beginning to reach his potential and has the tools to compete at the Division I level and beyond. Elliott has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: CIF State Champion '11 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Champion '11 7. Johnson Mai (North Torrance) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 106/113 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Johnson Mai (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Analysis: Johnson Mai is a returning state champion and among the top lightweights in the country. Ranked in the top three for a majority of last season, Mai never looked back after his hard-fought loss to FloNationals champion Emilio Saavedra of Turlock's Pittman High School in the championship final at the "tough as nails" Clovis "Doc" Buchanan Invitational. Not only did he win a tough 103-pound weight group at state (the top four placers were good enough to win it), he had a stellar performance at the Junior Nationals in Fargo, winning a national Greco-Roman title and placing second in freestyle. In addition, Mai was chosen as an honorable mention with this year's ASICS All-American teams. With additional growth, Mai has the tools, skill and competitive edge to compete at the collegiate level and has a promising future in the international arena. Johnson Mai is a true competitor that has the competitive edge and adaptability to compete against the best of the best in any style of wrestling. Major Accomplishments: Junior National Champion-GR '11 Junior All-American-FS (finalist) '11 ASICS All-American (HM) '11 CIF State Champion '11 CIF Southern Section Champion '11 8. Natrelle Demison (Bakersfield) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132/138 Projected College Weight Class: 132 Natrelle Demison (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Analysis: Since his sophomore year, Natrelle Demison has been a fixture in the top tier of the light middleweight division. Yet to win an individual state title, Demison was on pace to achieve this feat last year when he defeated two-time state champion Nick Pena of Selma at the Clovis "Doc" Buchanan and again at the Central "Valley" Masters meet, but came up short when he had to face eventual four-time state placer Cody Tow in the second round at state. Battling back through the consolation meat grinder, Demision won six in a row to place third. A two-time state medalist (fifth 2010), Demision enters his senior year rated among the favorites to win a state title and earn a third medal overall. Rated among the Top 100 seniors per InterMat, Demison is a three-time All-American (two-time Cadet/one-time NHSCA). Demison has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: Third CIF State '11 Fifth CIF State '10 NHSCA All-American Two-Time Cadet All-American 9. James Wilson (McNair) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157/165 James Wilson (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Analysis: In many wrestling circles around the country, a wrestler would likely not receive much respect for placing fourth at the state tournament, as would a state champion. This is not the case for James Wilson or any other wrestler from the Golden State that has had to endure the month-long grind (league, sub-sections, Masters, and then a 40-man bracket at state) to stand on the medal podium in Bakersfield. Add the fact that our state is rapidly reaching close to 900 competitive wrestling schools within a one-division state tournament, and one begins to understand that placing in the top eight is an honor in California. In short, many California wrestlers have had greater success placing higher at the nationals than in California. Placing fourth at state twice, Wilson was in perhaps one of the toughest weights at state last year, which featured Bakersfield's Bryce Hammond (No. 1 in the country), Oak Ridge's Vince Waldhauser (No. 2 in the country), and Scotty Bacon (Santiago-Corona), a two-time Washington state champion/All-American that transferred to California his senior year. This past summer, Wilson earned his fourth All-American honor when he placed at the Greco-Roman Junior Nationals in Fargo. In 2010, Wilson was an NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion and earned All-American honors in Cadet freestyle and NHSCA Freshman Nationals in 2009. I truly believe Wilson is a "diamond in the rough" that has great potential to compete at the division one level and beyond. Keep an eye on this wrestler. He will definitely be among the favorites to win a state title this year and make some more noise at the national level. Among the Top 10 of this preview, Wilson is perhaps the most versatile wrestler on the list, earning All-American honors in each of the wrestling styles. Major Accomplishments: Fourth CIF State '11 Fourth CIF State '10 Junior All-American-GR '11 NHSCA National Champion Two-Time NHSCA All-American Cadet All-American-FS 10. Victor Pereira (Newark Memorial) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Victor Pereira (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Analysis: Victor Pereira is a true competitor and among the top wrestlers to come out of the CIF North Coast Section. A very accomplished wrestler while competing in the kids divisions, Pereira set his mark among the high school elite during his sophomore year when he made it to the semifinals at state, losing a hard-fought match with eventual champion Tyler Johnson of Vacaville. Finishing the season in fifth place, Pereira continued his mat time at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo, earning his second All-American honor that summer. With the additional mat time in Fargo, plus a solid performance at the Walsh Ironman in Ohio, Pereira was able to take another step closer to his goal of winning a prestigious CIF state championship, but came up short last year when he lost a very close hard-fought state final with FloNationals champion Joey Davis of Santa Fe. Not ranked among InterMat's Top 100 Seniors, Pereira has the talent and skill level to beat many listed on this list and will definitely enter the 2011-12 season determined to win his first CIF state championship. Pereira has not committed to any college at the writing of this preview. Major Accomplishments: Second CIF State '11 Fifth CIF State '10 Two-Time CIF North Coast Section Champion Two-Time Cadet All-American Honorable Mention (Listed Alphabetically): Alex Abono (De La Salle), 4th CIF State ** Austin Branum (Del Oro), 5th CIF State Micah Cruz (Bakersfield), 4th CIF State Hermillio Esquivel (Orland), 5th, 6th CIF State * Willie Fox (Gilroy) *** Dakota Gordon (Clovi), 7th CIF State Adam Hendrickson (Healdsburg), 6th, 7th CIF State Austin Lobsinger (West Valley), 2nd CIF State ** Robert Marchese (Oak Hills), 7th, 8th CIF State * Joe Moita (De La Salle), 4th CIF State ** Silas Nacita (Bakersfield), 4th CIF State ** Adam Pain (Rodriguez), 6th CIF State Martin Ramirez (Elk Grove), 3rd, 5th CIF State * Maxx Ramirez (Bakersfield), 6th CIF State Dillon Rocha (Lemoore), 5th CIF State Josh Rodriguez (Righetti), 2nd CIF State William Walker (De La Salle), 7th CIF State * Paul Yoo (Cypress), 6th CIF State * All-American honor (Cadet/Junior/NHSCA) Team Outlook 2011 CIF State Champion: Clovis High School Clovis High School (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The 2011-12 season appears to be a two-team race this year. Fixtures in the top five for several decades, the Cougars of Clovis High School and Drillers of Bakersfield, each from the Central Valley are loaded with a great deal of state level talent that no other team in the state can match at this time of the preview. This could perhaps be one of the best teams in Clovis history. Hard to believe considering the Cougars have already won a state record nine team titles and have placed in the top five 23 times since the first CIF State Championships in 1973. Leading the Clovis contingent is returning state champion and three-time state medalist Daniel Gaytan (All-American) and Zach Nevills, also a three-time state medalist in pursuit of his first state title. Also returning is Zach's younger brother, Nick, who in 2011 became the first freshman to win a state title at heavyweight. Keep an eye on this kid. He has the potential to be the top heavyweight in the country in the next year or two. Other returning state placers include Jonas Gaytan (fifth), Adrian Salas (seventh), and Dakota Gordan (seventh). Rounding out the roster of returning state qualifiers are Matt Gay, Jason Ladd, Colby Thompson, and Ryan Davies, a second team member behind Gordan last year. Despite being a second teamer, Davies placed at several of the top tournaments in Cal last year and had more than enough talent to place at state, if not for the fact that he was behind Gordan. Close behind is Bakersfield High School, which returns five state placers and six state qualifiers overall. Leading this talented team is senior Natrelle Demision. A two-time state placer with three All-American honors, Demision will challenge for a state title this year. Following Demision is junior standout Coleman Hammond. Despite having a disappointing state tournament last year, Hammond placed fourth as a freshman and is two-time NHSCA Nationals champion, as well as having All-American honors at the Cadet and Junior Nationals in Fargo. Rounding out the Driller squad is returning state medalist Silas Nacita (fourth in state, two-time NHSCA All-American), Micah Cruz (fourth in state), and Maxx Ramirez (sixth in state). Expected to join the Driller lineup this season are All-Americans Sean Nickell (Cadet) and Hunter Hodges (NHSCA), as well as returning state qualifier Kyle Pope. Other teams to watch include Gilroy (CCS), Lemoore (CS), Oakdale (SJS), Vacaville (SJS), De La Salle (NCS), Clovis West (CS), Poway (SDS), and Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana (SS). Note: Special thanks to John Sachs (Tech-Fall.com) and Tony Rotundo (WrestlersAreWarriors.com) for all the great photos.

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

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

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

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

Mark Branch

Fight Now USA Presents Takedown Wrestling from the Brute studios in Des Moines, Iowa at 1460 KXNO. Takedown Wrestling is brought to you by Kemin Agrifoods! Join hosts Scott Casber, Kevin Down and Brad Johnson with the Takedown Wrestling headline news. Listen Saturdays 9 to 11 a.m. CT/10 a.m. to noon ET. This week's guests: 9:01: Jimmy Pedro Jr. -- USA Judo Head Coach recaps the Worlds 9:20: Tyrone Lewis -- Assistant Coach, Oklahoma Sooners 9:40: Kevin Roberts -- Assistant Coach, Oregon State Beavers 9:50: Ty Barkley -- Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Update 10:01: Big John McCarthy -- Top official in and out of the UFC 10:20: Mark Branch -- Head Coach, Wyoming Cowboys 10:40: Casey Kendrick -- KWEM Stillwater airs Takedown's TV shows 10:50: Amy Ruble -- Wildrose Casino and Resort Emmetsburg, Iowa Takedown Wrestling is available on radio on AM 1460 KXNO in Iowa, online at Livesportsvideo.com, or on your Blackberry or iPhone with the iHeart Radio App.

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

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

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

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

In the basement of an unassuming building in a heavily Latino influenced town in Northwest New Jersey sits the Standridge Wrestling Academy. The facility has the look and feel of the gym in which Clubber Lane (Mr. T) trained in Rocky III. As recently as three years ago, the upstairs was a bowling alley. It is here that Club Eclipse trains. Led by head coach Matt Ciampa, Eclipse has fostered the development of some of the New Jersey's greatest talents for more than two decades. Their mission statement is simple: "We provide Greco Roman and freestyle training towards earning medals in Fargo. We want wrestlers who have goals of competing for Team New Jersey and plan on returning with medals." In that regard, Club Eclipse has achieved their mission. The club takes credit for more than 135 All-Americans, 29 national champions, and four World-level medals. Eclipse was founded in 1985 by Rick Brodman, then the head of the youth wrestling program in Summit, N.J. When asked about the origin of the club, Brodman recalled, "I was thinking of a logo, and could picture a guy hitting a perfect back arch, like an eclipse, and that's where the name of the club came from." As a coach, Brodman always wanted to stay one step ahead of his pupils in terms of technique. He traveled around the country, visiting other clubs, clinics, and the Olympic Training Center while becoming one of the first silver certified coaches under the USA Wrestling accreditation processes. According to Ciampa, Brodman always stressed technique: "(He'd say) If you did things right, winning would take care of itself." Ciampa himself grew up in Summit under the tutelage of Brodman. Following a mediocre high school career, he enrolled at East Stroudsburg University, a small Division I school that is part of the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIWA). Jack Cuvo, a two-time NCAA champion and wrestling legend, was also at the school at the time, and quickly gravitated toward Ciampa as a training partner. "We'd workout for an hour before practice," says Ciampa. "That was Jack. I didn't know any better. He'd ask me to wrestle live for three straight matches (while the heavier weights wrestled). What was I supposed to do? Tell him no?" During his college days, Ciampa helped out at Eclipse in the offseason while competing in the Olympic styles of freestyle and Greco Roman. In 1991, he placed at University Nationals. Following a frustrating college career plagued by injuries, Ciampa continued to compete at a high level, winning the Northeast Regionals three times, and finishing runner-up at the Olympic Festival. He graduated from East Stroudsburg in 1992, and took over the club from Brodman the following spring. Matt Ciampa at Eclipse practiceToday, Ciampa is considered among the best technicians in an area filled with great wrestling programs. The campus of national powerhouse Blair Academy is a mere 30 miles away. Often times, following their spring season, many of its wrestlers can be found training with Eclipse. Mark Grey, Joey McKenna, and Dylan Milonas are among the current Blair wrestlers that have leveraged Ciampa's high-level technique and the strong training partners at Eclipse to improve their skills. Over the years, Ciampa has continued to develop his understanding of the sport and refined the technique in which he teaches. When asked how he picks up on the subtleties of an almost perfect (but not quite) leg lace, he responds by saying, "I'm constantly thinking about technique." Some people are addicted to smoking, drinking, or gambling. Matt Ciampa is addicted to studying wrestling technique on the Internet. The atmosphere at Eclipse is a refreshing contrast to the boot camp style practices that have become the norm in the U.S. Ciampa's practices are at the same time simple, intentional, and productive. He focuses on technique above conditioning, but also reminds his athletes that "training" (read: conditioning) needs to be done on their own time. One unaccustomed to the mentality of the club might mistake a typical practice for a middle school jamboree or gymnastics lesson. Practices "start" with an adapted version of dodge ball followed by a series of tumbling drills that often finds 215-pounders executing flawless front hand-springs and back flips. An opportunity to stretch leads into a series of drills that makes lifting and throwing seem as routine as brushing your teeth. The remaining hour-and-a-half of practice is spent focusing on technique, simulating real match situations, and wrestling live. Zach Rey trained at Eclipse before winning an NCAA title (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Zach Rey, an NCAA champion at heavyweight for Lehigh, is a former Eclipse wrestler. As a first-year wrestler, Rey went 9-17 his freshman season in high school. Knowing he had to step up his game if he wanted to become competitive, he began training at Eclipse and quickly turned the corner. "I really liked the coaches (at Eclipse)," said Rey, a 2010 University World Team member. "I felt real comfortable there. It was a good fit. I had great workout partners. I went there a few weeks ago and was amazed at the quality of wrestlers, with (Anthony) Ashnault, McKenna ... real competitive wrestlers. It's a great environment for our wrestlers to get better and compete." This past season, Eclipse had 14 All-Americans, five double place winners, three finalists, and two champions on the national level of competition. One of the champions, Mark Grey, won the FILA Junior World Team Trials and placed fifth in the Junior World Championships in Bulgaria. In an interview with USA Wrestling in 2009, Grey attributed his dominance in the par terre position to Ciampa and his ability to set up the move. More recently, Grey referenced the impact of something Ciampa said to him as an eighth-grader following a sloppily-executed arm throw in practice: you can have good habits, or you can have bad habits. "It stuck with me," Grey says, four years later. "You just think about it. I couldn't get rid of it. As I've progressed, and gotten older, I've gone harder and harder, knowing there is someone out there training for me." Both Grey and Rey mentioned the mental edge they gained having Ciampa in their corner. Mark Grey attributes much of his success in the international styles to Matt Ciampa (Photo/BuckeyeWrestling.com)When we were in Fargo, he just focused on the mental toughness (of wrestling)," said Grey, who is ranked as the No. 4 recruit in the country by InterMat. "He's competed at all the higher levels. He talks to you a lot. He's able to communicate with you a lot. He's always talking to you. Talking strategy. When you're in a match, you're very comfortable with him. He's always on your side." Assistant coach Larry Levinstone appreciates what Eclipse has to offer. He was the product of the system through high school and continued training at Eclipse while competing in the open division. He attributes much of his success (six-time Northeast Regional Greco-Roman champion, one-time freestyle champion, University Nationals Greco-Roman All-American, Espoir Nationals All-American, and U.S. World Team Trials qualifier) to Ciampa. "Matt has a coaching style that really worked for me," said Levinstone. "While I didn't get the ideas and concepts right away, it finally clicked when I entered the open division. That is where everything fell into place with my gut wrench. I was never a super talent or highly athletic, but he never faltered in his belief that one day I would have some success. He always treated me the same as everyone else. Matt is one of the underrated coaches, not only in New Jersey, but in the country. I truly believe that statement." Eclipse wrestlers show "Team Tall" sign in FargoLevinstone also appreciates the fun-natured spirit of Eclipse. In 1996, Ciampa reintroduced a phrase made popular by the Summit wrestling team in the late 1980's to describe a great match or a great throw --"Tall." "It was a great compliment to get a 'Tall' comment, and fun too for us as competitors because the Eclipse guys were the only ones in the state that knew the meaning," said Levinstone recently. "(In the) 1996 Cadet National finals we had Nik Fekete competing for the state (of New Jersey) and the club. We decided it would be fun to let the rest of the guys on the trip into the meaning, so we painted our chests and did the international sign for tall, which is extending the arm over the head and flexing your wrist to show height. Other states were looking at us like we were insane but we had a great time doing it. Since then 'Team Tall' has stuck around. It's on our shirts every year and the new kids that come to the club get a kick out of the story behind it." Today, Levinstone is one of four coaches with a broad range of skills and experience that helps out on a volunteer basis. He believes the club attracts some of the best talent in New Jersey because of the workouts. "The workout plans that Coach Ciampa puts together always have a purpose of giving those guys the edge over someone who may be more athletic," said Levinstone. "The depth (of understanding) that these kids are learning is not based upon winning, but becoming better wrestlers." Levinstone also believes the most important aspect of Eclipse is its concentration on the Olympic styles. "We don't do any folkstyle," said Levinstone. "Our club runs from the week after the state tournament until we return to Fargo. We attempt to split the time 50/50 (freestyle and Greco-Roman), which is another reason the club is special. There are not too many clubs in the state of New Jersey where the Olympic styles are promoted. let alone clubs that really do concentrate on Greco as much as we do." Rick Brodman founded Eclipse in 1985The list of former All-Americans on the team's website supports this claim. Of the 135 All-Americans, more than half (71) have been in Greco Roman. As Ciampa himself would say, "Not bad for a small club coached by a bunch of nobodies." Ciampa is self-deprecating but self-aware. He will one moment ride someone for not immediately transitioning into a gut wrench following a perfectly executed slide-by ("shame on you") and the next moment joke with the coaching staff about the mullet he wore in 1989. Many consider his approach to coaching -- his emphasis on technique and lighthearted attitude -- a carbon copy of his mentor. When asked if he would consider this an accurate comparison, Brodman says, "Yeah, I would. I happen to know that Matt Ciampa thinks very highly of me. I love Matthew Ciampa, because the club lives on because of him." The Eclipse season officially ended two weekends ago with the annual coaches' barbeque. Next spring will bring another crop of kids eager to learn from one of the sport's best. If history is any indication of the future, the club will spit out another group of All Americans. That's pretty tall. For more information on the Eclipse Wrestling Club, visit www.eclipsewrestling.com. Jim Beezer accepts feedback at jim@intermatwrestle.com.

St. Cloud State University Director of Athletics Dr. Morris Kurtz has announced the hiring of Brady Wilson as an assistant coach for the Husky wrestling program, which captured runner-up honors at the 2011 NCAA Division II wrestling championships. The Huskies will also add Tyson Reiner as a graduate assistant wrestling coach to the program in 2011-12. A 2009 graduate of Minnesota State University, Wilson served as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater in 2010-11 and he received a graduate degree in sports management from Minnesota State University in 2011. Wilson brings a wealth of collegiate wrestling experience to the St. Cloud State wrestling room. At Minnesota State, Wilson was a four-time All-American, a four-time conference champion and a four-time NCAA regional champion during his collegiate wrestling career. At the NCAA Division II championships, Wilson earned top five finishes at 285-pounds in all four seasons of his career, including a second place finish in 2010. He set a record at Minnesota State with 143 wins during his career and he was named MSU's Athlete of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Year in 2010. A 2005 graduate of Faribault High School in Faribault, Minn., Wilson earned MSHSL state champion honors in 2005 while posting a 109-30 career record as a prep athlete. At Faribault High School, Wilson also gained NHSCA, Greco Juniors and Fila Freestyle All-America accolades. Last year at Minnesota State, Wilson helped lead the Mavericks to a 10th place finish at the 2011 NCAA Division II championships. He coached three All-American and six national qualifiers during the 2010-11 season in Mankato. “I've had the privilege to know Brady (Wilson) over the years as a competitor and as a coach,” said Coach Steve Costanzo. “He is an excellent choice to fill the role as head assistant wrestling coach and will help build our young men into life champions on and off the mat. I look forward to working with him and I am confident that he is a great fit for our program.” Reiner joins the SCSU staff after serving as an assistant wrestling coach at Wartburg College during the 2010-11 season. Reiner helped lead Wartburg to a NCAA Division III team title last winter along with first place finishes in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the NWCA/Cliff Keen Division III National Duals. Wartburg saw seven of its athletes earn top seven finishes at the NCAA championships in 2011, including two national individual champions. A 2010 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Reiner wrestled for the Panthers from 2005 to 2010. A two-time team captain and three-year starter at UNI, Reiner earned one Western Wrestling Confernece crown and was a two-time NCAA Division I national qualifier in college. A native of Mitchell, S.D., Reiner claimed two South Dakota state high school titles and was a two-time state runner-up as a prep wrestler. He was also a two-time high school All-America award winner. “Tyson has earned the respect of his peers as an outstanding leader in and out of the wrestling room,” said Costanzo. “He has proven experience as a winner and will be invaluable to the Husky wrestling program in our quest to retain a top quality program.” In 2010-11, SCSU enjoyed one of its best seasons in team history. The Huskies placed second in the nation at the 2011 NCAA Division II Championships, won the 2011 NCAA Division II Super Region #3 title and set a team record with a 19-2 dual meet record in 2010-11. Senior wrestler John Sundgren won a national title at 157-pounds for the Huskies. The second place national finish was the highest national tournament finish for the Huskies in team history, and the Huskies also posted a solid third place finish at the elite NWCA National Duals in 2011.

Frank Romano

FARGO, N.D. -- North Dakota State head wrestling coach Roger Kish today announced the hiring of Manny Rivera as assistant coach. Manny Rivera"We are excited to have Manny on board," said Kish. "His passion and excitement for the sport will help elevate this program to a new level. I believe our wrestlers will feed off the energy brought to the program by our staff." Rivera joins the program after spending last year as an assistant coach at Virginia and two years as a graduate assistant at Minnesota. While at Virginia, he helped coach two All-America performers. While a graduate assistant for the Gophers, he also served as the assistant director at the School of Champions, a wrestling training program for junior high and high school students. Additionally, he was a volunteer wrestling coach at Rosemead High School. A native of El Monte, Calif., Rivera was a three-time NCAA qualifier at Minnesota and earned All-America honors as a senior after finishing seventh at 141 pounds at the NCAA Championships. He was also a starter on Minnesota's 2007 national championship team. He finished his career with a record of 113-40 and 27 pins and was team captain as a senior. Rivera has continued wrestling after graduating and won a bronze medal at the 2010 Pan-American Games as a member of the Mexican national team. He graduated from Minnesota in 2008 with a degree in psychology.

The 2012 InterMat JJ Classic takes place at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. This premier preseason high school wrestling event is open to wrestles in grades 7 through 12. Register. Check out all the latest news on the InterMat JJ Classic ...

Lander Tiger senior Jordan Hanson gave University of Wyoming wrestling coach Mark Branch a verbal commitment on Saturday to wrestle for the Wyoming Cowboys. Jordan HansonHanson was a 2010-2011 Class 3A heavyweight state champion, Wyoming All-State wrestler, Academic All-State wrestler, Tournament of Champions runner-up, Ron Thon Memorial champion, and Thoman Memorial Best of the Best Tournament champion. "I am really looking forward to the opportunity to wrestle for Wyoming at the D1 level," said Hanson. "Coach Branch and the program he has developed has become one of the top 15 in the nation. I am really looking forward to being a part of it." According to Hanson, the coaches from the University of Wyoming began expressing interest in making him a Cowboy early in July. After visiting the campus this past weekend, it has become clear that UW is great fit for him. "I was able to spend a lot of time with the coaches and the team," said Hanson. "They made me feel welcome and as if I was already part of the Cowboys." Hanson will graduate from Lander Valley High School in May of 2012. He expects to begin wrestling during his fall semester at UW.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The 2012 NAIA Wrestling National Championships will take place in Des Moines, Iowa, March 1 - 3, which is a location change from the original agreement. The change occurs because of facility renovations at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, Des Moines Area Sports Commission and Grand View University (Iowa) will host the 2012 event at the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center. “The very nature of the circumstances surrounding this bid process required the NAIA to attract a quality venue and a solid host committee,” said NAIA Championship Sport Manager Scott McClure. “We're confident that the host committee and the city of Des Moines will go the extra mile in making this year's NAIA Wrestling National Championships at the Jacobson Exhibition Center an outstanding experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans.” The Exhibition Center was completed in 2010. The state-of-the-art facility has fixed seating for 3,500, meeting rooms, concession areas and a second-floor VIP area. The facility has hosted events such as the 2011 Wrestling Corn Cob Nationals, the USA Gymnastics Region IV Championships and is scheduled to host the 2012 Junior High Wrestling State Meet. The 2011 event marked the seventh NAIA Wrestling National Championship held in the state of Iowa. Prior to Cedar Rapids, Sioux City served as hosts for six years in two different stints. The NAIA estimates that 5-8,000 fans attend the wrestling championships each year. The 2013 NAIA Wrestling National Championships will go back to the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The dates will be Feb. 28 – March 2. The championship consists of 10 individual weight classes with five different sessions during the three-day span. Wrestlers qualify for the championships in one of two ways: placing in the top four in any weight class at the Qualifying Group tournament or through an intercollegiate tournament during the season. For more information on qualification, click here. In the history of the sport, there have been 19 national team champions as former member Notre Dame (Ohio) won its second-straight National Championship in 2011. The first NAIA Wrestling National Championships occurred in 1958 and were held in Mankato, Minn. The host school, Mankato State won the inaugural title. Currently, 37 varsity programs sponsor wrestling in the NAIA.

The University of Minnesota Wrestling program has announced a couple of changes on its coaching staff for the 2011-12 season. Brandon Eggum who has been the assistant coach for the last 10 seasons has been promoted to Head Assistant Coach. He takes over after the departure of Joe Russell, who took the head coaching job at George Mason University. The second change is Luke Becker who has been a volunteer assistant for the past nine years is now the Assistant Coach for the Gophers. Brandon Eggum and Luke Becker have both been promoted on the Minnesota staff (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Head Coach J Robinson who be entering his 26th season at the helm for the Gophers's is really excited about what Eggum and Becker can continue to bring to the program. Staying in the Gopher family was a very important decision for Robinson in this process “One of the things we wanted to do was to keep the continuity in the program,” Robinson said. “I think Brandon and Luke have the philosophy that we strive on and that's being aggressive as well as being dominate. I think they will bring that same thought process into their new jobs.” Eggum, was a three-time All-American and four-year letter winner for the Golden Gophers from 1997 to 2000. As a sophomore, Eggum earned his first All-American certificate with a fifth-place finish at 177 pounds at the 1998 NCAA Championships. He ranks tied for 17th in school history in wins with a 115-23-0 overall record, while his .833 winning percentage ranks tied for 15th. Eggum is tied for 11th place all-time with a stellar 61-11 dual meet record. In Eggum's first season on the Gopher coaching staff (2001) Minnesota earned the program's first national championship with an NCAA record 10 All-Americans. The team also captured the Big Ten Championship, as well as the National Duals Championship. Becker, was the 157-pound national champion at the 2002 NCAA Championships as a junior. He then closed his career with his fourth All-America certificate, earning a fourth place finish. Becker ended his career ranked eighth in school history with a 125-29-0 career record and ranked 10th with 29 career pins. Currently he stands at 11th and 15th respectively in each category. Becker has helped develop 12 All-America honorees including 2010 NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner Jayson Ness. Becker also coached Ness and Mike Thorn to Big Ten championships. After serving as one of the key contributors on the mat for Minnesota's first two national titles in 2001 and 2002, Becker was on staff during its run to the 2007 national championship.

Jacob Pauli, an NCAA champion pole vaulter for Northern Iowa, and Alex Dolly, a volunteer assistant coach at Michigan State, will go "On the Mat" this Tuesday, August 30. "On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 PM Central on AM 1650, The Fan. This week's show will be broadcast on Tuesday, August 30 at 5 p.m. An archive of the show can be found on www.themat.tv. E-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show. During the months of August and September the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum will conduct "champions" interviews with champion athletes and coaches outside the sport of wrestling. There will also be regular interviews with wrestlers and coaches. This week's "champion" interview is with Jacob Pauli. Pauli was an NCAA champion in the pole vault for Northern Iowa in 2001. He was a member of the 2007 World championship team and an Olympic alternate in 2008. Dolly was a four-year starter for the University of Northern Iowa wrestling team, reaching the round of 12 at the NCAA tournament in three of those years. He is currently a volunteer assistant coach at Michigan State. Dolly will represent Ireland in the upcoming World Championships.

With the high school wrestling season's start fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top high school senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to future college and senior level stars. The rankings within this article do not necessarily reflect those done by InterMat. This list represents the Top 10 seniors in the state of Tennessee along with 5 honorable mention selections. The wrestlers comprising this Top 10 list have amassed 14 state titles in 21 state final appearances. One wrestler in this list will attempt to become the second wrestler to earn five Tennessee state championships, one will seek his fourth title, and yet another will seek to make his fifth finals appearance in search of his third state title. The wrestlers in this article hail from all corners of the state including Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis. Seven different schools are represented in the Top 10 list, climbing to ten when you add the honorable mentions. A slight edge goes to DII as they have six wrestlers in the top ten versus four for DI, however DI evens the score picking up four of the five honorable mention slots. Several schools claim multiple wrestlers on the list with Father Ryan leading the way with three, though one of those traces his roots back to McCallie. All but one wrestler in the top ten has been in the state finals with eight of them capturing titles. Three of our honorable mention wrestlers also hold state titles. While competing in the state of Tennessee this group of 10 seniors has amassed 14 state titles, 21 state final appearances, 29 state medals, and 2 Outstanding Wrestler awards at the state tournament. Throughout their careers they have an official record sporting 1,151 wins against 154 losses, giving them an 88.2% win percentage. Five different wrestlers from this group have accounted for 8 different medals at the NHSCA grade level national championships (freshman, sophomore, and junior); two at the junior level, four at the sophomore level, and two at the freshman level. This group has had no place winners at the Super 32 but does carry a 24-20 mark from the tournament. Taking a look at performances in the international styles, only three of the wrestlers have ever competed at the USAW Asics/Vaughan Junior & Cadet National Championships (Fargo), but those three wrestlers carry an 11-8 record. However, one of those three has earned FILA Cadet All-American status. Five of the Top 10 seniors have represented Team Tennessee at either the Cadet or Junior National Duals and tout an overall record of 30-17 from those events. Several of these wrestlers can be found amongst the various national rankings as recognition for the work they have put in, but it doesn't determine the outcome of a single match they will wrestle. Some of them will move on to college wrestling, be it DI or DII, NAIA, NWCA, etc. and others will end their careers on the mats in Franklin, Tenn. on Feb. 18. Beyond the numbers and statistics, every wrestler on this list has achieved things that many wrestlers strive for through every grueling practice and every punishing tournament. They have won titles, lost important matches, and pushed their bodies to bend and break the will of an opponent who has the exact same goal in mind. They are wrestlers ... and regardless of what other sports they may compete in, it is the wrestling mentality that they will carry with them and be better because of it. 1. Zach Watson (Baylor) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 126 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Zach WatsonAnalysis: Leading this year's class of seniors in Tennessee is University of Virginia commitment Zach Watson. Watson is a four-time state champion who will look to become Tennessee's second five-time state champ this season. Watson brings with him a career record of 148-3 which includes no losses in the state and has garnered one outstanding wrestler award at the state tournament (his eighth grade season). On the national scale, Watson has found his largest success at the NHSCA grade level events where he was second as a sophomore and third as a Junior both at 119 pounds. Wrestling for Baylor has allowed Watson to see higher level competition in season where he sports a 5-1 record at The Clash (2011) and has placed first and second at the Southeast Prep School Slam. Watson has competed at the Super 32 once in 2010 where he finished with a 3-2 record. Not competing heavily in the international styles, Watson has represented Tennessee once at the Cadet duals in 2008 but has not seen any other major freestyle or Greco-Roman competitions. While on the mat Zach shows excellent technique from all positions coupled with superb natural balance. Watson is not a physical wrestler, opting instead for a style that leans more towards agility and speed. However, that isn't to say Watson can't handle a more physical match as he has faced several including wrestling his junior season at 125 for his team when 119 was the weight he competed at during post and preseason national events. Zach is an excellent college prospect who could produce great results at Virginia. 2. Campbell Lewis (Soddy Daisy) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132/138 Projected College Weight Class: 133/141 Analysis: Campbell Lewis comes in as our second wrestler who doesn't know how to lose at the state tournament. Campbell has made the DI state finals three times and has had his hand raised every time. His first two titles came at 125 and his most recent at 130. Campbell has found success at nearly every level of competition he has entered while compiling his high school record of 99-12. Campbell LewisCampbell is a two-time place winner at the NHSCA grade level nationals; first as a freshman and seventh as a sophomore at 125; however he was 2-2 as a junior at 130. Lewis has attended the Super 32 twice and while failing to place both times, does carry a 9-4 overall record including a 6-2 mark last year. Campbell has also shown a willingness to test himself in the international styles competing at Junior Duals, Fargo, and the Southeast Regionals. Lewis was injured during the 2011 Junior Duals but finished second in the Southeast Region in freestyle at 140. In 2009 Lewis was the Southeast Region champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. If you had to choose one word to describe Campbell's wrestling style it would likely be gritty. Lewis isn't a wrestler who tends to awe you with flashy technique or overwhelming strength, instead solid positioning, a consistent pace, and a willingness to fight for every point are the things many wrestling observers notice. However, don't get too relaxed as Lewis does have the ability to hit the big move as was evidenced by his throw that ultimately won him a tough state semi-finals match against a wrestler who will appear later in this list. 3. Michael Hooker (Father Ryan/McCallie) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Michael HookerAnalysis: Michael Hooker continues the trend in this list of wrestlers who have made the state finals every year. Michael Hooker has made four appearances in the DII state finals and came away with two state titles; one at 112 his eighth grade year and the second at 145 as a junior. Sandwiched between those state titles were runner-up finishes at 125 and 135. Hooker spent the first four years of his career wrestling at McCallie in Chattanooga where he compiled a 160-10 career record but has moved to Nashville's Father Ryan for his senior year. Hooker has two significant national placings in his high school career; a fifth-place finish at the NHSCA Junior Nationals at 145 to go along with a fifth-place finish at the 2009 FILA Cadet Greco-Roman Nationals. Staying active in the international styles, Hooker has represented Team Tennessee twice at the USAW National Duals (once at Juniors and once at Cadets), competed once at Fargo in 2009, and claimed a first-place finish in freestyle and third place in Greco-Roman at the 2009 Southeast Regional. He has also spent at least one summer on a wrestling tour in Europe rather than competing in Fargo. Michael picked up a championship in the Southeast Prep School Slam last season after finishing third the prior year. Hooker is a wrestler who is solid from all three positions on the mat but like many high school wrestlers may struggle on bottom when he enters the college ranks, primarily for lack of being there much in high school. Hooker has long used a strong leg-ride from the top position as one of his go-to moves. However, early in his career he struggled to score points with it against tougher opponents but has found more success there in his junior season. Hooker is a major dual-threat in neutral with the ability to create his own offense and to use his excellent hips to convert counter throws. This big move potential combined with strong top work has allowed Hooker to collect right at 100 falls at this point in his career. 4. McCoy Newberg (Independence) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 170 Projected College Weight Class: 174/184 McCoy NewbergAnalysis: The fourth wrestler on the list, McCoy Newberg, is the first to break the trend of reaching the state finals each year. Starting out as a middle weight Newberg wasn't even his team's starter as a freshman. However, Newberg has made a consistent march up the ranks in the state since that time. Newberg took third in the state as a sophomore at 152 before claiming a DI state title as a junior at 160. Putting an exclamation point on his rise Newberg was named the DI Outstanding Wrestler at last year's state tournament. Newberg has compiled an in-season record of 129 wins against 17 losses during his career at Independence. Like others on this list Newberg has continued to test himself outside of the state where he has competed in the Super 32 twice and attended the NHSCA grade level nationals three times. Newberg finished second as a freshman at 145, eighth as a sophomore at 152, and missed placing with a 4-2 record as a junior at 160 at the NHSCA nationals. Newberg has also found his way to higher level competitions on the freestyle circuit during the summers. Newberg has been a member of Team Tennessee twice at the USAW National Duals where he has compiled an 11-4 record in freestyle. Newberg finished second at the 2011 Southeast Regionals at 171 in freestyle. Attending Fargo twice, Newberg compiled a 4-2 record as a Cadet and returned as a Junior to once again finish 4-2 while picking up a win over another returning Cadet All-American. Newberg is a tall, lanky wrestler who understands how to use his leverage well. It is this writer's opinion that he may have the most upside of the top four wrestlers when placed in a college wrestling room. Newberg's frame looks as if he could add considerable muscle as he matures and grows into a solid college upper-weight. Newberg wrestles an active style for an upper-weight wrestler and has a wide array of scoring holds from both neutral and top. Newberg is a crafty wrestler as well, understanding how to get an opponent to relax before he takes that period or round ending shot. Good, natural hips, an attitude that loves seeking out strong wrestling competition, and room to continue to improve in all three positions should keep Newberg an attractive prospect for college coaches. If he is able to add more chain wrestling from neutral, Newberg may become the most desirable recruit who hasn't committed from this crop of Tennessee seniors. 5. Cody Davis (Pigeon Forge) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182/195 Projected College Weight Class: 184/197 Cody DavisAnalysis: Cody Davis is a wrestler who understands all about moving up in the world as he has done so each year in weight and step on the podium. As a freshman Davis placed 6th in the DI tournament at a 160 pounds. He followed that up with a sophomore performance that put him in the state finals at 171 where he eventually lost 1-0 in triple overtime to the defending state champion at 160 pounds. Finally, as a junior, Davis moved up to 189 where he navigated his way to his first state title. However, Davis' success hasn't been limited to inside the Tennessee borders ... this two- sport athlete (Davis play middle linebacker on the football team) has tasted national competition in folkstyle and the international styles. Davis finished sixth at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals at 171 with a 5-3 record and then returned to Virginia Beach where he went 3-2 in the Junior Nationals at 189 with both losses coming to wrestlers who would place. Davis hasn't remained satisfied with competing in a tournament that closely follows the high school season; he has twice attended the Super 32 where he has a 4-4 overall record. Davis has sporadically competed in the international styles claiming a Southeast Regional freestyle championship in 2009 as a 171 pound Cadet and a third place medal in Greco-Roman the same year. Davis also was a member of Team Tennessee at the USAW Junior Duals in 2011 where he had an overall record 6-5 (4-3 freestyle, 2-2 Greco-Roman). Stylistically, Davis wrestles a physical style from his feet showing strong hand-fighting skills. However, he is no slouch on the mat as he has 90 falls in his high school career. Cody will likely have to make a choice between playing football and wrestling in college but believes wrestling may be the better path for him. Given a solid academic background and a reputation as a disciplined and hard-working athlete, Davis is likely to be a solid asset to whatever program he chooses to join. 6. Austin Woods (Franklin) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Austin WoodsAnalysis: Austin Woods is one of two wrestlers in the top 10 who have not won a Tennessee state title. Woods is a two-time DI state place winner finishing third as a sophomore and third as a junior both at 130. Last year Woods was defeated by the second ranked senior, Campbell Lewis, 8-6 in the state semi-finals before wrestling back to third. What places Woods so high on this list are his two wins last season over the seventh ranked senior, Cole Moseley, 3-0 and 8-4. Woods hasn't seen much competition outside of the state but did compete at the NHSCA Junior Nationals where he finished 1-2. Woods displays strong skills on his feet but is solid in most positions. Playing to his strength on his feet, Woods wrestles at a solid pace and works his opponents while staying in solid position. This makes him tough to score on and leaves him ready to capitalize when his opponents force a bad position. 7. Cole Moseley (Father Ryan) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138/145 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Cole MoseleyAnalysis: Cole Moseley is our final wrestler who has reached the state finals every year. Moseley captured a DII state title as a freshman at 103 and has gone on to finish second at 112 and 130. Moseley lost in the finals his sophomore year to the eighth ranked wrestler in this list in quadruple overtime. Moseley has compiled a career record of 120-19 through three seasons of competition. Getting outside of the state Moseley has attended the NHSCA age group nationals twice. As a sophomore Moseley was 4-2 at 119 while as a junior he finished 3-2 with both losses coming to wrestlers who would place in the top six. Off-season injuries, including a rib injury this year, and other commitments have kept Moseley from seeing much out-of-state competition in freestyle or Greco-Roman. A tactical and cerebral wrestler, Moseley wrestles a controlled and solid match against most competition. Moseley is not the type of wrestler to physically overwhelm many opponents and instead tends to force his opponents into positions where they make a mistake, and he is able to capitalize. An intelligent student to go along with his wrestling acumen, Moseley is a member of multiple honors societies and his college interests include the Air Force Academy, UNC, Princeton, Army, and Virginia. 8. Alex Ward (McCallie) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 133/141 Alex WardAnalysis: Alex Ward is a three-time DII state placer while wrestling for the McCallie Blue Tornado's. Ward finished fourth at 103 as a freshman, first at 112 as a sophomore, and second at 125 as a junior while compiling a 115 and 25 record. Ward captured his first state title by defeating our seventh ranked senior, Cole Moseley, 7-6 in a match that went into the fourth overtime period. Last season Ward lost in the state finals to top rated senior Zach Watson. Ward hasn't competed outside of the state much aside from a few in season tournaments but did attend the Super 32 this past season where he finished with a 3-2 record. Ward also earned a third-place finish at the Southeast Prep School Slam during his junior campaign. Ward is a wrestler who scrambles well and is solid from the top position. This Blue Tornado wrestler has shown a strong leg ride, power-half series and also commonly looks for tilts from top, favoring those that come from a cross-wrist ride. In neutral Ward uses his relatively lanky frame to his advantage using an underhook, throw-by to single leg and a front headlock series to pick up solid takedowns. Ward is an Eagle Scout and National Honor Society member who has expressed interest in heading west to continue his college career with interest in Utah Valley University, Boise State, and Cal Poly. 9. T.J. Holmes (Father Ryan) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 184/197 T.J. HolmesAnalysis: T.J. Holmes is a wrestler who has shown remarkable improvement in the time he has been in the Fighting Irish starting line-up. Holmes is a two-time DII state placer finishing third as a sophomore at 160 and winning a state title as a junior at 189. In two seasons of competition, Holmes has compiled a career record of 72-13. In his state title winning junior campaign, Holmes took only one loss, a 6-4 decision to a wrestler from Ohio powerhouse Archbishop Moeller, while racking up 18 falls. Holmes has competed in only one major national tournament, the NHSCA Junior Nationals, where he compiled a 5-2 record while taking losses to the fourth and fifth-place finishers. Like his teammate Moseley, Holmes is a smart tactical wrestler who controls the pace of his matches well. In moving up in weight over the last year, Holmes added a lot of strength which has complimented his style of picking and choosing his shots well. Not an overly aggressive wrestler, Holmes is comfortable winning a decision once he has built his lead against a tough opponent. Holmes hasn't made any college decisions at this point but is interested in continuing his career in college. It is this writer's hope that he finds the proper fit and continues his involvement in the sport. 10. Matthew Cate (Baylor) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152/160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Analysis: Matthew Cate has been one of the more consistent and hard-working wrestlers in the state over the past few seasons. While Cate is one of two wrestlers in this list not to win a state title he is a three-time DII state placer; finishing third at 140 as freshman, 3rd at 152 as a sophomore, and runner-up at 152 as a junior. Cate may not have picked up a state title yet but he has several quality wins including one over last year's state champion and defeating at least one Fargo All-American in the past season. Cate is a solid wrestler who doesn't surrender many points and is rarely out of a match ... in the previous two seasons Cate has only surrendered two bonus point losses, both major-decisions. Cate has compiled a record of 107-32 while wrestling for the Red Raiders which includes an 8-3 record competing at The Clash and a second-place finish at the Southeast Prep School Slam. If you wanted to sum up Cate's wrestling style in one word it would probably be pressure. Cate's strong motor allows him to keep pressure on his opponent from all three positions. In neutral Cate uses active hands that are constantly pawing at his opponent's head and good foot movement to keep the pressure on his opponent. When found in the down position Cate keeps a fairly constant flow of motion and is rarely shy about looking for the reversal. From the top position, Cate looks for his spiral ride early and is often looking to trap the far triceps and switches quickly to a high-single should his opponent reach their feet. Honorable Mention: Patrick Benson (Bradley Central) -- DI state champion at 285, two-time placer Jack Boone (Notre Dame) --Two-time runner-up, three time placer in DI Barrett Gauger (Baylor) -- DII state champion at 285 Holden Schay (Houston) -- DI state champion at 171, two-time placer John Shrader (Franklin) -- State runner-up, two-time placer in DI

Event: UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami Venue: HSBC Arena (Rio de Janerio, Brazil) Date: August 27, 2011 Tonight's UFC card comes to us from Brazil and features a whole slew of young, aggressive fighters from the hotbed of mixed martial arts. The city known for its large stable of jiu-jitsu fighters, sold out their venue in a matter of hours. Tonight it's Brazil vs. the World. And the greatest fighter in UFC history, middleweight Anderson "The Spider" Silva, will try to avenge his last loss, a DQ for illegal kick to Yushin Okami. But Silva is an outrageous -525 favorite, so I see no value there in betting on him. But I don't see Okami winning either, as his style is made-to-order for the Spider. Okami loves to strike and clinch. But Silva will stay his distance. Okami has great takedown defense, but Silva doesn't try to take you down. I think the best bet with the best value is to take +700 on Silva winning by submission. Why? Okami has never been submitted. That's why. I can see Silva knocking Okami to the canvas with his lethal strikes, then pouncing on him, and securing a choke hold to end it. At +700, I'll certainly take my chances on that happening. I will also be betting that the fight does NOT go 4.5 rounds, and I will lay -205 on that winner. Silva wins by submission in the second round. In another revenge match, light heavyweight Maricio "Shogun" Rua will look to avenge his only submission loss of his career to Forrest Griffin. The oddsmakers have Shogun at -225 to do it, and I agree. Except for his decisive loss to Jonny "Bones" Jones, Shogun has been steam-rolling through opponents. Forrest is game, but Rua wins a decision here, and I go to the winner's window again. Heavyweight Minotauro Nogueira is a legend in MMA. But his better days are behind him. Today he looks old, slow, and out-of-touch with today's MMA athlete. Enter one Brendan Schaub, a knockout beast, who ends most of his fights (6 KOs in less than 1:30 minutes) in the very first round. One athlete is on the way up, while the other is fading into the sunset. Which would you take? I'll take Schaub and lay the -250. He wins again by first round KO. My best bet of the night is Edson Barbosa -300, a lightweight monster who has strong jits, but knocks everybody out instead. His opponent, Ross Pearson, is a made-to-order victim, as he likes to stand and trade punches. That strategy won't work here. Barbosa ends it in the first round securing "Knockout of the Night" at 6:1. His muscle flex on top of the octagon cage will tell you everything you need to know. Look out for Edson Barbosa. He's the real deal. Finally I find an underdog I can play. I like Russian Stanislav Nedkov to hang with Brazilian striker Luis Cane. Cane is a deadly striker, but somewhat slow on his feet. Nedkov can counter-punch and dance, and something tells me he can cash at +190 by outscoring his opponent and winning a close decision. Oddsmakers see this fight ending with another Cane KO. I see it differently. I'll take the juicy price on Nedkov. Now let's take a quick look at the undercard ... I love lightweight Spencer "The King" Fisher, who brings it every time out. He is a relentless stalker who strikes with both punches and kicks, but he will have his hands full tonight with Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert Thiago Tavares, who is the -220 favorite here. I will pass on this fight, as I think Tavares will probably win, but Fisher is a wounded dog who will fight for his UFC life. He has lost two in a row, and a third loss might give him his pink slip. That scares me. If you want to see a beast with great jits, look no further than middleweight Brazilian Rousimar Palhares. He is big and strong, with experience, and his ground game is as good as it gets. He will break your ankle with his hands. Dan Miller has strong jits, as well. But hometown crowd and a stronger ground game leads to a third round submission win for Palihares. Lay the -250. Another Brazilian, welterweight, Paulo Thiago, is on a different level that his opponent, David Mitchell, a green up-and-comer. With two consecutive losses Thiago gets his game back on track here as a heavy -400 favorite. A second round choke hold wins this one. Former WEC star, lightweight Rafael Assuncao, has more experience and a more rounded game than his opponent tonight, highly-touted Johnny Eduardo. A unanimous decision at -165 gets me another winner on tonight's card. Yuri Alcantara has never fought outside of Brazil. Tonight he will challenge for KO of the night at +500 odds. A convincing body shot TKO will end this in the first round, and give Alcantara -400 a travel visa for the United States. Another mismatch will find Erick Silva -270 winning a decision over Luis Ramos. And finally, I sniff out another underdog, Yves Jabouin +160, who will surprise the crowd with an abrupt KO to start the third round. We won $137 on the last UFC 133 card. Let's see if we can do it again? Here's what we will do with our "fictitious" $1000 bankroll: Let's lay $ 20 to win $140 on the Spider to win by submission. Any other result, we lose. Let's lay $103 to win $50 on Silva/Okami UNDER 4.5 rounds in their title fight. Let's lay $112 to win $50 on Shogun Rua to get his revenge on Forrest Griffin. Let's lay $125 to win $50 on Brendan Schaub to KO and retire Minotaura Nogueira. Let's lay $40 to win $78 on Stanslav Nedkov to pull an upset. Let's lay $100 to win $25 on Paulo Thiago's experience to get the job done. Let's lay $54 to win $20 on Erick Silva. Let's lay $80 to win $20 on Yuri Alcantara. Let's lay $125 to win $50 on Rousimar Palhares to break a limb. Let's lay $50 to win $30 Rafael Assuncao to roll … Let's lay $40 to win $64 on Yves Jabouin. ... and we will pass on Fisher vs. Tavares. In all we are risking $999 to win $627, playing 9 faves, 2 'dogs, and one no play. Don't forget to give part of your winnings to support your local youth wrestling program, where tomorrow's champions are born! Enjoy the fights. I know I will.