InterMat Staff

After Northwestern fifth-year senior Brandon Precin suffered the most devastating loss of his college wrestling career -- a 3-1 loss in the semifinals of the 2011 NCAAs to Iowa's Matt McDonough -- it was gut-check time. "In my mind, I had a decision to make," said Precin, a three-time All-American for the Wildcats. "Either I could take third or I could take sixth. I just had to buckle down." Northwestern's Brandon Precin finished his college wrestling career as a three-time All-American at 125 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Precin did just that. He rebounded to win his final two matches the following day to finish third at the NCAAs for the second time in his career. It was by no means the way Precin wanted -- or envisioned -- his college wrestling career ending, but he was not going to be ungrateful. "It was bittersweet," said Precin of his third-place finish. "I was pretty emotional. I was happy that I went out there and gave it my all." Precin had climbed to No. 1 in the rankings at 125 pounds earlier in the season after beating McDonough, a 2010 NCAA champion, in the finals of the Midlands Championships. Precin and McDonough met again a month later in a dual meet at Northwestern. In that match, Precin controlled the action through the first two periods and led 3-0 late in the match before McDonough threw a headlock and secured a pin. McDonough edged Precin in the Big Ten finals and finally in the NCAA semifinals. "I went into each match (against McDonough) thinking I would win," said Precin. "That's the way you have to go into each match. You have to respect your opponent, but you have to know going into the match that you're going to win. Obviously, it didn't go my way, but I went into each match thinking I was going to win. "We both have respect for each other. I think we both knew coming in that it was going to be a battle and there weren't going to be any easy points scored." Northwestern's Brandon Precin and Iowa's Matt McDonough get in a scramble in their semifinal match at the 2011 NCAAs (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Precin's weight class was won by Arizona State's Anthony Robles, who defeated McDonough in the NCAA finals. "I would have liked to have wrestled Robles," said Precin. "We were 1-1 against each at the 2009 NCAAs. He beat me the first time and I beat him the second time. We established some competitiveness against each other. I definitely would have liked to have another shot at him. But as the saying goes, you have to wrestle the guy in front of you." Precin graduated from Northwestern with a history degree in March. He will walk at Northwestern's graduation ceremony in June. "It was a world-class experience, athletics, academics, socially," Precin said of his college experience. "It was a great experience for me. I learned a lot by going to Northwestern. I don't have any regrets in that sense. Even though I finished third, instead of first, I put forth as much effort as possible." Northwestern's Brandon Precin defeated Utah Valley's Ben Kjar to finish in third place at the 2011 NCAAs at 125 pounds (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Precin's focus has now shifted to freestyle wrestling. Last year he placed seventh at the U.S. Open and true fourth at the U.S. World Team Trials. He chose not to compete at this year's U.S. Open, which took place in April 8-9, because he says it was too close to the end of the collegiate wrestling season and he wanted to "work out some kinks" while making the transition from folkstyle wrestling to freestyle wrestling. Instead, Precin opted to compete at the 2011 University Nationals in Akron, Ohio, which took place two weeks after the U.S. Open. He dominated the competition in Akron, winning a University Nationals title at 55 kg, which included a victory in the finals over Cornell's Frank Perrelli, a fifth-place finisher at the U.S. Open. By winning University Nationals, Precin qualified for the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials, which are set for June 10-11 in Oklahoma City, Okla. In addition to Perrelli, Precin has beaten other top contenders on the senior level at 55 kg, including 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Hazewinkel. Precin defeated Hazewinkel in the seventh-place match at last year's U.S. Open. "Being able to compete with all the top guys last year gave me confidence that I can go out there, compete, and beat these guys," said Precin. "I feel at last year's U.S. Open I did pretty well and that helped propel me at the World Team Trials." Precin currently divides his time between Northwestern and the Overtime School of Wrestling in Naperville, Ill. He says that it's a lot of "flip-flopping," but he feels it gives him the best opportunity to succeed. For Precin, there is no shortage of wrestling brains to pick. His coaches include Northwestern coaches Drew Pariano and Tim Cysewski, as well as Overtime coaches Sean Bormet, Kerry Boumans, Ed Giese, and John Kading, among others. Precin has not only had to make a quick transition from folkstyle to freestyle, but also adjust to the 55-kg (121-pound) weight class, which is four pounds lighter than his collegiate weight class of 125 pounds. However, in college wrestling, competitors weigh in an hour before competition. In freestyle wrestling, competitors weigh in the day before competition. Northwestern coaches Tim Cysewski and Jake Herbert talk to Brandon Precin before the 2011 Big Ten finals at 125 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)"The weight cut is definitely different," Precin said of the difference between his college weight class and freestyle weight class. "There is a different plan of attack for cutting weight. In folkstyle, you have to keep your weight low all the time. In freestyle, there's a little bit more leeway, but you still have to keep your weight somewhat low. You have to be able to cut the weight safely and be within striking distance." Precin has his immediate sights set on winning the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials. He has aspirations of winning World-level medals, like his former Northwestern teammate and coach Jake Herbert, who captured a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships. "To have Jake bring home that medal and actually see it, it made it real," said Precin. Soon a World-level medal could become even more real to Precin.

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The National Wrestling Coaches Association has announced its annual Division I All-Academic Top 30 Teams and the NWCA Individual All-Academic wrestling team for the 2010-11 wrestling season. Harvard is honored as the nation's top academic wrestling program for the second year in a row, while three NCAA Champions also made the individual list. On this year's Individual All-Academic Team there are 92 total athletes, three NCAA Champions, five NCAA Runner-Ups, 28 All-Americans and 83 NCAA Qualifiers. The NWCA All-Academic Team records go back to 1991, which until this year the 2001 Princeton team held the highest team GPA of 3.43. This year that was broken by two teams who hold the No.1 and No.2 spots respectively. The Harvard University Crimson lead this year's team with a 3.51 GPA. This is the second year in a row that Harvard, lead by head coach Jay Weiss, has taken home top honors. Mark Cody's team at American had another outstanding season as well, placing Top 5 at the NCAA Championships and for the second year in a row finishing No. 2 as an All-Academic Team with a GPA of 3.48. Both Harvard and American improved their Team GPA's to lead this year's Top 30 teams. Finishing out the Top 10 Teams are: Harvard, American, Columbia, South Dakota State, Old Dominion, Princeton, Chattanooga, Nebraska, Utah Valley and Cornell. Ten of the eleven Division I Conferences are represented in the Top 30. The EIWA has the most teams with nine. "Being able to recognize our coaches and their teams for the accomplishments that they have made academically is always a high point at the end of the season for our staff. All of the athletes that have made this year's team are setting themselves up for success once they leave college, they are becoming leaders of the future," said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. For teams to be eligible for consideration, the team GPA is comprised of 12 student athletes, including the 10 wrestlers that were the entries in the NCAA tournament conference qualifier. If teams had less than 10 entries for their respective qualifier, they may fill those spots with wrestlers that competed in at least one varsity dual during the season. The Individual All-Academic Team also has qualifying standards by GPA and season record/accomplishment. Ninety-two wrestlers take this honor home with them; out of that group 83 of them competed at the 2011 NCAA Division I Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 2011 individual with the highest GPA is North Dakota State's Tyler Johnson who has 4.0, while majoring in Biology. This year's NCAA Elite 88 Winner Nick Amuchastegui, comes in at No. 2 with a 3.979 GPA at Stanford University where he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. The Elite 88 Award is presented to the top athlete qualifying for a post-season championship in each of the NCAA's 88 national championship events. Rounding out the Top 5 highest GPA's are Ryan Flores of American with a 3.94, Nebraska's Tucker Lane with a 3.937, and Daniel Mitchell of American with a 3.927. The three NCAA Champions on this year's Individual Team are: Penn State's Quentin Wright, Kyle Dake of Cornell, and Lehigh's Zachery Rey. American University sets another record this year with six individuals making the team, prior to this the individual team record set was five athletes. All six of these individuals qualified for the NCAA Tournament, while three of them earned the title of All-American, they are: Steve Fittery, Ryan Flores, Patrick Graham, Matthew Mariacher, Daniel Mitchell and Ganbayar Sanjaa. Both Cornell University and the University of Oklahoma had five individuals named to the team, both with three All-Americans. The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, student-athlete welfare, and promotion of wrestling.

FIGHT! Magazine's managing editor Jim Casey shares his favorite Doug Blubaugh moments. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: Summer, 1998 I was a 133-pound sophomore wrestler at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, working our summer wrestling camp when I first had the pleasure of meeting Doug, one of our camp's featured clinicians. I was slated to be Doug's handler while he was at the camp, moving him from session to session, acting as his technique dummy, and taking him to lunch. To say I was immediately mesmerized by Doug is an understatement. Doug had driven through the night from Oklahoma to make it to the camp on time. He showed up in a conversion van and asked me to help him unload his gear, which consisted of his 1960 Olympic gold medal and 400 posters of him pinning Emam-Ali Habibi of Iran. He traveled light. Doug BlubaughDoug was an immediate hit with the kids. They couldn't get enough of him. They loved his old-school wrestling moves and his candid conversation. He would show the campers a neck crank they had never seen, talk about mail-order brides, and then walk on his hands across the mat. He was a 63-year-old, one-man comedy show. After the last technique session of the day, Doug would go over to a table and autograph posters. One of the kids got the Olympic champion laughing so hard that Doug -- who suffered from narcolepsy -- fell asleep on the table and drooled on one of the posters. When Doug woke up, he gave me the poster (which I still have), telling me that if he ever died, his DNA was on the poster and to clone him. That was Doug -- always cracking a joke. And, this brings me to my favorite Doug moment. One the third day of camp, we decided to break up the monotony of wrestling by going to the pool and having a high-dive contest, with the winner receiving all sorts of UTC wrestling gear. We asked Doug to be a judge. He immediately declined. Instead, Doug wanted to enter the competition. Who was I to say no? So, Doug got in line with a bunch of kids. After about 20 or so lackluster backflips and one-and-a-half dives, a round, little, chubby 10-year-old, whose name was Goldberg, climbed the ladder. Goldberg was one of the big hits of the camp. Whenever he entered the arena, hundreds of campers would shout, "Gooooolllllllddddddd Beeeeerrrrrrrg, Gooooolllllllddddddd Beeeeerrrrrrrg," which was in reference to the enormous popularity of professional wrestler Bill Goldberg. Chubby, little, Goldberg waved to the onlookers, ran off the board, and did a flawless belly flop to the delight of the crowd. He emerged from the water with perfect 10s across the board -- and everyone chanting, "Gooooolllllllddddddd Beeeeerrrrrrrg." The 1960 Olympic Gold medalist was undeterred. He climbed the ladder and poised himself. Doug took a deep breath, ran a few steps, and jumped high into the air. He bounced his butt off the diving board (spank the baby) and immediately went into a handstand with his back facing the water. It was magical. However, Doug had problems holding the handstand and he teetered off the side of the board, still trying to complete his inverted one-and-a-half dive. He managed to nail the flip, but he couldn't stick the dive, and he landed on his stomach, causing a huge splash. After a few tense seconds, Doug popped up from the water unscathed, probably because he had the skin of a bull elephant. He looked at the scores -- 10s across the board, except for an 8. There was a Goldberg sympathizer on the judge's panel -- one of his classmates. Doug was irate, pleading his case that not only did he spank the baby, nail the handstand, and complete a flip, but also his inadvertent belly flop was far more substantial than Goldberg's. There was nothing I could do. The scores were tallied, and Doug finished third. Here was a man who won an NCAA Championship, Olympic gold medal, and Outstanding Wrestler of the world, and he was getting third in the 1998 UTC Wrestling Camp Diving Contest. At lunch, Doug told me that he was more mad at himself than the kid who gave him the 8. "I know I could nail that dive if I had another chance," he said. I agreed. At the end of the week, I tried to give Doug a bag of UTC wrestling gear. Doug refused it, saying, "I didn't earn it." That was Doug. He never wanted anything that he didn't earn. My former teammates and I still talk about Doug every time we get together for reunions. He was an amazing man. Doug Blubaugh will be missed.

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio Wrestling added six newcomers to its stable of student-athletes, the program announced Wednesday afternoon. Five student-athletes have achieved state titles and all have placed in their various state tournaments multiple times. Combined with its fall class, the recruiting class projects to cover most of the weight classes on the roster and includes many talented wrestlers and academic achievements. "We are extremely excited to welcome this class to Ohio,” said Ohio head coach Joel Greenlee. “This is an outstanding group of student-athletes and it is one of the finest our staff has ever assembled. This group is really exciting from the perspective of, not only the obvious athletic talent, but from the perspective of the type of students and quality young men we have recruited. Collegiate wrestling success starts with a commitment and dedication to the classroom and to the sport and that is exactly what this group exudes. They will all be fantastic additions to, not only Ohio Wrestling, but the University as well." The bios of the six newcomers are below: Tyler Heminger - Galion Northmor, OH (2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 1st) - Ranked 14th at 119 lbs. by USA Wrestling Magazine, earning him All-America honors…He is a four-time state finalist and capped off a terrific senior year with an Ohio state title…He is a two-time conference Wrestler of the Year, 2010 Central District Division III Wrestler of the Year and 2011 Central District Wrestler of the Year…He finished with an outstanding 190-16 career record, which is a Galion Northmor High School record and lands him in the top 20 in Ohio High School History for most wins…Almost as impressive are his academic accomplishments as he is a three-time Academic All-Ohio member and a member of the National Honor Society…Heminger is projected to wrestle either the 125 or 133 lb. weight classes for Ohio. Nick Goebel – Elmwood, OH (1st, 3rd, 2nd) - Goebel is another highly successful Ohio high school wrestler, as he has a career record of 175-17…He has placed among the top three in the state three times and his career is highlighted by an Ohio state title and undefeated season in 2009…Goebel is also a strong academic performer as he was an honor roll student at Elmwood High School for all four years…He is projected to wrestle at the 125 lb. weight class for Ohio. Spartak Chino - Wheaton, IL (5th, 5th, 1st) - A three-time Illinois high school state place winner, Chino finished off his senior season with a state title and was named HM All-America at 152 lbs. in Wrestling USA Magazine…While at Wheaton High School, he was named All-Conference the past four years and finished with a career record of 142-18…He took fourth at Folkstyle Nationals and has also been a member of the Cadet/Junior Illinois National Dual Team the last three years…In addition to his wrestling prowess, Chino was an All-Conference performer for his high school football team that won the Illinois state title the past two years and was ranked in the top 10 nationally this year…Chino is another excellent student, as he was named to the Illinois Academic All-State Team the last three years as well…He is a member of his high school's athletic leadership council, as well as in the prestigious J. Kyle Braid Leadership Foundation, a nationwide leadership group composed of 20 high school senior boys who demonstrate good character and leadership through athletics in their community…Chino is projected to wrestle at the 157 lb. weight class for Ohio. Cody Rodgers – Mechanicsburg, OH (4th, 6th, 3rd) - Rodgers finished his high school career with a 175-25 record, going 45-3 his senior year on his way to a third-place state tournament finish…Rodgers is a four-time Ohio State Tournament entrant and a three-time state place winner…In addition to wrestling, he was a four-year starter in football and is another academic standout, having been on the Mechanicsburg High School honor roll all four years, while also being a National Honor Society Member…Rodgers is projected to wrestle at the 197 lb. weight class for Ohio. Keith Johnson – Dover, OH (7th, 3rd) - Johnson is a three-time state entrant and two-time Ohio state place winner, after placing third as a senior…He finished his career with a 146-24 record and is Dover's career wins and takedowns leader, while being a two-year team captain…In addition to wrestling, the two-sport student-athlete excelled in football, earning All-Ohio honors while playing running back and serving as a team captain…He is projected to wrestle at the 184 lb. weight class for Ohio. Marshal Willet – Brecksville, OH (3rd) - Willet has a career record of 103-32 and placed third in the Ohio state tournament at 171 lbs. this year…He was named Brecksville Wrestling MVP and a team captain…Other athletic accolades include being a 2011 two-time freestyle AAU bronze medalist, two-time freestyle state runner-up, four-year letterman in wrestling and a two-year letterman in football…Yet another academic standout, Willet was a four-year honor roll member for Brecksville High School, an Academic All-Ohio selection for 2011 and a two-year National Honors Society Member…He is projected to wrestle at the 174 lb. weight class for Ohio. This group will join Ohio's five newcomers that were announced in the fall: Garret Garness (Hayfield, Minn.), Daniel Mirman (Wadsworth, Ohio), Zach Rohr (Hastings, Minn.), Andrew Romanchik (Independence, Ohio) and Cody Walters (Macedonia, Ohio).

Fight Now USA Presents Takedown Wrestling from the Brute studios in Des Moines, Iowa at 1460 KXNO. Takedown Wrestling is brought to you by Kemin Agrifoods! Join Takedown Wrestling Host Scott Casber along with special in studio guest host UFC and MMA star Joe Brammer. Join in this Saturday for Takedown Wrestling 9 to 11 a.m. CT/ 10 a.m. to 12 noon ET. This weeks guests include: 9:01 to 9:15 Heath Eslinger, head coach at Chattanooga 9:20 to 9:35 Bucky Maughan, retiring head coach of NDSU Bison 9:40 Mike Garrow, head of the NEW Fight Now USA Network 9:50 Max Muscle Minute with Ty Barkley 10:01 to 10:15 Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling's Abbott of wrestling 10:20 Kevin Dresser, head coach at Virginia Tech 10:40 Joe Brammer, "The Hammer" UFC, MMA Star Elite Edge Training Center 10:50 Maureen Roshar Wildrose Casino and Resort in Clinton, Iowa Join us LIVE 9 to 11 AM CST for Takedown Wrestling. Listen on radio, on computer, your Blackberry or iPhone with the iHeart Radio App, KXNO.com, or Takedownradio.com.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- 2008 Olympic gold medalist and author Henry Cejudo joins a distinguished group of Olympic and Paralympic champions and hopefuls as one of Coca-Cola's “Ambassadors of Active Living” to inspire people to lead active and balanced lives. The high-profile athletes form the Coca-Cola “Eight-Pack” as part of the brand's London 2012 Olympic Summer Games program. Coca-Cola is the longest continuous corporate partner of the Olympic Games since 1928 and the 2012 Games will be the third consecutive time in which Coca-Cola has included a collection of athletes as part of its Olympic program. The 2012 Coca-Cola “Eight-Pack” consists of Henry Cejudo (wrestling), Shawn Johnson (gymnastics), David Oliver (track and field), Jessica Long (Paralympic Swimming), David Boudia (Diving), Marlen Esparza (boxing), John Isner (tennis) and Alex Morgan (soccer). Coca-Cola will highlight Cejudo as a member of Coca-Cola's “Eight-Pack” in a variety of creative initiatives including in-store materials and advertising targeting all consumers including specific programs for Hispanic and African-American consumers. Details about how Cejudo and the athletes are to be featured will be available in the future. “I am extremely honored to be a Coca-Cola Ambassador of Active Living and a member of its Olympic Eight-Pack. Coca-Cola has given so much to the Olympic program over the years, and has a long tradition of inspired community involvement. It is exciting to be involved with a company of Coca-Cola's caliber and to participate alongside such amazing athletes,” Cejudo stated. About Henry Cejudo Olympic gold medalist and author, Henry Cejudo, achieved his dream of becoming an Olympic gold medalist at just 21 years old. Henry made history by becoming the youngest American wrestler to bring home the gold. The American born son of undocumented immigrants from Mexico, Cejudo spent his early years in fear of his criminal father and immigration officials. He struggled to find consistency in his chaotic world as he fought for survival on and off the wrestling mat. His amazing story of determination and triumph has won the hearts of America. A story that was captured by Henry Cejudo and Bill Plaschke in a book titled “American Victory.” Henry continues to achieve his dreams with another book deal, adidas shoe endorsement and inspiring millions of young athletes and troubled youth through his work with numerous charities. Many have expressed that Cejudo represents everything that is right with this country and that his journey embodies the ethos of the American Dream. To learn more about Henry Cejudo visit his website at www.henrycejudo.com. About The Coca-Cola Company The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. The Company's portfolio includes 15 billion dollar brands, including Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, as well as Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia. Globally, they are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, Coca-Cola is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where they operate. For more information, please visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

HUMBOLDT, Iowa -- The hometown of world wrestling champion Frank Gotch, one of the nation's best-known athletes in the early part of the 20th Century, is making plans to honor its most famous citizen with a statue to be placed in Bicknell Park. The park occupies the site where Gotch trained for his most important match. The project is being run by a not-for-profit organization called the Frank Gotch Statue Committee. “Frank Gotch was arguably the top athlete in America in the 1908 to 1915 era,” said co-chair Steve Reimers, a lifelong resident of the city located in the northwestern part of the state. “Frank brought great recognition to this town and to all of Iowa. Many of us feel it is time to pay a special tribute to Gotch and the great legacy he left behind.” Bicknell Park was the site of Gotch's training camp prior to his epic match with George Hackenschmidt, known as The Russian Lion, on September 3, 1911, in Chicago. Gotch set up camp by the small bluff on the Des Moines River and spectators flocked to watch the world champion in training. Sports reporters from around the nation converged on Humboldt the month prior to the match. One reporter estimated that one day there were nearly 2,000 fans down by the park watching Gotch train. The camp consisted of a large ring, handball courts and an area for wall pulleys and punching bags. Several of the top wrestler in the world came to the camp at various times to serve as workout partners for Gotch. His training was supervised by Farmer Burns, considered the greatest professional wrestling instructor of all time. Bicknell Park was donated to the city in 1920. The project will include a brick walkway around the pedestal the statue stands on. The statue will be made of bronze and stand eight-foot tall, depicting Gotch in a familiar pose with hands on hips while attired in a wrestling uniform. It will be placed on a two-foot high pedestal, with accompanying information on his career and life in Humboldt. Gotch was undefeated during his seven-year rein as world champion and won his last 88 matches in a row. He owned a considerable amount of land in Iowa and Minnesota and was active in the community in a variety of ways. He was part owner of an automobile dealership in Humboldt and served on several civic boards. He was even being considered to star in a movie in Hollywood and the Republican Party of Iowa was looking at him as a possible candidate for governor in 1920. But Gotch fell ill in early 1917 and died on December 16, 1917, at the age of 39, of kidney failure. His death was front-page news all around the nation and an estimated 2,000 people attended his funeral. He is buried in a large mausoleum in Union Cemetery, two miles west of town. According to the author Mac Davis, in the book 100 Greatest Sports Heroes, Gotch was a bigger star than any boxer or baseball player. “As the idol of millions in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Gotch made wrestling a big-time sport in his day. Babies had been named in his honor, as had buildings, toys, farm implements and a hundred other things. The word ‘Gotch' was a synonym for quality and strength.” The statue committee is comprised of various members of the Humboldt community, as well as two noteworthy “outsiders.” Frank Gotch III is the grandson of the legendary wrestler and currently lives near Austin, Texas. He has agreed to serve as an honorary member. Mike Chapman is one of the nation's leading wrestling historians and the author of 22 books, including three on Gotch. One of them, Gotch: An American Hero, has been purchased by Empire Film Group in Los Angeles and is under development as a major motion picture. “We are delighted that the grandson of Frank Gotch and a well-known historian are helping us with the project,” said Reimers. Other members of the committee are Ron Wasoba, former Humboldt High School wrestling coach, who is co-chair; Tonya Harklau, former executive director of the Humboldt Area Chamber of Commerce; Maurey Abens, Chad Beaman, Jana Bratland, Ken Bratland, Kent Clendenen, Todd Lee, Phil Monson and Bruce Reimers, a former NFL football player from Humboldt who played in a Super Bowl as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. “In an effort to make this project all inclusive, we are reaching out to the citizens of Humboldt, and also to wrestling fans across the state and the entire nation,” said Wasoba. “Frank Gotch helped created a strong interest in wrestling in America in the early 1900s. We believe many fans across the nation will want to be a part of this effort to honor his memory and his impact on the sport, both amateur and professional.” “I think part of the reason this is such a wonderful project is because Frank Gotch had a very powerful love of this community,” said Chapman. “After he became world champion, many promoters and managers tried to get him to leave Iowa and move to the big city. But he never was tempted. He told them he was born an Iowa farmer, was raised an Iowa farmer and would die an Iowa farmer. And he was true to his word.” There are various levels of support offered to donors, beginning at $125 and going up to $3,000, and beyond. Anyone wishing more information should contact the Frank Gotch Project, c/o Friends of the Park, PO Box 247, Humboldt, Iowa, 50548, or call Tonya Harklau at 515-332-3285 (or harklauj@goldfieldaccess.net) for further details. Donations are tax deductible to the extent offered by the law.

Kevin Dresser

Jim Raschke

Bob Steenlage

Tom Brands

Mike Chapman

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Brown University wrestling team is proud to announce its class of 2015, consisting of seven distinguished student-athletes: Kenny Staub (Dalton Gardens, Idaho), Tyler Orfe (Palmyra, N.J.), Zach Rees (Kearney, Neb.), Ricky McDonald (Carson City, Nev.), Zack Tanenbaum (Overland Park, Kan.), Tanner Hough (Johnstown, Pa.) and Ophir Bernstein (Allen, Texas). "These seven distinguished young men will be a great addition to College Hill," said assistant coach John Clark. "They exemplify what it means to be a student-athlete here at Brown University." Geographically speaking, this is one of the most western oriented incoming classes in Brown wrestling history. Leading the group that will be traveling eastward to Providence is Texan, Ophir Bernstein, ranked eighth nationally at 189 pounds. Bernstein is a two-time State finalist for Allen High School, placing second in 2010 and first in 2011, and was voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Texas State tournament this past year. Bernstein finished his high school career with a career record of 147-19 (including an undefeated 44-0 his senior year), and was a two-time All-American at USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals in Iowa. From Idaho, Kenny Staub brings four state tournament placements to Brown (third in 2011, second in 2010, fifth in 2009 and fifth in 2008). Staub finished with an impressive 148 career victories for Coeur d'Alene High School, a school record for the Gem State powerhouse, while leading the Vikings to two team state championships. From Nevada, the Bears welcome NHSCA Senior Nationals All-American Ricky McDonald, a two-time state champion at Bishop Manogue High School. McDonald was also a four-time state place-winner, amassing 193 career wins, while placing four times at the state tournament (first in 2011 and 2010, second in 2009 and third in 2008). Showcasing his athletic ability, McDonald was also an All-State defensive back for his football team. Also strengthening this incoming class is Nebraska's Zach Rees, who was a three-time state place-winner for Kearney High School, placing second as a senior, fourth as a junior and third as a sophomore, while compiling a career record of 108-20. Showing his strengths in the classroom as well as on the wrestling mat, Rees was an academic All-American in all four years of high school. Joining the Bears from Kansas is Zack Tanenbaum, a three-time state champion and 2011 Kansas 6A wrestler of the year. Tanenbaum's accomplishments include four region and district titles, and a championship at the Brute Adidas Nationals. The incoming freshman carried a perfect 40-0 record his senior year for Overland Park High School, and was awarded the prestigious NAIA Champion of Character award. Rounding out this years class are two wrestlers hailing from two states that are mainstays at the top of the national high school rankings, Tanner Hough from Westmont Hilltop High School in Pennsylvania and Tyler Orfe from Bishop Eustace Prep in New Jersey. Orfe was a four-time district champion and three-time New Jersey Region place-winner (second in 2009, fourth in 2010 and 2011). Orfe was twice named all-conference, and finished with 125 career wins. Hough was a three-time Pennsylvania state medal-winner (second in 2011, fourth in 2010 and sixth in 2008), and a three-time district champion. Hough compiled a career record of 143-31; a school record for the Hilltoppers, and placed four times at the Powerade Tournament.

Josh Watts has already built one successful junior college wrestling program from scratch. Now the former three-time prep champion from Iowa is about to try to again. Watts was named the first wrestling coach at Iowa Western on Monday. The Reivers will compete at the NJCAA Division I level and will begin competing for the upcoming 2011-12 athletic season. Watts has been the head coach at Darton College in Albany, Ga., for the past four years. He guided the Cavaliers from a fledgling club program to a No. 6 ranking in NJCAA Division III during his first three seasons while producing 30 national qualifiers in all. Previously, Watts was an assistant coach at Loras College, where he wrestled for two years after beginning his collegiate career at the University of Northern Iowa. He won three state prep titles at Davenport Assumption, where he amassed a then-record 190 wins. Watts was selected from a strong pool of nearly 50 applicants, said IWCC athletic director Brenda Hampton.

Mike Denney, former head wrestling coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, will go “On the Mat” this Wednesday, May 18. "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 - 6:00 PM Central on AM 1650, The Fan. A podcast of the show will be available on themat.com. This Wednesday's show will run from 5 p.m. to 5:35 p.m. Central. E-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show. Denney coached the University of Nebraska-Omaha to six NCAA Division II team titles in the past eight seasons. UNO recently announced that it will eliminate its wrestling and football programs as a result of joining NCAA Division I athletics next year. ESPN aired a feature on "Outside the Lines" about Nebraska-Omaha dropping its program. Maryville University in St. Louis announced that it will begin a new wrestling program effective June 1, 2011. Mike Denney was hired as the wrestling program's first head coach.

FARGO, N.D. -- North Dakota State head wrestling coach Bucky Maughan announced his retirement today after 47 seasons at the helm of the program. “The NDSU wrestling program is synonymous with the Maughan name,” said Director of Athletics Gene Taylor. “Bucky has built a standard of excellence for our program over his 47 years that we will be eternally grateful for. He will be missed in the wrestling room but we look forward to his continued involvement as an ambassador for wrestling and our wrestling alumni.” Bucky MaughanA National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, Maughan led the Bison to four NCAA Division II national championships in 1988, 1998, 2000 and 2001 as well as six national runner-up finishes. During the Division II era, he coached 21 wrestlers to 30 NCAA Division II national championships and had 19 wrestlers compete in the Division I Championships, including six placewinners. Maughan also led NDSU to 17 North Central Conference titles, including a span of nine straight from 1982-1990, and coached 88 NCC individual champions. He was inducted into the Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1997. He also successfully guided the Bison into the Division I era. Since making the move to Division I in 2006, he has coached five Western Wrestling Conference champions and sent five wrestlers to the NCAA Divison I Championships. Maughan, the winningest coach in NDSU history, finished his career with a record of 467-157-13. He led the Bison to three undefeated seasons in 1984-85, 1991-92 and 2003-04. A native of Canonsburg, Pa., Maughan was a Pennsylvania state champion during his high school career. He was a two-time NAIA national champion at Minnesota State Moorhead in 1962 and 1963 and also claimed the 1963 NCAA Division I 115 pound championship. Bucky and his wife Leota have two sons, Jack and Bret, who were both two-time All-American wrestlers at North Dakota State.

Jack Spates

Dan Gable

WATERLOO, Iowa -- Former University of Iowa wrestling All-Americans Daniel Dennis and Luke Lofthouse advanced to the U.S. World Team Trials after winning titles at the Northern Plains Senior Regionals Saturday in Waterloo, Iowa. Dennis, a two-time All-American, NCAA qualifier and Big Ten place-winner, defeated 2010 Junior World Team member Ryak Finch 0-6, 3-3, 2-0 in the 55kg/121 lb. finals. Lofthouse, a four-year UI letterwinner and 2011 NCAA All-American, defeated Kamarudeen Usman 1-1, 1-4, 1-0 in the 96kg/211.5 lb. finals. Lofthouse and Dennis will join former Hawkeyes Dan Erekson (96kg/211.5 lbs.), Brent Metcalf (66kg/145.5 lbs.), Ryan Morningstar (74kg/163 lbs.) and Mike Zadick (60kg/132 lbs.) at the USA Wrestling World Team Trials in Oklahoma City, Okla. The two-day event will begin Friday, June 10, 2011. The presentation of the World Championship teams will conclude the event. The winners earn the right to represent the United States at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. Iowa City will host the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials April 21-22 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The trials will determine which athletes will represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The event will be held April 21-22, 2012, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials go on sale Monday, June 6, 2011 at 9 a.m. Visit iowacitytolondon.com for more information.

CLEVELAND, Ga. -- Truett-McConnell College will be adding wrestling to its athletic program beginning fallcoach bailey wrestling 1 2011. National Wrestling Hall of Fame coach Jim Bailey has been appointed as the new wrestling coach. Bailey hails from Fayetteville, GA where he taught English and coached wrestling and football. He comes to TMC with 33 years of coaching experience and was one of five Hall of Fame Georgia inductees chosen to be featured in the national museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The newly appointed wrestling coach is excited about the upcoming program as well as the opportunity to coach college athletes. “It was a complete surprise; I wasn't expecting to start something on the collegiate level, but God shook me out of my comfort zone,” Bailey said. Jim BaileyCoach Bailey stated that he has already started recruiting and the news about the new program is spreading quickly. As far as his vision for the program, Bailey affirmed that his main goal is to create a solid team that stays united. TMC athletic director, Chris Eppling, looks forward to working with Bailey and establishing the new sport. “I think that having wrestling here will open up new horizons athletically for Truett-McConnell College. I am thrilled to have Coach Bailey as a part of the TMC family. I look forward to hearing the stories of how God has used wrestling and Coach Bailey in the lives of our TMC students in the future,” Eppling remarked. Additionally, Bailey emphasized that he desires to create a team that is bound together by strong relationships and to help students understand that God wants them find their best potential and develop it. “When I learn I can do more than I thought I could, I can take that and apply it to different areas in life. I desire to create good men to compete; wrestling is not something they are going to do after college. Hopefully, they will take away lessons to apply to their lives, as well as long-lasting friendships,” Bailey said. The coach said he is ready to face the challenge that comes in building a unified team in such an individual-based sport. He plans to build camaraderie in team training sessions and to encourage the athletes to work together as they compete in team matches. In addition, he aims to promote Christian athleticism in his program by encouraging athletes to do their best. “I encourage them to do the best they can, just like in our spiritual life, we do the best we can for God. I look at competition as bringing out the best in each other. I want the athletes to learn to respect each other and to respect themselves,” said Bailey. Coach Bailey is currently working on recruiting students, and the recruits will be visiting the campus this summer. Eppling and Bailey will host a meet and greet time for any prospective student at the Nix Center on May 21, from 10:00am-1:00pm. Though unsure of the date of their first match, Bailey stated that the team will most likely participate in early season tournaments. The Truett-McConnell College wrestling team plans to compete against teams in the southeast including Shorter University. Truett-McConnell College equips students to fulfill the Great Commission by fostering a Christian Worldview through a Biblically-centered liberal arts education.

Many of the nation's top high school recruits have always dreamed of winning NCAA Division I titles on the big stage ... or earning Division I All-American honors. Not Terrell Wilbourn. Wilbourn, a three-time state champion who is ranked as the No. 29 recruit in the country by InterMat, was recruited by several Division I programs, including Iowa State and Nebraska, but ultimately decided on Iowa Central Community College. He projects at 141 pounds in college. "I went to visit Iowa Central and liked the campus," said Wilbourn, who attends Francis Howell Central High School (Mo.). "I liked the small atmosphere. "Iowa State and Nebraska are really big, so I probably would have gotten lost." (Wilbourn's brother, Brandon, is a member of the Nebraska wrestling team.) Terrell Wilbourn won an NHSCA Senior Nationals titleWilbourn plans on wrestling two seasons at Iowa Central, but is uncertain after that. "I'm not sure if I want to do DI at all," he said. Wilbourn, a Cadet Nationals champion and Junior Nationals runner-up in freestyle, has aspirations of winning World and Olympic medals in freestyle. He says that he would consider training freestyle full time ahead of wrestling at the Division I level. "I'll be training (freestyle) a lot on and off at Iowa State (while attending Iowa Central), just getting ready for the next Olympic cycle," said Wilbourn, who has developed a relationship with Iowa State coach Kevin Jackson. Wilbourn suffered a knee injury last summer, just weeks before Junior Nationals in Fargo, that hampered him all season. Still, despite not being completely healthy, Wilbourn reached the Junior Nationals freestyle finals, claimed his third state title, and won an NHSCA Senior Nationals title. "I'm about eighty percent," said Wilbourn, who finished his prep career with a record of 176-5. "I can't even really run that long because my knee will give out." Wilbourn says that he does not think he will wrestle in Fargo this summer. "I might go out to Iowa Central as soon as possible, just to get in some summer classes," said Wilbourn.

Related Link: The Clash X: Introducing the first 11 teams The Clash National Wrestling Duals recruiting committee is proud to announce six more entrants to The Clash X, which will take place Dec. 30-31 at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. With the announcement of these six teams, 17 teams have now been officially announced for The Clash X. The six teams introduced in this article join Apple Valley (Minn.), St. Paris Graham (Ohio), Clovis (Calif.), Simley (Minn.), Carl Sandburg (Ill.), Kasson-Mantorville (Minn.), St. Michael-Albertville (Minn.), Arrowhead (Wis.), Hastings (Minn.), Baylor (Tenn.), and Vacaville (Calif.). The remaining 15 teams will be introduced leading up to the event. 12. St. Edward, Ohio Record at The Clash: 4-2 Appearance at The Clash: 2nd Returning State Champions: 3 Returning State Placewinners: 10 Greg Urbas of St. Edward (Ohio) is a coaching legend (Photo/Bob Tuneberg, BuckeyeWrestling.com)About St. Edward: You would be hard-pressed to find a high school with a richer wrestling tradition than St. Edward. Greg Urbas has been at this school for a total of 33 years, 22 as head coach. Here are some of the unparalleled stats: St. Ed's has 26 state team titles in its trophy case. As a team, in the last 35 years, the Eagles have five runner-up finishes, two third-place finishes, one seventh-place finish, and one eighth-place finish. The rest are gold medals. Coach Urbas is another master motivator who had a less than stellar wrestling career as a competitor. In his words: "I was terrible." His coaching sure isn't. Last season this team had 10 state qualifiers. All of them placed. St. Edward had three state champions and three runner-ups, one third, one fourth, and two fifths. Here's the scary part: All 14 starters return. St Edward has a grand total of 54 college All-Americans. The school has produced four NCAA individual champions. The Eagles have won 11 mythical national high school wrestling titles. When asked what motivates him today, Urbas replies, "I still love teaching the sport. It gets me excited to get out of bed." This will be St. Ed's second appearance at The Clash. 13. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Record at The Clash: 32-16 Appearance at The Clash: 9th Returning State Champions: 2 Returning State Placewinners: 10 Devin Peterson of Wisconsin Rapids won a FILA Junior Nationals Greco-Roman title this spring (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)About Wisconsin Rapids: Mention the name Benitz in Wisconsin wrestling circles and you will likely hear one word: Rapids. This is another father-son duo who seems to have been around forever. Lewie (father) started coaching at Rapids in 1966. He held that spot until 2008 when his son, Scott, took the lead. But Lewie is still a huge part of the team as an assistant to his son. This longevity and dedication has produced 15 out of the last 17 state titles in Wisconsin and 20 overall. Last season, Rapids qualified 12 for the state tournament, placed 10, and had four in the finals. Wisconsin Rapids recently acknowledged its 55th year of high school wrestling. Next season could possibly be the most talented team the program has produced. There will be nine seniors from 138 to 285. This small town team produced Jack Reinwand, a 1976 NCAA champion (Wisconsin) and a bronze medalist at the 1977 World Championships. 14. Christiansburg, Virginia Record at The Clash: 4-2 Appearance at The Clash: 2nd Returning State Champions: 5 Returning State Placewinners: 9 Christiansburg's Joey Dance, a two-time state champion, is ranked as the No. 17 sophomore in the country by InterMat (Photo/Bob Tuneberg, BuckeyeWrestling.com)About Christiansburg: Christiansburg is making its second trip to The Clash next season. In Clash VII, the Blue Demons managed to make it into the championship bracket and finished fourth with an overall record of 4-2. This national powerhouse recently won its 10th straight state title in Class AA. Coach Daryl Weber attributes the success to traveling to national events and taking on the best talent in the nation. Weber knows a little about competition. He was an NCAA champion and three-time All-American at the University of Iowa. Christiansburg qualified all 14 wrestlers to the state tournament this past season and ended with seven state champions. Twelve of the qualifiers will be returning along with five state champions. This team will be led by five seniors. Devin Carter, who now wrestles at Virginia Tech, is likely the most recognizable alumni. He made it to the round of 12 at the NCAAs this past season as a true freshman. 15. Colonial Forge, Virginia Record at The Clash: 0-0 Appearance at The Clash: 1st Returning State Champions: 0 Returning State Placewinners: 5 About Colonial Forge: Colonial Forge is a new entrant to The Clash. Bill Swink started teaching and coaching in 1999 when this school opened its doors. It didn't take long for the "newcomer" to explode onto the Virginia wrestling scene. The lowest this team has ever placed at the state tournament is sixth. Virginia has three class sizes and Colonial Forge is in the largest (AAA). The program went on a tremendous run a few years ago, winning the state team title in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Colonial Forge finished third in 2010. Next year's team will be strong with 12 returning starters, nine state qualifiers, and five state placewinners. A few notable alumni include Max Huntley (Michigan) Shane Gentry (Maryland), and Mike Garofalo (Nassau). 16. Archbishop Moeller, Ohio Record at The Clash: 6-6 Appearance at The Clash: 3rd Returning State Champions: 1 Returning State Placewinners: 5 Archbishop Moeller's Joey Ward raises his arms in celebration after becoming the program's ninth state wrestling champion (Photo/Bob Tuneberg, BuckeyeWrestling.com)About Archbishop Moeller: Archbishop Moeller returns to Minnesota for its third crack at The Clash. Jeff Gaier took over this storied program 26 years ago and has guided his team to three runner-up finishes in Division I in Ohio. Winning the title in that division in Ohio is a tall order with St. Ed's dominating that top spot for the last several decades. Like many top coaches, Gaier does not come with lofty credentials as a competitor. His main claim as a coach is the ability to bring some recognition to Southwest Ohio, which isn't known for producing top wrestling programs. Archbishop Moeller qualified eight wrestlers to the state tournament, placing five, with one state champion. For the next three years this team will be on everyone's radar. Archbishop Moeller had a record five junior high state champions who will be sophomores next season. 17. Forest Lake, Minnesota Record at The Clash: 4-2 Appearance at The Clash: 2nd Returning State Champions: 1 Returning State Placewinners: 3 Forest Lake coaches Billy Pierce (left) and Gordy Morgan (right) were All-Americans at the University of Minnesota (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)About Forest Lake: Minnesota's favorite son, Billy Pierce, will be bringing back the Rangers of Forest Lake. We would be remiss if we didn't mention that Pierce was a two-time state champion heavyweight before embarking on a successful college wrestling career at Minnesota, where he won a Big Ten title as a freshman and earned All-American honors three times. He took the reins at Forest Lake during the school's 50th year. Prior to that, this longtime Minnesota powerhouse was coached for 32 years by current State Representative Bob Dettmer. Forest Lake returns 12 wrestlers to the lineup with five state qualifiers. Many wrestling historians argue the 1993 Forest Lake team was one of the best the state has ever produced with seven state finalists and five state champions. Steve Elwood can be reached at steveel@rstransportinc.com. This story also appears in the May 20 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering amateur wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote amateur wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. Subscribe to The Guillotine.

BOULDER, CO -- Arno Niemand, longtime wrestling proponent, historian and member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and author of “The Dream Team of 1947” will join Scott Beck as a recipient of the USA Wrestling Lifetime Achievement Award during the Colorado Night of Champions taking place at the Denver Athletic Club on May 20. “Arno Niemand has greatly contributed to the sport of wrestling, from his early days as a wrestler to his current role as author and historian, and he is deeply respected and admired by the wrestling community,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling executive director. “Plus, his leadership has helped the United States become a world power in women's freestyle wrestling.” “I am tremendously pleased be a USA Wrestling Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and delighted to be sharing this experience with Scott Beck,” commented Mr. Niemand. “To be recognized by this esteemed organization is truly an honor for which I am very grateful.” The Colorado Night of Champions benefits the missions of USA Judo, USA Wrestling and Excel Wrestling. The Honorary Chairman of the event is Honorable U.S. Senator Hank Brown of Colorado. Brown, a former wrestler, also served as the president of the University of Colorado system for a number of years. 2011 NCAA Div. I wrestling champion Anthony Robles will be the keynote speaker. Leonard “Buck” Wessell and Dr. Dennis McGuire will also receive USA Judo Lifetime Achievement Awards during the event. About Arno Niemand Mr. Niemand is a 1956 graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca NY, where he was on the wrestling team. He was later inducted into the Cornell Hall of Distinguished Wrestling Alumni. He went on to earn his MBA in 1958 from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. Throughout his life, Mr. Niemand has continued to support the sport of wrestling, and in 2008 received the FILA Gold Star, which is the highest award given to an individual by the world governing body of wrestling. In 2009, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, earning the Order of Merit. In 2011 he was named Honorary Cornell College Alumnus. Mr. Niemand's book, “The Dream Team of 1947” chronicles the extraordinary story of the 1947 wrestling team of Cornell College. It is the true story of a dedicated and talented coach named Paul Scott, a nurturing small college and town, three young superstars fresh out of high school, and five service veterans who all bonded as a team to defeat all comers. The team was the first school outside the state of Oklahoma to win the NCAA team championship, and two weeks later went on to win the equally prestigious National AAU championship, winning the “grand slam” of amateur wrestling, something no other private school before or since has accomplished, The Great Depression, World War II, the GI Bill, struggles with scholastic achievement and a serious car crash all affect the team's future in this real-life drama. More details can be found at (http://dreamteam47.com). The book is available at (www.Amazon.com) and select book stores. As previous owner and chairman of Body Bar Inc., Niemand has sponsored the USA Wrestling Women's National Team since 2003.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Jenna Burkert celebrated her 18th birthday a week ago. Now she has something else to celebrate ... making her first Junior World Team. Jenna BurkertBurkert, who was fifth at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, dominated the competition at the 2011 Body Bar FILA Junior Women's Nationals in Kissimmee, Fla. on Sunday. The Rocky Point, N.Y. native went unscored upon in five matches en route to capturing the title at 59 kg, which included a two-match victory over Gabrielle Klein in the best-of-three finals. She also earned Outstanding Wrestler honors. Burkert will now represent the U.S. at the 2011 FILA Junior World Championships in Bucharest, Romania, July 26-31. Three past Junior World medalists, Victoria Anthony (48 kg), Helen Maroulis (55 kg), and Adeline Gray (67 kg), cruised to titles on Sunday. Anthony and Maroulis are returning Junior World medalists, which gave them automatic berths in the best-of-three finals. Gray won a Junior World title in 2008, failed to medal in 2009, and did not try out for the team last year due to injury. Anthony, a two-time Junior World champion, won her best-of-three series over Kristi Garr in two straight matches, 6-0, 7-0/10-2, 5-0. Maroulis, who claimed her second U.S. Open title earlier this year, dominated Shauna Isbell in the best-of-three finals at 55 kg. The 19-year-old Moroulus won the first match 5-0, 6-0, and then pinned Isbell in the second match. Gray, a two-time U.S. Open champion, won two matches to win the Challenge Tournament before handling Demi Strub, 6-0, 5-1/6-0, 6-0 in the best-of-three finals at 67 kg. Gray outscored her opponents 47-2 throughout the competition. Erin Golston, a USOEC athlete, made her second straight Junior World Team with a 5-1, 6-3/5-0, 6-0 victory over Emily Webster in the best-of-three finals at 48 kg. Golston placed fourth at the U.S. Open this year at 48 kg. Other champions crowned on Sunday included Carlene Sluberski (51 kg), Alli Ragan (63 kg), Anneliese DeAragon (72 kg), and Mei Ling Keiki (79.5 kg). The 79.5 kg weight class is not a FILA-sanctioned weight class. Final Placement Results 44 kg: 1st: Erin Golston (USOEC/New York AC) def. Emily Webster (Mules WC), 5-1, 6-3/5-0, 6-0 3rd: Brianna Rahall (OCU/Gator WC) 48 kg: 1st: Victoria Anthony (New York AC) def. Kristi Garr (OCU/Gator WC), 6-0, 7-0/10-2, 5-0 2nd: Kristi Garr (OCU/Gator WC) pinned Tatiana Perez (King), 1:17 4th: Shannon Constantine (King) pinned Lilian Salinas (Cali Girls), 1:13 6th: Karley Speer (Team Georgia) pinned Mary Catherine (Missouri Valley), 1:47 51 kg: 1st: Carlene Sluberski (USOEC/New York AC) def. Jasmine Yanez (Gilroy), Pin 1:14/6-0, Pin 0:45 3rd: Kalin Knight Alvarez (No Mercy School of Wrestling) dec. Chloe Ivanoff (SFU/KKWC), 8-3,3-3 5th: Samantha Klingel (Advantage WC) dec. Lauren Richardson (Northwest Washington (NWWC), 4-1, 5-1 55 kg: 1st: Helen Maroulis (New York AC) def. Shauna Isbell (Lindenwood), 5-0, 6-0/Pin 1:52 2nd: Shauna Isbell (Lindenwood) pinned Natalie Rutt (Minnesota Storm), 1:51 4th: Jacarra Winchester (Missouri Valley) dec. Monica Hovermale (Lady Eagles WC), 0-2, 1-0, 6-4 6th: Sophie Hertz (Coronado/Rough House) pinned Victoria Nguyen (King), 1:20 59 kg: 1st: Jenna Burkert (USOEC/New York AC) def. Gabrielle Klein (Waldorf), Pin 1:15/8-0, 5-0 3rd: Alexia Moreno (Turlock Wrestling) dec. Haylee Childs (King), 3-0, 5-1 5th: Kerstin Harmon (UC) inj. def. Amanda Hendey (SD Hot Beaches) 63 kg: 1st: Alli Ragan (King) def. Rachael Shannon (Lindenwood), 5-2, 6-0/4-3, 7-0 3rd: Tanya Kusse (Lindenwood) dec. Brieana Delgado (Carolina Khaos), 1-0,6 -0 5th: Morgan Yamaguchi (Team Hawaii) dec. Stephany-Sarara Mix (Team Hawaii), 5-5, 3-1 67 kg: 1st: Adeline Gray (New York AC) def. Demi Strub (Team Indiana), 6-0, 5-1/6-0, 6-0 3rd: Kasey Kruczek (WOW) 72 kg: 1st: Anneliese DeAragon (USOEC) def. Kimberly Spiegel (USOEC), 5-0, 4-0/4-0, Pin 0:47 3rd: Brittany David (St. Charles) pinned Mary Westman (Nieves Wrestling), 1:19 5th: Julia Salata (Advantage WC) dec. Brittany Jones (Missouri Valley), 3-0, 3-0 79.5 kg: 1st: Mei Ling Keiki (Collum Trained) 2nd: Morgan Pittsford (Yorktown WC) 3rd: Jasmine Grant (Evolution)