InterMat Staff

Minnesota native Jake Clark has been one of the nation's top Greco-Roman wrestlers on the senior level for over a decade. Clark, who turned 30 earlier this year, made his second U.S. World Team this year at 84 kg and competed at the 2010 World Championships in Moscow, Russia last month. Now he has his sights on wrestling in the London Olympic Games in 2012. InterMat recently caught up with Clark and talked to him about the World Championships, this season, training, goals, MMA, and much more. Jake Clark (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Let's start with the World Championships last month in Moscow, Russia. You got off to a fast start, beating the Moldovan and the Greek to advance to the quarterfinals. You were able to score with some offensive attacks and also in par terre. Did you feel as great as you looked in those first two matches? Clark: I felt amazing in my first two matches. My weight cut went great. I completely changed my approach to warming up, and I was on the attack in my matches. My confidence was there, and I really felt things were coming together at the right time. In my match against the Moldovan, that's how I want to wrestle every time! I believe the first period was slow, but I was able to get in my groove in the second period. In the quarterfinals, you were paired with Damian Janikowski of Poland, a wrestler you had beaten 3-0, 1-0 at the Pytlasinski International in Poland in late July. What was going through your head as you prepared to wrestle Janikowski again? Clark: I felt ready for my quarterfinal match and I was definitely excited about having someone I recently beat standing in my way. I don't feel I was overconfident, and I knew he was going to be more well prepared than our match in Poland the month prior. You ended up losing in two periods to Janikowski, 0-1, 0-2, which ultimately eliminated you from the competition after he lost in the semifinals. What was the difference in that meeting with Janikowski compared to your previous meeting with him? Clark: In the match with Janikowski I had about three attempts that I didn't finish. He scored on his gut wrench, but if I could have finished my moves the results would've been different. I've seen some photos that were taken of that match and I can't believe I didn't finish on a few of my attempts. Leading up to the Worlds I was really working on this area of my wrestling, but it's something I need to continue to improve on ... and I will. Jake Clark (Photo/Tony Rotundo, Tech-Fall.com)How would you describe your overall experience in Moscow, Russia? Clark: Initially I was upset, as most people are after losing. However, the more I thought about it, the more I was pleased with how I did. It was a great building block for what is to come. I know I am right up there with the top guys in the world, and as long as I continue in the direction I'm heading, I will be on the podium. I didn't bring a medal home, but I definitely brought some experience and confidence for the upcoming season. It's important to live and learn. Coming into this year, you had wrestled in just two tournaments over the last three years. You have stated that your goal wasn't to make the U.S. World Team this year, but things fell into place. What was your goal heading into the year? Clark: I had taken a lot of time off from competitive wrestling from the beginning of 2008 to the beginning of 2010. During those years off I was doing more coaching, and working with MMA fighters. Now, in 2010 I found myself back on the mat, ready to compete, and committed like never before. I try to be very realistic with everything, and I know that to be at one hundred percent I need to be on the mat a lot more than I was. I shouldn't expect to be back a few months, and to be right back in the mix of things. Everyone I'm wrestling against has been going at it while I took this time off, and I needed to put the work in as well. In 2010, I was hoping to get back on the mat, stay healthy, and just get the ball rolling for 2012. My goal is 2012, and everything I do from now until then is to prepare for that. While I was warming up for my first match at the Trials I had a conversation with God. I was stretching out and I said, 'God, I am trying to do the right things and understand I haven't put in all the hard work yet. I'm going to, but I still need more time. It would be too much to ask that I win this tournament, so please just give me what I deserve.' I'm a competitor and I wanted to win, but did I truly think I would be on the 2010 World Team? No. I felt great at Worlds, but should I expect to be on the podium with only being back to the mat for six months? Again, my answer is no. Things have happened very quickly and I'm extremely grateful for that. My 2010 season was not only a surprise to the coaches and fans, but for me as well. I feel I'm taking the proper steps, and I'm going to surprise more people in the next few years. After you made the U.S. World Team this past June, you said that you never fully committed yourself to the sport until this year. You have talked about lifestyle changes you have made this year. What caused you to make these changes? Clark: I've wrestled my entire life. It's all I've ever done. I sacrificed many things while I was younger, and feel I was very committed at times. However, I feel like I'm putting a puzzle together now. At the World Championships I believe I was at eighty percent of my potential. I'm adding new pieces to this puzzle, and am hoping that by 2012 they all come together to make the best picture ever. It's going to take time, and I definitely need help finding a few pieces, but I am committed to this puzzle and am going to do everything possible to complete it. In the end of 2009, while I was helping to build the sport of wrestling in the Federated States of Micronesia, I had a great chat (on Facebook) with Olympic champion Rulon Gardner. Everything he said made complete sense, and I'm forever in debt for the insight he provided. To have one of our country's greatest wrestlers take the time and help put things into perspective means the world to me. I'm not sure I'm comfortable sharing what was said, as I feel it was between him and I. However, I saved our conversation and go back and look at it every so often as a reminder. Let's just say what he said really hit me upside the head. Not only that, but the timing was right. Not only was I ready for the changes, but I had the support of THE Rulon Gardner! Jake Clark (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)You started your career with the U.S. Marines and then moved to the U.S. Air Force. You're currently living in Colorado Springs. How is your current training situation? Clark: I'm currently living at the Olympic Training Center, but am no longer wrestling for the Air Force. I had planned on transferring from the Marines to the Army, but in the midst of doing my paperwork, I was contacted by Air Force wrestling coach and 2008 Olympic coach Rich Estrella. He mentioned that I might want to look into what he can offer, and set me up with the job of heading to Micronesia. I felt the Air Force would be more of a fit for me, and in February of 2010 I joined their wrestling camp in Mountain Home, Idaho. At this time I joined the Air Force Reserves and had put my paperwork in for the Air Force's World Class Athlete Program. I was told that the process would be quick, but here I am over seven months later, and I'm still not accepted into their WCAP. It's been very stressful and I feel there is no light at the end of this tunnel with them. I'm now currently pursuing another avenue in which I'm not able to talk about at the moment. I promise it will soon be public knowledge, though! You have been wrestling since you were 5 years old and been competing on the senior level for over a decade. Are you enjoying the sport now as much as you ever have? Clark: I've always enjoyed this sport and am very grateful for all that it has done for me. The people I've met, the friends I've made, and the adventures I've been on. To me, those things are priceless. I like to think I've become a lot wiser than I was 10 years ago. I might be losing my hair, but in return I'm gaining more and more appreciation for our sport. It's crazy for me to think that this is my 25th year of wrestling. Wow! The 2012 Olympic Games are less than two years away. You have wrestled in three previous U.S. Olympic Team Trials, but have yet to make a U.S. Olympic Team. How much does that drive you? Clark: I'm definitely driven to make this Olympic Team. I wish things would have worked out earlier, but everything happens for a reason. I've had this dream of representing the U.S. at the Olympics since I was 6 years old, and it's something I want sooooo badly. I am now in a position to live out a childhood dream and am going to do everything in my power to make it happen. In order to get to where you want to be in 2012, what areas of your wrestling do you feel that you need to improve upon the most? Jake Clark (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Clark: I am concentrating on improving every aspect of my wrestling ... on and off the mat. Technically, when I'm on my feet I need to push the pace more. I'm confident that no one can take me down, but I need to make sure I can score on everyone. I am also putting a lot of emphasis on my par terre defense. It's definitely not an easy task, but I am confident in my abilities and potential. I have a plan, and I truly believe in it. Not only that, but I have coaches and mentors I believe in too. It's time! You turned 30 years old earlier this year. Have you put a timetable on how much longer you plan to compete? Or is it something you will reevaluate after 2012? Clark: I will compete as long as my body and mind allow me to. I know several people that wish they could still be competing, but due to injuries they can no longer chase their dream. Because of this, I must take advantage of what has been put in front of me, and give it my everything. You have competed primarily in Greco-Roman throughout your career on the senior level. But last year you competed in freestyle at the Northern Plains Regional and took a period from 2010 U.S. World Team member J.D. Bergman. Do you ever wonder how your career might have turned out if you would have chosen freestyle over Greco-Roman? Clark: Of course I wonder how things could have worked for me on the freestyle and folkstyle side of things. I honestly believe that if I concentrated solely on freestyle I would be in the mix as well. I've wrestled in a few freestyle tournaments over the last handful of years and have wins over some of the top guys ... Clint Wattenberg and Willie Parks to name a few. I remember in 2004 leading up to the Olympics I had randomly joined a few freestyle practices. At the end of my Greco practice, Cael Sanderson and Kevin Jackson were on the side going over a few things. Kevin asked me if I could go for a little bit with Cael and I agreed. We were doing some live goes and I scored the first takedown. I'm sure Cael and Kevin were a bit surprised, but to be honest, I wasn't. I have always done well with freestyle. However, I've still been considered a "Greco guy." Cael and I wrestled for about four minutes, in which my back was completely worn out three minutes into it. The conditioning and styles are too difficult on the senior level to just jump back and forth like that. If my memory is correct, I had two takedowns to his four. A month or two later he was the Olympic champion. Greco-Roman is very popular all across the world. However, in the United States, there seems to be less interest in Greco-Roman compared to freestyle and folkstyle. Why do you think that is the case? Clark: I'm not sure. I can't say I have an honest answer to this. However, I know that in recent years Greco is getting more and more attention here. It could be due to the change in rules and that there is more scoring now. Obviously, with storylines like (Jake) Deitchler in 2008, having wrestlers like (Spenser) Mango and (Harry) Lester, those things definitely help. Jake Clark, B.J. Penn, Joey ClarkWhat some people might not know is that you have served as a training partner for UFC fighters B.J. Penn and Kendall Grove. How did those opportunities come about? And what have your experiences training with UFC fighters been like? Clark: I've actually worked with a wide variety of well-known fighters, including B.J. Penn, Kendall Grove, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt, Mo Lawal, Bobby Lashley, Brett Rogers, Joe Warren, and many others. Just last week I had an offer to go back to Hawaii and work with B.J. before his upcoming fight with Matt Hughes in November. My coaches here at the OTC are against me doing this, but it's a great chance to make some money and network for the future. My brother has been a training partner for B.J. for around seven years or so, and that's how I got linked up with B.J. My first time working with him was only supposed to be for three weeks, but when it was time to leave, they asked if I could stay longer. I ended up staying for three months, which led to my working with Kendall Grove. After I left Hawaii, about two weeks later, I got a call from Kendall and he wanted me to help him train in Maui. I ended up staying there for a month and a half. I'm so honored to have these guys calling me. But not only that, I get paid, and get to do so in Hawaii! Your older brother, Joey, has been a successful MMA fighter. Wrestlers, specifically Greco-Roman wrestlers, have done very well in MMA. Obviously your focus is on wrestling right now and making the U.S. Olympic Team, but would you ever consider competing in MMA? Clark: Of course I've thought about it, but I'm really not sure if I'd actually go through with it. I've never been in a fight in my entire life. I've never punched anyone, and no one's ever punched me ... thankfully! Haha. There is so much money and fame in this sport, I'd hate to look back when I'm 50 and say, 'I should have done that.' Right now, my priority is the Olympics and I am concentrating on that. On occasion I like to mix my training up and work jiu-jitsu and grappling. It helps change the pace up. If I do decide to become a mixed martial artist, I've done a great job of networking and will be able to learn from some of the greatest fighters around! Is there anything else you would like to add? Clark: I'd really like to thank my sponsors: Cage Fighter Wrestling, AmbitionTrainingAcademy.com, InterMatWrestle.com, TheGuillotine.com, WrestlingGear.com, KuttingWeight.com, StrombergAuctioneering.com, BlueChipWrestling.com, and DracsPub.com for all of their help and support. With the help of my sponsors, along with my family and friends, we were able to raise enough money to get my mom and brother over to Moscow for the World Championships! I can never thank anyone enough for how much that meant to me. To my fellow wrestlers, PLEASE support those who support us! On a final note, I've recently put a team of Olympic Training Center wrestlers together and we are currently working on a business plan that has some great potential. I can't wait to go public with this, and am hoping we will be doing so in the very near future. If anything, add me on Facebook and I will keep you posted. Also, feel free to ask me any questions you might have about wrestling or life in general. I like to help whenever I have the chance! Search for "Jake Clark."

Comedian and former University of Missouri All-American Greg Warren will be the radio show guest this week. “On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum and 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 time on AM 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show. Warren grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and attended Kirkwood High School. He was an All-American wrestler for Missouri in 1991, placing 7th at the NCAA tournament at 158 pounds. Warren has been a full-time comedian for several years and continues to gain prominence on a national level. He will be performing in Burlington, Iowa on October 22 and Rock Island, Illinois on October 23 as part of the Bob & Tom Comedy All-Star Tour.

California Community College updated rankings released. 125 1. Steven Cabanas, Cerritos 2. Alex Perez, West Hills 3. David Sok, Delta 4. Chris Padilla, Fresno City 5. Curtis Hulstine, Bakersfield 6. Jake Harrison, Cerritos 7. Marc Collier, Bakersfield 8. Janik Santana, Chabot HM Chris Diaz, Cuesta HM Isaac Taz Pilgram, Santa Rosa HM Jordan Saunders, Cuesta HM Sergio Martinez, Fresno City 133 1. Jason Arreola, Santa Ana 2. Marty Rubalcaba, Fresno City 3. Chad Thornack, Cerritos 4. AJ Jaramillo, West Hills 5. Pierce Lowry, Mt. San Antonio 6. Jonathon Gay, Cuesta 7. Adam Blank, Sac City 8. Archie Tovar, Fresno City HM Justin Lee, Lassen HM Kent Tran, Cerritos HM Mario DiBenedetto, Sac City 141 1. Kevin Rojas, Fresno City 2. Kyle Chene, Santa Ana 3. Tillman Tran, Cerritos 4. Jaime Jimenez, MSAC 5. Josh Van Hatter, Fresno City 6. Eric Orozco, West Hills 7. Alex Rodriguez, Sierra 8. Tyler Diamond, Sac City HM Charlie Saeng, Delta HM Terry Mathews, Shasta HM Audrie DeCastro, Palomar HM Wesley Young, Santa Rosa 149 1. Conrad Rangel, Fresno City 2. Spencer Hill, Fresno City 3. Tyler Johnson, Sierra 4. Jesse Ponce, Cerritos 5. Anthony Harris, Sac City 6. RJ Pilkington, Sierra 7. Hector Ruelas, Cuesta 8. Abel Avila, Rio Hondo HM Anthony Vega, Sac City HM Steven Ackley, Modesto 157 1. Eric Lopez, Victor Valley 2. Cody Bollinger, Cerritos 3. Spencer Anderson, Cuesta 4. Jake Shilling, Fresno City 5. Marcail Rodriguez, Lassen 6. Chris Abeyta, Mt. San Antonio 7. Craig Simmons, Shasta 8. Tyler Brown, Sac City HM Russell Williams, Sac City HM Marques Ford, Sierra HM Josh Lujan, West Hills HM Jose Maroquin , ELA 165 1. Tigran Adzhemyan, Fresno City 2. Eric Sauvageau, Cerritos 3. Vlad Dombrovsky, Sierra 4. Dustin Rocha, West Hills 5. Joe Madison, Lassen 6. Jacob Hoxsey, Mt. San Antonio 7. Chris Heath, Fresno City 8. Taylor Sare, Mt. San Antonio HM Sergio Guerrero, Mt. San Antoinio HM Ramon Estrada, Cerritos HM Craig Sherman ,Chabot HM Ben Martinez, Fresno City 174 1. Sam Temko, Skyline 2. Martin Fabian, Fresno City 3. Jordan Williams, Sierra 4. Nick Rohrer, Sac City 5. Alfredo Torres, MSAC 6. Travis Shaffer, Modesto 7. Thomas Estrada, Cerritos 8. Tyler Edwards, Sac City HM Matt Cox, Fresno City HM Kyle Pivaroff, Cerritos HM Brent Pfitzer, West Hills HM Chase Mirrasau, Rio Hondo HM Taylor Hodel, Sac City 184 1. Fito Juarez, Fresno City 2. Jesse Hellinger, Sac City 3Tyler Ceremello, Fresno City 4. Nick Gill, Sierra 5. Milo Anderson, Chabot 6. Santino Delfino, Bakersfield 7. Ryan Collins, Cerritos 8. Marco Orozco, Sac City HM Adam Charles, Skyline HM Matt Lewiston, Palomar HM Charlie Galvez, Cuesta 197 1. Oscar Navarette, MSAC 2. Sean Dougherty, Cuesta 3. Mario Delgado, Cerritos 4. Colin Hart, Santa Rosa 5. Lucas Keene, Fresno City 6. Jesse Green, Sac City 7. Dan Colbert, Cuesta 8. Matt Granillo, East Los Angeles HM Gio Castinon, Cerritos HM Kevin Keisler, Sac City HM Nick Brantley, Fresno City 285 1. Jose Lopez, Cerritos 2. Brad Carls, Bakersfield 3. Trevor Gwin, Palomar 4. Cheyne Cook, Victor Valley 5. Luis Contreras, Fresno City 6. Marco Delgado, Modesto 7. Quinn Moore, Bakersfield 8. Mike Perez, West Hills HM Lance Gordon, Shasta HM Sam Gomez, Chabot HM Ben Davis, Sac City HM Anthony Chu, Delta HM Dakota Smith, West Hills HM John Parker, Fresno City HM Carl Stokes, MSAC 1. Fresno City 2. Cerritos 3. Mt. San Antonio Sac City 5. Sierra 6. Cuesta West Hills 8. Bakersfield 9. Santa Ana 10. Victor Valley 11. Chabot 12. Skyline 13. Lassen 14. Modesto 15. Palomar Santa Rosa 17. Delta 18. Rio Hondo 19. East Los Angeles 20. Shasta

Eight InterMat Top 100 recruits committed to colleges last week, including No. 8 Austin Ormsbee (Blair Academy, NJ), who gave a verbal commitment to John Smith and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. InterMat caught up with six of the eight InterMat Top 100 recruits to commit last week and talked to them about their college decisions, goals, and much more. No. 8 Austin Ormsbee (Blair Academy, NJ) College Choice: Oklahoma State Projected College Weight Class: 133 Oklahoma state landed its third InterMat Top 100 recruit this season with the addition of Ormsbee, a three-time National Prep champion, Junior Nationals freestyle champion, and Beast of the champion. No. 12 Kenny Courts (Central Dauphin, PA) College Choice: Ohio State Projected College Weight Class: 184 Ohio State is putting together a monster recruiting class. Courts is the fourth InterMat Top 25 recruit from the Class of 2011 the Buckeyes have landed, plus the addition of 2010 graduate Derek Garcia, who will also enroll next year. Courts is 96-4 in three years of varsity competition. He is a two-time Beast of the East champion. Kenny CourtsCourts on his decision to commit to Ohio State: "It was a tough but good decision, I believe, and at the end of day I hope I still think that." Courts on Ohio State's 2011 recruiting class: "A ridiculous amount of talent is coming in the room next year. Also a group of kids that will keep each other on the right track." Courts on his goals prior to arriving at Ohio State: "Repeat on my past year's accomplishments and honestly to just keep getting better and improving in different positions." Courts on Central Dauphin coach Jeff Sweigard: "Coach Swags is a great guy. I like him because he tells me how it is. If I suck, then he tells me I suck. He never lets me feel sorry for myself. Also he's a great inspiration to those who know his story." Courts on the documentary Takedowns & Falls: "Great movie. To a wrestling fan and wrestler, it never gets old. I encourage anyone to buy it, especially someone that is unfamiliar with wrestling because it shows all aspects of our sport and the emotions that come with it. Also the film crew put a lot of work into it, so check it out." No. 32 Pete Baldwin (Osceola, FL) College Choice: Old Dominion Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 Baldwin brings a career record of 271-20 with 197 pins into his senior season. He is a state champion, three-time state finalist, as well as a runner-up at both POWERade and FloNationals. Pete BaldwinBaldwin on his decision to commit to Old Dominion: I chose ODU because the wrestling program, academics, and the environment suited me the best. ODU has a great internship program and a great engineering program. I wanted to be at a college where wrestling and academics were a priority. The campus was new and modern. It really impressed me. ODU wrestling program is like a family. Osceola High School Wrestling has been my family since I was 8 years old. I feel the same kind of an environment at ODU. Baldwin on Old Dominion coach Steve Martin: Coach Martin is hard working and goal oriented. His energy is infectious. Coach Martin is straightforward and determined. That is why I believe in him and his goals of making me a multiple-time national champion and taking ODU all the way. Baldwin on his wrestling style: I am very adaptive. My style will fit into college wrestling. I ride top well and the rules fit the way I wrestle. I am an aggressive and physical wrestler. Baldwin on what drives him: I am motivated by my God, my family, and I am self-motivated to go beyond my limits. At Old Dominion I will be surrounded by a team that is driven to be successful. Baldwin on his biggest influences in his wrestling career: Javier Maldonado was a big influence early in my wrestling career. He set the bar for Osceola Wrestling. I watched Javi when I first started and I set my goals around his achievements on and off the mat. Coach Jim Bird has been my coach since I started wrestling. He has helped me become who I am on and off the mat. I also have been blessed by a very supportive mom and dad. Osceola wresting has a great wrestling family. I have always been supported by Mama and Papa Bird, the Todds, and all of the fans and parents. I have had great friends and practice partners like Alex Eggers, Joe Locksmith, Gabriel Bird. I have had other supporters like my Uncle Al, Uncle James, and Aunt Juanita, Coach Tribit, Mr. Preisser and so many others I cannot list them all." No. 38 Codey Combs (Sussex Central, DE) College Choice: Arizona State Projected College Weight Class: 157/165 Combs is a three-time state champion, three-time Mount Mat Madness champion, and Beast of the East runner-up. He has a record of 129-9 over the past three seasons. Codey CombsCombs on his decision to commit to Arizona State: "I am very happy with my decision to commit to Arizona State and it is a great fit for me. The coaches and the group of guys out there are great." Combs on having to move from the East Coast to the West Cost: "Moving from the East Coast to the West Coast is not really a big deal for me. I don't mind being away from home and I think it will be a great experience for me." Combs on the recruiting process: "The recruiting process was a pretty smooth process that I would do over and over again because it was good getting all that attention and getting to go on all the recruiting trips." Combs on what it would mean to become a four-time state champion: "It would be great to become a four-time state champ because no one at my school has ever done it and it would be a great accomplishment. And not only winning four, but not having a point scored on me in the state tournaments so far is also a goal in the upcoming season." Combs on his post-high school wrestling goals: "My post-high school wrestling goals are to go out to Arizona State and hopefully win a couple national titles and help build Arizona State into a national powerhouse." No. 68 Kris Klapprodt (Stevens, SD) College Choice: Iowa Projected College Weight Class: 174 Iowa landed its first InterMat Top 100 recruit this recruiting season with the addition of Klapprodt, a two-time state champion and five-time state finalist. He is also a two-time NHSCA Nationals finalist, winning a title as a sophomore in 2009. Kris KlapprodtKlapprodt on his decision to commit to Iowa: I went through the entire process, but in the end it was my previous experience with Coach Brands and the Hawkeyes program that made the difference and made it clear Iowa was the place I was meant to be. My familiarity with Coach Brands his coaches and my understanding of what it means to be a Hawkeye have combined to let me know that I have made the right decision. The reasons that led to the Hawkeye decision was Coach Brands and his coaches, "The Room," wrestlers past and present, and their commitment to me. Klapprodt on the recruiting process: When the first letters and e-mails begin to arrive it was very exciting. Meeting and talking with coaches that are legends is something that I will never forget. The difficult part is letting coaches know that you are not going to their programs, not because their program isn't great but just because I can only choose one place. Klapprodt on Iowa coach Tom Brands: "Coach Brands is a fierce competitor and is successful at every level. I have spent a lot of quality time with Coach Brands and I am certain that his program is where I need to be and belong. He has a real understanding of what it takes to be a champion both individually and as a team." Klapprodt on being in the same college conference and weight class as Logan Storley: "Logan and I are friends yet I look forward to competing against him in the Big Ten." Klapprodt on getting noticed in South Dakota: "South Dakota has had some outstanding wrestlers, like former Hawkeyes Randy Lewis and Lincoln McIlravy, along with many others, and that helps. However, for me it really started with a tremendous youth wrestling club, great high school coaches, former collegiate wrestlers, summer coaches, and work ethic in the offseason to train and prepare myself to compete and win national tournaments. If all those things happen, the college coaches will find you and they are not afraid to travel to South Dakota to recruit." No. 70 Lucas Sheridan (De La Salle, CA) College Choice: Indiana Projected College Weight Class: 184 Sheridan is a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion, fourth-place finisher at Youth Olympic Games, two-time FILA Cadet Nationals All-American, state third-place finisher, and two-time Cadet Nationals All-American. Lucas Sheridan (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Sheridan on his decision to commit to Indiana: "Indiana just felt like the perfect fit for me. I fell in love with the campus, the guys on the team are amazing and I really connected with them. Also I felt really comfortable around the coaching staff and I truly believe that they will help me accomplish all my goals. My brother always told me that on one of my trips I would say to myself, 'Man, this is for me,' and that's exactly what happened." Sheridan on California wrestling: "It saddens me that California wrestling is slowly dropping off. We have so many amazing wrestlers in our state, but it's hard to trust any college program in California. I hope that one day kids feel comfortable staying in California to continue their wrestling careers." Sheridan on the importance of winning a state title as a senior: "Winning a state title to me is the No. 1 thing in my life right now. I have two goals this high school season: commit to a college and win a state title. One is already done and the second one is going to be a lot harder because I have one of the best wrestlers in the nation at my weight, but that just makes me want it more." Sheridan on his favorite wrestling style (folkstyle, freestyle, or Greco-Roman): "I have to say my favorite wrestling style is Greco. When I was training for the FILA Cadet Pan American Games in Mexico is when I really fell in love with it. I just enjoy it so much and it's really easy for me to continue my growth as a Greco wrestler with my amazing coaching staff, including Mark Halverson, Kenneth Cook, and Steve Gee." Sheridan on his experience at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore: "My experience in Singapore was amazing. It was my third time wrestling internationally and that experience is priceless. Not only was is great to wrestle in such a high level of competition, but also watching all the technique that the other countries do was awesome. Although I was very disappointed in taking fourth place, I would never change the experience because it was a crucial step in my growing as a wrestler." No. 71 Cody Caldwell (Waverly-Shell Rock, IA) College Choice: Wisconsin Projected College Weight Class: 157 Caldwell joins No. 5 recruit Jesse Thielke (Germantown, WI) as part of Wisconsin's 2011 recruiting class. He is a two-time state champion and three-time state placewinner. He has compiled a record of 68-1 over the last two seasons. Cody CaldwellCaldwell on his decision to commit to Wisconsin: "I fell in love with the University of Wisconsin when I went on my visit. The coaches all have wrestled at high levels and know how to win. Also the guys on the team took me in and treated me as one of their teammates. I feel like Wisconsin is the place for me to be to reach my goals as a wrestler. I am excited to get to Madison and start my career as a college wrestler." Caldwell on Wisconsin coach Barry Davis: "I really got to know Coach Davis through the recruiting process. He's a great competitor and is very passionate about his team. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with him and his staff." Caldwell on having his father (Rick) as his high school wrestling coach: "It's great having my dad as my coach. He is a great coach and is very knowledgeable. My dad puts a lot of time into the sport and really cares about me and the team. I know he would do anything for us, and he's always trying to find ways to make me and the team better." Caldwell on Waverly-Shell Rock's team: "We will have a solid team this year. Our team has won the last three titles in the traditional and duals state tournament. In Iowa this year, there are a few very tough teams. Our team and coaching staff is training hard trying to bring the title back to Waverly again." Caldwell on his area of academic interest: "I am going into something in business. I don't know specifically what I want to major in." No. 74 Vincent Waldhauer (Oak Ridge, CA) College Choice: Virginia Projected College Weight Class: 165 Virginia adds to an already strong and deep recruiting class with the addition of Waldhauser, a state runner-up and NHSCA Nationals All-American.

Event: UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama Venue: O2 Arena, London, England Date: October 16, 2010 After a long winning streak, I got nicked a bit on the UFC 119 card. But history shows quick rebounds for the UFC Monster, and tonight’s challenge will be to find winner’s on one of the lamest fight cards in UFC history! Maybe that’s why tonight’s (tape delay) show is FREE on Spike TV at 7 pm CST? Anytime Michael Bisping headlines the card, you are in trouble, unless you are in England, but that’s just where we are tonight! In the main event, Brits once again get to see their hero, light-weight, Michael Bisping, take on veteran Yoshihiro Akiyama, in what should be a relatively easy win for “the Count." Bisping is only popular inside his homeland, but there is no denying that his skills have progressed nicely over his modestly successful UFC career. Some early fireworks will lead to an eventual second round TKO thru ground-and-pound, and Bisping will send the crowd home in glee covering the –200 price tag. In my “fight of the night” at 2:1 Carlos “Natural Born Killer” Conduit will trade shots and submission attempts with powerful Brit Dan Hardy, who once had a shot to beat Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight championship. The blood-thirsty Conduit will force the pace, but it will be Hardy’s striking that makes the difference. A victories over Marcus Davis and convinced me that Hardy’s the real deal. A close judge’s decision will validate the –170 risk. And, two-to-one on the F-O-N will be frosting on the cake! Undefeated (14-0) John “Hitman” Hathaway is perhaps the best England has to offer. He has rolled through his opponents, including his last impressive win over Diego Sanchez! And, he has shown no indication that that will change tonight. Mike Pyle is dangerously good. He has shown guts, courage and determination, as well as a full palate of mixed martial arts skills. That won’t be enough, however, to de-rail the Hitman. And the British crowd will once again be treated to some world-class fighting. Hathaway is the biggest favorite on the card tonight. But, a small bridge-jump at –500 is in order here. A first round KO wins this one. I love watching heavyweight Cheick Kongo fight. He’s a beast that makes Godzilla look puny. And he can fire bombs!!! And, his atrocious ground game has improved. And, as long as he’s not fighting a submission guru like Frank Mir, he will always have a chance to win. Less experienced, but still undefeated (10-0 w/8 KOs), 6’7” Travis Browne is coming off a debut UFC win over James McSweeney (see elsewhere on this card). Browne has a puncher’s chance in my opinion, but this one looks like another “W” for Kongo to me. A brutal second round TKO will stop this affair. Another TUF show fighter, James Wilks is currently on the fringe of the UFC. He desperately needs to win to keep on rolling, another loss and he may soon be looking for another venue to show his wares. His opponent, Claude Patrick, has only one loss to Drew McFedries, and that was 8 1/2 years ago! In a fight that has me wondering why it is even on the main card, I see only modest interest in investing either way. But Patrick’s submission skills will be the difference, and a rear-naked choke ends this midway through the fight. Lay the –165 on Patrick. Now let’s take a brief look at the undercard. Former WEC light-heavyweight champion Steve Cantwell suffered a knee injury a few days ago and is out for his fight with Stanislav Nedkov. There was not enough time to find a substitute, so Nedkov claims his “Show” money, and Cantwell slides down the food chain. I’ll pass on the heavyweight slugfest between Fabio Maldonado and James McSweeney. The UFC always puts a couple of lead-fisted swingers into a the Octagon for crowd pleasing results. The Brazilian may show off some jui-jitsu skills, but McSweeney will swing for the fences and with a losing record there is not enough hope to warrant the +200 offering. I think Maldonado wins this one, but I won’t be betting on it any time soon! With a name like Vinicius Kappke de Quieroz you better know how to fight (and spell). Superior submission skills will provide a winning wager for me here. The ref will pull Quieroz off the body of his victim, Rob Broughton, late in the first round. I’ll be standing at the winner’s window with my –170 ticket. Quieroz by TKO. Undefeated (10-0) Paul Sass is another local British hero, who has submitted nine of his 10 opponents. Maybe this should be “the fastest submission” prop bet for the night? Laying just –180 looks like FREE money to me. His opponent, Mark Holst is inexperienced, but hopeful. What am I missing here? I’ll call this submission victory 10 for Sass as he advances his UFC career. Alexander Gustafsson has shown some serious and precise boxing skills in the UFC. He is quick and well-rounded, and is a slight favorite to defeat Frenchman, Cyrille Diabate. I like the even-money ‘dog here, and I’m hoping for a triangle choke to end this one somewhere before the bell sounds. A mild upset. Spencer “The King” Fisher is a fan favorite. He gives everything he has and relentlessly stalks his opponents with a repertoire of striking and wrestling skills. His ground game is grossly under-rated. Very few fighters have had has many fights or successes in the Octagon. But, the end is near. Fisher is showing his age and wear. Will he have enough left in the tank to take out debuting Kurt Warburton? I’m betting on it! Fisher is my play at –205. Well, that’s it for another hopefully exciting night of mixed martial arts fights. And, it’s all FREE tonight on Spike! Now, let’s see if we can do the math and make some fun money with smart money management skills with our “fictitious” $1000 bankroll ... Let’s lay $150 to win $75 on Michael Bisping. Let’s lay $85 to win $50 on Dan Hardy. Let’s lay $150 to win $30 on a Hathaway bridge jump. Let’s lay $111 to win $60 on Cheik Kongo’s KO power. Let’s lay $99 to win $60 on Patrick’s jits. Let’s lay $108 to win $60 on Sass’ submission streak. Let’s lay $85 to win $50 on de Quieroz. Let’s lay $60 to win $60 on Cyrille Diabate. Let’s lay $102 to win $50 on Spencer Fisher’s career to stay alive. Let’s pass on McSweeney vs. Maldonado. Better safe than sorry in a slugfest! So, in total we are risking $1000 to try and win $520. Let’s not forget to take some of our profits and support your local youth wrestling programs, where tomorrow’s champions are born! Enjoy the fights. I know I will.

The head coach of a college wrestling program is always receiving critiques. For most coaches that negative attention probably seems out of balance, like the 72 hours of work they accomplish every week goes unnoticed. This article only magnifies that attention deficit. As a former college wrestling coach and athlete, I understand that each of these men have worked hard to provide the best for their program, and could very well prove that they are anything but in trouble. Yet, others might very well be on their way on to another successful career. In wrestling there is always a replenishing of talent, both on the mat and in the coaches corner. As we saw last year, with new head coaches at Army, Northern Iowa, and Campbell, we should always expect some turnover, the following three coaches are just three top programs with coaches, and programs, in limbo. Under a Watchful Eye Joe McFarland (Michigan) Joe McFarland (Photo, Tony Rotundo, Tech-Fall.com)Michigan's runner-up finish (2005) must've felt like a century ago after the team finished 43rd in 2010. This season is promising with the addition of Eric Grajales to a lineup that includes 2009 All-American and two-time Big Ten champion Kellen Russell. However, McFarland, who recently helped raise the money for and plan the massive stand-alone Bahna Wrestling Center in Ann Arbor, is likely on a short leash if he doesn't improve the team's showing at Big Tens and the NCAAs (Remember: Nebraska is coming in 2011-2012). The addition of Brian Dolph as volunteer assistant and the designation as a Regional Training Center could help with recruiting and year-round practice partners. However, outside of Anthony Biondo, Justin Zeerip, and those previously mentioned, the Wolverines are thin on impact talent. C.D. Mock (North Carolina) A former NCAA champion for the Tar Heels, Mock came to Chapel Hill in 2002 after the resignation of longtime UNC head man Bill Lam. Mock has an excellent reputation in Pennsylvania where he led Council Rock High School to several successful seasons. However, his time in Chapel Hill has been shaky, with only one All-American wrestler in Evan Sola, and two ACC team titles (2005, 2006). Working in his favor are some extremely talented individuals in Jon Burns and Thomas Scotton, as well as a stellar 2011 recruiting class that already includes four InterMat Top 100 recruits. He also recently re-hired Cary Kolat and renovated the team's practice facility. Working against Mock is the recent success of the rest of the ACC (Maryland, U.Va., and Va. Tech), and a possibly emergent Duke Blue Devil team with a vastly improved coaching staff. Their gains have made his slightly less visible, which is a problem on a campus known for athletic excellence. Rande Stottlemyer (Pittsburgh) The EWL Coach of the Year and member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. His name is on the list because of tenure (31 years) and location. There is no area of America with more folkstyle wrestling talent than Western Pennsylvania and Rande Stottlemyer is responsible for holding onto that talent. Tom Ryan's success at Ohio State has in large part been a result of holding onto local talent, both in wrestlers and now with young coaches. Stottlemyer is a consistent performer, producing an All-American in 20 of his last 27 seasons, but increasingly, that consistency isn't compelling enough to resist change. Unfortunate for Pitt, Cael Sanderson and Penn State will continue to gorge on local talent and if Pitt doesn't figure a way to intercept some top names, they'll be forced to recruit from Western Maryland. Look for head assistant Jason Peters to get a look at the top job, should a change be made. Here are some coaches with programs moving up in the NCAA rankings. On the Rise Pat Popolizio (Binghamton) Pat Popolizio (Photo/Tony Rotundo, Tech-Fall.com)The list of recent achievements for Popolizio is impressive: two consecutive seasons with at least one All-American, CAA title in 2010, CAA Coach of the Year, and the highest national finish for the bearcats (21st). Popolizio isn't just recruiting big talent to his program, with the help of his brother Frank, they are turning northern New York into a hotbed to be respected not just for Greco-Roman wrestlers, but pure folkstyle talent. Justin Lister, Josh Patterson and Donnie Vinson all had an impact on the program in 2010, but don't be surprised if in the next few years, Popolizio is tapped to lead a big ticket program. While this change may be unfortunate for Binghamton it would be a logical progression for Popolizio ... He's certainly earned the opportunity Mark Branch (Wyoming) Does anyone else get the impression Branch may never leave Wyoming? The third-year coach is not only recruiting top talent, he's morphing hard-nosed wrestlers with standard athleticism into All-American contenders (See: Joe LeBlanc, Michael Martinez, Shane Onufer). Branch has more than 15 freshman coming into his program this year, and as they become part of his program there are certain to be several more West Regional championships for the 'Pokes. Jason Borrelli (Stanford) Borrelli was a risky hire for the Cardinal in 2008. The former Central Michigan wrestler had only been an assistant coach for two seasons and when he earned the job he instantly became the youngest coach in Division I. However, whatever he lacked in experience, he's compensated with ingenuity. The first meet of the 2010-2011 season will take place on the Farm when Stanford plays host to Northwestern in an outside dual meet, meant to promote the sport on campus. While he's getting a hang of how to promote his sport in California, he's also churning out quality wrestlers. Last year Borrelli coached sophomore 165-pounder Nick Amuchastegui to a fourth-place finish, and in the offseason picked up a few nice recruits. He also solidified his coaching staff by adding California-native, and former NCAA runner-up Alex Tirapelle. Expect more improvement to come from Palo Alto. Lifetime Exemptions Rob Koll (Cornell) Rob Koll: Standard-setting facility and a top-ranked program ... coming from the Ivy League. He's kind of the man right now. Tom Brands (Iowa) No one embodies the Hawkeye ideal more than the three-time NCAA champion wrestler and three-time NCAA champion coach. If they change coaches in the next 30 years they'd be changing the face of wrestling. J. Robinson (Minnesota) Innovator and championship coach has brought fame to a campus known for hockey and not much else. He'll be certain to leave on his own terms.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Purdue wrestling team is set to open its season on Saturday with the first practice of the season. The Boilermakers are set for their best season in recent history, returning seven NCAA Championship qualifiers and seeking their first top-10 national finish since 1991. Leading the way for the Old Gold and Black is fourth-year head coach Scott Hinkel, who last year became the first coach in school history to post a winning dual record in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He guided the Boilermakers to their third straight top-30 team placement at the 2010 national championships and coached a Purdue wrestler to All-America status for the second straight year. With this year’s strong senior class, Hinkel has his sights set on nothing but outstanding results. “We have the talent, drive and work ethic to make this year something special,” said Hinkel. “These guys have worked incredibly hard, on the mat, in the classroom and in the community, and we’re all ready to see it pay off.” The Boilermakers have earned lots of national respect from potential opponents and the various national polls, including No. 13 rankings from WIN Magazine, TheOpenMat.com and Amateur Wrestling News, a No. 17 ranking from D1CollegeWrestling.net, a No. 20 ranking from WrestlingReport.com and an invitation to the NWCA National Duals. Purdue officially starts its season Saturday, Oct. 16, with an open practice at 10 a.m. in the Blake Wrestling Center in Lambert Fieldhouse. The homecoming football crowd and general public are invited to join the Boilermakers for a meet and greet, and then hang out to watch the first practice of the year. “We’re very excited about this season, and we want Purdue and the surrounding community to be excited too,” said Hinkel. 125 Pounds The Boilermakers have an incredible luxury at 125 pounds with the return of 2010 All-American Cashé Quiroga to the lineup. Quiroga became just the third true freshman in school history to earn national honors, taking sixth place at the NCAA Championships, and finishing 28-15 on the year. He’s also the first freshman at Purdue to crack the 100-takedown mark, racking up a team-best 124 takedowns, which is good for the sixth-highest single-season total in Boilermaker history. Quiroga is receiving a wealth of preseason attention from the various polls, including a No. 4 national ranking from WIN Magazine. Quiroga will get a wealth of support and challenge for his spot in the lineup as redshirt freshman Camden Eppert is roaring to go after sitting out his first year at Purdue. Eppert was the 2009 Indiana State Champion at 119 pounds, knocking off heralded recruit Brandon Wright in the state finals, and was tabbed the nation’s No. 63 recruit coming out of high school by InterMat. Also joining the ranks is Quiroga’s former high school teammate, Brandon Nelsen, who comes to Purdue after winning the 2010 Indiana State Championship at 119 pounds. Nelsen was 187-27 in his high school career, including a 51-1 mark as a senior and 50-4 mark as a junior. 133 Pounds Purdue’s 133-pound group is stocked with talent, highlighted by 2010 NCAA qualifier Akif Eren and junior Jake Fleckenstein. Eren set a series of career bests last year, including his 24-15 record and sixth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships, while Fleckenstein looks to cut down from 141 pounds last season, where he was 15-6 before a season-ending injury. Fleckenstein racked up an impressive 91 takedowns in his 21 matches, including seven major decisions and a trio of technical falls. Eren has been named the nation’s No. 27 wrestler at 133 pounds by WrestlingReport.com. Bolstering the effort at 133 are juniors Matt Fields and Bill Putman, who have come on strong over the last year. Fields is 27-18 over the last two years, varying between 125 and 133 pounds. He’s been a stud on top, sticking 10 opponents and rolling up 102 career back points. Putman was 14-11 last season in action at 133 and 141 pounds, including fifth-place efforts at the Cleveland State and Missouri Opens and a third-place finish at the Indianapolis Greyhound Open. Also certifying at 133 pounds is freshman Nick Lawrence, who was a two-time runner up at 125 pounds in Ohio before missing his senior year due to injury. 141 Pounds Senior Juan Archuleta represents another of the Boilermakers’ returning national qualifiers, going 28-14 last season with a fourth-place effort at the Big Ten Championships and a 2-2 mark at the NCAA Championships. Ranked 13th in the country in a pair of preseason polls, Archuleta nearly cracked the 100-takedown mark, totaling 96 to tie for 20th on the Purdue single-season record list. He had several impressive matches and wins last season topping Big Ten Champion Mike Thorn of Minnesota, Missouri’s Todd Schavrien, Elijah Nacita of Cal State Bakersfield and Ivan Lopouchanski of UNC Greensboro. With Archuleta scheduled to miss the first semester of competition, look for Eren or Fleckenstein to bump up and cover the 141 pounds slot until January. Archuleta leads a very young, but talented weight class for Purdue, which features freshman standout Brock Norton, who was an unblemished 39-0 last season en route to the Indiana state title at 135 pounds. 149 Pounds The starting job at 149 pounds for the Boilermakers comes down to redshirt senior Sam Patacsil and redshirt sophomore Tommy Churchard. Patacsil is the front-runner after being granted a medical hardship and sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, and posting a 38-22 record over the last few seasons. With a wealth of varsity action at 149 and 157 pounds in 2009-10, Patacsil built an impressive 18-11 mark, including wins over nationally heralded James Fleming of Clarion and Collin Palmer of Ohio State. He amassed 79 back points on the year, good for the No. 12 single-season mark at Purdue, and built his career total to 141, which is tied for ninth in school history. Churchard is primed for the move to 149 after wrestling most of his freshman season at 141 pounds. His 7-5 record included a 4-0 championship performance at the Indianapolis Greyhound Open, which featured two pins and two major decisions. Freshmen Frankie Porras, Josh Martin, Travis Rohde and Dustin Schultz support the ranks at 149, projecting to redshirt their initial season. Porras was one of the nation’s best at 145 pounds last season, earning mention from InterMat and D1CollegeWrestling.net, after winning Indiana state titles in 2009 and 2010, while Martin is the younger brother of former Boilermaker Jason Martin and was an Indiana state championship qualifier in 2010. Rohde and Schultz both qualified for their respective state tournaments their senior years as well. 157 Pounds Senior Colton Salazar puts the Boilermakers’ 157-pound slot in good hands, heading into the season with a trio of NCAA qualifications and Big Ten Championships placings under his belt. Salazar posted his first career 30-win season in 2009-10, finishing 30-13 on the year and rolling up a career- best 81 takedowns, and had his best-ever showing at the conference championships, taking second place. Salazar has already received some solid early-season attention, being tabbed No. 13 in the country by WIN Magazine and 15th in the nation by WrestlingReport.com. Salazar has a parade of freshman lined up behind him at 157, featuring Austin Kunze, Pat Robinson, Ryan Stahl and Alex Surma. Each member of the group were state qualifiers their final years in high school, while Robinson, Stahl and Surma were state placewinners in Indiana as Robinson was third at 145 pounds, Stahl was fourth at 152 pounds and Surma was fourth at 145 pounds. 165 Pounds With the graduation of Jason Martin, the Boilermakers will see a fresh face at 165 pounds this season, and could be any one of four young grapplers. Freshmen Kyle Mosier, Ethan Smith, Patrick Kissel and Cameron Vlahos all have their hats in the ring, each boasting a set of solid credentials. Mosier is the lone redshirt of the group, sitting out last year and gaining valuable experience. He had 173 career high school wins, including 119 pins, and placed at the Indiana state championships three times. Smith comes back to the Boilermakers after spending the last two years on a religious mission in Chile, signing with Purdue out of Wasatch High School in Utah, the same as current teammate Colton Salazar. A nationally-ranked recruit in 2008, Smith was a two-time state champion and took fourth-place at senior nationals in 2008 at 160 pounds. Kissel hopes to follow in the footsteps his older brother, A.J., who had an outstanding rookie campaign for the Boilermakers in 2007-08 as a true freshman. Patrick Kissel won a pair of Wisconsin state high school titles at Oostburg High School, finishing with a 158-9 career record and more than 70 career pins. Vlahos looks to be a hometown hero for the Boilermakers, hailing from Harrison High School in West Lafayette, where he was a two-time state championship qualifier. He took fourth place at the state meet last season at 160 pounds, and set several school records, including a season-best record of 56-4, 136 career wins and 69 career pins. 174 Pounds Senior Luke Manuel looks to finish off an outstanding career this season and is set to go down as one of the top wrestlers in school history. Manuel broke the Boilermakers’ single-season win record in 2009-10, earning 41 victories, and his 96 career wins rank him 15th in school history as he will become the 15th wrestler in school history to crack the 100-win plateau. He’s 38 wins shy of the Boilermakers’ career record (136 by Ryan Lange, 2001-04), and his 76.2% career win percentage is 10th-best in school history. Manuel was also one of three Boilermakers to surpass 100 takedowns last season en route to 217 for his career, good for 15th all-time at Purdue. Last season, Manuel made his third-straight trip to the NCAA Championships after a fifth-place showing at the conference tournament. His 41-6 mark was the 10th-best individual season in Purdue’s history, while he relinquished just 14 takedowns in 47 matches. With preseason rankings as high as ninth in the country at 174, Manuel has his sights set on a Big Ten Championship and All-America honors in his final season. Rookie Andy Wiseman looks to gain valuable experience this season under Manuel, joining the Boilermakers from Penn High School in Mishawaka, Ind., where he was a state qualifier last season. 184 Pounds Purdue and the rest of the wrestling world has anxiously awaited the return of fall maestro A.J. Kissel and after redshirting the 2009-10 season, he’ll jump back into the Boilermaker lineup this year. In his first two seasons with the Boilermakers, Kissel tormented opponents, amassing 19 pins as a freshman and 17 as a sophomore, good for the top-two single-season totals in school history. His 36 falls are already good for third all-time at Purdue as he aims to take over the top spot from current Purdue head coach Scott Hinkel in 2010-11. Kissel qualified for the national championships in each of his first two seasons at 184 pounds, nearly earning All-America status as a sophomore with a Round of 12 finish. He’s slotted to be one of the top-two grapplers in the Big Ten Conference this season, earning preseason rankings as high as seventh in the country from the various polls. Freshman standout Braden Atwood looks to cut his teeth under Kissel, coming to Purdue with exceptional high school credentials. Atwood is the most highly touted of the Boilermakers’ freshman class, receiving national recognition from D1CollegeWrestling.net among other polls. The local product from Delphi High School was a three-time Indiana state championship placewinner, including a second-place effort last season, and won 182 career matches. 197 Pounds The top half of the Boilermakers’ 2010-11 lineup seems to roll out one nationally-elite wrestler after another, and senior Logan Brown is no exception. Like Luke Manuel, Brown is closing in on the 100-career win mark, heading into the season with an 87-44 career mark, including a 33-13 record last season. His 240 career takedowns are good for 13th in school history as he matched Manuel with 101 last year, tying for the No. 15 single-season mark at Purdue. Brown’s junior season included his third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships, a fourth-place Big Ten Championship finish and placewinning efforts at the Midlands Championships, Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and a pair of open tournaments. He had nine wins over ranked opponents last season, and opens this year ranked as high as seventh in the national polls. Brown will have support from veteran classmate David Pisarcik, who has had a solid Purdue career to date, competing from 184 pounds to heavyweight, including a few outstanding performances at heavyweight last season. His win at Illinois led the Boilermakers to their first win over the Fighting Illini in more than 10 years, while he displayed a very gutsy performance at the Big Ten Championships, despite giving up a considerable weight advantage to his opponents. 285 Pounds The Boilermakers are anxious for the return of senior Roger Vukobratovich to the tail end of the lineup as he assumes the Purdue heavyweight slot after missing 2009-10 with an injury. He had a promising start to last season, topping Michigan’s Ben Apland (D 10-6) and nearly beating highly-ranked Chris Birchler of Edinboro (D 5-7) at the Eastern Michigan Open, but had to forgo the remainder of the year. Vukobratovich was very good in open competition in 2008-09, going 10-4 with five falls, and four years of work with Boilermaker assistant coach Tom Erikson should pay dividends as he aims to be the Boilermakers’ first heavyweight NCAA qualifier since Israel Blevins in 2004. A young supporting cast sits behind Vukobratovich, including sophomore Adam Walls and freshmen Alex White and Gage Boyd. Walls filled in for the injured Vukobratovich for most of last season, compiling an 11-24 mark with four falls, including a Big Ten win at Northwestern. White and Boyd both are hungry for their first taste of action, each with solid high school credentials. Schedule The Boilermakers’ preseason hype warranted a solid 2010-11 schedule, and the Purdue coaches stepped up to the challenge, filling this year’s schedule with a list of worthy opponents and events. The coaching staff’s main priority for the season was filling their schedule with quality instead of quantity as the Boilermakers’ seven NCAA Championship qualifiers finished the season with an average of 43 matches per wrestler and felt worn out by the end of the season. Purdue opens the season with a pair of dual matches at Edinboro University on Nov. 6, where the Boilermakers will face the host Fighting Scots as well as Hofstra Unviersity. Edinboro garnered preseason rankings as high as 24th in the country, while Hofstra was ranked as high as 16th. The Boilermakers will follow up with preparation stops at the Michigan State Open and a dual with Calumet College of St. Joseph before heading west for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational for competition against some of the nation’s best, including highly-ranked Cornell, Boise State and Oklahoma as well as Big Ten rivals Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin. The competition doesn’t slow down upon a return home from the desert as Purdue is scheduled to host perennial Big 12 power Missouri on Dec. 12 in the Boilermakers’ home opener, followed by a Big Ten Dual opener at Illinois before the holiday break. The Old Gold and Black will forgo their trip to the Midlands Championships this season, but replace it with a prestigious trip to the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals on Jan. 8-9 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, marking their first return to the event since 1993. The Big Ten Duals remain as tough as ever as the Boilermakers head to Michigan for their second conference bout, followed by a non-conference stop at the annual Wendy’s Classic, where Purdue is scheduled to square off with Gardner-Webb, Kent State and host Ashland. The remainder of the conference schedule features road contests at Northwestern and Wisconsin, while the Boilermakers are set to play host to Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan State and archrival Indiana. Purdue’s contest with the Hawkeyes will be held at Penn High School in Mishawaka, Ind., while the regular-season finale against the Hoosiers will carry with it a point in the coveted Crimson and Gold Cup standings between Purdue and Indiana. Originally scheduled to host the conference tournament this season, Purdue was forced to forgo its hosting responsibilities due to the construction project on Mackey Arena and the athletic facilities. The 2011 Big Ten Championships were therefore moved to Northwestern, where the Wildcats will host in Welsh-Ryan Arena. From there the Boilermakers look to take another strong contingent to the NCAA Championships, set for the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Missouri wrestling program released their 2010-11 schedule on Thursday as announced by Tiger head coach Brian Smith. The 65th season of Missouri wrestling will kick off on Saturday, Oct. 30 with the annual Black and Gold meet at the Hearnes Center. Missouri will host five events and will face off against five of the top-25 teams ranked in Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine’s (WIN) preseason NCAA Division I Tournament Power Index. The season gets underway officially on Nov. 12 with a dual meet against Illinois in Edwardsville, Ill. The Fighting Illini were ranked No. 9 in WIN’s preseason rankings. A week later, the Tigers open up their home schedule with a quad-meet as they play host to Lindenwood, Hofstra and Oregon State at Hearnes Center on Nov. 21. On Nov. 27, Mizzou will head out to Albany, N.Y. for the Journeymen/Asics Northeast Collegiate Duals, where the Tigers will face off against American, Rutgers, No. 19 Lehigh and Maryland. On Dec. 5 the Tigers take on No. 25 Kent State at home, and the following week they will face the Purdue Boilermakers, who are tied for 13th in the early polls, in a dual that is scheduled to be televised on the Big Ten Network in Lafayette, Ind. Missouri returns to Indiana a week later to face the Indiana Hoosiers and Eastern Michigan on Dec. 19. The Tigers will compete in the Midlands Invitational in Evanston, Ill. on Dec. 29-30 and at the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Jan. 8-9. Mizzou comes back to the Hearnes Center to open up the 2011 portion of their schedule with a tri-meet against Tennessee Chattanooga and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Jan. 15. The dual with UTC will also be apart of the annual Beauty and the Beast event, with the Missouri gymnastics squad taking on SEMO on the same floor. The conference season opens on Jan. 30 when the Tigers host Nebraska, ranked No. 24. From there, they have back-to-back road duals with No. 3 Oklahoma State and No. 7 Oklahoma on Feb. 4-5. The regular season closes with a home meet against Iowa State on Feb. 13. This year’s Big 12 Championship is in Ames, Iowa on March 5, while the NCAA Championship is in Philadelphia, Pa. and will take place on March 17-19. Stay tuned to mutigers.com for more information.

Lawrenceville, N.J. -- James Nicholson and Grant Chapman are ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes in the CAA preseason rankings and Old Dominion is picked third as a team, the CAA announced on Wednesday. Nicholson, a three-time CAA champion and All-American in 2008, was picked to win at 125 pounds. Nicholson has garnered accolades from several publications so far this year, being ranked in the top-11 of three national polls. The Des Moines, Iowa native is ranked No. 10 by Amateur Wrestling News and DIcollegewrestling.net. Chapman was picked first at 285 pounds. The ODU sophomore went 14-23 last season. Senior Kyle Hutter was ranked second at 133 pounds. Hutter, a two-time NCAA qualifier, redshirted last season, going 25-1 wrestling unattached. Also announced was the preseason CAA all-Freshman team, which for the second-straight year ODU led the squad with three members. Jerome Robinson, a two-time Ohio state champion and the No. 2 recruit at his weight class, earned all-freshman honors at 125. Cade Blair, a Valley Center, Kan. native, represented ODU at 157 pounds. He won three Kansas state championships and finished sixth at the NHSCA national tournament, earning All-American honors. Jacob Henderson earned the all-freshman honor at 197 pounds. The Toledo, Ohio native was ranked No. 24 in the nation at his weight class and was Ohio state runner-up twice. The Monarchs begin the year with its annual Blue/Silver match on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. before beginning the regular season Nov. 7 at the Hokie Open.

Wrestling Fans its almost here. The season! We return to the Brute Adidas studios for this weeks show brought to you by Kemin Agrifoods. Join Scott Casber, Geoff Murtha (Simpson) and Ryan Freeman (Ok State) and Randy Crimmins. Geoff Murtha joins us courtesy of Mass Mutual Financial Services, Ryan Freeman courtesy of ATT. This week we have a special guest host, Chad Wiltsey of theWrestlingtalk.com will join us for 2 hours. Our Guests Include: (All times Central) 9:01 Rob Koll- Head Coach of Cornell University 9:20 Paul Deamer- World Wide Sport Supply will be presenting the 2nd Annual Coaching Clinic and NYSPHSAA October 30th and 31st. This is FREE to attend and have some top-notch clinicians. 9:40 Trent Goodale- Head Coach Limestone College. Trent was named head coach of the Saints program in the spring of 2009. He became the interim head coach during the 2008-09 season and served as an assistant coach for Limestone from 2006-08. Limestone has had much success under Goodale’s direction since his arrival. The team has been nationally-ranked and sent several wrestlers to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. 9:50 Amy Williams- Wildrose Resort 10:01 Shawn Charles- Head Coach Arizona State University- Looking for a record year, Charles has some good returning athletes and a talented roster of recruits too. 10:20 Jordan Leen- Assist. Coach at Duke University- Jordan joined the Duke program in September. A NCAA Champion in 2008, Leen will assist head coach Clar Anderson and assistant coach Glen Lanham and will work closely with the middle weight classes 10:40 Joel Sharrett- Head Coach US Airforce Academy- Flying high as always, Sharrett looks to the brand and to raise awareness of the program. Wrestling fans- Episode 79 of TDR TV wrestling news is now on. Check your TV Guide for listings. How to watch and listen- TDR and TDR TV. It's appointment Radio and TV! 4.5 MILLION HOMES AND GROWING! TDR on Radio: LIVE Saturday at 9:00 AM CST on 1460 KXNO in Iowa. Saturday nights at 7:00 PM Eastern on Supertalk 1570 in Michigan, TDR TV: Mediacom Cable Ch. 22. IA, MO, AK, NE, MN, IL Tues. 5 PM, Sat. 10 AM Time Warner Cable NY Ch. 813 (Check Local Listings) Comcast Cable Tennessee Ch. 96 Fridays 5 PM CATV- CCN, Pennsylvania Ch. 8 Fridays 5 PM Western Reserve Ohio Cable Ch. 9 Fridays at 5:30 (Premiered October 15th) Call your local cable operator and ask them to carry TDR TV TDR on Internet: You can join us 9 to 11 AM Saturday mornings at Takedownradio.com TDR TV On Internet: 32 various web sites now carry your favorite wrestling news show Thanks to our affiliates, our media partners and friends at Livesportsvideo.com. Thanks for watching and listening!

Wednesday was a big day for Pennsylvania state champion Kenny Courts, it was college decision time. After narrowing his list of schools to three and taking official visits to Ohio State, Maryland, and Arizona State the choice was not easy but looking back the signs were there all along. Kenny Courts"I am going to be a Buckeye next year," responded Courts over the phone on Wednesday night. "When I was growing up, I always was an Ohio State fan so the chance for me to wrestle at OSU was too hard to turn down. From the coaches to the team, the school and the city; everything came together to create the environment that is right for me." A two-time state place winner for Central Dauphin High School, Courts is 96-4 in three years of varsity competition. He exploded on to the national wrestling scene as a freshman by reaching the finals of the Super 32 and winning a Beast of the East title at 135 pounds before a knee injury and surgery ended his year. As a sophomore Kenny moved up to 160 and went 43-4 placing sixth at the Beast and second at state and as a junior he has undefeated at 42-0 winning his second Beast of the East title and his first state championship at 171 pounds. "I really like the way that the Ohio State coaches work together. Tom Ryan is a great head coach; Lou Rosselli stays on everyone all year round to bring out their best: and J Jaggers can get on the mat with anyone and put them through a workout," offered Courts when speaking of his decision. "It was very, very hard to tell Coach McCoy I wasn't going to Maryland but sometimes the best decisions are the hardest to make." Kenny Courts is currently the 12th-ranked recruit in his senior class by InterMat after finishing last season ranked sixth nationally at 171 pounds. He is expected to move up to 189 for his senior year and anticipates wrestling at 184 pounds for the Buckeyes. "I wanted to make this decision now so I could focus on my senior year. It is a big commitment to wrestle in college and there is a lot of pressure in making your decision. Making a choice now … takes the weight off my shoulders," stated Kenny. "I am going to have a lot of hard matches this year and I need to spend my time getting in shape and ready to go instead of taking visits and looking too far ahead." Ohio State fans can thank the pilot that flew Courts back from his recent visit to Arizona State for giving him a sign. Flying to Baltimore from Phoenix the plane stopped in Columbus and the crew and the passengers erupted into an "OH" -- "IO" chant over the PA and throughout the cabin. "Both my mom and I were in awe of the Buckeye Nation on my flight home," described Courts. "No one knew who I was or anything about me, but when the captain said "OH" and we all said "IO" it was something special. I don't want to say I was looking for help making a choice but that was something else. It may or may not have been a sign, but it truly was a wow moment." With his college decision made the goals for his senior year are simple. "I want to work hard, have fun, get better, and win. I only have one year of high school left and I want to enjoy it," responded Courts. "When it comes to wrestling I want to keep pushing the pace and get in the best shape I can. I want to work on my technique, spend time on the bottom, and keeping improving my strengths on my feet. No matter how good you are or how good you think you are, there are always things that you can do that will help you get better." Kenny Courts is the fifth verbal commitment for Ohio State joining seniors Hunter Stieber, Cam Tessari, and Johnni DiJulius as well as 2010 graduate Derek Garcia. All five wrestlers are expected to sign their National Letter(s) of Intent during the November signing period and each is ranked in the top twenty-five of their senior classes. "I don't think you can ignore the success the Buckeyes have had the last few years. With the talent they have coming back and the potential we have coming in next year, we believe that we can compete for individual success and team success. We can win as individuals and we can win as a team," stated Courts. "We have the potential to do great things and I think we are going to be a tough team to beat." InterMat was granted permission to republish this article from BuckeyeWrestling.com. http://www.buckeyewrestling.com/index.php?q=node/37587

The NWCA Board of Directors is pleased to partner with California USA Wrestling to host the 45th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by The Marines, on Sunday, November 21, 2010 in Fresno, California at Selland Arena. This event will serve as a fundraiser to assist in efforts to preserve and grow the number of college wrestling programs in the state of California. All proceeds from the event will be earmarked to fund strategic initiatives and public relation efforts for the California wrestling programs. The California Division I programs specifically took a hit last year with: Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Bakersfield and UC Davis being placed in limbo. As of right now UC Davis will not be competing unless money is raised and the administration grants approval. “Having the All-Star Classic in California, will help to continue to promote awareness for the sport of wrestling which currently lacks opportunity within the state. While the need for opportunity is increasing with the growing number of participants at the high school level, the opportunities are being eliminated at the college level,” said Mike Mendoza, head coach Cal State Bakersfield. “The state of California needs to come together and support college wrestling with this event.” Cal State Bakersfield has been granted another year of competition as well after undertaking large fundraising projects last year with the help of New England Patriot Stephen Neal, former CSUB National Champion and All-Star Classic Participant. “The 44th NWCA All-Star Classic held at Cal State Fullerton, last November, was a great opportunity for California wrestlers and fans to see great college wrestling up close and personal. One fan described the event as ‘the best wrestling event he had ever been to in California.' For those of you who have the opportunity to go to the Division I Nationals, you know how great the wrestling is and the All-Star Classic gives us a taste of what we would see at the NCAA Nationals in a few months. We were very thankful to Mike Moyer and the NWCA for awarding the Classic to Cal State Fullerton and now allowing it to return to Fresno, California,” said Dan Hicks, head coach at Cal State Fullerton. “This commitment shows the vision of the NWCA to help California Collegiate wrestling, which has been under pressure because of the difficult economic issues in the state. I would encourage every wrestling fan and competitor to find a way to attend the 45th All-Star Classic held in Fresno. You will love the competition and you will be helping to showcase our great sport and the need to support our California college programs.” Last year Cal State Fullerton hosted the All-Star Classic raising over $200,000 for their program along with countless donations. They have been granted a reprieve and are able to compete for the 2010-11 season, but must still continue to raise funds to keep their program. “We are excited to be able to have the NWCA All-Star Classic back in the state of California. After the success of the event at Cal State Fullerton last year, we hope that this will build momentum and raise awareness on what is happening in California,” said Brian Smith, NWCA President. “California has the largest high school participation numbers in America (27,000 wrestlers) and only 7 four-year college programs in the state. This is a huge opportunity to promote the top level competition of the All-Star Classic.” 2010 marks the sixth time in recent history that the NWCA has used the All-Star Classic to help highlight programs that were in jeopardy or in areas that did not have college wrestling. These sites included SIU-Edwardsville; Newark, Delaware; Dallas, Texas; University of Oregon; and Cal State Fullerton. “We need the entire California wrestling community to step up and support this event. These four intercollegiate wrestling teams need the support more than ever. They will directly benefit from all proceeds generated from the All-Star Classic. The NWCA has identified some very viable and cost effective strategic initiatives uniquely designed to save/protect all four of these college programs but without funding, we'll probably never know what might have been,” said Smith. For more information on the NWCA All-Star Classic, visit the NWCA Website at http://www.nwcaonline.com/NWCAWebSite/Events/nwcaallstarclassic.aspx 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.

Wrestling may be the oldest and greatest sport, but the best wrestlers and coaches aren't afraid to use the latest technology to make themselves even better. The same could be said for William "Doc" Bauer, and his book, Wrestling: A Boy's First Book. First published in 2004 (and featured in an InterMat Rewind story in August 2009), the book was designed for parents to read to their youngsters ages 7-9 to introduce them to amateur wrestling. The original Wrestling: A Boy's First Book was incredibly popular ... selling out its first two print editions. Now Bauer has decided to make the book available to even more parents and potential wrestlers ... by putting the book online, available absolutely free of charge, to be printed at home. Why online? In a recent interview, Bauer said that he wanted to update his book, and had thought about a third printing. However the cost of printing, as well as the costs of shipping the book from the printer in Canada, and then from the distributor, was huge. "I had never really intended to make money on the book," the former wrestler and coach -- and retired educator -- disclosed in the interview for this article. "I had put the profits from the printed book into promoting it." According to Bauer, by using the latest technology tools and putting the book online, "My intent was to eliminate some of those middle processes to reduce costs. However, the ultimate benefit is, it makes it easier for parents to get the book and share it with their kids." You can't improve on success The features that made Wrestling: A Boy's First Book so popular in a traditional printed book format are still part of the new print-it-yourself version. As before, the updated edition is NOT an instructional book for would-be wrestlers to read for themselves; instead, it's intended for parents to read to their children, and get them to thinking about taking up wrestling. The book opens with two young friends -- Christopher and Michael -- watching professional wrestling on TV. Christopher's older brother Kevin -- a high school wrestler himself -- makes it clear that what the boys are watching isn't real wrestling. (In the 2009 InterMat Rewind interview, Doc Bauer said, "I thought it was important to start with pro wrestling, 'the dark side,' because that's what so many people think of when they hear the word 'wrestling.'") Wrestling: A Boy's First Book follows Christopher and Michael to Kevin's wrestling practice ... and to a dual meet for Kevin's team, where they are introduced to the fundamentals of the sport, thanks to Bauer's clear explanations, as well as the color pencil drawings of noted children's book illustrator Rachel Mindrup. Original intent Dr. William Bauer reads Wrestling: A Boy's First Book to his son, Ken (Photo/Wrestling: A Boy's First Book)What caused William Bauer to write the book in the first place? A former college wrestler himself, Bauer saw the value in the sport for his youngest son. However, years ago, when he took Kenny to a Pittsburgh-area wrestling program for youth, the seven-year-old was confused by what he didn't see. He asked where the ring was, why there were no punching bags. As Bauer -- a long-time educator -- put it, "He had confused wrestling with boxing ... Many 7-8 year-olds and their parents don't know what wrestling is about. It's not like baseball or football, which are so much a part of culture, everyone knows what they are, even if they never played." Years later, Bauer came up with the idea of a book "that's a primer to wrestling, designed for parents to read to their child, rather than an instructional book aimed directly at the child." The original goals of Wrestling: A Boy's First Book were simple: To encourage parent-child bonds through reading ... and to open up possibilities for "pushing the furniture aside and doing some hands-on demonstrations," according to the author. As the foreword of the book states ... ... the book encourages the parent to become an active part of the learning process, by talking about what's in the book, practicing some of the moves, and even visiting a wrestling room and a high school dual meet. To learn more about Wrestling: A Boy's First Book -- and print out the color pages to read at home -- visit the Web site http://wrestlingforkids.com.

PITTSBURGH -- Coming off possibly its most successful season in school history, Pitt wrestling has released its upcoming 2010-11 schedule, as announced by Head Coach Rande Stottlemyer Friday. After posting a 17-1-1 dual meet record last season, and winning the EWL regular season title, the Panthers will return 10 lettermen, including five NCAA qualifiers for the 2010-11 season. The Panthers will face a challenging schedule in 2010-11, including seven teams that finished among the top 25 at the 2010 NCAA Championships: Ohio State (8th), Penn State (9th), Nebraska (T-12th), American (14th), Edinboro (16th), Lehigh (17th) and Kent State (25th). The annual Blue vs. Gold wrestle-offs will kick off the season on October 24, at Fitzgerald Field House. The event will start at 1:30 p.m. The Panthers will also compete in three tournaments, starting with the Clarion Open on Nov. 6. Other tournaments include the Penn State Open on Dec. 5 in State College, and the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill., on Dec. 29-30. Pitt opens the dual season at home, when the Panthers host Lehigh on Nov. 12. The Mountain Hawks are coached by former Pitt wrestling standout Pat Santoro. In his four years at Pitt, Santoro amassed 167 victories and 43 pins – both current records. The Panthers will then travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on Big Ten powerhouse Michigan on Nov. 14. The team will compete in the Buckeye Duals in Columbus, Ohio on Nov. 21 where they will take on top-20 teams in Nebraska and Ohio State. Following the Buckeye Duals, Pitt will travel to Albany, N.Y., on Nov. 27 when the Panthers compete in the Journeyman Northeast Duals against Penn, Virginia and American. Pitt’s second home match will be held on Dec. 12 when the Panthers host Kent State. Following the Midland Championships, the Panthers will return home to host the Pitt Duals on Jan 9. This year’s Pitt Duals will feature Davidson, Drexel, Millersville and Northwestern – all of whom the Panthers will face in the event. Eastern Wrestling League competition begins on Jan. 14 with a 7 p.m. meeting at Lock Haven. A week later, the Panthers will face in-state rival Penn State. Last season both teams fought to a 19-19 tie in Pittsburgh. Pitt’s first EWL home match will feature Bloomsburg on Jan. 30. Rounding out the EWL home matches are West Virginia on Feb. 4 and Cleveland State on Feb. 11. Pitt will travel to Clarion this year on Feb. 10, and finish the regular season on the road against Edinboro. Last year, Pitt clinched the EWL season title with a 21-13 victory over the Fighting Scots on home turf. On March 6, Pitt will travel back to Bloomsburg for the EWL Championships. March 17-19, the Panthers look to the NCAA Championships, held in Philadelphia, Pa. For more information and up-to-date match times, fans are encouraged to visit the Pitt team website at www.pittsburghpanthers.com

Barry Davis, head wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin, and Ray Brinzer, a two-time All-American for the University of Iowa, will go “On the Mat” this Wednesday, October 13. “On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:05 - 6:00 PM CST on AM 1650, The Fan. E-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show. Davis was a three-time NCAA champion for the University of Iowa and a silver medalist at the 1984 Olympics. He is currently the head wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin. Brinzer was a Big Twelve champion for Oklahoma State and a two-time All-American for the University of Iowa. He was recently hired by the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation as a coach.

If you believe in destiny, then Doug Schwab has arrived where he is supposed to be: at the University of Northern Iowa as the head wrestling coach. Doug SchwabSchwab is the chosen one, the one picked to bring balance to Panther Wrestling, and, in some ways, college wrestling. The Schwab saga started years ago, and it is just starting to get good. For those unfamiliar, Doug is the youngest of three brothers. Mike, the oldest, and Mark, the middle, were All-Americans at the University of Northern Iowa. Mike placed eighth at the NCAA tournament in 1987 at 126 pounds. Mark placed fifth in 1986 and sixth in 1990, both times at 118 pounds. Mark arrived at UNI in 1985 as the top recruit in the nation. He was a four-time state champion for Osage and a four-time junior national champion. Mark was an All-American as a true freshman in 1986 and redshirted the following season. He won the Sunkist Open and placed third at the prestigious Tbilisi tournament in the Soviet Union during his redshirt year. Then, injuries struck. Mark had knee problems and a staph infection the remainder of his college career, which ultimately affected his performance. As a senior he entered the 1990 NCAA tournament seeded third and placed sixth. Running up and down the sidelines at Northern Iowa dual meets was Mark's and Mike's rambunctious younger brother, Doug. Doug Schwab (Photo/Tony Rotundo, Tech-Fall.com)Doug, a one-time state champion for Osage in 1996, was recruited by Dan Gable to the University of Iowa. He redshirted during the 1996-97 season (Gable's last year as head coach, which, incidentally, was held at Northern Iowa), and was the 126 pound starter in Jim Zalesky's inaugural year. The following year, as a sophomore, Doug won the 1999 NCAA tournament at 141 pounds. He eventually became a three-time All-American. While Doug was at Iowa, Mark was at the University of Minnesota as an assistant coach. Every time Minnesota wrestled Iowa, Mark would excuse himself from the bench to watch his brother's match from afar. In 2001, Doug's senior year, Mark was part of the Minnesota team that finally brought the Hawkeyes down at the NCAA tournament -- on Iowa's home turf no less. Doug placed second at 141 pounds and Minnesota had a record 10 All-Americans, but no wrestlers in the finals. Mark and Doug were together at the University of Minnesota for a spell before each found new wrestling homes. Mark was the head coach at Division III Buena Vista for four years and North Iowa Area Community College, a junior college program, for one year. Doug joined Tom Brands as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech for two years before joining the Iowa staff when Brands took over for Zalesky in 2006. In 2007 Doug made a World team and in 2008 he competed at the Olympics. Then, when the head coaching position at Northern Iowa became available earlier this year, Doug applied for the job -- and he got it. He appointed his brother Mark as an assistant. Doug and staff -- Mark Schwab, Randy Pugh, Tolly Thompson, and Joe Slaton -- have gone on the offensive already, which should surprise no one. The Schwab Mob wants to sell 2000 season tickets before the first home dual meet -- a Herculean task given last year's season ticket sales were under 200. All home dual meets will be held in the West Gym, a facility that holds 2,200 people when the fire marshal is present and 3,000 people when he's not. West Gym (Photo/UNI Sports Information)Yes, THE West Gym. The place where Northern Iowa hosted -- and won -- the NCAA tournament in 1950. The place where people hung off the rafters at dual meets because it was so full. The place where Bill Koll knocked out an opponent and shook him while he was being pinned so the referee wouldn't stop the match. The place where a fan hurled insults at Ohio State head coach Russ Hellickson and Hellickson lost control. The place where Doug Schwab ran up and down the mat as a kid. The West Gym is sacred ground. Schwab should be commended for what he is doing already. When a program gets dropped we wonder why a coach wasn't more proactive. Well, Schwab is showing us what proactive looks like. The kid has personality too. Doug likes Mountain Dew, the Boston Red Sox, and Jimi Hendrix as much as he likes wrestling. He even named one of his sons Hendrix. And it should get lost on no one that Jimi Hendrix has a song called Purple Haze (purple is Northern Iowa’s primary team color). In addition to hosting the UNI Open on December 4, 2010, and the National Duals on January 8-9, 2011, Northern Iowa has a home dual meet schedule with more angles than a John Smith low single. Here are the highlights. Saturday, November 20, 2010, 2 p.m. -- Northern Iowa versus Old Dominion The Schwab era officially begins against Steve Martin, a former All-American from the University of Iowa. Martin, known for his boisterous and loud coaching style, accepts his role as a villain. His nickname -- Rat -- is reason enough to attend. Thursday, December 9, 2010, 7 p.m. -- Northern Iowa versus Iowa Schwab (the student) faces Brands (the master). Any Iowa fan hoping to get through the doors for this historic meet should consider buying season tickets -- because it will be a sellout. The action on the sidelines from coaches will be as good, or better, than the meet itself. If Northern Iowa is smart it will play "Jump Around" by House of Pain at least once during an argument. It just makes sense. Sunday, January 23, 2011, 1 p.m. -- Northern Iowa versus Nebraska Nebraska finally returns to Northern Iowa's schedule. Cornhusker head coach Mark Manning made his head coaching debut as a Panther, and former Nebraska NCAA champion Tolly Thompson returns to the sidelines for the Panthers as an assistant. Schwab wants to show Manning that Iowans can husk corn better than Nebraskans. That's why he's having his wrestlers run wind sprints through cornfields. Friday, January 28, 2011, 7 p.m. -- Northern Iowa versus Northern Illinois Dave Grant, a former All-American at Northern Iowa, takes on his former team. Sunday, February 20, 2011, 2 p.m. -- Northern Iowa versus Wyoming Northern Iowa's final home dual against Wyoming is Iowa versus Oklahoma State in disguise. This budding rivalry should interest any wrestling fan. Wyoming, coached by former Oklahoma State star Mark Branch, ended Northern Iowa's 24-year reign as West Regional champions last year. Song suggestion No. 2: "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" by Big and Rich. It makes more sense. I've ordered two season tickets for Northern Iowa's home wrestling duals already. My suggestion -- as someone who believes in being proactive for wrestling as a whole -- is you should too. And Iowa fans, seriously, support your former wrestler. You may not make it through the West Gym doors to support your favorite team on December 9 if you don't. Season tickets are only $35 for the year -- and the Iowa meet alone will cost $15. To order UNI season tickets, click here.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Former Missouri wrestling All-American and current assistant strength and conditioning coach Nicholas Marable took bronze medal honors at the Ramzan Kadyrov Cup in Grozny, Russia. The two-day event was held this past weekend on Oct. 9-10. Marable, competing in the 74 kg/163 pound class, was one of only two Americans to place at the event. It was the first major international freestyle medal for the three-time Big 12 Champion. Volunteer assistant coach Joe Johnston also competed in the event, and will compete again this weekend at the Intercontinental Cup in Khasavyurt, Russia from Oct. 15-17. Complete results from the Ramzan Kadyrov Cup will be posted at themat.com when available.

USAFA, Colo. -- With the entire team working hard to improve throughout the off-season, the Air Force wrestling program is looking forward to a successful season in 2010-11. “We are excited about the off-season training opportunities our guys had this spring and summer,” said head coach Joel Sharratt. “The post-season competition our upperclassmen took advantage of will help launch us into the 2010-11 competition season.” “The work our guys put in the weight room this summer is very evident in the power and strength gains made this year,” continued Sharratt. “[Strength and conditioning coach] Drew Bodette did a great job putting together a developmental plan that challenged our guys every day this summer.” The Falcons will look to use their off-season training to tackle the challenges of the season ahead. Air Force will host the 2011 NCAA West Regional/Western Wrestling Conference Championships, to highlight a schedule which also features eight home duals and appearances at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Southern Scuffle, Lone Star Duals and All-Academy Championships. For the third consecutive season, all of the Falcons’ home events, including the Blue-Silver Intrasquad Match on Oct. 28, will be held in Clune Arena. The Blue-Silver Match will give fans a preview of the season to come, as the team’s young wrestlers face off against seven returning conference starters and a pair of seniors who have shared the starting role in the past. “The Blue-Silver will be a competitive battle screener for the team and staff,” said Sharratt. “It will put our off-season preparation to its first test. We have several weight classes that are going to be exciting to follow, from the preliminary bouts to the finals on Thursday night. The Blue-Silver is a very good indicator of who will be in our starting lineup in March.” The frontrunner at 125 pounds is senior Andrew Zwirlein, who has held the starting spot for the past two seasons. He is likely to face off against sophomore Steven Joseph or freshman Greg Rinker in the Blue-Silver finals. Meanwhile, at 133 pounds, a pair of wrestlers who each started last season, senior Derek Gillespie and junior Tyler Untrauer, will challenge for the starting spot. The 141-pound weight class features returning NCAA qualifier Cole VonOhlen, the unanimous pick for the 2010 WWC Freshman of the Year, who will be tough to beat out. However, newcomer Daniel Baucke, a nationally ranked prep standout from Tennessee, will look to challenge for honors. Sophomore Gabe Martinez returns at 149 pounds, looking to retain his starting spot, while a talented group of young wrestlers, including Colorado standout Josh Kreimier, will battle for his place in the lineup. At 157 pounds, junior Alec Williams, who started at the conference meet and posted some big WWC dual victories last season, will be challenged by freshman Jesse Stafford, a two-time state placewinner in California and younger brother of team captain Joseph Stafford. Sophomore Clayton Gable and senior Joseph Stafford both had great summers and are currently the frontrunners at 165 and 174 pounds, respectively. Meanwhile, sophomore Josh Mohr, a Wisconsin state champion, placed at several events last season and looks to be the favorite at 184 pounds. Challenging Mohr for the starting spot will be junior Karl Oeser and former 197-pounder Kazden Ikehara. Senior Neil Delaney returns as the starter at 197 pounds, and with Ikehara’s drop to 184, Delaney will find a challenger in freshman Cody Davis, who held a national ranking last year as a prep standout in Texas. Meanwhile, at 285 pounds, junior Jared Erickson will face off against senior Josh Larson for the starting spot. After the Blue-Silver Match determines the Falcons’ likely starting lineup, Air Force officially opens the season Nov. 13 at the annual Cowboy Open, hosted by Wyoming, before heading to the Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha, Neb., Nov. 20. The Falcons also return to the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Dec. 3-4 to face some of the top wrestlers in the nation. Air Force opens its home slate on Dec. 10, when it hosts Western State and Coe in a pair of dual meets. A week later, the Falcons will welcome nationally ranked Oregon State to Clune Arena for a non-conference dual on Dec. 17. The Falcons close out the month of December by making their second trip to the annual Southern Scuffle, one of the nation’s top tournaments, held in Greensboro, N.C., Dec. 28-29. Air Force then opens 2011 at the annual Lone Star Duals in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Jan. 15 with matches tentatively scheduled versus Brown, American, Arizona State and Wayland. Next, the Falcons head to the West Coast, visiting Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 21 before facing Cal Baptist and Menlo at the Cal Baptist Duals on Jan. 22. The first league match-up of the season comes on Jan. 28, when the Falcons host WWC rival North Dakota State, followed by another home conference dual versus South Dakota State on Jan. 29. In February, Air Force is on the road for a pair of conference duals against Wyoming (Feb. 3) and Utah Valley (Feb. 11), while heading to Charleston, S.C., on Feb. 6 for the annual All-Academy Championships, hosted this year by The Citadel. Air Force also hosts WWC foe Northern Iowa and non-conference opponent New Mexico Highlands on Feb. 13, before wrapping up its home schedule on Feb. 18 with a conference dual versus Northern Colorado. Other competitions on the Falcons’ schedule this season include the Fort Hays Open on Dec. 4, the Borah Duals on Jan. 15 and the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Open on Jan. 29. Air Force caps off the season by hosting the NCAA West Regional/Western Wrestling Conference Championships on March 6, with the top performers earning bids to the NCAA Championships, which will be held March 17-19 in Philadelphia, Pa.

Seven InterMat Top 100 recruits gave verbal commitments last week, including No. 13 Logan Storley (Webster, SD), and No. 18 Alex Dieringer (Port Washington, WI). InterMat caught up with the latest group of InterMat Top 100 recruits to commit to colleges and talked to them about their college decisions and much more. No. 13 Logan Storley (Webster, SD) College Choice: Minnesota Projected College Weight Class: 174 Storley, the highest-ranked recruit to commit last week, gave a verbal commitment to Minnesota. He is looking to become just the second six-time state champion ever in South Dakota. Storley, who hails from the same hometown as former Gopher and current UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, was a Junior Nationals freestyle champion this past summer and has twice won the NHSCA Nationals. He will head into his senior campaign with a 217-2 record and riding a 163-match winning streak. Logan Storley (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Storley on his decision to commit to Minnesota: "My decision was made through me and my family. They have a great group there and those are people I want to be around." Storley on the recruiting process: "It was a fun experience, but I'm glad it's over. All the schools and coaches were very nice." Storley on the Minnesota coaching staff: "There are so many good things to say about those guys. They have been very helpful and supportive of everything. I'm really excited to start my college career with guys like that." Storley on what it would mean to become a six-time state champion: "It would be amazing. I would be in the record books and nobody could ever take that away. It's also a goal I've been striving for since sixth grade." Storley on being compared to Lincoln McIlravy: "That's an awesome feeling. He was one of the best ever and to be even considered like him makes me feel real good." No. 18 Alex Dieringer (Port Washington, WI) College Choice: Oklahoma State Projected College Weight Class: 149 Dieringer was one of two InterMat Top 100 recruits to commit to Oklahoma State last week. He was a Junior Nationals folkstyle and freestyle champion this year and a Cadet Nationals double champion in 2009. He is also a two-time state champion who went 42-1 last season. Alex Dieringer (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Dieringer on his decision to commit to Oklahoma State: "I committed to Oklahoma State because of the team's proven success over the years. I knew wrestling for Oklahoma State would give me the best chance of becoming an NCAA champion. I felt at home during my visit to OSU, and enjoyed my time spent with the coaching staff and the team." Dieringer on the recruiting process: "Best thing: Meeting great coaches and great wrestlers from great schools. Worst thing: Having to make difficult phone calls to coaches once my decision was made. I am grateful I was able to experience the process and will never forget the people I met along the way." Dieringer on his favorite wrestling style (folkstyle, freestyle, or Greco-Roman): "My favorite wrestling style has always been Greco-Roman. With my success in both folkstyle and freestyle, I seem to be leaning more towards freestyle." Dieringer on Oklahoma State coach John Smith: "Where do you start ... First, I am honored to be able to wrestle for John Smith. It's amazing to sit down and talk with him about wrestling. He is so knowledgeable about the sport and I will learn a lot from him as well as from Coach Guerrero and Coach Lewis. Dieringer on his post-high school wrestling goals: My goal would be to win an NCAA title while in college. After college, my goal would be to wrestle internationally on World and Olympic teams and coach at the college level. No. 26 Nick Brascetta (Graham, OH) College Choice: Virginia Tech Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Brascetta was one of two InterMat Top 100 recruits to commit to Virginia Tech last week. He is a three-time Ohio state placewinner and 2009 state champion. Brascetta was a Walsh Ironman champion as a sophomore and placed third in the event last season. Nick Brascetta (Photo/Kevin Schlosser, BuckeyeWrestling.com)Brascetta on his decision to commit to Virginia Tech: "My decision to go to Virginia Tech was a long process and was a lot more stressful than I had anticipated. I never thought that I would become so close with two coaches other than Coach Jordan, but in the end I felt that Coach Dresser and the wrestling program at VT is the best place for me to be in order to be successful. My decision was based a lot on the relationship with the coaches and team, and from the start VT and Coach Dresser out-recruited all other schools. When it comes down to it, I see myself being successful at VT, and see the best relationship with everyone there. I'm extremely excited to wrestle for Coach Dresser and the assistant coaches there and know I made the right decision to go to VT." Brascetta on going to Virginia Tech with Graham teammate Matt Stephens: "Matt Stephens has been my best friend since we started high school together and in the beginning it was only a dream or a thought that we would go to school together. Now that it is actually going to happen I think we are both in shock and will be very comfortable together and also with his older brother Brian Stephens, who also wrestles there. Although we will not be roommates because Matt will be taking a greyshirt year, we are extremely excited to be able to share the next five years together in Blacksburg. It's very helpful to go to a school, I think, with someone you know, and what better place than two of your best friends." Brascetta on moving up from 119 pounds to 140 pounds: "The jump from 119 to 140 is a shock to most people, but I think it was very necessary. The past two years I have cut a lot of weight, especially my sophomore year to 103, which was an absolute must for the team, and also last year to 119 from 135 was hard. This year I am just simply going the weight I feel comfortable and never thought last year I would be saying it would a decent cut to 140, but I have grown a lot. I chose to go 140 instead of 135 not only because I was bigger than our 135-pounder, but because I wanted to allow my body to continue to grow and prepare for college. I am beginning to become very comfortable with my weight and wrestling bigger guys and still feel strong and quick. I know that my main workout partners in Bo Jordan and possibly Matt Stephens are bigger than me (Bo is going 145 and Matt is going 152), so working out with them has helped me acclimate to the weight change. When we went to VT for a coaches clinic that Coach Jordan put on, I wrestled both Chris Diaz and Devin Carter and felt very comfortable with my weight jump. I hope to continue the success at a bigger weight and prove to people what type of wrestler I really am." Brascetta on Graham coach Jeff Jordan: "Coach Jordan and Graham has been the root of my success, along with the assistant coaches. If I never decided to come to Graham, I would not be talking to you today. Coach Jordan creates a relationship with the wrestlers that allows him to get the most out of every guy, if it means that person getting pissed at him, he doesn't care. That's what gets us better. He pushes every wrestler past the breaking point to get us prepared and ready to compete. The coaching staff makes us want to work hard for them and be successful. Coach Jordan was a huge part in my decision and the process as I respect him so much, and what he has to say. I love Coach Jordan like another father and can't tell you how much I appreciate him through all this process, and my high school career." Brascetta on the strength of Graham this season: "Graham this year, like last, will be hard to beat in my eyes. Of course that's me saying it, but as a captain of the team I see something special from the guys. We are expecting nothing less than an Ironman title and beating Blair, St. Ed's, and Wadsworth. With a lot of weight jumps it will be very interesting to see how some react to the lineup jumps, and we are hoping to prove everyone we still have what it takes, because we do ... no question! I am excited for my senior year of wrestling and being a part of another great team. We are going to be scary good again, and will prove that in December and March." No. 27 Nikkolas Pena (Selma, CA) College Choice: Iowa State Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Pena is a state champion (third in 2009, sixth in 2008) and fourth-place finisher at the Walsh Ironman. He is in position to earn a rare fourth California state medal and is ranked among the nation's top light middleweights. He joins No. 88 Tanner Weatherman (Ballard Huxley, IA) as early commits for Iowa State. Nikkolas Pena (Photo/Tony Rotundo, Tech-Fall.com)Pena on his decision to commit to Iowa State: "The last week I have just been going back and forth on which school would be best for me, meeting my goals academically and on the mat, and I came to the decision that Iowa State would be the best fit for me." Pena on Selma, California: "I live in a pretty small town. I guess you could say most people in town know each other and we're like a family, I guess." Pena on his weight: "I'm holding around 145 right now. So I plan on most likely growing into a 141-pounder and starting off there." Pena on his parents: "They've been very supportive. I don't think I would be where I am at today without them. Growing up from elementary throughout high school, they've always supported me and done whatever they could to help me achieve my goals and just help me be successful." Pena on his areas of academic interest: "I'm interested in sports medicine and physical therapy. So most likely I'll have six to seven years of schooling. It'll be kind of tough." No. 45 Austin Marsden (Crystal Lake Central, IL) College Choice: Oklahoma State Projected College Weight Class: 197/285 As a junior, Marsden went 49-2 en route to winning a state tile. He is a Cadet Nationals champion, FILA Cadet Nationals champion, and Junior Nationals All-American. He has a career record of 101-19. Austin MarsdenMarsden on his decision to commit to Oklahoma State: "Well, let me start off by saying it was extremely awesome to have Coach John Smith in our living room explaining why I should come to Oklahoma State. To have a two-time Olympic gold medalist who has coached numerous NCAA national championship teams, as well as NCAA individual national champions, want you to come and wrestle for him was amazing. I just felt it was the complete package that included academics, coaching staff, practice partners, and the tradition is second to none. On my visit I felt welcomed by the team and the staff. They seemed like a family that I wanted to be a part of." Marsden on whether he expects to be a 197-pounder or heavyweight in college: "Once I explained to the coaching staff that I never really lifted weights, they seemed to be excited about making me bigger. I am pretty tall (over 6'2") and have a broad frame, so putting on more muscle shouldn't be hard to do. I believe they will start me off at 197 and eventually move me to heavyweight. Either way will be fine because I can work out with either (Chris) Perry or (Alan) Gelogaev ... How can you go wrong there?" Marsden on three wrestlers from his high school committing to Division I programs this year: "I have been wrestling with Joey Kielbasa and Trevor Jauch since I was 8 years old. We all belonged to the Crystal Lake Wizards Youth Wrestling Club and we won the state championship as a team when we were all in eighth grade. I couldn't be more excited for Joey, who will attend Central Michigan and Trevor Jauch, who will attend Missouri, as well as a friend of mine, Cullen Smith, who attends Crystal Lake South, who will also be wrestling DI. I am proud to call them all friends that I will have for life." Marsden on the strength of wrestling in Illinois: "I was proud to be a member of both the Cadet freestyle and Greco teams the won the national championship (in both styles) in 2009, as well as the freestyle team this year that also won. The future also looks bright for Illinois wrestlers with juniors like my current teammate Gage Harrah and other juniors like Eddie Klimara, Nick Fontanetta, Zane Richards and Sammy Brooks, as well as the younger guys like Ben Whitford, Bryce Brill, Jared Cortez, Michael Johnson, Jon Marmolejo, Michael Zelasco, and Kyle Fugiel. I see this group and the groups to follow contending for a national title every year. The coaching across the board is amazing right now in the state of Illinois." Marsden on his post-high school wrestling goals: "Simple. I want to be part of a NCAA national championship team, as well as achieving an individual NCAA national championship and I believe Coach Smith can help me achieve those goals. I will still compete on the national level while attending college and would love to compete in the Olympics one day." No. 48 Lex Ozias (Southern Garrett, MD) College Choice: Virginia Tech Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Ozias became the second wrestler from Southern Garrett, Maryland to commit to Virginia Tech this recruiting season, joining No. 56 Bubba Scheffel. Ozias is a three-time state finalist and two-time state champion. He was an NHSCA Junior Nationals All-American and double All-American in Fargo. Lex OziasOzias on his decision to commit to Virginia Tech: "My dad got me started in checking out the school. My dad thought it could be the right fit for me and my teammate, Bubba. Last October I went and checked out the school and had a tour. I thought the campus was great and I liked all the coaches. After going on an unofficial visit in April and then a five-day training camp during the summer, I knew VT was in my top-four choices for DI wrestling. It was a really tough choice to finally decide, but my decision was based on a few things such as how comfortable I felt at the school and if I could become an NCAA All-American and NCAA champ. I also wanted to go to a school where I got along with the coaches and wrestlers. After visits to Old Dominion and UNC, I decided that VT was the school for me. I am very happy with my choice and I am excited about the season and wrestling with my teammate, Bubba." Ozias on going to Virginia Tech with high school teammate Bubba Scheffel: "I am very excited about going to the same school as Bubba. I have been wrestling with him since I was 5 years old. We were on the same junior league team and now high school teammates. It is really nice to have someone on the team that I already have a connection to. My family and the Scheffels are really close, so it will be exciting for them to watch us wrestle throughout college." Ozias on his wrestling style: "I try to emulate the Iowa style when I wrestle, which is very tough to do. I like to push the action and use my offense as a good defense. I like to be on the attack most of the match and try my best to rack up points. My strongest position is on my feet. This year I want to focus more on my mat wrestling." Ozias on becoming a Junior Nationals double All-American in Fargo: "Becoming a Fargo double All-American was a huge dream for me ever since I started high school. My first year I went to Fargo I was going into my freshman year. I went 0-2 in Greco and 2-2 in freestyle. The next couple times I went I was always around one or two matches away from making the All-American round. My fourth year I finally did it. I wrestled 20 matches over a course of five days, which was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life. I got eighth in Greco and fifth in freestyle. My record was 15-5 throughout the tournament. The most exciting part of the tournament was when I was on a nine-match winning streak and had a chance of making the finals in freestyle. I ended up losing to the runner-up in the weight class, Edwin Cooper. I think double AAing at Fargo definitely showed that I was a tough competitor and that I can compete with the top guys in the country and also showed that I could be a DI wrestler. I think it also helped with the recruiting process with a lot of different schools that contacted me." Ozias on area of academic interest: "I am not completely sure about what I will major in next year. I am interested in a major having to do with natural resources conservation, business, or maybe law enforcement. My goal is to keep my GPA up over a 3.0 and take interesting classes that I will have fun learning about. I am very excited that at a job interview my resume will say I got my four-year degree at Virginia Tech!" No. 82 Ryan Krecker (Nazareth, PA) College Choice: Campbell Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 First-year Campbell coach Joe Boardwine landed his second InterMat Top 100 recruit in Krecker, who joins No. 96 Josh Fisher (Roane County, WV). Krecker is a two-time Pennsylvania (AAA) state placewinner, finishing fourth the past two seasons. He was third at the Beast of the East last season. Ryan KreckerKrecker on his decision to commit to Campbell: "I decided on Campbell for many reasons. Academically, it is a great place to be. I am not one hundred percent decided on my major yet, but they have many choices to get a great education. The campus is really nice, the brand new wrestling facilities and new arena are great, and I really liked the guys on the team when I visited." Krecker on Campbell coach Joe Boardwine: "Coach Boardwine is a great guy. He really got me to see his vision for the Campbell program. He has won everywhere he has been in the past, and is really excited and confident about doing the same at Campbell. I want to be a part of that, and I know that Coach will give me all the tools I need to get after an NCAA title. I am very excited to come down and wrestle for him." Krecker on high school wrestling in Pennsylvania: "PA high school wrestling is great. There are so many tough guys, and you know you're competing against some of the best guys in the country. I'm really focused on ending my high school career with a state title. You know you are one of the best guys nationally if you win a state title in PA." Krecker on what aspect of his wrestling he needs to improve upon the most: "I will really need to improve on controlling guys from top when I move onto college. In my matches now, I pretty much let guys out so I can wrestle more neutral, but in college everyone is good in neutral so I need to take my mat wrestling to the next level. I also need to work on being able to wrestle my style for seven full minutes." Krecker on his biggest influences in his wrestling career: "I have many influences ... all my coaches who have helped me improve over the years, all the guys who have wrestled for Nazareth in the past who have come back to work with me in the room, my parents for supporting me through the good and bad, the fans at Nazareth who have been great and come to our matches and root for us."

As the wrestling season's start is fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From early August until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and from Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to the potential stars of future NCAA Championships. The rankings within this article do not necessarily reflect those done by InterMat. Did you a miss a Wrestling 49 feature? Visit Wrestling 49 archives. The Class of 2011 in Indiana is not deep with superstars, but is deep with solid wrestlers. Four of Indiana's top wrestlers, Eric Roach, Josh and Justin Kieffer, and Jon Sims, are all looking for their fourth state medal this year. The Class of 2011 in Indiana is also very unique with three sets of twins and a set of triplets that will all be in the running for state placements. The most highly regarded of the twins, Josh and Justin Kieffer, already have six state medals between them. Chad and Doug Welch have both recently verbally committed to Purdue University have placed three times while qualifying for state five times total. The last set of twins, Reece and Conner Lefever of Fort Wayne Carroll, qualified for state last year with Conner placing eighth after upsetting the previous year’s state runner-up in the first round. The Rieker triplets from Columbus East will also try to have multiples at the state finals in 2011 after the middle twin, Baron, qualified for state last year. 1. Eric Roach (Crown Point) Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: Roach has the best pedigree of the wrestlers in the class of 2011. He has three top-four finishes and captured the state title at 145 pounds this past season. Roach is extremely aggressive and smooth on his feet. Using a wide range of takedowns he captured the inaugural FloNationals championship this past spring. He has verbally committed to Indiana. 2. Drake Stein (Princeton) Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 171 Projected College Weight Class: 184 Analysis: Stein has had a tremendous amount of success while wrestling higher weights his entire career. After qualifying for semi-state as a freshman he burst onto the scene as a sophomore going undefeated until the state finals when an injury in the quarterfinals dropped him to eighth place. In the 2010 season he captured the state championship over perennial favorite Michael Duckworth, then went on to finish second at Fargo in Greco-Roman. 3. Ethan Raley (Indian Creek) Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Raley is the third and last state champion in the Class of 2011. As a freshman, Raley went undefeated en route to a title at 103 pounds. As a sophomore, he did not match the same success, but rebounded as a junior to finish runner-up to nationally-ranked Brandon Wright. He followed up his state finish with a seventh-place finish at the NHSCA Junior Nationals. 4. Josh Kieffer (Roncalli) Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 125 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Analysis: The Kieffers are the first set of twins we will talk about. Josh Kieffer has had just a tad more success than his brother in finishing in the top-five three times. In 2009, he lost in overtime in the state finals. Both Kieffers have had success at the Brute Scholastic Duals the past couple seasons, defeating some top-notch competitors. 5. Justin Kieffer (Roncalli) Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Kieffer has three state medals to his credit with his highest finish of fourth place this past season. This past season he had one win over state champion Brandon Wright at regionals. 6. Doug Welch (Castle) Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: The Welch twins, ranked sixth and eighth, are the second set of twins that are ranked in the Top 10. Doug Welch has steadily improved during his career with two state placements, including a runner-up finish this past season. 7. Jackson Bratcher (Eastbrook) Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 171 Projected College Weight Class: 174 Analysis: Sandwiched in between the Welch twins is Jackson Bratcher of Eastbrook. Like Drake Stein, Bratcher has had a lot of success early in an upper weight class. As a freshman he was undefeated going into semi-state, but lost in the ticket round to state. As a sophomore he broke through and qualified for state, but this past season was his coming out party with a third-place finish in the state finals. After his state finals finish he placed fourth at FloNationals. 8. Chad Welch (Castle) Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Analysis: Chad Welch has qualified for the state tournament three times, but only has one state medal to show for it. He had a banner year this past season, only losing to state champion Sammy Bennett in the ultimate tiebreaker in the semifinals. Both Welch brothers have recently verbally committed to continue their education and wrestling career at Purdue University. 9. Jon Sims (Evansville Mater Dei) Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: Sims is the picture of consistency at the state finals. He has three medals to show for his trips to state, but his highest finish is fourth place in 2009. He probably would have finished higher this past season if he did not run into Eric Roach in the quarterfinals, thus limiting him to only finishing as high as fifth place. 10. Aaron Stevenson (Indian Creek) Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 189 Projected College Weight Class: 197 Analysis: Aaron Stevenson is one of the most unknown, but good wrestlers in the state of Indiana. In his only full year of wrestling he finished in third place with only one loss. This past season he was undefeated until he was sidelined late in the season with an injury that kept him out of the state tournament series. Honorable Mention: Luke Schroeder (Southwestern) Daniel Meyer (Bellmont) Josh Boots (Evansville Mater Dei) PJ Montgomery (Terre Haute South) Cody Kendle (Pike Central) Steven Gonzales (Delta) Travis Barroquillo (Prairie Heights) Conner Lefever (Carroll) Reece Lefever (Carroll)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- With the season-opening dual meet now less than a month away, the Lehigh wrestling team is hard at work inside the Sheridan Wrestling Room in the Gerald G. Leeman Wrestling Complex. Monday marked the first official day of practice for the Mountain Hawks, and as Lehigh returns to the mats, third-year head coach Pat Santoro likes what he’s seen from his team so far. “The first two days were good days,” said Santoro. “The guys have been getting after it in the room. They’re excited to start competing. After our summer workouts and our preseason workouts, our guys want to go out and compete, which is good; but there’s a lot we need to work on before the first dual. There are definitely some holes to fix before November 5. Santoro then commented on his goals for his team over the next month and leading into the season, “We’re continually working to be more aggressive and score more points. Last year we found ways to win a lot of matches but I want to see us score a lot more points. I’m focused on our performance. Not necessarily wins and losses but scoring points and doing the things that will help us come March.” Lehigh opens preseason with a roster of just 30 men, including 11 true freshmen, but Santoro believes that there will be a lot of tough competition at a number of weight classes. “Everything’s wide open,” Santoro contends. “We have a good idea about some weight classes, but there’s a lot to be figured out, especially in the first five weights. There will be some good battles that could possibly come down to wrestle-offs, both here in the room and on October 28 as well. Santoro continued about the large freshman class, “They look real good. They have a great work ethic and they’ve jumped right in. They’re fighting hard. They’re hungry and they want to learn. Anytime you work with a group of young guys who are hungry, that’s a good thing.” The Mountain Hawks return six of the ten wrestlers who represented Lehigh at last year’s EIWA Championships, including a quartet of NCAA qualifiers in juniors Brandon Hatchett, Joe Kennedy and Zach Rey and sophomore Robert Hamlin, who moves up a weight class to 184 this season. Rey, who won an EIWA title last year and placed third at the NCAA Championships to earn Lehigh’s 128th All-American medal and first since 2006, will have an especially busy month. Rey won the University World Team Trials in late May and will represent the United States at the 120 kg/264.5 lb. weight class at the University World Championships in Turin, Italy October 26-30. “It fits well with his training,” Santoro said. “Any time you can compete against the best in the world it’s a good thing. Zach has great expectations. He wants to one day be a world and Olympic champ, and that’s something we want the guys in our program to strive for. It’s a huge opportunity for him.” Lehigh’s annual wrestle-offs are scheduled for Thursday, October 28 at 7 p.m. inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The regular season begins Friday, November 5 when the Mountain Hawks host Drexel at 7 p.m.

As the wrestling season's start is fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From early August until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and from Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to the potential stars of future NCAA Championships. The rankings within this article do not necessarily reflect those done by InterMat. Did you a miss a Wrestling 49 feature? Visit Wrestling 49 archives. This list represents the Top 10 seniors in the state of Tennessee along with six honorable mention selections. The wrestlers comprising this Top 10 list have amassed 16 state titles in 26 state final appearances. One wrestler in this list will attempt to become the first-ever five-time Tennessee state champion, one will seek his fourth title, and yet another will seek to make his fifth finals appearance. The wrestlers mentioned in this article range from tiny schools just outside of Knoxville to state powerhouse programs in Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis. Seven different schools are represented in the Top 10 list, climbing to nine when you add the honorable mentions. Wrestlers from DI and DII are split evenly amongst the Top 10. Only one school claims more than one wrestler in the top ten (Baylor with four). Each wrestler in the Top 10 owns at least one state title and all are multi-time finalists. Tennessee wrestling has been improving over the past few years and these wrestlers, and many others around the state, are working to ensure that trend can continue. No matter how you measure success on a state level, (NCAA All-Americans and champions, nationally-ranked high school wrestlers, various All-American performances, teams competing at national level events, participation growth, etc.) Tennessee is improving. While this list doesn't contain any USAW Fargo All-Americans, like last year's senior class with three or some of the classes below them, there are several wrestlers who have tested themselves and found success as part of the Tennessee National Team at the USAW National Duals and in Fargo. This list does contain NHSCA grade-level national champions, Super 32 placewinners, and various other accolades. Many 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, TN on February 19. One of them will continue their athletic career on the DI football field. 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. Michael Kennedy School: Blackman Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 215 Projected College Weight Class: 197 Michael KennedyAnalysis: Leading this year's class of seniors in Tennessee is InterMat's No. 100 overall recruit, Michael Kennedy. Kennedy is a two-time state finalist, bringing home the 215-pound title as a junior and losing a narrow match as sophomore in the 189-pound finals. Kennedy also brought home a sixth-place finish at 189 as a freshman. Kennedy ran his record to 133-9 with his 42-0 junior campaign. While it is always tough for an underclassman that starts off at the upperweights, Kennedy had an extra challenge as his state finals lose as a sophomore was to nationally-ranked Cameron Croy, now wrestling for Harvard. While Kennedy has had an impressive run in the state, it is his performance nationally that has put him at the top of this list. Kennedy has had a good run at the NHSCA grade-level nationals where he finished 1st as a sophomore and fifth as a freshman. Kennedy didn't compete at the NHSCAs following his junior campaign. Kennedy also added a fifth place at the 2009 Super 32. Kennedy has had the interest of several colleges and is expected to make a decision soon. Kennedy wrestles a very fluid style for an upper-weight, showing a variety of attacks from an ankle pick to upper-body throws. This combination is what makes Michael Kennedy is the most sought after senior in Tennessee. 2. T.J. Duncan School: McCallie Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 T.J. DuncanAnalysis: T.J. Duncan may go down as the most decorated wrestler in the history of the state. Duncan has already claimed four state titles, making him the state's seventh four-time champion, and will seek to become the first five-time champion this season. Duncan picked up his first state title as an eighth-grader wrestling at 119 pounds. Duncan then added subsequent titles at 135, 140, and 152 pounds. Duncan is quite possibly the most dominant wrestler in the state in neutral, where few have shown the ability to come even close to holding him off. Duncan uses excellent hand-fighting skills to compliment his natural strength and explosiveness, allowing him to be effective when his opponent leaves him space or closes the gap. Duncan is a quick finisher who wastes little time coming to his feet on all of his shots. These abilities make Duncan a tough draw for any wrestler, as he showed in a 7-4 loss to last year's National Prep champion Jason Luster in the finals of the Southeast Prep School Slam. Duncan also finished with a 4-2 record at the NHSCA Junior Nationals. Like the wrestler who sits at No. 1 on this list, Duncan hasn't tested himself on the regional or national freestyle and Greco-Roman circuit. It is Duncan's lack of major national placings that relegate Duncan to No. 2 on this list, even though he may go down as the most decorated in-state wrestler ever. Duncan has made three trips to the Super 32 where he sports an 8-6 record, with his best showing be a 4-2 performance at 152 in 2009. 3. Alex Manley School: Baylor Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 130 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Alex ManleyAnalysis: Alex Manley is a four-time state finalist who captured his first state title as a junior at 125 pounds. Manley has amassed a 180-13 record while finishing as runner-up at 103, 112, and 119 pounds. As a junior, in addition to his state title, Manley won the Southeast Prep School Slam and was elected to the All-Tournament Team at The Clash for his 5-0 performance. Manley is known as a very physical wrestler who excels when he can capture an opponent's head. However, unlike many wrestlers who focus on short-arm offense, Manley is adept at creating his own singles and countering with re-shots from this position. This style of wrestling was also a trademark of Alex's older brother, Spencer, who won two Tennessee state titles for McCallie before continuing his wrestling career at the Naval Academy. On the national scene, Manley was 3-2 at 130 in the NHSCA Junior Nationals, where his two loses came to the champion and fifth-place finishers. Manley also finished 2-2 at the 2008 Super 32. Manley has also been a member of the Tennessee National Team, competing at the 2009 Junior National Duals where Manley finished with a 3-3 record in freestyle. 4. Stuart Doster School: Baylor Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Stuart DosterAnalysis: Stuart Doster is a three-time state champion who will look to join a select group of four-time Tennessee state champions this year. Doster his picked up state titles at 119, 125, and 140 pounds each of the past three seasons. During that time Doster has compiled 136 wins against just 16 losses. Doster comes from a family that has grown accustomed to winning state titles at Baylor. They have claimed seven individual state titles dating back to 1971. Similar to the achievements claimed by our No. 3 wrestler Alex Manley, last season Doster won the Southeast Prep School Slam and was 5-0 at The Clash. Doster wrestles a fluid style and is proficient not just on his feet but also on the mat. In addition to being one of the most dominant wrestlers in the state, Doster has stepped outside his comfort zone and wrestled for the Tennessee National Team in the 2008 Cadet Duals and 2009 Junior Duals. Doster will be one of two wrestlers seeking to claim their fourth state titles this season, making him either the eighth or ninth wrestler to accomplish that feat. 5. Jeremy Miller School: Greenback Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Jeremy MillerAnalysis: Coming in at No. 5 on our list of seniors is one of the more interesting stories in the way of Jeremy Miller. Miller holds one state title to go along with three state finals appearances and four medals overall. Miller picked up his first title as an eighth-grader competing at 103 pounds. Never one to cut much weight, Miller moved up to 119 pounds for his freshman campaign where he claimed a third-place finish. The following two seasons Miller has found himself on the losing side of very close decisions in the state finals, at 135 as a sophomore and 145 as a junior. During his sophomore year, Miller spent much of the season competing individually at 130 pounds and bumping up in the lineup to help his team, a very small program, in dual meets. A miscalculation regarding the descent plan in the weight management system forced Miller to compete at 135 pounds during the state tournament as opposed to 130 pounds. Last year Miller dropped a 2-0 decision in the state finals to Brennen Cox, who is No. 7 on this list, after taking a win from Cox earlier in the season. Of all of the great wrestlers on this list, Miller may be the most well-rounded. Like virtually all of the wrestlers mentioned here, Miller can get the job done on his feet, but it is his mat wrestling where Miller often outclasses the competition. Miller is an excellent rider who has been known to turn even the best wrestlers the state has to offer. This blend of ability in all positions should serve Miller well when he moves on to wrestling at the collegiate level. Perhaps even more remarkable is that Jeremy Miller has accomplished all of this coming from Greenback High School, which has a coed enrollment of about 200 students. Miller has compiled a record of 180-12 during his four years of varsity competition. 6. Marvin Lopez School: Cleveland Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135 Projected College Weight Class: 133/141 (UT-Chattanooga) Marvin LopezAnalysis: Marvin Lopez is one of the state's hardest working and most active wrestlers both in his approach to individual matches and activity to get better. Lopez's hard work culminated in his first state championship at 130 pounds as a junior. Prior to his state title, Lopez finished fourth as a freshman and second as a sophomore, both at 119 pounds. Lopez wrestles a very active pace, keeping very heavy hand on his opponent and has been known to look for opportunities to throw. This is a style Lopez has developed while being the most active senior on this list in the summers. Lopez has twice been a member of the Tennessee National Team competing at the Junior & Cadet National Duals where he sports a combined record of 6-4. However, Lopez has shown what makes him arguably the state's best Greco-Roman wrestler at Fargo where he shows a 9-4 record in Greco, coming up just short of All-American status following his freshman and sophomore season. Lopez was honored as the Tennessee Greco-Roman Athlete of the Year by the Tennessee Wrestling Federation in 2009 for his efforts. Lopez sports an overall record of 11-8 in Fargo. Unfortunately, Lopez was unable to compete this past summer due to an injury. Lopez has already eliminated one distraction from his senior season, where he will try to add to his 90-19 record, by giving his verbal commitment to the hometown UT-Chattanooga Mocs Wrestling team. 7. Brennen Cox School: Independence Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Brennen CoxAnalysis: Brennen Cox became the first wrestler from Independence High School to win a wrestling state championship when he defeated Jeremy Miller, 2-0, for the 145-pound crown last year. Cox, a rarity in that all three of his first season came at the same weight, was the state runner-up at 145 as a sophomore and was a state qualifier as a freshman. Cox is a stingy wrestler who controls ties and positions well. When up against top competition it isn't unusual to see Cox attempt to control the pace and look to come out on top in low-scoring match by controlling the flow of the match. Last year Cox split matches with our No. 5- rated senior, Jeremy Miller. To go along with his 125-19 record on the mat, Cox carries a 4.0+ GPA, is a two-time NHSCA Academic All-American, is an active volunteer in several organizations, and is a certified lifeguard. Cox is yet to make a college choice but wherever he lands will surely be better for having him. 8. Ethan Hames School: Bradley Central Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 125 Projected College Weight Class: 125/133 Analysis: Ethan Hames has claimed two state championships and a fourth-place finish while wrestling for state powerhouse Bradley Central High School. Hames picked up his first state title as a freshman at 103 pounds before moving up to 112 pounds as a sophomore and finishing fourth in an extremely deep field. Hames continued his climb up the weight ladder as a junior and also climbed back to the top step of the podium at 119 pounds. 9. David Helton School: Baylor Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 215/285 Projected College Weight Class: Football (Duke) David HeltonAnalysis: David Helton is a two-time state finalist who picked up his first state title wrestling at 215 pounds last year. Helton previously claimed second and third place finishes at 189 pounds. Like his teammates listed earlier Helton earned a title at the Southeast Prep School Slam as part of his junior season. Helton is a lanky wrestler who uses his leverage to help control opponents and often scores from the top position. Helton doesn't have a lot of out-of-state accomplishments, primarily due to the fact that he also excels on the football field. Helton did not compete for much of last season with his first real appearance coming at the aforementioned Southeast Prep School Slam. Helton has already made his commitment to play football for Duke University once his prep career comes to a conclusion. The combination of Helton's football commitment and sparse activity last year has caused some in the wrestling community to wonder whether he will choose to add to his 86-23 record this season. Regardless, at this point in the season, Helton has earned his spot as one of the top senior wrestlers in the state. 10. John Mackey School: Baylor Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 215/285 Projected College Weight Class: 285 John MackeyAnalysis: John Mackey has wrestled varsity for Baylor for two seasons and has made the state finals both years, while compiling an 83-26 record. In his first season Mackey finished as the state runner-up at 215 pounds as a sophomore and claimed the state heavyweight title as a junior. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that Mackey spent the majority of last season wrestling at 215 pounds, where he held his own nationally, going 3-2 at The Clash. Mackey moved up to heavyweight at the end of the season when Helton made his return to the Baylor lineup. Clearly, the move worked out for both wrestlers as both won the Southeast Prep School Slam along with their state titles. Mackey is a strong wrestler who is good at moving his opponents out of position before coming in with an explosive shot for an upper-weight wrestler. However, Mackey is not limited solely to offense on his feet as the three pins he racked up during the state tournament show. Mackey has also been a member of the Tennessee National Team competing in the 2008 Cadet National Duals in freestyle. Mackey is expected to hold down the heavyweight position for Baylor again this year. Honorable Mention: Mick Anthony (Christian Brothers) Tucker Bolton (Bradley Central) Bradley Colbaugh (Bradley Central) Chase Martino (McCallie) Nate Rupiper (Christian Brothers) Mark Simpson (MBA)

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri wrestling volunteer assistant coach Joe Johnston and assistant strength and conditioning coach Nicholas Marable will compete in an international tour during the next two weeks, going up against some of the best grapplers in the world. Marable, a two-time All-American at Mizzou, and Johnston, a two-time All-American at Iowa, leave Tuesday and will wrestle in the Ramzan Kadirov Cup in Grozny, Russia on Oct. 9-10. Johnston will wrestle at the 66 kg/145.5 pound level, while Marable will wrestle at 74 kg/163 pounds. The following week, Johnston will compete once again, this time at the Intercontinental Cup in Khasavyurt, Russia. The International Cup is a major dual meet tournament that will be held from Oct. 15-17. Both Johnston and Marable will provide updates and analysis on their trip throughout the coming days. Stay tuned to mutigers.com for more from them.

Former Northern Iowa wrestler Jordan Holm will go "On the Mat" this Wednesday, October 6. “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 5:05 - 6:00 PM CST on AM 1650, The Fan. E-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show. Holm wrestled for the University of Northern Iowa and was one match away from being an All-American in 2003 at 184 pounds. He won both the Greco-Roman and freestyle portions of the Northern Plains Regional in Waterloo, Iowa, in May. Holm currently resides in Minnesota.

MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan junior heavyweight Jarod Trice will represent the United States at the 2010 University World Championships later this month in Italy. Trice will be part of the United States' Greco-Roman roster. He will compete in the 120 kg (264.5 pounds) weight class. The Greco-Roman competition is scheduled for Oct. 29-30 in Torino, Italy. "I think it's a great honor for him to represent the United States at the world championships," said CMU head coach Tom Borrelli. "It should be a great experience for him not only from a wrestling standpoint but also to have the opportunity to see another part of the world." Trice finished runner-up at the University World Team Trials in both freestyle and Greco-Roman in May. He swept the freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at the 2010 University Nationals. One of Trice's coaches in Italy will be John Matthews, a member of CMU's inaugural hall of fame class (1984) who was a part of the United States Olympic teams in 1976 and 1980. Trice earned All-America honors after placing eighth at heavyweight at the 2010 NCAA Championships. He won four straight consolation bracket matches to secure All-America honors. Trice won the heavyweight title at Midlands in 2010 and won 20 consecutive matches during the season, tied for the second longest winning streak in school history. He is a two-time national qualifier with a career record of 50-17. CMU opens the 2010-11 season at the Eastern Michigan Open on Saturday, Nov. 6. The Chippewas' first dual meet is slated for Nov. 19 at Cornell.