InterMat Staff

Troy Nickerson, the 2009 NCAA 125-pound NCAA champion and only five-time New York State champion has been added to the FLWC coaching staff. Nickerson placed at the NCAA Championships each of his four seasons with the Cornell Big Red, finishing second, third, first, and fourth. As a team captain in 2010, Nickeson led the Big Red to an unprecedented second-place team finish. He battled through major shoulder injuries his final two seasons at Cornell, which have required a number of reconstructive surgeries to repair. Nickerson will be taking most of this season to recover from these injuries, but plans on returning to competition in a quest to represent the USA Wrestling team in the 2012 Olympic Games. As a prep wrestler, Nickerson set new standards in New York State, winning a record five state titles for nearby Chenango Forks High School. A product of Section IV wrestling, and five-time Section IV champ, Nickerson will bring not only his skills and success to the FLWC program, but also his understanding of the demands for success in the Southern Tier area. The mission of the FLWC is to promote all levels of wrestling within the Finger Lakes region of New York State, and Nickerson's duties with the FLWC will focus on training and coaching the FLWC college team. He will also assist in the coaching of all levels of FLWC athletes, which consists of youth, high school, college and senior level wrestlers. Nickerson will be joining an FLWC coaching staff that also includes: Clint Wattenberg, Matt Azevedo, Mitch Clark, Eric Toftegaard, Mike Rodriguez, Josh Arnone, Brian Cook, Brian Alves, Matt Bogumil and Gene Nighman.

BLACKSBURG -- Former Ohio State University standout Lance Palmer has joined the Virginia Tech wrestling program as the volunteer assistant coach, as announced Tuesday by head coach Kevin Dresser, after wrapping up a stellar collegiate career. Palmer will be heavily i! nvolved with on-mat training with the middleweights and will help out in numerous other areas as well. A four-time All-American at Ohio State, Palmer took runner-up honors at 149 pounds his senior season at the NCAA Tournament. He also won the Big Ten title his final year, beating Iowa’s Brent Melcalf 9-3 in the finals. For his career, the Lakewood, Ohio, native posted a 121-31 record, including an impressive 61-8 mark over his final two seasons. He went 31-3 as a senior and was a tri-captain for the Buckeyes. “Lance came in and loved Virginia Tech and our direction,” Dresser said. “Lance Palmer is a huge name and has the reputation for being one of the hardest workers in Division I wrestling. The Hokie Wrestling Nation is fired up!” Palmer was a four-time Ohio prep state champion at St. Edward High, posting a 150-6 career record. He also was a 2006 Senior National Champion at 140 pounds.

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. South Dakota is gaining momentum on the national wrestling scene. The state may have just sent its best class of recruits to take the next step in college. Last year's class was led by Robert Kokesh (Nebraska), Seth Lange (Minnesota), Josh Keszler (UNO), and Jayd Docken (Augustana). The 2010-2011 class does not fall far off and is led by Fargo champion Logan Storley of Webster. The highly-touted Storley is making his bid for a sixth title and looks to join only one other South Dakotan that has accomplished the feat, Kirk Wallman (Freeman). The duo from Rapid City Stevens High School of Kris Klapprodt and Jarret Jensen would make a very nice addition to any college team and be able to compete with the best. Clint Wilson, Garret Heiberger, and Derrick Walraven all have wrestled in the national tournament and have gained valuable experience that will help them be successful not only on the mat this year, but on the mat in college as well. South Dakota is really working hard on building its summer wrestling programs as more and more kids are competing during the summer months. Look for Rapid City Stevens and Sturgis to continue battling for the top spot in South Dakota wrestling and entering in national rankings as a team during the season. South Dakota is also very proud to have had Les Sigman (Sturgis) compete for Team USA as a U.S. World Freestyle Team member this year. Keep up the great work, Les! Logan Storley1. Logan Storley School: Webster Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 171/189 Projected College Weight Class: 174 Analysis: Coming off a Fargo title in freestyle, Logan Storley looks to go out with a bang in South Dakota as he is going for his sixth state title this year. He has been compared by many to Lincoln Mcllravy, a South Dakota native who went on to win three NCAA titles at Iowa and three World-level medals in freestyle. 2. Kris Klapprodt School: Rapid City Stevens Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 171/189 Projected College Weight Class: 174 Analysis: Right on the heels of Storley sits Klapprodt, a very fierce competitor that will not back down from a brawl or a challenge. He was a Junior Nationals freestyle All-American in Fargo as well as the runner-up to Storley at NHSCA Nationals in Virginia Beach. Jarret Jensen3. Jarret Jensen School: Rapid City Stevens Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Analysis: The Stevens duo of Klapprodt and Jensen look to knock off the Sturgis Scoopers this year in the Class A tournament. Their best match of the season may come in the practice room. Jensen's father was a standout wrestler for SDSU. 4. Garret Heiberger School: Tri Valley Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Analysis: Heiberger looks for his third state title this year. A very strong wrestler that will succeed at the college level. 5. Clint Wilson School: Sturgis Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 215 Projected College Weight Class: 197 Analysis: Wilson looks to put the Sturgis Scoopers on his back as they try to defend their state title. He is also a standout on the football field for the Scoopers as well. Derrick Walraven6. Derrick Walraven School: Huron Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: Walraven looks to defend his state title this year and guide the Huron Tigers to a state championship as well. Derrick's brother, Dustin, is a member of the SDSU wrestling team and was one match away from qualifying for the NCAA Championships. 7. Sawyer Hoffman School: Watertown Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Analysis: Hoffman looks to rebound from his runner-up finish last year. He is the heart of a very tradition-rich Watertown Arrows wrestling team. 8. Tanner Donelon School: Garretson Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: A two-time state champ with a runner up finish, Donelon returns for his senior season and looks to prove that he belongs with the top five on the list. Brady Edgar9. Brady Edgar School: Redfield Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 130 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Analysis: Edgar, who is also a two-timer and a runner-up, looks for a third title. Behind Edgar are a group of Redfield wrestlers that look to dethrone Wagner as three-time champs. 10. Taylor Harris School: Harrisburg Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 285 Projected College Weight Class: 285 Analysis: Earning the state heavyweight title last year, Harris returns to defend his title. He is a very strong and mobile heavyweight. Honorable Mention: Jordan Redmond (Milbank) Pat Waring (Miller/Highmore) Tim Weber (West Central) Eric Reiff (Parkston) Thomas Geyer (Kimball)

The Banachs, the Brands, the Altons, and now the Scotts. For as long as I can remember, the sport of amateur wrestling has been no stranger to its fair share of historic tales involving twin brothers who have gone on to lead their respective schools to national prominence. For Cornell University head wrestling coach Rob Koll, the hope is that there is magic in another set of siblings as late last night, Craig and Owen Scott broke the news on their Facebook accounts that they have elected to verbally commit to the reigning EIWA team champions/NCAA national runners-up. The brothers, who enter their senior campaign as both returning individual and NYS DII team champions, become the second and third blue-chip members of the Class of 2011 to announce their intentions to continue their academic and athletic careers at the Ithaca, New York-based campus. They are joined by Caleb Richardson of Blair Academy who several weeks ago become the first student-athlete to commit to Koll and his staff. Sharing the No. 7 spot on the New York Top 10 in InterMat's Wrestling 49 series, winning at all levels is something that has become a rite of passage for the dynamic duo from Palmyra-Macedon High School. Combining for a quintet of All-State honors (Craig: fourth in 2008, second in 2009, state champion in 2010; Owen: fourth in 2009, state champion in 2010), the brothers Scott have been every bit as successful nationally as they have been within the friendly confines of the Empire State. Despite not making the podium in Rochester as a freshman, nationally it would be Owen who distinguished himself first, finishing as the NHSCA Freshman Nationals runner-up in Virginia Beach. A third-place finish the following year among his grade level peers would make it a cool 2-for-2 for Owen. However, not to be outdone, Craig would add a pair of All-American finishes to his resume as well, taking sixth in 2009 before improving his position by one slot, finishing fifth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals. Should they decide to make one final trip to Virginia to close out their scholastic careers, it goes without saying that both will be primed and prepared to claim the national titles that have thus far escaped their individual grasps. Expected to compete at 160 (Owen) and 171-pounds (Craig) respectively in 2011, the brothers are being projected at 174 and 184/197 on the collegiate level. In doing so, they will join what has quickly become a very stacked collection of Big Red upperweights, consisting of the likes of two-time All-American Cam Simaz, 2010 NCAA qualifier Steve Bosak, as well as 2010 recruits Matt Cunningham, Michael Alexander, Jace Bennett, Evan Knight, and Billy George. One thing is for certain, with a top level assistant coach in the person of former two-time NCAA champion Damion Hahn cultivating the Cornell big guys, regardless of who wins the starting spots, Cornell will be rock-solid from 174-197. But alas, as a native NYer, I would be lying if I did not say that I hope it is two of my guys (the Scott brothers) who are the ones making some serious noise on behalf of the EIWA perennial powerhouse Big Red. Commenting on the breaking news, both brothers were candid in stating that they have always wanted to attend the Ivy League institution of higher learning, emphasizing the educational opportunities as well as the overall strength of the wrestling program as primary factors in helping them to reach this mutual decision. Summing it up, Craig put it best when he said, "The more I thought about it, I could not see myself anywhere but Cornell." Both Owen and Craig cited interest in Binghamton, Virginia Tech, and Hofstra before ultimately letting their hearts and minds lead them to their dream school. On behalf of all of the amazing people at LHW, I sincerely congratulate both Owen and Craig, their family, and their coaches on this immense accomplishment. We wish them all continued success in 2011 and beyond! InterMat was granted permission to republish this article from LighthouseWrestling.com.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Bill Zadick of Colorado Springs, Colo. has been named as the National Freestyle Developmental Coach and Assistant National Freestyle Coach for USA Wrestling. Bill ZadickZadick has served on the national staff in the position of Resident Coordinator and Assistant National Freestyle Coach since January 2009. As the National Freestyle Developmental Coach, Zadick will oversee the programs intended to improve the quality and quantity of men’s freestyle athletes prior to the Senior level. He will also work to expand and improve the quality of volunteer freestyle coaches. In addition, Zadick will be responsible for the performance and development of elite teams at all levels in cooperation with National Team and Resident Coaches. “I was blessed to have come from some amazing programs growing up in wrestling. It has given me a unique perspective on development,” said Zadick. “I had some great coaches who had a huge impact and influence on my career from the earliest ages which carried through my entire career. I have a unique experience and passion for this new opportunity and a vision for where it can go.” Zadick reached the top of the freestyle wrestling world in 2006, when he won a World gold medal at 66 kg/145.5 pounds in Guangzhou, China. His younger brother Mike won a silver medal at 60 kg/132 pounds at the 2006 World Championships, making them the first U.S. brothers to reach the World finals on the same year since Tom and Terry Brands in 1993. Zadick also competed in the 2001 World Championships, placing seventh. He was a runner-up at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 2000 and 2008. He was a three-time U.S. Nationals runner-up (2003, 2006, 2008) and a two-time World Team Trials runner-up (1999, 2002). Zadick won a bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Championships, and won the Sunkist Kids International Open in 1997 and 1998. He won a NCAA Div. I title for the Univ. of Iowa in 1996 and was a two-time All-American, competing for the legendary Dan Gable. Originally from Great Falls, Montana, Zadick won four high school state titles for Great Falls High School (1988-91). He was active in USA Wrestling’s age-group programs as a youth and through college. Zadick was a U.S. Olympic Training Center Resident athlete from 2004-2008, where his freestyle career flourished on the mat. In his previous role within USA Wrestling, Zadick was a liaison between the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the resident athletes in all three styles. He was also part of the national freestyle coaching staff at all levels over the past two seasons. “Bill Zadick is a huge asset to this organization, who will lead a very important part of the USA Wrestling program,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. “We are confident that he will excel in his new role with our freestyle team effort.” “We had several quality candidates for this position. Bill’s national reputation and his passion for this position gave us great confidence that he will do an outstanding job for our sport,” said USA Wrestling National Teams Director Mitch Hull. “Bill comes with a wealth of knowledge at the highest level. He has come through the national developmental program as an athlete and has worked with many of the coaches. Bill has a big challenge ahead of him. Our success in Rio de Janiero in 2016 and beyond is in his hands,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. Zadick looks forward to his new assignment within USA Wrestling. “Now more than ever, development is critical to our long term success as a nation,” said Zadick. “I look forward to working in this position with all of my energy and using every resource available. I seek to help create success for our grassroots coaches. Our coaches are one of the most important pieces of this puzzle. I also aim to improve the skills, technique and tactics of our athletes, as they progress through college and become Senior athletes on the international level. I feel tremendous responsibility with this position and am excited about the challenge and the opportunity.”

At the 2010 World Championships in Moscow, Russia, September 10-12, the seven members comprising the U.S. Freestyle Team went a combined 4-7. The U.S. tied for 22nd place with five team points. It was the first time the U.S. did not medal in men's freestyle since 1975 ... and must be considered the worst performance at this event in modern history. In the days since the competition, the results have yielded much head-scratching, finger-pointing, theorizing, and Monday morning quarterbacking. In the words of Zeke Jones, who serves as the national men's freestyle coach, "It's terrible." Jake Herbert (Photo/Tony Rotundo, Tech-Fall.com)The No. 1 explanation for the bad performance has to be that the team didn't peak when they needed to. In mid-July a U.S. team traveled to the very tough Heydar Aliyev Golden Grand Prix in Azerbaijan, put four wrestlers in the finals, and won two bronze medals. Americans defeated many decorated wrestlers at the event and the results put wind in the sails of U.S. wrestling fans. That wind left seven weeks later. At the World Championships, the American wrestlers simply did not show up with their best game. Travis Paulson (74 kg) and Les Sigman (120 kg) both lost to opponents they had beaten earlier in the year. Obe Blanc (55 kg) got pinned in a match he was winning and two returning World silver medalists, Mike Zadick (60 kg) and Jake Herbert (84 kg), failed to win a match. One reason given for the lack of U.S. success has been the current rules of freestyle wrestling, instituted by FILA. The rules are so unforgiving that matches are decided by the smallest of factors. So small that it is often difficult to replicate success. Of the seven weight classes, three 2009 World champions -- Mehdi Taghavi of Iran (66 kg,) Zaurbek Sokhiev of Uzebekistan (84 kg) and Khadjimourat Gatsalov of Russia (96 kg) -- failed to repeat. 55 kg and 66 kg saw first-time champions crowned. To win a match a wrestler must win two out of three two-minute periods. FILA has said they adopted this system to allow for weight classes to be competed in one day (a bracket with a bunch of matches that only last four minutes will go faster than one where each match is six) but there is also criticism that the two-out-of-three-period system hurts American wrestlers. U.S. wrestlers have been known to execute late-match comebacks via strong conditioning, but a wrestler can't come back in minutes five and six if a bout only lasts four. If a period ends 0-0 one wrestler will reach into a back and grab one of two colored balls. If the ball is his color he is allowed to grab one of his opponent's legs. He has thirty seconds to score. If he does, he wins the period. If he can't score, his opponent wins the period. Periods won in this fashion can feel monumentally unsatisfying for a fan and oftentimes seem very arbitrary. Over time, they yield results that show great inconsistencies in success. The ball grabs may go a wrestler's way one year and not his way the next. Mike Zadick (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)FILA has good reason to ignore criticism of the current rules since they have resulted in far fewer cries of corruption. International wrestling is filled with passion and -- even under the best rule systems of the past -- can feature action that is very difficult to score. An official could call something exactly as he saw it and fans from one country would agree with him while fans from another would not. This isn't to say that all claims of cheating and payoffs were without merit. But the new rules also allow for less actual corruption since the refs are a much smaller part of deciding matches than they used to be. But while the lack of outrage and decline in accusations of conspiracy may be good for FILA, it certainly doesn't seem to help bring in fans. A person introduced to freestyle wrestling tends to be surprised to learn how significant a factor the colored ball grab is. Take the same fan and explain to them how a folkstyle match was won on riding time and they are far less incredulous. Because luck is an undeniable part of the modern freestyle landscape, things usually either fall your way with wrestler A or B. This year, everything went against the U.S. And when that happens it's time to acknowledge that something is going on beyond luck. Ben Askren (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Unfortunately for fans of American wrestling, the U.S. is the land of opportunity. Many of our most successful wrestlers move on after winning World or Olympic medals. Kurt Angle went on to professional wrestling. Stephen Neal went on to play football for the Patriots. Cael Sanderson went on to coach at the college level. Ben Askren, Mo Lawal, and many others have joined the ranks of MMA. Even Henry Cejudo has taken two years off since winning gold in 2008. Many wrestlers from Russia and former Soviet Republics will openly admit that they come from troubled areas. Wrestling is really all they have and they tend to stick around until someone better beats them. This result is medals ... lots of them. It's also difficult to begrudge U.S. athletes for making money outside of international wrestling after working so hard, but it also should make our decreasing medal count less surprising. USA Wrestling's Living the Dream Medal Fund does help keep wrestlers around, but when Ben Askren cannot make the U.S. World Team and then go on to make a hundred grand in MMA, it can be hard for U.S. wrestlers not to simply follow the money. And make no mistake about it, a big part of the success of wrestlers in MMA is due to the mat wrestling they get from folkstyle, not freestyle. If freestyle's evolution away from folkstyle wrestling has resulted in decreased success, then it must be noted it is also possible that folkstyle's evolution has not helped things either. One of the greatest strides folkstyle has made in the past two decades is in the realm of funk. Collegiate wrestling has become more and more adept in developing last-second methods in fighting off all-but-scored takedowns. There is far more diving through opponents legs, far more acrobatic flips to free a leg and far more putting one's head underneath an ankle from crazy positions. While these exciting, action-packed scrambles are filled with purpose, there is an argument to be made that becoming skilled in these dogfights is antithetical to scoring situations in freestyle wrestling. At this year's Worlds, the main problem was neither the setups nor the penetration of the team's leg attacks. It was finishing them. At 66 kg, 84 kg and 120 kg all three opponents scored off of U.S. offensive shots. Most of these points were match-deciders. Perhaps more surprising than the poor performance by the U.S. this year is Russia's continued dominance. Each of the former Soviet Republics has become its own powerhouse. Georgia won the Worlds in 2003, but Russia has been unstoppable since. Russia's dominance shows that success is worth striving for and we shouldn't just shrug our shoulders at the current rules. I do believe that USA Wrestling understands what is needed to get there. It is not a chess position that can't be won. We just need to get much better and much smarter. With that in mind, much has been made of U.S. wrestler Andy Hrovat, who has made the decision to leave the U.S. and train in Russia for seven months. How successful he is at the U.S. World Team Trials next summer will certainly indicate if this is a direction more of our athletes should go.

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University wrestling head coach Clar Anderson has announced that three-time All-American and 2008 NCAA champion Jordan Leen will join the Blue Devil program as an assistant coach. Leen will assist Anderson and assistant coach Glen Lanham in day-to-day duties and will work closely with the middle weight classes. "We are very excited to have Jordan join our staff," Anderson said. "I have no doubt that he will be able to translate his recent success at Cornell to our student-athletes and make us a better team. He recently competed for a similar prestigious academic school and won a national title along with two All-America honors. He adds a fresh insight into our program and will be very instrumental to our continued improvement." A 2009 graduate of Cornell University, Leen joins the Blue Devils after a stellar four-year career with the Big Red. He earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament all four years and captured All-America recognition in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Wrestling at 149 and 157 pounds during his collegiate career, the native of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., compiled a career record of 118-29 for an 80.3 win percentage. He was named to the All-Ivy League First Team three years and the second team once. As a rookie for the Big Red, Leen garnered the Ivy League Rookie of the Year award and was named to the All-Ivy First Team. He posted a 25-16 record in his first season and took third at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Tournament to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. After redshirting in 2005-06, Leen came back and had a breakout year in 2006-07. He posted a career-best 37 wins and eight falls from 149 pounds en route to an eighth-place finish in the NCAA Tournament. Leen registered arguably his best season as a redshirt junior, winning the NCAA title in the 157-pound division. He compiled a 27-3 overall record and captained the team to a ninth-place showing at the NCAA Tournament. Individually, Leen upset three competitors en route to his first-place finish. In his final season with the Big Red, Leen won his second EIWA Championship and took third at the NCAA Tournament. He posted an overall record of 29-3, marking second consecutive season he lost just three bouts. This past year Leen joined ESPN as a commentator during the 2010 NCAA Tournament. He was one of three former All-Americas selected to provide analysis during the semifinal bouts. The Blue Devils open the 2010-11 season on Nov. 6-7 at the Citadel Open and the Hokie Open, respectively.

HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Stevens Institute of Technology Head Wrestling Coach Mike Clayton recently announced the hiring of Damion Logan (Garfield, N.J.) as the Ducks' head assistant coach for the upcoming 2010-11 season. Logan joins the Stevens coaching staff after a successful two-year stint as the head assistant wrestling coach at the University of Pennsylvania from 2004-06. “Damion adds an additional dynamic to our room to help us ensure that the nation's top wrestlers are attracted to our program,” said Clayton. “He will help us continue to focus on providing world-class academic support, wrestling training, and character development to our student-athletes. Our team's success, both on and off the mats, is due to tremendous efforts on the part of the Stevens community's support, the support of our growing fan and alumni base, and the amazing work ethic of our wrestlers.” While at Penn, Logan helped haul in a pair of top-5 recruiting classes in 2004 and 2005. In addition to assisting then-head coach Zeke Jones – now with USA Wrestling – with the day-to-day operations of the Penn program, the Garfield, N.J. native played an integral role in the development of three Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) champions, three All-Ivy selections, and a trio of NCAA Division I All-Americans in Matt Feast, Matt Herrington, and Matt Valenti. While at Penn, Logan also helped produce a pair of All-Ivy Academic honorees during his tenure. Prior to his time with the Quakers, Logan enjoyed a decorated career at the University of Michigan. As a member of the Wolverines, Logan twice qualified for the NCAA Division I National Championships. A two-time NCAA Division I All-American, he served as the team's captain in 2000. “I am very pleased and honored to become part of the Stevens family. I am looking forward to working with the student-athletes, administration, and athletic department at one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country,” said Logan. “I believe Coach Mike Clayton and I have a great outlook for the future and development of the Stevens wrestling program. I am looking forward to the upcoming 2010-11 wrestling season, and plan on producing a positive experience for our current and future student-athletes.” A standout at St. Joseph Regional High School, Logan was a three-time NJSIAA New Jersey State Wrestling Champion and four-time NJSIAA state finalist. Logan received his B.A. in Sports Management from the University of Michigan in 2001. Since graduating he has also aided in the development of the APEX wrestling school, while gaining professional experience in several commercial and educational career fields.

Kansas City, MO -- The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) has opened up a national search for the position of National Director of FCA Wrestling. This highly-motivated and experienced leader will serve as the full-time professional administrator for the recently formed FCA Wrestling. FCA Wrestling became the eighth national sports ministry for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Each of these FCA national sports ministries focuses on providing ministry to a community of people who are united around a particular sport by offering opportunities to serve athletes and coaches in that particular sport. Last year, longtime wrestling leader Joe Boardwine served as the first National Director of FCA Wrestling, and successfully developed the foundation for the growth of this exciting new program. During his time as National Director, Joe built the momentum for FCA Wrestling and the next leader will be called to keep that momentum going. Boardwine resigned to accept the position as the head wrestling coach at Campbell University, a Div. I wrestling program in North Carolina. Since the announcement of the plan to develop FCA Wrestling in September 2008, the organization has quickly established the foundation for this new ministry. Jeff Pratt was named Leadership Board Chairman for FCA Wrestling, and an impressive Leadership Board of wrestling leaders has stepped forward to help provide direction and support for FCA Wrestling. "This is a bigtime position for a bigtime leader who will make a bigtime impact on wrestling for a long time. This is a huge opportunity for somebody who is called to leadership," said Tim Johnson, FCA Vice President of the Midwest Region. An FCA Wrestling National Director Search Team has been formed to help identify the best candidates for this important position. Serving on the Search Team are FCA Board members Mark Mestemacher and Rich Bender, along with Sean McNamara, who serves as FCA Vice President of Field Ministry and Vice President of Sports Specific Ministry. FCA has set up a process for candidates to apply for this position, as well as for those within the wrestling community to suggest worthy individuals who should be considered for this opportunity. All of these resources have been posted online, to allow those interested in this opportunity to educate themselves about the process and to get involved if they believe that they have a calling to pursue this position. Included in these resources is an FCA Wrestling National Director Information Packet, which outlines the specific FCA hiring process. Also provided with these resources is a Candidate Questionnaire, which all applicants will be asked to fill out as part of the hiring process. In addition, there is an online form which is posted where people may submit names of qualified individuals who FCA Wrestling should consider for this position. Complete information on the National Director of FCA Wrestling Search is located at: http://www.fcawrestling.org/nds The national search has officially started. Candidates are encouraged to apply at this time. The position will be filled when the ideal candidate has been identified through the FCA hiring process. The FCA Wrestling Leadership Board is confident that the right person who can provide inspired leadership in this position will be identified and hired in a timely fashion. Anybody with questions about this position or the process should contact Sean McNamara via phone at (800) 289-0909 or via e-mail at smcnamara@fca.org. About FCA The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is touching millions of lives... one heart at a time. Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA is the largest Christian sports organization in the world. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ. The FCA Wrestling Leadership Board - Jeff Pratt, Director of Student Ministry Training for Lifeway Christian Resources - Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director - Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, World freestyle wrestling silver medalist - Brandon Slay, National Freestyle Resident Coach for USA Wrestling, Olympic freestyle wrestling champion, - Tim Johnson, FCA Vice President Midwest Region, national TV wrestling announcer - Sean McNamara, FCA Vice President of Sport Specific Ministries - Nate Carr, Head Wrestling Instructor for Prodigy Training and Fight Center, Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medalist - John Peterson, Athletes In Action, Olympic freestyle gold medalist and Olympic freestyle silver medalist - Dan Russell, Senior Pastor at Battleground Four-Square Church, four-time NCAA Division II wrestling champion - Stan Zeamer, President and Owner of Utility / Keystone Trailer and Transport Auctions LLC, high school and college wrestling coach, Olympic Team Leader - Mark Mestemacher, Officer of Ceres Consulting LLC, Edwardsville Wrestling Club coach - Joe Slaughter, President and CEO of Herff Jones

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- A variety of wrestling styles and competitive surroundings will face the 2010-11 University of Wyoming Cowboy Wrestling program this coming season, as third-year head coach Mark Branch announced his squad's upcoming schedule on Thursday. Keeping with the approach that a high-level of competition will best prepare the `Pokes for the 2011 postseason, Branch has slated a good mix of tournaments and duals which will challenge his team. Wyoming will host four duals in Laramie, one of which will be the Cornhuskers from Nebraska, as well as a neutral site match-up against Oregon State in Casper. UW will also put on their annual home tournament, the Cowboy Open, and is scheduled to dual both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State on the road. Rounding out their body of work, the Cowboys will participate in the prestigious Virginia Duals, as well as nationally renowned open tournaments in both Omaha and Reno. "We try to change our schedule up every year so we can expose our athletes to as many competitive environments as possible," stated Branch. "By attending the Virginia Duals this year we will hit some teams from the East, and between our home events and the dual with Oregon State in Casper, our local fans will get to see some top-notch wrestling. Then, wrestling two top-10 teams on the road in February will present the type of atmosphere that we need to prepare for conference and NCAAs." Using preseason rankings based on returning scorers from the NCAA Tournament, UW is currently slotted No. 26. The Cowboys could potentially face 12 programs that will enter the 2010-11 season in the nation's Top-30. No. 3-ranked Oklahoma State, No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 16 Nebraska, No. 24 Cal Poly and No. 30 Oregon State are all locks on the Wyoming schedule for dual matches. Possible UW opponents at the Virginia Duals include No. 7 Penn State, No. 11 Michigan, No. 13 Arizona State, No. 17 Kent State, No. 19 Lehigh, No. 25 Virginia and No. 29 Edinboro. The `Pokes open the season by hosting the 38th Annual Cowboy Open, presented by UniWyo Federal Credit Union, Nov. 13, all day in War Memorial Fieldhouse. Shortly thereafter, UW will compete on Nov. 20 at the Omaha Open in Omaha, Neb. "Hosting the Cowboy Open is always a good way to begin the season and we will be tested early at the always-tough Omaha Open, where we will see great competition from the Big Ten and Big 12," continued Branch. In a big home dual in the UniWyo Sports Complex, the Cowboys will host the Huskers on Dec. 4. at 8 p.m. The event will be the night cap of a UW Athletics quadruple-header, with men's and women's basketball games, as well as a Cowgirl swimming and diving meet earlier that day. Two weeks later, Wyoming will host the Oregon State Beavers at a neutral location in Casper, Wyo. The dual will take place at Casper College in Erickson Thunderbird Gymnasium on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. and is presented by BlueCross/BlueShield of Wyoming. Branch feels that the departure from the norm will ultimately be a plus for his team and Cowboy Wrestling fans. "We have been looking for an opportunity to host a dual for our fans in other parts of the state and the Oregon State dual in Casper will be the perfect chance to promote our program and bring great wrestling action north," commented Branch. Back to an annual staple on their schedule, UW will compete in the Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 19, prior to their Christmas break. On Jan. 7-8, Wyoming will take part in the 31st Annual Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va. The event features head-to-head duals with a 16-team bracket at the Hampton Coliseum. UW is guaranteed a minimum of three duals and their first-round opponent will be announced at a later date. "The Virginia Duals are the foundation of the national dual championship and we are proud to have been invited," said Branch. From there on out UW will face a variety of dual opponents, both at home and on the road, including all six other Western Wrestling Conference (WWC) programs, Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Branch concluded by saying, "Closing out our schedule on the road against OU, OSU and Northern Iowa will definitely prepare our team for the post season." The Cowboys will have a chance to qualify for the NCAA National Tournament by earning automatic or wild-card bids at the West Regional Tournament and WWC Championship, March 6, 2010 in Colorado Springs, Colo. This year's NCAA Wrestling Championships will be held March 17-19 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Wyoming fans are encouraged to purchase tickets for the three-day event through the UW Athletics Ticket Office so that the Cowboy fan contingent can all be seated in the same section. The UW Athletics Ticket Office can be contacted for wrestling ticket information at 1-877-WYO-FAN1 (996-3261) or (307) 766-4850. UW Wrestling concluded last season by winning its first-ever NCAA West Regional Team Championship, defending its regular-season dual title in the Western Wrestling Conference and earning a No. 25 national ranking in the National Wrestling Coaches Association/USA Today poll. Wyoming had an overall season record of 12-3, 6-0 in the WWC. For the 2010-11 season, the `Pokes present an exciting lineup which features two-time All-American Joe LeBlanc, a junior at 184 pounds, as well as juniors Michael Martinez (125/133 pounds) and Shane Onufer (165), each two-time NCAA qualifiers. The Cowboys also bring back six additional starters for this upcoming year. Mark Branch returns as head coach for his third year at the helm, and he has added depth to the program this year, with 16 newcomers on the squad, as well as four team members who redshirted last season.

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. While Wyoming is the smallest state in the nation as far as population goes, there are over two million antelope and only a half million people, it is large on wrestling talent and several of Wyoming's top senior recruits will be great additions to college programs in 2011. Coming into the 2010-11 wrestling season and returning several All-Americans, Wyoming has a full cupboard of quality wrestlers. Many of Wyoming's wrestlers have taken up the challenge of becoming better by attending out of state competitions such as Fargo. Wyoming had 44 wrestlers attend. This number of athletes will make Wyoming's wrestling future bright. Absent from the mix of competitors are University of Wyoming recruits Andy McCulley, Leland Pfiefer, and Tommy Thoman. Alex Coolidge, J.R. Vezain, Max Vichi, Hayden Jones, Matt Osbon, Pierre Etchemendy and 4 time state champ Auston Carter all have graduated. Behind this group of wrestlers remains a strong contingent of solid wrestlers and the 2011 class could potentially yield a better crop. 1. Austin Breckenridge High School: Cheyenne Central Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Austin BreckenridgeAnalysis: Breckenridge was a Cadet double All-American in 2009 at Fargo, (fifth in Greco and fourth in freestyle) also that same year he was third at NHSCA Sophomore Nationals. He was a Greco All-American as a junior this summer, earning eighth. Breckenridge is arguably the most dangerous of Wyoming's senior class wrestlers and has wins against such wrestlers as Blake Ruolo of Virginia, who Breckenridge pinned at Fargo in Greco. Ruolo was a three-time NHSCA Nationals champ. Breckenridge also has a win over Colby Kloetzer of Idaho. Ruolo and Kloetzer are both Top 50 recruits by InterMat. He has two state titles under his belt and he was fifth as a freshman. Well on his way to a third state title, Breckenridge will be on more college recruiting lists after this year. 2. Brady Turnbull High School: Green River High School Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 140 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Brady TurnbullAnalysis: Turnbull is coming off another Greco All-American performance at Fargo, earning a fifth-place finish at 135 pounds. He was eighth at Virginia Beach this March and was a Greco Cadet All-American (fifth) last year at Fargo. Turnbull has had a solid high school career, placing sixth as a freshman and third as a sophomore, and winning his first state title last year. He will lead a strong Green River team this year. Notable wins that Turnbull has, are wins over Casey Lanave of New York and Ethan Davis of Missouri. He has done well outside of Wyoming and is never out of a match with his ability to throw from a variety of positions. Turnbull has a very strong work ethic which will make him a steal for any college program. 3. Leandro Arias High School: Cheyenne Central Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135 Projected College Weight Class: 133/141 Leandro AriasAnalysis: Arias is the best "funk" wrestler Wyoming has, finishing just one round from making All-American this year at Fargo and has had a winning record there the last two years. His overall match record last year was 54-1 with his lone loss a close 5-2 loss to Louis Trujillo of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Arias has the natural tools to be something special not only in Wyoming but nationally. A three-time state placer (fourth, second, and champion in 2010), Arias will combine with Breckenridge to lead a tough Cheyenne Central team this year. He will need to get on the podium at a national tournament this year to garner the attention of more collegiate coaches. I believe he will. 4. Brodey Serres High School: Lingle-Ft. Laramie Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class:135 Projected College Weight Class: 133/141 Brodey SerresAnalysis: Serres has more than enough skill and talent to be a force in any state he just hasn't left Wyoming enough to prove himself. He is a two-timer going for his third state title, even toppling a state champion in the 2A finals last year. Serres is a great college prospect, but will need to see tougher competition this year when the opportunity to compete out of state presents itself. 5. Jared Leithead High School: Worland Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 125 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Analysis: Leithead won Wyoming's best All-Class tournament this past year at Riverton's Ron Thon and he has proven to be scrappy and able to win when the chips are down. He was a state champion last year, placed third his freshman year and was unable to compete his sophomore year. Leithead wrestles for one of Wyoming's top coaches, Dean Barent, and he is a proven winner. 6. Jacob Flores High School: Green River High School Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135 Projected College Weight Class: 133/141 Analysis: Winning a state title was big for Flores last year as his career has had its up and downs. He started his career as a light weight and was in four-time state champion Tyler Cox's weight class as a freshman. Flores has been determined though and last year he won a state title. En route to last year's state title, he pinned the 2009 previous state champ in the semifinals. In addition to last year's title, Jacob has placed fifth both as a Junior and a Sophomore. 7. Wes Ridgway High School: Greybull Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 215 Projected College Weight Class: 197/285 Analysis: Wes Ridgway has been third once and second twice in the 2A division ranks. Ridgway met University of Wyoming recruit, three-time state champ Leiland Pfeifer in the state finals in both 2009 and 2010. Greybull was the 2A team state champs and Ridgway will likely lead them back for another team title. 8. Trent Boner High School: Douglas Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 189 Projected College Weight Class: 184/197 Analysis: Winning a state title at 215, up a weight class or two from what he should have wrestled in 2010, to help his Douglas Bearcats win a team title gives Boner the nod for the No. 8 position. He was second in 2009 and was injured in 2008. Boner wrestles for longtime Douglas coach Bob Bath, who was WyoWrestling.com's 2010 Coach of the Year. 9. Chance Maddock High School: Cokeville Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 140 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Maddock is certainly gifted and his overtime loss in his state finals match to Brodey Serres in a battle of prior state champions that had plenty of action illuminated the fact that Maddock is worthy of a chance to be taken seriously by college recruiters. Maddock holds a state title from his sophomore year and a third-place finish as a freshman. Aiming for his second title and more than likely will get it, Maddock earns the ninth spot. 10. Lance Hladky High School: Lusk Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 158 Analysis: Hladky has had a great career thus far and is looking to bat the cycle ... fourth in 2008, third in 2009, and runner-up last year. Hladky's record proves that he is quite capable of winning the big one ... now he just has to get it done. Honorable Mention: Savoy Bell (Rock Springs) Joe Lake (Douglas) Kaleb Hoyt (Rocky Mountain) Chase Cimburek (Natrona) Clay Cundall (Greybull) Juan Rodriguez (Wright) Ab Brown (Natrona)

Hello again Wrestling Fans. 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. Our Guests Include: (All times Central) 9:01 Kevin Jackson- Head Coach Iowa State University 9:20 Tom Timmons - Big Wrestling Fan, supports wrestling at all levels 9:40 Mark Perry- Associate Head Coach Cal Poly Mustangs 9:50 Shane Roller- Former Ok State Cowboy- Now WEC Star 10:01 Ben Stehura- Head Coach Cleveland State 10:20 Dave Riggs- Coach Perry High School, Massillon, Ohio 10:40 Zach Tannelli- Assistant at Hofstra Wrestling fans- Episode 75 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 Sat. 12 Noon 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 (Premiers 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: 31 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!

Former University of Northern Iowa NCAA runner-up Joel Greenlee and wrestling enthusiast Jim Brown will be radio show guests 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. Ohio University head wrestling coach Joel Greenlee will be inducted into the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame this Saturday, September 18. A native of Waverly, Iowa, Greenlee was a two-time All-American at heavyweight, placing 2nd at the NCAA tournament in 1989 and compiled a collegiate record of 127-16-4. He is beginning his 14th season leading the Ohio Bobcat wrestling program. Jim Brown is one of the most passionate wrestling fans you’ll find. He writes a wrestling blog called “The View from Section GG” and last year started a successful program called “Tickets for Kids” which has provided hundreds of opportunities for young kids to attend college wrestling events.

For the sixth straight year, high school boys wrestling participation numbers have increased while girls’ participation hit an all-time high as The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) released the 2009-10 participation numbers. The number of boys wrestling in 2009-10 was 272,890 which ranked it as the sixth most popular boy’s sport for participation. The total number of participants in 2010 is the highest number that wrestling has seen since 1980, when participation statistics were listed at 273,326 by the NFHS. The total number of boy’s teams sponsoring wrestling is at an all-time with 10,363 programs nationally. Both of these numbers show significant growth in the past year with 111 programs added since 2008-09 and individual participation up by 5,512. In the past decade 1,317 teams have been added throughout the country along with an increase in individual participation of 33, 785. Mississippi remains the lone state which does not sponsor wrestling. Girls’ wrestling also continues to grow each year. Girls’ wrestling is at an all-time high with 6,134 participants. Texas and California continue to have the strongest girls wrestling presence on the high school level. “These numbers are a testament to the hard work that is going on at the youth level to educate our coaches and youth wrestlers. With participation numbers steadily climbing this gives a bright outlook on the future of the sport of wrestling at the high school level,” said Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the NWCA. “The NWCA’s primary mission is to develop the most proficient coaches in the nation so we can sustain this phenomenal participation growth in wrestling. In doing so, we can be assured that student-wrestlers across the nation are receiving a high quality, educationally based sports experience,” said Moyer. For more information on participation numbers you can visit the NFHS website. Other information on participation numbers specific to wrestling can be found on the NWCA website along with collegiate wrestling opportunities and what can be done to protect amateur wrestling at the youth, high school and collegiate levels. 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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A lot can happen in 12 hours. Members of the 2009-10 University of Iowa NCAA Champion wrestling team found this out first hand Monday - going from boarding a bus at 5 a.m. (CT) to shaking hands with United States President Barack Obama on the South Lawn of the White House at 5 p.m.(CT). Twelve members of the Hawkeye wrestling team that won NCAA and Big Ten titles in 2010 traveled to the nation's capital to take part in Monday evening's NCAA Student-Athlete Reception at the White House. The Hawkeyes were one of 38 NCAA champion teams invited to the reception where President Obama congratulated them on their success. "I want to thank all the teams that have traveled from all over the country to be here, and congratulations on being NCAA Champions," said President Obama. "We've got over 650 athletes and almost 150 coaches and staff here today. This is the most athletic talent we've ever had on the South Lawn." "That term student-athlete is the thing that makes me so proud to stand before you today because when each of you won the titles that you won, whether it was in lacrosse or gymnastics or wheelchair basketball, you didn't do it as professionals," explained President Obama. "You didn't have multi-million dollar contracts or huge endorsement deals. You woke up early, you put in countless hours of practice for the love of the game and for the pride of your school. You rode those buses and you carried those bags because you knew what it was going to take to be the best because every one of you has a competitive streak that is about a mile wide. And most of all you did this while shouldering a full load of classes, sometimes grabbing a few minutes to study at airports or locker rooms because you understand that student-athlete emphasizes student and not just athlete. So this is a group that knows what it means to be a champion." The Hawkeye travel party includes 2010 NCAA Champions Jay Borschel (174) and Matt McDonough (125), All-Americans Montell Marion (141), Ryan Morningstar (165) and Dan Erekson (Hwt.) and 2010 NCAA qualifiers Jake Kerr (157) and Chad Beatty (197). Former Hawkeye Dan LeClere (141), Iowa seniors Aaron Janssen (157) and Luke Lofthouse (197), junior Blake Rasing (Hwt.) and sophomore Nate Moore (133) are also on the trip. "It was an incredibly eye-opening experience," said McDonough. "It was an honor and a privelege to be recognized at the White House for what we do during the course of the year. This is an experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life." The Hawkeyes plan to tour some of the nation's historical monuments and museums Monday night and Tuesday morning before returning to Iowa City Tuesday evening.

GREELEY, Colo. -- With the announcement of the 2010-11 Northern Colorado wrestling schedule, head coach Ben Cherrington and the Bears know they have another challenging task ahead of them. “As a staff we are again looking forward to what will be a tough schedule,” said Cherrington. “This schedule will be a good test for our veterans, and will give our young guys a chance to measure themselves against some of the best in the country. This is the type of schedule we must wrestle if we want to compete at the national level. Last year wrestling a tough schedule paid off for us in the end and I don’t expect it to be any different this year.” The start of the schedule is a familiar one for fans as the team opens its slate at the Cowboy Open, followed by hosting the Old Chicago Open on Nov. 20. The first dual of the season is against Nebraska on Dec. 3 at 7 pm in Butler-Hancock. A season ago, the Cornhuskers finished in a tie for 12th place at the NCAA Championships. The team closes out the calendar year with tournaments at Nebraska Kearney and the Reno Tournament of Champions. The Bears also compete in the Utah Valley Open and the Lone Star Duals before settling into dual action with Western Wrestling Conference competition and a return dual at Oklahoma State on Jan. 28. The Cowboys finished sixth at the 2010 NCAA Championship. In addition to conference action, the Bears also host duals against Oregon State (Feb. 4) and Cal State Bakersfield (Feb. 11), both of which finished in the top 35 a year ago. Air Force will host the WWC Championship and NCAA West Regional on Sunday, March 6, while Philadelphia is the site of the NCAA Championship (March 17-19). “Wrestling teams like Nebraska, Oklahoma State, and Oregon State gives you an opportunity to see where you’re at as a program and I know we are all excited to see what types of gains we have made since last season," said Cherrington. "We will have a great group of young men stepping on the mat for us this year, and I am confident that they will be ready to compete and surprise some people.”

In 1858, Henry Gray published his book Anatomy Descriptive and Surgical. Commonly known as Gray's Anatomy, this English-language human anatomy textbook is widely regarded as a classic work on the subject. In his mid to late teens, Henry Gray left home to find answers to his questions attending St. Georges Hospital in London, and went on to later write the aforementioned textbook on anatomy that is still being used today in the medical field. Gray Maynard (Photo/Eric Williams, www.ericwilliams.LA)About 137 years after Henry Gray, Gray Maynard left his home and friends to pursue his quest to be an NCAA champion. Now Maynard is on the verge of another sort of championship. Fresh off his victory against Kenny Florian at UFC 118 in Boston, Massachusetts, Gray Maynard sits on a return flight home next to close friend Rashad Evans. The two MMA rising stars reflect on all things; as Rashad is also a former Michigan State wrestler, former roommate, and former light heavyweight UFC champion. Gray and Rashad share more than being just MSU wrestling alumni; they are both in line for title shots in their respective weight classes for the UFC. Gray's journey started in Las Vegas, led him to Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, and finally he has found his place again in Las Vegas where it all started. Now, back home and with wrestling close to his heart, UFC president Dana White has confirmed that Maynard is next in line for a lightweight UFC title shot against former Clarion wrestler Frankie Edgar, a fighter Maynard already owns a win over. Before talks of UFC greatness, championships, and sponsorships from boxing giants like Everlast, Maynard was an undefeated state wrestling champion in Nevada. After his sophomore year, Maynard made way to Ohio and left his friends and family in Vegas to pursue a college scholarship from his wrestling talents. "My dad wrestled in Ohio and was a two-time state champ," said Maynard. "I had to get out there. We didn't have the money to pay for college, so I needed the exposure and scholarship and I knew how tough it is in the state of Ohio, so it was the place to go." Maynard enrolled at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio, one of the nation's premiere high school wrestling programs. He excelled on the wrestling mat, finishing his senior year as a state champion and nationally-ranked wrestler on the nation's No. 1 high school team. "I try to keep up with St. Edward High School," said Maynard. "It's a great school, great people, a wonderful community. I love it." Gray Maynard (Photo/AmateurWrestlingPhotos.com) Maynard was pursued by many of the nation's top college wrestling programs, including his father's alma mater, Arizona State, where he took a recruiting trip. He talked to Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others, but ultimately chose Michigan State in large part because Roger Chandler, a St. Edward High School alum, was (and is) on the coaching staff. "My heart was really geared towards Iowa," said Maynard. "Gable, Brands ... They were some of my idols. That's all I looked up to. But it came down to timing." His college head coach at Michigan State, Tom Minkel, saw things he liked in Maynard right from the get-go. "Like all freshmen, he was green," said Minkel. "But what was clear was his work ethic and his intensity." Minkel went on to further explain his former athlete's MMA success. Tom Minkel"Gray is a winner," said Minkel a three-time U.S. Nationals Greco-Roman champion and 1980 Olympian. "You should not be surprised at his success in MMA. I'm not. The guy is a quality, independent, hard-working person." After his collegiate wrestling career, Maynard packed his bags and moved to Arizona in search of work and the next stage in his life. He trained on and off with other wrestlers like the late Steven Blackford and MMA rising star Eric Larkin, both former Arizona State All-Americans, and tried to keep active, which proved to be difficult. "The three of us tried to train and keep at it, but it just got to be too tough," said Maynard. "The bills, the time invested ..." A year later, Maynard returned home to Las Vegas, but the competitive fire burned within him. "You can't just stop training, but all I was doing was jogging and stuff," said Maynard. "I was like, 'Oh, my God ... This is so boring!" Gray Maynard (Photo/Eric Williams, www.ericwilliams.LA)Maynard started helping out a couple teams in the area, some MMA, some grappling. Word spread quickly and he was invited to join a jiu-jitsu school loaded with unknown young talent. "I mean Troy Mandaloniz, Kendall Grove, Jay Hieron, Jason Miller, Phil Baroni ... These guys were all here and all still in smaller venues and shows," said Maynard. "I went in there to try it and it was cool. It was a lot better than jogging." Gray Maynard's reputation for his grappling was spreading in the MMA community ... and suddenly opportunity arose. "Word got back to B.J. Penn's camp in Hawaii," said Maynard. "I'm sure it was Kendall and Troy." B.J. Penn, fresh of winning the UFC welterweight division, was preparing for an upcoming bout away from the UFC in Japan against Rodrigo Gracie. He invited Maynard to Hawaii to help him train in wrestling/takedown defense, among other things. "I didn't know much about MMA, and after helping B.J. Penn train, I thought that MMA was pretty cool, but I didn't know it was for me." "I went to Xtreme Couture and Randy was super open, great, and kind to me. He invited me to come in. They kicked my butt. I loved how they trained. It was hard work, easy to adopt. It was like wrestling, pretty much. The training, drilling, just going in there and getting at it. It wasn't slow-paced like jiu-jitsu practice can be, it was real actual practice. That's when it really clicked, I was thinking, oh my god, I'm quitting my job, this is for me, I'm doing this, this is it." After a few smaller venue fights, Maynard became weary of the last-minute cancellations, shady promoters, and inconsistency, among other things, common in small-venue MMA shows. "The TV show (The Ultimate Fighter) opportunity came up and I was all for it," said Maynard. "It might have been too soon and too early for me, but oh well. I got myself out there and kick-started my career." Gray MaynardMaynard won his first nine fights (with one no contest) before earning a shot against UFC veteran Kenny Florian at UFC 118 on August 28. He proved to be too much for Florian. He dominated every round and earned a unanimous decision. Despite Maynard's success in the Octagon, he has been criticized by some in the MMA world for not being exciting enough. Some label him a boring fighter because of the fact that he has just one knockout in 10 fights. Maynard, though, doesn't let the opinions of others change his game plan. "I love to win," said Maynard. "I really love winning. Losing eats me up. It really does. I appreciate Gil Martinez and Neil Melanson. All those guys, they really care about me and this sport. We work hours and hours on our game plan. So how would that be if I just slapped them in the face and said, 'I'm doing whatever.' That would be too disrespectful. I fight to win." Unlike some former amateur wrestlers who hear complaints that wrestlers are too boring, then try and change up their strategies and become stand up fighters over night, Maynard doesn't try to change his style and sticks to what he knows and loves best. "So, I just stick to the plan, I try to. I love to win, I hate to lose, and we ask for the top guys. The guys I went through, I don't see anyone else finishing the guys that I went through to get my title shot. I went through the top guys, the championship fights and the gap between the top guys is getting closer. We are all training all year round. Guys have the cash for the food, training, and coaching. The gap is getting closer and closer." When asked if his previous victory over current champ Frankie Edgar makes him cocky or extremely confident going into the rematch, Maynard answers, "That was two years ago, we have both grown, it will be a different fight, and tougher than the first. Fighting a former wrestler doesn't bother Gray Maynard in the least, but he'd rather not. "Wrestling is a great sport, I love it, great people. We cheer for one another when we aren't competing against one another. Good people, great work ethics. This sport is been so good to me. I love it. It has helped me in all aspects and help overcome everything I've been through." Gray Maynard defeated Frankie Edgar on April 2, 2008Gray Maynard offered his thoughts on Frankie Edgar and how the UFC will promote the fight between two former amateur wrestlers who share no animosity: "Two guys, great work ethics. I hope the true fans see that. Frankie Edgar? He's a great person, [has] a very nice mom, he's a good guy, period. Everyone wants a rivalry, and if it's there, it's there. If it's not, I'm not going to make it up." Maynard was unaware of Frankie Edgar while they were both wrestling in college, separated by two weight classes and Gray's focus to become an NCAA champion. "I thought I was going to be a three-time NCAA champ," said Maynard. "I mean, I thought I was good and thought it was going to happen. When it didn't, I couldn't believe it. It just ate me up, big time. This was my dream, I wasn't thinking Olympics when I was a kid. All I dreamed about was being a NCAA champion. I hate losing. " Gray Maynard's inability to win a national championship has led him to a disciplined MMA career and a humbled undefeated record. If he can repeat his previous victory against Frankie Edgar, he can ease that pain of not being an NCAA champion by becoming the next UFC lightweight world champion. Not a bad second chance and opportunity. For all the latest news on Gray Maynard, visit http://www.GrayMaynard.com. For all things MMA, follow Tony Nguyen on Twitter.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Mike DeRoehn, a leader in improving the quality of wrestling in Wisconsin and former head wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, has been named head wrestling coach at Lakeland College. He replaces Pete Rogers, who was recently named assistant coach at Purdue University. Since 2006, DeRoehn has served as the state coach of the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation, an organization that works to improve Wisconsin wrestling for all ages. He also owns and is head wrestling coach of World Class Wrestling Club, which assists young men and women in developing their wrestling skills, building character and developing positive habits. In 2010, he was named USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Junior National Coach of the Year. DeRoehn resigned from UW-Oshkosh in August after six years as head coach and eight years with the program to focus on his work with the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation. But when Lakeland approached him in early September, DeRoehn said the opportunity was too tempting to pass up. DeRoehn and Rogers, both young head coaches, established a close relationship the last several years through the sport they love. “There are a lot of similarities in what we did at Oshkosh and what Pete did here at Lakeland,” DeRoehn said. “At Oshkosh, we built a fledgling program that was facing elimination into a national caliber program with multiple NCAA/Academic All-Americans. Pete was facing many of the same challenges, and we became close friends as we shared ideas because our situations were so similar.” Lakeland athletic director Jane Bouche said the college is fortunate to find someone of DeRoehn’s caliber so close to the beginning of the season. “Obviously we were concerned about having this job open with the beginning of practice just a few weeks away, but this couldn’t have worked out any better,” Bouche said. “Mike brings a wealth of experience and a passion for wrestling which will benefit our athletes. There are some striking similarities between the career paths of Mike and Pete, and we know what a winner we had in Pete.” DeRoehn said there’s much to like about Lakeland and its wrestling program. “I’m really impressed with the family atmosphere,” he said. “I know what a nice team I’ll be inheriting, but the whole environment at Lakeland is conducive to winning. It feels very welcoming. Lakeland’s student-athletes are involved in the campus and they support one another.” The Muskies have been nationally ranked each of the past three seasons, and put together back-to-back team finishes in the top 30 at the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The Muskies’ roster is filled with talented returnees and a strong recruiting class. “I need to build a relationship with our wrestlers before I tell them what they need to be doing,” DeRoehn said. “I’ll share my expectations and we’ll discuss theirs, because they have a voice in this. I need to earn their respect and make sure they’re comfortable with me. “On the mat, I think our approach will be very similar – a very aggressive, pressure wrestling style that’s position focused, similar to Pete. Successful wrestling is successful wrestling.” DeRoehn will continue his work with the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation, which includes organizing, planning and conducting Wisconsin National Team training camps, educating coaches state wide and on-the-mat coaching with the Wisconsin National Wrestling Team at every age level. DeRoehn was an award-winning wrestler at Plymouth State University (N.H.), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He has a master’s in educational leadership from UW-Oshkosh.

It is the only the second week of September and already two of the top three wrestlers from Michigan's Class of 2012 have announced their college plans, and they are both staying in the state of Michigan. Division 2 State Champion Jordan Thomas, who is a junior at Greenville High School, informed Michigan Grappler over the phone that he has given a verbal commitment to the University of Michigan and coach Joe McFarland to be a Wolverine in two years when his prep career comes to an end. Jordan Thomas (Photo/MichiganGrappler.com)"Michigan is a perfect fit. They are a Big Ten school with great academics. I plan on majoring in business and they have a great business school. They also have an amazing new facility, a great coaching staff, and I have grown up a Michigan fan," said Thomas in a phone interview with Michigan Grappler. "I am pretty close with coach (Mike) Kulczycki and have been to a lot of his camps and stuff and I have always felt like I 've gotten along really well with him. My training situation at Michigan will be incredible with coach Kulczycki, Dan Yates, some other good upperclassmen, plus Eric Grajales who was one of the best high school wrestlers in the country two years ago." Thomas, who just completed the first week of his junior school year, becomes the second top junior from around the country to give a very, very early commitment this fall as fellow Michigander Freddie Rodriguez committed to Michigan State last week. With two years of high school wrestling still to go, Thomas and Rodriguez have already made up their minds to stay in state. "I had the chance to go to campus for a football game and I loved the atmosphere, the students, and the staff," said Thomas. "I knew right away that this is the perfect fit and there was an offer I couldn't refuse to a place I have always loved so I didn't feel a need to wait." Thomas, who won the Division 2 state title at 160 pounds last year and was runner-up his freshman year at 145 pounds, has been one of the top grapplers in the country for his age group since coming up on the youth scene. The summer prior to his freshman season he officially stepped into the national spotlight with an impressive Disney Duals performance that included wins over then senior-to-be returning state champ Garrett Rozeboom of Mason, MI as well as a huge win over nationally proven David Habat of Ohio. He then followed up his Disney coming out party with a third-place finish at the Cadet Nationals in freestyle in Fargo and he has not slowed down since. He is currently ranked nationally in virtually every poll. He 's rated by InterMat as the No. 17 pound-for pound junior in the country. "I think wrestling is a thinking sport and even though I 'm not the strongest, quickest, or most explosive wrestler, I am smart and I study the sport and I out-work my opponents," said Thomas. "I think the biggest thing that has helped me get to this point has been wrestling at Massa's in St. Johns and I have also been exposed to some really good workout partners and training at Michigan Xtreme. From now until college I am going to continue training in the room the way I have been I want to increase my focus on weight lifting and improving my strength so I am ready for bigger, stronger guys in college." Thomas will join a Michigan program who has a strong tradition of success in the middle to upper weights, including NCAA Champ Steve Luke (174) as well as NCAA finalists Ryan Churella (165) and Eric Tannenbaum (165), who all came through the Wolverine program in the past few years. Michigan had a un-Wolverine like year last year, finishing 10th in the Big Ten. However, Thomas believes that they will be right back on top of the Big Ten and competing for an NCAA title very soon. "They (Michigan) were really young last year and I think they will be back on top this year with just about everyone coming back and with Kellen Russell back in the lineup," said Thomas. "I think the overall direction of the program is great with some talented younger guys who I am already close with like Dan Yates and Cam Jackson. I think we are going to have a great team I think the new facility will help bring more good recruits so we can keep building." Thomas is the No. 3-ranked pound-for-pound wrestler in Michigan's powerhouse junior class. The Class of 2012 coming out of Michigan may end up being the best group that the Great Lakes State has every produced and in many other years a guy like Thomas could very well be a consensus No. 1. With Thomas (No. 3) and Rodriguez (No. 1) already committed, the question now is how many of the other nationally-proven juniors in Michigan or around the country are going to be making up their minds in the near future? "I want to see other top Michigan guys stay in Michigan because it is awesome for our state and I would love to have the opportunity to get the other top guys on my team in college so we can train and compete together and make Michigan proud," said Thomas. As is usually the case with a talented and accomplished high school wrestler, Thomas had many people to thank for helping him along the way, but he singled out three families who have been significant in his development. "I definitely to than three very influential families in my life: First of all my family for all the support over the years and secondly the Massa and Bennett families for helping me so much throughout my career." InterMat was granted permission to republish this article from MichiganGrappler.com.

Hello again Wrestling Fans. 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. The World Championships will be getting underway in Russia. Best of luck to our US Athletes. For a complete schedule and to follow the results of Team USA Visit the special section on TheMat.com Our Guests Include: (All times Central) 9:01 Jim Jordan- Congressman from Ohio's 4th District- 2 X NCAA Champion for Wisconsin 9:20 Jack Spates- Head Coach of the Sooners of Oklahoma 9:40 Tom Shifflett- Head Coach of the Pride of Hofstra 10:01 Jim Zalesky- Head Coach of the Beavers of Oregon State 10:20 Dennis Papadatos- Asst. Head Coach of the Bearcats of Binghamton, NY 10:40 Dave Dean- Founder of NUWAY 10:50 Amy Williams (Rubel)- Wildrose Resort and Casino Wrestling fans- Episode 74 of TDR TV wrestling news is now on. Check TV Guide for listings. How to watch and listen- TDR and TDR TV. It's appointment Radio and TV! 1.78 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 Sat. 12 Noon 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 (Premiers 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: 31 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!

LANCASTER, Pa. -- Franklin & Marshall College Director of Athletics and Recreation, Patricia S.W. Epps, announced the hiring of Mike Rogers as the Diplomats' 13th wrestling coach. Rogers brings over a decade of coaching experience to Lancaster. “I strongly believe that we have found the right person at the right time for this position,” said Epps. “Coach Rogers has firsthand experience coaching top caliber wrestlers in a rigorous academic environment that will serve him well at F&M.” Mike RogersA two-time NCAA All-American, Rogers spent the 2009-10 season at American University as the head assistant coach. The Eagles produced three All-Americans and recorded its best NCAA finish in 14th place while posting the nation’s second best grade point average. “I am honored to be named the next head wrestling coach at Franklin & Marshall College and to be added to their prestigious list of coaches,” said Rogers. “I am excited to be a part of such a strong tradition of wrestling and looking forward to the challenges ahead; as well as working with alumni, administration, and the student-athletes to elevate the program. I feel fortunate in working with a dedicated administration that is committed to the program’s success and eager to get started.” Rogers has spent the last six years as the head coach of the Pennsylvania Junior Freestyle Team, which he guided to two junior freestyle championships. He also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Lock Haven University, for seven years. Rogers spent three seasons as the head coach at Central Mountain High School in Mill Hall, Pa., from 1999-2002, leading the team to a 29-16 overall record. In 2001, Rogers was named the District 6 AAA Coach of the Year. A 1997 graduate of Lock Haven University, Rogers was a four-year member of the wrestling team and earned All-America status during his last two seasons. A three-time national championships qualifier, Rogers earned the 1996 Gorrarian Award, recording the most pins in the least amount of time at nationals. Rogers was also a two-time Eastern Wrestling League Champion and is one of seven Bald Eagles and one of twelve in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference to win four conference crowns. He is also one of only 14 wrestlers in Lock Haven history to reach 100 wins, recording a career mark of 112-28. A native of Fort Myers, FL, Rogers was a Florida State Champion in 1992 and a national runner-up that same year during his high school career. Rogers received his B.A. in Special Education from Lock Haven University in 1997 and a Master's in Education in 2002. He and his wife, Danielle, have two sons, Caden and Teagen. He will assume his role on Monday, September 20th.

AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa State University wrestling team has received the NCAA Public Recognition Award. This honor is bestowed on teams that have an NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate in the top ten percent of all squads in their respective sports. Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Jackson is proud of the team and hopes to see the success in the classroom and on the mat continue. “It really speaks volumes to what we are all about, I think it epitomizes what a true student-athlete is,” Jackson said. “Iowa State University has established a great wrestling program and we are putting emphasis in the right areas. Academics comes first and something like this says to everyone in our program, especially young freshmen coming in, that it is your job to maintain the standards set by the student-athletes who were here before you.” The nine other universities that were also recognized in the men’s wrestling category are Bucknell, Columbia, Duke, Millersville (Pa.), Northwestern, The U.S. Air Force Academy, Oklahoma, Penn and Virginia. Iowa State and Oklahoma (fifth) are the only schools listed which placed among the top 10 teams at the NCAA Championships in Omaha, Neb. in March.

Moscow, Russia -- Former Husker standout Justin Ruiz nearly claimed his second World Wrestling Championship medal, but fell one match short of reaching the podium as he finished fifth in the Greco-Roman 96-kilogram division in Moscow, Russia. The Salt Lake City native opened with a win (1-0, 1-0) over Richard Karelson of Estonia before falling to Timofej Dzeinichenka of Belarus (0-1, 2-0, 4-0) in the second round. Ruiz came back in the repechage to earn wins over Sabhui Humbatov of Azerbaijan and Yunior Estrada Cuba before battling Sweden’s Jimmy Lidberg for the bronze medal. Making his fifth World appearance, Ruiz’ bid at another medal was stopped by Lidberg in a 1-0, 1-0 loss. Ruiz qualified for the 2010 World Championships after he won the Greco-Roman 96-kilogram (211.5 pounds) title at the U.S. World Team Trials in June. Ruiz had previously retired from the sport of wrestling but made a remarkable comeback to return to the international competition for the first time since 2007. Ruiz was a two-time All-American for the Huskers in 2002 and 2003. He was named the team's Redshirt of the Year in 1999 and also earned Most Improved Wrestler and Most Dedicated Wrestler awards during his career. He finished with a 43-16 record, including a 16-5 mark in 2002-03.

MOSCOW, Russia -- University of Iowa Assistant Wrestling Coach Mike Zadick and former Hawkeye wrestler Brent Metcalf are ready to take the international stage at the 2010 World Championships in Moscow, Russia. Zadick and Metcalf, who are members of the United States Men’s Freestyle World Team, will compete Saturday and Sunday. The seven-day event, which also features women’s freestyle and men’s Greco-Roman events, started Monday. Hawkeye Associate Head Wrestling Coach Terry Brands and former Hawkeye NCAA champion Bill Zadick are also at the Olympiysky Sports Complex as members of the men’s freestyle coaching staff. Mike Zadick, who won a silver medal at the 2006 World Championships, is making his third World Championships appearance. Wrestling at 60 kilograms, Zadick will weigh in at 9:30 a.m. (CT) Friday. His competition will take place from 4-10 a.m. Saturday, with the finals and medal matches being contested from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. A three-time all-American at Iowa (2000-02), Zadick is in his first season as Iowa’s interim assistant coach after serving as the team’s volunteer assistant coach for four seasons (2004-06, 2009-10) and the strength training coach for three seasons (2006-08). Metcalf, who is making his first-ever appearance at the World Championships, will be competing at 66 kilograms. He is scheduled to weigh in at 9:30 a.m. (CT) Saturday. His competition will take place the same times as Zadick on Sunday. Metcalf was a three-time all-American and NCAA finalist for the Hawkeyes (2008-10), winning two NCAA and Big Ten titles. Fans can follow the action live via USA Wrestling’s website – www.themat.com.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Ohio State wrestling standouts J Jaggers and Mike Pucillo have been added to the Buckeye coaching staff head coach Tom Ryan announced Wednesday. Jaggers and Pucillo join Ryan and associate head coach Lou Rosselli. "We are proud to add one of the great wrestling Buckeyes to the Ohio state coaching staff," Ryan, who is entering his fifth season leading the Scarlet and Gray, said. "Mike has been a standout in every aspect of his life for many years. We are all anxious to see Mike pass his knowledge on to the next generation. "J Jaggers brings a long successful resume to the Buckeye program. He has accomplished many great things as a competitor and student. His deep-rooted passion for the Buckeyes makes him a great addition to the staff." In addition to his integral role in the gym and his coaching duties during matches, Jaggers, a two-time NCAA champion in 2008 and 2009 at 141 pounds, will also assist the Ohio State Athletics Department's Fan Experience and Promotions staff in marketing all home matches for the upcoming 2010-11 season. (For the complete 2010-11 wrestling schedule, click HERE). The 2009 Ohio State Male Athlete of the Year, Jaggers also will work heavily in securing fundraising dollars for a program that has grown tremendously in terms of competition status. Jaggers also will serve as the team liaison, providing up-to-date team information to the squad during summer and holiday breaks. In 2009 as the volunteer assistant coach, Jaggers helped mentor former teammate Reece Humphrey, who took over the starting spot at 141 pounds, following Jagger's graduation. Humphrey went on to finish third at the NCAA championships, earning his second All-America laurel. Jaggers concluded his Buckeye career in impressive fashion, becoming just the third wrestler in program history to win two national titles. A three-time All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier, Jaggers compiled 107 wins during his career. After winning his first national title in 2008, he was honored by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission with Collegiate Athlete of the Year. Excelling in the classroom, Jaggers was a three-time NWCA All-Academic Team member, two-time Academic All-Big Ten and Ohio State Scholar-Athlete recipient. Jaggers earned his bachelor's degree in communication in March 2009. In his coaching capacity, Pucillo, the 2008 Big Ten and NCAA Champion at 184 pounds, also will create the team's community service plan. In the past, the Buckeyes have worked closely with the 2nd and 7 Foundation, which is a program that strives to eliminate illiteracy, as well as volunteered at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Last season, the wrestling program generated 244 hours of community service under former assistant Joe Heskett. Pucillo will oversee the team managers, while also working on postseason travel information. Additionally, he will work closely with Jaggers in the fundraising department. Pucillo finished his Buckeye career as a three-time All-American. Also the 2009 NCAA runner-up at 184 pounds, Pucillo amassed several impressive streaks during his collegiate career, including winning 43-consecutive matches entering the 2009 Big Ten Championships. He also finished the 2008 and 2009 Big Ten seasons undefeated and was the 2006 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational champion. Of note too, is his 5-0 record at the 2009 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. En route to that perfect ledger, Pucillo defeated three Top 20 opponents. In the classroom, Pucillo, who earned a bachelor's degree in communication in March 2010, was a two-time NWCA All-Academic selection, Academic All-Big Ten and Ohio State Scholar-Athlete.