InterMat Staff

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Binghamton punctuated its rapid ascent in wrestling circles with a first-ever Colonial Athletic Association Championship, clinched Saturday at Rider University. The Bearcats produced four individual champions and won the team title with 87.5 points, ahead of runnerup Old Dominion (73) and the rest of the eight-team conference. Binghamton dethroned eight-time reigning champion Hofstra and nationally-ranked ODU and will now send a school-record five wrestlers to the NCAA Championship, March 18-20 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. Junior 141-pound top-seeded Anwar Goeres got the Bearcats started with a riveting 2-1 overtime win over second-seeded Craig Wilson of ODU. The wrestlers each earned an escape in regulation and after a scoreless sudden victory period, Goeres escaped from the bottom to start the first tiebreak session. He then rode out Wilson from top in the second tiebreak period to win his first CAA title after finishing fourth and third in the last two years. Goeres will advance to NCAAs with a 35-8 record. Sophomore 157-pound Justin Lister took control early in his match with third-seeded Joe Booth of Drexel. Lister, the top-seed, had two first-period takedowns and built a 6-2 lead with riding time before slowing down for a 6-4 decision. Lister (28-8) had already clinched an NCAA berth Friday night - one of three allotted to his weight class. In a battle between defending CAA champions, senior 174-pound Josh Patterson, exacted revenge on top-seeded and 12th-ranked Bagna Tovuujav to claim his second straight CAA title. Tovuujav was the reigning 174-lb. champ and had beaten Patterson 7-6 in a dual last month. Tovuujav jumped out to a 4-0 lead with back points 15 seconds into the bout before now four-time NCAA qualifier and 14th-ranked Patterson roared back. He had a big takedown and near-pin in the first and never looked back in posting the 16-6 major decision. He was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the championship. Patterson, who finished seventh to earn All-America honors at the 2009 NCAA Championship, will bring a 26-6 record to Omaha. "From where we started four years ago to today is night and day," head coach Pat Popolizio said. "It's a reflection on the commitment, hard work and dedication of everyone in our program. This is very rewarding because of the type of kids we have and the character they've shown." Redshirt 184-pound freshman Nate Schiedel used a second-period takedown to build a 3-1 lead plus riding time and hung on for a 4-3 decision over second-seeded Ben Clymer of Hofstra. Schiedel, the top-seed, will bring a 29-7 record into the NCAA Championship. Redshirt 149-pound freshman Donnie Vinson came up short in his title match with three-time NCAA qualifier and top-seeded Mike Kessler of Rider. Vinson led 2-0 after a first-period takedown but Kessler racked up three takedowns en route to an 8-5 decision. Vinson clinched an NCAA berth on Friday and will carry a 32-11 record to the national meet. Senior heavyweight Corey Waite placed third with three wins. He recorded three takedowns in the first period and went on to control sixth-seeded Paul Schweighardt of Sacred Heart 14-5 in his final collegiate match. Sophomore 165-pound Matt Kaylor placed fourth for the second straight year after posting two wins. Kaylor, the No. 3 seed, was beaten 11-5 by fourth-seeded Rob Morrison of Rider after leading 5-4 in his final bout. The four CAA champions and five NCAA qualifiers represents the most in BU's nine-year Division I history. Binghamton had never won more than one CAA title in any year and its two NCAA qualifiers in 2008 were the previous best.

NORMAN, Okla. -- The journey for an Iowa State four-peat is alive at the 2010 Big 12 Championship at the McCasland Field House. But like two of the last three years, it could come down to the meet’s last match. The second-ranked Cyclones lead the event through the semifinals with 51 points six finalists. Oklahoma State trails with 49 points and has six finalists. Oklahoma totaled 33 points, with Missouri and Nebraska tied at 16 points to round out the team competition. ISU advanced six wrestlers to the finals, with four Iowa Staters competing in the consolation. The second session is set to begin at 4 p.m. Championship matches are at 7 p.m. “We lost a couple matches against OSU that we thought we could win,” Iowa State head coach Kevin Jackson said. “We need to be ready tonight as we are vulnerable in the team scoring.” ISU’s Andrew Long scored big points with a semifinal stick of NU’s David Klingsheim at 125 pounds. The Cyclone freshman pinned the Husker at the 4:36 mark. ISU’s three-time NCAA finalist Jake Varner scored bonus points with a 14-3 major decision victory over Missouri’s Brent Haynes. The ISU 125-pounder advances to face OU’s Jarrod Patterson in the finals. Varner will meet Nebraska’s Craig Brester in the 197-pound final. At 133 pounds, Iowa State senior Nick Fanthorpe gutted out a tough 3-0 decision over Kendric Maple of Oklahoma. Fanthorpe faces Oklahoma State’s Jordan Oliver for the 133-pound league title in what shapes up as a key showdown. Fellow senior Mitch Mueller followed suit with a 10-3 decision of Oklahoma State’s Luke Silver at 149 pounds. Mueller matches up with OU’s Kyle Terry in the finals. Junior 165-pounder Jon Reader advanced to the finals for the Cyclones by controlling Oklahoma’s Tyler Caldwell to a 6-2 decision. Reader will take on Missouri’s Nicholas Marable. To end the first session, Cyclone heavyweight David Zabriskie needed a familiar period of overtime to best Tiger opponent and defending NCAA champion, Mark Ellis. Zabriskie downed the Missouri heavyweight, 2-1 (TB1). Zabriskie is set to meet Oklahoma State’s Jared Rosholt for the heavyweight title. It came to overtime, but Iowa State’s Jerome Ward couldn’t advance to his second Big 12 final at 184 pounds. Ward was turned away by OSU’s Clayton Foster by decision, 6-5 (TB1). In the 141-pound semifinals, ISU’s Dalton Jensen fell to top-seed Zack Bailey of Oklahoma, 11-6. Iowa State’s second-seeded Andrew Sorenson (157) dropped to third-seed Neil Erisman of OSU by decision, 8-2. Cyclone 174-pounder Duke Burk also dropped to the consolation bracket after falling to No. 1 Stephen Dwyer, 2-1. In preliminary action, Cyclones Jensen (141) and Duke Burk (174) picked up wins for the Cyclone effort. Jensen scored payback over Nebraska’s Mike Koehnline with a major decision victory, 11-2. Jensen fell to the Husker earlier this season by decision, 4-2. Burk won 7-4 over Missouri’s Dorian Henderson.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Behind the performance of six All-Americans, Great Falls (Mont.) moved into second place at the 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships on Friday at Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University. The Argos closed out the fourth session with 118.5 points, behind leader Notre Dame’s (Ohio) 167.5 points. Southern Oregon moved to third place with 112 points, followed by Missouri Valley in fourth with 106 points and Dickinson State (N.D.) is fifth with 105.5 points. Dickinson State, Notre Dame and McKendree (Ill.) each finished the round with six wrestlers garnering All-America honors and a spot on the podium. Four major decisions and three pins were recorded in third-place matches. Closing out their seasons with major decisions were Missouri Valley’s Colin Pierce (133), Cumberland’s (Tenn.) Mikey Davis (141), Joe Sievert of Morningside (Iowa) (165) and Great Falls’ Michael French (184). Notre Dame 149-pounder Ashtin Primus stuck Ryan Jahn of McKendree in 1:24 and Alex Calvi of Great Falls registered a 6:27 fall of Northwestern’s (Iowa) Nic Leither at 197 pounds. The only medal match that was pushed beyond regulation came at 174 pounds with Jameon Rush of Hastings (Neb.) emerging with the 10-5 sudden victory against McKendree’s Josh Bryant for fifth place. Nik Turner’s 1:23 pin earned the Oklahoma City junior his second All-American honor. The fall was only the sixth of his career, but third of this year’s event. Charlie Gibbs aided Great Falls’ push to second place with a 41 second stick of Southern Oregon’s Ronald Lee at 197 pounds to earn a seventh-place finish. Oklahoma City senior Corey Johnson closed out his career in Star singlet as a two-time All-American with his 33rd career pin, notching a 4:15 fall of Jeremy Colbert of Bacone (Okla.). Of 46 All-Americans from a year ago that entered the Championship, a trio of wrestlers became three-time All-Americans and 17 individuals earned their second honor. Tyler Chang of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) racked up his third All-America honor in as many trips to the National Championships by placing third at 157 pounds via 5-4 decision over Missouri Valley’s Joe Cornejo. The junior has previously earned accolades at 141 and 149 pounds during his freshman and sophomore campaigns, respectively. McKendree junior Andrew Sanchez also became a three-time All-American at 197 pounds with a fifth-place finish. Adam Koballa had a medical forfeit in the fifth-place match at 141 pounds, but he still earned a third All-America accolade. The event will close out Saturday evening with the Championship Finals starting at 6:30 p.m. Notre Dame will send four grapplers to the finals, followed by Southern Oregon with three. California Baptist and Great Falls each have two wrestlers that will contend for titles. All 10 individual weight class championship matches will be streamed live via NeuLion, the parent company of JumpTV. Rich Tortorelli, Mark Van Paaschen and former Oklahoma City wrestler and two-time All-American John Wilcox will call the championship bouts. A fee of $7.95 is set to view the Saturday Championship finals event.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Notre Dame (Ohio) made the most of Friday night’s session, racking up 45.5 points and advancing four wrestlers to championship matches at the 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships on Friday at Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University. The Falcons hold a 47-point advantage to second place Southern Oregon, 152.5-105.5. Great Falls (Mont.) is just two points back in third at 103.5 points, followed by Missouri Valley with 97 points and McKendree (Ill.) with 95.5 points to round out the top-five teams. Thirteen teams will be represented in Saturday’s finals, four of which will send multiple individuals to title bouts. Notre Dame will have finalists at 149, 157, 197 and heavyweight. Southern Oregon sends three, but at 141 pounds Kyle Wirkuty and Barry Johnson will go head-to-head. Wirkuty advanced by knocking off defending national champion Adam Koballa of Notre Dame in a 4-3 decision. Koballa wasn’t the only defending national champ to go down Friday. Of five returning titlists that were in the championship field, only two will be back in action Saturday night aiming for a second crown. McKendree senior Aaron Winning returns to the championship bout at 165 pounds after notching a 6-1 decision over Grand View’s Brad Lower. Arjan Bhullar of Simon Fraser (B.C.) notched a 5-3 decision of Dickinson State’s (N.D.) Frank Lopez to clinched his spot in the heavyweight title match. Great Falls and California Baptist will have two grapplers in the finals. Cambellsville (Ky.), Cumberland (Tenn.), Dana (Neb.), Dickinson State (N.D.), Grand View (Iowa), Lindenwood (Mo.) and Missouri Valley will also be represented in championship bouts. Saturday’s session of medal-round matches gets underway at 10 a.m. with third, fifth and seventh-place matches taking to the mat. Notre Dame, McKendree and Dickinson State each have six grapplers still alive in the consolation bracket, while Missouri Valley has five. Saturday night’s Wrestling National Championships will be streamed live via NeuLion, the parent company of JumpTV. All 10 individual weight class Championship bouts on March 6 will be available to view starting at approximately 6:30 p.m. CST. A fee of $7.95 is set to view the Saturday Championship finals event.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Claiming eight All-Americans, including six in championship contention, the top-ranked Augsburg College wrestling team took a commanding lead after the first day of competition at the NCAA Division III National Championships on Friday at the U.S. Cellular Center. Augsburg leads the team standings by 13 points over second-place Wisconsin-La Crosse, a 69-56 margin. Defending national champion Wartburg (Iowa) is third with 53.5 points, Coe (Iowa) is fourth with 47.5 points and Delaware Valley (Pa.) is fifth with 41.5 points. It's the eighth time that Augsburg has claimed eight or more All-Americans in a single championship – all since 1997. Augsburg's eight All-Americans are the most in this year's competition. Augsburg has six wrestlers remaining in championship contention, the most of any school. Both Wisconsin-La Crosse and Wartburg have four remaining in contention for a title. Two Auggies recorded pins in the second round on Friday to clinch All-American honors – 133-pounder Paul Bjorkstrand (SR, Burnsville, Minn.) and 149-pounder Tony Valek (SO, Belle Plaine, Minn./Scott West). In his first trip to the national tournament, Bjorkstrand improved to 38-7 on the season with a 10-6 win in the opening match and a 4:13 pin of Mogi Baatar of St. John's in the quarterfinals – his third win over Baatar this season. Meanwhile, Valek earned All-American honors for the first time in his second trip to the national tournament. After an 8-0, major-decision win in his opener, Valek clinched his All-American status with a 6:26 pin of Justin Berns of Concordia-Moorhead in the quarterfinals. Now 32-4 on the season, Valek is unbeaten against Division III opponents this year at 19-0. Jared Massey (JR, Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial HS) remained unbeaten at 27-0 with two victories on Friday at 197, a 3-1 win in the opening round and a 10-2, major-decision win over Martino Sottile of Cortland State (N.Y.) in the semifinals, collecting four takedowns and 2:14 of riding time in the process. The defending national champion at 197, Massey is now 57-1 in his two seasons at Augsburg, and has won 43 straight matches dating to last season. Zach Molitor (JR, Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS) scored three victories on Friday at 174 to claim All-American honors for the second time in his career. After 5-0 and 4-1 wins in his opening two matches, Molitor scored a 10-1, major-decision win over Seth Rehn of Coe (Iowa) in the quarterfinals. Molitor is now 30-3 on the season. Competing in his second national tournament, Orlando Ponce (JR, Hialeah, Fla./Hialeah-Miami Lakes HS) earned All-American honors for the first time at 165, with a 8-2 win in his opening match and a 3-2 triumph over Carrington Banks of Wartburg in the quarterfinals – Ponce's first win over Banks in three tries this season. Ponce is now 29-10 on the year. Josh Roberts (FY, Grand Forks, N.D./Grand Forks Central HS) made his first trip to the national tournament a memorable one, claiming All-American honors at 125 with two victories, an 8-4 triumph in his opener and a 5-4 win over Lloyd McKinney of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the quarterfinals. Roberts rallied from a 4-2 deficit entering the third period with a reversal and 1:30 of riding time. Roberts is now 26-8 overall. Two Auggies clinched All-American honors through the wrestleback rounds. At 157, Jason Adams (SR, Coon Rapids, Minn.) earned All-American honors for the third time. He clinched All-American honors with a 3-1, sudden-victory overtime win over Nicholas Loughlin of Cornell (Iowa) in the wrestlebacks. Adams is now 43-5 on the season. At heavyweight, Andy Witzel (SR, Fulda, Minn.) clinched All-American honors for the second year in a row with a 9-2 triumph over Adam Salyers of Wilmington (Del.) in the wrestlebacks. Witzel is now 28-10 on the year. One Auggie saw his season end on Friday, as Jafari Vanier (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) opened with a win, but dropped two matches to close his senior year at 17-6 on the year, 56-11 in his Auggie career. Among other Minnesota schools, Concordia-Moorhead had three wrestlers earn All-American honors, with Phil Moenkedick alive in the championship bracket at 184, and Justin Berns (149) and Ross Dankers (174) alive in the wrestlebacks. St. John's has one wrestler left in the tournament, Minga Batsukh at 141 in the championship bracket.1. Augsburg (Minn.) 69; 2. Wisconsin-La Crosse 56; 3. Wartburg (Iowa) 53.5; 4. Coe (Iowa) 47.5; 5. Delaware Valley (Pa.) 41.5; 6. Ithaca (N.Y.) 29.5; 7. Luther (Iowa) 20; 8t. Concordia-Moorhead 19.5; 8t. Ohio Northern 19.5; 10. Elmhurst (Ill.) 17.5. Other Minnesota schools: 21. St. John's 11; 44. St. Olaf 1.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Big Ten wrestling coaches Joe McFarland (Michigan), Tom Brands (Iowa), and Cael Sanderson (Penn State) spoke at the Big Ten Championships pre-event press conference on Friday. Joe McFarland Tom Brands Cael Sanderson

NORMAN, Okla. – Official seedings for Saturday’s Big 12 Wrestling Championships were announced by the league office Friday evening. Three Iowa State wrestlers hold No. 1 spots heading into tomorrow’s action. Seedings were finalized by a vote of the conference coaches and are based on head-to-head competition against Big 12 opponents, highest-ranked common opponents and current national rankings. ISU’s Andrew Long (125), Jon Reader (165) and Jake Varner (197) are the top-seeds in their respective weight classes. The full weight-by-weight seedings are included below. FOX Sports Midwest and FOX Sports Southwest will webcast the 2010 Big 12 Wrestling Championships final matches live on Saturday, March 6 beginning at approximately 7 p.m CT. Fans can watch the internet broadcast free of charge on FOXSportsMidwest.com or FOXSportsSouthwest.com by clicking on the Big 12 Wrestling Championship banner located on the home page. Preliminary matches in the first session will be streamed live on Big12sports.com beginning at 11 a.m. CT. FOX Sports Midwest also will televise a delayed broadcast of the championship event on Thursday, March 11 at 12:30 p.m. CST and Wednesday, March 17 at 8 p.m. 2010 Big 12 Championship Official Seeding 125 pounds No. 1: Andrew Long (ISU) No. 2: Jarrod Patterson (OU) No. 3: Chris Notte (OSU) No. 4: David Klingsheim (NU) No. 5: Eric Wilson (MU) 133 pounds No. 1: Jordan Oliver (OSU) No. 2: Nick Fanthorpe (ISU) No. 3: Kendric Maple (OU) No. 4: C.J. Napier (NU) No. 5: Nathan McCormick (MU) 141 pounds No. 1: Zack Bailey (OU) No. 2: Jamal Parks (OSU) No. 3: Todd Schavrien (MU) No. 4: Mike Koehnlein (NU) No. 5: Dalton Jensen (ISU) 149 pounds No. 1: Kyle Terry (OU) No. 2: Mitch Mueller (ISU) No. 3: Quinten Fuentes/Luke Silver (OSU) No. 4: Nicholas Hucke (MU) No. 5: Dustin Payne (NU) 157 pounds No. 1: Shane Vernon (OU) No. 2: Andrew Sorenson (ISU) No. 3: Neil Erisman (OSU) No. 4: Patrick Wright (MU) No. 5: Tyler Koehn (NU) 165 pounds No. 1: Jon Reader (ISU) No. 2: Nicholas Marable (MU) No. 3: Alex Meade (OSU) No. 4: Tyler Caldwell (OU) No. 5: James Nakashima (NU) 174 pounds No. 1: Stephen Dwyer (NU) No. 2: Mike Benefiel (OSU) No. 3: Jeff James (OU) No. 4: Duke Burk (ISU) No. 5: Dorian Henderson (MU) 184 pounds No. 1: Max Askren (MU) No. 2: Clayton Foster (OSU) No. 3: Jerome Ward (ISU) No. 4: Josh Ihnen (NU) No. 5: Erich Schmidtke (OU) 197 pounds No. 1: Jake Varner (ISU) No. 2: Craig Brester (NU) No. 3: Eric Lapotsky (OU) No. 4: Brent Haynes (MU) No. 5: Alan Gelogaev (OSU) 285 pounds No. 1: Jared Rosholt (OSU) No. 2: David Zabriskie (ISU) No. 3: Mark Ellis (MU) No. 4: Tucker Lane (NU) No. 5: Nathan Fernandez (OU)

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- The final brackets for the 2010 Big Ten Wrestling Tournament were finalized and announced today (Mar. 5), with action beginning Saturday, Mar. 6 at 11:00 a.m. Three Gophers will have to earn their way into the quarterfinals as Ben Berhow (Hayward, Minn.), Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.) and Kaleb Young (Tenstrike, Minn.) all take the mat first in the Pigtails. Unseeded Young was the only guarantee to open up in the first round, and he drew sixth seeded Eric Cameron of Indiana for his preliminary match-up at 184. With a win in his first match, Young will advance to face third seeded Phil Keddy of Iowa in the quarterfinals. Young dropped a tough sudden victory match to Cameron in the regular season, as lost by major decision to Keddy. Berhow and Mason were each among the top-eight in the pre-seeds but were drawn to open up against unseeded opponents. Fourth seeded Berhow matches up with Marcus Shrewsbury from Northwestern at heavyweight, and win puts him up against Eric Bugenhagen of Wisconsin in the quarterfinals. Berhow beat Bugenhagen on the regular season, and never met Shrewsbury. At 149, seventh seeded Mason drew Eric Terrazas of Illinois, and with a win he will advance to face second seeded Lance Palmer from Ohio State in the quarterfinals. Mason beat Terrazas 3-1 during the Big Ten season, and in his match with Palmer, at the National Duals, he lost by a 7-1 final. Top seeded Jayson Ness (Bloomington, Minn.) gets no surprises at 133 and will meet eighth seeded Akif Eren from Purdue in the quarterfinals, the first match for each. The two did not meet in the regular season. Similarly, second seeded Mike Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.) at 141 and Scott Glasser (Bismarck, N.D.) at 174 each get byes to the quarters. Thorn will meet seventh seeded Dan Osterman of Michigan State, who majored back in January, while Glasser will face off for the first time with Brian Roddy of Northwestern. It will be the first match of the tournament for each wrestler. Zach Sanders (Wabasha, Minn.) at 125, Cody Yohn (Alamosa, Colo.) at 165 and Sonny Yohn (Alamosa, Colo.) at 197 all also get byes into the quarterfinals, but must wait until after the Pigtails are over to find out their first opponents. Dustin Schlatter (Massilion, Ohio) was seeded No. 1 when the pre-seeds were originally announced, but an injury during the week of practice has forced him to take a medical forfeit for the tournament in preparation for the NCAA Championships in two weeks. Knowing that Schlatter would be forfeiting his matches, the coaches decided to reseed the 157 bracket, leaving Schlatter unseeded. He will still weigh in and take the mat for his Pigtail match with new No. 1 Colton Salazar of Purdue, but will take the medical forfeit loss, leaving him eligible for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament on Omaha, Neb. Mar. 18-20. All the action at the Big Ten Tournament begins tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. with preliminary round action. Be sure to follow the official championship page at MGoBlue.com, and GopherSports.com for updates throughout the weekend.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Central Michigan head wrestling coach Tom Borrelli has agreed to a new five-year contract with the university. "We are very excited to have the opportunity to structure a longterm agreement with Coach Borrelli," said CMU Director of Athletics Dave Heeke. "It is no secret that he is one of the top wrestling coaches in the nation. Tom has done an incredible job guiding the Central Michigan wrestling program to an elite level on a national scale. We are pleased that this new agreement ensures his leadership and vision will continue with the Chippewas well into the future." Borrelli, in his 19th season at CMU, is the winningest wrestling coach in school history. He has guided the Chippewas to 11 Mid-American Conference championships and 11 conference tournament titles. Twenty-nine Chippewas have earned All-America honors during Borrelli's tenure. In 2006, Borrelli became the first Olympic sport coach in CMU history to sign a multi-year contract when he and the university agreed to a four-year deal. The new five-year pact includes a base salary of $104,448 and several performance bonuses. "I'm very appreciative of everything Central Michigan University and the athletics department have done for my family and me," Borrelli said. "I'm looking forward to continuing to build the program that we have established here." Borrelli has guided the Chippewas to seven top-15 finishes at the NCAA Championships, including five in the past six seasons. He has coached four individual national finalists, including 1999 national champion Casey Cunningham. CMU has been a fixture among the top 10 in the national dual meet polls in recent years, climbing as high as No. 2 in the InterMat poll during the final week of the 2007-08 season. The Chippewas are 238-92-7 in dual meets during Borrelli's tenure, including 82-13 in MAC duals. CMU has won 62 of its last 64 conferece duals dating back to the 1998-99 season. Borrelli has been named MAC Coach of the Year a conference record 10 times. He was named national coach of the year by a pair of organizations in 1998, and he was recognized with the National Wrestling Coaches Association Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award in 2004. Borrelli's wrestlers have excelled in the classroom as well. The Chippewas have ranked in the top 16 nationally in team grade-point average in 15 of the past 16 seasons, and two Chippewas--Wynn Michalak and Mark DiSalvo--have been named Academic All-Americans and earned NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. CMU hosts the MAC Wrestling Championships Saturday and Sunday at Rose Center. Competition begins at 1 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.

Rob Koll

Pat Popolizio

Eric Guerrero

Joel Sharratt

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Notre Dame (Ohio) pushed 10 wrestlers through the championship bracket to take the early lead with 44 points at the 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships Thursday at Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University. Southern Oregon is in second place with 38 points and has eight wrestlers in the championship bracket. Missouri Valley is third (32 points), McKendree (Ill.) is fourth (31 points) and Great Falls (Mont.) is fifth (28 points) to round out the top five teams after the first day of action. Notre Dame picked up bonus point performances in 13 matches, led by 149-pounder Ashtin Primus. The sophomore notched a major decision and back-to-back falls to provide big points for the Falcons. Of 12 wrestlers taking the mat for Notre Dame, only two fell into the consolation bracket in the first session. Three-time defending national champion Lindenwood (Mo.) wrapped up the first day in sixth place with 25.5 points. Nine Lions suffered defeat and will have to work back through the consolation bracket, while three wrestlers are still alive in the championship bracket. Pins were prevalent with 59 sticks registered, including seven in under 60 seconds. Chauncey Phillips of California Baptist recorded the quickest fall of the day by putting Oklahoma City’s Bryce Dicus on his back in 29 seconds at 125 pounds. Two sessions are slated for Friday, starting with a 10 a.m. round of championship quarterfinals along with preliminary, first, second and third round matches of consolation action. The third session gets underway at 6 p.m. and will feature championship semifinal matches and two rounds of consolation wrestling.

Recruits have a lot to consider when they are choosing which school to compete for in college: Do I like the coach? What about the team? Can I qualify from the conference? How are the academics? Turtogtokh LuvsandorjFor Turtogtokh Luvsandorj, The Citadel's 157-pound Mongolian grappler, the set of questions was much narrower, but tethered to a heavier set of consequences. As a citizen of Mongolia with a temporary student visa his collegiate question was whittled down to, 'Where can I get a scholarship and keep my visa?' Originally from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Turtogtokh (pronounced: ter – tog – tahk) was a National Prep champion and NHSCA All-American at St. Benedicts in New Jersey. Originally there wasn't much stress in finding interested schools -- a well-built kid with 15 years of experience banging heads with the best in Europe and Asia tends to attract the attention of coaches (see: Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov, Alan Gelogaev, the Novachkov brothers). Coaches called and Turtogtokh returned their interest. He had confidence he'd get an offer and retain his student visa, but as the months passed he missed out on a few opportunities and eventually the scholarship offers had disappeared. By the second week of August, Turtogtokh's chances at wrestling in college were dimming quickly. Most schools were less than a week from opening their fall semesters and Tutogtokh was living in a Brooklyn apartment with his Russian girlfriend, no money, and no scholarship offers. If nothing happened he'd be on a plane back to Mongolia. Turtogtokh's twin brother, Turbat, had flown home that summer, choosing to wrestle for the Mongolian National team. Going home would have been easy to do. "Turbat wanted to be with our family," Turtogtokh said. "I didn't want to go home. I love my family but wanted to stay in America." Rob HjerlingIt was the Friday before new students enrolled at The Citadel when head wrestling coach Rob Hjerling called Turtogtokh at his apartment in Brooklyn. "Coach Fleckman at St. Benedicts called me and said Turtogtokh didn't have a school,' Hjerling said. "I knew he wasn't interested in March, but when his circumstances changed he was all ears." Without a normal courting process, Hjerling didn't know too much about Turtogotkh and would have to trust that he'd work hard and be a good student. Turtogtokh's recruitment process became a sprint to complete paperwork, working to get him accepted and secure scholarship money. "We had our first conversation on a Friday and by the next Saturday he's sitting in a chair getting his head shaved and people are screaming at him," Hjerling said. Hjerling is being rewarded for his good faith -- Turtogtokh has delivered on the mat and in the classroom. The 157-pounder is heading into this weekend's Southern Conference tournament with momentum as the conference's final "Wrestler of the Week" fresh off a win over 16th-ranked Thomas Scotton of North Carolina; a 3-0 decision. He's also 15-1 in his last 16 matches. According to Hjerling he's also a sociable team leader, keeping a good attitude throughout the season. Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (Photo/CitadelSports.com)Hjerling also praises the help of assistant coach Plamen Paskalev in teaching Turtogtokh to translate his European style into a more aggressive neutral game plan and improved mat competency– a problem for both freshman and foreigners. Their similar styles and Paskalev's collegiate success (NCAA Division II champion at Central Missouri) has helped Turtogtokh develop his attacks this season. "My biggest problem is locking hands on top. I work a lot with the coaches to improve my top-bottom," Turtogtokh said. Turtogtokh's aggressiveness on his feet and improved mat techniques are what won him the match against Scotton. He drew a stall point, earned an escape, and even secured a riding time point - the trifecta of a solid top-bottom wrestling. Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (Photo/CitadelSports.com)Wrestling aside, how does a 19-year-old only a few days away from returning to Mongolia like living at one of America's strictest military schools? Answering with some diplomacy, Turtogtokh admitted The Citadel wasn't what he'd dreamed college might be; according to him they have "97-percent guys and very strict rules." He also misses his brother (they talk on Skype) but has found a new camaraderie in the relationships with his teammates. With the recruiting process behind him and fully acclimated to a sometimes intimidating school life (he's a business major), Turtogtokh looking forward to making his coaches proud, "My goal is to win the conference and be an All-American," said Turtogtokh, "Coach Rob did a lot for me and I'm very thankful to him to be here."

The mobile Brute adidas studios will be on the road again this week. Friday- Steve Foster, Truman and Scott head to Oklahoma City for a day of filming the Championships of the NAIA. The 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships will get underway Thursday at Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University. The event will feature three days of action on the mat, capped off with 10 individuals earning national titles on Saturday night and the crowning of a team champion. Archie Randall and the Stars of OCU will play host to this growing conference. Hear Archies words: http://www.intermatwrestle.com/articles/6618 Coach Frank Romano and his Notre Dame College squad have been playing keep away leading the conference as they head in to the championships. Hear Coach Romano's words: http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/6619 NAIA's Manager of Championship Sports Scott McClure- Clearly excited about these Championships: http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/6614 The NAIA Wrestling National Championships will be streamed live via NeuLion, the parent company of JumpTV. All 10 individual weight class Championship bouts on March 6 will be available to view starting at approximately 6:30 p.m. CST. A fee of $7.95 is set to view the Saturday Championship finals event. Click here to order Saturday night’s finals. Saturday- Join Scott Casber, Steve Foster for the call and the action of the Big 12 Championships. Sat., March 6, All Day, preview show at 9:01 AM to 11:00 AM. First Round: 11 a.m.; Second Round: 2:30 p.m. Live from Norman, Okla. • McCasland Field House No Charge Live Stats: various collegiate partner web sites including Sooner Sports and cyclones.com Television: Fox Sports Net (Tape delay) Radio: Takedown Radio Takedownradio.com (Online, 9 a.m. CST) The 2010 Big 12 Wrestling Championship will be held on Saturday, March 6, at McCasland Field House in Norman, Okla. The University of Oklahoma last hosted the event in 2002. Doors open at 10 a.m. CT, with the first round beginning at 11 a.m. CT. All five nationally-ranked league squads will be in action for the 14th annual event. Iowa State will be competing for its fourth-straight Conference title, Oklahoma State for its ninth overall title, OU for its third, Nebraska for its second (co-Champions with ISU last year) and Missouri for the first title in school history. Located in the heart of campus just north of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, the Howard McCasland Field House provides OU and wrestling with a first-class training and competition venue. In 2005, the Field House underwent a $6 million facelift that included a complete interior renovation. Wrestling fans- Please note that Episode 47 of TDR TV is now available on all the top web sites and cable systems around the country. TDR every week! It's appointment Radio and TV! Join us at Takedownradio.com. America's Wrestling Radio Talk Show airs on Supertalk 1570 in Michigan, AM 1460 KXNO in Iowa and on a radio station near you or on line at many of our broadcast partners around the world including Livesportsvideo.com. TDR "the Radio Program" airs 9 AM to 11 AM CST every Saturday morning we look forward to having you listen. Thanks for listening and watching!

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships will get underway Thursday at Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University. The event will feature three days of action on the mat, capped off with 10 individuals earning national titles on Saturday night and the crowning of a team champion. Thursday’s action will get underway at 1 p.m. CST with a single session of championship round preliminary and first round matches. Two sessions will take place on Friday, starting with a 10 a.m. round of championship quarterfinals along with preliminary, first, second and third round matches of consolation action. The third session, starting at 6 p.m. Friday, will feature championship semifinal matches and two rounds of consolation wrestling. Medal matches will get underway at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by the championship finals starting at 6:30 p.m. The Wrestling National Championships will be streamed live via NeuLion, the parent company of JumpTV. All 10 individual weight class Championship bouts on March 6 will be available to view starting at approximately 6:30 p.m. CST. A fee of $7.95 is set to view the Saturday Championship finals event. Click here to order Saturday night’s finals. Lidenwood (Mo.) will be seeking its fourth consecutive team title and sixth in program history, but will have to do it with only five returning wrestlers from the 2009 championship squad. The Lions would be in rare company to four-peat. Central State (Okla.) took home four national team titles from 1984-87. In a decade’s span, Central State is the most successful team in five decades of NAIA wrestling, capturing seven titles during the 1980s. Lindenwood follows with five championships during the 2000s. The challenge of maintaining that dominance will begin on Thursday. Five national champions from a year ago will be back to defend their titles, with a pair of grapplers looking to make their third appearance in the championship bout of their respective weight class. Notre Dame (Ohio) senior Adam Koballa captured the 141-pound title as a junior after taking runner-up honors in 2008. The Falcon is 27-2 in his final season. Andrew Sanchez, a junior 197-pounder from McKendree (Ill.), will also be eyeing a spot in the finals for the third time in as many trips to the NAIA Wrestling National Championships. As a freshman in 2008, Sanchez took runner-up honors and followed up with the title in 2009. The junior Bearcat has registered a 33-6 mark heading into Oklahoma City. McKendree’s other national champ, senior Aaron Winning, will look to repeat at 165 pounds and earn his third All-America honor. Winning took seventh at 165 in 2008. Chris Platt, a junior 184-pounder from Southern Oregon, and Simon Fraser (B.C.) heavyweight Arjan Bhullar return to the field to defend their titles. Forty-six All-Americans return to the field to challenge for their right to stand on the podium again. Two-time All-American Tyler Chang of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) has previously earned accolades at 141 and 149 pounds. The junior, who was ranked third for the final four polls, will take to the mat at 157 pounds. After finishing second at 174 pounds in 2008, Brendon DeCock of Great Falls (Mont.) took home fifth-place honors a year ago. Missouri Baptist’s Ike Okenwa is a two-time placewinner at 197 pounds, finishing seventh in 2008 and fifth in 2009. California Baptist’s Enock Francois, a two-time 174-pound All-American for Northwestern (Iowa), will be looking to reach the podium for the first time in a Lancer singlet after sitting out last season. Francois was the top-ranked 174-pounder for all seven regular season polls and boasts a 34-11 record on the mat in his senior season. A 133-pound All-American a year ago, Kyle Williams of McKendree will make a run at the podium at 141 pounds. Austin Ouellette was a seventh-place finisher at 174 pounds for Montana State-Northern, but has dropped down to 165 pounds for his senior season. For updated information throughout the Championships, click here.

Kettman and Loprieno to go ‘On the Mat’ this week. Tom Kettman, head coach at Don Bosco High School (IA) and Dan Loprieno, head coach at William Rainey Harper College (IL) will be radio show guests this week. “On the Mat" is a presentation of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and 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. Kettman’s Don Bosco Dons captured their sixth consecutive Class 1A state dual meet championship last weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Don Bosco won their fifth consecutive traditional state championship on February 20th. Dan Loprieno led William Rainey Harper College to the NJCAA team championship Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa. The Hawks claimed five individual All-American honors including 141 pound national champion Josh Kratovil.

Big 12 Championship Sat., March 6, All Day First Round: 11 a.m.; Second Round: 2:30 p.m. Norman, Okla. • McCasland Field House Live Stats: cyclones.com Television: Fox Sports Net (Tape delay) Radio: Takedown Radio (Online, 10 a.m. CST) Cyclone Notebook • The No. 2 Iowa State wrestling team races into the postseason in search of its fourth-straight Big 12 Conference team championship. ISU finished the regular season with a 13-2 overall record in dual action. The Cyclones tied Nebraska (70 pts) last season for a share of the league trophy. • Iowa State’s wins at No. 10 Oklahoma (21-12) and No. 3 Oklahoma State (20-18) Jan. 22-24 mark just the second time in Cyclone history (1971) that ISU has won at OU and at OSU in the same season. Iowa State is perfect in the Big 12 (4-0) with a Feb. 14 victory over No. 17 Missouri, 28-10, and a Feb. 21 win over Nebraska, 34-7. • ISU notched the 1,000th dual victory in program history Feb. 7 at Arizona State with a 30-10 win. ISU is 1,002-263-20 all-time in duals, dating back to 1916. • The Cyclones posted their best National Duals finish since 2000, earning second place Jan. 10 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. ISU beat Bloomsburg, No. 8 Maryland and No. 3 Ohio State before falling to No. 1 Iowa, 19-12. • The Cyclones notched earlier dual victories Nov. 12 in Hilton Coliseum over South Dakota State (43-3), Dec. 19 at UNI, 42-0, Jan. 3 at No. 6 Minnesota, 19-16 and Jan. 16 at home over Illinois by a score of 33-9. • ISU is currently ranked 2/2 in the Intermat and W.I.N. Magazine polls, respectively. • Three Iowa Staters have at least 24 wins this season. Varner (197) is perfect at a 24-0 mark. ISU’s Mitch Mueller (149) and Andrew Sorenson (157) have both tallied 24 wins, as well. Iowa State at The Big 12 Championship • Iowa State has won at least a share of the last three Big 12 Conference Championship team titles (2007-09). ISU tied Nebraska for the title last season in Lincoln, Neb. with a total of 70 points. • The 2009 Big 12 co-championship marked the first ever conference three-peat for the Cyclones in any sport. • Iowa State’s Nick Fanthorpe (133) and David Zabriskie (HWT) notched their second individual conference belts at the 2009 edition of the event. ISU’s Jake Varner was the 184-pound winner in 2008. • Before the 2007 Big 12 team win, the Cyclones previous best performances were second-place showings in 1997, 2000 and 2005. • Since the first Big 12 Conference championship in 1997, there have been 28 individual Iowa State league champions. • The Cyclones have won 15 conference team titles. ISU has taken home the first-place trophy in 1933, 37, 41, 47, 58, 70, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 87, 2007, 08 and 09. Scouting The Big 12 Championship • Three Big 12 Conference wrestling squads reside within the top-10 in rankings. No. 2 Iowa State will clash with fourth-ranked Oklahoma State, as well as No. 8 Oklahoma. • Five individual Big 12 champions from last season return to defend their titles. Iowa State’s Nick Fanthorpe (133), Oklahoma’s Kyle Terry (149), Missouri’s Nicholas Marable (165), Nebraska’s Craig Brester (197) and ISU’s David Zabriskie (HWT) brought home top-honors last year. • In Big 12 dual competition, eight grapplers sport undefeated records. Wrestlers with clean league records are: ISU’s Andrew Long (125), 3-0; OSU’s Jordan Oliver (133), 5-0; Oklahoma’s Kyle Terry (149), 5-0; Iowa State’s Jon Reader (165), 4-0; Nebraska’s Stephen Dwyer (174), 4-0; Missouri’s Max Askren (184), 4-0; ISU’s Jake Varner (197), 4-0; and Oklahoma State’s Jared Rosholt (HWT), 5-0. • Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997, Oklahoma State leads with 50 individual champions. Iowa State’s count of 29 places second over Oklahoma (22), Nebraska (17) and Missouri (12). • The Big 12 regularly crowns some of the top-talent in the nation. Since 1997, Big 12 wrestlers have accounted for 38 NCAA individual champion trophies. Varner Wins, No. 2 Cyclones Dismantle Huskers, 34-7 • No. 2 Iowa State capped off the regular season in dominating fashion Feb. 21 with a 34-7 win over Big 12 foe Nebraska on Senior Day. The highlight match at 197 pounds went to the wire, with top-rated Jake Varner (24-0) turning away Craig Brester (25-1) of Nebraska in overtime, 6-4. • The Cyclones took eight of the 10 contested weights, with five matches resulting in bonus points for the ISU team effort. The victory was the largest Cyclone victory over the Huskers since 1985 (34-4). • Iowa State finished the 2009-10 dual season with a 13-2 overall record, and a perfect 4-0 mark in league action. ISU swept its four Big 12 opponents for the second time in the dual season (2006-07). ISU’s Three-Time NCAA Finalist Varner Continues To Light It Up • Iowa State’s Jake Varner is as dominant as ever at 197 pounds this season. After recording a 31-2 record en route to a NCAA title at 197 pounds in 2009, Varner is undefeated in his senior campaign with 24 victories. • The Bakersfield, Calif., native earned bonus points in 83 percent of his matches this season, with either a major decision, technical fall, pin or forfeit. • Varner holds a 114-10 record in his career, which equates to a .919 winning-percentage. The Cyclone sports an outstanding 61-4 mark in dual competition.

Lincoln -- The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2010 Academic All-Big 12 Wrestling Team, naming four Huskers to the squad, including three who have already qualified for this year's NCAA Championships at Qwest Center Omaha. For the fourth consecutive season, senior Craig Brester claimed a first-team selection to lead Nebraska's honorees. A native of Howells, Neb., Brester has been an academic and athletic standout at UNL while pursuing a degree in Mechanized Systems Management. Fellow senior Stephen Dwyer, a business administration major from Rockton, Ill., earned a spot on the team for the third time. Following a second-team selection in 2009, sophomore Tucker Lane improved his standing to first-team status, while redshirt freshman Josh Ihnen rounded out the cast of talented Huskers. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible. Brester, Dwyer and Lane learned last week they will each earn one of the Big 12's automatic bids for the 2010 NCAA Championships. Ihnen is vying for a spot at nationals as well, as the Huskers are currently preparing for the 2010 Big 12 Championships, which take place this Saturday in Norman, Okla. Nebraska's 2010 Academic All-Big 12 First-Team Members Craig Brester (Sr., 197 pounds, Howells, Neb.) - Mechanized Systems Management Stephen Dwyer (Sr., 174 pounds, Rockton, Ill.) - Business Administration Josh Ihnen (RFr., 184 pounds, Sheldon, Iowa) - Finance Tucker Lane (So., Heavyweight, Redvale, Colo.) - Communication Studies

The National Wrestling Coaches Association Staff and Board of Directors are pleased to announce The NWCA Dan Gable “America Needs Wrestling” Award recipient for 2009 is Jim Brown, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This award is to recognize those individuals who have given significant time and effort to the sport of wrestling. Those efforts must have had significant impact on the preservation or promotion of the sport. Many out there may know Brown as a fun loving wrestling fan who blogs about the sport from, The view from section GG: Musings and opinions on amateur wrestling from a fan’s standpoint. What he has done through his blog is raise awareness from a fans perspective and taken his knowledge of marketing and applied it to fundraising and awareness efforts to the sport of wrestling. “To have my name associated with Dan Gable, is incredibly humbling. I see myself as a wrestling fan, who sees opportunities out there (Tickets for Kids) and instead of waiting on others to do them, I get involved. I am no different from the other wrestling fans out there,” said Brown. One of Brown’s latest efforts to raise awareness of the sport of wrestling is in conjunction with the NCAA for the “Tickets for Kids” program. Where he is raising $10,000 to buy 1,000 tickets to the Saturday morning session of the Division III Championships at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and will be giving them away to kids. The goal is that these children are exposed to the sport of wrestling at a level that will draw them in as future high school and college wrestlers. “This award means a lot to the NWCA and to the sport of wrestling, being able to recognize Jim Brown for the work he is doing to promote wrestling at all levels is what “America Needs Wrestling,” is all about. He is working to reach people at all levels, including those who are not following the sport currently while at the same time being creative about the means he uses,” said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. In an excerpt from Brown’s blog he wrote the following, “Can we get more kids on the mat? Dan Gable’s latest catchphrase is, “America needs wrestling”. I watched a video where he was wrapping up a clinic session and he explained a little about what he meant, “We need (toughness). If the power goes out and you need heat you need to be able to use a chainsaw. If the chainsaw breaks you need to be able to use an axe.” Wrestling teaches toughness and resiliency in ways that nothing else does. We need “tough” scientists like Norman Borlaug – and “tough” writers like John Irving – and “tough” leaders like Teddy Roosevelt. Where will they come from? You can be sure that some are going to walk off the mat and into greatness.” The presentation of the Dan Gable “America Needs Wrestling” Award will take place at the 2010 NCAA Division III Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

WEST POINT, NY -- The scene unfolds like countless others do on college campuses nationwide every day. A drive through a picturesque campus takes you past ancient stone buildings, tidy rows of houses, and vast athletic fields. All the while, the 15 MPH speed limit helps you avoid the groups and individual runners darting by in reflective jackets, sweats and shorts. The difference here is that it's 20 degrees out, and snowing sideways -- hard. And it's not yet 6 a.m. Welcome to West Point, home of the United States Military Academy. The morning begins as it always does at Army -- with cadets trickling out of their housing units for formation at 6:30 a.m. Though it's not Thursday, every cadet emerges dressed in green camouflage shirts and pants, a black fleece jacket, a black cap and thick tan boots -- Army Combat Uniforms (ACUs). Once senior officers salute their commanders that everyone has been accounted for, the 4,400-person corps of cadets turns and heads in for breakfast. Matthew KylerAthletes sit with their company at breakfast, and their teams at lunch. All-American wrestler Matthew Kyler is part of Company F3, which includes cadets from all classes. Plebes (freshman) sit at one end of the table and start the meal by asking what everyone would like to drink. The meals are chosen daily by a nutritionist, and are served family-style. It's a very efficient system, and Cadet Kyler is a senior with a class at 7:30 p.m. So at the first opportunity to be excused, he quickly finishes his food and heads back to his room. On the way, he jokes with his roommate, fellow "firstie" (senior) Richard Niedbala, about being really efficient at cleaning their room in 5-10 minutes. You just never know when a random inspection might come, and they expect a clean room. It would not be hyperbole to say that Kyler was destined to attend West Point. "I wanted to come here when I was little," says Kyler, who aspired to be a cadet all through grade school. "I got away from that when I got a little older. Then I came up here on a recruiting visit, really liked it and felt like I fit in real well with the team. I just felt at home here." At Clearfield (PA) Area High School, Kyler went 136-13 as a three-time state placewinner (state champ his junior year), a two-time national freestyle champion and a two-time Greco-Roman All-American. He was considering local powerhouses Penn State, Lehigh and Penn, when Army approached him. Matthew Kyler (Photo/Army Sports Information)"I asked him what he was looking at for college options and he said the things that were important were a great school and comfort with the coaches," then-Army assistant and current Stevens head coach Mike Clayton recalls. "We got Matt on campus he loved the history and the honor that came along with our program. It was just a great fit all around." That much was borne out in how quickly Matt adjusted to the West Point culture upon his arrival. He laughs as he tells the story of itching to get out on the mats during the weekly mass athletics period of BEAST (a month-long period of physical and academic training that all plebes go through before beginning freshman year at West Point). "Once the academic year began when I was a plebe and I was busy and working out, I felt it was normal routine," Kyler says. "I was going to school and wrestling, just like high school." Then he grins and adds that wrestling practice is his favorite part of the day. A soft snow falls on the partially frozen Hudson River as light haze settles over campus. A passing boat announces its presence with a horn blast that shakes the stillness of this late winter morning. Normally, Cadet Kyler has 4-5 classes a day. Tuesday is a light day, however, with two early classes in the morning, and a lifting session and practice in the afternoon. Being late to class here is a bad idea, so he trudges through the cold with other cadets to the engineering building for "Topics in Civil Engineering." Civil Engineering is Matt's major, and as any cadet on campus will tell you, one of the most academically rigorous. Today's topic? China's Expanding Economic Influence, and its Ramifications in the South China Sea. Matthew Kyler (Photo/Army Sports Information)As if that wasn't heady enough, he moves on to his next class, a Mechanical Engineering (Dynamics) course where a square-jawed major discusses how to determine the kinetic energy generated when two Humvees crash into each other. "Academics here are pretty tough," Kyler says. "I didn't struggle too much until I got older and into my major. Civil engineering is a lot of work, and it can be tough balancing the wrestling and the school. The first two years here, I was really good at balancing all three. Now, I want to do well in wrestling and in school, and the military stuff... At West Point, it's hard to balance all three [simultaneously] and do all three well." Still, Kyler has somehow managed to thrive in all three. His class schedule complete, he grabs a quick bagel with light cream cheese from a place where even the receipts read "Beat Navy" at the bottom. Back in his room, Kyler jokes with Niedbala about the differences between the tiny rural hamlet of Clearfield and Niedbala's native Geneva, IL, a sprawling suburban village west of Chicago. Kyler will make his first visit there when he attends Niedbala's wedding in June. He walks by the towering new $65 million, 148,000-square foot library (Thomas Jefferson Hall) on the way to Arvin Gym, home of the wrestling facilities. He passes through the maze of wooden lockers and forgoes the leather couches to settle into a desk chair in the wrestlers' room for an interview while Sportscenter plays silently in the background. After the interview, he'll excuse himself to grab a quick bite to eat and study a bit before returning to Arvin for 4:30 p.m. practice. "[Matt] knows exactly who he is and what he wants to be, and that's partially why he's been successful," fellow senior co-captain Ryan Mergen says. "He knows he wants to be a national champion, so that's what he works for. He is completely committed and doesn't deviate from what he should be doing. He's a good kid and a great example." As far as wrestling goes, Kyler's impact on campus was felt immediately. As a freshman at 141 pounds, he went 31-12 and won the Mike Natvig Award (team OW) for the Black Knights, finishing second at EIWAs before losing two close matches at Nationals. Chuck Barbee (Photo/Army Sports Information)He bounced back in a big way as a sophomore, setting an Army single-season record for wins at 43-8 and claiming the EIWA title at 141. At Nationals in St. Louis, he thrilled a capacity crowd by beating four seeded wrestlers in comeback fashion, before eventually losing to Iowa State's Nick Gallick in the fifth-place match. His 7-6 win over Cody Cleveland (UTC) ensured that he'd become another Army All-American. "Matt just doesn't accept losing," Coach Barbee says. "He always believes that he can win and he's willing to put in the effort to do so. He's been a mat rat for four years; drilled, ran, lifted -- done everything he can in the last four years to make himself as good as he could be." Kyler moved up to 149 pounds for his junior year, and won his third straight Mike Natvig Award by going 40-7 and reaching Nationals for a third time. He lost a heartbreaker to Navy's Bryce Saddoris in the EIWA finals on a controversial call, then went 1-2 at Nationals to end his season. Currently ranked No. 10 by InterMat at 149 pounds, Kyler has adjusted more to the weight class and sits at 27-3 heading into the EIWA Championships at Lehigh. He hoped to add to his career record of 141-30 by compiling his third straight season of 40+ wins, but sickness and some minor injuries have seemingly derailed that ambition. Still, he leads the team with 19 bonus point victories, and his coaches believe he looks more comfortable at the weight this year. His goals in his senior year are straightforward: first win an EIWA title, then a National Championship at 149 pounds. No matter what happens, he will graduate as Army's all-time leader in wins and one of the best wrestlers ever at West Point. "When Matt walks out on the mat, he knows that he's going to win and that his moves won't be stopped," senior 197-pounder Richard Starks says. "You can see it in his eyes." There's no question that attending West Point changes an individual, almost always for the better. Upon graduation, Cadet Matthew Kyler will spend the first part of next year doing military drills down at Fort Benning (Ga.), and the second part of the year as the wrestling coach at the US Military Prep School (USMAPS) in Fort Monmouth, NJ. An admittedly old school guy, Kyler says he will definitely don a suit for every match, regardless of opponent or importance. After next year, Kyler must decide whether he wants to enter the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) and train in Colorado Springs for international wrestling competition like former Black Knights All-American Phil Simpson, or serve in the Army. In the Army, he would serve as an infantry officer for four years, then spend the next five in the Army Corps of Engineers. Matthew Kyler (Photo/Army Sports Information)"The decision about whether or go into WCAP or the Army is a lot more difficult now than I would have anticipated three years ago," says Kyler, who adds that he feels obligated to repay the government for their investment into his military and academic education the past four years. If anything, West Point has only reaffirmed values that Matt already had about proper conduct and virtuous behavior. The Honor code -- which states, "a cadet will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do" -- is the gold standard at Army. "It's a big part of West Point," Kyler says. "People know that if you went to West Point, that you'll be honest [and that] they can trust you at face value. That's a very important thing and becoming a rare thing in America. It's really one of the things that makes West Point a special place." Indeed, there are many parallels that one can draw between success as a cadet and as a wrestler. Starks says that you need to know how to apply those similar characteristics to each individual pursuit, and Kyler agrees. "I've had multiple officers tell me that some of their best lieutenants were college wrestlers," Kyler says. "They weren't necessarily West Point guys, but they told me that they knew if they got a wrestler that he was going to be a tough, hard-nosed person who knew what hard work was, and they knew he was going to be fit and confident about his abilities. I think wrestlers work hard and are very self-driven [and] you need that to be successful in anything." No matter what path he chooses, Kyler is proud of his decision to attend the USMA, one that expanded his worldview and honed his leadership skills. "When I first came here, I was just a [good wrestler] from a small town in PA," Kyler says. "I got to West Point and met a lot of different people who came from all over. Wrestling was the No. 1 thing on my mind at all times. And wrestling is still very important now, but I also realize that there are things more important than wrestling. I've just grown up and become more responsible ... I know exactly what I want in [wrestling and life]."

Contrary to the recent past, there are multiple facets of significant storylines as the 73rd edition of the OHSAA State Wrestling Championships commences today on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. First and foremost, there is expected to be a close battle for the big-school (Division I) state championship. For 13 consecutive years, St. Edward has dominated the scene with state championship margins of more than 20 points in every single year. In fact, in only two seasons has the margin been less than 50 points (1999 and 2009). This year, there is expected to be some scoreboard watching deep into the tournament, as Wadsworth seeks its first state championship since 1942. The Grizzlies have finished inside the top five seven times the last eleven years, the high water mark being third place in 2005. Both teams are similarly constructed, with five core wrestlers that are ranked in the top two statewide. Four seniors -- Gus Sako (125), No. 1 Jamie Clark (130), No. 15 Anthony Salupo (145), and No. 3 Nick sulzer -- along with freshman No. 8 Dean Heil (103) anchor the Eagles squad. For Wadsworth, they are anchored by three seniors -- No. 5 Brad Squire (145), Caleb Busson (189), and Ben Buzzelli (285) -- along with a pair of sophomores in No. 17 Kagan Squire (119) and Nick Tavanello (215). The key to each team's state title hopes will be their other state qualifiers. The Grizzlies have seven other wrestlers in the state tournament brackets for a total of 12, which is the most among any squad across Ohio's three divisions. This includes a pair of seniors in returning state placer Louden Gordon (135) and Bart Randolph (171); along with a quartet of juniors in Alfredo Gray (112), Nate Ball (140), Clay Wenger (152), and Sheldon Brandenburg (160). St. Edward has six other wrestlers in the state tournament - all are either freshmen or sophomores. Edgar Bright (112) and Dominic Abounader (152) are freshmen; while Matt Van Curen (140), Ty Walz (215), and Cadet National All-Americans Mark Martin (135) and Ben Kuhar (285) are sophomores. Should Wadsworth win the state title, they would be the first public school to win the big-school state tournament (either Division I or Class AAA) since Nordonia earned a title in 1977 by a 2-1/2 point margin. Other than in 1988, this was the last time the big-school championship was decided by less than 10 points. Two records related to second place finishes are also in jeopardy with the battle in Division I -- most points scored by a second place team in Division I (134 by St. Edward in 1996), most points scored by a second place team overall (Marion Pleasant with 151-1/2 in 2007, Division III). Unlike in Division I, there is no team race to speak of, as Graham -- ranked among the elite teams in the nation - seeks a tenth consecutive state championship. Last year, the Falcons set a pair of state tournament records -- seven individual champions, and 282 points. Though it doesn't seem likely that the points record would be in jeopardy, those seven state titles could easily be equaled -- and if things go right for Graham, exceeded. Five wrestlers are ranked nationally: No. 18 Ryan Taylor (103), No. 5 Nick Brascetta (119), No. 17 Bo Jordan (130), No. 7 Felipe Martinez (140), and No. 5 Max Thomusseit (189). Additionally, sophomore Isaac Jordan (135) and Matt Stephens (145) are projected as state champions; while defending state champion Kyle Ryan (160) and Huston Evans (171) are ranked second. There are two showcase weights within Division II wrestling this year. Seeking a third state title, No. 7 Ty Mitch from Aurora, has to navigate a 119 pound weight class that features defending state champion Brascetta as well as returning runner-up Brandon Gambucci of Lexington. Mitch is in the opposite half-bracket from both Brascetta and Gambucci, a projected semifinal. Two nationally ranked wrestlers are also featured in the 130 pound weight class -- Bo Jordan along with No. 15 Nate Skonieczny, a sophomore for Walsh Jesuit. Those two wrestlers would be projected to meet in a state semifinal, while two other sophomore returning state placers figure to battle it out for the opposite finals slot -- Kyle Warner of Claymont and Brent Fickel from Padua. Prior to the start of the state tournament series, it figured to be a three-team battle for the small-school state championship in Division III. However, due to relative struggles at both the sectional and district levels, CVCA has most likely been removed from the conversation despite qualifying five wrestlers to the state tournament. Even so, four of the Royals' grapplers could emerge as state finalists -- 16th ranked Nathan Tomasello is favored to win the 103 weight class, Alex Utley is projected to finish runner-up at 171 pounds, while Zak Vargo (135) and Brandon Sommers (145) are involved in less defined weight classes. The favorites in Division III have to be Monroeville, which is anchored by their "big four" of Hunter (119) and Logan (125) Stieber, Cam Tessari (140), and Chris Phillips (171). The Eagles also qualified Cal Clark (135) and Brent Wilkens (189) to the state tournament. Prior to Logan Stieber's career debut, Monroeville had one state finalist in its program history -- Drew Schafer finishing second at 119 pounds in 2003. After the 2010-11 season, it is very likely the school with have four wrestlers as four-time state champions. That “run” starts this year as the nation's top 125 pound wrestler, as well as Class of 2010 prospect Logan Stieber is predicted to become the 19th wrestler in Buckeye State history to win four state titles. He enters the weekend with a career record of 180-1, having not lost since the second weekend of his high school career in the Walsh Ironman final to David Taylor (formerly of Graham, now redshirting as a freshman at Penn State). No. 4 Hunter Stieber, No. 4 Tessari, and No. 1 Phillips each seek third state titles this weekend -- which would put them on pace to win their fourth titles next season. The only team realistically equipped to derail Monroeville this year would be St. Peter Chanel, which has finished runner-up six times since its last state championship in 1988. That championship in 1988 was the last of three consecutive state championships. In addition to those six second place finishes, the Firebirds have contended for titles on other occasions also falling short. They have a Division III high ten state qualifiers, anchored by a pair of two-time state placers in senior Mike Kovach (130) and junior Cody Walters (152). In addition to Hunter Stieber, Tessari, and Phillips -- Ty Mitch, Jamie Clark, and No. 15 Harrison Hightower (152) from University School seek to join a select club of wrestlers winning three state titles in their scholastic careers. Seventeen other wrestlers seek a second state title. The resulting sum is that there are 24 wrestlers seeking a multiple state championship in 22 total weight classes (21 in 20 for defending state champions). Finally, eighteen wrestlers enter the championships with an undefeated record -- that number reflects a total of 16 weight classes. Caleb Busson and Nick Miller (Centerville) both will be in the Division I 189 pound weight class, while Tessari and Chad Sonneberg (Van Buren) both are present at 140 pounds in Division III. Other nationally ranked wrestlers among the undefeated are No. 19 Robert Shepherd (Mason) at 140, Nick Sulzer, Nate Skonieczny, Felipe Martinez, Logan Stieber, and Chris Phillips. Schedule of Wrestling: Thursday (March 4): 3 p.m. starting with the championship first round in Divisions III, II, and I; and then the first round of consolation wrestling. Friday (March 5): 10 a.m. starting with the championship quarterfinals in Divisions III, II, and I; and then the second round of consolation wrestling. 6:30 p.m. will have a concurrent round of championship semifinals and consolation quarterfinals in all three divisions. Saturday (March 6): 10 a.m. with the consolation semifinals and then matches for third, fifth, and seventh in all three divisions. 5 p.m. with the championship match in all three divisions.

Frank Ramano

Archie Randall