InterMat Staff

With the addition of two spring signees, the Stanford wrestling class of 2013 has been completed announced head coach Jason Borrelli. The seven-man class has combined for twelve state championships, five runner-up finishes, three third-place finishes and numerous high school All-America and national title honors. Additionally, three of the seven were deemed top-100 overall recruits. In addition to the five wrestlers signed by Borrelli in the fall, Ryan Mango (St. Louis, MO/Whitfield School) and Bret Baumbach (Council Bluffs, IA/Lewis Central) will join the Stanford squad next year. Mango is the top-ranked recruit in the nation at 119 pounds and was deemed the nation’s ninth-best recruit at all weights. A four-time Missouri state placer and three-time state champion, Mango posted a 169-14 record in high school. He went undefeated with 95-0 mark over his last two years and was recently named the Missouri Officials Association All-Class State Wrestler of the Year and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Wrestler of the Year. Mango won the 2009 FILA Junior Greco-Roman National Championship and earned outstanding wrestler honors as well. He is the brother of 2008 U.S. Olympian Spenser Mango. Baumbach, an expected 141-pounder, is a four-time Iowa state placer and three-time state finalist. He took second place as a freshman, third as a sophomore, second as a junior and claimed his first high school national title earlier this year. He is the sixth-winningest wrestler in Iowa history with a 189-26 high school record, including 104 pins. Baumbach is ranked ninth nationally at 135 pounds and is one of the top-100 recruits in all weight classes. He is also a four-time Fargo Nationals All-American, a two-time conference champion and four-time district champion. Mango and Baumbach join Stanford’s five signees who were announced in the fall – Kyle Meyer (Monett, MO/Monett), Jordan Gray (Essex Junction, VT/Essex), Sam Umlauf (Wausau, WI/Wausau West), Richard Kessler (Whitewater, WI/Elkhorn Area) and Anthony Degani (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake Central). Meyer, who will likely wrestle at 157/165 pounds for the Cardinal, recently won his fourth consecutive Missouri state title and completed his prep career with a 173-2 record. A three-time NHSCA High School All-American, he is currently ranked No. 11 nationally at 152 pounds. Gray is a four-time Vermont state finalist and three-time state champion who will likely step in at 133 or 141 pounds next year. Umlauf and Kessler are both state placers from Wisconsin. Umlauf finished third at 125 pounds in 2008 and claimed his first career state title as a senior earlier this year. A 2009 All-American, he set the Wisconsin all-time season win record as a junior (54) and led his team to a state title and two runner-up finishes. Kessler, a likely 197-pounder, was a two-time state finalist with a 128-30 career record in high school. In his prep career, he won two conference championships, two regional championships and the 2009 sectional title. Degani, a likely 184-pounder, was an Illinois state qualifier at 189 pounds as a senior in 2009, claimed regional and conference championships in his final prep season and led his team to a third-place state finish. “I am very excited to get all of these wrestlers in our room this fall,” said Borrelli. “This class brings a tremendous amount of potential and a long list of high school success. Along with the return of all but one member of last year’s squad, this class should have everyone very excited for the future of Stanford wrestling.”

Ben Askren

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Bucknell wrestling team may have been one of 12 Bison squads that posted perfect Academic Performance Rate (APR) scores of 1,000, but it was the lone NCAA wrestling program to achieve that mark, it was announced earlier this week by the NCAA. Bucknell led the nation and was one of just three wrestling teams, along with Northwestern and Penn, with APR scores of at least 990. Under the APR system, a student-athlete can be awarded two points per semester -- one for remaining academically eligible throughout the semester and another for being retained for the next term. Team percentages are then calculated to determine its APR. The latest APR data represents a four-year average for the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years. The NCAA evaluates programs based on a four-year rolling average and this was the first year the Bucknell wrestling program appeared in the rankings. Recently, the NCAA issued Public Recognition Awards to 767 Division I teams ranking in the top 10 percent nationally in their respective sport, based on APR scores. Bucknell had 17 teams honored, a figure ranked first in the Patriot League, seventh in the nation and fifth in the nation based on percentage of sports offered by the institution. The Bison wrestling team is coming off a year where it sent a school-record six wrestlers to the NCAA Championships and finished in a tie for 29th place. Bucknell (11-9) tied for third at the EIWA Championships and had a wrestler (Andy Rendos) earn All-America honors for the first time since 1995.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Fifth-year senior heavyweight Dustin Rogers was named the Most Valuable Wrestler of the West Virginia University wrestling team at the program’s 2008-09 banquet, held Sunday afternoon at the Erickson Alumni Center. Rogers, who qualified for his third trip to the NCAA Wrestling Championships this year, finished the season with a 20-7 overall mark, the most victories on the team. The Corning, Calif., resident closed his career with a 52-25 mark. Freshmen Colin Johnston (141) and Lance Bryson (184) also were honored at the gathering, as Johnston earned the Rookie Award, while Bryson received the Coaches Award. The teams' Iron Man awards went to Bryson and fifth-year senior David Jauregui (149). Additionally, Rogers, Jauregui and classmate Kurt Brenner (174) were named the team captains. The Mountaineers finished the season with an 8-4-2 overall mark and registered a 4-0-2 mark in league play. WVU took second place at the 2009 EWL Championships and qualified five wrestlers for the national tournament.

Jake Patacsil, All-American at the 2009 NCAA tournament for Purdue, will be the featured Wrestling 411 Radio guest this Monday, May 11 at 10 a.m. During the spring and summer months, Wrestling 411 Radio will broadcast live shows on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10 a.m. CDT. Each show will include a featured guest and brief commentary on the recent happenings in wrestling. This Monday's edition of Wrestling 411 Radio will air at 10 a.m. CDT. The show can be heard live by visiting www.wrestling411.tv and clicking on the "Listen Live" link. An archive of the broadcast will be available immediately following the show. Competing at the 149 pound weight class, Patacsil completed his college wrestling career at Purdue with a fifth place finish at the 2009 NCAA wrestling tournament. Patacsil finished 120 career wins and was given the Big Ten Medal of Honor. First awarded in 1914, the Big Ten endowed a Medal of Honor is given annually to a student in the graduating class of each university that demonstrated proficiency in scholarship and athletics. Originally from Sunrise, Fla., Patacsil is the fifth member of his family to wrestle for Purdue, following his grandfather, Joe, father, Frank, and uncle, Ted, and competing alongside his brother, Sam. He's the third Patacsil to compete in the NCAA Championships and the second to earn national recognition as his grandfather was a 1950 NCAA Champion. Wrestling 411 Radio can be heard live by visiting www.wrestling411.tv. Questions for any of the guests are welcome. You may e-mail your questions to Kyle Klingman at kklingman@mediasportsproductions.com.

Brian Smith

Don Bocchi

Mark Cody

Mike Cannon

Jack Spates

Chaz Seibert

Joshua Smith

Oregon City, OR -- California High School standout Matt Melendrez has signed a letter of intent to continue his wrestling career at Clackamas Community College next season. The Whittier, California native finished 4th at the California State Championships and was capped off with an 8th place finish at the NHSCA Senior National Championships. Matt compiled a 48-9 win-loss record this year finishing with an incredible 38 falls. “We are extremely excited about Matthew choosing Clackamas,” said Head Coach Josh Rhoden. “He is an incredible wrestler with a huge upside and we can’t wait to work with him,” added Rhoden. Melendrez is ranked as one of the top wrestlers in his respective weight class in the nation, coming in at 24th among 145 lbers. “We definitely look forward to having Matt in the room and helping him win a National Championship,” said Rhoden. The Cougars also added Levi Root of Burns, Oregon and Derek Mestrovich of Nampa, Idaho to their list of recruits for this season. Both Mestrovich and Root will be transferring from Southern Oregon and Boise State this year. “Both these guys fill some gaps for us and both of these guys are tough wrestlers,” said Coach Rhoden. Each of these young men were finalists in their respective weight classes at the Cliff Keen Reno Worlds, with Mestrovich winning the tournament crown. “We are excited about the kids we have coming in so far and look forward to hearing from a number of other top kids in and around the Northwest.” “We have been blessed with a great group and we are building something that top kids want to be a part of which is exciting,” finished Coach Rhoden.

TEMPE -- Shawn Charles, a four-time All-American and two-time national runner-up at Arizona State University, has been named the head coach of the Sun Devil wrestling program, Senior Associate Athletic Director Don Bocchi announced Friday. Charles, an Arizona native and one of the more successful Sun Devils in the program's history, will become only the sixth head coach in the program's 47-year history. "We are very excited to announce Shawn Charles as our head wrestling coach and feel that his drive to succeed and his determination to bring Arizona State wrestling back to the top of the standings is exactly what we are looking for," Bocchi said. "His passion for this great sport is very evident and we believe he is going to put everything he has into helping our program return to the success he and his teammates enjoyed when they competed. We also found his commitment to the total student-athlete concept on pace with our desires to help these young men succeed in the classroom and in the community both now and in the future. We are encouraged by the experiences he has had elsewhere and we are looking forward to seeing what Coach Charles and his Sun Devils achieve in the years to come." "I am excited to be back at my Alma mater and to be the guy to put it all together and make Arizona State successful once again," Charles said. "It is a great opportunity to come back to Tempe and strengthen this program as a coach and I am looking forward to goals I have set for this team in the coming years. One of my goals is to get the community involved with our program. I really believe that wrestling is a viable form of entertainment and I would really like to see the communities around Arizona get involved in supporting this form of entertainment. "I also think it is important for our student-athletes to be recognized not only for their achievements on the mats, but in the classrooms as well," Charles said. "I want to win championships, but I also want to make sure our young men are succeeding academically and setting their sites on the future by graduating from college. For me, I know the environment, I know the community, I know the boosters, I know the alumni and I know the task that is front of me and I know that makes me the best person to help drive this program forward and do the things I need to do to ensure that Arizona State wrestling stays a Division I program and wins championships." Charles will have a wealth of knowledge at his disposal as he works to bring the program back to the top of the national and conference standings after being there himself as a Sun Devil. In his years in Tempe (1990-93), Charles helped the Sun Devils to three Pac-10 Championships (1990, 1991 and 1993) while also helping the team place among the Top 6 nationally in each of the those three seasons, including a national runner-up finish in 1990 and a fourth-place showing in 1993. He earned All-America honors in all four of his years on the mat at 126 pounds, placing fifth as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore before taking national runner-up honors in his final two campaigns. A two-time Pac-10 individual champion (1992 and 1993), Charles collected 103 victories in his collegiate career, ranking him tied for 19th on the program's all-time wins list. He also ranks 19th in career dual-match victories after he posted a 44-15-5 record in those matches. Charles also was a two-time competitor in the East-West All-Star Dual and captured the Las Vegas Invitational twice while also finishing second at the prestigious Midlands Championships once during his Sun Devil career. Upon earning his Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from ASU in 1993, the native of Tucson, Ariz., began his coaching career that has taken him all over the nation in the collegiate ranks and around the world as a representative of USA Wrestling. Charles, who has worked with programs in the Big XII Conference, the Mid-America Conference (MAC), the Ivy League and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), began his coaching career at Iowa State (1993-95) where he served as an assistant coach before he returned to the Valley of the Sun to serve as the head assistant coach at Phoenix College (1995-96). From there, he returned to the Big XII where he worked as the assistant freestyle wrestling coach at Oklahoma (1996-97) before Central Michigan brought him as its head assistant coach (1997-01). While at CMU, eleven wrestlers earned All-America status and one was crowned national champion in 1999. Overall, the team recorded a pair of Top 10 national finishes as well. Charles was then named the head assistant coach at Nebraska (2001-05) and helped the Cornhuskers to two Top 10 finishes with 11 All-Americans and one national champion. With 22 All-Americans, two national champions and four Top 10 team finishes on his resume, Fresno State brought Charles back to the West by naming him the head coach. Despite qualifying four wrestlers to the NCAA Championships, including future Sun Devil Greg Gifford, the program was discontinued after his only year, sending Charles across the nation to Brown (2006-07) for a one-year stint as it's assistant coach. Over the past two seasons, Charles worked with a Big XII program, this time helping Missouri's program to a seventh-place finish in 2009 and five individual All-America honors. All told in his brief stint in Columbia, Mo., the Tigers earned eight All-America honors and had one individual champion. All told in his 18 years of coaching, Charles has worked with 39 NCAA All-Americans and three individual NCAA champions while also helping teams to Top 10 finishes as the NCAA Championships on seven occasions. But his dedication to excellence was not only felt on the mats, it was recognized in the classroom as well. Three of his wrestlers were selected for scholar-athlete of the year honors while each of his coaching stops has seen him work with at least one national all-academic honoree. He also has participated in countless community activities at each of his coaching stops while also working to create and/or improve club wrestling programs in those areas. Away from the collegiate coaching scene, Charles also has coached internationally, which includes him being named to the 2009 University World Team coaching staff after serving on the U.S. Olympic staff in both 2004 and 2008. A coach with Sunkist Kids, Charles also has served as a coach for two World Cups (2003, 2007) and has helped lead the U.S. at two international tournaments in the Ukraine. Most recently, Charles worked with MU wrestler Ben Askren, who represented the U.S. at the 2008 Olympics. As an international competitor, Charles claimed 14 titles, including victories at tournaments in Iran, Manitoba (Canada), Slovakia, Bulgaria and Turkey while also winning the U.S. Open, the NYAC International and the Pan-American Championships. Along with several U.S. national titles, Charles twice placed second at the World Team Trials and was an alternate on the 1996 U.S. Olympic freestyle team. Charles began his wrestling career in Tucson and competed for Santa Rita High School. While at SRHS, he captured three state titles over the course of his final three years and also won the division championship all three years. Charles and his wife, the former Jill Hansen, are the parents of two boys, Shawn Charles, Jr. (seven) and Titus "Tyty" Charles (five). The Charles File • ASU's first four-time wrestling All-American (5th in 1990, 4th in 1991, 2nd in 1992, 2nd in 1992) • Two-time Pac-10 Conference champion at 126 pounds • Graduated from Arizona State in 1993 with B.S. in Computer Information Systems • Ranks 19th (tie) on the ASU all-time victories list (103) • Native of Tucson, Ariz., where he won three state titles at Santa Rita High School • Has coached in four Division I conferences, including the Big XII, Ivy, Western Athletic and Mid-American • Has worked with 39 NCAA Division I All-Americans and three individual NCAA Champions • Helped teams place among the Top 10 nationally in the NCAA Division I Championships seven times Charles' Coaching Resume 2007-09 - Missouri (assistant coach) 2006-07 - Brown (assistant coach) 2005-06 - Fresno State (head coach) 2001-05 - Nebraska (head assistant coach) 1997-01 - Central Michigan (head assistant coach) 1996-97 - Oklahoma (assistant freestyle coach) 1995-96 - Phoenix College (head coach) 1993-95 - Iowa State (assistant coach)

Brad Penrith

Manheim, Pa. -- The National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholastic Board of Directors is proud to announce the 2009 Scholastic Awards. The four award categories are: National Coach of the Year, National Assistant Coach of the Year, National Wrestler of the Year, and National Prep Coach of the Year. This year's nominees for National Coach, National Prep Coach and National Assistant Coach of the year bring a combined total of 101 years of coaching experience to the mat. They have coached numerous state champions and hold impressive records in their respective states. Jerry Winterton of Cary, NC has been selected as the NWCA National Coach of the Year. Winterton is an accomplished coach with 36 years of coaching experience, and a career record of 608 wins and multiple state titles along with 48 individual state champions. He is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame North Carolina Chapter, Class of 2004. Cary High School has won the last five State Individual Championships which brings their total to twenty. Winterton has coached for the last nineteen individual championships. "I have been blessed to have this happen to me. I would like to thank the NWCA for recognizing me for this award, I greatly appreciate it. I am absolutely thrilled," said Winterton. "I am also very fortunate to have the support of my family, my assistant coaches, my principal Mr. Doug Thilman and Kurt Glendenning my Athletic Director as I know Cary High School is the best place to coach or be a student/athlete. I'm also thankful for all the great wrestlers who have come through our program over the years especially the stars we've had in the last 5-6 years who have gone on to do such great things in National competitions as well as continuing with their education and wrestling in college." Winterton is also a Physical Education Teacher at Cary High School. "Coach Winterton is a great example of the type of person that the NWCA continues to recognize. Not only is he an educator, but he has devoted his years in this sport to molding the next generation in the sport of wrestling. His longevity and accomplishments as a high school coach are remarkable," said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. "Our goal as a coaches association is to continue to recognize coaches for their accomplishments along with promoting the areas of coaching education that are essential to a successful program." Harlan Hankins, the long-time assistant coach from Roosevelt High School in Colorado, receives the National Assistant Coach of the Year Honors. Hankins has spent the past thirty-five years of his life devoted to the Roosevelt High School Wrestling Team as the assistant coach. His longevity in this position has surpassed many others, while he and Head Coach Mike Pallotto provide consistency at Roosevelt High School for their wrestling program. He has also had the opportunity to coach his three sons throughout his time at Roosevelt. Hankins has had the honor of coaching 31 state champions and 96 state place winners. Coach Pallotto had nothing but gracious words for his long-time assistant, “I knew he wrestled for Colorado State University (CSU), when he moved out here. We talked about the Roosevelt program, from there we started a youth program, and Harlan began coaching at the middle school for ten years, a position that his son now has. Our coaching philosophy is the same, which is what puts us in this unique situation." "A lot of our success as a program is directly related to Hankins, he is a great guy and will do anything for the program. He is very deserving and any coach would give their right arm to have him as their assistant." Eric Grajales a senior wrestler from Florida Powerhouse, Brandon High School will receive this year's National Wrestler of the Year honors. Grajales finished his senior season with a 62-0 record (217-0 career) and as a four-time state champion. He was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the 2009 Dapper Dan Classic after he pinned three-time Pennsylvania State Champion Dane Johnson of Shady Side Academy. His most recently accomplishment on the mat was as a 2009 FILA Jr. National Champion in Greco Roman. Grajales currently holds a 4.9 GPA on a 4.0 scale as he is finishing up his senior year of high school. "Eric Grajales is an exceptional student-athlete. Not only has he excelled on the wrestling mat, but he has also done extremely well in the classroom. I look forward to seeing great things from Eric as he continues his wrestling career and education at the University of Michigan in the fall,” said Moyer. Receiving the NWCA's National Prep Coach of the Year award is Jeff Buxton of Blair Academy. Buxton has been a member of the Blair family for twenty-seven years as the wrestling coach and a math teacher, and has been coaching the sport of wrestling for thirty years. Blair Academy has won twenty-nine National Prep Titles and has been ranked the number one team in the country nine times. There have been a total of 149 Individual National Prep Champions under Coach Buxton. He is also currently the Cadet and Junior National Team Coach. "It is an honor to be associated with the NWCA. I attribute this coaching award to the support I receive from the Blair coaching Staff, the school, the wrestlers and parents. We had a tremendous year with great success in wrestling; but I am more proud of what our wrestlers have accomplished as students as they move on to Harvard, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, American, Michigan and Penn State," said Buxton. This is the first year that the NWCA has sponsored the National Prep Coach of the Year Award as an NWCA National Scholastic Award. "Coach Buxton has accomplished great things in his time at Blair Academy, along with producing accomplished wrestlers on and off the mat. The NWCA was honored to have him as a guest clinician at the 2009 NCAA Championships. Where he was able to share some of his coaching techniques with the other coaches in attendance," said NWCA President Jim Beichner. Below are the selections for the NWCA Regional Coaches, Prep Regional Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Wrestlers of the Year. In order to be considered for National Honors, the nominee must have been selected as a Regional Award Winner: Region Award Type Nominee School (State) 1 Head Coach of the Year Barry Chooljian Timberlane Regional HS (NH) Assistant Coach of the Year Scott Bissonette Vergennes Union High School (VT) Wrestler of the Year Austin Meys Shenendehowa High School (NY) 2 Head Coach of the Year Timothy Giel Shady Side Academy (PA) Assistant Coach of the Year Rob Bowman Mt. St. Joseph's (MD) Wrestler of the Year Shane Young Penn-Traffod HS (PA) 3 Head Coach of the Year Jerry Winterton Cary HS (NC) Assistant Coach of the Year Mark Black Colonial Forge HS (VA) Wrestler of the Year Eric Grajales Brandon HS (FL) 4 Head Coach of the Year Scott Vlink Crown Point HS (IN) Assistant Coach of the Year Steve Harding New Palestine HS (IN) Wrestler of the Year David Taylor St. Paris Graham (OH) 5 Head Coach of the Year Steve Keszler Brown HS (SD) Assistant Coach of the Year Tim Weatherman Ballard Huxley HS (IA) Wrestler of the Year Bart Reiter Don Bosco HS (IA) 6 Head Coach of the Year Scott Chenoweth Perry HS (OK) Assistant Coach of the Year Harlan Hankins Roosevelt HS (CO) Wrestler of the Year Chris Perry Stillwater HS (OK) 7 Head Coach of the Year Neil Russo Newberg HS(OR) Assistant Coach of the Year Nick Dougherty Wasilla HS (AK) Wrestler of the Year Tyler Cox Campbell County HS (WY) 8 Head Coach of the Year Jason Nickal Rio Rancho HS (NM) Assistant Coach of the Year Jim Takatsuka Panahou School (HI) Wrestler of the Year Ethan Lofthouse Mountain Crest HS (UT) NP HCOY - Preps MD Mike Kubik Georgetown Prep HCOY - Preps PA John Gordon Wyoming Seminary HCOY - Preps NJ/NY Jeff Buxton Blair Academy HCOY - Preps NE Don Bradley Belmont Hill School HCOY - Preps VA Jack Effner Cape Henry Collegiate HCOY - Preps TX Rick Ortega St. Mark's School of Texas

OREM, Utah -- Utah Valley University head wrestling coach Greg Williams recently finished his spring recruiting session and is pleased to announce that the Wolverines signed 10 new recruits this spring to add to the three they signed this past fall. The team's biggest needs were in the upper two weights at 197 lbs. and heavyweight. Josh Wood, a two-time state placer (3rd and 4th) from Modoc High School (Alturas, Calif.) is currently ranked 19th in the country at 215 lbs. He will compete at 197 lbs. for the team next year. Dylan Stadel, Lehi High School (Eagle Mountain, Utah), is currently ranked 22nd in the country and was a Utah State Champion and two-time finalist. He has signed on at heavyweight along with Zach Jensen, a fourth place finisher from Copper Hills High School (West Jordan, Utah). The Wolverines also filled some depth at 125 lbs., signing two Utah State Champions, Trae Bennett from Freemont High School (Plain City, Utah) and Jake Fredrickson from Mountain View High School (Orem, Utah). At 133 lbs, Utah Valley also inked two standouts in four-time Utah State Champion, Sean Porter from Davis High School (Kaysville, Utah), who will return from an LDS Mission in August, and Tucker Ray, a highly regarded Utah State Champion and two-time state finalist who competed for Box Elder High School (Perry, Utah) this past season at 130 pounds. He will be joining his brothers Flint and Wyatt Ray who are already on the Wolverine squad. Ikeru Abe, a Utah state runner-up from Viewmont High School (Bountiful, Utah) has also signed on and will compete at 141 lbs. next season. At 157/165 lbs. Bryar Saddoris, a four-time Nevada State Champion from Spring Creek High School (Spring Creek, Nev.), will look to make an immediate impact on the program. Monte Schmalhaus, Tooele High School (Tooele, Utah), has also committed and was a two-time Utah State Champion who went 42-0 this season and 80-3 the past two seasons. He will be looking to compete at 165 lbs. for the Wolverines next year. Coach Williams is very excited about the new recruits and the direction they will help take the program. "Each of these wrestlers possess the work ethic and attitude to make our program better," Williams said. "Our practice room just got a lot tougher. There are some potential All-Americans in this group, but I am mostly pleased with the type of individuals they are. They all fit in with the character of our team."

Shawn Charles

Division I wrestling programs throughout the country received higher marks than ever before in the 5th annual APR report released by the NCAA yesterday. The overall four-year Academic Progress Rate in Division I wrestling improved seven points, more than double the three point gain by all Division I athletic teams. The overall improvement was sparked by a single-year improvement of 14.6 points in 2007-08, the second highest gain of any sport sponsored by the NCAA. The single-year scores in the sport of wrestling has improved each of the past three years, increasing 24.7 points from 937.3 in 2004-05 to 962 in 2007-08. "We are very pleased and proud of the vast improvement we have seen in a very short time period,” said Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. “We are also pleased that several indicators suggest this improvement should continue well into the future." Sixty-two percent of Division I wrestling teams improved their four-year APR scores from a year ago, including 11 programs that improved by 20 or more points. West Virginia University improved the most (38 points) followed by UC Davis (33) and Eastern Michigan University (29). Bucknell University, which earned its first All-American since reinstating its wrestling program in 2006-07, leads all wrestling teams with a perfect 1000 multi-year APR score. Northwestern University and the University of Pennsylvania also have a multi-year APR score in the 990 – 1000 range. The number of wrestling teams with one-year APR scores below 900 and 925 decreased 19 points and 14 points respectively, representing the largest improvement of any sport sponsored by the NCAA. Teams with multi-year APR scores below 900 or 925 are subject to NCAA penalties. "A year ago wrestling coaches from around the country came to the annual NWCA convention to learn and share best practices in order to improve APR scores," says Mark Gumble, an APR consultant working with the NWCA. "I left the convention with a strong belief that the coaches would take what they learned and implement best practices at their institutions. Their leadership has made a big difference and the future of the sport of wrestling looks bright because of it." The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a professional organization dedicated to serve and provide leadership for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on scholastic and collegiate programs. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The NWCA, through its organizational structure, promotes communication, recognizes achievement, recommends rules and regulations, sponsors events, and serves as an educational and informational source. Additionally, the NWCA strives to foster the sportsmanship and integrity that are the cornerstones of athletic competition.

Division I wrestling programs throughout the country received higher marks than ever before in the 5th annual APR report released by the NCAA yesterday. The overall four-year Academic Progress Rate in Division I wrestling improved seven points, more than double the three point gain by all Division I athletic teams. The overall improvement was sparked by a single-year improvement of 14.6 points in 2007-08, the second highest gain of any sport sponsored by the NCAA. The single-year scores in the sport of wrestling has improved each of the past three years, increasing 24.7 points from 937.3 in 2004-05 to 962 in 2007-08. “We are very pleased and proud of the vast improvement we have seen in a very short time period,” said Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. “We are also pleased that several indicators suggest this improvement should continue well into the future.” Sixty-two percent of Division I wrestling teams improved their four-year APR scores from a year ago, including 11 programs that improved by 20 or more points. West Virginia University improved the most (38 points) followed by UC Davis (33) and Eastern Michigan University (29). Bucknell University, which earned its first All-American since reinstating its wrestling program in 2006-07, leads all wrestling teams with a perfect 1000 multi-year APR score. Northwestern University and the University of Pennsylvania also have a multi-year APR score in the 990 – 1000 range. The number of wrestling teams with one-year APR scores below 900 and 925 decreased 19 points and 14 points respectively, representing the largest improvement of any sport sponsored by the NCAA. Teams with multi-year APR scores below 900 or 925 are subject to NCAA penalties. “A year ago wrestling coaches from around the country came to the annual NWCA convention to learn and share best practices in order to improve APR scores,” says Mark Gumble, an APR consultant working with the NWCA. “I left the convention with a strong belief that the coaches would take what they learned and implement best practices at their institutions. Their leadership has made a big difference and the future of the sport of wrestling looks bright because of it.” The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a professional organization dedicated to serve and provide leadership for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on scholastic and collegiate programs. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The NWCA, through its organizational structure, promotes communication, recognizes achievement, recommends rules and regulations, sponsors events, and serves as an educational and informational source. Additionally, the NWCA strives to foster the sportsmanship and integrity that are the cornerstones of athletic competition.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The interim tag has been removed from Augsburg College wrestling head coach Mark Matzek's title. Matzek, who guided the Auggies on an interim basis last season, has accepted the head coaching position on a permanent basis, Augsburg athletic director Jeff Swenson has announced. In addition, assistant head coach Jared Evans has also accepted a permanent position on the Auggie coaching staff. Named interim head coach in July 2008, Matzek led the Auggies to a second-place NCAA Division III national tournament finish in the 2008-2009 season, finishing 11-2 in dual meets with a squad that included five new starters among the 10 weight classes. Along the way, the Auggies won the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III National Duals championship, topped perennial rival and eventual national champion Wartburg (Iowa) twice in dual meets, won the Great Lakes Regional and finished with seven All-Americans and one individual national champion. Academically, Augsburg finished 13th in the NWCA's Division III academic national listings with a 3.346 team grade-point average. "I am very honored and humbled to take the role of head wrestling coach of my alma mater," said Matzek, a 2005 Augsburg alumnus and Ellsworth, Wis., native. "I feel like I belong at Augsburg and there is no other program in the world I would rather be at. I will carry on the winning tradition as a coach, just as I did as a wrestler. Wrestlers in this program will have a championship wrestling experience while completing their degree to set themselves up for success after college." Mark Matzek A two-time individual national titlist and three-time All-American as an Augsburg wrestler, Matzek had served as an assistant coach for three seasons before being named interim head coach. Matzek is the ninth head coach in the history of Augsburg's wrestling program. "Mark's success at Augsburg, and his commitment to Augsburg, speaks for itself," said athletic director Swenson, who served as Augsburg's head coach for 25 seasons (1980-84, 1986-2007) and led the team to 10 Division III national titles. "As interim coach, Mark took on the challenge and exceeded all expectations. His commitment to the college community, academics and wrestling is nothing short of phenomenal." One of the top lightweight wrestlers in Augsburg history, Matzek finished his career with a 129-21 record, winning the 133-pound national title in 2004 and 2005 (one of nine Auggie wrestlers to ever win multiple national titles) while placing fourth in 2003. He closed his career with a 42-match winning streak, including a 34-0 mark in his senior season. He was a member of Auggie squads that won the national title as a team in 2002 and 2005, while finishing second nationally in 2003 and 2004. Academically, Matzek was a three-time NWCA Scholar All-American, an ESPN The Magazine (CoSIDA) Academic All-District honoree three times, and an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America (CoSIDA) first-team selection in 2005. He was a mathematics and secondary education major at Augsburg and carried a 3.408 grade-point average. Jared Evans A 2007 Augsburg alumnus, Evans will enter his third season on the Augsburg coaching staff, and second as assistant head coach. A native of Blue Earth, Minn., Evans earned All-American honors three times as a 149-pound wrestler, finishing seventh in 2005 (23-7 individual record), fourth in 2006 (38-8) and fourth in 2007 (37-5). He finished his career with a 139-37 record, including 23 pins, four technical falls and 19 major decisions. He was a part of Augsburg teams that won national titles in 2004-05 and 2006-07, while finishing second once and third once. Academically, Evans was a health and physical education major with a 3.27 grade-point average. He earned NWCA Scholar All-America honors in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Both Matzek and Evans will have other duties in the athletic department. Matzek also serves as director of the college's two fitness facilities in the Si Melby Hall/Kennedy Center complex -- the Hoyt Messerer Fitness Center and the James Haglund Family Fitness Center. Evans will also serve as an instructor in the college's Health and Physical Education department.

Bobby Douglas

Many of the nation's top Senior-level wrestlers and high school competitors are expected at the Northern Plains Senior and Junior Regional Championships, set for Young Arena in Waterloo, Iowa, May 14-16. This is the "Last Chance Qualifier" on the Senior level, the final opportunity for athletes to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, presented by the U.S. Marines, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, May 30-31. The champions in each weight class in men’s freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's freestyle earn a spot in the field. Athletes from across the nation will come to Waterloo for the final opportunity to qualify for the World Team Trials. In addition, many of the major universities from across the Midwest, including the college programs in Iowa, traditionally send top competitors to this tournament. 2004 Olympic champion Randy Lewis, who is 49 years old, has announced that he will compete in the men’s freestyle division at 74 kg/163 lbs. Lewis last competed in 1992, over 16 years ago. There will be competitors in the field who were not alive yet when Lewis won the Olympic title at 62 kg/136.5 lbs. at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. In addition, the Northern Plains Junior Regionals will feature talented high school wrestlers competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman. This is traditionally one of the most competitive of USA Wrestling's Junior Regional events, attracting nationally-respected wrestlers from the surrounding states as well as other parts of the country. The deadline for discounted on-line registration for the Northern Plains Regionals is Tuesday, May 12 at 1:00 p.m. Central Time. The entry fee for those who register online is $25 per style. http://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/registration/BasicPreReg1.jsp?TIM=1236716775202&twSessionId=lnfjgufpoxkvrlu&tournamentGroupId=771009 Athletes may register at the door, but will not receive the discounted rate. Those who register onsite will pay $35 per style. For more information, visit the official Northern Plains Regional website at: http://www.themat.com/events/default.php?page=default&EventID=19983 All of the weighins for the tournament will be held at the Dan Gable Wrestling Museum, which is located just three blocks from Young Arena. All participants will be able to enjoy the numerous exhibits and historic artifacts at this nationally respected wrestling shrine.

We hit the air Saturday mornings 9 AM to 11 AM CST. Check out Takedownradio.com joining us in the Brute adidas studio will be Nick Rouse of Spartan Strength to discuss correct and long term strength training. Also in studio Royce Alger, 2 X NCAA Champ, 3 X Big 10 Champ, posting a 131-12-3 record. the Hawkeye Great wrestled the likes of Kevin Jackson. A two-time World Cup champion and silver medallist at the World Games. He has won three U.S. Open titles and is a two-time Pan American Champion. A member of the 1996 U.S. National Freestyle team, he placed third at the Olympic Trials that year. 9:05 Jeff Sitler- the Mad River Wrestling Officials Association in conjunction with OSU Wrestling is holding a series of events to help raise awareness and $ for Autism Society of American www.autism-centralohio.com , Ethan Foundation for Autism www.ethanforautism.org and 4 Paws for Ability. This is one of two tournaments in the country specifically designed to help those with autism. The other being Pinning Down Autism, which is held in NYC. Wrestle Against Autism is going to give checks to two families in the local area that are in need of Autism Service Dogs. 4 Paws for Ability www.4pawsforability.org The Wrestle Against Autism tournament will be held at St. John arena May 17th. 9:20 BJ Thomas- Founder of Undefeated Sports Nutrition. Cael Sanderson's signature line of all natural products designed for the athlete by athletes. 9:40 Joshua J. Smith - A filmmaker from Los Angeles talks about his journey of bringing his new film, CARTER-145, from the mat to the big screen. The movie will star Academy Award nominee Bob Hoskins whose most known for his role in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. To get involved please visit us at: www.enzofilms.com 10:20 Georges "Rush" St. Pierre- The UFC welterweight champion from Montreal, Quebec, Canada holds a current record of 18-2. St-Pierre puts his belt up for grabs against Brazilian knockout artist Thiago "Pitbull" Alves on July 11th in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC 100. Georges is having a logo contest for his fans. www.gspfightclub.com 10:40 Paul Tucker has been the driving force behind the reinstatement of Carson Newman Wrestling program. Carson-Newman College of Jefferson City, Tenn will discontinue its wrestling program beginning in the 2009-'10 academic year, Carson-Newman athletic director David Barger announced today.They have a big head of steam, some 4200 plus supporters and over 30 K raised toward their goal of a 2 million dollar endowment. Lets give em a push and get behind this grass roots effort. Paul@TuckerEmail.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=65688625973. We appreciate the opportunity to talk about our sport each and every week. Please join us at Takedownradio.com LIVE from 9 AM to 11 AM CST every Saturday of the year. Guest suggestions? Please feel free to write to us. We would love to hear from you.

Brent Metcalf