InterMat Staff

Richmond, VA -- Hofstra University junior Lou Ruggirello has been selected the 2009 CAA Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the conference announced recently. The Walden, New York native is a three-time Hofstra Athletics Academic Honor Roll selection and a Dean's List student. He majors in marketing and is a three-year CAA Commissioner's Academic Award recipient and was named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Academic squad in 2008. On the mat, Ruggirello is a three-time CAA champion at 133 pounds. A three-time national qualifier, he was seeded ninth at 133 pounds in the 2009 NCAA Championship and went 2-2, falling just one win short of All-America honors. He finished the year with a 30-5 overall record, including a 15-1 mark in dual matches, and was undefeated (6-0) in CAA duals. Ruggirello won the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic and was second at the Missouri Open and Southern Scuffle this season. For his career, he owns an impressive 99-21 record. The CAA honors one Scholar-Athlete in each of its 22 championship sports. Nominees for the award must be a starter or important reserve on their team and must meet have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.20. The winners were selected by a vote of the sports information directors at each CAA institution. In addition to Ruggirello, also earning Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors in winter sports were: UNC Wilmington junior Darion Jeralds in men's basketball; Drexel graduate student Andrea Peterson in women's basketball; George Mason junior Steven Benecki in men's swimming and diving; and Drexel senior Kate Hynes in women's swimming and diving.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State’s Brandon Mason was the only Division I wrestler in the nation to earn a prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship this year, it was announced. Mason was one of only 29 male winter-sport student-athletes to earn the honor. He is the sixth Cowboy wrestler to be recognized as an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship winner, joining Todd Chesbro (1992), Travis Gittins (1994), Mark Branch (1997), Steven Schmidt (1998) and Mark Munoz (2001). The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. The Association awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. Mason was a four-year NCAA qualifier for the Cowboys and was a 2007 All-American after placing fifth at the national tournament. He earned academic all-Big 12 honors in each of his four seasons and was a three-time NWCA all-academic team selection. He is expected to be included on the list for a fourth time when the 2009 list is announced. The Shenandoah, Iowa, native finished his collegiate career with a 107-44 record that included 21 wins over ranked opponents, 14 wins by fall, 17 by technical fall and 17 by major decision. His 107 career wins are good for 26th on Oklahoma State’s all-time list. Mason will be attending Oklahoma State’s medical school after graduating this May with degrees in biological science and nutrition.

Jim Gibbons, former Iowa State head wrestling coach and current wrestling commentator, will be the featured Wrestling 411 Radio guest this Wednesday, May 6 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 Wednesday'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. Gibbons was the head wrestling coach for Iowa State from 1985 through 1992. In 1987 he led the Cyclones to its most recent NCAA wrestling title. He also won an individual NCAA title for Iowa State in 1981 at 134 pounds. He also serves as a television commentator, providing color commentary for ESPN, The Big Ten Network, and Iowa Public Television. In 2003 he was named broadcaster of the year by the National Wrestling Media Association. 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.

John Mark Bentley, the new head wrestling coach at Appalachian State University, will be the featured Wrestling 411 Radio guest this Tuesday, May 5 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 Tuesday'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. Bentley, an assistant wrestling coach at Appalachian State the past three seasons, will become Appalachian State head wrestling coach for the 2009-10 season. Bentley replaces Paul Mance, who spent the past 33 years as ASU's head coach. Bentley was a three-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion wrestler at North Carolina from 1997-2001. He was the ACC Wrestler of the Year as a senior and a University Nationals freestyle all-American as a junior. 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.

NEW YORK -- On April 30, 2009 Olympic gold medalists, world champions and leaders in the wrestling community gathered to support Beat the Streets Wrestling Program at its annual gala fundraiser, “Golden Night at Guastavino’s” where $500,000 was raised to aide the organization’s work in providing wrestling opportunities for New York City students. Highlights of the evening included the official Olympic ring presentation to 2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo and the gathering of nine Olympic gold medalists, including Bruce Baumgartner, Jeff Blatnick, Doug Blubaugh, Tom Brands, Steve Fraser, Ken Monday, Brandon Slay, and John Smith, on one stage to present awards to New York City coaches and a lifetime achievement award to Al Bevilacqua. Beat the Streets’ gala fundraiser "Golden Night at Guastavino's" was held to help fund and support the organization’s work in providing approximately 4,000 boys and girls wrestling opportunities and safe havens for them to practice. “It is in times like these when the need for leadership in our businesses, cities, towns, and institutions is imperative,” said Mike Novogratz, Chairman, Beat the Streets. “The education of a wrestler—the lessons learned from the grueling years of hard work, discipline, toughness, and competition—produces the kinds of men and women that lead with their feet, that aren’t scared of adversity, and that do the right thing when they encounter tough choices. America needs wrestlers right now, more than ever.” "As a kid who was born in South Central Los Angeles to undocumented parents and raised in a low-income neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ, I am a living example of a Beat the Streets wrestler," said Henry Cejudo. “I was lucky that I found wrestling, thanks to the great work of organizations like Beat the Streets, and I am glad to support children from similar backgrounds as mine to achieve their American dream.” The evening’s program culminated with Beat the Streets honoring 3 local wrestling coaches for their dedication to the organization, the sport of wrestling and the children of New York City. High School Coach of the Year was Ned Campbell of James Madison High School in Brooklyn. Middle School Coach of the Year was Ray Novelli of MS 19 in the Bronx. Assistant Coach of the Year was Mike Ferrazano of Brooklyn Technical High School in Brooklyn. Beat the Streets Board Member and Trustee, Al Bevilacqua, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Al was USA Wrestling’s Coach of the Year in 1983. He has received a Lifetime Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and a Special Service Award from U.S. Wrestling Federation. Among the Halls of Fame in which he has been inducted are the New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame and the New York University Athletic Hall of Fame. Al was also USA Wrestling Man of the Year in 2005. “I’m honored to have been recognized by Beat the Streets, an organization near and dear to my heart, with the Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Al Bevilacqua, Board Member and Trustee, Beat the Streets. “Beat the Streets has done an incredible job in creating and expanding wrestling programs throughout New York City public schools, and I’m happy to carry on their mission by helping implement Beat the Streets wrestling programs across the country.” The Beat the Streets Wrestling Program is a not-for-profit organization that creates opportunities for boys and girls from New York City schools to participate in after-school wrestling programs in safe and nurturing environments. Beat the Streets provides free coaching, gear and equipment; free access to afterschool training centers in all five boroughs; all-expenses paid trips to the most prestigious training camps in the country; and safe havens for students from the poorest urban neighborhoods seeking to improve their fitness and stay on the right path. Approximately 4,000 boys and girls from New York City schools currently participate in the organization’s afterschool programs. Beat the Streets’ work has effectively helped the sport of wrestling grow in New York City. In 2005, New York City's Public School Athletic League had 23 teams only in high schools and fewer than 300 kids enrolled. Now New York City has wrestling teams in 58 high schools and 54 middle schools with 4,000 enrollees.

DES MOINES -- Brendan Ard of Watchung Hills High School in Warren, NJ has captured the TakeDown Radio (TDR) High School Wrestler of the Month Award for April 2009. The high school senior is the first two time State Champion in New Jersey, and becomes the eighth recipient of the national TDR award. Brendan is the first award winner from New Jersey. Brendan won the 171 pound State Title in Atlantic City March 7-8, completing the season with a 37-0 record, while amassing a 139-11 career record. During the entire season, only one opponent scored a single takedown against him. He began wrestling as a Freshman, where he competed at 171 pounds, despite weighing 155 pounds. Exemplifying undeniable teamwork and exhibiting amazing strength, he accepted the weigh class as both the 152 pound and 160 pound classes were occupied by top performing team mates, including a State Champion. He wrestled mostly heavier and older opponents, winning the District 12 title in 2006. "Brendan's deep love for wrestling really kicked in during his Sophomore year, pushing other athletic pursuits like football and lacrosse aside", described Watchung Hills High School Wrestling Coach Danny Smith. Brendan finished third in the state at 160 pounds his Sophomore year. Throughout his life Brendan has been surrounded by athletic greatness. His father is NFL football legend Billy Ard, an All Century Team Member of the New York Giants, and a Super Bowl XXI starter in the game where the Giants won their first Super Bowl title. His fathers legacy and relationships in football allowed Brendan to work on conditioning with collegiate football standouts and certain NFL draft picks Lydon Murtha (Nebraska) and Joel Bell (Furman). "Brendan's strength is amazing. He's in the weight room at least three times a week, and does some very heavy lifting", offered his father. Billy Ard is alumni of Watchung Hills High School himself, and father and son attended the same same elementary school as well. The road to Brendan's victorious record is paved with training at two particular elite institutions. He trained for years with Ernie Monaco at the Edge Wrestling School. He's also logged unimaginable hours at Test Sports Performance, where his father helps college football players as they prepare for their migration toward the NFL drafts. Both schools are located in Martinsville, NJ. Solid and dedicated academic preparation secured Brendan a wrestling scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, where he starts next Fall. He finishes high school with a graduating class of over 500 students, where his humility regarding both athletics and academics is symbolic of many successful wrestlers. He will most likely start at the 174 pound weight class at Wisconsin. Since finishing the season as State Champ, he competed in the National High School Coaches Senior Tournament in Virginia Beach, VA., regularly hits the gym with diverse training regimens, and is learning Brazilian Jujitsu. He also won the New Jersey Courier News Wrestler of the Year Award. TakeDown Radio, and all of the award sponsors, are very proud to select Brendan as April's recipient. We know our award is an honor among many for this remarkable young man. TakeDown Radio would like to thank the sponsors of the High School Wrestler of the Month Award. Without Resilite, W.I.N. Magazine, Brute adidas, Intermat, and Sunflower Wrestling Supply, the award would not be possible. We are all very pleased to place our support in some of the nation's most promising youth.

Kevin Jackson, the new head wrestling coach at Iowa State University, will be the featured Wrestling 411 Radio guest this Monday, May 4 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 Thursday’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. Jackson was recently hired as the head wrestling coach at Iowa State University. A two-time World champion and a 1992 Olympic champion, Jackson replaces Cael Sanderson who took the head coaching position at Penn State. Jackson was a four-time All-American, placing three times for Louisiana State (1983-1985) and once for Iowa State (1987). He also served as the National Freestyle Coach for USA Wrestling from 2001-2008. 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.

Hello all, In the next week or so we will begin to air Takedown Wrestling Radio on AM 1570 in the Flint- Saginaw area of Michigan. We hope to be on air there as the "NEW" InterMatWrestle.com hits the Internet. We'll keep you updated on our on air growth and the growth we're experiencing with our new TV product,TDR TV. New episode (3) will be up tonight. Just thought you all would like to know before the public knows. As always we appreciate your support and your vision for our sport.

Larry Nugent

Sam Barber

Jim Heffernan

Ron Guenther

J Jaggers

Cory Cooperman has returned to his home state of New Jersey to coach Rutgers (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers head wrestling coach Scott Goodale has announced the hiring of Cory Cooperman (Ithaca, N.Y.) as an assistant coach. The former Lehigh standout will start May 1. "I feel we are getting one of the best young technicians and recruiters in the country," said Goodale. "Cory has been a part of a winner and great teams wherever he has been at as a competitor at Blair Academy and Lehigh University and as a coach at Cornell. He is a New Jersey guy who understands how important this sport is to this state. This is another step in the right direction of what we are trying to accomplish at Rutgers and that is to wrestle and compete at a very high level." Cooperman, a former three-time All-American and three-time Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) champion, brings a wealth of wrestling experience to the staff. He has spent the last three seasons as an assistant at Cornell, which has been nationally ranked each season and finished fifth in the nation at the 2009 NCAA Championships last month while holding a No. 2 national ranking for part of the season. Cooperman oversaw the Big Red's recruiting efforts while primarily training the program's light and middle weight wrestlers. With Cooperman on the staff, the program produced three EIWA and Ivy League team titles, 12 All-Americans and two National Champions. He was a standout wrestler at Lehigh, earning All-America honors in 2004, 2005 and 2006 while taking home the 141-pound weight class title at the EIWA Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Cooperman was also crowned the Southern Scuffle champion in 2006 and was an alternate for the 2002 Junior World Team. Scholastically, Cooperman attended wrestling powerhouse Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. where he was a four-time Prep National Champion from 1999-2001. He was ranked as the No. 1 high school wrestler in the nation at 125 pounds and captained Blair Academy's national championship team in 2001. Cooperman has also participated as a counselor in several wrestling camps and devoted his time as a volunteer for several inner city youth organizations. Cooperman joins John Leonardis on Goodale's coaching staff for the 2009-10 season. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a record-setting 20-win season that saw three wrestlers earn a berth to the NCAA Championships -- the most since 2004.

Kevin Jackson

AMES, Iowa -- Former Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Champion Kevin Jackson has been named Iowa State's head wrestling coach. Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard will introduce Jackson -- often referred to as one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers in United States history -- at an 11 a.m. news conference Friday in the Jacobson Athletic Building (Hunziker Auditorium). Kevin Jackson (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Jackson captured gold medals at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain and at the World Championships in both 1991 (Varna, Bulgaria) and 1995 (Atlanta). He is one of just five wrestlers in U.S. history with three career world-level titles. Jackson is a member of the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame, the United States National Wrestling Hall of Fame (as a distinguished member) and the Iowa State University Athletics Hall of Fame (2007 inductee). "We are very excited to welcome Kevin back to the Cyclone family," Pollard said. "He was captain of the last Cyclone national championship team and is a member of our Athletics Department's Hall of Fame. His competitive intensity, combined with his technical skills as a coach, will make an immediate impact on our wrestling program. For the last decade, Kevin has coached and trained the best United States wrestlers. He has excelled at the highest levels of international wrestling as both an athlete and coach." Jackson's return to Iowa State brings back fond memories for him. "Winning a national team championship at ISU remains a career highlight and I'm grateful for the opportunity to come back to Ames and lead such a distinguished program," Jackson said. "There is no ceiling to what we can accomplish on and off the mat at Iowa State and I couldn't be more excited to get started. I'm pleased to inherit such an outstanding team and we'll begin immediately to focus on hard work and technique with the goal of competing for the NCAA title. We'll build a wrestling environment at Iowa State in which our student-athletes will flourish in and our fans will respond." Currently head coach of the Sunkist youth development program, Jackson served eight years (2001-08) as the National Freestyle Coach for USA Wrestling. He was the first full-time freestyle wrestling coach for the organization and took two United States' teams to the Olympics. Two of his athletes, Cael Sanderson (2004) and Henry Cejudo (2008), won gold medals. His 2001 freestyle team won the World Cup, the 2003 team placed second and the 2006 squad finished third at that meet. Prior to his appointment as the nation's head freestyle coach, Jackson was freestyle resident coach at the Olympic Training Center and head coach for the U.S. Army team at Fort Carson (1998-2001). During that tenure, he personally trained 2000 Olympic champion Brandon Slay. As a college wrestler, he attended Louisiana State and earned All-America honors three times before the school dropped the sport. He transferred to Iowa State for his senior year and captained the Cyclones' last NCAA championship team (1987), earning another All-America award with a NCAA runner-up finish and registering a 30-3-1 record. After college, Jackson won two Pan American Games titles and was a member of World Championship teams for the United States in both 1993 and 1995. He won three U.S. National Titles and placed second five times. Jackson also became the first American to win the prestigious Takhti Cup (1998) in Tehran, Iran. During his post-collegiate competitive career, Jackson also assisted with the Cyclone Wrestling Club (1989-92) and volunteered with the Arizona State (1997) program. Jackson's success earned him a number of major awards, including the 1995 John Smith Award as National Freestyle Wrestler of the Year, 1992 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year and 1991 USA Wrestling and USOC Wrestler of the Year. He earned a bachelor of sports science degree from the U.S. Sports Academy/University of Americas in 2005. The native of Lansing, Mich., won two state high school championships for Eastern High School before becoming a Junior National Greco-Roman champion. Jackson and his wife, Robin (a native of Emmetsburg, Iowa), have five children: Cole, Bailee, Trinity, Brynn and Kira.

The end of the 2008-09 season marks a new era of InterMat. What will not change is a continued commitment to being your one-stop resource for wrestling news, features, and perspectives on the Web. There is new ownership and a new site design. In addition, there is a new commitment to coverage of high school wrestling, and it starts with these year-end rankings. The high school rankings feature the top twenty wrestlers in each weight class for the 2008-09 season, based on the weight that wrestlers competed in their respective 2009 state-level championship. The rankings reflect results and outcomes through the first weekend of April (NHSCA grade-level Nationals, USAW Cadet/Junior Folkstyle Nationals). There are many common trends between this year and those of the past. Leading the way with the most nationally ranked wrestlers is the Keystone State; Pennsylvania has 35 wrestlers in the top twenty of their given weight class. Not too far behind are New Jersey (28) and Ohio (27). These three states also dominate the top spot in each weight class -- as native sons occupy the top spot in ten of the fourteen weight classes (Ohio with 4, Pennsylvania with 3, and New Jersey with 3). While InterMat does not provide national high school team rankings, the team thought to be best in the nation this year -- Blair Academy NJ -- has eight of its starting wrestlers nationally ranked. In fact seven of these wrestlers, half of the lineup, are ranked inside the top five at their respective weight class. A pair of wrestlers -- Chris Villalonga (130) and Ed Ruth (171) -- occupied the top ranking at their weight class. The Bucs won their 29th consecutive National Prep Wrestling Championships title, along with dominant titles at the Walsh Ironman and Beast of the East. Nick Brascetta of Graham (Ohio) was the No. 1 103-pounder in the country this past season (Photo/BuckeyeWrestling.com)After a banner season, which culminated with an Ohio record seven state titles, Graham (runners-up at the Walsh Ironman) was perceived by many as the second-best team nationally. Six of these competitors are ranked inside the nation's top twenty. This includes the top overall senior in David Taylor, who also is tops in the nation at 135 pounds. Taylor won a second Super32 title, became the first to win four Ironman titles, and took home a fourth state title. Fellow Falcon Nick Brascetta (103) also occupied the top spot in the nation at his weight. With a dominant title at The Clash Duals, and yet another sweep in Minnesota's big-school state tournament (dual meet and individual), Apple Valley made a compelling case for being the third-best wrestling squad in the United States this year. They also had five wrestlers appear in the individual rankings. Two teams from the Keystone State had four wrestlers in the individual rankings: Central Dauphin and Wyoming Seminary. For a second straight year, Central Dauphin swept the dual meet and individual big-school state tournament titles. The Rams were champions at Powerade and third at Beast of the East. Wyoming Seminary finished as runners-up at National Preps and Beast of the East to Blair, were champions at Mount Mat Madness, and finished second at Escape the Rock. Another pair of teams -- both happening to be from Ohio -- had four wrestlers in the individual national rankings. However, neither St Edward nor Monroeville was particularly strong behind their respective big four grouping. St Edward lost seven dual meets during this past season, which included a pair to in-state rival Wadsworth. However, the Eagles still won their thirteenth straight big-school state title with all four of these young men making the final (three champions). All four of Monroeville's ranked wrestlers ascended to the top of the podium this year, and remain on pace to be four-time state champions. However, the team finished second in the small-school state tournament. By early March 2011, this program will have 16 state champions; one that prior to 2007 had only a lone state finalist in its history. These two teams represent part of why InterMat does not compile national high school team rankings. Logan Stieber (middle), who is the No. 1 wrestler from the Class of 2010, recently competed on the senior level and finished third at the 2009 U.S. Nationals at 121 pounds (Photo/BuckeyeWrestling.com)Three absolutely elite prospects -- David Taylor (135); Eric Grajales (135), Brandon FL; and Chris Perry (189), Stillwater OK -- top the 2009 class, which many do not consider to be as strong as last year's group or next year's group. A total of seven seniors top their respective weight class in individual national rankings -- Taylor; Ruth; Perry; Trent Weatherman (152), Ballard Huxley IA; Jake Kemerer (160), Hempfield PA; Glenn Carson (215), Southern Regional NJ; and Eloheim Palma (285), Cary NC. More similar to the 2008 class is this year's class of juniors, next year's seniors (Class of 2010). Six of these wrestlers earned top spots in the national rankings -- Villalonga, Devin Carter (112), Christiansburg VA; Jamie Clark (119), St. Edward, OH; Logan Stieber (125), Monroeville, OH; as well as Andrew (140) and Dylan (145) Alton, Central Mountain, PA. Clark, Stieber, Villalonga, and the Alton twins are part of a group of nine potential star prospects. The group also includes Marshall Peppelman (152), Central Dauphin, PA; Anthony Baldosaro (140), Eastern Regional, NJ; Lee Munster (171), Fox Lake Grant, IL; and Josh Kindig (135), Blue Mountain, PA. In the midst of this great group, Stieber is clearly at the top. Three times a state champion, and three times a Fargo freestyle champion, he finished third at 121 pounds at the senior level of the recently-contested U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas. A sophomore group (Class of 2011) that has the potential to be similarly impressive is topped by a quartet of upper-weight stars in Chris Phillips (171), Monroeville, OH; Andrew Campolattano (189), Bound Brook, NJ; Morgan McIntosh (171), Calvary Chapel, CA; and Kenny Courts (160), Central Dauphin, PA. Phillips leads this pack with two Cadet National freestyle championships, as well as two state titles; and has a two-year record of 100-1, only losing 3-2 to Ed Ruth at the December 2008 Walsh Ironman. Topping the freshman class is Taylor Massa (145), St John's MI, a double Cadet National champion this past summer; Massa was also an undefeated state champion this past season, and finished runner-up in the preseason Super32 tournament. Among junior high wrestlers, Pennsylvania native Eric Morris is the top wrestler. In the coming months and years, InterMat looks forward to providing thorough and comprehensive coverage of high school wrestling across the nation.

Manheim, Penn. - The National Wrestling Coaches Association's mission is to preserve, promote and protect college wrestling programs in all collegiate divisions. In recent months, there have been eight intercollegiate programs that have been discontinued after the 2008-09 season, thus eliminating opportunities for young men to participate at these institutions or even to finish their collegiate careers. Leaving a puzzle that needs to be solved, and asking the wrestling community what else can be done to save wrestling? Programs that have been dropped in past months include: Carson Newman, Delaware State University, Lawrence College, MIT, Norwich University, Portland State University, Rose-Hulman and Wagner College. With tough economic times pressing the country from top to bottom, it is also being heavily felt at the institutional level as budgets become more restricted and athletic departments are faced with a choice of what to do to cut cost. What we have seen so far since early 2009 is an alarming trend of the elimination of wrestling programs at all levels. The first step for the wrestling community is awareness that above programs are out there and are in desperate need of support. The NWCA is currently working with these programs and individual groups on what should be done at each individual institution. In the coming months, as talks with these institutions grow, the NWCA will be asking for the help and support of the wrestling community. As it is determined what needs to be done to reinstate wrestling at these schools for future generations. At this time the NWCA would like to let the wrestling community know about the following attempts that are being made to reinstate dropped programs and/or to strengthen our existing teams: * The NWCA has been educating Boards of Trustees on the important role that wrestling can serve in helping small, private enrollment conscious schools maintain or grow their enrollment through this deteriorating economy. Few, if any male sports have a more favorable ratio of high school participants to college opportunities (260,000 high school wrestlers vs. only 260 four year programs). * Several of the discontinued programs have been attributable to poor retention and graduation rates of athletes. The NWCA has retained the consulting services of Mark Gumble, a nationally recognized member of the National Association of Athletic Academic Advisors, a group that is funded by the NCAA to oversee APR improvement strategies. * As part of a longer term strategy, the NWCA is rolling out the first phase of its College Coaching Academy at the August Convention which is designed to help coaches strengthen their CEO skills so they can protect their programs. * The NWCA has identified wrestling's most threatened intercollegiate wrestling programs in each collegiate division and will be assigning each coach (who is willing to participate) to an experienced mentor (high profile athletic administrator, coach, business CEO, etc). * The NWCA is collaborating with the head wrestling coach and alumni group's at all eight institutions to raise money in support of each discontinued program. * The NWCA has solicited the help from top military leaders to inspire the Norwich University (military school) to reconsider it s decision to eliminate wrestling. * The NWCA is collaborating with the Delaware Wrestling Alliance, a group of highly influential business professionals, to work toward an alternative solution that keeps the program intact. * The NWCA is making its best efforts to leverage the work of the New York City "Beat the Streets" organization (they have recently started 42 new high school wrestling programs in NYC) to save the Wagner wrestling program. One of Wagner's most prominent undergraduate degree programs is teacher education. We are doing everything possible to help the administration understand that the newly established Beat the Streets high school teams are not sustainable without quality teacher coaches at each school. * The NWCA is facilitating possible lawsuits in several of the discontinued programs. * The NWCA has provided valuable "program entrenchment" data to the alumni groups connected with each discontinued program. More information on Program Entrenchment, which is the opportunities that are currently available, programs that have been discontinued, and how to prevent the termination of existing programs, can be found on the NWCA website at www.nwcaonline.com. 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.

2009 US Nationals freestyle champions Trent and Travis Paulson will be radio show guests Wednesday night. Trent Paulson recently won the US Nationals freestyle competition at 145.5 pounds by defeating University of Iowa star Brent Metcalf in the finals. Trent was a three-time All-American at Iowa State University where he capped off a great collegiate career with an NCAA title at 157 pounds in 2007. Travis Paulson also won a US Nationals freestyle title in Las Vegas at 163 pounds. Travis was a three-time All-American at Iowa State University. Trent and Travis combined to win five high school state titles at Council Bluffs Lewis Central (IA). The twins will have a strong hometown crowd cheering them on at the World Team Trials on May 30-31 in Council Bluffs. "On the Mat" 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.

Andrew Hipps, senior writer and founder of RevWrestling.com, will be the featured Wrestling 411 Radio guest this Thursday, April 30 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 Thursday'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. Hipps is a senior writer and founder of RevWrestling.com. The site – one of the premiere wrestling websites in the nation – recently acquired Intermatwrestle.com from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Hipps will discuss the recent acquisition of InterMat and the college coaching changes occurring across the nation. RevWrestling.com is also a contributor to CollegeWrestlingNetwork.com. 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.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- University of Illinois Director of Athletics Ron Guenther announced the promotion of long-time assistant coach Jim Heffernan to the position of head wrestling coach. Heffernan has been the top assistant under recently retired head coach Mark Johnson for the past 17 years at Illinois and two previous seasons at Oregon State. "I am pleased to announce Jim Heffernan as our head wrestling coach," Guenther said. "Jim has been an assistant in our program for the past 17 years and was an integral part of the program's success. He has displayed exceptional loyalty and has a great understanding of the University of Illinois. Jim had an exceptional career as a collegiate wrestler and is well respected in the wrestling community. I look forward to working with him to advance our program to the next level." Heffernan, 45, takes over for Johnson, who was the Illinois wrestling head coach for the past 17 years. Heffernan was an assistant coach on the Illini staff throughout that entire tenure as well as the two seasons they spent at Oregon State prior to coming to Champaign. Heffernan has helped guide Illinois to 10 Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and has helped produce seven national champions, 45 All-Americans and 120 NCAA qualifiers. "I would like to thank Ron Guenther for giving me the opportunity to carry on the tradition Mark Johnson and I had started 17 years ago," Heffernan said. "I feel extremely fortunate to remain at Illinois as the next head wrestling coach, as this is where I want to finish my career. Champaign-Urbana and the University of Illinois have been a great place to live, work and raise my family and we are pleased to be able to continue to call it home as we move forward. I would also like to thank Vince Ille, Tom Porter, Terry Cole, Dana Brenner and Susan Young for their role in the decision making process. They were all extremely helpful and I am grateful to them for their support." Heffernan helped lead the Illini to a Big Ten championship in 2005, three consecutive Midlands titles from 2004-06 and 17 consecutive winning seasons in dual meets. He has twice been named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 1995 and 2001, and he also was named the AFLAC Assistant Coach of the Year in 2003. "I'm extremely happy that Jim Heffernan will be the new coach of the Fighting Illini," former head coach Mark Johnson said. "He has paid his dues as a part of a very successful program at the University of Illinois for the past 17 years and he deserves this opportunity. I wish him the best and will be his biggest fan." A 1987 graduate of the University of Iowa, Heffernan was a four-time All-American and the 150-pound NCAA champion in 1986. He earned Iowa's Male Athlete of the Year honor in 1987 and was a four-time Big Ten champion. He also led the Hawkeyes to three NCAA championships and four Big Ten titles during his time in Iowa City. "As I transition into my new role, there will be big shoes to fill," Heffernan said. "Mark Johnson has raised the expectations and standards of the program to an extremely high level. Those expectations and goals are something I will continue to embrace as we continue on to the next chapter in Ilini wrestling. Further, I would like to commend our student-athletes for the way they handled themselves through this difficult situation. There was a lot of uncertainty throughout the last month but they remained positive, motivated and continued to work hard through the resolution of the decision." Heffernan began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa before becoming an assistant coach at Lehigh in 1988. After a two-year stint in Bethlehem, Pa., Heffernan joined Johnson's staff at Oregon State as an assistant coach in 1990. He also coached the Cadet Wrestling Team at the world championships in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1992, and led the USA World Espoir Team in 1989. Heffernan graduated from national wrestling powerhouse St. Edward High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he won a pair of state titles. Heffernan and his wife, Rebecca, live in Champaign with their son, Sean, and daughter, Alex. University of Illinois names Jim Heffernan head wrestling coach WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT HEFFERNAN Dan Gable "Jim and I go back a long time. He was able to step right in as a freshman at Iowa and start on a national championship team, which was pretty impressive. I just knew that he would go on and do a good job coaching. I'm really glad to see that he's able to carry on in the Illinois program. I think the big thing is that now his work is really going to begin. It's going to be his program and whatever he did in the past to make it good, he's going to be the guy who will decide how good it can be. His commitment has always been there and I don't question it, but I know he'll have to go to another level. He'll have to get a lot of people around him to help him and I don't think he'll take a backseat to anyone. I think he'll take that challenge. He knows what to do and has the right attitude to do it." J Robinson "I am extremely happy that Jim Heffernan has been given the opportunity to lead the Illinois wrestling program. He has a great background as a wrestler in high school and at Iowa. He's been an assistant for 20 years and I think it's great that people who are loyal to the university are given a chance. I think Jim will continue to build upon some of the great things that have been done during the last 17 years when he was with Mark Johnson and I'm looking forward to welcoming him as one of the Big Ten's coaches." Steve Marianetti "I'm first relieved and then excited for Jim. After 17 years of being an assistant, Jim deserves a chance to lead the Illini. First off, Jim has always made a huge impression on the alumni. The alumni love him and he's been a huge part of their life. He's had a quiet but powerful influence behind the scenes. Now he has a chance for our state and the country to see his ability to lead. Mark has always been such a good front-man and leader that Jim hasn't had to step into that role as much, but we all know that he has it in him. Being part of the program, we see that every day. We have seen him lead in the room, but not many people have been privy to that view." Adam Tirapelle "Illinois not only has a great wrestling program but also a great tradition of having a strong, ethical, well-respected program where its student-athletes graduate and go on to become productive members of society. Not only does Jim understand that, but he's also been a big part of creating that and I'm sure he'll continue to uphold that same high standard. He's also one of the best technical coaches in the country and I'm sure he'll surround himself with the people who will fill the roles necessary to make a great coaching staff." Alex Tirapelle "Jim brings a real level of professionalism and compassion to the program. It's a one-of-a-kind program because they really care about the kids and they treat them as their own. Jim's a father-figure type of coach. He'll look after the wrestlers and they'll become part of the program's family for the rest of their life. He'll look out for what's best for you and give you sound advice." Mike Polz "I'm really happy and excited that Illinois has chosen to hire Jim. He brings a ton of experience since he's been along for the whole ride with Mark Johnson at Illinois and before that at Oregon State. His credentials say a lot. He's very familiar with the Big Ten over a long period of time and he's a good person. He's a great technician and it'll bring a lot to the program and keep it moving in the direction it was going." THE HEFFERNAN FILE College Coaching Experience • Illinois, assistant coach (1992-present) • Oregon State, assistant coach (1990-92) • Lehigh, assistant coach (1988-89) • Iowa, graduate assistant (1987) Honors • AFLAC Assistant Coach of the Year Award (2003) • NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year (1995 & 2001) • Iowa's Male Athlete of the Year (1987) • NCAA 150-pound Champion (1986) • Four-time All-American, University of Iowa (1984-87) International Coaching Experience • Cadet Wrestling Team, Istanbul, Turkey (1992) • USA World Espoir Team (1989)

Jim Heffernan, the new head wrestling coach at the University of Illinois, will be the featured Wrestling 411 Radio guest this Wednesday, April 29 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 Wednesday'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. Heffernan was named the University of Illinois' 14th head coach at a 2 p.m. press conference on April 28. Heffernan, the head assistant at the program for 17 years, will replace Mark Johnson who recently resigned his post. A 1987 graduate of the University of Iowa, Heffernan was a four-time All-American and the 150-pound NCAA champion in 1986. He earned Iowa's Male Athlete of the Year honor in 1987 and was a four-time Big Ten champion. He also led the Hawkeyes to three NCAA championships and four Big Ten titles during his time in Iowa City. 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.

At this point, it would appear that NC State wrestling coach Carter Jordan is accumulating national champions. In addition to having Darrion Caldwell, the 2009 NCAA champion at 149 pounds already on hand, Jordan now has signed a trio of high school national champions who will join the Wolfpack as freshmen in 2009-10 season. The latest high school national champion to sign with the Wolfpack is heavyweight Eloheim Palma of nearby Cary High School. Palma, the younger brother of former Wolfpack standout Jainor Palma, was ranked the No. 1 high school heavyweight in the nation for much of the past school year. He won his third consecutive North Carolina 4-A state championship in February before rolling through through six matches and winning the national championship at the Senior National High School Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach earlier this month. Palma officially finished his season with a 62-0 record, which does not count the six matches at the national tournament. Palma also won an exhibition match in January when he defeated third-ranked Sean Owen at the Dapper Dan Classic in Pittsburgh, Pa. At the national tournament, he defeated 12th-ranked John Glenn 5-4, fourth-ranked Toby Erickson by first-period fall, and second-ranked Roger McCovey 3-2. Including his earlier victory over Owen at the Dapper Dan Classic, Palma either defeated or finished ahead of seven nationally ranked wrestlers between March 15 and April 5. Palma finished his career at Cary as a three-time state champion with a career won-lost mark of 222-9. He went 62-0 as a senior and 55-0 as a junior. He won 181 of his final 182 high school bouts, again not counting national tournaments and national exhibitions. As stated earlier, Palma is the third high school national champion signed by the Wolfpack for 2009-10. In November, NC State signed 189-pounder Andrew Tumlin of Harrison (Ohio) High School. Tumlin won the national freestyle championship at 189 pounds earlier this month. Two weeks ago, the Pack signed 130-pounder Dale Shull of Fort Lupton High School in Greeley, Col. Shull won the 130-pound bout at the Senior National High School Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, the same tournament where Palma was crowned national champ.

Mike Novogratz, Chairman of Beat the Streets Wrestling Program, will be the featured Wrestling 411 Radio guest this Tuesday, April 28 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. CST. Each show will include a featured guest and brief commentary on the recent happenings in wrestling. This Tuesday's edition of Wrestling 411 Radio will air at 10 a.m. CST. 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. Novogratz is the current chairman of Beat the Streets, an organization designed to expand and develop wrestling from the youth through the Olympic level. In 2007, Novogratz was honored with the Outstanding American Award by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his philanthropic work with wrestling. On April 30, 2009, Beat the Streets Wrestling Program will host its annual gala fundraiser "Golden Night at Guastavino's" in New York City to help continue the organizations work in providing 3,500 boys and girls wrestling opportunities and safe havens for them to practice. 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.

DOVER, Del. -– Delaware State University's Department of Athletics has announced that it will discontinue its wrestling program effective the 2009-10 academic year, reducing the number of sports offered from 18 to 17. "Dropping the wrestling program was a very difficult decision influenced by several factors," said acting DSU President Claibourne D. Smith. "Like a number of programs around the nation being discontinued in these economic times, it is with regret that the University can no longer field a wrestling program adequate to University and NCAA expectations." Student-athletes presently receiving athletic scholarships in the wrestling program will continue to receive the same dollar amount, AD Young-Sanders said, provided they maintain good academic standing for 2009-10 school year. She added further that the reason for making the announcement now was to give full support to any wrestler wishing to transfer to another institution. A review of the program took place due to ongoing concerns of financial viability, academic deficiencies and the lack of improvement with the Academic Progress Rate (APR) at the NCAA Division I level, said acting Director of Athletics Candy Young-Sanders. "With the tough economic times, including budget cuts state-wide, the wrestling program was in serious distress in several areas and the University lacks the resources to fix many of the problems," said AD Young-Sanders. Of great concern have been the state's budget cuts and their potential impact on the University. The entire University is engaged in prioritizing budgets and making cuts, AD Young-Sanders explained. "We don't have the ability to put additional monies toward the wrestling program to give it needed improvements and support," she said. Along with the budgetary concerns, AD Young-Sanders points to the team's low APR scores. The program has not achieved nor progressed in the APR to the standards mandated by the NCAA. Two consecutive years of perfect APR scores (1,000) by the wrestling program would still not bring the team to level that NCAA requires (925), resulting in severe penalties that will affect the entire Delaware State Athletic Department, including its Division I status. Wrestling, along with football and men's basketball programs, have been assessed historical penalties (last four years of data) in the latest APR report, due to be made public on May 6. With the number of coaching changes and the inability to retain student-athletes, it is anticipated that the wrestling program will be hit with a penalty as a result of the four-year average APR score, impacting the program's scholarship levels, practice times and roster size, the acting-AD said. AD Young-Sanders said the team made great improvements this past season, with 100 percent retention. Head Coach Ken Melchior took over the position last September and kept the team in good academic standing, while recording more victories than the squad had produced in the past few years. "Coach Melchior's efforts in trying to get the DSU wrestling program righted over the past year is to be commended," said AD Young-Sanders. "In less than one year, Coach Melchior found success on and off the mat, winning more contests than this team has seen in a number of years, and maintaining support in the wrestling community. Unfortunately, the emotional support has not translated into the long-term financial support needed to keep the program going." The loss of the wrestling program will bring DSU's gender equity percentages closer, the acting-AD said. Including the wrestling program, the DSU athletics programs had an overall percentage breakdown of 58% male and 42% female. With the discontinuation of the wrestling program, the male percentage is reduced by 4-5%, resulting in an improved parity in intercollegiate sports opportunities for DSU men and women. Delaware State Athletics is an NCAA Division I member that competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, equestrian, indoor and outdoor track, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, indoor and outdoor track, and tennis. Back