InterMat Staff

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State was in the spotlight on the freestyle wrestling stage this weekend, with former Cowboy Steve Mocco winning the gold medal and Obenson Blanc taking silver at the Pan American Games in Maracaibo, Venezuela and current Cowboys Jordan Oliver and Clayton Foster both winning championships at the University Freestyle National Championships in Akron, Ohio. Incoming Cowboy signee Albert White and former OSU NCAA champion Coleman Scott both took second place in their respective weight classes at the University Freestyle Championships, with Tyler Shinn placing fifth at the event. Mocco won three bouts in becoming the only American wrestler to claim gold at the Pan Am games, with two of his victories coming by fall. He opened with a 2-0, 1-0 win over Elier Romero of Cuba and followed that performance up with a first-period pin of the Dominican Republic's Carlos Felix Garcia. In the championship bout, the former Cowboy NCAA champion pinned Michael Neufeld of Canada. Mocco won his first U.S. Nationals title in early April in Las Vegas. Blanc took the silver after toppling El Salvador's Jose Edgardo Ramos by a 1-0, 3-0 score in the first round and beating Canada's Aso Palani by a convincing 3-0, 5-1 margin in the second round before losing in the finals to Cuba's Luis Ibanez Rojas, 0-2, 2-3. Wrestling at 60 kilograms, Jordan Oliver won the title bout at the University Freestyle Nationals by forfeit over Coleman Scott. Being Gator Club and Oklahoma State teammates, the two wrestlers never took the mat so it can be argued that Oliver and Scott were in fact co-champions, though Oliver is recognized as the sole winner after Scott chose to forfeit. Oliver was nothing short of dominant on his path to the crown, claiming technical fall victories over each of his first three opponents and pinning his fourth opponent before claiming a comfortable 2-0, 4-0 win over Iowa State's Andrew Long in the semifinals. Sunday's title marked Oliver's second championship of the spring, as he stormed to the title at the FILA Junior National Championships earlier this month. Competing in his first freestyle event since taking the bronze medal at last year's FILA Junior World Championships, Foster claimed technical fall wins over West Virginia's Ryan Fell and The Citadel's Manuel Camargo in the first and second rounds, respectively. He then dropped Northern Iowa's Dustin Bauman by a 2-0, 2-0 decision before crushing Newberry's Bryant Blanton by a 6-0, 5-1 decision. Foster was a 3-1, 1-0 winner over Dickinson State's Jake Kallestad in the semis before pinning Cornell's Cameron Simaz in the second period of the 96 kilogram championship bout. Though he was recognized as the second place finisher after agreeing to forfeit the championship bout to Jordan Oliver, Scott had an impressive run through the 60 kilogram bracket. He route was highlighted by a 3-0, 2-1 decision over 2009 NCAA champion Franklin Gomez of Michigan State in the third round. Scott was only scored on twice in his five matches, not counting the forfeit. Also taking second at the University Freestyle Championships was incoming signee Albert White, who was runner-up at 70 kilos. White, who figures to compete at 149 pounds for the Cowboys, started with a 2-0, 2-0 shutout of Purdue's Nick Bertucci, then followed that up with a 0-1, 3-0, 2-1 victory over Harvard's Walter Peppelman. White then dumped Iowa State's Mitch Mueller by a 2-1, 1-0 decision before handing Michigan's Anthony Jones a 1-3, 2-0, 1-0 defeat. In the semifinals, White was a 2-0, 3-0 winner over Rider's Michael Kessler before he suffered a 0-1, 2-0, 3-1 loss to Northern Iowa's Brett Robbins in the title bout. Shinn took fifth at the University Freestyle Championships after picking up early wins over Richard Lyon and Northwestern's Eric Metzler before he was bumped into the wrestleback with a 1-0, 2-1 loss at the hands of Bucknell's David Marble in the quarterfinals. Shinn regrouped to beat Boise State's Levi Jones and Lyon a second time before being upended by Minnesota's Mike Thorn. In the fifth-place bout, Shinn pitched a dominating 3-0, 6-0 shutout against Appalachian State's Jacob Earp.

Kim Couture

Ask a current wrestler or fan about Dan Hodge, and here's what they're likely to say: "He's the guy whose name is on the Hodge Trophy." "He's the only amateur wrestler to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated." "I saw him on the NCAAs a couple years ago, crushing an apple with his bare hand on live TV." All those statements are true. But there's so much more to the life story of Daniel Allen Hodge, beyond his incredible high school, college and Olympic wrestling career more than 50 years ago. Even the most dedicated wrestling fans may not know about Hodge's boxing career or his nearly twenty years in the professional wrestling ring � or anything about his personal life. Now they will, thanks to wrestling historian Mike Chapman, who paints a richly detailed portrait of this sports legend in Oklahoma Shooter: The Dan Hodge Story, a brand-new, 197-page book -- including 66 photos, many never before published, by Culture House Books. (A quick word about the title: It has nothing to do Hodge's skill at scoring takedowns, or with hunting. In pro wrestling, where, as Chapman puts it, "98% of matches have pre-arranged outcomes," a "shoot" is a match wrestled for real. Hodge was revered -- and feared -- by other pros for his actual wrestling skills, speed, and incredible strength.) Chapman's the man to tell the Hodge story Mike Chapman has the credentials to write the definitive biography of Dan Hodge. For starters, he's one of the nation's leading wrestling historians, who has written 14 books about the sport, and is the founder of WIN (Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine). He has been named National Wrestling Writer of the Year five times. In addition, Chapman is the founder and executive director of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute & Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. Perhaps just as significant: Mike Chapman has called Dan Hodge a friend for more than three decades. "I first met Dan in 1975, when I was writing Two Guys Named Dan (a book about Dan Hodge and Dan Gable)," according to Chapman. "When I got a hold of him on the phone, he said, 'Come on down' so I drove down to his home in Perry, Oklahoma to meet him in person." "Early in the conversation, I asked him about the sleeper hold," Chapman continues. "He said, 'See for yourself' and put me in the sleeper right there in his living room, in front of a bunch of neighborhood kids." "We've been friends ever since." "I've always wanted to do a book about the guy. A lot of people have asked, 'Why don't you do a book about Hodge?' So, at the opening of our museum in Waterloo two years ago, I made a commitment to write his story." A sports superstar For those who may only know Dan Hodge as a name on a trophy, here are just some of the highlights of his amateur wrestling career: 1951 Oklahoma high school state champ. Three-time Big Seven conference champ and three-time NCAA titlewinner for the University of Oklahoma, 1955-1957. A perfect 46-0 record in college, with 36 of those wins by fall. Named NCAA Outstanding Wrestler two times. Two-time U.S. Olympic wrestler, winning the silver medal at the 1956 Melbourne Games. In 2005, Dan Hodge was one of 15 college wrestlers to earn a place on the NCAA's 75th Anniversary list of all-time great wrestlers, in online voting by amateur wrestling fans. He was the oldest wrestler to be so honored, and one of only three who competed before 1970 (along with Yojiro Uetake and Dan Gable). In addition, Hodge is the only athlete to win titles in both wrestling and boxing. The one man who beat Hodge Despite being undefeated on the mat as an Oklahoma Sooner, there is one man who beat Dan Hodge on a regular basis: his grandfather. "Dan had a very rough background," says Mike Chapman. "He was born in 1932 in Perry, Oklahoma, during the Great Depression, and in the midst of the Dust Bowl. (Oklahoma Shooter does an excellent job of presenting just how challenging life was on the Oklahoma plains 70+ years ago.) His dad was an itinerate oil worker who traveled a lot from job to job, so he wasn't home much." "In 1939, the Hodge house was destroyed in a fire that seriously burned Dan's mother. She was in and out of hospitals for a couple years. The kids were split up; Dan was sent to live with his grandpa." Here's how Hodge described his grandfather on page 17 of Oklahoma Shooter: "Harley Hodge was mean," said Dan, his voice lowering, his face grim, even six decades after moving in with his grandpa. "He was born in 1888 in Kansas, and came to the Cherokee Strip land run. He was also an alcoholic. Always drinking, always mad. He liked to hit me with a cane." After several years of abuse and hiding from his grandpa, Dan decided he had enough. He left the house for good, determined to find another place to live. Important introductions in high school After living in a succession of homes, in his freshman year of high school, Hodge found a new "home", above the Perry Fire Station. He earned his keep by keeping the truck and firehouse clean. On weekends, he worked at a gas station. In high school, Dan Hodge was introduced to two things that changed his life. First, he met his eventual life partner, Dolores Bradshaw, sister of one of his teammates, in eleventh grade. "They dated no one else in high school," discloses Mike Chapman. Dolores and Dan were married in August 1951, and, will be celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary later this year. In high school, Dan Hodge met his eventual life partner, Dolores Bradshaw, sister of one of his teammates (Photo/Oklahoma Shooter)Dan Hodge also discovered the sport of wrestling. As a junior at Perry High, Hodge was runner-up at the Oklahoma state tournament. Vowing to do better his senior year, Hodge was undefeated, and won the 165-pound state title in 1951. Despite his successful prep career, Dan Hodge didn't attract the attention of the two biggest college wrestling programs in the state, Oklahoma State (then called Oklahoma A&M) in nearby Stillwater, or the University of Oklahoma, 70 miles to the south in Norman. Instead, after graduation, Hodge joined the Naval Reserves � then, later that summer, was sent to boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center outside Chicago. While in the Navy, Hodge developed further as a wrestler, representing the U.S. in freestyle at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, where he placed fifth in his weight class. Sooner bloomer As his two-year commitment to serve in the Navy was winding down, Dan Hodge was actively recruited by Jack Riley, head coach at Northwestern who was a two-time NCAA heavyweight champ and 1932 Olympic silver medalist. Hodge also received a phone call from Port Robertson, University of Oklahoma coach, who had befriended him at the 1952 U.S. Olympic Trials. Hodge told Robertson that Riley had talked about eventually making him the coach of the Wildcats, but, according to Oklahoma Shooter, the Sooner coach replied, "You can't do that. We need you right here at Oklahoma." At Oklahoma, Dan Hodge became THE dominant wrestler of the 1950s. Wrestling at 177 pounds, Hodge was 46-0, with 36 falls (Photo/Oklahoma Shooter)With that, Hodge became the greatest wrestler to ever compete for the Oklahoma Sooners, not the Northwestern Wildcats � or the Oklahoma State Cowboys. In Oklahoma Shooter, Mike Chapman tells why Hodge chose to wrestle at the school in Norman, not Stillwater. In his three years wrestling varsity for Oklahoma (back then, NCAA rules prohibited freshmen from competing intercollegiately), Dan Hodge became THE dominant wrestler of the 1950s. Wrestling at 177 pounds, Hodge was 46-0, with 36 falls -- "the highest pin percentage in college, just a bit higher than Dan Gable's," according to Chapman. He's one of only two wrestlers to win three NCAA titles who won all three championships by pin. He was never taken down in college. Hodge earned the nicknames "Dangerous Dan" and "Homicide Hodge" because of his pinning power. He was possessed with incredible strength, especially in his wrists (which he demonstrated on the ESPN broadcast of the 2006 NCAAs by crushing apples into applesauce). In college, he defeated some top-ranked stars of the era, including Oklahoma State's 1949 NCAA champ Jim Gregson, 1953-1954 NCAA titlewinner Ned Blass of Oklahoma State, Pacific Conference champ John Dustin of Oregon State, and eventual NCAA champ (and future Iowa Hawkeye head coach) Gary Kurdelmeier. In Oklahoma Shooter, Chapman describes one of Kurdelmeier's bouts with Hodge, in which the broad-shouldered, hairy-chested Hawkeye became the first wrestler to prevent the lean-muscled Sooner from scoring a takedown in the first period. But, by the second period, the tide had turned, and another great wrestler had fallen to Hodge's pinning power. Just as interesting, in Shooter, Chapman shares Kurdelmeier's insights into what made Hodge so great � and adds his own analysis: Gary KurdelmeierWhile many fans thought Hodge was just too powerful for most opponents, Kurdelmeier and others who wrestled him knew it was far more than strength that made Hodge such an outstanding wrestler. He was a keen student of the holds and leverage techniques that worked best, and was a fanatical trainer. Hodge ran constantly to work on his conditioning, could walk long distances on his hands, and even do a one-handed stand for long periods of time, showing not only superb strength but great balance. While in college, Dan Hodge made another run at wrestling for the U.S. at the 1956 Olympics. Oklahoma Shooter goes into heartbreaking detail of Hodge's quest to make the U.S. team then, the injustice that occurred on the mat in Melbourne, Australia that cost him the gold medal. Putting on the gloves Dan Hodge (Photo/Oklahoma Shooter)After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with three Big Seven conference crowns, three NCAA titles, two NCAA Outstanding Wrestler awards, and a cover story in the April 1, 1957 issue of Sports Illustrated (the only amateur wrestler to ever appear on the magazine's cover as an amateur wrestler), Dan Hodge accepted a job as a salesman for a oil drilling company in Wichita, Kansas. The owner of the business -- Art Freeman, a former wrestler at Oklahoma himself -- thought Hodge would be a natural as a boxer. "He won the Kansas Golden Gloves (amateur) title, then won the National Golden Gloves title within a year of graduating college," according to Mike Chapman. "He was compared to Rocky Marciano, the great heavyweight champ who retired undefeated a couple years earlier, always moving forward, willing to take punches." With his sensational amateur boxing career right from the start -- a 17-0 record, with 13 knockouts -- Dan Hodge was encouraged to turn pro with ultimately disastrous results. Hodge is quoted in Oklahoma Shooter as saying: "It's a rotten business and you can't trust anybody." It's in this section that Chapman's knowledge and passion for combat sports come together to tell an upsetting yet compelling, cautionary tale of a great athlete who was cheated out of all his earnings … but, luckily, got out of the boxing game without disabling injury. Throwing his hat into the pro wrestling ring After walking away from boxing, Dan Hodge picked up the phone and called Leroy McGuirk, a 1931 NCAA wrestling champ at Oklahoma State for legendary coach Ed Gallagher, who was now a professional wrestling promoter. Along with McGuirk, Hodge was mentored by another all-time pro wrestling legend, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, who helped the NCAA champ make the transition to the squared circle. "Hodge was a no-gimmick wrestler," according to Mike Chapman. "He went into the ring and wrestled." With that straightforward approach -- and reputation as an amateur wrestling champ -- Hodge earned the respect of other pro wrestlers. Here's just one example from the pages of Oklahoma Shooter: Like a young Billy the Kid in the Old West, Hodge was marked as a shooter, the real deal. Few had the courage to test him in the ring, but there was an exception or two. One such test came from Wayne Martin, a very aggressive wrestler who had also been a three-time NCAA champion for the University of Oklahoma in the late 1930s. "Wayne was smaller than me but was very tough," said Hodge. "I think he was jealous of my big build-up, and all that. The first time we tied up, he tried some stuff and I shut him right down. Then he put up his fists like he wanted to slug. I raised mine and said, 'Let's go.'" "I had to show him who was boss," said Hodge, matter-of-factly. "After that, he was okay and we had some good matches." Hodge enjoyed a nearly two-decade career in professional wrestling, primarily working the southwest U.S. and Japan. However, that career came crashing down on a road trip in Louisiana in 1976, when his car flipped onto its top in water. Despite suffering a multitude of serious injuries -- including a broken neck -- Hodge used his incredible physical strength and mental toughness to pull himself out of the car through the broken windshield, then made his way up to the guardrail where a trucker found him. Dan's still The Man Dan Hodge was possessed with incredible strength (Photo/Oklahoma Shooter)Despite that near-fatal car wreck, Dan Hodge is not whiling away the time in a rocking chair. He still makes appearances at amateur and professional wrestling events, delighting fans of all ages with his friendly, sincere, down-to-earth attitude and demonstrations of that legendary grip strength he still possesses. In 1995, Mike Chapman and WIN established the Hodge Trophy, awarded each year to the best college wrestler in the country who embodies all that made Dan Hodge one of the all-time mat greats. Among the winners of the Hodge: Jake Herbert (2009), Brent Metcalf (2008), Ben Askren (2006 and 2007), and Cael Sanderson (2000-2002). By any measure, Dan Hodge has lived quite a life, as a champion in wrestling and boxing, as a husband, father, and grandfather. Oklahoma Shooter does a great job weaving all the elements of a championship life and career into a compelling read for any sports fan. To purchase copies of Oklahoma Shooter: The Dan Hodge Story direct from the publisher for $22.95 plus $5 shipping and handling, mail to: Culture House Books, P.O. Box 283, Newton, Iowa 50208 or call 641.791.3072. A limited number of copies signed by Dan Hodge are available.

AKRON, Ohio -- University of Northern Iowa wrestler Brett Robbins captured the 70 kilogram freestyle title at the 2009 ASICS University & FILA Cadet National Championships. Teammate Ryan Jauch placed third in the 55 kg freestyle weight class. Robbins was a perfect 6-0 in the tournament and won the title with a 0-1, 2-0, 3-1 decision over Albert White. Jauch placed third after posting a mark of 5-1. Jauch defeated Frank Lomas in the third-place match, 2-0, 6-0. Jauch's only loss came to eventual champion Zach Sanders (Minnesota).

The Minnesota wrestling program has added another gem to it 2008-09 recruiting class. Minnesota recruit Tony Nelson is InterMat's 49th best recruit in the country (Photo/The Guillotine)Cambridge-Isanti High School product Tony Nelson, the nation's top-ranked prospect at 215 pounds, signed a National Letter of Intent with the Golden Gophers Friday, head coach J Robinson announced. The 2009 Minnesota Class AAA state champion, Nelson posted a 47-0 record as a senior, including a staggering 35 wins by fall. He also captured the 2009 National Wrestling Championship in the 215-pound class, going 6-0 during the tournament with three pins. In the national championship match, Nelson pinned his opponent in 30 seconds. "We are really happy that Tony has decided to stay in state and attend the University of Minnesota," head coach Robinson said. "He is everything you are looking for a state champion, a national champion and the valedictorian of his high school class. How could you ask for anything more?" Nelson was a state tournament place-winner as a junior and a sophomore, finishing as the runner-up in 2008 after recording a third-place finish in 2007. He also won more than 40 bouts in each of the final three seasons of his prep career, going 44-3 as a junior and 41-6 as a sophomore. In all, Nelson concluded his high school career with an impressive 141-18 record as a prep, including 80 victories by fall, and was named an academic All-American for his success in the classroom. In addition to his prowess on the mat, Nelson also starred on the gridiron as a standout defensive end and linebacker. The 2008 Mississippi Eight Conference Linebacker of the Year, Nelson collected 112 tackles, including 20 for losses, as a senior and earned all-metro and all-conference accolades and received honorable mention all-state recognition from The Associated Press. He finished his three-year football career with 259 tackles. The addition of Nelson, to go along with Thursday's re-signing of Olympian Jake Deitchler, could push Robinson's 2008-09 recruiting class to the top of the national recruiting rankings. Heading into the week, the class already included Jake Kettler (Ramsey, Minn.), Alec Ortiz (Newberg Ore.), Bart Reiter (Gilbertville, Iowa), Pat Smith (Chaska, Minn.), Kevin Steinhaus (Pennock, Minn.), David Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.) and Danny Zilverberg (Wayzata, Minn.) as well as Jake Filkins (Prescott, Wis.) and Austin Waliullah (Rockton, Ill.), who inked Acceptance of Admission forms with the Gophers. The class was ranked No. 6 in the nation according to W.I.N magazine prior the addition of Nelson, Deitchler, Filkins and Waliullah.

Tommy Rowlands

Dan Gable, a two-time NCAA champion from Iowa State and long-time wrestling coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, and Andy Hamilton, wrestling beat writer for the Iowa City Press-Citizen, will be the featured guests on Wrestling 411 Radio on Thursday, April 23. This Thursday's edition of Wrestling 411 Radio will air at 7 p.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. Gable was a two-time NCAA champion and three-time All-American for Iowa State from 1968-70. He coached the Iowa Hawkeyes to 15 NCAA team titles from 1977 through 1997. Hamilton is the wrestling beat writer for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. His articles have appeared in a variety of publications, including ESPN.com. Hamilton was named the National Wrestling Media Association Journalist of the Year in 2004 and was given the Dellinger Award in 2005. 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.

What a week in college Wrestling. The other foot is yet to drop. Just wait for it.....We return to the Brute Adidas Studios for an in depth look at the happenings and the future of the coming weeks. Take a look at our recent episodes of TDRtv on Takedownradio.com as we strive to do better each and every episode. This week we look to the coming World Team May 30th and 31st in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Our scheduled guests this week include: Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley joins us to discuss the hiring of Cael Sanderson, his expectations and the timeline associated with those in and around the program. This may be one of the greatest sports hiring coupe's in the history of sport. If I were Tim I might consider retiring now. How do you top this one? Dan Wirnsberger- Head Coach of the Bison at Bucknell. We've been following this program since it was brought back and we look to continue that trend. How will the Cael hire affect his recruiting if at all/ Summer Camps and clinics? Wirnsberger has great expectations for his returning squad and high hopes for his incoming recruits. Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon- Lauzon, star of The Ultimate Fighter 5 television reality show talks to us six weeks after knee surgery, UFC lightweight prospect Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon (18-4, 5 KOs, 13 submissions is rehabilitating his leg, and recovery is ahead of schedule. He can't fight until the grafting is fully healed, which probably won't be until the spring of 2010. The 24-year-old Lauzon is not about to rush his recovery, despite his competitive drive, and desire to be fighting again. www.joelauzon.com. Tom Ryan-Hd Coach The Ohio State Buckeyes- Tom Ryan has sparked a remarkable turnaround in this Big 10 powerhouse. Named RevWrestling.com's Coach of the year for the 2nd consecutive year, Ryan has his squad set to challenge for the next several years. Ryan recently lost Tommy Rowlands as asst. on his staff. Rowland's job goes to Buckeye powerhouse J Jaggers. Mo Lawal- Sorry "KING MO"- You either liked him or you didn't and it did not matter in the least to this former Cowboy. He's been around the world and now makes his living in MMA with big wins over Travis Wiuff and Fabio Silva. Mo started wrestling at sixteen. His second year he was state runner-up, and his senior year he won. He then went Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma, competing for three years. His last year he transferred to Oklahoma State and earned third and an all-American honors. Mo went on to win university nationals in freestyle, third at nationals, and few national freestyle titles. Catch up with Mo! Kerry McCoy- Head Coach at Maryland- Every time a head coaching position opens up Kerry McCoy's name keeps popping up. Debbie Yow has got Kerry's back, he's got great facilities, great recruiting capabilities. McCoy's name should come up! Why, back to back ACC Championships, 10th place finish at the NCAA Championships and 3 All Americans. Not too bad for a coach on everyone's radar. Takedownradio.com can be heard each Saturday from 9 AM to 11 AM. We talk to wrestlers, coaches, fans each and every Saturday plus hundreds of hours of additional content each year. Tune in to find out why Dan Gable and many others call us "America's Wrestling Radio Show!"

To members of the MIT community: It is with regret that we write to inform you that the following eight varsity sports will no longer be offered at MIT: Alpine Skiing, Golf, Men's Ice Hockey, Women's Ice Hockey, Men's Gymnastics, Women's Gymnastics, Pistol, and Wrestling. These changes are effective at the conclusion of this academic year. We make this decision with sadness and with great awareness of how painful it will be to many members of the MIT community. The Institute has long been proud of the uncommon breadth of sports it has been able to offer, and our student athletes, coaches, and staff have shown great passion for their programs. However, we also believe that a reduction in the number of our varsity sports is essential to the quality and sustainability not only of the varsity programs that remain, but also of the athletic, recreational, and physical education programs offered to the entire MIT community. In bringing you this news, we want to emphasize that while the current global financial crisis and its severe effect on MIT factored heavily in our decision, the issue of the viability of carrying 41 varsity sports has been with us even in times of relative financial stability. In 2000, the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (DAPER) organized a committee to develop a strategic plan for the department. At that time, the question was raised as to the sustainability of maintaining 41 sports. Since then, every Visiting Committee (which is composed of members of the MIT Corporation and external experts, and which meets every two years) has raised the question of MIT's ability to sustain one of the largest varsity athletics programs in the United States. The numbers are instructive: In the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III, which is where MIT varsity sports compete, the average number of varsity sports carried by an institution is 16. In the NEWMAC Conference, in which MIT competes, the number is 20. In the Ivy League, which resides in Division I, the number is 33. By continuing to offer 33 varsity sports, MIT is offering twice as many as the average Division III school, and will lead the nation in sponsorship at the Division III level, while remaining as committed to athletics as its peer academic institutions. The question of the viability of maintaining 41 sports took on new urgency when the severity of the current economic downturn became clear. In December of 2008, Provost L. Rafael Reif, Chancellor Phillip L. Clay, and Executive Vice President and Treasurer Theresa M. Stone shared a plan for reducing the Institute's spending by $100 million to $150 million—10 to 15 percent—over the next two to three years. With this mandate in mind, DAPER examined all program areas and identified opportunities for reductions in each area: many of the cuts DAPER is making do not affect varsity sports. Both by reducing its number of varsity sports from 41 to 33 and by making other budget cuts within the department, DAPER will reduce its FY 2010 budget by $485,000. This amount represents 5 percent of DAPER's FY 2009 operating-expenses budget of $9.7 million. In deciding which sports to cut, we made use of a management tool developed in 2003 by a subcommittee of the DAPER Advisory Board comprised of coaches, student athletes, faculty, and administrative staff. The Sport Health and Vitality tool monitors the health of each varsity sport at MIT by tracking such areas as student interest, coaching turnover, availability of appropriate competition, quality and proximity of practice facilities, as well as program costs. In 2004 and 2006, the DAPER Visiting Committee of the MIT Corporation reviewed and endorsed the process, and recently, an independent consultant was employed to review the operational structure of DAPER. It too reinforced the veracity of the Health and Vitality process. Eliminating sports that do not meet the criteria established by the Sport Health and Vitality process, rather than reducing spending in all sports, not only helps the Department meet its budget mandate, but supports the core value of excellence in all programming. At this time, assuming the economic climate does not worsen significantly, we do not anticipate any further reductions in our varsity sport offerings. In the coming months, we will work hard to help our student athletes and alumni most affected by this decision; we are developing a method to reach out to our alumni base and will inform alumni as this plan is finalized. While there can be no complete substitute for the special status enjoyed by a varsity sport, there are opportunities for participation at the level of a club sport. In cases where a club sport exists, we hope that former varsity athletes will join in, and where a club sport does not exist, we will help student athletes assess the viability of creating a club team. Since the time we publicly acknowledged the need to reduce the number of varsity sports at MIT, the question of using fund-raising to provide support for sports that are being eliminated has been raised by students, staff, and alumni. While fund-raising is an ongoing and active pursuit in DAPER, the department and MIT's senior administration urge prospective donors to help DAPER enrich and enhance its broad program by contributing to the department's overall mission. We believe that the Institute will, in the long run, be better off for the hard decisions we have made, and we ask you to support them. For further information on this decision, including FAQs and information about the Health and Vitality process, please visit www.mitathletics.com. In closing, we would like to offer our great thanks to the student athletes, alumni, coaches, and staff members who gave so much to the varsity sports we are losing today. Your hard work and dedication will forever be remembered in the history of MIT athletics. Sincerely, Costantino Colombo Dean for Student Life Julie Soriero Director of Athletics Chair, Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation

Kevin Jackson

Tim Curley

NEW YORK -- 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 organization's work in providing approximately 3,500 boys and girls wrestling opportunities and safe havens for them to practice. In addition, New York City wrestling coaches will be named High School Coach of the Year, Assistant Coach of the Year and Middle School Coach of the Year at the Gala. Gathering to show their support for Beat the Streets are wrestling legends Bruce Baumgartner, four-time Olympic wrestling medalist, National Wrestling Hall of Fame and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member and Director of Athletics at Edinboro University; Henry Cejudo, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist; Brandon Slay, 2000 Olympic Gold medalist; and John Smith, Olympic and World Championship Medal Winner. "Beat the Streets is proud to bring together the wrestling community, not just in New York City but the world, to help encourage and support New York City girls and boys' efforts to participate in the sport of wrestling," said Brian Giffin, President and Executive Director of Beat the Streets. "Because of Beat the Streets, thousands of children are instilled with important values such as perseverance, discipline and self reliance, which they will carry with them throughout their lives. We would like to thank Bruce Baumgartner, Henry Cejudo, Brandon Slay and John Smith for showing their support for Beat the Streets' work." "The success of Beat the Streets Wrestling Program in New York City is a true testament to the organization, which has dedicated itself to not only teaching children about the sport of wrestling, but also shaping young minds and preparing them for whatever challenges may come their way, whether it be on the mat or in the class room," said Bruce Baumgartner. 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 3,500 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 3,500 enrollees.

Lee Roy Smith

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern became the center of the college wrestling world Saturday when NU held its annual end-of-the-season banquet at the Wildfire Glenview. W.I.N. Magazine was on hand to present NU senior Jake Herbert his 2009 Hodge Trophy as well as freshman Jason Welch with his 2008 Junior Hodge Trophy, marking the first time since the awards' inceptions that both have gone to members of the same college team. "This occasion was just a great chance to celebrate NU wrestling and one that kind of makes you sit up and take notice of where our program is right now," said Northwestern head coach Tim Cysewski. "The fact that we are the only school to have a national title-winner each of the past three years I think shows this is a great place to come and train to be a champion." This is the 15th season that W.I.N. Magazine and the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, has issued the Hodge Trophy. Winners are selected based on seven criteria: overall record, number of pins, dominance, past credentials, quality of competition, sportsmanship and heart. Herbert won college wrestling's Heisman Trophy equivalent after finishing his career by winning the 2009 NCAA title at 184 pounds to cap a perfect 34-0 season, the second unbeaten season of his career. On his way to four top-three finishes at the NCAA championships, Herbert moved into fifth place among all Division I college wrestlers since the 1974-75 season with a four-year winning percentage of .971 (135-4). "It feels good to know that I'm leaving the program in a great place and knowing that there are guys coming behind me like Jason who can carry on the legacy," Herbert said. "I think Tim and (associate head coach) Drew (Pariano) have built the program up to where it will be successful year in and year out." Welch's Junior Dan Hodge Trophy was presented in recognition of his achievements while at Las Lomas High School in California where he became the 13th wrestler in state history to win three state championships. Welch, who went undefeated his senior year to finish with a career mark of 194-7, translated his high school dominance into success on the college level, placing second in the Big Ten at 157 pounds while qualifying for his first NCAA Championships.

LINCOLN -- USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States, named Nebraska's Mark Manning and Oklahoma State's John Smith as coaches of the 2009 U.S. Freestyle World Team on Tuesday. Manning will work with USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones and the rest of the national coaching staff to lead the U.S. delegation at the 2009 World Wrestling Championships in Herning, Denmark, on Sept. 21-27. Manning was selected by USA Wrestling's Freestyle Coach Selection Committee and approved by USA Wrestling's Executive Committee. "This is a very important time for USA Wrestling, and the guys who make this team, to set a new standard of excellence," Manning said. "This is a great challenge, but one in which we must work hard. We need to bring the right mindset to the World Championships to take a step toward being dominant in freestyle wrestling again." Manning has extensive coaching experience on the international level, including head coaching responsibilities for the 2001 U.S. Freestyle World Team. He was an assistant coach on the 1997 U.S. World Team and a staff member of numerous other U.S. World and Olympic teams. The athletes representing the U.S. at the 2009 World Championships will be determined at the World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on May 30-31. Nebraska club coaches Trent and Travis Paulson are the No. 1 seeds at 66 (145.5 lbs) and 74 kilograms (163 lbs) respectively.

Dave Zabriskie, a two-time All-American from Iowa State, Dan Vallimont, an All-American from Penn State, and Jeff Byers, the voice of Penn State Wrestling, will be the featured guests on Wrestling 411 Radio on Tuesday, April 21. This Thursday's edition of Wrestling 411 Radio will air at 7 p.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. Zabriskie, a native of Branchville, NJ, will be a senior for Iowa State next season. Zabriskie competes at the heavyweight class for the Cyclones, placing sixth and fifth each of the past two seasons. Vallimont, a native of Hopatcong, NJ, will be a senior for Penn State next season. Vallimont competed at the 165 pound weight class for the last half of the 2009 season and placed third at the NCAA tournament in 2008. Byers is the voice of Penn State Wrestling, broadcasting all Nittany Lion wrestling meets for the Penn State Sports Network. In 2006, Byers was named Wrestling 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.

IOWA CITY, IA -- Hawkeye junior Brent Metcalf has been named the Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler for the 2008-09 season. Iowa's team awards for 2008-09 were recently announced. The team awards give the Hawkeyes a chance to reflect on another successful season. Iowa won its 22nd NCAA and 33rd Big Ten titles while crowning five all-Americans and two Big Ten champions. The Hawkeyes posted a perfect 24-0 dual record, ending the season on a 33-match winning streak, and won its second straight Big Ten regular season title with an unblemished 8-0 mark. Hawkeye Head Coach Tom Brands was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Iowa also reclaimed the national collegiate dual meet attendance record when 15,955 fans crowded Carver-Hawkeye Arena to watch the top-ranked Hawkeyes beat #2 Iowa State, 20-15, on Dec. 6th. A two-time Big Ten champion and all-American at 149 pounds, Metcalf also earned the John & Dorothy Sill Award, which is presented annually to the team's most dedicated wrestler on and off the mat. He has been named Outstanding Wrestler at the Big Ten Championships twice, becoming the first wrestler in conference history to earn the honor in consecutive seasons. In 2009, Metcalf went 37-1 in collegiate competition, 24-0 in dual matches while pinning 20 opponents. The pin total earned him the team's Most Pins Award, and ranks fourth in Iowa school history. Metcalf also shared the team all-America Award with Iowa's four other all-Americans. Juniors Dan Erekson and Ryan Morningstar shared the Mike McGivern Award, which is given annually to the team's most courageous wrestler, and the team's all-America Award. Erekson won his first Big Ten title at heavyweight and earned all-America honors by fighting back through the NCAA consolation bracket to place fourth. He recorded a 27-8 record and went 15-4 in duals. His 13 pins - which were all recorded in the first period - ranked second on the team. Morningstar also earned his first all-America honor by fighting back through the NCAA wrestlebacks for third place at 165 pounds. He posted a 32-6 record, while going 20-4 in dual competition. Seven of his nine post-season matches were decided in overtime. The Hawkeye junior placed second at the Big Ten Championships. Senior T.H. Leet also took home two team awards. He earned the J. Donald McPike, Sr., Award, which is given annually to the senior with the highest grade-point average. He also shared the Coaches Appreciation Award with sophomore Luke Lofthouse and redshirt freshman J.J. Krutsinger. Leet was a two-year academic all-Big Ten honoree and letterwinner at 157 and 165 pounds after transferring from Virginia Tech in 2006. Lofthouse competed at 197 pounds this season, posting a 1-2 mark in collegiate matches. Krutsinger went 8-5 at 125 pounds. Juniors Phillip Keddy and Daniel Dennis each earned an all-America Award. Keddy placed fourth at 184 pounds at the NCAA Championships and second at the Big Ten meet. He posted a 34-5 overall record, going 23-1 in duals. Dennis placed seventh at 133 pounds at the NCAA meet and fifth at the conference championships. His season record of 31-6 included a 20-2 dual mark.

BOONE, N.C. -- JohnMark Bentley, an assistant coach the past three seasons, will become Appalachian State University's head wrestling coach for the 2009-10 season. Bentley replaces Paul Mance, who spent the past 33 years as ASU's head coach. "We're grateful for Coach Mance's years of service to Appalachian as a student-athlete and coach and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors," ASU director of athletics Charlie Cobb said. "We are very excited about Coach Bentley taking the reins of the program and look forward to him leading us to more championships in the future." Bentley arrived at Appalachian in 2006 after spending three years as the head coach at nearby Watauga High School. In his final season with the Pioneers, he led the squad to a third-place finish in the North Carolina state championship and coached three individual state champions. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Davidson in 2002-03. 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. He graduated from UNC with a bachelor's degree in communications in 2001. Under Mance's direction, ASU won eight Southern Conference championships, the last coming in 2003.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Over 500 fans poured into Rec Hall as national wrestling legend Cael Sanderson was introduced as Penn State's new head wrestling coach. Sanderson met a strong contingent of media as well at the introductory event that included a formal press conference. The 29-year old Sanderson comes to Penn State after three extremely successful years as the head coach at his alma mater. Sanderson's teams did not finish any lower than fifth at the NCAA Championships and never had a wrestler not qualify for nationals, getting 30 of 30 grapplers through to the championship tournament. As a wrestler, Sanderson established himself as the most dominant collegiate competitor in NCAA history. In four years, Sanderson never lost. From 1999-2002, Sanderson posted a 159-0 career record (going 39-0, 40-0, 40-0 and 40-0); won four individual National Championships; won four Most Outstanding Wrestler awards at the NCAA Championships (the only wrestler in NCAA history to do so); became the first freshman in NCAA history to win the O.W. honor and won three Dan Hodge Trophies as the nation's best collegiate wrestler (also a collegiate first). He followed up his collegiate career with an Olympic Gold Medal in 2004. The well attended press conference, which was streamed live on www.GoPSUsports.com, concluded with a social on the Rec Hall floor as the Penn State faithful stayed to meet the new Nittany Lion boss. Sanderson stayed throughout the reception to meet the fans, sign autographs and pose for photographs. Penn State Wrestling season tickets for the 2009-10 season can be reserved now. To make a $20 deposit on the best Rec Hall locations, fans should call 1.800.NITTANY between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Current wrestling season ticket holders do not need to make a new deposit and will simply go through the coming renewal process. Penn State wrestling season tickets are all reserved locations in Rec Hall. The exact seat assignments for new commitments will not be available until the renewal cycle is complete, but new season ticket commitments made now will be assigned locations based on Nittany Lion Club point totals and the time/date the deposit was received by Penn State Athletics. Season ticket pricing for the 2009-10 season will be finalized and announced by July 1, 2009.

The 2009 Brute Scholastic Showcase Presented by the NWCA brought some of country's best wrestlers to York, Pennsylvania. However, it was a team from Pennsylvania that took home championship. Pennsylvania Blue, a team that had six state champions on its roster, rolled through the tournament and emerged as the only undefeated team. After winning their qualifying pools, Illinois, Indiana Blue, Indiana Gold, Maryland, Pennsylvania Blue, and Virginia Blue were grouped into the Championship Pool. Illinois went 4-1 in this pool losing only to Pennsylvania and handled Maryland to secure second place in the pool. Maryland made an impressive run through its qualifying pool, allowing its two opponents just 15 team points. Maryland dropped two duals in the Championship Pool, but their 117-pounder Pat Prada finished the tournament 7-0 and was named the Outstanding Wrestler. Along the way Prada defeated two state champions, a state runner-up and four other state placers. Taking home the Sportsmanship Award was New York Red. New York Red went 5-0 after finishing third in its qualifying. For complete results and pool standings, go to www.intermatwrestle.com.

With the high school wrestling season's start fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top high school senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to future college and senior level stars. Although Nevada does not produce the same number of All-Americans that states like California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania do, but Nevada produces some very good wrestlers every year. Nevada had six wrestlers that earned All-American honors in Fargo, and also a FILA Cadet National champion. Last year multi-time Fargo All-American Napoleon Aniciete (Las Vegas) signed with Utah Valley University. Some of the past Nevada standout wrestlers include NCAA Division I runner-up Chase Pami from Cal Poly (Cimmeron-Memorial, two-time 4A state champion), two-time Division I All-American Bryce Saddoris of the Naval Academy (Spring Creek, four-time 3A state champion). Also included in this list are current UFC stars Ryan Bader (McQueen, two-time 4A state champion) and Frank Mir (Bonanza, 4A state champion). Nevada has 105 high schools that are divided into three divisions for wrestling. The main population centers are Las Vegas and Reno, with the rest being mostly rural areas. 1. Ray Waters (Spring Valley) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 170 Projected College Weight Class: 174 Ray WatersAnalysis: Waters is a senior from Las Vegas. He lost in the 4A state finals to Fargo All-American Napoleon Aniciete. This was a battle of All-Americans because Waters was also an All-American in Fargo in 2010. You have to give Waters a lot of credit. He was wrestling and winning everything at 160, and he dropped down to 152 just so he could wrestle Aniciete. Waters finished the season with a record of 56-2. He won many large tournaments last year, including the Las Vegas Holiday Classic. 2. Jace Billingsley (Lowry) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 165 Analysis: Billingsley is a three-time 3A state champion out of Winnemucca. Winnemucca is a medium -sized town in the northern rural area of the state. Billingsley placed second in the Sierra Nevada Classic and won it the previous season. He is also a standout running back during football season and a pitcher for the baseball team. 3. Bronson Ashjian (Cimmeron-Memorial) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Analysis: Ashjian, who wrestles for perennial Nevada power Cimmeron-Memorial in Las Vegas, finished this past season with a record of 59-3. He is a two-time 4A state champion. 4. Steven Elicegui (Wooster) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 171 Projected College Weight Class: 174 Analysis: Elicegui is the defending two-time 4A state champion out of Wooster High School in Reno. He placed first at the 2011 West Junior Regional in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. 5. Broc Westlake (Reed) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 195 Projected College Weight Class: 197 Analysis: Westlake, who wrestles for Reed High School in Reno, is the defending 4A state champion. He finished the season with a record of 37-6. He also placed fourth in the Sierra Nevada Classic. 6. Gus Duncan (Lowry) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 Analysis: Duncan was the 3A state champion at 140 in 2011 and the 3A state champion at 130 his sophomore year. He is going for the lucky No. 3 this year. 7. Marcus Judd (Palo Verde) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 184 Analysis: Judd finished the 2011 season with a record of 47-5. He won the Las Vegas Holiday Classic and finished third in the 4A state tournament. Palo Verde High School is located in Las Vegas. 8. Curtis Lampert (Spanish Springs) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 120 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Analysis: Lampert wrestles out of Reno. He finished third in 2010 and second in 2011. Hopefully with some hard work he will make his way to the top of the podium in 2012. His season record for 2011 was 40-8. 9. Dakota Sargent (Indian Springs) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Analysis: Sargent, who wrestles for Indian Springs, is the defending 2A state champion. Starting Sargent's sophomore season, he started working on only wrestling and has improved tremendously. 10. Ryan Nelson (Lowry) Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182 Projected College Weight Class: 184 Analysis: Nelson wrestles for 3A power Lowry. He is the defending 3A state champion and finished second in 2010.

Cael Sanderson

Event: UFC 97: Redemption Date: April 18, 2009 Venue: Bell Center (Montreal, Canada) Welcome to any new readers from InterMat! Let me introduce myself. I am the infamous UFC Monster, and my mission is to find weaknesses in the Las Vegas betting line, and capitalize on them in order to help make our readers a profit from the efforts and achievements of mixed martial arts fighters, many of whom have had successful amateur wrestling careers! I do it for the fun and challenge of beating the bookmakers, and for the love of the sport. I hope you enjoy our efforts. There is no more overused phrase in fighting than "pound-for-pound, best in the world!" � but, trust me, Anderson "Spider" SILVA (23-4) is just that! In the middleweight division (185 lbs), there is the Spider, and there is everybody else. Silva fights Thales LEITES (14-1) in the main event. Both Brazilians on winning streaks, Silva has won nine (9) straight. Jiu-jitsu guru Leites has won seven (7). But Silva has been crushing people! His lethal Muay Thai clinch with devastating knees, elbows, and pinpoint striking, make short work of most of his opponents. If it goes to the ground with Leites, Silva can win there, too (See Travis Lutter and Nate Marquardt for details)� In a sport where bridge-jumping (laying high odds on favorites) is all out stupid, this one is as sure of a winning bet as you are going to get. Spider thinks he let his fans down in his last lethargic win over Patrick Cote. I pity poor Thales, who will be asleep mid-way through the second round. Take SILVA and lay the lumber @ -525 to win by second-round TKO. Who's next? Nate, the Great? Damian Maia? Or maybe GSP at a catch weight? Roy Jones, Jr. in a boxing match? Only time will tell. And, speaking of knockouts, light-heavyweight Chuck "The Iceman" LIDDELL (21-6) faces Mauricio "Shogun" RUA (17-3) in what many expect to be the fight-of-the-night. This epic battle would have been best about three (3) years ago, when each were on the top of their respective food charts, with devastating KO power that has become their trademarks. But, today Chuck has lost two of his last three, and Rua has looked like an out-of-shape has been. He most recently labored to win a decision over Mark Coleman, an ancient UFC dinosaur, who cut weight to make light-heavyweight! It was ugly. Both fighters have much to prove. The loser will get a "pink slip" from Dana White, UFC President. Just a month short of 40 years old, the legendary Iceman will somehow find the opening, as he so often does, to take out the former Pride fighter with a lightning quick overhand right that turns the lights out on a once promising Shogun career. LIDDELL @ -200 wins by second-round KO. Two standup fighters, light-heavyweights Krzysztof "the Polish Experiment" SOSZYNSKI (17-9-1) and Brian "All-American" STANN (6-1) square up against each other in what should be a punching show, until Soszynski decides to take it to the mat, where he will submit the former Iraq War veteran with an armbar in the third round. Take SOSZYNSKI @ -150 to cash your ticket. In another battle of violent heavyweight strikers, we have Cheick KONGO (23-4-1) against Antoni HARDONK (8-4). Neither has a ground game, both can knock you out in a heartbeat. The linesmakers have posted Kongo has a big favorite, probably due to his experience, long reach, and aggressive style. But, they offer up Hardonk with some great value @ +250, with a kicker's chance of winning. I remember early on in UFC folklore, watching Brazilian Marco Ruas kick and kick and kick the legs of Canadian Paul Varlens, until the Grizzly Bear toppled on weak pins. I saw Maurice Smith do the same to Mark Coleman � and most recently, Keith Jardine, the Bounty Hunter, used the tactic to upset the Iceman. It's hard to fight aggressively, when you can barely stand up! In a big upset, take HARDONK @ +250 to have his hand raised, as Kongo rubs his calves on the mat. Dana must want some fierce knockouts tonight, as the remaining main card event pits former WEC champion Steve "Robot" CANTWELL (7-1) against brawler Luiz "Banha" CANE (10-1-1). Buckle up. This will be a three round war. Cantwell is relentless in his attacks, Cane will attempt to get in close and use some dirty boxing and rough-house muscle to wear his opponent down, in order to apply a submission. Will he be able to? Or will Cantwell stave off the attack? But, this isn't World Extreme Cage-fighting (WEC). It's the UFC. Take CANE @ -325 to win a majority decision. On the undercard: Light heavyweight Elliot "The Fire" MARSHALL (6-2) beats Vinny MAGALHAES (3-3-1) by decision in a fight with no betting odds posted. Welterweight Ryo "Piranha" CHONAN (15-9), whose flying scissors heal hook beat Anderson Silva many moons ago, finds a way to win a split decision over TJ GRANT (13-2). Chonan, the �200 favorite does not warrant a play. Lightweight Matt "Handsome" WIMAN (10-4) goes back into his wrestling background to control the fight with puncher, Sam "Hands of Stone" STOUT (14-5, and with one tie with Joey Clark). Take WIMAN as a slight underdog @ +120 to win a decision. Lightweight Mark BOCEK (6-2) is a member of America's Top Team, and it shows. His all-around game should be enough to dominate a game David BIEKHEDEN (13-6). Lay the �260 and wish that you had bet more � Bocek wins by third-round submission, rear-naked choke. Middleweight Denis KANG (31-11-1) was a big disappointment in his highly-touted UFC debut, where he dominated Alan Belcher for two rounds, only to get caught in a chokehold that ended his night with a loss. He will have enough to beat Xavier Foupa-Pokam (20-9), but laying �325 offers little value. A small play only is warranted until Kang proves his meddle. Kang wins by armbar submission in the second round. One of my favorite fighters is Canadian Jason "The Athlete" MacDONALD (22-11), who often cashes underdog tickets with his under-rated ground game of submissions, and his never-quit attitude. He takes on Nate "Rock" QUARRY (16-3), best remembered for being cold-cocked by Rich Franklin, and needing back surgery to return to the Octagon. If MacDonald saw Damian Maia put Quarry in a fight-ending body triangle, you know this one may end the same. Why not? I bet MacDonald early @ +110, the public is pounding him late. He now is posted at "pick it" �110 or greater. Call it another mild upset. The Crow is back! David LOISEA (18-8), another Canadian sidekick of Georges St. Pierre is back to show off his kicking skills against Ed "Short Fuse" HERMAN (16-6). I like Loiseau to win a narrow decision against a game and determined Herman, who will be fighting for his UFC survival. Take the Crow @ -130. Early bird gets the worm. Twelve (12) fights all on one exciting UFC card. Is it any wonder that Dana has the sports community frothing at the mouth for more, more, more? Tickets for UFC 100 in Las Vegas on July 11th sold out in hours with most tickets selling for $500-$1000 each! Man, what a cash cow! So, let's get our fair share. Let's take on Vegas with our "fictitious" bankroll!!! Here's my money management math: Let's lay $260 to win $50 on the Spider catching another victim in his web. Easy $$$. Lay $200 to win $100 on the Iceman putting Shogun out cold. Lay $110 to win $40 on Cane to maul Cantwell. Lay $66 to win $60 on MacDonald to submit Quarry. Lay $60 to win $40 on Soszynski over Stann. Lay $104 to win $40 on Bochek to submit Bielkheden. Lay $65 to win $50 on the Crow over Short Fuse. Lay $30 to win $75 on Hardonk in a shocking upset over Kongo. Lay $65 to win a Jackson ($20) on Kang over Foupa-Pokam. Lay $40 to win $48 on Wiman over Stout. No bet on Marshall vs. Magalhaes. No bet on Chonan vs. Grant. In total we are betting a dime ($1000) to win a nickel and change ($523). GOOD LUCK, and enjoy the fights! I know I will. More later. The UFC Monster

AMES, Iowa -- The following is a statement from Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard: STATEMENT FROM IOWA STATE A.D. JAMIE POLLARD (Regarding Cael Sanderson's departure to Penn State) "Cael (Sanderson) shared with me today that he has accepted the head coaching position at Penn State. I am extremely saddened for our institution's student-athletes, staff, alums and fans. It is a difficult day for all Cyclones as we cope with the departure of a truly outstanding and accomplished student and coach. Cael's unblemished collegiate record, Olympic glory and promising start as a coach all came while he was representing Iowa State University and he will forever be recognized as a Cyclone." "During the last week, Cael and I talked numerous times and we had several in-depth and personal discussions about this decision. Those talks included me asking what, if anything, could we do to keep him at Iowa State. I also asked President (Gregory) Geoffroy, Bill Fennelly and Greg McDermott to reach out to Cael and they all did so. In the end, Cael said that he appreciated everything Iowa State and our fans had done for him but he believes winning a national championship will be easier at Penn State. He said the high school talent in Pennsylvania and surrounding states is the best in the country and the kids in that area grow up wanting to wrestle for the Nittany Lions. He also said their overall athletics department resources are the best in the country." "I know this has been a very challenging and emotional decision for Cael and his family. I encourage all of our fans to put aside their disappointment and, instead, respect Cael for making a decision that he believes is in the best interest of his family. We are sad to see him leave, but we certainly wish him the best." "We will begin a national search for his replacement immediately and focus our full attention on identifying and recruiting a new coach who can add to the Iowa State championship legacies of former coaches Hugo Otopalik, Dr. Harold Nichols and Jim Gibbons."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State Director of Athletics Tim Curley has confirmed that wrestling legend Cael Sanderson has accepted the position as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling program. Sanderson, who recently finished his third year as mentor at Iowa State, will take over the reigns of Penn State's program as its 12th head coach. Cael Sanderson (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Sanderson will be introduced to the Penn State community and the media at an introductory press conference on Monday, April 20, at 2 p.m. The event will be in Rec Hall and is open to the public. All those in attendance will be able to view the press conference portion of Sanderson's introduction as the new leader of the Nittany Lion wrestling family. The event will be streamed live on www.GoPSUsports.com. The 29-year old Sanderson comes to Penn State after three extremely successful years as the head coach at his alma mater. Sanderson's teams did not finish any lower than fifth at the NCAA Championships and never had a wrestler not qualify for nationals, getting 30 of 30 grapplers through to the championship tournament. In 2007, Sanderson's rookie campaign, he led ISU to a 13-3 dual meet record and the first of three straight Big 12 Championships. An NCAA Runner-Up finish in Detroit capped off a wildly successful year as the Cyclones crowned one national champion and Sanderson was honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year, National Rookie Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. The next year, Sanderson led ISU to a 16-4 dual meet mark, another Big 12 title and a fifth place finish at nationals. Iowa State's seven All-Americans in 2008 were the most at the school since 1993. This past season, Sanderson's team went 15-3 in duals, won its third straight Big 12 title and took third place at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis (just 12 points out of first place). The Cyclones also crowned another national champion. In three years, Sanderson's teams went 44-10, won three conference crowns, qualified all 30 wrestlers for nationals, and earned 15 All-America awards and two individual national titles. As a wrestler, Sanderson established himself as the most dominant collegiate competitor in NCAA history. In four years, Sanderson never lost. From 1999-2002, Sanderson posted a 159-0 career record (going 39-0, 40-0, 40-0 and 40-0); won four individual National Championships; won four Most Outstanding Wrestler awards at the NCAA Championships (the only wrestler in NCAA history to do so); became the first freshman in NCAA history to win the O.W. honor and won three Dan Hodge Trophies as the nation's best collegiate wrestler (also a collegiate first). He wrestled his first three years at 184 and them moved to 197 as a senior. The four-time All-American's four-year streak of perfection was called the No. 2 most outstanding achievement in collegiate sports history by Sports Illustrated and the NCAA called his final win (in the 2002 NCAA 197-pound championship) one of the NCAA's "25 Defining Moments" for its Centennial celebration. His wrestling career culminated in 2004 when the Heber City, Utah, native won the 84 kg Olympic Gold Medal in Athens, Greece. After graduating in 2002, he spent 2003 and 2004 as a special assistant in the athletic department at Iowa State before joining the ISU coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2004-05. He was promoted to the assistant head coach position the next year and then became the Cyclones' head coach for the 2006-07 season. Penn State Wrestling season tickets for the 2009-10 season can be reserved now. To make a $20 deposit on the best Rec Hall locations, fans should call 1.800.NITTANY between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Current wrestling season ticket holders do not need to make a new deposit and will simply go through the coming renewal process. Penn State wrestling season tickets are all reserved locations in Rec Hall. The exact seat assignments for new commitments will not be available until the renewal cycle is complete, but new season ticket commitments made now will be assigned locations based on Nittany Lion Club point totals and the time/date the deposit was received by Penn State Athletics. Season ticket pricing for the 2009-10 season will be finalized and announced by July 1, 2009.