InterMat Staff

Hello wrestling fans. I will be on a USO tour and absent from the Brute Adidas studios for the November 1st edition of TDR. Regulars Steve Foster, Jeff Murphy, Chris Arns will take over the helm of the starship TDR. God Speed! Guests included for this special Hour and a half show include: 9:05 Mike Clayton- Head Coach of Stevens Academy. Mike Clayton enters his second season leading the Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team after being named head coach in August of 2007. A former top assistant at the United States Military Academy and four-year letter winner and NCAA Division I Qualifier at the United States Naval Academy during the 1990's, Clayton led the Stevens wrestling program back to prominence in his first season, 2007-08, and was named the 2008 NWCA Division III Rookie Coach of the Year. First match of the year is today against Roger Williams College at 1:00 PM 9:20 Rich Lorenzo- Former Head Coach of the Nittany Lions, Rich Lorenzo wrestled for Penn State under one of the great wrestlers of all time, Coach Bill Koll. Rich was a late bloomer as a wrestler taking 4th in the nation his senior year. Rich declined the invitation to head the program until the AD challenged him. Lorenzo took over the program and coached from the 1979 season through 1992. In that 14 year span he coached 53 All-Americans and 5 national champions. His teams placed in the Top 10 for 11 years and they were in the top 3 for three of those years. The new wrestling facility at Penn State is named in his honor. He also had the coolest afro of any coach in NCAA Wrestling History. 853 353 0255 cell/backup 9:40 Charlie Pinto- Charlie wrestled for the Terps of Maryland under Pat Santoro, Charlie wrestled at 141 all 5 years compiling a record of (RS Senior year) he was 50 and 25. Charlie wrestled with and through injuries that kept him sidelined but his spirit remained strong. Charlie was an inspiration to his fellow teammates and helped to re-energize the Terps program under then new head coach Pat Santoro. Charlie is the embodiment of the modern day gladiator now working for Bearingpoint Mgmt and Technology Consulting Firm in Virginia. 10:05 Lynn McElrath- Vice-President of the Cyclone Wrestling Club. Lynn is one of the strong contingent of women in wrestling clubs these days. She serves on many committees and supports the clubs overall mission of providing funding for ISU athletes in training and competition on the national and international level. Check out the Club site at http://cyclonewrestlingclub.org/1.asp?page=1.asp 10:20 Maureen Roshar- Wildrose Casino and Resort in Clinton Iowa This weeks show ends early (10:35 AM) as due to Iowa State Football. We do appreciate you listening and hope you enjoy the show. Know of someone who deserves to be recognized? Let us know. Email Scott Casber at Svideoman@aol.com. Thanks to all of our sponsors who make this show possible. We would not be able to promote this sport without them.

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma wrestling squad finished the preseason Wednesday evening with its annual Red/White Classic in Edmond, Okla. After a back-and-forth battle, the red squad took the win by a 22-18 final. "We saw a lot of great matches and a lot of guys battling hard against their own teammates," head coach Jack Spates said. "A lot of guys stepped up and wrestled great for us." The evening began at 125 pounds with sophomore Joey Fio taking on junior J.R. Roman. Fio recorded the initial two points with a takedown to end the first, followed by another in the second to lead, 4-1. After a neutral start to begin the third period, Fio took the match by a 7-2 final after scoring a final takedown. The 133-pound match was deadlocked at three after one period with takedowns and escapes both recorded by senior David Armstrong and freshman Blake Mangum. Armstrong, a transfer from Cleveland State, posted the only points in the second with a takedown to lead, 5-3. Riding time and another takedown in the third gave Armstrong the 9-3 victory and gave the white team a 6-0 lead. Redshirt sophomore Zack Bailey quickly jumped on junior Brian Shelton at 141 pounds, scoring three takedowns in the first and another in the second to lead 9-3. An escape by Shelton to begin the final period closed the gap to five, 9-4. Bailey ended the third with another takedown, his fifth of the match, to win by a major decision, 12-4. Senior Will Rowe and redshirt junior Kyle Terry were scoreless at 149 pounds until Terry scored an escape to begin the second period. Rowe chose down to start the third and posted an escape to tie the match, 1-1 and force overtime. Terry took the win, 4-3, prevailing in the third overtime and giving the red team its first lead, 7-6. Redshirt junior Shane Vernon scored the first two points in the 157-pound match over redshirt junior Chad Terry. Vernon then took a 3-0 lead after choosing down to begin the second. Terry scored his first points of the match with a takedown in the final seconds in the second to trail, 3-2. The score was tied after an escape by Terry to begin the final period and for the second straight match, overtime was forced. Vernon scored the only two points in overtime, winning 5-3. Back-to-back falls at 165 and 174 pounds followed, as redshirt freshman Ryan Smith needed just 1:55 to record a fall to defeat freshman teammate Marcus Armato. Redshirt sophomore Jeff James then pinned freshman Ben Bridell at 174 pounds. After the pins, red took a 15-13 lead. Redshirt sophomore Pat Flynn scored an escape in the second period and a nearfall in the third to lead 3-0 over freshman Erich Schmidtke. A riding time point to end the match gave Flynn the 4-0 victory. Junior Eric Lapotsky recorded the third fall of the evening over freshman Keldrick Hall at 197 pounds with a time of 1:40. The win gave the red team a 19-18 lead entering the final bout. Redshirt sophomore Nathan Fernandez surged ahead of freshman Joe Bach in the third period during the heavyweight battle, scoring a takedown and a nearfall to lead and win, 6-1. With the win, red won the Classic by a 22-18 final margin. The Sooners will kickoff the 2008-09 season on Nov. 9, when they travel to Brockport, N.Y., for the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic.

University of Northern Iowa senior wrestler Moza Fay has been selected to compete in the 43rd annual NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps on Nov. 24 in Columbus, Ohio. Fay (Anamosa, Iowa) will wrestle Ohio State's Colt Sponseller in a exhibition match as part of the All-Star Classic in St. John Arena on the Ohio State campus. Fay earned All-America honors last season after placing fifth in the 165-pound weight class at the 2008 NCAA Championships. "It's a tremendous honor for both Moza and the UNI wrestling program to be selected to take part in this all-star meet," UNI head coach Brad Penrith said. "It gives Moza a chance to wrestle on the national stage and show off his wrestling talent." Fay will be the first Panther to take part in the NWCA All-Star Classic since three UNI wrestlers competed in 2004. Eric Hauan (174 lbs.), Dylan Long (141 lbs.) and Sean Stender (197 lbs.) saw action in at the 2004 NWCA All-Star Classic. Tickets are $10 and children under six are free. NWCA members receive a complimentary tickets when showing their NWCA membership card. Call 1-800-GOBUCKS to order your tickets.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association has always worked to provide functionality and visibility to the sport of wrestling. The latest innovation from the NWCA will have a direct impact on how the sport is followed by, not just the wrestling media and fans, but the entire sporting world. After several months of development, the NWCA College Scorebook will make its launch during the 2008-09 college wrestling season and provide fans all the stats and results they crave. "The unique thing about this scorebook is how user-friendly it is," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "There is no limit to the amount of statistical and result information via this tool." The NWCA College Scorebook is designed to formalize and streamline the tedious nature of keeping current wrestling statistics. "In the past, we had our member institutions keeping their own stats, but they would be doing it in 20 different ways," said Moyer. "What this does is create a uniform way of statistical reporting and results publishing and put our sport in line with how other college sports publish them." The NWCA scorebook will be available, for free, to all college wrestling programs across the country. It is fully integrated with the NWCA's Optimal Performance Calculator and also features a live component where fans can follow match results live as they happen with teams using the scorebook online. "Teams using the NWCA College Scorebook just make a few mouse-clicks to log their results, track statistics and directly e-mail results to their sports information offices, local newspapers and national media," said NWCA President Jim Beichner. "As a coach, this innovation will make the process of producing results and accurate statistics that much easier. It's going to be something that will change how our sport is tracked." The public page includes the team's schedule, links to all competition dates, links to individual wrestler record and statistics pages and a team overview of statistics. "Every other sport has software that can produce post-match results and statistics," said Beichner. "We now have that ability. It will help my athletics staff, it will help me as a coach, it will help our managers, it will help the fans, and it will help the media. There isn't a group of people within the sport this will not benefit." When in practice, the scorebook tracks every stat within the sport. It also tracks team performances and, for the first time, creates an automated process for producing team and individual records. In the past, wrestling's conference standings were done by hand, often by a member of the media. "This is just another step in helping make wrestling coverage and wrestling information easier to compile and easier to get access to," said Moyer. "There are a variety of formats the results and the live score stats can be downloaded." "Newspapers, web sites, sports information offices – anyone -- can go right to the scorebook and as soon as the match is over, produce results that will be easy to publish," added Moyer. The NWCA College Scorebook will encompass the NCAA's three divisions, the NAIA and the NJCAA. The California Community Colleges have been beta-testing the program during its fall season and it has been met with great acceptance and rave reviews. "Wrestler reports, team reports, meet results, conference standings and live coverage. It's going to change the way information is distributed in our sport," said Beichner. "If there are 20 teams using it one night, you can see the scores as they happen for 20 teams." "We're giving this to the sport," said Moyer. "I think the quality of the interface and the software would have been easy to sell, but the benefits of giving this to all our member schools far outweighs any financial gain. Our staff and programming people have created something incredibly functional to the computer expert and the computer novice." "This will really change how things are reported, there's not a single drawback to our teams using the NWCA College Scorebook," he said. The scorebook can be viewed at: http://www.intermatwrestle.com/nationalscorebook.html

PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Pennsylvania has announced the hiring of Rob Eiter as its head wrestling coach on Tuesday. Eiter, who has served as an assistant on Penn's staff for the past two seasons, will be the 18th head coach in the 103 seasons of Penn wrestling. "Rob's extensive experience in coaching as well as his accomplishments as an athlete have prepared him well for a head coaching role," Penn's Director of Athletics Steve Bilsky said. "We are excited he will take this next professional step at Penn, and his two years as an assistant in our program will serve him well." "I cannot express how happy my family and I are for this opportunity," Eiter said. "Penn wrestling has a long tradition, with more than 100 years of competition, and I look forward to continuing that tradition. I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Bilsky for allowing me the honor and privilege of coaching the young men that make up the Penn wrestling family. At the same time, I want to thank those young men for never losing sight of their goals during this search process and maintaining their positive attitude and work ethic in the room." Rob Eiter (Photo/Hunter Martin)Over the past two seasons, Eiter has coached six EIWA champions as well as an NCAA champion and All-America in 2007 graduate Matt Valenti. Penn has won 24 dual meets in his two seasons involved with the program and sent 16 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. Eiter, a 1991 graduate of Arizona State, brings a wealth of collegiate and international coaching experience with him. Prior to coming to Penn in 2006, Eiter served as an assistant coach at Northwestern where he helped guide the Wildcats to a 13th-place finish at the 2006 NCAA Championships. That season, seven Northwestern wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Championships and three of those grapplers earned All-America honors. Before his stint at Northwestern, Eiter served as an assistant at Clarion (Pa.) University where he coached Sheldon Thomas to an NCAA title and tutored Clarion's first-ever four-time All-America, Bryan Stout. This past July, Eiter served as an assistant on the United States' entry to the 2008 FILA Jr. World Women's Championships in Turkey. He also coached the United States team at the 1999 Women's World Championships. Before he began his coaching career, Eiter was a standout wrestler. He was a member of the 1992 and 1996 Olympic freestyle teams as well as the 1993 and 1995 World Championships teams. He was a five-time U.S. Open national champion and two-time World Cup silver medalist. The Quakers enter the 2008-09 season ranked tied for 21st in the InterMat polls and have seven wrestlers ranked in the top 20 in their weight class. The seven ranked grapplers ties Penn for fifth-most in the country entering the season. Penn begins its 2008-09 season with Wrestle-Offs on Sunday, Nov. 2 and its first home meets of the season on Nov. 22 when the Quakers host Princeton and Michigan starting at noon.

MINNEAPOLIS -- At 23 student-athletes strong, one of the largest recruiting and transfer classes in program history will take the mat for the Augsburg College wrestling team in 2008-09, head coach Mark Matzek has announced. Among them are six state champions and 16 state tournament placewinners, along with two transfers from Division I programs. The Auggies open their season with the annual Alumni Day/Parents' Day/Open Practice on Saturday (11/1) at 4:30 p.m. at Si Melby Hall. Travis Anderson (141, FY, White Bear Lake, Minn.) -- Two-time state tournament qualifier (Class AAA 145 in 2008, Class AAA 140 in 2007) and two-time All-Suburban East Conference competitor. Brandon Bahr (174, FY, Bemidji, Minn.) -- Two-time state tournament placewinner (Class AAA 171 third place in 2008, Class AAA 160 fourth place in 2007), Guillotine Academic All-State second-team recipient in 2008, 88-36 high school record. Brad Baus (184, FY, Mukwonago, Wis.) -- Two-time Wisconsin state tournament placewinner (Division I 189 sixth place in 2008, Division I 189 fifth place in 2007) and three-time state tournament qualifier, placed fourth in 189 junior folkstyle class at ASICS/USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals in 2007. Nick Creamier (197, FY, Coon Rapids, Minn.) -- 2008 state tournament placewinner (Class AAA 189 fifth place), earned an honorable-mention spot in Wrestling USA's Top High School Juniors list at 285 in 2007, 70-25 high school record, also 2006 Cadet Greco-Roman All-American (eighth place at 215). Alex Diaz (HWT, FY, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Eagan HS) -- Two-time state tournament qualifier (Class AAA 275 in 2006 and 2007) and 2008 placewinner (Class AAA 275 fourth place in 2007). Trevor Dyreson (141, FY, Deerfield, Wis.) -- Four-time Wisconsin state tournament qualifier and three-time state placewinner (Division 3 112 sixth place in 2006, Division 3 119 third place in 2007, Division 3 125 second place in 2008), finished 46-3 in 2007-08, three-time conference champion and two-time Trailways Conference South Division MVP, two-time regional champion and one-time sectional champion; three-time All-State Scholastic Wrestling first-team honoree. Zach Enrico (165, FY, Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins HS) -- 2007 state tournament entrant (Class AA 160), 97-55 career record. Mitch Gerold (197, FY, Braham, Minn.) -- Two-time state tournament entrant (Class A 215 in 2008, Class A 189 in 2007), 113-41 career record, two-time all-conference and team MVP, also broke school's pin record (73), also a member of Augsburg's football team. Minh Huynh (125, FY, Eagan, Minn./Eastview HS) -- Three-time state tournament qualifier (Class AAA 112 in 2006, Class AAA 103 in 2005 and 2004), placed 4th at Class AAA 103 in 2005. Alex Johnson (133, FY, Foxhome, Minn./Breckenridge HS) -- 2008 state tournament placewinner (Class A 135 fifth place) and two-time state tournament qualifier (Class A 135 in 2008 and 2007), 116-55 career record, Guillotine Academic All-State honorable-mention in 2008. Josh Kohler (174, FY, Monticello, Minn.) -- Two-time state tournament qualifier (Class AA 171 in 2008, Class AAA 171 in 2007), team MVP in both 2007 and 2008. Justin Koob (141, FY, New Ulm, Minn.) -- Two-time state tournament qualifier (Class AA 112 in 2007, Class AA 103 in 2006), 110-44 career record, three-time all-conference wrestler. Alex Krautkremer (184, FY, Jordan, Minn./Scott West-Jordan/Belle Plaine) -- 2007 state tournament qualifier (Class AA 189), also member of teams that placed third and sixth in state team tournament, also a member of Augsburg's football team. Brett Landrum (157, SO, Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) -- Transfer from Division I Nebraska (redshirted in 2007-08), two-time state tournament qualifier (Class AAA 160 in 2007, Class AAA 152 in 2006) and 2007 state tournament placewinner (Class AAA 160 third place), two-time section champion and four-time all-conference recipient. Trenton Larrieu (165, FY, Spring Valley, Wis.) -- 2008 Wisconsin state champion (Division 3, 160), 2007 Wisconsin state tournament placewinner (Division 3, 160, fourth place), two-time section champion, one-time regional champion, 2008 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals fourth place at Junior 160. Nathan Lexvold (133, FY, Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS) -- 2008 Minnesota state champion (Class A 135), three-time state tournament placewinner (Class A 103 second place in 2006, Class A 103 fifth place in 2005), 186-47 career record. Jared Massey (197, SO, Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial HS) -- Transfer from Division I Wisconsin (competed in 2003-04 season, 5-2 record at 197), four-time state tournament qualifier (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003), two-time state champion (Class AAA 189 in 2003, Class AAA 171 in 2002), 48-0 in 2002-03 season, 49-1 in 2001-02 season, 175-23 record in high school career, including 110 career pins, 2003 Wrestling USA Magazine All-America team. Jackson Mboma (174, FY, Maple Grove, Minn.) -- 2008 state tournament qualifier (Class AAA 171), all-conference wrestler in 2007-08, set single-season takedown record for Maple Grove (131), 33 wins in 2007-08. Joe Meyer (165, FY, Lakeville, Minn./St. Thomas Academy HS) -- Two-year varsity letterwinner, section medalist in 2007-08. Josh Roberts (133, FY, Grand Forks, N.D./Central HS) -- 2007 North Dakota Class A state tournament champion (130), four-time North Dakota state tournament placewinner (Class A 130 third place in 2008, Class A 125 second place in 2006, Class A 119 fourth place in 2005), honorable-mention on USA Wrestling Top 30 Juniors list for 130 in 2007, Greco-Roman All-American in 2005 (sixth place at USA Wrestling Cadet Greco-Roman Championships). Torey Stewart (141, FY, Jackson, Minn./Jackson County Central HS) -- Two-time state tournament champion (Class A 145 in 2008, Class AA 130 in 2006), two-time state tournament runner-up (Class AA 135 in 2007, Class AA 119 in 2005), No. 9 on Amateur Wrestling News Senior All-American list at 145 in 2008, ranked No. 9 in 145 on Wrestling USA Magazine list of 2008 Best High School Seniors and No. 15 in 145 on Wrestling USA list of 2008 Best High School All-Class Wrestlers, listed in "151-200" section of Intermat Top 200 Recruits listing for 2008, 198-23 high school career record, 2007 USA Wrestling All-American in Junior Freestyle National Championships (fourth place at 145). Ben Thone (141, FY, Fond du Lac, Wis.) -- 2008 Wisconsin state tournament runner-up (Division 1 135), two-time Wisconsin state tournament placewinner (Division I 135 sixth place in 2007), three-time Wisconsin state tournament qualifier (2006, 2007, 2008, all Division I 135), three-time regional champion, two-time sectional champion, 142-34 high school record. Tony Valek (141, FY, Belle Plaine, Minn./Scott West-Jordan/Belle Plaine) -- 2007 state tournament champion (Class AA 135), two-time state tournament placewinner (Class AA 125 third place in 2006), three-time state tournament qualifier (also Class AA 112 in 2005), ranked No. 18 in Wrestling USA Magazine list of 2007 Nation's Best High School Juniors at 135, listed in "151-200" section of Intermat Top 200 Recruits listing for 2008, Guillotine Academic All-State third team in 2008, USA Wrestling Junior Freestyle All-American (seventh place at 140 in 2008).

Riverside, Calif. -- Cal State Fullerton wrestlers kicked off the season at the inaugural Cal Baptist Open on Saturday competing unattached. With five champions and a total of 16 wrestlers finishing in the top four, Fullerton showed its depth. Winning his weight bracket were Eddie Garcia at 133 pounds, Adin Duenas at 141, Steven DeLaFuente at 157, Devin Velasquez at 165 and Kurt Klimek at heavweight. Several of the projected starters stayed home but will be wrestling at the Fullerton Open on Nov. 23. The first dual meet is Nov. 7 in Titan Gym vs. Navy.

Twelve Cardinal wrestlers, including six of the team's seven true freshmen, got a head start on the 2008-09 season yesterday, competing at the Menlo Open at Haynes Primm Pavilion on the Menlo College campus. Junior Jake Johnson, sophomore Justin Paulsen, sophomore Cameron Teitelman and freshman Spence Patrick went undefeated in the pool tournament to get a successful jumpstart on the year. Three additional Cardinal wrestlers – freshman Matt Sencenbaugh, sophomore Max Rosefigura and sophomore Porfirio Madrigal each advanced to the title match in their respective weight classes. The 12 wrestlers combined for 23 wins at the event. The team will officially start the season in two weeks, wrestling Navy and conference opponent Cal State Bakersfield in Bakersfield on Nov. 8.

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma wrestling squad will conclude the preseason this Wednesday, Oct. 29, with its annual Red/White Classic held on the campus of Central Oklahoma at Hamilton Field House in Edmond at 7 p.m. The intrasquad ranking matches will pit the top-two wrestlers in each weight class to help determine starters for the upcoming season. The UCO Bronchos will also hold their Bronze/Blue ranking match alongside the Sooners Wednesday evening. "This is an exciting time of year because after all of our preseason work, we are ready to step under the lights," OU Head Coach Jack Spates said. "The ranking matches determine where you are relative to where you need to be heading into the season." The Sooners are ranked No. 20 according to the W.I.N. and NWCA preseason polls. All seven returning starters from a year ago will be in action on Wednesday, including 2008 NCAA qualifiers Joey Fio (125 pounds), Zack Bailey (141 pounds) and Will Rowe (149). "Wrestling side-by-side with UCO, fans are going to see a lot of outstanding wrestlers and great action," Spates said. "We are really looking forward to this season and hope to see many Sooner fans on Wednesday night." Oklahoma will kickoff the 2008-09 season when it travels to Brockport, N.Y., for the annual Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic on Nov. 8.

Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith and selected wrestlers met with members of the media Monday in Stillwater to preview the coming season as part of Cowboy Wrestling's media day. Here are some of the highlights of what they had to say: Coach John Smith John Smith (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)On his thoughts about the coming season "This is going to be an exciting year and we are going to keep our redshirts in redshirt. We are always looking for the opportunity to win championships but that could be a tall order for us this year with only one returning All-American, two if you count Brandon Mason from a couple years ago. This season will be a journey and we will improve as the year goes on." On the Cowboys' lower weights "I look at a guy like Obe Blanc at 125 who made a commitment to finish his career here and I like what I see. At 133, there's a good chance you'll see Tyler Shinn. It's time for him to step up as a junior. Right from the start, he should be competitive with the top guys in the nation." On his team "We're young, but there's a standard here and we aren't there right now. The season will be a journey and we are going to have to be patient. These are some of the best years in coaching. These are the years where you personally grow as a coach taking a kid from point A to point Z." On the group of young wrestlers in the program "Since I've been here, we've had eight four-time All-Americans so that is something that is out there for some of these guys. This isn't a group where you can wait for them to be sophomores. We need to wrestle them as freshmen." On the maturation and development of Jared Rosholt "As he became a better student in school, he has gotten better as a wrestler. It's the attention to detail. Jared came in weighing 215 as a freshman wrestling against a guy like Cole Konrad at 275 pounds or in the wrestling room with Steve Mocco who was way bigger and was experienced. He has developed and matured to be where he is, but for him to win a national championship, he needs to get better." Jamal Parks (R-Freshman 141-pounder) On his development "I have come a long way in my technique and Coach Smith has been a big part of that. Coleman Scott and Zack Esposito and a lot of different people have helped me and all those guys have had a big impact on me." On the Cowboys' off-season "We've had an amazing off-season lifting and working hard." On his approach to the coming season "I know I have a long way to go and I need to keep progressing every year." On what he has worked on specifically "I need to focus on being on top. I'm good on my feet and I'm confident in what I can do there. Getting away shouldn't be a problem either after practicing with Coleman Scott riding me all those times in the wrestling room. Where I need to get better and what I'm focusing on is being on top." Newly McSpadden (Senior 157-pounder) On his teammates and what to expect "We have a lot of young guys in our room right now who are going to be good. Jamal Parks will step in big and will bring a lot of excitement to the mat when he's out there." On the level of competition within the OSU wrestling room, including at his weight class "Competition in the room makes everyone better. Spots are not guaranteed because there are other people who can wrestle too. That's part of what has made Oklahoma State wrestling what it is." Newly McSpadden (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)On how his mindset has changed since his freshman year "I feel like when I came in as a freshman, I was a follower and I spent a lot of time watching guys working hard and winning championships at the end of the year. Now I'm motivated to be that kind of leader for the younger guys." On how OSU assistant coach Tyrone Lewis has helped him "Tyrone has helped make me more offensive and better on my feet." On what he worked on this off-season "I actually started on this last February when it clicked for me what I needed to do to win a national championship. I need to work on different setups, different positions and not letting people control me. Instead, I control them." Jared Rosholt (Junior 285-pounder) On who has inspired him "There are so many good wrestlers who have come here, but my brother and Coleman Scott are two guys who I really look up to. Watching Coleman last year was great because he wanted only one thing and that was to win a national championship. To watch him work day in and day out in the room and eventually win that title made an impact on me and other guys as well." On who people should watch for this year "I look forward to watching Clayton Foster this year. He has really developed and I think he is ready to take a step." On who he trains with as the only heavyweight on the OSU roster "Going back to last year and now still this year, the guy who I train with in practice is Daniel Cormier." Brandon Mason (Senior 165-pounder) On making the move to 165 pounds from 174 pounds "It hasn't been much different and I won't have any troubles making the move to 165 because that's my natural weight. I feel comfortable with the move and I'm excited about what I can do."

NORFOLK, Va. -- Senior NCAA Qualifier Ryan Williams led the way with two wins at the annual Blue/Silver Intersquad to kick off the 2008-09 wrestling season. Williams grabbed a technical fall and a decision, piling up 25 match points on the day. Returning NCAA Qualifiers Kyle Hutter and Chris Brown also notched technical falls to open the year. Williams tallied his 17-1 technical fall in just under five minutes over freshman Colin Zoski and he also put away freshman Craig Wilson with an 8-2 decision. Hutter disposed of his teammate, Brennan Brumley, with an 18-1 technical fall in the first period and Brown put up a team-high 22 points with a 22-6 technical fall over Derek Gallagher. The other bouts were all very competitive, including an overtime match between Dan Rivera and Joey Metzler. "I saw some good competition on the mat today," said head coach Steve Martin. "Especially with our mid-weight guys: Joey Metzler, Kaylen Baxter and Dan Rivera. I thought they wrestled really well today." Metzler won the first match with Rivera in sudden victory with the first takedown of the bout. The two guys battled to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation and Metzler finally cashed in with a takedown near the edge for the win. Returning starter Kaylen Baxter won a 3-2 decision over Rivera earlier and posted a win in the final match of the day against Metzler, 5-4. Earlier, Brumley and Wilson wrestled in a tight match, with Wilson coming out on top 10-8. Both wrestlers had a solid match, tied in the third period, but Wilson worked hard for the final takedown. In the upper weights, Derek Coffey bested Eric Decker with a 5-2 decision, Jacob Kahnke beat Michael Chapman 5-2, and returning starter Jesse Strawn won a 9-1 major decision over Kahnke. Joe Budi, named to the CAA Preseason All-Freshman team a week ago, won a 14-1 major decision over Chase Ennis in the 184 matchup. Finally, in the only 125 lb matchup, NCAA All-American James Nicholson dispatched Joshua Gillis with ease, posting an 18-7 major decision including the riding time advantage point. ODU will now prepare to start the regular season as a ranked team for the first time in school history. The 19th ranked Monarchs will kick off the season with a pair of tournaments, the first of which is the Michigan State Open in two weeks. ODU's first home event of the season will be against #24 Northern Iowa at the Ted Constant Convocation Center on December 20. The scheduled start time is 2:00 pm.

The Stanford wrestling team kicked off the 2008-09 season today at Burnham Pavilion, hosting wrestle-offs to determine the starting lineup for its Nov. 8 season opener in Bakersfield. The day featured eight bouts with 15 wrestlers competing, including the debuts of six Cardinal freshmen. At 125 pounds, true freshman Matt Sencenbaugh defeated sophomore Austin Quarles by a 12-0 major decision. At 133 pounds, sophomores Justin Paulsen and Porfirio Madrigal battled, with Paulsen coming out on top, 5-3. At 141 pounds, sophomore Cameron Teitelman posted the only win by fall of the afternoon, pinning freshman Jason Torres in 2:01. At 149 pounds, sophomore Max Rosefigura reclaimed a starting role, topping freshman Michael Kent, 5-2. In the 165-pound match, returning NCAA qualifier Lucas Espericueta, who will wrestle at 157 pounds this year, bested freshman Spence Patrick, 6-3. At 174 pounds, redshirt freshman Nick Amuchastegui earned a place in the lineup, decisively defeating freshman Victor Haug, 13-1. At 184 pounds, sophomore Kyle Barrett topped freshman Kyler Hasson, 8-1. Hasson also wrestled junior returning starter Jake Johnson in the 197-pound bout, and Johnson came out on top, 8-2. Stanford begins the season in Bakersfield, Calif. on Nov. 8, taking on Navy and Cal State Bakersfield in its first dual meets of the year.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- With over 250 fans in attendance, including several former All-Americans and NCAA Champions, the Arizona State University wrestling program held its annual Maroon and Gold Wrestle-Offs Saturday morning at the Riches Wrestling Complex with the Gold team scoring a 28-16 victory in the team standings. Coached by former Sun Devil and current UFC fighter C.B. Dollaway, the Gold team won six of the 10 bouts contested to defeat the Maroon side that was led by former Sun Devil and current UFC Ultimate Fighter Season 8 contestant Ryan Bader. While there were several thrilling victories on the mats, there also were many victories off the mats as the wrestling community again helped the Sun Devil program and their quest to fully endow the program as nearly $11,000 in both cash contributions and donor commitments were recorded on the day. All the money raised is going toward the Save ASU Wrestling Endowment fund that will ensure the future of the program. On the mats, Ben Ashmore (maroon) got things going in a hurry at 125 pounds as he scored an early takedown of Jason Carrillo and worked on a turn before sticking Carrillo for the pin at 2:59, just one second before the end of the first period. Ashmore's exhibition bout victory staked the maroon team to an early 6-0 lead. Just as quickly as the maroon team got on the board, the gold squad answered as Anthony Robles, the preseason No. 8 wrestler in the nation, recorded an early takedown of his own over David Prado and collected several turns for three near-fall points to build a 15-0 lead in the first period and claim a technical fall victory and the starting position for the Sun Devils. Leading 6-5, maroon's Tyler Bowles padded his squad's lead as he downed Angel Alegre, 4-0, at 133 pounds to push the advantage to 9-5 and set up a showdown with Orlando Jimenez later in the week to determine the starter. Maroon raised its lead to 13-5 following the 141 bout as Chris Drouin, ranked No. 7 in the preseason polls, picked up a 13-3 major decision over Travis Forester. But, that lead was cut down again at 149 pounds as the gold team's Vicente Varela pinned Tony Ruiz in 2:28 to earn six team points and push the score to 13-11 in favor of the maroon team after the 149 bout. At the halfway point, former Sun Devil Markus Mollica was introduced to the crowd and the recent ASU Hall of Fame inductee spoke to everyone about his time as a Sun Devil and the wrestling facility. The four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion was on hand after his enshrinement into the Hall on Friday night and his appearance at the ASU-Oregon football game Saturday night. With the intermission over, the wrestling resumed with Jerrad Trulson scoring a 13-2 major decision over Josh Calteux at 157 pounds to put the gold team on top, 15-13. With the lead in hand, the gold team would extend the lead with wins in the next three bouts to build a 28-13 advantage with one bout to go. At 165 pounds, Kyle DeBerry picked up a 12-1 major decision over the maroon team's Sal Musto before Jake Meredith won by injury default at 184 pounds over Jake Cranford just 2:43 into the match. The gold team's final victory came at 197 with Thor Moen securing a 6-2 win over Nick Williams. The final bout of the day saw Erik Nye win a 7-0 decision over Imanibom Etukeren to give the maroon team three more points and a 28-16 victory for the gold team. Dollaway and Bader were not the only alums in attendance as two-time All-American and current UFC fighter Cain Velasquez was mat side, as well as many other former Sun Devils, including former NCAA Champion Eddie Urbano (150 pounds in 1985). Current WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner, who trains at Arizona Combat Sports with Dollaway and Bader, was on hand as well. Prior to the start of the wrestle-offs, Urbano and Patrick Pitsch, a three-time Pac-10 Champion for the Sun Devils, conducted a free technique clinic for the youth wrestlers. Nearly 50 wrestlers were in attendance as the former Sun Devils demonstrated takedown techniques and other wrestling moves. While many of the weight class starters were determined on Saturday, a few question marks remain and will be answered in the coming week, including the starters at 133 (Jimenez vs. Bowles), 157 (Trulson vs. Michael Swigart) and 174 (Eric Starks vs. Emilio Veramontes), a bout that was not contested Saturday due to an injury. Once the starters are determined, the Sun Devils will open their 2008-09 campaign on Saturday, November 8, when they take on Pac-10 foe UC Davis at 7 p.m. inside Mesa High School.

Event: UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote Venue: All State Arena (Rosemount, Illinois) Date: October 25, 2008 There may not be a more overused term in sports than, "Best pound-for-pound fighter in the world!" But, not in the UFC. Anderson SilvaMiddleweight Anderson "Spider" SILVA is da Man. He has been destroying his opponents with a vicious Muay-Thai striking style. His last fight was a one-minute exodus for James Irvin in a light-heavyweight fight. Twice Silva (22-4) has made the dominant Rich Franklin look hopeless in the Octagon. Tonight's victim will be Canadian Patrick "The Predator" COTE (14-4), a slugger with a slugger's chance. He has never been KO'd (until tonight…). Who will be next for the Spider? There aren't many flies wanting to get entangled in the Spider's web right now. Take SILVA @ -650 to KO Cote in the very first round. Lightweight Sean "The Muscle Shark" SHERK (36-3-1) has a tough assignment in trying to derail Tyson GRIFFIN (12-1), whose only loss is to Frankie Edgar. Griffin is also the only man on the planet to have a victory over WEC's Uriah Faber. I think Sherk will attack with his relentless takedowns and Griffin will tumble from position-to-position with his strong ground skills. But, that may not be enough to slow down the cardio machine known as Sherk. Too much muscle, too little takedown defense, leads to a bloody ground-and-pound second round TKO win for SHERK @ -240. Welterweight Josh KOSCHECK (13-2) is a late substitute for Diego Sanchez. He is ready to go, and favored to put Thiago "The Pit Bull" ALVES (21-4) away on the mat. But, not so fast, The Pit Bull looked great in over-powering legendary Matt Hughes. He is a giant of a man at 170 pounds, too. And most of his fights end with a KO. I see an overzealous Koscheck bull-charging and getting caught with a staggering punch that leads to a crowd-pleasing abrupt end to what we all knew would be an interesting fight. Take ALVES @ +130 to pull the upset. Gray MaynardStocky lightweight Gray MAYNARD (6-0-1) is quickly making a name for himself in the UFC at 6-0-1. He is good enough to beat previously undefeated Frankie Edgar. No small task. But does he have the experience to hang with a veteran like Rich CLEMENTI (40-12-1)? The oddsmakers think so. They've made Maynard big favorite. Too big. I'm saying that Clementi @ +210 has enough tools in his arsenal to gain a second round submission over a startled Maynard. Fabricio WERDUM (11-3-1) is a powerful puncher, but also that rare heavyweight who has solid ground skills. He is a strong jiu-jitsu expert. But, the oddsmakers have made him a prohibitive --850 favorite, which makes him unbettable. Shifting the value to his opponent, Junior DOS SANTOS (6-1), I will take a flier on this warrior's KO punching power. Perhaps an over-confident Werdum will see his lights go out from this up-and-comer? Take DOS SANTOS @ +650. Every dog has his day. On the strong undercard: Take Hermes FRANCA @ -190 to beat Marcus Aurelio by third round KO. Take Spencer FISHER @ -350 to pummel Shannon Gugerty with a second round TKO. Take Thales LEITES @ -470 to submit Drew McFedries in the very first round. Take Dan MILLER @ -350 to beat Matt Horwich with a third round submission. Take Josh BURKMAN @ -240 to defeat Pete Sell by decision. A really great fight card, folks! Now let's turn this night of fun into a bank deposit slip. Using our "fictitious" $1000 bankroll, the UFC Monster is going to the mat with the following wagers: Lay $65 to win $10 on the Spiderman. Lay $132 to win $55 on Sherk. Lay $110 to win $143 on Alves. Lay $100 to win $210 on Clementi. Lay $15 to win $ 90 on Dos Santos. Lay $142 to win $75 on Franca. Lay $140 to win $40 on Fisher. Lay $94 to win $20 on Leites. Lay $70 to win $20 on Miller. Lay $132 to win $55 on Burkman. In total we are laying $1000 to win $718. GOOD LUCK and enjoy the fights! More later. The UFC Monster

Daniel Dennis came to the University of Iowa in the fall of 2005 after finishing as a state runner-up twice in Illinois. He stepped into the Hawkeye lineup as a true freshman at 133 pounds and compiled a 20-18 record. Dennis redshirted the following season and went 13-2 wrestling unattached. Last season, he was expected to contend for the 133-pound spot in the lineup, but suffered a broken jaw in November, which kept him off the mat. While Dennis was recovering from his injury, Joe Slaton solidified himself as the starting 133-pounder for the Hawkeyes, posting a 31-5 record and reaching the NCAA finals. Daniel DennisIn April, Dennis made his mark on the national stage by winning the University Nationals title in freestyle at 60 kg, coming through a weight class that included NCAA All-Americans Franklin Gomez and Alex Tsirtsis. Dennis is expected to challenge Slaton for the starting spot in the Hawkeye lineup at 133 pounds this season. RevWrestling.com recently talked to Dennis about the upcoming season, whether he and Slaton battle in practice, whether he would ever consider transferring if he is not in the lineup, whether he would consider moving up to 141 pounds, and much more. You had an outstanding high school career, but never won a state title in Illinois. What drew you to the Iowa program coming out of high school? Dennis: Coming out of high school, I wasn't recruited much by too many Division I schools. The past accomplishments of the program drew me to Iowa. It was always a popular program. It really would have been a dream to get into it. But it wasn't realistic at the time. I got contacted by (Tim) Hartung and (Troy) Steiner. I set up a couple meetings with them and talked to them over the phone. They were out at Senior Nationals in Ohio … and I kind of caught their eye out there. So that's kind of how I ended up at Iowa. You stepped into the lineup as a true freshman for the Hawkeyes in 2005-06. What was that season like for you? Dennis: It was hard. It didn't go the way I wanted to at all. My performance wasn't where it should have been. It was hard for me to transition into college wrestling coming straight out of high school. It was a little bit hard for me to adapt … and I didn't do a very good job of it. It was a rough first year. I kind of had to get things under control. But I feel like I've made a lot of improvements since then. Last season, you suffered a broken jaw in November and missed most of the season. How frustrating was it sitting out and not being able to contribute? Daniel Dennis posted a 20-18 record as a true freshman at 133 pounds. Here he is wrestling two-time NCAA runner-up Chris Fleeger of PurdueDennis: It was extremely hard to do, especially when you feel like you're ready to compete with anyone in the country. And that's what I did feel like last year. I felt like was ready to compete with everyone at my weight class. It's really hard watching. Joe Slaton did a great job last year … for the most part. I know he didn't get what he wanted. I know I didn't get what I wanted. It's real hard sitting and watching, especially when you feel like you should be the one out there. I wrestled once … and things were going well for Joe, so it's kind of hard to take someone out when they are performing well. In April, you won the University Nationals in a weight class that included mulitple NCAA All-Americans. Your performance surprised a lot of wrestling fans across the country. Did you surprise even yourself with your performance? Dennis: No, I wasn't surprised by my performance. I wrestled well in that tournament. I don't think it was a surprise to me. I was expecting it to be two Iowa guys in the finals. Alex (Tsirtsis) and I were on opposite sides. It didn't turn out that way. I expected to win every time I stepped out on the mat. I didn't think I was going to lose to anyone in any of the matches that I was in. I did expect to win all of them. It was a stepping stone to where I want to be at the end of this season … and where I want to be at the end of next season. I wasn't celebrating too much after it. It wasn't the national title I wanted to win by any means. It wasn't going out partying and relaxing after winning it. It shows you that you're up there with everyone. I don't think I needed that. But some other people from the outside looking in may not where my mind is at … and where I belong. I think everyone involved in the program, including the coaches … or at least I would like to think they feel that I'm one of the better wrestlers at that weight. Compare Daniel Dennis as a true freshman wrestling in the Iowa lineup to Daniel Dennis now. How much better have you gotten in the two seasons since you have been in the lineup? Dennis: I feel like I would beat the hell out of me as a freshman. I don't think I was mentally strong enough. I'm sure you're familiar with the saying that the season is a grind … that's what it was for me my freshman year. But that was only because I made it like that. I'm excited. I feel like I'm much stronger mentally. Physically, I don't know how much my strength has gone up. I feel like I was a pretty strong physically my freshman year … just not mentally there. Not mentally in the right mindset for a tough match every time I step out there. It doesn't have to be, but I made it a tough match every time I stepped out there my freshman year. This year, I'm more solid and a more well-rounded wrestler. I feel like I won't have a problem on bottom like I did my freshman year. I just feel like my confidence is there … and I know my ability is much greater than it was my freshman year. Terry Brands just joined the coaching staff. Have you had a chance to work with him? And if so, what has that been like? Dennis: No, I haven't. I'm pretty excited about him coming. I actually haven't even spoken with him yet. I believe he should be here shortly. No, I haven't been able to work with him, but I think it will be really good for our program overall. You will be competing with Joe Slaton for the starting spot at 133 pounds. With that in mind, do you avoid working out with him in practice? Dennis: No. I mean, I wouldn't say that we work out regularly. Obviously, we're competing against each other, but we're competing against ourselves to get better. With that in mind, it doesn't matter who you are going with any day … as long as you're striving to get better. I wrestled with him last weekend. That was the first time in a while. He's a very tough competitor. But, no, we don't steer away from working with each other. We don't work out every day with each other. I wouldn't even say every week with each other. But if we both need a partner, we won't beat around the bush to try to get someone else. If we both need a partner, we'll go. After you won your University Nationals title in April, you were quoted as saying the following about transferring if for some reason you are not the starter: "That's absolutely ridiculous. For me to transfer, I think that would be the dumbest thing I could do." Do you still stand by that? Daniel Dennis will battle Joe Slaton for the starting spot at 133 pounds for the HawkeyesDennis: Yeah. Definitely. To me, and it should be to everyone on our team, it's not about making the lineup. It's really not. You have to have higher goals than that. Obviously, to reach your goal you have to be in the lineup. But your goal shouldn't be simply to make the lineup. I don't want to speak for everyone on our team, but I think it's the case for the majority of the people on our team. And if it's not, they need to rethink what their goals are. I really don't feel like I could grow as much at another other school as I can at Iowa … with the coaching staff that we have. So that has never been an issue … and I don't feel it will be. Would you ever consider moving up to wrestle at 141 pounds? Or are you pretty much set on staying at 133 pounds? Dennis: I don't feel like I'm a real big 133-pounder. So, no, I don't foresee myself moving up a weight class. You've had success in freestyle. Do you plan to continue training freestyle after the season with your sights set on making U.S. World and Olympic teams? Dennis: Yes, I do. As of right now, I definitely do. I don't see too many things intervening with that. I definitely plan on competing internationally after the season wherever I can, but I'm really not looking ahead too much to that right now. I'm just trying to take it one season at a time.

Lincoln -- Former Husker wrestler Jim Scherr has been selected as a 2008 inductee into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame. The current chief executive officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Scherr will be honored during a banquet at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Tuesday. Scherr was a national champion for Nebraska at 177 pounds in 1984, along with his brother Bill, who captured the title at 190 pounds. Scherr also claimed the Big Eight title in 1984, and finished his Husker career as a two-time All-American after earning sixth-place at the 1982 NCAA Championships. Scherr continued his wrestling career on the international stage after his time in Lincoln. He wrestled freestyle for the U.S. at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, while also claiming two silvers and a bronze medal at the FILA World Championships. A native of Mobridge, S.D., Scherr has served as the CEO of the USOC since 2005 and is the first former Olympian to be named to the position. He helped guide the U.S. to its best performance ever in a non-domestic games last summer in Beijing. The 2008 class includes ESPN's College Football GameDay host Chris Fowler, who graduated from Palmer High in 1980, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb legend Leonard Vahsholtz, former Colorado College football coach Jerry Carle, University of Colorado basketball star Erin Scholz, ice hockey icon Art Berglund and the 1965 state prep baseball champions from Palmer High. For more information on the event, and to make reservation, click on the link below.

EBANON, Tenn. -- James Casadaban, Mikey Davis, Eric Metzler, Adam Myers and BJ Stewart all posted victories, leading the Maroon over the White, 24-21, Saturday during the Cumberland wrestling team's best-of-three intrasquad scrimmage at the practice facility. Casabadan defeated Brian DeCormier in the 157-pound weight class, while Davis was victorious at 141 over Matt Craig. Myers defeated Miles Taylor at 174 and Metzler posted a win at 184 against Landon Barabas. Stewart registered the final victory for the Maroon, at 285 over Justin Virtue. Desean Willis was victorious for the White at 125 over Bryan Waller, while Anthony Melillo posted a win at 133 against Nathan Godsey. Corey Bleaken triumphed at 149 over Andy Shoultz, and Adam Myers collected a victory at 165 over Nick Sasfy. Kyle Studer also won for the White team, at 197 against Tyson Loy. Head coach Jarad Swint and the Bulldogs will have one more intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, October 25 at 10:30 a.m. in the practice facility. The squad opens the season on Sunday, November 2 at the University of the Cumberlands. The Bulldog JV squad will participate in the University of the Cumberlands Open on November 1.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University wrestling team hosted their annual Cream and Crimson intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday night. There were a total of 10 matches on the night. The team was split up into two squads, one coached by defending national champion Angel Escobedo and the other headed by three-time NCAA Qualifier and 2007 All-American Andrae Hernandez. Team Escobedo included Geno Capezio, Danny Monaco, Nick Walpole, Ryan Konz, Matt Coughlin, Kyle Samuels, Trevor Perry, Matt Powless, Chandler Coffey and Justin Kuhn. Team Hernandez consisted of Matt Ortega, Scott Kelly, Alex Warren, Vince Ramos, Kurt Kinser, Paul Young, Nick Avery, Eric Cameron, George Malone, and Nick Cook. In the end, it was a 16-16 stalemate between Team Escobedo and Team Hernandez with each side winning five bouts apiece. Scott Kelly vs. Danny Monaco Scott Kelly and Danny Monaco began the night with a 141-pound showdown. Monaco was the first to light the scoreboard, recording a takedown just over a minute into the match. Kelly would then take the next four points with a pair of escapes and a second-period takedown. Monaco began the final period in the down position and got away from Kelly's grasp with 55 seconds remaining in the match to trim his deficit to a lone point at 4-3. The two remained neutral the rest of the way, however, and Kelly added a point for riding time to win the bout, 5-3. Geno Capezio vs. Matt Ortega This match remained scoreless heading into the third period, but Ortega held a two-minute riding time advantage after wrangling Capezio from the top position for the entire second stanza. Ortega combined an instant escape to start the third period with a quick single-leg takedown for a 3-0 lead. He later added another takedown and the riding time bonus for a 6-1 victory. Ryan Konz vs. Vince Ramos Konz and Ramos started out slow before a Konz takedown with thirty seconds left in the first broke the scoreless tie. Following a second-period escape, Konz gave away a free penalty point with two stalling calls against him to make the score 3-1. Ramos got away moments later for his second point of the match. Konz held on, however, and added a riding time point for the 4-2 win. Nick Walpole vs. Alex Warren Following a scoreless first period, Walpole chose the down position to begin the second. He wasted little time escaping in just 22 seconds for the early 1-0 advantage. A minute later, Walpole earned a takedown on the edge of the mat in scramble for the 3-0 advantage. It was Warren's choice in the final period, and he elected to go neutral after coming close on a few shot attempts earlier in the match. Warren got in deep on a few more shots, but Walpole defended each shot before pressing the action in the final 10 seconds for a 3-0 decision. Nick Cook vs. Justin Kuhn It was then time for the big boys to go at it in the heavyweight bout. Cook chose to go down in period number two with score tied at 0-0, and Kuhn made him pay. Kuhn twice turned him for three-point near-falls and a 6-0 edge. Kuhn added on an escape and the riding time bonus point for an 8-0 triumph. Chandler Coffey vs. George Malone The battle between two true freshmen was one of the most aggressive matches of the night as both Hoosiers were pushing the action in the early goings. An unsuccessful granby roll attempt by Coffey caused him three points as Malone caught him on his back for a near-fall. Leading 3-0 with two minutes of riding time, Malone chose to start on the bottom in the final frame. Malone escaped quickly to go up 4-0, but remained on the attack. He nearly snagged a takedown with 20 seconds left before a stalemate was called. Malone kept coming though, getting a takedown at the buzzer to go along with the riding time point for a 7-0 winner. Kyle Samuels vs. Paul Young Young, the first of two Bloomington, Ind., natives to wrestle on the night, was very impressive in the 165-lbs. match-up. He grabbed his first takedown at the two-minute mark of the first period and rode Samuels tough the rest of the way. Young added an escape and takedown in the second period to go ahead 5-0. Samuels then elected to go neutral in the final round. Young was able take him down once again to go up 7-0. After Samuels scored an escaped, the Bloomington South H.S. product went on a five-point flurry at the end that included a takedown and three near-fall points. With a riding time advantage of over three minutes, Young added a bonus point for the 13-1 win. Nick Avery vs. Trevor Perry The 0-0 score was no indication of the actual action in the first period, as both grapplers were quite aggressive despite the lack of a takedown. At one point a powerful shot by Perry forced Avery off the mat and onto the hardwood. The action slowed down a bit in the next two periods. Both Avery and Perry notched escapes from the down position for the only scores of regulation, heading to overtime at 1-1. The match was eventually decided in the second overtime as Avery decided to kick-out Perry and go for the takedown. Perry was able to defend several shot attempts though, and hold on for the 4-3 victory. Eric Cameron vs. Matt Powless In arguably the most exciting bout of the night, Powless took the lead with just 42 seconds left in the contest. Powless's first takedown of the third period tied the score at three points apiece. Cameron was then able to regain the lead with an escape just 28 seconds later. With no riding time advantage for either wrestler, Powless needed to make a move a get a takedown in the final minute. He did just that ... sliding down for a great single-leg to propel himself ahead, 5-4. That score proved to be the final as Powless gave Team Escobedo three points. Matt Coughlin vs. Kurt Kinser With Team Escobedo leading 16-13, it all came down to the marquee match-up of the night; pitting 2007 All-American Matt Coughlin versus NCAA Qualifier Kurt Kinser in a 157-pound contest. There was little action early on. Both Hoosiers were attempting to gain upper body control, causing a stalemate. In fitting fashion, the match eventually was decided in an overtime period. Coughlin nearly got a takedown with five seconds left in regulation, but Kinser fended it off to force the extra time. The first seven minutes weren't enough to determine a winner, but it only took Kinser 25 seconds in OT to claim the win. Kinser converted a front headlock into a takedown on the very edge of the mat. Kinser's win knotted the team score at 16-16 for the night. Indiana begins their regular season on Nov. 9 with the Michigan State Open. The Hoosiers' first home event will be the Hoosier Duals, scheduled for Nov. 29 when Liberty, Ohio, Rutgers, South Dakota State and the University of the Cumberlands visit Assembly Hall.

The amateur wrestling world loves a great David-conquers-Goliath story. (Consider "Gardner upsets Karelin" at the 2000 Olympics as Exhibit A.) What's the story behind Edinboro's mat success? Find out for yourself with the new book The Fighting Scots of Edinboro by John Dudley. Not all of these stories involve one individual underdog wrestler knocking off the king of the hill. Sometimes, it's the small-school program that surprises the much larger, better-funded, sure-bet-to-win teams. After World War II, tiny Cornell College of Iowa beating perennial powerhouses Oklahoma State and Iowa State Teachers College (Northern Iowa) to win the 1947 NCAA team title is the classic Cinderella story from sixty years ago. Nowadays, a prime example is little Edinboro University. This public school in northwest Pennsylvania has only about 7,500 students, and competes in NCAA Division II in most sports -- except wrestling, where it's a D1 school. Despite having a total student enrollment that's a fraction of most Division I schools, Edinboro has defeated programs such as Arizona State, Lehigh, Michigan State, Missouri, Penn State, Stanford and Wisconsin, and has experienced more than its share of NCAA All-Americans and individual champions. What's the story behind Edinboro's mat success? Find out for yourself with the new book The Fighting Scots of Edinboro by John Dudley, published by Reedy Press. This 112-page book provides an inside perspective on the past quarter-century of Edinboro's wrestling program, starting with its move from Division II to Division I in 1984, and concluding with Gregor Gillespie's thrilling upset win over Michigan's Josh Churella in the 149-pound finals at the 2007 NCAAs held at the Palace of Auburn Hills, practically in the Churellas' backyard. The right man to tell the Scots' story John Dudley is uniquely equipped to tell Edinboro's story. A sports columnist and wrestling writer for the Erie Times-News, Dudley has covered the Fighting Scots matmen since 1999. He grew up in northwest Pennsylvania where Edinboro is located, wrestling in high school at Cambridge Springs, and then, for a time, at Allegheny College in Meadville. "Once I got a taste of college wrestling and the academic life, I dropped wrestling," discloses Dudley. John DudleyWhen asked how The Fighting Scots of Edinboro came about, Dudley says, "I was an undergrad at Edinboro right after the Division I change. (Coaches) Mike DeAnna and Bruce Baumgartner were there, Sean O'Day won his championship." "I had heard stories about how Edinboro became a D1 program, but didn't know the details." "The story of Jim McDonald (Edinboro athletic director in the early 1980s) and the conversion had never been told. I originally thought the story could be a magazine piece for Sports Illustrated or ESPN The Magazine -- a David vs. Goliath story." "As I started to do the research, Bruce Baumgartner had a throwaway line: 'This could be a book.'" It turns out that Baumgartner -- at this point, Edinboro's athletic director, as well as four-time Olympic medalist -- had received a query from Reedy Press, asking if the St. Louis-based publisher could assist with any of Edinboro's publishing needs. Two-and-a-half years later, John Dudley had his first book … and the Fighting Scots' story could be shared with the rest of the wrestling nation. A humiliating loss that changed everything Edinboro University has had a wrestling program for nearly seventy years. However, arguably, the true turning point took place on January 25, 1984. That night, in Edinboro's McComb Fieldhouse, Clarion University demolished the Fighting Scots 57-0. Then, adding insult to injury, the Golden Eagles asked permission to conduct a post-meet workout -- as if the visiting team hadn't worked up enough of a sweat in winning all ten bouts that evening. Edinboro athletic director Jim McDonald was furious. Although he had never wrestled, as a former basketball player in West Virginia, the competitor in him immediately took Clarion's workout as a slap in the face and as a clarion call that Edinboro needed to put more resources into its struggling, chronically-underfunded wrestling program. He wanted to pick the brain of arguably the most famous figure in U.S. amateur wrestling at the time: Dan Gable, then head coach at the University of Iowa. McDonald placed a call to Iowa City, and immediately got through to the iconic Hawkeye coach. Thus began a powerful Iowa-Edinboro connection that helped take the Fighting Scots to a whole new level and become the program some have labeled "the Iowa of the East." Calling into question a Hawkeye's manhood One of the more fascinating stories in the early pages of The Fighting Scots of Edinboro involves Mike DeAnna's interview with Jim McDonald for the job of head wrestling coach. (Gable had encouraged his assistant to talk to McDonald about the position in Pennsylvania.) DeAnna stopped at Edinboro while driving to the 1984 NCAA Division I Championships at the Meadowlands in New Jersey with his wife Pam. McDonald offered the position to DeAnna on the spot, but the Cleveland-area native wasn't ready to make an immediate commitment; he wanted to think about it, and talk it over with his wife. McDonald demanded an immediate answer. The Edinboro athletic director basically questioned DeAnna's manhood: "You've been sucking from Dan Gable's milk bottle all your life. You need to grow up and become a man!" Tim FlynnIt was a huge gamble, but McDonald realized that, given time, the DeAnnas could talk themselves out of taking the Edinboro job as they traveled to and from the NCAAs. The Edinboro AD pressed harder: "They've got phones all along the turnpike. You've got four hours. If I don't hear from you, I'm going to the next best assistant coach in the country and I'm going to hire him." John Dudley tells the tale of the emergence of the Edinboro wrestling program in the words of the major participants, which gives readers of The Fighting Scots of Edinboro a powerful you-are-there feeling. "I knew early on I needed to focus on the people, not dates and events and stats," says Dudley. "I wanted to appeal to anyone interested in wrestling, not just inside Edinboro or this part of Pennsylvania." "I had a lot of cooperation on the part of everyone involved," continues Dudley. "DeAnna really opened up. Bruce (Baumgartner) was very cooperative and supportive … (Current head wrestling coach) Tim Flynn has one of the best grasps of what media can do to draw attention to his program. He's extremely open, honest, accessible. The Edinboro wrestlers were great, very open. I was able to build on the trust gained in covering the team over the years." Surprises along the way When asked about what surprised him as he conducted interviews for the book, John Dudley immediately responds, "Jim McDonald was my first interview. He was telling the details of the Clarion win, calling Gable for advice. All I had known was the barebones. The details he supplied were both surprising and fascinating." Another surprise for Dudley concerned Josh Koscheck: "I didn't know how badly hurt he was at the 2002 NCAAs, the seriousness of his neck injury, even though I covered him and the team. He kept quiet about it, and was willing to put his own health on the line." "The Koscheck chapter was probably my favorite," continues the Erie Times-News sports columnist and wrestling beat writer. "He opened up about his upbringing, essentially being raised by his grandparents. He never won a state title, didn't draw much attention from other college programs, but, not long after arriving at Edinboro, he expected to win a national title." Universal truths The Fighting Scots of Edinboro is definitely NOT a "homer" book, designed to delight the fans of the program in northwestern Pennsylvania, at the exclusion of anyone else. Author John Dudley deftly weaves universal themes that resonate with wrestling fans everywhere. "It's not just an Edinboro story," says Dudley. "It's a story about the sport. Name me your favorite program, and you'll find a lot in common between Edinboro and what you know." The David vs. Goliath aspect is just one theme explored in multiple ways, throughout the quarter-century since the Fighting Scots suffered that humiliating loss to Clarion in their home gym. Another theme is the interconnectedness of the wrestling community -- phrases such as "it's a small world" and "six degrees of separation" come to mind. For example, the ties that bind the University of Iowa to Edinboro that all started with a phone call to then-coach Dan Gable, and went on to encompass Mike DeAnna, and early Iowa transfers Matt Furey and Mike Hehesy. That Iowa-Edinboro connection went on to reflect what has become the Fighting Scots' wrestling style that was true to the hard-nosed, never-stop reputation that had made the Iowa Hawkeyes the dominant college program for the last three decades of the twentieth century. Yet another theme is the overall stability of the Fighting Scot program over the years since moving up to Division I. "Gable points out that Edinboro manages to be successful even after a disappointing season or two," says Dudley. "For some programs, a tough year or two has an immediate impact on recruiting, which then affects the on-the-mat performance, and a negative cycle begins." "Coaching stability is part of Edinboro's overall success. There's a straight line from DeAnna to Baumgartner to Flynn. A common message, a common philosophy from the start that continues today. What Flynn says now is very much what DeAnna and Baumgartner would've said. If you had been in the room in DeAnna's day and came back now, you'd find a familiarity that's pretty much tradition." Josh KoscheckWhether you are a long-time Edinboro mat program supporter from long before the move to Division I, or a wrestling fan whose awareness of the Fighting Scots is limited to more recent superstars like Josh Koscheck and Gregor Gillespie (or perhaps from those promotional posters of Edinboro wrestlers wearing traditional Scottish kilts), The Fighting Scots of Edinboro is a story worthy of your attention. The Fighting Scots of Edinboro is available for purchase from major online booksellers such as Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, or direct from the publisher at www.reedypress.com.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- With the Cream and Crimson Intrasquad scrimmage scheduled for Tuesday night, IUHoosiers.com previews the 2008-09 IU Wrestling season … HOOSIERS ARE WELL-STOCKED Head Coach Duane Goldman, IU's all-time winningest wrestling coach, enters his 17th season at the helm of the Hoosier wrestling program with loads of talent returning from last season. Six of eight NCAA qualifiers from a year ago are back donning the Cream and Crimson for the `08-09 campaign. Half of the Hoosier starting line-up is ranked the Intermat/NWCA preseason national rankings. Angel Escobedo leads the way at #1 in the 125-lbs. weight division. Kurt Kinser joins Escobedo in the top-10, coming in at #9 at 149 pounds. Andrae Hernandez is just out of the top-10, slotted 11th. Meanwhile, Matt Coughlin and Nate Everhart are both ranked 14th in their respective weight classes. 125 POUNDS There is little doubt who will man the 125-lbs. slot for Indiana this season as defending national champion Angel Escobedo returns for his junior year. He looks to become the second Hoosier to win back-to-back NCAA titles in the last five years after Joe Dubuque won two straight at 125 pounds in 2005 and 2006. Escobedo is coming off a 39-1 season that saw him win Big Ten and Midlands championships as well. Redshirt junior Wesley Fike will also provide leadership in the weight class, entering his fourth season with the team. Fike has gathered four wins in his career, including a pin as a frosh. Just like Fike, freshman Christopher Tanner is also a graduate of Penn High School and will be wrestling at 125-lbs for the Hoosiers in 2008-09. 133 POUNDS Indiana's Redshirt of the Year recipient, Matt Ortega, is expected to step into the starting lineup right away at 133 pounds. He totaled 10 wins as a redshirt with a pin and three major decisions. Ortega is a four-time New Mexico state champion and was ranked No. 2 nationally coming out of high school. True freshman Geno Capezio is one of three freshmen to reign from Glenbard North High School in Illinois, joining Danny Monaco and Vince Ramos. He twice placed at the state championships, finishing in sixth and fourth his final two seasons. 141 POUNDS Three-time NCAA qualifier and former All-American Andrae Hernandez moves up to the 141-pound weight class for his senior campaign. He has a career win total of 78 that includes 15 pins, 13 tech falls and 11 major decisions. Hernandez looks to make a return to the All-American stand after taking eighth place at the NCAA Championships in 2007 as a sophomore. Junior Scott Kelly will push Hernandez for time in the line-up. Kelly, last season's starter at 141-lbs., knows what it takes to win in the Big Ten, earning three conference victories a year ago. Also competing at this weight will be a pair of freshmen in Danny Monaco and Nick Viterisi. Monaco is a two-time state placer while Viterisi comes from Bloomington South High School after a third-place finish in last year's Indiana state championships. 149 POUNDS This weight class is the most crowded for IU with five wrestlers battling for the right to fill the starting role. The Big Ten's top pin-collector, Kurt Kinser, is the front-runner to start after racking up 18 falls and 32 wins in 2007-08. Kinser had his hand raised three times at the NCAAs last year. Junior Nick Walpole and his 28-14 career record cannot be overlooked, however. He has also shown the ability to put the opposition on its back, posting 10 pins in his first two seasons donning the Cream and Crimson. Sophomore Alex Warren, redshirt freshman Greer Bivenour and true freshman Vince Ramos round out the IU arsenal at 149 pounds. Warren and Ramos are both former state champions. Bivenour totaled four wins and two falls during his redshirt year. 157 POUNDS Matt Coughlin will drop back down to the 157-lbs. weight class for his junior season after competing at 165 pounds a year ago. He climbed the All-American stand as a 149-pound freshmen, finishing in seventh place. Coughlin is coming off a 2007-08 campaign in which he won the Michigan State Open, took fifth at the Big Tens and qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second time. True freshman Ryan Konz will provide depth for IU at the position. Konz finished in the top-three of the Tennessee state championships in each of his four seasons. 165 POUNDS It's three-man race for the top spot at 165 pounds. Redshirt sophomore Paul Young must fend off a pair of brothers in Cooper and Kyle Samuels for extensive time in the line-up. In 2007-08, Young cracked the starting line-up at 174 lbs. several times, snagging 13 total wins on the year. Cooper Samuels, a true freshman, is a highly-touted recruit from Floyds Knobs, Ind. with two state championships on his impressive resume. He holds the Floyd Central school record for most takedowns and most pins. Kyle Samuels, a senior, will also compete at 165 pounds. He earned the Scholastic Achievement Award last year, given to the student-athlete that boasts the highest grade point average on each respective team. 174 POUNDS Juniors Trevor Perry and Seth Parker, along with sophomore Nick Avery are in the running for time at 174 pounds. Perry is the most experienced of the group, starting at 174-lbs. for the majority of his first two NCAA-qualifying seasons. Perry brings an extra element to the table with his knack for earning bonus points. He stuck 12 opponents last year in addition to three major decisions. Avery has started before, filling in and winning two of four matches as a starter for Indiana during his freshman campaign. Meanwhile, Parker is healthy again this year after battling through injuries the past two seasons. 184 POUNDS Eric Cameron, Matt Powless and Chandler Coffey each begin the season at 184 pounds. Cameron, a redshirt sophomore, started seven dual matches for the Hoosiers in 2007-08, winning six of those contests. Overall, Cameron went 11-4 with a tech fall and two major decisions. Powless's ability to garner bonus points could be very beneficial for Indiana in dual matches. He went 8-4 as a redshirt, including two pins, a tech fall and two major decisions. Coffey is a true freshman from near-by Nashville Ind., who tallied a career high school mark of 130-20. 197 POUNDS Junior Justin Kuhn and true freshman George Malone are expected to go head-to-head in the 197-lbs. weight class. Kuhn is a former heavyweight with starting experience, going 4-3 in dual matches last season. He owns a 15-14 career record with five pins and a major decision. Malone has the opportunity to immediately jump into the starting line-up. He is a former Indiana state champion and holds several school records, including most wins and pins in a season and most career pins. HEAVYWEIGHT Nate Everhart is Indiana's top heavyweight after earning the team's Most Improved Wrestler Award a year ago. Everhart, a junior, has added nearly 30 pounds of muscle during the offseason and looks to make his second consecutive trip to the NCAAs. True freshman Nick Cook is another option for Indiana at the heavyweight position. He comes to Bloomington from the state of Virginia, where he was twice the runner-up in the state championships.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) has been selected to participate in the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic. The exhibition event will take place at Ohio State's St. John's Arena on Monday, November 24, at 7 p.m. Jenkins, ranked No. 2 at 149 in the NWCA's pre-season rankings, will face No. 1 Brent Metcalf of Iowa. Jenkins, the defending national runner-up, lost to Metcalf 14-8 in the 2008 NCAA Championships at 149 last year. Metcalf served as Jenkins' foil last year, handing the Nittany Lion All-American three of his six losses during the campaign (Jenkins went 26-6 overall). The selection of Jenkins marks the third straight year that a Nittany Lion has been represented at the prestigious event, annually pitting the top two pre-season wrestlers at each weight class against each other in an exhibition. In 2006, Penn State sent Phil Davis and James Yonushonis and last year Davis took part again.

Paul Bradley and Biff Walizer will represent LionHeart at Ring of Combat XXII on Nov. 21 in Atlantic City, NJ. Bradley, 8-0 as a professional, will face Dante Rivera, 10-3, in a battle for the R.O.C. Middleweight Championship. Both Bradley and Rivera are veterans of Spike T.V's, The Ultimate Fighter. Rivera performed well in season 7 defeating Matt Riddle on the season finale. Bradley, a veteran of season 9, was undefeated on the show but forced to leave early due to a medical condition. Lightweight Biff Walizer, 2-1, will take on Dom Stanco, 5-2, of Bellmore Kickboxing in a Main Card Matchup. For tickets please contact Chad Dubin: chad@lionheartfighters.com 814.280.1982 Event details available at www.ringofcombat.com.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith announced that the annual Orange and Black ranking matches are set for 7 p.m. on Nov. 13 at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Admission is free and the event will be broadcast live on KSPI-FM radio beginning at 6:45 p.m. The Cowboys have capable candidates at several weight classes, most notably at 157 pounds, where incumbent starter Newly McSpadden and Neil Erisman are both capable of being everyday starters. The Orange and Black matches could play a role in determining who gets the starting nod early in the season. Other weight classes to watch will be 133 pounds, 149 pounds, 174 pounds and 184 pounds. At 133, Tyler Shinn and Chris Notte both figure to be impact wrestlers for the Cowboys in 2008-09. Shinn has made his name wrestling at 125 pounds throughout his collegiate career, but now gets a chance to stake claim to the title of starter at 133 with 2008 NCAA champion Coleman Scott graduated. In order to do that, he will have to prove himself against Notte, who won a junior college national title while at Nassau CC last year. The 149-pound weight class is highlighted by returnee Quinten Fuentes and redshirt freshman Luke Silver. Though Fuentes owns the edge on experience, he did not quite do enough while starting last year to be able to stake claim to the starter's role this year. Silver is a good option for Smith and the reality is that both could see time during the dual match season. Perhaps the most wide-open weight class for the Cowboys is 174 pounds. With former 174-pounder Brandon Mason making the move to 165 pounds this year, it opens the door for Cody Hill, Kevin Wainscott and Kyle Griffin to push for the role of starter at 174. Hill wrestled at 184 pounds a year ago but injuries sidetracked him as the year went along. Wainscott is the most mature of the group and is a good competitor, with Griffin looking to crack into the lineup after redshirting at 165 pounds a year ago. Though Jared Shelton would appear to be the favorite to start for the Cowboys at 184 pounds after moving from 197, he will have to get through competition with redshirt freshmen Chris McNeil and Adam Rosholt. Probable Oklahoma State Lineup Heading Into Orange and Black Ranking Matches 125 pounds: Obenson "Obe" Blanc 133 pounds: Tyler Shinn or Chris Notte 141 pounds: Jamal Parks 149 pounds: Quinten Fuentes or Luke Silver 157 pounds: Newly McSpadden or Neil Erisman 165 pounds: Brandon Mason 174 pounds: Cody Hill or Kevin Wainscott or Kyle Griffin 184 pounds: Jared Shelton or Chris McNeil 197 pounds: Clayton Foster 285 pounds: Jared Rosholt

For nearly a month, Northwestern has been in the midst of preseason practice as it looks to build upon the program's recent successes. As Northwestern draws closer to the start of the 2008-09 wrestling season, head coach Tim Cysewski's squad took some time out to be recognized for its outstanding achievements over the course of the past two years during the Oct. 18 football game versus Purdue. Among those on hand were Northwestern's back-to-back NCAA individual champions, Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion) and Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny). Fox, who twice reached All-American status, finished his collegiate career by taking home the championship in the heavyweight division last March in Saint Louis, claiming the first heavyweight title by a Wildcat since 1932. Herbert is a three-time All-American who capped off his 32-0 2007 season with an NCAA crown in the 184-pound weight class. After taking one year off from Northwestern in an attempt to qualify for the Olympics, Herbert is back for NU as a sixth-year senior in search of his third Big Ten title and second NCAA championship. Junior Brandon Precin (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) earned All-American honors for the first time in 2008, finishing 37-9 overall and claiming seventh place at 125 pounds in the NCAA tournament. Precin and Herbert are joined this year by fellow NCAA qualifier at 141 pounds Keith Sulzer (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edward) and newcomers such as freshman Jason Welch (Walnut Creek, Calif./Las Lomas), winner of the Junior Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation's best high school wrestler as a senior. Northwestern's student-athletes weren't the only members of the program receiving recognition on Saturday. Andrew Pariano, who was promoted to the position of associate head coach during the off-season, was acknowledged for being honored by the NWCA as Assistant Coach of the Year. Pariano, a 2000 graduate of Northwestern, is in his fourth year as a member of Northwestern's coaching staff. NU opens the 2008-09 season on Nov. 9 at the Michigan State Open and hosts its first home match on Dec. 4 against Northern Illinois.

In wrestling, the prize of perfection has its pressures. Just ask Cael Sanderson (159-0 at Iowa State) … or Dan Gable (181-1 in high school and college … with that one blemish on a perfect record at the hands of Larry Owings in Gable's last collegiate match.) Scott Winston built a perfect 137-0 record throughout his prep career at Jackson Memorial High School in New Jersey, where he was a three-time state champ … and the only wrestler in state history to graduate with an undefeated record with at least 100 wins. While in high school, he claimed a Junior Nationals freestyle crown in 2007. In 2008, RevWrestling.com ranked him No. 1 in the entire nation among all high school wrestlers in all weight classes. Scott WinstonNow Winston is enrolled at Rutgers University, where he is expected to be the Scarlet Knights' starter at 157 pounds as a true freshman … and there's considerable pressure from some fans, hoping that prep perfection continues in college. However, to mix metaphors, it's a whole new ballgame for Winston. He's competing in one of the toughest weight classes in college, loaded with talented veterans, a number of them NCAA All-Americans. Luckily for Scott Winston, he has one very familiar face in his corner at Rutgers: Scott Goodale, the man who was his high school coach the first three years. You're not in high school anymore It may be only about 40-50 miles from Scott Winston's high school to the Rutgers campus in Piscataway, New Jersey … but, so far, the college experience is far removed from what the freshman had experienced before leaving home. "(Scott) had an unbelievable high school career but now he's low man on the totem pole," acknowledges Goodale, now in his second year as head coach of the Scarlet Knights. "However, the transition has been solid so far -- his training, his academics. It's been a smooth month-and-a-half. He's not afraid to learn." "The most important lesson I've learned so far moving from high school to college is, time management is everything," according to Scott Winston. "It's something I kept hearing before coming to Rutgers, and didn't fully grasp it until now. There are so many elements of my life that need to fit into a day: classes, study, workouts, eating on schedule. That's all clicked into place now, and I'm doing well." When asked how wrestler and coach were reunited for Round Two at Rutgers after three years together at Jackson Memorial High School, Scott Goodale says, "He could've gone anywhere. Family is very important to him." The tale of the two Scotts "Coach Goodale is a big reason I came here," according to Scott Winston. "He's the best motivator in my life. He's able to say the right thing at the right moment. He's convinced me that I can do what needs to be done." Winston considered a number of Midwestern collegiate wrestling powerhouses, including the University of Iowa, University of Illinois, and Iowa State. He made one official visit to the heartland, to check out the home of the Fighting Illini. But in a published report, Winston admitted his three-day trip to Champaign-Urbana, "I was homesick. I've been away from home before, but, for some reason, being away this time didn't feel right. I'm very close with my family." In the interview for RevWrestling.com, when asked about the recruiting process, Winston said, "I'm a Jersey boy. Family's here, I've got a coach I know, great workout partners. It feels right." The Winston-Goodale partnership goes back a number of years. "I first saw Scott in action in seventh grade," recalls his coach. Scott Winston grew up in Edison, New Jersey … but, in his first months of high school, his parents moved the family to the Jersey shore area, and, around Thanksgiving of his freshman year, Scott was enrolled at Jackson Memorial. It was then that Scott Winston started wrestling for Scott Goodale. A path to prep perfection In his first year at Jackson, Scott Winston was 22-0 at 140 pounds. However, his quest for a New Jersey state title was dashed when he broke his wrist at the end of the season, eliminating him from postseason tournaments. As a sophomore, Scott moved up to 145, rolled up a 39-0 record, and claimed his first state championship in March 2006. It was then that Scott says the pressure of perfection really started to mount. "No one had to push me to win. I really didn't let the pressure get to me. I simply trained harder." Junior year, the wins continued to roll in … while the loss column remained blank, adding up to a 40-0 record. At the end of the 2007 season, Scott Winston won his second New Jersey prep title, this time at 152. A couple months later, he won the Junior National title in Fargo -- which he describes as the high point of his wrestling career so far. As a senior, Scott Winston moved up to 160 pounds, and held tight to perfection, with a 36-0 final season. In the New Jersey state finals, he pinned Scott Kelly of Sacred Heart in the second period in front of a crowd of nearly 11,000 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City to claim his third state title (the twenty-second wrestler to achieve this distinction) … and conclude his prep career with an unblemished 137-0 record. Incredibly, Scott Winston remained cool, calm and collected before his final high school match. According to Doug Withstandley, in his first year as coach at Jackson after Scott Goodale had moved on to Rutgers, "Before the state final, we were on a back mat and next thing I know he and a bunch of other Shore guys are jumping on me and arm-barring me." It may have been another matter after winning that third title. Scott Winston received two standing ovations from the crowd at the 2008 New Jersey state tournament -- first, immediately after winning his third title, and, a few minutes later, when presented with a plaque by Brick Memorial head coach Dan O'Cone, president of the New Jersey Wrestling Coaches Association. Scott GoodaleScott Winston's former high school coach, Scott Goodale, was unable to be in Atlantic City when his prot�g� won his third state title with perfect prep career. That weekend, Goodale was coaching Rutgers at the 2008 EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) Championships at Franklin & Marshall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, Scott Winston's mom -- and Jackson Memorial assistant coach Rob Connor -- contacted Coach Goodale by phone with the great news. "It was really emotional for me," said Goodale in a published interview. "If I was there, I don't know if I would have been able to handle it because I'm a very emotional person." Impressive even in the early years Long before high school and Rutgers, Scott Winston was introduced to wrestling at age four. "Dad wrestled in high school for two years," says the Scarlet Knight freshman. "However, mom actually got me into it. I was energetic, with energy to burn … I liked (wrestling) right away. It wasn't boring." While in grade school, Winston competed in recreational-league wrestling programs. It was in seventh grade that he wrestled in a public school program. It was then that Scott Goodale first saw Scott Winston in action. According to a newspaper account, Winston was competing at the New Jersey Kid States Tournament as a seventh-grader against Frank Molinaro. "I was coaching Molinaro, along with Vinnie Santaniello, and it was an eye-opening experience," Goodale is quoted as saying. "Scotty beat him, 3-2. I never thought anybody would beat Frank Molinaro when he was in eighth grade. I said, 'This kid is going to be real good.'" (To provide an indication of Molinaro's credentials … one year before Winston became a three-time New Jersey state champ, Molinaro became the 21st three-time state champ.) The formula for success Ask Scott Goodale to analyze what has made Scott Winston successful, and he says, "He puts a lot of time into (wrestling). He's a real student of the sport. He loves to succeed on a big stage. He's not fazed by top competition." Ask Scott Winston to analyze his wrestling style, and he replies, "I'm pretty aggressive. In high school, I had a good defense. I like working on my feet." Coach Goodale realizes that some might question putting the true freshman into the Rutgers lineup right away to compete at 157 pounds. "We wanted someone to compete right away. He's ready to go right now. He may redshirt sometime in the future." "We realize it's a tough weight class. He'll face up to fifteen of the top twenty guys." "The competition in my weight class doesn't really cross my mind," according to Winston. "I know they work hard. I plan to work harder. I'm focused on what I need to do. I actually enjoy working out, all with one thing in mind -- to get better." A winner in all aspects When asked to describe Scott Winston's demeanor and attitude, Coach Goodale responds, "He has a very outgoing personality … He got the respect of New Jersey with how he handled himself in his prep career and the pressure of being undefeated. He's a real role model, someone who'd stay for two hours to sign kids' autographs, and work with kids at wrestling camps." Scott Winston (Photo/Ben Fogletto)That seems appropriate, given Winston's ultimate career goal of being a high school history teacher and a wrestling coach. "I would want my wrestlers to be winners in all aspects of their lives," says the Rutgers freshman. "I want them to be hard workers. I want them to be respectful students." For Winston, family is the key. "I wouldn't be anywhere without my dad. He's a hardworking guy who gets up at 3 a.m. every day, digging holes every day. His example reminds me every day of the importance of hard work." Scott Winston also describes himself as being religious. "Before a match, I used to listen to my iPod to get all fired up. Now I pray to God. It's a much calmer approach." "Everything I've gotten is from Him." As of this writing, Scott Winston's college wrestling career is ahead of him. He has huge goals: "I want to go out training hard, attacking opponents, all with the goal of being on top of the podium." Considering his perfect 137-0 prep record in New Jersey, Scott Winston may be well-equipped to realize those goals.