InterMat Staff

St. Cloud, Minn. -- St. Cloud State University head wrestling coach Steve Costanzo has announced that Brian Litch of Plymouth plans to attend the University and wrestle for the Huskies beginning in the fall of 2009. Litch is a transfer from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Litch, a graduate of Wayzata High School, is a two-time MSHSL state qualifier and placed third in his senior year at the 2007 state tournament. Litch earned All-American honors at the 2007 Junior Nationals with a fourth place finish and was crowned 2007 Northern Plains champion in Greco Roman. He is currently undecided with his intended major. "I am excited to announce Brian (Litch) as a new addition to our program," said Coach Steve Costanzo. "He has a lot of experience from wrestling at the Division I level. His experience will add depth and excitement to our lower to mid weights.” Litch will be joining Chris Brassell of Park Ridge, Ill., Jacob Kahnke of Prior Lake and Shane McQuade of Appleton, Wis. whom have all signed letters of intent to wrestle for the Huskies. They will join Mic Berg of Simley, Trent Herold of St. Francis and Mark Maestrey of Toms River, N.J. as part of the incoming recruiting class. Berg, Herold and Maestrey signed NLI’s in November. Jacob Horn of St. Michael, Mac Rivard of St. Francis, Kyle Schumm of Buffalo, Zach Stewart of Green Bay, Wisc. and Brad Wollum of Canby will also be joining the Husky wrestling program for the 2009-10 season. SCSU charted an 8-5 overall record in 2008-09, and the Huskies placed eighth in the nation at the 2009 NCAA Division II championships. A total of 3 SCSU wrestlers earned All-America status in 2008-09, and the Huskies advanced eighth wrestlers to the 2009 NCAA Division II championships this season. Costanzo will begin his fourth season at SCSU in 2009-10.

Wrestling enthusiasts Andrew Hipps and Jim Harshaw will be radio show guests Wednesday night. Iowa State University graduate Andrew Hipps started RevWrestling.com in October 2005. Considered one of the premier wrestling web sites in the nation, Hipps purchased InterMat from the NWCA in April and combined the two in May. Hipps attended Chaska High School in Minnesota where he competed as a wrestler and runs his business from St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Hipps and his staff do a terrific job covering wrestling on a national basis. Jim Harshaw is the owner of Riot Sports Marketing, a new company that is helping wrestling programs increase media coverage and improve attendance and fundraising. Harshaw was an NCAA All-American for the University of Virginia in 1999 placing 8th at 165 pounds. He served as an assistant coach at Virginia from 2002-2004 and was the head coach at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania from 2004-2006. "On the Mat" is a presentation of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum and can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 - 6:00 PM Central time on AM 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show.

Ron Beaschler of Ohio Northern University and Bryan Hazard of Robinson High School in Fairfax, Virginia, are two individuals that have given countless hours of their time to the sport of wrestling on the state and national level. For their commitment and leadership to the sport of wrestling, the NWCA along with the United States Marine Corps honored both individuals with the 2009 USMC Excellence in Leadership Award. Both of these coaches are continuously sharing their experiences with others, as they continue to grow as leaders. Not to mention they are reaching out to those beyond their team as full time educators in the field of health and physical education. Ohio Northern University Head Wrestling Coach Ron Beaschler has been coaching the polar bears for twenty-one years. He is currently the chairperson of the Department of Human Performance and Sport Sciences, along with being an assistant professor of Health and Physical Education. Beaschler also was one of the inaugural mentors for the NWCA Leadership Academy, which took place prior to the NWCA Convention. Where “up and coming” young college coaches were paired with an experienced coach or administrator to help them grow as leaders as coaches at the collegiate level. Bryan Hazard coaches at Robinson High School in Fairfax, Virginia, for the past thirteen years. Hazard who wrestled at George Mason University, now coaches at his high school alma matter. Hazard currently serves as the Virginia State Chairman for the NWCA Scholastic Division. Beaschler was presented the collegiate award; Hazard earned the high school award at the NWCA’s annual convention held last week in Fort Lauderdale at the Bahia Mar Beach Resort. The United States Marine Corps Excellence in Leadership Award is presented yearly to a collegiate and high school coach that represents the core values of the United States Marine Corps in their passion for wrestling and leadership. Sergeant Jeffrey Schuh was on hand to present the award, based out of Fort Lauderdale. Also representing the Marine Corps was Staff Sergeant Rob Fisher, Marketing and Public Affairs. “These two coaches exemplify what this award is all about,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “They are both very dedicated to educating their athletes, not just on the mat but outside of the wrestling room as well.” “It was a surprise and honor to receive this award from the United States Marine Corps,” said Beaschler. “I have always tried to give back to the sport of wrestling any way I could. I am very humbled by this award as I have only tried to serve in any capacity that I thought I could help the sport that has given so much to me. To be recognized in this manner is very special.” In 2008 Beaschler was inducted into the Division III National Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. He has also served as chair of the Division III NCAA Wrestling Committee for two years and is currently serving as the NCAA Wrestling Committee Weight Management Program liaison. “Ron Beaschler is an accomplished educator and coach,” said NWCA President Jim Beichner. “He provides true leadership and instills a winning mentality, not just on the mat, but in life, with his athletes.” At ONU, Beaschler holds the longest tenure as head wrestling coach. Hazard completed the NWCA Building Leaders for Life Leadership Course, which helped him develop a strong mission statement for the way he runs his Robinson High School team. That same mission statement has been used as an example by the NWCA for other high schools around the country. He has also been a very active member with USA Wrestling in Virginia, he is currently the Coaching Coordinator for USA Virginia, and has lead numerous Virginia All-Star Teams. In a more recent endeavor to use his talents in this sport, Hazard can be heard from time to time over the loud speakers at tournaments. In 2009 he was able to work alongside Sandy Stevens at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals as the tournament announcer. “Hazard has been helping the NWCA Scholastic Division for quite a while now. He is very passionate about the sport and giving back to the youth in his area and the state of Virginia,” said Beichner. “This is a huge honor, especially because it is given by the NWCA and the United States Marine Corps,” said Hazard. “The values and ethics and the way that both groups are trained are very similar. These areas are what we should be modeling the training of our coaches and athletes.” “I grew up in Fairfax and many of my friends were from military families. Some of my teammates and now my wrestlers have also taken the path of serving in the military which is something that I support and admire,” said Hazard. Past Winners 2008 College: Pat Pecora, University of Pittsburgh Johnstown High School: George Dlugolonski, Chaminade (N.Y.) High School 2007 College: Jay Weiss, Harvard University Scholastic: Trent Kroll, Hood River (OR) High School 2006 College: Jack Maughan, University of Northern Colorado Scholastic: Jose Martinez, North Hills (Pa.) High School 2005 College: Drew Black, Wesleyan University Scholastic: Paul White, South Forsyth (Ga.) High School

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- California Baptist University has announced its 2009-10 wrestling schedule that again features a slew of NCAA Division I opponents. The Lancers, who were in their inaugural season last year, finished 14th at the NAIA National Championship and return every guy from that national tournament appearance. CBU opens the season by hosting the second CBU Open, Oct. 24, and will close out October with the Cuesta Invitational Oct. 31. The Lancers open November with a three-week road trip. CBU will wrestle at the Embry-Riddle (AZ) Open, Nov. 7, and the Cerritos Open, Nov. 14, and will also wrestle a pair of dual matches against Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly SLO, Nov. 14. CBU squares off against Embry-Riddle in its first dual against an NAIA opponent, Nov. 20, in Fullerton, Calif. CBU returns back home that same night to take on Stanford who makes their second straight trip to Van Dyne Gym. The Lancers are back on the road the next morning, Nov. 21, when they will travel to the Fullerton Open. CBU opens December at the Las Vegas Invitational, Dec. 4-5. CBU will then host a tri-dual, with San Francisco State and Cal State Fullerton, Dec. 11. The Lancers will ring in the new year with their first trip to the NAIA National Duals, Jan. 9, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. CBU then makes a trip to Arizona where it will wrestle Colorado State Pueblo and Grand Canyon, Jan. 15, in back-to-back duals in Phoenix, Ariz. The next day it's a trio of duals against Southern Oregon, Great Falls, and Simon Fraser at the Mile High duals in Prescott, Ariz. CBU then makes a trip up to San Francisco where it will wrestle Menlo and San Francisco State in a pair of duals, Jan. 29, before wrestling in the California Collegiate Open, Jan. 30. CBU will travel to the Midwest, Feb. 6, for the Missouri Valley Open and will then return home for the last dual of the year when the Lancers host Cal State Bakersfield, Feb. 10. The postseason begins Feb. 20 with the NAIA Western Regional Qualifier in Harve, Mont., and will conclude with the NAIA National Championship in Oklahoma City, Okla., March 4-6.

WARSAW, Poland -- Stanford's Zack Giesen split his two wrestling matches in the 185-pound weight class on Friday at the Ziolkowski International. Giesen, a two-time participant in the NCAA Tournament, pinned Poland's Bartosz Sofinski in the opening round, before falling to Russia's Anzor Urishev. Urishev went onto capture the bronze medal. The United States, who set 10 competitors, finished in 11th place with 13 points, while Iran, followed by Russia and Azerbaijan finished in the top-three in the team competition. Stanford wrestling under second-year head coach Jason Borrelli gets under way in November. Borrelli's incoming recruiting class is ranked amongst the best in the nation. This past year, Stanford won eight duals, had four top-three Pac-10 placers for the first time in more than two decades and sent two wrestlers to compete for a national title at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis. Giesen is slated to be a senior on this year's team after redshirting last year.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Five home duals and four in-season tournaments highlight the 2009-10 Penn State wrestling schedule, announced today by head coach Cael Sanderson. The Nittany Lions will also see an exciting change to their pre-season slate with all roads leading to March's NCAA Championships in Omaha, Neb. The Nittany Lions will open up the 2009-10 season on Thursday, Nov. 5, with an intrasquad match in Rec Hall. The 7 p.m. event will replace wrestle-offs and give fans the chance to see many of the Nittany Lions, including true freshmen and red-shirts. Five regular season duals are on tap, beginning with a match-up against Bloomsburg on Sunday, Nov. 15. The Nittany Lion Open is the next Rec Hall event, with the annual event taking place on Sunday, Dec. 6. Penn State's four home Big Ten duals begin on Friday, Jan. 22, when the Illinois Illini invade Rec Hall for a 7 p.m. dual. The Northwestern Wildcats visit Happy Valley on Friday, Feb. 5, for a 7 p.m. dual followed closely by the Michigan Wolverines on Super Bowl Sunday for a 1 p.m. match-up. Penn State's final home dual meet will against the Michigan State Spartans on Friday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. Penn State will take part in four competitive in-season tournaments, including the Nittany Lion Open. The Nittany Lions will trek to Binghamton, N.Y., on Sunday, Nov. 22, for the Sprawl and Brawl Duals. Penn State will meet Edinboro, Harvard and Rutgers at the event. In December, Penn State heads west for the Reno Tournament of Champions on Sunday, Dec. 20. Three weeks later, Penn State will head to Hampton, Va., for the Virginia Duals on Jan. 8-9. Penn State faces a stiff road schedule this year, starting with the season opener at Lehigh on Nov. 13. Road duals at Pittsburgh (Dec. 12) and West Virginia (Dec. 13) follow and a short trek to Lock Haven on Jan. 3 closes out the non-conference portion of the slate. Penn State's four Big Ten road duals are at Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 24; at Iowa on Friday, Jan. 29; at Wisconsin on Sunday, Jan. 31; and at Minnesota on Friday, Feb. 19. The post-season begins with the 2010 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, hosted by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on March 6-7. The 2010 NCAA Wrestling Championships will be in Omaha, Neb., on March 18-20. "We are excited about this year's schedule and I'm confident that it will help prepare us to do our best in March," Sanderson said. "This year's schedule has us away from home a bit more than we would like, but we're honoring some prior scheduling commitments. Our fans can expect us to wrestle at Rec Hall more often in years to come." Penn State Wrestling season tickets for the 2009-10 season are on sale now. The five-event package (which does not include the Nittany Lion Open) costs $30 for adults ($6 per event) and $25 for youth ($5 per event). Single event tickets will cost $8 for adults and $6 for youth. Group sales are available once again for groups of 15 people or more. Group prices are $5 in advance and $6 walk-up. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1.800.NITTANY between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Current season ticket holders will receive their renewal information shortly. Individuals who have already made deposits on new season tickets will receive their balance due invoices soon. New season ticket applications will be assigned based on Nittany Lion Club point totals and the time/date the deposit/new application was received by Penn State Athletics. Penn State wrestling season tickets are all reserved locations in Rec Hall. In addition, new premium seating will be available for home wrestling match in Rec Hall this year. Details of this package will be announced soon.

The summer wrestling period -- which included competitions such as the Cadet and Junior National Duals, AAU Scholastic Duals (aka Disney), the Cadet and Junior National Championships, and the AAU Junior Olympics -- recently came to an end. However, this period brought about very little change at the top of the graduating class wrestler rankings. Four of the five No. 1-ranked wrestlers remain the same from the rankings that were released in the middle of June. Logan Stieber (Monroeville, Ohio) is at the top of the Class of 2010 (seniors-to-be), as he helped anchor the Buckeye State to a Junior Duals title in the freestyle competition with a 10-0 record. Chris Phillips (Monroeville, Ohio) -- a high school teammate of Stieber -- remains the leader of the Class of 2011 after an undefeated performance in the Disney Duals. Taylor Massa (St John's, Michigan) remains on top of the Class of 2012 following titles in both the Greco-Roman and freestyle competitions at the Cadet Nationals, and a 17-0 run through both styles during June's Cadet National Duals. Jered Cortez of Ohio stayed on top of the Class of 2014+ ranking, which is a compilation of the nation's top junior high wrestlers for next year, following his runner-up finish in the 98-pound weight class of the Cadet National Freestyle Championships. The only new No. 1 is Ben Whitford, who was a finalist in both Greco-Roman and freestyle at the recently completed Cadet Nationals. Champion in the freestyle competition in Fargo, North Dakota, Whitford also went 9-0 at the Cadet National Duals in freestyle while wrestling on Team Michigan. However, he will be moving to Illinois for his freshman year of high school at Marmion Academy, which is located in the Chicago suburbs. Four of the five classes also saw no changes in the No. 2 ranking. Andrew Alton (Central Mountain, Pennsylvania) stayed at second in the Class of 2010 following his championship in the Junior National freestyle competition. After winning the Greco-Roman championship at Junior Nationals, Andrew Campolattano (Bound Brook, New Jersey) stays second in the Class of 2011. The previous No. 1 for the Class of 2013, Eric Morris of Pennsylvania, drops to the second position despite going undefeated in both Greco-Roman and freestyle at the USA Wrestling Schoolboy Duals; an event that was held in Indianapolis, Indiana during the month of June. Felipe Martinez (Graham, Ohio) and Chance Marsteller of Pennsylvania remain second-ranked in the class of 2012 and among junior high wrestlers respectively. The top 100 seniors-to-be, top 50 members of the Classes of 2011 and 2012, the top 25 incoming freshmen, and top 15 junior high wrestlers are listed in the InterMat graduating class rankings. The complete rankings are available to InterMat Platinum subscribers. Updates in the class rankings will come during early December, while the initial weight class rankings for the 2009-10 season will be published in early November. View Updated Rankings (Platinum)

Dave Heeke

Erik Estrada

John Petty

What makes a wrestler truly successful? Ask most wrestlers, and they'll tell you about long hours practicing technique, endless conditioning drills, or doing more reps in the weight room. Some will mention the instruction of coaches, the support of family, or a particular workout partner that has made all the difference. Still others will cite their deep religious faith as a key component of their success. As a worldwide sport, wrestling encompasses athletes from diverse backgrounds, cultures and faiths. Even within the United States, there are a wide range of faith traditions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and others. Religious faith is a uniquely personal, "quiet" element of many wrestlers' lives ... while, for other wrestlers, expressing their faith openly is a fundamental part of who they are. Over the years, a number of wrestlers have told InterMat in interviews about their Christian faith. Just this past season, in a March 2009 profile, Penn State senior Jake Strayer said, "I give a lot of credit to God. I owe everything to Him ... I have to trust that everything will work out with Him." This summer, Alex Cisneros, who earlier this year won a California high school state title as a freshman, spoke of his being active in his church, Valley Life Christian Church in Selma, including helping kids study the Bible. Recently, InterMat interviewed three wrestlers -- high school champ Derek Garcia, Cornell's Justin Kerber, and Greco-Roman star Sam Hazewinkel -- who have openly expressed their Christian faith ... with the specific purpose of learning more about their faith, and how it serves them in wrestling, and in life off the mat. Champs for Christ Even the casual wrestling fan can't help but notice a strong linkage between the sport of wrestling and religious faith that goes back thousands of years. For example, in the first book of the Bible (Genesis), there is the story of the young shepherd Jacob wrestling the Angel of the Lord all night. Mark Ellis (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)A number of wrestlers express their religious faith in various ways. Some feature it on their Web sites and social network pages. Others wrestlers wear their faith where it's visible for all to see -- on their tattoos, workout gear, off-the-mat clothing and jewelry. Still others profess their faith in interviews and by actively participating in organizations such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Athletes in Action. Take a look at some recent NCAA champs. A number of national collegiate titlewinners display their Christian faith with body art. Gregor Gillespie, 2007 NCAA champ at 141 pounds for Edinboro, has a cross on his bicep. J Jaggers, two-time 141-pound champ for Ohio State in 2008-2009, has tattoos of a cross, wings and the word "blessed." Mark Ellis, 2009 NCAA heavyweight champ, has the words "1 Corinthians 16:13" inked on his deltoid, referring to the Bible verse that reads, "Be on your guard; stand strong in your faith; be a man of courage." Some champs make their faith known by word and deed. When Michigan State's Franklin Gomez won the 133-pound crown at the 2009 NCAAs, he immediately pointed heavenward ... then, in post-match interviews, the Spartan said, "No matter where I am I'll always go to church and that always keeps my focus. That tells me that God is everywhere. And I've been through really hard times, some really difficult times, and I was able to get up because church as helped me a lot to stay focused." After his stunning upset win over defending champ Brent Metcalf of Iowa in the 149-pound finals this past March, North Carolina State's Darrion Caldwell said, "I felt that I was going to win, because I envisioned myself as a national champion when I prepared for that match. I believe in my abilities and I thank God to give me the ability to do what I did." Minutes after becoming Missouri's first-ever heavyweight champ, Mark Ellis told the media, "With where I came from and the people who believed in me and just gave me a chance, it's amazing and God is just so good to me." Brandon SlayOlympic gold: A golden opportunity to profess faith A number of Olympic gold medalists continue to be active proponents of their faith long after winning the ultimate prize in international wrestling competition. Brandon Slay, who won the gold medal in freestyle at the 2000 Sydney Olympics after the original 63 kg finals winner, Germany's Alexander Leipold, was disqualified for having banned substances in his system, continues to speak about his Christian faith to audiences ... and at his official Web site, www.BrandonSlay.com, which welcomes visitors with this message on its homepage: ... I want to tell you how special you are as a person. God loves you more than you can know, and He has a purpose for your life, which is to "Know Him and Make Him Known." With God, ALL things are possible. If you come near to Him, He will come near to you. Trust me. It works for today, and forever. Elsewhere at Slay's Web site, there is this story of his Christian conversion: For many years, Brandon attempted to accomplish his wrestling dreams without God, and he only got so far, but not far enough. In 1999, Brandon finished 6th in the U.S. Nationals by clinging to his own life and doing things his way. At this point, Brandon realized his life had no purpose. Only God could bless the desires of his heart. At the end of 1999, he gave his life completely up to Jesus Christ. With his new spiritual strength, he was able to go from 6th in the U.S.A. in 1999 to 1st in the World in 2000. Brandon's motto became "Do your best and let God take care of the rest!" He says, "If we are obedient and doing the natural, God will do the super if it's according to His Will." After the Olympics, Slay offered wrestling posters that openly displayed his faith. One featured an image of a jubilant Slay in his Olympic singlet, arms raised in victory, with the headline, "The Power and the Glory." Still another showed the Amarillo, Texas native on the mat on one knee, the other knee visible with the words "Psalm 144:1" handwritten on the kneepad, which served as a reminder to him when he prepared to step onto the mat: "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle." More significantly, Slay launched an organization called Greater Gold, which, according to its Web site, "prepares youth to reach their full academic and athletic potential while planting positive seeds of Biblical Truth. Brandon travels across the nation speaking to schools, youth groups, churches, and business organizations. He realizes he can't share his faith in every instance, but Brandon yearns to be a light." Ben PetersonThe Peterson brothers -- John and Ben -- are another example of Olympic champions who continue to share their faith with wrestling community more than three decades after each winning a silver and a gold medal. Their Camp of Champs wrestling camps in their native Wisconsin provides more than instruction in wrestling technique or the chance to learn from all-time mat greats such as Dan Gable, Lee Kemp, and Brandon Slay. In the camp brochure, among the features listed under the headline, "What We Do Best" is a subhead, "Moral Approach to Life," with these points: 1. Value of building character as a man 2. Positive family atmosphere 3. Campers leave energized to be positive in wrestling and in life In addition, over the years, Ben Peterson has written columns for wrestling magazines that share his religious convictions within the framework of his life experiences on and off the mat. Here's one story from the 1972 Munich Olympics, where Ben won the gold medal in freestyle while brother John took silver: (At the 1976 Montreal Games, the roles were reversed; John brought home gold, and Ben, silver.) ... as Dan (Gable) contemplated the medal success of two farm boys from northern Wisconsin, which he had helped immeasurably, he choked back the emotion. I treasure that memory. Dan Gable enjoyed seeing those he helped win. Yes, he enjoyed winning the Olympic Gold himself, but as a teammate with emotion he showed us that he enjoyed others doing the same. As wrestlers we can get so focused on ourselves and our own training that we forget others. Philippians 2:4 says, "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." In this verse the apostle Paul urges us to be concerned for others. In the next few verses Paul shows how this is a most Christ-like characteristic. Shelby Wilson, who won a gold medal in freestyle at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, talked about his relationship with God in a 2007 InterMat Rewind profile: When I lost (at the Oklahoma high school state finals), it really hit me. It meant more to me than anything. It made me think that life was more than wrestling. I was NOT a religious person up to that point. I went to church but I wasn't really 'there.' I didn't smoke, drink or chase around. But something was missing. "After a few months of searching, I found that what was missing was a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. In August of 1955 I committed my life to Christ and follow Him to this day. That commitment of more than 50 years ago laid a strong foundation for the rest of Shelby Wilson's life. While in Colorado in the early 1970s, Wilson and his wife Gretchen established The Stronghold Youth Foundation, a Christian-based service organization that serves people of all faiths in Bloomington, Indiana, their present home. High school champ Derek Garcia Derek Garcia is a three-time Washington high school state champ who won the 152-pound freestyle title at the 2009 Junior Nationals in Fargo after spending nearly a half-year at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. He has returned to Sedro-Woolley High (an hour north of Seattle) for his senior year, to quarterback his school's football team, and go for a fourth state wrestling title. Derek Garcia (Photo/Dave Jedlicka)Ask Garcia how he came to the USOC facility in Colorado Springs, and he responds, "I went for a camp, and was invited to stay ... I feel God presented me with an opportunity to be a resident athlete." "Bill Zadick and Brandon Slay are both strong in their faith," adds the 17-year-old two-sport star. "I had the opportunity to talk to them about their faith, and what it means in their lives. It made it a lot easier to be away from my family for five months." Speaking of family ... that's how Derek Garcia came to his Christian faith: "It's always been there. My parents taught me the Bible, the Commandments. My faith has grown stronger and stronger over the years." Garcia communicates his Christian faith without saying a word. He has two tattoos: a cross on his shoulder with a lightning bolt, and, on his ankle, another cross, with the words "I Believe" and "1 Chronicles 28:20" which Garcia says was one of his favorite Bible verses as a youngster: " ... be strong and of good courage, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you ... " (Garcia says his new favorites are Psalms 18 and 20, which he describes as being "prayers for victory" that he reads before a wrestling event, "to get into the right mindset because they give me confidence.") In addition to the body art, the Washington state wrestler likes to wear Christian-themed clothes, including a Team Jesus shirt at tournaments. "I'm rather shy," admits Garcia. "It's easier for me to speak with actions, rather than words." "I used to be a mean kid on the mat. Now I'm not so much a hothead." Derek Garcia (Photo/Dave Jedlicka)"It's not so much how I react, but how I carry myself all the time," Garcia continues. "I usually have a smile on my face, because I'm comfortable with myself and who I am." "I've heard some people say, 'He must be a wimp because he's a Christian,'" says the Sedro-Woolley wrestler. "Look at the Bible. We're tough." "If I lose a match, I can really get upset, but, knowing there's a reason, good will come of it." "Praying truly helps," Garcia says. "Especially if there's an injury. I had a shoulder separation two weeks before Nationals. I prayed hard; He took away my pain, and allowed me the victory." There's considerable expectation among many in the wrestling community that Derek Garcia will win a fourth state wrestling title. "I've had pressure since sixth grade," says the soon-to-be senior. "I can't say the pressure's not there. It is, but you deal with it, with God's help." "I try to take things one step at a time. I let God take me, and go with the flow. What happens, happens. It's in God's hands." Cornell University's Justin Kerber Justin Kerber is about to start his junior year at Cornell, where he wrestles at 184 pounds. At the Ivy League school, Kerber has compiled a 57-22 record; last season, he was an NCAA qualifier, and a 2009 EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) runner-up. Back in high school, the native of Emmetsburg, Iowa racked up a 175-9 record; he was a four-time state finalist, winning the title junior and senior years. Kerber was captain of both the football and wrestling teams. Justin Kerber"Wrestling's in my blood," says the Big Red wrestler, whose father is Jeff Kerber, four-time Iowa high school state champ, and three-time NCAA All-American for Dan Gable at the University of Iowa ... and his uncle is Randy Lewis, two-time NCAA champ at Iowa and gold medal winner in freestyle at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. "However, there was no pressure to wrestle. Growing up in Iowa, you just grow up with it. My parents let me get started in first grade." So, how did a wrestler from Iowa whose father and uncle both wrestled for the Hawkeyes -- and whose mom was a gymnast at the same school -- come to Cornell? "Senior year, I was looking at schools," says Justin Kerber. "I was always interested in a business career, looking for a good academic program." "I thought about the possibility of going further from home. Cornell was the one Ivy League school that offered both the academics I was seeking, and the possibility of being on a team that would compete for an NCAA title." "(Cornell) Coach (Rob) Koll's proud he stole a Hawkeye," Kerber chuckles. He quickly adds, "There was no pressure from my family. Mom laughs about racking up the frequent flier miles." Those family bonds also inform Justin Kerber's faith. "I was fortunate to be raised in a home which promoted Christian living," says the Cornell junior. "My parents taught the basics of the Bible and how to be right with God. They were good to lay out their faith and live it, but let me decide." "There's a different pattern to your life after you become a Christian." When asked about those who see wrestling as being in conflict with the basic teachings of Christ, Kerber replies, "Most people where I'm from see no problem with wrestling and Christianity. In the heartland, people have deep faith, but they also see the value of sports, especially football and wrestling." "My participation in wrestling is a platform to reach people." "In my mind, there's a difference between being a perfect person, and an improving person," according to Kerber. "I think being a Christian makes you a better person, one who 'messes up' less. It's not an instant thing, but an ongoing process of becoming more Christ-like." "There are times I've messed up, but look at the Bible -- Peter denied Christ, but went on to greatness. A perfect God is willing to use imperfect people as an instrument." One way Justin Kerber allowed himself to be used as an instrument was at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Champions Breakfast held during the 2009 NCAA Division I Championships in St. Louis, where he appeared with Cornell teammate (and 2008 NCAA champ) Jordan Leen in a video produced by former Big Red wrestler and head assistant coach Tyler Baier. Justin Kerber (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)"At my church in Ithaca (New York), a number of individuals in the wrestling community attend -- Jordan Leen, Tyler Baier, Mitch Clark. There's an opportunity for us to talk to others because we are Cornell wrestlers," says Kerber. "As a wrestler, there's an opportunity to reach younger people." Justin Kerber also talks about how his faith serves him in college: "There's a community within Cornell wrestling that started before I got here. When I came here, I immediately connected with Jordan Leen, who has become both a wrestling and a faith mentor. We have a small-group Bible study in the home of a Cornell wrestling alum." "Being of a faith community counteracts a tendency to live in your own world on campus." As for those who might question how a person of Christian faith can consider a career in the business world, Kerber responds, "Whatever your talents are, you should pursue them ... Whatever your occupation, you can glorify God." Oklahoma graduate Sam Hazewinkel Like Justin Kerber, Sam Hazewinkel was born into a wrestling family ... a family with a dad and an uncle with incredible mat credentials. Sam's father, Dave, and his twin brother, Jim, were wrestlers for the U.S. Greco-Roman team at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. Sam Hazewinkel's wrestling accomplishments are also impressive. Growing up in Oklahoma, Hazewinkel attended Christian schools in the Sooner State up through eighth grade ... but there was no wrestling program in high school. So the family moved to Pensacola, Florida where he was able to build a perfect 140-0 record and win three state titles at Pensacola Christian Academy where his dad was head coach. Sam Hazewinkel (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)There was some discussion about Sam Hazewinkel continuing his wrestling career at Pensacola Christian College, where his uncle Jim was the coach ... but the Oklahoma native returned to his home territory. He enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, where he was a four-time NCAA All-American, placing third three straight years, then, as a senior, was a runner-up at 125 pounds at the 2007 NCAAs. Since graduating, Hazewinkel has focused on his Greco-Roman career. Among the highlights: a two-time U.S. Nationals champ, Outstanding Wrestler award-winner (as was his dad), gold medalist at the 2008 University World Games, and 55 kg alternate for the U.S. Greco team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In addition to being born into a wrestling family, Sam Hazewinkel was born into a Christian family. "Living a Christ-like life was considered to be Number One in our house," says the Sooner alum. "Christianity helps guide my life, helps me discover what I need to do whenever there's a challenge." "People would come up and talk about my dad as a great wrestler," Hazewinkel continues. "Then there were those who would say he changed their life because of his faith. That really made a difference to me. It told me the importance of sharing faith." From an early age, Sam Hazewinkel saw the significance of professing faith openly. "When I was young, we gave out tracts at wrestling events. People said they became saved from those tracts." "Most people know by now I'm a Christian. Sometimes people shy away from a conversation because of that. I try not to force it on anyone. However, I'd say about 95% of people are responsive." Hazewinkel continues, "The Lord has offered me a measure of success, which means opportunities for me to share His message. God is an integral part of my life and career. My being a wrestler allows me to present a side of Christianity not always seen." Sam Hazewinkel (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)"Some people won't listen unless you're an athlete. Sports are one way to open doors." "Wrestling's a great segue to open up conversations. We wrestlers have a chance to show folks a side of Christianity not seen every day, that they can share in the joy of the Lord." Sam Hazewinkel shared one example of that joy: "One of our freshmen told me he was at my first NCAAs. He said he yelled out my name, and I smiled back and gave him a thumbs up. That seemed to mean a lot to him." "(In sports), it's the trend to be the badass, to break the rules," says Hazewinkel. "We need more good role-model athletes." "I'm not out there wrestling for myself. I'm wrestling for the Lord." "As much as I want to be an Olympic or World champ, the Christian faith aspect of my life is more significant."

Hello wrestling fans we return this week to the Brute Adidas studios in Des Moines, Iowa for another two-hour extravaganza into the world of wrestling. What a week its been again. This week we dive head first in to the deep end of the world of wrestling as only TDR can do. Our guests this week include: Duane Goldman- Long time Head Coach of Indiana Bruce Burnett- Head Coach of the Naval Academy Lee Pritts- Assist. Head Coach of the Tigers of Mizzou John Fritz- Director of Common Wealth Campus Athletics for Penn State PSU Head Coach 93 to 98. Record 87-33-2. Coached after Rich Lorenzo and before Troy Sunderland Brandon Slay- USA Wrestling Resident Freestyle Coach, US Olympic Gold Medalist 2000 Sydney, Australia Please not that Episode 18 of TDRtv is now up on all the top web sites around the country and is available for your viewing. This is Sure to be 1 very entertaining program. Please join us for the show that started it all, Takedownradio.com. America's Wrestling Radio Talk Show is on a radio station near you or on line at many of our broadcast partners around the world including Takedownradio.com. We air 9 AM to 11 AM CST every Saturday morning and look forward to having you listen in.

Shawn Voigt

Don Frye

Dom Bradley

Brian Smith

With his degree and college eligibility completed, Michigan State University graduate Rex Kendle is looking for a new avenue for competition. Following in the footsteps of many former amateur wrestlers and former Spartans Rashad Evans (former UFC light heavyweight champion), Gray Maynard (undefeated UFC star), and the up-and-coming heavyweight Nik Fekete. Kendle has turned to the sport of mixed martial arts. In March, Kendle was featured as Rex the 19th in an appearance in Jim Rome’s Rex Streak. In the series of interview, Rome featured twenty athletes named Rex. A large portion of his appearance on the show focused on the MSU wrestlers who have gone on to have success in MMA. The highly-decorated Spartan will make his MMA debut on August 15 at the Capital City Cage Fighting event in Lansing, Michigan. Kendle, spent most of his senior year ranked in the national polls and recorded a hard fought victory over Iowa’s third-ranked Ryan Morningstar on the way to qualifying for the NCAA tournament. His status as a student athlete includes several academic awards, such as recognition by the Big Ten and a spot on the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Academic All-American team. Capital City Cage fighting has been the start for some of Michigan’s best MMA competitors and features a deep talent pool including Brandon Johnson, Sean Baker, and Jennifer Kelly. Kendle will face Rob Letson who has a boxing and wrestling background and is also making his debut. A native of Edwardsburg, Michigan, Kendle was a high school state placewinner that walked on to the Spartan Wrestling team, earning a starting spot as a sophomore and becoming a leader on the mat and in the classroom. He will be sponsored by Border Wars Wrestling for the event.

NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Mitchell Port verbally committed to Edinboro earlier this week. The senior-to-be at Bellefonte High School in Pennsylvania has qualified for the Class AAA state tournament all three years of his high school career, including a fourth-place finish this past season at 119 pounds. His 40-4 junior campaign included a tournament title at the King of the Mountain Tournament, where he ended an 100-match win streak of Shane Young from Penn Trafford Pennsylvania. At the time, Young was a two-time defending state champion.He went on to close out his career as a three-time state champion this past March. Port was also a Cadet National freestyle All-American in the summers of 2007 and 2008, and placed eighth at the Super 32 Challenge this past fall.

ANKARA, Turkey -- Missouri grappler Dominique Bradley (Blue Springs, Mo./Sunkist Kids) won a gold medal at 120 kg/264.5 pounds on the final day of the six-day Junior World Championships. The Junior World Championship feature the world’s best wrestlers ages 17-20 years old. Bradley defeated Giorgi Sakandelidze of Georgia in the championship finals on Sunday night, 2-0, 4-0. Dom Bradley“The first period of the finals was slow,” Bradley said. “I won 2-0, on a takedown and a pushout. I didn’t feel as confident in that period. In the second period, I scored in 20 seconds, then scored again. I hit a blast double to finish off the match.” Bradley won three preliminary matches to reach the gold-medal finals and opened the tournament with a victory over Bazarboy Utambetov of Uzbekistan, 6-0, 2-0. In the second round, he stopped Mikhail Gazayev of Azerbaijan, 2-0, 5-0. His semifinal victory was over Maradyn Kushkhov of Ukraine, 2-2, 1-0. “I wrestled very well. I am excited that I am the best in the world,” Bradley said. “The difference is my style of wrestling, which is scoring takedowns, takedowns and takedowns. Just don’t let up, just keep scoring.” “Dom had the performance he trained for. We couldn't be more proud of him," U.S. coach Eric Guerrero said. “Dom executed today. When it came to crunch time, he executed. When he got the leg, he finished. When they shot on him, he scored.” The Univ. of Missouri student is having a strong freestyle season this year. Bradley was third at the U.S. Senior World Team Trials, and was fourth in the U.S. Senior Nationals. He also won the FILA Junior World Team Trials and the FILA Junior Nationals. “This will make me better than where I was last year. I want to be the guy. These freestyle events have given me an extra season to prepare for next year,” Bradley said. During the six-day event, the United States won five medals.

Badger sophomore Andrew Howe is bringing home some hardware for the U.S. and the Wisconsin wrestling team. The Cedar Lake, Ind., native won a bronze medal Saturday at the 2009 Junior World Championships in Ankara, Turkey in the 74 kg/163 lbs. freestyle division. The Cedar Lake, Ind., native met Igor Jakypbekov of Krygyzstan in the bronze-medal bout and shut him out 3-0, 2-0. Howe, who was wrestling in his first international competition, was one of two Americans on the freestyle team to win bronze. Jordan Oliver wrestles for Oklahoma State collegiately and also took third at 60 kg/132 lbs. Howe started the tournament with a 2-0, 7-0 shutout of Romain Jollien from Switzerland and then knocked off Hayk Karapetyan from Armenia, 3-1, 5-0. In the quarterfinals, Howe only allowed one point again with a 4-0, 4-1 victory over Zhambolat Magzumov of Kazakhstan. Howe's lone loss came in the semifinals when he lost to 2008 Junior World champion Magomed Zubairov from Russia with a 2-0, 1-0 score. Howe and fellow sophomore Travis Rutt were the two Badgers that had the opportunity to compete at this year's Junior World Championships. Rutt wrestled in the Greco-Roman competition earlier in the week and was also competing in his first international tournament. These two Badgers return to the team for the 2009-10 season, which is just around the corner with the first dual of the year, Nov. 13 at the UW Field House against Old Dominion. Be sure to stay tuned to UWBadgers.com in the coming weeks as the team gets ready for the season.

ANKARA, Turkey -- Oklahoma State wrestler Jordan Oliver won a bronze medal today at the Junior World Championship in Turkey. Oliver, a redshirt freshman for the Cowboys, won his third-place freestyle match in the 60kg/132 lbs. division as he defeated Mongolia's Batchuluun Batmagnia, 2-1, 5-0. He finished the tourney with a 4-1 record, his lone loss coming in the semifinals to Aghahuseyn Mustafayev of Azerbaijan. "It was get a medal or none at all. It was all or nothing. That was my gold-medal match," Oliver told USA Wrestling's Gary Abbott after winning the bronze medal. "I went out and worked my stuff, what I do best, my motion and getting off my attacks. That is what I lacked in the semifinals." The Junior World Championships feature the world's best wrestlers who are 17-20 years old.

Event: UFC 101: Declaration Date: August 8, 2009 Venue: Wachovia Center (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) The UFC Monster will be in attendance when two of the best MMA fighters on the planet will be featured in a co-main event in Philadelphia’s first hosted UFC event. BJ Penn, at 155 pounds will be defending his title against an East Coast rising star in Kenny Florian, and Anderson “Spider” Silva will once again be going up in weight to fight former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. The rest of the 11-fight card is also loaded with interesting fights, which is now becoming a UFC trademark, as the sport grows and Dana White’s empire continues to be flooded with great fighters. I have been looking forward to this event for months. It is my challenge to pick winners and turn them into cash. So let’s do a little bragging, as I netted a $327 profit on the last UFC 100 card, and that brings my InterMat total to a shining $575.50 profit for UFCs 98/99/100, as posted on this very same Web site. For those of you who have followed me, you should all have earned enough for lifetime Premium subscriptions by now. Can we hit four in a row, for the grand slam? Let’s take a look at the fights and betting odds. As mentioned previously BJ “The Prodigy” PENN (13-5-1) is defending his lightweight title against Kenny “Ken-Flo” FLORIAN (13-3-0) in a five-round match. BJ is coming off the most disappointing performance of his career with a beating he took from Georges St. Pierre in Las Vegas on Superbowl eve. He is hungry and fit. His new trainer is the 67-year father of Todd Marinovich. Remember him? The burned out former USC quarterback who was groomed since birth to be a professional athlete. Why does this matter? A fit BJ is a dangerous animal. BJ’s skill set is legendary; his fitness is always questioned, but not here. He is as fit as never before and his focus may have transcended his skills. I think Ken-Flo is in deep water here. After a few moments of probing each other, BJ will stun Florian with a potent jab that sends him to the mat. BJ will swarm him like a bear on honey, leading to a near-naked choke that will almost break Ken-Flo’s neck. I got on early at –160, but today’s high price is still a value at –250, as I give an improved Ken-Flo little chance of pulling the upset in front of his fans. UFC Monster with Forrest GriffinIs there a more lethal striker in the UFC than Anderson “Spider” SILVA (24-4-0)? I think not, as he has made a career of making great fighters look bad. He has destroyed “his” middleweight division (185 lbs) and has had to move up to find fights that even hold his interest. Former champion Forrest GRIFFIN (16-5-0) is one such guy, as his trademark relentless, in-your-face” style, has made him a fan favorite. There is no quit in Forrest and his often bloodied and bettered face will testify to that! Spider has looked disinterested, almost bored, in his last two wins, but Griffin’s style is tailor-made for some toe-to-toe action. A stunning knock-out by a powerful slugger or a submission on the mat will be Forrest’s goal. But that goal will fade by the lights that Forrest will see a motivated Anderson Silva lands a stunning kick to send his opponent flying, setting up the trademark barrage of accurate bombs that ends this quickly in the very first round! Take Spider and lay whatever you have to (currently –350). Former four-time All-American and two-time NCAA wrestling champion Johny HENDRICKS brings his 5-0 mixed martial arts record into the ring in his UFC debut at welterweight (170 lbs). He will be fighting Amir SADOLLAH (2-0-0) who is a product of the Ultimate Fighter reality show. This is wrestler against jiu-jitsu expert. Has Hendo learned enough jits defense from Randy Couture to hold off Sadollah? The oddsmakers have it near even. Interestingly, this fight may be a standing affair, as Hendricks loves to throw leather. His quickness and years of mat training will make him a formidable foe. Wrestlers have done extremely well in this sport. I think “Hendo” will join the parade. Let’s take him at even money to get a surprising KO midway through the second period. He wins in a mild upset. Another TUF fighter is Kendall “Da Spyder” GROVE (12-5-0), a lanky 6’6” middleweight, who likes to swing wildly, who takes on Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert, Richard “Big Dog” ALMEIDA (10-3-0), who wins his fights by submission. History has shown that lanky appendages make for good submission fodder. This fight will be no exception. I look for Grove to search for his ranger just long enough before Almeida takes him to the mat where it will be over before the bell sounds to end the first round. Big Dog’s a value at –150. Kendall Grove will forever be the answer to the trivial question, “Who did the late Evan Tanner fight in his last fight?” Another dangerous striker, lightweight Josh “The Dentist” NEER (25-7-1) has won half his fights by KO, and half by submission, with a few decisions mixed in. He is a well-rounded fighter, who will try to be the first to ever KO Kurt “Batman” PELLEGRINO (19-4-0), another East Coast fighter, who makes submission the name of his game. Can he fend off the striking power of Neer long enough to head to the mat? I doubt it, as I see the Dentist knocking some teeth out here before he sends me to the winner’s window to cash at –200. That completes the main card; let’s now take a quick look at the interesting undercard … In a rematch, lightweight Shane “Sugar” NELSON (13-3-0) is forced to take a fight that he wasn’t interested in against journeyman Aaron RILEY (27-11-1), who was victimized by a quick call on a knockdown that ended their first battle. Revenge in sports is beautiful, and fighting a fight you don’t want is lethal. I like Riley to win a convincing three round decision at –150. Lanky, 6’ 4” welterweight Tamdan “the Barn Cat McCRORY (12-2) will take on John “Doomsday” HOWARD (11-4). Avoiding the punches long enough to apply a second-round armbar submission will win this for McCrory as a –175 favorite. Fellow Brazilian Thales LEITES (14-2) is the last fighter to lose to Anderson Silva. Tonight’s one-dimensional striker and professional boxer Alessio “Legionarius” SAKARA (17-7-1) will be a much better match for him, as it pits a pure striker against a jiu-jitsu black belt. This one ends quickly on the mat with a body triangle choking the life out of Sakara. One of the night’s biggest favorites wins at –325. Two unknown fighters, welterweights Matt RIDDLE (2-0-0) and Dan CRAMER (1-0-0) will try to launch successful careers in the UFC with Riddle winning a close decision as a –150 favorite. And in an upset, Jesse “The Ox” LENNOX (14-1-0) will stun Danillo “Indio” VILLEFORT (9-2-0) with some second round ground-and-pound to cash for ‘dog bettors at +160. In a battle of Georges lightweights, George SOTIROPOULOS (9-2-0) should get a submission somewhere in the first round to defeat George ROOP (9-5). For some reason, there is no betting line posted, hence there is no bet. This one we’ll watch for fun. Okay, let’s go to the scoreboard where I am laying most of my eggs in the baskets of the two main event favorites. If they win, we win. Here’s our breakdown of wagers from our fictitious $1000 bankroll: Let’s lay $200 to win $80 on BJ Penn to stay unbeaten at 155 lbs. Let’s lay $210 to win $60 on Anderson Silva to drop Forrest like a big tree. Let’s lay $50 to win $50 on Okie State’s Johny Hendrick to beat Amir. Let’s lay $75 to win $50 on Big Dog Almeida submitting Grove. Let’s lay $60 to win $30 on Josh Neer to do some dental work on Batman. Let’s lay $60 to win $40 on Aaron Riley getting his revenge over Nelson. Let’s lay $105 to win $60 on Barn Cat McCrory. Let’s lay $130 to win $40 in a bridge jump on Thales Leites. Jits beats boxer. Let’s lay $60 to win $40 on Riddle over Cramer. Let’s lay $50 to win $80 on Lennox in an upset. Let’s look for a bookie that will take action on George Sotiropoulus. In total, we are risking $1000 to win $585 in a favorite-loaded card. Let’s not forget to share our winnings with your local youth wrestling club, where future champions are born. Enjoy the fights see you at the winner’s window! The UFC Monster

NCAA champions Pat Smith and Terry Steiner will be radio show guests Wednesday night. Pat Smith became the first of only two wrestlers ever to win four NCAA titles as an Oklahoma State Cowboy in the early 1990s. Wrestling at 158 pounds, Smith compiled a collegiate record of 121-5-2. He is currently running the Arkansas Wrestling Academy in Little Rock and has brought hundreds of athletes into the sport of wrestling. Smith is a member of the most successful wrestling family in American history that includes older brothers Lee Roy and John, and younger brother Mark, who combined to win seven NCAA titles and 14 All-American honors at Oklahoma State University. Terry Steiner was a three-time All-American and 1993 NCAA champion at 150 pounds for the University of Iowa. Originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, Steiner was a two-time state champion for Century High School and was a gold medallist at the 1996 Pan American Championships. Steiner has been in his role as USA Wrestling’s full-time National Women’s freestyle coach since 2002. Steiner and the women’s freestyle team are currently training in Poland and will be competing in a tournament there on August 13 & 14. "On the Mat" is a presentation of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum and can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 - 6:00 PM Central time on AM 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show.

There is no denying the fact that Martin Floreani has had a significant impact on the wrestling media industry in a relatively short period of time. On May 17, 2006, Floreani, on his 26th birthday, launched Flowrestling, a video-driven national wrestling Web site with interviews from the sport's biggest names. The site has continued to expand and roll out new features, including blogs, an online community called Flowrestlr that allows wrestlers, coaches, and fans to connect and upload their own wrestling videos, and Technique Wave, a constantly growing collection of wrestling technique videos from the best wrestling technicians in the U.S. Floreani, an Illinois native who wrestled collegiately at Cal Poly, is an entrepreneur, innovator, promoter, and wrestling fanatic. His passion and enthusiasm for the sport is apparent to anyone who crosses paths with him. InterMat recently talked to Floreani about Flowrestling, his critics, FloNationals, the future of the sport, and much more. Martin FloreaniWhat was your motivation behind starting Flowrestling? Floreani: I started Flowrestling for two reasons. The first reason was that I wanted something of my own and I thought, 'Why not do something where you work with something you love?' The second reason was that I wasn’t a very good wrestler. I thought I could achieve great things in wrestling. I can outwork anybody and I have a very deep fire and passion for the sport. So when I fell short, I didn't understand. It bothered me and I guess Flowrestling was a way for me to talk to the greats of the sport and really understand what was missing in me for me to be great in wrestling. When you reflect back on your all you have done with Flowrestling, what are you most proud of? Floreani: I'm proud of trying to take wrestling to a new level, trying to make it different by connecting the underground cult of wrestlers throughout the nation and world with video, trying to give something to the wrestling community that no one else has. It deserves it because wrestling is the most exciting sport in the world. I think we have made some difference in the last couple years. I think we have a long way to go. But if I look at the advancements, that’s what I'm most proud of. You have been outspoken about how wrestling can't follow the mold of different sports in terms of media coverage. Why does wrestling have to be different? And how can the sport receive the media coverage that wrestling fans believe it should? Floreani: Wrestling has to be different because every sport is competing against each other. That's just a fact. Americans only have so many hours, so many minutes a week that they can dedicate to being fans of something. So it has to be different. It has to change the mold because it's behind. Wrestling is losing. You have to do something differently if you're losing. That's why it needs to be different. If two sailboats are in a race and one is behind, the sailboat that is behind has to do something differently because it's going to lose if it just follows what the boat the first place boat is doing. Right now, by wrestling just following the mold of trying to get on TV or doing the typical stuff that the old guard has continued to do despite the ever-changing world around them, then it's going to end up losing like the sailboat that is behind. Even in the 2000s, I think it has taken steps back in general, losing big name programs like the University of Oregon. It's hard to replace the University of Oregon, even with Utah Valley State coming in. I've been to Utah Valley State and I love it. But it's just hard to replace the University of Oregon with Utah Valley State. There's a big difference there. I think wrestling is losing, so it has to do something different to win. Flowrestling has a huge following of loyal supports. You have received praise from the biggest names in the sport. However, Flowrestling also has its critics. You have had rifts with members of major wrestling organizations, including members of USA Wrestling and the National Wrestling Coaches Association. How do you respond to your critics? Floreani: Whenever you have change, Andrew, you're going to have critics. Why? Because there is going to be a shift in power and structure. So whenever someone is advocating change in almost any field, you're going to have critics, people who say, 'That's very bad.' Why? Well, it's not in their self interest that this change is occurring. That’s why I have critics ... because it's not in their self interest. I would say that they don’t know what's in their self interest. They think it's not in their self interest. Some of these people have an old-guard type of mentality. They don’t see a couple steps down the line. The fact is ... you run a different organization with InterMat, formerly RevWrestling.com. For me to call you my competitor in wrestling at this stage in the game, I think is a little silly. What we would really be fighting over is something so small. We really need to work together and grow this sport. Your success will hopefully translate into wrestling's success, which will hopefully reverberate right back to me. Yes, there is some competition between different media outlets. But really the most important thing is the media outlets have to work together. When people are trying to close doors at the expense of wrestling because they view Flowrestling as a competitor, or InterMat as a competitor, or any other media outlet as a competitor, that hurts wrestling, and in the end it hurts them. Earlier this summer, you announced the creation of FloNationals for high school wrestlers, which will debut March 27-28, 2010 at Walsh Jesuit High School in Ohio. With so many national events for high school wrestlers already in place, why have FloNationals? Floreani: We saw an opportunity where we feel like people weren’t doing it right. They were trying to take advantage of the sport to really make money. I'm not a socialist by any means, Andrew. I'm a thriving capitalist. But my philosophy is you better put out an awesome product ... and especially when I have one as emotionally attached to as I am with wrestling. You better treat wrestling right ... and then make money. You better have a foundation of putting out an amazing product ... and then if you can make money off that, then that's great. Billy Barger and I came together ... actually we've been talking about this for a while. We felt like the people out there weren't putting out a great product. We felt like there was an opening to put a great product and really do great things for the sport. It took me a while to come around to it and say this is really something we want to do. Once I made the decision, it was just right. It will add value to the sport by bringing a true national championship to the high school level ... and that’s in line with our main philosophy. That's what we want to do. Martin FloreaniWhat has the response from wrestlers, coaches, and fans throughout the country? Floreani: They love it. The philosophy we have is putting value first ... and they know that. They know we're going to run it right. If anyone has ever been to the Ironman, it's one of the most well run tournaments in the nation. Maybe even in the world. It is smooth. Those guys have a great system. I have always admired how they treated the fans there ... and the overall atmosphere of the tournament. The response has been extremely positive. People are really excited. You have a unique content feature on Flowrestling called Technique Wave. Explain what Technique Wave is all about and why people should use it? Floreani: Technique Wave is great because it's a unique place where people can go to see technique from all different kinds of wrestlers and coaches. They're able to sort technique, like a single leg, for example, and see 10 different examples of single legs ... single leg counters ... scoring backpoints off single legs. It's very dynamic in that way. It allows kids to basically get an overview from all these different technicians in one place. That's completely unique. Nothing else has that. I have a big belief that little things make a big difference in kids' careers. If they can take a small little piece from Technique Wave, or if they learn something that helps them win one more match in the sectional ... and that allows them to get more experience so that maybe the next year they can win more and get to state, place, and now go to college off of it. So little things make a difference. That's why I think Technique Wave is an extremely powerful tool for kids and coaches throughout the country. They're able to see all these different coaches from all over the country give examples of their best technique. And that's powerful. You can come to one place and see it all. It's constantly growing too. We're committed to constantly add new technique to it. A lot of wrestling fans appreciate the fact that Flowrestling covers the Russian Nationals. What is your motivation behind covering that event? Floreani: Russia has the best wrestling right now in the world. It's really hard to argue. The results speak for themselves. Flowrestling wants to showcase the best wrestling in the world. We mainly do things in the United States, but we would love to be international and do things across the world. Wherever the best wrestling in the world is, Flowrestling wants to be there to give to our audience. You and your staff are all over the place, covering wrestling events of all types and ages, but you and your staff were noticeably absent from the Junior & Cadet Nationals in Fargo this summer. Why did Flowrestling choose not to cover the Junior & Cadet Nationals this summer? Floreani: One of the reasons was that Joe (Williamson) was just getting back from Russia. He was pretty exhausted. So turning around and going to Fargo would have been pretty difficult. Another one of the reasons is ... USA Wrestling is starting to support us a little bit. But in the past, it hasn't been the most pleasant thing being at their events relative to other events. At other events, we're definitely taken care of. We're appreciated. Sometimes we feel like we're treated with hostility at USA Wrestling events. It's a little more stressful because we're kind of walking on pins and needles. I'll say that. We're constantly working on changing that. We want to work with USA Wrestling. Joe is trying to develop those relationships where he feels comfortable being at those events. We love what we do. It's not pleasant if we feel a little bit stressed out at a place because the relationship isn't as smooth as it can be. So it's a combination of factors. The U.S. Freestyle Team is coming off a disappointing Olympic Games performance. Some attribute the U.S. struggles to the fact that our athletes have not been compensated well enough for them to be able to make a full-time commitment to training. Obviously, the Living the Dream Medal Fund was created to help address that issue. Others believe that folkstyle wrestling holds the U.S. back in terms of development in the international styles. In your opinion, why has the U.S Freestyle Team struggled in recent years? And what's it going to take for the U.S. Freestyle Team to become a stronger force on the world stage? Floreani: I think it's a leadership issue. I have a firm belief that if Flocasts doesn't do well, I don't really pin it on anyone else's shoulders. I'm one of the founders of Flocasts and I put the responsibility on myself. I think it all starts from the top in every aspect. That's with the NWCA, USA Wrestling, and state organizations. I think everybody has to take responsibility. It starts from the top. The leaders have to take responsibility. We have to hold the leaders accountable. And I think they want to be held accountable. If they're good, they want to be held accountable. We're in America. We're in the greatest country in the world. Hands down. I just got back from Brazil ... just to understand and appreciate everything that we have in the United States. Brazil is beautiful and great in its own way, but at the same time, I love getting back in the United States after I've been gone for a while. It's the greatest country in the world. I don't think there's an excuse for this country to be No. 2. When you look at it, it has start at the top. That's phase one of your question. Do I believe folkstyle holds us back? Absolutely not. I really don't believe it. On compensation, I believe wrestlers, if they can find a different opportunity somewhere, they're going to find a different opportunity. We have to take care of our athletes. We have to figure out ways where they can make money. We have to be proactive in building up the sport so that our best athletes can make a great living. Not only that, but our No. 5 and No. 6 athletes have to be making a decent living where they can go home at Thanksgiving and be proud of how much they make. Not having to say, 'I only make $13,000,' and almost feeling ashamed or guilty for continuing to wrestle because they are limiting their family's opportunities. It's not just about treating the No. 1 guys right, but it's also about treating the No. 5 guys right. I mean, those are the fifth best guys in the nation. There are only a few weight classes in freestyle and Greco. So we have to treat them right. They have to be proud to be wrestling, not feeling guilty for limiting their family's options. Those guys have to be pushing the No. 4 guys. The No. 4 guys have to be pushing the No. 3 guys. The No. 3 guys have to be pushing the No. 2 guys. And the No. 2 guys have to be pushing the No. 1 guys. I think you will have that if every weight class has 10 or 12 guys who are scrambling just to get in the top 5. When steel sharpens steal, then I think we'll be right back with the Russians. Last year, you took a poll of Division I college wrestling coaches as well as members of the wrestling media to determine the top 10 college wrestling coaches in the country and the top 10 college wrestling coaches on the hot seat. What was your motivation behind that poll? Martin FloreaniFloreani: We need accountability on all levels. There are instances where coaches stay too long. With the University of Oregon, that's kind of the consensus and a big reason why the program was dropped. Some coaches stay too long. Nobody wants to say it. Nobody wants to be the unpopular guy. But the fact is, just like the top people at USA Wrestling, the NWCA, InterMat, and Flowrestling want to be held accountable, these head coaches have to be held accountable for their jobs. Being pushed, I think that's a great thing. I think it's a great thing when there are three guys battling it out for the No. 1 spot. Or if the No. 1 guy on the team is feeling pressure from the No. 2 guy. I think the same thing needs to happen with coaching. If people are staying too long and people are feeling too comfortable in their positions, that's not a good thing for wrestling. No one should feel comfortable. They should always be striving and pushing forward. No one wants to write anything bad in this sport. But you can open up a newspaper for all kinds of publications that write about major sports, and writers are calling for coaches heads left and right. In wrestling, because we're such a small cult community, no one wants to do that. At the same time, it needs to be done. I don't think it should be done in a belligerent way or in too negative of a way, but performance needs to be addressed. And if we don't address it, we're dealing with complacency. And we all know where complacency gets us. It gets us to dropped wrestling programs. I'm not the most popular guy for writing that. But I think it's healthy for the sport. Flocasts' vision and fundamental principle is what is good for the sport is good for us. So we try to stick by that even if it's unpopular. What is the relationship between wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) as you see it? Is the rise in popularity of MMA helping or hurting amateur wrestling? Floreani: I don't know, Andrew. I think as leaders of our sport, we can make it so that it helps. As far as what it's doing, I think it helps in general. But I think it's all how we approach it. I don't want to blend the disciplines at all. If I go to an MMA event, I just don't get as excited as I get when I go to a great wrestling event. I think wrestling is the greatest sport in the world. I'll say that again. I think wrestling is the greatest sport in the world. If we can use MMA to market wrestling that still keeps us independent, I think we should. Wrestling is different than MMA and needs to be different but I think we can still use MMA to our advantage while still keeping a strong independence from MMA.

The biggest addition to the Dana College wrestling program for the 2009-2010 season may not be a person that can score even a single point. Jimmy Rollins ('08) has signed on to join the coaching staff for the upcoming season. Rollins returns to the program after a one year absence. Jimmy RollinsJimmy Rollins spent the 2008-09 season as an assistant wrestling coach with the newly formed Iowa Lakes Wrestling Program. Rollins help lead the Lakers program to a seventh place finish at the NJCAA National Championships in 2008-09. While at Iowa Lakes he helped produce 4 All-Americans and a National Finalist. Prior to last season, Rollins worked on the Dana College coaching staff as a student assistant. During that time he helped produce 13 NAIA All-Americans as well as five Academic All-Americans. In the 2006-2007 season, the team was GPAC and North Region Champions. The Vikings ended the season with a fourth place performance at the National Tournament, but finished the season with the top grade point average in the Nation. In the 2007-2008 season, Dana repeated as GPAC Champions and finished the season in fifth place at the NAIA National Tournament. Before beginning his coaching career, Rollins began his collegiate wrestling career at Gloucester County College in New Jersey. As a freshman, he was the first ever undefeated National Champion in the school history winning the NJCAA crown at 125lbs. While at GCC, his team also won the Division III Junior College National Championship in 2002. In his sophomore season, he won the Mid-Atlantic region title, but was injured in his semi-final match forcing him to pull out of the tournament and finished in sixth place garnering another All-American season. Rollins then transferred to Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. During his junior season, he won GPAC and Central Region titles and finished 3rd in the NAIA national tournament. As a senior, Rollins defended his Central region crown and capped off his career on top of the podium winning the 133lb title at the NAIA national tournament. That season Dana College also won the NAIA team title with a record breaking performance of 193 points. "We are very excited to have Coach Rollins back on staff," commented Dana College Head Coach Beau Vest. "He brings a wealth of experience and energy to the room. Jimmy will help everyone in our room move to that next level." Rollins is a 2008 graduate from Dana College with his Education degree in Physical education. Dana College has won three straight Great Plains Athletic Conference titles.