InterMat Staff

NORMAN, Okla. -- Former University of Oklahoma wrestling national champion Michael Lightner has been named the program's volunteer assistant coach, head coach Jack Spates announced Monday. Michael Lightner (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Lightner claimed the national title in 2001 for the Sooners and was crowned Big 12 champion four times at 141 pounds. The four year letterman also helped guide the Sooners to their 23rd conference title in 2001. The Marlow, Okla., native became a four-time All-American, an honor only nine others in school history have claimed. Since leaving OU, Lightner has continued his wrestling career. He was an All-World team member in 2005 and recently competed at the U.S. Olympic trials. "Michael is one of the great Sooner wrestlers in the history of this program," Spates said. "His passion for OU and his dedication to our current team will make him a tremendous addition to our staff." Lightner can be found in various OU records, including second in career wins with a 144-16 record. His 37-0 record his senior season led him to the national title and he became the 13th Sooner to go undefeated in a season. "I am excited to help out in any way I can," Lightner said. "The OU program helped me achieve a lot of goals and I am excited to give back and help the current team achieve theirs."

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Mike Finn and Terry Steiner. "On the Mat" is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. This week's broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show. W.I.N. Magazine editor Mike Finn will be on the program to discuss the recent Junior Nationals event in Fargo, North Dakota, and the upcoming Olympic Games. Finn was named wrestling journalist of the year by the National Wrestling Media Association in 2006. Steiner was named USA Wrestling's full-time National Women's Coach in April 2002, the first in USA Wrestling history. He is responsible for the training of America's elite women freestyle wrestlers, as well as coaching women wrestlers who are involved in the U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete program. As a wrestler, Steiner was an NCAA champion and a three-time All-American for the University of Iowa. "On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

BALDWIN CITY, KS -- A veteran Missouri and Nevada wrestling coach has been named to head Baker University's first wrestling program in the school's 150-year history. Jimmy May of Las Vegas, Nev., was selected following a national search, according to Athletic Director Dan Harris. May will be responsible for developing the Wrestling program for Baker which is slated to begin competition in 2009. "I believe Coach May is the right person to help us develop a solid and respected wrestling program from its inception," said President Pat Long. "Jimmy May comes to us with legendary status and a level of energy that could turn our program into a contender quickly," Harris said. "He has a passion for the sport that is contagious and he creates an environment of success using a sound coaching philosophy." Jimmy May has served the Clark County School District from 1977 to 2008 as Athletic Director, Dean, teacher and coach. He has been coaching in the Nevada high school system for 32 years, along with a two-year stint as an assistant wrestling coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As a head wrestling coach at Eldorado High School, May's teams won 18 (4A) Regional Championships and 12 (4A) Nevada State Championships. During his tenure he coached an impressive 63 individual state champions and 19 high school All-Americans. His historic run of state championships has been highlighted as the "Dynasty in the Desert" and the wrestling facility at Eldorado High School is named in his honor. Because of these accomplishments, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. May said that being the founding coach of a new program is a great opportunity. "It has been a lifelong goal to be a college head wrestling coach and I want to make Baldwin City my new home. There are many new chapters left to write about my life and this opportunity will be one of the most exciting for me," he said. May is a cum laude graduate from the University of Central Missouri and earned his master's degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While competing in wrestling at UCM, he was a two-time NCAA All-American wrestler and a member of the UCM Wrestling Hall-of-Fame.

Three incoming freshmen on the University of Wisconsin wrestling team competed at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Greco-Roman National Championships in Fargo, N.D, which concluded Tuesday night. All three wrestlers placed but two in particular stood out above the rest of the competition as they finished first in their respective weight classes. Cole Schmitt (New Glarus, Wis.) finished first in the 140 lbs. weight class while Travis Rutt (New Prague, Minn.) also took home top honors at 160 lbs. Tom Kelliher (Burnsville, Minn.) wrestled at 125 lbs. and finished seventh. Schmitt went 10-0 to earn a spot in the finals against Andrew Alton from Pennsylvania. Before the finals, Schmitt pinned one of his opponents and had four tech falls. In the finals, Schmitt knocked off Alton in a 4-1, 4-2 decision. Schmitt is no stranger to placing at Junior Nationals as he finished third last year. Rutt also went 10-0 before reaching the finals. He met Alec Ortiz from Oregon and dominated with a 5-0, 7-0 tech fall. It was Rutt's third tech fall victory of the tournament and he also had three pins leading up to the finals. Last year, Rutt placed fifth at Junior Nationals. Kelliher finished the tournament 7-2 and won the seventh place match with a 7-0, 4-0 decision over Nick Wilcox from New York. Schmitt, Rutt and Kelliher are just three of the nine incoming freshmen on this year's Wisconsin wrestling team. The group was recently ranked No. 2 in the country by InterMat and also received a No. 4 ranking earlier in the summer by W.I.N. Magazine. Competition continues for some incoming freshmen in Fargo with the Junior Freestyle National Championships, which begin Thursday and run through Saturday. Be sure to check back to uwbadgers.com for updates on the incoming freshmen and the rest of the UW wrestling team.

NEW YORK -– Today the Beat the Streets Wrestling Program announced it will sponsor 42 New York City high school students to fly to Oregon to participate in the prestigious J Robinson Intensive Training Camp, which begins July 27 and concludes August 9, 2008. Beat the Streets will be the largest organized group to ever attend a J Robinson Camp. During the program the students will develop their skills in a disciplined and focused environment directed by National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Champion Coaches, Olympic Medalist and All-American Wrestlers. Beat the Streets identified 42 public school students, who hail from all five boroughs to be sent to the camp. Beat the Streets helped raise money to completely cover all costs associated with attending the program. The J Robinson Camp is just one of a series of opportunities Beat the Streets has offered New York City students in the summer, allowing them to participate in training camps before they resume their regular wrestling programs when school is in session in the fall. "The J Robinson Intensive Training Camp is one of the most prestigious places a young athlete can go to develop their potential to become a premiere wrestler. The camp helps prepare the athletes mentally and physically to train at the highest level of intensity, this will help our kids learn what it takes to truly be the best," said Michael E. Novogratz, Beat the Streets' Chairman of the Board. "We are so proud of all the students who participate in the Beat the Streets program in the summer and throughout the school year. The students are dedicated to learning about wrestling and its core values, through determination and hard work in wrestling they will learn skills that can greatly enhance their everyday lives." Founded in 2004, Beat the Streets' mission is to expand wrestling in the New York City Metropolitan area from beginner to the Olympic level. Approximately 3,500 boys and girls from New York City Schools currently participate in Beat the Streets after-school programs. Beat the Streets recently helped raise more than $2 million, the largest contribution to any school sport in the history of New York City's public schools. The organization works closely with a wide range of partners including coaches, school administrators, and current and former professional athletes to provide opportunities for children of diverse backgrounds to participate in opportunities beyond its own programs, including wrestling clinics, tournaments and summer camps. Since 1978, J Robinson and his staff have provided an unparalleled training experience for thousands of wrestlers across the nation each summer. J Robinson hosts a number of camps throughout the year and Beat the Streets will be participating in the program being held at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. The camps provide athlete's quality training facilities and a skilled staff featuring current and former college and professional athletes along with experienced high school coaches. All the students participating in the camp are in high school. The schools taking part in the program are: Manhattan: A. Philip Randolph, Baruch and Stuyvesant Brooklyn: Abraham Lincoln, Automotive, Brooklyn Tech, Canarsie, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Grand Street Campus, James Madison, Midwood and Wingate Bronx: Bronx Science, Harry S. Truman and Lehman Queens: Aviation, Bryant, Flushing and Springfield Gardens Staten Island: Farrell, Petrides and Wagner Please visit www.beat-the-streets.org for more information on the Beat the Streets Wrestling Program.

The University of Minnesota welcomed the Navy SEAL Leap Frogs, an elite parachute jumping core, to Bierman Field on Tuesday morning. The Leap Frogs were hosted by the J Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp, which comes to a close on Friday, July 25 after 28 days. The camp is hosted annually by the University of Minnesota wrestling coaching staff as a part of J Robinson wrestling camps. Since 1978, J Robinson and his staff have hosted their unique wrestling training experience for thousands of wrestlers from across the country. J Robinson wrestling camps' welcoming of the Leap Frogs began Monday evening as about 200 of the more than 500 campers participated in the Trident Challenge. The Navy SEALs promote the challenge to promote fitness and to introduce young people to the value of physical wellness. Each year, Minnesota wrestling concludes their intensive camp with a poignant event meant to promote Robinson and his staff's vision of community service, achievement and physical wellness. For more information on J Robinson wrestling camps, log on to jrobinsonwrestlingcamps.com or call the University of Minnesota wrestling office at 612-625-1013. To learn more about the Navy SEAL Leap Frogs, visit www.leapfrogs.navy.mil.

The University of Wisconsin wrestling team will open the 2008-09 home dual season a little bit differently than in years past. Instead of hitting the mat at their usual home inside the UW Field House, the Badgers will host their first dual of the season on Friday, Nov. 21 just down the road at the Kohl Center. Iowa State comes to town for the dual which begins at 7 p.m. The Kohl Center has hosted the WIAA state high school wrestling meet in years past, but this will be the first time the Badger grapplers take to the mat inside the building. Wisconsin officially opens the competition season Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Big Ten/ACC Duals in Chapel Hill, N.C., but the Iowa State dual is the first of six home duals on schedule for the 2008-09 season. The Badgers will return to the UW Field House (Sunday, Nov. 30) to host Oregon State and then four Big Ten foes (Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue and Ohio State) will travel to Madison in February. To see the complete 2008-09 wrestling schedule, click here.

State College, Pa. -- LionHeart MMA continued its successful entrance into the world of professional mixed martial arts with fighters accumulating an impressive 3-1 record over the weekend. Former University of Iowa wrestler Paul Bradley led the LionHeart charge by capturing the 185 lb. Destiny Fight Championship Belt with a victory over formerly undefeated professional, Dimarco Harris. Bradley used a punishing ground and pound attack to win a unanimous decision and improve his record to 7-0. At The Battlefield Fighting Championships in Fredericksburg, Va., LionHeart fighters went 2-1. NCAA Champion, Phil Davis, won by submission in the second round over previously unbeaten Casey Miller at 205 lbs. Davis' college teammate, Aaron Anspach won his MMA debut with a unanimous decision over James Johnson at 265 lbs. and Lou Armezanni lost in the 185 lb. Battlefield Fighting Championship Title bout to Kris McCray by TKO. LionHeart Founder, Chad Dubin, was impressed with the performance of his fighters over the weekend. "I've been real happy with the improvement in all our fighters over the past couple months. At this point, it looks like we're right on target with the fighter development and training methods we've implemented here at LionHeart." For more information on LionHeart MMA visit www.lionheartfighters.com or call Chad Dubin at 814.280.1982.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Ben Askren and T.C. Dantzler. Askren will represent the United States at the Olympics in men's freestyle wrestling at 163 pounds. Askren wrestled for the University of Missouri, reaching the finals of the NCAA tournament all four years and winning two titles. He also received the Dan Hodge Trophy twice, an award given to the nation's most dominant college wrestler. Dantzler will represent the United States at the Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling at 163 pounds. At 37 years of age, Dantzler will be the second oldest U.S. Olympic wrestler. Dantzler has represented the United States at the Greco-Roman world championships at 163 pounds every year since 2002. "On the Mat" is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. This week's broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show. "On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

The University of Minnesota will welcome the Navy SEAL Leap Frogs, an elite parachute jumping core, to Bierman Field to wrap up the 2008 J Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp on Tuesday, July 22 at 11:00 a.m. The camp, hosted annually by the University of Minnesota wrestling coaching staff as a part of J Robinson wrestling camps, comes to an end Tuesday, July 22 after 28 days. Since 1978, J Robinson and his staff have hosted their unique wrestling training experience for thousands of wrestlers from across the country. J Robinson wrestling camps' welcoming of the Leap Frogs begins tonight as about 200 of the more than 500 campers will participate in the Trident Challenge. The Navy SEALs promote the challenge to promote fitness and to introduce young people to the value of physical wellness. The Trident Challenge includes a combination of timed swimming, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and running. Each year, Minnesota wrestling concludes their intensive camp with a poignant event meant to promote Robinson and his staff's vision of community service and physical wellness. For more information on J Robinson wrestling camps, log on to jrobinsonwrestlingcamps.com or call the University of Minnesota wrestling office at 612-625-1013. For more information on the Navy SEAL Leap Frogs, visit www.leapfrogs.navy.mil.

Shane Roller, Jake Rosholt, Johny Hendricks were all collegiate wrestling standouts for the Oklahoma State Cowboys who have made smooth transitions to mixed martial arts (MMA). Now all three are joining World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), the sister promotion to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Roller, Rosholt, and Hendricks, and who are managed by Team Takedown, signed five-fight contracts with the WEC. Roller will make his WEC debut on August 3 in a lightweight bout against Todd Moore at The Joint in Las Vegas. The 29-year-old Roller, who was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma State, sports a 3-1 record and is coming off an impressive TKO victory over Yoshihiro Kitaoka on an Xtreme Fighting League (XFL) card on March 15. Moore, who fights out of Houston, Texas, boasts an impressive 9-1 record, but is coming off the lone loss of his career, to John Alessio, at WEC 31 on December 12. Rosholt, who was three-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Oklahoma State, is set to make his WEC debut on September 10 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The WEC card will also feature the organization's biggest star, Urijah Faber, who will be defending his 145-pound title against Mike Thomas Brown. Jake RosholtRosholt has compiled an unblemished 4-0 MMA record and is steadily climbing the MMA ranks and is catching the attention of many in the process, including UFC president Dana White, who said, "He's the real deal." Rosholt, who fights at 185 pounds and trains at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, was asked by the UFC to join the reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter, but turned down the opportunity because he would have been forced to move up to 205 pounds. He has already been profiled in Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. Rosholt is set to make his WEC debut on September 11 at WEC 36 against Brazilian veteran Danilo Villefort, who owns an 8-2 record. Both Rosholt and Villefort have looked very impressive in recent fights. Rosholt has hardly been tested in going undefeated in four fights. Villefort has won his last four fights, with his latest victory coming by way of submission (kneebar) over Mike Massenzio at an IFL event in May 16. Hendricks, like Rosholt, will make his WEC debut on the September 10 card. The two-time NCAA champion, who owns a perfect 3-0 MMA record, will take on Alex Serdyukov in a 170-pound bout. Johny Hendricks and Shane RollerAnother former Oklahoma State standout, Mark Munoz, is already fighting in the WEC. Munoz, who won an NCAA title at 197 pounds in 2001, made his WEC debut on June 1 in Sacramento, California and won by TKO over Chuck Grigsby in a light heavyweight bout. Rosholt and Hendricks will be featured on the reality TV show TapouT, which will be broadcast on Versus on August 20.

Columbia, Mo. -- Missouri wrestling Head Coach Brian Smith was named president-elect of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), as announced today. Smith, entering his 11th season with the Tiger squad, will begin his two-year term as president-elect on September 1 and will take on the roll of president in 2010. "We're elated to have someone like Brian Smith be in line to be our next association president," NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer said. "What he has done, not only with the wrestling program at Missouri, but with his student-athletes, is what leadership is about." Current president-elect Jim Beichner of the University of Buffalo will ascend into the President position in the fall once current NWCA President Ron Mirikitani's term expires. "I'm very honored to have been chosen to take on a leadership position with a sport that I have dedicated my life to," Smith said. I have a true passion for wrestling and I'm looking forward to working with the NWCA in the years to come." The NWCA, established in 1928, is a professional organization dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on scholastic and collegiate programs. Smith, the 2007 Dan Gable Coach of the Year, owns a 119-60-2 record in 10 years as the Head Coach of the Tigers and stands at 121-68-3 overall (11 years). Since joining the Missouri staff in 1998, Smith has coached 10 Tigers to 17 All-America honors, including current Freestyle Olympian Ben Askren who earned the program's first-ever National Title in 2006 and repeated the feat in 2007.

Highlighted by accomplished high school wrestlers such as Greco-Roman Olympian Jake Deitchler (Anoka, Minn.), Matt Mincey (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Mario Mason (Blairstown, NJ), the 2008 Gopher wrestling recruiting class has been ranked the best in the country. Heralded wrestling website InterMatWrestle.com joined the list of online publications hailing Minnesota's class as tops in the country. The Gophers' class was ranked just ahead of Big Ten rivals Wisconsin (2nd) and Iowa (5th). InterMat utilizes a complex ranking system that includes a calculation of factors such as depth of class, quality of recruits, recruits' potential impact on the 2008-09 season and impact on the future. Other Big Ten programs with classes ranked in InterMat's top 30 include Michigan (7th), Illinois (9th), Northwestern (15th), Ohio State (18th), Indiana (24th), and Purdue (26th). In addition to Deitchler, Mincey and Mason, the Gophers' 2008 class also includes Atticus Disney (Topeka, Kan.), Cody Yohn (Alamosa, Colo.), Thane Antczak (Chetek/Prairie Farm, Wis.), Zach Loppnow (Lake City, Minn.), and Wesley Richard (Dillingham, Alaska). The Gophers' regular season begins with the Bison Open in Fargo, ND on Sat., Nov. 15. Minnesota's home opener is a New Year's Day tilt with Oklahoma State at the Sports Pavilion.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Perennial national powers Penn State and Oklahoma State highlight a loaded 2008-09 Virginia wrestling schedule, announced Tuesday by UVa head coach Steve Garland. The Nittany Lions and Cowboys placed third and fifth, respectively at the 2008 NCAA Championships and are joined by Big Ten powers Illinois and Wisconsin and in-state foe Old Dominion on the 2008-09 non-conference slate. The rapidly-improving ACC schedule then looms in January and February. "My staff and I really made a point to get the best competition possible," Garland said. "Every team wants to wrestle the best in the country. If you look at our early schedule, we wrestle four of the top 20 teams in the country and all on the road. That is testament to our administration, which is willing to support us and send us all over country." "The most common questions I get from people outside the program are ‘who do you wrestle' and ‘what is your schedule like.'" "We are wrestling some incredible teams this year. Penn State and Oklahoma State were among the top five teams in the country last year. Illinois and Wisconsin are perennially among the best programs in the country. Old Dominion has a great team coming back and Rutgers brought in a top-20 class this year. Our conference rivals will be even tougher this year, with Maryland and NC State both coming back after top 25 showings at NCAAs last year." Virginia opens the 2008 portion of its schedule with five straight road trips and will wrestle all but five of their 2008-09 matches on the road. After starting the year Nov. 8 at the Michigan State Open, the Cavaliers will battle Illinois and Wisconsin at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Nov. 15 in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Fighting Illini and Badgers finished 14th and 17th, respectively, the 2008 NCAA Championships. The following week, the Cavaliers get another stern test at the Sprawl and Brawl, taking on Penn State and AIC in Binghamton, N.Y. It gets no easier as the Cavaliers finish November in Albany, N.Y., at the Northeast Duals with the program's first-ever match against 34-time national champion Oklahoma State, as well as Bucknell and Harvard. UVa then wraps up 2008 at one of the top national tournaments, the Southern Scuffle, in Greensboro, N.C., Dec. 29-30. The new year will not provide a break, as UVa opens at the Virginia Duals Jan. 9-10 in Hampton, Va. The Cavaliers' opponents will not be announced until just prior to the competition, but the field is loaded with strong programs such as Boise State, Edinboro, Illinois, Lehigh, Old Dominion and Penn. UVa opens its home schedule Jan. 17 with a double dual against UNC Greensboro and Rutgers at Memorial Gymnasium. The Cavaliers wrestle Appalachian State the following day at 1 p.m. Virginia starts ACC competition Jan. 23 at North Carolina and then visits Campbell the following afternoon for a 1 p.m. dual. UVa stays on the road the next weekend with two neutral-site matches – Jan. 30 vs. George Mason in Hopewell, Va., and Jan. 31 vs. Virginia Tech in the annual ‘Rumble on the River' in Richmond, Va. The Cavaliers then wrap up their road swing Feb. 5 with a dual match at defending CAA champion Old Dominion. Virginia returns home the next weekend for its final two home duals, battling NC State Feb. 14 and Duke Feb. 15. UVa concludes the regular season Feb. 22 at defending ACC champion Maryland, which defeated the Cavaliers by a point in the regular-season finale last season and then by just two points for the ACC Championship two weeks later. The Terrapins finished 21st at the 2008 NCAA Championships. The ACC Championships will be contested March 7 at Virginia Tech, while the NCAA Championships will be March 19-21 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Virginia finished 18-5 overall and 3-2 in duals last season and took 40th place at the NCAA Championships. The Cavaliers return starters at eight of 10 weight classes from last year and will welcome in another stellar freshman class.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro has announced the addition of John Hughes to the Mountain Hawks' coaching staff for the 2008-09 season. Hughes, a three-time All-American and former NCAA Champion at Penn State, comes to Lehigh after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater. He will work alongside Santoro and former Lehigh All-American Brad Dillon, who joined the staff last month. "We're really excited to have a coach of John's caliber on board," said Santoro. "He is someone I have known for 15 years and with the work he puts in year-in and year-out we could not have brought in a better coach to help our program going forward." Hughes is regarded as one of the toughest wrestlers in Penn State history. He won an NCAA Championship at 142 in 1995 and added All-American honors with a seventh place finish in 1994 and a runner-up finish in 1996. Hughes ranks eighth in Nittany Lion annals with 121 career victories. In addition to his national title, Hughes was the 1995 Big Ten Champion and also won a gold medal at the 1994 Pan-Am Games and a University National Freestyle Championship. "The opportunity to come to Lehigh was something I became very interested in," said Hughes. "I've gotten to know Lehigh University very well, and I'm excited to be part of such a great institution with a rich wrestling tradition. It was not an easy decision to leave Penn State, but I feel like Lehigh can be a great fit for me and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to help take this program to another level." In five seasons on the coaching staff at Penn State, Hughes made a profound and immediate impact in the training room. Working predominantly with the Nittany Lion middleweights, Hughes helped guide Bubba Jenkins and Dan Vallimont to All-American honors, while as a team, Penn State crowned four All-Americans and finished third in the team standings, the program's best finish since 1994. Hughes also played a major role in Penn State's recruiting efforts which have produced recruiting classes that were among the nation's best over the last several years. A native of Stillwater, Pennsylvania, Hughes won four PIAA state championships wrestling for Benton High School. He earned his bachelor's degree in landscape contracting from Penn State in 2002. Prior to joining the Penn State coaching staff on a full time basis, Hughes served as head coach for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. He also enjoyed a stint as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Wrestling Club and worked as an environmental technician for Groundwater and Environmental Services, Inc. Hughes and his wife Melissa have one child, Riley.

LINCOLN -- Husker fans will have plenty of chances to catch their favorite NU wrestlers in action this winter as twelve home duals and hosting the Big 12 Championship highlight the 2008-09 Nebraska wrestling schedule. The Huskers return eight starters from a squad that exceeded expectations last season with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, but Nebraska will once again be tested by one of the hardest schedules in the nation. After having just four home duals last season, the Huskers welcome 12 opponents to the NU Coliseum before hosting the Big 12 Championship in Lincoln for just the second time. "We have a lot of marquee matchups," Head Coach Mark Manning said. "We have a lot of teams that are vying for a national championship coming here to Lincoln." Several programs with a history of wrestling excellence will visit the confines of the Coliseum, as the season features many matchups with nationally ranked programs. The Huskers open on Nov. 20 against Tennessee-Chattanooga, which finished last season No. 18 in the dual rankings, before hosting Kent State and Minnesota on Dec. 20 and 21. The Golden Flashes earned the No. 21 spot in last year's rankings, while Minnesota finished No. 8. The Gophers topped the Huskers last December, but NU rebounded to defeat them at the National Duals. The Husker's final two home duals promise to be passion-filled affairs with Big 12 rivals Oklahoma State and Iowa State coming to Lincoln on Feb. 6 and 22, respectively. Nebraska defeated the Cowboys for just the third time in school history last year, while the Cyclones burst the Huskers' chance at an undefeated record in conference action in the last dual of the season. "Obviously, Oklahoma State and Iowa State coming here are both big," Manning said. "Iowa State won the Big 12 Championship the last two years, Oklahoma State is historically a very strong program and with Minnesota coming to town, we have a lot of great dual meets. It should be great for our fans and for wrestling people in general." ISU finished last season ranked No. 3, while OSU was No. 5 in the dual rankings. The two teams tied for fifth place at the NCAA Championships. The Big 12 Championship comes to Lincoln on March 7 for the first time since 2000. The Huskers finished second as a team last year with three individual champions. NU racked up its most points ever (62.5), thanks in part to Jordan Burroughs, who was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet after two bonus-point victories. With several tough tournaments, like the Las Vegas Invitational and Nationals Duals, sprinkled in with challenging road duals to Missouri and Oklahoma, the 2008-09 schedule will test the Huskers. All of Nebraska's competitions are in preparation for one goal, though, the 2009 NCAA Championships, which return to the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., again this year. Nebraska welcomes back five All-Americans this fall, including two-time All-American Paul Donahoe at 125 pounds. Donahoe and the seven other starters who return will look to build on a 14-3 dual record from last season and a final dual ranking of fourth. For a complete look at the Husker's 2008-09 wrestling schedule, click on the link above.

Osage native and former state high school champion wrestler Mark Schwab has been named head wrestling coach at North Iowa Area Community College. Mark Schwab"I look at this as an overall good opportunity, not just a wrestling opportunity, but an opportunity to teach and to further my formal education as well. NIACC brings three important things together in my life. Wrestling has been my whole life. The classroom, which I resisted at first, I've found that I enjoy because coaching and teaching are the same idea in different arenas. I also plan to work on another MA in sports psychology through UNI. I bring a lot of experience at different levels of the sport. I've been blessed to be around a lot of good people. Now, I get to share my experiences with the athletes and students at NIACC," Schwab said. During the 2007-08 season, three NIACC wrestlers won national titles individually and the Trojans finished fourth as a team. "Coach Schwab's addition to the NIACC wrestling program signifies the rich athletic tradition to NIACC and the region. We are exceptionally pleased to have attracted Coach Schwab with his standing and reputation in wrestling as well as his strong North Iowa ties and his commitment to athletic and academic excellence," Dr. Debra Derr, NIACC president, said. Wrestling's comeback to NIACC this past year marked the addition of a sport with a tradition of excellence at the College. NIACC's wrestling program won the national title in 1973. The wrestling team, which began in 1967, had a record of 126-18-2 before the program was dropped in 1976. "The selection of Mark Schwab as the head wrestling coach is the culmination of great work by our search committee and administration," Dan Mason, NIACC athletic director, said. "With the historical and current success NIACC wrestling, it became apparent that the position would be considered a tremendous opportunity within the wrestling community. Because of that, we were able to attract a pool of excellent candidates." Schwab served as head coach at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake for the past four seasons, with consistently improving results up to the NCAA qualifier this past season. Schwab was named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year in 2007. The Beavers tied for 2nd in the Iowa Conference duals this past season. Schwab also coached the first 4-time NCAA All-American in the 30 year history of BVU wrestling in Jestin Hulegaard. Prior to BVU, Schwab spent nine years as assistant coach at the University of Minnesota, helping the program to seven top-three finishes and two NCAA championships. Schwab also served as an assistant coach at Purdue University in Lafayette, IN (1991-93), and at the University of Northern Iowa, his college alma mater (1990-91), after compiling a 115-18 collegiate mark and earning All-American honors twice for the Panthers. He graduated from UNI with a degree in Criminology. In 2003, Schwab earned a Masters degree in Education while at the University of Minnesota. While competing at UNI, Schwab posted a 49-9 record in his initial season, the most wins by a true freshman in NCAA history, and placed fifth in the 1986 NCAA Division I championships. In 1987, he won the bronze medal in what was called the World's Toughest Tournament in Tiblissi, Russia. He trained for the 1988 U.S. Olympic team during his redshirt year at UNI as well and won a bronze medal for the U.S. team at the World Cup event in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. A knee injury and a staph infection combined to keep Schwab off the mats for more than a year, but Schwab finished his career with the Panthers on a positive note as a senior, placing sixth nationally in 1990 after winning the 118-pound title at the NCAA West Regionals and earning Most Outstanding Wrestler honors. Schwab's prep wrestling career was nearly flawless as he won 106 of 107 matches and earned four state titles for Osage High while earning three Junior National Freestyle titles and a national championship in the Greco-Roman category. Schwab was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Glen Brand Hall of Fame. Brothers Mike and Doug have achieved plenty of success on the wrestling mat at well. They also captured state titles as prep wrestlers, with Mike eventually earning All-American honors at UNI and Doug winning a title at the 1999 NCAA Division I 141-pound finals while wrestling for the University of Iowa. Doug has since gone on to become an assistant coach at Iowa and he earned a berth on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Wrestling team in June by winning the 145.5-pound classification at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas.

Coming Soon!

EAST STROUDSBURG -- East Stroudsburg University will restructure the varsity athletics status of its wrestling and men's volleyball programs effective with the start of the 2009-10 academic year. The wrestling program will be reclassified to compete at the NCAA Division II level, and the men's volleyball program will compete at the club level. The Warriors' wrestling program has competed at the Division I level as a member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) since 1977 and previously was a member of the NCAA's College Division (currently Division II) since it was founded in 1963. ESU will join four other Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) institutions at the Division II level - Kutztown University and Shippensburg University, along with Gannon University and Mercyhurst College, which will join the PSAC as full members in 2008-09. The men's volleyball program, which has competed in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) as a varsity sport since 1977, will play at the club level effective with the 2009-10 academic year. While ESU is a member of Division II, the Warriors have competed for a berth in the Division I tournament, the only men's volleyball championship recognized by the NCAA since it was introduced as a championship sport in 1970. ESU is currently the only PSAC institution with a men's volleyball program. A recent assessment of the university's athletic department, which included an outside consultant and participation from the entire athletic division, resulted in a series of recommendations that have an impact on varsity athletics at ESU, explained Dr. Tom Gioglio, Director of Athletics. University President Dr. Robert Dillman and Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Doreen Tobin were in agreement to enact several of the recommendations resulting from the athletic division's assessment. "We are moving forward with several recommendations to strengthen our athletic department, which include restructuring the wrestling and men's volleyball programs," said Gioglio. "The assessment also included recommendations on facilities, staffing and other facets of our department, and we look forward to implementing those as we strive to provide a top-notch competitive experience for our student-athletes at ESU." This marks the first restructuring of ESU's athletic department since 1990, when the men's and women's gymnastics, men's and women's swimming and men's golf programs were discontinued at the varsity level. Women's swimming returned as a varsity sport in 1995. ESU announced the addition of women's golf in January and will begin intercollegiate competition this fall. ESU will sponsor 22 varsity sports in 2008-09, the third-most in the PSAC, trailing only West Chester and Millersville, which offer 27 and 23 sports, respectively.

Don Cummings will join the Limestone College wrestling staff as an assistant coach, as announced by Saints Head Coach Ben Stehura. Cummings had a standout career at Mercyhurst College and will assist with all aspects of the Saints wrestling program. Cummings was a 2005 NCAA Division II All-American and a three-time national qualifier. He took home the East Regional championship in 2007, and was a team captain his senior season. Cummings has coached at the Lakers Wrestling Club, the Mohawk Valley Wrestling Club, and the Onondaga Mat Club. He also helped coach the freestyle and Greco Roman wrestlers of the Central New York Empire State Games' wrestling team. He attended Onondaga High School in New York. He was a New York state place winner in 2004, a Fargo Greco All-American, and a two-time Greco state champion. A native of Marcellus, N.Y., he earned his bachelor's degree in sports medicine and health and fitness promotion in May of 2008.

THESSALONIKI, Greece -- Former University of Oklahoma standout Sam Hazewinkel adds another title to his wrestling career after winning the gold medal at the University World Championships this past weekend in Greece. The four-time Sooner All-American downed Kazakhstan's Yemar Ramazanov 1-2, 5-0, 5-0 in the 55 kg/121 pound finals. "Sam continues to represent this university in a great way and we are very proud of his recent accomplishments," head coach Jack Spates said. "It is always great to see past Sooners win championships on such a big stage." The Pensacola, Fla., native is third all-time at OU in career wins with a 132-10 record and is ninth in pins with 33. It has been a busy summer for Hazewinkel, as he placed second at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., in June.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Clarissa Chun and Lee Kemp. Chun will represent the United States at the Olympics in women's freestyle wrestling at 105.5 pounds. In 1998, she became the first state champion in the first year girls' state wrestling was sanctioned in Hawaii. This year, she became the first wrestler from Hawaii – male or female – to make a U.S. Olympic team. Kemp, one of the greatest wrestlers this country has ever produced, is a coach for this year's men's freestyle Olympic team. As a competitor, Kemp won world titles in 1978, 1979, and 1982. He was also a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team that did not compete due to the United States' boycott. "On the Mat" is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. This week's broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show. "On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman announced on Monday that Mark Branch has been selected as the new head wrestling coach at UW. Mark BranchBranch comes to Wyoming from Oklahoma State University where he was the Associate Head Wrestling Coach. He was a part of five NCAA team championships as a coach and student-athlete at OSU. As a college wrestler, Branch was a member of OSU's 1994 NCAA Championship team, and served on the coaching staff for OSU's 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 NCAA titles. He provided the Cowboys from Stillwater with personal and team instruction including technique training, weight training, conditioning and nutrition. He was instrumental in the recruiting of student-athletes to Stillwater, as well as organizing fundraising projects, promotional strategies and assisting in public relation functions with student-athletes. Branch replaces Steven Suder, who coached the Wyoming Cowboys from 1989-2008. "The hiring of Mark is exciting for the future of Wyoming Cowboy wrestling," Burman said. "We feel his experience and passion will enable us to become a national player in the wrestling community." "For me, this is the realization of my goal to become an NCAA head coach," said Branch. "I'm from a competitive background, and I was looking for a place where I could build a nationally-competitive program. I believe there is a great deal of support from the Athletic Department and the University as a whole at Wyoming. Wyoming is the right program for me and the right fit for me and my family. I appreciate the confidence that Tom Burman (UW Athletics Director) and Matt Whisenant (UW Senior Associate Athletics Director) have shown in me to get the job done." As a member of the OSU coaching staff, Branch was named the National Wrestling Coaches' Association (NWCA) Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004. He helped coach OSU to seven Big XII Championships, four NCAA Championships and three Dual Team Championships. He was named the Associate Head Coach at OSU in 2002. He individually coached 31 All-Americans and nine NCAA Champions. Branch has been a freestyle wrestling coach for the Gator Club in New Orleans, La., since 1997 where he provides personal instruction and training in freestyle wrestling. His teams have participated at various World Team training camps. He has coached at the U.S. Nationals and World/Olympic Team Trials. As a student-athlete at OSU, Branch was a four-time NCAA All-American (1994-97), four-time NCAA National Finalist (1994-97), two-time NCAA National Champion at 167 pounds (1994 and '97) and a two-time National Freestyle All-American (1998 and '99). In 1997, he was named the Big XII Athlete of the Year, OSU Student-Athlete of the Year and the top graduating senior for OSU Wrestling. He was a four-time NWCA Academic All-American, received an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship Award and a Big XII Post-Graduate Scholarship Award. Branch earned his bachelor of science degree in secondary education from Oklahoma State in 1997 and earned his master of science degree in athletic administration from OSU in 2000. "I wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for the opportunities I was given at my alma mater, Oklahoma State," said Branch. "John Smith (Head Wrestling Coach at Oklahoma State) gave me the opportunity to learn from him. I consider him to be the greatest coach in college wrestling. I was fortunate to be a part of the greatest program in college wrestling as a student-athlete and assistant coach with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, now I'm excited to build on the great tradition of Wyoming Cowboy wrestling." A native of Newkirk, Okla., he and his wife Susan have a daughter, Maggie Belle, and a son, Mason Layne.

Wichita, Kan. -- Newman University officials announced today that Head Wrestling Coach Mark Stovall has resigned to take a position with the Heartspring School in Wichita for special needs children. Newman Assistant Wrestling Coach Ryan Smith has been promoted to the head coaching position on a one-year interim basis. The change in coaching leadership is effective immediately. Mark Stovall"Mark has done an excellent job and has built a very successful wrestling program here at Newman, so naturally we are sorry to see him go," said Newman Director of Athletics Randy Smith. "But, he has decided to pursue another area of interest, and we wish him the best in his new endeavor." "This opportunity was offered to me and I think it's the direction I need to take in my life right now," Stovall said. "I'm leaving with mixed emotions. I've learned a lot about college athletics at Newman University. I want to thank everybody that helped me during the four years I was here. I will miss my athletes with all my heart, and I wish the best to them and all Newman student-athletes." Stovall earned a bachelor's degree in education from Newman in 1997. Following a successful coaching career in Texas, Oklahoma and Wichita, he returned to Newman in 2004 to help launch the university's wrestling program. During his tenure, 47 wrestlers qualified for national tournaments and 14 gained All-American status. Newman also produced two national champions, Curtis Chenoweth in 2006 and Josh Fansler in 2008, and secured a runner-up finish at this year's National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) National Championships. Randy Smith said Ryan Smith (the two are not related) was offered the top coaching position because of his experience with Newman wrestling and the overall success of the program. Ryan Smith"If you're happy with the direction of the program you promote from within instead of going outside," Randy Smith said. "We're very happy with the program and the condition Mark is leaving it in, and I am impressed with Ryan's passion for Newman wrestling and his commitment to the program. I think it's a great opportunity for him and that he'll do an outstanding job next year." Ryan Smith said he opted to accept the position on a one-year interim basis then return to his assistant coach role because he plans to pursue a long-term career in business. Smith earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Newman in 2005, and a master's of business administration (MBA) degree from Newman this spring. He works for C.E. Machine in Wichita as a program manager. Before coming to Newman he wrestled for Labette Community College, from which he graduated in 2003 with associate degrees in accounting and business administration. After one year at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., he returned to Newman for his final season of collegiate wrestling when the Newman program began. He has worked part-time as assistant wrestling coach at Newman since graduating in 2005. "We're going to keep moving in the same direction the program has been going," he said. "I've been with the program since it started, both as a wrestler and as a coach, and I've learned a lot from working with Mark. He has a great love for the sport. I look forward to the guys who are returning from last season, and I hope we can fill some empty spots in the next six weeks to build a team that wants to work and be successful." Newman University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division II. Newman is the only private university in the state of Kansas that is a member of the NCAA. Newman teams compete in the Heartland Conference, an NCAA Division II conference founded in 1999 that currently consists of nine schools: six from Texas, and one each from Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Newman fields NCAA intercollegiate teams in both men's and women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and tennis, as well as baseball, softball and women's volleyball. Newman also offers men's wrestling, which competes as an NCAA independent, and men's and women's bowling, which compete in intercollegiate conferences.

WASHINGTON -- Former American University wrestler and 2007 NCAA National Champion Josh Glenn has been named an assistant coach of the wrestling team, under head coach Mark Cody. Glenn was a member of the AU wrestling team from 2003-08 and completed his collegiate career as the most decorated wrestler in school history. He became the university's first NCAA Div. I National Champion in 2007 and is the only wrestler to earn multiple All-America honors with three. His career record of 110-14 (88.7%) ranks him first all-time in winning percentage at AU and second all-time in wins. Glenn was also a three-time Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Champion, the program's first Midlands Champion and was named the 2008 American University Senior Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Glenn excelled off the mat as well, earning multiple awards for academic achievement and leadership. After the 2007-08 season, Glenn was named a National Wrestling Coaches Association Academic All-American and was the recipient of the university's Stafford H. Cassell Award, given annually to the senior who best exemplifies the traits of Mr. Cassell: total and selfless dedication to the university, profound energy, reliability, as well as intellectual curiosity, friendliness, and helpfulness. Glenn graduated from AU this past May with a double-major in law & society and U.S. foreign policy.