InterMat Staff

Imagine spending an entire season with one of the all-time great college sports programs, the Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team. We're not talking about just a season ticket for their dual meets and tournaments, but an all-access pass that takes you into the practice room, the locker room, the team bus, planes, hotels … everywhere the wrestling team went. Now you can experience this insider perspective -- without jet lag or missing a day of work -- thanks to Cowboy Up by Kim Parrish, published in 2007 by the Oklahoma Heritage Association, and co-winner of the National Wrestling Media Association's 2007 Publication of the Winner honors (along with Jamie Moffatt's Wrestlers at the Trials -- click HERE to read the InterMat Rewind article). This 390-page book follows the 2005 Oklahoma State wrestling team and head coach John Smith on their incredible journey towards their 33rd team title … the year that the Cowboys claimed half of the ten individual championships up for grabs at the NCAA Division I Championships in St. Louis. Meet the author Kim Parrish is a self-confessed Cowboy fanatic who "bleeds orange." He is an Oklahoma State graduate who makes a powerful case that the Cowboy wrestling program is THE most significant college sports program in history -- more significant than, say, Notre Dame football or UCLA basketball. (After all, the Cowboy wrestlers have won more national team titles than the Fighting Irish gridiron guys and the Bruins roundballers combined). But, then again, Parrish should be good at making a case; he's a former practicing attorney and prosecutor, now a judge and law professor in his native Oklahoma. Kim ParrishKim, who wrestled in grade school and high school in the tiny southwestern Oklahoma farming community of Altus, provides plenty of evidence that the Cowboys wrestling program is "perhaps the most successful endeavor, sporting and otherwise, since Oklahoma's statehood in 1907" (to quote the book's website and flyer). For eighteen weeks during the 2004-2005 season, Kim accompanied the Cowboys as they traveled almost 16,000 miles by bus, plane, van and automobile to twelve different states, through four time zones, checking in and out of ten hotels to wrestle at twenty-one dual meets and three tournaments. In his preface to Cowboy Up, Kim Parrish writes: I watched and took notes as the wrestlers trained, traveled, pulled weight, studied, bled, starved, fought, prayed, cried, competed, slept, waited, worried, laughed, screamed, cursed, whispered, and held onto hope. All for only one end in mind. I am trained as a lawyer and not a journalist. My eye is for detail and patterns, and not storylines and drama. But, to my great surprise, the process lent itself to both. It is a story of newcomers getting their chance and veterans losing their way. It is a story of brotherly love and family betrayal. It is about the power of expectations and the blunt, cold truth of not measuring up. It is a tale about boys becoming men, a coach becoming a teacher, and a group becoming a team. But, most of all, it is a story that needs to be told. Observe and learn When asked what propelled the writing of Cowboy Up, Kim Parrish immediately responds, "I was curious to see behind-the-scenes of the winningest college program and its legendary coach." "Even though Oklahoma State is known nationally and internationally for wrestling, (Oklahoma) is still very much a football state." John Smith"It seemed like a story that needed to be told in a football-dominated state." Kim continues: "I approached Coach Smith about following the team. Coach immediately saw the value of the project -- wanting others to know the sacrifices wrestlers make to the sport … He wanted to share this information with others, to continue the vitality of the sport." "He was very free with sharing his observations, giving me access." "My goal wasn't to do nose-to-nose interviews, but to do observations off to the sidelines. More like an anthropological study." "I dictated my observations into a recorder, then, when I had a chance, typed up my notes as soon as possible, while they were still fresh in my mind." "I just hung out with the team," says Kim. "I was there for pre-match talks and preparation. I went into the locker room after matches. That was interesting and enlightening." Kim Parrish was granted unprecedented access to the Oklahoma State wrestling program as they embarked on their quest to win a third straight NCAA team title -- and their 33rd overall in the then 75-year history of the college wrestling championships. The Cowboy legacy … and what it means today When asked if the Oklahoma State Cowboys he observed had a sense of the incredible championship legacy of their program that extends back even before the NCAA wrestling tournament started in 1928, Kim Parrish responds, "When they put on the orange singlet, they have that sense of what is expected." "The photos of 80 previous champs line the wrestling room, almost as if they are watching the current wrestlers." The author then brings together the historical aspect with its relevance to today: "This book is a study of a culture of excellence … It is an examination of what a program can do to be successful. It provides content on dealing with defeat, teambuilding, and other universal issues that go beyond wrestling." "That said, this is a wrestling book, not a business success book." Getting inside = getting personal "One of the things that really gets me is the heartbreak and suffering (of the wrestlers) -- when they lose a match, when they don't make the team, when their college careers are over," discloses Kim Parrish. Left to right: Johny Hendricks, Steve Mocco, John Smith, Jake Rosholt, and Zack Esposito (Photo/Cowboy Up)"One reason I wrote the book -- wrestling is such a personal sport, with so much vulnerability." Cowboy Up reflects that feeling, by providing intimate insights into the individuals who make up the 2005 Cowboy wrestling team. Not just the superstars who went on to win individual titles at the 2005 NCAAs -- Zack Esposito, Johny Hendricks, Chris Pendleton, Jake Rosholt, and Steve Mocco -- but also the others on the team who may not be as well-known beyond Oklahoma State wrestling fans who "bleed orange." With his book, Kim Parrish is able to provide portraits of these wrestlers that may go beyond what the general public knows -- or thinks it knows -- about these wrestlers. For example, take this word-portrait on page 376 of top-ranked Cowboy heavyweight Steve Mocco (who had transferred from the University of Iowa): But the guy who "expects opponents to tremble when they meet him on the wrestling mat" was a 4.0 student who enjoyed crafting ceramic bowls for fun. Late one sunny afternoon in Lincoln, Nebraska, he sat with (coach) Smith, recited each of the Ten Commandments in order, and debated how they were altered and refined through the vagaries of the Middle Ages … Mocco's arrival in Stillwater was big news, but sometimes he was unaware of his standing on campus. When asked to serve as a celebrity waiter at a Special Olympics fundraiser in Stillwater with teammate Chris Pendleton, he was curious, asking "Who are the celebrities?" Cowboy Up doesn't limit its insightful portraits to the Oklahoma State wrestlers, as evidenced by this word-picture on page 373 of eventual two-time NCAA champion Ben Askren, after losing the 174-pound title bout to Chris Pendleton: Chris Pendleton and Ben Askren embrace after their NCAA finals match at 174 pounds in 2005 (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)As time expired on their ninth and final meeting, Askren stepped back and let the clock tick down. The wrestlers shook hands and the Missouri sophomore smiled, embraced his rival, and spoke so no one could hear. "Thanks for the battles" he said, as hair shot from his headgear like straw-colored laser beams. Askren was somber as he stood center-stage and received his runner-up plaque. Choosing not to speak to reporters after a match, he sat and sobbed in a dark and private arena corridor. He lost only four matches during the season, all to Pendleton. Askren's teammate, 165-pounder Tyron Woodley, put it best, "I'm guessing he's happy [Pendleton] is gone." Getting to know Coach John Smith In addition to providing the reader with rare views of college wrestlers, Cowboy Up also delivers something of a biography of head coach John Smith. In fact, approximately ten percent of the text of the book -- 38 out of 390 pages -- is devoted to telling the story of the Cowboy coach. What's more, Smith is the only individual pictured on the front or back covers of Cowboy Up. As might be expected, readers learn about John Smith's considerable mat accomplishments as a two-time NCAA champ for Oklahoma State, six-time world champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Sullivan Award winner as best amateur athlete in any sport. Not bad for a guy who admits in the foreword he wrote for this book that, as a small boy growing up in Del City, Oklahoma, he was pinned in his first five matches. In addition, Cowboy Up also serves up some surprising information on John Smith. It provides insight on how he came to develop the low single-leg takedown, his signature move that confounded college and freestyle opponents alike. Just as significant, the book describes how Smith had to change his mindset from a competitor -- who was described in a 1992 Los Angeles Times story just before the Barcelona Olympics as being "obsessed with three things: himself, wrestling and winning. Anything or anybody else had better get out of the way" -- into a successful coach who not only commands the respect of his wrestlers, but of the wrestling world at large. Here's how Smith addresses the wrestler-into-coach transition in a quote on page 63 of Cowboy Up: "Being a world-class athlete is about being selfish. You have to. But being a coach is about giving and giving and giving, but I am at peace with that. It was difficult to make that transition when I retired at age 26, giving up that pretense that it was all about me … I am now at peace with the stance of being a giving person and not a taking person. Not that I'm like that all the time, but that is the dynamic I strive for." If you'd like to get an all-access, behind-the-scenes immersion into a championship college wrestling program � but can't afford to take eighteen weeks out of your life to travel with the team -- Cowboy Up is the next best thing. Thanks to Kim Parrish's thoughtful, detailed observations -- along with tons of great photos -- you'll feel as if you were part of the 2004-2005 Oklahoma State championship wrestling team. To learn more about Cowboy Up -- or to find out how to purchase a copy, click HERE.

Wrestling's Jayson Ness and track's Heather Dorniden were named the University of Minnesota's Male and Female athletes of the year, announced tonight at second-annual Golden Goldys banquet at the Radisson University. Along with the individual awards, men's golf and the rowing team were also tabbed as the teams of the year. The voting process includes spring sports of 2007 (baseball, men's and women's golf, rowing, softball, men's and women's outdoor track & field and men's and women's tennis) and the fall and winter sports of the 2007-08 athletic year. Of Minnesota's 25 sports, 19 are represented in the nominations this year. Ness followed his 2006-07 rookie season with a stellar sophomore campaign. Ness was the 2008 NCAA runner-up in the 125-weight class and earned his second-straight All-America honors. The 2008 Big Ten runner-up at 125, Ness went 39-2 on the season, including a 21-0 record in dual meets. Named the team's most valuable player, Ness went unbeaten in 36 matches and was ranked No. 1 in the nation for a majority of the season. The Bloomington, Minn., native led the Gophers to a second-place Big Ten finish and 10th nationally. Ness beat out golf's Bronson La'Cassie, gymnastics' Mitchell Mays, baseball's Matt Nohelty and swimming's David Plummer. Dorniden helped both the track and cross-country teams win Big Ten titles during the course of the year. A six-time All-American, Dorniden was named the 2007 NCAA Midwest Region Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and was also the NCAA runner-up in the 800 meter during the indoor season. Along with her track efforts, Dorniden was an all-region selection in cross-country. Hailing from Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Dorniden is the only two-time winner of a Golden Goldys award. She was named the 2007 Female Rookie of the Year last season. Dorniden won the award over rowing's Jenny Barnes, basketball's Emily Fox, hockey's Gigi Marvin and swimming's Jillian Tyler. Men's golf became the best male team of the year after winning the 2007 Big Ten Championship with a score of 1,192. The Gophers followed with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships with a score of 1,133. The Gophers had three All-Americans in Victor Almstrom, Bronson La'Cassie and Niall Turner, with La'Cassie earning his fourth-straight honor. The finish marked the third time in six years the Gophers have placed in the top-10 in the nation. Rowing won best female team after a phenomenal 2007 season. After posting a record-setting 150 points at the Big Ten Championships, rowing won its first conference title in school history. The Gophers followed with their first team appearance at the NCAA Championships, placing sixth overall, defeating two-time champions, California with 47 points. The Gophers won the First Varsity Eight Petite Final and became the national champions in the Second Varsity Eight event. All-American Jenny Barnes was named the Big Ten Rower of the Year. Head Coach Wendy Davis was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year and the Central Region Coach of the Year. She also won the Golden Goldy award for the Best Women's Coach of the Year. Davis, who is a two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, started the rowing program from scratch in the 2000-01 campaign. Tubby Smith followed with the Best Men's Team Coach of the Year honors. In his first year with the Gophers, Smith guided the Maroon and Gold to the biggest season turnaround in school history. After a 9-22 record in 2006-07, Smith led Minnesota to a 20-14 mark in 2007-08. The 11-game improvement was a tie for the second-best turnaround in the NCAA this season. With the 20 wins, it was just the eighth time in school history to have a 20-win season and the first since 2004-05. In Big Ten play, Smith and the Gophers went from 3-13 to 8-10, which tied for the biggest win increase with Purdue. Both basketball teams were represented in the breakthrough performances. On the men's side, Damian Johnson was named the Male Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. In his sophomore campaign, Johnson made major improvements in every statistical category. Increasing his minutes from 9.9 to 22.6 this season, Johnson ranked fifth in the Big Ten in steals and sixth in blocks. His point production went from 1.6 points per game in 2006-07 to 7.1, while his rebounds per game increased from 1.4 to 4.7. Johnson led the team in blocks and finished second in rebounding and steals. Leslie Knight was voted the Female Breakthrough Performance after stellar senior season. After scoring just 15 points and playing just 52 minutes in her first two seasons, Knight made 65 consecutive starts over her last two years. Earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors this season, finishing fifth in Big Ten scoring with 16.4 points per game. She improved her points per game from 8.3 to 13.6 and her rebounds per game from 4.5 to 5.9, finishing second on the team in both categories. Jillian Tyler was named the Female Rookie of the Year for her freshman season. The standout became the NCAA runner-up in the 100 breaststroke and placed seventh overall in the 200 breaststroke and was a four-time All-American. At the conference level, Tyler became the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after winning the 100 and 200 breast as well as the 400 medley relay. In her rookie season, Tyler was the team's mvp and led the Gophers in both dual meet points and championship points. She followed her collegiate season with a second-place finish in the 100 breast and became a member of the Canadian Olympic Team. The Male Rookie of the Year went to cross-country's Hassan Mead. In his first season as a Golden Gopher was the 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and after finishing second at the 2007 Big Ten Championships. An All-American, Mead was also the team's MVP and a member of the all-region team. FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (winner in BOLD) Jenny Barnes (Rowing) Heather Dorniden (Track & Field) Emily Fox (Basketball) Gigi Marvin (Hockey) Jillian Tyler (Swimming & Diving) MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Bronson La'Cassie (Golf) Mitchell Mays (Gymnastics) Jayson Ness (Wrestling) Matt Nohelty (Baseball) David Plummer (Swimming & Diving) FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Katie Bethke (Soccer) Megan Braun (Swimming & Diving) Brook Dieter (Volleyball) Jenny Lura (Hockey) Jillian Tyler (Swimming & Diving) MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Cade Fairchild (Hockey) Alex Kangas (Hockey) Hassan Mead (Cross Country) Michael Richards (Swimming & Diving) Adam Weber (Football) FEMALE BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Rachael Drazan (Hockey) Briana Hassett (Softball) Leslie Knight (Basketball) Christine Tan (Volleyball) Castina Wabeke (Swimming & Diving) MALE BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Tom Buske (Baseball) Eric Decker (Football) Justin Grunewald (Cross Country) Damian Johnson (Men's Basketball) Steve Miller (Swimming & Diving) BEST WOMEN'S TEAM COACH Matt Bingle (Track & Field) Wendy Davis (Rowing) Brad Frost (Hockey) Kelly Kremer / Terry Nieszner (Swimming & Diving) BEST MEN'S TEAM COACH John Anderson (Baseball) Brad James (Golf) Steve Plasencia (Cross Country) Tubby Smith (Basketball) BEST FEMALE TEAM Rowing Swimming & Diving Track & Field BEST MALE TEAM Baseball Cross Country Golf FEMALE TEAM COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Track & Field MALE TEAM COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Track & Field

David Thorn, a junior at St. Michael-Albertville high school, verbally committed to wrestle for the University of Minnesota following his senior season with the STMA Knights. David will join his older brother Mike with the Golden Gophers. David is currently a three-time Minnesota high school state champion winning at 125 pounds in 2008, 112 pounds in 2007, and 103 pounds in 2006. He will be seeking his fourth title as a senior. He placed third at Junior Freestyle Nationals at 112 pounds last summer and prior to that was a Cadet National Folkstyle champion and placed 7th at Cadet Freestyle Nationals.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -� After concluding a history-making season, the 2007-08 Ohio State wrestling team celebrated numerous moments from this past year at the team banquet Friday, including two individual national champions and a team national runner-up finish at the Faculty Club on the Ohio State University campus. The awards presentation began with the introduction of the Gold Singlets. Similar to the Ohio State football team's Gold Pants concept, the wrestling Buckeyes honored the current squad with Gold Singlets for their win over Michigan Feb. 10 in St. John Arena. Eight wrestlers were honored with the Battling Buckeye award, which goes to a non-starter who showed excellent work ethic in practice and performed well at various open tournaments. Freshmen Ross Ambrose, Tyler Meek, Sean Nemec and Jeremy Sanders were recipients. Sophomore Will Livingston, along with junior Owen Schaefer and seniors T.J. Enright and Nickolai Timbs, also were honored. After each home dual this past season, a wrestler was honored with the Russ Hellickson Award, named after the former Buckeye head coach (1987-2006). The accolade goes to the Most Valuable Wrestler of the competition. 2007-08 team tri-captain J Jaggers won after his performance against Penn State Jan. 25. Lance Palmer was the honoree after the Edinboro match Feb. 14, while captain Mike Pucillo garnered the award following the dual against Michigan Feb. 10. Sponseller was a two-time selection, winning after his collegiate debut against Wisconsin Dec. 10 and again vs. Iowa Jan. 18. Jaggers collected more hardware after his dramatic pin over Jake Strayer in the final match of the Penn State dual was selected as the Performance of the Year. Thanks to Jaggers' pin, the Buckeyes earned their second win over the Nittany Lions after previously defeating them in the National Duals. Named after former Buckeye Ray Mendoza (1992-93), the Ray Mendoza Leadership Award was presented to senior Alex Picazo. The honor is given to the Buckeye who exemplifies excellent guidance in practice and competition. Jaggers and Pucillo, 2008 NCAA National Champions were recognized, as well as 2007-08 All-Americans, J.D. Bergman and Palmer. Bergman and Pucillo also were named to the NWCA All-Academic team. That laurel complements their Academic All-Big Ten honors. Jason Cook, Dominic Mehling, Corey Morrison, Picazo, Schaefer and Timbs also were Academic All-Big Ten selections. 2007-08 Ohio State Wrestling Team Banquet National Champions J Jaggers Mike Pucillo All-Americans J.D. Bergman J Jaggers Lance Palmer Mike Pucillo Big Ten Champion Mike Pucillo Battling Buckeye Recipients Sean Nemec, Nickolai Timbs, Jeremy Sanders, Tyler Meek, T.J. Enright, Will Livingston, Ross Ambrose, Owen Schaefer Russ Hellickson Wrestler of the Dual Wisconsin (Dec. 10) � Colt Sponseller Iowa (Jan. 18) � Colt Sponseller Penn State (Jan. 25) � J Jaggers Michigan (Feb. 10) � Mike Pucillo Edinboro (Feb. 14) � Lance Palmer Big Ten Performance of the Year J Jaggers vs. Jake Strayer (Penn State � Jan. 25) Ray Mendoza Leadership Award Alex Picazo Academic All-Big Ten J.D. Bergman Jason Cook Dominic Mehling Corey Morrison Alex Picazo Mike Pucillo Owen Schaefer Nickolai Timbs NWCA All-Academic Team J.D. Bergman Mike Pucillo

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State head wrestling coach Cael Sanderson announced Friday the addition of New Jersey Prep Championship 130-pound titlist Anthony Valles of South Windsor, Conn., to the 2008-09 Cyclone signing class. Anthony Valles (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)In his senior campaign at Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.), the nation's top-ranked high school team that won both the New Jersey and the national prep school team titles, Valles claimed the 130-pound title at the 2008 New Jersey state prep school championships. He finished as the 130-pound runner at the prestigious Beast of the East tournament and tallied three pins and a major decision en route to a third-place finish at the 2008 National Prep Championships. Valles was the third-place finisher at the 2007 Walsh Jesuit Ironman Invitational. Blair Academy is a wrestling powerhouse that boasted eight graduates that qualified for the 2008 NCAA Championships. As a freshman in 2005 wrestling at South Windsor (Conn.) High School, Valles was crowned the 103-pound champion at the Connecticut high school state tournament and was named outstanding wrestler. He also took top honors at 112 pounds at the New England Tournament. In 2006, Valles finished as the 112-pound champ at the National Prep Championships and finished runner-up in the same weight class at the Beast of the East tournament. Valles is ranked among the top-20 high school grapplers nationally at 130 pounds by Intermat Wrestling. Despite suffering an injury his junior year, Valles finished his prep career with a 117-9 record. Valles joins Sanderson's list of future Cyclones for 2008-09 with Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa), Nate Carr Jr. (Gray, Ga.), Eric Thompson (Waverly, Iowa), Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), Ridge Kiley (Eagle Grove, Iowa) and Chris Spangler (Naperville, Ill.).

The University of Minnesota wrestling program has signed three additional athletes to round out its 2007-08 recruiting class, the Gopher coaching staff announced today. Thane Antczak (Chetek/Prairie Farm, Wis.) has signed a National Letter of Intent, while Zach Loppnow (Lake City, Minn.) and Wesley Richard (Dillingham, Alaska) have signed Acceptance of Admission forms. The new recruits will wrestle for the Gophers beginning next fall. Antczak is a two-time Wisconsin High School State Champion and will wrestle at 125 pounds for the Gophers. He won the Division 2 state title at 103 pounds as a sophomore, 112 as a junior and finished runner-up last season at 125 pounds. He plans to study in the University's Institute of Technology program after graduating at the top of his class at Prairie Farm High School. Loppnow is a senior at Lincoln High School and was the 2008 Minnesota High School State Champion at 285 pounds, ending his final prep season with a 37-1 record. He finished sixth at state as a junior in 2007 and recorded a 101-19 overall record in high school. He plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering at Minnesota. Richard, a native of Dillingham, Alaska, placed eighth at the prestigious Reno (Nev.) Tournament of Champions last December. At Dillingham, Richard was a two-time Alaska state champion as a sophomore and junior, the state runner-up at 135 pounds as a senior, and a member of back-to-back Alaska 1A-2A-3A state championship squads. "All three of these wrestlers will be great additions to our team and they will increase the level of competition in the wrestling room next fall," said Gopher head coach J Robinson. "We feel our recruiting class this season was one of our strongest ever and should allow us to compete for a national title for years to come." These three join the six fall signees: Jake Deitchler (Anoka, Minn.), Atticus Disney (Topeka, Kan.), Ryland Geiger (Scappoose, Ore.), Mario Mason (Blairstown, N.J.), Matt Mincey (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Cody Yohn (Alamosa, Colo.)

We return to our Brute Adidas Studios this week in Des Moines for a look at last weekends action and results from Vegas Intermatwrestle.com's Jason Bryant who will join us for co-hosting duties during this broadcast. Along with JB also Co Hosting is Clint Manny 3X All-American and New Head Coach at Simpson College 9:00 Ron Peterson- Ron is retiring from years of Coaching at Simpson College in Indianola Iowa. Today's show is to salute his career. Nick Ackerman – National Champion NCAA Champion Magazine has named Simpson College wrestler Nick Ackerman's 2001 National Championship victory the No. 1 most dramatic championship victory in NCAA history. Ackerman, who lost his legs due ot bacterial meningitis as a baby, won the 174-pound national championship 13-11 over Nick Slack of Augsburg. At the time, Slack was the defending national champion and entered the contest on a 60-match winning streak. Al Baxter- Former College Coach at BV Cory Christensen – National Champion Gene Hildreth- 3yr Starter and Head Coach at North-Hoover High School John Hatfield – 2X All-American at Simpson College (1st All-American for me at Simpson) 9:25 Duane Goldman- Head Coach of the Hoosiers of Indiana- Duane is being inducted in the Glen Brand Hall of Fame in Waterloo. His wrestling ability while at Iowa was incredible to say the least. Goldman is in his 17th season at the helm of the Indiana wrestling program. The Hoosiers have seen a tremendous amount of success during Goldman's tenure, Hoosier Joe Dubuque the first wrestler in IU history to win back-to-back national championships. (now at Hofstra) Angel Escobedo NCAA Champ 2007-08. Recent Hoosiers Dubuque, Brandon Becker captured All-American status. Andrae Hernandez, Dave Herman and Max Dean at the NCAAs in 2006. 9:35 Adam Frey- Cornell University Wrestler recently diagnosed and battling Cancer will join us and shares these words- "Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality." Romans 12:9-13 Matt Young- All –American at Simpson and Head Coach at Indianola High School John Sirianni - Athletic Director at Simpson College Tim Norton - Wrestled for me in high school at Clarksville and college at Simpson College Jeremy Whalen - All-American at Simpson and an assistant coach for eight years at Simpson College Rick Dawson -College Teammate and wrestling official and a close, personal friend. 10:20 Bas Rutten- VP of the International Fight League, Co-Host of the TV program Inside MMA on HDNet Scott Gonyo - All-American at Nebraska and an assistant for me for two years. Great friend of Ron.

WATERLOO, Ia. -- After 11 years as executive director, Mike Chapman has resigned from the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum, effective June 30. A prolific writer and veteran of 35 years in the newspaper business, Chapman founded the museum in 1997, when he was publisher of the Newton Daily News newspaper in Newton, Iowa. The museum was located in Newton until moving to Waterloo in January of 2007. Mike Chapman has resigned from the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and MuseumThe museum is a not-for-profit business designed to preserve the history of the sport in a manner that both educates and entertains visitors, and inspires young people to dream big and work hard. It sponsors numerous events throughout the year, including the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa event on April19, which drew over 400 people to the museum. "It's been a stimulating 11 years, with the ups and downs one would expect from such a huge undertaking," said Chapman. "I feel comfortable leaving the museum now that it has such a solid foundation for growth and success." The museum, run by a four-person staff and a board of directors, occupies a 16,000-square foot facility at 303 Jefferson Street in the heart of Waterloo. It has drawn rave reviews from numerous supporters, including United States Congressman Bruce Braley, former Congressman James Leach and Waterloo Mayor Tim Hurley. It has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles, and on various television and radio shows. The museum even has its own weekly show, called "On the Mat." The hour-long program runs each Wednesday on KCNZ TheFan (1650 am), and is hosted by Kyle Klingman, the museum's associate director. The museum drew close to 8,000 people in its first year and Chapman feels the museum can pass the 10,000 mark in the years ahead. "We have a very good base and the outreach program continues to produce great results," he said. "We have brought in dozens of school groups, fans and local clubs to the museum. One recent weekend alone, we had over 500 visitors from a kids wrestling tournament at Young Arena." The museum recently held Frank Gotch Day on April 3, to celebrate the 100 th year anniversary of Frank Gotch, a native of Humboldt, Iowa, winning the world heavyweight wrestling championship in Chicago. All three 2008 Iowa state high school championship teams -- Ballard-Huxley, Waverly-Shell Rock and Gilbertville Don Bosco -- were honored, along with Black Hawk County state placewinners and coaches. Olympic champions Dan Gable and Randy Lewis, world bronze medalist Tolly Thompson, legendary coach Bob Siddens and Bob Steenlage, a public speaker, author and Iowa's first four-time state champion, were among the guests of honor. "That is the kind of event that has huge impact for the museum, at all age levels and around the state and the nation," said Chapman. "It was announced on dozens of national web sites and in major periodicals. For instance, American Profile , a newspaper supplement with a circulation of over three million, mentioned the event, and USA Today , the nation's largest newspaper, ran a story on its web site." Chapman has served as executive director since the founding, and his wife, Bev, was office manager most of the time. Jed Brown, the president of the board, said the board faces the decision with mixed feelings. "Mike and Bev Chapman are the reason this museum exists and we are deeply appreciative of what they have meant to the sport," said Brown. "They have worked extremely hard to give wrestling a bigger presence throughout the nation. "We feel the museum has played a key role in the marketing of the sport and in inspiring young people to succeed in life, and we will continue that concept as we move ahead. "The board wishes Bev and Mike the very best in anything that they do in the future." Brown said the search for a new executive director is under way. Board member Chris McGowan, of Sioux City, IA, is heading up the search. Interested persons can contact him by email at chrisjmcgowan@aol.com . The author of 19 books, Chapman lived in both Newton and Waterloo while running the museum. He said the commute, along with the desire to devote more time to his writing, led to his decision to resign. "It was a tough decision, but I feel now is the right time to step down," said Chapman. "I have three new books on which I am working, and two screenplays in Hollywood that take up a lot of my attention. I enjoyed the time I was able to spend back in Waterloo, which is my hometown, but I want to focus now on my writing career. "We appreciate the strong support the museum has gotten from the local community, and from the wrestling community at large. The museum is in good hands and is in solid shape financially, although there is always a need for fundraising. It's an on-going process that requires tender, loving care." Other than the executive director, the museum has three full-time employees -- Kyle Klingman, associate director; Kent Sesker, marketing director, and Josh Harding, office manager. Board members besides Chapman and Brown (Omaha, Nebraska) are vice president, Jay Roberts, Waterloo, Iowa; secretary-treasurer, Bev Chapman, Newton, Iowa; Bob Buckley, of Waterloo; Tom Drake, of Cullman, Alabama; Dan Gable, of Iowa City; Major General (retired) Ken Leuer, Midland, Georgia; Chris McGowan, Sioux City, Iowa; Bill Murdock, Asheville, North Carolina; Brad Rheingans, Appleton, Minnesota, Jerry Brisco, Orlando, Florida, and Frank Santana, Des Moines, Iowa.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The Rutgers wrestling program, under the guidance of first-year head coach Scott Goodale, announced its 2007-08 award winners at its year-ending banquet Wednesday night. Junior Lamar Brown (Red Bank, N.J.), who reached the second day of the NCAA Tournament, received the Ted Petty award, giving to the program's Most Outstanding Wrestler. The Most Improved Wrestler went to sophomore Karim Mahmoud (Wallington, N.J.), who made a successful move from 197-pounds to the heavyweight class. Sophomore Reggie Parker (Upper Marlboro, Md.) won the Scholar-Athlete Award, while senior Steve Adamcsik (Chester, N.J.) received the Dual-Meet Scoring Champion. Adamcsik finished the year 12-3 in dual matches. The wrestling team finished 11-7 in 2007-08, Goodale's first season as head coach. Adamcsik and Brown each reached the NCAA Tournament, marking the first time that two RU wrestlers competed in the prestigious event since 2004-05. Goodale also brought in a highly rated recruiting class, ranked No. 10 by WIN Magazine.

St. Cloud, Minn. -- The St. Cloud State University Wrestling Team recently held its 2007-08 team honors banquet, handing out post-season awards, inducting Mike Rybak into the SCSU Wrestling Hall of Fame and celebrating one of the best seasons in Husky Wrestling history. Junior Brad Padgett (Buckley, Wash.) earned the team's Wrestler of the Year award after a 35-win season in which he earned a North Region championship and All-American honors (4th at national tournament) at 184 lbs. John Sundgren (Blaine) and Nick Wilkes (Onamia) were also honored for their All-American performances at 157 lbs. and 197 lbs. respectively. Senior Tom Anderson (Belview/Redwood Valley H.S.) was named Most Improved after he qualified for his first national tournament at 165 lbs., doubling his career win total this season. Anderson also won the Tough Man and Iron Man awards to go with his Most Improved honor. On the academic end of things Westy Hanson (Crookston), Adam Hill (Sauk Rapids), Matt Jackson (Oakdale) and Sundgren earned spots on the NCC All-Academic Honor Roll. Sundgren would go on to be named to the Division II First Team while Jackson and Hanson were garnered honorable mentions. Rybak was a NAIA national champion for the Huskies in 1967, and also won conference titles in 1967 and 1968. He gained NAIA All-America status with his first place finish in 1967 and a second place finish at nationals in 1968. The Huskies finished the season with a 13-2 overall dual mark to complement a 12th place finish at the Division II National Tournament.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Jason Chamberlain, a high school senior from Springville High School in Springville, Utah has been selected as the national winner of the 2008 Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Award presented by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum. Jason ChamberlainThe High School Excellence Award is named in honor of Olympic and World Champion Dave Schultz. Each award recipient is evaluated on excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, character, citizenship, and community service. Chamberlain was selected from the 49 state winners and five regional winners that were announced earlier this week. "I was shocked when they told me I had been selected for this award," Chamberlain said. "There are so many good wrestlers, to be selected is such an honor." His career record of 191-2 includes 98 pins and four state championships. He was a captain on his high school wrestling team and was honored by USA Utah as the "Wrestler of the Year" in 2007. He was a USA Wrestling Junior National Freestyle champion and Greco-Roman runner-up in 2007. In both 2006 and 2007, he was the National High School Coaches Association wrestling national champion. He has been the recipient of the Academic All-Region award from the Utah High School Activities Association the past four years. He has served as a Teachers Aid in Sports Medicine classes and as a volunteer youth leader at his local church. He has spent numerous volunteer hours coaching and officiating youth wrestling activities, and was a camp counselor for the Rulon Gardner summer camp. He carries a 3.75 G.P.A. and will be attending Boise State University next fall as a student-wrestler. He is projected to wrestle at 141 pounds in college. "The selection committee felt that Jason combined an impressive balance of excellence in his academic and wrestling credentials while being an active participant in school activities and giving back to his community in the form of community service," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum. Chamberlain will attend Honors Weekend on May 30-31 to personally accept the award. Following is a list of previous award winners: Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Winners: 1996 David Kjeldgaard, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, Iowa 1997 Jeff Knupp, Walsh Jesuit High School, Akron, Ohio 1998 Garrett Lowney, Freedom High School, Appelton, Wisconsin and Justin Ruiz, Taylorsville High School, Slat Lake City, Utah 1999 Zach Roberson, Blue Valley North West High School, Overland Park, Kansas 2000 Ben Connell, Lugoff-Elgin High School, Lugoff, South Carolina 2001 Steven Mocco, Blair Academy, Blairstown, New Jersey 2002 Teyon Ware, Edmond North High School, Edmond, Oklahoma 2003 C. P. Schlatter, St. Paul Graham High School, Urbana, Ohio 2004 Coleman Scott, Waynesburg High School, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania 2005 Troy Nickerson, Chenango Forks High School, Chenango Forks, New York 2006 David Craig, Brandon High School, Brandon, Florida 2007 Zachary Sanders, Wabasha-Kellog High School, Wabasha, Minnesota

FARGO, N.D. -- Four-time Montana state tournament finalist Brian Ham of Flathead High School in Kalispell has signed a National Letter of Intent to wrestle and continue his education at North Dakota State University. Head coach Bucky Maughan made the announcement today. Ham is the eighth high school wrestler to commit to North Dakota State this year. He was a high school teammate of Tyler Wells, who signed with the Bison earlier this month. Ham was 148-17 in his high school career, including a 42-2 record this season. He won two state championships and was state runner-up twice while wrestling from 119 to 135 pounds. He is projected to compete at 133 or 141 for NDSU. North Dakota State was 11-9 overall and 4-2 in the Western Wrestling Conference this year. The Bison placed fifth in the NCAA West Regional and qualified three wrestlers for the NCAA Division I national championships.

A famous Chinese proverb says, "One generation plants the trees and another gets the shade." In 2007-08, generations of former Ohio State wrestling coaches and student-athletes witnessed the decades of blood, sweat and tears culminate with the Buckeyes' highest placing at an NCAA championships in the program's 87-year history, finishing second March 22 in St. Louis, Mo. Under second-year head coach Tom Ryan, the Buckeyes improved to 10th in 2007 and second in 2008 at the national championships after the program finished 45th in 2006. In addition, redshirt junior J Jaggers and redshirt sophomore Mike Pucillo became the program's first NCAA title winners at 141 and 184 pounds, respectively, since 2004 when current volunteer assistant coach Tommy Rowlands won at heavyweight. While the team's accomplishments are great, the joys of a 19-4 season belong not only to the current coaches and student-athletes, but also to the Buckeye wrestling community. It is because of the community's relentless support the 2008 squad was able to reach its potential. For Ryan and the current Ohio State wrestling coaching staff, some of greatest support comes from the men who once led the Buckeyes themselves. Former coaches Casey Fredericks (1948-76), Chris Ford (1977-86) and Russ Hellickson (1987-2006) have remained personally and financially involved in the program. All three have contributed to the program with the intention to keep the great tradition of Ohio State wrestling continuing well into the next generation. "I wanted to make sure that this Ohio State coaching staff had the opportunity to do things we couldn't in my time because of a lack of financial support," Ford, head coach of the Buckeyes for 10 seasons, said. "The end of the line for a wrestler is the Olympics � there is no pro deal after college for them. So if Ohio State has an athlete with the goal and ability to do that, I want my contributions to the program to help them fulfill their dreams." Hellickson, who coached the Buckeyes all the way to a third-place finish at the 2004 NCAA championships, still meets with the team regularly, checking in on his former student-athletes. "I have great respect for the Ohio State Wrestling coaching staff and shared in their tremendous joy in the Buckeyes' NCAA runner-up finish this season," Hellickson said. "I am happy to have had the chance to be involved with so many of the current student-athletes at the end of my coaching career and am proud of what this team has accomplished. The future certainly is bright for OSU wrestling." It is as though the sport of wrestling naturally inspires this type of unwavering dedication. "Admiration for the sport is what keeps you ingrained in the wrestling world," Ford said. "There's something about wrestling you either love or hate � it's not a sport you play for fun. When you work out as closely as you do on the wrestling mat, you really get to know each other in a way that differs from other sports." Fredericks, Hellickson and Ford continue to shape the development of the Ohio State wrestling program well beyond their call of duty. The predecessors look to help sow the seeds that will help the current and following generations of student-athletes. "Keeping the former coaches and student-athletes involved is a good way to keep the good recruits coming in because they see what it means to be part of the Buckeye family," Ford said.

NCAA Champion Magazine has named Simpson College wrestler Nick Ackerman's 2001 National Championship victory the No. 1 most dramatic championship victory in NCAA history. Ackerman, who lost his legs due ot bacterial meningitis as a baby, won the 174-pound national championship 13-11 over Nick Slack of Augsburg. At the time, Slack was the defending national champion and entered the contest on a 60-match winning streak. NCAA Champion Magazine's top 10 list encompasses championships over since the start of the 1982-83 season, which also marked the beginning of NCAA Women's Championships. To read the about Nick Ackerman, click HERE.

Senior wrestler Tyler McCormick (Leawood, Kan.) was one of 58 student-athletes to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship worth $7,500. McCormick, along with Missouri track and field standout, Tyler Dailey were two of 29 males to receive the annual educational grant. In addition, 29 female student-athletes from across the country were also awarded postgraduate scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. The Association awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. McCormick, a two-time All-American at 133 pounds, holds a 3.95 grade-point average and will graduate this May with a degree in business management. Throughout his years on the Tiger squad, McCormick earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America and All-District honors as a sophomore and junior, as well as National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic honors both years. In addition, McCormick is a four-year member of the Academic All-Big 12 first team.

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman announced on Tuesday that head wrestling coach Steven Suder is resigning his position at the University of Wyoming to pursue other interests. Suder has served as head coach of the Cowboy wrestling program for the past 19 years, and was also a former Cowboy wrestling letterman from 1975-79. "Coach Suder has been a part of our athletic program for over two decades as a coach and student-athlete, and we thank him for all his many years of service," said Burman. "Before returning as head coach, he was an outstanding wrestler here at UW. We wish him, his wife Deanna and his family all the best." "I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to come back and serve as the head wrestling coach at UW for these past 19 years," said Suder. "I have worked alongside some great people during this assignment. In my opinion, everything is in place for this program to climb back up and challenge for championships and Top 15 national rankings again. Some very good changes have been made in the last couple years including the additions of current assistant coaches Ben (VomBaur) and Travis (Shufelt), and it's time to have some fresh, hungry, passionate `newness' leading the way. I am excited to see it happen." Steve SuderSuder led Wyoming to two Western Athletic Conference team titles as head coach in 1990 and 1992. He was selected WAC Coach of the Year four times, and since UW left the WAC after the 1999 season, Suder earned NCAA West Regional Coach of the Year honors twice -- in 2001 and 2004. His dual record as a head coach is 127-136-2 (.483). As a student-athlete, he earned All-America honors his senior year of 1979 after placing eighth in the 150-pound weight class at the NCAA Championships. Burman said that current Cowboy assistant coach Ben VomBaur would serve as the interim head coach, but that no specific timetable for filling the head-coaching position would be established.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Pat Santoro and Ryan Hockensmith. "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. Santoro recently became the head wrestling coach at Lehigh University after serving five years as the head coach at Maryland. Santoro was the head assistant coach at Lehigh for nine seasons prior to accepting the position at Maryland. During the 2008 season, Santoro lead the Terps to a 16-4 dual meet record and its first ACC title in 35 years. As a wrestler, Santoro was a two-time NCAA champion for Pittsburgh in 1988 and 1989 and was a member of the U.S. national team four times. Hockensmith is currently an associate editor at ESPN The Magazine. He writes regularly on wrestling, boxing, and mixed martial arts for ESPN.com and for ESPN The Magazine. Hockensmith will discuss the latest happenings in the world of mixed martial arts and the role wrestling is playing in this sport. "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.

Las Vegas, Nev. -- Missouri 2007 graduate Ben Askren, the Tigers' first-ever two-time NCAA Champion, claimed top honors at the U.S. Freestyle National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., after besting Tyrone Lewis, 3-0, 3-2 in the 74 kg (163-pound) championship finals. Askren won four straight matches to take first in the prestigious national event. Wrestling some of the toughest competition in the nation, Askren earned a win over Scott Owen of the New York Athletic Club by way of injury, followed by an 8-4, 6-0 win over Ramico Blackmon (New York Athletic Club) and 4-0, 5-2 win over Ryan Churella (New York Athletic Club). Askren's final win was by a 3-0, 3-2 decision over Lewis Missouri's 197-pound starter and 2008 All-American Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) finished the tournament in sixth place in the 96 kg (211.5-pound) weight class. Askren opened the day with a 0-6, 4-3, 5-1 win over Kurt Backes (Sunkist Kids) and collected his second straight win, 1-1, 2-6, 2-0 over Kyle Cerminara of the New York Athletic Club. Askren suffered his first loss to Gator Wrestling Club grappler Daniel Cournier, 5-0, 7-0, to fall to the consolation bracket. Dropping two tough losses, Askren finished sixth to Daminon Hahn (New York Athletic Club), by way of fall in 1:03. Wrestling at 84 kg (184-pounds) two-time All-American Matt Pell, also a 2007 graduate, finished sixth to B.J. Padden on an injury default. Pell suffered a first-round loss to Clint Wattenberg (New York Athletic Club) 3-2, 0-3 and 1-0, but advanced through the consolation bracket knocking off Lee Fulhart (Gator Wrestling Club) and Tyrel Todd (New York Athletic Club). Pell's loss to Bryce Hasseman (New York Athletic Club) sent him into a battle for fifth place. Freshman heavyweight Dom Bradley (Blue Springs, Mo.) finished eighth in the men's 120 kg (264.5-pound weight class). Bradley lost his opening round match, but rattled off back-to-back wins before suffering a 0-1, 1-0 and 5-0 loss to Tarvel Diagnev of Sunkist Kids.

DeKALB, Ill. -- Northern Illinois and head wrestling coach Dave Grant have agreed to a three-year contract extension, making Grant the leader of the Huskie program through the 2010-11 season, Interim Director of Athletics Robert Collins announced, Wednesday. "Dave Grant has been here 12 years, and this extension signifies the longevity of our commitment to him, and acknowledges the growth and development of our wrestling program" said Collins, who was the man that hired Grant in 1996. "Dave has shown we made the right decision then, because over the years, he's proven to be a nationally-recognized head coach," Collins continued. "I'm happy to extend his contract well into the future." The extension, which has been in the works for several months, ensures Grant will keep his place as Northern Illinois' second-longest-tenured head coach. "It's an exciting time for Northern Illinois Wrestling," Grant said. "This contract reaffirms the athletic department's commitment to the direction of our program, and I'm grateful for the continued opportunity to develop student-athletes here at NIU." Since his arrival 1996, Grant has compiled a 108-82-6 record at the helm of a wrestling program that has seen student-athletes make 35 trips to the NCAA Championships, and hoist 18 individual Mid-American Conference Championships. Grant has coached a trio of two-time All-Americans: Jeremy Goeden, Scott Owen and Ben Heizer, who was the 2004 NCAA Runner-Up at 184 pounds. The cumulative effect of all these individual achievements under Grant has been unprecedented team success. Under Grant, the Huskies have recorded wins over Northwestern, Ohio State, Missouri, Purdue, Wisconsin and Central Michigan. Over the last six years, the team has posted an 82-35-3 (.699) record in dual meets and a 23-7-1 (.758) record in MAC duals, and the Huskies have recorded 10 or more dual meet victories in six of the last seven seasons. Grant's athletes have also seen success in the classroom. Goeden and Owen were both CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, and Grant has coached four wrestlers who achieved National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team status. The 2007-08 squad includes 12 NIU Victory/Huskie Scholars and its starting line-up had a 3.1 grade point average. "Recently, we've been in the top-20 wrestling programs in the country, academically," Grant said. "Our team GPA continues to rise thanks to the hard work of our student-athletes and support staff, and we look forward to further strengthening this cornerstone of our program." Grant, a former All-American who just wrapped-up his 12th season coaching NIU, has also been instrumental in the relocation and upgrade of NIU's new wrestling room. Set in the footprint of the former Northern Illinois athletics weight room, the room is a 5,000-square-foot area designed to the specifications of Grant and his staff. "The new wrestling facility and weight room secure Northern Illinois as one of the top wrestling destinations in the region, and further exemplify our administration's commitment to this program," Grant said. Grant is confident in the direction of his program, with premier facilities to go along with outstanding young talent. Redshirt freshman Pat McLemore won the MAC Championship at 141 pounds, and is one of three NIU freshmen that placed at the conference tournament. "We had an outstanding freshman class, which will develop into an outstanding sophomore class, and continue the rich tradition of NIU Wrestling," Grant said. "The future here is bright, and all the pieces are in place to take this program to the next level." The Huskies finished the 2008 season with an 11-7 record, highlighted by two individual MAC Champions, a win over No. 5 Northwestern and three wrestlers totaling nine wins at the NCAA Championships.

Stanford senior Tanner Gardner was among six conference honorees today, when the Pacific-10 Conference named its winter Scholar-Athletes of the Year, presented by Toyo Tires. The awards were established to honor collegiate student-athletes that are standouts both academically and in their sports discipline. Gardner, who was named the conference's winner for wrestling, has already completed a BA in Public Policy and is finishing his master's in Sociology. A three-time first-team Pac-10 All-Academic pick, a two-time NWCA Academic All-American and a 2007 first-team ESPN Academic All-American, Gardner boasts a 3.73 undergraduate GPA and a 4.00 graduate GPA. Additionally, Gardner is active on campus and in the community, serving as both president and vice president of Cardinal Council, mentoring high school students through Menlo Park Presbyterian and Partners for Academic Excellence, and volunteering for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Last year, Gardner earned the Stanford Athletic Board's Conference Male Athlete of the Year and Bill Walsh Awards, and was named the team's Outstanding Scholar-Athlete. He studied abroad in Spain as a junior and completed his senior thesis on the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union. Currently, he is completing an independent study project on Organizational Form and Business Groups. On the mat, Gardner won his second-straight Pac-10 Championship at 125 pounds this year, was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Pac-10 Tournament and became Stanford's first three-time All-American with a fifth place finish at the NCAA Championships. The redshirt senior also shattered Stanford's career win record, bested his own single-season win record and topped the school's single-season pin record in 2008. "Toyo is proud to support the Pac-10 and to acknowledge outstanding student-athletes for their efforts," said Steve Hutchinson, senior director of marketing, Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corporation. "By supporting today's achievers, we feel we are helping to grow tomorrow's leaders." In order to be eligible for the Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must be a senior (in athletics eligibility) on track to receive a degree, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, participate in at least 50% of the scheduled contests in the sport and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution. The Scholar-Athletes of the Year in each sport will receive a commemorative award. Toyo will donate $1,000 to the scholarship funds of the institution's athletic department of each winner in recognition of their accomplishments. "The Pac-10 joins Toyo in recognizing these student-athletes during the 2007-08 academic year," said Tom Hansen, Commissioner of the Pac-10. "To be selected as the best student-athlete in any sport in the Pac-10 is a very special honor, and these are special young people, in academics as well as athletics. We are very appreciative that Toyo is helping them gain the recognition they deserve for their unique achievements." The other Pac-10 Scholar-Athletes for winter include Robbie Cowgill of Washington State for men's basketball, Steve Neuwert of Arizona State for men's swimming, Lacey Nymeyer of Arizona for women's swimming, Lindsey Pluimer of UCLA for women's basketball and Karin Wurm of Arizona for women's gymnastics.

WATERLOO, Iowa -- The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum will honor two of the University of Northern Iowa's best individual athletes at its quarterly breakfast meeting. Tyler Mulder, an NCAA track champion at 800 meters, and Moza Fay, an All-American wrestler at 165 pounds, will be recognized by the Gable Museum beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 2. This breakfast, which is being co-sponsored by Midwest One Bank, is free and open to the public. Mulder and Fay, along with Northern Iowa head coaches Chris Bucknam (track & field) and Brad Penrith (wrestling), will be in attendance. "The Gable Museum isn't just about wrestling," said Kyle Klingman, associate director at the Gable Museum. "This museum is about excellence. To become an All-American or to win an NCAA title in any individual sport takes a level of commitment that deserves recognition. I hope that the Cedar Valley will attend this free event to honor two of Northern Iowa's best athletes." Mulder, a junior from Orange City, Iowa, recently won the 800-meter title at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Mulder finished in a time of 1:49:20, outdistancing second place finisher Elkana Kosgei of LSU who clocked in at 1:49:47. Mulder became UNI's third NCAA champion in track & field, and the first since Jacob Pauli won the indoor pole vault crown in 2001. Joey Woody became UNI's first NCAA track champion when he won the outdoor 400-meter hurdles in 1997. Fay became UNI's first wrestling All-American since 2005 by placing fifth at this year's NCAA tournament. The junior from Anamosa, Iowa, finished with a 5-2 record at the three-day tournament. The Western Wrestling Conference also named Fay Wrestler of the Year. Former NCAA wrestling champions Chuck Yagla (Iowa), Gene Lybbert (UNI), Gerry Leeman (UNI), and Tolly Thompson (Nebraska) will also be in attendance. For more information on this event please contact the Gable Museum at (319) 233-0745.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Future Wildcat Jason Welch (Walnut Creek, Calif./Las Lomas) has been named the winner of the Junior Dan Hodge Trophy -- an award presented to the nation's top high school wrestler. Welch, a three-time California state champion and owner of a 194-7 high school record, signed an NLI in November and will join the Wildcats this fall. Welch was only the 13th wrestler in the state of California to win three championships. He ended his high school season on a 142-match winning streak and a 194-7 career record. The Junior Dan Hodge Trophy is presented by Wrestling International Newsmagazine and the Amateur Athletic Union. It is named after the former Oklahoma national champion and is presented to the nation's top high school wrestler.

IOWA CITY -- Iowa Head Wrestling Coach Tom Brands will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the fifth annual Corridor Classic presented by Cedar Rapids Toyota-Scion Wednesday, April 30 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids. The Corridor Classic pits the Iowa Hawkeyes against the Northern Iowa Panthers in baseball. Brands, who was named the National and Big Ten Coach of the Year, led the Hawkeyes to their 21st national championship last month. In addition, the Big Ten and NCAA Championship trophies will be on display on the concourse at the event.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Andy Hamilton and Stephen Barrett. "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. Hamilton currently covers wrestling for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. His articles have appeared in a variety of prominent wrestling publications including ESPN.com. Considered one of the best wrestling journalists in the nation, Hamilton was selected by the National Wrestling Media Association as their journalist of the year in 2003. Barrett was an NCAA champion for Oklahoma State in 1977 and a three-time All-American. He was also the school's first four-time Big Eight champion. Internationally, Barrett represented the United States in 15 tournaments, winning eight and placing second in five. For the past 16 years Barrett and his family lived in Russia as representatives of Athletes in Action. He is the liaison between the US and Russian wrestling federations and has helped over thirty US teams tour the former Soviet Union. He has also organized many Russian-wrestling delegations to the US. "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.

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State University wrestling program will hold its annual awards banquet on Tuesday, April 29, at the Groves Wedding Garden & Reception Center in Mesa, Ariz. The event, which is open to all-comers, will begin at 6 p.m. will feature guest speaker Pat Murphy, the head coach of the Sun Devil baseball program. The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour and will be followed with dinner at 7 p.m. Remarks from Sun Devil wrestling coach Thom Ortiz and guest speaker Murphy, along with the presentation of awards, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Cost for the banquet is $15 per person and can be paid at the door (please make checks out to Sun Angel Foundation). The Groves Wedding Center & Reception Center is located at 606 N. Alma School Road in Mesa (85201). The center is on the west side of Alma School Road approximately one-quarter of one mile north of University Drive. For more information and/or to R.S.V.P. for the banquet, please contact Kelly Kodrick via email at kelly.kordick@asu.edu. The Sun Devils are coming off a successful season that saw a group of young and talented competitors take the mat for the maroon and gold. In all, the starting lineup featured between five and seven redshirt freshmen in a starting lineup that sent five Sun Devils to the finals of the Pac-10 Championships with two winning titles (Patrick Pitsch at 165 and Brent Chriswell at 184). All five finalists, including runners-up Anthony Robles, Chris Drouin and Jason Trulson, competed at the NCAA Championships with four of those wrestlers (Robles, Drouin, Pitsch and Trulson) falling one victory short of attaining All-America honors.