InterMat Staff

Harvard sophomore Corey Jantzen has been named EIWA Wrestler of the Week after winning the championship at 141 pounds at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, held last weekend in Las Vegas, Nev. Jantzen, who was fourth in the EIWA as a freshman, came into the tournament unranked nationally, and was making his first competitive appearance of the season. Seeded ninth in the tournament, he won five straight matches, with four of them seeded higher than Jantzen. Included were falls against No. 18 Chris Bencivenga of UNC-Greensboro and No. 12 Chris Drouin of Arizona State. In the quarterfinal round, he defeated defending NCAA champion J Jaggers of Ohio State, 5-4. In the final bout against Tyler Nauman, of Pittsburgh, he was cruising with an 8-0 lead late in the third period. With 15 seconds remaining, Nauman used a cement job to put Jantzen on his back. It seemed like he was about to get pinned, but with five seconds remaining Jantzen seemed to levitate off his back to score a reversal. Back points and a possible fall would have occurred had Nauman's shoulders not been outside the circle. When time ran out, Jantzen had secured a dramatic 10-5 win.

PARK RIDGE, IL -- Iowa 141-pound wrestler Alex Tsirtsis has been named co-Big Ten Wrestler of the Week. He shares this week's honor with Michigan 174-pounder Steve Luke. Tsirtsis earned the first weekly conference honor of his Hawkeye career for upsetting #2 Nick Gallick of Iowa State, 4-2, Saturday. The third-ranked Hawkeye scored a reversal with one second left in the match to preserve his unblemished season record (7-0). His win spurred No. 1 Iowa to a 20-15 victory over No. 2 Iowa State in front of a national collegiate dual record-setting crowd of 15,955 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. For his performance, Tsirtsis' was also named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week. Tsirtsis is the first Hawkeye wrestler to earn the Big Ten honor this season. Top-ranked Iowa (9-0) will face #22 Northern Iowa (0-0) Thursday at 7 p.m. in Cedar Falls. The dual will be held at the McLeod Center, and aired live on Iowa Public Television. Tim Johnson, Jim Gibbons and former Hawkeye wrestling coach Dan Gable will call the action for IPTV. Tickets ($10) are available at the McLeod Ticket Office at 319-273-4849, 877-216-3663 or www.unitix.uni.edu.

THIS WEEK The top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (9-0) will face #24 Northern Iowa (0-0) Thursday at 7 p.m. in Cedar Falls. The dual will be held at the McLeod Center, and aired live on Iowa Public Television. Tim Johnson, Jim Gibbons and former Hawkeye wrestling coach Dan Gable will call the action for IPTV. Tickets ($10) are available at the McLeod Ticket Office at 319-273-4849, 877-216-3663 or www.unitix.uni.edu. TSIRTSIS EARNS WRESTLER OF THE WEEK HONORS Hawkeye senior 141-pounder Alex Tsirtsis has been named wrestler of the week by TheMat.com and the Big Ten Conference. He shared the Big Ten honor with top-ranked 174-pounder Steve Luke of Michigan. The third-ranked Tsirtsis posted a 4-2 win over second-ranked Nick Gallick to lead No. 1 Iowa to a 20-15 win over No. 2 Iowa State before 15,955 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It was the largest dual meet crowd in NCAA history. Tsirtsis' win at 141 pounds provided a huge boost as the Hawkeyes won 6 of 10 matches over the Cyclones. Tsirtsis scored a reversal with one second left in the match to pull out the win. He is undefeated at 7-0. HAWKEYES LOOK TO EXTEND WINNING STREAKS Iowa has won its last 23 duals, and its last 19 duals away from Iowa City. The school record for overall consecutive dual wins is 42 (1994-97), and for consecutive away dual wins is 31 (1994-97). The 19 straight away duals rank second in school history. Six Hawkeyes also have their own winning streaks they will try to extend. Junior Brent Metcalf (149) has won his last 41 bouts, while junior Jay Borschel (174) is on an 11-match streak. Senior Charlie Falck (125) and juniors Ryan Morningstar (165) and Phillip Keddy (184) have each won their last nine matches, and senior Alex Tsirtsis (141) has won his last seven. ON THE AIR Radio - Steven Grace and two-time Hawkeye NCAA champion and four-time all-American Mark Ironside will call the action live on AM-800, KXIC. Fans can also listen to the broadcast live on www.hawkeyesports.com using the XXL All-Access subscription ($14.95 per month or $119.95 per year). Internet - Press releases, meet results, audio broadcasts, and live video broadcasts from home duals are available online at www.hawkeyesports.com.Current staff and student-athlete head shots can be found at pics.hawkeyesports.com. NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS Northern Iowa will open its 2008-09 dual season Thursday against the Hawkeyes. Head Coach Brad Penrith is 70-57-4 in nine seasons with the Panthers. Penrith was an NCAA champion and three-time NCAA finalist, all-American and Big ten champion at Iowa from 1986-88. He is assisted by Northern Iowa alums Randy Pugh and Sean Stender, and Nebraska alum Jose DeAnda. The Panthers are led by senior all-American Moza Fay, who is 3-0 and ranked #2 in the nation at 165. Northern Iowa returns four other 2008 NCAA qualifiers in sophomore Caleb Flores (125), senior Josh Baldridge (133), junior Tyson Reiner (157) and senior Andrew Anderson (197). THE SERIES Iowa leads the series, 40-8-2, and has won the last 32 meetings. The Hawkeyes hold a 19-5-1 advantage in Cedar Falls and are 1-0 at the McLeod Center. Iowa's last win in the series was 40-3 last season in Iowa City, while Northern Iowa's last win was 17-15 in Cedar Falls during the 1973-74 season. LAST MEETING - IOWA 40, NORTHERN IOWA 3 The top-ranked Hawkeyes improved to 7-0 last year with wins over Northern Iowa (40-3) and Cornell College (51-0) in its first home duals of the 2007-08 season. The Hawkeyes went 19-1 on the night, losing the first match on a last-second takedown. Iowa rebounded to score eight pins, six major decisions and two technical falls in the remaining 19 matches. Iowa recorded its 40th series win over Northern Iowa and its 20th win over the Panthers in Iowa City. Hawkeye senior Mark Perry, ranked second at 165, pinned No. 3 Moza Fay in 48 seconds in the night's marquee matchup to pick up his 80th career victory. Sophomore Ryan Morningstar scored his 30th career win by pinning Panther Jarion Beets in sudden victory at 157. Iowa 40, Northern Iowa 3 197 - Andrew Anderson (UNI) dec. Rick Loera (I), 6-4 Hwt. - Matt Fields (I) maj. dec. Dustin Bauman (UNI), 17-6 125 - Charlie Falck (I) pinned Caleb Flores (UNI), 1:10 133 - Joe Slaton (I) maj. dec. Trent Washington (UNI), 15-7 141 - Dan LeClere (I) dec. C.J. Ettelson (UNI), 8-2 149 - Brent Metcalf (I) tech. fall Charlie Ettelson (UNI), 22-7 in 5:32 157 - Ryan Morningstar (I) pinned Jarion Beets (UNI), 7:59 165 - Mark Perry (I) pinned Moza Fay (UNI), 0:48 174 - Jay Borschel (I) dec. Alex Dolly (UNI), 10-7 184 - Phillip Keddy (I) dec. Andy O'Loughlin (UNI), 10-4 HAVEN'T WE MET? Following are the past series results for potential Iowa-Northern Iowa matchups: 125 - Charlie Falck (I) is 1-0 vs. Caleb Flores (UNI) Falck pinned Flores in 6:46 at 2007 Midlands 149 - Brent Metcalf (I) is 1-0 vs. Charlie Ettelson (UNI) Metcalf tech. fall Ettelson, 22-7 in 5:32, at 2007-08 dual 165 - Ryan Morningstar (I) is 1-0 vs. Moza Fay (UNI) Fay won by med. forfeit over Morningstar at 2005 UNI Open Morningstar dec. Fay, 5-3 SV-1, at 2006-07 dual PERSONNEL NOTES • Iowa junior Joe Slaton (133) and Northern Iowa sophomore Jarion Beets (174) and redshirt freshman Cruse Arhus (125) all attended Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School. • Iowa sophomore Colby Covington (165) and Northern Iowa junior Terrance Young (125) were teammates at Iowa Central Community College. Covington won the 2007 165-pound NJCAA title, while Young won the 125-pound national title in 2008. HAWKEYES BEAT IOWA STATE, SET ATTENDANCE RECORD The top-ranked Hawkeye wrestling team picked up its 23rd straight dual win Saturday night when they defeated intra-state rival Iowa State, 20-15, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa also set the national collegiate dual meet attendance record as 15,955 fans packed the arena. The previous record of 15,646 was set Feb. 1, 2002, when Minnesota hosted Iowa at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Iowa improved to 9-0, handing the Cyclones (3-1) their first dual loss of the season. Iowa scored wins at six weights - including two upsets and one technical fall - and all six winners remain undefeated on the season. The Hawkeyes also scored two points in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk series. The Hawkeyes now lead the fifth annual series, 11-4. Hawkeye senior Charlie Falck got Iowa out to a 3-0 lead with his 4-2 win over Cyclone sophomore Tyler Clark at 125, but Iowa State fought back with Nick Fanthorpe's 12-2 major decision over Iowa junior Joe Slaton at 133. Senior Alex Tsirtsis (141) and junior Brent Metcalf (149) put Iowa on a roll with wins at the next two weights. Tsirtsis, who is ranked third in the nation, scored a reversal as time expired to upset second-ranked Nick Gallick, 4-2. Metcalf extended his own winning streak to 41 matches and scored crucial team bonus points with his 26-10 technical fall over Mitch Mueller in 6:14. Iowa State's Cyler Sanderson scored bonus points of his own with a 22-9 major decision over Hawkeye sophomore Matt Ballweg at 157, making the team score 11-8 going into the intermission. Hawkeye juniors Ryan Morningstar (165), Jay Borschel (174) and Phillip Keddy (184) fired off three straight wins, scoring Iowa's final team points of the night. Morningstar, who is ranked ninth in the nation, upset #3 Jon Reader, 2-0. Borschel scored a 6-2 win over Duke Burk, while Keddy scored a takedown in the last minute to beat Jerome Ward, 3-2. Falck, Metcalf, Morningstar, Borschel and Keddy all improved to 9-0 on the season, while Tsirtsis is 7-0. Each Hawkeye, except Keddy, handed their Cyclone opponent his first loss of the season. Iowa State won the last two bouts of the night - a 13-3 major decision by top-ranked Jake Varner over Hawkeye sophomore Luke Lofthouse at 197 and a 5-1 decision by David Zabriskie over junior Dan Erekson at heavyweight. Iowa 20, Iowa State 15 125 - Charlie Falck (I) dec. Tyler Clark (ISU), 4-2 133 - Nick Fanthorpe (ISU) maj. dec. Joe Slaton (I), 12-2 141 - Alex Tsirtsis (I) dec. Nick Gallick (ISU), 4-2 149 - Brent Metcalf (I) tech. fall Mitch Mueller (ISU), 26-10 in 6:14 157 - Cyler Sanderson (ISU) maj. dec. Matt Ballweg (I), 22-9 165 - Ryan Morningstar (I) dec. Jon Reader (ISU), 2-0 174 - Jay Borschel (I) dec. Duke Burk (ISU), 6-2 184 - Phillip Keddy (I) dec. Jerome Ward (ISU), 3-2 197 - Jake Varner (ISU) maj. dec. Luke Lofthouse (I), 13-3 Hwt. - David Zabriskie (ISU) dec. Dan Erekson (I), 5-1 IOWA CROWNS THREE CHAMPS AT NORTHERN IOWA OPEN Hawkeye junior Dan LeClere (141), redshirt freshman J.J. Krutsinger (125) and true freshman Grant Gambrall (184) each won titles at the Northern Iowa Open Sunday in Cedar Falls. Of the 18 Iowa wrestlers, 10 placed at the tournament. LeClere posted one technical fall, one major decision and three decisions on his way to the title. He defeated Northern Iowa's Alec Hoffman in the finals, 3-2. Krutsinger scored two decisions and won by medical forfeit over Northern Iowa's Caleb Flores in the finals. Gambrall posted two decisions en route to his title, beating Missouri's Brent Haynes (6-3) in the finals. The Hawkeyes also had three placewinners at 133, two at 165 and one each at 174 and 197. Redshirt freshman Montell Marion (2nd) and true freshmen Nate Moore (3rd) and Matt McDonough (5th) placed at 133, while junior Michael Fahrer (4th) and sophomore Aaron Janssen (5th) placed at 165. Sophomore Jake Kerr placed second at 174 and junior Rick Loera finished sixth at 197. HAWKEYE WRESTLING TICKET INFORMATION Tickets for Iowa's five remaining home duals are on sale at the UI Athletic Ticket Office at 800-464-2957, 319-335-9327 or www.hawkeyesports.com. Against Wisconsin, Illinois, Bucknell and Purdue, tickets purchased in advance are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Tickets purchased at the meet are $12 for adults, $6 for youth. University of Iowa students and children ages five and under will be admitted free. Against Minnesota, tickets purchased in advance are $13 for adults, $7 for youth and $2 for children ages five and under. Tickets purchased at the meet are $15 for adults, $8 for youth and $2 for children ages five and under. Due to the possibility of a sellout crowd, the first 1,000 general admission University of Iowa students will be admitted free of charge after they log-in to their student account at www.hawkeyesports.com to reserve a seat and download a free paper ticket. After that allotment is sold out, students may purchase reserved seats at the youth price. CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE The Hawkeye wrestling staff of Tom Brands, Terry Brands, Doug Schwab, Mike Zadick and Jared Frayer earned a total of one Olympic gold medal, one Olympic bronze medal, six NCAA titles, 11 conference titles and 15 all-America honors. Their combined college career wrestling record is 487-83-2 (.858). UP NEXT Iowa will vy for its 20th Midlands Championships Dec. 29-30 in Evanston, IL. Iowa, the defending team champion, has won the most team titles (19) in the 45 years of the meet. All matches will be held at Welsh-Ryan Arena on the Northwestern University campus. Ticket prices vary and can be purchased from the Northwestern University Athletic Ticket Office at (847) 491-2287 or www.nusports.com. Session times are as follows: Session I - Dec. 29 at 9:30 a.m., Session II - Dec. 29 at 7 p.m., Session III - Dec. 30 at Noon, Session IV - Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.

Related: Inside Trip: Vietnam (Part 1) In a perfect wrestling world, cultures would still achieve oral and written tradition alongside the physical, the passing along of local wrestling techniques, rules and ceremony are excellent examples of cultural identifiers. Sumo is different than Kushti is different than Scholastic and each of the variables reflects priorities and provides information about local values. Yesterday I'd discovered that someone in Lieu Doi was passing these traditions to members of his small village. But who? I was at the pho shop at 10 a.m., I'd need a translator and the only person I knew in Phu Ly (the closest town with accommodations) was Van and her high-pitched Hollywood English. She was sitting in the back of her family's open air restaurant watching the Mark Wahlberg/M. Night Shamalan collaboration, The Happening. I asked her about translating for the day and she said, "No problem, I tell my father and we can go at 1 p.m. ... I'll take you at the coffee shop." Van guided me through the back alleys of the neighborhood where kids were playing beneath red flags emblazoned with the hammer and sickle. Some were kicking the soccer ball, while others were crouched over shooting marbles. Van chose me a seat at the coffee shop, ordered me a ca phe and mango shake. The café smelled enough like pork and coffee to remind me of morning, but not enough for me to want to order their bacon. "I come back at 1:15," she said. "Then go to Lieu Doi." She was back in 10 minutes. "I cannot go with you to Lieu Doi because my father said it is not OK." She then reached in her bag and presented me with an egg shell white ceramic wind chime in the image of a pagoda, the sides hand painted with flowers and Vietnamese lettering. She apologized effusively and made a quick exit -- ever so sorry that she'd disappointed me. I did my best to allay her guilt and told her I'd be fine on my own. "No big deal, I'm sure your father is just worried." Was I the evil American in some Vietnamese after-school special about stranger danger, only specifically about bulky white Americans? The news ruined my plans to visit Lieu Doi. I stayed on the computer to catch up on e-mails and enjoyed six more mango shakes and two more cold ca phes. The plan was to catch a bus to Hanoi by 5 p.m. ... and rent a room and sleep before my early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh. Without a translator I'd learn nothing in Lieu Doi. I paid my bill and unplugged the computer. As I did, a 10-year-old girl bedazzled in Hello Kitty gear appeared staring nervously. "For you. stay," she said before disappearing in the David Copperfield manner in which she arrived. Dear Mr. Timothy, Would you please wait me in Bom's Cafe till 1h 30 pm? I and my little sister will come there and we will go to Lieu Doi village, oki? Best wishes, Van Van showed up on time and we hailed a taxi. Her sister, a diminutive 15-year-old with a strong aversion to spoken communication, sat in the backseat as I hopped up front with a cigarette guzzling cabbie with dark sunken eyes. We exchanged names, his was "Mikey" and though I repeated "Timothy" several times, we all settled on "Pimchee." Mikey called his boss as flummoxed as the Dolt about where exactly he might find Lieu Doi. Once we hit the main street, I told Van that I remembered the way. After six or seven turns on dirt paths marked by puddles, hay barrels, and one blue moped, Mikey complimented my sense of direction. I felt the need to clarify, "My father was a Marine, as were both my grandfathers. Soldiers, you know. Bang bang." Van's interpretation was met with a grim silence and the enormity of my idiocy becomes apparent. "No! No! No!" I blurt out "I'm a civilian. Only Vo Vat ... No soldier ... No bang bang." "Ugly American: What to do when if you meet one. Who to call and how to act ... Special Presentation at 4 p.m. Van's sister is still winning the quiet game, while Mikey and I fill the time with playing twenty questions through Van, who is proving to be a good but at times confused translator. She's only just taken off her jacket and decorative surgeons mask; the Vietnamese woman has a vampire-like aversion to the sun, the implication being that a tan is akin to being a farmer, a clearly established social hierarchy was defined by this skin tone differentiation (same was true in Cambodia and Thailand). Many of the women take severe measures to ensure their light skin; rays to the skin are considered more dangerous than softball sizes of hail against your noggin. We arrive and Mikey decides to join our crew of reporters. A look of "This I must see" splattered across his face. Mikey, Pimchee, Van and the Mute: of this scene United Nations Christmas cards make. I try to catch up with Mikey who has stopped to interrogate an old man walking the road with a cane. I peak over a gate and call a few boys lounging in hammocks (napping is a national pastime). The first to emerge was my cheetah-shirt pal from the day before. We exchange greetings and they chuckle awkwardly. Where yesterday the group of boys was engaging, today they were quiet and aloof; less interested in questions about wrestling and more concerned with acting cool in front of Van, an attractive girl. While you'd imagine she was being scoped and thus quiet or passive, the boys were actually squatting down picking at grass only answering her questions over their shoulders. The more she forced them to speak the more I realized that Van was not to be trifled with. As she navigated the mind of the teenage boy, Mikey pulled through and commented that the older gentleman had directed our motley crew to the residence of the Lieu Doi wrestling coach. Truong Nguyen, a slight build, bowl cut and weighing 155 pounds, is the 27-year-old coach, teacher, and local pho shop owner. He invited me into his home and sat poured some voit tea (sweet and similar in taste to green tea), for the guests. He looked at me and smiled. Before we shook hands or Van explained why we had showed up, he reached across the table and pointed at me ears. "Yeah, vo vat." I said as the smiles continued. The room was cinder with a permanent black tarpaulin above our heads. We sat on small red plastic chairs and rested our arms on a low table. Van introduces the group and immediately started translating my questions. The Lieu Doi wrestling festival is Vietnam's only wrestling-specific festival. According to Troung, the festival is a deep-rooted Vietnamese tradition, having been practiced "for centuries." He's been a competitor, claiming to have won several tournaments and placing in many more. There are other festivals, some even in the Nam Dinh province which have more wrestlers, but those have less meaning because they are wrapped into larger festivals. Lieu Doi is their NCAA tournament. Last year's festival welcomed more than 150 grapplers all competing in a single weight class. Presumably there has been little need for expanding the weights because the rules tend not to favor the heavier opponents and many Vietnamese are similar slight builds. The tournament and surrounding festival takes five days to complete, with some time spent on ceremonies on day one, and closing ceremonies on day five. That was the extent I could learn about the festival. There was too much information for Van, just a college student, to be able to translate. Accumulating facts about the festival would be for another trip. For now, I wanted to roll with Troung, who'd mentioned he'd been injured playing soccer earlier in the week. He went to change for some light drilling and technique. I was most interested in the rules and ceremony surrounding each competition. Are the Vietnamese praying to a deity? Are they donning ornate robes? Who do they pay tribute too? Take the example of Sumo. Japan, a country of diminutive people, exalt their national sport which consists of giants many of whom are taught to act in accordance with traditional Japanese values of conformity, modesty and fair play. When you contrast that with Mongolian wrestling culture, or even Vietnam, you begin to get a superficial understanding of the natural and inextricable impact wrestling has had on the development of local culture. Tim Foley arms wrestles MikeyTroung says that he will change into work clothes and we can walk to the stadium. In the meantime Mikey has gotten edgy from the lack of combat and challenges me to arm wrestling competition. This guy is 140 pounds when holding a first-grader, yet, he's already latched onto the table with his left hand, speared the table with his right elbow and presented his hand for our physical tete-a-tete. Van is in hysterics; this she just has to see. She snatches the camera from the table and stands to take photos. We lock hands and I allow Mikey to open up a big lead. He's strong, but in the end I put on a show for the table, we stand to hug and take another drink of tea. Troung and I enter the arena with the Mute, Van and two neighborhood kids we picked up on the walk. Van is cowering beneath an umbrella. She has recruited the smaller of the two boys to hold an umbrella over her head as she snaps photos. The boy, at most 50 pounds, has him arm fully straightened in the air, like Mary Poppins descending from a rooftop. At some point he quivers, maybe his nose was itchy, but the umbrella falls away from Van's face and she gets pelted by some UV. There was something barked sharply in Vietnamese, the point clear to even the English speaker: Let the umbrella fall again, country boy and I'll eat you. Pre-competition danceWe start with the modified electric slide, I am whirling my hands in a tight circle as I kick up my feet in bowing retreat from where they will place their statue. The dance then turns to face Truong and we make a series of sumo-like stomps along with stares and intimidating slapping gestures (you thought that was just Americans?). These aggressive motions signal to my opponent that I am prepared to wrestle and that I intend to give him my full "spirit." We then bow a few times and start to drill. The festival, I've been made to understand, has a much more complicated series of dances and garb. Troung starts by showing an outside single. Germane but he was quicker than hiccup in getting to an angle and high into my thigh. I showed a basic elbow tap setup to the outside single. He showed a duck under -- I replied with an inside trip. We went back and forth for 20 minutes in front a few dozen locals who'd come to see their coach scrap with the fat American. (I weigh 180 pounds.) Van was taking photos and translating when we'd pause the action to stand flat-footed, arms stretched wide, saying aloud in our native tongues, "What the hell are you doing?" Troung gives Tim Foley a knee to the crotchThe rules for Vietnamese traditional wrestling, as best I could tell, are simple. You accumulate wins by lifting your opponent's feet off the ground, or placing him on both his shoulders. Action is restarted once you hit the ground with anything but your opponent's back exposed. These rules lend to a straight legged wrestling style, bent at the hips head sticking forward to block. All defense and very little risk. Front head locks are tempting, but didn't seem effective and may only open you up for a duck under or fireman's carry (Troang's favorite). The foil is the belt, which is popular in several Asian wrestling styles. Knowing I was unfamiliar and seeing a thick black leather belt around my waist, Troung took time to show me how to best utilize your leverage and lift your opponent's feet into the air. He gave me a knee to the crotch and guess what? My feet left the earth. Still a bit tender I grabbed Truong and gave him an aggressive head fake, he down blocked and I snapped his head, which he circled out of in his recovery. I'm not too sure anything was communicated past that point, but his ankle seemed fine as he tried for a duck under. Like a little kids wrestling practice the light drill had suddenly gone live. Troung came in hot, stepping into a high-duck which I posted out of, sagging my weight and managing my right arm into an under hook, we were now in over under. He feinted a high single to my over-hook side which opened up a well hit inside trip. He transferred his weight back to the post leg and stepped out with little effort. We scrap a few more moments, soaked with sweat and Van offers to video the performance. Truong and I took photos with some of the kids, the rest having scattered at the sight of a camera. Mikey drove us the 150 yards to Truong's restaurant-home, where we shared a hand shake, modified bro-hug and our e-mail addresses. He asked me to come back and I gave him a cordial head nod of appreciation. He insisted and told Van, "He is special guest. Stays in my house and competes in the festival." Tim Foley with Truong and kids post-workoutI was flattered. Not only had he offered for me to enter his tournament also his home. I'd have to come early, he told Van, because only one foreigner had tried before, a judo coach from Russia, and there was lots of paperwork. I thanked him again and said that I'd work on the return trip, hopefully to write about his town's festival in January, next time with a professional translator in tow, not to mention the watchful eye of the hammer and sickle. When you are planning to compete, it's never too early to prepare I'll be busy breaking down the video of our 90-second match to look for weaknesses and find out what happened to that well-executed inside trip. I'm not entering this festival to lose; winning I'm sure is a universal value of wrestling.

St. Cloud, Minn. -- St. Cloud State University sophomore John Sundgren (Blaine/H.S.) was named the Northern Sun Conference Wrestler of the Week after his performance at the Dragon Open on Dec. 6. Sundgren, who was ranked third in the country at 157 lbs. in the NCAA Division II latest poll, went a perfect 4-0 on the day, defeating three NSIC opponents before topping Concordia-Moorhead's Lane Lunde 10-1 in the final. Sundgren recorded falls in each of his first three wins, posting the pins at 6:00, 2:11 and 5:51 of the matches. It is the second straight open tournament Sundgren has won, as he earned the title at the Cobber Open two weeks ago. He now is tied for the team lead in falls (7) with teammate Tad Merritt (Canby), and is currently 12-2 on the season. The Huskies remain ranked at 12th in the latest NCAA Division II Wrestling Poll. Along with Sundgren, Brad Padgett (Buckley, Wash.) also was ranked third at 184 lbs., holding his spot from the preseason poll. The Huskies will be in action for the final time in 2008, as they host the 38th annual Husky Open on Saturday. Matches are set to begin at 9:00 a.m. They will resume action at the Menlo (Calif.) Invitational on January 4.

"My goal when I started was to write the very best wrestling novel that could be written." Alfred Martino wrestled at Milburn (New Jersey) and DukeThat's what drove Alfred Martino -- former high school and college wrestler, and now a volunteer prep coach -- to write Pinned, his first novel, published in 2005 by Harcourt. Martino, who wrestled at Milburn, a powerhouse prep program in New Jersey throughout the 1970s and early 80s, and at Duke University, says, "I wanted other wrestlers to pick up the book and see that the author had an intimate knowledge of the sport." "After my wrestling days were over, I thought of writing a book as a way to give back to the sport." Filling a void "For a long time, I had the beginnings of a story. I decided to sit down and write a book," says Alfred Martino, who wasn't satisfied with the high school wrestling novels he had read. "I read Vision Quest and Wrestling Sturbridge. Both bring in elements that wrestling doesn't need. For people who don't know amateur wrestling, some books reinforce notions." "My goal was to write an honest portrayal of the sport, to emphasize the solitary idea of being a wrestler," Martino continues. "It's very difficult to explain issues like losing weight, the scoring system, or even describing wrestling moves in a clear, accurate way. I spent a lot of time getting it right." Going into overtime For Alfred Martino, 'getting it right' took time and tenacity. "Writing the book was like starting wrestling," says the author of Pinned. "You get kicked around. You're not particularly good at first. But, with time and practice, you improve." Alfred MartinoMartino, who runs Listen & Live Audio, an audio publishing business based in New Jersey, says, "I do business writing -- business letters, sell copy for the back of products. Writing is writing -- you're trying to get across an idea." That said, Martino is honest in describing the challenges of writing a first novel. "I started writing in 1994," according to Martino, who, at the time, lived in California and wrote for local newspapers. Among his assignments -- covering high school wrestling. "I didn't get an agent until 2000. We didn't generate publisher interest until 2003." "My agent sent the book to dozens and dozens of publishers. It was rejected by all but two." "My editor (at Harcourt) really stuck with me," Martino continues. "She took it to the acquisitions committee more than once. On April 15, 2004 -- I remember that date clearly -- the acquisitions committee said yes." Taking it beyond the mat Having a publishing deal didn't mean Pinned was ready to roll off the presses. "The publisher recommended that the book incorporate adolescent issues beyond wrestling," says the first-time novelist. "It has to cover other teen issues -- relationships with girlfriends, coaches, parents." "The publisher is selling their books to public and school libraries," continues Martino. "They want the book to appeal to those who acquire titles for libraries … The book must have a universality to it that appeals to all teens. All kids go through typical problems and challenges, whether you're a wrestler or not." "The comments from women librarians have been very interesting. From reading the book, they point out that wrestlers are always stepping on the scale." "Lots of teens, especially girls, but nowadays, boys, too, have dieting and weight issues. Issues like bulimia and body-image concerns that go beyond wrestling." Hard work pays off Like a wrestler discussing his workout routine, Martino cites some of the elements that helped make him a better writer and that were critical to making Pinned a reality. "Being in a writing group was like having three or four coaches to help guide you," says the New Jersey native. "The other writers in my group were middle-age women who were very nurturing, very supportive. I loved the process." "Writing for newspapers was also a tremendous help. You quickly learn that your writing has to be clear, concise, to the point. You also have deadline pressure, and editing yourself, too. All great experience for writing a novel." All that effort has paid off. Pinned has earned a number of significant honors, including YALSA's Popular Paperbacks For Young Adults, YALSA's Best Books For Young Adults, Pennsylvania's Young Adult Top Forty List, TLA's Tayshas Reading List, Junior Library Guild Selection, Quills Award Nominee and Kirkus Reviews 'Book of Special Note.' But Alfred Martino isn't resting on his laurels. "Once you've written the novel, your work isn't over. Contacting libraries, making appearances, promoting the book with postcards and on wrestling forums." The story of Ivan and Bobby Pinned tells the story of two high school wrestlers, Ivan Korske and Bobby Zane, who, as described on the text on the inside front cover flap, "couldn't be more different -- they come from different backgrounds, they have different lifestyles, and they each have very different ways of looking at the world." "I came up with two boys who would not normally know each other, but would meet in wrestling," according to Martino. "Ivan is from a poorer town. His mother died the year before. His father is emotionally stunted. Winning a state title is a way for him to get away from his dad, and New Jersey." "Bobby is from a wealthier town. His parents are going through the beginning stages of divorce. He has a girlfriend who may be pregnant." "Things are jumbled up for both of them," the author continues. "Wrestling is the one thing that each of them had control over, something to hold onto while everything else is spinning out of control." The novel is set in the world of New Jersey high school wrestling, a world that Alfred Martino inhabited as a grappler, and now as a volunteer coach at his prep alma mater, Milburn High. In fact, one of his characters, Bobby Zane, wrestles for Milburn. "I had to write at least half of the book about a place I know. I wanted to pay tribute to my program, and pay homage to New Jersey wrestling." "Bobby is a made-up character but some actual Milburn wrestlers of the past are included in the telling of his story," says Martino. "Everything to do with Ivan is made up. It was fun to create a town, and the psychology behind it." "I incorporated real towns to make the story feel even more authentic." An air of authenticity For a sense of the authenticity of Pinned, here's an excerpt from the second chapter that takes readers inside the Milburn wrestling room: His heart pounding, Bobby Zane stood. The thirty-second rest between round-robin shots was hardly enough time to sit down and get up again, let alone catch his breath. But Bobby understood no amount of weightlifting or miles of running would have prepared him enough for the first practice of the season. He slipped the plastic headgear over his head, shifting the halo and ear pieces into place, then snapped the chin strap secure. Sweat ran down his cheeks. A drenched long-sleeved shirt clung to his body like a second skin. "Time!" Coach Dean Messina's voice boomed from the front of the Millburn High practice room. "Look up front!" Bobby and his teammates turned toward their coach, the most celebrated wrestler in school history, a two-time New Jersey state champion whose wrestling legend crossed county lines as far north as Sussex and as far south as Cape May. "You guys are not executing on your feet," Coach Messina said. He cleared space on the mat. "There are four parts to a single-leg. Stance. Set up. Drop step. Finish." Coach Messina recoiled in a powerful stance, then lunged forward with his left leg, down to his left knee for a split second, sweeping his right leg under his body and forward along the mat. In an instant, he was back on his feet with the lower leg of an imaginary opponent secure, in a perfect position to finish off the two-point takedown. "Any questions?" There were none. Or perhaps, Bobby thought, no one dared ask. Pinned is a powerful first effort from Alfred Martino that takes you inside the lives of two high school wrestlers, providing a realistic, inside look at life in high school that goes beyond the wrestling mat to make it a compelling read for boys and girls… and their parents, too. To learn more about Pinned, visit the official Web site www.alfredmartino.com, which includes a segment of the book to read online, along with reviews. The book may be purchased at www.amazon.com; signed copies can be purchased directly from the author at Alfred@ListenandLive.com.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Collecting wins in eight of the nine matches wrestled, including bonus-point wins in six matches, the Augsburg College wrestling team claimed its 21st straight victory over Southwest Minnesota State University with a 41-3 dual-meet triumph on Tuesday night at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall. Augsburg's young lineup, including three sophomores and three first-year wrestlers, collected three major decisions, two pins and a technical fall -- in addition to an opening-bout forfeit -- to improve to 1-1 on the season. Division II Southwest Minnesota State dropped to 1-1 on the year with the loss. Augsburg now leads the all-time series against Southwest Minnesota State by a 22-3 margin, dating to the 1984-85 season. Augsburg has now won 21 straight matches between the two schools, dating to the 1988-89 season. The Auggies, ranked No. 2 in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III national rankings and winners of 10 of the last 18 Division III national titles, is now 229-20 against Divisions II and III teams since the 1989-90 season, losing just 15 matches to non-Division I opponents since the 1995-96 season. Jake Saatzer (SO, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) and Brandon Bahr (FY, Bemidji, Minn.) both claimed first-period pins for the Auggies, Saatzer with a 2:54 match-ender at 157 pounds and Bahr with a 44-second pin at 184. Top-ranked Travis Lang (SR, Bismarck, N.D.) collected his second-straight bonus-point win over SMSU's Michal Barrie (SR, Westbrook, Minn./Adrian HS) at 133 pounds, using three takedowns and three 3-point near-falls to score a 16-1, second-period technical fall. Lang, now 9-0 on the year, had beaten Barrie by a 15-6, major-decision win in the finals of the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragon Open on Saturday. Of Lang's nine wins, eight are bonus-point triumphs (six pins, one major decision, one technical fall). Jason Adams (JR, Coon Rapids, Minn.), ranked No. 3 nationally at 157, moved up a weight class to 165 and scored an 8-0, major-decision victory for the Auggies, while Andy Peterson (SO, Grand Marais, Minn./Milaca HS) collected an 11-0, major-decision win at 197 and Brett Landrum (SO, Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) scored a 15-5, major-decision win at 174. At heavyweight, No. 5-ranked Andy Witzel (JR, Fulda, Minn.) improved to 9-0 on the season with a 6-0 win over SMSU's Carter Ash (FY, Milaca, Minn.). Tony Valek (FY, Belle Plaine, Minn./Scott West HS) scored a 9-2 decision over Brandan Schunk (JR, Wabasso, Minn.) at 141. SMSU's lone victory came from Garrett Rozeboom (FY, Mason, Mich.), who improved to 11-5 on the season with a 9-4 win over Augsburg's Torey Stewart (FY, Jackson, Minn./Jackson County Central HS) at 149. Both teams will compete at the St. Cloud State Open on Saturday (12/13). Augsburg's varsity will compete at St. Cloud State, with its White Team (junior varsity) traveling to compete at the Wartburg (Iowa) Dick Walker Invitational, also on Saturday.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Olympic Champions and Iowa State University NCAA Champions Cael Sanderson and Dan Gable. Sanderson is in his third year as the head coach at Iowa State University. ISU has placed 2nd and 5th in the last two NCAA Championships. The second ranked Cyclones, who have six returning All-Americans from last season, dropped last Saturday's attendance record breaking dual meet at Iowa, by the score of 20-15. Sanderson is one of the greatest American wrestlers ever to take the mat. He was a four-time state champion out of Heber City, Utah and went on to win four NCAA titles at Iowa State where his collegiate record was 159-0. He won the Outstanding Wrestler award at the NCAA tournament each year from 1999 – 2002. Along with winning the Dan Hodge Trophy an unprecedented three times, Sanderson capped his career in perfect fashion by winning the 2004 Olympics at 185 pounds in Athens, Greece. Gable was the most dominant wrestler and successful coach in his era. After winning three state titles for West Waterloo (IA) High School and two NCAA titles at Iowa State, Gable won the 1971 World Champions and was Olympic Champion at 149.5 pounds in Munich, Germany in 1972. As the head coach at the University of Iowa, the Hawkeyes won 21 consecutive Big Ten titles and 15 NCAA championships from 1977 – 1997. Gable continues to serve as wrestling's leading ambassador, promoting the sport throughout the United States. On the Mat" can be heard live on the internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 - 6:00 PM Central time on AM 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- InterMat will be providing a live blog throughout the entire 2010 Big Ten Championships. Session I begins at 11 a.m. ET with first round matches and quarterfinal matches. Session II will begin at 6 p.m. ET with semifinal matches and wrestleback matches. View Live Match ResultsView Brackets

NEWARK, DE. -- The 16h Annual "TGIFriday's Beast of the East" wrestling tournament will be held December 20 & 21, 2008 at the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center. Perennial powerhouse Blair Academy is seeking their 9th straight team title; they will be led by returning champions Sean Boyle and Chris Villalonga. The 2008 TGIFriday's Beast will feature seven returning champions, Boyle, Villalonga, Sean Boylan, Michael Garafalo, Kenny Courts, Marshall Peppelman, and Glenn Carson. Tickets, tournament information, and archived results are available online at http://www.beastwrestling.com. Official press conference is scheduled for 6 P.M. on Thursday, December 11th at the Embassy Suites in Newark, De. All proceeds benefit scholarships to our Delaware wrestlers who meet criteria in the fields of academics, sportsmanship, and community service. We have awarded over $425,000 from the proceeds of the previous 15 tournaments. Anyone seeking information on our efforts to "preserve the sport" or the TGIFriday's Beast of the East can contact tournament director, Bob Shaw.

University of Nebraska head wrestling coach Mark Manning will be the featured guest on Wrestling 411 Radio this Tuesday, December 9. Augsburg College's KAUG radio serves as the online host of Wrestling 411 Radio. The hour-long show can be heard live this Thursday from 7 – 8 p.m. Central Standard Time by visiting www.wrestling411.tv. Archives of each broadcast will be available on the website. Manning is in his ninth season as the head wrestling coach at Nebraska. He has coached a total of 27 All-Americans during his tenure, and led his team to a fourth place finish at the 2008 NCAA tournament. The Cornhuskers won the Cliff Keen Las Vegas on Dec. 6 with 124.5 points, outdistancing team runner-up Cornell University by 33.5 points. Nebraska crowned two champions – Jordan Burroughs at 157 pounds and Craig Brester at 197 pounds – and placed six of its wrestlers in the top eight. Wrestling 411 Radio can be heard live Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7-8:00 p.m. CST by visiting www.wrestling411.tv. Questions for any of the on-air guests are welcome. Please e-mail your questions to Kyle Klingman at kklingman@mediasportsproductions.com.

We return to our home based Brute Adidas studios this week. We ready ourselves for one of the great Holiday Classics, the broadcast of the Midlands at Northwestern University. This is shaping up to be a year of Ups and downs. Congratulations to the University of Iowa for setting the All Time Attendance record for a dual meet. One has to wonder though if the 2 power house programs did return to a home and home competition would Iowa State fare as well or even exceed the record set and is it feasible to even think that there lies a possibility that this could happen again. I've been told that the decision lies with the U of Iowa. This week in Studio Guests are a special holiday treat for you listeners- Koy Kosek- Author of the highly popular Wisconsin Wrestling Digest will join us to discuss his recent publication. To say that Koy is a wealth of knowledge is an understatement. To get your own copy email Koy at koykosek@wiwrestling.com Cody Sanderson-Associate Head Coach for Iowa State. We'll discuss the season to this point and take a look forward to the Midlands. A Double Dual in Fargo against Dickinson State and North Dakota State awaits ISU later in the day. In Studio Guests- include wrestling and MMA Stars Steve Carl, John "Hurricane" Halverson, Ryan Hass, Paul Bird and UFC living legend Tito Ortiz. Nicknamed "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy," three-time light heavyweight champion Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz is one of the most well-known fighters in the world of Ultimate Fighting Championships. After several highly successful years as a professional fighter, Ortiz agreed to coach aspiring fighters in the third season of Spike TV's reality television series The Ultimate Fighter in 2006. Ortiz also appeared as a contestant on the celebrity edition of NBC's The Apprentice. Tito wrestled in college and credits his success in business and in the octagon to his wrestling back ground. High praise indeed! Listen to America's Wrestling radio talk show at TakedownRadio.com from 9 to 11 AM CST Saturdays for this weekly bath in to the healing waters of mankind's oldest sport. Wrestling fans, our greatest wish is that you value each and every moment that our athletes share with us. They are truly phenomenal in every sense of the word!

NORMAN, Okla. -- Not in 15 years has the University of Oklahoma wrestling team defeated its in-state rival, Oklahoma State, back-to-back. On Sunday afternoon that streak came to an end, as No. 20 Oklahoma edged the No. 9 Cowboys, 18-15, to make it two-straight Bedlam victories at the McCasland Field House in Norman. Last season, the Sooners topped the Cowboys by an identical score on Feb. 21, breaking a 19-match win streak by Oklahoma State. "We are proud of two wins in a row over a great program like Oklahoma State," head coach Jack Spates said. "Bedlam is a very emotional match and I am extremely proud of our guys for getting the win." Joey Fio, ranked No. 17 at 125 pounds, began the day with an upset win over No. 8 Obenson Blanc by a 2-1 final. The sophomore from Sandpoint, Idaho, only needed two escapes to post the opening victory that gave OU a 3-0 lead. The 133-pound match ended in the second period when an injury by Tyler Shinn of OSU gave Oklahoma's David Armstrong an injury default win. Armstrong was leading the No.-15th ranked wrestler, 5-3, when the match was called, giving Oklahoma a 9-0 lead. Cowboy Jamal Parks recorded OSU's first win of the afternoon, upsetting No. 12 Zack Bailey at 141 pounds. Parks scored four takedowns to Bailey's one to win, 10-7. Kyle Terry, No. 15 in the nation at 149 pounds, extended the Sooner lead to 12-3 with a 10-3 decision over Luke Silver. The redshirt junior from Midwest City, Okla., scored four takedowns, including two in the final period, to post his 10th-straight win of the season. OSU's Newly McSpadden, ranked 12th, picked up a win over OU's Shane Vernon, edging the redshirt junior, 6-5 in the 157-pound match. Number 12 Brandon Mason then took the 165-pound match, edging OU's Ryan Smith by a 1-0 decision. The back-to-back wins brought the Cowboys to within three, 12-9. OU's Jeff James put three more team points on the board at 174 pounds with a 7-5 decision over Kyle Griffin. The redshirt sophomore picked up his ninth win on the season and is a perfect 4-0 in dual action. Sooner Pat Flynn then upset No 20th-ranked Jared Shelton at 184 pounds, winning by a 7-2 final. The redshirt sophomore led 7-0 after two periods, recording a takedown, reversal and a nearfall to put the match out of reach and gave the Sooners an 18-9 lead. Clayton Foster next posted a 12-9 win over Sooner 197-pounder Eric Lapotsky. Foster, ranked 15th, gave Lapotsky (No. 8) his first loss of the season (now 12-1) and brought OSU back to within six, 18-12. Trailing by six meant Oklahoma State would need a pin in the heavyweight bout to tie the Sooners. Jared Rosholt, ranked No. 1 nationally, took the floor against OU's Nathan Fernandez to attempt to leave Norman with a tie. After three periods, all the top-wrestler could manage was an 8-2 decision over the redshirt sophomore, giving Oklahoma an 18-15 victory over its arch-rival. "Our theme coming into this afternoon's match was ‘take it,'" Spates said. "Nothing is given to you and I believe we did just that with the win." The Sooners will get back to action next weekend, Dec. 13, when they travel to San Luis Obispo, Calif., to compete in the Big 12/Pac-10 Challenge. Challenging the Sooners in California will be Cal-Bakersfield, Cal Poly and Cal-Fullerton.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- In a clash of two wrestlers ranked in the top-10 in the nation, George Mason sophomore Cayle Byers defeated Maryland junior Hudson Taylor to capture the 197-pound title at the Nittany Lion Open on Sunday afternoon at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa. Byers pinned Taylor in 4:27 in the championship match to win his second tournament title of the 2008-09 season. Byers, who captured his second consecutive Navy Classic championship earlier this season, defeated Navy's Charles Carafano, Ashland's Josh Ohl and the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown's Pat Walsh on his way to the final match. Taylor, the fourth-ranked wrestler in the country in the latest AWN poll and the fifth-ranked wrestler in the country according to InterMat, beat The Citadel's Odie Delaney, Penn State's Jack Decker and Boston University's John Hall on the road to the championship bout. Byers, currently ranked eighth by AWN and ninth by InterMat, got the upper hand in the championship match to take the title. Freshman Denny Herndon advanced all the way to the semifinals at 133 pounds before being pinned by Penn State's Jake Strayer, the eventual champion at the weight class. After losing the semifinal bout to Strayer, Herndon recovered to take third place with a win over the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown's Shane Valko. The Patriots wrestle again on Sunday, Dec. 21 against the University of Northern Iowa, the 22nd-ranked team in the nation in the latest InterMat poll. The dual meet is scheduled to begin at noon.

LAS VEGAS -- Rollie Peterkin climbed to the top of the podium after capturing the championship at 125 pounds at the 2008 Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas. In the final, Peterkin, the top seed in the tournament, defeated sixth-seeded Zach Sanders of Minnesota by decision, 10-6. Peterkin came out on the attack in the first period, shooting for a takedown 45 seconds into the bout for the opening points. He quickly added two nearfall points after tilting Sanders for a 4-0 lead that held at the end of the first period. In the middle stanza, Peterkin started on bottom and escaped for one point and a 5-0 lead. He added his second takedown of the match at the 3:47 mark of the bout and a 7-0 lead which he held entering the third period. In the third period, Sanders was up against the wall and wrestled like it. He was aggressive, scoring three takedowns to get back in the bout. It wasn't enough, however, as Peterkin was allowed to escape after each takedown and added on a riding time point for the 10-6 decision. After the match, Peterkin felt good about how this win prepares him for the rest of the season. "This set's the stage for the rest of the season," he said. "It is still early in the season and there is a lot of wrestling to go, but this was a very satisfying win that lets me know I can wrestle with the best in my weight." Head coach Rob Eiter agrees. "Anytime you win a tournament with the quality of opponents like there was in Vegas, it is a great thing for a wrestler," Eiter said. "Especially since this may be the only time Rollie sees some of these guys until the NCAA Championships." Eiter was impressed with Peterkin's poise in the tournament. "The semifinal match and the first portion of the final was some of the best wrestling I have seen from Rollie in quite some time," he said. "He wrestled smart and determined and has done a good job turning a negative (an early-season loss to Michigan's Michael Watts) into a positive." Peterkin also feels he has turned a corner this season. "I felt like in the match with Garnett, that I was hitting on all cylinders," he said. What pleased coach and myself was that even though I was down I stayed composed and fought back to take the lead and the match." Tournaments such as the Cliff Keen Invitational and the Keystone Classic do more than just get wrestlers matches in the early goings of the season. They prepare wrestlers for the schedule that goes with conference and national tournaments – a fact not lost on Peterkin. "In addition to the win, it was nice to get started on what it is like to prepare myself mentally and physically for a multi-day, intense tournament," said the junior from Wellesley, Mass. "It makes you watch how you prepare, warm up, eat and all that. It is great to get the repetition." In addition to Peterkin, Penn had two other placewinners at the event. Cesar Grajales (149 pounds) and Matt Dragon (157 pounds) each took home sixth place. Grajales finished the tournament 3-3 after advancing all the way to the semifinals of the championship bracket. In the semis, he lost to top-seeded Darrion Caldwell of N.C. State, 4-1. Dragon finished the tournament 5-3, wrestling back to a place after losing in the second round. Zack Shanaman and Bryan Ortenzio also wrestled on Saturday. Shanaman lost in the consolation round to Scott Glasser of Minnesota, 7-1. He finished up at 2-2. Ortenzio lost to T.J. Dillashaw of Cal-State Fullerton to end his tournament at 3-2.

Top-seeded Darrion Caldwell, ranked No. 3 nationally, beat a pair of ranked wrestlers Saturday to repeat as the 149-pound champion at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Wrestling Tournament. Caldwell decisioned 14th-ranked Cesar Grajales of Penn 4-1 in the semifinals, then took just 65 seconds to pin fourth-ranked Lance Palmer of Ohio State in the championship bout. Caldwell, who improved to 15-0 on the season, won three matches on Friday to advance to the semifinals, pinning his first-round opponent, Nick Walpole of Indiana, in just 28 seconds, then winning a technical fall in the second round over Arizona State's Vincent Varela, 20-5. He won a 7-2 decision from Trevor Chinn of Lehigh in the quarterfinals. Since losing by technical fall to defending national champion Brent Metcalf of Iowa at the NCWA All-Star Classic on November 24, Caldwell has won seven straight matches, three by pin, one by technical fall and one by major decision. The three pins lasted a combined 2:34. The loss to Metcalf is officially an exhibition match and does not count towards either wrestler's won-lost record. "This just in," Wolfpack head coach Carter Jordan said. "Darrion Caldwell is really good. I think it's safe to say that he is very focused right now." Caldwell's victory over Palmer in the finals was his second of the season over the Ohio State All-American. He defeated Palmer 2-1 at the NC State Open on November 8. That match was a close-fought defensive battle that Caldwell won by virtue of an escape and a minute of riding time. This time, he dismantled Palmer. "He didn't mess around with him," Jordan said. "He took him down, got him in a cradle, turned him and pinned him. Palmer never had a chance." In the team standings, NC State finished 22nd out of 44 teams, despite fielding a lineup of just five wrestlers. Senior 197-pounder Ryan Goodman is still with the Wolfpack football team, and senior 141-pounder Joe Caramanica is recovering from a knee injury and won't be ready until the Southern Scuffle at the end of the month at the earliest. In addition, sophomore heavyweight Bobby Isola is out due to illness. "I'm really pleased with the fact that we finished ahead of half the teams out here and only fielded half of our lineup," Jordan said. "Our goal was to finish in the top half of the standings and we did that. Even the guys who were eliminated yesterday all wrestled well. No one went out in two matches, which is what you have to have to score well in these tournaments. "It would have been nice to have had a full lineup. I think Ryan and Joe in particular would have done really well here. But that's something we can't control. What we can control is how well the guys we had here wrestled, and I thought they all did well."

LAS VEGAS -- No. 3 and top-seeded Jimmy Kennedy (Ingleside, Ill.) won the 133-pound title at the 27th Annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational with a 6-4 victory over Boise State's eighth-ranked and third-seeded Andrew Hochstrasser to move to 9-0 on the season. Kennedy's victory is his first win in a major collegiate tournament and his third title overall along with two wins at the Missouri Open. "It's really good to get this win since I wasn't able to finish this tournament last year because I was sick," Kennedy said. "Coming out here, that was kind of in the back of my mind, but I got through the first few matches with everything clicking and I was able to ride that momentum throughout the tournament." Kennedy shot early against Hochstrasser and came away with a takedown just nine seconds into the bout. Hochstrasser escaped, but Kennedy got another takedown 1:20 into the match. After a Hochstrasser escape, the Illini notched a third two-pointer, but Hochstrasser slithered out to make the score 6-3 in Kennedy's favor after three minutes. Hochstrasser started down in the second and escaped, but neither wrestler managed a point the rest of the period. Kennedy started down in the third and Hochstrasser rode him the entire period but could never manage to turn the Illini junior as Kennedy walked away with a 6-4 victory and a Vegas title. "Jimmy Kennedy did a great job all weekend," Illinois coach Mark Johnson said. "He continues to prove that if he's not the top guy in the country, he's definitely up there. All weekend, Jimmy and our two true-freshmen, B.J. Futrell and Jordan Blanton, did terrific." Kennedy matches teammate Mike Poeta's 2007 Las Vegas Invitational title and is Illinois' third placewinner in this year's tournament. Freshman Jordan Blanton took seventh at 184 and sophomore Ryan Prater finished eighth at 141 as the Illini finished in a tie for 13th despite four starters not wrestling. A number of Illinois grapplers will compete at Sunday's Northern Iowa Open before the Fighting Illini return home on Saturday, Dec. 13, for a double-dual against Findlay and McKendree at 1 p.m. at Huff Hall.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Purdue wrestling team posted its best finish in school history at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Friday and Saturday, taking home fifth with 83 team points. The outing came on the strength of four place-winning showings by the Boilermakers as senior Jake Patacsil took third at 149 pounds, sophomores Luke Manuel and Logan Brown grabbed fourth at 165 and 197 pounds and fellow sophomore A.J. Kissel finished fifth at 184 pounds. The Boilermakers were the second-highest Big Ten team in the field, finishing behind eighth-ranked Minnesota, but ahead of No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 Illinois, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 12 Michigan and No. 19 Indiana. Purdue also finished ahead of 10th-ranked Lehigh, No. 14 Boise State and 23rd-ranked Penn. Sixth-ranked Nebraska dominated the event, racking up 123.5 points en route to the team title, with a pair of individual champions. No. 4 Cornell was second, scoring 91 points, while Minnesota was third with 89 points, Pittsburgh placed fourth with 85 and Purdue rounded out the top five. Patacsil was the comeback kid on Saturday, rallying from behind in all three of his matches to secure the bronze medal at 149 pounds. After taking a medical forfeit from Boise State's Jason Chamberlain to open the day, Patacsil squared off with 11th-ranked Matt Kyler of Army in the consolation quarterfinals. Kyler used reversals in the first and second periods to mount a 4-2 lead, but a pair of late nearfalls swung the score five points Purdue's way and Patacsil escaped with the 7-4 decision. No. 14 Cesar Grajales of Penn led through two periods in similar fashion in the consolation semifinals, taking Patacsil down twice in the first frame and notching a stalling point in the second. However, Patacsil took the top position in the final period, trailing 5-3, and scored a three-point nearfall and 1:27 of riding time to notch the 7-6 win. Patacsil met sixth-ranked and third-seeded Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin in the bronze-medal match, and like the two before it, fell behind early. A two-point takedown and more than two minutes of riding time gave Ruschell the early advantage, but a flurry of action on the mat in the second led to a Patacsil lead. Starting on top, Patacsil turned the Badger for two points, before consecutive reversals made the score 4-4. Once back in control, Patacsil tilted his foe for three more points, finishing the second frame with a 7-4 edge. Ruschell selected a neutral start in the third and took advantage with a quick takedown to make it 7-6. His staggering riding-time count virtually made the score 7-7 as the end of regulation neared, but Patacsil closed out his third-period heroics of the day with his sixth reversal of the tournament to earn the medal and 9-7 victory. Manuel bounced back from Friday night's quarterfinal loss on Saturday as he blanked Indiana's Paul Young, 6-0, to start the day, and edged out Lehigh's Mike Galante, 4-3 on a riding-time point. A medical forfeit by 14th-ranked Andy Rendos of Bucknell moved Manuel into the consolation finals, but he was stopped short of third place by second-seeded and fourth-ranked Stephen Dwyer of Nebraska, 4-0. Brown rolled through the first day of the tournament with a pair of decisions and a medical forfeit, but stalled against second-seeded and third-ranked Craig Brester of Nebraska in the semifinals on Saturday. He bounced back with a hard-fought 5-4 decision over Cornell's Cam Simaz in the consolation semifinals, advancing to the bronze-medal bout, but was denied the neckwear by ninth-seeded Riley Orozco of California State Bakersfield in a 7-3 consolation final loss. Kissel completed the tournament with a 4-2 record, including a trio of pins. After Friday's 3-0 mark, Kissel opened Saturday's competition with a 5-0 loss to top-seeded and fourth-ranked Louis Caputo of Harvard. He then dropped a controversial 7-5 decision to Michigan's Anthony Biondo, but rebounded in the fifth-place match to stick Tim Hawkins of California State Fullerton in 2:31 to close out the weekend. Kissel is now all alone in fifth all-time at Purdue with 28 falls, and has nine pins this season, good for a tie for 16th in single-season school history. Junior heavyweight Chris Kasten finished just one win shy of the podium, scoring a 3-2 mark on the weekend and finishing in the top-12 of the tournament. He bounced back from a tournament-opening loss to win three straight matches on Friday, but ran into top-seeded and third-ranked Kyle Massey of Wisconsin in the fourth-round of the consolation bracket and suffered a 5-1 loss. The Boilermakers wait to see if their outstanding performance will cash in dividends in Tuesday's new national team poll as they've received votes in the first five this season, but hope to break into the top-25. They return to action in two weeks as they'll travel to both Cincinnati and Cleveland to face Mount Saint Joseph and Notre Dame College on Dec. 21.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- The Rutgers wrestling team (8-3, 3-0 EIWA) swept its two matches in a home conference tri-meet with Franklin & Marshall (0-5, 0-4 EIWA) and Princeton (1-3, 1-3 EIWA). The Scarlet Knights defeated the Diplomats 36-3 and the Tigers 38-6. Princeton earned a 25-14 victory over F&M in the third match of the day. "We are wrestling well right now," said head coach Scott Goodale. "I am glad we won some matches late, and I thought we wrestled hard. The EIWA is a great wrestling league and we are just trying to get as many wins as possible in the conference. Everything we do is to take steps towards that ultimate goal and we're excited about it." Redshirt sophomore David Greenwald (Union, N.J.), freshman Scott Winston (Jackson, N.J.), senior Matt Pletcher (Eastampton, N.J.), junior Karim Mahmoud (Wallington, N.J.) and redshirt sophomore DJ Russo (Netcong, N.J.) all went 2-0 on the day. Greenwald pinned both of his two opponents and Winston won by technical fall in each of his two bouts. The Scarlet Knights racked up four pins, three technical falls and two major decisions in the two matches. RU opens its conference campaign 3-0 for the first time since 1996-97. There is no rest for the weary, as Rutgers gets right back to wrestling in the Nittany Lion Tournament on Sunday, Dec. 7, in State College, Pa.

The No. 8 University of Minnesota wrestling team finished third with 89.0 points at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, held Friday and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. No. 6 Nebraska won the team title with 124.5 points while No. 4 Cornell finished second with 91.0 points. Minnesota was led by redshirt freshman Zach Sanders, who was the Gophers' top finisher as the runner-up at 125 pounds. Sanders, ranked 14th nationally and the sixth seed in this weekend's event, gained big wins over #9 Marcus Orozco of UC-Davis in the quarterfinal round and #7 Anthony Robles of Arizona State in the semifinals to extend his season-opening winning streak to 15 matches. The Wabasha, Minn. saw his remarkable run come to an end as he dropped his first match of the season to Penn's #6 Rollie Peterkin in the championship bout. Peterkin gained an 11-6 decision win over Sanders on Saturday night. Two-time All-American Jayson Ness parlayed three pins over the course of the weekend into a third place finish at 133 pounds. Ness' 5-1 weekend record included a pair of wins over #19 Jimmy Conroy of Pittsburgh and a win over #17 T.J. Dillashaw of Cal State-Fullerton. Mike Thorn placed sixth at 141 pounds on the strength of a solid weekend showing that included a 5-3 decision win over Ohio State's top-ranked J Jaggers in the consolation round. Thorn, ranked 10th at 141 pounds in the most recent InterMat/NWCA rankings, also defeated #17 Filip Novachkov. Scott Glasser (165 pounds) and Ben Berhow (Hwt.) also finished on the podium in their respective weight classes, each placing 8th. The Gophers are off until Dec. 21 when they will travel to Lincoln, Neb. to take on Nebraska in their fourth dual meet of the season.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Sophomore Mack Lewnes earned a Las Vegas Invitational title at 165 pounds, while senior Jordan Leen placed second at 157 pounds on Saturday evening. The Big Red finished second among 44 teams in the event with 91 points, behind only team champion Nebraska (124.5). Earlier in the day, the Big Red has completed the wrestlebacks with Frank Perrelli (125) taking seventh, Steve Bosak (174) placing sixth, and Cam Simaz (197) finishing in fifth place. Cornell vaulted from ninth place to a tie for second in the Saturday morning session, thanks in part to the efforts of defending NCAA champion Jordan Leen, who reached the finals at 157 with an 8-5 defeat of Boise State's Adam Hall. Another top-seeded Cornell wrestler, Mack Lewnes at 165, cruised to the championship match with an 8-1 victory over Andy Rendos of Bucknell in the semis. Lewnes, a sophomore who's the nation's top-ranked wrestler at 165, sealed the deal with a 10-3 victory over fellow sophomore Colt Sponseller of Ohio State in the title match. Lewnes said he was disappointed that he didn't score any bonus points for his team until the championship, but he wasn't surprised given the level of competition. "I stayed strong and kept my composure, but I need to work on my whole game," Lewnes said. "I feel like I can wrestle a whole lot better than I did this weekend." Leen wasn't as fortunate at 157, where he ran into second-seeded Burroughs in the championship. Burroughs caught a break late in the third period when the clock malfunctioned with him leading 10-8 but faltering a bit. The malfunction allowed him to catch his breath as officials sorted it out, and when wrestling resumed with 23 seconds left Leen couldn't score as the Nebraska junior ran out the clock to win the title.

Jordan Burroughs and Craig Brester finished first in their respective weight class to lead the No. 6 Nebraska wrestling team to a first-place team finish at the Las Vegas Invitational on Saturday. Burroughs earned Outstanding-Wrestler-of-the-Tournament honors to help propel NU past No. 4 Cornell, who finished second with 91 points. No. 8 Minnesota claimed third (89), while Pittsburgh (85) and Purdue (83) rounded out the top five teams. Four other Huskers placed, including three in the top four, as Nebraska won the tournament for the second time. Burroughs, a junior, posted two decisions at 157 pounds on Saturday. He started with a 3-2 victory over All-American and fifth-ranked J.P. O'Conner of Harvard in the semifinals and earned a 10-8 win over defending NCAA champion and sixth-ranked Jordan Leen of Cornell in the final. Burroughs moved to a perfect 11-0 on the season. Fellow junior Brester posted an equally impressive weekend. He racked up major decisions in the semifinals and final on Saturday, after earning a pin, technical fall and major decision on Friday. He advanced to the final with a 13-3 win over No. 11 Logan Brown of Purdue and took the title with a 10-2 victory against No. 13 Richard Starks. Brester is 12-0 on the season. Brandon Browne took second at 174 with a loss in the final to top-ranked Steve Luke of Michigan. Browne advanced with a 5-1 decision over West Virginia's Kurt Brenner in the semifinals and battled Luke to overtime, but came up short. Browne has lost to Luke 3-1 in overtime in both of his two career meetings with the Wolverine. Stephen Dwyer finished third at 165 after losing his quarterfinal match with Ohio State's Colt Sponseller, 2-0. Dwyer, a junior ranked fourth in the nation, rebounded with an 11-2 major decision over Wisconsin's Andrew Howe and notched a 4-0 decision against No. 6 Luke Manuel of Purdue in the consolation finals. Redshirt freshman Tucker Lane lost in the consolation final to place fourth at heavyweight. He posted three straight decisions after losing in Friday's quarterfinals. He lost his final match Saturday 3-2 to No. 3 Kyle Massey of Wisconsin, but defeated two ranked foes in the consolation bracket. Sophomore Matt Vacanti finished with a 6-3 record at the tournament to place eighth at 133 pounds. He opened the second day of competition with a 3-1 sudden victory over Wyoming's Cory VomBaur, but lost an 8-2 decision to No. 17 T.J. Dillashaw of Cal State Fullerton before ending with a 7-5 sudden loss to Cal State Bakersfield's Thomas Kimbrell. The Huskers are next in action when they host No. 25 Kent State on Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. in the NU Coliseum.

Ryan Morningstar knows all about winning big matches in the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry. The Tom Brands-led Iowa Hawkeyes won six of 10 matches on Saturday to defeat Iowa State, 20-15, in front of an NCAA record-setting crowd of 15,955 (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)Two years ago, Morningstar, a freshman at the time, pulled a huge upset when he toppled No. 1-ranked Trent Paulson of Iowa State, which helped propel the Hawkeyes to convincing 24-6 victory over the Cyclones. On Saturday night in front of a record-setting crowd (15,955) at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Morningstar, ranked No. 9 at 165 pounds, brought the Hakwkeye faithful to its feet by scoring an upset that may not have been as big as the one he pulled two seasons ago, but proved to be much more significant in the dual outcome. With the Hawkeyes leading the dual 11-8 at the intermission, Morningstar came out and won a tight, tactical match, 2-0, against returning All-American Jon Reader of Iowa State to give the Hawkeyes a 14-8 lead with just four matches remaining. The Hawkeyes went on to win the next two matches following Morningstar's key victory to win the dual 20-15. "I felt like maybe it was bigger win when I beat (Trent) Paulson just because I was a freshman and I was obviously a lot bigger underdog," said Morningstar, who improved his record to 9-0 this season. "But I feel like I've grown now and I should be winning matches like this. I belong here. I should be winning matches like these matches every time I step on the mat. Yeah, it's a great win. It's a big win. It shows where I'm at. But I have a lot to build off of … and a lot to accomplish this year." Iowa won six of the 10 matches, but only Brent Metcalf (149) picked up bonus points for the Hawkeyes. Metcalf proved why he's best pound-for-pound wrestler in college wrestling. The Hawkeye junior, who won the Rev Wrestler of the Year and Dan Hodge Trophy last season, put on a takedown clinic from start to finish and completely dominated a shell-shocked Mitch Mueller, 26-10, earning the technical fall at 6:14. Metcalf, who improved his record to 9-0 this season, was pleased with the team's performance in the dual, but feels like the Hawkeyes still have a ways to go. "I think it was a pretty good job," said Metcalf. "I think we need to get to the point where we're not winning anymore … and where we're really separating ourselves from the rest of the country and from maybe a rivalry like this." Iowa State's Nick Fanthorpe was too much for Iowa's Joe Slaton (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)Much of the buildup to the much-anticipated dual meet centered on who Iowa coach Tom Brands would send out at 133 pounds: Joe Slaton or Daniel Dennis. Brands eventually went with Slaton, who was thumped, 12-2, by Iowa State's Nick Fanthorpe. "Coaching error big time," said Brands of his decision to go with Slaton over Dennis. "I went with the guy who had done it before. Actually, Dan Dennis warned me about that earlier in the week. He caught me in the shower and we talked pretty one-on-one about it. If Daniel Dennis would have made that call, he would have been the guy." Also picking up wins for the Hawkeyes were Charlie Falck (125), Alex Tsirtsis (141), Jay Borschell (174), and Phil Keddy (184). Falck, who is ranked No. 3, got things rolling for the Hawkeyes. He used a first period takedown and second period reversal to defeat No. 7-ranked Tyler Clark of Iowa State, 4-2. After Fanthorpe's victory over Slaton at 133, Tsirtsis got the momentum back for the Hawkeyes as he scored a victory over Iowa State's No. 1-ranked Nick Gallick. With the score tied at two late in the third period, Tsirtsis picked up a reversal as time expired to win the match by a score of 4-2 and excite the Hawkeye fans. The Cyclone coaches argued the controversial call to no avail. Iowa State's Cyler Sanderson dominated Iowa first-year starter Matt Ballweg, 22-9, at 157 pounds. The Cyclone All-American attacked early and often and nearly picked up the technical fall, but couldn't add the additional takedown he needed and had to settle for the major decision. Cael Sanderson and Iowa State will see Iowa again at the Midlands later this month (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)Borschell and Keddy beat newcomers to the Iowa State lineup. Borschell defeated Iowa State's Duke Burke, a transfer from Northern Illinois, 6-2, while Keddy won a tight 3-2 match over Cyclone freshman Jerome Ward. The Cyclones closed out the dual with victories by Jake Varner (197) and David Zabriskie (285), but it was too little too late as the Hawkeyes held on for the 20-15 victory. "This was great preparation for us," said Iowa State coach Cael Sanderson. "Obviously, things didn't go quite the way we wanted. But we learned a lot about our team tonight. We have to give Iowa credit. They did a nice job. They won the close matches there. Some of those key matchups. But we're just going to keep plugging away and keep moving forward." Related: Rev Audio: Tom Brands Rev Audio: Brent Metcalf Rev Audio: Ryan Morningstar Rev Audio: Mike Zadick Rev Audio: Cael Sanderson

VESTAL, N.Y. -- Binghamton wrestling (5-4) won the first four bouts and went on to a 24-17 win over East Stroudsburg Thursday night from West Gym. The Bearcats won six of 10 bouts, including two by fall over the visiting Warriors (0-2). Junior 184-pound Josh Patterson, ranked No. 9 in the country by WrestlingReport.com, improved to 12-2 overall with a pin over Trevor Salvatore. His victory capped four straight wins for BU to open the evening. Patterson was in control from the opening whistle, and ended the match in 2:33 to give the Bearcats a 15-0 lead. Patterson is 39-7 in career dual matches. After ESU had pulled to within 15-9 with back-to-back wins at 197 and heavyweight, freshman Drew Bloss scored a takedown 25 seconds into the overtime period to post a 6-5 decision over Matthew Benedetti at 125 pounds. After a loss at 133 reduced BU's lead to 18-12 with two matches remaining, sophomore Anwar Goeres clinched the team triumph with a second-period pin at 141 pounds. Goeres racked up nine points in the opening period and finished off his fourth fall of the season with 21 seconds left in the second. Binghamton next competes in the Penn State Open on Sunday.

The Nebraska wrestling team, ranked sixth in the country, sits in first place with 74 points after the first day of competition at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Friday. Minnesota is second with 59.5 points, Boise State sits third with 56 points, while Pittsburgh (54) and Indiana (53.5) round out the top five. With more than 44 teams and 380 competitors in the field, the Huskers have four wrestlers still in the championship bracket, and two in the consolation bracket. Four Nebraska wrestlers advance to the semifinals with a perfect 3-0 record on the day. Junior Craig Brester notched the most impressive performance of the day, posting a fall, technical fall and major decision in his three victories at 197 pounds. Senior Brandon Browne earned three straight major decisions at 174 pounds, while juniors Jordan Burroughs (157) and Stephen Dwyer (165) opened the tournament with two bonus-point victories and won a decision in the quarterfinals to advance. Dwyer had two technical falls to Burroughs' two major decisions. Redshirt freshman Tucker Lane and sophomore Matt Vacanti will wrestle tomorrow in the consolation bracket. Lane opened with a decision and pinned his second round opponent before nearly pulling a huge upset in the quarterfinals. Lane, unranked at heavyweight, took No. 6 Zach Schaefer of Pittsburgh to overtime before Schaefer could earn the 3-1 sudden victory. Vacanti pinned his first round opponent, but lost in the second round at 133 pounds. He rebounded with four straight wins, including three by bonus points to advance to the second day of competition. Four Huskers are out of the tournament, including senior Vince Jones, who is ranked No. 7 at 184 pounds. A scoring mistake during his first match led to a 15-minute delay during the contest, and ended in a 9-7 sudden loss to Wyoming's Joe Leblans after the match went to overtime. Jones bounced back with three-straight victories, including two pins, but lost to Montana State's Evan Hinebauch in the consolation bracket to end his tournament. Redshirt freshman Chris Hacker went 2-2 at 149 pounds, while redshirt freshman Andy Pokorny (125) and sophomore Curtis Salazar (141) went 0-2. Wrestling begins at 11 a.m CT tomorrow with consolation action, while the semifinals begin at noon CT. Huskers.com will have live stats for all Nebraska wrestlers, while Thewrestlingmall.com will continuously updated full tournament results throughout the day. Results of Nebraska's wrestlers from the first day follow.