InterMat Staff

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team has named a talented foursome as co-captains for the 2008-09 season. Senior Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.), junior Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), senior Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) and junior Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) will share team leader duties this year. "These four young men have been chosen by their peers to lead us through another successful campaign," head coach Troy Sunderland said. "Each of these wrestlers has outstanding leadership qualities and, while they differ from wrestler to wrestler, they combine to create a group of captains that is well suited to guide us this year. They are successful, hard-working and their teammates look to them as an example of what hard work and dedication can lead to." Haas, a sixth year senior who was given an extra year of eligibility due to having two seasons shortened by injuries, will wrestling at 133 this year after going 7-15 last season. Haas was 5-11 in duals with a solid 3-5 Big Ten dual meet record. Haas has a 29-23 career record. Jenkins is the defending national runner-up at 149. The Virginia-native went 26-6 last season, including a 4-1 showing at nationals and an appearance in the NCAA title tilt. The All-American, who is now 49-18 overall at Penn State, has a 10-6 career Big Ten dual meet record, including a 6-2 mark last season. Jenkins begins his run at a national title with 82 career dual meet points. Strayer was a 2007 All-American at 133 and moved up to 141 last season where he went 11-5. A two-time NCAA qualifier (he reached the `Round of 12' at 133 in 2006), Strayer returns to 133 this season. Strayer has a 64-19 career record, including a 53-14 mark at 133 pounds. Strayer's 39-9 career dual match record his highlighted by a 30-5 mark at 133 (12-4 in Big Ten action). He has 133 career dual match points. Vallimont earned his first All-America honor last year with a superb third place finish at 157 pounds. It was the New Jersey-native's first season at 157 pounds. Vallimont posted a superb 32-3 mark last year, including a 5-1 performance at nationals to take third place. Vallimont, who reached the `Round of 12' at nationals at 149 in 2007, has a 54-15 career record including a 29-8 dual match mark (12-4 in Big Ten action). He has 100 career dual match points as well. Penn State, under the guidance of head coach Troy Sunderland, will open its 2008-09 season by hosting its annual Wrestle-Offs on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. in Rec Hall. Admission to wrestle-offs is free.

2007 NCAA wrestling champion Phil Davis won his professional MMA debut tonight at "The Awakening," in Plymouth, Mass. Davis defeated an 8-2 Brett Chism in a three-round unanimous decision. Davis, fighting out of LionHeart in State College, Pa., came into the fight with a 3-0 amateur record. "It's nice to get this first professional win under my belt," Davis said. "My training's been paying off. I'm happy with my pace of my transition from college wrestling into MMA. I just want to keep improving and become the best fighter I can be."

The Silent Gladiators, a new and controversial biography by Nicholas A. Hopping, provides a matside perspective of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team as its members endure a grueling training cycle and compete on the world stage in Athens, Greece. The book focuses on the athletes and coaches, but the author becomes part of the story as he sacrifices four years of his life disregarding previous obligations while sleeping on floors, sitting in airports, writing in sleazy bars, and generally living like a bum for sake of the book. The book's preface (opening with "Wrestling is not sexy …") tells a parallel struggle for both the author and the sport of wrestling to gain respect. It also provides insight into Hopping's passion for the sport, and his internal drive to write the best damn wrestling book ever. Despite the self-promotion, The Silent Gladiators really is about the 2004 U.S. Freestyle team and the individual stories connected to it. There is Cael Sanderson, whose four-year dominance at Iowa State made him the next American wrestling hero. Expectations of being the best in the world begin to wear on Sanderson and he questions his commitment to the sport. "I don't know what I'm doing here!?" he wonders out loud to his coach (Bobby Douglas) and brother (Cody) after losing the first of three challenge matches to Lee Fullhart at the 2004 Olympic Team Trials in Indianapolis. Like any good Rocky movie, Sanderson finds a way to beat the imposing Fullhart to make the team. Lee Fullhart (Tech-Fall.com)It's hard not to root for Sanderson, but you have to feel for Fullhart, who has not recovered from the disappointment of the loss. As the author states, "Fullhart would have traded the result of that match for five years of his life, for a chunk of his future, for anything the sporting gods were willing to bargain because for anyone who ever knew a bit about his sport could tell you, wrestling gets inside the mind, it layers itself into the veins, the blood, the heart and every fiber of muscle in the body." The Silent Gladiators has a logical flow, and Hopping makes it easy for even non-wrestling fans to connect the dots. The book opens with a snapshot of the 2003 World Championships held at Madison Square Garden in New York. A one-chapter description of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs precedes a chapter dedicated to its ring bearer: U.S. Olympic Head Coach Kevin Jackson. Hopping makes a valiant attempt to describe wrestling as the ultimate sport, leaving one completely exposed for his talent, preparation, and character. According to the author, unlike most sports, wrestling does not discriminate based upon size, color, creed, origin, or personality. He illustrates the contrasting style of the Iowa and Oklahoma State programs, which cannot be accomplished without some insight into the personalities and accomplishments of Dan Gable and John Smith, respectively. Like any fan frustrated by the poor coverage and general awareness, Hopping expresses the need for a savior to bring wrestling from the depths of obscurity to the forefront of the public eye, which leads to a chapter dedicated to Sanderson, and inevitably his rivalry with Fullhart. The book continues in similar fashion, introducing key characters and providing the background for their stories: Stephen Abas, Eric Guerrero, Jamill Kelly, Sammie Henson, Joe Williams, Yoshi Nakamura, Stephen Mocco, Kerry McCoy, and Mo Lawal. The first section of the book ends in Las Vegas with the crowing of seven national champions at the U.S. Open. Stephen AbasThere's the California contingent of Stephen Abas, Eric Guerrero, and Jamill Kelly, teammates on the 1995 Junior National team. Each wrestler has a different road to Athens. Abas becomes the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed starter for the U.S. team after knocking off Sammie Henson. (Sitting in the stands at the 2008 Olympic Team Trials, I couldn't help but feel a role reversal: Abas looking like the grizzled veteran and Henry Cejudo looking like the hope of the future.) Guererro, dominant within the U.S. at every age-group level, never able to replicate the same success on the international stage. Kelly, the "stepchild" of the team, defeats three former NCAA champs along the way (Chris Bono, Lincoln McIlravy, and Bill Zadick) and finds the confidence he always lacked in college and begins to realize his potential. Then there's Kerry McCoy, one man who was able to defeat 1999 World champion Stephen Neal. Ironically, this accomplishment could have been his Achilles heel. In 2001, Neal retired from amateur wrestling to pursue a professional football career with the New England Patriots. The author explains that "once Neal left to play in the NFL, Kerry McCoy lost his truest companion towards achieving gold. McCoy had nobody left to fight, nobody left to be challenged by, and now to McCoy the U.S. heavyweight title didn't mean a thing." At 163 pounds, Joe Williams is considered one of the most physically gifted wrestlers of all time. After dominating the U.S. scene for six years, Williams finally qualifies for his first Olympic team. However, there is a hint of foreshadowing as Hopping describes Williams as passive and nonchalant at times, a trait that has left fans frustrated for years. Daniel Cormier possesses unharnessed power but lacks the same type of discipline as his teammates. His character has been tested through a lifetime of adversity, including the death of his daughter Kaedyn. The book progresses through the Olympic training cycle at the USOC, and culminates in Athens. It is here that Hopping reflects upon the sacrifices he made during his competitive days as a wrestler and now as an author. "The journey was boring, daring, inspiring, pathetic, but I had made it (to Athens)." In Athens, Sanderson fulfills his prophecy, knocking off rival Yoel Romero of Cuba and benefiting from the upset loss of Russian Sajid Sajidov in the semifinals before winning the gold medal. For Sanderson, it is the culmination of a lifetime of training and the final chapter in his wrestling career. For Sajidov, considered one of the best wrestlers in the world, winning a bronze medal is no consolation. The experience is bittersweet for the California connection. Abas is overmatched in the gold medal finals by 20-year-old phenom Adam Batirov of Russia. Guerrero loses in the first round of the Olympics to the Mongolian. Kelly turns his weakness in the clinch into his biggest asset, winning a controversial match against heavily favored Makhach Murtazaliev of Russia in the semifinals before losing in the gold medal match against three-time World champ Elbrus Tedeev of Ukraine. Like Sanderson, the Olympic experience marked the end of Kelly's competitive career, and left the public wondering not "who?" but "how many (world medals could he have won)?" McCoy is never able to replicate the same success that Neal did at the international level, but Kevin Jackson sees it differently: "Somewhere along the line, Kerry got soft on me." I think even McCoy would consider his performance at the Olympics disappointing. Williams shows no sense of urgency in his quarterfinals match before losing on criteria. "I would have rather seen him come out of the first period down by 1 or 2 points. That way, he would be aggressive. Even with 20 seconds left, he didn't attack," states Jackson after the match. This perceived nonchalant attitude left fans frustrated and confused for years. How could someone that showed so much talent and flashes of brilliance not step it up when he needed? Cormier shows flashes of excellence before losing to Khadjimourat Gatsalov of Russia in the semifinals, and squandering a lead in the bronze medal match. Hopping gives a prophetic summary of Cormier's training habits, which may have cost him two Olympic medals: "Cormier trains in cycles, pushing hard for several weeks at a time before a competition, and generally eating whatever he wants … Cormier will get far overweight between tournaments, in the 230-pound range, before having to cut extensive weight to make the 211-pound classification." This assessment left me shaking my head following the news that Cormier was considered medically ineligible to compete at the 2008 Olympics due to extreme weight loss. The book's focal point is the U.S. team, but the best chapters are dedicated to the Russian wrestling scene and its most dominant wrestler over the past 20 years: Bouvaisa Saitiev. Hopping explains that Russian wrestlers view themselves as warriors and survivors -- descendants of history's greatest conqueror, Ghengis Khan. Because of their skill and prestige, wrestlers are often used as bodyguards by high profile politicians and mafia leaders. The life stories of some of Russia's most notorious wrestlers read like an episode of The Sopranos. Their president Mikhail Mamiashvili, a three-time World and Olympic Greco Roman champion, could even land a role in Hollywood considering his shaved head, imposing figure, and ferocity. Hopping compares the contrast between the U.S. and Russian wrestlers. "While most American wrestlers remain obscure and struggle to make finances meet, Russian athletes are treated like national heroes and metal arch gates are built in their hometown if they win Olympic gold." Let's not forget about the benefits: with financial backing from the largest bank in Russian, various philanthropists, and ties to the booming oil industry, the Russian Sporting Federation is able to reward it's wrestlers with $500,000 for an Olympic gold medal and $4,000 and $3,000 per month for World and European titles, respectively. Bouvaisa SaitievBut Saitiev's story is the golden nugget in The Silent Gladiators. Born in Chechnya in 1975, Saitiev endured two wars with Russia that left his country in shambles. Considered one of the most accomplished wrestlers of all-time, his success and fame helped bridge the gap between these two areas following the fall of the Soviet regime, making it possible for Chechen wrestlers to train in Krasnoyarsk. Despite winning all but one world-level championship since 1995 at the time, Saitiev dreams of wrestling the perfect match. Only when reminded, does Saitiev recall one of the few times he has lost in his life -- when he was upset 4-3 at the 2000 Olympics to American Brandon Slay. "I let this person take me down in the second round," said Saitiev. "I didn't even know who he was. I had to look him up on the Internet. I don't think he should've been in the Olympics at all, he was like a plane fly-by. He flew in, flew out, and didn't have much to offer. Maybe they fed him something. He appeared, caused havoc, and disappeared. Kind of like that Rulon Gardner, but Rulon at least fights there somewhere. That Slay guy disappeared for good. He's not even worth my thoughts. If someone asks me a question about him only then do I remember, otherwise he doesn't exist for me." The reader gets a deeper look at Saitiev as a man wanting to blend into society but recognized as a celebrity. A man who escapes in poetry and fishing, who wants to live a clean life, who wants to know God. Hopping gives the reader a glimpse into the soul of one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. "Saitiev, the Chechen fighter, does not move like the other athletes on the mat, he doesn't think like most of them either. Before stepping on (the mat), Saitiev recites a Boris Pasternak poem to himself. Saitiev is a complex man with complex thoughts. He walked with the authority of a fighter but appeared more driven by finding personal truth in a sport than winning shiny medals." The Silent Gladiators is an intriguing read for anyone interested in the sport of wrestling, and a masterpiece for anyone familiar with its main characters. The author could have benefited from a few more revisions as the editing is atrocious, but the inspirational quotes and Roman numerals introducing each chapter are a nice touch. Nicholas HoppingThe book reminded me, as a former wrestler, of the dedication and sacrifice that each wrestler makes, successful or otherwise. As a fan, gaining insight into the personality of some of the sport's biggest stars makes me feel as though I was along for the ride. The chapters dedicated to Saitiev left me awestruck and thankful that Hopping included a Russian angle to a sometimes overly patriotic sport.

NORFOLK, Va. -- After finishing 17-3/6-1 last season, the Monarchs wrestling team was ranked first in the league in the preseason poll released earlier today. With 41 points, ODU ranks ahead of Rider (36) and seven-time defending CAA champion Hofstra (33) for the top spot. Six Monarch grapplers are ranked #1 or #2 in their respective weight classes, including returning All-American James Nicholson as the top ranked 125-pounder. Head coach Steve Martin will lead nine CAA ranked wrestlers this season, including six returning starters. Nicholson, Ryan Williams (141) and Chris Brown (165) were all listed as the top grapplers in the league at their weight, while Kyle Hutter (133), Kaylen Baxter (149), and transfer Eric Decker (174) came in at second in the rankings. The upper weights were also ranked, as rookie Joe Budi came in fourth at 184 lbs, junior Jesse Strawn is fifth at 197 lbs and Roy Dragon is listed as the fourth best heavyweight. The team returns three conference champs and two runner-ups from the 2008 tournament, and will boast seven national qualifiers in the lineup this year. 2008-09 CAA Preseason Rankings: 1. Old Dominion University (41) 2. Rider University (36) 3. Hofstra University (33) 4. Drexel University (26) 5. Boston University (23) 6. George Mason University (21) 7. Binghamton University (16) 7. Sacred Heart University (16) 125 1. James Nicholson, ODU 2. Steve Mytych, Drexel 3. Brian Wright, Mason 4. Paul Galipeau, SH 5. Jimmy Kirchner, Rider 5. Fred Santaite, BU 133 1. Lou Ruggirello, Hofstra 2. Kyle Hutter, ODU 3. Corey Dunn, SH 4. Denny Herndon, Mason 5. Filiberto Colon, Rider 6. Michael Gomez, Drexel 141 1. Ryan Williams, ODU 2. Anwar Goeres, Binghamton 3. Chris Davis, SH 4. Justin Accordino, Hofstra 4. Joey Rivera, Boston 5. Fred Rodgers, Rider 6. Abby Rush, BU 149 1. Mike Roberts, BU 2. Kaylen Baxter, ODU 3. Brandon Bucher, Mason 4. Anthony Priore, SH 5. Nick Weaver, Rider 6. PJ Gillespie, Hofstra 157 1. Jon Bonilla-Bowman, Hofstra 2. Mike Kessler, Rider 3. Nate Patterson, Binghamton 4. Carlo Ferrandino, BU 5. Frankie McLaughlin, Mason 6. Billy Haydt, Drexel 165 1. Chris Brown, ODU 2. Ryan Patrovich, Hofstra 3. Jason Lapham, Rider 4. Scott Hunter, Drexel 5. CJ Inglin, BU 6. Ryan McGarity, Binghamton 174 1. Alton Lucas, Hofstra 2. Eric Decker, ODU 3. Mike Ward, Rider 4. Hunter Meys, BU 5. Shawn Fausey, Drexel 6. Bagna Tovuujav, Mason 184 1. Doug Umbehauer, Rider 2. Josh Petterson, Binghamton 3. Justin Wieller, Drexel 4. Joe Budi, ODU 5. Ben Clymer, Hofstra 6. Dan Kennedy, BU 6. Bill Widener, Mason 197 1. Cayle Byers, Mason 2. Jon Oplinger, Drexel 3. Joe Fagiano, Hofstra 4. Mike Miller, Rider 5. Jesse Strawn, ODU 6. John Hall, BU Hwt 1. Eddie Bordas, Rider 2. Bryant Deinhardt, Drexel 3. Jim Connors, BU 4. Roy Dragon, ODU 5. Bill Beiermeister, SH 6. Art Garvey, Binghamton

LionHeart announces the professional MMA debut of 2007 NCAA wrestling champion Phil Davis. Davis will fight Bret Chism at No Boundary's, "The Awakening", scheduled for Saturday, October 11 at the Jungleplex in Plymouth, Mass. "After five months of training at LionHeart and several amateur fights, I'm really looking forward to competing at the next level," Davis said. "I've significantly improved my standup and ju-jitsu and have transitioned myself from a pure wrestler into a complete MMA fighter."

The University of Northern Iowa wrestling team will hold an open practice and the public is invited to watch the Panthers in action this Saturday at 9 a.m. in the West Gym. UNI is coming off a 20th-place finish at the 2008 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, a tournament which saw the Panthers' Moza Fay earn All-America honors with a fifth-place finish in the 165-pound bracket. The Panthers will also hold an open practice on Sat., Oct. 18. Takedown Radio and host Scott Casber will be broadcasting live from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. on Oct. 18 in the West Gym.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team will host its annual Wrestle-Offs on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. Fans of head coach Troy Sunderland's squad who cannot be at Rec Hall for the annual date can listen live to the event on Takedown Wrestling Radio. America's Wrestling Radio program can be heard free on the internet at www.TakeDownRadio.com. Scott Casber, TDR's founder and the host of TDR's new weekly Wrestling Round Table show has made the airtime and bandwidth available to Penn State fans to assist in celebrating 100 years of PSU Wrestling. Jeff Byers, the voice of Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling will again call the action Live from Rec Hall on the campus of the Nittany Lions. Penn State's wrestle-offs are held annually, giving the Nittany Lions a double-elimination tournament in which to face each other in Rec Hall. Penn State is coming off a superb 2008-09 season that saw it post a 14-5 dual match record, earn a No. 1 national dual meet mark during the regular season and end the campaign with a third place finish at the 2009 NCAA Championships. The Nittany Lions return seven wrestlers who started during last year's campaign, including All-Americans Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), national runner-up at 149 last year; Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), last year's third place finisher at 157; and Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.), who finished seventh at 133 in 2007.

This week we fire up the mobile Brute Adidas studios and head out to Las Vegas where we'll make our home at the Hooters Hotel, yes JB "The Hooters Hotel". I will be announcing a full night of MMA at the Thomas and Mack Center on the Campus of UNLV for Kim Couture. Super Fights MMA Presents: Night of Combat 2 produced by KC Concepts. Night of Combat 2 will be broadcast by HD Net one week delayed. This event will feature a great roster many with wrestling backgrounds. Card is listed below Scheduled to join us Live on air- Kim Couture, Gray Maynard, John "Hurricane" Halverson, Mike Pyle, Frank Trigg, Gina Carrano And many others. Should be a lot of fun. I always remember that 7 AM is awfully early out there where the sun never truly sets. So I'll be ready for about anything. Hope you'll Join us for America's Wrestling Radio Show Live from Las Vegas, Nevada Superfights MMA: A Night of Combat 2 Saturday, October 11, 2008 Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV Fight Card: Elena Reid vs. Stephanie Palmer Ian Omalza vs. Ryan Hass Patrick Gonzalves vs. Ryan Lamareaux Johnathan Mix vs. John Halverson Josh Haynes vs. Steve Byrnes John Alessio vs. Gideon Ray Mike Pyle vs. Brian Gassaway Jay Hieron vs. Bryson Kamaka Hector Ramirez vs. Rick Roufus

Some places have a knack for turning out great athletes in a particular sport -- for example, Western Pennsylvania as a launch pad for legendary football players like Joe Namath and Joe Montana. The same can be said for wrestling. Across the United States, there are small towns that have produced more than their fair share of accomplished wrestlers -- athletes who have earned state titles, NCAA championships, even Olympic medals. Some go on to even greater accomplishments. What's the explanation? In some places, it was one great high school coach -- or a succession of top-notch coaches. Sometimes, it's a family or group of families where wrestling success seems to be in the genes. In other communities, it might be a matter of success breeding success -- natural athletes are drawn to a high school sport where their friends and families became stars. Other times, the answer may be more elusive; perhaps it's just something in the water! From time to time, InterMat Rewind plans to visit these wrestling hotbeds, sharing the stories of the great coaches and wrestlers who call that community their own. First stop: Cresco, Iowa. In the state of Iowa, wrestling is about as close to a religion as it is anywhere. And, in this wrestling hotbed state, Cresco was one of its hottest incubators for the sport -- a place where mat champions were born and made. If Cresco were any further north, it would be in Minnesota. This community of approximately 4,000 residents is located in the rolling farm country of northeastern Iowa, about halfway between Waterloo, Iowa and Rochester, Minnesota. From the 1920s into the 1960s, Cresco launched more than its share of wrestling success stories … with names likely to be familiar to even to today's fans, including Nichols, Kurdelmeier, Peckham and Borlaug. If these names weren't enough of an indication of Cresco's status as a wrestling hotbed, consider these additional factors. The Cresco High School wrestling program was the subject of its own book, "The History of Wrestling in Cresco," published in 1984. What's more, Cresco is home to the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. Located in the Chamber of Commerce in downtown Cresco, this museum honors all-time great Iowa-born amateur wrestlers, including a number of hometown heroes. First seeds planted in 1921 According to "The History of Wrestling in Cresco," the wrestling program at Cresco High was launched by Superintendent of Schools A.R. Tiffany in 1921. The district had just completed a new building which included a gymnasium and locker rooms. In 1921, only a few high schools in Iowa had wrestling programs. In fact, throughout the U.S., organized amateur wrestling at colleges and high schools was a fairly new activity. The first college programs were established in the East in the first decade of the 1900s. Of the three major state universities in the state of Iowa, only two had intercollegiate wrestling programs in 1921: the University of Iowa (whose program started in 1911), and Iowa State (which established its program in 1916). The University of Northern Iowa's program came about in 1923. To provide some additional historical perspective: the birth of the Cresco program preceded the NCAA championships by seven years, and came just four years after the death of Frank Gotch, the world champion professional wrestler originally from Humboldt, Iowa whose superstar popularity helped fuel organized amateur wrestling throughout the U.S. A cavalcade of coaches Cresco High School's first wrestling coach was John Wheeler, an agriculture instructor from Iowa State. Twenty young men came out for the first season, competing in just dual meets, winning one (against Oelwein), and losing the other (to Mason City). That first year, the wrestling uniforms were actually long underwear, with leather patches sewn into the knees … and the wrestling surface was a twelve-foot-square horsehair mat, covered with canvas. In 1922, James Morrison took the helm. In both 1923 and 1924, Cresco had entries at the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament (which also launched in 1921). David Bartelma became head coach in 1925, and really put Cresco wrestling on the map. In his first three seasons at Cresco, the Jasper County, Iowa native's teams were undefeated in dual-meet competition … and the school claimed its first state champ: Blair Thomas at 115 pounds in 1926. In 1927, Henry Pillard took the head coaching position at Cresco. The following year, his wrestlers won their first team title on the strength of three individual champs -- Paul Thomas at 85 pounds, Dick Jones at 115, and Wally Kent at 125 -- along with two other placewinners. Dave Bartelma returned to Cresco in 1931, building an even stronger Spartan wrestling program while also serving as the high school principal. His teams tallied up a record 29 straight dual-meet wins, claiming two state team titles in 1933 and 1935. Overall, his teams compiled a 45-5 dual meet record with seventeen individual state champs. "Bart" left Cresco in 1936 to coach the University of Minnesota wrestling program, where he remained into the early 1950s. He is referred to as "the father of wrestling in Minnesota" for his tireless efforts to encourage high schools in the Land of 10,000 Lakes to set up wrestling programs. Key to this effort was his hosting of the very first Minnesota High School State Tournament in 1937. He also recruited Iowa wrestlers to come north to become high school coaches. For his contributions to the sport, Dave Bartelma's name is on the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame, established in 1969 … and he was welcomed into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1973. After Bartelma left for Minnesota, assistant coach Henry Schroder filled in as head coach at Cresco for one year. In 1937, George "Chris" Flanagan came to Cresco to write more wrestling history. A native of Williamsburg, Iowa (which did not have a wrestling program at the time), Flanagan took up wrestling at Iowa State Teachers College (now Northern Iowa), where he was a 1934 Midwest Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) champ. During his more than 30 years at Cresco, he coached four teams to state titles and six runner-up honors, crowned 34 individual state champs, and compiled a powerful 317-89-5 dual-meet record. As of 1984, Cresco could claim seven Iowa state team titles, more than 60 individual state champions, and hundreds of placewinners. The Spartans' overall dual-meet record was 482-154-11, for a .680 winning percentage. In the early 1960s, Cresco High School was replaced by Crestwood High, a new facility that served a wider area of northeastern Iowa. In 1964, the school won the state small-school title; later in the decade, Crestwood moved into the larger-school division, placing as high as fifth in the team standings at the 1968 Iowa state tournament, and second in 1969, the year Iowa went to three divisions based on school enrollment. A couple years later, Cresco/Crestwood found a home among mid-size schools, more than once placing in the top ten in team standings, with a number of individual state champs. All-Time Cresco Mat Greats Now let's look at just some of the all-time greats who once wrestled at Cresco: Bob Hess: Cresco's First Mat Olympian Bob Hess wrestled at Cresco in the late 1920s for coach Henry Pillard. He was a 135-pound Iowa state champ in 1927. After graduating from Cresco, Hess went to Iowa State, where he compiled a 33-4 record. Hess was a 1932 Big Six champ at 175 pounds, and a two-time NCAA champ at 175 in 1932 and 1933. He just missed earning a medal at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, placing fourth in freestyle middleweight (174-pound) competition. Bob Hess was a member of the initial class welcomed into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1970. Norman Borlaug: Nobel Peace Prize Winner He didn't win any Iowa high school state titles (though he placed third at 145 pounds in 1932), nor did he earn a Big Ten or NCAA title as a wrestler at the University of Minnesota. Yet, Norman Borlaug is arguably the world's best-known wrestler to come out of Cresco … as winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 for his lifelong work as an agricultural scientist whose Green Revolution breakthroughs in developing high yields of wheat saved millions -- if not billions -- of lives from starvation throughout the world. Norman BorlaugBorlaug, who grew up on a farm outside Cresco, wrestled for coach Dave Bartelma at Cresco High School in the early 1930s … then headed north to the University of Minnesota. While at Minnesota, Borlaug usually wrestled at 145 pounds. Perhaps even more significant, he helped lure "Bart" to the "U", which only had a part-time coach at the time. He earned his bachelors in forestry from Minnesota, then stayed at the Twin Cities school for his masters and doctorate … also serving as the Gophers' freshmen wrestling coach. Borlaug started his lifelong work in wheat improvement in 1944, culminating in his serving as director of the Wheat Research and Production program at the International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in the 1960s and 1970s. Even now at age 94, he continues to serve as a consultant to CIMMYT, and raise awareness of ongoing hunger issues. In addition to his honors regarding his lifesaving agricultural work, Norman Borlaug has been acknowledged by the wrestling community as well. He was honored with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's "Outstanding American" award in 1992, and the University of Minnesota's National M Club Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame in 1994. Borlaug was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in his hometown in 2004. "Wrestling taught me some valuable lessons," Borlaug told the University of Minnesota in 2005. "I always figured I could hold my own against the best in the world. It made me tough. Many times, I drew on that strength. It's an inappropriate crutch perhaps, but that's the way I'm made." "Bo" Cecil Cameron: Cedar Rapids Coach An undefeated wrestler while competing for Dave Bartelma at Cresco, "Bo" Cameron built a 33-0 record. He was a two-time Iowa high school state champ -- 95 pounds in 1931, 115 pounds in 1933. Cameron headed east from Cresco to the University of Michigan, where he was 25-5, placing third at the Big Ten championships in 1936 and 1937, and second in 1938. After a one-year stint as an assistant coach to Dave McCuskey at Iowa State Teachers College in the 1949-50 season -- the year the program won the NCAA team title in its home gym -- Cameron headed south from Cedar Falls to Cedar Rapids, where he coached wrestling for 27 years, 17 as a head coach. His high school wrestlers earned an Iowa state team title and eight individual championships. Cameron was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1976. Donald Maland: Hometown Doctor Donald MalandDon Maland had success written all over his career on and off the mat. According to his senior bio in the 1934 Spartan yearbook, he was a class officer all four years of high school, culminating in being elected class president senior year. He was in orchestra and wrestled throughout high school. Competing for Dave Bartelma at Cresco, Maland won 38 straight bouts for a perfect prep record. He was the school's first three-time Iowa state champion (and only the fourth in the entire state), winning the 95-pound crown in 1932, the 105-pound title in 1933, and the 125-pound championship in 1934. After graduation, Maland went to the University of Iowa, where he wrestled for the Hawkeyes and coach Mike Howard. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees at Iowa, and, after serving in World War II, came home to Cresco to practice medicine for over thirty years. Dale Hanson: World War II Hero Dale Hanson has the distinction of having wrestled for Dave Bartelma both at Cresco High and at the University of Minnesota. According to his plaque at the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, Hanson earned the nickname Pee Wee as a high school freshman because he was too small to compete, even in the lowest weight class, 85 pounds. As a sophomore, he grew a bit in size and was able to wrestle, losing a few matches. However, in his last two years at Cresco, Dale Hanson really came into his own on the mat. He was a two-time Iowa high school state champ, winning the 85-pound crown in 1934, then moving up to 105 in 1935. At Minnesota, Dale Hanson was a three-time letterman (1938-1940). He won two Big Ten titles at 128 pounds in 1939 and 1940. Henson was a two-time NCAA finalist, winning the 128-pound title -– and Outstanding Wrestler honors -- at the 1939 NCAAs, becoming only the second Golden Gopher to win the national wrestling title. While at Minnesota, he won 43 straight dual-meet matches. In fact, Hanson was undefeated in six years of wrestling his last two years in high school, and all four years in college. "Dale Hanson, pound for pound, was the greatest wrestler, amateur or professional, in mat annuls," says his only wrestling coach, Dave Bartelma. "He weighed only 128 at his peak but he was stronger than most heavyweights. He was the absolute master of wrestling techniques, and the greatest competitor I have ever known." According to the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, Dale Henson enlisted in the U.S. Air Force while still a senior at Minnesota. He was at Pearl Harbor during the attack on December 7, 1941, and at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. He was co-pilot of a B-17 bomber that was shot down over Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea in the south Pacific in October 1942. He was just 24 years old. Henson was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980, and into the Bartelma Hall of Fame in Minnesota in 1994. Harold Nichols: All-Time Great Iowa State Coach Harold Nichols -- affectionately known as "Nick" to wrestling fans in the state of Iowa -- never won an Iowa high school state wrestling title while at Cresco. He claimed his Spartan teammates were so talented, his first chance to wrestle varsity was as a senior. However, that didn't stop him from becoming one of the giants of college wrestling, being named one of the three all-time great coaches -- along with Ed Gallagher, Oklahoma State coach from 1917-1940, and Dan Gable, head coach at University of Iowa from 1976-1997 -- in the NCAA 75th Anniversary commemoration. According to Mike Chapman's book "Nick and the Cyclones," Harold Nichols only started wrestling as a high school freshman … but quit the team because of the five-mile walk home from school after practice. He came back to wrestling when the family moved closer to town, and his younger brother Don started high school. Despite being a middleweight, he often had to move up to heavyweight, giving up considerable poundage on his opponents … but usually found a way to win. As a senior, he placed third at 145 pounds in the Iowa state tournament. After graduation, Harold worked for a year at the Farmers Cooperative Creamery in Cresco, earning money for college. He ended up at the University of Michigan, who, at the time, already had a number of Cresco grads on the roster, and were actively recruiting Harold's brother Don. He and Don both wrestled for Cliff Keen, who coached the Wolverines from 1925 to 1970. As a sophomore, Harold Nichols placed third at the Big Ten championships. The following year, he lost in the finals to the University of Chicago's Art Finwald. However, his senior year, "Nick" truly made a name for himself, being named the wrestling team captain. He compiled a 13-0 dual-meet record, won a 1939 Big Ten championship, and the 145-pound title at the 1939 NCAAs, becoming only the third Wolverine to win a national title. After graduation, "Nick" served as an Air Force pilot in World War II, then launched his coaching career at Arkansas State, where he was responsible for a number of sports. As wrestling coach, he built a 37-18-3 record over five seasons. In 1954, Harold Nichols took the head coaching position at Iowa State, and revitalized the Cyclone wrestling program, making it a contender in a field that had been long dominated by the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. In 32 years at Ames, he compiled a 456-75-11 record for an impressive .851 winning percentage. In the Nichols era, the Cyclones won six NCAA team titles, placed second eleven times, and third eight times. Iowa State had 91 Big Eight conference individual champs, with 25 wrestlers winning 38 NCAA titles. Two of his Cyclones became Olympic gold medallists: Dan Gable, and Ben Peterson. Harold Nichols was twice named NCAA Coach of the Year before retiring in 1985. In 1970, he was part of the initial class inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. Eight years later, he was welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Don Nichols: Flying the Friendly Skies Don NicholsYounger brother of Harold, Don Nichols was coached by Dave Bartelma and Harry Schroder while at Cresco. Don apparently had a considerable growth spurt in high school, competing from 85 pounds up to 155. He was a two-time Iowa state champ, winning the 85-pound title in 1933, and the 135-pound crown in 1935. At the University of Michigan, Don wrestled at 175 for Cliff Keen, where he was a two-time Big Ten champ (1938 and 1940). At the 1940 NCAAs, Don snared the 175-pound title and Outstanding Wrestler honors. Incredibly, he lost only three matches in high school and college! After stepping off the mat, Don Nichols had a long career as a captain for United Airlines. He was installed into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990. Gene Lybbert: Spartan to Panther to Buccaneer Gene Lybbert was the very picture of the active student at Cresco High, involved in band, marching band, swing band, and orchestra … as well as football, baseball and wrestling. He was a two-time Iowa high school state runner-up for the Cresco Spartans (at 105 pounds in 1947, and at 112 in 1948), wrestling for Chris Flanagan. After graduating from Cresco, Lybbert stayed in state for college, going to Iowa State Teachers where he was a two-time national AAU champ, two-time NCAA All-American (1951 and 1952), and the 130-pound champ at the 1952 NCAAs during the program's glory days, when the Panther roster included all-time greats such as Bill Nelson, Bill Smith, and Keith Young. Lybbert headed north to Minnesota, where he coached the Blue Earth High School Buccaneers for a number of years. He was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1987. Gary Kurdelmeier: Building the Hawkeye Dynasty Gary Kurdelmeier (Photo/Cresco Yearbook)A four-sport star at Cresco, Gary Kurdelmeier was on the track and baseball teams, and was an all-state guard on the Spartan football team. However, he found his greatest success on the wrestling mat in both high school and college … and beyond. Wrestling for coach Chris Flanagan, Kurdelmeier was at two-time heavyweight state champ (1953, 1954), ending his prep career with a perfect 23-0 record. Upon graduating from Cresco in 1954, Gary Kurdelmeier headed south to the University of Iowa. After playing one season as tackle for the Hawkeye football team, he hung up the helmet and pads, and concentrated on wrestling. For three years, he was Iowa's 177-pound starter, winning the Big Ten title in 1957, and the NCAA championship the following year. After a high school coaching career in the first years of the 1960s, Gary Kurdelmeier returned to the University of Iowa in 1967, as an assistant coach to Dave McCuskey. Upon McCuskey's retirement in 1972, he became the head coach. In just four seasons at the Hawkeyes' helm, Kurdelmeier turned the program around; Iowa went from a decade of doldrums, to grabbing three Big Ten and two NCAA team titles, and five individuals claiming a total of seven national championships. Kurdelmeier's hand-picked assistant, Dan Gable, became head coach in 1977, building a 20-year dynasty upon his former boss' strong foundation that dominated the Big Ten and national competition. Gary Kurdelmeier was welcomed into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1978. Joe Frank: Coaching Success in Oregon and Minnesota Joe Frank wrestled for Chris Flanagan at Cresco in the late 1950s, winning the 127-pound Iowa state title in 1959. For college, Frank competed for another Cresco High graduate, Harold Nichols, at Iowa State. As a Cyclone, Frank compiled a 29-11 record. However, Joe Frank's greatest wrestling accomplishments were as a coach. In three seasons at Readsburg (Oregon) High, his teams won three state titles. He then came back to the Midwest, where he coached wrestling at Fridley High in Minnesota. In 17 seasons at Fridley, Frank's teams won three state team titles, earned five individual state championships, and built an incredible 227-31-1 record. The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame welcomed Joe Frank in 2005. Tom Peckham: State Champ, NCAA Champ, Olympian Nowadays, it's typical for amateur wrestlers to take up the sport in grade school or even earlier. Forty or fifty years ago, most wrestlers first stepped onto a mat no earlier than junior high or high school. Tom Peckham, wrestling star of the 1960s, was ahead of his time; he began wrestling as a fourth grader, working out with the Cresco Junior High team. Competing for Chris Flanagan at Cresco High, as a freshman, Peckham qualified for the Iowa state tournament, but lost his opening-round match on a referee's decision… and it was his last loss in his high school mat career. Winning most of his bouts by pin, Tom Peckham compiled a 49-3 record at Cresco, bringing home three Iowa state titles: 127 pounds in 1960, 154 pounds in 1961, and 165 pounds in 1962. Peckham was recruited by fellow Cresco grad Harold Nichols to wrestle for his Iowa State Cyclones. He was a three-time finalist at the Big Eight conference championships, winning the 177-pound title on his third try, in 1966. At the 1964 NCAAs, Peckham placed fifth in the 167-pound weight class. In 1965, he avenged his Big Eight finals loss to Oklahoma State's Bill Harlow with a 5-3 win over the Cowboy to claim the 177-pound national title. In his senior year at the 1966 NCAAs in his home gym, in the 177 finals, Tom Peckham pinned the man he had defeated in the Big Eight finals a couple weeks earlier, Fred Fozzard of Oklahoma State, for his second NCAA title. After college, Peckham wrestled for the U.S. at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, placing fourth in freestyle competition in the 191.5 weight class (barely missing a medal). Peckham was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1985. For more photos of these all-time great wrestlers from this wrestling hotbed in northeastern Iowa, check out the "Cresco HS" photo album at VintageAmateurWrestlingPhotoAnnex. Here's a link to a History of Wrestling in Cresco Web site: http://www.angelfire.com/hi3/crestwoodwrestling/history.html. Fun Fact Spartans Take Over The Wolverines In 1937, five of the eight starters for the University of Michigan Wolverines were once Cresco High Spartans: "Bo" Cecil Cameron, Don Nichols, Harold Nichols, Earl Thomas, and Frank Morgan. That year, Michigan placed second in the team standings at the Big Ten championships, and eleventh at the 1937 NCAAs. Fun Fact Cresco vs. Cresco: Dual Meet Battle In the late 1930s, former Cresco teammates Norman Borlaug and Harold Nichols both ended up wrestling at Big Ten schools: Borlaug headed north to the University of Minnesota, while Nichols went east to the University of Michigan. Both wrestled at 145 pounds… so it was inevitable that the two former teammates would end up facing each other on the mat in college. According to the 1937 Michiganesian (Michigan's yearbook), Nichols pinned Borlaug in a Michigan vs. Minnesota dual meet. Fun Fact Cresco vs. Cresco: College Coaching Battle In the early 1970s, the head coaches at two of the top college wrestling programs in the nation -– Iowa State, and the University of Iowa -– were both Cresco High mat alumni. After the 1972 NCAAs, Gary Kurdelmeier, Cresco class of 1954, took the helm of the Iowa Hawkeye wrestling program … while, across the state, Harold Nichols, Cresco class of 1934, had been coach of the Iowa State Cyclones for nearly two decades. With two former Cresco Spartans in charge, the Iowa vs. Iowa State rivalry really intensified. At the 1972 NCAAs – before Kurdelmeier vs. Nichols -- Iowa State easily won the team title… while Iowa placed twelfth. The following year, Iowa State again claimed the team title, while Iowa moved up to a tie for seventh under new head coach Kurdelmeier. In 1974, the team race tightened further: Iowa State placed fourth, with Iowa right behind at fifth. By 1975, the team fortunes were reversed; the Hawkeyes won the NCAA team title, while the Cyclones placed fourth. The following season -- Kurdelmeier's last -- Iowa held on to the team title, with Iowa State coming in second.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Luke Moffitt and Nate Skaar. Moffitt is the head wrestling coach at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge and his teams have won the last three NJCAA tournaments. They also won their division at the NWCA National Duals the last two years. After winning a high school state championship for Estherville, IA, Moffitt was an NJCAA champion as an Iowa Central Triton at 141 pounds in 2000. He then competed for the University of Iowa where he won a Big Ten title in 2002 and was a two-time NCAA qualifier. Nate Skaar is beginning his third season as the head wrestling coach at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, IA. The Ellsworth Panthers had five All-Americans and placed 5th at the NJCAA tournament last year in Rochester, MN. A native of Hayward, MN, Skaar placed third in the state for Albert Lea High School in 1992 and was an All-American for Division III power Luther College (IA) at 142 pounds in 1995. "On the Mat" can be hard live on the internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5:00 - 6:00 PM Central time on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show

Columbia, Mo. -- The fifth-ranked Missouri wrestling team will kick off the home portion of its 2008-09 schedule, Saturday, Nov. 22, with a 2 p.m. (CT) contest against Hofstra in the Hearnes Center. The afternoon dual is Missouri's first-ever "Wrestling Supports Wrestling" event in which every dollar from the Nov. 22 ticket sales will be added to the wrestling student-athlete scholarship endowment. The endowment will provide additional support to Mizzou wrestling for years to come. "I'm really proud of this event," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "This is an important dual because I convinced my athletic director (Mike Alden) and his staff that the wrestling fans would come out in large numbers to show their support of wrestling. I want to demonstrate to the rest of the sporting community and athletic administrations across the country that wrestling fans can and will support wrestling." Tickets for Missouri's dual with Hofstra are $20 for floor seats, $10 for A level seats and $7 for B level seats. All tickets can be purchased at the Mizzou Arena Ticket Office, or by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS. "If a program consistently draws large crowds, it has a positive economic impact on the athletics department," Smith said. "This Nov. 22 dual with Hofstra is a great way to endow the future of Mizzou wrestling." Fans unable to attend the event that are still interested in supporting the scholarship endowment can purchase tickets through 1-800-CAT-PAWS and have the tickets held, under Brian Smith's name, as a donation for youth wrestlers. "Brian came to us and proposed the idea of a dual in which all money from the ticket sales would go directly towards the wrestling scholarship endowment," Missouri Director of Athletics Mike Alden said. "We are confident that the wrestling community will come out in support of the event. Brian has done great things with our wrestling program over the past 10 years to raise the level of excitement around the team." Smith and his Tigers enter the season as the fifth-ranked team in the nation marking Missouri's third consecutive top-10 preseason ranking.

Paul Bradley improved his professional record to 8-0 in a dominant victory over a 5-1 Patrick Horner at NAAFS Caged Fury 5 on Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio. Bradley remains unbeaten and untested as a professional with all 8 victories coming by unanimous decision, submission, or TKO. Paul BradleyBradley, a two time All-American wrestler at the University of Iowa, dominated the fight on his feet. "I really wanted to showcase my improved punching and striking skills tonight," Bradley said after the fight. "I'm at the top of my game. I'm the best fighter I've ever been. I want the opportunity to showcase that and I'm willing to fight anyone to do it." Manager Chad Dubin of LionHeart MMA believes Bradley is ready for the national stage. "Paul has mowed through his competition at light heavyweight and middleweight and since joining LionHeart, he's had 5 months of nothing but intensive training under his belt. He's as mentally focused as ever and with his improved standup he's as complete a fighter as you can get. He's ready to step into the cage with any fighter at any venue."

The Citadel Wrestling team and head coach Rob Hjerling welcomes Billy Linane as a new assistant coach for the Bulldog wrestling program. Coach Linane is a 2005 graduate and former wrestler of The Citadel. While attending The Citadel, Linane majored in criminal justice. He was a four-time letter winner as a heavyweight and has a wide base of experience and knowledge that Coach Hjerling expects he will bring to the wrestling program. "We are excited to have Billy back in our wrestling room," Hjerling said. "He has a wealth of knowledge and experience to pass on to our upper weights." Linane was the 17th wrestler in school history to become a member of The Citadel Wrestling Wall of Fame. Among his accomplishments as a Bulldog were 92 career wins, a four-time Southern Conference tournament finalist, two-time conference champion, and two-time NCAA qualifier. "I am very excited to come back to the wrestling program as a coach. I look forward to giving back to the program that I wrestled for. We have some very good talent in the upper weights and I look forward to helping get to a higher level," stated Linane. The Citadel wrestling will be back in action for the 2008 season on Friday, Nov. 7 when they host Belmont Abbey at McAlister Field House at 7 p.m. For more information on Bulldog Wrestling, go to the official website of The Citadel Athletics, www.Citadelsports.com.

Fans of Wisconsin wrestling will have a number of opportunities to watch the Badgers during the 2008-09 season. The Big Ten Network released its TV schedule for the upcoming season and Wisconsin's season-ending dual against Ohio State will air live on the Big Ten Network. The match, which was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., has now been moved to a noon start and will take place inside the UW Field House. Wisconsin could appear two more times on the BTN throughout the season. If the Badgers make it to the semifinals and the finals of the Midlands Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 30, they will air live on the Big Ten Network. The classic begins Dec. 29 in Evanston, Ill., but the Big Ten Network will just carry the semifinals and finals beginning at 7 p.m. The Big Ten Network will also provide coverage of the 2009 Big Ten Championships, beginning on Sunday, March 8. The championships begin Saturday, March 7, in University Park, Pa., and the network will be there Sunday to showcase the second day. Times for coverage of the 2009 Big Ten Championships are still TBA. Badger fans can get their first look at the 2008-09 team by coming out to the UW Field House Saturday, Nov. 1, for the annual intra-squad scrimmage. The scrimmage begins at 5:30 p.m. but before that, high school coaches from the area are encouraged to come out for a free coaches clinic, beginning at noon. Wisconsin's first home match of the season will take place much earlier than last year and will be in a different venue than usual. Mark your calendars for Friday, Nov. 21 when Iowa State comes to town for a 7 p.m. bout on the main floor of the Kohl Center. Be sure to check back to UWBadgers.com regularly for updates on the Badger wrestling team. 2008-2009 BIG TEN NETWORK WRESTLING SCHEDULE Saturday, December 6 8:00pm Iowa State at Iowa (Same Day Delay - 10:30pm) Tuesday, December 30 7:00pm Midlands Classic: Semifinals/Finals (LIVE) Friday, January 23 7:00pm Penn State at Indiana (LIVE) Sunday, January 25 6:00pm Illinois at Iowa (LIVE) Friday, January 30 7:00pm Illinois at Purdue (LIVE) Friday, February 6 8:00pm Northwestern at Illinois (Same Day Delay - 10:30pm) Sunday, February 8 1:00pm Michigan at Michigan State (Same Day Delay - 8pm) Friday, February 13 7:00pm Ohio State at Michigan (Same Day Delay - 10:30pm) Sunday, February 15 3:00pm Minnesota at Iowa – (Same Day Delay – 8pm) Sunday, February 22 1:00pm Ohio State at Wisconsin – (LIVE) Sunday, March 8 TBA Big Ten Championships (TBA)

The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has collaborated with Fresh Health Innovations LLC and The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to produce a 23-minute web-based seminar, Preventing Skin Infections, for athletes, coaches and parents. The seminar includes an additional seven-minute "stand alone" component addressing the unique skin infection challenges in wrestling. The focus of the seminar is on the identification, prevention, and treatment of skin infections in sports. The seminar is free to everyone in the sports community and can be viewed at www.nwcaskinprevention.com. Preventing Skin Infections is also available on DVD for classroom viewing for a modest cost to cover duplication and shipping/handling. The seven-minute wrestling "stand-alone" component features wrestling legend Dan Gable and NCAA Champion and current Ohio State assistant coach Joe Heskett. One of the primary architects of the webinar, Dr. Dave Joyner, is a former All American wrestler and football player at Penn State University and has a long history of service to the US Olympic Committee. Dave Joyner said, "I am extremely gratified that this project is now being launched. Countless athletes in all sports will benefit from what they learn in this video." "With the emergence of widespread outbreaks of herpes and the potentially deadly antibiotic resistant strains of staph infection in sport specific populations, the prevention and treatment of skin infections has become as important as technical and tactical aspects of training. This video will help coaches and athletes recognize early signs and symptoms of skin infection so transmission to other athletes can be kept to a minimum," said NWCA President Jim Beichner. Mike Moyer, the Executive Director of the NWCA added, "Common sense and due diligence are still the most effective ways to battle skin infection. However, the prevention of skin infection is often the most overlooked aspect of training. We hope that this seminar will convey the important message to coaches and athletes that preventing skin infection is a responsibility that should never be taken lightly." "We wanted to produce a web site and corresponding video that were both engaging and informative," explains Fresh Health Innovations creative director, Fred Miles. "We used extensive animation, special effects, studio and on-location shooting to create a seminar that is not only fun to watch, but has a ton of practical information." The mission of Fresh Health Innovations, LLC. is to provide information to athletes, coaches and parents about injury prevention, conditioning, nutrition and other topics relating to health and fitness. Preventing Skin Infections was made possible by a grant from a leading Pennsylvania health insurance company.

Augsburg College has been one of the most successful wrestling programs on the Division III level. Now the school will be at the center of wrestling promotion as KAUG, the student-run campus radio station, will be the host studio for Wrestling 411's twice weekly radio program beginning November 11. Wrestling 411, the brand operating under the wrestling marketing and promotions company Media Sports Production, is launching its first full season of its made for television wrestling highlights show. The made for television show, Wrestling 411, will be complimented by a timely twice weekly show airing on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the season. "We're excited about having KAUG as our studio host," said Jason Bryant, Production Manager and Writer for the Wrestling 411 television show. "KAUG offers the flexibility we desire and the ability to stream and archive our shows for a nationwide audience. We also felt Augsburg was a natural fit because the school's strong presence within the sport of wrestling. It just makes perfect sense." Tom Brands, the head coach of the defending Division I NCAA team champion Iowa Hawkeyes, will be the show's first guest on Nov. 11. Kyle Klingman will serve as the host for the radio side of Wrestling 411, with Jason Bryant adding his services as well. Each show will provide dynamic and comprehensive discussion and coverage in studio on topics crucial not only to wrestling, but wrestling coverage, rankings, results and the entire scale of wrestling from high school to the international styles. Along with guests, the Wrestling 411 radio program will feature weekly guests ranging from the nation's most respected coaches and athletes and wrestling's top minds. Information about the show will be updated frequently on the Wrestling 411 web site at www.wrestling411.tv. "The benefit of having both a radio and television medium will help enhance coverage and visibility of college wrestling. The radio program will not only inform the public, but it will also serve as a sounding board and also give updates on what fans can look forward to on the Wrestling 411 television program," said Bryant. "Our show will be a great compliment for the sport of wrestling. We're confident the product will be up to par with what the wrestling community has come to expect from Kyle and I." Klingman was the associate director of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum for the past six years. He is a featured columnist for W.I.N. Magazine and hosted "On The Mat," a weekly wrestling radio show where he interviewed some of the top names in wrestling. In 2008, Wrestling International Newsmagazine honored Klingman with its Wrestling Journalist of the Year award. Bryant spent three years as the Director of Media Relations for the National Wrestling Coaches Association. He helped InterMat garner the National Wrestling Media Association's Wrestling Web Site of the Year Award in 2006 and as a journalist. Bryant has been the recipient of Wrestling International Newsmagazine's Journalist of the Year as well as Amateur Wrestling News' Bob Dellinger Award for Wrestling Writer of the Year.

IOWA CITY, IA -- Two-time World Champion and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Terry Brands returns to the University of Iowa wrestling program to serve as an assistant coach. His twin brother, Tom, is the head coach of the Hawkeyes. "I am thrilled that my brother is joining our staff," said Tom Brands. "His work ethic, intensity and coaching experience will give our entire staff a boost." Brands joins the Hawkeye staff after a three-year stint (2005-08) as USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Resident Coach in Colorado Springs, CO. During his tenure, Brands worked with 2008 U.S. Olympic freestyle gold medalist Henry Cejudo and 2006 World champion Bill Zadick. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006. Terry and Tom, who was inducted in 2001, were the first set of twins to earn hall of fame spots. "We are delighted to have Terry Brands as our assistant wrestling coach," said Associate Director of Athletics Fred Mims. "He brings a wealth of experience in working with elite athletes which will benefit our program tremendously". Brands was a two-time NCAA champion, three-time all-American and three-time Big Ten champion for the Hawkeyes (1989-92) at 126 pounds. He ended his career at Iowa with a 137-7 record. He still ranks fourth in season wins (43 - 1990-91) and career record, fifth in career wins (137), sixth in career pins (48) and ninth in season pins (18 - 1990-91). He is one of 18 Hawkeyes to post an undefeated season record, going 35-0 in 1991-92. His collegiate coaching experience includes three years as head coach at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (2002-05), and as an assistant coach at Montana State-Northern (2001-02), the University of Nebraska (2000-01) and the University of Iowa (1992-2000). At Chattanooga, Brands led the Mocs to the 2005 Southern Conference title, while crowning three conference champions and two all-Americans. Brands was one of the nation's greatest freestyle wrestlers, winning World gold medals in 1993 in Toronto, Canada, and in 1995 in Atlanta, GA, at 125.5 pounds (57 kg). As a member of the 1993 and 1995 U.S. World Teams, he was on the only two U.S. teams to win World Team Titles in freestyle. In 1993, he won his world title with Tom, who was the World champion at 136.5 pounds (62 kg). Terry and Tom were named 1993 USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year, 1993 John Smith Freestyle Wrestler of the Year and 1993 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year. The Brands brothers became the first U.S. brothers to win a World title during the same year. Brands placed second at in the 1996 U.S. Nationals and the 1996 Olympic Team Trials, falling just short of making the U.S. Olympic Team. He qualified for the 1997 and 1999 U.S. World Teams, but did not compete due to injury. In 2000, he made a comeback and won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 127.75 pounds (58 kg). He earned a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Brands earned a bachelor of science degree in Human Development from the University of Iowa in 1992. He and his wife, Michelle, have a son, Nelson, and a daughter, Sydney.

J Robinson and the University of Minnesota wrestling coaching staff will host its annual coaches' clinic on Friday, October 24. The event begins at 1:00 p.m. at Bierman Field Athletic Complex. Registration runs from 12:30-1:00 p.m. A welcome from head coach J Robinson and a season outlook will begin the event. The day also includes a technique clinic led by former Olympican Cary Kolat, a two-time NCAA champion and four-time NCAA All-American. Mack Reiter, a three-time NCAA All-American, Big Ten individual champion and Junior Pan-American champion, will lead a session on cradles and defense to cradles later in the afternoon. The afternoon session will conclude with a live Minnesota wrestling practice. After an hour-long dinner break, Duke University professor and doctor of sports psychology, Dr. Gregory Dale, will deliver a speech on ‘A Model For Success and Teambuilding' to kick off the evening session. A second technique clinic by Cary Kolat and a social will follow. Registration is available until Oct. 21 for a cost of $100. Those registering after Oct. 21 will incur an additional $15 fee. Days Inn is offering a hotel discount for the event. For more information, contact: Mack Reiter reit0125@umn.edu 612.626.7697

DES MOINES -- Takedown Wrestling Radio (TDR) announced a new interactive feature and program designed to connect all members of the wrestling community. TDR's Wrestling Round Table is a weekly Internet radio program with a concurrent chat room feature. The premier two hour TDR Wrestling Round Table event begins Wednesday, October 15 at 7 p.m. CST. Subsequent programs will alternate between Wednesdays and Thursdays based on wrestling schedules that week and announced through normal channels. Anyone with a computer can join in discussions with top journalists from the wrestling world at takedownradio.com. Concurrent audio streaming and chat room functions allow instantaneous communication between all participants. Scott Casber, co-founder and host of TDR, serves as moderator and is joined each week by a top flight of wrestling reporters, experts, and statisticians. "We've divided the country into five regions and have selected leading authorities representing each of those regions to participate in the audio portion of the program," Casber described. "Our listeners can now become participants themselves by providing questions, perspectives, opinions, and advise in the chat room feature at Takedownradio.com. Listeners logged into the program will be able to view on their computer screen all comments being made by everyone participating," Casber concluded. Inaugural guest hosts will represent specific geographic regions and include: Jeff Breese: InterMat Chief (Pennsylvania, Region 1) Pat Costilow: Co-founder of Ohiowrestling.net (Mideast, Region 2) Andrew Hipps: Founder RevWrestling.com (Southeast, Region 3) Matt Krumrie: TheWrestlingMall.com (West, Region 4) Britt Milinsky: Well known pundit and statistician (Midwest and Northwest, Region 5) Earl Smith: Founder of D1collegewrestling.net (Mid Atlantic, Region 6) Confirmed future expert contributors include Dan Cosimi from ohiowrestling.net, long time Oklahoma State University voice J. Carl Guyman, Wisconsin wrestling pundit Koy Kosek, W.I.N. Magazines Bryan Van Kley and Mike Finn, TDR's Steve Foster among others. "For the past 11 years, the Saturday morning TDR program has been primarily interview driven. You could go down a list and basically check off every luminary in the wrestling world that's been on the show," stated Casber. "TDR's Wrestling Round Table allows us to maintain the Saturday format, benefit from the relationships we built there, and expand our coverage to include the entire wrestling community. Now, youth wrestlers in small communities who want to connect with their heroes can realize their dream. It's a brave new world, and this is our way to embrace it," completed Casber on a visionary note. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard! Each week, Every week of the year! You make the call, ask the questions and participate in your show. Takedown Wrestling Radio's NEW TDR Wrestling Round Table. Wednesday October 15, 7 p.m. CST at Takedownradio.com. Jump in to the chat room and participate. TDR is currently developing other new technology products along with synergistic partners. Details on those developments will be provided in the near future. Our thanks to our partners who make this program possible.

Clockwise from upper left: J Robinson, Jayson Ness, Mario Mason, Dustin Schlatter (Photos/The Guillotine & Tech-Fall.com) The University of Minnesota is coming off a disappointing 10th place finish at the 2008 NCAA Championships in St. Louis. The Gophers, who won the NCAA title in 2007, lost four All-Americans to graduation. There are a lot of questions that still need to be answered about the Gophers entering this season. It was media day on Wednesday for the Gopher wrestling team. Minnesota coach J Robinson addressed the media. RevWrestling.com also caught up with Gopher All-Americans Jayson Ness and Dustin Schlatter … as well as talented freshman Mario Mason. Media Day Interviews: Rev Audio: J Robinson Rev Audio: Jayson Ness Rev Audio: Dustin Schlatter Rev Audio: Mario Mason

This week we'll be in our Brute Adidas home studios. Next week we'll be live from Las Vegas with Randy and Kim Couture to cover Night of Combat 2 from the Thomas and Mack Center. We'll be joined by a lot of great guests like Gray Maynard and Jay Hieron to name a few. Lots going on in wrestling. Jackson departs USA Wrestling-Thank you to Kevin Jackson for your years of service to wrestling. All of us at TDR wish you continued success at Sunkist. Art Martori is fortunate to be able to hire such an experienced and dedicated Coach. Over the past few days we have interviewed many of wrestling's top people for the Intermatwrestle.com premium service. If you are not a member, please consider joining today. Visit Intermatwrestle.com for more information. These are one of a kind candid interviews wrestling enthusiasts will really enjoy! This week on Takedown Radio: 9:05 Connie Christiansen- Penn State Wrestling Club Historian. We continue our recognition of 100 years of wrestling at Penn State with one the Nittany Lions most fervent supporters. 9:20 Dr. Tom "Doc" Allen-Oklahoma State Cowboy team Physician. This former Varsity pole vaulter and past Dean of the OSU medical school has treated every team member for everything from poked eyes, broken noses, chipped teeth, bit tongues and everything north and south for over a decade. A treasure to the Cowboys program and to our sport. He is the calm before the storm. A bright light in our sport! 9:40 Mark Schwab- Head Coach of NIACC. What changes are in store for the fall under his leadership? Who are the new recruits. What can the fans expect? Tune in and find out. 10:05 Ron Kruck- Inside MMA on HDNet host of Kruck's Korner. Since 2003, Kruck has worked as a host, reporter and producer for Mark Cuban's national high definition network HDNet. Covering both mixed martial arts and boxing, Kruck is an integral part of the network's HDNet Fights series. He's been a feature reporter for the MLS, studio host for NHL games and host of the Broadway Boxing Series. 10:20 Tom Borrelli-Head Coach of the Chippewas of Cent. Mich. Borrelli has built a dynasty in his 17 seasons. His Chippewas have strung together nine consecutive Mid-American Conference titles and six consecutive MAC Championships crowns. His incoming recruiting class is ranked 3rd nationally. 10:40 Jason Valek-Head Coach of D II Powerhouse. Martin Fleming, editor of The Takedown Report, has recognized Newberry College in all divisions as the top team in the Carolinas. Martin should know he covers the Carolinas like a blanket. Tune in and find out why. I can feel it, smell it! It's in the air. Get your tickets to the greatest show on earth. College Wrestling is around the corner! Miss a show? No worries, you can get Takedown Radio at Takedownradio.com from our archives section or via Pod Cast all at no charge thanks to our sponsors.

The annual wrestling dual between Minnesota and Iowa will air live on the Big Ten Network, the network announced this week. The Gophers and Hawkeyes will meet on Sun., Feb. 15 at 2:00 p.m. in Iowa City. The program also finalized start times for three other road dual meets. The program's Jan. 30 dual at Penn State will begin at 7:00 p.m. (CT). A Feb. 13 meet at Wisconsin is also slated for a 7:00 start, as is the Gophers' Feb. 20 dual at Iowa State.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Vic Marcucci and Jason McCloud. Vic Marcucci was an NCAA champion and three-time all-american at Iowa State University in the mid 1960s. Wrestling at 167 pounds, he placed third, then dropped to 160 and took second and first in consecutive NCAA tournaments. Originally from the Chicago area, Marcucci has been a resident of Waterloo, Iowa for the last two decades. Jason McCloud is the head wrestling coach at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, IA. Iowa Lakes, along with NIACC in Mason City, is the second junior college program in Iowa to start or restart a wrestling program in the last two years. McCloud previously coached eight successful seasons at Jamestown College in South Dakota, an NAIA school. McCloud was a two-time state runner up for Simley High School in Minnesota and was a four year starter at Arizona State University in the 1990s. "On the Mat" can be hard live on the internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa this Thursday from 5:00 - 6:00 PM Central time on 1650, The Fan. The show is normally on each Wednesday at the above time. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

PITTSBURGH -- The University of Pittsburgh's head wrestling coach Rande Stottlemyer has announced the 2008-09 Panthers schedule. Seven matches are slated to take place in Fitzgerald Field House, highlighted by visits from Big Ten foes Northwestern and Illinois. The Panthers will meet four teams that placed in the top-25 at last year's NCAA Championships, including Central Michigan (seventh), Northwestern (13th), Illinois (14th) and Edinboro (21st). Pitt opens the season in East Lansing, Mich., at the Michigan State Open, Sunday, Nov. 9. In their two dual matches during the month of November, the Panthers host Lehigh (Nov. 15) and Bloomsburg (Nov. 19). Pitt finishes the month on the road at the Keystone Classic hosted by the Penn Sunday, Nov. 23. The squad then heads west to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 5-6) before returning home to host Northwestern (Dec. 19) in their only dual match of the month. Pitt finishes the year in Evanston, Ill., at the Midlands Championships (Dec. 29-30). Pitt rotates between home and away matches during January. The Panthers host Illinois (Jan. 10) before hitting the road for an Eastern Wrestling League matchup with Lock Haven (Jan. 15). Three days later, Pitt hosts Mid-American Conference power Central Michigan (Jan. 18). Pitt will head east to Philadelphia for the second time during the 2008-09 season for a dual against Penn (Jan. 25) before hosting conference rival Cleveland State (Jan. 28). On the last day of the month, the Panthers will head to Kent State to battle the Golden Flashes (Jan. 31). February features just three dual matches, but all will be against EWL rivals. Pitt hosts border rival West Virginia (Feb. 7) in the final home match of the season at Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers finish the regular-season on the road at Clarion (Feb. 13) and Edinboro (Feb. 20). Postseason action gets underway March 7 with the EWL Championships hosted by Lock Haven. Following the EWL Championships, the NCAA Championships return to St. Louis, Mo., for the second consecutive year.

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma vice president for intercollegiate athletics programs and director of athletics Joe Castiglione and head coach Jack Spates announced the 2008-09 wrestling schedule Thursday. The annual Red/White scrimmage will be held Oct. 29, at the University of Central Oklahoma before official competition opens when OU travels to Brockport, N.Y., for the annual Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic on Nov. 8. The 19-match season includes eight home matches versus Central Oklahoma (Nov. 13), Oklahoma City (Nov. 20), Old Dominion (Nov. 23), Oklahoma State (Dec. 7), Maryland (Jan. 16), North Carolina State (Jan. 30), Missouri (Feb. 6) and Nebraska (Feb. 8). In addition to traveling to the Brockport Classic, Oklahoma participates in the Big 12/Pac-10 Challenge on Dec. 13, in San Luis Obispo, Calif., where it faces Cal-Bakersfield, Cal-Fullerton and Cal Poly. The Lonestar Duals in Arlington, Texas, matches the Sooners against North Carolina, Stanford and Appalachian State on Jan. 3. Other road contests feature Oklahoma at Chattanooga (Jan. 11), Arizona State (Jan. 18), Iowa State (Jan. 23), Michigan State (Feb. 15) and Oklahoma State (Feb. 22). Eight teams the Sooners are pitted against this season finished in the top 25 at last year's NCAA Championships (Nebraska, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Stanford, Maryland and North Carolina State). "As always, this is an extremely competitive schedule," Spates said. "Last year we had the 12th most competitive schedule in the nation and we have significantly upgraded it this year. We think that this kind of battling will harden our guys for the end run and will result in a strong NCAA performance." The Sooners will begin postseason competition at the Big 12 Championships March 7, in Lincoln, Neb. The NCAA Championships will make a return trip to St. Louis, Mo., and are slated for March 19-21.