InterMat Staff

Ben Honis reached the U.S. Open finals in 2019 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) The Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC) has announced the addition of Ben Honis to its freestyle program. A 2019 All-American and First-Team All-Ivy selection, Ben competed with Cornell for four seasons in both the heavyweight and 197-pound classes. He earned All-American status in gritty fashion when he was upset in his first match at the NCAA tournament, but rebounded to win four straight matches to finish in eighth place. Ben also has impressive freestyle credentials having finished as the 97-kilogram runner-up at the 2019 Marine Corps US Open, which earned him a spot in the World Team Trials. After finishing his collegiate wrestling career, Ben joined Syracuse's football team where he played in nine games for the Orangemen. "Ben Honis has made the US Open finals at 97 kilograms in a convincing manner and his freestyle skills are extremely impressive. More importantly, after spending time with Ben and getting to know him personally, it is immediately clear that he is a man of substance and character. Ben is an ideal fit for our PRTC culture, and we are blessed to have him on board," said Brandon Slay, executive director and head coach of the PRTC. Added Ben, "I am thrilled to be a part of the storm that's coming out of the PRTC. After taking a visit and meeting with Coach Slay and the current athletes, I noticed a unique dynamic and felt an immediate connection. At the PRTC, I will have the opportunity to develop my wrestling while also serving those in the community. I will be surrounded by great leaders who will encourage me in my faith journey. I look forward to resuming my training at the PRTC very soon!" At the PRTC, our mission is to enrich lives locally and globally through the sport of wrestling, and we do this by living out our core values of Faith over fear, Full effort, Struggle well, and Serve others.

Larry Nelson Wisconsin high school state champ. Big Ten titlewinner for the University of Michigan. Founding coach of the successful Vacaville High wrestling program for a third of century. Inductee into a half-dozen Halls of Fame. All these accomplishments describe Larry Nelson, legendary high school wrestling coach at Vacaville, who passed away at home Friday morning, April 17, of natural causes at age 90. A major force in California wrestling, Lawrence Nelson was born in Wisconsin, where he won the 125-pound state title for Milwaukee South High School in 1947. He then headed to University of Michigan, wrestling for long-time head coach Cliff Keen as a two-year starter. During the 1949-50 season, Nelson wrestled at 128 pounds, compiling an 8-3 record. The following year, Nelson tallied a perfect 12-0 record, earning the 1951 Big Ten title at 123 pounds. It was as a high school coach in California where Nelson really made a name for himself. In 1961, Nelson launched the wrestling program at Vacaville, located between the San Francisco Bay area and Sacramento. Here's how Joe Davidson, sportswriter for the Sacramento Bee, described the incredible growth of the program under Nelson's leadership: "Nelsom's first Vacaville team in 1961 included one athlete. By the time Nelson was done as the Bulldogs head coach in 1994, the roster filled a school bus." Over 35 seasons as head coach, Nelson's teams compiled a 533-73 dual-meet record, second-highest in state history. With Nelson at the helm, the Bulldogs won six Sac-Joaquin Section, 15 SJS Divisional and 26 league championships. After 1994, Nelson continued his coaching career at Vacaville, working as an assistant to the Bulldogs wrestling program up until he was 86 years old. Nelson once said, "This is what I do. I coach." Actually, Nelson was more than a coach. He recorded sports events at Vacaville as a photographer/videographer, and taught English classes. In multiple interviews with students and instructors, more than one person mentioned that John Irving's classic wrestling novel "The World According to Garp" was Nelson's favorite book to teach. Larry Nelson was a multi-dimensional individual with a singular focus on giving his best in all endeavors. "He was just an iconic guy, very quiet, singled-minded," former football coach and Nelson assistant Fred Jones told the Daily Republic. "He started a great wrestling program, he developed the program. Larry brought a toughness to a whole generation of kids, his style of wrestling, what he believed in, the discipline of it all. His wrestlers all loved him. They worked extra hard for him."

Iowa's Michael Kemerer was ranked No. 2 prior to the NCAAs (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) Michael Kemerer has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. The University of Iowa 174-pounder announced the news on social media Sunday night. He included the hashtag #GrandpaMike. The NCAA granted another year of eligibility for Kemerer after he had missed out on the entire 2018-19 season because of shoulder and knee injuries. Kemerer returned to action this past season, compiling a 15-1 record in 2019-20. The one lone loss was at the 2020 Big Ten Championships at Rutgers University in New Jersey, falling to Penn State's Mark Hall, 8-5, in the finals. Kemerer had been announced as the No. 2 seed for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships until the Nationals were canceled because of the coronavirus COVID-19. Kemerer's return for the 2020-21 season means Iowa will have nine of its starters from last season.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. -- Delaware Valley University Director of Athletics David Duda announced on Monday that, after a national search, Andrew Taylor has been named the full-time head men's wrestling coach. Taylor comes to DelVal by way of Division III affiliate Baldwin Wallace University where he served as assistant coach for his alma mater for six seasons under head coach Jamie Gibbs. "We are thrilled to have Andrew take the reins of our storied wrestling program. Andrew comes from a great stock, working with Coach Gibbs and a wonderful staff at national D-III powerhouse Baldwin Wallace," said Duda. "Andrew had his fingerprints on the growth and development of the program at Baldwin Wallace and we look for him to position Delaware Valley atop the conference, regional, and national ranks." Andrew TaylorSince joining the Yellow Jackets staff, the squad has compiled a 104-23 record over the last five seasons and captured four-straight Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) titles, two Central Regional championships, and two regional runner-up finishes while being nationally ranked each year. Over the five-year span, Baldwin Wallace had 38 individual national qualifiers, including a Division-III best nine individual qualifiers in 2018, and six All-Americans. This season, BW was ranked number six in the country heading into the 2020 Division III National Championships. Taylor played a key role in the Yellow Jackets' success off the mat and in the classroom as well. His team finished with the second-highest team GPA in all of Division-III last season, and this year they ranked 10th overall with a 3.55 team GPA. As a Division-III student-athlete, Taylor compiled a 92-70 career record with three 20-plus win seasons, including one trip to the national championships and a nod to the NWCA Scholar All-American team. "First and foremost, I want to thank Director of Athletics Dave Duda and Delaware Valley for their time and effort during this search. I am elated to have been the candidate chosen to lead this historic program," Taylor commented. "There is a tremendous sense of commitment to the success of the wrestling program as a whole, including the women's team, and I am excited to collaborate with Coach Leigh Jaynes. I am looking forward to building on the success of this storied program." Taylor becomes the 10th head coach in DelVal wrestling history and takes over a squad that had one national qualifier last year in senior Kordell Rush. The storied Aggie wrestling program has captured 15 Middle Atlantic Conference Championships, seven regional team championships, and one national runner-up title, with 11 individual National Champions, 83 All-Americans, and 31 Academic All-Americans.

Four-time state champion Jesse Vasquez is ranked No. 9 among all seniors (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Jesse Vasquez (Excelsior Charter, Calif.), the No. 9 overall wrestler in the Class of 2020, made his decision to attend Arizona State this weekend. Vasquez wrote the following when announcing his commitment on Instagram Saturday night: Enough time has passed, and I have finally made a decision that you all have been waiting patiently for! I am proud to announce that I will be officially continuing my academic and athletic career at ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY!!! I am looking forward to becoming a part of the Sun Devils, one of the best college wrestling teams on the West Coast. I truly believe that Coach Zeke Jones wrestling program will align with the goals that I have in the college wrestling world, as well as academic and professional. I am humble to be staying in the West Coast, representing the side of the country I love the most, and the people that have supported me throughout my high school wrestling career. I want to give a huge shoutout to my family, all of the coaches, friends, and most importantly the Lord, for bringing me to this point in my life! Just under two months ago, Vasquez became just the fourth wrestler to win four state titles in the single-class California state wrestling tournament. He also ended the 2019-20 season ranked second nationally at 145 pounds. He projects as a 149/157-pounder in college.

Shae Bloom, 184-pound redshirt sophomore wrestler for Clarion University, passed away on Thursday, April 16, the Pennsylvania-based school announced Friday. He was 22 years old. Members of the Clarion wrestling team were informed of Bloom's death on the evening of April 16. Counseling services have been made available to students, faculty and staff. "The Clarion University family is deeply saddened to learn of the death of junior Shae Bloom," said Clarion President Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson. "The coaches, faculty, staff and students are supporting one another during this sad time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time." "Shae was a talented and hard-working young man who embodied the exceptional spirit of being a student-athlete at Clarion," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Wendy Snodgrass. "This is a heartbreaking loss for our community. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, teammates, coaches and fellow student-athletes." Shae BloomKeith Ferraro, head wrestling coach of the Golden Eagles, described Shae Bloom as "absolutely one of the toughest kids I've ever had the privilege to coach. He set an example for all of his teammates by being ready to stand up to any challenge that came his way. Shae was a part of our family and we are devastated by his loss." At time of his death, Bloom, a junior business major, was a redshirt sophomore for the Clarion Golden Eagles, having just finished his second year with the wrestling program. In 2018-19, he recorded a 15-6 overall record and a 2-1 record in dual matches before suffering a season-ending injury midway through the year. This past season, still struggling with the previous year's injury, Bloom was 0-3. Prior to enrolling at Clarion, Shae Bloom compiled a combined 140-21 record at Curwensville High and DuBois High Schools. He was a four-time PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) state championships qualifier, placing fifth in his junior and senior years. He was also a four-time district champion and two-time regional champion. Information regarding memorial services are not available at this time.

Michael McGee wrestling UNI's Jay Schwarm at the 2019 NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Two weeks after Old Dominion discontinued its wrestling program, two of the program's top lightweights announced where they will be finishing their college careers. Michael McGee announced his plans to transfer to Arizona State, while Killian Cardinale announced his plans to wrestle at West Virginia. McGee won MAC titles in each of his first two seasons to qualify for the NCAAs at 125 pounds before redshirting this past season. He reached the round of 12 as a sophomore, finishing the season with a 31-6 record. In 2019-20, McGee compiled a perfect 11-0 record as a redshirt, claiming titles at the National Collegiate Open and the Appalachian State Open competing at 133 pounds. Old Dominion wrestlers are eligible to immediately transfer to another school. They also have the option of holding on to their scholarships through the end of their fourth academic year if they remain at ODU.

Mark Perry coaching Forrest Molinari (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State wrestling added another impressive hire to its coaching staff on Friday, with head coach Zeke Jones announcing the addition of four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion Mark Perry. "We just hit another home run coaching hire with Mark Perry," Coach Jones said. "He comes with a tremendous amount of elite coaching experience as an associate head coach at the college level. He's a natural-born leader, with a rich family wrestling tradition and just adds another head coach to our room. Not only has he won national championships, but he's also coached at the world and Olympic level and will be a great addition to our staff." Most recently, Perry has spent his time as a head coach at the Hawkeye Wrestling Club developing post-graduate wrestlers for national and international competition, training most notably 2017 World Silver medalist Thomas Gilman. He returned to Iowa City in 2017, where he has spent the last three seasons before taking the position with the Sun Devils. The hire comes just over a week after ASU named Frank Molinaro as an assistant coach last Thursday. The Barnegat, N.J. native and Perry know each other far too well, as Perry coached Molinaro at Penn State in his freshman season in 2008-09. "I was basically in charge of the freshman and I was lucky they had two amazing freshman at the time in Frank Molinaro and Quentin Wright," Coach Perry stated. "Those were the two guys that I had the chance to coach and they went on to do amazing things throughout their career." "Franky is a lot like the whole staff there that Zeke has put together," Perry said. "A lot of high energy guys. When I first met Franky, we hit it off very well in a lot of ways - personality, energy, and enthusiasm. I can't tell you how excited I am that he is out there. We have kept our relationship for almost 12 years since I have coached him. We have always had a great relationship and we will continue to have a great relationship. Arizona State is lucky to have Frank on board." Perry ended his collegiate wrestling career at Iowa as a two-time NCAA champion after winning back-to-back titles at 165 pounds in 2007 and 2008. He was a four-time All-American from 2005-08 while capturing a Big Ten championship in 2007. The Stillwater, Okla. native became Iowa's 14th two-time national champion and 17th four-time All-American, helping lead the Hawkeyes to their 21st NCAA team title in 2008. Perry made his longest tenure as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois under former Hawkeye Jim Heffernan for six seasons from 2011-2017. Perry showed his ability to recruit the state of California in his time at Illinois, landing two-time NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez and Justin Mejia, Illinois top recruit in 2017. Before coaching for the Fighting Illini, he spent two seasons at Cal Poly as an assistant in 2009-10 and later being promoted associate head coach the next season. His California recruiting success began in San Luis Obispo, where he recruited two-time national champion, Jesse Delgado, who would later follow Perry to Illinois. He made the immediate jump to coaching at the college level following his senior season at Iowa with a brief stint in College Station, PA with Penn State in 2008-09. He was in charge of the freshman class in that lone season, helping develop Quentin Wright and Molinaro into All-Americans in their first seasons. Perry graduated with a B.A. in Art from the University of Iowa in 2008. Before entering the college ranks, he was a two-time high school national champion at one of the most successful high school wrestling programs in Blair Academy, where he ended with a career record of 169-7 and was selected as a three-time Asics All-American. He will serve as the voluntary assistant coach in Tempe while also taking over as the head coach for Sunkist Wrestling Club. The Sun Devils return four top-10 seeded wrestlers from last season's canceled championships and the second-ranked recruiting class from 2019. "I'm super excited to join Zeke's (Jones) staff," Perry said. "I have followed Zeke's career since he was an assistant and the head coach of USA Wrestling. It has been impressive what Arizona State has done since he's taken over from the outside looking in. I had the opportunity to talk with Zeke about his vision and the staff that he was putting together. I am very excited." The hire is pending background paperwork by Human Resources.

MANHEIM, Pa. -- The National Wrestling Coaches Association has announced the 2020 Division I All-American teams. Each year the NWCA recognizes the outstanding work of the DI Student-Athletes by naming the All-Americans based on their achievements in the national championship, however, this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic the championships were canceled. All-American honors were based on each wrestler's overall body of work through the conference tournaments and up to the national championships. First Team All-Americans Second Team All-Americans Honorable Mention All-Americans "During difficult times there are always people who rise to the occasion and I'm proud of the action that the NWCA Division I Leadership Group in providing direction for honoring the 2020 Division I All-American team. It's important that these athletes' efforts and successes during the season are recognized. Congratulations to each of this year's honorees and National Qualifiers." -- Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director ABOUT THE NWCA The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, Student-Athlete Welfare, and the Promotion of Wrestling.

David McFadden was a three-time All-American for Virginia Tech (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) The Pennsylvania Regional Training Center (PRTC) has announced the addition of three-time All-American David McFadden to its freestyle program. David joins Joey McKenna and Ethan Lizak as new PRTC athletes over the last year. David, who wrestled for Virginia Tech, was vying to become the program's first four-time All-American this year, but the season was cut short when the 2020 NCAA Wrestling Championships were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. A native of New Jersey and a two-time state high school champion, David's NCAA finishes include sixth in 2016, fifth in 2018, and sixth in 2019. He is also a two-time ACC champion and three-time finalist. He has a career college record of 122-25. On the freestyle circuit, David was a 2018 U23 World Team Member at 79 kilograms. "We are very excited to add David McFadden to our PRTC family. David embodies all of our organization's core values and will fit extremely well into our Philadelphia wrestling ecosystem. I have watched him compete with grit for many years, and it's an honor to have him aboard. We look forward to being part of his future growth as a leader on and off the mat," said Brandon Slay, executive director and head coach of the PRTC. David added, "After analyzing other RTC opportunities, the PRTC was clearly different, and I'm thrilled to be joining the PRTC family. They deeply want to win, but they also value character, serving others, and making lives better through wrestling, which is very important to me. I couldn't be happier!" At the PRTC, our mission is to enrich lives locally and globally through the sport of wrestling, and we do this by living out our core values of Faith over fear, Full effort, Struggle well, and Serve others.

Born and raised in Iowa. Served in the U.S. Army. College-educated in Colorado then remained in the state as a high school teacher and wrestling coach. Headed back to the Midwest to teach and coach wrestling at Huron College in South Dakota. Those forty-two words encapsulate some of the high points of the 90-year life and career of Vernon A. Tate, who spent nearly a half-century of his life as a wrestling coach at both the high school and collegiate level. Vern Tate passed away at age 90 in his home in Huron, S.D. on April 9, 2020. Vernon Aubrey Tate was born on December 11, 1929, in Independence, Iowa. He grew up at Waterloo, Iowa and graduated from West Waterloo High School in 1948. After graduation in 1948, Tate enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1950. Eager to get a college education, Tate enrolled at Western State at Gunnison, Colo., graduating with a Bachelor's degree in 1954. He stayed in-state to earn his Masters' at Adams State at Alamosa, Colo. In subsequent years, Tate received additional education from Colorado State College, Ball State University in Indiana, and South Dakota State University. Tate launched his high school teaching and coaching career at Ordway, Colo ... then remained in state to continue as a history teacher and wrestling and football coach in Holly and Alamosa, Colorado. In 1967, Tate moved to South Dakota after being hired by Huron College's then athletic director, Gil Peterson, hired him as head wrestling coach. For 31 years, Vern taught physical education and history. He was chairman of the history department for many years. He also served as athletic director, was assistant football coach and head wrestling coach. Vern Tate guided Huron to a national runner-up finish in 1980In his three decades at Huron College, Vern Tate built a successful wrestling program year after year. Among his accomplishments: 12 SDIC (South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference) team titles, seven national Top 20 finishes, three individual NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) national champions, and 31 All-American honorees. What's more, Tate was voted Wrestling Coach of the Year for District 12 (1971, '73, '75); South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year (1980-1986); South Dakota Sportswriters Coach of the Year (1973), and NAIA Wrestling Coach of the Year (1973 and 1980). He was inducted into the National (NAIA) Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999, the S.D.I.C. Hall of Fame in 1991 and into the Huron College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. He received recognition for his 100th dual win in 1977, and for the 200th dual win in 1991. Vern was also voted Huron University Teacher of the Year (1990, 1993, 1994). Arguably just as important as these impressive statistics and honors, his obituary stated, "Vern Tate was passionate about the career he had chosen and it was evident because of the lifelong friendships and admiration he acquired from his students, athletes, coaches and colleagues. Many of his student athletes would have taken a wrong path in life without the guidance of Coach Tate." Echoing those sentiments were comments made to InterMat from two of Vern Tate's wrestlers. "Coach Tate was a father figure to so many athletes up in Huron," said Merrick Wills who wrestled at the South Dakota college in the mid-1980s. "Don't really know how to describe in words how he brought out the best in all of us. I do know, he somehow made everyone click in the work out room, and that carried over to our showings at the national tournament the years I was there from 1983-1985. He really was a great mentor to so many of us that lacked something when we got there, but by the time we left he had us standing on the podium receiving All-American or National Championship Honors." Jim Morkel and Vern Tate in Scottsdale (Ariz.) in 2017"Vern as all great coaches touch their athletes beyond just their sport but also as mentors in life," Jim Morkel told InterMat. "I was fortunate to have been a Waterloo, Iowa boy raised to wrestle, I guess. My high school coach was Bob Siddens at Waterloo West High. Definitely been lucky with the men that influenced me." "He was a heck of a man and coach. Pretty amazing in what he did at little Huron College." A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials to honor Vernon Tate may be sent to the Beadle County Humane Society or Huron Regional Medical Center Hospice.

With more than 22 million people unemployed in the United States, skyrocketing personal debt, and little hope for immediate relief, the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been immediate and severe. This week the sporting world has started to come to grips with the reality that the economic losses of this pandemic will dramatically impact their community for the next 12-18 months, including a restriction of fans, elimination of seasons, and a general lack of funds. Nowhere are nerves more frayed than with non-revenue sports like wrestling, where funding is tight and the lack of institutional support is commonplace. In a move that may end up being evidence of a coming cull, this week the Group of 5 schools requested a four-year forgiveness from the NCAA on their general enrollment standards, including the minimum number of programs. The G5 schools include Fresno State, Wyoming, and Air Force in the Mountain West; Kent State, Buffalo, Ohio, and Central Michigan in the MAC; Navy in the AAC; and already-dropped Old Dominion in Conference USA. If passed by the NCAA each of these schools (save Navy) will be directly in the line of fire by athletic departments with mandates to curtail costs. The state of college athletics is trending poorly for the wrestling community, but what ideas are out there that can work on the institutional level and which ideas are out there that could preserve wrestling programs specifically? The No. 1 way to ensure that athletic departments remain intact is rational thinking about what things actually cost, where money is being saved, and to be reminded that with the development of a vaccine will come the end of the pandemic. The cost of a scholarship is the "free-market" value as determined by that school's administration. If out-of-state is $63,000 then the athletic department (at big schools) are meant to send a check for $63,000 to the school for the athlete. The real cost is of course much less since the only hard costs are room and board. What if those requirements were reduced or eliminated altogether? For example, the schools could ask for only the in-state amount of tuition from the athletic department or give one-year from paying. If in-state is $25K then a wrestling program could be off-the-hook for $400K. The university at-large is able to absorb these losses of revenue more easily since they have much larger operational budgets and are able to charge for online courses in the fall. The cost savings should go into providing tuition remissions, which is relatively simple to engineer and would provide incredible relief for programs who can then use that money to pay the other costs that aren't transferable or able to be eliminated, like salaries. The second quick fix is for schools to up the pull from their respective endowments from ~5% to 8%. The school draws 5% in years that it makes 10%, so it stands to reason that increasing the pull can in the short term be seen as a loan for the future. Surviving is the object of the game, not thriving. The third quick fix is the reduction of ancillary benefits for athletes, like study programs, specialized meal plans, equipment purchases, et. al. These are likely already happening alongside staff-wide reductions in salary, but it's worth a look especially for benefits provided to the major sports. The next set of options might not be as popular, but they could have a positive effect on the sport, namely reducing the number of scholarships in wrestling from 9.9 to 7.9. That cost savings would show good faith, minimize risk in a financially healthy environment, and would encourage more schools to adopt wrestling programs as they could become more competitive. Again the object is survival. However, the quickest and easiest solution to the funding problem in college athletics is to eliminate 15-20 scholarships from the football team. As with the above wrestling example, it would lighten the load for each school, create a more competitive landscape in their sport, and lessen the impact of a massive economic incident such as COVID-19. There is no real math behind 85 full scholarships on a football team, so why continue with the unsubstantiated inflated numbers? If you all have the same number of scholarships then nothing has really changed. This is a money problem, but it's exposing the larger cultural problem that college athletics has become about making money. There is so much more value in the experience including academic opportunities for those of a lower SES, introduction to classmates with vastly different personal experiences, expert-level insight into, well, being an expert. All these things (and more) have real value in a college community. If the system can't adapt from a one-year economic event, then was it ever really a system that was working for everyone? Or was this always just about sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcast revenue? I hope that the leaders of our sports institutions can see that there is something more to protect, and real actionable ways to achieve them before simply dropping sports. To your questions … Thomas Gilman topped Cuba's Reineri Andreu Ortega at the Pan Am Olympic Qualifier (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: What are your thoughts on Thomas Gilman's move to the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club? He downplayed the Spencer Lee angle, but how much do you think Lee factored into his decision? -- Mike C. Foley: While you have to take Gilman at his word, there is no way to divorce Spencer Lee from the decision to move. One spot, one club, one alumni base, and two athletes. I think that if Spencer Lee never shows up then Gilman stays, but I don't think it means his decision was based on avoiding Lee as much as it was giving himself clarity of mind and focus on his purpose. When you consider that the outcome of their match is uncertain (at least to me) then you also must realize it was a necessary for Gilman to have full and complete trust in the intentions of his coaches. I don't think for a moment that Brands + Co. would want anything but the best for Gilman, but even in steady seas an athlete can question the motives of a teammate or coach. In turbulent times that would likely be compounded. I wouldn't look at the situation as Gilman "running away." We should all be able to agree that he's not the type to be intimidated. He just needed a better environment and that the move for personal and professional reasons makes a lot of sense. Also, be reminded that the NLWC has arguably the best wrestling club outside of Dagestan with an abundance of Olympic and world medalists in the room. I'm a fan of both wrestlers and am glad that we can now have a less-awkward situation around their training and instead just watch a good ol' fashioned scrap. Q: If there is no NCAA football season, or if it's postponed, do you think that could cripple college wrestling? I would imagine most athletic departments will be really hurting and wrestling could be one of the first programs to go. -- Mike C. Foley: After an unprecedented stay-at-home effort, trillions of dollars spent in economic assistance, and more than 30,000 deaths in just eight weeks the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a costly and deadly setback for the world. There is an immense amount of grief, anger, frustration, and boredom. The world wants a distraction. I want a distraction. We all want something to discuss beside Tiger King, and something to do outside of video conference. Sports can fill that void, but we have to think about the cost. Until there is a vaccine no fans will be attending sporting events. There just isn't a way to guarantee they don't create a massive "biological bomb" like was seen in Italy after a Series A match. Packing 105,000 fans into the Big House would lead to a risk profile that is absolutely intolerable for a civilized nation to justify. There is a small chance that with incredible oversight, rigorous testing, and other controls that some sports would be allowed to be played without the presence of fans. Tennis and golf are quick to come to mind as examples of sports that would be first to return due to the natural social distancing. However, contact sports like football and wrestling will be far, far down the list of sports that can be reopened. In short, there will be no NCAA football season in 2020 and I'm doubtful there will be a wrestling season. Now, what will that mean for schools and their athletic funding? As I mentioned before there needs to be a wider discussion over the role of sport, who should take a haircut right now, and why. Without massive interventions by the NCAA to restrict the elimination of programs there will be a 10% reduction in the number of Division I wrestling programs in the next two years. This is a black swan event for which no athletic department was prepared to encounter and for which few have voiced or proposed logical solutions. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Gilman on his move Rivalry: Taha vs. Geno Women's wrestling highlight from Nur-Sultan World Championships Q: Did you see the back-and-forth between Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake? If so, did you think it was authentic? Or manufactured? -- Mike C. Foley: By nature, trash-talk is the choice to use uncommon language and conversational style to create discussion around your idea. The language can be inflammatory, controversial, or even just impolite in its directness. Burroughs has done this in the past with Ben Askren (who hosted the show) and has a knack for exploiting his opponent's sensitivities. Dake, on the other hand, wears trash-talking as well as I wear polka dots. It was awkward. I think that the jawing was mostly good-natured and might prove to be the type of competitive release both needed during the quarantine. We are all trying to learn new schools, explore new hobbies, and it's nice to see that athletes are taking advantage of the dead air to create some sparks. I would note, however, that this is not a sprint. Wrestling won't be back from quite some time and if there needs to be this media-first approach, I can be supportive of some friendly jostling among competitors. Q: A.C. Slater was offered a wrestling scholarship to Iowa in the episode that aired in October of 1992. Had Slater competed for the Hawkeyes (starting in 1993-94), how do you think his career would have gone? Seems like he had a style that could have done well in college. But would he have even cracked the lineup? These are the All-Americans in Slater's first two college years. 1993-94 Lincoln McIlravy (1st, 150) Jeff McGinness (5th, 126) Mike Mena (7th, 118) Joel Sharratt (1st, 190) Daryl Weber (6th, 142) Joe Williams (7th, 158) 1994-95 Ray Brinzer (3rd, 177) Mark Ironside (6th, 134) Jeff McGinness (1st, 126) Lincoln McIlravy (2nd, 150) Mike Mena (3rd, 118) Matt Nerem (6th, 167) Joel Sharratt (2nd, 190) Daryl Weber (6th, 158) Bill Zadick (5th, 142) -- Mike C. Foley: I think Daryl Weber and Bill Zadick need to be grateful that Slater didn't bring those curls to the Midwest and distribute a hearty helping of Hollywood whipass. On a Lighter Note By Ethan S. On a lighter note, Dollamur is currently sold out of home wrestling mats. Personally, I hope many of the kids using home mats are not getting kids to come over/disregarding social distancing, but instead kicking the [crap] out of their fathers who have been offering them armchair and unsolicited advice for years. Time for payback.

Andrew Sparks gets his hand raised after winning a California state title (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Andrew Sparks capped off an outstanding senior season at Calvary Chapel High School in California by claiming a title at the CIF State Wrestling Championships. Sparks defeated Cael Valencia (St. John Bosco), one of the nation's top wrestlers, in the state finals at 160 pounds. Sparks' run to the state title solidified him as one of the nation's top 160-pounders and caught the attention of many of the nation's top college wrestling programs. On April 6, Sparks announced his commitment to the University of Minnesota. InterMat recently caught up with the Gopher commit. What has life been like for you since being in quarantine during this pandemic? Sparks: It's been tough, especially for me because I wasn't able to take any recruiting trips to help me make my decision. Has it been difficult to train? Sparks: Yes it has. I've been doing what I can in my living room with the few weights I have. What was the college recruiting process like for you? Sparks: It was great. I had a lot of interest nearing the end of the season and after the season. It became a little stressful at the end, but I enjoyed it. Ultimately, what made the University of Minnesota the right fit for you? Sparks: I felt like the athletes' and coaches' personalities and character were a good fit for me. Also, I feel I fit right in with their style of wrestling. How would you describe your wrestling style? Sparks: I have an aggressive style. I'm always attacking and looking to score. You competed at 160 pounds this past season. What weight do you expect to wrestle in college? Sparks: I would like to wrestle at either 165 pounds or 174 pounds. Another one of California's top senior wrestlers, Aaron Nagao, signed with the University of Minnesota. What's your relationship like with him and have you two discussed being teammates at Minnesota? Sparks: Since our freshman year, Aaron has always been someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for as a wrestler and a person. Aaron reached out to me during the recruiting process and we got to know each other a little bit better. Although we haven't talked much or developed a close relationship yet, I am excited to be teammates with him and get to know him better. Joshua Holiday is a former wrestler from Calvary Chapel who went on to have a successful career at the University of Minnesota. Have you gotten to know him or talked to him about Minnesota? Sparks: Actually, I haven't talked with him at all. However, it's awesome that one of the great Calvary Chapel wrestlers also wrestled at the same university I will be wrestling for. You started wrestling relatively late, between eighth grade and ninth grade. What drew you to the sport? Sparks: I played soccer before, but I wanted to wrestle because I loved wrestling my brothers as a kid. I have always been a very competitive and aggressive person who loves to do challenging things, so wrestling fits me perfectly. You won a California state championship this year by beating one of the nation's top wrestlers, Cael Valencia. He had beaten you a couple times during the season and once in freestyle. What was the difference in the state finals? Sparks: I had a little different mindset and game plan going into the finals. Instead of cautiously waiting for his attacks so I could counter-attack, I focused on my attacks, my offense and my pace. You were under the radar nationally for most of this past season. Did you feel disrespected? Did it bother you that you were being overlooked by college wrestling coaches during the recruiting process? Sparks: I was very much under the radar up until the Doc B tournament where I placed third and lost to Valencia in the semifinals. Although Coach Dane Valdez has told me from the beginning of the year that I would eventually be noticed by big-time schools, I just trusted the process and believed that I was the best 160-pounder in the country. To answer your question, I didn't feel disrespected because there was nothing I really did before my senior year to get nationally noticed by big universities. You obviously made a big jump in your wrestling from your junior year when you failed to place at the state tournament to winning a state title in your senior year. In what area of your wrestling have you improved upon the most in the last year? Sparks: I would say my biggest improvement has been my mindset going into my matches. Before, I would let the pressures of performing and other things get to my head which affected the way I wrestled. This year I was able to look at each match as another opportunity to have fun, score points, learn, and showcase my skills and the hard work I have put in the wrestling room. When you look ahead to college wrestling, in what area do you think you need to make the biggest gains? Sparks: I need to get better at breaking guys out of position, as well as finishing my shots faster and more efficiently. I also need to work on exploding off the whistle faster with better position and hand control. Have you discussed with the Minnesota coaches whether you will redshirt your first year or compete for a spot in the lineup? Sparks: Yes, I think it would be best if I redshirt and get an extra year to improve. This story also appears in the April 17 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. Subscribe to The Guillotine.

High school wrestler, then coach. Director of the Colorado High School Coaches Association. National Wrestling Hall of Fame honoree. President of the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. All of these accomplishments -- and more -- describe Arnold Torgerson Jr. The man affectionately known as "Tommy", "Coach" and "Torgy" passed away on April 6, 2020 at his home in Fort Collins, Colo. He was 88. Arnold Torgerson Jr.Torgerson's obituary sketches out his nearly nine-decade life in terms of major milestones. Born in Denver on November 20, 1931, Torgerson graduated from South Denver High School (where he was a state runner-up at the Colorado state wrestling tournament), then earned his Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics at the University of Colorado, followed by his Master's at Colorado State. Torgerson then crafted a three-decade-long career as teacher and coach, first at Delta High School from 1950 to 1957, then at Fort Collins High School from 1957 to 1987. He served as Director of the Colorado High School Coaches Association and Director of the Colorado All-State Games from 1987-2003. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003 for Lifetime Achievement, and served as President of the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. All that is the stuff of resumes. Those who knew "Torgy" shared their memories with the Fort Collins Coloradoan. "We lost an icon," friend and former wrestling pupil Dan Gonzales said about the man who was a major figure at the Colorado state wrestling tournament for decades, and still actively involved in a tournament that bears his name during the 2019-2020 season. "He lived and breathed wrestling year 'round," according to current Fort Collins High School wrestling coach Mark Moser. (Even though he couldn't swim, "Torgy" was drafted to launch a swimming program at one school ... and served as the first-ever coach for gymnastics at two other schools.) "He treated everybody so well and everybody respected him so much. He's the type of guy that once you had a connection with him it was for life," said Jim Opperman. "Just a great man. I feel lucky to have had him in my life." As per his wishes, Torgerson will be cremated. A memorial celebration of his life will be scheduled at a future date. In lieu of flowers, a future donation to a proposed Arnold Torgerson memorial scholarship fund would be appreciated. Condolences may be shared at the funeral home website.

OKWU has named Tom Carr to lead the wrestling program following his five-year tenure at Central Christian College. In April 2015, Central Christian College made the decision to add the sport of wrestling and named Tom Carr as the head wrestling coach. In the years since, Carr has laid the foundation for a program that celebrates Christ, both through the athletes' dedication on and off the mat and their dedication to the community the college serves. In the five years Carr has been at the helm for the Tigers, his wrestlers have shown consistent growth in the classroom and on the mat. During his first year as the Tigers' head coach, Carr led Devontae Fitzgerald to become the first Tiger athlete to compete at an NAIA tournament, and he has placed eight athletes at the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament since its inception. Carr has an impressive resume in the 12 years since he graduated from Muskingum. He got his start in the coaching profession at Land O'Lakes High School in Florida. There, he served as head coach of a 35-person team that had three state qualifiers, one state champion, and three AAU All-Americans. From there, he moved on to become an assistant coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa. He spent a year at Central College and then took a position as an administrative assistant with the wrestling program at Michigan State. After two years with the Spartans, Carr became a full-time assistant at NCAA Division I Bucknell University. At Bucknell, Carr guided five nationally ranked wrestlers, three All-American finishers, and six NCAA Division I qualifiers. After a three-year stint with the Bison, he was hired as an assistant coach at Minot State University, a NCAA Division II school in Minot, North Dakota, where he helped start a program from scratch. During his time with the Beavers, Carr earned a spot at the National Wrestling Coaches Association and with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Academy. In 2013, Carr joined the George Mason wrestling staff as an assistant, and coached there for four seasons. While at Mason, Carr coached Four NCAA Qualifiers and was responsible for Heavyweight Jake Kettler. George Mason hosted the NWCA All-Star Classic, won ten matches, and defeated a Big Ten program for the first time in program history. A graduate of Muskingum College, Carr is a native of Tampa, Florida. In his free time, Carr enjoys traveling and reading.

Kurt Angle after winning a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta (Photo/Photo/Michel Lipchitz, AP) Kurt Angle, two-time NCAA heavyweight champ and 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning freestyle wrestler who later became a long-time fixture in professional wrestling, was among those released by the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Wednesday, according to multiple media reports. Here's how ESPN.com opened its news story concerning layoffs: "WWE, one of the few sports organizations still operating during the coronavirus pandemic, announced Wednesday that it was furloughing a portion of its workforce and releasing on-screen talent. Among the more high-profile names let go were former world champion Kurt Angle…" Angle has been retired from in-ring competition since WrestleMania 35 one year ago. He has made sporadic appearances on WWE television programs since. Prior to launching his pro wrestling career, Kurt Steven Angle crafted a highly successful career in amateur wrestling, as a high school, college and international champion. A native of the Pittsburgh area, Angle was a three-time PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) state tournament qualifier, placing third in the state championships as a junior, and winning the state title as a senior in 1987. Angle continued his folkstyle wrestling career in-state at Clarion University, where he was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American, winning heavyweight (285-pound) titles in 1990 and 1992, placing second in 1991. After college, Angle focused on his freestyle wrestling career, winning a gold medal in the 100-kilogram (220-pound) weight class at the 1995 World Championships in Atlanta. One year later, in the same city, Angle earned gold in the same weight class at the 1996 Olympics. Angle was welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. as a Distinguished Member for his amateur wrestling accomplishments in 2001.

Jan Maynard, two-time Ohio state champion wrestler and father of amateur wrestling star and mixed martial arts star Gray Maynard, passed away on March 24 in Las Vegas. He was 74. Jan Maynard with son Gray MaynardBorn October 10, 1945, Jan Maynard made a name for himself in wrestling at Cleveland South High School in the early 1960s. He earned back-to-back Ohio high school state championships, winning the 103-pound title in 1962 ... then, claiming the 112-pound crown in 1963. That same year, Jan Maynard was co-captain of the wrestling team at Cleveland South. In October 2019, Jan Maynard was welcomed as an inaugural member of the Sports Legends of Cleveland Metropolitan School District. He was presented with a certificate reading in part, "It is my pleasure to present this Certificate of Recognition to Mr. Jan Maynard ... for outstanding achievements in Wrestling. I commend Jan Maynard on his induction into the Cleveland Metropolitan School District Hall of Fame ..." That same month on Facebook, Gray Maynard stated his pride of his father and his accomplishments: Gray Maynard accomplished much in his amateur wrestling career and as a professional MMA fighter. He grew up in Las Vegas, then transferred to national mat powerhouse St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio outside Cleveland, where he was a two-time state finalist, winning an Ohio state title in 1998 at 152 pounds. Gray Maynard then headed north to wrestle at Michigan State University, where he was a three-time NCAA All-American, tallying 106 wins. He then launched his MMA career in 2008, compiling a record of 13-7 in a decade-long career.

Cody Hughes, a three-sport athlete in high school who later served as a wrestling coach in two Florida schools, died Monday at age 32. Cause of death was not disclosed. Cody HughesHughes served as head wrestling coach at Sarasota High School, and before that, was an assistant to Andy Gugliemini at Manatee High. Gugliemini told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, "That's terrible news. I'm sad. We always had a good relationship," having been Hughes' teacher at Haile Middle School. "I hired him a few years ago when he was at Manatee. He helped get a ton of kids on the mats, many of whom are still with the program now. He did a great job." "I was sad to see him go to Sarasota." Prior to becoming a coach, Hughes played football, was on the weightlifting team and was on the track and field team for the Lakewood Ranch High School Mustangs. Hughes went on to play football at Western Kentucky University, where he spent time on the Hilltoppers' scout team before earning a spot as the starting center. After graduating from the Bowling Green, Ky. school, Hughes returned to the Sarasota area, coaching football at Saint Stephen's Episcopal, Manatee High and Sarasota High. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

The Virtual NCAA Bracket from the 1980s has been released and Chad Dennis and Jason Laflin will go weight-by-weight to talk about this virtual tournament being run via FloArena and as part of the Legends of NCAA Wrestling Facebook Group and the MatBoss Podcast. The MatBoss Podcast is also sponsored by Barbarian Apparel. About MatBoss: Created by coaches for coaches, MatBoss for iPad® integrates wrestling stats directly into the video you record for each match, completely replacing the need for labor-intensive pencil and paper scoring systems. It's the wrestling stats app our sport has been waiting for. Focus on coaching, not busy work Improve through video analysis Make data an advantage Eliminate scoring errors Increase exposure Become a digital coach For more information, visit MatBossApp.com. Follow MatBoss on Twitter and subscribe to the show @MatBossApp | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Podcasts | RSS

CMU's Tom Borrelli, along with NIU's Ryan Ludwig, were named MAC Co-Coaches of the Year (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference announced today the wrestling postseason awards for the 2020 season. Sharing the honor as MAC Coach of the Year is Central Michigan's Tom Borrelli and NIU's Ryan Ludwig as Co-Coaches of the Year. Central Michigan junior Matt Stencel was named MAC Wrestler of the Year and NIU's Izzak Olejnik was named MAC Freshman of the Year. The awards were voted on by the Conference's 15 head wrestling coaches. In his 29th year at Central Michigan, Borrelli led the Chippewas to a runner-up finish at the MAC Championships and an 8-4 overall, 7-2 MAC, dual-meet record. Three of Borrelli's charges won individual MAC titles, including Dresden Simon at 141 pounds, who was named the MAC Championship Outstanding Wrestler Award. Central Michigan was the only MAC program with more than one MAC Champion. Six Chippewas earned a berth in the NCAA Championships, which ranked second in the MAC among the 15 league teams only behind Missouri's eight selections. Borrelli has amassed a 337-155-7 dual-meet record in 29 years at Central Michigan. His 337 Division I dual-meet victories are second to Oklahoma State's John Smith among active coaches and currently ranks 17th in NCAA history. NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig guided the Huskies to one of their most successful seasons as NIU amassed 13 wins on the season, the most by a Huskie wrestling team since 2004-05. The Huskies saw four of their wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships and had its first MAC champion since 2013, as Brit Wilson defeated Dylan Wisman of Missouri for the 184 pound championship. The eighth-year Huskie head man led NIU to a third-place finish at the 2020 MAC Wrestling Championships, its best since 2009 when the league featured just six wrestling teams. Ludwig is the first Huskie head coach to earn MAC Coach of the Year since his mentor, Dave Grant in 2002. Central Michigan junior Matt Stencel won his third-consecutive MAC title at 285 pounds to cap a 30-4 season. He also qualified for the NCAA Championships for the third-straight year. Stencel finished 11-1 in duals, including 9-0 in MAC duals, and posted victories by pin, tying for second in the nation in that category. A native of Oregon, Ohio, Stencel was ranked fourth nationally, closed the season on a 13-match win streak and won 19 of his final 20 matches of the season. NIU redshirt freshman Izzak Olejnik turned in an impressive campaign wrestling at 165 pounds. Olejnik wrestled to a 19-10 overall record, including a 7-2 ledger in the MAC. He finished second at the 2020 MAC Championships, earning a bid to the NCAA Championships. Olejnik went 3-0 in matches decided by major decision and 3-1 in bouts decided by pin. A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Olejnik's biggest victory of the season came against Buffalo's Tory Keller in the Conference regular season finale, defeating the NCAA qualifier 5-3 in overtime. Olejnik won eight of his last nine matches on the season, with his only loss coming in the rematch with Keller in the MAC Championships.

Dan Dennis defeated Tony Ramos to earn a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlesAreWarriors.com) Olympian Dan Dennis is returning to Iowa City to become the Hawkeye Wrestling Club's head coach. He replaces another former Hawkeye, Mark Perry, who recently left the position. "Dan Dennis ranks high as a coach," Iowa head wrestling coach Tom Brands said in a press release. "He ranks high as a Hawkeye. And he ranks high in our locker room. He is the best choice for a lot of reasons starting with his popularity among our HWC athletes. There is always excitement with a new hire and there is a little more pizazz with this one. Dan Dennis is coming back to Iowa and we are fired up." Dennis has served as the head coach of RTC South in Chattanooga, Tennessee, since 2018. "To say I am excited to return to Iowa City and train with the best men and women in the world would be an understatement," Dennis said. "The Hawkeye Wrestling Club gave me opportunities I never would have otherwise experienced, and that support is stronger today than it has ever been. The men and women in the room are incredible. I know how they operate professionally, and I can't wait to get to know them personally. I can tell you right now we are all lock-step with what is next. The Olympics are 15 months away and we will be ready to go." Dennis, an Illinois native, represented the United States at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He has been a U.S. Open champion, U.S. World Team Trials finalist, Grand Prix of Germany champion, as well as a two-time NCAA All-American and NCAA finalist for the Hawkeyes. In September, Dennis was a guest on The MatBoss Podcast. Listen to the interview below.

Jordan Burroughs dressed up as the Easter Bunny and helped brighten the day of neighborhood families in this difficult time Gold medalist in men's freestyle, at the 2012 Olympics. Four-time world champion. Two-time NCAA champ. Now Jordan Burroughs can add yet another role to his already impressive accomplishments: Easter Bunny. The legendary 31-year-old New Jersey native traded in his wrestling singlet for the fluffy-furred, floppy-eared seasonal character to surprise and delight his neighbors in Lincoln, Neb., according to KLKN-TV Monday. Burroughs shared his experience on Instagram: When he's not helping the Easter Bunny with his appointed rounds, Burroughs is training in Lincoln with University of Nebraska wrestling coach Mark Manning, hoping to wrestle for the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics next year. As a Husker, Burroughs was a three-time Big 12 conference champ, three-time NCAA All-American and twice an NCAA titlewinner, concluding his collegiate mat career at Nebraska with the Dan Hodge Trophy -- presented each year to the nation's top college wrestler -- in 2011. Burroughs then moved on to international freestyle competition, winning four world championships and the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics at 74 kilograms/163 pounds.

Imagine a 10-year-old being a member of a college wrestling team, working out with teammates twice his age. Meet Samuel Sedelbauer, who just completed his first season with the wrestling program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Despite being a fourth grader, Samuel signed a letter of intent with the Blugold wrestling program in a special ceremony last fall. When he's not in school, he joins his teammates at UW-EC for workouts and dual meets, then returns to his home in Hixson, Wis. where he lives with his parents and older brother William. Is Samuel a wrestling superstar with mat talent well beyond his age? There's more to the story ... Samuel's story Five years ago, Samuel Sedelbauer was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This very rare disease -- which causes muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue -- affects just one in 3,500 male infants. Samuel Sedelbauer at UW-Eau Claire signing ceremony"We noticed his gross motor skills were behind what most kids," Samuel's father, Gary Sedelbauer, told WEAU-TV in Eau Claire, Wis. "We did a simple test when he was five years old, which diagnosed him with Duchenne muscular dystrophy." In seeking information to help them care for their son, the Sedelbauers learned of an organization -- Team IMPACT -- that brings together kids diagnosed with serious medical conditions (like Duchenne muscular dystrophy) ... and college athletic programs. That's how Samuel became a member of the UW-Eau Claire wresting team. "Team IMPACT connects children battling serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes," according to the Massachusetts-based organization's website. The website continues, "Through our program, a child battling illness becomes an official member of a college athletic team, attending practices, games, team dinners and more -- where they serve not only as teammates, but as inspiration." The wrestling coach weighs in ... Tim Fader, head wrestling coach at UW-Eau Claire, shared the story of how the Blugold mat program got involved, starting back in May 2019. "A Team IMPACT case worker came to us and showed examples of kids participating in various sports -- lacrosse, basketball, for instance," Fader told InterMat. Samuel Sedelbauer with his brother William"They had a person in mind in our area -- Samuel. His parents had told us that he and his brother like to tussle at home. We met him in person, and the team immediately took to him." Fader realized that the ultimate decision and the work involved would have to come from his athletes. "If it was going to be successful, it had to be something that the wrestlers thought was important," Fader said in a feature story produced by the university's sports media department. "There was unanimous approval, and we formed the Team IMPACT group of nine wrestlers who would put their energy into making it happen." The Blugold wrestling program made Samuel feel like a Blugold mat star right from the start. "Back in October 2019, we hosted some welcoming activities for Samuel and his family," Fader told InterMat. "We even conducted a 'media day' event, complete with all the elements you'd expect to see at a traditional signing day to welcome a new athlete to the school." Samuel and the Blugolds: a winning match During the past season, Samuel made great contributions to the Blugold program in the wrestling room ... and beyond. "He comes to our meets," according to Fader. "He's our honorary team captain. Offers water and Gatorade to our wrestlers after their matches. Win or lose, he has a great attitude." "He has a humongous smile. It's impossible for our guys to be in a bad mood when Samuel is around." "I'm really proud of our wrestlers and their acceptance," Coach Fader said. "It not only benefits Samuel and his family, but also our program." Regional Team IMPACT case manager Molly Lane concurred with coach Fader's sentiments, saying that the UW-Eau Claire team coordinators came up with a good schedule for interacting with Samuel that seems to be working out well. "Samuel was a little shy at first, but over time has embraced his role on the team," Lane said in a statement about the Blugold wrestling/Team IMPACT partnership. "They have incorporated Samuel into their practices by choosing fun warm-up activities for him to participate in, including playing musical chairs." (Not to mention spirited dodgeball games.) "Samuel's family has fully committed to the team as well, attending practices and as many matches as they can. The family also has welcomed the team as a part of their family, inviting the team to go sledding at their home." Speaking for the Sedelbauers ... Samuel's father Gary offered his opinion of the program: "It's a really neat experience getting to know these guys. They're just the salt of the earth, every one of these guys. And they are like big brothers to Samuel." One of Samuel's "big brothers" is Blugold freshman wrestler Chase Melton, who joined the UW-Eau Claire wrestling program at the same time as Samuel. "He gives you a different perspective I guess on wrestling and life," Melton told WEAU-TV. "He just brings such a positive energy and atmosphere. You could be having a tough day at school or something like that, but then to see Sammy kind of brightens up your day. The smile he has just makes you want to smile and go through practice. I don't know, a lot more joy and enthusiasm." Tim Fader -- who has been at the helm of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling program for five years -- can't say enough good things about the Blugolds' partnership with Team IMPACT. "It benefits Samuel, his family, and our program. I can't recommend this program enough. I hope a lot of other wrestling programs take advantage of this opportunity." The 411 on Team IMPACT Kiernan McGeehan of Team IMPACT told InterMat that the organization works with colleges of all types and sizes, in 49 of 50 states. McGeehan offers a unique perspective on the organization ... now as a case manager with Team IMPACT, and prior to that, as a college student-athlete. "Student-athletes can see the value of the program," McGeehan told InterMat. "I was involved in the Team IMPACT program as a member of the swim team at Xavier University in Cincinnati." "Coach approached me and three other members of the team as seniors. It was an incredible experience for all of us who were involved." "A staff of case managers at Team IMPACT help foster the partnership between the family, the young person, the sports program, and the school," McGeehan continued. "It's a two-year, two-season program that incorporates the high points of a collegiate sports career, from the signing of a letter of intent, to the conclusion of their participation at the school with special activities, such as a team banquet, senior awards ceremony, or a pizza party." McGeehan explained that those who seek to be involved in the program can get the ball rolling, so to speak: Families can apply to participate by contacting Team IMPACT ... or college sports programs can reach out to Team IMPACT to let them know they would like to sponsor a young person in need. In some cases -- such as UW-Eau Claire -- it was a result of separate efforts that came together. For example, in the case of Samuel, his family reached out to Team IMPACT ... while, on another path, the Blugold women's gymnastics program had contacted the organization, seeking to sponsor a youngster. "We were aware that the Sedelbauers had reached out to Team IMPACT," according to McGeehan. "The family lives not very far from Eau Claire. We also knew that the school's gymnastics program was wanting to get involved in the program. In speaking to the gymnastics coach, we shared the Sedelbauers's situation. She thought the wrestling program would be interested. "It's common to have multiple matches at a single college. It's a great way for a college athletic program to demonstrate that it is active within the community." "We all know what it means to feel isolated at some point of our lives," McGeehan said. "Team IMPACT can help young people overcome social isolation that can be a result of battling serious or chronic illnesses, thanks to being involved with a college sports team. For example, the draft day signing ceremony -- a staple element of welcoming individuals to the program -- helps the participants feel a part of something positive. And student-athletes immediately see the value of participating in the program." Check out two-minute video about Samuel and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team. Want to know more ... … about Team IMPACT? Visit their official Team IMPACT website (which includes contact information) … Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?

Nick Piccininni (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Where do Cowboy wrestlers go once their collegiate mat careers have concluded? Apparently into mixed martial arts. Oklahoma State's Nick Piccininni has announced that he has signed with Zinkin MMA and will train at the American Kickboxing Academy, following in the footsteps of fellow former Cowboy mat stars Daniel Cormier, Kyle Crutcher, and

Victor Voinovich (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Junior National freestyle runner-up Victor Voinovich (Brecksville, Ohio) verbally committed to Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon. The No. 14 overall wrestler in the Class of 2021 is also a two-time state placer, having won a state title as a freshman in 2018, and was projected to win a state title last month before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the Ohio State Wrestling Tournament. This past season, Voinovich was a runner-up at the Walsh Ironman and Brecksville Holiday tournaments, along with placing fifth at the Beast of the East. He finished the 2019-20 season ranked eighth nationally at 145 pounds. Voinovich joins Travis Mastrogiovanni (Blair Academy, N.J.) and Kyle Haas (Maize, Kansas) as top 15 overall commits for Oklahoma State in the current junior class. No. 56 Teague Travis (Father Tolton Catholic, Mo.) has also committed to the Cowboys for 2021 recruiting.