InterMat Staff

Kevin Ward (Photo/Army West Point Athletics) Chad Dennis returns with Episode 23 of The MatBoss Podcast with Army West Point head coach Kevin Ward. Coach Ward's a Tennessee native who worked through his college career at Oklahoma State before getting into college coaching at Division II Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas. He's now currently the head coach at the Division I level. 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 Play Music | RSS

Logan Macri, 2018 Pennsylvania high school wrestling champion for Canon-McMillon High School in Pittsburgh who was shot multiple times by police after reportedly refusing to drop his weapon early Sunday morning, has been charged with multiple crimes Tuesday. Police charged 19-year-old Macri with a total of 21 crimes, including six felonies, the Tribune-Review reported Tuesday afternoon. He remains in a Pittsburgh area hospital where he is in stable condition. Police from two local communities were called to a home in North Strabane, Pa. about 2:30 a.m. Sunday on a domestic violence call where he reportedly attacked his mother with a sword and a handgun. When police arrived, Macri came out of the home with an AR 15 rifle. According to the state police report, Macri initially complied with officers' commands, putting up his hands and laying down in the driveway on his stomach. While they were attempting to take him into custody, Macri suddenly stood up and pointed the rifle at the approaching police officers, according to the report. All three officers shot, striking Macri several times, police said. Macri continued to fight, and police used a Taser on him. Macri was transported by helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital. All of the officers involved in the initial call are on administrative leave while state police continue to investigate. A 2018 graduate of Canon-McMillan High School in Canonsburg, Macri capped off his 152-30 prep career as a senior by winning the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League)/Southwest Regional and PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) Class 3A state championships at 120 pounds. Macri originally committed to compete for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after graduation but was granted a release after UTC head wrestling coach Heath Eslinger resigned. Macri instead enrolled at West Virginia University and was listed on the Mountaineer's roster at 125 pounds this fall. WVU Senior Associate Athletic Director Michael Fragale said Macri was at the school and on the roster in the fall, but he left school and the team in November for unknown reasons. UPDATE 4/26/19: Macri was released from the hospital Thursday, and arraigned on aggravated assault and other charges. A member of his family posted the $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is slated for May 7.

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. -- Long Island University announced that is has accepted membership into the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association on Tuesday, April 16. LIU will begin competition as the league's 17th member during the 2019-20 season. The EIWA is the oldest wrestling conference in the nation, founded originally in 1904 by Yale University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, and Princeton University. Along with being the oldest conference, the EIWA is the largest conference in the country and its champion receives an automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Championship. "The move to Division I is exciting and our acceptance into the EIWA is brining that excitement to another level," head coach Joe Patrovich remarked. "Competing in one of the best conferences in the country gives us many great opportunities along with many challenges and we are ready to meet them. Our University, alumni, fan base, and wrestling community has given us overwhelming support and we are proud to be a part of the EIWA and its tradition moving forward." Member universities include American University, United States Military Academy, Binghamton, Brown, Bucknell, Columbia, Cornell, Drexel, Franklin & Marshall, Harvard, Hofstra, Lehigh, United States Naval Academy, Penn, Princeton, and Sacred Heart. "We are extremely excited to have the chance to associate ourselves with one of the top wrestling conferences in the country," expressed Director of Athletics Debbie DeJong. "The EIWA has a long tradition of academic excellence as well as athletic achievement. I would like to thank the conference for accepting us as its 17th member and look forward to Long Island University being a part of this group of esteemed universities." "I want to thank all who were involved with this process including the coaches and administrators from the conference, along with Mike Moyer, our administration, Debbie DeJong, and [LIU President] Dr. Kimberly Cline," commented Patrovich.

Iowa averaged 8,526 fans for dual meets this season (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Official numbers released Tuesday showed the University of Iowa wrestling program led the nation in average and total attendance for the 13th straight season. The Hawkeyes averaged an NCAA-best 8,526 fans in seven home duals, and saw 59,684 fans enter the gates at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 2018-19. Iowa has led the nation in attendance in each of head coach Tom Brands' 13 seasons. This year was the 11th straight the Hawkeyes averaged more than 8,000 fans.

TOKYO -- The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) has announced the detailed competition schedule for the sport of wrestling at the 2020 Olympic Games. The two-day competition format will feature women's wrestling as the final gold medal bout on each day of competition. Japan is the most dominant women's wrestling nation in the world having won 11 of 18 Olympic gold medals since 2004, the first year the sport was included on the Olympic programme. The island nation has also won 22 world team titles since the first women's wrestling world championships in 1987, including 11 of the last 13. "The schedule announced by Tokyo 2020 will help wrestling ensure high attendance for each day of the competition," said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. "We saw nice crowds in Brazil and expect that this schedule will help us reach even more fans and create a positive and energetic environment for all our competitors. The stars of women's wrestling will guarantee that interest-level." Greco-Roman will join women for the first half of the schedule, with freestyle set to wrap up the Games alongside the aforementioned women's weight categories. Days 1/2: GR: 60kg, 130kg | WW: 76kg Days 2/3: GR: 77kg, 97kg | WW: 68kg Days 3/4: GR: 67kg, 87kg | WW: 62kg Days 4/5: FS: 57kg, 86kg | WW: 57kg Days 5/6: FS: 74kg, 125kg | WW: 53kg Days 6/7: FS: 65kg, 97kg | WW: 50kg The full schedule is as follows Day 1 (Sunday, August 2) 11:00-12:20 - 1/8 action (GR: 60kg, 130kg | WW: 76kg) 12:20-13:00 - Quarterfinals (GR: 60kg, 130kg | WW: 76kg) 18:15-19:15 - Semifinals (GR: 60kg, 130kg | WW: 76kg) Day 2 (Monday, August 3) 11:00-11:30 - Repechage (GR: 60kg, 130kg | WW: 76kg) 11:30-12:50 - 1/8 action (GR: 77kg, 97kg | WW: 68kg) 12:50-13:30 - Quarterfinals (GR: 77kg, 97kg | WW: 68kg) 18:15-19:15 - Semifinals (GR: 77kg, 97kg | WW: 68kg) 19:30-22:00 - Gold and Bronze Medal Finals (GR: 60kg, 130kg | WW: 76kg) Day 3 (Tuesday, August 4) 11:00-11:30 - Repechage (GR: 77kg, 97kg | WW: 68kg) 11:30-12:50 - 1/8 action (GR: 67kg, 87kg | WW: 62kg) 12:50-13:30 - Quarterfinals (GR: 67kg, 87kg | WW: 62kg) 18:15-19:15 - Semifinals (GR: 67kg, 87kg | WW: 62kg) 19:30-22:00 - Gold and Bronze Medal Finals (GR: 77kg, 97kg | WW: 68kg) Day 4 (Wednesday, August 5) 11:00-11:30 - Repechage (GR: 67kg, 87kg | WW: 62kg) 11:30-12:50 - 1/8 action (FS: 57kg, 86kg | WW: 57kg) 12:50-13:30 - Quarterfinals (FS: 57kg, 86kg | WW: 57kg) 18:15-19:15 - Semifinals (FS: 57kg, 86kg | WW: 57kg) 19:30-22:00 - Gold and Bronze Medal Finals (GR: 67kg, 87kg | WW: 62kg) Day 5 (Thursday, August 6) 11:00-11:30 - Repechage (FS: 57kg, 86kg | WW: 57kg) 11:30-12:50 - 1/8 action (FS: 74kg, 125kg | WW: 53kg) 12:50-13:30 - Quarterfinals (FS: 74kg, 125kg | WW: 53kg) 18:15-19:15 - Semifinals (FS: 74kg, 125kg | WW: 53kg) 19:30-22:00 - Gold and Bronze Medal Finals (FS: 57kg, 86kg | WW: 57kg) Day 6 (Friday, August 07) 11:00-11:30 - Repechage (FS: 74kg, 125kg | WW: 53kg) 11:30-12:50 - 1/8 action (FS: 65kg, 97kg | WW: 50kg) 12:50-13:30 - Quarterfinals (FS: 65kg, 97kg | WW: 50kg) 18:15-19:15 - Semifinals (FS: 65kg, 97kg | WW: 50kg) 19:30-22:00 - Gold and Bronze Medal Finals (FS: 74kg, 125kg | WW: 53kg) Day 7 (Saturday, August 08) 18:45-19:05 - Repechage (FS: 65kg, 97kg | WW: 50kg) 19:30-22:00 - Gold and Bronze Medal Finals (FS: 65kg, 97kg | WW: 50kg)

Jordan Burroughs joins Ariel Helwani to discuss his upcoming contest against Ben Askren in a freestyle exhibition match. Burroughs says everyone has wanted him to have a match with Askren for a long time and that it is the only match that would be a box office attraction in wrestling.

Joe Colon gets his hand raised after winning a bronze medal (Photo/Larry Slater) NEW YORK -- The depth of world-class-level matches on the 10th annual "Grapple at the Garden" Beat the Streets (BTS) benefit lineup was increased today as the organization announced a bout between current NCAA champion Nick Suriano (Paramus, N.J. / Rutgers Univ.) and 2018 World bronze medalist Joe Colon (Clear Lake, Iowa / Univ. of Northern Iowa) at 61 kilograms. The bout is part of what is shaping up be a historic night of wrestling on May 6 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Suriano was Rutgers' first national wrestling champion (45 minutes before his teammate, Anthony Ashnault, who will also wrestle at BTS, did the same), taking the 133-lb. division in overtime last month over rival Daton Fix of Oklahoma State. The win capped the junior's second straight appearance in the finals in a season which included a Big Ten championship, 29-3 record and second straight All-America honors. Colon, an injury replacement at the 2018 World championships at 61kilograms, defied the odds and won bronze in Budapest. As a senior at UNI in 2013-14, Colon finished 35-2 after a 27-4 campaign as a redshirt sophomore. His postcollegiate career has included a second place finish at the US World Team Trials in 2015 and a 2018 U.S. Open title. He currently trains in Fresno, Calif., where he also serves as volunteer assistant coach at Fresno State University. The matchup will be part of an already standout slate that includes featured bouts between 2012 Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs and 2008 Olympian Ben Askren; an all-New Jersey match between James Green (Willingboro) and Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield); and a battle of local State Champions in Jo Jo Aragona (Pope John XXIII HS/New Jersey) vs. Adam Busiello (Eastport-South Manor HS/New York). "Grapple at the Garden" supports Beat the Streets, the largest grassroots inner city wrestling program in the United States, serving as both a fundraiser for the organization and to celebrate its athletes as they compete on the biggest stage in the center of the world. Tickets for the evening's action are available now via Ticketmaster, priced starting at $30. A variety of donation packages which include "Grapple in the Garden" tickets are also available here or by emailing molalde@btsny.org, beginning at $1000. Doors open on May 6 at 5:30 p.m., with the main event starting at 6 p.m. For the fifth straight year, FloSports will provide live and on-demand coverage on FloWrestling.com. Beat the Streets, Inc. will invite select members of the 2018 U.S. Men's Freestyle World Team, which placed second in the 2018 World Championships and won seven World medals, as well as select top USA women's wrestlers. Beat the Streets Benefit competitions, which began in 2010, have since become a major showcase of the best of international wrestling. This unique and electrifying annual event has helped Beat the Streets raise millions of dollars to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City. The first Beat the Streets Benefit was held on the U.S.S. Intrepid, an aircraft carrier docked on the west side of Manhattan. Since then, the benefit has taken place at other notable New York City spots like Grand Central Station and Times Square. Team USA has faced off against teams from around the world including Japan, Cuba, Russia and Iran. Last year, the competition was hosted at the new Pier 17 in the Seaport District and included the highly anticipated Burroughs vs. Frank Chamizo match. The 2018 U.S. World Team, which competed in Budapest, Hungary, featured 2018 World champions Kyle Dake, David Taylor and J'den Cox, 2018 World silver medalist Kyle Snyder, and 2018 World bronze medalists Joe Colon, Jordan Burroughs and Nick Gwiazdowski. Burroughs and Snyder are both multiple Olympic and World champions. Others on the USA team included 2016 World champion Logan Stieber, two-time World medalist James Green and 2017 World silver medalist Thomas Gilman. New York City's Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous sporting and entertainment venues in the world. The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden is an impressive venue with the capacity to seat over 5,000. The theater has hosted notable wrestling events including the 1998 Goodwill Games wrestling competition and the 2017 Grapple at the Garden college wrestling event. 2019 Beat the Streets "Grapple at the Garden" May 6, 2019 Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York Jordan Burroughs vs Ben Askren James Green vs. Anthony Ashnault Jo Jo Aragona vs. Adam Busiello Nick Suriano vs. Joe Colon About Beat the Streets The mission of Beat the Streets is to develop the full potential of the urban youth and to strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTS works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to bring the life changing sport of wrestling to over 3,000 New York City student-athletes to help them achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTS and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life lessons of grit, personal responsibility and teamwork, physical fitness and nutrition, and life-long learning. The goal of fostering strong, well-rounded student-athletes is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, life skills workshops, and summer camps. More information can be found at www.btsny.org. About USA Wrestling USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. It has over 230,000 members across the nation, boys and girls, men and women of all ages, representing all levels of the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender. More information can be found at TheMat.com.

"Wrestle" -- the documentary about four high school wrestlers from Huntsville, Alabama which debuted in New York City in late February -- is now available for viewing on iTunes. Here's how the Apple iTunes "Wrestle" page describes this one hour, 35-minute documentary: "Hoop Dreams goes to the mat in this intimate, coming-of-age documentary about four members of a high-school wrestling team at Huntsville's J.O. Johnson High School, a longstanding entry on Alabama's list of failing schools. Coached by teacher Chris Scribner, teammates Jailen, Jamario, Teague, and Jaquan each face challenges far beyond a shot at the State championship: splintered family lives, drug use, teenage pregnancy, mental health struggles, and run-ins with the law threaten to derail their success on the mat and lock any doors that could otherwise open…" "Wrestle" is available for rent at $4.99 for a single viewing or may be purchased to own for $14.99. A video trailer is available for viewing at the iTunes' "Wrestle" page. Want to know more? Check out the official website for "Wrestle" … and read reviews of this documentary from the daily entertainment publication Variety ... The Hollywood Reporter ... and from The New York Times.

Last September, ISIS terrorists delivered back-to-back suicide bombings at a wrestling club in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing 26 and wounding 91. Among the dead: 16 young wrestlers. In subsequent months, the U.S. wrestling community stepped forward with donations of money and equipment to bring the Maiwand Wrestling Club back to life. These efforts have received positive coverage from non-wrestling media, including a 1,000-word feature in the New York Times which ran during the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and just this week, The Stars and Stripes, which describes itself as "the U.S. military's independent news source." To provide a sense of the severity of the two bombings: On the day of the attack -- September 3, 2018 -- Ghulam Abbas, a 52-year-old coach at the Maiwand Wrestling Club for nearly three decades, held the steel-plated door closed so the bomber couldn't enter the main wrestling room. The terrorist then detonated his explosives on the other side of the door from Abbas. When the coach awoke in the hospital the next day, his left arm was missing. (A handful of others are still recovering from critical injuries.) "We were doing nothing wrong here, we were teaching people how to wrestle, how to be healthy and be a good person in the community," Abbas told the Stars and Stripes' Phillip Walter Wellman. "We are building the community, but they are coming and killing us." In the days following the attack, the New York Times provided coverage that drew the attention of two ex-wrestlers: Paul Halsey, 69, a former IBM executive … and Hooman Tavakolian, 42, an Iranian-American investment manager in New York and London, who is active in United World Wrestling and USA Wrestling. To rebuild the Maiwand Wrestling Club in Kabul, Tavakolian launched a GoFundMe page … while Halsey contacted Times' journalist Fatima Faizi who forwarded requests from readers who wanted to help, "many of those were current or former wrestlers." "Eventually, Mr. Halsey and Mr. Tavakolian found each other and pooled their efforts," according to Faizi's March 20 New York Times feature. "Wrestling teams at universities like Penn State and Iowa kicked in; so did Nike, Adidas and the wrestling equipment supplier Cliff Keen. Wrestlers at an American private school contributed." "In all, they raised more than $10,000 in cash, Mr. Tavakolian said, which along with donated gear was enough to rebuild Maiwand. He said there was even money to spare for other Afghan wrestling clubs." As Tavakolian -- who immigrated to the U.S. from Iran as a child during the Iran-Iraq war and later wrestled for New York's Hunter College -- told Stars and Stripes, "If you want to make the world a better place, it's better to develop young kids than try to fix men." "So that's our mission -- to develop brighter futures. If it keeps kids from straying into organized crime and terrorist groups, it could help keep our servicemembers safe too." To show appreciation for the donations of wrestling mats, singlets and other equipment, the Maiwand Wrestling Club held a ceremony last month, according to Stars and Stripes. "Wrestling is a sport that requires great sacrifice and also helps young wrestlers channel their emotions in a positive way," as Halsey explained his desire to help the wrestling club half a world away to the New York Times. "The tragedy connected me to them in a very personal way." The Maiwand Wrestling Club head coach, Maalim Abbas, said of those who contributed to the rebuilding of his facility, "They all believe we need to show the terrorists that they can kill us, but they can't stop us." Want to know more about Hooman Tavakolian and his efforts to support wrestling around the world? Check out Craig Sesker's Sept. 2016 InterMat profile on Tavakolian.

Sonny Marchtte SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame College Director of Athletics, Scott Swain, has named former assistant coach, Sonny Marchette, the new Head Coach of Notre Dame wrestling. Marchette will take over after the previous head coach, Frank Romano retired earlier this week. "Hiring Sonny Marchette to lead Falcon Wrestling is an easy decision," Swain said. "Sonny has shown great ability as an assistant coach and I am certain the level of excellence Falcon Wrestling has had will continue on his watch. The future is very bright and I am excited for all our wrestling student-athletes." Marchette has been with Notre Dame since 2012 when he started with the Falcons as a volunteer. Since then, he was promoted to the second assistant coach position before most recently serving as the head assistant coach. "Anthony Ralph and Coach Romano gave me this opportunity in 2012, and I am very grateful to have continued my career at Notre Dame," Marchette said. "I am thrilled to be the head coach at a place I love. Since coming to NDC, I have started back to school part time, had another child and bought a house. To stay here and continue the growth of this program is very exciting. "This is the place I want to be. I believe in this little school in South Euclid, Ohio, and I know we can accomplish anything. That's all because of the people around here. It's a place where kids can get one-on-one help, and that's important when you are a student-athlete trying to focus on getting better quickly." Marchette joined the program as Notre Dame moved into the NCAA Division II. Since then, he has helped lead the team to a wealth of successes. Since 2012, the Falcons have produced 12 individual National Champions and 41 All-Americans while winning the NCAA DII Team National Championship twice (2014 & 2017). "My goal is to continue being a national wrestling powerhouse and contend for a national championship each year," Marchette said. "I believe that our staff, having shared goals for the future and what we want to accomplish, can help develop successful, positive student-athletes who want to compete on a high level both in the classroom and on the wrestling mat." Filling his former role, Marchette has promoted Cory Stainbrook to the head assistant coaching position as well as moving Jared Millar from Director of Operations to a fulltime assistant coach. Colby Fehr will also stay on as a volunteer assistant. Marchette's background as a wrestler has been marked by multiple accomplishments. As a freshman at North Canton High School, he finished as the Ohio State Runner-Up before becoming a two-time Ohio State Champion, a Junior National Champion and Freestyle Wrestler of the Year at Walsh Jesuit High School. From there, he went on to compete at Lassen College where he was a Junior College National Champion before wrestling at Iowa State University. His coaching career started in 2002 at St. Vincent St. Mary's High School as an assistant to his close friend Chris DeShon. The team took third in state that season. In 2004, he was named Head Coach at Walsh Jesuit High School where he again led a team to a third-place finish in state. Marchette was then hired as the head assistant coach at Rootstown High School where he served in that role from 2009-2011. At Rootstown, he produced the school's first state champion, Garrett Linton, who went on to wrestle at Notre Dame. Overall the school has three individual champions in his time there. "I have been coaching in one capacity or another for over 20 years," Marchette said. "I've ran wrestling clubs, and programs from little kids to middle school and high school. I've coached freestyle and Greco, done one-on-one training and owned my own wrestling clubs. It's what I have always done. Beyond my faith and my family, wrestling is what I love next. I started wrestling when I was four years old and have never stopped since. "Wrestling has taught me so much abound how to succeed as a person, from every aspect. I still get excited to learn every day and this sport is a big part of that. I'm grateful and appreciative of the opportunity. I am so luck to continue to do what I love and do it at Notre Dame. "I want to thank my family, as they have been so supportive and excited for what is coming next. And I want to give a special thanks to Scott Swain for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to an exciting, growing relationship that helps build national titles and college graduates here at Notre Dame College."

Abdulrashid Sadulaev (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Good news for wrestling fans ... not-so-good news for wrestlers: Abdulrashid Sadulaev, 2016 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling for Russia, appears to be sticking to the oldest and greatest sport for the foreseeable future. Sadulaev, fresh from winning gold at 97 kilograms/213 pounds at the 2019 European Wrestling Championships in Bucharest, Romania by defeating Alexander Gushtyn of Belarus, said that he has no plans to launch a professional career in mixed martial arts. "I will never join the MMA," Sadulaev said in an interview with the Russian news agency TASS Wednesday. "I do have many friends fighting in the MMA tournaments. I am watching their fights and I get emotional." "However, I am enjoying my sport, which is spectacular, courageous and without insults," the 22-year-old Sadulaev continued. "Moreover, the sport of wrestling is what I am good at and I earn enough for my living." There's little arguing Sadulaev's mat success. The wrestler known as "the Russian Tank" won the gold medal in men's freestyle at 86 kilograms/189 pounds at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In addition, he is a three-time World Champion in 2014, 2015 and 2018, earning silver at the 2017 Worlds. With his win this week, Sadulaev is now a three-time European champion, winning gold in 2014, 2018 and 2019. One of Sadulaev's wrestling rivals is Kyle Snyder, three-time NCAA heavyweight champ for Ohio State (2016-18) and Olympic gold medalist in men's freestyle at 97 kilograms/213 pounds at the 2016 Rio Games. The two have met on the mat twice. At the 2017 World Championships, Snyder earned a 6-5 decision over Sadulaev; one year later at the Worlds, the Russian Tank got revenge, pinning the former Buckeye big man at 1:11 of their rematch. Thanks to Sadulaev's impressive mat credentials - and the fact that so many MMA champs were once wrestlers -- there's been much speculation in wrestling and MMA online forums as to a possible pro MMA career for Sadulaev. There's even a one-minute video posted last October by the website Russiawrestling.com showing Sadulaev sparring and working out with the headline "UFC are you ready for the Russian Tank." In fact, Sadulaev may have helped fuel that speculation with this message posted at the MMATeamDagestan Twitter account last fall: "Abdulrashid Sadulaev: 'After the Olympics in #Tokyo2020, we will talk about the transition to MMA.'" In other words, wrestling and MMA fans who want to see Sadulaev as a mixed martial arts fighter should not abandon all hope just yet based on this week's TASS interview ... but wait until after August 9, 2020, the date for the Closing Ceremonies of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, to see if Sadulaev is ready to hang up his singlet. Then again, The Russian Tank will be just 24 years old ... and may decide he has plenty of years ahead of him as a freestyle wrestling superstar.

Beat the Streets caused a publicity hurricane this week when it announced that Jordan Burroughs and Ben Askren had agreed to compete at the organization's "Grapple at the Garden" event May 6 at Madison Square Garden's Hulu Theater in New York City. Burroughs, a four-time world champion, 2012 Olympic champion, and two-time NCAA champion, comes in as a heavy favorite versus Askren, the two-time NCAA champion who transitioned to MMA shortly after his appearance at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Askren, who recently moved to the UFC from undefeated stints in Bellator and most recently Asian-based promotion ONE Championships, is fast becoming an MMA superstar in part due to his brash tweets and ability to agitate everyone from UFC President Dana White to fellow fighters. The annual Beat the Streets event is heading into its 10th iteration, with this year's event set to be the most heavily promoted and watched, largely due to the inclusion of Askren and Burroughs. Last year's competition was also a massive audience draw, with Burroughs taking on Italy's Frank Chamizo, but the mass market appeal Askren brings will certainly open up the match to new viewers. More eyes, means more opportunity, but its important that the core mission of the event remained intact, which is to raise awareness and funding for Beat the Streets New York. The organization is dedicated to creating competitive wrestling opportunities and life skills to underserved school kids in the New York City area. In the 10-plus years of Bea tthe Streets the program has grown from a few mats in a few schools to more than 60 program, thousands of active wrestlers and tens of thousands of school children directly impacted by the programming over the life of the program. Wrestling is worthy of its reputation for helping disadvantaged youth find a place to develop character, discipline, and life skills. If you're reading this then you know the real value, but it's important to keep that mission in mind as we (rightly) hype this promotional match. The kids are the ones who can and will benefit from the wrestling on May 6. If you can't attend, at least consider a donation, which you can make here. Or, if you have a BTS in your city, or a local kids program that is a better fit, find them and donate your time and money. This momentum for wrestling is wonderful, but it'll be hollow if we don't convert it to a legacy of providing more opportunities for members of our community to compete in the sport we love. To your questions … Myles Amine and Stevan Micic compete internationally for San Marino and Serbia and respectively (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Q: It seems like some are upset about Americans like Myles Amine, Stevan Micic, David Habat and others representing other countries. What are your thoughts on this? -- Mike C. Foley: The International Olympic Committee has allowed the transferring of athletes between nations for several years. They asked that the international federations governing each sport implement rules that would ensure that the transfers were only made when the circumstances were met, and that the competitive advantage of the native athletes was not being restricted. The international federations did as they were instructed and each implemented rules that fit their sport. Broadly, wrestling's original transfer rules allowed for multiple national transfers, but each relocation would require the athlete to sit for two to three competitive seasons (Jan. 1, onward). That later was reduced to one year of inactivity. Later, athletes were able to be eligible immediately but were limited to one national transfer. That's the current rule; you can move once, but it's permanent. In addition to the transfer regulations limiting the time frame and number of times you can transfer nationalities, there are also a handful of fees associated with transferring. The entire list of costs is on the United World Wrestling regulation (annotated below), but essentially UWW taxes 5,000 CHF (goes to a continental development fund) and a second payment is made to the original national federation based on the result of the athlete. However, that fee is only assessed should that federation request payment for their cost for training, which is not insignificant. Scale: Olympic & world gold medalist Swiss Francs 300'000 Olympic & world silver or bronze medalist Swiss Francs 200'000 Continental championship gold medalist Swiss Francs 100'000 Continental championship silver or bronze medalist Swiss Francs 50'000 The system works well. Only serious-minded athletes with willing federations are making international transfers and nobody seems to be doing it without the blessing of the United States, Russia, or Ukraine -- the largest three locations of future transfers. In the case of San Marino, Ireland, and other small nations, the process assists them in creating more opportunities for existing wrestlers in that country. David Habat has enjoyed success in Slovenia and as such received training funding from Olympic Solidarity. The national federation was also able to apply for more funding in-nation based on his results. Increased exposure for the sport in these nations leads to more governmental and sponsorship support and even increases television pickups for smaller regional broadcasters. I get that nationalism is important and there are a lot of Americans who think we are Star-Spangled Awesome, but if you can expatriate to go be a banker in Singapore, there is no reason you can't do the same if you want to compete in your sport. Not a controversy, just an incorrect or outdated justification guiding some of Wrestling Twitter's commentary. MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Go 'Hoos! Sadualev in the Matrix Q: Is wrestling the only sport to award points for penalties? Does that discourage refs from calling them the way they should be? All other sports award positional advantages or free opportunities to score. Should folkstyle wrestling award choice of position for a step out, a second stall, hands to the face, or other minor infraction? This might make refs more willing to make the call without directly deciding matches -- Paul R. Foley: Ahh. That's an original idea. The rules do set positional option (advantage) for an injury time. I wonder if that would work for a step out, second stall, or hands to the face. Certainly there is a lot to consider in the way of gamesmanship and how these rules might complicate the viewer's experience, but I could be for some deeper dives into how that could be implemented. The only major issue I can foresee right away is that the matches might drag a little bit from being put to the mat. Also, the referees might get too aggressive with the stall calls and cause wrestlers to bully into each other from neutral in order to try and draw out those calls quicker. Maybe a stall call puts the wrestler on the shot clock? Essentially, you're giving control back to the athletes and it's an easy-to-follow model that's been used at the international level, but is also seen in other sports. Q: Were you surprised that former Cal State Fullerton wrestler T.J. Dillashaw popped for performance enhancing drugs (EPO)? Do you think he will ever be a title contender again? -- Mike C. Foley: Dillashaw's EPO use was always a little too visible to believe that the UFC (or his management) had no idea this day would come. The current USADA ban is two years, but is soon increasing to four years to match the current WADA ban, which is utilized for Olympic sports. I think Dillashaw's career is over, but should he have any hope of returning to the octagon it's only because he slipped that additional two-year penalty. I tried to find the tweet, but there was recently a post that listed the UFC fighters with the most tests with no abnormalities. Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier topped that list. Add in the obviously-not-doping Ben Askren and I think that wrestling is represented well among the top fighters, even with Dillashaw's bust. Q: Why doesn't the UFC, Bellator, etc. start signing world-level junior wrestlers with the promise of one paid Olympic cycle and high-level wrestling training in exchange for a few years of fighting in their organization? These wrestlers would be able to focus on their wrestling for a cycle while being paid and the organization would already have them locked into a contract and have highly credentialed wrestlers coming in. This may not be positive for USA Wrestling or the NCAA, but it might force them and wrestling clubs to compete financially to keep wrestlers. Thoughts? -- Ryan P. Foley: They do! Bellator has signed several developmental contracts with athletes, though most require more upfront training in MMA. Milyal Makhov of Russia had signed a developmental contract with the UFC as he was wrestling for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Jarod Trice, Tyrell Fortune, and Joey Davis all signed with Bellator before picking up their first fight, which is basically a developmental contract, though it leaves no room for Olympic training. Maybe the UFC would consider something like your option for Bo Nickal and Anthony Cassar. Q: Congrats to your 'Hoos on winning the national championships in basketball! The Final Four was held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis where the NCAAs will be held next year. Did you hear any feedback from those who attended the Final Four about what the NCAAs might be like at U.S. Bank Stadium? -- Mike C. Foley: What an incredible story. To go from being knocked out in the first round in 2018 to winning it all in 2019 is a story for the ages. The amount of belief that team kept in themselves, their coaches, and each other will be talked about for a long time. Go 'Hoos! As for the 2020 NCAAs, Jim Harshaw, who was an All-American at U.Va. in 1998 and currently works for the fundraising arm for Virginia Sports, said something to the effect of, "The best seats from prior years wouldn't be quite as good, and the worst seats wouldn't be quite as bad." It's a large place. My hope is that the local organizing committee takes input from the wrestling community in Minnesota and optimizes the arena for the event. With that, I'd like to offer my input which is they need an elevated platform for all the wrestling! Each round and each mat!

Tyler Brooks, the Director of Officiating and Sports Management for the Ohio High School Athletic Association and associate A.D. at Anderson High School, joins Chad Dennis and the MatBoss Podcast to talk about the changes forthcoming with the state wrestling tournament in Ohio. Brooks is the administrator for the sport of wrestling at the high school level in Ohio. 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 Play Music | RSS

Travis Piccard, former wrestler for The Citadel who has coached at his high school alma mater and at a wrestling training center, has been named the new head wrestling coach at Muskegon Community College, the two-year Michigan school announced this week. Travis PiccardPiccard replaces James Tietema, coach of the Muskegon Jayhawk wrestlers for the past five seasons, left the position to be able to spend more time with his family, according to a post on Facebook, saying, "Travis will keep it rocking!" Piccard brings both on-the-mat and coaching experience to the wrestling program at Muskegon. A native of Allendale, Mich., Piccard compiled an impressive 202-3 record as a wrestler at Allendale High School, bringing home three Michigan state titles. He then headed south to the Military College of South Carolina -- better known as The Citadel -- where he built a 118-31 record, placing 12th in the 157-pound bracket at the 2005 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis. Piccard launched his coaching career as an assistant at his high school alma mater. More recently, he has served as head clinician at Piccard Wrestling at The Center in Coopersville, Mich. "Becoming head coach of Jayhawks means providing kids a resource to continue wrestling at the next level," said Piccard. "I am excited to do big things competitively and for the student athletes in their own lives through the great experiences in college." A two-year public school, Muskegon Community College is located in western Michigan, about one hour northwest of Grand Rapids. Founded in 1926, Muskegon Community College has an enrollment of approximately 4,400 students.

Alex Lloyd won three state titles for Shakopee High School in Minnesota (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) Three-time state champion Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.) is transferring from South Dakota State to Rochester Community and Technical College. Lloyd was the nation's No. 35 senior recruit in the Class of 2018. He was a Fargo double All-American last summer, finishing second in freestyle and sixth in Greco-Roman. Lloyd was a state champion at 145 pounds as both a sophomore and junior before winning his third state title as a senior at 152 pounds. He is a four-time InterMat Classic champion, winning Outstanding Wrestler honors as a senior. Lloyd is projected as a 149-pounder at RCTC.

Frank Romano is retiring as Notre Dame's wrestling coach SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Director of Athletics Scott Swain announced on Tuesday that National Wrestling Hall of Fame member Frank Romano is retiring as the head coach of the Notre Dame College wrestling program. Notre Dame has seen tremendous success in Romano's time at the helm of the program, leading the Falcons for 13 seasons. After taking over as the first head coach of the new program in 2006, Romano has coached the team to nine national team titles, including four while a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), four in NCAA Division II and one National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) Club National Championship. In 2019, Notre Dame took fourth place at the National Tournament. Jose Rodriguez was crowned the National Champion at 141 lbs. and five wrestlers were named All-American. "You always want to go out on top, and I feel like we had a really good season," Romano said. "A great season is when you win a National Title, but this year, we were the runner-up at the National Dual meet and then won every other dual meet. We won the Regional Tournament and we finished fourth in the nation, with five All-Americans. You want to go on top and you want to go out on your own terms, that's really important." The Falcons have won nine Regional Tournaments in NAIA and NCAA, while taking home the biggest trophy in six of the seven regional tournaments following the move to NCAA-II. For the Falcons, 66 wrestlers were named All-American and 22 were crowned as an individual National Champion. Joey Davis, who went undefeated in four years of NCAA-II competition at Notre Dame College, will graduate in May. He won four National Championships in three different weight classes. Since moving to NCAA-II in 2012, the Falcons have produced 12 individual National Champions and 41 All-Americans. At the National Championship, the team finished top-four in six of the last seven seasons. They won the Division II National Dual Meet Title, twice. "What Frank Romano built from the ground up is truly remarkable," Swain said. "His record of wins and championships is a testament of his hard work and effort. I will miss working with Frank and the passion he brought to Falcon wrestling a great deal." The program won 18 national level events, which includes Regionals, National Tournaments and National Duals. In dual meets under Romano, the team had 123 wins. According to Romano, he has been coaching for nearly 50 years at the high school and collegiate level and never had a losing record in a season. "I've been doing this my whole life," Romano mentioned. "It's a major life change and you have to get used to what's going to happen next. It went by fast, and to have a run like that is pretty unique." "We had a great run and I feel good about the situation and I wish everyone the best of luck."

St. Cloud State head wrestling coach Steve Costanzo (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) Steve Costanzo's resume speaks for itself. His St. Cloud State wrestling teams have won four national championships in the past five years. And the Huskies have finished either first or second at the NCAA Division II tournament in eight of the past nine years. St. Cloud State has won its last 48 dual meets. But that isn't Costanzo's ultimate goal as a head coach. "For us, it's never about winning national championships. It's about performing," he said. "It's about the way we train and the lifestyle we lead. It's about being consistent on a daily basis. We have a special culture in our room. It's a good time to be a Husky." It's a good time indeed. St. Cloud State captured the NCAA Division II national title in Cleveland, Ohio (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) That consistency Costanzo's teams have developed paid dividends when the Huskies won the national team title on March 9 in Cleveland. St. Cloud State won with a total team effort. The Huskies didn't have a champion, finishing with seven All-Americans. Senior Vince Dietz was team's lone finalist, dropping a close bout in the 197-pound finals. Vince Dietz was a two-time national finalist (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) "Vince was a two-time finalist," Costanzo said. "He was undefeated going into the final match of his career. Vince was super consistent his last two seasons. He was extremely disappointed with his finish. His goal was to win it. If anybody deserved to win it, it was him. His leadership was invaluable. He worked extremely hard. He was one of the last people to leave the room every day. That speaks volumes for who he is as a person." St. Cloud State senior Brett Velasquez also made a huge impact during his career. He won a national title as a freshman before becoming a four-time All-American. Velasquez placed fourth in his final national tournament at 125 pounds. He also earned academic honors each year in college and is headed to physical therapy school at the University of Iowa. "I loved having Brett here," said Costanzo. "He provided great leadership on and off the mat. He is just a tremendous individual, spiritually and with his work ethic. His actions speak for themselves. He was a kid who always put his team ahead of himself. He really struggled with his weight the last two seasons. The sacrifices he made for the program were pretty impressive." St. Cloud State fans cheer at the NCAAs in Cleveland, Ohio (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) The Huskies also had All-Americans in Jake Barzowski (third at 157 pounds), James Pleski (fourth at 149), Kolton Eischens (fourth at 174), Garrett Vos (sixth at 133) and Devin Fitzpatrick (sixth at 165). "We had some guys battle back in the tournament," Costanzo said. "Nothing's ever perfect. Guys experience setbacks during the year. We're constantly going through adversity and have to bounce back strong. You try to find the next best thing if you lose, and that's third place. We had to pick it up and our team was really good at that. We had some great leadership. "We've been blessed with great kids and great leadership. Brady Wilson has been coaching with me a long time and he's done a great job. We've had good success with our program, but we've also had our share of adversity and our teams have battled through it." St. Cloud State coaches Brady Wilson, Travis Holt and Steve Costanzo coaching at NCAAs (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) Winning at the Division II level has become even more challenging in Costanzo's 13 years at St. Cloud State. There are now more than 60 wrestling teams at the DII level. "It's very competitive. Wheeling Jesuit really came on this year and kind of came out of nowhere to finish second at nationals," Costanzo said. "We were fortunate to qualify nine guys for nationals out of a strong regional. It's tough to get to the national tournament. I know there were a lot of good kids that didn't make it to Cleveland." Costanzo has excelled with home-grown Minnesota talent, but the recruiting battles are fierce to land kids in a state that produces an abundance of top wrestlers. "We've had a lot of very good Minnesota kids," he said. "We have had some good kids from Illinois and some other states come in as well. But obviously, it starts in Minnesota. The high school wrestling is very good in our state. It's so competitive recruiting-wise. You have the University of Minnesota in Division I plus you have North Dakota State and South Dakota State. There are some other Division II schools. And then you have (reigning NCAA Division III champion) Augsburg in our state." The 47-year-old Costanzo just completed his 24th year of coaching. As a wrestler, he won a Nebraska state title for Bennington High School before becoming a three-time NCAA Division II All-American for Nebraska-Omaha. He coached Dana College in Nebraska to an NAIA title before taking over the program at St. Cloud State. He has transformed a once-struggling wrestling program into a national powerhouse in Division II. His St. Cloud State team will be one of the favorites to win it all again next season. The Huskies return five All-Americans. Costanzo started his coaching career as an assistant to his college coach, Hall of Famer Mike Denney, at Nebraska-Omaha. Denney just completed his 50th year of coaching. He's now at Maryville University in St. Louis after winning seven national titles at UNO. "Coach Denney was an incredible mentor for me," Costanzo said. "He was one of the first people to congratulate me this year when we got our trophy at the national tournament. He's had a big impact on my life and career. His support means a lot." Like Denney, Costanzo has found his dream job in coaching. "I've been on a wrestling mat for 40 years, either as a competitor or a coach," Costanzo said. "It's just who I am. I really like working with kids and I like to see them mature and develop and reach their goals. That's the bottom line. For me, it's always been a calling to work with individuals in wrestling and other facets of their life. It's a lifestyle. I really have a passion for it. My favorite time of the day is when we're together as a team when we're practicing or competing. That's a really enjoyable time for me." This story also appears in the April 12 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.

Courtney Strauss It's official: Courtney Strauss has had the word "interim" removed from his title as head wrestling coach at Bethany College, the Kansas-based school announced Monday. Strauss, a 2015 Bethany graduate, had been named interim head coach of the Swedes mat program during the 2018-19 season. Strauss has been a part of the Bethany wrestling program as a coach since fall 2015. In that time, Strauss has helped to lead practices and been involved in recruiting efforts. During those years, Strauss has coached 16 national qualifiers. Prior to joining the coaching staff at his college alma mater, Strauss made a positive impact for the Bethany wrestling program. He was a three-time NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) National Tournament Qualifier from the years 2012-2014 and earned NAIA Academic All-American honors in 2012. In addition, Strauss was named the NAIA National Wrestling Champion of Character in 2015. If that weren't enough, Strauss holds two significant records for the Swedes mat program: most wins (99) and most pins (50). "Coach Strauss is a successful alumnus of Bethany College who loves God and who loves people," Bethany College President, Will Jones said. "He has done great work with our wrestling team this year. With his leadership and hard work, I am confident our wrestling program will achieve conference and national recognition in the years to come." Strauss is eager to continue his work at his college alma mater. "First off, I would like to thank President Will Jones and Athletics Director Laura Moreno for giving me this opportunity. It truly is a blessing to be given this title and role at Bethany College," Strauss said. "I have been a part of the Bethany College wrestling team since the beginning of the program in 2011 as a competitor and now as a Coach. I am excited to continue being a positive influence to these young men." Located in Lindsborg, Kansas about one hour north of Wichita, Bethany College is a four-year private college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Founded in 1881, Bethany College has an enrollment of approximately 800 students.

Jordan Burroughs shakes Frank Chamizo's hand before their Beat the Streets match (Photo/Juan Garicia) NEW YORK -- Two of the most decorated and well-known recent Olympic wrestlers will square off for the first time as 2012 gold medalist Jordan Burroughs takes on 2008 Olympian Ben Askren as part of the 10th annual "Grapple at the Garden" Beat the Streets (BTS) benefit at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 6. Burroughs, who has competed at numerous past BTS events, will battle Askren, who has parlayed his wresting talents into a strong mixed martial arts career in the UFC and other promotions, at 74 kilograms in the highly-anticipated matchup. "Grapple at the Garden" supports Beat the Streets, the largest grassroots inner city wrestling program in the United States, serving as both a fundraiser for the organization and to celebrate its athletes as they compete on the biggest stage in the center of the world. Burroughs, a four-time world freestyle champion (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017), has won eight consecutive BTS benefit matches, downing fellow Olympian Frank Chamizo last year in a thrilling, come-from-behind 8-5 verdict in the main event Supermatch. Burroughs was a threetime All-American at Nebraska, winning two NCAA titles. The Sicklerville, N.J., native also competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio but did not medal. Burroughs has the most World gold medals in USA history with four, tied with John Smith, Adeline Gray and Tricia Saunders. His five World and Olympic gold medals trails only Smith, who has six. He also has won two World bronze medals, giving him seven World and Olympic medals in his storied career. Askren, who went 1-1 but didn't medal in his lone Olympic appearance, was a four-time NCAA finalist at Missouri, winning the crowns in 2006 and 2007. His MMA career has included wins in his first 19 matches, most recently at UFC 235 last month. He has fought for several other promotions, primarily One Championship and Bellator, in amassing his perfect record. Both Burroughs and Askren competed at 74 kilograms at the Olympic Games. Combined, they represented the USA at this weight class for the last three Olympic Games. "Jordan Burroughs is a great champion who has been a great supporter of Beat the Streets for years, and Ben Askren has made a name for himself with his outsize talent and personality to match," said Beat the Streets Executive Director Brendan Buckley."This is a match that many fans have been hoping for, and we couldn't be more excited to bring them together in a way that will benefit our BTS kids on what is shaping up to be a huge night of wrestling at Hulu Theater." The news follows last week's first announced main event bout, between New Jersey natives James Green (Willingboro) and Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield). Additional matchups in the Team USA vs. NCAA Champions main events will be announced in the coming weeks. Those will be preceded by several youth matches, with one previously announced: a battle of local State Champions in Jo Jo Aragona (Pope John XXIII HS/New Jersey) vs. Adam Busiello (Eastport-South Manor HS/New York). Tickets for the evening's action are available now via TicketMaster, priced starting at $30 at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/3B005668AA091B69. A variety of donation packages which include"Grapple in the Garden" tickets are also available at https://www.btsny.org/btsevents or by emailing molalde@btsny.org, beginning at $1000. Doors open on May 6 at 5:30 p.m., with the main event starting at 6 p.m. For the fifth straight year, FloSports will provide live and on-demand coverage on FloWrestling.com. Beat the Streets, Inc. will invite select members of the 2018 U.S. Men's Freestyle World Team, which placed second in the 2018 World Championships and won seven World medals, as well as select top USA women's wrestlers. Beat the Streets Benefit competitions, which began in 2010, have since become a major showcase of the best of international wrestling. This unique and electrifying annual event has helped Beat the Streets raise millions of dollars to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City. The first Beat the Streets Benefit was held on the U.S.S. Intrepid, an aircraft carrier docked on the west side of Manhattan. Since then, the benefit has taken place at other notable New York City spots like Grand Central Station and Times Square. Team USA has faced off against teams from around the world including Japan, Cuba, Russia and Iran. Last year, the competition was hosted at the new Pier 17 in the Seaport District and included the highly anticipated Burroughs vs. Chamizo match. The 2018 U.S. World Team, which competed in Budapest, Hungary, featured 2018 World champions Kyle Dake, David Taylor and J'den Cox, 2018 World silver medalist Kyle Snyder, and 2018 World bronze medalists Joe Colon, Jordan Burroughs and Nick Gwiazdowski. Burroughs and Snyder are both multiple Olympic and World champions. Others on the USA team included 2016 World champion Logan Stieber, two-time World bronze medalist James Green and 2017 World silver medalist Thomas Gilman. New York City's Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous sporting and entertainment venues in the world. The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden is an impressive venue with the capacity to seat over 5,000. The theater has hosted notable wrestling events including the 1998 Goodwill Games wrestling competition and the 2017 Grapple at the Garden college wrestling event. About Beat the Streets The mission of Beat the Streets is to develop the full potential of the urban youth and to strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTS works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to bring the life changing sport of wrestling to over 3,000 New York City student-athletes to help them achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTS and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life lessons of grit, personal responsibility and teamwork, physical fitness and nutrition, and life-long learning. The goal of fostering strong, well-rounded student-athletes is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, life skills workshops, and summer camps. More information can be found at www.btsny.org. About USA Wrestling USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. It has over 230,000 members across the nation, boys and girls, men and women of all ages, representing all levels of the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender. More information can be found at TheMat.com.

Carson Kharchla had a dominant senior season, which included a Walsh Ironman title (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) One calendar month has passed since the last of the scholastic state champions were crowned in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania on March 9. Since then, the wrestling calendar has been busy with both the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic and the Wrestling USA Magazine Dream Team Classic, NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Pittsburgh, along with the NHSCA grade-level nationals and the USA Wrestling Junior and 16U Folkstyle Nationals. All that being said, it's time to put a wrap on the 2018-19 scholastic wrestling season with the release of the final national high school weight class rankings. It is a chance to reflect upon what has happened over the past calendar year (i.e. cycle), and to acknowledge the InterMat High School Wrestler of the Year, along with the InterMat First Team All-Americans. Wrestler of the Year: Carson Kharchla (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio), 170 pounds The Ohio State-bound Kharchla took last season's state title, and pushed it to another level over the last 12 months. After a spring and early summer fully of heavy training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Kharchla went to Fargo for the Junior National freestyle tournament and absolutely dominated what was a very strong path in a rather strong 170-pound weight class. The first four matches in that run were technical superiorities earned while shutting out the opposition, those in the round of 16 and quarterfinal came against fellow All-Americans (in the round of 16 it was a 10-0 victory over Parker Keckeisen). The semifinal result was a 7-4 victory over multiple-time Fargo freestyle champion Travis Wittlake of Oregon, while it was a 10-0 finals victory over Dustin Plott of Oklahoma whose path to the final featured four technical superiorities and a decision. In all, Kharchla beat the second, third, fifth, and sixth-place finisher. During the 2018-19 season, it was dominance just the same, as his 31-0 season included but four matches that were not bonus point affairs. Kharchla did not give up an offensive point during the course of a season that included a second consecutive state title, along with tournament titles at the Walsh Ironman and Brecksville tournaments. Previous Wrestlers of the Year 2018: Gable Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) 2017: Vito Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) 2016: Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) 2015: Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) 2014: Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.) 2013: Kyle Snyder (Good Counsel, Md.) 2012: Jason Tsirtsis (Crown Point, Ind.) 2011: Morgan McIntosh (Calvary Chapel, Calif.) Other top-ranked wrestlers 106: Richard Figueroa (Selma, Calif.) The Arizona State verbal commit has lost one match in two seasons of high school wrestling, that coming in the Walsh Ironman finals his freshman season. His dominance during this past season came at both 106 pounds and 113 pounds. Figueroa won the nation's toughest preseason tournament (Super 32 Challenge) and in-season tournament (Walsh Ironman) at the higher weight, while pummeling opposition at 106 pounds on the way to notable titles at the Doc Buchanan Invitational and the state tournament. 113: Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (Seneca Valley, Pa.) The sophomore won a second state title, this one coming with a 48-1 record, his only blemish coming in the Walsh Ironman finals when he lost 2-1 to Figueroa. Most notable among his regular season results were a King of the Mountain title up at 120 pounds, and a Powerade title in this weight class when he beat top five in the nation Jake Rundell (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) and two-time Cadet world champion Kurt McHenry (St. Paul's, Md.) in the semifinals and finals respectively. 120: Lucas Byrd (Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio) The senior won a second straight title, finishing 46-1 on the season, his lone loss coming in the final of the Walsh Ironman. Byrd had three wins on the season over wrestlers ranked in the top eight nationally, including a 4-3 win over national No. 2 Ryan Crookham (Notre Dame-Green Pond, Pa.) in the Walsh Ironman semifinals. His career record was 177-17, including a mark of 142-7 over his last three seasons. 126: Kyle Burwick (Hettinger, N.D.) The Wisconsin-bound wrestler was a five-time state champion in North Dakota, and over those seasons amassed a record of 260-8, including wins in 145 straight matches from the start of January during his sophomore year going forward. Burwick placed fourth in Junior freestyle this past summer at 126 pounds. 132: Jordan Decatur (CVCA, Ohio) The Ohio State-bound Decatur finished his senior year with a record of 43-1, the lone loss coming in the semifinals of the Walsh Jesuit Ironman. Tournament titles in 2018-19 included those won at North Canton, Brecksville, Maumee Bay, and the Grizzly Invitational. Decatur was a Junior National freestyle champion last summer, his third Fargo freestyle title in four years, and accrued a record of 134-7 over the three seasons in which he won state titles. 138: JoJo Aragona (Pope John XXIII, N.J.) The Rutgers-bound wrestler capped off an excellent career with an elusive state title during his senior year, which included an elusive major event title at the Beast of the East that came after winning a four-man exhibition bracket at Flo's Who's Number One preseason event. Aragona finished third, second, third, and first in four career state tournaments; concluding his career with a record of 159-6, including 43-0 in his senior season. 145: Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) The Iowa State-bound Anderson earned a second consecutive state title, a season highlighted by earning Outstanding Wrestler honors at the Walsh Ironman after earning a major decision over national No. 2 Jaden Abas (Rancho Bernardo, Calif.) in the championship match. Anderson's 39-1 campaign also included titles at the Beast of the East and Escape the Rock tournaments. He was also a three-time Super 32 placer, winning the tournament in October 2017. The lone loss this season came to Jagger Condomitti (Northampton, Pa.) by a 5-4 decision in the dual team state final, an opponent that he beat two times prior and two times subsequent. 152: Andrew Alirez (Greeley Central, Colo.) The Northern Colorado bound wrestler went 33-0 during his senior season, capped off by winning a fourth state title, and finished his career with a record of 153-1. The lone loss came in the Doc Buchanan Invitational semifinals of his sophomore year, 1-0 to Jaden Abas. Alirez beat now two-time NCAA All-American Nick Lee in the challenge tournament finals of the World Team Trials at 65 kilos last spring; while extending 2019 NCAA All-American Dom Demas to a third match in the best-of-three trials. 160: Alex Facundo (Davison, Mich.) The nation's top sophomore has won almost everything under the sun so far in his career, though his two-year high school career record is 70-1, the lone loss coming this past season in the finals of the Detroit Catholic Central Invitational -- in the ultimate tiebreaker to Cameron Amine (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.). Facundo was champion of the Super 32 Challenge this fall, and is a two-time Junior National folkstyle champion, along with a 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist. 182: Parker Keckeisen (Nicolet, Wis.) The Northern Iowa-bound Keckeisen concluded his career with 78 straight wins after losing in the state final his sophomore year, and finished with a career record of 157-11. Keckeisen also placed fifth at state as a freshman, and placed third in Junior freestyle this past summer, the lone loss coming in the round of 16 to Carson Kharchla. 195: Jacob Cardenas (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) The Cornell-bound Cardenas finished his career winning a pair of state titles, while going 69-6 in those seasons that included runner-up finishes at the Beast of the East in both seasons. Cardenas also was a champion of the NHSCA Sophomore and Junior Nationals, along with the Super 32 Challenge this past fall. His losses on the season came in the Beast of the East finals to A.J. Ferrari, who was at Blair Academy at the time before leaving for Bergen Catholic a few weeks later; while the early January loss to Peter Christensen (Montini Catholic, Ill.) was avenged this past weekend in a 6-4 victory at the Dream Team Classic. 220: Braxton Amos (Parkersburg South, W.Va.) Even missing the entirety of his freshman season due to an injury sustained in late September, the top five overall national junior has had a more than full career resume in two high school seasons. Upon return from that injury in July 2017, Amos earned a second straight Cadet National double title in Fargo. Since then, he has added a pair of Super 32 titles, a pair of Walsh Ironman titles, a pair of Powerade titles, and a pair of undefeated state championships; in two seasons at Parkersburg South, Amos has a record of 94-0. 285: Greg Kerkvliet (Simley, Minn.) The nation's top overall senior went 24-0 during his shortened senior season to win a fourth state title, despite missing more than half the year due to an injury sustained during the summer. During said campaign, all but one of Kerkvliet's matches was a first period pin or forfeit (that being a 16-1 technical fall in 1:27). The Ohio State-bound Kerkvliet was a 2017 Cadet World champion in freestyle at 100 kilos and runner-up in 2018 at 110 kilos; in addition, he earned three technical superiority victories this spring in a combined 4:22 over eventual Junior world silver medalist Zach Elam at 97 kilos. Breakdown of nationally ranked wrestlers by state 35: Pennsylvania (2 individuals ranked No. 1 nationally) 33: New Jersey (2) 23: Ohio (3), California (1), Illinois 11: Oklahoma 10: Michigan (1), Iowa 9: Colorado (1), Minnesota (1), Florida, Missouri 8: Wisconsin (1), Indiana 7: New York 6: Maryland 5: Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas 3: Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia 2: West Virginia (1), Alabama, Montana, North Carolina, Utah 1: North Dakota (1), Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, New Hampshire, South Dakota Note: 34 states in all had a nationally ranked wrestler (i.e. attend a high school in that state).

Paul Rademacher (Photo/Bob Palermini) Indiana Tech has hired Paul Rademacher as head coach of its new women's intercollegiate wrestling program, the Fort Wayne-based school announced Monday. As InterMat reported in mid-February, Indiana Tech had announced it would launch the first women's college wrestling program in the state of Indiana. The new team is slated to take to the mats for the first time in the 2020-21 school year, completing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). "We are ecstatic to bring Paul into the Warrior Family and lead our women's wrestling program," said Indiana Tech Athletic Director Debbie Warren. "His background in freestyle wrestling, knowledge of the NAIA and overall experience elevated him in this highly competitive search and we look forward to seeing him build the program and grow the sport of women's wrestling in the Midwest." Rademacher brings a strong background as a wrestler and wrestling coach of both male and female athletes at the collegiate and high school levels. Rademacher wrestled at Oregon State from 1999-2003, where he was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic Second Team as a senior. Most recently, he served as associate head coach for the women's wrestling team at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. During his two years with the Raiders he went 14-14 and led the team to an eighth-place finish at the first-ever NAIA National Invitational this past March and a 12th-place performance at the Women's College Wrestling Association (WCWA) Championships in 2018. He coached six All-Americans during his time at Southern Oregon. Prior to his time at SOU, Rademacher served as the head coach for the boys and girls wrestling teams at Henley High School in Oregon for two seasons. Before that, he coached at Mount Vernon High School in Washington State. "I am very excited and honored to be selected to be the first women's wrestling head coach at Indiana Tech," Rademacher said. "It was very obvious that Indiana Tech was fully invested in starting this program and being successful. I believe Fort Wayne will be a great place for women's wrestling and that student-athletes will come from around the country to join the Warriors and be a part of the Indiana Tech community." "The opportunity to start the program from scratch and set a culture of character, integrity, academic and athletic excellence was a major draw for me," Rademacher continued. "I look forward to working with the other athletic programs to continue the national success that Indiana Tech has produced." Indiana Tech is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana's second-largest city, in the northeast part of the state. Founded in 1930, this four-year, private school has an enrollment of approximately 8,600 students.

Danny Irwin was introduced as West Liberty's new head wrestling coach at a Monday press conference WHEELING, W.Va. -- West Liberty University announced Monday that NCAA Division II Coach of the Year Danny Irwin has been hired as the Hilltoppers' new head wrestling coach. The announcement came during a morning press conference at the university's downtown center. "We are tremendously excited to bring in such an impressive young man who has demonstrated success at the highest levels athletically and academically," WLU President Dr. Stephen Greiner said. "Coach Irwin's incredible work ethic combined with his proven ability to recruit and develop high-achieving student-athletes on and off the mat make him a perfect ambassador for his sport and a great fit for our university." Irwin replaces former head coach Mitch Smith, who recently stepped down to accept a position in the private sector that would permit him to spend more time with his growing family. "I want to thank Coach Smith for his hard work and dedication over the past four years," athletic director Lynn Ullom said. "Mitch played an integral role as we upgraded our facilities to the point where we now have some of the best in the region, putting us in position to take the next step. "I'm always looking for the best possible candidate but being able to hand the reins of our storied wrestling program over to the reigning National Coach of the Year is the definition of a home run hire. Coach Irwin's accomplishments speak for themselves, but I was even more impressed by the obvious passion he has for the sport and his student-athletes along with the vision he has for the program. We are thrilled to welcome him to the West Liberty family." Irwin comes to WLU a few weeks after leading Wheeling Jesuit University to a runner-up finish at the 2018-19 NCAA Division II Nationals in Cleveland. All six of Irwin's national qualifiers earned NCAA Division II All-America status with two of them winning national championships. Irwin was honored as the 2018-19 NCAA Division II Coach of the Year in just his second season as a collegiate head man. Just as impressively, a program-record seven members of Irwin's national runner-up squad at WJU were named to the 2018-19 National Wrestling Coaches Association's All-Academic Team. "I'm deeply honored to take over a program with the rich tradition of West Liberty wrestling," Irwin said. "This was an awesome opportunity for me to work with a group of people who are committed to success in every phase of the student-athlete experience. The support this program receives from the alumni, administration and the Ohio Valley wrestling community is overwhelming." The Hilltoppers' new head man began his coaching career with a 2-year stint at Bluffton (Ind.) High School. He led the Tigers to a conference championship before moving into the college ranks as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. The Little Giants posted four NCAA Division III Top 10 finishes during Irwin's nine years on the staff. He won three Regional Assistant Coach of the Year Awards and was a national finalist for the Best of Brands Social Media Award across all NCAA divisions before heading off to Wheeling Jesuit. "My immediate goal at WLU is to get to know the team and the families that support them," Irwin said. "I also want to hear from the alumni base. Each one has a different story but it's the combination of those stories that make West Liberty one of the nation's most tradition-rich wrestling programs. "Winning the Coach of the Year award last month was neat, but it merely reflected the commitment from our coaching staff, support staff, wrestlers and their families throughout the year. The honor just gave me that much more motivation to give my family, my student-athletes and West Liberty University my best every day. I can't wait to get started." An Indiana native, Irwin was a regional champion and 2-time NCAA Division III national qualifier during his collegiate career at Manchester University in North Manchester, Ind. He graduated from Manchester with a bachelor's degree in History. Irwin and his wife, Andrea, live in St. Clairsville, Ohio with their daughter, Addison and son, J.P.

Brian Antonelli coaching at the Walsh Ironman (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com) The National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) is proud to announce Chris Brian Antonelli of Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey as its National High School Wrestling Coach of the Year. All Antonelli has done in his four years as the school's head coach is lead the Buccaneers to four straight NHSCA/USA TODAY Super 25 national championships. Blair nailed down the national title with an impressive showing at the Prep Nationals. The Bucs won the national tournament, outscoring No. 2 Wyoming Seminary (Kingston, Pennsylvania) 354-325. Blair also tied the all-time Prep Nationals record by crowning nine overall individual champs. Antonelli also led the Bucs to team championships at the Beast of the East, Geary and Ironman individual championships. "Wrestling one of the toughest schedules in the country and going through it undefeated is a huge accomplishment for our guys," said Brian Antonelli. "Blair wrestlers competed hard, and they represented the School with class the entire season. We are thankful for the support we received throughout, and we are proud of concluding the high school season with a national championship." "We are extremely pleased to honor Coach Antonelli," said Eric Hess, Executive Director of the NHSCA. "In his four years at Blair, he's built on the school's tremendous tradition, keeping the Bucs as one of the nation's elite programs. He exhibits a strong dedication to supporting and developing his high school student-athletes in the classroom and outside of it." Antonelli joins legendary Blair head coach Jeff Buxton as a NHSCA National Wrestling Coach of the Year. Buxton won the award in 1997. Antonelli is the second straight coach from New Jersey to win the award. David Bell won the award last year. Throughout April, the NHSCA will be announcing the 2018-2019 Coach of the Year honorees in 20 boys' and girls' sports. This marks the 20th consecutive year the NHSCA has honored achievers within the high school athletic community nationwide. Each of the honorees will receive a beautiful plaque. In addition, the Coach of the Year honoree will be displayed in the National High School Digital Sports Hall of Fame that is currently under development. Past NHSCA High School National High School Wrestling Coaches of the Year: 2018 - David Bell - Bergen Catholic HS (New Jersey) 2017 - Mike Palazzo - Lake Highland Prep (Florida) 2016 - Scott Green - Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania) 2015 - Mike Powell - Oak Park River Forest HS (Illinois) 2014 - Dave Dean - Lowell HS (Michigan) 2013 - Steve Tirapelle - Clovis HS (California) 2012 - Pat Simpson - Father Ryan HS (Tennessee) 2011 - Cliff Ramos - Collins Hill HS (Georgia) 2010 - Barry Chooljian - Timberlane HS (New Hampshire) 2009 - Jeff Sweigard - Central Dauphin HS (Pennsylvania) 2008 - Bill Jacoutot - Spencerport HS (New York) 2007 - Jerry Winterton - Cary HS (North Carolina) 2006 - Mike Polz - Carl Sandburg HS (Illinois) 2005 - Roy Hall - Davison HS (Michigan) 2004 - Terry Daubert - Northampton HS (Pennsylvania) 2003 - Jeff Jordan - St. Paris Graham HS (Ohio) 2002 - David East - Bakersfield HS (California) Jim Jackson - Apple Valley HS (Minnesota) 2001 - Dave Crowell - Wilson Borough HS (Pennsylvania) Jeff Jordan - Clarksville HS (Tennessee) 2000 - Russ Cozart - Brandon HS (Florida) Scott Legacy - Mount Anthony Union HS (Vermont) Herb Stinson - Aztec HS (New Mexico) 1999 - Lewie Benitz - Lincoln HS (Wisconsin); Keith Healy - Providence Catholic HS (Illinois) Tim Marzuola - Highlands Park HS (Texas) Dick Rhoades - Bald Eagle Area HS (Pennsylvania) 1998 - Wayne Branstetter - Poway HS (California) Scott Davis - Owantonna HS (Minnesota) Greg Urbas - St. Edward (Ohio) 1997 - Jeff Buxton - Blair Academy (New Jersey), Benny Coleman - Choctow HS (Oklahoma) Steve Powell - Easton HS (Pennsylvania)

I've been following the sport of wrestling since the mid-1970s. And I've seen my share of outstanding performers on the collegiate level. With Penn State seniors Bo Nickal and Jason Nolf finishing their standout careers as three-time NCAA champions, a frequently asked question was brought to the forefront once again. Who are the best collegiate wrestlers of all time? It is a daunting and challenging task to compare so many incredible wrestlers from different eras and rank them accordingly. But it's also fun to reflect back on some amazing careers. There is no question that John Smith, Jordan Burroughs and Bruce Baumgartner went on to accomplish incredible feats on the international level after they finished college. They would rank 1-2-3 on most people's list of top Olympic-level wrestlers. The criteria that I used for this list is based on what wrestlers achieved during their college careers. No doubt, you won't agree with all of my selections. These are my personal choices. Here is my list of the best college wrestlers of all time: Cael Sanderson gets his hand raised after winning his fourth NCAA title and finishing undefeated 1. Cael Sanderson, Iowa State There won't be any argument here. Sanderson was the best of all time at the collegiate level. He was the only wrestler to complete a four-year career unbeaten after going an unthinkable 159-0 for the Cyclones from 1998-2002. He won three NCAA titles at 184 pounds before winning at 197 as a senior. He was a three-time Hodge Trophy winner. He also beat some very good wrestlers, including UFC champion and world medalist Daniel Cormier, world silver medalists Brad Vering and Brandon Eggum, and world bronze medalist Justin Ruiz, during his phenomenal college career. He did it with a wide-open, attacking style where he piled up points and put on a show. He was a skilled technician who pushed the pace and also was very mobile for his size. I wish Sanderson could have competed more internationally, but he proved how good he was by winning an Olympic gold medal and a world silver medal in freestyle. Now he's making a run at being the best college coach in history with his dominating run at Penn State. His Nittany Lions have won eight of the last nine national championships. Kyle Dake defeated David Taylor to claim his fourth NCAA title (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 2. Kyle Dake, Cornell This is a tough one. There were several very strong candidates for the No. 2 spot on this list, but Dake's credentials simply speak for themselves. He won four NCAA titles in four different weight classes (141, 149, 157 and 165 pounds), a feat we may never see again. He won the Hodge Trophy as a senior in 2013. He won his final collegiate match against Penn State's David Taylor, who came back to win his second Hodge Trophy the next year. Dake has a diverse skill set and he is adept at any style of wrestling. He was lethal from the top position in college. Dake won a world title in 2018. 3. Yojiro Uetake, Oklahoma State Other than Sanderson, who he coached, former Iowa State coach Bobby Douglas said Uetake was the best he had ever seen at the collegiate level. Douglas would know. He and Uetake were teammates with the Cowboys. Uetake won three NCAA titles at 130 pounds for Oklahoma State in the 1960s and was undefeated in college. He was twice named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Uetake was so dominant he was rarely challenged at the collegiate level. He won Olympic gold medals for Japan in 1964 and 1968. 4. Dan Gable, Iowa State He was the Cael Sanderson of his time, a dominant wrestler whose punishing, push-the-pace style captured the attention of fans beyond wrestling. He was a legend in his home state and across the country with his work ethic and drive to succeed in wrestling. He won national titles at 130 and 137 pounds in 1968 and 1969. He won every college match before dropping his last match in a stunning 13-11 loss to Washington's Larry Owings in the 142-pound finals in 1970. Even with that setback, Gable was still one of the best ever at this level. He went on to win world and Olympic titles for the U.S before coaching the Iowa Hawkeyes to 15 NCAA titles. Pat Smith became the first four-time NCAA champion5. Pat Smith, Oklahoma State He wasn't even the best wrestler in his famous wrestling family, but he definitely had the best college career. Pat Smith was the first wrestler to win four NCAA titles. He finished his career with a 98-match unbeaten streak and won his share of pressure-packed bouts at 158 pounds to make history at the collegiate level. He definitely belongs in the top five on this prestigious list. Pat's older brother, John, is considered the greatest Olympic-level wrestler in history after winning two Olympic gold medals and four world titles. John Smith was a three-time NCAA finalist at Oklahoma State, capturing two titles while going 154-7-2 in college. 6. Logan Stieber, Ohio State Stieber not only won four NCAA titles and the Hodge Trophy, but he led the Buckeyes to a national team title during his remarkable career. He beat his share of studs in his career, including two-time NCAA champion Jordan Oliver at 133 pounds and eventual two-time Hodge Trophy winner Zain Retherford at 141 pounds. He was at his best when it counted most. Stieber was tough on his feet and he was lethal in the top position in college. He went on to win a world title in freestyle wrestling for the U.S. 7. Dan Hodge, Oklahoma When college wrestling's top honor is named after you, it is tough not to have Hodge near the top of this list. He was unbeaten in college as a middleweight while winning three NCAA titles and pinning almost everybody during his career in the 1950s. He went on to win an Olympic silver medal. He went out there and did what you are supposed to do in a wrestling match: pin your opponent. The guy was still crushing apples with one hand while in his 80s. He remains the only wrestler to make the cover of Sports Illustrated. Lee Kemp8. Lee Kemp, Wisconsin He was the Jordan Burroughs of his era, but Kemp was even better than Burroughs was at the collegiate level. Kemp won three NCAA titles at 158 pounds for the Badgers after dropping a close decision in the finals as a freshman. Kemp had a 110-match unbeaten streak. He was a physically gifted athlete who had a strong mental toughness and intelligence to match. He went on to win three world titles in freestyle wrestling. He would have been the favorite to win a gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Russia, but was unable to compete because of the U.S. boycott of the Olympics. 9. Mark Schultz, Oklahoma Schultz won one of the biggest and best matchups in NCAA history when he defeated Iowa's Ed Banach in the 1982 NCAA finals at 177 pounds. Banach was on course to winning his third NCAA title as a junior before falling in a wild, high-scoring bout to the powerful Schultz in the finals. Schultz finished his college career with three national titles before going on to win an Olympic gold medal and two world titles for the United States. His brother, Dave, also won NCAA, Olympic and world titles. 10. Kyle Snyder, Ohio State It is crazy to think that Snyder won three NCAA titles as an undersized college heavyweight while becoming the best international wrestler in the world. Snyder didn't wrestle a lot of college matches because he was also competing internationally. But what he did was impressive while wrestling opponents who outweighed him by 40 or more pounds. Two wrestlers he beat in the NCAA finals, Nick Gwiazdowski and Adam Coon, went on to win world medals as heavyweights on the Senior level. Snyder was a four-time NCAA finalist after placing second as a freshman at 197 pounds. Snyder became the youngest world champion in U.S. history in 2015 before becoming the youngest Olympic champion a year later. He added a second world title in 2017 before placing second in 2018. 11. Ed Banach, Iowa Known as Eddie "The Horse" Banach during his college days, Banach was one of the most exciting wrestlers in Hawkeye history while wrestling at 177 and 190 pounds. He recorded 73 pins in his career. The explosive Banach was on course to win his third NCAA title as a junior in 1982 before falling to Mark Schultz in the finals. Schultz went on to win three national titles. Banach came back to win his third national championship in 1983 before winning an Olympic gold medal a year later in Los Angeles. Banach's twin brother, Lou, won two NCAA titles at heavyweight for Iowa before capturing an Olympic gold medal in 1984. 12. David Taylor, Penn State The two-time Hodge Trophy winner was one of the best I've seen at the collegiate level while competing at 157 and 165 pounds. Taylor was a dynamic, aggressive wrestler who had a similar style to his mentor and head coach, Cael Sanderson. Taylor lost a hard-fought, 5-4 finals match to Kyle Dake when Dake captured his fourth NCAA crown in 2013. Taylor was a four-time NCAA finalist and two-time champion for the Nittany Lions. He led Penn State to four NCAA team titles from 2011-14. He went on to win a world title for the United States in 2018. Ben Askren celebrates after winning the NCAA title in 2006 (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)13. Ben Askren, Missouri A four-time NCAA finalist and two-time champion at 174 pounds, Askren twice won the Hodge Trophy as the best wrestler in college. He wrestled a style Hodge liked, pinning a majority of his opponents. He set several records and finished his college career with 91 pins. He was another guy who put on a show when he competed. Askren won his first title over Jake Herbert, who went on to win the Hodge Trophy and a world silver medal. Askren went on to make the 2008 Olympic Team before embarking on a successful career in mixed martial arts. 14. Tom Brands, Iowa Tom and his twin brother, Terry, embodied the hard-nosed, blue-collar style of the Dan Gable-era at Iowa in the early 1990s. Tom captured three NCAA titles at 134 pounds for the Hawkeyes and Terry won two titles at 126. Tom went on to win Olympic and world titles while Terry won a pair of world titles and an Olympic bronze medal. Tom Brands is one of only three wrestlers to win three NCAA titles, an Olympic title and a world title. Mark Schultz and Kyle Snyder also achieved that feat. Tom Brands has coached the Iowa Hawkeyes to three NCAA team titles. 15. John Smith, Oklahoma State He won two NCAA titles and was an NCAA runner-up for the Cowboys during a standout college career. He won national titles in 1987 and 1988 at 134 pounds. Between his junior and senior year, he won a gold medal at the 1987 World Championships. That launched the most amazing run by an American wrestler in history. Smith followed by winning two Olympic gold medals and three more world titles during a remarkable international career. 16. Zain Retherford, Penn State This is a guy who definitely could've been higher on the list. He won two Hodge Trophy awards and three national titles for the Nittany Lions while dominating the competition at 149 pounds. He also was a leader during one of the best runs by a team in NCAA history. He won a Cadet world title and made a Senior world team in 2017. He may be adding more medals on the international scene before he's done. 17. Stephen Abas, Fresno State Abas won three NCAA titles during a superb collegiate career as one of the best lightweight wrestlers of all time. Abas was superb on his feet -- technically sound with the athleticism and toughness to go with it. He was 144-4 in his career with 46 pins at 125 pounds. He went unbeaten during his final two seasons in college. Abas won an Olympic silver medal for the United States in 2004. 18. Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa During Iowa's magical run under legendary coach Dan Gable, McIlravy made a strong run at becoming the first Hawkeye to win four NCAA titles. He won national titles his first two seasons before suffering a stunning loss in the 1995 NCAA finals at his home arena against Steve Marianetti of Illinois. McIlvravy came back after an Olympic redshirt to beat returning champion Chris Bono of Iowa State in the 150-pound finals in 1997. McIlravy went on to win an Olympic bronze medal along with world silver and bronze medals for the U.S. 19. Ed Ruth, Penn State Ruth played a huge role in leading the incredible revival of the Penn State program after Cael Sanderson took over as head coach. He competed at 174 and 184 pounds while winning three national titles for the Nittany Lions after placing third as a freshman. He led Penn State to four NCAA team championships. Ruth made a U.S. world team in 2014 before pursuing a career in mixed martial arts. Ruth was another dominant wrestler who tacked up a ton of bonus points at the collegiate level. He sometimes didn't receive all of the credit he deserved while wrestling alongside David Taylor. But Ruth had a phenomenal career. 20. Gray Simons, Lock Haven He won seven national titles in college from 1959-62 -- three NCAA and four NAIA -- and was named outstanding wrestler in six of those seven tournaments. He was 91-2 in college while competing at 115 pounds. He made the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Team. 21. Kurt Angle, Clarion This is another guy who certainly could have been higher on this list. Angle was a small heavyweight who weighed just over 200 pounds, but he was a tremendous athlete who was strong and explosive for his size. Angle captured NCAA titles in 1990 and 1992 for Clarion University. He was second in the country in 1991. Angle found the perfect weight class internationally, winning a world title in 1995 and an Olympic gold medal in 1996 while wrestling at 220 pounds. He went on to win numerous titles in pro wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment. 22. Jordan Burroughs, Nebraska I feel bad about having Burroughs this low on the list, but he lands here when just considering his college credentials. He had a superb career for the Huskers. He fell short of placing as a true freshman at nationals before becoming a three-time All-American in three different weight classes. He was third in a stacked bracket at the 2008 NCAA tournament at 149 pounds before winning a national title at 157 in 2009 and adding a second championship at 165 in 2011. He was undefeated during his last two full college seasons. He won the Hodge Trophy in 2011. Burroughs has gone on to an incredible international career. He won the 2012 Olympics along with four world titles and two world bronze medals. 23. Bill Koll, Northern Iowa He was a three-time national champion for Iowa State Teachers College, now Northern Iowa. Koll won three straight national titles from 1946-48 while going unbeaten with a spotless 72-0 record. He was the first wrestler to twice be voted outstanding wrestler at the national tournament. He wrestled for the U.S. at the 1948 Olympic Games. His son, Rob, is the long-time coach at Cornell. Rob Koll coached Kyle Dake to four NCAA titles. 24. Alex Dieringer, Oklahoma State Dieringer was another guy who continually raised his level of wrestling while excelling in college. A Junior world silver medalist in freestyle, he won three NCAA titles for the Cowboys. He captured the Hodge Trophy in 2016. He won the final 82 matches of his career for Oklahoma State. He went 133-4 during his brilliant career with the Cowboys while competing at 157 and 165 pounds. 25. Brent Metcalf, Iowa There is no doubt that Metcalf was one of the most dominating wrestlers at this level. He was a three-time NCAA finalist and two-time champion at 149 pounds while winning the Hodge Trophy. He beat Jordan Burroughs, who went on to win an Olympic gold medal and four world titles, in the NCAA semifinals in 2008. Metcalf led the Hawkeyes to three NCAA team titles and lost just three matches in three seasons. He could've done even more, but he lost a year of eligibility after transferring from Virginia Tech to Iowa. He went on to make four world teams in freestyle wrestling. 26. Bo Nickal, Penn State Nickal led the second wave of Penn State championship teams, capturing three individual titles. He beat past champions Gabe Dean and Myles Martin to win his first two titles at 184 pounds before winning at 197 as a senior. Nickal was another dominant wrestler who won the Hodge Trophy in 2019 with three-time national champion and teammate Jason Nolf also in the mix for that honor. Nickal's go-for-broke style was fun to watch. J'den Cox (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 27. J'den Cox, Missouri This is a guy who has consistently competed at an extremely high level and knows how to deliver when the stakes are highest. He's a winner, and he continues to prove that. Cox captured three national titles and was a four-time All-American at 197 pounds for his hometown Missouri Tigers before going on to win an Olympic bronze medal, a world bronze medal and a world title for the U.S. in freestyle wrestling. 28. Stephen Neal, CSU Bakersfield One of the best heavyweights of all time, Neal placed fourth, second, first and first in four trips to the NCAA Championships. He won the Hodge Trophy as a senior. A powerful and mobile big man, Neal won a world title for the United States in 1999. After falling to Kerry McCoy in the finals of the 2000 Olympic Trials, Neal pursued a career in the National Football League. He became a starting offensive lineman for New England, collecting three Super Bowl championship rings with the Patriots. 29. Mark Churella, Michigan Wrestlers from past eras sometimes are ranked lower than they should be, but it would be unfair for Churella to fall into that category. He was a three-time NCAA champion who also earned an OW award at the national tournament. Churella was one of the best I've ever seen while competing for the Wolverines in the 1970s. He won two NCAA titles at 150 pounds before bumping up two weight classes to win a national title at 167 as a senior in 1979. 30. Nate Carr, Iowa State This was one of my favorite wrestlers to watch when I was growing up in the 1980s. Carr was a human highlight reel who had all of the intangibles to be a great wrestler with his speed, strength and skill. He won three NCAA titles at 150 pounds while facing strong competition. Carr beat Oklahoma State's Kenny Monday in overtime in the 1982 and 1983 national finals. Monday went on to win Olympic and world titles. Carr captured an Olympic bronze medal in 1988. 31. Jason Nolf, Penn State He had a phenomenal career on powerhouse Nittany Lion teams that won four consecutive NCAA team titles. Nolf was a dominant wrestler at 157 pounds who won three national titles from 2017-19 after finishing second at the NCAA tournament as a freshman. Kerry McCoy32. Kerry McCoy, Penn State Another heavyweight who dominated opponents in the 1990s was McCoy, a two-time national champion for the Nittany Lions. He won 131 of his last 132 matches in college while compiling an 88-match winning streak. He won the Hodge Trophy in 1997. McCoy was a fixture on the international scene for years. He won a world silver medal in 2003 and made the U.S. Olympic Team in 2000 and 2004. He beat 1999 world champion Stephen Neal in the finals of the Olympic Trials in 2000. 33. Randy Lewis, Iowa If not for suffering a dislocated elbow his senior year, Lewis could have made a strong case for being the best Hawkeye ever. Lewis was arguably the most exciting Iowa wrestler of all time with a fearless and relentless style. Lewis placed second at his first NCAA tournament before downing Cal State Bakersfield's John Azevedo 20-14 in the 126-pound national finals in 1979. Lewis followed by winning nationals at 134 pounds a year later before making the 1980 Olympic Team. He finished seventh at NCAAs as a senior in 1981 after badly injuring his elbow during the season. He went on to win an Olympic gold medal in 1984. 34. Jake Varner, Iowa State Another Cael Sanderson protégé, Varner was a four-time NCAA finalist during a stellar career for the Cyclones where he competed at 184 and 197 pounds. Varner captured NCAA titles at 197 pounds during his final two seasons at Iowa State in 2009 and 2010. He went on to win a world bronze medal in 2011 before earning an Olympic gold medal for the United States in men's freestyle wrestling in 2012 in London. 35. Barry Davis, Iowa He had an outstanding career for the Hawkeyes. He captured three NCAA titles, including the tournament OW as a senior. He won an Olympic silver medal in 1984 while still in college. He was named Big Ten Athlete of the Year in 1985. He set school records for wins in a season and career. He went on to win world silver and bronze medals. 36. Cary Kolat, Lock Haven This is another guy who was a tremendous wrestler who probably doesn't receive all of the credit he deserves. Kolat started his career at Penn State, finishing second at NCAAs as a freshman to eventual three-time national champion T.J. Jaworsky of North Carolina. Kolat placed third as a sophomore before transferring to Lock Haven. He followed by winning national titles for Lock Haven in 1996 and 1997. He was 111-7 in college with 53 falls while wrestling at 134 and 142 pounds. Kolat went on to win world silver and bronze medals while making the 2000 Olympic team for the U.S. 37. Jake Herbert, Northwestern Herbert was another dynamic performer who lost just four matches during his standout collegiate career. Herbert was a three-time NCAA finalist and won two titles. He beat eventual Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner in the 2007 NCAA finals, took an Olympic redshirt in 2008 and capped his career with a second NCAA title at 184 pounds in 2009. He won the Hodge Trophy and a few months later won a silver medal for the U.S. at the 2009 World Championships. He was a 2012 Olympian. 38. T.J. Jaworsky, North Carolina Jaworsky was a force at 134 pounds during the 1990s, winning three straight NCAA championships for the Tar Heels. Jaworsky beat Penn State's Cary Kolat, who went on to win two NCAA titles and two world medals, in the 1993 finals. After winning his second title by major decision in 1994, Jaworsky rolled to his third national title in 1995, winning a weight class that included 1998 Hodge Trophy winner Mark Ironside of Iowa. Jaworsky won the inaugural Hodge Trophy in 1995. 39. Carlton Haselrig, Pitt-Johnstown The powerful Haselrig accomplished something we likely will never see again in college wrestling. He won six national titles in a span of three seasons at the collegiate level. The standout heavyweight was an NCAA Division I and II champion from 1987-89. He went on to become a Pro Bowl lineman in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Special mention Carl Adams, Iowa State Lou Banach, Iowa Bruce Baumgartner, Indiana State Ricky Bonomo, Bloomsburg Terry Brands, Iowa Darryl Burley, Lehigh Chris Campbell, Iowa Mike Caruso, Lehigh Gabe Dean, Cornell Eric Guerrero, Oklahoma State Les Gutches, Oregon State Nick Gwiazdowski, North Carolina State Larry Hayes, Iowa State Sammie Henson, Clemson Stanley Henson, Oklahoma State Mark Ironside, Iowa Jimmy Jackson, Oklahoma State Greg Johnson, Michigan State Greg Jones, West Virginia Jim Jordan, Wisconsin Cole Konrad, Minnesota Gerald Leeman, Northern Iowa Isaiah Martinez, Illinois Earl McCready, Oklahoma State Andre Metzger, Oklahoma Pat Milkovich, Michigan State Steve Mocco, Iowa, Oklahoma State Kenny Monday, Oklahoma State Tony Nelson, Minnesota Gene Mills, Syracuse Bill Nelson, Northern Iowa Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State Rex Peery, Oklahoma State Chris Pendleton, Oklahoma State Ben Peterson, Iowa State Donny Pritzlaff, Wisconsin Kevin Randleman, Ohio State Myron Roderick, Oklahoma State Jake Rosholt, Oklahoma State Tommy Rowlands, Ohio State Rick Sanders, Portland State Wade Schalles, Clarion Dave Schultz, Oklahoma Bill Smith, Northern Iowa Chris Taylor, Iowa State T.J. Williams, Iowa Joe Williams, Iowa Jim Zalesky, Iowa

An entire day of exciting on-the-mat action. Auctions of one-of-a-kind wrestling collectibles and other must-have treasures. It's all for fun ... and for a great cause. It's the 12th annual Wrestle Against Autism fundraising event, to be held next Sunday, April 14 at the Otterbein University Clements Campus Fitness and Recreation Center in Westerville, Ohio just outside Columbus. The 2019 Wrestle Against Autism tournament is a fundraiser to assist individuals who have been diagnosed with autism. Proceeds from Wrestle Against Autism go to purchase laptops and other learning tools; in addition, another primary benefactor of the event is 4 Paws for Ability, a Xenia, Ohio-based organization that provides service dogs for individuals on the autism spectrum. "We think of Wrestle Against Autism as a tool to raise funds and awareness," event organizer and Ohio wrestling official Jeff Sitler told InterMat. "Not all participants are autistic, but all are there to support someone with autism." The 2019 Wrestle Against Autism tournament is expected to attract approximately 500-700 wrestlers, ranging in age from six to 30-something. If the past is any indicator, the majority of participants are high-school age wrestlers. Eleven mats will be ready for action, "ten of them going full-blast," according to Sitler. Get in on some auction action Wrestle Against Autism blanket for auctionIn addition to ticket sales, entry fees and donations, Wrestle Against Autism also raises funds through auctions held at the tournament. Among the unique wrestling-oriented items up for bid: a Dan Gable-signed singlet, t-shirt, poster and photo ... a unique Vision Quest singlet donated by Frank Jasper, the man who played Brian Shute in the classic 1980s movie ... an autographed pair of RUDIS Kyle Snyder shoes, signed by the three-time NCAA heavyweight champ for Ohio State who is also the youngest Olympic gold medalist - and youngest World Champion -- in American wrestling history.. a.handcrafted "puzzle piece" afghan (puzzle pieces being a symbol for autism) ... and a quilt made from t-shirts from past Wrestle Against Autism tournaments. In addition, a lucky winning bidder will receive a custom-made 10' x 10' Resilite wrestling mat. Auctions will take place during the tournament on Sunday. Wrestling fans unable to make it to the Wrestle Against Autism event in person can place bids online by sending bids by private message on the Wrestle Against Autism Facebook page direct to Jeff Sitler by end-of-day Friday. If that weren't enough, realize that all auction items have been donated ... and all proceeds from the event's auctions will go to benefit efforts to serve those on the autism spectrum and their families. Great gift ideas, great guests, great wrestling In addition to unique items up for auction, the 2019 Wrestle Against Autism event will have items available for sale, including the brand-new "Giant Killer: The Carlton Haselrig Story" about the six-time NCAA heavyweight champ who went on to an impressive NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Each year, the Wrestle Against Autism event attracts some big-time guests. This year is no exception. Among the guests expected at the 2019 Wrestle Against Autism include Jimmie Bell, defensive lineman for the 1997 Rose Bowl champion Ohio State Buckeyes, who is now a media analyst and motivational speaker ... and Mike Hoover, Director of The Make It Fit Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by autism by developing and maintaining a community of caring, unified, and knowledgeable individuals dedicated to raising money for autism research, treatment, advocacy, education, and family services. The organization's name and symbol is built on a puzzle piece, which has become the symbol for autism awareness. Make It Fit aspires to "fit" the missing pieces together to help bring about more research, better treatment, and ultimately a cure for autism. If all that weren't enough, this year's Wrestle Against Autism tournament promises to have great on-the-mat action, with wrestlers from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and other nearby states. There will be seven age-based divisions of competition for boys and girls, ages 6 through high school, along with competition for post-high school wrestlers and seniors 30 years of age and older. Want to know more? Visit the Wrestle Against Autism website and Facebook page. And check out this 2017 InterMat feature titled "Many diagnosed with autism have found wrestling is right sport."